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kiame-sama · 4 years

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28 years (1st pregnancy)- Yandere!Silva x Reader (tiny lime)

One of you lovies, requested to know what I think Silva acted like during the first pregnancy in 28 Years! I am currently working on part 3 of 28 years and should have it out sometime soon, but for now, here's the backstory of when Illumi was born! If you would like more from this vein, perhaps I'll just make 28 years into a full-blooded story!

Warnings; mention of blood, protective Silva, mention of adult themes from '28 Years', the struggles of pregnancy, mention of abusive behavior, hypersensitivity, surprisingly fluffy moments, a bit of ooc, Silva's depravity, creepy moments, ANGST, tiny lime moment, milk (women do produce it during pregnancy, after all), MORE ANGST, mention of depression,

~~~~~~

That night, after the female doctor checked you and confirmed you were pregnant, almost everything changed.

She had confirmed you were pregnant after her initial inspection and was promptly told to leave. Quickly following, you had fallen back into a fitful sleep, tired from your sudden sickness and the realization that you were carrying this monster's infant.

You woke up several hours later in your bed, feeling more well rested than you had in years. The room from the beginning had been rather sparsely decorated and had a few modest blankets over the slightly uncomfortable bed.

But now, everything was different.

The bed beneath you was unbelievably soft and plush. It was far more comfortable than it had been before, practically enveloping your body and supporting you. It was covered with a heavenly cloth that was what you assumed to be some kind of high-grade material that you could never afford. Many blankets and similar items had been added during your nap, and they now wrap around your figure comfortably.

Shelves, drawers, and other such things had been added to the room as well. You quickly noticed that all sharp corners and hard edges on the furniture had been sanded smooth. The hard floor had been covered with what looked to be unbelievably soft carpet.

It stunned you and you almost got up before voices came close, quickly pretending you were asleep, making sure to keep your breaths even.

"-stays comfortable. If I didn't know better, I would say you've become more than just interested in her, Silva."

"I told you from the first day she arrived, I have no intention of leaving or losing her."

"Your children are next in the Zoldyck line, so they should carry on the family business and name."

"I'm not losing her to anything, old-man. I'm not losing her to illness. I'm not letting her go. And I'm not losing her life for an heir."

"Her having your child proves she is yours and only yours, doesn't it?"

"..."

"That's what you want, isn't it? That's what you've wanted from the moment you first laid eyes on her. You've wanted her to belong to you, to love you, to worship you like you do to her. You want her to fear you enough to respect your authority, but refuse to actually lay a harmful hand on her. You need her like a drug so you refuse to let her go. You don't want to lose her? Then don't."

"..."

After another moment of silence, you heard the door to your room open for a moment before before gently closing, Silva likely checking in on you. It was odd, as he didn't usually show much concern for your desires or comfort. He would take you when he wished even if you didn't want him to, he always had that strong chain keeping you from being able to reach the door or window, he hardly cared if you wanted to leave or wanted him to leave.

But now it sounded like your captor showed more concern for you than he had initially let on. You had been so scared that he would truly kill you if you didn't obey, but Zeno is making it seem like Silva would never actually harm you like that. He likely needed you more than even he thought, so he refuses to bargain your health for anything.

"Fine. But I'm not taking contracts while she is pregnant."

"That's fine."

"And if it is between her life or the infant's, there is no question that I will choose for her to live. If she dies and the child lives, I'll kill it myself."

You shivered at the sudden dark tone that his voice had taken and you tried not to flinch or react when the door opened again. You couldn't hear the approaching footsteps but you continued your act, laying as still and relaxed as you possibly could. Just because you knew he wouldn't kill you now, doesn't mean you wanted to push him that far just to test it out.

If he thought you were resting, you may learn even more on how you might escape or what you could use to your advantage. For a moment you considered holding the life of the infant hostage, but it was clear he didn't care about the child enough to release you. That thought, however, quickly left your mind as you knew it wouldn't work and you didn't want to draw an innocent life into it.

The child may be of your captor, but an infant shouldn't bear the sins of the parent. If you really were stuck here, why would you ever allow the child to be hurt by your hands? No. As long as you could help it, your child will be safe from their dangerous father and will be protected in your arms.

The bed slightly slumped somewhere near your body as Silva sat down. You knew it was him from the moment the door had opened, but the slight trailing touch on your shoulder confirmed it. Silva barely allowed the female doctor to touch you, so of course he wouldn't let Zeno touch you.

"It seems you truly do care for the woman. At first it seemed that this was just lust, but that isn't it. You love this woman, don't you?"

"... Yes."

The sudden voice of Zeno almost made you jolt as it seems both assassins were in the room with you. Silva was closer to you, judging by the volume of his voice. Another soft touch on your shoulder slightly soothed you, as you were feeling more than a little starved for gentle contact.

You let yourself enjoy the moment, even if it was gentle affection from the man who destroyed your life. The continued gentle action made you actually slip into sleep, resting easy even with two killers nearby.

~~~~~~

You were around three months into your pregnancy and you almost felt like you were actually in a relationship with the terrifying man.

Almost.

You were still collared and your collar was still attached to a chain. You weren't allowed to go outside, no matter how many times or what way you asked.

Beyond that, however, Silva was more accommodating and gentle with you. He no longer took you against your will anymore, instead he held you close and had you sit on his lap. You weren't ecstatic about being forced to cuddle with him, but it was better than the alternative.

He spent almost all of his time with you, needing some kind of contact with you at all times. You faintly assumed it was his way of satisfying his need for you that didn't involve fucking you.

You were currently seated upon his lap, reading a book from the many he had left in the room for you. It was some kind of adventure book, but you weren't really paying attention. As you went to flip to the next page, a sudden pain in your abdomen forced you to drop it, letting out a light cry of pain.

"What? What's wrong? Answer me!"

You felt his form rigid beneath you, one of his hands on your thigh and the other on your stomach. You shook your head, getting your breath back from being so suddenly winded by the sharp pain.

"It's done... It's done..."

"What is?"

"The pain... It's gone..."

"What happened?"

Silva's voice was a low growl and his grip on your leg tightened slightly. He seemed more stressed than you were at that moment and you hesitantly rested your hands over his. At the warmth of your hands he slowly relaxed, frowning in displeasure.

"I don't know what happened. It's probably nothing."

"I'm having your doctor check you."

"I said it's nothing."

"And I say you are going to be checked. I already dislike the pregnancy, I'm not going to let you die and leave me because of it."

He moved to set you gently on the couch as he left to retrieve the kind doctor.

You almost wanted to sigh in displeasure at the idea. Though you appreciated your doctor you felt like you had seen her almost every day.

Her name was Kikyo and she served two roles at the Zoldyck estate. The first being your doctor, as she was well versed in medicine. The second being your decoy.

Apparently her family tried to set her up with Silva and quickly abandoned her afterwards. Zeno often refered to her with a cruel title, "that useless woman," as she was infertile. Her family had been slaughtered for daring to try and trick them, and only by her medical abilities was she saved from suffering the same fate.

Shortly after she arrived at the estate, Silva had brought you in as well. She was the only female there who had medical experience and so she was spared under the condition of playing her two roles.

As your doctor, she obviously took over your primary care. As your stand-in, she was the one who attended meetings and other things of the like to seem like she was married to Silva. Others only saw her and not you, meaning she would be targeted should anyone try to attack the family.

You had made a pact with her, that if anything should happen to you, she would take your child and run. She couldn't have children and you could never leave. You both suffered something and so, you both connected on a different level. Outside of other Zoldycks, she was the only one allowed to come see you.

She was an unlikely friend in your dark new life. You took comfort in her presence and she took comfort in yours. Though you two barely got to speak due to Silva's possessive behavior, you had both formed a near unbreakable friendship.

You looked up when the door opened once more, Silva entering followed closely by Kikyo. You kept a calm facade as you knew that Silva would become jealous should you show excitement upon seeing her, and you would rather not risk the life of your friend.

"What's happening?"

"Sudden sharp pain. It didn't last long, but it certainly was there."

"Centered around the stomach?"

"Yes."

You sat as still as possible, feeling Silva's eyes bore into you from across the room as Kikyo examined you. She gently lifted your loose shirt to prod gently at your stomach. You let out a small squeak of pain when she put light pressure in a certain spot, making her focus on that area.

"It just started today?"

"Yeah..."

"And localized around here primarily?"

"Yes."

"Hm... Might have to preform an ultrasound to see what's going on. Women are more likely to lose their child around the end of the first trimester at three months in. Could be the embryotic sack has been punctured, or it is just a simple pain of your body adjusting to the child. Regardless, it should be checked."

You nodded and she stood, looking over at Silva.

"Sir, I will need to retrieve the ultrasound equipment. Likely should do it soon since these pains can indicate something life-threatening to both her and the-"

"Stay here. I will send out others to retrieve it immediately."

Kikyo nodded and returned to kneeling in front of you, continuing her examination of your slightly swelling stomach. Silva paused at the door, only for a moment and looked back at you and Kikyo, his eyes cold as the darkest ice.

"If she dies or if anything happens to her, I will torture you for days on end and flay you alive. Understood?"

"... Yes, sir."

With that he left, closing the door behind him. You wasted no time in resting your hands on her shoulders and pulling her into a hug, both to comfort her and yourself.

