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hushedhands · 3 years

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Challenge 83

@cecilia02 @everbeenminee Astra watching Andrew's coronation.

Astra Orders set an alarm for three o’clock in the morning, but she didn't need it. She didn't sleep at all.

Her mom had invited her to watch the once-in-a-generation event with her little cousins in Illéa Palace, but Astra had refused. Kile had offered to stay the night and keep her company, but that hadn't felt right either. Her dad had suggested not watching at all, which was cute but not really a solution. It would be weeks before footage of this faded from the news, and even then there would be anniversary specials forever. Astra might as well bite the bullet and watch the coronation that had almost been hers.

She wished her parents and her boyfriend weren’t making such a fuss about this. History was full of women who'd almost married princes and then gone home to watch them become kings. Her Uncle Maxon had left dozens of such women in his wake when he’d chosen to marry Aunt Ames, though Astra didn't have the telephone numbers of any of them. She wished Andrew had enough ex-girlfriends to make a proper club like the former Selected. It might have been nice to have someone who could understand this indescribable feeling without the need for words to name it.

It wasn't that she wanted to be married to Andy. She had no doubt at all that she'd made the right decision in calling off their relationship, and that was totally separate from the fact that she was now wildly in love with Kile.

But there was something aching in her chest as she watched the aerial shots of the city of London on the little television in her apartment in Angeles, curled up in her warmest fuzzy pajamas, hair in a messy version of her ballet bun, hands clinging to her mug of tea for dear life. Today was the day that standing by Andrew's side for his coronation went from something she wouldn’t do to something she couldn't do. She'd chosen to walk away, but this was the day that the door locked behind her.

Never was a hard word to give to Andrew, even if Kile had her Always.

The camera above the crowd panned past the palace Astra had stayed in that summer, and her chest squeezed hard. Whatever else had happened there, it had been a refuge for her at a time in her life when she’d needed it most.

It all started when she had been offered an incredible opportunity to dance for the Waverly ballet company in the summer, and an opportunity to attend an elite seminar with London’s royal ballet company in the spring, and Kile, realizing that he and Astra wouldn’t see each other for over six months, had broken up with her very suddenly.

Well, technically it had been a mutual decision. She hadn’t seen him much during his first year at school, and now she was off on her own adventures, and it seemed like a terrible time to try to make a relationship work. What if he met someone amazing at university? What if she met someone in Waverly or London? Was it fair to deny themselves new relationships and experiences just because they’d always been together? Weren’t they technically together by default, anyway?

It was a reasonable question. If you married someone you’d had playdates with for as long as you could remember, and you never even tried to date someone else, it was probably a relationship by default… right?

As she got on the plane for London, it had hit her hard that she wouldn’t have a hope of seeing Kile again, maybe for an entire year. The earliest she’d be back in Angeles was the next fall, and that’s exactly when he’d be leaving to go back to school again. And this time they wouldn’t talk to each other on the telephone almost every single day, and she wouldn’t slip secret notes in the care packages his parents sent him from home, and he wouldn’t surprise her by sitting in the audience during a matinee performance after sneaking back into town without telling her...

And maybe he never would again.

It was possible she’d cried the whole flight overseas, it was hard to remember. She must have rehydrated somehow, or she’d have shriveled up and died of the heartbreak. That time was all a blur now.

But what Astra remembered clearly, sitting on her sofa four years later, was the way she’d felt walking into that little old palace on the north side of the city and realizing that it was essentially hers for the season. It really paid to have a paranoid king for an uncle sometimes, because Maxon had pulled a dozen favors with the English royal family to get Astra somewhere safe and comfortable to live for a few months. She was technically an Illéan princess by title, so he wouldn’t hear of letting her rent a crumby apartment somewhere in the city, and besides, wherever she stayed needed to have enough room for a security detail. Still, even for a small palace, it was a palace and it was hers.

The old place had plenty of full-time staff that kept it in good shape as an estate of historical significance to the English monarchy, but Astra herself didn’t have maids or butlers, or a chef to keep her fed. At night, everyone who worked to keep the palace maintained went home, so it was only her and the security detail.

But she was allowed to order takeout from restaurants around town, so on her very first night alone she ordered enough food to live off of for a while, until she could get to a grocery store. She sprawled on a sofa in the downstairs sitting room, doodling in the notebook her Aunt May had given her for her last birthday, until there was a surprise knock on the archway in the entrance of the sitting room.

“Hello.” Andrew stood there, still in his business suit from the day, though with no tie, and with the top button undone. He looked ruffled, and in his hands he carried a large bottle of red wine. “Sorry to barge in… there isn’t exactly a doorbell in this place, and without staff to handle arrivals and departures… well, I did knock.” he awkwardly concluded.

Astra, still in her tank top and stretchy pants from the plane, would have felt severely underdressed to received a prince at a palace, except this was one of her oldest and best friends, and some of the ache in her heart from leaving Kile on the other side of the world eased away just from looking at him. She hugged him, “You don’t need to knock. It’s good to see you.”

“And you.” he hugged her back. “Ah, and here. A housewarming gift.” he offered her the wine.

“You’re just in time for dinner.”

“Am I?”

“It should be here soon. The finest spicy noodles and sautéed vegetables in the land. Although, if there’s no doorbell…”

“The guard at the gate will take it from the delivery driver and have someone bring it in.” he grinned.

“Then what are we waiting for? Let’s go hunt down something to open that bottle.” she said.

A new city, a change of scenery, some delicious New Asian food, a bottle of old wine, a dear old friend… this was the recipe to get over a breakup. Astra knew it, because she already felt worlds better, just struggling to find a way into the wine bottle. There wasn’t a corkscrew in the kitchens that they could find, and this palace didn’t have its own wine cellar, which was the only other place they could think to find wine accessories. In the end, Andrew took an impressive, ancient sword off of a display rack on a wall at the top of the grand staircase and carefully poked the sharp end down until it was lodged into the cork.

Astra laughed so hard her sides hurt as she twisted the bottle out in front of her and Andrew slowly stepped backward. After a couple of tries, the cork loosened up enough that he could use brute force to pull the rest of it out.

When the food arrived, they carried it up to the top floor, to a balcony that overlooked the city, and they had a picnic of sorts.

“Where’s Lucas? You two are usually a package set.” Astra asked between bites of spicy noodles.

“Still finishing up his first year at university.”

“Oh, of course! Kile— “ She stopped abruptly, her chest squeezed tightly, her tongue fell heavy in her mouth, and she drowned the bitter taste of his name on her lips with expensive wine.

“Oh dear. That won’t do.” Andrew leant over and brushed away an errant tear from her cheek. “You mean to tell me… well, he’s safe isn’t he? He’s not unwell?”

“No, no he’s fine. He’s at school… and I’m here.”

Andrew studied her face carefully. He’d met Kile and Astra on the same day, at the same moment, so they’d been friends for exactly the same amount of time. He knew that they’d been together romantically for almost seven years now, the teenage equivalent of a sixty-year marriage. “So you’re… taking time apart?”

“We’ve decided to go our separate ways.” Astra said, the words soft and wispy in her throat. “We’re not… we’re not headed in the same direction anymore. We might never head in the same direction again. After university, he wants to see the world. And I… I might travel around for a while as a dancer, but I can’t imagine not being there for Addy once she becomes Queen… Even if that wasn’t true, we won’t have a good chance to be in the same city for at least a year… and a lot can happen in a year.”

Andrew took a large sip from his glass and then refilled hers.

“That’s really difficult, Astra… I’m so sorry. I know how much you love each other. It must be hell, knowing that you’re growing apart from the person you’re closest to in the world.”

Astra choked a sob in her wineglass and Andrew’s eyes widened, “God, I’m sorry! What a terrible thing to say—“ he sat both of their glasses safely aside and wrapped her in a warm hug.

Astra got his suit all wet from her tears, but she felt comfortable in his arms. “I’m not crying because of you, stupid.” She explained when she had the breath to do so. “It’s definitely because of him. I just… I didn’t think anyone would understand. But you do.”

“I don’t.” Andy rushed to correct her. “Not really. I’ve never experienced anything like that. The closest I can imagine is if… if I lost touch with someone in the Palace kid gang. You’re my best friends, apart from Luke, and I’ve known you forever. If I had to say goodbye to one of you, to lose you forever… it’s not even close to what you’re feeling, but just the thought hurts enough for me to know that you’re going through hell.”

Astra sniffled and collected her wineglass again, ready for more sips, content to allow herself to be comforted by her friend. “Hell has better wine than I expected, I’ll give it that much.”

“Not a bad view, either.” Andrew agreed with a small chuckle, looking out at the city.

“Didn’t expect one of my very best friends to come with me to hell.” Astra timidly admitted.

“And I’m not leaving until I get you out of it.” he’d promised.

Andrew always did have words as sweet as honey.

They drank the whole bottle that night, between the two of them. They had as good an excuse as two teenagers needed: they couldn’t find a wine stopper. Andrew offered to stay the night with her so that she wouldn’t be alone, but now that the world was blurry and warm from the wine, Astra felt delightfully sleepy. She was going to get her first good night’s sleep since losing Kile. So Andrew left, promising to bring breakfast the next morning to check on her.

He checked on her a lot.

He brought her breakfast and dinner every day, and he’d probably have brought her lunch too, except that she was always at her dance seminar during the daytime. Astra ended every night with her body pleasantly tired from dancing, a new half a bottle of wine in her stomach, and her mind full of whatever nice, easy conversation she’d had with Andrew just before bed. Her first week in England flew by.

That Friday night, Andrew appeared in the doorway to the sitting room right on schedule, two bottles of wine in hand.

“You’re mad.” Astra giggled.

“It’s the weekend.” he argued. “You don’t have to dance tomorrow, and I don’t have any public appearances to make until next Tuesday.”

“You’re off work until Tuesday? You English royals really know how to take it easy.” she laughed. She didn’t think her cousins had taken a three day weekend in their lives.

“We’ll keep the second bottle on standby, just in case we decide we want to try it.”

But of course, they were young and it was a Friday night, they definitely wanted to try it. Somewhere after the first glass of the second bottle, refilling glasses got too risky and they started drinking straight from the bottle, passing it back and forth. There was a television show on, showing a concert happening on the other side of the city in a stadium Astra could just see if she stood tall enough on the balcony.

Andrew watched her going almost en pointe to try to spy the stadium, mesmerized by her strength and balance and grace. “Can we dance?”

Astra smiled brightly. Dancing was her favorite in the world, of course they could dance! They danced in their socks to the music on the television until Andrew collapsed, out of breath, on the sofa. Astra joined him, blood pumping pleasantly fast through her veins.

“I’m out of shape!” he bemoaned.

“I’m a professional athlete, don’t compare yourself to me. You did just fine.”

“I did? Do you think I could join the ballet?” He laughed giddily.

She’d never seen him giddy like this.

Andy carried the weight of his country on his shoulders, he always had. Addy hadn’t really started bearing Illéa on her back until she was eleven or twelve, old enough to understand what was coming for her, but Andrew had always been a future king, even when he was tiny. Seeing him now, not a care in the world, laughing about joining the ballet… Astra’s heart twisted in her chest and for the first time since breaking up with Kile, it had absolutely nothing to do with him.

He had no part of this.

Astra leant forward and kissed Andrew on the warm, red cheek.

He looked at her, stunned, smile falling off his face. “What was that for?”

“I don’t know… just because. Just for you.”

“Just for me…” he’d mused.

“For being good to me. For taking care of me while I’m here. For… for being you. Yeah… just for you.” Astra nodded, this time more certain that the words made sense outside of her wine-fogged mind.

“I should be me more often.” he chuckled.

Astra blinked.

Should he?

***

There was a version of Astra’s stay in London where she pined away for her ex-boyfriend every moment she got, and maybe poured that pain into her dancing because it was overflowing from her heart and needed somewhere to go. That’s what she’d been expecting deep down. But what really happened was, she found a favorite market to buy groceries from, she found a bakery between her palace and the dance studio that kept her in much-needed carbs, she found a park with a pond where lots of locals liked to walk their dogs, which meant she got to pet a lot of dogs, and she started falling in love with the city.

And then there was Andrew.

He knew her so well, and they’d loved each other as friends for so long, and spending those mornings and nights with him felt so easy, so smooth.

And he was handsome and kind and… ugh, handsome. Astra didn’t regret kissing him on the cheek. Not even when he stood with her on the balcony a week later, watching the sunset, and she laced her hand with his.

“Are you quite alright?” he’d asked, not because she’d grabbed his hand, but just because he was still so worried about her.

“When I got here, I thought the answer to that question would be no forever.” Astra confessed. “And listen… I don’t really know who I am without Kile, he’s been a part of me for my whole life… but these past two weeks I’ve started to find out… and I like it. I like getting to know me.”

Andrew smiled down at her and squeezed her hand.

“And I like you too, Andrew.”

His smile became pained, “Astra—“

“It’s okay. You’re the next king and blah blah blah.” he laughed, because there were so few people in the world who could blah blah blah being an heir to a throne, but Astra was certainly one of them.

“It isn’t that.” he corrected her with a shake of his head. “It’s… you’re getting out of a serious relationship. You can’t like anyone yet—“

“Yes I can.” Astra scoffed, a challenging glint in her eyes, “Watch me.”

“But we’ve been friends our whole lives, too. Wouldn’t you like to like someone different? A stranger, maybe?”

“Where would I find one of those?” Astra lamented, only half-joking. Having a king for an uncle really limited one’s opportunities to meet strangers.

Andrew peered at her closely, then seemingly made up his mind all at once, saying, “Put on a dress.”

“What?”

“Put on a dress, I’ve got a surprise for you!”

Just like that, Andrew was downstairs talking to his security team and Astra was upstairs trying to figure out what dress to wear. There was a sweet springtime yellow thing… and then there was the red thing.

Astra made up her mind quickly. She chose the red thing. She chose everything that the red thing implied.

She appeared at the bottom of the stairs and Andrew’s eyes widened.

“Is this alright? I have other dresses—“

“S’perfect—“ he muttered and then cleared his throat, “Ahem, that is perfect Astra. Let us be off.”

He formally offered her his arm and she accepted with a proud smirk at the flush in his cheeks, then they ducked into his car and his driver whisked them off across town.

“What are we doing?” Astra asked after they took a turn to a part of town she’d never been to before.

“Did I not say it is a surprise?”

“Yes, but—“

“We’ve got guards, and I’ve gone to this place before. There’s no need to worry.”

“Andrew—“

“It’s where I go when I need to meet strangers.”

Astra blinked, dumbfounded.“You? Meet strangers?”

“How else am I supposed to find a queen? ” he muttered mutinously.

Astra stared over at him for a long moment, never having given it a second thought. Addy would be free to date whomever she chose, but if all else failed she could always have a Selection to find her husband. Andrew had nothing like that to choose from.

Astra was surprised when the car pulled to a stop at the backdoor to a nightclub. Could princes of England really go clubbing? But this place looked like it had tight security, and there were signs posted prominently that there were no cameras allowed on the premises. Andrew’s and Astra’s bodyguards stayed close by as they entered the club and Astra’s ears were assaulted by music so loud she could no longer hear it. All she could hear was the beat.

Andrew took her to the bar and bought her whatever drink she wanted, and then leant in close to her ear so that she could hear him say, “What do you think?”

“It’s a little loud!”

He chuckled, “About the strangers.”

“Oh!” Astra looked around as she spun the little umbrella from her pink drink between her fingers. There were all kinds of men here. Some older than her, some younger, some looked athletic and some looked bookish, and they were all having fun, losing themselves to the same beat. “What do you think?!” she yelled at him.

He looked around at the women in the room, sizing them up, and then shrugged, “Hard to say.”

“How do we meet them?!” Astra was yelling, while somehow he was able to keep his voice low and still be heard when he leaned close to her ear.

“Honestly? They usually just come up to me…” he confessed.

Astra rolled her eyes. Royals.

Sure enough, several women came up to Andrew and threw themselves at him while he and Astra waited for even one man to make a pass at her.

“Maybe you’re intimidating them away!” Astra suggested.

“Maybe so. Do you want me to go dance?”

Did she want him to go dance with one of the strange women in the club so that a strange man might come up to her and hit on her?

Not really, no. She wanted to dance with him. She liked dancing with him. More than that, she didn’t want to dance with anyone else. And she didn’t want him to dance with anyone else. She took his hand and dragged him out to the dance floor, their bodyguards hilariously close by, and they started moving.

It wasn’t dancing the way Astra was trained to think of it. There was no choreography, no gentle swell of melody to carry her movements, this was something far more basic than that. The best part was how quickly she was able to stop thinking about anything but her own breath, the sweat on her brow, and the man in front of her.

There was nothing else in the world. For as long as they could stay with the beat, there was only the beat. Endorphins that she associated with a long hard workout flooded her body, and Astra felt good. And beyond feeling good, she did not feel sad. She did not miss anybody. Not her family on the other side of the world, and not Kile. She was complete right here. All she had to do was make this last forever.

“I am not a professional dancer.” Andrew reminded her, breath coming far too fast to get that whole sentence out without gasping for air several times in the middle.

Astra giggled at him, then hugged him close, “This place is magical!” she yelled in his ear.

“Magical?”

And just to prove the point, and to express her gratitude, she pecked his lips with a kiss.

That was it, right? A kiss of gratitude?

As first kisses went, it was silly. They were both too out of breath to do more than mash their lips together for a second and then go back to gasping for air. Andrew led them away for water and after a few minutes to recover, he was ready to try again.

Astra helped him find a way to move to every other beat instead of every beat, essentially cutting the speed of his dancing in half for him. That helped tremendously. But to help him do this, she had to wrap her arms around his neck to guide him, and once he had the beat it was all much less frantic and much more sensual. This time when they kissed, it was not a silly peck on the lips.

Astra had only ever kissed Kile before, but since that was never happening again, she didn’t allow herself to think about that. She didn’t think about how Andrew was taller than Kile, and his cheeks were softer because he shaved every single morning without fail. She didn’t think about anything except how nice it was not to feel pain. When she was with Andrew, especially when she was kissing Andrew, she felt nothing but joy.

Was she using him to feel better?

If someone made you feel better and wanted to be around you, was that even using them?

They stayed at the club until Andrew was too tired to go on (and even Astra was ready to admit she was tired), and then they climbed back into Andrew’s car and rode off into the night.

Astra’s ears were ringing with the sudden silence, and they were both flushed and dripping with sweat. Astra was ready to bet her face matched the red of her dress and her hair, and was ready to feel embarrassed about that somewhere beneath her exhaustion, when Andrew slid his hand over to hers and squeezed.

She looked over at him and smiled.

It was past 2 in the morning when they got back to Astra’s palace, and Astra couldn’t believe they’d spent so many hours getting swept away like that.

“I’d do that every night if I thought my hearing could survive it.” Astra admitted as they struggled to get up the stairs, feeling distinctly like they had overcooked pasta for legs.

Astra took an ice-cold bath and then rolled her legs out to try to avert any soreness the next morning, and then she found Andrew in one of the guest bedrooms. “Thanks for the dancing… sorry we didn’t meet any strangers.” she grinned.

“I’m not.” he admitted, with complete candor.

“Well then, no future queen for you and no non-childhood friend to date for me.”

“Perhaps you could find a childhood enemy?” he suggested, and she laughed at the dryness of voice as he made the joke.

“Yes, I’ll have to make do.” she agreed.

***

The kisses felt stolen for the first week, like they were getting away with something they weren’t supposed to, but then one day Andrew showed up with Astra’s favorite breakfast, and two paper travel cups of tea, and he pecked her on the lips in greeting and it didn’t feel stolen at all. It felt as comfortable as an old sweater, and made her feel just as warm inside.

To celebrate the end of her first month in London, Astra ordered dinner for them from the same restaurant they’d eaten at on her very first night in town. He showed up looking frazzled after a long day of talking with members of parliament, but all the more pleased to see her because that stress was over now. And, of course, he brought her the same kind of wine they’d shared that first night.

Astra had bought a corkscrew weeks ago now, so they didn’t need to resort to using ancient swords to open their alcohol, which made it slightly less interesting. Astra curled up against him on the balcony overlooking the city and kissed him every chance she got.

“You’re certainly in a mood.” he noted with a smile down at her, after their fourth surprise kiss.

“I’m just glad to be here.”

“Are you?” he seemed surprised. She didn’t blame him. It was quite a turn from her first weepy night a month ago.

“Yes. I think London’s been good for me.”

And maybe she meant the city, with her new favorite local spots and the friends she was making at the seminar, but maybe she meant Andrew. Maybe she couldn’t really tell the difference, and it was all just good for her.

“I am very glad to hear that.”

“I wish I didn’t have to go to Waverly in two months.” Astra admitted. “It’s an amazing opportunity for my career, not to mention I’ll get to visit my grandparents in Carolina all the time, but… I like London.”

This time she was blatantly talking about him.

“Well… London’s not going anywhere anytime soon, I suppose.” he pointed out, fully onto her game.

She hmm-ed into her wineglass, “I suppose not.”

“And you’re always welcome in London, you know.”

Astra giggled and shook her head, surprising him with another kiss as a reward for playing along with her silly euphemism.

Later that night, when the food was stashed away in the kitchen and the wine was mostly empty, Andrew joined Astra again on the balcony as she stood there with the springtime breeze blowing through her loose, curly hair. He wrapped his arms around her waist from behind and pressed a kiss to her shoulder.

“I meant it, you know.” he said. “You could stay as long as you like. There’s a tremendous ballet company in London, perhaps you’ve heard of it.”

Astra laughed, pressing a hand to his over her stomach and turning to look up at him. “Maybe someday.”

“You’re dead-set on going to Waverly, then?”

“Well, I’ve signed a contract.” she explained.

“Ah. They shall imprison you if you break it. I understand.”

His voice was always so serious when he joked, never giving away the game. She laughed at the thought and said, “Yes, there’s a special prison for ballet dancers who break their contracts, it’s especially brutal. I hear they make you dance to jazz all day.”

This time his lips brushed the placed where her shoulders met her neck, and her breath hitched at the sensation. “I shan’t extradite you.” he concluded, his warm lips brushing her skin. “I shall keep you here, safe and sound, far away from the ballet constables.”

Astra laced her fingers with his over her stomach and said, “They’re relentless, the ballet constables. You don’t know what you’re getting yourself into.”

His lips trailed up her neck and stopped at her ear where he said softly, “I think I can manage.”

Astra’s entire body erupted in chills, and suddenly she didn’t want to continue their elaborate, jokey banter about the consequences of her actions. She turned in his arms and pressed her lips roughly to his, knowing beyond the shadow of a doubt that all she really wanted was to lose herself in the taste and the feel and the smell of him. Andrew was the only person in the world who made her not care about the future, and when his lips were on her skin that was doubly true.

It wasn’t exactly real happiness she felt when she was lying in bed with him, his sandy brown hair all ruffled, his arm slung across her like he was afraid she’d disappear in the night. True, meaningful, lasting happiness was something that required a lot of factors: feeling good about the present and hopeful about the future, and at peace with the past. Astra wasn’t at peace with her past, and she didn’t even want to think about the future, but the present… the present was so good. It was one out of three. One out of three wasn’t bad.

***

If Andrew’s parents noticed that he was essentially living with Astra that spring, they didn’t say anything about it. Maybe they just assumed that, since they were close friends, he was keeping her company and enjoying a nice, extended visit. And that was perfectly true, except that they were sharing a bed and occasionally a shower, and they shared a cup of coffee in the morning and a bottle of wine at night.

They didn’t go back to that club, but they found other ways to go out together without being photographed. There were secret tables in the kitchens of restaurants, special royal boxes in theaters, private trains to private estates, and one time there was a royal yacht. Astra was surprised that Andy had so much freedom, as the heir to the throne. Addy couldn’t have dreamed of roaming around Illéa the way that Andrew was gallivanting across his future kingdom. Sure, part of it was Andrew making sure Astra was having the time of her life— he probably didn’t usually venture away from home so much— but even so.

“Will you be able to keep this up once you’re king?” she’d asked him as they sat curled up together on a train ride returning from the south. “All this rambling.” she explained at his questioning look.

“Ah. No, there will certainly be less. But my job will be nothing nearly so intense as King Maxon’s, if that is what you’re thinking. For one thing, I’ve got parliament.”

Astra wasn't exactly sure how England’s parliament worked. She knew King Eoan set the legislative agenda, but he couldn’t pass any kind of law on his own. “I can’t believe they let you have a whole train to yourself, and you barely have to work.” she teased.

His arm was wrapped around her shoulders, and his thumb began tracing her upper arm as he said, “If you think my future job’s a scandal, you should see what our queen has to do. Host parties, go shopping, appear at events…” his voice sounded as if it was a strain to remain light and carefree. As if his words were more important than he wanted them to be.

Astra leaned her head on his shoulder. Those were all things she already did for Illéa. Well, she didn’t host many parties, but she sometimes helped her Aunt Ames out when things were especially overwhelming. It was strange to think that she had experience doing the same job as the Queen of England.

“All that, and she gets to retire young?”

“Assuming that whole heir business is sorted out sufficiently early.” he admitted.

“Oh, that.” Astra giggled.

“On the whole, it’s not a terrible job.” he said.

“No, not when you factor in the jewelry.” Astra agreed, still joking.

“Precisely.” Andrew nodded with a small smile against the top of her head.

Astra wasn’t sure why he didn’t return her joke with one of his own.

***

Though Astra very much enjoyed being swept off her feet by the prince, it was the quiet nights at the palace that meant the most to her. Sometimes, after dinner and a long, hot bath, her joints would feel well enough to practice some choreography in one of the drawing rooms. Andrew would play the piano for her, putting years of lessons to use for the first time. Sometimes her joints would not feel well enough for more dancing after a long day at the seminar, and he’d rub her battered feet and ankles until she melted into a puddle at the other end of the sofa or bed, or wherever they happened to be.

She’d ask him about his work, but he wouldn’t tell her much. Maybe he was worried about protecting state secrets, or maybe he didn’t want to worry her. Maybe he didn’t want her to see him in less than a good mood, because he was only there to make her happy. And how could she not be happy?

One night, in the middle of her second month in England, as she laid awake in their bed and brushed her fingers through his unruly hair (a sight so few had ever seen: the Heir to England with unruly hair), she pressed a kiss to the shell of his ear and said softly, “What are we going to do when I have to leave for Waverly?”

Sleepily, he’d pried his eyes open, his eyelashes fluttering against her skin. “What would you like to do?”

“Freeze this moment in amber. Live in it forever.”

“Be young, in love, and carefree forever?” he’d smirked.

“In love?” she’d hesitated, surprised. They’d only been attached at the lips for six weeks now, as impossible as it seemed. Hadn’t they enjoyed half a lifetime together already?

“Oh dear.” He’d lifted his head up so that he could look in her eyes, “I shouldn’t have said that.”

Astra shook her head, “It’s okay. I do love you Andrew.”

“Do you?” he sounded amazed.

And she did. She’d always loved him, just as he’d always loved her. They’d grown up together, perfect friends, how could she not love him?

“I’m sorry you didn’t know that already.” she let her hand fall from his hair down his spine, coming to rest on his bare lower back. She traced the shape of a heart there with her finger and he shuddered. “You’re one of the best friends I’ll ever have, and I love you.”

He smiled and returned his cheek to her chest, listening for her heartbeat. “Yes. This moment would do just fine.”

“We could freeze this moment and allow archaeologists to discover it in a few thousand years.”

“And if we don’t like the future, we could simply freeze this moment again.” he agreed.

“You don’t think you’d be bored after a few thousand years?”

He grinned, one hand tracing her ribcage lazily, “I could find a few ways to keep myself occupied.”

***

Astra didn’t notice the first time there was a photographer waiting outside of the dance studio after her rehearsals. And then, a couple of days later, when a rumor sourced to a local food delivery driver was printed in a Sunday paper saying that he delivered Prince Andrew’s favorite kind of curry to the Palace where Astra was staying a couple of times per week. She didn’t mind when Andrew suggested they stop sneaking out to exclusive clubs or restaurants around the city, because staying in was extremely entertaining.

But it was hard to miss when Andrew nervously appeared in her doorway one evening and said, instead of ‘hello’ or ‘how was your day’, “Grandmother has asked to meet you.”

Astra gaped. Queen Cerridwen, King Eoan’s mother, had never met any of the Illéan royals in-person. Maybe she’d met Uncle Maxon back before he was King, when she was still the active queen, but maybe not even then. “Me? Wh…why?”

Andrew ran a hand through his hair and ruffled it in a way that would have been funny if he hadn’t look so stressed. He sank to his knees to sit next to Astra, who’d been sitting on the floor, using the coffee table to hold her nail polish bottles as she painted her toes. “The rumors got to her.”

“Rumors… about us?”

Andrew nodded, “I’ve had the press department squashing everything the second they hear about it, and it’s bought us some time, but the rumors have been consistent for long enough now—“

“The rumors that we’re spending time together?” Astra asked.

“Yes.” Andrew looked faintly nauseous.

Astra smiled and traced his cheekbone with her thumb soothingly, “We are spending time together. We’re not being falsely accused.”

“No, I know… I think, just… I think we need to talk.”

Those were heavy words.

Kile had been the last one to say those words to her, and the outcome had been really unpleasant.

“You didn’t bring wine?” Astra noticed for the first time.

“I wanted us to keep our heads clear.”

“Are you ending this?” Astra asked, eyebrows furrowed.

“No.” Andrew promised. “But we’ve never talked about what this is before. I’ve been able to buy us a little slice of time to ourselves, but I’ve reached the end of my tricks.”

Astra looked into his eyes carefully, noticing the strain there for the first time, “You never said you had to use tricks…”

“I didn’t want you to have to worry about it. I wanted to be… uncomplicated. Simple. After everything you’ve been through, I thought that you needed simplicity.”

“I did.” she admitted, chest suddenly aching at the thought that the simple times might be gone.

He brushed an errant curl behind her ear and smiled bracingly, “I am not here to tell you that the world is ending. Merely that people have found us out. They’re asking questions that I do not have the answers to, and in lieu of my answers, they are coming to their own conclusions. Grandmother amongst the rest.”

“She wants to meet me because she knows we’ve been dating?”

Andrew huffed a breath, “It’s her way of forcing the matter at hand. When it comes to me, to dating the English Heir, there is dating and there is Dating. Courting. Something official, not just between you and I, but between us and all of England.”

Astra looked a little creeped out at the thought, “They… want in on our dates?”

Andrew rubbed his brow, “In a manner of speaking… there comes a point when I’m meant to introduce anyone I am seeing to the people of England as a potential future queen.”

“Why? It’s not like they get to vote on who stays in your bed, or in our case, my bed.”

“No, but it’s…” he seemed so uncomfortable at having to explain this to her. Probably any English girl he dated would have seen this coming a mile away and known what to expect. Astra blushed a little, feeling inadequate for the first time all spring. “It’s a bit like a small Selection, perhaps. They get to know the person their prince is dating and they get to watch me court their future queen.”

“Oh, and your gramma wants you to do that with me?” What a relief to know she was just a confused old woman who’d misunderstood.

“Precisely. Meeting Grandmother at her estate in Scotland would signal the official start to our official courtship.”

Astra felt all the tension leave her body and she smirked at him, “Your gramma is proposing marriage to me on your behalf.”

“Basically.”

“What’s she in such a hurry for? We’re teenagers.”

