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classic80sand90smovieloves2 · 3 years

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Meeting and Courting Jareth

(Not my gif)(Requested by anonymous)

(Apologies for the long meeting, I just love him and the story of Labyrinth with all my heart)

- The thing about Jareth is that he becomes what you wish for him to be. If you want an adventure then he’ll give you one. Want romance? You’ll get it. Want an escape? He’ll whisk you away in an instant. Everything that you encounter is there because of you.

- But perhaps we’re getting ahead of ourselves. You and Jareth meet after you encounter the story of the Labyrinth at an old bookshop.

- You couldn’t quite explain why you’d entered the shop. Curiosity perhaps, you’d never been inside, in fact, you hadn’t even known it existed. But a part of you knew that it was more than that; you felt a pull towards it. It was as though something beyond your understanding had wanted you to go inside. And so you did.

- Wandering between the dusty, wooden shelves filled with old, fading books, you jumpd as an abrupt dull thud came from behind you. Once you’d turned, you found that a book had fallen off the shelves. ‘The Labyrinth’ the cover read and upon opening it, you saw the portrait of an unsightly yet endearing goblin printed on the opening page.

- You went to put it back on the shelf before an odd gnawing feeling filled you, as though you were missing out on something if you returned it to its; what you thought was it’s, rightful place. You turned the book around and gazed at the cover for another moment before deciding that you’d purchase it.

“Oh that one? That one you can have for free. See how old it is? Free, free, free. No ones bought it for many years, you’re doing me a favor by taking it.” The withered shop keeper had said as you went to hand them the book.

- Odd. You thought since nearly all of the books in the shop were just as old if not older. But who were you to turn down a persons generosity? Thanking the shop keeper, you left the store, clutching your newly owned book in your hand as you made your way home.

- Once you arrived home, you set the book down and went about the rest of your routine. It wasn’t until later that night that you actually cracked the book open, completely unaware of how invested you would become in the story.

- You spent hours devouring the pages, seldom stopping for anything and oblivious to the starry eyes which watched you from the dark of the night outside your window.

- It was a few days later that you would first encounter the goblin king in person. You’d had a bad day and felt as though you’d rather disappear forever than be a functional human being for another day. It was then that you remembered a specific quote from the story you’d read mere days before. With a solemn chuckle, you sank to the floor, closing your eyes and saying the words.

“I wish the goblins would come and take me away right now.”

- You sat silent for a long moment, taking a few deep breaths and trying to forget about the day you had. Creak! Your eyes snapped open and your head whipped to the side before you began to laugh nervously, there was nothing there.

- But in an instant, it felt as though the entire room was alive and that; even though you were completely alone, there was someone or something there with you. The distinct feeling of being watched filled you and you felt a twinge of panic invade your senses. You quickly made your way towards your back door and stepped outside …only to find that you weren’t in your backyard.

- Before you was the beautiful view of a, well, a labyrinth. It was just like the one in the book. Were you dreaming? You must have been, how else would you be …here.

- You began to walk towards the labyrinth, soon encountering the fairies, Hoggle, the worm. You marveled at the place around you and yet, you were worried. How would you get home?

- The answer wasn’t going to be anywhere outside of the labyrinth, and so you kept on going. Maneuvering your way through obstacle after obstacle, joining up with Hoggle once more who agreed to show you the way out after some bribery and blackmail. It was with Hoggle that you saw him for the first time.

- Well, it wasn’t really him at first, he was sitting on the ground in the shape of a creature-esque beggar. Even if it was him, you wouldn’t have recognized him. You moved closer to Hoggle as the two of you went to pass the blind beggar, creeping past before the creature spoke.

“Your majesty.” Hoggle said and your eyes widened. Stooping slightly, you bowed your head in a show of respect, up until the king made Hoggle confess his “true intentions behind helping you”.

- Unbeknownst to you, the goblin king was jealous of your newfound friendship with the ghastly little man and sought to squash it. Playing the role of kind king, he watched your reaction to the news, hiding his glee and making a face of teasing disappointment at the Hoggle.

“And you Y/n,” he turned his attention towards you, a smirk settling on his face as he leaned against the wall in front of you. “How are you enjoying my labyrinth?”

“Well, it’s very beautiful,” you fumbled for the right words to say, your throat dry and your stomach filled with butterflies. “I’ve enjoyed my time here, the good and the bad. But …I would like to know the way home....”

- He tsked at you before offering you a deal. If you managed to arrive at his castle in the next thirteen hours, then you could leave. But if you couldn’t, you would have to stay with him forever. With no other option, you accepted the challenge.

- Of course, he tries to foil all of your plans and attempts. Every now and again, he’ll drop in and make your mission harder. He’s always very smug whenever he messes you up and makes you take a longer route, though; at the same time, he wants you to arrive at his castle as soon as possible.

- Throughout his visits, he’ll try and win you over. Trying to impress you with his powers and woo you with his charms.

- Not many people have gotten as far as you have so believe me; he’s impressed. Though he also feels jealous as he watches you express any affection to the creatures of the labyrinth and your new friends. He threatens them every time they leave your sight.

- Regardless of his attempts to throw you off track, you do in fact make it to the castle in time. Thoroughly distraught, he offers you a final desperate deal though it sounds more like a plea. Let him rule you. Stay with him, fear him, love him. Do as he says, and he will be your slave.

- The offer makes you freeze, your heart and mind racing. For a long moment, you remain silent before you slowly open your mouth and give him your answer. Yes, you’ll stay.

- The smile he gives you is genuine and the world around you begins to put itself back together. Soon enough, you’re standing in the room full of staircases, a hopeful feeling rising within you.

“Come, let us pick your new room.” He offers you his hand and you take it, allowing him to lead you into the corridor of the castle.

- The two of you have dinner that night and both of you would consider it to be your first date. Candle light, flowers, the occasional rambunctious goblin; it was beautifully strange and you wouldn’t have changed a thing.

- The two of you share your first kiss in one of the many gardens of the Labyrinth. You were admiring the flowers and he was standing beneath a shady tree, admiring you; something he does very often.

- Out of nowhere, he stalked out from his shaded corner, hands behind his back as he leans down and kisses you. No words spoken, no questions asked and certainly no complaints made. He pulled away and you smiled up at him, though he was looking at the flowers in front of you. He only returned your smile as you turned back to the flowers happily, his heart full of adoration and gratitude.

- The two of you would only remain together forever ...not long at all.

- You’re only ever in the company of goblins and/or other creatures; and he couldn’t care less about their comfort or opinions, so pda isn’t really a problem for him. The only problem with Pda is the fact that he doesn’t want to appear too soft in front of his subjects.

- Passionate, breathtaking kisses that make you weak in the knees and send a wave of heat coursing through you.

- He loves when you come to spend time with him; or just to see him, on your own accord, even if you’re technically disrupting something. “To what do I owe the pleasure?” He’ll say, his face brightening as you come into view or the instant he hears your voice.

- He craves your affection and attention, even though he’s good at hiding it. He knows that he’s been “alone” for a very long time but it still genuinely surprises him when he’s reminded as to how much he’s actually missed having a companion.

- He always gives you a closed lip smile whenever you kiss him on the cheek. How big it is depends on the situation.

- He loves when you play with his hair, he’ll lay between your legs and toy with his crystals while you braid or twirl his teased locks.

- Getting to hear him sing. He usually pulls you into a dance while he does so.

- He’s quite fond of terms of endearment, he likes that only he is truly allowed to call you them and you him. Usually, he’ll call you love, darling, pet, and my queen.

- He’s a cuddler but you aren’t allowed to let anyone know that. Most of the time, the two of you will sleep with your head on his chest, one of your hands in his and his other arm wrapped around you, keeping you close.

- He likes tracing his fingers across your skin, usually your bare back while you’re laying on your stomach next to him in bed.

- Hand kisses.

- Constant compliments and praise.

“Well don’t you look ravishing~”

- He plays little tricks on you from time to time. I’m fairly certain that he’s; at least, part fae and we all know that they’re mischievous little bastards.

- Occasionally getting spooked by him because he’ll just appear somewhere close to you out of nowhere, usually with an expression that tells you that he knew exactly what he was doing.

- He enjoys the banter that the two of you get into. He likes the little smiles he can force you into making with his teasing comments.

- Sometimes, he’ll just drape himself across you; or lay his head on some part of you, and start a conversation as though nothing is out of the ordinary; which is true because he does it enough that you’ve gotten used to it.

“Do you think it’s too much?”

- Telling him about your dreams and the little odd things that happen to you throughout the day, even though he most likely already knows about them. He finds it amusing to listen to you describe them either way.

- He likes having your full attention. He likes the feeling of being yearned for and adored, though he adores you the same amount if not more.

- He’s sorta clingy though he tries his best to hide just how clingy he is. You get little glimpses of it every now and again, like him dropping in to see what you’re doing throughout the day or having you stay close to his side whenever you can.

- He’s a; for the most part, chivalrous gentleman, even when you’re testing his patience. It doesn’t matter if you’ve just had an argument, he’s still offering you his hand to steady yourself with while climbing up the castle steps.

- Getting his capes draped over your shoulders.

- Getting to hear all of his stories about the land, the labyrinth, and all of the creatures that inhabit it.

- You definitely sit on his lap while he’s in his throne, having little conversations while the goblins jeer at each other and cause trouble around you.

- You try to get him to be nicer to the goblins and all the other creatures of the labyrinth but old habits die hard; especially since he sees them as below him. He tries though, mainly to please you.

- You’re somewhat feared by association; at least until they get to know you, which means everyone is pretty much always incredibly nice to you, even if they’re usually rude to people. After they do get to know you, then they just begin to genuinely like you enough to be kind to you.

- Although, they revert back to their; understandably, timid selves when Jareth shows up. You can; quite literally, tell when the king shows up because their smiles will drop and their eyes will widen, some cowering slightly as you glance behind your shoulder, finding the blonde watching you.

- Masquerade balls thrown in your honor.

- Strange but delicious meals.

- Nights spent in front of a fire, cuddled into his side and watching different places and dreams in his crystals.

- Watching the sun rise and set together.

- You get anything your heart desires, all you have to do is ask or mention something in passion. He’ll either leave it for you to find in your room or manifest it right then and there, raising an eyebrow at you and smirking, a sparkling little glint in his eyes.

- Magic tricks. He enjoys seeing the wonder and awe on your face.

- Hugs from behind.

- Catching him talking to the goblins about you. It’s always something that you can’t help but find cute.

- Getting dressed up in extravagant clothing. He enjoys seeing you in proper goblin ruler fashion.

- You assume your queenly duties and take it upon yourself to make the labyrinth a better place wherever you can. He doesn’t understand your need to be kind but he does find it quite adorable when you return home with dirtied clothing and mussed up hair; usually out of breath with a big smile on your face, having spent the day helping the citizens of the labyrinth.

“Well look at your dress. You’ve ruined it.” He’ll say, usually in such a fond teasing manner that you can’t help but let out a little laugh.

- All the goblins adore you, even if you don’t necessarily fit in with them and the king. They like your little quirks and contrasting personality traits as much as they like the ones that match theirs.

- Occasionally stepping in to stop him from making brash; and oftentimes cruel, decisions.

- He’s incredibly jealous. Anytime he sees someone talking to you in a relatively “too friendly” way, he’ll threaten them with the bog of eternal stench or some other horrible part of his land.

- He’s very protective of you, the labyrinth can be a very dangerous place for someone who doesn’t truly know where they’re going. He always insists that you have someone accompany you; which you usually have no problem with. He also watches you from his crystals whenever he feels that something is wrong.

- You cant be sure but you guess that Jareth has something to do with the barn owl that follows you on your little journeys through the land.

- Arguments here and there. He usually ends up either shutting you down or snapping at you, though he doesn’t ever yell. Just to be petty, you’ll ignore him and occasionally go to stay somewhere else, usually being wholeheartedly yet wearily accepted into the home of one of your strange friends.

- He’s extremely irritable during these cold shoulder sessions, snapping at the goblins more than usual and ranting to them about how you “could dare just walk out on” him. He usually makes the creatures/goblins try to convince you to talk to him. Eventually, he’ll visit, telling you that you’re acting childish before breaking; as you refuse to say a word to him, and desperately trying to get you to forgive him.

- He doesn’t say “I love you” constantly but he does say it very often. Even so, it doesn't change how special it feels every time he says it.

- He wants to marry you as soon as he can but he thinks he’ll wait for children for a little while, wanting to savor your lives together before making a new one. As surprising as it may be, he genuinely does like children and is eager to have his own, especially with you.

#80s movie imagine #80s movie imagines #80s movie headcanons #80s movie headcanon #labyrinth imagine #labyrinth headcanons #labyrinth headcanon #labyrinth imagines #jareth imagine #jareth headcanons #jareth headcanon #jareth imagines #jareth x reader

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dudeandduchess · 4 years

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Kyōjurō x F!S/O: Pillar (Hurt/Comfort, Modern AU, SFW Scenario)

Summary: Wherein Kyōjurō calms his wife down when she has a panic attack.

Note: This is extremely self-indulgent. Also, thank you for the heartfelt messages. I promise I’ll answer them soon. I just wanted to share this. Thank you.

Warnings: Talks of Mental Health Issues and depictions of their symptoms

***

Crawling out of bed at twelve in the morning was something that wasn’t out of the norm for (Y/n). Getting hungry around that time was such a common occurence, that her husband didn’t even stir as she pushed his arm off of her— right before getting out from her spot next to him.

‘What to eat, what to eat?’ She thought to herself, as she wiped the sleep out of her eyes. Then, she reached over to her bedside drawer, grabbing her phone from where she’d left it charging; knowing full well that she was going to wake up at midnight to unplug it.

She was nothing if not a creature of habit, after all.

With one last look at her husband, to check if he had stirred awake and wanted anything, only to see that he was still asleep. She would have woken Kyōjurō up, as she found eating with someone else much more enjoyable than eating alone, but she didn’t have the heart to wake him up.

(Y/n) padded off to the kitchen then— scrolling through her social media applications all the while. It was a short walk, and she only bothered to turn on a few lights in her wake— as opposed to Kyōjurō who would have turned on all the lights inside the house.

A quiet but affectionate chuckle escaped her lips at that thought, making her sigh as she set her phone down on the kitchen counter.

‘Now, for what to eat,’ The young woman mused to herself once more, all while making her way to the refrigerator so she could look through its contents. However, nothing in there struck her fancy; with most of the ingredients requiring much more effort to cook, than she was willing to put in the work for.

And so— with her mind made up that she wasn’t making an elaborate snack for herself— (Y/n) turned her attention to the eggs on the counter; closing the refrigerator door, and then getting started on making the least fussy thing she could think of: hard boiled eggs.

It wasn’t the most palatable snack, but it would do to tide her over in the meantime. Unless, of course, she woke Kyōjurō up and asked him to get her a burger and fries from the nearest McDonald’s.

But she wasn’t that selfish or insensitive, so she would let her husband get his sleep— and then ask him to get her a burger and fries in the morning, maybe even one of those apple pies.

Her mouth was already watering at the mere thought of biting into the warm and sweet treat.

Still, as she lost herself in her daydream of eating a deep-fried pastry, she set off to start cooking her midnight snack. And with that task already underway, (Y/n) took a seat at the counter and picked her phone back up— setting up a timer for her cold-start eggs.

As (Y/n) waited for her snack to cook, she resumed scrolling through her phone; even smiling at all of the funny memes that she came across, and also leaving likes on posts that she found worthy of them.

However, the deeper that she got into scrolling through her phone, the more that she could feel her chest tightening up. And before she knew it, she was having a harder time breathing. It wasn’t that she was hyperventilating, but every inhale made her feel like her chest got even tighter than before— to the point where her heart had also began beating rapidly in an onslaught of panic.

She shook her head then, trying to brush the oncoming panic attack off, but having no such luck as even her hands began to shake. It made holding her phone difficult, so she set it back down on the counter and got up from her seat.

With her heart practically hammering inside her chest, she tried to pace around the kitchen in an effort to walk it off. She had even taken to leaning back against the counter and bouncing her right leg, all to offset the panic that was setting in inside her.

It was scaring her to no end, because she didn’t even know why she was panicking. She didn’t know what was off, yet her body was telling her that something was incredibly wrong.

(Y/n) had been going through the same ordeals for years now, yet they didn’t let up. They got better, especially after she met Kyōjurō, but they never stopped— and they always happened at random intervals.

No matter how hard she tried to take her attention away from her own panic, though, her mind always came back to it. Even telling herself to watch the eggs didn’t do anything for her.

Hell, even her hunger had dissipated when her panic set in.

Her feet then began carrying her from end to end of the kitchen, while she hugged herself and told herself that everything was going to be fine; that nothing was wrong. Yet, the more that she tried to comfort herself to make it all go away, the worse that her feelings got; to the point where she could feel tears pricking the backs of her eyes.

Before she could help it, she had already shut off the stove and turned off the timer on her phone; not wanting to bother with the eggs anymore.

And with gritted teeth, she sat back down in her seat and began tapping her fingers against her arms— as she had also returned to hugging herself.

But when even her pseudo-Butterfly Hug was not enough to calm her down, she opened her mouth and let out a shaky cry. “K-Kyō.”

It was so quiet at first that she knew it wouldn’t wake her husband up. So, she tried once more; louder, that time.

“Kyō!” And with that call for his name came a sob as well, just as her tears began falling from her eyes. “Kyōjurō!”

More and more tears streamed down her face then, as she couldn’t hold back the torrential downpour of her own emotions. She didn’t even know what she felt anymore— fear, sadness, apprehension— just that her heart was still beating like crazy, and that her entire body was so shaky and weak.

“Kyō!” (Y/n) called out once more, swallowing past her tears and almost sighing in relief when she heard the sound of covers being quickly thrown off, before being followed by the sound of feet rapidly thumping against the floor.

“What is it, ba-” The young man couldn’t even finish his question, as the sight of his wife pathetically trying to comfort herself while crying in the kitchen greeted him. “Baby, what happened?”

All the sleep was wiped out from his system then, making him frown as he closed the distance between them. And slowly, he stood between her thighs, as he wrapped his arms as tightly as he could around her— cuddling her right against his chest, and perching his chin against the top of her head, so that she would feel even more secure in his arms.