"I wish he didn't threaten you, I'm so sorry..."

"It's not your fault. We were both thrown unwillingly into this life. We didn't choose this, it was chosen for us. I'm just glad I can help in whatever way I can."

~~~~~~

Five months in and you were already so sick of it. Sick of being stuck in a room. Sick of being told to sit down and rest. Sick of having cravings. All of it.

Pickles and chocolate sauce? Watermelon and pretzels? And damn it, you could barely remember things at times. SIMPLE things. And not to mention all of the tossing and turning because nothing was comfortable anymore.

And the mood-swings. Oh hell, the mood-swings. You can be happily pacing as you've taken to recently, but the moment Silva tells you to sit and rest you're sobbing hysterically or shouting at him. Your faintly surprised he hasn't retaliated or snapped at you. No, he just stays infuriatingly calm and holds you until you calm down or pass out.

It was surprisingly more comfortable to sit on him than the couch or bed, as the way you can lean back and still have support around your stomach did wonders for the back pain.

You leaned back against the warm chest behind you, wanting to just sleep and relax instead of pacing as you usually did. You were starting to slip into sleep when you tugged at your shirt, feeling a wet sensation on your chest.

You opened your eyes to snap at Silva for toying with you, but his hands were resting beneath your stomach. A small bit of confusion sparked in your tired mind so you reached up to examine your shirt. Indeed, there were two wet spots on your shirt.

Out of confusion and lack of caring, you lifted your top completely to examine your chest. To your surprise, white liquid was beading up on your breasts.

"What the hell..?"

Your question drew Silva's attention, making him lean forward to see what you were looking at.

"Seems you've started producing milk early."

"But... That isn't supposed to happen until right before the baby's born..."

"It can happen early... Sometimes months early."

One hand slowly trailed up your stomach, making you shiver in stress. His movement was so slow and sensual that you felt worried he would try something, seeing as he had left you alone for months now. You let out a soft whimper when he cupped your chest, thumb gathering the liquid.

He growled at your whimper, retracting his hand from you and licking the cream off of his thumb. His pupils were fully dilated and focused only on you. He was snapped out of his trance-like state when you protectively wrapped your arms around your stomach.

He stopped himself and frowned, letting his hands rest where they had been, the lust was clear in his eyes. It seemed to be ripping him to pieces to have to resist touching you. His eyes trailed to your stomach and you could have sworn you saw hate in them. When he spoke next, it was softer, gentler. Almost like a low croon.

"You know... I have no intention of sharing you with anyone. No one gets to touch you like I do and no one should even lay their eyes on you other than me. Do you know what I thought when I saw you for the first time?"

"..."

"I thought I had died and actually woke up in the afterlife. I don't believe in any of that, even if my great-grandfather does. But I honestly thought you were an angel."

"..what-?"

"From that moment I knew I had to have you. To hold you. To keep you in my arms. I knew I wasn't going to share you with anyone or let anyone take you from me. So I clipped your wings. Now my angel can't fly away from me. Now you're for my eyes only."

His low voice in your ear made a whimper escape your lips, very suddenly feeling unsafe in his arms. You slowly wrapped your arms around you, moving your hands beneath his, not wanting him to touch your stomach anymore.

His eyes flickered for only a moment, to you stomach and then back at you, a displeased look in his eyes. You began to feel more attached to the life growing within you, now wanting to keep both you and your child safe from the man who claimed to love you.

~~~~~~

Eight months.

Eight long months.

You've begun to notice how Silva has been acting more and more aggressive than usual. He is becoming visibly irate whenever he looks at your stomach, seeming to dislike how he had to leave you alone. He was antsy, he was impatient, he wanted nothing to do with the impending arrival of the infant.

It was only now that you realized what could happen to you. Silva already disliked the child and he had spoken many times about refusing to share you. The child you have been trying so hard to protect would be taken from you.

You just knew it. He would never let you keep your baby.

You began to refuse to let him touch your stomach. You refused to let him hold you. When you would sleep, you did so on your side, facing away from him.

Your actions seemed to bother him in a whole new way. At one point, he seemed to be affectionate towards the life inside of you, even waking you in the night while speaking to it. But now, he was a completely different person.

It seemed he disliked sharing your attention with the soon to be born infant. Like he no longer saw it as a way to possess you, but a threat to his time with you. A threat to him.

Your actions of turning away from him only made it worse. Instead of protecting the child, you only made him begin to loathe it. It threatened him now, and it was taking the attention he felt entitled to.

You worried what would happen when the child was finally born.

~~~~~~

The unconscious woman awoke with a start, panting heavily and looking around. She was in bed. The lights in the room were turned off, and a figure slept next to her.

The first thing she noticed was that her stomach was no longer as extended as it had once been. An emptiness within that made a whimper escape her lips. Her hand resting over her stomach.

"You're awake."

A deep voice from the figure beside her rumbled out, slowly sitting up.

"Where is he?"

"Who?"

"You know who! Where is my baby?"

"..."

"Damn it, answer me!"

"Dead. Died during birth."

The world shattered in that moment. Nothing was real. Nothing made sense.

"I don't believe you... I don't believe you! You killed him didn't you!?"

"(Y/n), stop. This isn't-"

"I heard him cry. I know my baby didn't die during birth. I heard him cry."

The tense silence was nearly deafening, only to be broken by sobs as her anger gave way to crushing grief.

"(Y/n)-"

"Don't touch me you murderer! You killed my baby! You couldn't stand me looking at anyone but you, so you killed him!"

"I did not kill the infant-"

"Stop lying to me!"

She slowly stumbled out of bed, covering her eyes and sobbing. Silva let her go, knowing she would react this way. Of course, he could have told her that the child survived, and the both of them almost died after she gave birth. But he didn't want her to know the child was still alive.

He believed lying to her was more merciful so she could move on faster. But, if she learns the child is still alive, she will never let it go.

But he was wrong. He was so wrong. It had been weeks, and still she wept. Still she paced. Still she pulled on her chain desperately towards the door, hand stretched out as far as possible.

She refused to be consoled, practically feral every time he tried to touch her. She suffered. She would sit for hours, nearly choking herself in attempts to get out to search for any sign of her child being alive. She would pace with empty eyes, arms wrapped around herself as if to try and keep it together.

She was lost. She wailed until her voice was gone. She clawed at him until his arms bled- a rather impressive feat on its own- leaving scars behind.

Then, three weeks after being separated from her child, she disappeared. Her collar on the floor, door open, and nowhere in sight.

"No one saw her leave!? All of you, eyes everywhere and not one of you saw her get out?! Search for her. Now. If any of you dare come back empty-handed I will slaughter all of you."

The butlers scrambled and scurried from the room like rats, all terrified to look back at those cold blue eyes.

"Where is the infant?"

"She wanted him to be named Illumi, and he's in the nursery. She didn't take him. I doubt she even knew he was still alive."

"She's convinced that he is."

"And she's right. It was a foolish mistake to take him from her. She-"

Silva's fist silenced the chastising words of his father, the very wall cracking and breaking. His hand was sunk into the concrete and the metal behind it was bending under the pressure. He had done it with his own raw strength and rage at his little darling being allowed to slip away. He didn't use his Nen, but his bare hand.

"I know. I'm well aware it was foolish. But someone let her out."

"What do you mean?"

"She was set loose by someone. The collar was opened, not torn. The door was unlocked, not burst open. Her tracker was removed, by someone who knew it was there."

"Someone helped her escape."

The soft sound of heels clicking against the ground drew the attention of the two men. Kikyo had arrived.

"There is no blood in the room. So she wasn't taken by force. There were no prints either. Nothing but her own. There is a slight residue left behind, likely from disposable gloves. She was let out by someone who knew what they were doing. Whoever it was likely told her the true fate of her infant."

"If that's so, why didn't she take him?"

"Perhaps she knew not to. She could have assumed that the child is alive somewhere else, or she could believe that the child is safer if she didn't take him."

Silva was about to turn his rage against Kikyo before a soft knock sounded. Silva did not move from his spot, fist still sunken deep within the wall. Zeno was the one to open the door and receive the news, knowing what would result the moment Silva heard it.

"She's been located."

"Where?"

~~~~~~

Empty eyes.

Devoid of light, of emotion, of anyone still left within.

Like a doll with all of the stuffing having been torn out. She doesn't move anymore. She doesn't eat. She doesn't make a single sound.

She sits with her knees pulled up to her chest, her arms around them. She hasn't blinked for who knows how long. Her arms and legs covered in blooming purple marks shaped like hands. She doesn't even cry anymore.

"What is wrong with her? Answer me now."

"She's checked out completely."

"The hell does that mean?"

"It means she's so mentally, physically, and emotionally broken she's not there anymore. Maybe deep inside, buried away, but that isn't her anymore. Humans can withstand many things that should kill them. But those who go through extreme loss, or abuse-"

The doctor was cut off, a hand wrapped tightly around her neck, causing her to choke. She tried weakly to claw at the iron grip, though her nails didn't even break the skin.

"Choose your next words wisely. I do not abuse my wife. She needed to learn that running from me solves nothing for her. It only results in suffering to leave. She will not leave again. And if she doesn't leave, she won't be hurt again."

With that he dropped the choking woman to the ground, watching with cold eyes as she gasped and fought to breathe. Still, the woman in the corner did not move, her eyes staring through everyone. She was gaunt, pale, and seemed lifeless.