Andrew let out an exasperated sigh, relieved now that he could see Astra wasn’t panicking and throwing everything she owned into a bag to haul back to Illéa on the first flight out the next morning. “I don’t know. You’re a good match, obviously. My father is close with your uncle, but it would be smart to solidify that alliance with some kind of marriage.”

“Very sexy and romantic.” Astra giggled.

“Isn’t it just?” he agreed wryly. He pinched the bridge of his nose and took a deep breath, “I suppose she’s worried because I’ll be king in a few more years. She doesn’t want me to have to go through that enormous transition of responsibility by myself. I suppose finding a queen would be much harder as king than as prince, too. Father’s even asked me if I want to take a few months next year and devote myself to dating full time before he begins handing off responsibilities to me in earnest. As part of a formal ascension plan.”

“What a conversation.”

“You can’t begin to imagine.”

Astra collapsed into giggles, doing her best to imagine it anyway. King Eoan asking his son if he wanted to be a full-time, 40-hours-per-week dater as part of his obligations to the crown.

“It’s good you think this is funny.” he sulked, but he only partially meant it. He was genuinely glad she was laughing instead of crying.

Fairly certain her toes were dry now, Astra stood and screwed the caps on her polish, stashing the bottles in a drawer next to her vanity. She stretched, fingers reached for the ceiling, going up on her toes, and as she came down she whisked her loose t-shirt over her head.

“Astra.” Andrew cleared his throat, forcing his eyes away from her lacy, pale blue and white bra, “Clear heads, remember?”

“I’m just getting comfortable.” she said in a voice that clearly told him she was not just getting comfortable.

He stood and she came over and loosened his tie for him. He placed a hand over hers when she made for his shirt’s buttons and said, “Do you want this to last past April?”

Astra gulped, “I wish April was forever.”

He stared at her, the only flicker of doubt coming from the small twitch of his eyebrow. “That’s not the same thing.”

“… I know.”

“You don’t have to answer me tonight, but we should talk about it. If we keep going past April, I suspect it will make the most sense for you… for you to meet grandmother.”

This time, when Astra continued with his buttons, it was a genuine effort to help him get comfortable, and not a ploy to see his bare chest. Seeing his bare chest was an undeniable bonus, though. She linked her fingers with his and dragged him towards her bed, and then she flopped down on her back and stared up at the top of her four poster canopy. “So what would happen after I met your grandmother?”

“You’d get some secret service protection.” Andrew laid on his stomach and used his finger to draw doodles on the smooth, soft skin above her navel. His breath felt warm as it puffed against her ribs, but her skin erupted in goosebumps anyway, and he pressed a chaste kiss to them. He knew the effect he had on her, and it only made him want to cherish her more.

“I’d go back to Illéa, though. To Waverly.”

“Yes. We’d coordinate that. It would probably be a less hectic place for you than in England.”

“You think England will be hectic if you announce we’re officially dating?”

Andrew huffed one dry, humorless laugh. “When they find out I’m thinking of making you their princess… sweetheart, it’s going to be a nightmare of a circus.”

“Terrifying clowns?”

“The most terrifying.” he agreed.

Astra sighed, “Then what? How long would we get to date before they’d expect you to decide whether you want to marry me or not?”

“Given the time you’d be spending in Illéa, we could get a year.”

“A year.” Astra liked the sound of that. Sure, she’d dance until her contract was up in Waverly, but then she’d come back and get to do this with Andrew for months and months. His dad might even let him date her full-time. Morning, noon, and night cuddles.

“Yes, and then…”

“And then a fairytale proposal. Would it have to be public?”

“Gosh, no.” Andrew promised. “But it would need to have a good story behind it. Take you somewhere meaningful—“

“Like the club where we first kissed.” Astra teased, running her hands through his hair.

“No, not at all.” he chuckled.

“And would I get to wear one of the crown jewels or something?”

Andrew lifted his head to look at her. “Would you want one?”

Astra laughed. It was all so completely silly. She was an eighteen year old girl! A boy was offering her a crown jewel! She laughed some more.

“Our engagement would be six months, eight at most.” he said. “That’s going to be the hardest time for you. You won’t be royal yet, but you’ll have all the expectations. Of course, you’d have everything you’d need from us. Security, education, an allowance for your clothes.”

“Mmm, clothes.”

“And then—“

“A royal wedding?”

“Yes.”

“And a royal honeymoon?”

“Of course.” he pressed another kiss to her skin, this one not so chaste.

“And then I’m your princess?”

“Until we take our oaths to become king and queen.”

“You really think I could be queen?”

“You think you couldn’t?”

“I know how hard it is on my Aunt Ames. It’s not really the life I saw for myself.”

“It’s different in England, you know. We’re smaller than most Illéan provinces, and we’ve got parliament.”

She couldn’t continue to fantasize about marrying him without understanding what he meant when he said that. “Andy, how does parliament help you?”

“Eh… help is not the word.” Andrew admitted. “It’s more that they take certain responsibilities off the monarch’s plate. Whether they do so in a manner that helps is an entirely different question. But unlike Queen America, who assists on many matters of policy and diplomacy, my mother’s job is almost entirely ceremonial, supporting my father’s efforts.”

“So do you think I could dance if we were married?”

Andrew fell quiet, wracking his brain for a way. “Not once we were engaged… I just can’t imagine that you would have time. And you’d quickly become one of the most famous women in the world… not that you’re anonymous now, just that we’re talking about a whole different stratosphere of public interest… even if we found time for you to dance in the royal ballet, it might not be safe.”

Astra hated that answer, but it made perfect sense to her. Addy had never regularly commuted into the city for any reason. Keeping her safe during recurring, publicly open performances would have been a nightmare, and Astra supposed that would be true for her too.

Astra also knew she wasn’t going to dance forever. She probably had a good ten or twelve years before retirement, and that was only if she avoided any major injuries. In Astra’s experience, injuries and pregnancies were two of the most common reasons dancers retired younger than thirty and they were both to be avoided.

“How long do you think we could put all of this off? I don’t want to stop dancing.”

“I know. I want you to dance! You’re bloody magnificent when you dance.”

“Just when I dance?” she teased suggestively.

“Other times too.” he smirked up at her. He let his face fall gently on her stomach, breathing in the smell of her body wash and then lifting his head again, “I could tell Grandmother we’re not yet ready. You could go to Waverly and come back for visits now and again.”

“Sounds like I’d miss you.”

“I’d miss you too.”

“Sounds better to me, though.”

“I suppose it must. The people mightn’t be fooled, they’ll still expect something is happening between us.”

“They’d be right.”

“But Astra… No matter what, I’ll be King four years from now. There’s no delaying that. ”

“That’s a long time, Andy.”

“I can’t… you must understand, I’d need to know for certain by then.”

“Of course!”

“Ideally… Ideally I would be married by then so that we could share the coronation ceremony.”

“So we could have a wedding earlier that fall? You’d propose that spring? That gives us a few years. That gives me time to dance.”

“But would it be enough?”

“Three years is forever, Andy.” Astra grinned down at him.

“And you’d really consider being my queen?”

“I’d consider a lot of things for blue eyes like yours.”

“They are an important part of the benefits package.” he agreed, placing an arm on either side of her and bringing himself up so that they were eye to eye. “Along with lots of travel to exotic locations. The finest champagne money can buy. Famous designers tripping over themselves to clothe you. A handful of palaces. Lots of diamonds.” he punctuated each of these offers with a deep, heated kiss and by the end Astra was absolutely dizzy and in no state to negotiate her future job benefits.

***

By the end of the week it was not just one photographer waiting outside of the ballet studio anymore, there were dozens. They were aggressive and pushy, yelling her name and constantly demanding she tell them if she was seeing Andrew. Her Illéan security detail was not pleased. The theater that housed the ballet was difficult to secure against so many persistent intruders, and there was serious discussion about whether they could even let her finish the seminar. They also discussed calling King Maxon and asking him for reinforcements, which made Astra’s stomach feel sick. She didn’t want her uncle to have to pay money and spare resources to send across the world to her all because of her love life.

It was a tense day and a half before Andrew was able to come through with security of his own to supplement her detail. It had been a tough thing to organize, given she wasn’t officially his girlfriend, but he’d found a way for her.

If Astra knew anything in those days, it was that he would always find a way for her. That had never been the problem.

There were reporters outside of Astra’s palace now, night and day, and they marked each time Andrew came or went. Instead of lounging together on the balcony overlooking the city, Astra and Andrew had to draw the curtains closed for the sake of their privacy.

“We should just tell them we’re not really dating.” Astra said. “I can’t outright lie to them.” Andrew insisted. “I can’t break trust with my people. I don’t have to confirm we’re together, but I can’t just tell them we’re not.”

“There’s got to be a way… tell them we have no intention of courting right now. That’s not a lie, is it?”

“It’s a bit transparent.” Andrew pointed out.

“Well, I’d love to hear your better idea!”

Andrew sighed into her hair. They were dancing to the music on the television, its glow the only light in her bedroom. “Maybe we break up. And I tell them we broke up.”

“You’re breaking up with me?” Astra suddenly sounded so small and vulnerable, he squeezed her tighter, “No! Not really. Not in that way. It’s just a way we can… buy you some more time before we have to fess up to anything.”

Astra didn’t want to fake-break up with Andrew. She wanted the entire world to leave them to their peace and quiet in their little palace of domestic bliss forever. What was so complicated about that?

Andrew had the idea of staying away one night to try to relieve some of the heat, but all it did was leave Astra pacing the floor alone, listening to the rumble of dozens of people camped out on the street in front of her palace all night.

Astra and Andrew were summoned by Queen Waverly the next day and sat down together on the sofa in her office.

Everything about it was embarrassing. Andy’s mother needed to know how long they had been romantic, how far their romance had gone, how serious they were about their future together, and why Andrew had turned down his grandmother’s invitation.

“Lovey, she wasn’t trying to force your hand.” Waverly told Andrew sympathetically. “What’s happening now out there… it’s going to get worse, the longer we let the media spin itself up into a frenzy.”

Astra said, “I only have a week and a half left, your Majesty—“

“Astra.” Waverly reproached the use of her title. “We’re having this discussion as family. Call me Aunt Waverly… if you’re marrying my son, call me Mum.”

Astra gulped, looking at Andrew, lost.

“We’ve only been together a few months, we don’t know—“ Andrew spoke up, until Waverly nodded and held up her hand to silence him.

“I understand entirely.” She turned her head to the side to study a giant portrait of one of Andy’s female ancestors. “Listen you two, I know that this is a complicated situation. The only thing that will help is being forthright with the people.”

“If Astra meets grandmother, the people will be demanding a proposal by Christmas.”

“Perhaps so.”

“We’re not ready for that.” Andrew was keeping a lid on his princely composure, but Astra could tell he felt hopelessly trapped by his mother and the palace and his people beyond its walls. He was ready to rattle the cages.

Waverly nodded, “Your father and I will do everything we possibly can for you, you know that. We only want your happiness. But things are getting very intense, very fast out there. That’s happening because you’re choosing not to do things the conventional way. You must understand that.”

Very intense, very fast. That was Astra’s whole relationship with Andrew in a nutshell.

“It’s just a week and a half.” Astra reiterated. “Then I’ll be back in Illéa and the press can calm down for a while.”

“The speculation won’t stop until it is addressed by us, and it might even turn ugly.” Waverly warned. “When you stop giving them fresh photograph opportunities every day at your ballet house, when there aren’t rumors flying about sightings of the two of you all over London—“

“Not true, by the way.” Andrew said.

“Some of them could be.” Astra reminded him.

“Only the very old ones. We’ve not been out in a fortnight.”

Astra nodded.

“My point is, in a vacuum of real news, someone will invent rumors to splash on their tabloids. It will be anything and everything. Abuse, affairs, pregnancy out of wedlock, Astra will be a gold digger who broke Andy’s heart one week, the next week Andy will be a womanizing fiend who took advantage of a childhood friend. Relations between England and Illéa will be on the brink—“

“They won’t!” Astra objected.

“Only in the magazines.” Waverly replied. “But we wouldn't want any hostile nations thinking the rumors were true and attempting to take advantage of the supposed rift. You see how this could spiral?”

The room fell to silence for the first time. Astra shivered just a little, “I feel like I’ve been tossed into a tornado.”

“It gets better." Waverly promised. “Once you’re proactive about telling your own story, it gets harder for the media to frenzy over half-credible unattributed rumors.”

Astra buried her face in her hands. She’d thought she’d have years before she had to tell the media a story about her relationship with Andrew. It felt wrong that the people of England were forcing an eighteen year old girl to move so quickly.

“I just need time.” Astra said into her hands.

“Right.” Waverly made up her mind and stood, “In that case, Eoan and I are inviting you to stay here with us for the rest of your visit, Astra. We’ll tell the media that we’re very much looking forward to spending time with you before the end of your trip.”

“No, wait…” Astra looked up, heartbroken that she was losing her private little palace. Would she even get to go back and say goodbye to it?

“This isn’t a punishment, sweetheart.” Waverly sighed and then tugged Astra up to standing, pulling her into a tight hug. “You’re not in trouble. Not one little bit. You’ll have more privacy here, behind our gates and with all of our guards. You’ll have one of our cars to drive you to and from the ballet, and Andy won’t be caught coming and going at all hours of the night because he already lives here… or he did before you came to town.” she said the last part teasingly to her oldest son, who had the temerity to blush at his shamelessness.

Astra felt her eyes sting with tears, “I love that palace… it’s been a good home for me.”

Waverly smiled sweetly, “You’ll be welcome to stay there the next time you come back. If you and Andrew announce an engagement, we’ll fully staff the place for you so that it’s safer. Perhaps you and Andrew could use it as your home for the time between your marriage and his assumption of the crown.”

“Really?” Andrew looked enticed by the offer.

“You’ll need to live somewhere, dear. You couldn’t live with your parents as newlyweds, it would be unbearable.” Waverly teased. “England would never get an heir that way.”

Heirs.

Hearing the queen say that word in this palace, next to the crown prince made it feel very real and very scary. Did Astra want her kids to be heirs? She thought again of Addy and Jamesy… she loved them more than anything in the world, but she couldn’t imagine raising her children for such an incredible responsibility.

Waverly continued softly, “The main thing is, we need to be very delicate here, my loves. When Andrew becomes king, he will become the head of the church. Please understand, I do not mind what you the two of you do or don’t do, so long as you are safe and consenting.”

“Mother.” Andy squirmed.

“But it would put Andrew in a difficult position, becoming head of the church, if he was seen to have a… well a marriage-style relationship with a woman who was not his wife for too long.”

“Yes, heaven forbid I have a healthy, long-term girlfriend.” Andy scowled.

“It’s the vows to God that are the issue at hand, not heaven, and you know it.” Waverly scolded his sass quietly, but efficiently.

“So we break up.” Astra concluded. “We officially break up when I go back to Illéa, and then when it’s time, I come back to England and we publicly reunite… you don’t have any church issues, and I have time to dance.”

Waverly looked between them quietly. “It might be the only option, short of scheduling dinner with your grandmother.”

Andrew looked almost as sad as if the breakup was real. Maybe he was scared it would become real once Astra was out of the whirlwind. She laced her fingers with his and squeezed, “We’ll figure this out.”

He squeezed back twice, gently.

***

That night Astra slept in Andrew’s bedroom for the first time in their entire affair.

“The maids are gonna know.”

“Everyone knows.” he snorted into her hair. “That’s why we’re here and not across town in our own palace.”

“Your parents are in the building.” she complained when his hands began wandering her body.

“Not close enough to hear anything.”

“Still… what if they have to walk by for a glass of water or something?”

“You want me to keep my hands to myself tonight?”

“I didn’t say that.”

“Oh, so shall we see who can be quietest?” he brushed his fingers across her ribs and she quietly shrieked a giggle. “You are so bad at this, darling.”

“Oh yeah?” she got her revenge with vicious tickles, exploiting every sensitive spot she’d found on his body the last few months.

***

Living in the English palace was an easy adjustment for Astra. She'd grown up in Illéa Palace which, as the functioning capital building of one of the largest nations in the world, was larger and had a much bigger staff. The English palace was certainly ancient and stately, but Astra had grown up visiting the place, so at least she wasn’t too dazzled to see this for what it was.

There was no more delivery from local restaurants once those palace gates were closed, but the royal chef made sure that Andy and Astra had everything they wanted delivered to one of their rooms each night, so that wasn’t actually too much of a change. Not only that, but the maids were discrete and only came onto their floor when Andrew was at work and Astra was at the ballet for the day, so it was almost like their bedrooms magically tidied themselves up each day.

Really, the biggest change for Astra had been weeks before, when rumors had started flying and she and Andrew had stopped venturing out into London. Andrew still appeared in her doorway just in time for dinner, looking handsome and happy to see her. They still shared good meals and long baths, and a warm bed each night. But now the illusion that time didn't exist and that they could continue peacefully, blissfully existing in their little bubble forever was burst.

Since the royal palace hadn't released a statement about the gorgeous young foreign princess living in the same palace as their handsome young future king, salacious headlines were beginning to trickle from tabloids to increasingly reputable news sources. Astra and Andrew's private affair wasn’t so private anymore.

Some part of Astra had been hoping that the rumors would die down once she and Andrew had retreated into the palace, even though she knew better. But on her second-to-final rehearsal before her big seminar performance, photographers started camping out overnight at the stage door to the ballet, not just hounding Astra but harassing her fellow dancers, too. It was humiliating to think that these world-class performers, some of whom Astra had idolized for years, were getting manhandled on their way to and from work every day because of Astra’s love life. She wasn’t sure her reputation in the industry would ever recover from this. Who would want to work with her when her very presence could cause such a disruption?

She cried in the backseat of the car on her way back to the royal palace that day, but she had big sunglasses on, and at least no photographers caught her moment of weakness.

“I don’t want to be the girl who’s dating the future king. I want to be a damn good dancer.” Astra said that night, her cheek pressed to Andrew’s chest as he drew swirling designs on her bare back with his fingers.

“You are both.”

“You don’t understand… you literally can’t.”

“What?” Andrew wasn’t insulted, which was the great thing about him. He was always humble about his own limitations. “Why can I not understand?”

“Have you ever looked up to someone who was truly excellent at the very thing that you wanted to be truly excellent at?”

“Of course.”

“Who?”

“King Maxon.”

Astra rolled her eyes and lifted her head so he could see her at it. “You met him when you could still count your age on one hand.”

“So?”

“So most people never get to meet their idols, and if they do it’s because they’ve worked extremely hard to become very good at something. There are choreographers and dancers at this seminar that I’ve admired for a decade. And now my presence is turning their workplace, a place I consider to be sacred, into a hostile circus.”

Andrew frowned down at her and said softly, “Did I not promise you terrifying clowns?”

“I don’t want to bring chaos to every stage I cross.” Astra pouted.

Andrew nodded and said, “So we should announce our breakup immediately. I’ll release a statement tomorrow, and ask a friend of mine to appear in public with me tomorrow night… a woman. It won’t cure everything overnight, but it would surely alleviate some of the pressure.”

Astra stared into his eyes, then studied the line of his nose, the cut of his cheekbones, the curve of his jaw. “That’s a lot of trouble to go through just for me.”

“Astra, are you joking? You’re the one going through trouble for me.”

Astra nodded, but she dropped a kiss onto his lips anyway. “Okay, but the breakup is fake.” her lips danced over his.

His teeth gently teased her lower lip as he replied, “Yeah. I noticed.”

***

As warm and inviting as the arms holding her were, Astra had a difficult time staying asleep that night. She was nervous about returning to rehearsals the next morning, nervous about their final performance, now only a couple of days away, nervous about her new relationship with Andrew, and nervous about being nervous about her new relationship with Andrew.

At around four in the morning she slipped out of bed and tiptoed back to her suite, where she found a pitcher of water and a tray of snacks waiting for her. She spent so many hours of her day exercising that sometimes she woke up in the middle of the night ravenously, painfully hungry, so she’d requested that she be left some snacks just in case. She picked at a scone, lost in her anxieties, and her stress about not being able to sleep, until the telephone next to her bed rang so loudly and shrilly that it caused her to jump and splash some of her glass of water onto her night shirt.

“Hello?” Astra picked up the phone, hoping to hear an Illéan voice on the other end of the line. She hadn’t spoken to Addy in a few days, and it had been almost a week since her Aunt Ames or Uncle Maxon had phoned. She hadn’t spoken to her parents in longer than that, but they’d be arriving in London in less that twenty-four hours so that they could watch her final performance, so she wasn’t too desperate to speak to them.

And while the voice on the other line was Illéan, it definitely wasn’t one she had been expecting.

“Hey.”

Astra’s stomach clenched and her body flooded with adrenaline. She reminded herself to behave like a normal person and not like a lunatic when, as casually as she could, she replied, “Kile? Is that you?” like she didn’t know. Like she wouldn’t know his voice anywhere, anytime, under any circumstance. She knew his voice better than she knew her own.

“Sorry, I know it’s the middle of the night over there. …You don’t sound like you were sleeping, though.”

He would know.

Astra gulped hard, “I needed a snack.” It was a lie, but it was close enough to the truth.

“Hm. Is he there then?”

Astra felt defensive anger flare up in her chest, and only later realized that the anger was covering a sense of guilt. “So what if he is? You broke up with me—“

“Astra—“

“No, it’s okay. I’m not saying that in a mean way. I’m stating a fact. We are not together because you broke up with me, so why do you care if he’s here?”

There was a long pause and then a low groan on the other end of the phone. Astra heard a brush of fabric over his microphone, as if he’d been rubbing his face and his sleeve caught on the receiver.

“I want to know if he’s there, because I want to talk to you when you’re alone. It’s why I’m calling so late… or early, I guess.” Kile said.

Astra’s traitor heart beat faster. What did he want to talk to her about when she was alone? Was he going to apologize? Was he going to ask for her back?

It was too late, obviously. Astra had obviously moved on. Obviously. “He’s not here.”

Kile sounded relieved when he said, “Good.” and that annoyed Astra. He had no right to be relieved that she wasn’t in bed with another man. He’d hurt her in a way she’d never known she could hurt before.

She lashed out, “I didn’t want to wake him up with my snacking. But he’ll probably notice I’m gone soon, so you should hurry up and say what you want to say.”

The pained sound that snuck out of his throat with his next exhale was not as satisfying as Astra had hoped it would be. She regretted her words already. Maybe now he wouldn’t ask for her back… not that she wanted him to.

Kile said, “Let me ask you something…”

This was it. He was going to ask for forgiveness. He was going to ask her to come back to Illéa and be with him.

“What do you want more than anything in the world?” Kile said.

What was he expecting her to say? That she wanted him? She was dating the Crown Prince of England!

“Astra?”

“What do you mean, Kile?”

“What do you mean, what do I mean? For our whole lives you’ve always wanted one thing more than anything in the world. What is it?”

Oh. Astra replied almost mechanically, her voice barely above a mumble, “I want to be the Prima Ballerina for the Angeles Ballet for at least a season, maybe two.”

“And you wanted that enough that you didn’t even think about moving closer to my university, because it would have taken you away from the Angeles ballet. And not for a good reason, like that invitation you got to dance in Waverly. For no reason. For me.”

“You’re not no reason—“

“No, I’m just not a good enough reason.”

“Kile—“

“You can’t argue with that.”

“You said you wouldn’t promise to look for apprenticeships and internships in the cities where I was dancing. You said you don’t want to live in Angeles when you grow up!”

“I don’t. I’m going to go where I can do my best work.” he said plainly. “I still think you and I made a good choice to split up.”

Hearing him say that was hard. She wanted him to regret it. She wanted him to miss her like she had missed him before Andrew had swept her off her feet. Losing him had changed her and she would never be the same as she was before, and he wasn’t even sorry.

Kile continued, “I’m just saying… what was the point of drawing a line in the sand about you and me if you were just going to walk all over it for Andy?”

“What?”

“We both know that you’ll never be prima anything if you marry Andy. You told me yourself, every waking hour of a prima’s life is devoted to dancing or preparing to dance. There are no hobbies, no vacations, no date nights. There definitely isn't time to be somebody’s princess.”

“I’m already an Illéan Prin—“

“Cut the shit, Astra, you know what I mean.” Kile sounded exasperated, and she knew why. She was trying to miss his point, but he wasn’t exactly being subtle about it so dodging it was proving impossible.

“Maybe I want something else now. Maybe I want to marry Andrew.”

“Look… Andy’s not a bad guy—“ Kile admitted through gritted teeth, “But there will be plenty of not bad guys waiting for you after you retire. So if you pick him, do it because you want the life he’ll give you more than the life you can earn for yourself. And be ready to bury your dreams of being a prima ballerina forever, if you do. I know you, and I know you’re getting swept up in this—“

“Don’t talk about me like I’m some helpless little… little damsel, Kile.” Astra snapped.

“Think about it logistically. Do you want to move to the other side of the world from your parents and your little brothers? They’ll visit you as often as they can, but your visits to Illéa will always be to the Palace, to King Maxon and Addy. You won’t be able to go home again. Do you want to have to keep a royal schedule, planned months and years in advance? And you can forget being around from Addy once she becomes queen, you’ll be trapped on the far side of an ocean.”

“Kile—“ Astra tried to interrupt him because she wanted him to stop making sense.

“What about the little things? What about the weather? You’re an Angeles girl, are you going to miss the sun? You know they use different numbers for temperature over there, right? How’s it going to feel to wake up in the morning and have some maid tell you that it’s twenty-five degrees outside, so you’d better stay in the shade to keep cool?”

“Kile.” Astra laughed.

“I’m serious. You’re not just choosing a career here, Astra, you’re choosing a life: from the moment you wake up to the moment you fall asleep.” Kile paused and let out a tired sigh. “I just don’t want you to make a big mistake that you can’t undo. I know how badly you want to dance. You’re not ready for this, and even if you were, this wouldn’t be the right choice for you.”

“I’ve changed, Kile.” she wanted to add that he’d changed her. That losing him had made her someone new, someone she didn’t even know yet, but she kept that part to herself. Listening to his voice for so long that night… suddenly she found that she didn’t want to hurt him anymore.

“It’s barely been three months, Astra. You haven’t changed that much.” he promised.

Astra wasn’t sure. Sometimes change was gradual, sure, but sometimes change was all at once. Traumatic change was a sudden shattering of what came before, such that one could never go back again. That was what losing Kile had been like.

But did that mean she wanted to give up dancing and become Andrew’s princess? His queen? His wife and the mother of his heirs? Did she want to leave Illéa forever and eventually move into this palace?

She wanted all of that when she was wrapped up in Andrew’s arms.

But here, alone in the middle of the night when she had her wits about her…

She climbed back into bed and woke Andrew up with steady, gentle kisses. Everything about the love they made that morning was slow and desperate, and even though she hadn’t meant it to, in the end it felt like goodbye.

***

Astra was gone to her final rehearsals before dawn, but later that morning Andrew was true to his word and made a big announcement that he and Astra had both been secretly dating, and were now publicly broken up. He made a good show of wandering around London looking sad that day, and that night he went out to dinner with a fashion model friend, who did not mind the publicity one little bit.

There were still plenty of photographers salivating at the chance to photograph Astra looking dismal at having lost the chance to become an English princess, but at least they were leaving the rest of the dancers, and everyone else associated with the ballet, in peace.

Astra’s parents arrived at the royal palace in time for dinner that night, and Astra had a lot of explaining to do to them. King Eoan and Queen Waverly seemed to find Astra’s discomfort at explaining her affair with Andrew to her parents over roasted asparagus incredibly amusing, and possibly reminiscent of the beginning of their own relationship. It wasn’t fair, though. Andrew missed all the “fun”, making sure it looked like he was rebounding with that gorgeous model.

That night, Astra was too nervous about her impending final performance to wait up for Andrew to get back to the Palace. She could go to bed early or never at all. She drank some tea laced with a little bit of melatonin and fell asleep soon after dinner.

She woke up in Andrew’s arms, her cheek pressed to the side of his bare chest. She listened to him breathe deeply and evenly for a little while and tried one last time.

She could quit dancing.

She could leave Illéa forever.

She could raise her children to be heirs.

Her children could raise their children to be heirs.

When she died, her bones could be interred in a big old church.

Her whole life could be that easy.

God, it would be so easy.

“Andy?” she whispered.

He didn’t stir.

“Andrew?” she tried again, this time pulling away from him and sitting up in bed.

He didn’t hear her, but he reacted to the loss of her warmth, and eventually his heavy eyelids fluttered open. “Astra?”

“What time did you get in last night?”

“This morning.” He admitted, yawning widely. “I expect the tabloids will be plastered with headlines about their debaucherous future king today.”

“Was it any fun?”

“Yeah. Ellie’s great; she’s always happy to be photographed on my arm. Missed you, though.” he added, as if suddenly awake enough to worry that she was jealous.

She wasn’t the slightest bit jealous. Well, the slightest bit, but not for the reasons he would assume. Astra was jealous because Ellie could keep being photographed on Andrew’s arm for as long as she pleased, with no consequences.

“Maybe you should marry Ellie.” Astra suggested.

Andrew laughed, and it turned into a yawn. Then he explained, “Ellie’s too focused on her career right now. And anyway, she’d be far more interested in you.”

“Now that would be a tabloid headline.” Astra joked weakly.

“What’s the matter? Are you nervous for your performance? Is it because you’re leaving England this time tomorrow? Is it because you told your parents what’s been happening between us—“

“I’m not nervous.” Astra said, even though her stomach was in knots. Those weren’t nerves. That was grief. “Andy… I want to be a ballet dancer.”

Andrew sat up in bed now and rubbed the sleep from his eyes so he could focus on her. The words were familiar, but her tone was alarming. “Of course you do. You are a ballet dancer, and you’re bloody brilliant.”

“I want to be a prima ballerina.”

“Okay.”

“That sort of excellence takes years to achieve.”

“Good job you’ve been dancing since you were four years old, then.”

“Shh.” she pressed a finger to his lips so that he would stop talking back and listen to her. He complied. “I won’t be ready to be a prima for seven or eight years. I have a lot to learn. And when I’m ready, I want to be a Prima Ballerina for at least one season, maybe two. That’s every waking hour devoted to dance for two years straight. Then I want to live in Angeles and stay close to Addy in the first few years of her reign. I want to be there when she gets married and has babies, because she is great at putting on a brave face and absolutely terrible at processing the emotions that are scaring her into needing to be brave. She’s going to need me, and I’m excited to be there for her. I can’t live on a different continent than my dad. There can’t such a huge time difference between me and my mom. I can’t be a foreign queen. I don’t want to be foreign at all. Andrew… I can’t marry you.” Her cheeks were wet and her voice cracked, but she didn’t know when, in that little breathless tirade, she’d started crying.

Andrew stared blankly ahead, hugging his knees to his chest around their blanket. He didn’t look surprised. He’d known she was too good to be true all along. Finding his queen could never have been so easy, so perfect. He shouldn’t have gotten his hopes up.

“Andy, none of those reasons I gave have anything to do with you. I love you. You’re a good man, and a great partner, and you have no business being such a talented kisser when you’re so handsome. It’s overkill.” she waited for him to smile. She waited for him to do anything. “You didn’t do anything wrong, Andrew. I just can’t marry you. I’m eighteen years old, I just got control of my life. I’m not ready to sign it over to a monarchy. I would love to be your wife, Andy, but I would hate to be your queen.”