Judging by the shakiness of her body alone, he didn’t even need to ask further. (Y/n)’s panic attacks were something that went hand in hand with her anxiety issues, and he had been fully prepared to deal with them when they’d met— even after she’d tried to push him away, because she didn’t want to subject him to something that she thought was so unsightly and pathetic.

It was never pathetic to Kyōjurō. In fact, it made him want to stay beside her all the more, because he never wanted to let her suffer all alone.

“I don’t know, Kyō. I don’t know what’s wrong,” (Y/n) answered through her tears, sounding so desperate and defeated— even to her own ears— which broke her husband’s heart a little, since he knew that there were only very few things that he could do for her.

One was to hug her like he already was doing; which she slowly began to return, with her hands snaking up his back and clinging tightly to his shirt— in an effort to offset the shakiness in them. And the other was to try and soothe her with his words.

They almost always seemed to work, and he prayed that he would manage to calm her down with them that time— as he really hated the thought of her hurting in any way.

“It’s going to be okay, my love. You’re safe; I’m here to keep you safe,” Kyōjurō whispered softly; his normally loud tone simmering down to something that was akin to a soft melody against (Y/n)’s ears.

And when he started running his fingers through her hair, she could feel her heart beginning to slow down from the breathtaking pace that it had taken on earlier.

“I’m sorry...” The young woman whispered, sounding muffled and barely perceptible with her lips pressed against her husband’s chest.

But Kyōjurō heard her loud and clear, what with the thick silence that surrounded them. It made his chest tighten up with sadness, because he didn’t like it when his wife apologized to him for things that weren’t her fault. No one in the world had ever asked for a mental health issue, so he didn’t want her apologizing for that.

“Don’t be sorry, baby.” He then pressed a tender kiss to the top of her head, as if to punctuate his words. “I’ll always be here for you, okay? I’m never going to leave you; ever. You’re the most important person in the world to me.”

More tears began falling from (Y/n)’s eyes at that, yet her hold on Kyōjurō only tightened even more; which had the blond smiling affectionately, despite her silence. She might not have responded to him verbally, but it was evident in the way that she clung to him— as if he were her only lifeline— as well as the way that she kept pressing her lips against his chest, that she appreciated his words, and returned them wholeheartedly.

#rengoku kyoujurou x reader #kyoujurou rengoku x reader #kyojuro rengoku x reader #rengoku kyojuro x reader #demon slayer x reader #demon slayer fanfic #kny x reader #kimetsu no yaiba #demon slayer #kimetsu no yaiba fanfic #rengoku kyojuro #kyojuro rengoku #rengoku x reader #rengoku kyoujurou #kimetsu rengoku #jen writes

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coraobrien · 3 years

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All this devotion washing over me

Summary: A summer heatwave hits Downton, and Sarah goes to unconventional lengths to try to cool off. But with Cora's help, things can't stay cool for long.

Wordcount: 2503

Rating: Teen

also available on AO3

The midsummer heat clawed its way through every corridor in Downton, no crack or crevice was spared from its unrelenting hold. At least the upstairs rooms could open the windows to allow the breeze to provide some sweet relief, however downstairs in the servants’ hall it was a different matter entirely. With no windows to open, and Mrs Patmore’s range fire burning merrily away to cook dinner, the air soon became stifling.

As such, as many of the servants as possible did their best to escape—the maids cleaning the upstairs rooms, the footmen sneaking away behind Carson’s back to polish the silverware out in the kitchen gardens. Even Mrs Hughes took an uncharacteristic mid-afternoon break to walk around the estate.

Miss O’Brien, however, was stubborn.

She sat, like always, at the long table, sewing up them hem of her Ladyship’s lawn dress. It had been torn last year, near the end of the season, and she’d put off mending it for one reason or another, but now she knew it would be wanted again soon, and there was no use waiting any longer to fix it. And so she sat, needle in hand, sewing steadily as sweat formed on her brow and ran down the back of her neck.

Thomas sat down beside her after grabbing two glasses of water from the kitchen.

“’ere you go,” he said, sliding one over to her. She didn’t say anything. “A thank you wouldn’t hurt.” He muttered under his breath, taking a long sip of his drink.

“What do you want? A bloody medal of honour?” she sniped back, looking up from her work to glare at him, “I’m the only one doing any work round here today, and you expect me to drop everything and bow to you for bringing me a glass of bloody water?” Thomas leant back in his chair.

“Alright, alright, no need to bite my head off, I was only trying to be nice. You’ve looked more miserable than usual all day.” He took another swig, “I can leave you alone if that’s what you’re after.” O’Brien sighed, maybe she had been a bit harsh, and shook her head. She reached for her glass and drank it down.