"She won't come back. Not on her own. You say you taught her to not run? She won't. Not anymore. She isn't even in there anymore to think about running."

Even in his anger, he knew she was right. He knew he had gone too far. He knew his little wife was broken. He hadn't intended on pushing her that far or harming her as he did. Her flame was gone. Her eyes were empty.

That was not his angel. That was a shell.

"Then how do I fix it?"

"I don't know."

"How do I fix it!?"

"I don't know!"

The cry of an infant was heard clearly throughout the room, nearly echoing off the walls. It had come from the door that led out of the cell, and was getting louder.

"What the hell is that old fool doing? Does he honestly think bringing that thing will help-"

"Baby?"

A croaking and strained voice met Silva's ears, silencing him and drawing his complete attention.

She had moved.

She could barely crawl, let alone walk, but still she was drawn to the door, like a moth to a flame. She reached the length of the chain and still kept trying to reach the door, whining in desperation.

"Baby..! My baby..!"

Her voice was strained and gasping but still she extended her arms as far as she could reach, choking herself with the collar. Then it finally opened as Zeno entered, a swaddling of blankets in his arms fussing and crying.

"Baby! BABY!"

Her voice was screeching at this point, fingers tense with stained muscles, all of her energy focused on reaching out to the tiny life in the arms of the elder. He did not hesitate to place the crying infant into her arms, allowing her to retreat to her corner with the bundle held close.

Curling her body protectively, she gently moved the blankets from the face of her child. A soft cooing noise coming from deep within her as she rocked the infant.

"My baby... My Illumi... My light..."

She continued to coo low hums and soft whispering to the now quiet child. Her entire being seeming to strain and hurt, but she still smiled, rocking the infant slowly.

Zeno then joined the two who were silenced by the sudden revitalization of the previously broken woman.

"How did you know that would work?"

"Boy, do you think you're the only one in the entire family who has found someone this precious to them? It tends to run in the family. Yes, you went too far. We all did. Wonder why you're an only child? Why I am an only child? The only difference is she was able to be brought back, and you had better not do it again, do you hear me? You don't know what that loss truly feels like. It will destroy you if you let it. I didn't let it. My father did."

There was a silence in the air at the revelation. The realization of what could happen and what has happened.

"You do not harm her again, because she won't survive it. You will not take that child away until she has healed. And you damn well won't allow this to happen again."

The gentle cooing continued, followed by soft sounds of an infant babbling. Small hands rest against the pale (s/c) cheeks of his mother, large doll eyes gazing up intelligently. He knew who she was. He had heard her voice many times. She was comfort, and her heartbeat gently pulled him into sleep.

"Baby... My baby."

Her soft words carried as she curled on her side, cradling the infant and using her arms as a bed. Her back turned to the others, facing the corner and humming softly, joining the infant in slumber.

"I won't let her get like this again."

#Silva Zoldyck #hxh silva #Silva #daddy silva #silva x reader #yandere #yandere silva x reader #yandere silva #Female reader #fem reader #pregnant reader

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jenovahh · 3 years

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The Honey Pot - Ch. 26 - Irrational

“Oh thank the Twelve, you’re coming to.”

Blinking your eyes, you feel like you’ve been floating in space and have finally come down to earth, your limbs feeling heavy after being suspended in zero-gravity. You’ve been passing out too much lately you think, circumstances be damned.

Milky eyes that belong to a powdery face come into focus, Merlwyb the picture of worry as she calls for a doctor to check on your condition.

“Chief Merlwyb?” you cough, a glass of water held in front of you before you can even ask, Merlwyb slipping a straw inside and gently holding it towards your face. Mumbling a word of thanks, you take a sip, the water refreshing and quenching as you nearly down the whole cup until Merlwyb draws it away.

“I think you should slow it down. From what I understand, they were having to reintroduce you to food.” Merlwyb murmurs, setting the cup down on a nearby nightstand. Taking a look around you’re back in the same makeshift sick room within Cid’s mansion, IV hooked up to your arm as it pumps you full of whatever is in the bag attached to it. The doctor shows up soon enough, giving you a quick once over as she makes sure you’re on the mend.

As the doctor asks you a few questions, you notice Merlwyb looking incredibly guilty, wondering if she really feels so bad you had gotten captured. Surely she can’t be beating herself up over that?

“And if I may ask,” the doctor begins but Merlwyb holds up a hand gently.

“If it is alright with you doctor, I would like to speak to my officer about this alone.” Merlwyb interrupts, the doctor giving a nod of understanding, saying nothing more as she exits the room. Turning to you, Merlwyb’s fists are clenched tightly in her lap, and you get too worried to keep your peace.

“Is everything okay?” you ask with a broken laugh. “I mean, I know it was scary, Varis locking me up, but I’m okay. I’m okay.” You grin, reaching out to try to console her but she jerks away. “Chief,”

“Do not call me that.” She bites out, the harshness of her voice shocking you. A little hurt, you begin to question what you could’ve done to warrant such a flip in her attitude, until you see she is shaking with unshed tears, liquid pooling in the corners of her eyes as she finally gains the will to meet you eye to eye. “Do not refer to me with such respect after I’ve failed you so catastrophically.”

Confused, you shift to try and sit up a little better. “Chief Merlwyb, what do you mean? I thought we went over all the risks at the start! We knew that this would be a dangerous job,”

“The job would be dangerous, yes! But never would I have made you become pregnant with that bastard’s child!” She cries, tears finally running down her face. You sit in perfect stillness, unsure what to say. Faced with the reality of having to explain that you were not only pregnant with Zenos’ child, but that you didn’t even feel bad about it. When Varis had revealed that same fact to you, you didn’t even care.

“We sent you to simply try and catch his son in the act. To give us any kind of proof of illegal activity. Only to realize too late we had put you in that monster’s hands!” Merlwyb sobs, clutching your hands within her own. “When I had said that you must protect the mission at any cost, I never meant that you had to bear Varis’ child. That you would have to accept him forcing himself upon you.”

Eyes widening as you see the cause of her grief, you fumble to try and find your right words. “Chief, I...did the doctor,”

“The only one that knows is myself and Cid. Cid is busy preparing other avenues to try and handle Varis.” Merlwyb grumbles, over the worst of her crying. “He was appalled to learn of this, he had--”

“Please, please, stop right there.” You groan, sick at the thought of if things really had gotten to where they assumed they had. Taking a deep breath, you fix Merlwyb with a guilty look of your own. “Never would I have guessed the famed Annihilator to be a crier.” You joke weakly, watching as she seems to lighten the tiniest bit.

“Strong I may be, but I am not immune to the suffering of my officers.” She sniffs, rubbing your hands with her larger ones.

Looking at your hands joined together in your lap, you struggle on what to say next. “While I’m...glad you feel such concern with me...things didn’t get that far. Not with Varis.”

Brows furrowing, Merlwyb shifts closer to you in her seat. “What do you mean?”

Breathing deeply, you try to get everything out in one breath. “I will not deny it. What led to me being locked away was actually due to Varis trying to force himself on me.” Saying it nearly makes you throw up, tilting your head back as you take calming breaths. “He had drugged me with a substance mixed with aether rendering me unable to move. If his right hand man hadn’t shown up when he did...then he would have--” You nearly throw up again, having to keep the bile down as your body breaks out in a cold sweat.

“You don’t have to talk about this.” Merlwyb consoles, rubbing your back gently.

“No. Because I need to...I need to explain.” You sigh, feeling weary already. “What I’m trying to say is, Varis only tried to force himself on me before he locked me away. And...if my math is right, I should be a month or two along.” Placing a hand on your stomach, you rub it gently. “It’s not his.”

A mix of relief and worry passes through Merlwyb’s face, standing to her feet. “Thank the Twelve it isn’t so. I must tell Cid,”

“It’s Zenos’.” you cut off before she can even leave your side.

She stops in place immediately, shocked by your words as much as you are having said them. To put out in the universe you are carrying the child of someone you once thought a monster.

“Honey…” she whispers, sitting by your side once more. “Honey, did he,”

Shaking your head furiously, you refuse to meet her surely judgemental gaze. “No. I...it was consensual. Multiple times. I…” swallowing your fear, you press on. “I was so stressed from working for Varis, my health suffered. I stopped taking supplements, vitamins, and my birth control. I had met with Zenos that day when Raubahn died and one thing led to another.”

As tears leak from your eyes as you finally give voice to your shame, you still cannot bear to face her scorn. “I tried to hate him. I tried to hate him for so long, but he…” you sob, wiping furiously at your tears, “he’s the only one that understands me. The only one who’s strong enough, the only one who makes me happy. I didn’t even blink when Varis told me I was pregnant with his kid, I didn’t even feel sad. How fucked up am I for falling for him?!” You laugh, the sound broken and mangled. “I’m a failure to the mission, Raubahn would be ashamed--”

Merlwyb crushes you in her arms, ceasing your downward spiral. She says nothing, merely holding you tightly as your tears catch in her shirt, clutching you tight as she buries her face in your hair. “Honey...no matter what I better not hear such self deprecating language from you ever again.” She whispers, stroking your head softly. “Raubahn would be proud. You’ve survived. You are alive. And that’s all we ever wanted. For you to come home.”