Andrew blinked hard, then looked over at her. His voice was too casual, his words were too easy when he said, “I understand entirely. I can wait.”

Astra furrowed her brow, trying to hold his far off gaze. “Wait? What do you mean, wait?”

“You want to be a prima ballerina, and you said it would take you nine or ten years to accomplish your goal. Fine. I will wait, and when you’re ready I’ll ask to marry you.”

“No, Andy—“

“I don’t mind ruling on my own for a while.”

“That’s more than a while! You’ll be king in four years—“

“It isn’t a problem.” he insisted.

“Did you hear the part about what I want to do after I retire? About living in Illéa, about staying close to my family?”

“Astra, once we’re married, you can do whatever you like.”

“But queens have responsibilities.”

“We can redefine the role to mean whatever you’d like it to mean. I don’t care. I love you, Astra, and you’re the best future queen I could ever hope for.”

Astra paused, blinking hard against the tears in her eyes. It hurt to hear him say that. It hurt to realize that he didn’t believe he deserved any better. “Andy, that’s not true. You deserve a wife who will stay by your side. You deserve a wife who adores you and would be willing to sacrifice her own ambitions to serve England. I’m not good enough to be your queen.”

“Then no one ever will be.”

“Andrew—“

“Let me wait for you, Astra, please.” His voice broke on that last work, his eyes finally meeting hers and betraying his anguish. “Let me hope. It’s all that I have left.”

Astra couldn’t figure out what would be crueler, to let him hope when she’d made up her mind, or to take that hopeless hope away from him.

So she wrapped him up in her arms and they laid down. She combed her fingers through his hair and he brushed his thumb against her ribs until her alarm clock rang and her last day in London began.

***

In retrospect, Astra should have chosen a happy, upbeat, peppy song for her exhibition. She could have flounced all over the stage and spun a ridiculous number of times on her toes, and allowed her partner to toss her all over the place with an enormous smile on her face.

Instead, she’d chosen an exhibition from a ballet about a woman mourning her dead lover, dancing with his ghost. She’d been thinking of Kile when she’d chosen it, hoping it would help her work out her feelings about their doomed childhood romance. Now she was about to take the stage of the royal ballet, with Andrew and his parents in the royal box, watching her close enough that she could see the pained look on Andrew’s face as clear as anything.

Astra and her dance partner, Geoffrey, took their place while the stage was lit in nothing but the darkest of blue lights. He laid down across on their only set piece, an enormous fake rock, and Astra settled over him in a dramatic pose of despair, arm flung over her forehead.

The first part of the dance was hers alone. Her grief, her agony, her desperation. None of it was fake. When Geoffrey arose, as a ghost, and began dancing with her, the bittersweet mixture of joy and sorrow was easy to tap into. Nothing brought her more joy than dancing, and nothing brought her more sorrow in that moment than Andrew watching her live the life she’d chosen over him.

When Geoffrey faded back into the fog upstage and left Astra alone again in the center of the stage, all the passion and desperation fled with him. The rest of the dance was small and slow, painfully precise movements timed with the orchestra just so that if she made the slightest misstep, it would be immediately, embarrassingly obvious.

But Astra did not have to fake the exhaustion and resignation her character was feeling. If she allowed herself to second guess her decision to break away from Andrew now, she’d second guess it forever. The roar of the audience as the last tremulous notes from the string section died away seemed to make a deafening contrast.

Astra was surprised to find tears had started pouring down her cheeks somewhere during that performance. Geoffrey returned and took her hand, and they bowed. As was customary for this exhibition, several members of the audience threw flowers onto the stage. From the third row, Astra’s dad threw a whole bouquet, and a little teddy bear. Astra laughed as she wiped the tears from her cheeks. Then she turned to the royal box to curtsey, perfectly observing royal protocol, and was startled to find that Andrew had been crying, too.

He tossed her a single white rose with a beautiful red satin ribbon tied around the stem, but the look on his face was resignation. He could love her with all of his heart for all of his life and still never be able to give her the kind of affirmation she got from a packed theater full of an adoring audience. He’d seen her dance dozens of times in her room at her little palace, and hell, he’d even danced with her himself. But seeing her like this in front of them…

He could wait until the oceans ran dry and the mountains fell flat, and every single star in the sky flickered into darkness… Astra was never coming back to him.

Astra spent that night with her parents, letting them gush over her and spoil her with presents, and help her pack up the life she’d made in London for the last few months. She hoped Andrew would come and say goodbye once her parents went back to the suite they were staying in, but he never appeared, and Astra didn’t chase him down because she thought he deserved to set the terms. That dance had been her goodbye to him. It was up to him whether he wanted to say goodbye in return.

The next morning, Queen Waverly was the only one in the entrance hall waiting to see the Orders family off as they left. The English Royal jet would take them as far as Carolina, where they would visit James’ family for a little while.

Astra imagined Andrew’s private car speeding out onto the tarmac to stop them. She imagined him dashing from the backseat and waving his arms to alert the pilots that they couldn’t leave until he’d said his farewells.

He didn’t come. It was easier this way.

Kenna and James stayed with Astra’s grandparents for a few days, but James had to go back to work and Kenna needed to get back to the Palace. Aunt Ames had five children, two of them under the age of six, and though they had plenty of help in that Palace, Kenna was their primary nanny, their aunt, and she missed them like crazy.

Astra stayed with her grandparents for a couple of weeks, until her contract at the Waverly Ballet began. The media frenzy around her got much better in that time, though it was impossible not to notice that things were staying hectic around Andrew as the English tabloids seemed to catch on to how severely he’d had his heart broken.

Astra wished she could take some of that public shame away.

She wished she could take some of his pain away, even as she was mending her own broken heart. Her weeks in Carolina were good for that purpose. Her grandparents spoiled her rotten, and she gave her body a much-needed break from dancing. Instead, she spent her days learning needlepoint from her grandmother, and her nights stargazing out by the pond where her parents used to sneak off on dates before Gramma Magda gave up trying to convince Kenna to marry someone from a higher caste.

When Astra packed her bags to take the short flight up to Waverly to begin yet another new life with another new ballet company, she was still wearing the beautiful red ribbon that Andrew gave her as a parting gift on that rose, tied around her wrist.

And when, years later, she sat on her sofa and watched him become King of England in front of the entire world, her fingers traced that now slightly frayed red ribbon, Andy’s last gift to her, in a familiar, much-practiced gesture.

It would have been so easy to say yes, to give in to the pressure and let herself get swept away by the English people, the royal traditions, the prince’s staggering blue eyes. It would have been a good life, too. A perfectly fine marriage.

But Astra didn’t want to be queen, and now she wouldn’t have to be, and the freedom she felt watching Andrew bear the weight of that crown was all the reminder she needed: she made the right decision. And now, despite the dull ache of longing in her chest for he boy she’d loved and left behind, she was happy. Truly happy. She was at peace with her past, content in her present, and excited for her future.

When the coronation coverage ended, Astra got ready to return to bed. She was surprised when her phone rang, but she knew exactly who it would be.

“Mom?” she said, before the person on the other line could say a word. Her little cousins would have had just enough time to be tucked back into bed by now, if Aunt May was helping. Kenna would have rushed to the phone as soon as she got the chance.

“Sweetie? How are you, little bug?”

“I’m fine, Mom, I don’t need the pet names.” Astra grinned, rolling her eyes.

“Are you sure?” Kenna double-checked.

“Yeah. I wish Andrew wasn’t alone up there. I still love him, I don’t want him to suffer. But I was nothing but relieved when they put that crown on his head and I didn’t have to put one on mine. I made the right choice.”

“I know you did, honey, but just because you did the right thing doesn’t mean you have to feel perfectly fine about it. Especially not on a night like this.”

“Honestly, Mom… my time in London feels like another life. One I’m nothing but grateful for, but not one I want to relive.”

At first, Astra’s spring with Andrew felt like it had never really happened, or like it had happened to someone else, or like it was all a fever dream: too hot, too heady, a surreal hallucination more than a fairytale fantasy. But now, with some time and space, Astra could see it for what it really was: a romantic affair with someone she could have chosen to marry, but who ultimately was not the right fit for her. On the one hand, Astra and Andrew loved each other, and their marriage would have been fine: they’d known each other forever and they each fully understood the challenges of the royal life they would have been embarking on together.

On the other hand, Astra had known what she wanted out of life since she was a very small girl. It was a hard thing to ask an eighteen year old to walk away from a guaranteed royal wedding for a chance to work very hard to one day, possibly, make her dream come true. If Astra hadn’t grown up in Illéa Palace, she might not have made the same choice. But everything she got out of her life from now on was truly hers, she was the captain of her own fate, and even if she failed and never became a prima ballerina, at least this way she’d have had the chance.

“But Mom?”

“Hm?”

“Don’t ever tell Gramma Magda that Andrew proposed to me and I turned him down. I think she would disown me.”

#challenge #Astra and Andrew Challenge #RIP your dashes if the Keep Reading doesn't work #its almost 16000 words long #one for every tear I cried breaking Andrew's heart

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omniswords · 3 years

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Chronicles of a Parisian Dumbass 14

Happy Chronicles Update! I promise I'm still trucking along on this baby. I think?? We've also officially reached the halfway mark on this installment, which is kind of. Wow. That's WILD.

anyway, I hope you enjoy!

welcome to today’s episode of Luka’s Word to the Wise: whatever it is, it doesn’t have to be perfect. it just has to be good.

thanks, I.

Ivan is right. And technically, so is his Ma, who’s been telling him and Juleka this for as long as he can remember. But Luka will give them the gratification of saying I told you so when this is all over. Even though he could take a stab in the dark and guess that only one of them would take him up on that offer. And it wouldn’t be Ivan. And it wouldn’t be his Ma.

In between messaging back and forth with Bubbles over the next couple of days, Luka puts together a flyer. It’s not exactly the best—just something he threw together on one of those free graphic design websites, definitely nothing like a Gabriel billboard. But it’s punchy, and it fits the vibe, and it gets the overall message across. And more importantly, Juleka doesn’t give him The Look for it. In fact, she smiles over his shoulder when it’s done, and she rubs her fist in his hair, and she affectionately says, “Now can you chill?”

Luka only grins and throws her into a fireman’s carry for another round of ping-pong. He’s pretty sure he doesn’t know how to be totally chill any more.

They pool pocket money, leftovers from past paychecks, to put in an order for copies at the local print shop. Only Rose has ever been; she tells them she’s tagged along with a couple of old friends from an art club to print issues of the comic they’ve been working on together. It’s nice to see her take the lead, point out the best paper stocks and finishes and spot colors, whatever those are, based on what she’s overheard. It certainly beats the alternative: four barely-adults standing awkwardly at the counter, pretending they know what they’re doing.

Even if, according to Luka’s Ma, that’s most of what adulthood is, anyway.

They decide on something glossy because it makes the colors pop, and admittedly Luka has to thank his lucky, anxious stars for saving the file in every format imaginable because he wasn’t sure which one they’d need. Before he leaves them and heads to work on his bike, Juleka gives him another smile, and Ivan manages a single, subtle nod, and Rose’s eyes sparkle. And it’s starting to feel a little less like a thing he needs to do. It’s a thing he wants to do. With them.

And, well. Any bonuses are just that. Bonuses.

These days, Luka’s made it a point to bike past the bakery on his way to work, because if he’s as much of a regular as the Dupain-Cheng family claims, then he might as well act like it. To be fair, he doesn’t always stop in to talk or buy something; in fact, most times he doesn’t. maybe it’s some silly sense of hope that he’ll be seen. That Marinette really did talk to her parents about picking up an extra shift or two behind the counter. That there’s still room on the bulletin board for him—them. And most times, it is just Mrs. Cheng at the storefront, organizing displays or chatting with a friendly customer.

But sometimes it isn’t. Sometimes it is Marinette, idly staring at the window with what he can only assume is her sketchbook at her side and her apron tied around her waist. And sometimes, she looks up at him. And sometimes, she waves and smiles with all the warmth and none of the sweat of July.

That’s why he does it. For the sometimes.

The flyers, once they’re printed, are nothing short of gorgeous, but Luka can’t bring himself to take any of the credit for it. More than anything, he’s just happy to see his bandmates all in on this, even if he did jump in with both feet. Even if they do still rib him during practice about how he’s way too invested in this. (At least Mylène has only nice things to say. He’ll have to remember to order a few extra pastries just for her.)

They split the flyers into four stacks, because of course Mylène insists on helping and of course Rose and Juleka insist on going together. They run or pedal off in different directions once they’ve put a game plan together, and at least Luka can credit them for not teasing when he offers to take the third and fourth arrondissement. They all know it’s where the bakery is, in spite of how he talks up the Place des Vosges. They know, and they don’t have to say anything.

He’s still trying to figure out whether it’s a blessing or a curse to have your real-life friends on your social media accounts.

Even as he’s hanging the flyers in downtown coffee shops, in libraries, on signposts and public bulletin boards, Luka can’t stop staring. With every flyer he pins or tapes up, he finds something new to love about it. A splash of neon color in the top left corner. The jagged, cutting edges of the lettering. The blurred glow of a spotlight. Every time he looks, he gets the feeling that he’s already there. Music pounding in his ears, stage lights burning so bright and hot they make him sweat, fresh calluses on his fingertips that he’ll regret and adore later. He doesn’t think of stardom often, but he imagines this is something close to it.

At the very least, it’s what he would want to make of it.

It’s close to closing by the time Luka arrives at the bakery-patisserie; the usual lingering smells of fresh bread and sugary frosting and the easygoing music are both conspicuously absent when he walks in. But Mr. Dupain and Ms. Cheng are both missing from the storefront, and he has to double check the time on his phone to make sure he didn’t accidentally arrive too late, or that he’s not interrupting some closing routine. It shouldn’t take long; he spent almost the whole bike ride over rehearsing what he needed to say. He looks around cautiously, even clears his throat in case it gets someone’s attention.

It does. Marinette pops up from behind the counter with a squeak, and it startles him so much he nearly drops the stack of remaining flyers in his arms. And that would’ve been a pain in the ass as much as it would’ve been straight out of one of Rose’s cute romcoms for Marinette to round the counter and help him pick them up until their hands brushed over the same one.

Jesus. He really needs to get out of the house on his sister’s date nights.

He really needs to have a date night.

He also really needs to stop thinking about date nights when the person he’d actually consider a date night with is right in front of—

“Luka?”

He blinks to attention, standing awkwardly in the quiet. God, he really hopes he wasn’t staring at her when he zoned out like that. “Sorry,” he mumbles.

Marinette shrugs it off with an apologetic smile. “We’re fresh out of napoleons, you know,” she says casually, slipping past him to flip the sign on the door. “Guess you’ll just have to come first thing tomorrow morning.”

“Yeah, I guess I will—wait—” He shakes his head. “No, that’s not why I’m here.”

Marinette pauses at that. Even seems to stand a little taller, intrigued. Hopeful? “Oh…? Then why… are you here?”

Meekly, Luka holds up one of the Kitty Section flyers and nods toward the bulletin board. Here’s hoping he—it— isn’t too much of a disappointment.

Marinette squints at the flyer for a second, and then her eyes widen and spark in delight. She looks… impressed, at least. which isn’t to say she’s never seemed impressed by him before. It just makes all the things he’s been working for a little more worth it. “Wow,” she says. “You really weren’t kidding about being in a band, huh.”

“You know it,” he says with what he prays is a casual shrug; this… wasn’t part of the script. “I don’t wear this thing on my back just to look pretty.”

She stifles a laugh, then claps a hand to her mouth immediately. “Sorry, I didn’t—I wasn’t implying that you’re not handsome—pretty— “

Oh God. She’s stammering. And it’s adorable.

Marinette composes herself with a deep breath and her arms folded over her chest. “There are pushpins in the corner,” she says. “Hang it up wherever you want.”

Except Luka can’t help feeling like she’s got her eyes on him the whole time. Either she’s coming to terms with the fact that he was telling the truth all along, or she’s… judging him. Or the flyer. And honestly, he can’t tell which is worse. “What’s wrong?” he asks once he notices she’s still staring. “Did I put it up at a funny angle or something?”

“No, just… thinking…” Her voice sounds distant, perhaps somewhere he might never find her. But then she snaps her fingers, and she says, “That’s it!”

“Uh.” Luka’s brow furrows. “What’s it?”

“Oh, just… sorry, my thoughts just ran away with me, I guess.” Marinette steps toward the flyer, brushing her fingers over it and wincing. maybe it’s just from the finish; his nails have scraped over then more than once, and it felt just as bad as a chalkboard. “I was just thinking, well… you’ve been good to my parents and all. Why don’t we help you with promotion? You know, put postcards in the boxes or bags. It couldn’t hurt, could it?”

Luka nearly spotters, but the only thing he can manage to say is, “Where am I gonna get postcards?”

“I can make ‘em.” She says it like the simplest, most obvious thing in the world, and looks him up and down when he falters. “If… you and your band are okay with that, I mean. Cause I, y’know… dabble, in graphic design. But I don’t want to impose, if you’re okay with this. It’s your band and all.”

“I can,” he starts to say; then he stops himself, awkwardly rubbing the back of his neck. “I can ask them?” Idiot, he thinks. That wasn’t supposed to be a question. “I’ll let you know what they say. Have to come in bright and early tomorrow anyway, right?”

Marinette only smiles. It’s faint, almost absentminded, but that sweet little tug at the corner of her mouth is hardly lost on him. “You don’t have to.”

“Ask them?”’

“Come by.” Her bag is hanging on a peg by the register, and she’s off rummaging through it before Luka can ask what she means. He gravitates toward her more than he actually walks to her, and by the time he reaches the counter she’s fishing a card out of her wallet. It’s pink and black, decorated with the same spray of flowers and monogram as her apron. when he turns it over, there’s her name at the top, and below that, two email addresses. And two phone numbers.

He looks up, wide-eyed.

“So,” Marinette says. “Unless you’re coming all this way for a napoleon, a pear tart, and my pretty face, I think you’re good.”

“I—” Luka turns the business card over and over as though it will teach him now to speak again. “I guess so.” Does she know he thinks her face is pretty? Wait—of course she does, he gave her that note. Oh, Jesus, does she still have that thing? It’s been weeks. “Well,” he says, scuffing his heel against the tile. “Who knows. Maybe I’ll come anyway.”

Okay, that was definitely not part of the script.

But then, neither is the way her eyes are sparkling. “Well,” she murmurs. “Maybe you will.”

“I should, uh—” He jerks a thumb toward the door. “Go, um. Happy closing?”

She laughs behind a hand, glancing between him and the tacked-up flyer before she grabs a broom and sends him off with a delicate wave. And to be honest, Luka’s never been angry with nature before, but he curses the wind for being so loud that he can’t hear that giggle in his head, over and over. Almost as much as he thanks it for drowning out all the stupid things he said, and the lingering questions of why she offered at all.

Luka’s Word to the Wise, Part 2:

Progress isn’t linear but it sure as hell doesn’t mean you can’t stutter your way through getting a girl’s number and succeed.

#miraculous ladybug #lukanette #luka couffaine #marinette dupain cheng #fic: chronicles of a parisian dumbass #HELL YEAH LUKA THAT'S MY BOY

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ask-rwby-multishipper · 3 years

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New Arrivals - Part 1

a TorD AU Vytal Festival Arc skit

Glynda, at the front of the lecture hall: As I’m sure all of you are aware, the Vytal Festival Tournament is coming up soon—

Ruby, whispering: Yesssss...

Glynda: —and since Vale is hosting this year, many students from the other academies will soon arrive at Beacon. While here, they will attend classes and stay in the dorms. I implore all of you to make them feel welcome here.

Ruby, raising her hand: Ma’am?

Glynda: Professor.

Ruby: Sorry, professor. If these new students are going to be taking classes with us, won’t that give them the chance to watch us fight and learn our strengths and weaknesses? Doesn’t that play to Beacon’s disadvantage in the tournament?

Glynda: Perhaps. But you will also get to observe them, so it would offset. Students from the various academies attending the host academy in the lead up to the festival is a longstanding tradition. This is everyone’s chance to give students from all over Remnant a reason to think highly of Beacon. And that, to me, is just as important as impressing viewers and spectators at the tournament itself. Once you graduate from Beacon and become Hunters, many of the students from the other academies could very well become colleagues in your profession. Inspire them to respect you and your peers.

Yang, whispering to her team: So what I’m getting from this is that we could get the newbies to join our game—

Glynda, in pointed response: And to do so, do not conduct yourself in an unbecoming manner, no matter how emphatically someone dares you.

Yang, whispering: “Unbecoming” is subjective, could mean anything.

Weiss, whispering back: Yang, we are not going to involve students from other academies in this, not when the Vytal Festival is so close. You heard Professor Goodwitch, these visitors could be our allies in the future.

Yang: And we’ll share so many laughs remembering everything that happened playing truth or dare, right?

Weiss: No?!

Glynda: Anyway, these visiting students will be arriving over the course of the next week. Be kind and courteous, or else I and Professor Ozpin will be having a word with you.

Reese, bursting into the lecture hall: FOUND IT!

Everyone: *turns and looks up at Reese and her team*

Arslan, murmuring behind Reese: You didn’t need to announce our arrival so loudly...

Bolin: Especially considering how late we are...

Glynda, calling up to them: Team ABRN, I am delighted you’ve arrived in my class, despite not being scheduled to begin attending until tomorrow.

Nadir, whispering loudly: I told you it said tomorrow, I told you!

Reese, muttering: Well, we believe you now.

Glynda: Please introduce yourselves to my class.

Reese: Uhh... *glances toward Arslan*

Arslan, sighing and stepping in front of the rest of her team: My name is Arslan Altan. I am the leader of Team ARBN, and these are my teammates, Bolin Hori, Reese Chloris, and Nadir Shiko. We are very excited to be visiting Beacon and competing in the tournament.

Yang, whispering mischievously to her team: New targets acquired.

Weiss: No.

Glynda: Thank you, Miss Altan. I’m sure my students are excited for your team to join us in class. For now, class dismissed. Feel free to mingle. If you need anything from me, you can find my office.

Nadir, to his team: Can we, tho?

Reese: Don’t look at me, this place is a maze!

Yang, sliding up to them: Whatsuuuup, ARBN! I’m Yang, and may I be the first to welcome you to Beacon!

Blake: Technically, Goodwitch was the first to welcome them.

Yang, gritting her teeth and gesturing towards Blake: This is my teammate Blake, and they—

Blake: I’m very, very happy to meet you four. *wink*

Yang, whispering: You’re stealing my thunder.

Weiss, sliding in front of Yang: We are Team RWBY, by the way. I’m Weiss, you’ve met Yang and Blake, and our team leader is Ru—

Ruby, darting up to Reese: Oh my gosh, your outfit is so cute!

Reese, grinning: Thank you! *fanning herself* Finally some recognition for my fashion sense. Your name was...?

Ruby: Ruby Rose! And your hair, how do you get it to stand up like that??

Reese, throwing her hair back gracefully with a chuckle: Gravity Dust infused conditioner. I can hook you up if you want.

Blake, muttering: I’d let her hook me up anytime.

Weiss: *elbows them in the ribs*

Blake: Ow!...I deserved that.

Ruby, stars in her eyes: Would you?!

Reese: Sure!

Ruby: OMG WE JUST BECAME FRIENDS!

Reese: We did?

Ruby: We did!

Reese: Oh shit, I guess you’re right!

Yang, looking at Arslan: Anyway, where are you guys staying? Maybe we could hang out? We happen to have this thing...

Arslan: What kind of thing?

Weiss, stepping in: There is no thing! We are normal.

Nadir: I want to hear about this thing.

Yang: It’s a girls and enbies only thing, sorry.

Nadir: *pouts*

Blake: I’m open to all genders, though, don’t worry.

Weiss: *attempts to elbow them again*

Blake: *shadow clones out of the way*

Yang: The boys have a thing, too! I think...

Arslan: What is this thing?

Bolin: I almost don’t want to know at this point.

Nadir: I feel excluded, who do we speak to about the boys’ thing?

Bolin: I’m not signing up for a thing that I don’t even know anything about.

Yang: It’s just a game of truth or dare! It’s an ongoing game, we’ve been at it for months. It’s like a Kingdoms of Remnant group!

Ruby: Which I also have. Are any of you trans, by the way?

Bolin: *raises his hand*

Ruby, putting her hands together: Ahh, good...we shall initiate you posthaste.

Bolin: Guys, I’m scared.

Yang, extending a hand to Arslan and Reese: So what do you cuties say, wanna play? It would be a great way to get to know others!

Weiss: I just hope you two know you’re being peer pressured.

Yang: I’m not asking them to join a Dust trafficking ring, I’m inviting them to game night.

Reese: Sure, I’m in.

Arslan: *sigh* I’ll come, too. If only to keep an eye on Reese to make sure she doesn’t break anything.

Reese: I don’t break things that often, don’t worry.

Yang: Great! You can come by our dorm tonight!

Arslan: I will tell you now, we will not be able to find your dorm, wherever it is.

Yang: The library then! That’s easy to find.

Reese: Is it tho?

Blake: If you need an escort, my services are available.

Weiss: *considers elbowing them again, but realizes it’s futile*

Arslan: We’ll probably take you up on that. Thanks for inviting us.

Yang: Thanks for joining! We’ll see you two tonight!

Ruby, coming up to Bolin: Take this. *hands him a letter*

Bolin: Uhh...

Ruby: Open it where none can see, it is for your eyes only.

Bolin: Uhhhh...

Ruby: Also, do you have any food allergies I should know about before I order pizza for the next meeting? Also, how much experience do you have with RPGs?

Nadir: C’mon, I want a cool club to join!

Weiss, handing him a piece of paper: Here’s the Scroll number of my friend Jaune. Ask him about the boy’s truth or dare game.

Nadir: Oh, nice! Thanks!

Arslan: Well, thanks for the welcome. See you all around.

Team RWBY, waving as they walk away: Bye!

Yang: Weiss, why do you just have pieces of paper with Jaune’s number ready-made?

Weiss: I hand them to guys who flirt with me too much and ask for my number. They call Jaune instead, he talks them down for me.

Yang: Hm. That’s smart.

Weiss: I know.

Blake: If any of you dare one of them to kiss me, I will give you 5 Lien.

Ruby: Make it 10 and the dare will require tongue.

Blake: Deal.

Yang: Make it 20 and I’ll require a concurrent butt grab.

Blake: Double deal.

Ruby and Yang, high-fiving: Stonks!

Weiss: I hate it here.

Arslan and Reese are ready to rock and roll this game of Truth or Dare!

#new arrivals #tord au skit #rwby #rwby truth or dare #ruby rose #weiss schnee #blake belladonna #yang xiao long #glynda goodwitch #arslan altan #bolin hori #reese chloris #nadir shiko #team abrn

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everlarkbirthdaygifts · 4 years

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Happy Birthday, king-peeta!

Happy Birthday, @king-peeta! We hope you’re having a wonderful day so far, and that you’ve got some awesome cake to look forward to later! To start your special day off right, the lovely @norbertsmom has written a story just for you!

Author’s note: Happy birthday @king-peeta. I hope you enjoy your High school au - popular!katniss and nerd!peeta fic. This fic is inspired by the movie Grease 2. Special thanks go out to my beta and my bestie, @mega-aulover.

Senioritis

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I’m leaning against my hand-me-down car in the senior student parking lot when my friend Delly pulls up in her pink convertible. She and all the other blonde haired, blue eyed cheerleaders held several car washes this past summer to raise the money to purchase that car and have it painted pink. Since the parking lot is so small, only seniors are allowed to park in it, so it’s somewhat of a rite of passage to drive to school senior year. The cheerleaders wanted to show up in style, or so Delly told me.

Delly and the rest of the squad hop out of their car with more excitement than anyone should have on the first day of school. The other girls gather around us as Delly gives me a crushing hug.

She releases me and asks, “What do you think, Peeta? Ready to rule this school?” The other cheerleaders cheer in answer as if she asked them the question.

I shake my head and chuckle. “I’m not ruling anything, Delly,” I reply. A pout forms on Delly’s lips, but before she can start her rebuttal, the roar of approaching engines grabs our attention. Delly wraps her arm around my waist as we turn toward the sound. She stands up on her tiptoes to see over the other kids in the parking lot while the other girls climb up to stand on the seats of their car to get a better look.

A line of motorcycles is weaving its way through the parking lot, drawing everyone’s attention. As they drive past, the cheerleaders squeal and wave then start whispering among themselves, but the riders don’t seem to notice. They pull into the row to the right of us.

As the riders dismount, I look through the crowd for my first glimpse of the girl I’ve been staring at since kindergarten. But I don’t see the object of my hidden affection. I look away thinking of how beautiful she is with the voice of an angel, although she doesn’t sing much anymore. The Mockingjays are the popular kids at school and they all stick together. You’d think that the jocks and the cheerleaders would be tops, but there’s something about a motorcycle club that makes everyone want to be a part of it.

The motorcycle closest to us is painted a matte black. It matches the rider’s outfit of black boots, jeans, and jacket. He removes his helmet and pulls out a comb from his back pocket and runs it through his slicked back black hair. Another rider, much taller than him approaches and slaps him on the back in greeting. The two boys could be brothers with their matching olive skin and grey eyes, but it’s a common look of the people from the Seam neighborhood. Just like most of the people from town have blond hair and blue eyes, me included.

I recognize the taller of the two as Gale Hawthorne, resident bad boy, and object of many girls’ affections. The cheerleaders call out “Hi Gale” in unison, but he doesn’t look their way. The other boy, Thom, looks over at us and frowns. I’m not sure what we did to deserve that reaction, but I look past him. I’m hoping to see one person in particular.

The next motorcycle is painted glossy black with red pin-stripes down the fenders. On the side of the gas tank is a picture of two axes crossed at the handles. The rider is wearing black combat boots, red tights, a short black skirt, and a black jean jacket. She gets off and removes her helmet to reveal short black hair tipped with red. She scrunches up her hair and makes it stand up in spikes. She looks up at the cheerleaders and gives a wide toothy smile. The girls jump up and down and wave. She quickly turns her hand around and flips them off making the girls gasp in surprise. She smirks and saunters off to link her arm with Thom and drags him toward the school entrance behind the other riders heading that way. Gale smiles and shakes his head. He watches them leave before he turns his attention to the last motorcycle that’s just pulling up.

The motorcycle is forest green with a golden bow and arrow painted on the gas tank. The rider is the smallest of the bunch and can only be the one and only Katniss Everdeen, my secret crush. Her worn brown leather boots are laced up to her knees over black skinny jeans. She’s wearing the same oversized brown leather jackets she’s had since the sixth grade. She takes off her helmet and her thick black braid falls down her back.

When she gets off her bike, Katniss looks over in my direction and we lock eyes for the first time. I hold my breath, wondering what to do next. I don’t know what I could possibly say to her if she ever spoke to me. I’m not cool like Gale or the other Mockingjays.

Gale leans down and whispers in her ear and her cheeks turn pink. She scowls as he drapes his arm over her shoulder. She elbows him in the side and ducks under his arm then storms off toward the school as Gale laughs and rubs his side as he struts toward the school behind her. I think I hear a few sighs from the cheerleaders as Gale walks away.

The first warning bell goes off, so we have to start heading into school. Delly drops her arm from around my waist and joins her squad in front of her car. “See you at lunch, Peeta,” she says as the girls wave to me and saunter off. Many of the boys from the cars around us rush to catch up to the cheerleaders and follow them. With a sigh I pick up my backpack and head into school, joining the mass of students.