“No.” She set the dress down on the table, careful not to dirty it, and stood up. “Come on, let’s have a smoke.” She offered him an open packet and he took one, following her out into the yard and lighting hers and then his own.

~~~

The smoke break didn’t help. The yard reeked of the horses traipsing in and out, not even the smoke could disguise the smell, and the buildings enclosed it enough that there wasn’t even a breeze to cool them. O’Brien stomped out her cigarette butt and leant back against the doorway. Thomas had skulked away a few minutes before, leaving her alone again, and she couldn’t tell if she preferred the silence, or missed the opportunity for gossip.

Two maids edged past her through the door, back into the kitchens. “I wouldn’t want to be a ladies maid right now,” one of them said to the other, “Wearing all black in this heat? I couldn’t stand it.”

“Look at poor O’Brien, she’s as red as a beet,” the other (Maud, if O’Brien remembered correctly), giggled, and O’Brien vowed to get her back for it at some point. She frowned to herself, then lifted her hand to her face, wondering if the girl’s claim was indeed true. Her skin was hot, and no doubt deeply flushed. She wiped her hand on her skirt, she couldn’t tend to her Ladyship looking like this.

Before anyone else could see her, she turned on her heel, grabbed the dress from the dining table and marched up the many sets of stairs leading to the women’s bedrooms, darting straight into her own and closing the door. She wasted no time in unfastening her bodice, skirt, and petticoat, tossing them onto the bed haphazardly along with the dress, then stood in front of the mirror and peering at her reflection. The curls on her forehead had begun to droop, and her cheeks glowed an unsightly shade of crimson. How unfair she was forced to wear such heavy clothes all day long, whilst Lady Grantham and the girls swanned around in fine lace and linens. How cool they must feel. If her memory didn’t deceive her, she remembered that whenever her Ladyship had complained of the heat, she had never even broken a sweat.

The trunk of her Ladyship’s spare clothes beside her bed suddenly seemed all the more appealing.

She glanced around the room, then peered out of the door to make sure no one was around, before undoing the clasps of the trunk and lifting the lid. She knew every dress in there by heart, having draped them all over her Ladyship’s body at some point or another, and she searched deftly for the one she had in mind. It was older, from back when Lady Grantham had been pregnant with Sybil, since most of the newer ones would be too small for Sarah. Soon, she found it, a soft cream lace, with drape-y sleeves and a flowing hem.

She tried the skirt first, one of the hooks catching her hairpin and causing her hair to tumble out of its neat bun. She sighed, but settled the skirt about her waist and fastened all the hooks and eyes together, followed by the final button. The bodice was next, and could prove more daunting, had O’Brien not manoeuvred Lady Grantham into it many times before. A few of the smaller fastenings were difficult to reach by herself but she managed it, somehow. Already she felt much lighter than in her usual dress, and she stepped over to the mirror to see the results.

She barely recognised herself. Gone were the harsh lines and distinctive silhouette of her years of service, and in their place, well, she could almost have mistaken herself for a Lady. A small smile broke out over her lips as she pushed her hair back over her shoulder. If she let her usual ideals slip for a moment, she could even say she looked pretty.

Standing back, she brushed over the fabric of the skirt with her fingertips, turning around to twirl, watching the material flow around her until-

“O’Brien? Are you in here? I couldn’t find you downst- Oh.”

O’Brien spun around to the doorway faster than she’d ever moved in her life, her face paling instantly.

“M’lady I can explain I swear-” she spoke quickly, her eyes wide as a rabbit caught in the headlamps of a motor. Her Ladyship looked her up and down slowly, silently encouraging her to continue. “I-” her tongue, usually so adept at inventing explanations on the fly, failed her. There was no lying her way out of this one. “It was too hot.”

“It was too hot… so you decided to try on my dress?” Lady Crawley repeated, her brow furrowed. O’Brien nodded, then explained the rest of the story. By the end, her Ladyship’s lips had to quirk at the sides, betraying the suitably stern look she schooled her features into.

“Well, I must say O’Brien…” Sarah prepared herself for the incoming dressing down. “That dress rather suits you.”

“What?” she said, before she had a chance to process Lady Crawley’s words.

“I said you look beautiful O’Brien,” Cora smirked, and the anxiety in the pit of Sarah’s stomach transformed into butterflies.

“So you aren’t angry with me, M’lady?” she asked, her eyes flitting between Cora’s pale blue gaze and the lace beneath her hands.

“No, I’m not,” she spoke kindly, “Quite the contrary in fact.” She adjusted the neckline of the dress, her fingertips skimming Sarah’s collarbone, and she fought not to shiver at the contact. Since when did being touched by her Ladyship make her feel this way? Maybe it was the strange intimacy of the whole situation, Sarah wearing clothes that had once been against Cora’s own skin, with her hair flowing down her back like some princess in a fairy tale about to meet her prince. Sarah O’Brien was not a fanciful woman, but for some reason, Cora managed to make her imagination fly.

“You look much better than I ever did in it.”

“Oh no M’lady, I can’t believe that.”

Cora shook her head, then guided Sarah over to the mirror on the dressing table. “But look at yourself!” she took Sarah’s hair in one hand and twisted it up into a pouf, holding it in place. “You’re beautiful.”

Sarah felt her cheeks colour again, but this time not from the heat. Her heart pounded in her chest, and all she could focus on was Cora’s hand in her hair, and how exposed she felt under Cora’s gaze. She almost startled when Cora’s free hand came to rest on her shoulder, her fingers cool against her hot skin, under thin lace. Almost instinctively, despite it contradicting every instinct she should’ve had as a Lady’s maid, she reached up to touch Cora’s hand. A quizzical expression flittered over Cora’s face, and for a second Sarah worried she’d taken it too far, until Cora squeezed her shoulder gently.

“Beautiful,” she said again, softer, quieter than before, and much closer to Sarah’s ear. So close that if she turned her head just so, then they might- she daren’t even let herself think it. But Cora was right there, her hand holding Sarah’s hair slowly falling, brushing against the back of her neck in a way that shouldn’t feel as good as it did, and Sarah had to do something or she might explode. She swallowed.

“M’lady I-” she said, turning around, just as Cora took a step forward, leaving them both staring, wide eyed at each other, now almost pressed together. The rest of whatever Sarah planned to say died on her lips as she found herself staring directly at Cora’s, whose hands still rested on Sarah’s shoulder, her neck.

Cora traced lightly along Sarah’s cheek, tilting her head upwards slightly. “Tell me you want me to stop."

“No.”

Time seemed to slow down, the air almost crackling with tension between them. Sarah’s eyes fluttered closed as Cora leaned in, brushing their lips together, lightly enough that Sarah could pull away if she wanted. But pulling away was the last thing on her mind.

She pushed up onto her tiptoes to kiss her back, her hands settling at Cora’s waist and subtly guiding her closer. She hadn’t kissed anyone in years, a decade even, but no amount of practice could have prepared her for the experience of kissing Cora. Every nerve in her body set alight at the smallest movement of Cora’s tongue in a way that both thrilled her and somehow felt like coming home.

Cora’s lips tasted sweet against her own, and impossibly soft. The scent of her orange blossom perfume filled the air around them. Their noses bumped together, but Sarah didn’t care. The world could disintegrate around them and she wouldn’t give a damn as long as Cora kept kissing her. They separated for a moment to catch their breath. Sarah reached up to tuck a curl of hair behind Cora’s ear and smile as she felt the older woman lean into her touch.

“Cora,” Sarah sighed. Your Ladyship didn’t feel appropriate anymore, not when Cora was tracing patterns familiarly into the back of her neck, nor when her lips were still so effortlessly enticing and she was looking at Sarah with those eyes. “Do that again.”

“I thought I was the one supposed to be giving orders,” Cora teased, her pupils blown wide, as she watched her maid. Sarah leaned closer again, until Cora could feel her breath against her lips.

“Today it’s my turn.”

This time the kiss started purposefully and only became more insistent. Cora’s hands tangled in Sarah’s hair, and she gasped as Sarah gently nipped at her bottom lip. Together they stumbled towards the wall, pressing closer and closer together. Cora’s soft moans as Sarah strayed from her lips to kiss her neck filled her with warmth and such heat she hadn’t thought possible for a woman of her age. But Cora was older than her and by the looks of things she was enjoying this just as much as she was.

She wanted to scrape her teeth over the soft skin where Cora’s neck met her jaw, wanted to hear all the pretty noises it would elicit, but she knew Cora wouldn’t appreciate any marks once the haze of passion lifted, so she settled for kisses instead, littering them over every exposed inch of skin she could reach, finally capturing Cora’s lips again and melting into her.

Only when her lungs ached for air did she finally stop, breathing deeply as Cora cupped her cheek and rested her forehead against hers.

“I never knew it was supposed to feel like that,” Cora half whispered, half giggled after a long moment. Sarah nodded, her head still reeling from what had just happened.

“Had I known that’s what you wanted, I would’ve done it a long time ago,” Sarah’s voice was low as she looked up at the woman before her. Her lips were kiss-swollen and her hair had become tousled and she was the most gorgeous person Sarah had ever laid eyes upon.

The sound of a door slamming somewhere down the hallway broke them both out of their reverie.

“You should really be going,” she said quickly, “They’ll be ringing the dressing gong soon and there’ll be questions if you’re seen up here.”

“I know,” Cora moved towards the door, “I think I’ll call for you earlier though, if that’s ok with you?” Under any other circumstances, it would’ve sounded caring, but with that specific tone of voice, it sent tingles of anticipation down Sarah’s spine.

“Yes M’Lady,” she stepped forward and pressed one last kiss to Cora’s lips, savouring it for only a few seconds before breaking it. It wouldn’t do to get carried away again, no matter how much she wanted it. “I can’t wait.”

"Oh, and Sarah?" Cora was already reaching for the door knob but stopped. "You can keep the dress; I'd like to see you in it again." And with that, Cora slipped out of the door, and the servants’ corridor completely, back into the main house, leaving Sarah staring at the doorway, her mind whirling from what had occurred. She sat down on the end of her bed, blushing as she ran her hand through her hair and pushed it out of her face. Her cheeks were more flushed than before, and her skin was even hotter, but now she found she didn’t mind it. Cora always had a knack of making even the downsides of a situation somehow turn into positives. And Sarah was positive she would enjoy whatever may happen next. And, she thought to herself, maybe the hotter, the better.

#corah #cora crawley #sarah o‘brien #cora x sarah #sarah x cora #lady grantham #countess crawley #miss o‘brien #downton abbey #corah fic #my fic

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fulcrum-agent · 3 years

Text

002. Aberrant [FFXIVwrite2021]

He would walk into the makeshift lab where he had her strapped to a table, writing something down in a journal.

"Good morning!" He said in a false cheery tone, "No...that isn't right...Good morning, sister?"

He pondered, "Good morning, love?" He waves his hand. "So many nuances for a simple phrase."

The almost-familiar voice causes her to start to wake from her healing sleep. Light blue gaze shifts to the speaker, frowning at the way the once-familiar voice speaks before it all comes rushing back to her. "Who are you?" she asks groggily, attempting to reach up and rub her eyes, only to find she's strapped down. At which point, she panics. "What the fuck?!"

A slight smile comes across his lips.

"Shhh shhh shhh," He hushed before kissing her forehead. "We must begin at once. So there's no time to panic or get...angry? Yes, I believe that is the emotion, angry."

He moves around the table. "My name is Merrick...though in time I will become Liocyon....once I replace him and remove the blemish that Cicero put in your head."

She goes quiet and still as he moves to kiss her forehead, moving only if his lips near her third eye. His latter words are distressing, and she starts to struggle again.

"Replace him?! You can't replace Lio!" she shouts, trying to wriggle free from the bonds. "No one, not even a replicant, can replace my brother!"

He shakes his head.

"Tsk tsk, poor stupid girl." He mockingly laments, "Lio is a....kind, sweet boy but...utterly useless. Cicero knows that I know that, and deep down...you know that."

He smiles.

"But, that's for another time, first things first...getting rid of the 'cheat' that Cicero put in your head..this command word." He gives a disgusted look. "An unsightly blemish on an otherwise beautiful work of art."

"Which command word - there's so many we've already found!" she frantically questions, still trying to collapse her hands or feet enough to wriggle free from bonds. "How can you think anything Father did to me is art?!"

He shakes his head. "No, no no, you misunderstand, All the command words are blemishes, you are a work of art, something that can't be replicated, why he would choose to poison your mind with inane command words is beyond me...but I will remove them before moving onto my plan."

That sounds too good to be true and raises so many troubling questions.

"Tana seems to have turned out all right," she attempts to counter first before asking, "And what plan is that?"

He tilts his head.

"Tana? I'm not familiar with the name, but if she's another replicant, I suppose I'll have to remove her as well." He nods. "My plan? To take over the Aurelius household, remove that blight that calls himself a scientist and all its offspring...besides you, of course. You and I will create a new family...a superior family, and Garlemald will be all the stronger for it."

It's then that she starts screaming and struggling against the bonds harder, desperately trying to free herself. "I'll never-- NEVER!"

He would let out an almost dramatic sigh as she begins to struggle again.

"You people are so confusing; you want perfection but then fight against it when it shows itself." He shakes his head. "I don't understand you."

He moves over to a side table and picks up a syringe.

"But no matter, you'll understand soon enough." He says with an emotionless smile.

"There's no such thing as perfection!" she counters as she struggles further. "I don't want perfection - I want what's real!"

Her eyes widen at the syringe as she slowly begins to regress. She tries to shy away from the implement, a terrified expression crossing her features as she falls into silent horror briefly.

"No...please no...no more injections, Father...please..."

His demeanour seems to change at her sudden shift in mood. Excitement crosses his face.

"There you are! Such a beautiful expression!" His hand moves down to press against her breast, feeling her heartbeat. "Yes! Fear...a natural stress response. You wear the expression well."

She cringes away from his touch, trying to sink into the table she's strapped to. Fear may be an understatement for her feelings right now. Terrified whimpers escape her lips as she looks up at Merrick with the widest gaze, pale blue eyes stricken.

"...please no...please...not again..."

He grins.

"Again and again and again, until you understand, until you are pure until you are clean again." He holds the syringe in front of her face. "I'm going to hurt you first; pain will loosen his hold on you, make you more pliable...more susceptible."

He nods.

"Do you think when a caterpillar metamorphosis's into a butterfly that it is a painless process? Unfortunately, no...but it is worth it." He nods and begins to run the tip of the syringe down her arm. "You can scream, cry, close your eyes...but this is happening."

She goes still as the needle is dragged down her arm; she knows what happens when one struggles against a syringe while it's piercing flesh, and she doesn't know when he is going to plunge the metal through her skin.

"I'm...not a caterpillar," she whimpers with fright, "... can't be a butterfly... I'm just Aquila..." Her hands grip the sides of the table so tightly that her knuckles have gone white.

He shakes his head in an almost disappointed way.

"So much work left to do." He laments before slipping the needle into her arm, expertly locating the vein and injecting a sedative. "Just sleep, dear sister....everything will change soon enough.."

Oh, how she fights against the sedation, despite her fears and flashbacks. Her eyes become half-lidded time and again before snapping open wide, but she cannot will herself awake for long.

"You'll...pay...for this..." she whispers before the dark embrace of sleep takes her.

He tilts his head as she begins to drift off. "Shhhhhh", He whispered in an almost soothing tone, his hand moving down her chest to her legs, up along her inner thigh. "Much better.."

She goes limp against the table, hands slowly releasing their death-grip upon the sides of the table. Defenceless, she is at the mercy of the mad replicant, entirely.

((Adapted from an RP with Liocyon, Aquila's twin.))

#ffxivwrite2021

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darkdevasofdestruction · 4 years

Text

Lau - Pink Lotus Princess

(( Just a little disclaimer - I chose to find a nice name for the Reader as well, mostly because I wanted that name to be symbolic and have the meaning that I wanted it to, to be in a clear anti-thesis to her sister.

Yahui (Elegant, Graceful) Lianyi (Intelligent, Unique)

I did quite a lot of research on things from the Quig dynasty and how things were around that time...And also some influences from the phone game Royal Chaos that I used to play a year ago, more or less because the plot was pretty interesting, so I hope didn’t do any errors or stuff like that x ))

---

The whole kingdom had a reason to party as the Empress gave birth to a little Princess, and although it wasn't an heir, as everyone hoped for, they were still content with it, being his first child.

The Emperor stood by the Empress' side on her bed, stroking her hair as she smiled exhausted down at the little angelic creature she gave birth to, leaning her head on her husband's side, and at least for that night, there would be no Harem troubles.

That happiness was short lived, as the main Consort also gave birth to a little girl, a little over 2 months later, which made for everyone comparing the 2 little Princesses in everything they did.

And thus comes the story of the little Princess Lianyi, a girl of merely 10 years of age, seemingly so innocent to the world, and yet, knowing so many of the harsh realities that she witnessed or heard of from her mother, the Empress, who thought the nest birthday gift for her little Lotus was to take her in town to see the world.

Her father gifted her a beautiful pink dress with long sleeves, which she used as pockets for little coin bags and a hair pin, just in case. The maid brushed her long, beautiful hair that looked like black silk in a beautiful half-braid, the upper part being a complicated, royal braid, while the lower part she let loose, dancing to the rhythm of the gentle Spring wind.

The Empress let the girl do as she pleased, keeping an eye on her from afar, and she realised she admired the beautiful craftsmanship of various hair accessories, when she suddenly heard a huge commotion at a food stand, and a furious man furiously yelling at a boy about her age who looked terrified.

The little princess frowned and went to the booth, realising the boy must have stolen to feed himself, as he looked like an orphan, and she took out one of the little coin bags and threw them at the booth owner.

"Here, I'm sure this is enough for what he stole and some more, correct?" she spoke in a light voice, yet her eyes were unwavering. "Who tha' hell d'ya think ye are, kid?! Get outta mi sight!" the booth owner shouted at her, making her raise her chin and stare at him offended and condescending. "You dare disrespect Princess Lianyi? How unsightly! But I am merciful today, since it’s my birthday. I will give you a second chance to redeem yourself before I call over my guards." her words shocked the man as she spoke so maturely, almost as of the Emperor himself was in front of him. "Y-Yer the P-Princess...?" the man jaw-dropped, his eyes wide like saucers, before falling to his knees, bowing to the ground in front of the girl. "F-Forgive me rudeness, Yer Highness! That rat stole food and with no money, I can't take care of me own family! P-Please take anything ye'd like!" he sobbed, making the girl crouch down and pat his head awkwardly. "That's enough, I forgive you. Take the money for your family and let me take the food from here. This boy here is just a child without family. Next time you are so ride towards an orphan, imagine what would happen to your child if you were to die right now." she explained in a gentler voice, before taking the food bag and dragged the boy away to a beautiful koi fish pond that was shded by a Peach tree.

The girl lifted the hem of her dress, sitting on the ground and drawing shapes with her finger on the sheen of the crystal clear water.