“But I--”

“No ‘buts’.” She interjects, pulling away to give you the stern look you had known her for. “Not to throw him under the bus, but Cid had already filled me in on your entanglement with his bodyguard and Zenos respectively. I can’t lie that at first I was alarmed, but when he recounted all the trauma he had known you had gone through, how he could see you warp and change...I could not think to hold it against you. And neither would Raubahn.”

You weep thankful tears at her words, a weight lifted from your shoulders at her comfort. You embrace each other once more, wrapping yourself in the comfort of simply being held, knowing you both have been through the wringer these past few days.

Merlwyb notices your eyes begin to droop, promising to see you again when you wake up next. She would go off to find Cid and relay what you had told her in a calmer, less emotional fashion, sparing you the risk of potentially triggering yourself. You allow yourself a few more hours rest, drifting thoughtlessly as you have the most restful sleep you had in what had apparently been weeks.

Two weeks had Varis managed to stow you away, Cid and Merlwyb knowing something was wrong when they hadn’t heard hide or hair of you in two days. The phone Cid had given you had been confiscated and destroyed, giving them no idea on how to find you. They had been sick with worry with no way to find out what happened until Zenos had showed up on Cid’s doorstep in the dead of night, demanding that you be saved. Cid had immediately called for his personal doctor to begin treating you, bringing you to the present.

Even while you rest, your thoughts are too tumultuous to let you sleep long, the steady drip of your IV and the light buzz of the alarm clock on your nightstand your only companions when you wake. It is a few hours past midnight, the mansion quiet, but in a good way unlike the Galvus estate. There’s just enough white noise in the halls that gives a comfortable ambience, a home that is lived in, prompting you to drag yourself out of bed and into some slippers to walk a bit to maybe tire your mind a bit to go back to sleep.

Forced to drag your IV pump around with you, you shuffle down the hall, enjoying the peace as you let your feet aimlessly wander. Though you know Cid was prone to all nighters if he was knee deep in a project, something tells you he’s fast asleep. Making your way downstairs you enjoy the calm of his mansion at night, slipping past the many doors as you struggle to not bump your shin into any unsuspecting furniture.

As you pass through the living room, you hear grunting, looking through one of the many floor to ceiling windows to spot Zenos outside, running through his practice routines. His golden hair now looks to be made of spun ivory under the moonlight, muscles flexing with every movement as he swings his sword through the air. Each strike is precise, measured as he hones his skill, a fierce determination on his face as he snarls his frustration.

Heading to the sliding door, you gently push it open, the warm night air soothing you instantly as you stand in the doorway, watching him quietly. You’re surprised he’s yet to notice your presence, too focused on whatever he’s thinking about to catch you watching him. Leaning against the doorframe, you’re content to watch how his body flows effortlessly through each stance, dressed in his usual workout attire, clinging to him like a second skin.

It is only when he spins does he take note of you at the door, uncharacteristically startled before a shadow of guilt darkens his features. Frowning, you move to join him in the yard only for him to give you a look that promises retribution if you move from your spot at the door. “What are you doing here?”

Tutting, you stand up straight. “From what I heard, you brought me here.”

“That’s not what I,” he pauses, turning away from you for a moment. “I meant what are you doing outside? You should be inside, resting.”

“I was trying,” you grumble, stepping out onto the manicured grass, dragging the IV pump along uneven ground. He turns to you once more, unable to meet your eyes. “I couldn’t sleep, probably because I had spent the past two weeks being made to sleep. My body’s quite sick of it, I think.” You joke lightly, coming to stand before him.

He still won’t meet your gaze, which is strange in and of itself. Creeping closer, he shifts away and you frown, trying to peek under his fringe of hair. “Zenos? What’s the matter?” you ask, reaching out for his hand but he jerks it away.

“What do you want?” he snarls, eyes furious. Though you begin to get angry, you take a step back and look at the situation. Though your memories are hazy, you can remember his desperation to get you out of that facility. His worry at seeing you look so frail and weak. The guilt you had seen once he had realized you were there--

He was scared.

Lowering yourself to the ground, you can’t help but laugh a little at how he casts his sword to the ground while reaching to catch you in the same motion, uncaring of where his blade ends up. “I’m not dying, Zenos. I’m not falling apart.” you sigh wistfully, motioning to the ground for him to sit next to you.

Pursing his lips, he seems to debate between picking you up and carrying you back inside, versus giving into your whims. “You’ve not seen the horrors of my father’s experiments.” He answers instead, lowering himself to the cool grass to your side, one knee bent with the other leg extended before him. You relish in his slight intake of breath as you shuffle to be closer to him, leaning upon his warmth. It’s not too cool out, but the furnace that is his body isn’t unpleasant. “But I suppose for that, I am thankful.”

“I’ve not. And I’m glad I didn’t.” you murmur, relaxing immediately from his presence alone.

The two of you are quiet, Zenos stiff as if he does not know what to do with this nearness from you. “I...I’m glad I had found you in the condition I had. I had feared the worst.” he admits, which coming from him, is no small feat.

Gazing up at the moon, you rest your weight fully upon him, his arm naturally coming to support you and hold you close, almost as if on instinct. His hand seems unsure where to place itself, so you help by gently coaxing it to sling around your waist, linking your fingers with his. “He had told me so many horrible things. He told me how awfully he would treat you.” you murmur, satisfied to stay just like this.

“What did he tell you?”

His voice is guarded, cornered. Scared.

“He told me...that he forced himself on your mother.” You answer, unable to look him in the face.

He tenses then, skin heating before you tighten your grip on his hand, hearing his deep breaths behind you as he calms himself down. “The story the public knows is that my mother passed away due to sickness. Only a select few know the truth.” His voice is far away, distant, as if lost within a nightmare. “After all, it’s not really palatable to have it leak out that your father had threatened to have your mother killed if she tried to run. That when she felt she had no option left, she had killed herself.”

Gasping, you turn in his arms to look at him, finding nothing but an emotionless gaze staring back. You can see the truth in his eyes, a pain so guarded and so deep that you wonder if this is the first time he’s told anyone else. “Zenos,”

“After all, wouldn’t you do the same? Would you not burst into hysterics upon looking at the child you not only had forced upon you, but were also forced to bear?” he laughs humorlessly, as if the joke is tired and worn out, the punchline having lost its kick.

You wonder if he can hear your heart breaking.

“Zenos,” you whisper carefully, reaching with both hands to cup his face, feeling its warmth but a cold expression is all you get in return.

“I do not need your pity.” he snips, though he makes no move to push you away. “I’ve had my share of it. And for what? It would not bring my mother back. Not that she would want to stay anyway. Not when she gave birth to a monster.”

Tears pool in your eyes at his words, wondering how much he had of this locked up inside, and for how long?

How long had he not known love?

One of his hands reaches up to dab at a tear trailing down your cheek, frowning as he does so. “Why do you cry? I told you I didn’t want your pity.”

“I’m crying for you.” You murmur, turning in his hold to be on your knees, crowding closer to where he parts his legs more to give you room to sit between them. “Because you’ve not had the chance to do it for yourself.”

His lips part at that, emotions of all kinds warring on his face before he settles on anger. “You are a fool if you think that would change things.”

“I’m not trying to change things you idiot!” you whisper harshly, not wanting to yell and potentially wake anyone up. “You come and save me from being experimented upon by your father until I die and you don’t want me to show you I’m at least a little grateful? When I had started to believe that no one would come for me and you carried me out in your arms?”

“Sweet words won’t excuse your cowardice.” he growls, trying to pull away. “That even after you apologized, you had gone running back into my father’s arms.”

“For you!” You snap, clutching his face desperately.

Confused, he shakes his head. “What do you--”

“You think I would go back to the asshole willingly?” you seethe, begging him to understand. “That me, a cop, would want anything to do with his desire to be a dictator? To remember the good ole days of imperial rule?” Despite your earlier reservations, you raise your voice with every question. “Do you know how much it hurt to be apart from you? To see the betrayal in your eyes as I left your side for no other reason than to try and take your father down so you would be free from his influence? To fall for you--”

Your words catch in your throat, unable to take them back. The two of you only stare at one another, wide eyed and frozen as your unsaid words hang between you, wishing you could simply disappear. Zenos is solid as a board and your heart sinks, releasing his face as you begin to stand. “I should get back inside,”

He pulls you back to him forcefully, not letting you flee back to the safety of your room. You try to tug away but you’re still too weak to fight against his might, huffing and puffing for him to release you as you try to run from the shame of your actions. “Let go of me,” you whine, resisting his touch as he wraps his arm around you like a vice, refusing to let you go anywhere.

The rough pads of his fingers urge you to face him as you squirm in his arms, not wanting to face him, to face your feelings. “Honey.” He breathes, finally getting you at a suitable angle to press his lips to yours, ashamed at how easily you melt in his arms. He deepens the kiss, full of all the passion, the emotion you now know he’s capable of, threading his fingers into your hair as you rest your hands upon his chest before looping around his shoulders.

The kiss is all passion, all affection, all possession as your tongues dance together, as teeth nibble each other's lips, as you breathe each other's air. You fall into him just as easily as you did the first time, wondering how on earth did you get here? It is only when he feels you crying again does he pull apart, dabbing gently at your tears with an indescribable emotion upon his angelic features.