This year is my last chance to talk to Katniss Everdeen. I’m just going to have to figure out how to do it.

¤¤¤¤¤¤¤

School goes on as I had expected. No great change from years past. Freshmen get lost, underclassmen get bullied by seniors who were bullied themselves in previous years, and the teachers are already counting down to the first vacation. I share 2 classes with Katniss, so it’s not as if I never see her. She sits two rows in front of me in literature and 3 rows over in history, but I have yet to work up the nerve to talk to her.

A few days later, Delly leans over the lunch table before the others arrive and whispers, “I know where Katniss is going to be on tonight.” Delly discovered my crush on Katniss a few years ago and has been scheming to get us together ever since.

“So do I, Delly,” I reply. “She’ll be wherever Gale Hawthorne is.”

“Nope,” Delly replies as she tears the lid off of her salad and starts picking out the olives. “Well, I guess, technically, yes Gale will be there, but Katniss is not with him; she never was.” She turns her head back and forth looking for eavesdroppers then gives me a sly smile. “ Katniss and the other Mockingjays are in an archery league at the rec center. They practice every night at 6 pm, with competitions every Thursday night.”

“What am I supposed to do with this information?” I ask and tear into my sandwich. “It’s not like I can just join their league,” I say around a mouthful of food.

“First, gross,” Delly says. “Second, you don’t need to join their league. You, me, and a few of our friends are going to work out at the rec center at 7. You’ll be showing up just as they’re getting ready to leave. It’s brilliant.”

“I don’t know, Delly,” I try to argue, but she’s not having it.

“We’re going, Peeta,” she says with all the authority of a head cheerleader. Usually she’s so sweet, but she can be fierce when she’s determined. “You said you want to talk to her this year. This is your chance.”

“Okay,” I agree, but I have a bad feeling about this.

We make arrangements to meet at the rec center since I have to work after school, and Delly has cheerleading practice.I might show up a little early just to watch Katniss before I get humiliated trying to talk to her.

Katniss’ POV

After dropping Prim off at middle school, I join the rest of the Mockingjays in Panem High’s senior parking lot. Johanna’s flipping off the cheerleaders as I pull up and Poor Thom is staring at them. Gale is teasing Thom about his crush on the head cheerleader, as if someone from that bubbly world would go for one of us lowly Seam kids. Johanna takes Thom by the arm and drags him into the school.

When I get off my bike I look over toward the cheerleaders and see Delly Cartwright with her arm around Peeta Mellark’s waist. Figures they’re together. Poor Thom doesn’t stand a chance.

I momentarily lock eyes with Peeta, and I’m thrown back to that fateful night six years ago. After my father died, Peeta Mellark was the only person to help us. Without him, we would have died of starvation. And I never thanked him.

Gale puts his arm around my shoulder, and he whispers in my ear, “Don’t you wish you were a cheerleader, Catnip?”

I feel my cheeks burn and tear my eyes away from Peeta. It’s too late to thank him now, he probably doesn’t even remember tossing me that bread. I don’t let Gale see that his statement bothers me, so I elbow him in the side and stalk off to class. I don’t know why I put up with him, but us Seam kids gotta stick together. I can’t wait until archery practice when I can shoot something.

School was the same as always, but after I get Prim home and we eat dinner I head up to the rec center for practice. I’m glad they have lockers to keep our equipment because I’d never be able to carry my bow case on my bike.

“Hey, Everdeen,” Johanna calls out to me as soon as I enter the building. She and Leevy already have their cases out of the lockers and are checking us in with reception. When I come back out with mine, Thom and Gale are also ready to go.

Practice goes as usual. We all shoot at the same time to keep us comfortable shooting close to other people, then we shoot in order.

Leevy goes first, since she’s the newest member on the team, then Thom, then Johanna.

“If we were throwing axes, I’d be the anchor here,” Johanna gripes after her turn.

“You’ll do great at the competition,” Leevy tells her.

“You just need to show up those rich kids,” Thom chimes in. That makes Johanna smile.

Gale is next, but he decides to challenge me for the anchor spot, so we have a shoot-out.

“I’ll take over the anchor spot one of these days,” Gale grumbled as we’re walking out of the archery range back into the lobby.

I check the clock and realize that we have only a few minutes before those perky cheerleaders get here at 7. I don’t want to run into them again. I overheard Delly telling one of the other girls in class today that she invited Peeta to join in their work out tonight. I don’t know if I could take seeing him in workout gear. He gets me so flustered at school as it is.

“Any time, Hawthorne,” I tell Gale, because truthfully, his competitiveness keeps me motivated. I need to be my best if I’m to make the archery team at Panem U next year. I’ll need that scholarship to pay for my tuition.

Our first competition is next Thursday. Those rich kids from Capitol prep, with their top end equipment always give us a run for our money.

“Any time? How about this Saturday. I take you out to lookout point. You give me pointers on shooting.”

“No thanks, Gale,” I tell him and push him away, because really, I don’t have time to date anyone, even if I wanted to.

“Seriously Catnip,” he says as he puts his arm around my shoulder. “You gotta date one of us Mockingjays. We rule this school, and since I’m the leader, and you’re the best archer, for now,” he says with a pointed look. “You and I belong together.”

“What do you mean, I gotta date one of the Mockingjays? Since when do you think you can tell me who I can date? That’s up to me,” I tell him, because seriously, who does he think he is? “You have no say in who I spend my time with.”

“Yeah, you tell him,” Jo joins in. “She can kiss anyone she wants to.” Leevy nods her head in agreement and Thom is looking uncomfortable at this discussion.

“Oh yeah? Who you gonna kiss, Catnip?”

I wasn’t planning on kissing anyone, but Gale’s arrogance is making me mad. “I can kiss anyone I want,” I tell him. “I’ll kiss the next guy who comes into the lobby.”

“Anyone?” Gale asks as a big smile comes across his face as he stares out the entrance doors into the parking lot.

I look out to see what’s made him smile and I see that creepy old security guard Cray walking up toward the door. Great. He’s always saying inappropriate things to the young girls who come into the rec center, but I’ll do it if it means putting Gale in his place.

I turn back and look up at Gale, “Anyone.” I set my bow case down and stomp over to the side of the door. If I catch old Cray off guard, maybe he won’t know what hit him and I can get away real quick.

“Go get him, Catnip,” Gale taunts as he elbows an uncomfortable Thom. Leevy looks nervous and Jo just looks angry.

I’m standing off to the side, waiting for Cray to come in. I can’t see him because I don’t want him to have any clue that I’m waiting for him. I brace myself when I feel the pressure change as the outside door opens.

Leevy squeals and I look over at the others.

I watch curiously as that smug smile falls off of Gale’s face. He almost looks angry. Jo is standing beside him laughing and yells, “Go get him, girl!”

The inside doors open, and I step in front of the person entering. And look up into not the gray eyes of old Cray, but the brilliant blues of Peeta Mellark.

Peeta looks down and smiles at me. He opens his mouth to speak, but before I lose my nerve, I stand on tiptoe and pull his head down to give him a quick kiss.

Peeta’s eyes widen as he realizes what’s happening. “Oh,” he says just before our lips meet.

I’m about to step back and apologize when he wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me against his body, deepening the kiss. I feel my arms go around his neck and tilt my head to get a better angle. It’s the first time I’ve ever kissed a boy, and all I can register is how hot it makes me feel, warm and curious stirring inside my chest. Each kiss makes my need for more greater.

It's the sound of Johanna yelling, “Okay, Lovebirds,” that brings us to our senses. I step back and my knees go weak as I disentangle myself from Peeta’s arms. It’s difficult to look at him so I look around and see not only old Cray at the reception desk, but the cheerleading squad is here as well. They must have come in while we were, uh, otherwise occupied.

The cheerleading squad is giggling and whispering among themselves and Cray is leering at them. Delly is giving Johanna and Leevy a high five. Thom is shuffling his feet. He can’t keep his eyes off Delly.

I shake my head and come to my senses. I can’t let anyone know how much that kiss affected me, so I pat Peeta on the chest and tell him, “Thanks.” I give Gale a smirk and pick up my bow case.

Gale has murder in his eyes as his stare goes from me and then to Peeta.

I saunter off to the locker-room to put my bow case away to a chorus of blond giggles behind me.

Peeta’s POV

I can’t believe my luck. I just wanted to talk to her, and Katniss Everdeen just kissed me. And boy what a kiss it was, so much more that I ever dreamed it would be.

I watch as Katniss walks away, too stunned to go after her. I’ll have to talk to her at school tomorrow.

“Congratulations, Peeta,” Delly says when she comes bouncing over to me. “I had a feeling she might like you too."

I rub my hand across the back of my neck. “I don’t know. You think so? Why did she leave then?”

“Oh, who knows what goes on in her mind. Don’t worry about it. You got this, Peeta.”

“You got nothing, Mellark,” Gale barks. “She only kissed you on a dare,” he says as he stomps passed me out the door, giving me a shoulder bump as he goes by.

“What? That kiss was all for a game?” I ask, disappointed. Of course Katniss didn’t mean it.

“Don’t you believe him,” Johanna Mason says as she comes up. “He’s just a sore loser because she turned him down. I have watched that girl get flustered every time you’re around.”

Which shocks me. “Really?” I ask hopefully.

Delly and Leevy nod yes as Jo continues, “You just have to be patient. She’s a little skittish, but brainless will come around. You’ll see. Just give her time.”

I smile as I tell her, “Okay. I guess I can live with that.”

#everlark #everlark fanfiction #everlarkbirthdaydrabbles #everlarkbirthdaygifts #fan fic #by norbertsmom

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arsonist-chicken · 3 years

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Lockdown Tag game; I got tagged by @we-are-not-amoosed thank you! I keep forgetting you know I exist, also I hope you had fun being drunk at midnight on a Tuesday hjhjhj.

First of all, a big FUCK YOU to tumblr, because I was at the LAST QUESTION and opened ONE NEW TAB to look up the word windmill, and when I went back to tumblr, my post was GONE, so here we go again. If an answer seems short of half-answered, it’s because I didn’t feel like typing everything again.

Are you staying home from work or school?

HA. Yes. Love that for me. Not at all. My university opened for 1 1/2 weeks in March 2020, then for another 4 weeks in November, and it has been closed ever since. I’m in my dormitory in the town I study in, not home home at my parents’ place though, because that would Not end well. The internet connection sucks though, that’s really annoying with distance learning. When I go into The City for A Thing, I usually cycle past my department and it makes we Yearn to go back in there, which is a thing I didn’t think would ever happen, but one pandemic later and suddenly everyone would kill for the change to go back to work/school in person, wouldn’t we?

If you’re staying home who is there with you?

I live in a dormitory, so technically, there’s a lot of other people there, but I don’t really talk to any of them except for when we meet in the hallways or the kitchen or wherever, so really it’s just me, the stuffed animal my friend got me last year because I kept whining that I didn’t have a cat like her at her boyfriend’s place where she basically lives now, and the birds who come to eat from the bird house I put on my balcony.

If it makes you feel any better @we-are-not-amoosed, not that I think it will but hey, who knows, my twin sister is moving out in December, so I will be the only child at home with my parents during summer/Christmas/Easter break, which will be Not Fun. I’ll take another 1 ½ years for my degree, and another 2 if I do a master’s, so that’s about... 1-3/4 years I’ll be alone with my parents while my perfect sister gets to move out and move on and live Adult Life fully respected as an Adult working with renewable energy, as opposed to the Disappointment who takes 5 years for a 3 year degree in a field that’s hard to find employment in and never Does Stuff like my mother wants me to Do Stuff.

Are you a homebody?

I’m with @we-are-not-amoosed there, I didn’t know what that meant, but Pons says “Stubenhocker”. A bit I guess? I’m definitely fine being home by myself if I’m unbothered there (read: not at my parents’ when they are home) and I do need time by myself to recharge. But probably like everyone else, I crave and enjoy social contact a ton more than Before. I meet a friend fairly often (aka the only friend still here instead of home for distance learning), and today we worked together (handing out flyers which idk why the company pays us to hand them out, like 95% of them get thrown away immediately, but hey, we’re getting paid 🤷) and then went to sit by the river, and there were SO MANY people there, it was not *entirely* corona-compliant (but outside with town-typical wind, so it’s fine I think, with my non-existent knowledge about spreading of viruses and such), but honestly? I just couldn’t be bothered to care in that moment: it was warm and sunny, I was there with a very close friend, people were laughing and dancing to good music, it was just so GOOD to be there, almost as if Corona didn’t exist. The police even drove by like they always do to check for people smoking weed and didn’t say anything like usual, so hey. It was just so good, okay? So, homebody? Within reason, I guess, but less than Before, probably.

An event you were looking forward to that eventually got cancelled?

Oh boy, SO MANY. The one I’m most bitter about was a very prestigious international interpreting event, that would have involved me interpreting in the actual European Parliament building in Strasbourg. But there was also a festival week with my best friend I was looking forward to, maybe even a second festival with another friend, my company’s ten year anniversary party, etc. And Prides! I came out to my family in 2019, and was like “Yay, I can finally go to Prides now!” but well 🤷

DUDE SO MANY ARE YOU KIDDING ME

CONCERTS: 5SOS (I SHOULD HAVE heard “Old Me” in a crowd full of other people getting nostalgic for their past selves, but NO), Louis Tomlinson, Harry Styles, Rock im Park aka GREEN DAY AND RISE AGAINST (I have been trying to see Rise Against for YEARS and ALWAYS something gets in the way!), one or two small local artists.

ERASMUS: I should have gone to Russia for a semester to improve my not-too-great speaking skills but Corona said FUCK YOU you will study ALONE and LONELY in your ROOM like a child on TIMEOUT

PRIDE: none in particular, just generally it would have been nice to go, maybe even with a friend to the one in Vienna

Also just general stuff like birthdays and get-togethers with friends, and my club’s annual get-together was cancelled too, and it would have been my friend, sister and my’s 10-year-anniversary, so that sucked to get cancelled.

What movies have you watched recently?

Movies? Pfuh, I don’t know, I’m not really into movies anymore, tbh. TV-series and games are more my jam.

Descendants 1 +2, I finally watched those after I read so much fanfiction that I knew the plot without having watched a single scene that isn’t a music video that youtube kept showing me. They’re nice enough, if you overlook the fact that they make a 16-year-old king while there’s still perfectly capable adults but whatever, there’s a lot of cute moments (Carlos and Jane omg) and a lot of funny ones (UMA. Is HILARIOUS), the music kind of slaps ngl, and arguably Mal + Evie are queer and in love. I still want to watch the third soon, and rewatch The Hunger Games since it showed up on my dash recently.

What shows are you watching?

Rewatching Julie and the Phantoms forever until the end of time (or until season 2 comes out @netflix, and I started Brooklyn 99 again for background noise/low-energy background watching. A friend recommended Ginny & Georgia and it’s okay enough, but it’s written in a way that makes you want to keep watching because there’s just such whack stuff happening that you want it explained; it’s 1h episodes though, that’s a bit hard on my attention span. I want to rewatch FMA:B some time, too.

What are you reading?

@we-are-not-amoosed said “tumblr posts and the texts I translate at work” and if that isn’t a Mood. I’d love to read more, but my attention span is shit and my reading comprehension even worse. I *am* reading “Explain to me like I’m 5” atm which explains stuff easily, like, well, you’re 5 years old, so you’d think a 23-year-old could understand, no? No. I read it, I vaguely understand some stuff, I close the book, and it’s G-O-N-E, not a single thing left. Literally the only thing I remember – and this is why I had to re-write ^^^all that because I needed to look up the English word for Windräder, if that’s even what they’re called in German but whatever I’m tired – is that insects and birds die a LOT in windmills when they get too close and get sucked in and can’t escape anymore, which is one of the reasons windmills aren’t as environmentally friendly as we thought when we built them. Anyhow, I’d love to read more, but idk, there are a lot of posts on here, some I’ve reblogged, that are like.. something something reading fanfiction is easier because you already know the characters and universe something something less mental energy something something idk. Yeah I mostly read fanfiction these days. I hope I’ll get back to reading books sometime soon-ish, I have a long list.

What are you doing for self-care?

Hm. I meet my friend I mentioned above pretty regularly, and I have a notebook that I write stuff in that was nice or made me happy when that happened (like today: working with my friend and then sitting among people by the river in the sun with said friend). I’m getting a tattoo next week (3 cat paws + 1 dog paw = technically my two cats and my late cat and dog, but well, two of them are dead, so I asked two friends for a paw print of their cat and dog, so I’ll always have those two with me, too). I try to make a to-do-list each day, but I rarely stick to it. I apply eyeshadow and body glitter if I want to, I dye my hair bright colors (think pink, purple, blue, red, maybe orange next). I always have chocolate in my room meaning I stopped depriving myself of food I like/food in general because it’s “healthier”/”I need to lose weight” etc. all that you know all those great reasons. I went to a doctor about my knee and it ended up being useless but I went, so.

I also went to see a therapist but she is very useless, like “ended our first session telling me well she doesn’t know how to help me/if she can help me at all/if therapy would even help me” kind of useless; I’ll go again next week and see if that changes or if next week will be the last week and I’ll go back to Dealing Like Before, which is not great but whatever. I’ve lived until 23 without therapy, surely I can keep doing it. Therapy’s expensive if it’s not covered (which this doctor IS which is why I went to her but it’s still a waste of time) and if it’s not gonna work/not gonna help me apparently or if there’s nothing actually wrong OR that therapist is just like, bad at her job, what’s the point of going yk?

Uggggh, I hope the swimming pools and Zumba class will be open again soon, Zumba (also with said friend) is AMAZING, easy fun exercise you don’t need any knowledge or skill for and you can hang out with your friend by the street after for an hour and say goodbye five times and then remember one more thing you wanted to actually still mention and stand there for another 20 minutes hjhjhj. Best times, truly.

Idk this is probably not self-care but I got a small job working with Austrian German and it gnetflix the chance to save up a bit and add it to my resume and also hopefully get my mother to shut up about my non-existent job prospects for a bit, so that’s kind of helping in making me feel a bit more like I’m Being An Adult (also because it means I have to learn how to change my insurance and finance department stuff now, yey).

Tagging: @languages-and-else @psychicbouquetblaze-stuff @the-real-daddy-van-der-bellen @sunsetcurveofficial if you feel like doing it, also sorry @we-are-not-amoosed it became such a rambled long answe on almost everything hjhjhj

#tag games #me talks #covid-19 #swearing #It’s a post about corona there Must be swearing

9 notes · View notes

teeztheflag · 4 years

Text

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W h o c a t c h e s t h e a l p h a ?

⋆ pairing : alpha!hong joong x werewolf!reader

⋆ genre: werewolf, angst, fluff, suggestive

⋆ warnings: alcohol, cussing words

⋆ words: 5,500

⋆ „You don’t want to break the rules, am I right?“

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Right now exactly one day until your birthday. That’s 24 hours, 1440 minutes and 86400 seconds. Then you would be able to meet your mate. Your soulmate. Your destined other half. The love of your life.

You were currently stuck in the nearby town with your two friends to find a cute outfit for the festival tomorrow. It has been pretty hot the last days and you were relived to be in the shopping center that had an air conditioning system.

„When was the exact time you were born?“

„3.06 pm and 54 seconds.“

„Oh okay then let’s go the festival by 4 pm?“

„Yes, I think that’s good.“

You went into many boutiques searching through one clothes rack after another.

„Y/N! Look at this one!“ Jisoo showed you a pretty two-piece set.

„Mh, that should work!“ You smirked at her and took the fabric making your way to the changing room. After stepping out both girls gasped at your sight.

„Hong Joong will love this!“ Your smile faltered and you ushered to her clasping a hand onto her mouth.

„Are you crazy?!“ You gave her a judging look and let go to examine yourself in the mirror.

„It was just a joke, ok?“

„She’s right, Lisa. He‘s our alpha. If the pack clan finds out about your loose tongue...“

„What? Those cocky bastards? If you ask me they are still kids! I am not lying! Last week I saw Jong Ho and Min Gi betting on how many apples he could break in under 30 seconds.“

Well, Jong Ho was pretty strong even without his wolf form. Of course Hong Joong inherited the alpha genes from his father taking him to another level.

Thinking about the black colored wolf. He acted like biggest dick you knew at the moment. Being all cocky and arrogant after becoming the new alpha. You knew him since elementary school. Made sense because of your pack living in a separated town just for werewolves so technically everyone knew everyone.

Since your childhood you and Hong Joong were inseparable. You remember the time both of playing in your wolf forms he led you to a secret part of the forest with a little bay. There he snuggled into your side with his wet nose and promised you that he wanted you to become his mate, his luna. He wanted to convince you that he had a feeling it would happen. You laughed at him and tackled him down not wanting him to realize that his statement made your heart flutter.

„Well, we have to wait until my 20th birthday, right?“

Your dad has been a member of the old pack clan and still was good friends with Hong Joong‘s father. You remember two years ago when Hong Joong suddenly went up to you saying he wouldn’t have much time for you from now on. He and the other boys trained and learned all the affairs for working together as the new pack clan. And you understood. Really. But all the times he declined to just meet for a few minutes made you sad.

One day you couldn’t believe your eyes while being out with your girls in a club when Hong Joong and a girl from your pack named Yeri entered it hand in hand. You quickly learned they were dating and the new popular couple in the pack.

That evening your were devastated.

Having built up a deep crush on Hong Joong over all those years made your heart break at the sight. You didn’t understand why he was doing this. But at this time you knew to never believe in his promises again. So you started to ignore the boy. Wherever you saw him you turned another way or occupied yourself with others. If he entered the pack house you would be on your way to the exit. If your family visited his one you made up other plans. Alone the sight of him made you suffer. So you didn’t look at him and slowly his face vanished out of your mind to be remembered.

Unfortunately one day he had to become the alpha. And you couldn’t ignore him anymore. Listening to him at pack meetings or bow to him everytime he passed your way. On his side still the beautiful Yeri. Her white fur caused the male wolves to fall on their knees. One point for her.

But she wasn’t a good fighter. One point for you. Because after Hong Joong didn’t talk to you anymore you spent a huge amount of your time on the training battlefield for distraction. And that’s where you grew close with Jeong Yun Ho. A big fluffy ball of happiness.

Hong Joong found out about the two of you when Yun Ho came back one day with all your scent over him. As soon as the boy entered their pack clan house Hong Joong thought you just entered his place and got so excited he emerged down the stairs but instead of being met with your person Yun Ho grinned at him. The boy carefully sneaked back into his own room leaving Hong Joong in front of the entry.

Did you sleep with Yun Ho? Were you giving away your precious virginity before finding your mate?! He felt himself heating up at the thought of you mating with someone else than him and ran outside to change into his wolf form and running a long time until his anger vanished.

Hong Joong was a really proud boy. And not to talk about his wolf. Ever since he knew he was to become the new alpha a strong pressure weighed down on his shoulders. Always wanting to be good enough for his pack and strong and admirable.

When you were back in school Hong Joong already knew he totally fell in love with you over the years. Everyone knew you couldn’t choose your mate but there was this strong feeling whenever you were around him.

One time made his love for you waver so much it changed something in him. He overheard you talking to a friend that was nagging you about him. How you were totally into the little alpha and when you would tell him. That’s when you snapped and declined your love for him. You said you could never be into him and didn’t wanted to be burdened with all the tasks a luna had to carry. Hong Joong didn’t know your real thoughts about being scared of not suiting him. There were indeed prettier, stronger and more intelligent girls in your pack. You understood your love for him was a dream and it would be quite embarrassing too if someone found out about your feelings.

If the two of you had just had talked with eachother about your feelings.

„Anyways, leave the comments you snake. I hope Yun Ho likes my outfit!“

You giggled a last time at your sight and got back into the changing room. Lisa and Jisoo watched you being excited for your boyfriend seeing you in your cute outfit.

When you were back in the pack town you got a message from Yun Ho asking if you wanted to join them for a barbecue evening.

Being in a relationship with the brown haired beauty brought along the unpleasant case of seeing Hong Joong from time to time. Yun Ho and the others didn’t know about your feelings for each other back then. Woo Young was the only one that caught a moment between you and Hong Jong back when you were young where it was obvious the alpha was into you. Nevertheless Hong Joong pleaded with him to not tell anyone. Nowadays being the alpha he just could use his predominance to shut up anybody even if it was a good friend. So Woo Young stayed silent and watched Hong Joong forced a smile on his face whenever Yeri plastered him with kisses.

You quickly texted him a ‚yes‘ and waited for the evening when he picked you up. It was a little bit chillier outside this night and when you entered their big clan house you were already met with the now well known testosterone. Alpha, beta and pack clan scents lingered in every corner. You pushed yourself into Yun Ho‘s side sniffing in only his alluring boyfriend scent to blank out the dominating alpha odor.

„Oh, cool you are here, Y/N!“ San embraced you in a big hug and you laughed at Jong Ho pouting behind him for not letting you go. Soon the boy made space and gave Jong Ho and the others a chance to greet you, too.

Last one having Min Gi to hug you from behind and shake you from side to side.

„Y/Nah, let’s take a run after we’ve eaten! I bet my wolf is quicker than you now! I trained a lot with Woo Young!“

„Maybe, if you let me go I will think about it!“ You laughed at him when Yun Ho pulled the equally tall boy back by his ear.

„Everybody wanna‘ steel my girl! Come on baby.“ You smirked at him and gave him a quick peck when he pouted at you.

Yun Ho mad himself comfortable on the outdoor couches and you snuggled into his lap. Soon you were into a big discussion about the worst movies ever with the other boys when the alpha and his girlfriend finally arrived in the garden.

You stood up and bowed halfheartedly to quickly sit back into Yun Ho‘s lap and continue to enjoy the atmosphere. Hong Joong took a peek at your form being cuddled by Yun Ho and ignored the urge to roll with his eyes.

Disgusting.

He took Yeri‘s hand into his and lead her to the table and sat down.

You greeted Yeri with a small smile to which she sent you one in return. You were not close with her despite being the only girls in this circle. Yeri had a bunch of popular girls around her and back in school she wasn’t the nicest, too.

But now you could see she was definitely in love with the alpha and they looked really good together. You repeated that quote everytime you came into temptation to take a look at Hong Joong.

It was obvious to everyone who was the more likable couple at the table. It just happened to be that you and Yun Ho were a funny constellation. Hong Joong always seemed tense when you were around joining conversations not as often then. No one really recognized accept of Woo Young and yourself and to Hong Joong‘s dismay Yun Ho, too.

But he kept his mouth shut. He knew you were good friends back in school and once heard you had a big fight after that. Although Hong Joong was his alpha he had to accept that you were his girlfriend. So he didn’t gave the topic more attention than needed.

After the barbecue you went for some cocktails and beer to enjoy the rest of the evening. You didn’t forget Min Gi‘s request and remembered him before the two of you became too intoxicated.

After an hour chasing eachother through the woods you changed back and joined the others again a few of them quite drunk by now.

„Baby! Who won?“

„I don’t know if I should feel insulted by this question.“

„Everyone knows Y/N is the quickest out of the girls!“ San wiggled with his eyebrows while being occupied by finishing a bag of chips.

„I hope so. I’ve not trained her for nothing.“ Yeo Sang smirked at you and stealed the chips out of San‘s grip earning a glare from the boy.

„Is that so?“

Hong Joong shot you an interested look and you decided you would stand the challenge.

„Sangie‘s just exaggerating. But thanks to him, I could improve my skills.“

You weren’t looking away. Why was he suddenly talking to you? He technically didn’t for years. He found it funny you didn’t budge down from his gaze. So he used some of his alpha power to show you who’s in charge.

You saw his eyes turning darker and knew he wanted you to submit back. When his power finally reached a point to feel your wolf nudge you to show respect you sat back down next to Yun Ho and looked away. Hong Joong being satisfied with his work took a sip from his beer and smirked to himself. So he was still having an effect on you.

„Y/N, tomorrow is a big day for you, right?“

„Oh, Jong Ho please stop...“

„Wait, what is tomorrow?“

„Mingi, first the festival is tomorrow. And second, Y/N is going to turn 20...“

San clapped into his hands. All of them being still unmated making you a potential partner. Because only girls held the ability to inflame the mate bond.

„Yah, you thirsty boys better stay away from my girl! If she ends up with someone of you I will literally throw up!“ Yun Ho laughed out loud at this and the others joined him except of Hong Joong and Woo Young.

Yun Ho knew there wasn’t a high chance of you two being mates but there was hope. And if it turned out you were to be with one of his pack clan members so be it.

As soon as someone finds their mate all their romantic feelings for another being vanish. It was just how nature wanted it. So he had to be patient and wait for the outcome of tomorrow.

You took Yun Ho‘s hand feeling his discomfort because of the statement and kissed it bringing him out of his thoughts. He smiled at you and pecked your cheek.

But even you had your doubts Yun Ho would be the one and you couldn’t put your hand on what let you feel this way.

The final day came soner as you wished and Jennie, Rosé, Lisa, Jisoo and you prepared for the festival. After everyone finished the last details you went down to the kitchen being greeted by your family. You mum baked a cake for you with a big ‚20‘ on the top and your dad and brother watched a soccer game in the TV. The only one freaking out were the girls but you knew your dad was nervous as fuck, too. Your brother being grumpy all day because he didn’t want you to love someone more than your big brother.

„So, honey. When do you plan on meeting Yun Ho today?“

„Mh, we want to meet at the festival.“

„At the festival? But isn’t this a little... you know... unromantic?“

You cringed at her words. Of course it wasn’t as romantic as other potential mates did it. But if it turned out he wasn’t the one than you both could spend some time for yourself with your friends.

„Don’t worry Mrs. Y/L/N! We will take care of her even if she doesn’t find her mate today!“

„And if he finds her first?“

You looked at Jennie with widened eyes because her comment made you blush. Of course, she already found her mate just like Jisoo and Rosé.

Your thoughts were a mess searching for all the unmated boys of your pack in your head. Shit, it literally could be anyone. Jisoo seemed to noric your panick mode and ushered to your side.

„Everything will be alright! The moon goddess always chooses wisely.“

Ah, yes. The ball of stone knows what it does.

„5 minutes left!“ Lisa shouted to your dad and brother and they turned down the TV to join you in the kitchen.

After a moment they counted down the time and you officially became a 20 year old girl. You blew out the candles and wished for Yun Ho to be your mate. One after another gave you their birthday wishes and hugged you.

„Ah, finally a woman my little baby!“ You mother had tears in her eyes and took of a photo of every moment.

„So, do you feel different?“

„I remember to have a displeasing feeling in my stomach. But it was just the pasta we ate the day before haha!“ You glared at Jennie at your side.

„I-I feel nothing. I mean no change...“

It was quiet in the kitchen. The atmosphere a little bit awkward but Rosé took you arm and suggested to make a toast. While the others prepared the champagne you looked at your phone to finde a message from Yun Ho saying ‚Happy birthday princess <3 can’t wait to see ya‘.

You smiled at his text and butterflies emerged in your tummy. Maybe this was a good sign?

After some time finishing five bottles of champagne you made your way to the festival.

This was a mistake.

All of you turned into a giggling mess while stomping over to the middle of the town. Everything was decorated in a pretty way. Laterns and fairy lights hanging from the houses and turning the town into a cozy place. Children played an giggled everywhere and the elder sitting by benches and talking. Boys and girls going on their first date and groups of young people trying to test their limits and enjoying the free atmosphere.