"Well? Aren't you going to eat? I thought you'd be famished." she mused in a playful way. "Why...Did you help me? You're a Princess...Nobody from the royal family ever helped the homeless..." he spoke in a hushed voice, almost as if afraid. "Oh, I see you're brave. Nobody would dare drag the royal family in front of the Princess herself. Tell me your name." she smiled deviously, shifting her gaze completely to the boy. "Lau, Your Highness. My name is Lau." saying his name, a soft smile started to creep on his face. "Aww, look at you, you're smiling, how cute. Here, take this. Spend it wisely, I'm not sure when we'll be seeing each other again. Now that I practically bribed you, tell me why are you so at ease with talking to me." the Princess smirked, making the boy muse and grin wider. "You see, Princess, I can read people very well, and I can tell that you have something...Unique about you. Just like a Lotus flower. So tell me, my pink Lotus, what do you do at the palace? Sing like a little songbird for the Emperor? Or do a graceful dance for your suitors?" Lau rested his chin on his palm, looking completely at ease, fox-like features gracing his visage. "Goodness, no, that's my sister...My job at the Palace is to be the China's disappointment." she chuckled drily, looking away. "If I were a bird, I could fly away and be free...I could do anything that I wanted and nobody would judge me or treat me as an object for political means. I could discover the world and...I could be happy." she sighed, closing her beautiful jade-coloured eyes in resentment. "You are just like a butterfly, my Princess. A caged bird, trying to break free. What are you going to do?" he mused in a lower voice. "What is there to do, Lau? I'm a woman! There is nothing to do! My father is already angry enough on me for being such a weird daughter and now I have to learn how to behave, so to speak, so at least he wouldn't kill me or send me away to some nasty old man." she bit her lip without realising, before she felt a gentle hand on her face. "And what are you interests, little flower?" he asked, caressing her face. "I'm...Sneaking to the healers to study medicine. It's my passion. If I could, I would become a healer...But I can't. My fated was sealed to me the day I was brought into this world." she sighed once again, looking down. "If I could marry you, I would, and we could live our life away from all these terrible people. Isn't it sad how fate works sometimes? But I'm asking you, my dear Pink Lotus...What if we were to fight destiny?" he smirked mischievously, making her widen her eyes in disbelief. "Fight fate...? Is that even possible...?" she whispered, barely able to find her voice. "We can do anything we want to, my dearest. All we have to do is be smart about our little plans. So, what do you say? Do you want to escape your fate together with me and get away from this place? Or will you continue to be the Emperor's little doll that will get thrown away in a few years? I believe you're almost old enough to marry, am I right ~?" he slurred his words, almost as if entrancing her in his spell. "How old are you that you know so much?" she raised her eyebrow in confusion. "Barely 15, but my little sister is just a bit younger than you, and I would be devastated if she were to have such a terrible life ahead of her." he spoke with slight amusement. “How nice...You have a sister that you love...And she loves you back. I and my sister have been pitted against each other since birth. I expect death every day by either her hand or the Consort’s.” she scoffed, looking away in disgust. “Who would have thought that such beautiful ladies would be so much deadlier than war generals.” he chuckled in amusement, making the girl nudge him. “Don’t joke like that...Instead, tell me your plan.” she leaned in closer, motioning for him to tell her everything. “Hmmm...? Plan? What plan? I have no idea what are you talking about.” he shrugged simply, a wide, innocent and clueless grin on his face, making the girl look at him in complete shock. “Excuse....Me....WHAT?! You did all that build up, giving me hope that I could somehow get away from all this madness, only for you to destroy everything...Just like that?! How cruel can you be?!” she glared at him, getting to her feet, rushing to leave, before he caught her wrist, turning her to face him. “Wǒ qīn'ài de fěnhóng sè liánhuā (My dear pink lotus) ...Don’t turn your back on me like that, you’re breaking my heart. You showed me kindness, and I have to repay my debt in a way. Even if you decide to throw away your status, you’re always going to be my dear little Princess. Life works in mysterious ways, don’t forget that.” Lau caressed her face, planting a soft kiss on her forehead, leaving her awestruck, little beads of water glistering in her eyes. “You better not betray me, Lau, or I swear I will have you publicly executed and I will swing the sword myself.” she threatened, despite her voice being so light and shaky. “I shall remember that.” he mused, finding her words rather cute.

---

Years passed faster than anyone expected, and while Lianyi wasn’t able to go visit her friend too often, at least once per year, during her birthday, she managed to see him, thanks to her mother’s kindness, seeing her only daughter being so infatuated with the boy that treated her so gently.

Her mother only got into the Harem and accepted to marry the Emperor because her brother was a powerful War general and she was the eldest daughter of the family, so it had to be done.

She never loved the Emperor, and she wished for her daughter to find and marry a man she loves... The Empress knew from the second she gave birth to her little angel, she knew that she was special and had a great future ahead of her...But she had to be far away from this terrible place...Far away where she wasn’t a Princess and she could marry the man she fell in love with and practice healing, just as she always dreamt of.

However, the Princess’ 15th birthday gift was her mother’s death, which she realised was due to poison from the Consort, and her father arranged her marriage with the enemy War General to make a peace pact, which made her heart break and whole life shatter in front of her.

Lianyi ran to the meeting spot where Lau was waiting, this time, without his little sister, Ran Mao, with whom the girl played with or braided her hair or gave her gifts like hair pins or other nice clothes.

She threw her arms around the only person apart from her mother who showed any bit of love to her and let tears stream down her soft, porcelain like cheeks, making the man worry and put her to his chest, stroking her hair.

“What ever could have happened to make you cry, wǒ de húdié (my butterfly) ?” he asked in a gentle voice, wiping away the tears. “They killed her, Lau! Those harpies killed her! With monkswood, nonetheless! How much more cruel can they get? Don’t they realise that it’s an act of treason and they could be killed? And if that wasn’t enough, my father is sending me away to marry some 60 year old general that’s our enemy nonetheless...Next week...I don’t know what to do! I’m losing my mind!” she sobbed in his warm embrace as he tried to calm her down, but she was lost beyond reason. “My poor little Princess, so young, yet burdened with such sorrow. I wonder how you will get out of this mess.” he cooed at her, making her grit her teeth in anger. “If you’re not going to help, at least don’t be a jerk about it! I going through a crisis right now, and despite you being the only person I can rely on, you’re mocking me! I am still the Princess and with the little influence I have, I can still have you killed!” she sneered at him, pushing him away, but it only made him chuckle. “Please forgive me, my darling, it’s just...You’re just so adorable when you respond to my teasing. It just makes me want to squish your cheeks and gush over how cute you are. Here, as a way to apologise, I’ll let you braid my hair. How is that?” he unbraided his hair, letting his ebony hair that almost reached his waist fly in the soft wind. “Sure...” she muttered, sitting on the ground behind the man, gently playing with his hair, slowly letting peace wash over her. “If I run away...How will we ever see each other again? I don’t want to lose you, Lau.” she sighed, finishing the braid and hugging the man, resting her forehead on his shoulder. “I would never leave my little Pink Lotus alone. This only means that we have to act sooner than expected. We shall be just like this Peach tree, blooming earlier than our time, but just as beautiful. Lianyi, my darling, will you listen to what I have to say?” he got up, helping the girl stand as well, putting his hands on her pale face, looking deep into her jade-like eyes, feeling his heart warmer as he noticed how divine she looked with her face rosy, in the divine light of Mother Moon. “Of course I will listen to you.” she spoke breathlessly, gazing shyly into his dark eyes. “Then follow your instincts and know that even if you don’t see me next to you, I am still guiding you from the shadows, and soon, we will see each other again when you least expect it. I made a promise with you and I intend to keep it. If you stay around me for now, you will be in grave danger, and I will not allow that to happen.” he spoke firmly, letting her know he wasn’t being playful, as usual. “What have you gotten yourself into...?” she frowned in worry. “Nothing that you should worry over, wǒ qīn'ài de xiǎo gōngzhǔ ( my dear little princess ).” he soothed her gently, letting his sleeve fall down a bit down, revealing a dragon tattoo. “Oh, Lau...Please be safe. I don’t know what I’d do if I knew something happened to you.” she pleaded with her eyes, glimmering like jewels in the light, making the brunet man smile gently at her, tracing her soft, luscious lips resembling the petals of a pink lotus, with his thumb. “I promise you that we will both be okay, if you promise me you’ll still love me so beautifully when we see each other again. No matter what happens, never lose this innocence of yours, my dear.” speaking so softly, he put a strand of your hair behind your ear. “Why is a man so invested with a woman? Surely you realise I won’t be a Princess anymore when we next see each other. So...Why...Do you behave so differently from everyone else...?” she raised her eyebrow in naive confusion. “I imagine for you, this feeling would be foreign, but I didn’t lie when I said I wanted to spend my life with you. Now, should we seal this promise of ours?” he smiled softly at her, raising her face to gaze at him. “How...?” she asked in that sweet voice that sent shivers down his spine.

There was no need for an answer, for Lau slowly leaned in, capturing her lips softly, pulling her closer to him, before pulling apart and gazing into her eyes, seeing stars and love.

He had never seen such a pure and lovely person in his life, especially one to show him such warm and genuine emotions, and over these 5 years they spent together, his love and need to protect her only grew more and more.

He didn’t know how long he will have to be away from her, nor did he know if he was going to survive being a top official of Qing Bang, and more, quickly reaching up the ladder and being close to becoming the manager of the Shanghai trading company, and very soon, having to move to Great Britain and extend his influence there.

Lau’s life has always been unpredictable and dangerous, so until he somehow manages to settle in a more relaxed environment where he’s sure no assassin may attack or use her as bait or bribe, there was no way he could have her around any longer.

He was an ambitious man, he wanted to be so much more than a street rat, he wanted money, he wanted luxury and riches, he wanted the world, he wanted to indulge in sins...

He wanted everything.

And he WILL get everything.

---

While Lau was busy making a name for himself, the girl was forced to dance for her soon to be husband, who was nothing less than a lecherous scum of a human being.

She was fed up, she’s had enough of this life.

She was going to end it all.

She was finally going to take the reigns of her fate in her hands.

Nobody was going to control her anymore.

She followed the advice that her mother gave her on her deathbed, took her trusted servant with her, and ran away on a horse, disguising herself as a man and acting as a travelling healer.

She already had enough money at her, courtesy of her mother’s shrewdness, so for the rest 5 or so years, she lived peacefully with her servant in a decent home, working as a physician at a smaller palace.

But due to a series of unfortunate events, she was found out and she was Physician Yi no more, but a woman once again, who was not allowed to work as a healer. What was even worse, was that the Lord of the palace forced her to join his harem, otherwise she would get executed for treason, all while they killed her servant in an attempt to warn her.

But she wasn’t going to let men take control of her life again.

That night, she created a poison and dipped her hair pin needle in it, killing the guards that stood by the gate, leaving with her horse far, far away.

What she wasn’t expecting, however, was to arrive to a ship that was sailing to England, so she decided to change her fate completely, with no regrets, and see if maybe other continents, other countries, would treat her better.

The whole thing was a mess and the living conditions on the ship were horrible, but she wasn’t Princess Lianyi anymore, nor was she Physician Yi, so she couldn’t afford to complain, and nor she could afford to give any money away recklessly.

She arrived at what she would find out is called East End - London, where poor Oriental people would try to find work...But she wasn’t going to do any physical work. She wasn’t strong enough, she knew her strengths, and that wasn’t one, so she started searching around for physicians and doctors where she could work, of course, disguised as a man, but nobody would hire her without a proper license.

She was going to give up and look for an inn to rest at, when she stumbled upon a Mortician parlor, and thought it wouldn’t be too bad to work there - Better than nowhere, at least, so she knocked on the door, entering nervously.

She was met by a creepy laugh and a man with long silvery hair coming out of a coffin, grinning carefree at her, asking her what she was looking for, and as soon as the man heard she was looking for work, addressing to herself as a man, instead of a woman, he started laughing, which slightly freaked her out.

“Darling, I understand you had to worry about being a woman, out there, but here, you don’t have to hide anymore. I will hire you regardless. I have a spare room here, not that I was expecting to hire anyone, but it sure comes in handy.” he spoke in a low, playful voice, taking away the hat from her head and letting her beautiful, long, ebony hair cascade down her back. “Is it...Really no problem...At all...? No catch? Nothing? Just your heart’s kindness?” she asked in a broken English. “Hmm...I suppose I’ll have to teach you proper English, but that’s no problem at all. You see...I have a few special people that I know and I don’t charge them money, but something much more important in these grim days. It’s laughs. And dear, your attempt at imitating a man, no matter how cute that was, failed. I wonder if it failed because I already know a Chinese man...Who knows?” he giggled, lifting her face up to inspect her. “If you don’t want money, what do you want? And who’s this Chinese man that you’re speaking of?” she asked, hoping, at least for a second, that this is the fate Lau was talking about. “Tell me your story, and you won’t have anything to worry about. You, little mouse, piqued my interest. And the man I’m speaking of usually walks around a little guard dog...I’m sure he’ll come around sooner or later, and you’ll see him yourself.” he explained, intertwining his fingers together. “...I am Princess Lianyi, the Emperor’s and the Empress’ only child. I ran away from home 5 years ago when I got fed up with being used like a doll, married off and mistreated, only for political reasons, and I decided to pursue my dreams. However...I’m not sure if I can settle with only being a healer. I want to kill the Emperor for treating me that way, despite being his first child, and I want to kill his Consort and their daughter for poisoning my mother. If they are dead, then I can be Empress and nobody would dare pressure me again.” she spoke timidly, knowing very well that her ambitions were far beyond reason. “What a marvelous story! To think I’d find myself in the grace of a Princess with such dark ambitions! Hehehe, that’s rather amusing! Don’t worry, little mouse, I will help you with anything I can. You can wear any outfit you wish, it may bring some colour to this gloom place. After all, the beauty of life is like a blooming flower, isn’t it?” the Undertaker hummed, stroking a strand of her hair. “Pink Lotus...That’s what someone special used to call me...Never mind that. Thank you, Undertaker, for your kindness. I truly appreciate it.” she spoke in a soft voice, bowing slightly, not knowing the customs of this new place.

No matter that, however, for the Undertaker was there to teach her everything she needed, be it the language, the customs or medicine, which in this place was so different, yet incredibly efficient.

She quickly learnt of his connection with the underworld and how, before, he meant that people come to him to buy information and this was mostly a facade hobby of sorts.

The Undertaker, for some reason, never called her by her name, but by random nicknames, only using “Pink Lotus” when there was something more important, knowing how many emotions that would bring to her. He would, however, use “Physician Yi” when referring to her in public, not wanting to potentially give away her identity, but also, playfully mocking her 5 years of living as a man, which would greatly annoy the girl and would either glare at the silver haired man, or throw a dog biscuit at him.

Weeks and months passed rather fast and working for the mortician became a rather pleasant routine, until a certain dog bark disturbed their peace.

She was in the back, preparing a tray of tea, before fixing her pink outfit and gold hair accessories, and putting the tray in front of the Undertaker’s table, not sparing any glance for the new comers.

“Wonderful as usual, my dear. This is the guard dog I was telling you about. Isn’t he cute?” the silver haired man giggled, but she only glared at him, remaining silent. “I wouldn’t have expected you to hire Chinese servants who can’t speak English.” the midget smirked, irritating the girl, who cursed him in Chinese, barely audible. “Tiān nǎ (goodness gracious), how amusing!” the Chinese man chuckled dramatically. “What did she say?!” the dark haired child raised his voice impatiently. “Oh, I wonder...!” he smiled deviously, which made her raise her eyebrow at him in confusion. “Do you need me for anything else, Undertaker? Or can I go back to my work? I don’t fancy wasting time with meaningless things, like you.” she spoke in a harsh voice, looking down at him, like a true Empress would. “Well, I was thinking you could present our guests our newest case! As Physician Yi, I’m sure you’d find some joy in showing your expertise, wouldn’t you?” he teased, making the girl harden her glare. “How pathetic. Besides, why should I help them? Jack the Ripper case solved or not, there’s nothing in it for me, is it? I’m not here to do charity work.” she crossed her arms, scoffing. “Ohhh, I see! Then, darling, what is your price? Or do you want jewelry? Fine clothes? Just name it, and in exchange for your services, it’s all yours!” the Chinese man walked in front of her, grinning just like a fox. “Kill the Emperor for me, and I’ll tell you everything.” she matched his grin, her face glowing with a poisonous and fake innocence, leaving the man open his eyes in shock. “...Eh?” he managed to blurt out, certainly caught off guard. “HA! Never mind that, your dumb face was enough to pay me.” she laughed patronising, making the man stare at her in shock, not knowing what to say. “Gods, you’re just like him...” the kid muttered in annoyance. “If you don’t mind...All of the victims were female prostitutes and all of them had a missing, representative organ. If you haven't guessed by now, it's the uterus. It's been carefully taken away. One might conclude that, despite being few people on the streets at night, the culprit has at least the minimum anatomical knowledge, to perform such a clean and specific organ removal...In pitch black.” the girl explains simply and professionally, as if she wasn’t trash-talking them just a second earlier. "Very well, my dear Pink Lotus, you did your homework well~!” the Undertaker chuckled, making the girl hit his chair, making him fall off, in a fit of rage. “How many times must I tell you NEVER to call me that? You’re incurable.” she gritted her teeth in anger, before leaving the parlor.

What she wasn’t aware of was that, for a few seconds, the talk of the day was still about her.

“Why would you get such an irritating servant?” Ciel rolled his eyes in annoyance. “She’s not my servant, Earl. You could say she’s my little apprentice, but it was her who came so timidly at me, asking to be hired, since no one would hire a healer without a license. Poor thing, and she’s such a brilliant young girl.” the mortician commented with a vague smile on his face. “I would say, Young Lord, that you’re not as amiable as you think you are.” Lau teased the young boy, who gasped, offended. “What did you say?!” he glared at his associate with such hatred. “People who had bad things happen to them don’t act as they feel. You should know that by now, shouldn’t you?” he explained, extending his arms to his sides. “Does that mean that you know who she is or what she’s been through or what?” the dark haired child raised his eyebrow questioningly. “I have no clue.” Lau deadpanned, leaving everyone facepalming. “Undertaker, would it be too much to ask you to let me hire your little assistant for a week or 2? I promise I’ll bring her back home safe and there’s no underground business involved.” he averted his gaze to the Undertaker, his heart beating faster after seeing the girl. “If she accepts, who am I to come between the work of fate?” the man hinted, making Lau grin even wider.

It was all he needed to be sure that the girl that made a fool of him was actually the little Princess he loved so much. Oh, how she matured! Alas, she had to experience so many terrible things to make her so cold and harsh, unlike before!

But it’s no problem, he was going to heal her - After all, his little Pink Lotus mustn’t hold so much hatred towards the world! She should just be happy in indulge in anything that would make her smile! Let him bear the darkness of the world and worry about tomorrow.

---

After a bit of pushing from the Undertaker, seeing how uncertain she was, but she followed the man to his home, which she found out was above an underground opium den, which only made her even more reluctant to her next steps, but him putting his arm around her only made her feel a strange feeling of reassurance.

Is this Lau? Is this really HER Lau?

But what happened to him? His clothes changed...He even cut his hair...She wondered why would he have such short hair? And more, where his little sister would be?

She was afraid to ask anything, and was rather timid in replying to any of his trivial questions, until they got this his room, after he gave her a tour of the whole place, except the den, saying a lovely lady like her shouldn’t be exposed, at least right away, to drugs and dirty business.

“So, uhm...Why did you really call me here? I’m sure it wasn’t so you would give me a tour of your house or tell me what you do for a living.” she asked, shifting in place, not looking at him. “Why, my dear Pink Lotus, should I feel hurt that you don’t recognise me? Although, I have to say, so many years passed...And you became even more beautiful than before...I didn’t think that would be possible...Princess Lianyi.” he spoke in a low, fox-like voice, as he leaned down to her height, as she was so much smaller and delicate compared to him. “I...I did suspect it was you, but...Your hair...And Ran Mao...And...And your clothes...” she stammered over her words, looking down, her face warming up from emotion. “Only details, my dear. Besides, Ran Mao is here, at home, and she’s eager to see you as well. But until then, my darling, shouldn’t you tell me how much you missed me?” Lau grinned, extending his arms towards her, expecting a hug. “Did...You...Miss me...? Just like you said you would...?” she whispered, looking up at him with teary eyes, barely able to stop herself from jumping on him and never letting go. “You were on my mind every day so far.” he spoke gently, seeing her bottom lip quivering as she threw herself at him, holding him as tightly as her delicate arms could. “Don’t leave me again, Lau. It’s so terrible being alone, in such a huge world...” she managed to say, as she felt herself being picked up and gently laid on the bed. “I’m going nowhere, my dear. I made a promise with you, and my feelings haven’t changed. If anything, they’re more powerful than before.” he put a hand on her cheek, looking down at her, before putting his forehead to hers, while his other hand had his fingers intertwined with hers. “I love you so much, Lau...So much...I missed you...All this time you were away...” she closed her eyes briefly, as she felt his lips on hers, the electrifying feeling surging through her veins, just as it did the first time they kissed, many years ago. “Lianyi...Will you marry me? My life has been tied to the underworld for more years than I can remember, and no matter how much I want to keep you away from that, I can’t stay away from you. I’m no angel like you, and you deserve to be happy, but I can’t keep you away from all dangers and darkness.” he confessed, his voice serious, trying to bring her back to reality. “You...You’ve never called me by my name before...I...I would want nothing more than to stay by your side, no matter what. I don’t care what you’ve got yourself into, I just want to be with you. Yes, Lau, I’ll marry you, I’d love nothing more than to be able to stay in your arms and love you.” she put her arms around his neck, pulling him closer to her in another kiss.