“You would run because you’re afraid of what you feel for me?” he asks, holding you as if you were made of the most delicate glass. The same man who had no problem flipping you over his back, grappling you like a wrestler, was now cradling you as if you were the most important thing in the world to him. “I have never run from how I feel for you, even if I cannot understand it. I have only wanted you. It can only be you.”

“You don’t get it!” You sob, pounding your fists on his chest. “I love you, you idiot! I was sent to try and take you and your father down and look where I am! I fell for you instead, I’m having your ch--” you stop yourself once again, afraid of what he would possibly think.

“I do not know love but I do know I would have no other. Is that not good enough?” he asks, desperate to understand, and Twelve above you wish he did. Perhaps he loves you in his own way, but there’s so much of him that needs healing, so many bad habits he needs to break before you could truly be by his side. It occurs to you only now that you looked at him through rose-tinted glasses, seeing nothing but the happiness he brought you, and you alone.

A child brings new questions into the mix.

Would he treat the child the same way he treated you? Would he fall into the bad habits of his father, having no good example of how to be a parent? Continuing a cycle of abuse because he had never known love? Would he train that child for the sole purpose of becoming stronger, unsatisfied until either of them fell in battle?

Deep down you knew you were being foolish, but fear overcame reason as you kept your eyes shut tight, crying against his chest as he held you. It was such an irrational fear, one you were completely self aware of, but that did not stop you from crying, nor did it stop you from falling into his embrace as he kissed you once more.

You are no stranger to Zenos’ touch, though you are a stranger to how gently he treats you as you recover from being detained by Varis. Only with your permission do you allow him to visit, except visitation is not satisfactory. He all but moves into your room, seeing to your needs during the day until he goes about his own business before returning to you at night. He’s always there to bring you your meals, sitting in comfortable silence or making light conversation, making you remember just how much you loved him, until he reminded you just how much you needed to run away when this was all over.

You only wish he knew how hard he was making it for you.

There wasn’t a need of yours that wasn’t seen to by Zenos personally. Whatever you wanted to eat, he went and got it. If you wanted to walk around, he was the one to pull your IV pump along, leaving you free to simply stretch your legs. From fluffing your pillow to simply being a warm body to hold at night, there was nothing he would not do for your sake.

This wasn’t going to be easy.

As you recuperated and strength once again flowed through your limbs, he turned into your physical therapist, helping you stretch your muscles and make you limber enough to fight again. He would only spar lightly at your request, making you feign exhaustion so he didn’t feel angry for making himself hold back. Naturally you made sure to avoid all blows to your abdominal area, flowing like water around his strikes, taking a more defensive approach, which you thought would make him angry.

It had the opposite effect. It seemed to only make him want you more, pursuing you like a man possessed, fucking you into the floor until your voice was hoarse from crying out his name.

This is how I got here in the first place, you grumble to yourself, walking with him to meet up with Cid and Merlwyb on another part of the estate. There was hardly a day he was not by your side, something you did not mind after spending so long apart, but you began to think it strange considering the circumstances. Varis had to be wondering where he was. But if Zenos was not worried, you figured you shouldn’t be either.

Reaching the conference room turned “briefing room”, you give a small wave to Cid and Merlwyb who greet you in return. “You’re looking better by the day, Honey. I’m glad to see you’re making a recovery.” Cid welcomes, standing from his chair to come give you a hug. You return it with equal measure, glad to have people on your side. “Please sit. We haven’t been waiting long.”

Nodding, you pull a chair out from the table, not at all surprised as Zenos takes a seat in the one directly next to you. “I’m sorry to delay everything for so long.”

“Your recovery was paramount, Honey.” Merlwyb speaks up, giving you a serious look. “You have shouldered so much of this upon your back. There is no way we could ask you to put your life on the line anymore than we already have.”

“But I want to. I want to take him down.” You insist, refusing to take no for an answer. Merlwyb looks ready to argue but Cid quickly interjects, physically leaning between the two of you.

“Easy there, ladies. We’ve got a common goal, and let’s just look at the facts before we start making plans.” Cid offers in the interest of neutrality, slowly sitting back down in his chair. “We’ve got quite a bit of information to catch Honey up on anyway.” He sighs, reaching for a remote and turning on the mounted TV. The screen is paused with Varis’ face on it, a news ticker reading “Varis Unveils Revolutionary Technology”, your heart immediately sinking.

“This has been on the news for nearly two weeks. Yes, it’s exactly what you’re thinking. Varis has revealed his ‘discovery’ of aether upon your capture.” Cid grounds out, clicking on the remote to start the clip. It is silent, but the clip continues to play, allowing Cid to speak. “It’s been a nightmare since. I’ve been called by more news outlets than I care to remember asking for my response.”

Sadness creeps into his features as he watches the TV with a forlorn expression. “As I had told you, my father’s laboratory had burned down, leaving me with no physical proof that it was he who originally discovered aether. All I have is my word against his ‘proof’.” Banging his fist against the table, he runs his hands through his hair. “It’s infuriating.”

Clicking the remote a different press conference plays on the TV, Varis showing off different bits of technology powered by aether. "He's got the public in the palm of his hand. Everyone's dazzled by the power of aether, but of course only we know the truth. We know that aether is not to be messed with, that it is dangerous and more powerful than we could possibly comprehend." Cid explains, tapping his fingers against the table. "I've considered trying to make my own sample, to show what a volatile resource it is…"

"We already discussed this Cid. Absolutely not." Merlwyb interjects. Their interaction comes as a slight surprise. Merlwyb was Cid’s senior by barely a decade, but within the past month they became fast friends. "Varis has already tried to take your life once and is already so sure of his victory that he's content to leave you alone for now. Let's not give him reason to try and take you out."

Nodding grimly, Cid turns back to you. "As you can see, we've got our hands tied. Varis is, if anything thorough, making it hard to plan any sort of move. We're running out of time."

Gnawing your lip, you find yourself focusing on what Merlwyb had said. "If...do you think he would try and target Lord Hien?" The room is completely silent, and you don’t know if it’s because they find the notion preposterous, or they wonder how the thought has never crossed their mind. “I mean, clearly Varis has to think he’s nigh untouchable now. He’s attempted to kill Cid once without facing any consequences. He successfully killed Raubahn and forced Merlwyb into hiding. Don’t you think…?”

Cid drags his hands over his face, heaving out a dry laugh. “Nymeia save me, I think you might be onto something.”

“But Cid, why would he need to kill Hien? The election is so close, he’s already done so much to make himself look like the ideal candidate. What more could killing Hien do for him?” Merlwyb questions, posing some good points.

“An easy win.”

The three of you turn to Zenos who has remained uncharacteristically quiet this entire exchange. “Honey has been around my father long enough by now to understand how he thinks. However, as his son,” he grounds out, “I have intimate knowledge of how his mind works.” Shifting in his seat, he sighs. “Before he had stopped telling me of his plans, he thought himself untouchable; he had evaded you all for decades.” He explains, looking pointedly at Merlwyb before his gaze shifts to Cid. “And the only one who could ever bring any evidence against him had no physical proof, nor the courage to say anything.”

Giving a frustrated sigh, Cid turns once again to the TV. “I can’t deny that. My own cowardice has allowed this to go on for as long as it has.” Cid murmurs, fidgeting with the remote in his hand.

“And if he were to kill Hien, who could stop him?” Zenos asks, glancing around the table. “The Chief has been killed, and the only other ‘good cop’ remains hidden for her own safety. Who is next in command to take Raubahn Aldynn’s place?”

You gasp, turning to Zenos. “Ilberd.”

Shrugging, the heir goes back to looking bored once again. “With his longtime supporter at the head of police, it would be no problem to have Hien’s death look like nothing more than an accident even if he shot him point blank on national television.”

“Twelve above…” Merlwyb whispers, burying her face in her hand. “Decades worth of planning. Decades worth of moves. I had always suspected Ilberd, but on this large a scale…” Gasping, her eyes widened in horror. “By the Twelve, he has the entire police force under his control. If he wins the seat, he would have an entire army--”

The room is silent once again, the three of you processing the scope of Varis’ plans. When he boasted of his intellect, you had thought little of it, knowing that like any businessman he was educated, but to be so thorough, to make the right connections, to plan this far ahead…

Clenching your fist, you stand to your feet. “We have to save Lord Hien.”

“I don’t disagree, but--”

“But what, Chief Merlwyb? I refuse to have another person die because of that bastard!” Your chest is heaving, Cid looking surprised at your outburst while Merlwyb maintains her composure, giving you a knowing look.

“Honey, please calm down.” She urges, reaching across the table to place her hand atop of your own. Something silent passes between the two of you and you take a few calming breaths, sitting back in your seat. “If you will allow me to finish, what I was trying to say is that this is not something we can go into guns blazing. We are dealing with a man who knows how to run circles around the law; this I know well. We will have to make a plan that is fool proof and draws no attention to us.” Her eyes turn to the heir sitting by your side. “Especially now that we’ve got his son on our side.”

At that Zenos fixes Merlwyb with a hot glare. “And where did you get the notion that I would be assisting you in any way, shape, or form?” Zenos asks, his voice even and neutral, but you can see the rage within his eyes.

“If you are not helping us, then why have you stayed here, Zenos?” Cid asks sternly.