And five girls being drunk on their way to the opening ment.

„There are so many boys here. How am I supposed to find the one I am searching for?“

Jisoo turns to you while walking down a street and bops your nose grinning from ear to ear.

„Waeee, oh. I understand.“

You smell him. To be exact, you are able to smell your mate‘s scent. People say your mate smells like your favorite perfume and their odor pulls you in like a magical weave.

So you poked out your nose starting to sniff the air.

Nothing.

The fresh air did good things to you drunk girls and when you neared the big town court you first grabbed something to eat. After looking around and greeting some people you managed to make out quite a number of male wolves that were checking you out looking if your scent gave something off. But everytime you waited for something to happen it didn’t.

No goosebumps or alluring scent. It was quite disappointing but made you happy nevertheless. Your chances of having Yun Ho as your mate grew with each unmated boy you passed.

A bell rang and you and the others went further to the stage where soon the pack clan would hold their opening ment. Your hand suddenly became very sweaty and you waited for Yun Ho ho to appear on the stage. People started to clap when someone pulled at your skirt.

„Wh-Eun Hee? What are you doing here?“ A little girl you babysitted from time to time looked up at you from her little form.

„Noona, I cannot find my mama!“ She had tears in her eyes. You weren’t realizing the pack clan already emerged onto the stage and Yun Ho‘s eyes started to search for yours.

„Oh, don’t be afraid little one! I will find your mum!“

She couldn’t get too far by the way. While scanning the crowd a light scent of richness took in your nostrils. You were trying to concentrate on the people when you luckily saw Eun Hee‘s mother only a few meters away from you.

„Mrs. Kim! Here!“ You waved at her holding Eun Hee‘s small hand in yours and giving her an encouraging smile when her mother discovered you and made her way through the crowd.

Suddenly your ears were infiltrated with a melodic sound of the most beautiful voice you’ve ever heard in your life. You followed it‘s source onto the stage when your breath got stuck in you lungs.

Your gaze landed on Yun Ho. But he wasn’t the one talking. You saw him finding your form and your eyes that were filling with tears. Yun Ho‘s brows furrowed but he understood it sooner as you would’ve thought.

He wasn’t your mate.

By the time Mrs. Kim picked up her daughter your gaze stopped at your real mate. Your soulmate. Chosen by the moon goddess.

It felt like seeing the most beautiful man on earth for the first time. You were happy. Your wolf howled at you and filled your head with thoughts about going to him and marking my as yours.

But your smile faltered when he took a hand in his that wasn’t yours. Jealousy immediately engulfed you and your eyes went dark at the sight.

„Y/N?! Is it Yun Ho or not?“

All the girls were looking at you now waiting for an answer. But you only felt your wolf becoming angrier by each second your mate was with another girl on the stage for everyone to see.

„Don’t touch me. I have to go.“ You gritted out with clenched teeth and a shaking form. The girls new you were just about to change in front of the whole town and let you fight your way through the crowd.

Hong Joong smelled it, too. He was confused why the odor was the best he every was met with. It was intoxicating.

Mate...

His wolf pushed him to the find the source of the scent.

He frantically searched the crowd for the girl the scent belonged to. His wolf growing impatient by each second passing that he couldn’t make out where you were.

He totally forgot about the girl on his side by now when he finally found you rushing out of the place into the direction of the woods.

Don’t let her go!

He left the audience in shock when he jumped down the stage and followed you leaving his pack dumbstruck by his actions.

„Ehm, our alpha will be back in a few seconds.“

Yun Ho watched Hong Joong following your form with teary eyes and as soon as he turned around a corner he stomped from the stage into another direction. Out of all people why was it him to be your mate.

As soon as you entered the forest you got out of your clothes and changed into your wolf running away like an army was chasing you.

Whimpers and cries left you from time to time and your wolf asked again and again why you were not defending your mate and claiming him for yourself.

You went to the secret bay Hong Joong showed you back then knowing no one would find you here. You stopped in front of the water taking in your black reflection. Your wolf managed to get a quite loud howl out of you to which you panicked someone could have heard. And to your personal dismay a large equally black wolf emerged from behind a tree.

You immediately knew it was Hong Joong because of the new undeniable attraction you felt for his figure. You shook away the thought and got into a fighting position showing your fangs and snarling at him.

He stopped in his tracks being confused by your hostility. He rounded you changing the angle of his head from time to time. He took in your form and licked his snout at your scent.

One moment of you being distracted was enough for him to near your butt and smell your scent where it was the strongest next to your neck and it caused him to heckle at the alluring potion.

You flinched away from him and snapped at him earning a warning growl from the much bigger wolf.

You took the chance an started to run away from him.

Oh, she wants to play! Let us catch her Joong!

He never felt this excited before to run after your beautiful wolf. But as it was a play for him and you were dead serious on the other side. This asshole wasn’t going to get you, mark you and all the other stuff he was wishing for.

You were running as fast as you could him being dead on your track the whole time.

She’s really pretty fast! Enough playing, let’s get her now.

You jumped over fallen trees, stones and little water banks when you thought not hearing his paws hitting the ground behind you anymore. When you were sure he stopped chasing after you you slowed down your running until you came to a halt in front of a wide meadow. Time has passed and the sun started to set into a beautiful purple and pink colored sky. You sneaked over the meadow to reach the other side where your territory was slowly ending. It was prohibited to go further in your wolf form but fuck the rules at this moment.

Y/N, I want to be with our mate!

Ah, stupid bond.

After a few minutes you found yourself in front of the end of the meadow going further with careful steps. As soon as you set feet onto the foreign land someone crushed out of a bush into your side pinning you down under him.

As you came back to your senses you made out the black wolf on top of you even seeing his smirk in this form.

„You don’t want to break the rules, am I right?“

„Let me go!“

„I am not. You are my mate!“

You squirmed under him only causing to arouse his inner wolf. He leaned into you fury neck and sniffled you scent and rubbed himself on the point.

„Mate..“

He purred into your form making your wolf nearly fall into unconsciousness at the overwhelming pleasure his movements were causing you.

„N-no... Please... Let go!“

You had no choice against his much larger form on you and were surprised when he changed back into his naked form sweat on his forehead and still holding you in place like you were a puppet.

„Change.“

What?! Was he dumb or something?!

„I said change!“

He used his alpha aura to intimidate you into submission and you felt your wolf quiver at his dominance in a welcoming way.

You changed back and were now lying naked under a also naked Hong Joong somewhere on a meadow. That indeed felt strange.

Hong Joong smirked at your obedience and his wolf was proud you obeyed him.

„Look at me.“

You followed his order and took in his face the first time since years. You wouldn’t thought he could become more beautiful than in the past but how wrong you have been. His features were soft, lips opened a little bit and his hair messed up because of the running.

You didn’t know how long you layed there him straddling you holding your arms in place next to your head and taking in your features like it was the first time.

„My luna.“

As soon as the words left his mouth your brows furrowed. You remembered all that has happened the last years and thought back to Yun Ho.

„No.“

Hong Joong was irritated by the simple word. He grinned at you.

„No? What are you saying there my love. Do you want to make me suffer?“

„S-stop talking to me like this! I am not your mate and I won’t be your luna! This isn’t right! The moon goddess made a mistake!“

Hong Joong backed away from you a little bit because of the outburst.

What does she mean? Doesn’t she want to be our mate? But we love her! We did since we knew her!

„You-you are not meaning this, right?“

„I do!“

Y/N no! Look at him! He’s starting to cry because of what you are saying! Don’t lie to him!

He let go of you fully and sat beside you looking into the distance. Instantly guilt feelings rushed though your system seeing your mate sad because of you.

„Look, I didn’t mean it...“

„I-I am just saying this has to be a mistake! I mean you’re in a relationship with Yeri and I am not suited for you and becoming the luna!“

„What the fuck are you saying?! Why shouldn’t you be suited for me? Heck, I’ve always wanted you to be it! I told you! You were always perfect for me and the position...“

What? He thought you were perfect for him? You wolf teared up at his confession and you blushed hard at his statement.

„Buf Yeri, she’s prettier than me and very intelligent... She would be a better luna!“

He turned towards you tears streaming down his cheeks.

„You are and always were the prettiest, funniest most intelligent girl for me! You are the one that I wanted since high school! Why don’t you understand that!“

You were afraid your heart would burst out of your chest at that moment. You never knew he thought about that way.

„But...you were the one that wanted nothing to do with me anymore!“

„Because I heard you talking about never going to love me and only seeing me as a friend!“

Oh shut up... He heard that crap back in school!

„I-that was a lie...“

You looked down to the ground too ashamed that you weren’t the only one causing the misunderstandings.

„A lie?“

„Yes, because I was so insecure of my love for you. I was afraid the others would laugh at me and especially you...“

After that a long pause came. Neither of you saying something and you still blocking your breast with your arms from his sight.

Suddenly Hong Joong started laughing next to you causing you to join him because the situation was just strange.

Hong Joong carefully took your hand and watched your reaction to be sure you wouldn’t shy away from him.

„Y/N, I am sorry for how everything went the past years. I know I can not make it up to you in one day but I will give everything to convince you that you are perfect for me. I want you to believe in yourself. You are such a pure soul I know you will be the greatest luna ever. I promise you I will stand by your side the whole time and love you unconditionally. That is... if you give me the chance and want to accept me as your mate.“

You saw his eyes literally sparkle while saying these wonderful things to you. You thought back to Yun Ho for a moment being sorry for everything. But you knew that one day he would meet his mate, too. And then he would forget about his romantic feelings for you like you did the moment your eyes landed on your new found mate. And the things you felt for him were real.

So you decided to be brave.

„After all the problems we had gone through... I think I wouldn’t want to be separated from you any other minute!“

Hong Jong‘s eyes lit up and he engulfed you into a big embrace breathing in your scent of your neck again and peppering kisses all the way upwards until it landed on the side of your moth leaving you a giggling mess.

His eyes turned black again and you seductively bit your lip at the excitement you were feeling. He slowly made his way to your lips and kissed you in a slow and passionate style. You moaned into the kiss feeling your two souls emerging into one at the contact. Your whole body felt like spacing out into another dimension at the feeling of your mate’s heat.

After some time relaxing into eachother you both became aware of still being naked somewhere in the nature. You changed into your wolf forms to make your way back home.

„By the way... I know it will be a little bit awkward with Yun Ho... But I cannot wait to wash off his scent from you. Like I can literally not wait to leave my mark onto your form.“

You tensed at his declaration. What did he me with wash off his scent from you?

„Ehm, okay. I hope we can take things slow... It will be my first time, you know?“

Hong Joong stopped in his tracks. He eyed you a with swift shake of his head. Suddenly his tail began to wiggle.

„Y-you mean your are still a virgin?“

„Yes, I wanted to wait for my mate...“

You shyly looked to the ground and not understood why he was so excited about the fact.

„Did you sleep with Yeri?“

„Nope. Same reason like you.“

Your wolf approved of this new information and you liked the thought, too.

You both continued your way back to the town sometimes playing with eachother like chasing the tails or nudging the significant other.

Just as you reached the beginning of the town you stopped in your tracks. A new life would being for you today. And you couldn’t hide the fact that you were indeed a little bit scared. But as you watched Hong Joong from behind you were happy. Happy to have found your mate. Your soulmate. Your destined other half. The love of your life.

„What’s wrong my love?“

He gave you a reassuring smile. Coming back to you and licking your ears and cheeks. You purred at the new feeling of contact and cuddled into his side to smell his wonderful scent.

„Nothing. Now everything’s finally perfect.“

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↺ back to navi

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#ateez werewolf #ateez fic #hongjoong fic #ateez alpha #ateez mate #ateez fluff #ateez angst #ateez fanfic #ateez oneshot #ateez au #ateez werewolf au #ateez fanfiction #hongjoong x reader #teeztheflag #wer schnappt sich den alpha #who catches the alpha #ateez wolf au #ateez wolf

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violettelueur · 3 years

Text

FUSHIGURO MEGUMI || CHOOSE TO HELP PEOPLE UNEQUALLY

| featuring : fushiguro megumi ft. itadori yuji + kugisaki nobara from jujutsu kaisen

| warnings : grammar errors and spoilers from manga (chapter 55)

| form : imagine

| word count : 3203

| published : 01 january

| synopsis : After being sent back to your old middle school: Saitama Urami East Junior High for a mission, you unexpectedly run into someone who you are all too familiar with.

| barista’s notes : HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE ʕ♡˙ᴥ˙♡ʔ we are staring off 2021 with a fushiguro megumi imagine that i have written and not to proud of to be honest....what an amazing start to the year ʕ ㅇ ᴥ ㅇʔ but i just finished catching up with the kdrama called ‘The Penthouse: War in Life’ and must i say, i hate all the characters in the show...like my mind is collapsing with the many plot twists here and there ʕ – ᴥ – ʔ but other than that, i hope you enjoy this cup of classic black coffee that i have mean. don’t worry, it is on the house ʕ•ᴥ•ʔﾉ♡

Staring up at the view in front of you, you couldn’t help but admire the large building that you once was just nearly a year ago after you had graduated from middle school. To be honest, you couldn’t help but smile at the memories that started to recall themselves in your mind. Back when everything was just normal.

Moving your view from the top of the building to your right hand, you carefully took one more look at your illuminated phone screen to see the message that you received from your current teacher causing your mind to pull itself back into reality on the situation you were in right now.

Idiot Sensei: Make sure you are able to get enough information on what is going on with the cases, remember to go see your middle school first~ much love your favourite sensei ♡

Idiot Sensei: Also I just heard that a few jujutsu sorcerers from Tokyo Metropolitan Curse Technical College have arrived, make sure to not blow your cover.

ꕥ

“This is all the information you need”

Looking up at your teacher, you stretched out your hand to receive the file he was passing before you opened it to see what was inside, only to instantly be greeted with a few sheets informing you about a school called Tokyo Metropolitan Curse Technical College.

“Sensei what is this?” you asked curiously as you scanned through the documents, leading to him walking behind you to then to peek over your shoulder before saying in glee “I don’t know~ I haven’t read through it either Y/N, let’s read it together!” which caused you to roll your eyes in annoyance.

“How did the school get so much information about Jujutsu Tech? How did they get the teachers and professional sorcerers names? Sukuna? What is going on in that school? Wait, they couldn’t find the student’s names?” you began to frantically question as you continue reading the file while turning over the pages to see if there was anything else you could pick up before you stumbled upon a picture of your old middle school, leading you to then read the page that it was attached to.

“So….we suspect that one of Sukuna’s cursed fingers is the reason why there has been a rise in deaths near your old school~ and from what we could gather, a Jujutsu Tech student’s sister is also cursed due to her taking part with the bungee jump at the bridge near there,” your teacher explained, causing you to then look over at him in more annoyance since you knew then he lied to you about not knowing what the file contained.

‘So you have read it….’

“Your mission is to get that finger Y/N,” your teacher then stated, causing you to widen your eyes at him. However, before you could even object to the mission, your teacher began to explain what was lingering in your mind the second you heard what he said. “The reason why you were picked was not only because you have been to that school is also because you are a special grade mage Y/N, I have confidence that you’re going to be fine~” he then explained before following it up by saying “good luck out there favourite student~”

‘But isn’t it the sorcerer’s business to get cursed objects?’

ꕥ

“Ahhh, then why make me go on this investigation on my own?” you rhetorically asked as you placed your phone back in your black blazer pocket before turning your head once again to look at the entrance of Saitama Urami East Junior High, only to suddenly see the sorcerers that your teacher was talking about.

From what you could observe, there were at least four people from Jujutsu Tech that were in front of you with one being a supervisor while the other three seemed like students that were around the same age as you, leading you to become more irritated at the fact that you had to put in more effort in your acting than you had originally wanted. Taking in a deep breath, you slowly began to breathe out at a slower pace before quickly making your way towards the school building.

“To be honest, I was expecting someone from a different school to come but- oh, I guess they’re here,” the person mentioned, causing you to look up to find that it was your old principle that was talking to the students leading them to turn to look at you.

“Sorry, Was I late for the meeting? It’s really nice to meet you again sensei,” you gently greeted before bowing in front of him as well as the students he was talking to, only to suddenly be greeted with a familiar pair of eyes that you never forget the second you graduated from the school.

“Fushiguro? Is that really you?” you asked in a surprised tone, before immediately straightening your back to stand upright to take a proper look at the boy in front of you, only for the sudden thought of your eyes tricking you to be false as the person you called out was truly right in front of you.

“L/N?” Fushiguro questioned, causing everyone to look at the both of you in confusion due to what seemed to be a sudden reunion happening right in front of their eyes. “How are you? It’s been a while ha?” you quickly asked with a smile, trying to deeply conceal the shock and worry that was slowly manifesting in your stomach.

‘Since when were you a Jujutsu Sorcerer Fushiguro? That just makes my job worst’

“Yeah, it’s nice to see you again,” Fushiguro mentioned with a smile, leading his other two classmates to look at the sight in extreme shock since they never really saw the sorcerer smile before. “Are you still getting into fights?” you then questioned, even though you sort of already knew the answer.

“Not really,” Fushiguro replied, leading you to nod at his answer since you knew it was a white lie but not a complete one but you couldn’t help but hear a few giggles from his classmates that were with him. At least he was being somewhat truthful to you even after this time apart.

“I’m Itadori Yuji,” one the students behind Fushiguro mentioned as he introduced himself with his index finger pointing towards himself leading to the only female student to then follow by saying, “Kugisaki Nobara,”. Giving them a smile, you then quickly introduced yourself to the two energetic students before turning around back to the principle. You couldn’t help but smile back at the elderly man as you faced him causing small but fond memories to reappear in your head again leading you to the desire of wanting everything to go back to normal again.

ꕥ

“Y/N! You were amazing at the practice match today, we would have never won if you didn’t set the ball like that!”

“What do you mean? All of us won because we worked together and that-oh!”

Suddenly, you felt a small impact on your shoulder, causing the interruption of your speech leading you to turn around to apologies before you were stopped by a pair of emerald eyes. You couldn’t lie to yourself at all, they were the most beautiful eyes you had ever seen and you could stare into them all day if you could. “Sorry,” you quickly apologised before you were caught gawking at the guy in front of you leading him to apologies back before he continued to make his way wherever he was planning to head off to.

“Who was that?” you quietly asked yourself, trying to hide the fact that you were intrigued by the person you suddenly bumped into.

“That’s Fushiguro Megumi, I wouldn’t associate with him if I was you Y/N,” one of your teammates as well as classmates suggested, causing you to look at the girl in confusion as you wondered what was so bad about him - to be honest, it was odd for you to not know the person since you were also part of the school’s student council.

“He’s a delinquent, he beats up people you know, remember when the principal was screaming yesterday? That was because of him. Aw, I feel bad for his sister,” your other classmate muttered, causing you to look back forward at the person’s back who you learnt was named Fushiguro Megumi.

“He doesn’t seem like a bad person”

ꕥ

“So this is what you’re up to?”

Looking up from his hand, Fushiguro came eye to eye with a female standing at the bottom of the pile of bodies. From what he could see, the person was from the same school as him due to the uniform that she was wearing but what made him paid attention to her was that even though she was wearing the classic red armband to represent who she was, she wasn’t yelling at him nor putting him in his place, rather just smiling kindly up at him.

“L/N Y/N, it’s nice to meet Fushiguro”

Now he remembers who you were. You were the student he bumped into the other day, but you were also known for being the setter of the school’s volleyball club, and you were also the person that had an early acceptance at the prestigious Dawn West Wing College. You were someone that had a promising future.

“Do you wanna come down? You have a nasty cut on your cheek,” you shouted, leading him to break out of his daze to once again find you smiling at him. However, what he didn’t expect was for you to then suddenly climb up the tower of bodies to reach up to him causing him to look at you in surprise at your persistence. Finally reaching up to the top, you tried to steadily find a place to sit only for Fushiguro to unexpectantly tightly grab your wrist, trying to ensure that you didn’t fall down.

“Thank you,” you said to the dark-haired student before you continued with, “let’s get down, I sort of need to get you fixed up,”. Once again surprised at your actions towards him, he suddenly felt you pull him down behind the pile of beaten up bodies, before unexpectedly being suddenly pulled up to make a full-on run for it.

“Why are we running?” Fushiguro asked as you continued to pull him to wherever you were taking him. “I don’t know if you had a bad eye, but the Principle was coming so we sort of need to make a run for it,” you explained, before rapidly turning a corner to what seemed to be a building that was connected to the main building.

“This is the sports hall, where the volleyball club practices and there is also a first aid kit there, so you can come in,” you informed Fushiguro before sliding the door open to reveal the nicely kept hall as you then disappeared into the building to find the first aid kit that you had mentioned. Following your movement, Fushiguro slowly took a step into the hall before taking a seat on the floor near it, patiently waiting for you to come back with what you needed to do.

After a few minutes, you finally emerge from the storage room with the first aid box in hand before quickly making your way towards the boy as you then kneeled down in front him while opening the box to pull out a plaster, some bandages, cotton buds as well as a bottle of alcohol to disinfect the wound on his cheek as well as a few cuts that you found on his knuckles.

“What are you going to gain for helping me?” Fushiguro asked you all of a sudden, causing you to look up at him before quickly going back to pouring some of the alcohol on the cotton bud to which then you grabbed his hand to place the substance on his bloody knuckles leading him to hiss at the sudden sting.

“I’m not going to gain anything from this, I just choose to help people unequally you see,” you answered in a quiet but serious tone. “There are both good and bad people in this world Fushiguro, but I choose to help people that I know that are going to do no wrong in the future, that is the type of people I choose to help. Someone like you,” you then explained, as you then began to treat the cut on his cheek after you had bandaged his knuckles.

“Thank you Y/N”

“No problem Megumi”

ꕥ

“You did really good out there”

Looking up, you found Fushiguro staring down at you with a bottle of water in hand as he stretched out to pass it to you. “Thank you,” you kindly said before taking the bottle from his hand, “I’m surprised you came, you usually don’t come to these sorts of things,” you then mentioned before taking a large gulp of water that you really needed right now.

“I just wanted to come to support you, and I thought you might need some help with those lot,” Fushiguro explained as he tilted his head to the side causing you to look up to find some boys staring down at you from the gym balcony, before looking back at Fushiguro who started to make himself comfortable next to you on the floor.

“Thank you,” you said once again before gently placing your head upon his shoulder to which you felt him tense up slightly, only for him to immediately relax a second later.

“I’m really glad that I got to know you Megumi.”

Shifting his eyes down at you, all his saw was adoration and truth in your eyes as you looked onto the volleyball court where the other team were preparing to leave for their school after the organised match. Shifting his eyes back onto the court, Fushiguro couldn’t help but remember everything you did during the match, from the way you ran to the way you jumped to set the ball to your other players. Fushiguro couldn’t lie but admit you had talent. That was enough to put a soft smile on his face.

“Yeah, I’m really glad that I got to know you too Y/N”

ꕥ

‘But that’s in the past now, concentrate on the investigation’

“L/N, you wanted to gain information for your project right?” the Principle asked, causing you to snap out of your daze to then quickly put a smile on.

“Yes, my school wants me to do a project about paranormal activity and how it relates to electric waves since that’s now some ghost investigation to prove that ghosts and spirits exist,” you explained as you tried to seem convincing as you could since that was the best explanation you could come up with.

“That’s a really weird project,” Kugisaki and Itadori commented, causing you to laugh slightly since it is something weird for a ‘normal’ school to set their students to work on. “Yeah, but I really can’t complain, I did pick the science courses for my subjects and it sort of relates to physics since we do have to learn about electricity and that stuff. Hella boring in my opinion,” you continued to express, trying to make the lie more convincing.

‘Well….that’s what I get for going to a ‘school’ full of mages, just like how you three go to a ‘school’ full of jujutsu sorcerers’

“What do you need to know dear? it’s the least I can do after all you did for the school as the student council as well as for the volleyball team,” the elderly principle asked, leading you to smile brightly at him as you began to list everything you needed to know.

“Strange rumours, dark rumours, anybody with relationships with bad adults or maybe even karma getting what they had coming?” you began to say, causing the principle to look at you in complete shock to which you then looked at him in confusion, “is there anything wrong sir?”

“Fushiguro said the exact same thing as you, no wonder why you two were best friends back then,” the principle mentioned with a soft laughing leading you to turn to look at the sorcerer, only to come to the view of him looking to the side with a light blush with his two friends looking at you with the same expression that the principle did a few seconds ago.

“There were students that were back like the ones that suddenly past away but they weren’t as bad as Fushiguro,” the principle stated, causing you to scoff slightly at the fact since he wasn’t wrong before the principle then suggested, “you should investigate Yasohachi Bridge, it is well known for this paranormal activities there dear,”.

‘The whole bungee jump mettle test or whatever it was ha?’

“Ah, those people are so stupid,” you muttered to yourself, knowing the reason why the Principle told you about the bridge and due to the fact that the sorcerers were here, they were probably told the same thing as well.

‘This is you sorcerer's fault for letting a special grade object let into the hands of some teenager, now Sukuna’s finger bearers are everywhere’

“Thank you so much for your time principal, It was nice to see you again,” you said with gratitude as you bowed down to your old teacher as you told him ‘goodbye’ before you began to turn around to immediately go to the bridge that was informed to you.

“Please come visit again soon!” the principal exclaimed, leading you to look over your shoulder with a smile on your face as you waved at him before turning to the Jujutsu Tech’s students to give them the same gesture to which then you started to walk away to head off to your next destination.

‘So I got more information than I needed but that’s okay, that means we got more inside information on Jujutsu Tech’

However, before you could even take one more step away from the institutional building, you felt someone suddenly grab your wrist leading you to turn around to look at the hand that held your wrist before quickly looking up to find the green eyes that were so dear to you.

“Is there anything you need Fushiguro?” you asked, as you gave him a smile leading to the noticeable light blush to appear on his face before he then questioned you by asking, “are you planning to go to Yasohachi Bridge?”

“Yeah, I just need to get some results for the project, I won’t be there too long if you are worried,” you answered, trying to end the conversation so you could go investigate the bridge so you could end the mission as quickly as possible.

“It’s dangerous, you shouldn’t go,” Fushiguro stated, causing you to internally groan in annoyance since you already knew the dangers the second you got the file. “Like I said I won’t be that long,” you mentioned before quickly adding, “ghost ain’t real, I’ll be fine”.

‘I choose the help people unequally, and I’m choosing to help you Fushiguro’

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reefartandwriting · 4 years

Text

Running out of Time pt 2

The young witch uncovered her face, and hugged the one knee she still had. "I know. But it's not just- I've needed to tell you something for a while. And I've put it off because I've been so scared. But I guess… you're leaving. I can't leave it unsaid." She shifted to facing Luz, putting her hands on the humans shoulders and looking into her eyes. "I… I have… a uh…" she growled at herself in annoyance. "I really… uhm…"

"Amity…" Luz said, kind of interrupting, but shaking the girl from her flustered state. "...I know fears are so hard. But you should know that whatever it is, I'm never gonna not be your friend. I love willow and Gus, but me and you have a sort of special bond, I think." She smiled, moving her hands up and on top of the green haired girls. "At first, I just… I saw good in you. You needed help to bring it out. You're so good, Amity. You're nice, and brave, and strong, and you've been under pressure for so long I'm amazed how you haven't crumbled." Amity felt Luz's thumbs run over the backs of her hands, and she tensed, her breath leaving her.

"But that's what's so cool. Even under pressure… you can find a diamond. And I'm so glad I could help you be that." She shifted to face Amity completely, moving her hands downwards so they were holding each other, sitting in between them. "Take your time, okay? Breathe for me. You still have to let yourself not be perfect. It's okay to stutter. You can do it."

Her heart almost beat out of her chest, but she felt comforted. Luz really cared so much. Amity's emotions got the best of her, and she started chuckling, tears welling up while she looked down. "Luz-"

"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to make you cry! I just-" she said it quickly, but quiet enough to be mildly comforting. But Amity interrupted by moving her hands to her face, sitting up to be just a bit taller than Luz, looking down with a smile and tears dotting her eyes.

"Luz, you are so unbelievably stupid." But the tone was so loving, Luz couldn't help but open her mouth to ask what she meant, but Amity moved in quickly to kiss her, and all thoughts disappeared.

Luz's eyes closed on instinct, but her body stayed frozen, the action so unexpected. Both her and Amity could feel the others heartbeat, the intensity could kill. But their lips barely met, it was so soft…

Amity's warm, nervous hands stayed planted on Luz's cheeks, some of her fingertips curling to convey a secret message of "Please, Stay." Luz felt it, and everything clicked. All the nervous laughter, blushing, the states. The waving in the middle of class. Grom, Grudgby, the little moments of protective action she hadn't thought much about before.

But it faded away and she just smiled, pressing forward just enough, Amity pulling back right after to meet her eyes, face flushed and tears still present.

"Wow…" the human muttered, not able to quite process much other than that. Amity blushed harder, sitting back on her legs and moving her hands to rest on Luz's shoulders while a small silence grew between them.

"You… uhm… okay?" Amity managed, bubbles of regret floating up into her mind.

Luz opened and closed her mouth a few times, her face changing emotions at a strange place that Amity didn't know how to process. Eventually Luz breathed out, almost a Huff of laughter, and managed to mutter "d-define okay?"

Amity felt awful. "I'm so sorry Luz I just- Everything's been building up inside me for so long and it was just a split second instinct descision I shouldn't have done it without asking I'm so so sorry I'm so stupid-" she was gripping the girls shoulders tighter as she rambled. "-Im so bad with words I even brought a paper Incase I couldn't say it… I've liked you since… oh gosh so long- You're the one I wanted to ask to Grom, and I've been such a mess around you ever since because I've never had someone care about me like you do you're just so sweet and stupid and funny and caring and I think I fell really really hard but this was too far I'm sor-"

"Woah woah woah slow down, Amity you're gonna pass out from lack of oxygen!" Luz huffed with a smile, moving her hands onto the witch's shoulders, mirroring her grip on hers. "Amity, it's okay, breathe for me, it's okay!"

Amity wanted to dissapear, she dropped her gaze and closed her eyes, but let herself breathe, while Luz continued.

"I… I like you too. Alot. I uh… I just never imagined you'd… I mean…" Luz shrunk a bit, while amity looked up again. "I mean you're… you're Amity blight! You're amazing! You're smart, and strong, and pretty, and you're a good person… I kinda just… tried not to think about it. Cause I'm… a human? And an idiot, not technically a witch, a girl, so much below your league, y'know? I didn't want to keep dreaming and hoping." Luz gave a small smile. "I don't really… I don't know how to feel right now? My stomach is squirming. Like at Grom. But also… different?" Her face was flushing a redder tint, and small nervous chuckles escaped her mouth. "I probably sound weird."

The green haired witch smiled fondly. "I like you because you're weird. And I understand that feeling. I… I just… well now I feel so stupid." She laughed genuinely for the first time she got there. "I mean, I thought you just wouldn't like me? You're an amazing person. I've made so many mistakes? I know you've forgiven me I just- I don't know."

"We were both kinda clueless then, huh?" The human chuckled. "Wow. Just. Wow."

"Wow what?" Amity murmured, releasing one of Luz's shoulders but not willing to not be touching her somehow. "Again, I get that kiss was kinda sudden and maybe too much-"

Luz moved a hand to rub her neck. "Yeah yeah yeah that, that's exactly… uh- haha… wasn't thinking about doing it again…" the last part was so quiet Amity barely heard the first word.