But just as they kissed again, the bedroom door opened, revealing Ran Mao looking at them with the same serene look as usual, making the princess push Lau to the side and throw herself at the girl that grew into such a fine, beautiful lady...But what the hell was she wearing...?!

“It’s nice to see you again, Lianyi.” she said, patting her back. “Ran Mao, goodness, I missed you so much...But what are you wearing?! Lau, why would you let her wear something so revealing?!” the princess freaked out, her face bright red in embarrassment. “This is the new fashion, my dear! Combining traditional with modern, we created the Cheongsam! All the girls below in the opium den are wearing it! It’s rather alluring, don’t you think?” Lau chuckled in amusement, putting his hands on her shoulders, resting his chin on her head. “But...But...But...” she stuttered, not knowing what to say. “We have one for you. It’s green with golden thread patterns, to highlight your eyes.” Ran Mao explained, going to fetch the dress, and seeing how short it was, the girl could feel her knees weakening. “I can’t wear that! That’s too revealing! Wh-What...W-Wait, Ran Mao, where are you pulling me?!” the girl pulled her in another room, alone, where she started quickly undressing her and helping her into the new dress, just a bit shorter than knee-length. “You’re beautiful. Now go, Lau is eager to see you.” Ran Mao dragged the flustered girl and pushed her back to the bedroom, as she could only hide her face in her hands. “My, my, what a gorgeous little Pink Lotus. Come here, my darling. I will show you how much I missed you.” Lau watched her shyly approach him, like a little lamb, before catching her wrists and putting her on his lap with the same teasing grin on his face. “This...This is so...Embarrassing...” she clutched her fingers on his messed up blouse as she hid her face in the crook of his shoulder. “You are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever had the privilege of seeing in my life, Lianyi, and your shyness only makes you more endearing...It only makes me want you more. You managed to keep the same sweet and pure innocence, just as I thought you would...Wǒ ài nǐ (I love you) , my dear Pink Lotus Princess.” he spoke, slowly tracing her legs, making his way up to her sides, her arms, before touching her face and bringing her in for a more passionate kiss that sent fire through her system. "I love you so much, Lau. I don’t care what you’ve got yourself into, but I will always stay by your side. Forever. I want to help you and support you with anything I can, just as you did for me.” she confessed, her arms around his neck, pulling him closer to her. “How would you feel helping me with the girls? That’s the least risky thing I can let you handle. But nonetheless, it would let us spend more time together, if that is what you truly wish.” he smiled vaguely, planting more and more kisses all over her face. “That would make me very happy.” she smiled, letting herself get lost in the warmth and love she felt, feeling their hearts beating so fast and in sync, as if they were one.

Who would have thought that fate would play such an important role in their life...They fought it, they escaped fate, only to let destiny reunite them both, just as the red string of fate would always bring them back together, nothing able to stop them.

Finally, they were in control of their own life.

They were together.

#kuroshitsuji imagine #kuroshitsuji x reader #kuroshitsuji #black butler x reader #black butler imagine #black butler #lau #lau x reader #lau imagine #kuroshitsuji lau x reader #kuroshitsuji lau imagine #kuroshitsuji lau #black butler lau x reader #black butler lau imagine #black butler lau #ciel phantomhive #sebastian michaelis #undertaker

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lonelyandlovelorn · 4 years

Text

Sorry, I’m Awkward - Part 3

A/N: I tried to make the dress as vague as possible while still giving some description so that it could be whatever style you think fits you best. Not a ton happening in this chapter, but it’s set up for next chapter, the last(?) chapter. I don’t have time to proofread this again before posting it, so sorry for any errors.

Genre: fluff

Warning: swearing

Word count: 1900

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x fem reader

Summary: On a mission with the Winter Soldier himself, you learn he’s not actually an ass and that you’re more embarrassing than you thought.

Masterlist

Sorry, I’m Awkward Masterlist

If you could have slept in, you would have. Unfortunately, a life spent training and on missions had your body basically incapable of sleeping past dawn. This was usually a good thing, but that morning you were simply dying to stay in bed a little longer. As you came to, you realized you were once again much warmer than usual. You didn’t need to move or even think that hard to realize that the weight around your middle was Bucky’s arm and the heat was coming from his body pressed against your back. For a moment, you began to plan out how to sneak out of his hold like you did yesterday. After a second, you paused to realize that you could stay. You could go back to sleep, or at least pretend to, and he would never have to know. Slowly, you relaxed your muscles that had been gearing up to get out of the bed and melted into his hold. You deepened your breaths and simply basked in the comfort of being held by another person with no urgent reason to get up.

You stayed like that for at least another hour, dozing off and on but mostly awake. At the end of that hour, you heard Bucky take a deep breath as he woke up. Your heartbeat sped up but you closed your eyes and kept you breathing even as you felt him begin to move. Before he fully gained consciousness, you would swear he nuzzled into the crook of your neck. A few seconds later, he seemed to jolt into awareness, as if he suddenly realized that he didn’t normally sleep with his face tucked into someone. In an action mimicking yours yesterday morning, Bucky slowly sat up, releasing you and moving so as not to disturb you.

You wanted to get up with him, as you couldn’t see much point in staying in bed without your personal space heater, but you didn’t want him to know you had been awake for all of it. You stayed in place, focusing on the rise and fall of your chest. You were a trained spy, of course you knew how to pretend to be asleep. The problem was, you didn’t usually have to practice in front of super soldiers you had just been spooned by.

You could hear him moving around the room, and you would swear you felt his eyes on you before you heard the bathroom door close and the shower turn on. You figured the coast was clear and peaked around the room through a cracked eyelid, happy to see that he wasn’t lingering. You were pretty proud of yourself for fooling him as you sat up and stretched.

It was still pretty early in the morning, but you decided to go ahead and get to work planning out tonight as much as you could. You had let Tony know about the gala and he had promised a delivery of appropriate clothes by noon today. You were a little nervous about letting someone else choose a dress for you, but you figured it would be Natasha or Pepper, and they both had great taste.

You had already brewed shitty motel coffee and held a mug of it as you perched on a chair with your laptop in front of you when Bucky left the bathroom. Luckily or unluckily, he had remembered a shirt this time and came out fully clothed, his hair in wet tangles dripping onto his shoulders. You sent him a smile before turning back to your work you had set out before you.

You were both in professional mode as you plotted out the evening, mentioning neither the kisses of yesterday nor the cuddling of this morning. You knew how important this mission was and you were both determined to put away someone responsible for such terrible things. You would have to pretend to be a couple again tonight, but this time you were meant to be rich and sophisticated, though maybe still a little crazy in love. You had pointed out how well that allowed for a cover-up, should you get caught somewhere you shouldn’t be. Young lovers fooling around was an easy story that you could sell if you had to. He agreed.

You were both going over the layout of the building the gala was being held in when there was a knock on your door and an alert on your phone. You checked the message as Bucky looked through the peephole. You smiled at the text from Tony that simply said “Ta-da!”

Bucky didn’t open the door and looked back to you. “There’s no one outside.”

“It’s the clothes for tonight, Tony just messaged me.” You watched the tension in his shoulders ease as he opened the door to find a box outside. He grabbed it and closed the door, latching it again. You were excited to open it and see what they had sent you. You didn’t get to dress up very often and you were really looking forward to it. Plus, if Tony bought it, you knew it was high quality.

Bucky pulled it open to reveal his tux first. The box was pretty big and it had been very neatly folded to avoid too much wrinkling. He grabbed it and hung it in the closet and you realized as he held it that a portion of your excitement for tonight also came from seeing him all dressed up. You looked into the box and pulled out two shoe boxes, one containing dress shoes and another with a pair of simple silver heels. You were grateful they hadn’t tried to give you anything too crazy in case it came to a fight. You set both of the boxes in the closet as Bucky reached into the box again. You could see his confusion as he pulled out a small duffle bag. He opened it to pull out a curling iron, a make up bag, and some other styling products.

“Of course they thought of everything,” you laughed to yourself as you grabbed it.

Finally, you got a look in the box and couldn’t contain your excitement. You pulled the dress out and couldn’t help the gasp that escaped you. It was gorgeous. Deep green, with a low neckline and a slit up the side. It was a fit that Pepper knew complimented you. You were grateful that it was nearly tailored perfectly to cover up any unsightly scars, but still allowed you to show some skin. Plus, the leg slit might really come in handy.

“That’ll look great on you,” Bucky said as you were busy fawning over the dress. You beamed at him as you hung it in the closet, suddenly renewed with energy and bounding with excitement. Unfortunately, you still had at least three hours before you could start getting ready.

“I’m sure you look handsome in your tuxedo too, Buck.” You weren’t sure when you had decided to shorten his name, but he didn’t seem to mind. The bashful smile he sent you had butterflies dancing in your stomach.

After a moment of staring at your gown once more, you both sat down and returned to work.

It was finally three o’clock. The gala didn’t start until six, but it was an hour away and you wanted plenty of time to get ready. Besides, you felt like you and Bucky both had the plan figured out. You quickly showered before beginning.

You were practically bouncing with excitement as you walked towards the bed where the small duffle had been set. You went about setting everything up in the bathroom so you could beautify yourself. You turned on the curling iron and began going through the makeup that had been sent to you. You began applying your make up, a little intense to match the dress, but not so intense that you would stand out. While you wanted to look good and the dress was stunning, neither was meant to draw the eye to you. You put the finishing touches on your makeup and added curls to your hair, tousling it to loosen them. After a little over an hour staring at yourself in the mirror, you gave your face a once-over before nodding in satisfaction. You put everything back in the bag and turned off the curling iron.

You exited the bathroom to allow Bucky a chance to get dressed before you put on your dress. Did his eyes linger on you? You couldn’t be sure.All you knew for sure was that you must have been nearly drooling at the sight of him in his tuxedo, he looked so good. Figuring a little shameless flirting would be okay, you began to fan yourself. “Well damn, Why have I never seen you in a tux before?” You were sure this time that his cheeks took on a rosy color, which made him even more attractive. The tuxedo really fit him like a glove, pristine black and white with a black bowtie. The jacket accentuated how fit he was and you were completely incapable of stopping your eyes from raking over his form. After ogling him for a minute, you heard him clear his throat and looked up to meet his eyes. It was endearing how flustered he looked.

Getting it together, you stood up to grab your dress and get changed. Bucky hadn’t seen it, but Nat or Pepper had also apparently snuck in lingerie to go under the dress. You put it on and looked in the mirror, feeling good about yourself. You shimmied into the gown, pulling up the zipper with a little effort and smoothing it down before looking in the mirror. You couldn’t remember the last time you had truly felt beautiful, but this gown boosted your confidence tenfold.

After another minute of looking at your own reflection, you turned to exit the bathroom and made sure your eyes were on Bucky to see his reaction. You were silently overjoyed to see the ways his eyes widened and traveled the length of your body before meeting your gaze. You gave him your best coy smile and gave him a small twirl. “What do you think?”

“You look- wow,” he answered, seemingly lost for words. Seeing a man like him speechless over you had you feeling on top of the world. He was standing near the table where your shoebox was set next to a small clutch, silver to match your shoes. In it was a pair of earrings and a necklace to top off the outfit. You added your accessories before finally putting on your shoes while leaning on Bucky’s shoulder for stability. You were positive that he had sucked in a breath of air when you touched him. You were practically glowing with how good you felt about the dress and your effect on the soldier.

Standing in front of him, you filled your clutch with the essentials - you know, your phone, lipstick, and a knife or three - before turning to face him. “You ready?” you asked with a grin.

He let out a breath before returning your smile. “As I’ll ever be.”

Tag(s): @emotionallysalty @ficrecsandreviews @fandomsfallnomore @aquaastrid @mariah-vg

#bucky barnes x reader #bucky barnes x you #bucky x reader #bucky barnes imagine #Bucky Barnes #Winter Soldier #marvel #avengers #fanfic #fanfiction #fem reader #bucky barnes x fem reader #y/n #reader insert #lonelyandlovelorn #sorry im awkward

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thehomierobbstark · 5 years

Note

Bruh I can imagine Erik saying “Like you mean it” in that tinder voice, and staring at you with his pretty brown eyes😭😭

Shame [Prelude] // Kissing Strangers [Part I] // Communication [Part II]

[A/N: So I know when you sent this in you were probably responding to my story Kissing Strangers, but I wanted to do something else with this since so many people seemed to enjoy that story. (Uh huh, bet you thought I didn’t see this ask huh 😂). Anywho, this is part 1 of 2, so stay tuned! If yall wanna incorporate this into the K.S. Universe go for it! But there’s still a lot of development to go before this story happens. I listened to Sabrina Claudio’s Creation (i know sis….) on repeat while writing this. Enjoy! And as always, thanks for asking anon!! ]

Warnings: At the bottom 👇🏿👇🏿👇🏿.

This is for all my lil cute ass black gorditas out there rockin back fat, belly rolls and thick ass thighs that touch!! x Reader is always gon be black, chubby, and sassy.

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

Shivers run down your back as he traces along your spine with a finger, sliding delicately over the bralette you wore and down to the small of your back. He lets the rest of his fingers peek out to crawl around your skin, nails scratching lightly as he feels around the plushy flesh resting there.

Out of habit, you shrink away from his curious exploration, self conscious about the unsightly back rolls, mentally cringing at what he must’ve thought.

“Let me touch you,” he whispers against your lips, his other hand pulling you back to him, large palm gripping your thick waist with security.

Your heart flutters at the gesture, a comforting warmth emanating out from your chest, and down below. As you look down at him with a lip tucked between your teeth, he watches you with half lidded eyes, leaning forward to tug it free and suck the juicy fold into his mouth.

Sighing contentedly, you bring your hands up to either side of his face, closing your eyes and melting into the kiss, returning it with equal fervor. Your tongues dance slowly with one another as you explore each others mouths, nipping and sucking softly until both your lips are red and swollen with desire.

Pulling back with a groan, he surveys your outfit, not for the first time that night. Sucking in a sharp breath, he clicks his tongue with irritation, rolling it around in his mouth.

“Now you knew damn well you was wrong when you walked out the house like this.” His eyebrow twitches as he speaks through clenched teeth, the frustration he’d felt the entire evening burning like acid on his tongue. You feel the deep timbre of his voice vibrate through your body, and his eyes flicker to yours, narrowed and concentrated. “Didn’t you?”

Inhaling a thick breath of air, you bite your lip to conceal your smirk, nodding innocently as you feel the sexual tension grow between the two of you, along with something else.

“Words.”

He doesn’t break eye contact, waiting patiently for your verbal response.

Straightening your posture, you push your hands against his lower abdomen, feeling the solid muscles there constrict, giving yourself a layer of protection in case he decided to pounce. “Yes.”

He sniffs, nodding his head while his eyes trail down to your spread thighs on either side of his hips, feeling his gaze on your center.

“Yet, you decided to do it anyway. Why?”

You swallow thickly, resisting the urge to clench your thighs together at his aggressive interrogation.

“Because it’s cute.” You raise a brow, holding your head high with conviction as if the answer was obvious.

Eyeing you dangerously, he reaches forward, wrapping his hand around your throat and squeezing firmly until he feels your pulse race anxiously against his palm. A weak whine manages to slip past your lips, but you cut it short, seeing the threatening look behind his eyes.

“Why?” He asks you again, eyebrows raised expectantly for the correct answer this time.

Licking your lips, you open your mouth, and he gives your throat a warning squeeze, daring you to lie to him again before loosening his grip.

“Because I knew it would get to you.” Your words are breathy, heart skipping a beat at your foolish confession.

He leans forward, a smile curling its way onto his lips as he drops the hand around your neck to trace the lines of your collar bone, following it with his eyes.

He places a kiss to your shoulder.

“Do you like teasing me, Miss Y/L/N?”

He places another kiss right above it, your skin growing increasingly sensitive with each touch.

With your words caught in your throat, you move to shake your head, but a sharp smack to your ass makes you gasp, stopping you in your tracks.

You glance down to find those same insidious eyes watching you again, eager for another mistake as he continues lacing kisses up the side of your neck.

Clearing your throat, you find your voice again, speaking with a shaky breath. “No.”

“Hm?” You can feel his soft breath tickling your skin, and the hairs on the back of your neck stand at attention from the close proximity. He was torturing you now.

Closing your eyes, you try again, this time with more certainty.

“No.”

With his lips pressed to the shell of your ear, he whispers into it, his icy tone sending a chill down your back.

“Wrong answer.”

The air feels as though it thins around you, your breaths becoming shallow as you wait with trepidation for whatever was about to come.

You chance a peek at him, eyes wide and silently pleading for him to have mercy on you, to give you one more chance to get it right.

Bringing his face up to yours, he stops a hair’s breadth away from you, your nose tickling from the closeness, and you feel your stomach sink as you watch his sweet brown eyes turn cold.

You feel a popped tug at your pants and the zipper on your jeans being pulled down as the cool air in the car begins to touch your lower half.

“Take these off.”

Grabbing your bottom with a handful of meatiness in each hand, he lifts you up, placing you off to the side onto the seat next to him. Scooting himself towards the door, he rests back cooly with one leg bent at the knee on the seat, the other on the floor. His left arm lays behind the headrest, the other in his lap, fingers twitching around the aching mass between his legs.

With the small distance between you, you feel as though you’re center stage, and the intrigued look on his face as his eyes rake over you let you know that he’s ready for the show.

You take in a deep breath, chest filling with nervous butterflies that flutter away as you exhale through your nostrils. Hooking both thumbs into the rim of your pants at your waist, you slowly push them down off your tummy, stopping to instinctively pull your underwear back up over the soft pudge.

“Don’t.” His deep voice stalls you in your movements, and you release your tug on your panties, the thin material snapping back against your skin.

Looking into your eyes, with a small nod he silently commands you to keep going, and you continue pushing the material down, pausing to lift yourself as you work it up and over your hips. As more of your chocolate brown skin is revealed, he licks his lips, swallowing down the collection of saliva that pooled in his mouth at the sight of you.

You keep your legs together as you finish shoving your jeans down the rest of the way, bending your knees and tucking each of your feet back as they’re freed to cover the view of your crotch.

Balling up the dark denim, you toss it over into the trunk of the car, straightening your legs out on the seat to their full length, your chubby socked feet stopping just before his crotch.

Running his thumb up the side of your sole, he takes one foot in his hand, slowly peeling the thin silk from around your ankle, revealing your cute black pedicured toes as he pulls it off. He does the same with the other foot, folding the socks into one another before tossing them over his shoulder to join your jeans in the back.

Rolling his thumbs into the sole of your right foot, he massages the soft skin, the tickling feeling making you arch and squirm in your spot. You can feel the wetness in between your legs grow with each firm knead, and when he presses the nail of his thumb into the base of your heel and draw up, your body shudders at the sensation, closing your eyes to keep him from seeing them roll into the back of your head.

Chuckling at your reaction, he brings your foot up to his mouth to softly kiss the pad of your big toe, working his way down the line of appendages as he holds them against his lips. His tongue snakes out to suck on your pinky toe, but you snatch your foot back before he can make contact, a devilish snicker filtering out from him as a full blown grin spreads his lips, touching the corners of his eyes.

You pull both your legs back and wrap your arms around your knees protectively, too distracted by the irritatingly beautiful smile painted on his face to roll your eyes at him like you wanted to.

“Where you think you going? Get back over here,”