“Is it not obvious?” Zenos scoffs, eyes upon you. “My only focus has been, and always will be Honey. But even then…” Something haunting passes through his eyes, seeming far away before coming back to the present. “...even then I could not aid you. I cannot go against my father, but I will no longer aid him either.” Standing to his feet, he prepares to leave but you snag his hand, giving him a pleading look.

“Zenos...I,” you begin, unsure what to say. “We could use your help.”

Shaking his head, he tugs his hand free and continues on his way, saying nothing else. Your heart breaks that much more to see him go.

Stewing in your thoughts a bit, you find yourself a bit hurt at Zenos’ refusal to take down his father, but try to think about it calmly. Given what he revealed to you, that his own mother did not want him, saw him as a monster, who knows what psychological damage had been done to him to make him unwilling to raise a hand against his father?

You’d make a point to ask him about it later, but for the time being, you needed to make a plan. “We’ll have to carry on without Zenos. He’s not against us, which is almost the same as being on our side. Trust me...if Zenos did truly serve his father and Varis had kept me hidden, the only being who can take Zenos down, Varis truly would be unstoppable.” Cid and Merlwyb nod grimly at your words, having no other choice. “Do we have any way of contacting Lord Hien?”

“I have his number due to working with him for the...rally. The only problem is he’s surely seen my funeral and thinks me dead.” Merlwyb answers, flipping through her phone.

“In that case, perhaps Cid can give a call, especially since he has the technology to make sure it isn’t tampered with.” You direct, having taken the lead. “We’ll call Lord Hien and apprise him of as much information as we can. If I have to go in and make the rescue myself, then so be it.”

“Absolutely not.” Cid interjects, eyebrows pinched together. “I will not have you shouldering this entire operation again. Besides, if you’re not familiar with Lord Hien, he’s got an excellent shadow of his own I hear. Yugiri, I believe her name is. What she lacks in your sheer strength she more than makes up for in stealth. In fact, she just might be our ticket to get Lord Hien to safety.”

Unfortunately, Lord Hien has other plans.

Cid contacts Hien as promised, relaying as much information in as little time as possible. Lord Hien expresses his concern and guilt for the recent happenings, and due to the credibility of your accusations, hears you out.

However, he will not escape.

“But Lord Hien,”

The three of you are seated in the same conference room, staring at the TV screen where current Kugane Prime Minister, Lord Hien sits staring back.

“I understand your concern, Mr. Garlond,” Hien pauses, handsome face deadly serious. “But this would be a terrible time to abandon the public. I would go as far to say that my sudden disappearance would only usher Varis into his seat faster.”

Biting your lip, you can’t deny he’s right, but still you worry. “But we can’t let him get to you either!”

“Do not worry for me, my friends.” Hien smiles, as if all will be well. “I did not say I won’t take safety measures. I will remain out of the public eye, and stay hidden with those who I know are loyal to me. These past few years as Prime Minister have allowed me the opportunity to gain many allies.” Hien explains calmly, pausing to take a sip of water. “This will also allow me to help you behind the scenes as well.”

“While we appreciate your aid, Lord Hien, this entire operation is contingent on you living. Will you not reconsider coming into our custody where we know we can protect you?” Merlwyb asks, sounding as strong as ever.

“The operation does not revolve around me, my friends. It revolves around Varis atoning for the crimes he has committed against the people.” Hien frowns, threading his hands together. “He has murdered civilians he is desperate to rule over. Lied and stolen from his constituents. While Kugane needs a good leader, yes, it does not have to be me.” Smiling, something about him makes you wish you knew that kind of calm. “While I appreciate that you want me to remain in my seat, what matters most is his crimes coming to light and being locked away for what he’s done.”

Unable to argue against that kind of logic, you merely stand from your seat. “I understand. I need a moment of rest, so if you will excuse me.”

Not stopping to hear what anyone has to say, you flee from the room, allowing your feet to carry you anywhere within the estate.

Lord Hien either put too much faith in you, or he was a fool.

His certainty that all would be well, that things would work out, where did it come from? You could see his appeal, a confident, easy going charisma backed by an unwavering sense of justice, of doing right by the people. All the things that Varis lacked, that would make Hien the ideal candidate for Kugane.

But he was right. No matter how ideal he was, what mattered most was making sure Varis did not come into power. Even if it meant Hien somehow died in the process.

It was a tough pill to swallow, that Lord Hien was so okay with being a willing target so long as Varis was brought to justice. It made you feel as if his life was in your hands, a deeper part of you whispering to trust in his words, that he would do his best to keep himself safe.

Coming to a stop to a door leading outside, you step out into warm, summer air, feeling the grass between your toes. Days like these did wonder for your mood, making sure you made a point to keep as much stress off of you as possible. With everything going on, it was hard to do, but Merlwyb had aided in that department, making sure you kept your temper in check for the sake of the child growing inside of you.

The thought of getting rid of it had occurred to you more than once, to simply rid yourself of all the “what ifs” and “maybes” and be done with it. But each time you did, you found yourself weakened by the thought of being able to give your child everything you didn’t have. To raise her with the same love and adoration in which Minfilia had raised you.

When this was all said and done, you would have plenty of time to make your escape. Perhaps you would flee to Eorzea, make a new life and name for yourself there. You doubt Zenos would care enough to spend time to track you down on another continent, making it the ideal place to start anew. You could get a new home. You could find a new job.

You could continue running away from the best thing to ever happen to you.

#FFXIV #ff14 #Final Fantasy XIV #zenos #zenos yae galvus #THP

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efrmellifer · 3 years

Text

A More Perfect Union

see also: A More Perfect Union in pictures

Borel Manor had been a quiet house. Had been, when it was functionally empty, with only the master of the house (fairly young when he had inherited it from his parents, and still not even middle aged), the mistress, their infant children, and sparse staff. Maybe an occasional guest, for a few nights at a time.

But now, for the first time in years, the house was closer to its capacity, several guest rooms full and the buzz of the occasion making the house practically glow.

The Domans had been the first to arrive, Hien coming back to Eorzea, but bringing his wife along this time (she too was returning, rather than visiting for the first time). But it wasn’t just the two of them that had come. No, Doma was left in the hands of some few advisors for a time while the prince, his wife, and one of his most trusted retainers came to Ishgard.

Of course Yugiri would be in attendance. How could she miss it?

Anyone who needed somewhere to stay in Ishgard for the wedding was welcome to a room if they preferred a house over Cloud Nine, so extra hands had been hired to make sure everywhere was in top shape, not a cobweb to be seen or a creaking floorboard to be heard.

Etien had contributed heavily, too, the same as she did for just about every project she ever got involved in, throwing her shoulder to the wheel. Of course, this time, it was to pick up a broom and tie a scarf around her nose and mouth so she could sweep out the years of dust, and (once they had been taken down for her) washing the beautiful blue curtains in all of the guest rooms.

So now the house was full and bustling during waking hours, conversations ringing off the walls in several languages, card games and rulesets from every corner of the world taking place around the tables, and a pot of tea (and coffee, naturally, even if Estinien had to brew it himself) was always sitting within arm’s reach. And when everyone slept, the house was heavy with the slow, deep breaths of so many.

Mid-day, with a few days left until the big day of the wedding, Aymeric and Etien stood on the stair landing to catch their breath, watching the blessed chaos on the floor below them.

“Are the children still asleep?” Aymeric asked.

“Surprisingly, yes,” Etien replied. “I set them in their cradles and they were out immediately.”

“This must be a lot for them.”

She sighed. “It would be a lot for anyone.”

He looked over at her, concern starting to color his expression. “Is it too much?”

She scanned the crowd again, looking at the last seven years of her life mapped in relationships, studying people she had never dared to hope might meet chatting away—sometimes with translators, sometimes just in shared tongues.

She smiled. “No. It’s not too much.”

***

Etien stood near the door of Saint Reymanaud’s, in front of a pane of stained glass, just thinking as the light pouring in tinted her dress and her skin blue. This, right here, was where she and Aymeric had had their first kiss. She’d been so nervous that day, scared to tell him how she felt—and that it was starting to feel like she had always felt this way about him.

Now, years later, several repetitions of this ceremony later, it still felt that way.

She played with the layers of her dress as she thought. The first time she had gone away, it had been after the first wedding. An elopement, a secret, just a quick consecration of the union so if the gods had been merciless and Etien had died, she wouldn’t be sent to Alder Springs. Not when she had a husband to receive her.

The second time had been after Ala Mhigo was freed, and it had been for Ishgard’s benefit, more than anything. It was time to make things official, and the church had been packed to the gills, but that was with the Scions and Ishgardian society. Much had been missing from what Etien wanted. And yet she had danced and feasted, because despite all that was absent, she was happy to say out loud that she and Aymeric were married.

The third time had been at the Sanctum of the Twelve, so that the Alliance had proof of a marriage (the paperwork had been lost during the disturbance caused by the loss of the Scions). It was a little more like the eternal bonding ceremonies of adventurers. She’d attended a few of those and always thought they were nice, so she had enjoyed having one of her own. This dress was from that wedding, actually. Etien liked it, too, though it had had to be altered, since last time she had worn it was before Betula and Landric were born.

This time was for… several things. It wouldn’t be long before points eastward once more called her—called them all—from the comfort of their lives to take up warriors’ mantles once more. But before it did, sh and Aymeric could celebrate once more the bond they shared—this time, with all their friends (and with their children) present. This time would more closely align with what Etien had wanted before.