"What?" She asked, confused.

She shrunk back a bit, laughing nervously. "N-nothing no just uh- uhm…" she sat up a bit again, meeting Amity's eyes and thinking about how pretty and golden they were. "I meant… I liked it… and I uh… wouldn't mind, y'know… doing it again…"

Amity blushed completely, her mind escaping her as her mouth fell open. "i-i- uh- uhm…" she eventually just squeaked and plopped her forehead onto Luz's left shoulder, trying to hide herself. "Luz-"

"Sorry…" she whispered, but smiled and wrapped her arms around Amity's shoulders to keep her close. "I just wanted to be honest."

"You're always so honest. It's the worst." But she chuckled, so Luz knew she meant it in a joking and loving way.

"Well, I don't like lying. Besides, If it gets you flustered and cute I will never stop." She laughed, rubbing the witch's back. "Take a minute, if you need. We are okay. Just breathe."

Amity was so grateful to hear that. It made her heart beat slow down and her face fade back into its normal pale color. "Thanks." She pulled back, and looked off to the side before meeting Luz's eyes again. "So… are we… uh… girlfriend's?"

"I hope so…" the human whispered, taking one of Amity's hands. "...I want to, if that's what you meant."

Amity nodded, smiling again. But it faded, as she remembered how Luz still had to go in three- well, two days now. She looked down with a sad expression. "I won't get to see you…"

"That's not entirely true!" Luz said. "I have to go home, but Eda is giving me the key so I can come back whenever. I plan on telling my mom, but I want to get settled again, y'know? I'm not leaving forever. Maybe my mom will even let me keep going to school here if I convince her! And even if not…" she cupped her new girlfriend's face to lift it up with a reassuring smile. "...Amity, I will visit. I'll come back. I promise. Infact- I would do the uh… what was it? The witches oath? I forget…"

Amity laughed, putting a hand on top of Luz's. "I won't make you. I trust you." She smiled again. "But I wanna make the most of the next two days."

"Oh of course! We could have a book club meeting! And hangout, wherever you want. Just let me know, yeah?" Luz started to stand, helping Amity up. "Want me to walk you home? I don't mind…"

"It's late, and you'd have to walk home alone. I can get home by myself. But, thanks, Luz." She pulled her in for a hug, breathing out. All her stress and worrys were gone, for the most part anyway. She was still sad she wouldn't see the girls stupid grin everyday, but knowing Luz liked her back… knowing she'd come back, made her feel so much better.

After a moment they seperated, and after a quick glance, Amity kissed Luz quickly, surprising her, and pulling away to walk away, glancing back with a smile and a light blush.

Luz smiled goofily and watched her go, disappear around the corner, and after a few minutes she snapped out of it and walked back to the owl house, smiling and so happy to finally have her feelings out.

She would make sure Amity had a great time the next two days.

28 notes · View notes

zwritestuff · 4 years

Text

Some Things Are Bound To Be (Chapter Five) - Kyara

A/N: JESUS. This took as long as the previous chapter and it isn’t nearly as long as the last. Sorry, guys. But hey, I literally wrote this in under 24 hours! A personal record, if I do say so myself. We get some s p i c y drama, too 👀 things can only go up from here. A million thanks to @fromthenorthernskies for screaming beta-ing this chapter 💗 Hope you enjoy!

PSA- the author does not take responsability for the feelings this chapter may cause, however, is more than welcome to be screamed at. 😌

CW: alcohol, smoking.

Read on AO3.

***

“Everything’s fake,” Kyne blurts out before she can properly process what she’s saying, head fuzzy from all the Tequila shots. Priyanka looks at her with a grin, sipping on her cocktail, saying something about agreeing with her, that they all know Scarlett got their lips done back in college, but Kyne stops her. “That’s not what I mean.”

Priyanka knits her brows in a frown, looking puzzled. Kyne supposses she can’t expect much from her, since they’re already drunk as hell, barely able to walk without stumbling—and she’s being unintentionally mysterious, blurting out things like that while they’re outside the bathroom waiting for Scarlett and Bo. Jesus. She has to gather herself and think something coherent.

“My relationship with Kiara, it’s fake,” she clarifies, and it somehow feels as if an invisible weight has been lifted from her shoulders. And then, the regret and panic hits her, as she remembers that no one was supposed to know.

But before she can come up with an excuse—say it’s a joke, or something of the sort—Priyanka narrows her eyes, tilting her head, giving her an accusatory look. “I fucking knew it,” she says, so calm and collected, but Kyne can clearly distinguish the offense behind her words.

Kyne recoils for a moment, blinking repeatedly until she processes what Priyanka just said. “You knew?”

“Duh.” Priyanka takes a sip of her drink, staring at Kyne dead in the eye. “Well I mean, I kinda suspected it, but you always have this stupid lovey-dovey face when you’re with her, and, I dunno, I never saw you look at anyone like that,” she explains, slurring ever so slightly, but her tone is rather serious—or as serious as someone as drunk as Priyanka can be—and Kyne understands every single word, flushing a deeper shade of red with each one.

“I don’t like Kiara,” it’s the first thing that comes out of her mouth, a tad too defensive. Though, if she were to be honest, it’s not like she’s entirely wrong—she does feel generally happy around Kiara, unable to bite back a smile with anything related to her. But it’s not “lovey-dovey.” It’s not… Or at least she thinks so.

Anyway. Priyanka cocks an eyebrow—that at the beginning of the night was perfectly painted and now it’s started to smudge around the edges—and presses her index finger on Kyne’s chest, determination burning in her gaze.

“No, you don’t like her—you love her, you stupid bitch,” she declares, proud of her conclusion. If Kyne’s cheeks were red before, now they resemble an apple, even under layers of foundation.

“I fucking don’t—”

“Yes, you do,” Priyanka cuts her off with a solemn tone. Her drink spills ever so slightly from the glass, and Kyne tries to point it out, but Priyanka shushes her. “Oh my god, how did you not know? Of course you’re in love with her, you dumbass. What else did you think would happen? Huh? You made her a fucking dress with pockets for free—”

“That’s technically not true.”

“—and you’re the same bitch that told me I’d have to wait three to five business days for you to fix one of my tank tops!” She finishes her rant with a matter-of-factly tone, sounding as if she just resolved the DaVinci Code.

Kyne stares blankly at her, trying to find something to deny Priyanka’s crazy theory. Sure, there’s just something about Kiara’s personality out of work hours that attracts her like a magnet, and, and as she found out after spending time with her at the ball, already one week ago, they have incredible chemistry together.

But that doesn’t mean she likes, let alone loves, her.

She’s about to tell Priyanka as much, when they hear Bo and Scarlett call out their names as they exit the bathroom. Before she knows it, they’re roaming around the club again, stopping to dance when there’s good music, and buying drink after drink.

And she’s having a good time, she really is; Kyne never gets bored when the Dynamic Four are together, more often than not bringing the chaos wherever they are. But Priyanka’s words linger in her mind, heavy on her conscience. Loving Kiara isn’t an option, there’s no way—but does she like her?

Well, as a friend, obviously, otherwise she would’ve never allowed her to crash in her office, even if she was her boss. But there are those fleeting moments, where Kyne’s heart skips a beat when she smiles at her, and how when she loosens up when they’re alone, eyes crinkling when she laughs wholeheartedly at her jokes, it makes her feel warm inside. She never paid them any mind, because she always felt some sort of pride in making her friends laugh, and she’s a raging lesbian, so any pretty girl that smiles at her makes her nervous.

Though now that Priyanka brings it up, she does act differently around Kiara than she would with her regular friends. And Kyne might try to excuse it by saying it’s just her trying to keep the faintest professionalism, but looking at it with a different light, it dawns on her that, holy fucking christ, she actually likes Kiara.

Oh, shit.

It seems almost like a joke from the universe that the second she realized it, she was scrolling through random Instagram Stories, landing on Kiara’s by pure luck. It was a selfie from her and one of her friends, they were out too, apparently to a bar. And Kiara looked so damn stunning, with her flawless make-up, sparkly silver dress and loose curls, her heart does that stupid thing where it beats like it wants to come out of her ribcage.

Damn. Okay, maybe she does like her, an awful lot at that.

“Pri?” Kyne calls out, leaning with her back pressed against the counter of the bathroom. Priyanka glances at her, trying to salvage her melting eyebrows, cursing through gritted teeth her second hand make-up.

“Yeah?”

“You were right,” she says, the mysterious tone back again, though this time is purposeful, as she’s more sober now. Priyanka vaguely asks her about what, before going back to wiping the sweat around her eyebrows with a tissue. “About liking Kiara. I think I do,” Kyne admits with a defeated tone, bringing a hand to her chest and giving a dramatic sigh.

Priyanka chuckles, lazily looking at Kyne. “Of course I am right, I was right about Carol from accounting fucking Jeff from my team in the janitor closet. Nothing escapes me,” she says, making Kyne laugh a tad too loud than she would if she was fully sober. This is a way too watered down reaction than she expected, but Priyanka does turn into a quieter person when she’s drunk—she’s not sure how that works, considering she’s loud as all hell when she’s sober.

“True, I guess,” Kyne concedes, shifting her position to look directly at her friend. “I wonder if she, uh, if she feels the same,” she asks out loud, not really expecting a reply, but Priyanka shrugs.

“I mean, I don’t know her as you do, clearly, but I’d say as far as you go, you have it bad, because you always were all about ‘eating the rich’ when we were in college, and look at you now, you’re in love with a rich girl,” Priyanka teasingly comments with a snort, and Kyne gasps, offended, as she playfully shoves her.

“I guess so, because I don’t wanna eat her,” she replies, not bothering on correcting Priyanka when she says she loves her, because she knows she won’t be able to get her to understand she doesn’t—yet. A thought crosses her mind when she thinks of Kiara in that royal blue dress she made for her, looking more ethereal than ever, and, bolded by the alcohol, she says after a moment, “I mean, not in that way, but—”

“Don’t finish that sentence,” Priyanka deadpans, cutting her off again. Her tired expression causes Kyne to go in a fit of giggles, though if she thinks about it for a moment, she’s more so laughing at herself for taking so damn long to figure it out, and not even on her own. Priyanka turns to look at her, finally giving up on salvaging her eyebrows and pinches her in the arm. “If you two get married one day, I demand to be the maid of honor, because your ass would’ve never realized without me,” she declares, matter-of-factly.

Kyne pinches her back, gasping in offense. “I would’ve realized at some point!” Priyanka arches a brow, cocking a hip as she turns to face her. “Fine, maybe I wouldn’t have. But it’s not my fault emotions are so complicated!”

Priyanka sighs dramatically, patting Kyne’s shoulder, tossing the dirty tissue in the trash before taking her hand to get out of the bathroom.

They wave through the crowd to find Scarlett and Bo perched against one of the windows for the smokers, talking between drags and occasionally eyeing the people around them. Scarlett asks what took them so long, shouting over the blasting music, and Priyanka just says the bathroom was full.

Scarlett barely cares for her reply, and Bo just suggests they should take a selfie before anyone else’s make-up starts melting. Priyanka swats her in the arm, but ends up giving in, and they somehow manage to take a picture they all like within three tries. That, in itself, is a miracle.

They take some more, just to be sure, before Scarlett proposes to buy one last round of drinks—closing time is soon, but it seems like that won’t stop her, so they drag Priyanka along and Kyne stands in her spot, guarding it while she talks to Bo.

“What do you think of this one?” She asks, showing Bo a picture she took at the beginning of the night, striking a pose on the balcony of Priyanka’s apartment, staring at the camera with her signature resting bitch face, but make it fashion. Her tight black leather skirt hugged her curves, and her hot pink crop top looked great against her skin.

Bo takes the phone with her free hand, dying cigarette in the other, and looks at it for a moment before nodding with a complicit smile. “You look hot, do I have to suppose Scarlett took it?”

“You know it.” She gives her a wink, typing in the caption Scarlett’s username, because they always get mad if they don’t get credited for the photos they take of their friends, and stops before posting. “I don’t have a caption in mind right now, do you?” Kyne looks at her, and Bo blows out the smoke before answering.

“I dunno, I always put either a stupid pun or a sex lyric.” Bo shrugs, and it’s not really of much help, but after a moment, Kyne googles the lyrics of that new Pussycat Dolls song.

The less you do, the more it makes me crazy, she reads, squinting slightly. Kyne supposses it’s somehow fitting—it takes Kiara to smile for her to feel all sorts of things. She hopes it’s a hint discreet enough, and presses post before she chickens out.

It seems like the queue to get a drink hasn’t slowed down, because Scarlett and Priyanka have yet to return, so she checks her phone every so often, definitely not to see if Kiara had liked her photo, between her casual conversation with Bo as she finishes her cigarette.

Bo is saying something about this guy that has been looking at her intently for the past ten minutes when Kyne checks her phone yet again. She was going to lock it again after briefly going through her notifications—until something stuck out to her.

@kiara.qc commented on your photo: “you’re hotter than hell”. Followed by three fire emojis.

She tries to fight back a toothy grin, but that’s next to impossible, and her fingers hover over the screen for a second too long, mind blank.

“Geez, girl, can you make it any more obvious that you’re whipped for Miss Bitch Heiress?” Bo says, and though she tries to play it off as a joke, Kyne knows her well enough to detect the underlying annoyance.

“Don’t call her that,” she says, “She’s not a bitch. And what if I am, anyway?”

Bo merely rolls her eyes, her cigarette all but finished as she stomps on it to light it off. “Oh, c’mon, as if you don’t know,” she scoffs, and it comes off just a little too rude for Kyne’s liking.

“The fuck you mean? Know what?” She squints, locking her phone and placing it in her front pocket. Bo cocks a brow, folding her arms.

“Oh, so you don’t know Kiara fires the girls she sleeps with?”

Kyne’s heart stops for a second, all the color draining from her face as she stares at Bo, curiosity in her expression. She tries to ask why does she think that, but she struggles to form a coherent sentence.

“I think you forget that me and Scarlett have been working for the company for years now,” she proceeds after a moment, “I was already in my position as PR manager when she started working half-time. And of course she got the special treatment and climbed to an important position within a month there, so now me and Scarlett were receiving orders from a teen fresh from high school.” Kyne wants to say that technically it’s not Kiara’s fault, but Bo goes on before she can open her mouth. “Then, of course she started to sleep around with some of our co-workers. Suspiciously enough, most of them were fired or quit the job shortly after.”

Kyne feels the dread pool at the pit of her stomach—there’s no way this is true, it has to be manufactured office drama, or maybe what really happened was extremely taken out of context. But there’s no way in hell Kiara is that type of person.

“Maybe she’s changed,” she muses, wanting to have the faintest hope that it’s not true. Bo squeezes her shoulder, giving her a pitiful smile.

“Listen, bitch, I love you and shit, but if I were you I’d stop this before you’re way too into it.”

It’s too late, Kyne thinks, chewing the inside of her cheek.

Priyanka and Scarlett come back shortly after it, and Kyne doesn’t speak to Bo for the rest of the night.

***

When Kyne wakes up next morning, she has a heavenly hangover, and a feeling of hollowness in her heart.

Bo’s words haunted her for the rest of the night, her demeanor doing a full 180°. Fortunately enough, Priyanka and Scarlett were too drunk to notice. But Bo was sober, since she didn’t like to drink, and was their assigned driver, anyway. She did pick up on her change, and Kyne was thankful she was the first one she dropped off once the club closed and they had to go home.

Her bed was a mess, just like her mind, and she didn’t have the strength to reach for her phone and check her latest post on Instagram, knowing Kiara was at the top of the comment section.

Everything she knew to be true about her is suddenly put to the test, and Kyne doesn’t know if she should believe her best friend, who’s only seeking out for her, or Kiara, who has been nothing but kind and sweet and nothing like people think. But maybe Kyne is a little too biased.

And then there’s the fact they’re not really sleeping together, or dating for real, for that matter; if that was true, she can’t fire her once they’re done pretending—or can she?

She groans out loud, tossing and turning in her bed. Her head is pounding, aching from last night, and the least she needs is over-heating it with such incoherent train of thought.

She’d like to think she’s able to stop liking Kiara for the sake of making things easier once they inevitably break up and things get awkward when people wonder why are they still hanging out, as if nothing happened—she’d really like to, but it’s easier said than done, for her heart plummets against her ears when she replies to Kiara’s comment with a simple red heart, and clicks on her profile, finding that she also posted a photo from last night.

Kyne sighs, admiring the photo a second too long before liking it and locking her phone, knowing things will be awkward on Monday morning.

#some things are bound to be fic #fake dating au #kyara #kyne #online kyne #priyanka love #scarlett bobo #boa #my fanfiction #rpdr fanfiction

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palaugranetes · 4 years

Text

🔵BLAUGRANETS🔴

22 OCTOBER 2020

Riqui: Well I guess there is no other choice than doing this..

Pedri: Do what?

Riqui Added Arnau

Riqui: Well we have another one here. At this rate, we might as well just include the whole squad. BUT Welcome to this adult free mess bro!

Iñaki: 💙❤💙❤💙❤

Carlitos: Benvingut nanu!

Ronald: MANITO!!!!

Ronald: Look at you using those braincells @Riqui

Riqui: Nothing new

Ansu: BRO!!!! @Arnau 💙❤

Arnau: What even is this?

Frenkie: Adult Free Space.

Frenkie: WELCOME!! ❤💙

Arnau: Why is this even?

Francisco: Well I really am not quite sure of that yet.. But welcome!!!

Carlitos: This exists because we are sick and tired of the grown-ups.

Arnau: Who are the grown-ups? Aren't we all technically grown-ups?

Arnau: Well beside Ansu and Pedri.

Ansu: BOY DO NOT.

JC: 😂😂😂😂😂

Dembz: 😂😂😂😂😂

Ansu: 😒😒😒

JC:"Dembz: 😂😂😂😂😂"

Dembz: 🤜🏿

Ansu: I hate both of you so much.

Frenkie: It's only a week.. Just hang in there🤭🤭

Ansu: 😒😒

Pedri: 🙄🙄🙄

23 OCTOBER 2020

Carlitos: Anyways.. What I meant is that we are sick and tired of the ones in charge, their incompetence and their stupidity.

Riqui: Here here 🍻

Ronald: Thought popcorn was your TM

Riqui: 🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿

Riqui: Happy Now?

Ronald: Elated!

Arnau: Ahhh I get it now. I see your point.

Arnau: So how long has this been going on?

Pedri: Like a month or so

Francisco: We still don't know what is happening here most of the times

Sergiño: Hey dude!! Another newbie here!! Welcome @Arnau

Arnau: 🤗🤗🤗

Ansu: What we do know is that El Clasico is tomorrow and I am about to jump out of my skin!

Riqui: I mean...

Carlitos: What do you guys think?

JC: Well what version of FCB is going to show up.. It depends on that.

Arnau: I really cannot sit through another Getafe type match... there aren't enough hugs in the world.

Iñaki: I feel ya bro.. pure torture.

Ronald: Look we tried..

Riqui: No Ronald.. You did.

Carlitos: And now that Jordi is back .. Y'all need to try harder.

Carlitos: I mean I love the guy but he needs to remember how to football.

Riqui: You say y'all as if any of us not named Frenkie Ansu and Sergiño is going to start.. Don't drag all of us into that mess..

Ansu: 🙄🙄

Carlitos: Oh no no Nanu I am happy for you.

Riqui: We'd be dead were it not for you kiddo.

Sergiño: I am just glad I'll be back to the right flank tbh

Sergiño: Like I'll play wherever I'm asked but...

Pedri: Exactly.. Imagine me playing on the left.. I'll do it sure of course, I'll try my best but it is not my favorite.

Francisco: Well I think it's natural.

Riqui: Ever since Antoine spoke he has been benched 🤭

Carlitos: Are we sure that is the only reason?

Riqui: Jeez

Dembz: 😐😐😐😐

Carlitos: Sorry.. But I only say this because I know what he can do..

Dembz: I guess we are all rusty...

Riqui: I wouldn't know.. I've played all of 10 minutes..

Carlitos: 🙄

JC: Well y'all better not make me watch for nothing.

Riqui: Again.. Can't help you there bro.

JC: WHOEVER IT IS. DO NOT.

Riqui: Sometimes I wish Puyi is here just to like make them focus.

Carlitos: Remember when he yelled at Geri? 😂😂

Riqui: Which time 😂😂

Carlitos: All of them 😂

Ansu: OMG GUYS!!

Ansu: We should ask for his help.

Francisco: To come and make 'us' focus??

Pedri: It doesn't work that way dude.

Ansu: NO! With Geri

JC: I'm listening

Dembz: Are we really going to go ask for help from Carles Puyol?! Ansumane are you nuts!?

Ansu: GOT ANY BETTER IDEAS OUSMANE!?

Dembz: No..

Dembz: And stop yelling @Iñaki is probably asleep.

Frenkie: We all should be ...

Ansu: BUT my Puyi idea.

Ronald: Can wait till after El Clasico.

Ronald: Go to sleep now

Ansu: 😒

24 OCTOBER 2020

JC: 4 OUT OF 11!!!

JC: Oh for fuck sake😒

JC: ANSU YOU BRILLIANT GENIUS I COULD KISS YOU!!!

..........

JC: I AM GOING TO KICK HIM! PHIL WHAT!!!!?!?!?!?!?!

JC: What the fuck was that shit....

JC: But it wasn't...

JC: I give up.. Screw this..

...........

Arnau: This blows.

Iñaki: Once again.. pure torture.

Arnau: No but we were doing actually okay..

Iñaki: I mean.. relatively so-so.. we could have had it...

Arnau: What even was that 2nd ..

Iñaki: Bro.. Let it go..

Arnau: 🤦🏼‍♂️🤦🏼‍♂️

Iñaki: 😐

Ansu: I hate us so much.

Pedri: I should not have said anything the other day..

Pedri: I jinxed myself.

Francisco: That was horrible

Sergiño: Truly awful

Riqui: I am going to keep my comments to myself.

Riqui: Because if I speak, I will get in trouble.

Carlitos: Okay José.

Riqui: HOW DARE YOU.

Carlitos: It was a José move.

Ansu: I just... WHY TAKE ME OUT SO EARLY!

Dembz: A Mess.

Frenkie: So we are just going to get a penalty every time we breathe next to a player!?

JC: BS. Just that.. BS.

Ansu: Siempre igual.

Frenkie: I hate this.

Riqui: We all do.

25 OCTOBER 2020

Ronald: On the bright side..

Riqui: There is not one bright side in this

Ronald: There is.

Ronald: The fact that it's over.

Riqui: Okay one bright side to this. And now we have Juventus next.

Riqui: Without Gerard

Riqui: Which means he will have time...

Riqui: Which means we are screwed.

Carlitos: I would like to go back to the match please.

Riqui: So I was right.. There is no bright side.

Dembz: Dammit.

Riqui: Good night.

Pedri: Night!

JC: See ya later

Carlitos: Nanit!

Sergiño: ✌🏽

26 OCTOBER 2020

Frenkie: They did not just say that.. 🤦🏼‍♂️

Frenkie: As if we needed more backlash...

Carlitos: WHY WOULD THEY EVEN SPEAK!??

Carlitos: WHEN HAS THAT EVER HELPED ANYONE?!

Riqui: Just leave already for the love of everything good...

Riqui: We are a meme Club I swear...

Riqui: When has complaining ever benefited us ever?!

Carlitos: As if they don't know

Ansu: Did he really say that or did I hallucinate it!?

Riqui: They did kiddo

Carlitos: They did kiddo.

JC: Yikes

Francisco: What is the point?

Arnau: What is the point of their existence really

Iñaki: They have so many problems coming their way, the guys say they are taking action against them

Arnau: Well they should have let them finish the season and not just send them off like that.. They deserved to play the play-offs.

Iñaki: Don't remind me.

Arnau: Can the president just issue an arrest warrant against them already?!

Riqui: I wish

Carlitos: THE AUDACITY OF THEM TRYING TO POSTPONE THE REFERENDUM. THE AUDACITY.

Riqui: I hope they end up in Jail. Or like exiled.. whichever can happen quicker..

Ansu: We cannot have one day of peace in this place.

Riqui: How else will the time pass..

Ansu: I rather not have it pass in stress.

Carlitos: Well.. tough.

Riqui: And another one tomorrow.

Riqui: AND FOR WHAT... JUST LEAVE

Sergiño: I am having such a dèjà-vu..

Riqui: About?

Sergiño: Tr*mp..

Riqui: Well.. Kinda.. sorta..

Riqui: Like.. take away the mania and psychopathic behavior and total lack of human empathy and decency... yeah it could be him

Sergiño: I meant the desperate need for him to just leave.

Riqui: Oh well yes that... spot on.

Carlitos: we have to wait more I guess.... But now Juve.

Frenkie: Exactly. Juve.

Ansu: Ronald's big moment. Hope he doesn't screw it up.

Ronald: Appreciate the vote of confidence.. really. So sweet.

Ansu: Anytime broski Anytime.

Pedri: Did you really just say broski?

Ansu: And what about it?

Pedri: Nothing..

Ansu: Mhm...

27 OCTOBER 2020

JC: Another meeting today?

Riqui: Yep

JC: Evening?

Riqui: Yep

JC: You think he will?

Riqui: Who the hell knows.. He might be coming out to announce a new sponsor for all I know

Carlitos: I hear he will

Ansu: Will he though?

Carlitos: Well I'm not his babysitter but I hope so.

Ansu: We shall see.

Frenkie: Ready to take off to Torino?

Pedri: YES!!

Francisco: Cannot wait tbh

Francisco: I saw Gerard today and he was being very suspicious.

Riqui: I do not need this now

Sergiño: I hung out with him during training this morning.. He seemed normal

Dembz: So what is the truth...

Ronald: All I know is he has time now.

Ronald: And I feel sorry for you guys..

Ronald: Not you @Riqui 💙 and Sergi would agree

Riqui: 😒 I hate you 💙

...............

Arnau: HOLY CRAP HE DID IT!!!

Arnau: WE ARE FREE!!!!!!

Carlitos: I cannot believe it. Someone slap me.

Carlitos: I DID NOT MEAN IT LITERALLY RONALD!

Ronald: You asked.

Riqui: I JUST... I WOULD LIKE TO SAY....

Riqui: 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

Carlitos: WAIT A FUCKING MINUTE! WHAT DO YOU MEAN A EUROPEAN SUPER LEAGUE.. BRO!!

Ansu: Like I said.. We cannot have not 1 moment of peace.

Riqui: Is he really playing a victim?!

Carlitos: Great... more games for us not to play😒

Ansu: But things are changing.. so

Frenkie: Oh wow.. oh wow.. OH WOW

Francisco: What even is the point of a Super league?!

Francisco: It's like the Nations' League.. What is the point of that

Pedri: Money.

Pedri: 🤷🏻‍♂️

Francisco: Fair point.

Iñaki: Isn't everything?

Francisco: Yep.

Dembz: So now what guys?...

Riqui: Now we are free. We wait for the new President.

Riqui: And maybe a new coach 🙄

Dembz: I dig that.

Pedri: How do you guys think Leo is feeling??

Ansu: I wonder what the adults gc is like right now.

Ansu: Dammit Carles when are you going to be useful!

Carlitos: RUDE MUCH

Ansu: We need to know

Riqui: 😂

Frenkie: So now that he is gone.. What are we going to complain about in this Club.

Riqui: It's us.. We always have something. But enjoy this Win bro

Frenkie: I am.

Sergiño: I hope we can enjoy more wins

Francisco: Leo must be very happy.

Riqui: I wanna post something.. but I don't know if I should.

Dembz: Do it subtly.

Arnau: Have you met him? He doesn't know subtlety.

Riqui: I brought you here to back me up dude not join them😒

#fc barcelona #blaugranets gc #babies gc #riqui puig #carles aleña #ansu fati #frenkie de jong #ronald araujo #jean clair todibo #pedri #francisco trincão #ousmane dembele #iñaki peña #sergiño dest #arnau tenas #he finally left #football #football imagine #episode 9

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twst-rose-prisms · 4 years

Text

Alice Whiterose

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~Technical Information~

Japanese: アリス • ホワイトローズ

Romanji: Arisu Howaitorozu

Nicknames: Goma-chan* ( Floyd ), Ari-chan ( Alisa ), Shiro-chan** ( Cater ), Chibi-senpai ( Ace ), Reine de Neiges ( Rook )

Voiced by: Satomi Akesaka ( voice sample )

~Biographical Information~

Gender: Female

Age: 17

Birthday: January 17th***

Starsign: Capricorn

Height: 1m55

Eye color: Blue

Hair color: White

Body type: Petite, short ( for a 2nd year ), curvy

3 sizes (bc why not?): B85 - W60 - H84

Blood type: A

Homeland: Rose Kingdom

Family: Alisa Whiterose ( non-blood related sister )

~Professional Information~

Dorm: Heartslabyul

School year: Second

Class: 2-D, student no.16 (poor girl have to sit next to Floyd)

Occupation: Student

Club: Science club

Best subject: Magical pharmaceuticals

~Fun Facts~

Dominant hand: Left

Favorite food: Anything edible

Dislikes food: Spicy food

Dislikes: Scary people, people judge her base on her height

Hobby: Gardening, Origami, Making sweets

Bad with: Open up a conversation, Talking to strangers, Stamina needed works

Talents: Cooking

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“White roses are very delicate and easily get tainted, just like people, don't think so too...?”

Alice Whiterose is a second-year student at Night Raven College and a member of Heartslabyul Dorm. A shy and introverted girl, she often got anxious if there are too many strangers around her. However, she can be very passionate and devotional when it comes to working.

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APPEARANCE: Alice is a young girl with shoulder length white hair that tied into twintails styles, wavy bangs covering her forehead and long side bangs. She have droopy blue eyes with a small red rose patch under her right eyes and wear a pair of dark blue glasses. Often got misunderstood as a first year because of her height and petite figures, though she doesn't show her uncomfortableness outside on her face. Alice also doesn't like to let her hair down naturally because it's easily got disheveled. Alisa state that she jealous because she have a "greater body" than her (which Alice quickly debase this but it's actually the truth)

In her Dorm uniform, she wear a white collar shirt with black-and-red striped necktie under a red vest. Over the vest she wears the blazer that others in her dorm wear ( except for Riddle ). She wear a white skirt with a black and yellow ribbon and a chain of 4 keys around her waist, black-and-red tights with heart patterns and red-and-white high tops.

PERSONALITY: Alice usually seen as a shy girl with somewhat gentle aura around her (as stated by others). A little clumsy and easily got scared, she usually got teased for being "jumpy" whenever something scares her. As a child, Alice got taught to not talking to strangers unless they're her friend's acquaintance, so it's understandable why she's bad with open up a conversation. If she found someone have the the same hobby/like the same things as her, she'll talk with them non-stop about it and even forgot about the time. Alice does state that she hates that habit of her and tried to fix it until today ( but failed anyway )

“I-I think... Plants are more gentle and easier to talk to than human. Maybe it's because they're not judgemental like some people.” - Alice's lab-coat SR card personal story (part 2)

Sometimes, people got weirded out by her strange habit of talking to plants and magical creatures during classes. The reason is that she think they're also like human, they need someone to understand them. Her gestures are very gentle and delicate, you could see this clearly whenever she take care of the plants in the school's garden. She also often talk with a soft and respectful voice, even at underclassmen. You might think she's slow, but the truth is that she actually have short stamina, so she can't run fast or holding heavy things. Part of it is also because she have a fragile body at birth, so her mother become very strict about her movements (hence why her gestures are very gentle).