He chews his lip as he glances down at your shielded legs, beckoning you back over to him with a hooked index finger.

When you refuse to move, his smile fades, face morphing back into the dark demonic look that you were becoming accustomed to seeing.

He stares you down with a testing look, but you don’t budge an inch. If he wanted you, he was gonna have to come get you.

Slowly leaning forward into a menacing crouch, he balances the weight of his upper body on the palms of his hands, beginning a steady crawl towards you. The muscles in his back undulate with each stride, the rolling of his shoulders reminding you of that of a jaguar on the prowl.

You reach behind you to drag yourself away from his sauntering presence, but your hand hits the door, and your stomach sinks at the realization that there’s no where else for you to go.

As he reaches your legs, he wraps one large palm around your calf, gripping it and tugging you towards him forcefully, causing a frightened yelp to escape your lips.

Your back falls flat against the seat, and you see his large frame above you, peering down at you like you’re his helpless prey.

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

Warnings: Pre smut, Corniness, Insane Cheesiness I’m sure

#erik killmonger #bp #erik killmonger x reader #erik killmonger x black!reader #black panther #black panther fanfiction #black panther fanfics #black panther fandom #TheHomieFics

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shrewful · 4 years

Text

Apex Tempest: Chapter One

The fruit of my NaNoWriMo labor thus far -- it's not much in the grand scheme of things, but oh boy, I sure did make the words go!

Though General Kaligon usually loved the oceans, she quietly admitted to herself that the Verult Sea wasn’t particularly her favorite -- namely because it wasn’t quite a sea at all.

Many, many years ago, The Verult was once filled with water just as its siblings; but now, though lower in elevation than the mainland, it was higher than that of the sea level. The descendants of the coastal trees who’d spread their seeds to this new swath of land evolved to more & more efficiently transform the vast amounts of salt and minerals into energy, eventually forming what was once an ocean into a thick, towering jungle; if you were to stand at the edge of the mainland, looking out across it, you might mistake the wind blowing through the canopy’s leaves as the green waves of a sprawling ocean. What creatures survived the water’s leave developed to be as large and strange as the flora that hid them, able to see in the near pitch blackness that the thick branches and foliage cast on the forest floor.

It was these creatures that both unnerved and comforted Kaligon as her caravan passed through one of the Verult’s only roads. Between the sound of wagon wheels and the apprehensive chatter of her compatriots, it was the coo and caw of the surrounding birds that prevented the journey from being an eerily quiet one. She could hear them just overhead, but the creatures remained out of sight, leaving their appearances to Kaligon’s imagination.

Kaligon shuddered. It was as cold as it was dark, beneath the canopy. Lanterns hung from each corner of each carriage and wagon, with some small carts dedicated to caged flames illuminating the width of the path around them, but nothing more. The men and women in their uniforms huddled around them, pretending to be in rank as they were at the beginning of the journey, but unconsciously clumped together around the warmth. The light danced off the reflections of their silver buttons and illuminated the vibrant Corsiv cobalt and terracotta of their scout’s shawls and soldier’s jackets. It cast shadows across the undersides of their faces; highlighting the uncertainty in their countenance and the wariness in their eyes. As Kaligon approached, it illuminated her face as well.

The soldiers lurched for their rifles, scouts’ hands drawn to their sabers -- Kaligon motioned for them to calm with a steady downwards wave of her hand, and as they came to their bearings and realized who she was, they sighed in relief and drew their hands away from their weapons. Unease still clung to the face of the new recruits. Kaligon understood -- she wasn’t easy on the eyes, to most. Her reflection in the metal of the caged hearth stood in stark contrast to her compatriots; their fair, grayish-blue Corsiv complexions against her battered skin, strewn with scars from burns.

Kaligon let the fire warm her for a minute, then took a deep breath, eyes passing over the familiar faces, then a not so familiar face; her new recruit.

“Wydoda, walk with me.”

Kaligon stepped away from the fire and began walking alongside one of the larger carts, footsteps close behind as the figure took up a place to her left. Under the cart’s light, she glimpsed his features; where his eyes should’ve been white, they were green, and where they should be green, they were white. He held himself like he was about to fall apart; arms at his sides, at the ready to hold his legs in place should they part from him.

“You needed something?” Wydoda broke the quiet seconds it took for Kaligon to look him over.

“Just checking in. I can only imagine it’s been a bit rough on you?”

“Ah, I wouldn’t say that.” He offered a hesitant smile, looking unconvinced of himself, passing a gaze from Kaligon to the treeline and back. “It can be, eh, new, but I can deal with new. New is the spice of life.”

“New can be scary.”

“New… can be scary. It has been.” Wydoda admitted. “Most Corsivans aren’t terribly fond of things they don’t recognize. I can only imagine you’ve had similar experiences?”

Kaligon’s face softened with sympathy, a sigh escaping her lips. It wasn’t too long ago she was in the same place; sent across the continent by the Alliance to a place she’d never been, put in the company of people who looked at her like they looked at some terrifying animal on a thin leash. She extended a hand -- then retracted it -- inched it forward, then, once past the fear of making things awkward, placed it on his shoulder, giving him a comforting pat and earning an array of confused, then ultimately appreciative looks.

“They’re just nervous -- I went through the same song and dance. Your home country just joined the Alliance, didn’t it?” She offered. “Mhm. You’d think the news never got to this place -- people look at me like I’m about to run up & attack them.”

“Misale, right?” “Misale.” Wydoda sighed wistfully. “I’m sure Corsiva’ll have the same effect on me in time, but even saying the name makes me think of home. Rolling hills, violet waters, sweet air. Oh, you should hear the birds. Sweetest song out of any beak this side of the mountains.” “Think I’ve had enough of birds.” Kaligon huffed. “Damn things’ve made this trip a nightmare.” Kaligon paused; Wydoda in turn.

“Hault. Quiet!” Kaligon spun around and barked, eyes darting between each soldier as she counted heads.

The baubles and lanterns of the carts shook as they came to a stop, murmur amongst the soldiers rising and falling after the demand. Silence took the air.

Kaligon hadn’t heard silence in days; no birdcall.

“We stop here for now,” The general called back, “keep on guard. Something is wrong.”

She unsheathed two rather odd-looking swords, Wydoda thought; the blades were curved, each facing the opposite direction. Their hilts were far too long, looking to be made of some dark rock, and didn’t seem to have pommels -- as Kaligon put the ends of each together with a click, the weapon began to make more sense. It was a stone glaive, of sorts, with a blade on each end.

“How do you carry --”

Wydoda’s question was cut short; Kaligon marched ahead of the ranks, the elegant yet absurd weapon clutched in hand, muscles straining. As she passed the last cart, she took one lantern from its side, hooking its handle with the curved tip of her glaive. She stood at the bank of the caravan’s light and the darkness beyond, extending the lantern and narrowing her eyes.

An odd silhouette came into view. The soldiers -- now taking note of the scene -- gathered at her back as the shambling form began to gather more and more definition as it approached the light.

Shoulders, a head, and a strange shape; a robed figure atop a steed. The nearer they drew, the more questions surfaced in Kaligon’s mind. The mount was of a species she didn’t recognize; it could stride over most her men without their heads even grazing the fur on its belly -- or were those quills? It had a short snout, with a jaw that split its maw into quarters rather than halves, and three pairs of ears -- each shorter than the last -- swiveling like anxious butterflies. It stepped forward with all three pairs of its long, stocky legs, covered in a mismatched array of emerald scales and tufts of blackish fur, dagger-like claws jutting out from its paws in unsightly angles and places.

Crimson red cloth spilled over its back; the robe of its master, shrouding all but their face. That task went to a moth, sitting on the bridge of their nose, wings spread like a mask to hide their eyes. Only a thin, polite smile was visible.

Before the pair could come within glaive’s reach, Kaligon held up a hand, gesturing them to stop; they obliged.

“Your business?” Kaligon threw the words into the air, unsure if they’d land -- unusual creatures lived across the mountains; perhaps this was a traveler, in which they’d likely not know Haelian.

“An errand.”

Kaligon’s brow tensed. The voice was strange; melodic, but tinged with something she swore couldn’t come from human chords. Tentatively, she motioned behind her for the caravan to move aside, not sparing the risk of looking over her shoulder. As soon as the stir of moving carts and footsteps began, they silenced themselves, interrupted by the figure’s uncanny voice.

“Oh, no no. I’m not going back to the city -- you are.”

Kaligon’s lip curled in indignation. “I don’t know what authority you think you’re speaking from, but rest assured, we’re above it. Pass, turn back, or I will move this caravan through you.”

In the silence that hung in the air, she could’ve sworn she heard a sigh.

Shrieks filled the air behind her, a shadow passing overhead as the stranger’s beast leapt over Kaligon. She spun around, watching the soldiers lash at the thing with their blades only to be swatted aside like limp dolls. “Call that thing off --” Kaligon spun back, holding the glaive to the figure’s throat “--now, so help me!”

“Turn back.”

Kaligon opened her mouth to voice a retort; energy coursed through her core, and instead of words, molten light burst through her teeth and from her lips with a shrill cry like blades on metal. Warm silvers and bright golds covered her eyes and poured over her fingers, gilding her skin like paint. It crackled off her in sparks, firing off in every direction, casting beams across the way and illuminating a wide, sharp-toothed grin across the face of the stranger.

The stone glaive now rested effortlessly in her hands; she spun back, lurching to fend the beast away from her men, only to feel something snag her ankle -- she tumbled to the ground, righting herself only to be met with a long snout full of jagged fangs and gleaming, slitted eyes, the moth fluttering away behind them. Through the cloud of dust, a claw swept at her throat -- she batted it away with the glaive, using the other end to propel herself off the ground and back onto her feet.

As the dust cleared, Kaligon watched the shambling figure recoil back and circle. Methodically, bones unfurled from the red cloak, followed by sinew, blood, skin, then scales -- limbs and claws, more jaws and more teeth, the cloth disappearing in the horrific process. As it barreled towards her, Kaligon spun the glaive in a torrent of blades, a dance of clashing claws and metal ensuing.

As soon as they opened, the beast’s wounds closed, pushing Kaligon back with every step. Its jaws snapped around the hilt of the weapon, tearing it from her grasp and throwing it into the trees. It seized the opening, teeth lurching, hot breath on her cheek -- with a shrill cry of fury, she clasped her hands around its maw, smoke rising into the air as golden handprints were marred onto its scales. A muffled scream filled her ears as it tried to pull away, with Kaligon only digging her heels into the ground further. With a shower of leaves and a croak of wood, she hurled it into the side of one of the towering trees, jaws still dripping with fizzing light as it crumpled onto the ground.

Kaligon turned to face the other beast, but as her gaze passed over the forest’s edge, she saw the silhouettes of creatures passing through the branches, eyes piercing through the dark. A shadow loomed over her glowing form; the monster she thought she’d defeated dragged itself from beneath the tree, more towering than it had been before.

Frantically, her eyes darted over her shoulder; most of the carts were left in pieces, her men either cowering in their remains or making fruitless attempts at the assailant with their blades. Kaligon’s heart lurched -- she recognized Wydoda’s crumpled form beneath a wagon wheel. With gritted teeth, she called through the air.

“Fall back!” Tag List:

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Ask to be added

#Apex-Tempest #Apex Tempest #nanowrimo #NaNoWriting #fantasy #Fantasy Writing #fantasy writeblr #writing #My writing #writeblr #writeblr wip

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lady-charinette · 5 years

Text

In a Cage Part 2 - Marichat

In a Cage Part 2

It was late afternoon by the time Marinette stood on her balcony, small cookie box in hand, “Have some on your way kitty.”

Chat Noir scratched the back of his neck, accepting the sweet gift, “Thank you Marinette!” there was a moment where he just looked at her, with soft green eyes and a warm smile, it almost reminded her that one time when Adrien-

“R-right! Uh, have a safe trip to uh- home! I guess we…we’ll see each-other sometime!” Marinette grinned widely, inwardly panicking at her almost comparison between her crush and her good partner – crime fighting partner.

Chat Noir either didn’t notice her internal dilemma or was too focused looking at her, either way he chuckled and bowed like he usually did, “Thank you again for today, Marinette. I hope our paths will croissant again.” He winked and grinned boyishly, taking his baton out and waving at her with the hand holding the small but nicely wrapped cookie box.

A small smile came unbiddenly upon Marinette’s lips and she waved back, watching his form become smaller and smaller in the distance.

“Looks like Chat Noir really loved-“

Marinette jumped, surprised to hear her kwami’s voice suddenly, “W-who?!” she shrunk in on herself, like a cornered animal with wide panicked eyes.

Tikki blinked down at her, a small knowing smile on her lips, “I was talking about the cookies.” The ancient goddess couldn’t help but giggle at the girl’s impulsiveness, outright laughing when Marinette’s ears and cheeks turned pinkish.

“T-Tikki!”

After the kwami had her laugh, Marinette sighed, “A-anyway, let’s get back inside, because of Chat Noir I wasn’t able to finish homework.” Tikki’s back was turned to her charge, so Marinette couldn’t see the sly smirk on the kwami’s face.

Or the quiet words whispered under her breath, “Since he was such a distraction…”

“Tikki, did you say something?” Tikki was already inside while Marinette opened the hatch again.

“Nu-uh!” came the goddess’ cheeky reply.

Marinette rose an eyebrow, certain she heard something from her kwami’s mouth, until she suddenly tripped on something invisible on the ground. Tikki, having heard her yelp, thought it was just Marinette’s clumsiness, she continued munching on the leftover cookies on the platter.

Marinette’s eyes shot wide open, something scaly wrapping around her legs, something small was flickering by her feet but she couldn’t see what it was and then, an akuma stood before her.

It was Kaleido.

“Ti-!“ Marinette’s cry was abruptly cut off as the girl vanished in a flash of light and a small hand mirror dropped into Kaleido’s hand.

She giggled, opening the small hand mirror and spotting the girl’s panicked face, fists hitting invisible walls within the mirror, “You naïve little girl, this is what you get for involving yourself with a superhero.” She frowned at Marinette’s angered expression and closed the mirror shut, “So unsightly, not pretty at all.” With that, she pocketed the item, grabbing her chameleon and jumping off the balcony.

“Marinette?” Tikki dropped the half-eaten cookie back on the platter, no longer seeing Marinette’s form from her viewpoint in the window, “Marinette, are you alright?” Tikki worriedly flew back up the stairs and out into the balcony, her eyes flying wide open, “Marinette!”

She looked left and right and flew quickly to the edge of the balcony, spotting the familiar mirror akuma they’d battled just today wandering off behind an alley, “Oh no! Marinette!” Tikki just caught herself in time, shaking her head vehemently before flying in the other direction.

Towards Master Fu.

She zipped this way and that, phasing through buildings as shortcuts to the guardian, who, upon entering his home, was playing a game of shogi with Wayyz.

“Master!” the old man’s wise gaze met Tikki’s with an arched brow.

“Tikki, can this wait a moment? I’m certain I’ll win this time.” Wayyz just smiled and took a sip of his green tea, shaking his head.

Tikki immediately flew in front of Master Fu’s face, “Marinette’s been kidnapped by an akuma!”

Master Fu’s eyes widened in surprise, “What? Why didn’t you tell me this before? We have to contact Chat Noir.” Master Fu quickly reached for his phone, not noticing the exasperated look Tikki was giving him while Wayyz was shaking his head and patting her shoulder in understanding.

Master Fu waited a few beats, the caller finally picking up, “Adrien! You have to get here as soon as possible! It’s an emergency!”

Adrien’s surprised voice entered the old man’s ears, “Huh? Master Fu!? What emergency? Wait, where did you get my phone number-“

“That is of no importance! Marinette has been kidnapped by an akuma!” he shot the two kwami’s worried looks, who could only return them.

Surprise turned to worry and seriousness, “I’ll be there as soon as I can!”

Master Fu hung up, rubbing his chin worriedly, “Tikki, have you seen what akuma it was?” he already had a hunch, but he had to ask nonetheless.

Tikki was flying around in circles, her big blue eyes shining with concern, “It was the same mirror akuma we fought today! But there was also a chameleon with her, Hawkmoth must be using Mayura’s help again!”

Wayyz flew up to hover beside Tikki, “Master, if this is true, we will need to use the help of the other Miraculous to help save Marinette!” master and kwami’s gaze met, one imploring, the other thoughtful, until Master Fu made his decision with his hands clasped behind his back.

“You’re right, Wayyz. It would be wise to call upon Rena Rouge and Carapace.” He moved to the Miraculous box, punching in the code as the slots started to open, just in time rushed footsteps thundered towards the closed door to the room.

Tikki quickly flew behind the gramophone to hide, none other than Chat Noir slamming the door open, eyes wild and searching, “Master Fu!”

The guardian turned around to address the young hero, “Calm down, Chat Noir. You’ll need to deliver the Miraculous to people you trust, Mayura is aiding Hawkmoth this time as well.”

Chat Noir’s eyes narrowed, “Where is Ladybug? She should be here by now! Who knows what the akuma may have done to Marinette.” His fists clenched, his baton shaking slightly within his enclosed hand.

Master Fu and Wayyz shared a look, “Ladybug is unavailable as of this moment, which is why you’ll need the help of other heroes to deal with the akuma if you want to save your friend.”

Something changed in Chat Noir, perhaps it was the straightening of his shoulders, or the sharpened look in his eyes, but he resolutely headed for the door, “No. I’ll deal with this akuma myself.”

Alarm bells already rang within the old guardian’s head, “Chat Noir, wait! Hawkmoth is not alone, you cannot possibly defeat the akuma on your own with Mayura’s powers making him stronger!”

The blond turned his head, fingers gripping the doorknob tightly, “I’m sorry Master Fu, but this is my fight. Akumatizing a person is one thing, but kidnapping Marinette is personal.” His gaze darkened, “I’ll bring her back safe and sound.” With that, his form disappeared behind the door, a bell chime the only indicator of how fast he rushed out the front door.

Master Fu gripped his forehead, sitting down on the small cushion on the floor, “What shall we do Master? He can’t possibly defeat the akuma without help!” Wayyz’s gaze shifted worriedly to the door where Chat Noir ran out of.

Tikki flew away from her hiding spot, an angry look about her, “That stupid cat, Plagg! His charges have always been reckless, but this one is young and reckless!”

Master Fu sighed heavily, looking at the fox and bee Miraculous, “Protective, I would say.”

Wayyz watched the way his own charge’s gaze wandered to the old photo of him and Marianne, the black and white photo looked well worn, but it was as precious to his master as the day it was taken.

Chat Noir leapt from roof to roof, running along the sides of the buildings, scaling up lamp posts to look out for a rampaging akuma.

Where were the panicked shouts of the citizens? Why weren’t there no akuma alarms?

Chat Noir was heading toward the park near Dupont before a small swarm of butterflies suddenly flew up in front of him, morphing into the shape of Hawkmoth’s mask, “Hello Chat Noir.”

Chat Noir’s staff was pointed threateningly at the butterflies, ears drawn back in anger, “Hawkmoth! Tell me where Marinette is!”

A dark chuckle rang out from the mask, “Ah, yes the girl. Let’s make a deal Chat Noir, in exchange for getting the girl safe and sound returned to you, you’ll give me your Miraculous and Ladybug’s!”

Chat Noir growled, “Let’s make another deal, Hawkmoth, let Marinette go and I won’t beat up your akuma too much!”

Another dark chuckle, “How amusing, it seems a mere girl is more important to Paris’ superhero than fulfilling his duty as protector of this city!”

Chat Noir jumped, his staff cleanly hitting the center of the butterflies and Hawkmoth’s mask disappeared, the dark butterflies flying around haphazardly, “I haven’t noticed your akuma attacking anybody right now, so saving Marinette is my duty to fulfill! Now tell me where she is!”

Hawkmoth made a disgruntled noise from the swarming butterflies, “I see, I’ll need to take your Miraculous first before I can get Ladybug’s! If you want to try and save your precious Marinette, return to the place you’ve met your match in the past and give up your Miraculous!”

The swarm of butterflies flew away, Chat Noir glaring after them with Hawkmoth’s laughter still echoing annoyingly in his head.

“Met my match? What did he mean?” Chat Noir paced the pavement until he stopped short in realization, “Copycat!”

He knew where he had to go.

Marinette hit the invisible wall as hard as she could, her fists throbbing in pain from trying to escape her glass prison.

Kaleido’s obnoxious voice was all around her, “It’s useless, you foolish girl! Nobody can escape from my mirror prison unless I let them out!” she laughed and Marinette cringed at the loudness of the voice in the vacant space she was trapped in.

She didn’t have anything here, just mirrors, all reflecting her own reflection back at herself from all angles, nothing she could use to get out of her situation, “If only I had brought Tikki with me!” she cursed her luck, walking toward a standing mirror and sliding down to sit on the floor, trying to think of ways how to escape, “I don’t know why I got kidnapped, but no doubt Chat Noir is waiting for Ladybug to show up and deal with the akuma. He can’t possibly find us here, why didn’t Hawkmoth let her be out in the open? Why in this place again?” she remembered this place vaguely, it was the same warehouse where Chat Noir had been kidnapped by Copycat.