“Etien? Is aught amiss?” Aymeric asked.

She turned from the window. “No—”

“Are you supposed to see the bride before the ceremony?”

He laughed, a bit surprised at Tataru’s hands-on-hips stance as she asked him.

“I thought it might be allowed, because this was simply a renewal. Though maybe I did want a sneaky first look before she came down the aisle.”

She smiled. “Come look, then.” She spread her arms as if summoning him for a hug. He came a little closer, taking her hands in his, so he could see the undersides of her sleeves, and then let her go.

“I suspect I had best get to my place, and Lord Edmont will be coming to bring you to yours soon.”

She nodded, wanting to ask for a kiss, but deciding that she could wait just a little bit longer. She folded her hands, coming away from the window to wait but remaining out of sight, standing tall (a ridiculous notion when she was about to have her diminutive stature emphasized). But as Aymeric had predicted, Edmont was at her side in a flash, the few bridesmaids and groomsmen standing nearby.

Estinien whispered in her ear, and got the back of her gloved hand to his stomach with a low “Estinien, shh,” before Edmont fixed the flowers at her ears, making sure her veil sat just right.

“Now, now, no fighting with the best man,” he tutted as he guided her hand to his elbow.

She sighed, settling.

“Nerves?”

She shook her head. “You?”

“Fortunately, no. This is not my first time walking you down the aisle, and after how well the last time went, what have I to be nervous about?”

They stood at the doors to the sanctuary, watching the guests starting to settle now that the doors had opened, the bridal party pairing up as they had to to make their entrances.

It was funny, this time there was genuinely a bride’s side and a groom’s side that ushers might have asked guests to choose to sit on.

Last time, had been different. Not worse, not better. Just different.

But now, to her right, there were knights, the members of the Houses of Lords and Commons, the Alliance leaders who had been indecisive about whom they were attending for but settled on sitting to the right, some dragonets sitting confusedly in the pews. To her left, there was a wide variety of people, all of whom she recognized—all of House Fortemps (including Toto, but not currently Edmont because he was with her), the Scions (Tataru had taken her seat again), R’hyli, Sorako, Oki, even Zenos looked fairly comfortable among the guests. And to cap it off, a single Pixie, sitting with their legs crossed, eyebrows lifted as they waited for their sapling.

Before her, she saw Taerin, Yugiri, and Dae being guided down the aisle and seated in the front row by Hien, Handeloup, and Estinien. When they were all in their places, Estinien turned around and lifted a roll of paper, rolling it out until it ran out at Etien’s feet.

She looked up, and he nodded, gesturing behind him toward Aymeric, then sat down.

Etien lifted her chin, and took her first step, her entrance announced with strings.

She laid her hands in Aymeric’s with the ease of practice when they finally met at the front of the church.

“You aren’t shaking this time. Good,” he whispered.

She just smiled as the priest began.

Artoirel and Lucia did readings, and when the time came for vows, Aymeric looked down at Etien, as if asking her what she was going to do.

“Don’t worry, darling. I know my lines this time.” She took a deep breath and began reciting his composition, the combination of poetry and scripture from when they had eloped.

“O Halone, observe my solemnity as I take this vow.

I am sick with love. My beloved is distinguished among ten thousand, and me has he chosen. So do I bind myself to him. He is without flaw. His locks are wavy, black as a raven. His left hand is under my head, and his right hand embraces me. When I found him whom my soul loves, I held him, and would not let him go. The winter is past; my beloved is mine, and I am his.”

Aymeric laughed lightly when she was finished, flattered and impressed she still remembered, but responded in kind when the priest turned to him.

“O Halone, observe my solemnity as I take this vow.

She is altogether beautiful, my love; there is no flaw in her, and me has she chosen. So do I bind myself to her. Departed from the dens of dragons, the young women saw her and called her blessed; asked ‘Who is this who looks down like the dawn, beautiful as the moon, bright as the sun, awesome as an army with banners?’

She has captivated my heart. When I found her whom my soul loves, I held her and I would not let her go. The time for singing has come. My beloved is mine, and I am hers.”

The priest spoke. “Do you, Etien Mellifer, reaffirm your pledge to love, comfort, honor, and keep Aymeric?”

“I do,” she replied, beaming.

“And do you, Aymeric de Borel, reaffirm your pledge to love and to cherish Etien as long as you both shall live?”

“I do,” he answered.

The exchange of rings was as understated as it ever was with them, Etien’s a Borel heirloom, and Aymeric’s an engraved band. Simple, yes, but treasured.

Again, the priest chimed in. “Then let what the Fury has blessed remain blessed in Her eyes. Go now in peace.”

With his right hand on Etien’s back, and his left hand holding hers, Aymeric escorted her back up the aisle, and out the door.

They waited for the guests to follow before they went outside, where he dipped her and kissed her to seal their vows once more, this time to cheering and applause. There was no white chocobo for them to ride across to the Arc of the Venerable and home, but it was a beautiful day in Ishgard, so neither was going to mind the walk, least of all together and surrounded by family and friends.

#Aytien #fic #so basically EW is coming and Etien wanted to have a big happy memory before then #get everyone together and celebrate #plus all her bridesmaids didn't get to be at the last wedding so now they can!#oh so also #friend mention!

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candideangel · 3 years

Text

When You Wake

The world was burning in violet tinged flame, the smell of burning between flora, cloth, and even more. It was acrid, almost sickening to the point her stomach was churning with nausea. A cacophony of noise was ringing in her ears; the loud roar of the purple and black dragon, the sounds of citizens from all walks of life as scenes flashed before her eyes; Ul’dah, Limsa Lominsa, her home of Gridania, and that echoing and very unhinged laughter that could chill her blood. Yet her body wouldn’t move, it couldn’t budge from the people hurting and fearing for their lives, so much was going on that she was primed to do, but...she still felt frozen as her eyes gazed to not only the Lunar Bahamut, but the robed figure that had stolen the face of Asahi.

“I did say that if you didn’t heed Zenos’ request that the world would burn city by city, did I not?” Fandanial raised a finger, voice clear over the clamor as he grinned so maniacally, tongue clicking in a way someone would be disappointed in her actions. “Now, the Star’s illustrious hero can sit and watch the world burn around her, cherished ones perish, and the fault is yours!”

With practically the raise of a finger, she could see the likeness of the primal as they were back to the Royal Menagerie, as if the world was teleporting her around, and with a deep inhalation; a jet of purple flame was aiming towards her. She could feel the heat, the pain…

A sharp gasp for air filled the quiet room as Angelique bolted upright and a cold sweat dripping down her brow as her chest heaved for breath, her chemise top was soaked that caused her to shiver in the cool room. Her eyes were unfocused on the sheets and blankets that had been rumpled from her obvious thrashings. Her body was jolted at a sudden touch of warmth against her shoulders, her head jerking a little as she refocused a little on the piercing sanguine eyes.

“Angelique, are you well?” G’raha’s voice filtered through the haze of her thoughts, having obviously been roused awake. “You were mumbling, as well as tossing and turning…” His thumb brushed against the clammy skin of her shoulders, but he could see the haunted, almost far away look in her eyes.

“I-...” Angelique struggled to get out, voice sounding a little bit hoarse and rough, “B-Bad...dream…” she finally managed out. Angelique could feel G’raha getting up from the bed, even as he pressed a kiss to her forehead to give a sign of assurance that he wasn’t going very far, even picking up to deposit the two drowsy mammets of himself onto her lap.

“Just a moment, let me go get you a glass of water.” his voice spoke to her softly, an obvious sign that he was used to these kinds of nights, padding across the carpet, to the smooth stone and out of the room while Angelique looked down at the two mammets in her arms and gently gave them a squeeze even while her body was shaking whether from nerves or the cold it was hard to tell.

By the time that G’raha had returned carrying a metal cup filled with water, Angelique’s heart rate had slowed to normal, but as she was hugging the minions her fingers were picking a little bit at the bandaging on her arm, a remnant left behind from the Lunar Bahamut since the singed part of her hair had been trimmed away with a simple pair of shears and some assistance. “Here.” the Allagan heir would hold out the cup to the bard, her hands were still shaking as she would take it. Tucking his tail against his side until it settled against his thigh as Angelique was taking a few drinks, he would sit beside her as he waited for her to talk first.

There was a moment of silence as she set the cup down with a soft sigh, Angelique could feel her throat at least hydrated, and the only thing that really broke the silence was the soft mechanical breathing like motions as the two mammets who had been roused for a moment had fallen back to sleep in Angelique’s lap. “Raha…” the blonde started, but again appeared to hesitate a little as her thumbs would gently rub along the lip of the mug for a moment.

“Yes, what is it?” he curiously asked hoping she was ready to talk about what she had been dreaming about.

“I know that our adventure...probably wasn’t what you were hoping for. Really, I had...so many better thoughts...instead you’re dragged back into another near destruction of yet another star.” she muttered looking down, “It just seems no matter what happens, peace is always short lived.” It wasn’t as if she had forgotten about the Empire, it had been all silent that perhaps they were given more time to settle down for a bit, take joy in their vacations.