It might make you think "She should be in Pomefiore instead!", but, the reason she got sorted into Heartslaybul is simple. Her passion and ambition towards works. She also doesn't like to live by her own rules, she think that "rules" are part of people's live, and sometimes, you have to follow it to have a better live. While she adore beautiful things, to her, anything that good at heart is beautiful, hence why she doesn't got sorted into Pomefiore. Another reason is that she doesn't strike to be the best in beauty, to be honest, she doesn't want to be the best in anything at all. Trey did comment that: “You sure are a suitable member of Heartslabyul huh Alice? Although Riddle doesn't admit it himself, but I'm sure he must've think the same way about you too.”

“I-I actually did used to play piano... B-But, that hobby of mine used to hurt someone, so I've quit for a long time now...” - Alice's initial SSR personal story (part 3)

Used to be a piano prodigy when she's was a child, she started playing at 8 but quit after 5 years because of an accident. Ever since then, she got anxious and sweating unconsciously whenever she saw a piano. Because of that accident, she also have fear of breaking/ruining things, hence why she always have a tight grip despite the gentle gestures on things she hold (even things like doorknob). If she accidentally grab on the hem of your shirt, you'll clearly notice it. (Though don't tell it out loud or else her face will become red as Riddle's hair). And when she's on verge of getting(?) anxious, she will immediately run away to wherever her feet take her, which usually ended up at the school's Botanical Garden. To her, it's the most quiet and peaceful place at NRC, it's warm atmosphere also help her to quickly calm down as well.

UNIQUE MAGIC: "Gift of Card Suits" - ( 魔法の上書の鍵 "Magic Overwrite Keys" ) To be able to use one of the key that she carried around on other people's magic. Each key have a specific effect:

♥️ Heart: To change the effect/chosen target of anyone's magic (for example, if someone use fire magic, she can use this key to change it to other type of magic or switch the target to anyone she chose)

♠️ Spade: To be immune to any effect of anyone's magic

♣️ Clover: To dispel any effect of anyone's magic

♦️ Diamond: To double the effect of someone's magic (basically, a magic buffer)

However, she can't use Heart, Spade and Clover keys to Unique Magic(s) because it took too much mana to do so. She can also only be able to use 1 key per day, meaning if she use more than 2 keys then it'll reach the limit of her strength, and her Unique Magic will become useless if she doesn't have the keys with her (hence why she even bring it when wearing the Ceremonial Robe). Alice also stated that out of the 4 keys, Heart is the one that consume most mana so she doesn't use it usually like other keys.

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BACKSTORY ( just a small part of it ):

The first thing she saw was the ground. Everything was quiet. Too quiet. She couldn't felt anything except for the cold, hard ground right beneath her feet and the broken wall on her back. Her small shoulders unconsciously shivering from the cold but she doesn't even try to warm herself. She just sit there, like a broken doll waiting for someone to notice it. Her blue orbs doesn't have any lights reflect on, as if they're dead. The only sound was ominous wind blowing on the dead trees. Her white, ripped dress were dirty as well as her used-to-be pure white hair.

Everything around her is dead.

"Oh my, what do we have here?"

A strange, deep voice suddenly speak up and break the dead silence. When she grown up, she couldn't remember much who was that, but she knows, that person was the one that changed her life. Her lifeless eyes slowly look up. Everything around her was a blur, even that person become a black silhouette. But she remembered it well.

A pair of glowing emerald orbs.

"Hmm? What's the matter, _____?"

"A human child. It seems like she's still alive..."

"Nfufu~ You sure are interested in human huh, _____?"

"...Want to bring her along?"

"...Haha! I guess that look is a "yes" then! Go on and pick her up~ If she still alive, that's it."

Then slowly, a large silhouette appeared in front of her. The little girl still sit there lifelessly, only until that person pick her up and place her into their chest, a faint shock expression slowly form on her pale face, a sign that she's still alive. For a few seconds, she panicked, and it seems like she also made that person panicked too.

"Hey now, don't panick along with her! You were supposed to comfort the child, _____!"

Slowly, a large hand awkwardly pat on her back, making the small child flinch due to the sudden contact. But after a while, her body relaxed and gradually melted into their chest. The little girl unconsciously rest her head on their shoulder while slowly drifted to sleep, a peaceful expressions reflected on her face.

The last thing she saw behind their back was a pair of glowing magenta orbs before everything went black.

RELATIONSHIPS ( in Alice's opinion )

Heartslabyul

🌹 Riddle Rosehearts: "W-Well, Rosehearts-san might looks strict, but... I think deep down, he's a kind person...! A-Also, he seems to be fond of sweets, though he doesn't show it outside... *giggles* I also admire him for how responsible and serious he is with his works...! And... I'm glad that he still keep the pin that I gave him...!"

❤️ Ace Trapola: "H-He's actually a reliable underclassman, but sometimes his words are quite harsh... A-Also, I hope that he get along with Rosehearts-san more since they sometimes kept arguing...And I felt a little embarrassed that he always calling me "Chibi-senpai"... *sigh*"

♠️ Deuce Spade: "A-A very reliable underclassman...! He also seems to be very serious about works, w-which I'm glad that we have hard-working underclassmen in Heartslabyul too...! Though, he can be a little too serious sometimes... *giggles*"

♦ Cater Diamond: "He's actually... one of the upperclassmen that welcomed me to Heartslabyul with open arms...! T-Though I felt quite embarrassed when he post pictures with me in it on MagiCam... Diamond-san alao help me out whenever I asked him, so he's quite reliable too...!"

♣ Trey Clover: "L-Like Diamond-san, he's also one of the upperclassmen that welcomed me with open arms...! T-Though I didn't trust him at first, he surprised me of how kind he is...! I-I also really admire his baking skills and often asked him for advice too...!"

Savanaclaw

🦁 Leona Kingscholar: "H-He's a little scary in my opinion... I-I also think he's a little hard to approach... Maybe I shouldn't made him mad..."

🐆 Ruggie Bucchi: "He is... Well... Easy to approach...? I-I did share some classes with him and he did help me sometimes, so I think he's a kind person...! His ears also look very cute...! *giggles*"

🐺 Jack Howl: "W-Whenever I stand next to him I felt like I got shorter... Aside from that, he's also quite reliable...! At first, I thought he's a little scary but after I talked to him, he's actually very nice...! A-Also, his tail looks very cute...! *giggles*"

Octavinelle

🐙 Azul Ashengrotto: "Even though he's quite nice when I talk to him, I felt like something is wrong... Sometimes, he kept staring at my keys when I wasn't looking, which is a little worrying...B-But he is very smart though, I really admire his alchemy skills...!"

🦈 Floyd Leech: "H-He almost gave me a heart attack when I first met him...! I hope that he stop hugging me or calling my name so suddenly whenever he saw me in public... I-It's really embarrassing even when I think about it... But he sometimes help me a lot with school works so I guess that he's a smart person too...?"

🐬 Jade Leech: "U-Unlike Floyd-san, Jade-san is very nice whenever I talk to him...! He also doesn't seems to hesitate when I asked him to help me with something... B-But, somehow, I felt like he is hiding something...?"

💄Alisa Whiterose: "W-Well, since she's my sister so I respect her a lot...! Although I felt embarrassed when I take a picture with her... H-Her fashion sense are very good though, I wonder why she didn't got sorted into Pomefiore...?"

Scarabia

🕌 Kalim Al-asim: "He seems to be a very energetic person... A-A little too energetic... But he's nice and friendly, so I don't felt uncomfortable when I talk to him...!"

🐍 Jamil Viper: "A mysterious person... He seems to be always around Al-asim-san for most of the time, I guess it's because they're friends...? I also admire his cooking skills too, so sometimes I asked him for advices...!"

Pomefiore

👑 Vil Schoenheit: "W-When I first met him, I got stunned by how beautiful he looks...! Even though I don't really like make-up but I appreciate his advice to improve my appearance...! I also like his hair color because it's really pretty...!"

🏹 Rook Hunt: "A weird person... To be honest... W-Whenever I walk past him in the hallway he always call me with a strange name that I couldn't understand... But, I respect the fact that he also adore beautiful things...!"

🍎Epel Felmier: "O-Out of all the members in Pomefiore, I think Felmier-san is the easiest person to approach...! He also teach me a lot about apples, which made me actually plant an apple tree...! *giggles* H-His fruit carving skills are also very beautiful, I really, really like it...!"

Ignihyde

💀 Idia Shroud: "H-He's a little gloomy in my opinion... If only he become more talkative then perhaps I could approach him easier..."

🤖 Ortho Shroud: "H-He looks very cool...! I've never seen a robot in my life before so I was really impressed by how pretty he look...! He's also very friendly and kind too so I felt at ease whenever I talk to him...!"

Diasomnia

🐉 Malleus Draconia: "I-I don't know why, but whenever I saw him, my chest got tighten up for no reason... His eyes looks so familiar too, I wonder why...? A-Also, he might seems like a cold person, but it's not the truth at all...! In fact... He reminded me of a child a little bit...! *giggles*"

🦇 Lilia Vanrouge: "I-I actually thought he look quite young for his age... *giggles* And I don't know why, but his eyes give me a strange feeling, just like when I look at Draconia-san... Aside from that, he's very knowledgeable...! I really admire him about that...!"

⚔️ Silver: "W-When I first met him, I almost tripped on his feet...! To me, he is quite mysterious and somewhat hard to approach though... B-But if it's possible I would like to talk more with him...!"

⚡Sebek Zigvolt: "H-He almost gave me a heart attack whenever he shout at me out of nowhere...! And it seems like he respect Draconia-san a lot too...! B-But it seems like he doesn't like it much when I talk to him or Vanrouge-san, I wonder why...?"

Others

🌻Mary Merveilles: "S-She is one of the first person to become my friend so I really respect her...! I also admire her because she always stay positive, even when come across troubles... If only I could be more cheerful like her..."

🐱 Grim: "A-A very cute cat...! I love the feeling of touching his fur and pet his ears because it's very soft...! *giggles* Though it'll be better if he stop causing trouble around the school..."

🌙 Luana Crowley: "W-When I first met her, I was surprised by how mature she looks...! And not to mention, she also talk like a true lady too...! I really, really admire the Vice Headmaster and I hope I can talk confidently like her someday...!"

Dire Crowley: "H-His masks looks very mysterious... I felt like he is hiding something, but I just can't tell what it is... I wonder why...?"

Mozus Trein: "L-Lucius-san is very, very cute...! Ah! I wasn't supposed to talk about him huh... *giggles* it's just that Trein-sensei's cat is very cute so I couldn't help it... His words are quite easy to understand, so I guess I can say he's a good teacher...?"

Divus Crewel: "H-His appearance is very... unique...? Even though I sometimes got scared of the stick that he kept carrying around, his lessons are actually quite easy to understand...! T-Though I would prefer it more if he stop calling me a "puppy"..."

Sam: "A-At first, I thought he's a weird person, but he's actually a cool person...! Not only did his shop contain lots of nice things, he's also very friendly too...! I-I often come to his shop to buy ingredients or new kind of paper for origami...!"

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TRIVIA:

+ *: Goma stands for ゴマフビロードウミウシ "Gomafubirodoumiushi" which is a type of sea slug that known for its fluffiness and cuteness in Japan and other Asia countries. It can also be called "Sea bunny" in English.

+ **: "Shiro" mean white in Japanese, Cater probably referencing to her hair color

+ ***: This is not her actual birthday. It's the day when she was found in the backstory. Her real birthday is unknown ( She doesn't even remembered when she was born )

+ Her name, "Alice" is a reference to "Alice Liddell" - the main character of "Alice in Wonderland" series while her last name is a reference to the (supposedly) white roses in the Rose Maze

+ While her profile stated that her homeland is Rose Kingdom, her backstory actually revealed that it's not her true origin.

+ In Alice's school uniform R card's personal story, she stated that the Heart key was a gift of someone she cherished until now.

+ She actually joined the Science club just to be able to take care of the school's garden easier

+ When she's bored, she will unconsciously do origami. It's one of her habit and hobby

+ Which is the reason why she often carrying around a small stack of colorful paper in her pocket

+ If you want to look for her, she'll usually be around the Rose Maze or the Botanical Garden. Alice also occasionally at the library too.

+ Her room have lots of decorations made from papers

+ She eats quite a lot but only when she's alone. Alice does stated that she doesn't want others to know about her appetite.

Will add more facts in the future~

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...And that's it! I actually decided to redesign one of my first child, Alice and give her a more detailed backstory! To all of you who read until the very end, I'm very, very thankful 💞💞💞 Also, I'll post all OCs related posts in this blog from now on while my other blog: @twststrash will mainly about rebloging and other stuffs!

Also, after finished her Ceremonial Robe, I realized what my true nightmare is: drawing detailed patterns. God I hope I won't draw it again after finished redesign all of my current OCs -w- Anyway, peace~!

#twisted wonderland #twisted wonderland ocs #my ocs #my ocs do not steal #alice whiterose #twst oc #twst #alright... time to redesign my other children~#if I still got time though

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lunaschild2016 · 4 years

Text

Belief - Part 4 (Edit)

Rating: M

Devi is Dauntless. Through blood sweat and tears she made a place for herself three years ago when she left her life in Amity behind. Not once in that three years has Eric Coulter even deigned to look her way. Not until that night. Now she has nothing but his attention. Eric/OC AU [Smut, Language, Romance]

Part 4

There comes a time in a girl’s life when she has to reevaluate things. Like when she wakes up for the second time in a week, hungover as hell, in place not her own, wearing clothes that aren’t hers, and with no memory of how the fuck any of that happened.

Once again my friends have abandoned me.

I sit up in the bed I’m in and look around. The bed is comfortable like mine and the room is simply furnished. But that’s where the similarities between my room and this one end.

There isn’t much to go on here to give me an idea of where I might be. The only furniture in the room other than the bed is two bedside tables, a dresser, and a small armchair. All the basic stuff that most apartments are furnished to start out with. The walls are bare and stark white. All the bedding and furniture are black. The curtains are black and keep out any light, making the room completely dark with only the tiniest sliver of the sun peeking through where the two curtains meet in the middle.

There is absolutely no personality at all in this room and it almost seems like it’s never even used.

There are three doors in the room with two doors on one wall that I know will lead to the closet and bathroom. The wall that the head of the bed is against, is the one that has the door leading to the rest of the apartment. There is a bedside table between it and me and no sounds seem to be coming from the other side of it, so there’s no hint for me there.

However, glancing in the direction of the door provides me some clue when I see on the nightstand a tall clear glass of water with a plate beside it where it looks like a few pills, hopefully, aspirin, is waiting for me. There also looks to be a small slip of paper beside it and that has me scooting from the center of the bed where I woke up and scrambling to pick up the paper and read what it says.

Take these. Drink that.

Whoever wrote the note, and left the water and aspirin, has way better penmanship than I do. It’s small, neat and precise. Making me wonder if they used a computer to spit it out. Maybe I should hesitate to take pills left me by some unknown person, but even though I don’t know where I am or who might be here, I don’t feel unsafe. So, I do what the note instructs and then stumble my way to the door I think the bathroom is behind.

I flip on the light and have to blink for a second at it assaulting my sensitive eyes. It takes a second or two for my vision to clear, allowing me to get a good look at myself in the mirror. Not that I particularly care to look at what must be a complete mess.

My reflection is another surprise and mystery for me. I completely expected to wake up and find my makeup ruined and running over my face. Giving me raccoon eyes and a clown worthy smile. But my face is completely free of makeup. It also looks like my hair, definitely mused from sleep, was also recently washed because it looks to have dried while I slept too.

I panic for a second and run my hands over my body, but I already know that what I’m worried about didn’t happen. If someone helped me wash up, it was completely non-sexual, or at the very least no actual sex took place. Of course, there probably isn’t a way to know for sure until I find the person and ask them; but judging from the same frustrated, pent up feeling I started my night out with, I can pretty much guarantee nothing happened.

Between the pills, water and other signs I find as I look around the bathroom, I know whoever’s place I’m at has at least been trying to make sure I’m okay and taken care of.

I smile and blush a little when I see a new tube of toothpaste and toothbrush, both still in their boxes, waiting for me next to the sink.

The clothes I had been wearing are neatly folded and on the bathroom counter right next to a new set of folded clothing. The new clothes are the normal nondescript workout clothes that most of the women in Dauntless wear. A black sports bra, tank top, and leggings. They are so generic that they could be mine or anyone else's for all know. And beside that is a pair of sneakers with a pair of rolled-up socks stuck inside of one of them. Again, they could belong to anyone, but unless someone else likes to take their shoes off by pressing down the back of them because they can’t be bothered to untie them, then these are definitely mine.

Another clue that lets me know this is all my stuff is the small, colorful burlap pouch that I hand painted and sewed together to hold makeup and toiletries, is on the counter beside the clothes.

So did I go and grab my stuff and bring it with me here to...wherever I am? If I did, why? And where is Ash at? Even if I decided not to hook up with him he still would have made sure I either got home or let me sleep it off at his place.

I put my hand on top of the pile of workout clothes and feel the crinkle of paper and find another note written in the same precise handwriting with two words on it.

Wear this.

I feel the first bit of uneasiness filling and a nagging in the back of my mind that’s trying to give me some clue as to who these notes are from. There is something about the bold script and tone of words that provide the clues that I’m simultaneously denying and dreading. But there’s nothing I can do to change what’s already happened. What I need to do is get answers. I can’t do that unless I get my ass in gear.

I brush my teeth and root around in the pouch to see that it looks like someone just threw a few things I might need in there. There is some moisturizer, a couple of my hairbands to put my hair up, and deodorant. It isn’t much but they are all the basics at least.

Once I’m dressed, I carry my club clothes out of the bathroom to find a bag sitting on the small armchair that I hadn’t noticed earlier. Granted, it is the same deep black color that the chair is so in the dark it blended in. I would have completely passed it by if I hadn’t spotted my heels on the chair as well. The bag turns out to also be mine. The one I carry to and from work. Its technically a leather purse but the style is that of a backpack. Big enough for me to shove an extra pair of scrubs in along with anything else that I might need during long days at work.

I feel a surge of relief at finding it and quickly grab it and unzip it to try and find my phone and hope I can get answers from it. I’m quickly disappointed though because all I see are things I normally keep it, minus the scrubs and also minus my phone and keys. My clutch is in there but when I opened it up all I find in it is lipstick and condoms. I scowl and shove my heels and clothes into the bag then work the zipper closed on the overfilled bag.

I look at the door that will lead to the rest of the apartment and hesitate. I can finally hear some kind of sounds coming from the other side and I know I’m going to need to face whatever...whoever...is out there.

Might as well get it over with.

As soon as I open the door the smell of food cooking and coffee brewing hits me full in the face. That smells inviting enough that I take the first few tentative steps forward into the hallway. Like my apartment, the hallway to the bedrooms is short and really only has just enough room for the doors to the rooms. What wall space there is that’s free we filled with my artwork. Here it’s crammed with bookshelves that are crammed with books.

This makes me pause to look over them with a frown. No one I know would have bookshelves filled to almost overflowing, even if they are all organized neatly. I don’t even think the person I had a suspicion it would end up being, would have that kind of thing in his home.

So who the hell did I end up going home with?

All hesitancy is gone. My temper at my carelessness is simmering and making me plow forward, only to stumble over my feet with a gasp when my body wouldn’t stop the forward momentum I desperately wanted it to stop.

“You,” I gasp out in surprise before I could stop the word from spilling out.

My eyes are locked on the man standing in the open and well-lit kitchen in disbelief as Eric turns from the stove with his hands full of plates. He takes one look at me and sighs, closing his eyes for a moment before he shakes his head and mutters something that I can’t hear. He steps forward and motions with his head towards the island eating area.

“Going to go out on a limb here and say that you don’t remember anything from last night, do you?”

My mind starts working overtime trying to figure out how Eric once again got involved in my night out.

I remember a few things. I remember not feeling as up to the night of dancing as I had been when I planned it. I remember the thought of dancing with Ash feeling wrong and a slight pang of disappointment that it wasn’t going to be someone else I was dancing with. I also very clearly remember when things probably went downhill for me. When I realized that it was Eric’s hands and presence I was craving and that nothing and no one but him would do it for me. I decided a few more drinks would help me to get over that.

Big mistake.

He moves over to sit on one stool, leaving the one on the other side free, and it’s clear that he means me to sit down and answer his question. I slowly do both. When my bag is on the floor, my butt is on the seat and my breath has found its way back into my lungs, I finally answer.

“It’s all pretty much a blur,” I reply without looking at him. I train my eyes on the plate he sits in front of me without really seeing what is on it.

“Well, that’s just about par for the course.” Even with the coldness, there is a weary undertone to it. I chance a look at him to see he’s studying me with a frown. “Do you blackout every time you drink?”

I scowl at him, but it’s really for myself as I shake my head and answer. “No. I do have a fairly low tolerance but I only have issues when I combine alcohol or overdo it.”

He nods and the frown deepened. “Well, I’d say you hit both of those last night then. Should have stuck to the wine.”

“You were there?”

He doesn’t answer. Instead, he looks to my plate, pointedly. “Eat up. You’re going to need energy for what I have in store for you.”

I’m almost afraid to ask, especially with his lips twitching on the sides. “What’s in store for me today besides work?”

“Oh, you aren’t going to work.” I immediately stiffen and go to protest but he stops me. “The weekend is over and the normal staff is back. Plus there are a few more being added to the rotation from now on. So the days you were supposed to have off from the clinic but didn’t, you’re getting them now. We will also be doing the training and assessments that should have already been done since you have free time. ”

I frown in confusion. “How is that possible?”

He shrugs and picks up his fork, answering while not looking at me. “Erudite owes us.” There’s something about the set of his shoulders and tone that tells me he’s said all he’s going to say on that.

With a sigh of resignation, I finally look down at my plate and really see what’s on it. The wonderful smells turned out to be a spinach and cheese omelet with sides of sliced avocado and bacon. The food is surprising, delicious and a very welcome distraction.

It’s also perfect hangover food and I dig in without speaking, sipping the coffee in between bites. It’s not like I would really know what to say at the moment anyway. It doesn’t stop my mind working hard trying to process everything while I eat.

Obviously, I’m in Eric’s apartment. He got clothes for me in some way. I can only guess by using my keys that are missing? But why would he bother?

It’s also obvious that he took care of me last night while being clear that nothing sexual happened. Again...why?

Why….to everything, but I find myself mainly embarrassingly wondering, why we didn’t do anything? Does he just, not want me, and all of this is really him playing with Four or me or both of us?

“You think any harder and your head is going to explode. You’re wincing. Did you know that? Every time a new thought enters into your mind, you wince. So why don’t you just spit whatever it is out and stop killing yourself.” Eric grumbles out after putting his fork down on to his empty plate.

He has his hands steepled over the plate and has his eyebrow raised while glaring me down.

I set my own fork down as well since my plate is just as empty as his. I raise my chin while my eyes narrow as I look at him.

I mean to demand where he got my stuff from and why my phone and keys are missing. I mean to demand them back and confirm that he didn’t invade my privacy by rooting through my things at home. I mean to demand what right he thinks he has to have done any of that, to begin with, no matter that he’s a leader of the faction.

That’s what I mean to do but what happens instead leaves my skin hot and flushed with embarrassment.

“Why didn’t we do anything last night? Do you even really want me, or is this just some bullshit game with Four? Because if it is, you can just stop. I would rather not be the pawn in whatever messed up game you’ve cooked up.”

My jaw drops in astonishment and mortification at what spilled out of my mouth in a rush but I don’t have time to really think about it and find a way to change direction because Eric is already in motion towards me. I didn’t even get past the first question before he was standing and moving slowly around the counter towards me. His movements are fluid and casual but his expression is anything but.

His blue eyes seemed to have turned to the color of ice as they bore into mine and hold me completely paralyzed and barely able to turn my body to face him after he moved behind me.

“As I’ve told you before, twice now counting last night, it isn’t my style to hook up with someone that is obviously drunk no matter who they are or how willing they might be.”

I’ve heard the tone these words carry before. The hushed quiet one. The tone that you can equate to the sound of a blade being drawn from a sheath.

All of Dauntless fears this tone and I would be lying if I said I’m not and have not been affected by it before. But how I was affected then is nothing like what’s going on now.

Because there is a look in his eyes as he comes closer that shows me raw hunger. And the heat coming off his body sets me to fire, putting what I felt in the exam room to shame. I’m so paralyzed and captivated that I don’t even realize he’s moved me, turning my body for me to face him so that my back is now against the edge of the counter.

His eyes aren’t the ice I compared them too. They’re blue fire, an inferno is raging behind the gaze I can’t break free from.

“Eric….I…” I gasp out when his breath hits my face and seems to trigger my own inhaling of the breath I hadn’t been able to take.

His hand whips out to grab the back of my neck and he squeezes, firm and gentle until my head falls back slightly. He’s so close that my legs just opened right up for him and he slipped in.

“No, you don’t get to speak.” He hisses out and stops me from continuing on. I don’t even know if I would have been able to continue anyway. “Do you honestly believe that I would care enough to bring just anyone into my home? Do you think I would bother to take care of just anyone because they were wasted? I wouldn’t, and you know that’s true. I might make sure their friends were looking after them and they didn’t kill themselves, but that’s about the extent of the effort I would make.”

While he speaking he uses the hand that isn’t at the back of my neck, with the back of his fingers, to lightly brush over my neck. Slowly and teasing. My body arching into his touch and my nipples going hard as his skin made contact with mine.

He pauses in speaking and moves the hand up so that two of the pads of his fingers brush across my mouth, causing me to moan slightly. His eyes crinkle at the sides as a small smirk of pleasure tilts his lips and he changes the touch so that now it’s his thumb brushing across my lips.

“Open up for me, little one.” It’s a raw, low command that has some dark part of my brain snapping forward at, following along. The nickname and command have me insanely aroused.

I open my mouth and he slips the thumb between my lips. What happens next happens on instinct, spurred on by the silent command in his eyes and I follow it again without hesitation while my eyes never leave his.

My mouth closes around his thumb, my tongue swirls around the tip and down the length and then I gently sucked. His nostrils flare and he gives a deep inhalation of breath as a rumble of pleasure sounds in his chest. He moves even closer until the thick and hard bulge of his thigh pressed right up against the apex of legs. I was already burning and wet, wetter than I have ever been or ever thought I could be, but I was wrong. He presses firmly against me in a pulse and I feel like there is no way he won’t notice the flood that must be pooling at my core, just as the immense heat seems to be as well. I suck deeper on his thumb and moan around it, plainly expressing just how good I’m feeling and what I want.

I’m not the only one showing that at least. If his eyes and groan didn’t let me know then the outline of his bulge definitely does. His eyes are what hold my attention. They are wild looking with hardly any color left to be seen, just the black of his pupil. And when he speaks again, its pure gravel, full of ragged lust.

“You have no fucking clue how much I wanted you last night, little one.” Between his breath fanning across my face and the low pulsing tenor of his words, I feel electrified. Like I could break apart at any second just from his words and presence alone. “You think this is a game,” he pauses again and removes his thumb from my mouth but uses it to open it slightly while moving his face closer to mine. “That this has anything to do with number boy? You’re wrong, Devi. This has always been about me and you. If you want to call it a game so be it. But be warned that I don’t intend on losing.”

Then he consumed me.

There’s no other word for the kiss that followed that proclamation. The fire in me that won’t back down from a challenge, ignited at those words. My hands reach up to his neck and claw at him. I can’t tell you if it’s to get him to stop or to make sure he never does.

A war is being waged between us with this kiss and the way his body is dominating mine. It’s a war that I’m quickly losing and it makes me feel like much more than just a stupid contest of wills is in jeopardy here.

It feels like my heart and soul are in the line and it scares the ever-loving shit out of me.

He breaks away from the kiss with a feral growl and shoves away from me. It so sudden and forceful that it leaves me quickly grabbing the sides of the stool to steady myself.

He backs up slowly, and I watch in fascination as the change takes place. First, he takes a step back and his breathing slows down. Two steps more and his eyes, that were so wild just seconds ago, start to focus back into his familiar cold blue ones. At three steps the emotionless mask that defines Eric is firmly back in place.

He doesn’t say another word as he moves forward calmly and reaches for the two plates and cups on the counter. He busies himself cleaning up the remnants of breakfast and our dishes.

Meanwhile, I’m still hanging onto the stool for dear life and just trying to coax my heart from throat back into my chest and the air into my lungs.

After he has everything in his dishwasher and that started, he calmly turns back to face me.

“Time to head out for training. We’ll be doing a warm-up, going out for a run and then heading to the training room to go from there. Lunch and dinner will be in the mess. Leave your bag here and we can get it after.” His eyes light up and he smiles at me. A smile that’s completely predatory in nature. “I have you for the next two days.”

He walks past me and goes to the door while I’m left frozen. This isn’t going to be good at all. I can just feel it.

*********************************************************************

I groan as I sink into the water of the bath and let out a ragged sigh of relief once I’m submerged fully under the hot water with the bath salts still dissolving in it. The last two days have been all kinds of torture for me. It was bad enough that I’m using my precious oils and salts to relieve the aching and stress my body has endured.

Eric took advantage of the last two days and rung every single second from it. From breakfast until a couple of hours after dinner, I’ve been with Eric.

I let the heat of the water work on my aching body and reflect over my time with Eric

***************************************

The first day with Eric has gone exactly as he said and planned.

We warmed up with some stretches after getting outside of the gates that our transports use to leave the compound, and then went on a run that pretty much covered our entire sector. When we got back, he barely let me get water and a breather before we went to the training room or the torture chamber as I started to mentally call it, until lunch. After lunch in the mess hall, we went right back to it until dinner.

That’s a total of over nine hours spent in a similar way as when we were at the gun range, where Eric proved he has no concept of the words ‘personal space’ at all. He continued to show me just how little he thought of the concept.

First, had been when we were working out. I went into that at least a little confidence because that is one aspect I’ve been keeping up with.

At least twice a week I meet with my girls and we do about an hour of working out together. So I just knew this was at least something that he couldn’t catch me out on. That he wouldn’t be able to use it against me and need to get in my bubble to show me how wrong I was doing things.

That was promptly shot to hell.

My workouts, the workouts my friends and I blow through, are nothing to what Eric subjected me to after he had me tell him what my normal workouts consist of. I think he thought I was pranking him but when he saw my blush and figured out I was serious, well...the feared trainer he is to every initiate came out in full force.

There was one big change from how I know he is during initiation though. And that was when he would push me to do something that I would tell him was impossible or ridiculous, then he put himself through it right alongside me. I know for a fact that isn’t his normal behavior and called him on it.

He told me that I was right, but he was showing me that he would never ask someone to do something that he didn’t know they were capable of or that he wouldn’t do himself. He said that it might take breaking them down to get them built back up, but it was all to make them stronger. It was clear he had every intention of doing that same thing with me.

He was going hard on me and that meant my temper flared on occasion because of that. But it was also because there was the added element of what happened every time our bodies came into contact. There was a charge of heat and electricity that was impossible to ignore and was so distracting that it would throw us both off. This seemed to upset him and he would just come at me harder.