Marinette sighed, “How ironic. We both got kidnapped in the same place.” She glanced at the mirrors, mildly unsettled by her own gaze staring back at her, “…Does Hawkmoth intend to lure Chat Noir here? But how? He has no way of knowing where the akuma is or that I even got kidnapped! Wait…could he…? Did Hawkmoth possibly figure out that…that I’m Ladybug? But he didn’t ask me for my Miraculous yet and Kaleido doesn’t seem to know anything either….so why was I kidnapped?” Marinette frowned, despair and helplessness finally getting the better of her.

She held her face in her hands, catching sight of her anguished face staring back at her from the mirror beneath her.

A memory flashed before her mind’s eye, the time she wanted to quit using the Miraculous, quit being Ladybug. The time where Alya nearly got hurt because of an akuma attack. She frowned and clenched her hands, a burst of white-hot rage and determination filling her chest as she jumped to her feet and walked over to the small window-like shape she could look out of, “Hey! Hey, you!” she shouted at Kaleido, who finally turned around, “Why are you listening to Hawkmoth? I’m sure your problem can be solved without kidnapping innocent people!”

Kaleido blinked questioningly, her eyes, one which itself seemed like a small mirror, “You don’t understand, you’re just a little girl.”

Marinette’s fists were shaking beside her hips but she willed her voice to remain calm, “Try me.”

The akumatized woman scoffed, crossing her arms, “As if someone like you could understand the pain of losing something precious. The mirror that was shattered before my eyes had been in my family for generations, it represented my family’s gift of overcoming any obstacle, just like the mirror survived all sorts of things while it had been in our possession and now it’s broken.” Marinette could hear the pain in the older woman’s voice, until the butterfly mask appeared over her face again.

“Kaleido! Prepare yourself! Chat Noir should be coming any moment now!” Hawkmoth’s irritated voice echoed in her head again and Kaleido groaned in frustration.

-------------

Chat Noir carefully crawled behind stacked-up boxes, peering over the rim of one at Kaleido and the hand mirror on the table by her side, seeing Marinette’s tiny form trapped within.

His eyes narrowed and he clenched his fist in anger, “How dare they kidnap Marinette!” Chat Noir reached for his baton until his ears picked up a noise behind him.

Immediately, he fell into a crouch, rolling over the floor but spotting nothing.

Then, a long tongue shot out from seemingly nowhere, nearly striking him if it weren’t for his good reflexes, “What in the-! There’s nothing there! What was that!”

He felt something wet and warm wrap around his ankle, hauling him into the air and throwing him into the open center where he remembered getting chained to the ground with his confrontation with Copycat.

Thinking on his feet, Chat Noir quickly moved out of reach of Kaleido, stepping on the same warm and wet thing that had throwing him into the air.

He looked behind him, spotting flickering shapes and colors, “No! My pet!” Kaleido adjusted the large mirror and reflected the slivers of light peering into the warehouse back at Chat’s face, nearly blinding him.

He stumbled, crouching low to regain his footing and sight, spotting just what had been harassing him this whole time.

It was walking toward Kaleido, the large chameleon’s colors were changing, switching between the lighter shades of the mirrors and the darker background of the boxes behind it.

“It’s you again!” Chat Noir glared at the akuma, eyes zeroing in on Marinette, “Marinette!”

Marinette’s head shot up at the sound of her name, at the sound of Chat Noir’s voice, “Kitty! In here!” she waved, waves of relief washing over her at spotting him.

He was here. He was here to save her.

Chat Noir broke his baton in half, elongating it and spinning the two halves in both his hands, “Just stay put princess! You have a look around while I’ll see to it that I defeat your captor!”

Marinette rolled her eyes at his dramatics but frowned in worry as Kaleido herself advanced upon him, with Chat Noir already charging.

His baton bounced off of her mirror dress, the light impairing his vision as her chameleon kept trying to trip and distract Chat Noir while Kaleido tried grabbing him and take away his Miraculous.

This wasn’t good, Chat Noir couldn’t handle two akuma alone, he needed help. Why didn’t Master Fu send for the other heroes?

Marinette looked around again, surrounded by her mirrors as she was, growing frustrated at her sheer helplessness while her partner was in a tight spot.

In a fit of rage, Marinette beat her fist upon one of the standing mirror, causing a miniature crack on it’s otherwise pristine surface.

“Ah!” her eyes widened at the yelp of pain and she whirled around, spotting Kaleido clutching at her chest.

Did she just-?

Marinette looked back at the mirrors, “Is this…her heart? The mirrors that reflected her?” Marinette remembered the one eye the woman had made of glass, “The eyes…the eyes are the window to one’s soul…” she looked back at the mirror before her and shouted out as loud as she could, “Chat Noir!”

Her kitty was flipping over the chameleon while deflecting shards of glass thrown at him at the same time, “I’m…” he kicked away another shard aimed at his face,”-kinda…” Chat Noir sidestepped chameleon’s tongue again, “-busy, princess!”

“Chat Noir! You have to break the hand mirror!” Marinette could see the panic and disapproval instantly on his face.

“Not before I get you out of it princess!”

Marinette shook her head, “Break it now Chat Noir, trust me!”

Kaleido immediately moved in front of the hand mirror protectively, “No! I won’t allow you to break another one of my family heirlooms!”

Chat Noir frowned, watching chameleon warily circling him, “If I break the mirror while you’re in it, who knows what will happen! I’ll get you out of there first!” Chat Noir charged again, jumping on the wall to gain momentum and slammed his staff onto Kaleido’s mirror, the staff bouncing off it’s steel-like surface.

Marinette stomped her foot, “We don’t have time Chat Noir! You have to break it now! Use Cataclysm! Trust me kitty!”

Despite the distance, their gazes met once Kaleido moved, an unspoken agreement passing between them.

Chat Noir steeled himself, “Cataclysm!” calling upon his power, Chat Noir threw his baton at the chameleon’s head, striking the lizard directly on his head, dazing him momentarily. It allowed him room to finally move freely, running on all fours straight towards an angry Kaleido.

“How dare you, you mangy cat!” she moved her hands over her mirrors, trying to hit Chat Noir’s eyes with the reflected light, but he cleverly used his messy hair to block out most of the sun, pupils dilating and zeroing in on the handmirror and Marinette’s reassuring smile.

Trust me, kitty.

Chat Noir jumped, right over Kaleido’s head, landing on top of the table, “Hey!” Kaleido turned, agitated, “Mirror, mirror on the wall-“ Chat Noir lifted his hand with Cataclysm active, “Who’s the prettiest of them all?” his gaze caught Marinette’s and he destroyed the mirror into millions of pieces on the ground.

Almost immediately, Kaleido fell to the ground in pain, clutching at her chest, “NO!”

The dark butterfly flew out of the broken mirror and Chat Noir quickly captured it in his hands, wondering where on earth Ladybug was to purify it.

Just then, a green blur flew past straight towards him, “Chat Noir!”

“Wha- Wayyz? What are you doing here?” Chat Noir looked down at the mirror, worrying where Marinette was. Shouldn’t she have come out of the mirror? Did she trap her in it forever now that it was broken?

The wise kwami smiled, indicating at Chat Noir’s clasped hands, “I believe you have something for me.”

The cat blinked at him, dumbstruck, “…Huh?”

Wayyz shook his head, “The akuma! Release it!” why were people giving him such weird orders lately?

“But-“

“Trust me!”

Chat Noir frowned, hesitantly opening his hands, watching the dark insect flying out of it, heading for the crack in the ceiling. His panic grew the closer it got, but Wayyz suddenly sailed in the air and swallowed it whole in his mouth, holding it in his mouse before releasing a pure white butterfly with a wave of light, similar to Lucky Charm, washing over the warehouse.

The small hand mirror was repaired, the woman freed from Hawkmoth’s control, kneeling on the ground, gingerly holding the object in her hands.

“Wait, where is Mari- woah!” a sudden weight crashed on his back, knocking the air clean out of him.

“Ouch!” a yelp on top of him made his entire body freeze.

“Marinette!” the poor girl was knocked over from her secret partner excitedly righting himself, pulling her along straight into his arms in a tight hug.

“C-Chat Noir?” she blinked, clutching at his back. What happened? One minute she was in the mirror, surrounded in darkness when Chat Noir destroyed it, then a white light flashed and she was being hugged by Chat Noir?

Marinette sighed, letting some of her weight fall against Chat Noir, who easily supported her, “Thank you for saving me kitty.” She patted his back appreciatively, hearing and feeling the distinctive purring sound.

She giggled.

Chat Noir nuzzled against the side of her head, “I couldn’t have done it without your quick thinking princess.” His grip around her tightened, “Just please don’t get captured by akumas again.” Marinette smiled, hearing the worry seeping in his tone.

They broke apart, smiling at each-other, before Marinette moved toward the silent woman still kneeling on the ground, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder, “I’m sorry for kidnapping you, I swear I didn’t mean to.”

Marinette shook her head, “Don’t worry, I believe you. Hawkmoth was controlling you, it wasn’t your fault.” Her gaze moved towards the mirror the woman held in her hands, “Is… this also a family heirloom?” she remembered how protective the woman had been of it.

The older female nodded, stroking the glassy surface of the mirror with a finger, “Yes, it’s from my father, he used to craft mirrors before he died. This was a gift from him.”

Marinette nodded, giving the woman a tender smile, “I’m sorry for your loss about the bigger mirror, but at least you have this one whole. I think it’s an opportunity to start over while keeping the things you cherish still close to your heart. I understand that the mirror was important, but just because it shattered doesn’t mean you yourself have to. Jut like the mirror, you may have a few cracks, but they can be mended.” Marinette gestured toward the small mirror, “Despite everything, you still have this, see it as something hopeful. Something where you can start over.”

The woman smiled, giving Marinette’s hand a brief squeeze in thanks, “Thank you young lady, you made me remember something important about myself today. I’m glad you have such a dedicated boyfriend who saved you.” Her gaze wandered over to Chat Noir, “Thank you too for saving me Chat Noir.”

Chat Noir nodded, grinning, “Don’t mention it!”

Meanwhile, Marinette was frozen, “….Boyfriend? Chat Noir? Was she talking about Chat Noir?” before Marinette could respond, Chat Noir’s hand was on her shoulder pulling her up.

“Let’s get you back home princess.” Chat Noir wrapped an arm around Marinette’s back and under her legs, gripping onto his staff while holding her legs up, “Will you be alright miss?”

The woman smiled and nodded, “Yes, thank you.

Chat Noir nodded, eyes searching in the room for Wayyz, “Wa-“ wait…where did he go?! Did he already return to Master Fu?

“Something wrong, kitty?” Marinette rose an eyebrow, keeping a firm grip on Chat Noir’s neck.

“Not at all princess!” Chat grinned, relief washing over him again as they finally walked out of the stuffy warehouse, “I’m…just glad you’re safe, Marinette.” He shot her a genuine smile and Marinette had to think back on the woman’s words.

Boyfriend.

Marinette shook her head stubbornly, trying to think of Adrien and not how warm Chat Noir felt as he carried her over the rooftops of Paris back towards her home.

---------------

“No! Not again!” Hawkmoth paced his lair, Mayura sighing behind him, “Why?! How did Chat Noir defeat both my akuma and your guardian?!”

Mayura coughed into her hand, trying to still the coughs wrecking her body, “It is peculiar, especially without Ladybug’s help. However, perhaps it was the fact we kidnapped his… associate that his determination to save her grew?”

Hawkmoth stopped his pacing, meeting Mayura’s gaze, “…His determination…” he clenched his fist, eyes alight with dark intent, “My determination is greater! I shall get my hands on Chat Noir’s and Ladybug’s Miraculous sooner than they think! Then, we will see who is victorious in the end.” Hawkmoth chuckled while Mayura felt sadness swell within her chest.

Bonus:

Chat Noir waved at Marinette, feeling calm now that he knew she was safe again.

He hoped Wayyz was alright, he had no idea kwamis could purify akumas by swallowing and then spitting them out? He wondered if Plagg could do that too?

He would probably try to eat them or not even think of it if they weren’t made of cheese.

Chat Noir laughed, until a sudden thought hit him.

Master Fu was the one that called him to save Marinette.

There was no akuma alarm so the citizens weren’t even aware that Hawkmoth had attacked twice today.

How had master Fu known?

...How did he know Marinette?

Thank you very much for reading! :) Hope you enjoyed!

#marichat #marichat fic #ml #ml fic #miraculous ladybug #in a cage fic #fanfic #marinette dupaincheng x chat noir

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kondo-hijikata · 6 years

Text

Pairings: Established Kondo/Hijikata Rating: M Summary: It’s simple. Peddle medicine and find purpose. But after Hijikata is caught in a downpour that leads him right into Kondo’s arms, he realizes things are a little more complicated than he’d like to believe. [AO3]

many thanks to @shell-senji for the beta

<< Chapter 1

.*After the Rain*. Chapter 2

I need you. I need you just as much. Maybe even more.

When Hijikata’s lashes fluttered suddenly, he was unsure if it was the caress of dawn on his cheek or the reiteration of phantom whispers that had roused him to wakefulness. Whatever the case, his lips parted and he exhaled softly toward a ceiling which looked nothing like his own. In the same, he found himself naked yet warm against sheets stiffer than recollection served, the futon just as foreign as the scenery.

But it was also comfortingly familiar.

And that was when his mind fully escaped the haze of sleep, when he let his head loll to the side.

But I don’t want to push. …Or make you think I have expectations. Because I don’t.

There was a small gasp and slowly he blinked, his chest rising and falling thereafter with gentle undulation, his sight rife with an image of beauty as golden light sparkled and crept across the dormant form next to him. Ever the early riser, it wouldn’t be long before Kondo stirred as well to make a thankless, drab world of gray blossom back into the colors of paradise—of hope and opportunity and all things that were good.

Merit was to be found in having the fortitude to stare the unsightly straight in the face, however; and so, Hijikata seized the opportunity these fleeting moments gave him, to flex his daring on the plane meant for mortals and allow himself to just…process.

Because there were some dire things once more up for consideration after all that had transpired—things previously deemed figured out, just for Hijikata to realize he’d barely scratched the surface, or even worse, had been avoiding them.

Toshi, I just…I want you to do what makes you happy.

Deliberating, he stared at this man who so willingly, so openly, shared his bed…at shapely and reverent lips which had spoken the reassuring warrant of acceptance now flickering through Hijikata’s thoughts like butterfly wings amid garden flowers. Those words offered a universe of comfort he was wary of accepting, and not because Kondo hadn’t meant them with utmost sincerity; it was because he most certainly had.

That blatant honesty was why Hijikata now wondered if it was actually okay for someone to be okay with this kind of arrangement between them, especially since it involved a compromise of an indefinite nature.

His plan had always been elemental: work hard, get on Kondo’s level, and eventually earn a place at his side where he could pull equal weight. However, upon looking back at the outcome thus far of such a scheme, Hijikata found himself going nowhere fast and doing nothing profound. Instead, he’d somehow become trapped in this infinite loop of not moving forward with Kondo because he felt he couldn’t, and feeling he couldn’t because he wasn’t moving anywhere at all.

He’d assumed these matters would work themselves out eventually, if he just kept at what he was doing; something had to give at some point, after all. People found their calling all the time when least expected and Hijikata was sure his own awaited him, somewhere on the vast oceans of prosperity. But that optimistic view of someday arriving out of no place seemed more fantastical than ever this morning, especially when he’d come to realize just how much it affected more than himself, but them as a unit.

That there even was a them meant everything. And they’d been this way for so long that it felt natural and right…but was it really?

Hijikata’s eyes narrowed with a wince.

After his confession of feeling like a burden, it’d been Kondo’s reassurance that led him home again. And once that happened, they quickly slipped right back to normalcy in the aftermath, like nothing had happened at all.

There was no deviation from the usual, the pattern of behavior unfolding the same way it always did.

First, it was Hijikata’s unprompted, self-induced tension bringing choppy currents to calm waters. Then, followed Kondo’s sweet words, the kiss which placated, the embrace that succeeded in smoothing everything over and restoring life to its usual state. And just as it always had been, it was so easy to let the pressures and trials Hijikata put himself through dissipate, especially when the warmth of reassurance lapped at his agitation in gentle waves.

They’d held each other and talked, quietly at first, the conversation like Hijikata’s hair shifting from damp and heavy to relaxed and light. They ate dinner, shared sake, spent hours into the evening with quality Shieikan company, then sat on the starlit porch drinking and dreaming…until their eyes met in the way they often did. It hadn’t been long thereafter when the shoji shut and the garments fell to the tatami in time with the futon, when lips met again not out of comfort but desire and the entire world whited out.

It was all so…normal. But their relationship really wasn’t that at all, with Hijikata running about in circles while Kondo kept moving forward but still wanting the former around like he was useful for something.

And perhaps these thoughts were why waking up this morning next to Kondo for the umpteenth time of Hijikata’s life felt different.

Something shifted inside him now, as he recalled how Kondo’s feelings had been laid bare before him last afternoon, how that level of humility prompted doors to open even wider to weighty inquiries within Hijikata which had no concrete answers. Worse yet, they were the kind of questions which invited guilt, and that guilt brought with it the self-doubt.

With caution Hijikata turned on his side to face his companion completely, pulling the blanket back over an arm rendered exposed from the change in position, and resolved to study him—to watch Kondo breathe evenly and drink in that placid expression as if he hadn’t a care in the world. He felt his eyes soften and his heart beat but a little quicker.

Kondo seemed even more at peace in his slumber than the waking hours—a marvel itself—with his head against an ivory pillow roll and the thin cover cast off recklessly to expose the solid lines of his robust chest. The material had gathered over narrow hips, almost daring to expose more to the eye than decency would allow. And Hijikata would have been entirely content to revel in the presence of living, breathing art if it weren’t for the more pressing matters insistent and vying for his attention.

His shoulders rolled up slightly. Was it acceptable to leave a man like Kondo waiting while he worked through ironing his life out the hard way, with showing up frequently but never for the long run? Was such a relationship fair to either of them, with one having to surrender more than the other, when the trade-offs never felt even? Was taking his time as he had been also unwittingly taking advantage?

Long black lashes fell with the closing of Hijikata’s eyes, while Kondo’s voice filled his memories once more.

Things are okay this way. I promise. Everything is okay. We’re both doing what we need to do.

But why? Why was it all okay? And why did Hijikata keep inwardly arguing the opposite of all the reassurances and guarantees?

He supposed it all came down to this: it was unclear to him what necessity, what purpose, could be found when Kondo looked his way. There wasn’t a single doubt in existence that he saw something which had him holding Hijikata in such high regard, and so dearly. The not knowing why was infinitely troublesome, however, and brought with it negative thoughts and further discomfiting speculation.

It couldn’t be pity; or more accurately, Hijikata hoped beyond all hope that it wasn’t, as the thought of falling in love with someone out of sympathy for their condition seemed entirely pathetic. Yet then again, Okita was another hard luck case whom Kondo had taken to, but in an older brotherly or even fatherly manner. The difference with Okita’s misfortune lay in his capability of doing something about it; being naturally gifted with the blade meant he possessed something of value upon which his future could be reliably staked.

By contrast, Hijikata practiced the art of swordsmanship in the style of multiples, but held no inkling of mastery for one certain type. He’d worked as a merchant’s apprentice at his family’s insistence, but abandoned that way of life when it’d become too insipid and repetitious. And upon these failings, he’d resolved to wander an aimless path of medicine solicitation while looking for his big break—an occupation which yielded only enough funds to supply little more than sustenance and temporary shelter for himself while on the move.

In the long run, he wanted to be and feel useful, to make an impact that shook the very ground at his feet. …Like his brother-in-law, Hikogoro, drenched in wealth and finesse, who commanded the respect of the locals and even had his own Hino-based Tennen Rishin Ryu dojo. …Like Kondo, chosen by one from the samurai class to join his family and inherit his legacy, who inspired the ambitions of mere farmers and challenged them to be and do better.

Transcending social constructs like that was a ludicrous fantasy seemingly better for bedtime stories, but one boy hailing from Kamiishihara had done the impossible and was now on his way to becoming the master of an entire fighting style. He was a true samurai, not by birth, but in spirit—and that, by Hijikata’s opinion, made Kondo more samurai than any man lucky enough to have been born with such an embellishing title while lacking the discipline and character.

Ultimately, the bitter reality was that up against these admirable men of high caliber, all Hijikata was at this point was a rough stone without polish—one that would barely make a splash if tossed into a lake, one that would sink right to the bottom undistinguished from the rest. He was no pearl, not yet. And he would never become one if he kept on as he had been.

Hijikata’s eyelashes parted suddenly.

…Where were these thoughts going?

He stared at his palm resting flat on the sheet.

…Every twist, every turn of mental gymnastics led him to the same conclusion. He had to make a change. And that change, it meant…

The sudden soft yawn at his side jarred Hijikata and sent his emotional shields slamming into place, his eyes snapping shut before Kondo noticed he’d uncharacteristically woken up first. He feigned sleep over the sounds of stirring, of small stretches and joints popping, of Kondo shifting from his back to his side. Then, all went silent.

The quietude persisted for long enough that Hijikata believed Kondo had fallen back into slumber, so his eyes fluttered open again. But when they did, they parted that much wider in surprise.

Soft amber. Flecks of gold. A universe of treasure between rims of dark lashes, aimed directly at him.

Seconds ticked by.

“Hey…” Kondo whispered at last, a lazy lopsided smile pulling outward to his cheek.

Hijikata blinked, as dread simultaneously crept up his throat and weighed his body down until he felt twice as heavy. If it were any other day, he might have snapped at being watched while he slept and even pulled the cover over his face as retaliation. However, this morning was anything but typical and Hijikata had been the furthest place possible from inner peace.

He wished he could react normally, wished he had the right to chide Kondo as he often would over the small things. Alas...

“…Hey,” he replied, before it became too long and things turned even more awkward for him.

A hand fell over his own, still resting palm-down on the futon, as Kondo’s sluggish features began to sharpen with the furrowing of his brow. “Are…?” He cleared his throat to shake the coarseness from his voice and began rising to a forearm. “Are you okay?”

Hijikata nodded immediately, pulling his hand free from Kondo’s to press unto a bicep and still him. “Mm.” He sniffled, and several frightfully thoughtful moments drifted by before he added, “Still tired.” The yawn thereafter started out fake, but quickly turned real.

“Heh…” To much relief, Kondo seemed to relax at that. He shoved his pillow roll off the futon, then slipped an arm beneath Hijikata and drew him close enough for his lips to meet his forehead. “Me too.”

“I mean…” Hijikata huffed and felt Kondo smile against him, felt the quiet laugh rumble within his chest.

“Sorry.” Kondo stroked his thumb gently across Hijikata’s exposed cheek, then brushed loose locks of hair behind his ear.

He’s such a good person…so rare, so good. He deserves the best of everything. Is that what you can give him as you are now? Really?

“Toshi,” Kondo breathed, elongating the vowels of his name, and then used his weight to coax Hijikata on his back. He nuzzled him, draped an arm over Hijikata’s waist, then rested his head against his chest. “Let’s sleep a little longer?”

Things are okay this way. I promise. Everything is okay.

In fact, at present, nothing was. But perhaps, one day, it could be. Hijikata’s chest tightened as the path with all the answers suddenly opened to him, and at last he realized what needed to be done...for the good of them as one, and the good of them as individuals.

But for now…

If only for now...

“Aa.” Fingers came up to thread through locks of short brown hair before Hijikata let his arm fall, wrapping around Kondo’s back and holding him close. “Just a little longer.” He stared toward the ceiling, as he held tight.

And then tighter yet.

Toshi, I just…I want you to do what makes you happy.

That there even was a them meant everything. And they’d been this way for so long that it felt natural and right…but was it really?

Hijikata’s eyes narrowed with a wince.

There was no deviation from the usual, the pattern of behavior unfolding the same way it always did.

It was all so…normal. But their relationship really wasn’t that at all, with Hijikata running about in circles while Kondo kept moving forward but still wanting Hijikata around like he was useful for something.

And perhaps these thoughts were why waking up this morning next to Kondo for the umpteenth time of Hijikata’s life felt different.

Long black lashes fell with the closing of Hijikata’s eyes, while Kondo’s voice filled his memories once more.

Things are okay this way. I promise. Everything is okay. We’re both doing what we need to do.

But why? Why was it all okay? And why did Hijikata keep inwardly arguing the opposite of all the reassurances and guarantees?

Hijikata’s eyelashes parted suddenly.

…Where were these thoughts going?

He stared at his palm resting flat on the sheet.

…Every twist, every turn of mental gymnastics led him to the same conclusion. He had to make a change. And that change, it meant…

The quietude persisted for long enough that Hijikata believed Kondo had fallen back into slumber, so his eyes fluttered open again. But when they did, they parted that much wider in surprise.

Soft amber. Flecks of gold. A universe of treasure between rims of dark lashes, aimed directly at him.

Seconds ticked by.

“Hey…” Kondo whispered at last, a lazy lopsided smile pulling outward to his cheek.

He wished he could react normally, wished he had the right to chide Kondo as he often would over the small things. Alas...

“…Hey,” he replied, before it became too long and things turned even more awkward for him.

“I mean…” Hijikata huffed and felt Kondo smile against him, felt the quiet laugh rumble within his chest.

“Sorry.” Kondo stroked his thumb gently across Hijikata’s exposed cheek, then brushed loose locks of hair behind his ear.

He’s such a good person…so rare, so good. He deserves the best of everything. Is that what you can give him as you are now? Really?

Things are okay this way. I promise. Everything is okay.

But for now…

If only for now...

And then tighter yet.

Chapter 3 >>

#uss enterplaid #toshisami #hakuouki #t1 #long post #writing on plaid paper #im.........sorry #things have to be bad before they can be good #...or something...like that...#jkhlskdgfdghdksd

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dudeandduchess · 5 years

Text

Peach(es) and Cream [Tomioka Giyuu x F!Reader] Chapter 1

Rating: E! NSFW Characters: Tomioka Giyuu x F!Reader Chapters: 5/5 Summary: Wherein Giyuu is betrothed to a noble woman, and visits her with a present. *wink wink* Tags: Smut, Fluff, Short Series, Fingering, Creampie, Established Relationship, Arranged Marriage, Jealousy

***NSFW***

“Your husband is here, (Y/n)-sama,” The teasing lilt of her handmaid’s voice reached the (h/c)-haired woman’s ears. It was soft in its cadence, but didn’t fail to make the young woman’s heart race frantically in her chest.

With a blush on her face, as well as a well-practiced mask of irritation, (Y/n) answered, “He is not my husband, Yuriko.”

“Not yet, (Y/n)-sama.” Yuriko answered with a light laugh, just as she opened the shoji for her mistress. “Honestly, if Tomioka-sama ever heard you, he would be heartbroken.”

Had Yuriko been under service to another lady, she would have long been beheaded for her impertinence, but not while she was serving (Y/n). The bond between them was more than a simple ‘mistress and handmaid’ relationship; it had been a relationship that was steadily forged with genuine friendship in mind over time— hence, resulting in enough closeness to be casual with each other.

“Yes, because his heart beats only for me,” The slightly older one of the two women answered with a sarcastic quirk of her lips. “His recurring presence doesn’t have anything to do with the fact that my father offered me up to him like a prized cow.”

“He could have rejected Eiji-sama’s offer, but he didn’t.”

“Because who in their right mind would turn down free lodging and food?”

“And all the free se-” A swift hit upside the back of her head effectively cut Yuriko off; just in time, as well, because (Y/n) had just spotted Giyuu as he turned the corner of the house.

Giyuu didn’t know exactly why he had opted to go to the (L/n) Mansion, instead of going back to the Butterfly Mansion to get patched up. Then again, he didn’t want Shinobu or any of her assistants asking him any questions. His ribs were already killing him, and his battered pride was already weighing him down, but he had still made the trip… to see (Y/n).

His betrothed; the woman who was practically forced upon him as a token of gratitude from her father.

The same woman who made his heart beat fast, and made his body hot in all the right and wrong places. She was the epitome of mercurial, if he were to be honest; one minute he would find himself being enchanted by her, and the next he would be seething with anger because of something she had said.

“Tomioka-san,” (Y/n) greeted curtly, with a shallow bow towards him. That veneer of politeness always served to piss him off; because it was like she was masking her real emotions when it came into play. It pissed him off, because she was always a different person when she was underneath him at night. “To what do we owe the pleasure of your presence?”

Wordlessly, the raven-haired Demon Slayer stepped up onto the engawa and entered (Y/n)’s room, without so much as a glance at the woman herself.

Yuriko’s lips turned up at the corners in a salacious grin, as she gave her mistress a gentle push towards the open shoji panel. “I think I have errands to run, (Y/n)-sama. I’ll be back before nightfall.”

With that, the younger woman ran off to the gods only knew where, which left (Y/n) standing outside her room with a confused look on her face. It wasn’t that she wasn’t happy that Giyuu was there— not that she would ever admit to it— but it seemed to her that he was more irritable than usual.

And so, she stepped back into her room and closed the shoji behind her with a quiet thud. “What are you doing here, Tomioka?”

Her answer, surprisingly enough, was laid before her eyes as she took in the bruises that littered Giyuu’s torso. Shallow scratches littered his face, but the majority of his injuries were centered on his abdomen. She had no doubt that he had fractured a rib or two, judging by the look of those unsightly bruises that colored his skin.

“Oh, let me get the medicine kit.”

“No, stay here,” Giyuu answered gruffly, as he glared down at the floor. He could already feel the blush burning across his cheeks, so he tried to prolong the inevitable: when (Y/n) would see him with such an expression on his face.

Then slowly— hesitantly— he reached into his pocket and pulled out the root cause of his current predicament: a nice, ripe peach. He never would have spared it the attention, had it been peach season, but it wasn’t… and he remembered just how much (Y/n) loved peaches.

So he had done the most idiotic thing, and had climbed up the tree to get it for her.

And it seemed that having that branch break on him was worth it, because the sheer joy on (Y/n)’s face made his chest feel all tight and warm again.

“Is this for me?” (Y/n) couldn’t keep the awe out of her tone, even if she tried. If she were to be more unrestrained with her reaction, she could have hugged Giyuu and told him that she loved him.

Because she did love him, despite what she would like others to believe. She merely didn’t want to be the first one to give in and say it first, in case he didn’t return her feelings like that.

Gingerly, the (h/c) haired woman took the peach from her lover’s hands, before shooting him the smallest of grateful smiles. And then, as if deciding that a smile wasn’t enough to take Giyuu’s breath away, she leaned in and brushed her lips against his own.

Kisses weren’t a foreign concept within their relationship, but the way that Giyuu responded was absolutely mind-blowing. He had moved to cup (Y/n)’s face in his hands, and had pulled her in to positively capture her lips with his own.

His kiss started out light and unassuming, until the Demon Slayer tilted his head to deepen their contact. Giyuu nipped at her bottom lip, before slanting his mouth over hers once more— that time much more insistent and passionate, as he snaked his tongue between (Y/n)’s lips.

He would never say it aloud, but he had missed kissing her. He had missed… her.

It didn’t take long for things to escalate further between the couple. At that moment, (Y/n) was already straddling Giyuu’s lap, with the peach already a few feet away from them; from the man himself taking it out of his beloved’s hand and setting it aside.

“Giyuu…” (Y/n) moaned, as the raven-haired man unlatched himself from her lips to lavish kisses down the side of her neck. None-too-gently, he bit down on the junction where her neck and right shoulder met, which pulled another pleasured mewl from her.

Sure, battle-hardened hands glided over the silky material of (Y/n)’s kimono, before pushing the material off her shoulders to expose her breasts. The feat was made difficult by her well-tied obi, but Giyuu didn’t mind as he took one pert nipple into his mouth.

“Oh gods,” The (h/c) haired woman moaned aloud— uninhibited with her reaction— as she was under so much pleasure. With every flick of her lover’s tongue, and every brush of his teeth against the tight bud, a gasp would escape her lips— and her grip on his hair would subconsciously tighten and loosen.

But that was only the beginning of things, as Giyuu slid his left hand beneath (Y/n)’s kimono, and sought out her undoubtedly wet cunt. And when he did find it, the faintest of smirks graced his lips. “You’re not wearing any underwear. Lecherous woman.”

His fingers then delved between her wet folds, rubbing up and down her slit— and briefly playing with her clit— before sliding inside her waiting entrance. A groan ripped free from Giyuu’s lips, as he felt her muscles contract around two of his fingers. He couldn’t wait until he had his cock inside her.

In that way that she had taught him, the Demon Hunter curled his fingers and rubbed against his lover’s inner walls; making her positively moan and cling tighter on to him. He sought her mouth once more, then claimed her lips to silence the oncoming mewls that he was sure she was going to start producing.

He wasn’t disappointed, because (Y/n) started moaning against his lips, when he proceeded to pump his fingers in and out of her wet cunt.

“I’m…” (Y/n) stated breathlessly, after she pulled away from her lover’s lips. A moan passed her lips, and she closed her eyes as she savored the euphoric feeling of almost reaching her release. “Almost… ah, Giyuu!”

The (L/n) heiress didn’t even have time to comprehend what had happened, because she was suddenly on the floor with her lover above her.

Slowly, Giyuu pulled his fingers out of (Y/n), then brought the digits up to his lips to suck them clean. And damn, if that wasn’t the most erotic sight that the (h/c) haired woman had ever seen in her twenty years of existence.

He pressed one more kiss against her lips, before making quick work of his pants and pulling his erection out. With a few pumps of his hand, he lined the head of his cock up to (Y/n)’s waiting cunt, then sank his dick down to the hilt.

(Y/n)’s eyes practically rolled into the back of her head, with how much pleasure coursed through her system at that one move. But, when he started moving against her, she wrapped her arms tighter around his neck and busied her mouth with leaving love bites all over his neck and shoulders.

She knew that she had the tendency to be loud whenever they fucked, and the last thing that she wanted was to be caught in the act by someone in her house. Worse off, she didn’t want her brother to catch wind of her activities with Giyuu, because she was sure that it would result in another stand-off out in the yard; not that her brother even stood a chance against her lover.

With diligent strokes, Giyuu kept thrusting his hips— pressing kisses against his beloved’s left shoulder every once in a while. Until his pace picked up, the moment he had heard the pattering of footsteps drawing nearer to them.

“Oh, oh, oh, Giyuu!” (Y/n) mewled sinfully against his skin, as he kept trying to chase their release. He could tell she was close to her second orgasm, what with the way her walls pulsed around his cock, so he added his left hand into the foray and proceeded to toy with her clit to get her there faster. “I’m cumming!”

And when (Y/n)’s walls clamped down hard around his erection, the Demon Slayer bottomed out and held himself deep inside her, as his thick ropes of cum filled her up.

“Oi! You bastard! Come out here and face me!” Toshiro, (Y/n)’s older brother, bellowed from outside her bedroom, which had the couple staring into each other’s eyes.

Before dissolving into tiny smiles.

(Y/n) didn’t know what compelled her to do it, but that moment seemed as good as any other to say the words burning on the tip of her tongue. “I love you.”

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#giyuu tomioka x reader #kimetsu no yaiba tomioka #kny x reader #kimetsu no yaiba fanfic #tomioka giyū #tomioka giyuu #fanfic #demon slayer fanfic #x reader fanfic #peach(es) and cream #tomioka giyuu x reader

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n3rdlif343va · 6 years

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25 otayuri

Alright, anon, you got me! Anyone who has read Yakov’s Return knows that I have this weird fascination with turducken lol

I hope you enjoy this as I accidentally deleted the first version of this and had to rewrite it, RIP Nerd lol

2/5 Christmas Prompts

Yuri stood in the kitchen surveying the ingredients piledacross the counter. He had spent days looking up recipes trying to concoct theperfect meal to impress Otabek, and he was positive that he had succeeded. Afew of the pieces had been hard to find, but he had enjoyed his time draggingOtabek around to various markets acquiring everything he needed. Otabek hadn’tasked for an explanation and Yuri hadn’t given one, smiling as his own surprisebegan to form under his capable hands.

The tickets to the ballet for Yakov and Lilia had beenOtabek’s Christmas gift to Yuri’s grumpy coaches, and Yuri had given his owngift in the form of a paid dinner to their favorite restaurant. It was a conspiracyto get them out of the house for a night, but they hadn’t realized that and hadthanked both Otabek and Yuri for their thoughtfulness.

Less than an hour ago, they had watched Yakov back the carout of the driveway, hands waving as Yuri shut the door behind them. They hadthe entire house to themselves for an entire night, and Yuri planned to use thetime wisely.

Picking up his phone, Yuri studied the recipe for thehundredth time, making sure he knew the exact steps needed to perfect his meal.He could make piroshkies with his eyes shut and borscht in his sleep, but Yurididn’t want this to be another ordinary meal. He wanted to knock Otabek’s socksoff with his cooking prowess and he set to work washing his hands whileglancing at the couch. Otabek was curled there, banished from the kitchen untildinner, with Potya purring on his lap. Yuri forced himself not to consider thedomestic implications of the sight, instead turning to his pots and pans tobegin prepping his elaborate meal. Grinning to himself as the delight of hissurprises filled him, Yuri set to work crafting all the elements of theirperfect night.

“Yuri…” Otabek slid into his seat at the dining room table,eyes wide as he took in the amount of food spread in front of him. “We are onlytwo people,” he chuckled, noting Yuri’s pink cheeks and nervously drummingfingers. He had discovered a lot of things about Yuri over the beginning oftheir friendship, but one of his favorite discoveries was Yuri’s cooking. Yuricould cook, and not in the edible-enough-to-sustain-life way that Otabek couldcook. Yuri knew about spices and ingredients from all over the world and Otabekfelt spoiled every time that knowledge was used for him.

Sweeping a more decisive look over the table, Otabekbrightened when he noticed the bowl sitting directly in front of him. Liftingit with one hand, he happily grabbed the serving spoon and grinned as heinhaled the delicious scent of the dish under his nose. “Did you make me mashedpotatoes?”

As his blush spread over his cheeks, Yuri kept his facehidden by the escaped hairs falling from his ponytail. Reaching across thetable, he snagged the bowl containing perfectly sautéed vegetables andshrugged. “You said it was the only American dish you really liked. I figuredif Americans can make it, I can probably make it better.” He glanced up to seeOtabek shove a giant spoonful in his mouth.

Food heaven, wasOtabek’s only thought as he tried to keep himself from simultaneously moaningand shoveling more potatoes in his mouth. The consistency was perfect andwhatever seasoning Yuri had used made the potatoes better than any Otabek hadever had. Yuri was a food genius as far as Otabek could tell. Taking anotherhuge bite, Otabek held a hand over his mouth as he looked at Yuri’s expectantexpression. “It’s so good,” he said, swallowing and accepting the bowl ofvegetables as Yuri handed it to him. It was impossible to ignore the brightnessof Yuri’s smile, and Otabek grinned back as he missed his plate with hisvegetables.

Laughing as Otabek tried to retrieve the lost veggie, Yuristood and grabbed the biggest serving platter with both hands. “You think thoseare good?” placing the platter between them, Yuri lifted a carving knife andfork as he grinned at Otabek. “Wait until you try this!”

Otabek stared in fascination and then horror as Yuri sliced intoa multi-layered, multi-colored meat creation. The wafting smell was undeniablytempting, but the weird mash up of colors and flow of different juices madeOtabek question all of his decisions that had led to that moment. Swallowinghard, he watched as Yuri sliced the meat beast and placed a helping on Otabek’splate. “Yuri, what is this?” He tried to keep his reservations out of hisvoice, as he poked the meats with his fork.

“It’s a turducken!’ Yuri announced proudly, serving himselfa piece of the layered masterpiece and immediately reaching for the bowl ofpotatoes. “It is a chicken, shoved into a duck, shoved into a turkey. Don’tworry I basted and seasoned every layer, so it won’t be dried out.” Withoutlooking up, Yuri began to dig into his food, humming happily as his legsbounced under the table.

I think I’m gonna tobe sick, Otabek thought, lifting his knife cautiously toward the tripleterror of meat. He liked all of them individually, but it was unsightly to seethem wrapped together like a treacle of horror. Hesitantly he sliced throughall three, carefully picking the bite up with his fork and placing his freehand around his water glass. He wouldn’t disappoint Yuri by not eating it, evenif he had to drink all of the water in Russia to get it down.

Yuri tried not to let his stomach curl as he watched Otabekslowly place his fork in his mouth. He wanted to challenge Otabek, to call hima baby for not bravely trying something new, but he was too anxious to get thewords out. Trying to be sly about it, Yuri continued to watch Otabek chew as hetook another bite from his own plate.

“You’re a food sorcerer,” Otabek sighed, quickly cuttinginto his turducken and inhaling another bite. The dish shouldn’t have beengood, but in Yuri’s hands it was one of the best things Otabek had ever eaten.Not pausing to look at Yuri, Otabek immediately cut another bite and shoved itin his mouth.

The butterflies were back in Yuri’s stomach as he stoppedeating to grin at Otabek. “So, you like it?” Both of his eyebrows were raisedas he leaned over the corner of the table, elbow bent and palm supporting hischin. He loved the excitement in Otabek’s eyes as they raised to meet Yuri’s,and his heart flipped over in his chest.

“Best meal I have ever had,” Otabek grinned as he reachedacross the table and cheekily stole Yuri’s turducken from his plate. Laughingat Yuri’s startled noise, Otabek made a show of cutting the turducken and consuminganother piece. “Just don’t tell my mother I said that!” He winked at Yuri asYuri glared at him.

“Steal from my plate again, Altin, and I will do just that!”Yuri lightly punched Otabek on the arm before retreating to cut himself moremeat. He couldn’t stop the smile on his face, his cheeks aching from the pridethat was fueling his happiness. All of the gold medals in the world couldn’tcompare to the feeling of sharing a successful meal with his best friend andYuri sank back into his chair ready to enjoy it.

#yoi #brotayuri #yuri plisetsky #otabek altin #yuri on ice #christmas spirit with nerd

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