He also still did the talking thing too. Which combined with the physical torture made it feel more like an interrogation. That was always going to have me reacting defensively. So, I started launching questions right back at him. To my surprise, he was answering.

Well, he mostly answered them. He wouldn’t even acknowledge the ones that were a mirror of how personal he got with some of his for me.

By the time lunch rolled around I was at a breaking point and wondering if I really wanted to put myself through this again with Eric. My nerves were strung out from the aggressive pace Eric set to get everything that needed to be done in only two days. My sexual frustration levels were approaching nuclear meltdown mode, and my mind couldn’t even handle the barrage of information being requested by Eric along with what he was giving me back.

Before we went to lunch I would have said that if I was given an out and another option of anyone else handling things, I would have leaped at the chance. That was until the opportunity arrived and it turned out, I didn’t want to at all.

Eric and I went to the mess for lunch, just as he said we would. I expected to sit with my friends, but they were either already gone and back to work or not there at all. Eric was determined that I would be eating on the leaders level anyway and at least I knew Tori would be there.

I went into lunch a sore, grouchy, and bitchy mess. My hair all tangled and frayed on top of my head in a haphazard bun. My tank was still drenched in sweat and I’m sure I reeked from it too. I wouldn’t say I looked worse than I ever did in initiation, but I had to be damn close. I know I was in just as foul of a mood as I had been back then.

Hunger won out over any issues I might have had about being dragged along with Eric, grumbling moodily the whole way, much to his amusement. We took seats beside each other and across from Tori.

She was looking at me and barely restraining her laughter, but I could clearly tell that she was doing this and it earned her a glare from me while I flipped her the bird.

That made her chuckle while she pushed food my way. I looked over everything and loaded up on once I saw that the selections for leaders seemed to be loads better then what the plebeians on the lower level are offered. There were few veggies available, but there was a bowl of roasted red potatoes that also had green beans tossed in a garlic butter sauce. I grabbed that and some grilled chicken while nabbing a few of the dinner rolls Tori pushed my way.

While I loaded my plate, Eric casually poured us both glasses of water from the big pitcher sitting on the table. When he slid mine towards me I accepted with a blush and noticed Four sitting on the other side of the table from me, glowering at Eric. I ignored him and concentrated on my plate. I knew I didn’t have to worry about him starting anything with both Tris and Tori at the table.

Since Tris came along, Four had mellowed out a bit. He could still be a dick and a little overbearing when he had it in his head he needed to protect someone or he was worried about them. Personally, I always thought that he was in instructor mode all the time and didn’t know how to turn it off. Talking to everyone like they were his initiates and needed to do his bidding. I knew from the first time I had Tris in a bed at the clinic that she wasn’t going to be someone that would follow anyone blindly, and that underneath her quietness was a girl with a backbone. It was actually me bonding with her during her initiation that led to me and Four moving beyond old awkwardness from ours. But since they officially became more than just boyfriend/girlfriend, something they are keeping quiet for now, her closeness with me has prompted Four’s protective instincts to make his alpha gene activate. I guess Tris looking at me all worried and asking if I was okay is what caused that to kick in and had him trying to interfere.

Oh, he didn’t come right out and say, ‘Devi you need to do your testing with someone else other than Eric’. In fact, he never even talked to me at all. He directed the conversation at Eric, reminding him of some important meetings and several proposals up for review, and was now really the time to take off for something he knew Zeke would be able to do with me? Wouldn’t it be better for someone of my rank to be tested by Zeke anyway?

It was all masked as leader business but I saw it for what it really was. Four was interfering and trying to step in because he thought that dealing with Eric would be too much for me.

Before lunch, I was mentally complaining about everything and doubting that I could handle another second with Eric if it was anything like the morning had been.

Maybe it was to spite Four.

Maybe it was to prove something to myself, Eric, Four, and everyone else that had ever doubted me.

Or maybe it was all of that. All of that and Four’s challenge of Eric and my, what I thought, right to be in Dauntless. It felt like initiation all over again.

Whatever it was had me slamming my fist hard down on the table. Dishes jumped and flatware clattered in all directions. The table conversation stopped along with the other tables on this same level that were around us. It’s enough to know that attention is on me but I don’t let that in. My only focus is Four as I let all of my ire and frustration come through in the way my eyes hold his when my action got his attention.

As mad as I am, I do remember that Four is trying to come from a good place. So I take a few calming breaths before I start talking finally.

“Correct me if I’m wrong, but doesn’t it say in the by-laws, that it is up to the Senior Leader of the faction to determine what training and when it is needed for all standing members of the faction?” At times like this my accent is a little thicker, my voice just a bit huskier, and I speak slowly to make sure that I’m understood completely.

I’ve been told it makes me sound menacing but I don’t see how. If it does though, then I welcome it right now.

Four’s lips thin and his skin flushes because he knows I’m right. He might have been counting on the fact that most of Dauntless unless they are really involved in the running of the faction, aren’t aware of details like that. I’m only aware of it because Eric informed me of this on our run. It took me worriedly questioning him if he would be in some kind of trouble for stepping away from all of that work I saw piled on his desk to do my training and testing. That was when he let that and another big fact drop.

Four doesn’t answer me vocally, instead, Tori answers as she sees that Four isn’t about to. I also see her glance Eric’s way and I realize, with some surprise, that he’s amazingly silent and has been this entire time. Like her, I guess I would have expected him to have some kind of snarky remark aimed at Four. I let myself glance over at him and while I do see his posture is even more rigid than usual, he isn’t even looking at Four at all. He’s looking at me, his face free of expression other than maybe curiosity.

Maybe he’s just going to wait to see how this plays out. Let me fight my own battle here. Is it wishful thinking on my part to think that maybe he isn’t stepping in because he knows I’m completely capable of handling this on my own?

“That’s correct,” Tori confirms and I look back to her, give a small nod of acknowledgment, then look back at Four as I can continue.

“Isn’t it also correct, that because of my own position being considered in the ranked officer tier, only an officer of greater standing who also has the training sanction, can oversee my training and score me?”

Again Tori nods and I see Four’s shoulders slump a little but I still carry on. This time I don’t bother to phrase it as a question, just me stating a fact that he knows I definitely know now.

“It’s also true that I brought this on myself by not doing the yearly required training and assessments that all members, but especially ranked ones, are supposed to go through. Two years automatically makes it so that the Senior Leader is the only one that has any say about what I can do to correct something that could see me thrown out. So I have to ask Four, is that what you want? Would you like to see me thrown out?”

“You know I don’t, Devi.” He replies softly. I can hear the apology in his tone.

“Then you need to let me do this and not try to interfere again.” I let my tone soften as well.

I knew where this was coming from on Four’s part. I’m not completely overwhelmed with anger at him that I don’t recognize a friend’s worry. However wrong it may be of me, worry equals fear in my eyes. Fear that I’m weak. Fear that I don’t belong.

And that causes me to feel fear that he might be right. That just like the life I left behind in Amity was a lie, my life here is a lie too. Instead of making me feel like running or denying the fear, I’m choosing to face it, to fight it, and to prove that fear wrong.

Four holds my eyes for a bit longer than I’m comfortable with, while he seems to be searching my expression for something but he finally gives me a nod and a small sideways smile. Beside him, Tris grins at him and they share a look that almost seems to me as if she’s sending him a silent ‘I told you so’ message.

The table around us seems to let out a collective release of breaths as I glance over at Eric who just casually raises his glass of water and takes a drink, but not before I see a slight tilt of his lips in a smirk.

The rest of lunch is spent listening to the others talking shop about this or that. A tiny amount of annoyance at being ignored starts to take root in me even after I mentally remind myself that it's not like I ever really like to talk at the meals I’m able to hastily grab on occasion.

Which is why Tori probably just let me eat in peace. It takes Eric asking me a few things about the clinic to bring me out of the sulking I was doing about something I would usually be grateful for. It isn’t until the end of the lunch when I realize that the questions he had and the conversation that took place was actually really pleasant.

More than that, I could tell that Eric hadn’t just tossed aside that file he took from my office, but he actually paid attention.

This realization also brings forth the whispering in my mind that my calling Four out on his attempt to interfere wasn’t all about proving him wrong it was also because deep down I didn’t want it to end.

After lunch, it was right back to the training room and workouts until dinner time. There were no big surprises or confrontations. Just more of Eric’s questions while touching and teasing me.

It wasn’t until after a few more hours of training after dinner that Eric finally gave me my keys and phone back.

Explaining, reluctantly, as we stood in his apartment where I had to go to get my bag, that he had in fact used the keys to get my stuff from my apartment after trying to call Sadie first. But when he got to there, she was just getting back and grabbed it for him instead.

Eric even more reluctantly let me leave after I had my bag. I was so tired and felt like such a mess that I didn’t bother to get mad about this, instead, I had all but begged him to let me go so I could just go home and get a shower and go straight to bed. He only let me go after giving me a warning threat that I better be in the training room by 0700. If he had to come to find me it wasn’t going to be a pleasant day.

I didn’t bother with a bath that tempted me for a second. Instead, I just did a quick shower, took the aspirin Sadie shoved at me and then crawled into bed. I passed out grateful that my mind and body were agreeing with my need for blessed sleep.

It didn’t stop the dreams though. A crazy and tangled combination of dreams that I woke up unable to remember many details on other than Eric was in them and that they left me feeling just as confused as I had spent most of the previous day feeling.

The next day, today, was even more intense. Trying to cram what normally is spread out over a week into two days means that Eric set a brutal pace and had even harder expectations of me.

We finished the weapons portion of the testing first thing in the morning and then went into a short warm-up before the run. This time the run was through an obstacle course that saw me climbing, jumping, rappelling, crawling, and balancing across a variety of different obstacles. That closed out the first part of my morning and lunch was again in the mess hall at the leader's table.

This time there was no confrontation with Four because he wasn’t even at the table. Neither was Tori for that matter. But Tris, Uriah, Marlene, and Zeke all were and I got a brief on what the last portion of the day would contain after Tris and Mar cast sympathetic looks at me.

Eric had saved the best for last.

While I wasn’t being asked to have a ranked fighting match, I still had to prove I know what I’m doing against an opponent. I don’t know if it was really because no one else was available or just because Eric wasn’t willing to let anyone in on this at all, but it was made clear I would be going against him.

I had been seriously concerned about the thought of having to fight Eric. It wasn’t until we got to the training room that he informed me how it was going to work. I had to score a certain about of points and strikes against him. And if I could last a set amount of time, then that would add to the points as well. Before we moved into that portion he was considerate enough to work on my forms with me first.

I won’t lie, the ending of today was heading towards a complete disaster.

I did everything Eric demanded of me to prepare for the final physical assessment, and even did it without much complaining on my end, even though I felt completely wrecked by the end of it.

I passed with a total of 79 from the maximum 100 points I could have gained. According to Eric, being five points over the minimum passing score was nothing to be happy about.

I disagreed and then we argued, with him using that to point out everything I could have done better and then having me do them again. Just to show me that I could and there was no reason for me not to have done them the first time.

Dinner time was passing me by very quickly, making my already bad attitude get rapidly worse. It didn’t help that I could tell Eric had no real reason for us to still be doing anything, but I couldn’t figure out why he was insisting on it. It got so bad that I just lost it and straight out started cursing him out.

I reached my limit of putting up with him and his demands as well as his attitude that was just getting worse, and I had no clue what I was doing wrong to cause him to act like he was.

“Carajo! I don’t know what is making you even more of an estúpido than normal, but I am not going to just sit here and put up with this mierda.” I snap at him and slap my hands against his chest after the final time he snapped at me for, in my opinion, no reason.

In the last hour, Eric’s cold and emotionless expression morphed into nothing but sneers and scowls. Now he scoffed angrily at me. “You’ll take whatever mierda I throw at you because if you don’t, as you so generously informed Four, I can send you packing.”

I stamped my foot in anger and frustration. My temper was getting worse as dinner time got further away. “Vete al demonio!” I yelled and whirled away from him, determined to end this and get myself some dinner.

Eric wasn’t having it as he grabbed my arm and spun me around. I lost balance but he was also pulling me forward at the time so that I slammed against his chest. “Where do the fuck do you think you’re going? You don’t get to leave until I say you can. Until I’ve signed off on that fucking paperwork, you’re mine.”

“I’m hungry, Eric!” I try for anything but the whine I know is coming, but don’t succeed.

“Fine. Then we go to my apartment and we can have dinner there.” He snaps at me, his face all contorted with anger.

“Fine!” Not that he was asking at all, but I yell out my agreement anyway.

His mouth snaps shut and he looks down at me, the anger melting slightly from his face.

"Good.” He agrees with a nod and then pulls me with him out of the gym and to his apartment.

He wasn’t holding my hand or anything. I doubt Eric even knows how to do something like that. His huge hand stayed wrapped around my wrist the entire time, even when he stopped pulling me. As if he was afraid I was going to just slip off as soon as he was distracted. For some reason, I like it.

After getting to his apartment his demeanor didn’t improve much. At least not at first. Especially when he was rummaging through his refrigerator and cabinets with a look of intensity and then something that had looked like a flash of defeat when he saw all he really had was stuff for breakfast. The frown got deeper when he explained to me that’s the only meal he ever has time to actually have there, so he doesn’t bother with getting anything else.

When told him that breakfast for dinner was actually something I did for myself a lot, his mood got better and he set about making me another omelet. The dinner that followed was so similar to that breakfast I had with him in his apartment that I couldn’t help remembering that morning.

I couldn’t help but remember our kiss and wondering why he hadn’t tried to kiss me again in our time spent together. Yeah, sure he’s touched me over the last few days, but not really like he did that morning. Then I spent the rest of the dinner wondering if I should be feeling as disappointed and hurt by that as I am.

We talked though, so I didn’t have much time to really dwell on any of that. We talked about work and what I could expect when I went back. That there is now going to be more staff from Erudite available during the week beyond the normal hours they had been staffed for, possibly even overnight, and that would also carry over on the weekends.

He hinted at meetings with Erudite to talk about more, which led to him telling me about the fact that there are several big meetings with all the factions over the next month or so. Things that will hopefully lead to improved conditions for Dauntless overall. He complained about how long the process has been taking since the downfall of the corrupt leaders here and in Erudite too.

Dinner was...pleasant, honestly.

Even if it started out a complete wreck. At the end, Eric started to turn back into being surly, like he didn’t want me to leave and was upset that he couldn’t command me to stay. Instead, he insisted on walking me back to my apartment.

At the door, I turned to tell him goodbye but never got to say a word. Once again I was pressed up against something while he was kissing me stupid.

It rattled me so badly I almost shoved the door open and just pulled him inside and straight to my bedroom. I think I would have if the door hadn’t opened and Sadie had squeaked out an apology saying she thought she had heard me having trouble opening the door.

Eric had already pulled away from the kiss to look at her and glared her back before looking at me again. His hand was still at the back of my neck and his eyes were dark. “I’m going to busy with meetings and other bullshit I couldn’t get out of for the next two days.”

I swallowed and nodded numbly. He had already informed me of this earlier during dinner when we were talking about, not only what I would be going back to at work, but what he was expecting for him too.

“You told me, Eric.” I breathe out as he brings me closer to his body.

“I’m telling you again.” He growled out then closed his eyes. “I will make sure to have time with you again but I don’t know when that might be exactly.” He frowned for a second before pulling back and looking at me. “What I said about being prepared for me anytime still stands.”

He left with a smirk as I tossed a curse word at his back. His chuckle had made me smile before I went into the apartment and slammed the door behind me. Sadie and been wide-eyed and waiting for me.

“Sorry, I really did think you were having trouble getting in and thought it be because you were so worn out.” Sadie babbled out her apology that I wave off tiredly.

“Está bien,” I mumble out then sigh and repeat it in English for her benefit. She’s used to this by now and has picked up some Spanish from me, just not enough to actually be able to hold a conversation in it.

I move further into the living room, distractedly following a routine that feels off. I go to the kitchen and pull down a glass and fill it with cold water from the pitcher we keep of it in our fridge.

As I’m drinking it, Sadie watches me carefully. “I didn’t see you at dinner. Are you hungry, did you eat, or did he keep you...occupied...in the training room?”

Her question is cautious and probing. Probably wanting to find out more about what she saw at the door. I just don’t have the presence of mind to be able to handle that right now. “I already ate. We did run over dinner a little but got food somewhere else.”

I finish drinking my water, clean the glass and put it on our drainer on the counter. Our apartment doesn’t have a dishwasher, so we have to clean the few dishes we have in the small kitchenette by hand.

“Devi, what’s going on with you and Eric?” Sadie asks me softly before I go into my room.

“Nothing. He was just doing the assessment for me but that’s done now.”

We both knew it was a lie, but it was one I was planted firmly in my mind. I still had major doubts that this was anything for him other than an amusement. Maybe a challenge. Just because I am different from the other girls in some respects doesn’t mean that in end, after he gets what he wants, I won’t become just like the others then.

*****************************************

Back in my bath, I sink under the bathwater so that the tears I refuse to acknowledge combine with the liquid in the tub. I come up when the need for air is greater than my need of denial.

Disgusted with myself I climb out of the bath, into some pajamas and sink into bed. I am grateful when my body and mind do agree for once and sink into blissful sleep.

*****************************************

It feels odd not waking up knowing that I’m going to be seeing Eric as soon as I step out of my door. I know we were only following that schedule for two days but it felt like much longer.

Despite a solid eight hours of sleep, I’m still sluggish as I get up. I contemplate going to grab a coffee from the bakery but I don’t think I can even manage that at the moment.

We have coffee here but it’s the instant kind. Our tiny kitchen can’t handle too many appliances and Sadie and I decided not to bother getting much anyway since we aren’t here so much with both of our jobs.

I fill up the kettle and put it on one of the portable induction cooktops we have, take out the jar of instant coffee and blearily measure it out into my mug then wait for the water to boil. While I’m waiting, I hear my phone buzzing from in my room.

I shuffle in to get it and shuffle back into the kitchen, temporarily forgetting why I have my phone in my hand in the first place until it buzzes again, reminding me about my unread message. I blearily look at the screen and catch the name of the sender first.

I bite my lip and stare at it with a scowl, cursing myself for the flipping in my stomach while I debate actually reading the message and wondering how Eric even has my phone information.

He did have the thing for an entire day, Núñez.

The scathing mental reminder does little to improve my mood when I realize that there is no way I’m not going to check the message. So with a sigh and my stomach fluttering, I click the message and read it.

-Since you now have lunch free, Leader’s level...or I come to find you.

I scoff and toss my phone down as I turn to pour the now boiling water into my mug and stir the mixture before I can add sugar and cream to it. I grumble the entire time, alternating between feeling elated that he wants to have lunch together, to pissed he’s making it an order for me to be there.

I decide that he’s had things his way for two days but it’s time to get back to reality and I can’t just put my life and plans on hold because of his whims. I need to get back to work and my mostly well-ordered life. I take leisurely sips of my coffee and completely ignore the warring going on in my mind and the itch I have to reply to him.

My phone buzzes with another message and this time I see his name flash on the screen as it comes in. I snatch up the phone and click on the message before I have time to change my mind.

-If I have to come to find you it won’t just be you I’ll make life difficult for, little one. Your choice.

I let out a loud growl and stream of curses as I throw my mug at the wall. It shatters and the liquid in it goes in all directions, some even landing on me and burning where it hits but I’m so angry I don’t even care.

Sadie rushes in, eyes still closed from sleep, but backs up as I spin around and brush past her while still yelling in Spanish.

I was going to reply and tell him to fuck off, but this kind of message is best delivered in person.

I yank on my boots, grab my keys and slam out of the door. The entire time I’m stomping my way to the leader offices I’m still verbally fuming out loud.

I have no clue what people think when they see me. I must look like a crazy mess because if someone gets close they jump back like they’re afraid of me or something.

My hair is up in a crazy and messy bun. I have no bra on, and just a black thin-strapped tank top along with my black sleep shorts. I’m muttering in my customary combination of the two languages and I’m shouting ‘fuck you Eric Coulter’ occasionally.

I actually hear one guy tell me to hurry up and get past him with that shit.

I finally make it to the leader's floor. A door opens towards the end of the hallway and out steps Eric. Arms crossed over his chest and a smug smirk on his face. I can see the damn thing from all the way where I’m at. As I get closer my anger elevates even more.

I don’t know why the smirk on his face starts to fade, but it does. By the time I’m standing in front of him he looks angry as hell. He jerks me into the office and slams the door behind us.

We both start to speak, our voices are raised and trying to talk over each other. I don’t know what he’s saying exactly while I’m yelling at him, asking him just who the hell he thinks he is. He doesn’t answer, he just continues to gesture wildly at me while scowling. Then I realize what he’s pissed about and the only response I can think of is to grab him by the front of his open vest and jerk him towards me. My back hits the door when his body crashes against mine and I don’t waste time in raising up on my toes and claiming his mouth hungrily.

His complaint about me being dressed like I am where anyone can see me is cut off by the kiss, which he starts to return just as fiercely as I started it. It feels like he’s using whatever feelings he was having and now communicating them with his mouth. Which is fine with me because that’s what I intended to begin with.

I shouldn’t be pleased that he was getting worked up about something I was wearing but there is a small part of me that is. Not because I’m okay with him trying to tell me what to do or what’s okay for me to wear at all, but because I could see something in his eyes and the way he was looking at me. It scared me enough that I needed to stop him from saying anything more while at the same time taking something I’ve wanted again so badly.

He groans as I bite on his bottom lip, then takes command of the kiss.

He also scoops me up so that I can wrap my legs around his waist while he backs up away from the door, and starts to walk. He’s carrying me and squeezing my ass while we go, kissing the entire time until we end up at a sitting area that’s in his office.

I expect him to toss me down on the small sofa and then pounce on me. He seems like he would be that type. Instead, he plops down onto the sofa with me in his lap and straddling him. Our tongues tangle as we kiss deeply.

One of his hands keeps squeezing and kneading my ass and hips while he pulls me tighter against him. The other hand makes its way up to my hair, where he tugs firmly to free it from the bun I had it in. I moan loudly into his mouth when he then twists it in his hand and pulls my head back, exposing my throat to him.

He greedily moves his mouth down it and begins to lick and suck in all the right places while my hands tangle in his hair. I rock against him needing more, especially of what I feel he has straining to get out to meet me right where I need him most. I feel like I’m about to combust with the heat and how much I need him right now.

Our breathing is ragged and becoming even more so with each second. I can feel the heat of his breath against my skin as he whips the hand he had on my hip up to shove the top of my tank down. Then he scoops my breast up while moving his mouth down at the same time.

He’s released the hold he has on my hair just enough that I can move it to look down and watch him. I see that he’s looking up at me like he wants to watch me watch him. I bite my bottom lip in anticipation and whimper in impatience as the second seems to last forever before his tongue snakes out and flicks against my stiff nipple.

My eyes flutter closed and my head falls back with my low husky moan of pleasure. I know that was just the beginning. First, he uses his teeth. Grazing and nipping at the taut flesh. Testing how far and hard he can go. My hips rock faster and my moan gets deeper with pleasure when it gets it just right. I feel his smirk against my skin just before he wraps his lips around it completely and sucks, licks nips, and repeats all over again.

I try to gain more friction as my hips move faster and can only groan in frustration when it’s impossible to achieve what I want with both of us still in our clothes. Eric growls into my flesh, letting his own frustration be known. Then he releases my nipple with a plop only to immediately claim my mouth again.

He stands abruptly with me still in his arms and walks towards where his desk is in the room. I gasp into his mouth when I feel and hear the sound of him shoving things off his desk and them hitting the ground. I try to break free from the kiss to take a look at the havoc but I’m barely free before he reclaims my mouth and lowers me to the desk.

I moan with anticipation as he positions me at the edge of it and I move a hand towards his pants only to have it stopped. We both pull back from the kiss, me scowling at him and him frowning with a hungry look in his eyes.

“Not that, not yet. I don’t have the time to do that properly.” He says with real regret and frustration. “But I can at least get you off before I have to go.”

His hand is already moving against me through my sleep shorts as he purrs that last bit out. I bite my lip and shift against his hand. I refuse to beg. But it’s oh so tempting to. It’s right there on the tip of my tongue as he presses his palm into my mound and rubs in a slow circle.

The pendejo knows exactly what he’s doing to me with that knowing smirk lingering at the edges of his mouth. His blue eyes glinting with a dangerous light. He also looks serious and focused, as if this is taking every bit of his willpower to not give me what I really want.

What we both really want.

Eric moves his hand to slide against my thigh and through the wide leg of my shorts then repeats rubbing me with the flat of his palm but this time with only my underwear on.

I whimper for more and Eric finally takes pity on me. He presses his forehead to mine and is breathing heavy as he moves the cotton material to the side and his fingers finally make contact with the slippery mess I’ve become.

“You need this badly, don’t you?” He says on his exhale of breath after he groaned and slid one finger into me.

I can’t answer, I’m to busy moving my hips to get more and moaning into his neck where I moved so I could lick and suck on the vein that’s pulsing there. That stopped and I had no choice but to answer when he withdrew his finger at the same time as grabbing my hair and tugging my head back.

“Tell me you need me.” He demanded in a voice that is raw with hunger and lust.

My face scrunches up with the effort to resist giving in while the throbbing ache inside of me just increases when he flicks his thumb lightly over the swollen nub of my clit. He wasn’t giving in and the throbbing just got worse.

“Sí, maldición. Te necesito ... Quiero decir ... Necesito esto.” I cried out in desperation.

That desperate cry out was turned into a gasp of pleasure once again as he slid not just one finger, but two firmly into me. He pulled my hair again to bring my mouth back to his and swallowed the rest of my cries.

Between the sound of his fingers pumping into my wetness, there was also the sound of his pleased rumblings and my muffled moans. Even as I was building to the release I desperately needed I was also feeling disappointment and longing for more.

Eric tore away from the kiss and held my eyes. “Let go for me, Devi. Come for me now, little one.” His tone was soft but it was all command in delivery. With the power of his own fierce need for me.

I saw this behind the intensity of his eyes that were glittering with it. I felt it in the way he held me in his arms and felt the way he worked to control his body, the clinch, and release of the muscles where they came into contact with me. His labored breathing that had the faint growl under it coming from a face tightened by need.

It wasn’t my words being returned but it was just as potent and it pushed me over that edge I had been hanging on to. My body shook as my voice rang out my pleasure.

“Fuck….yes.” Eric ground out loudly, almost as if he had just come undone himself. He kept pumping in me until I clenched my thighs a little and whimpered with the sensitivity that I started to feel.

He slowed and then pulled his fingers out, kissing me the entire time. I could feel his smile against my lips. I can feel the thud of his heart where I have my hand against his chest and it tells me that he was just as affected by all that as I was.

We start to kiss in a slower, more sensual manner when the door swings open with a thud. I jerk back in surprise and wrench my head around to see who it might be. Marlene stands there with wide eyes, looking between the two of us in surprise before her expression turns frightened and she stammers over her explanation. I can only imagine the glare being sent her way by Eric right now.

“Sorry...you just...not answering….they’re on their way in...sorry…” She got out in a jumble before she slams the door shut behind her.

“Shit,” Eric mumbles with a sigh.

I turn back to look at him after staring dumbly at the closed door, wondering how long it’s going to take for this tale to circulate Dauntless. I catch Eric just as he lifted his hand to his mouth and sucks his fingers clean and grins widely at my wide eyes and whimper.

“It’ll have to do until I can get a taste straight from the source.” He leaned in and whispered just above my lips before kissing me again.

I flush, moan and clench my thighs together all at the same time as I wrap my arms around his neck and lose myself in his kiss again. We only breakaway when his phone buzzes loudly from its place on his desk.

Eric grunts in disapproval but lets me pull back.

“I still expect you at lunch.” He remarks casually but with narrowed eyes.

I huff and squinted mine right back at him. “Threatening people is not the way to do things.”

He gives a wicked chuckle and shakes his head. “Yeah? It seems to have worked just fucking fine for me before.”

I scowl and push him back as I try to get down from his desk but he grips my hips with a mocking lifted an eyebrow.

“No conmigo, no lo harás. Te lo dije antes, no soy una de esas chicas estúpidas …”

He reaches up and grabs my face, all humor has gone as he interrupts me. “And I’ve told you that you are different too. I never dated or even considered dating any of the girls before you. You alone can say this, Devi.”

My mind is a blank in shock, unable to process this. Somewhere in my mind, I hear yelling for me to say something instead of looking like an idiota. My mind finally kickstarts and I frown at him.

“When did this happen?” I ask him with a scowl.

“What did you think has been happening for the last few days?”

“You being an insufferable, demanding ass is what I thought. Never once did you ask me on a date, Eric.”

“Me making us breakfast, me taking on your training myself and taking time off to do it so I could show you how important you are to me. Lunches and dinner together. Those were dates, Devi.”

Of course, Eric would be the type to see those as dates.

I roll my eyes and shove harder this time. “By your definition, they might be. You didn’t even ask me, Eric. You commanded me to be there. I had no choice in the matter. Maybe all those other girls would just be happy to have a minute of your time but I like to have a say in the matter.”

“You had a choice. Four gave you one, and if you had looked like you wanted to take it, I would have known. But you didn’t, Devi. Tell me why you didn’t take the out he gave you if you didn’t want that time with me just as much as I wanted it with you?”

I start to walk around his desk and avoiding answering the question while searching for the keys I know I left my apartment with. I train my eyes on the floor while he follows closely behind me.

When he gets the idea that I’m ignoring him and his question he grabs my arm to stop me.

“Tell me you don’t want to see me. That you don’t want this.” He barks out when he spins me to face him.

“I do dammit! Alright! But you can’t just force me, or think it’s ok to not ask the question, Eric. It’s not okay to just think that what you consider a date is what I consider a date. Did you even think that I might not want to spend an entire day being physically punished and interrogated as well? That if I’m going to go out on a limb here with you and do this dating thing that I’ve sworn never to do again, that I might want some kind of say in it?”

Eric looks thunderstruck for a moment before he pulls me closer and frowns. “I spent time with you in the only way I could justify taking off from the crapton of work I’m under, Devi. I wanted and needed to get to know you better, and that’s my way of doing it. I’m never going to be some soft guy that’s going to sing to you or make love to you under the stars. But I’m also not going to be that guy that will start something with you only as a way to pass time until something better comes along. You aren’t the only one that has the market cornered on fucked up past relationships.”

“How would I know that about you, Eric? You know about me because you forced the answers from me but when did I get a chance to find out anything about you like that? You made me answer those questions but refused to do the same for me. This has all been on your terms.” I spot my keys by the sofa and pull from his grasp to scoop them up. “You wanted to get to know me? Well now you have, and you should have no problem understanding how I feel about having no say in my life.”

He’s still standing there, scowling at me when I open and slip out of the door.

My progress back to my apartment isn’t much better than the way I made it from there this morning. The entire time I’m walking I try to keep myself from hyperventilating or screaming or punching something….maybe all three things at once.

The entire time I’m getting ready for work one phrase keeps running through my mind. The lines of a song Sadie had played on repeat for the first month after a breakup from her last boyfriend.

‘I’m sitting eyes wide open and I got one thing stuck in my mind. Wondering if I dodged a bullet or just lost the love of my life. What is happening to me….’

Fuck...what is happening to me?

#fanfiction #divergent fanfiction #eric coulter fanfiction #divergent au #eric x oc #romance #smut #fluff #angst #eric coulter #oc #jai courtney #diane guerrero

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