G’raha’s ears perked a little bit, but even as his ears fluttered slightly he gave a slight smile, “I understand that it wasn’t what you had hoped, but I hope that you understand that I meant what I had told you; there is nothing I would rather do than make a new future with you.” he smiled to Angelique reassuringly, and their eyes met and it was a relief that the dark jade eyes seemed to lose that long distance stare, but still ever so slightly haunted with questions.

“But...Zenos is no pushover, and if at the heart of this chaos, what if cities burn before I even get there? I don’t...I don’t want innocent lives to be lost because of me, and I certainly don’t want to lose you...not again…” Her voice caught as tears started to fill her eyes, but she was trying to contain the trembling, “I’ve lost you twice...I don’t want a third because I’m absolutely afraid that I won’t have the strength to fight...and…”

G’raha leaned over and silenced her with a gentle kiss upon her lips, forehead brushing against hers. “Shh.” he hushed softly, working to calm those ever anxious thoughts that were clamoring in Angelique’s head. “...I know...it feels as if the world is completely against you, and I’m not discounting your fears. The realm sits heavily against your shoulders...but this is going to be different.” He assured, giving her a slight smile, “Even if it feels as if the world is against you, you have the most wonderful people backing you. Friends and other like-minded comrades, and someone who isn’t going to let you go alone. Not on the First, not now in our new present.” It was that kind of verbal reassurance that often grounded Angelique, much like how her physical touch brought him back to reality when he felt as if he were part of a dream and he would wake and no longer be in her presence. Relief filled his chest as she smiled, if only just a little. “There we go, there’s a smile I love.” he kept his voice soft and low and his lips brushed against her nose before he would take hold of her arm, undoing the dressing as he tried to not wince at the angry red burn from the heat exposure from the Lunar Bahamut’s flames in the Menagerie.

“I don’t want to fall back asleep yet…” Angelique muttered as G’raha would reach over to pick up a jar of special ointment that had been created for the particular burn.

“Don’t worry,” he assured, even as he would uncork the jar in order to help clean and redress the burn, “I’ll stay awake with you as long as you need. And even if you sleep, I’ll always be here when you wake.”

#patch 5.4 spoilers #ffxiv 5.4 spoilers #ffxiv writings #g'raha tia #angelique #hyur wol #post patch 5.4

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write-like-you-mean-it · 4 years

Text

A Hunter’s Prey: Fights and Fire

A day has passed since I saw Killua and Illumi left. Zeno hadn’t let me do anything but train. I hadn’t even seen the sunlight as the training ground was only lit by many dim flames. A few had gone out due to the length of time spent training.

“You must read the attack of the person before they actually attacked,” said Zeno as he stood in position. He’d been attacking me with Nen for hours. I could feel they were weak compared to his power. “Try to see the attack by focusing Nen into your eyes.”

I wiped some of the sweat off my face. I was doing well enough to dodge any of the attacks. Let alone trying to see them coming. I could only feel three seconds before the attacks hit. I took a deep breath and focused some of my energy into my eyes. I could see some faint wisps of white illuminating from Zeno’s body.

“I-is that aura?” I panted while gaining my posture once again.

“Yes, young one. Now try to stop my hand. Push the aura to the spot that I will hit.” His arm attacked. He gave no warning to where he would be attacking. In an instant, I had to guess where he would attack. Given where I saw the most Nen, he would attack with his right hand. I held up my arms in a cross form and sent all my Nen into them. If I was wrong, I could be seriously hurt.

Zeno’s Nen hit like a train; however, I guessed correctly. I flew back into the wall while shifting my Nen to my back. I had to protect myself. I could feel the crunch of the wall as I hit. I didn’t remember closing my eyes, but I opened them to find myself in a small crater in the wall. After all this time, this was the first real Nen ability that had hit me. Everything else was me protecting myself from Zeno’s normal punches.

“Great job,” said the elderly man as he watched me climb out of the wall. “You actually defended yourself.”

“Thanks,” I said before collapsing on my knees.

“Maybe we did go a little too far.”

“No. I feel fine.” I forced my run-down body to stand. Every inch of muscle and bone was screaming for me to stop. But I can’t stop. I can’t have myself so open to attacks. I can’t live at this mansion my whole life.

Zeno walked a far distance away. “You said you were a transmuter right? I want you to attack me with your Nen. You won’t hurt me. Picture what you think is a strong force and attack me.”

A strong force? What could be something that is strong to attack. My face fell to look at my shaking hands. What forces could I use? It was then, I caught the flicker of a flame above me. The flame danced around the room while casting a shadow in my general direction. I realized that the best attack might be one that was fluid while also being deadly.

I forced my Nen into my hands and produced a small flame. It was tiny for the amount of Nen I had to give it. The more Nen I gave to my attack, the more vulnerable I felt. Suddenly, I pushed the fire from my hand. I still had it attached to me but the main point held the most Nen.

The fire hit Zeno with a force stronger than I thought would happen. Zeno, as he said, deflected the attack quickly. “Interesting that you would choose to use fire.”

I could feel the Nen force fading from my body. I had used up a lot of aura within the last twenty-four hours. I doubled over with my hands on my knees to try and gain some balance in my self and gain some breath support. “I-I felt like fire was a terrifying force.”

“It is,” nodded Zeno as he walked towards me. “There’s many more things to teach you, but you need rest for today. As long as you know a defensive move and an offensive move, you will be able to practice them both. Illumi only taught you the basics.”

“I only needed the basics if Illumi is here,” I said while coming back to a standing position. “If he’s here then he said he’d protect me.”

Zeno’s eyes narrowed. “Illumi won’t always be there.” He stares intensely at me as if I had done something wrong. “I think Illumi has some explaining to do when he gets home. You need to learn how to be a Zoldyck if you are to carry the name onto next generations.”

“You mean children?” I ask a little surprised. “W-we haven’t really discussed any of that yet.”

“Of course you haven’t. Illumi would only tell you things that he wants to tell you. Now go and get some rest. You can always come get me for training if I am here.” Zeno starts walking towards the door with his hands behind his back. “Also, tell Illumi that we need to have a chat when he returns.”

“I will. Thank you, Zeno,” I said with a small smile.

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

One shower, meal, and nap later, I finally feel rested and like myself. I was continuing to read my second book on Nen when I could feel power resurging deep within the house. Something was happening and a gut feeling told me that it had something to do with Illumi. I put down my book and walked outside the room.

I followed the feeling of strong Nen until there was a door that seemed too strong to be opened by me. It was a steel door with a thick lock. However, I could feel the power and bloodlust still from the outside. There must be someone in there with a desire to kill.

I couldn’t move the door so I decided to wait. Waiting had become so ingrained in my thought process that it became a part of my life. I was always waiting on Illumi like a little puppy dog waiting for its master. Machi would pity me.

The door swung open with a resounding squeak. It was Illumi coming up from stairs that lead deep into the mansion. A far crevasse that seemed bleak and bare. “What are you doing here?” said Illumi. His voice held a hint of vile and excitement. I felt terrified to even be near him.

“I was looking for you,” I said as confidently as I could muster. I knew my mind lied to me about how confident I sounded. “I heard something and wanted to make sure you were okay.”

The malicious look within his eyes slightly softened. I don’t think he was expecting me to say that. “Let’s go back. We have a mission that’s going to take awhile. I’ll explain on the ride there.”

“We-?” My voice was tentative and shy. Was Illumi really going to take me on a mission? Illumi had already reached the turning point in the hallway when I finally realized that I should’ve been following him much sooner.

“Yes, this one is going to be exceptionally long and I need you to come with me.” Illumi’s stride didn’t cease. I arrived back in the room and Illumi was already packing a bag for me. “You need to get everything that you’d need incase we do not return.”

“What do you mean?” I ask while taking the bag from Illumi. “I need an explanation or I am not going.”

Illumi stopped grabbing some of the items he thought I would need and turned towards me. His eyes had the same malice and excitement as before. A terrifying mixture for an already terrifying man. “You will do what I say. Remember, you are still mine. I might give you freedoms but you’re still mine.”

My breath caught in my throat. My mind was transported back to the cell from a month ago. While I was not chained, I could still feel them wrapped so tightly around my wrists that they chaffed. My wrists still scarred from the chains dragging across the worn skin every day. “I-I know,” I said. My hand clamped tightly to the sore spot. “But can you please answer me. I need to know.”

“I’ll explain everything while we’re on the ship. Trust me, this is the best thing to happen to us. All of us and it’s my job to get him back.”

I didn’t dare ask anymore questions. Illumi was a menace when he wasn’t in this state. This mission must be worth a lot if he wasn’t even going to return home for a long time. I packed up a few more things before going to the airship.

Illumi’s bloodlust was still present even after take-off. I watched as the Zoldyck mansion became smaller through the window. Would this be the life of a Zoldyck? Going from one mission to the next until we die? All of it seemed too much to handle.

I gave Illumi some space to calm down while I picked up the book on Nen once again. My heart ached for more training that could’ve been accomplished if I had stayed. I might never get the same training again.

The sky was turning a deep black before Illumi had seemed to return to his normal self or as much of his normal self that he could. He sat across from me at the table that I chose. I couldn’t tell if he decided to sit next to me because I seemed distant or that he wanted to actually be near me. In fact, I couldn’t tell anything anymore. I thought we were making progress but I guess we weren’t.

“Father told me you practiced with grandpa,” Illumi said after a long, uncomfortable pause.

“I did,” I said while turning the page.

Another pause loomed through the air. “Did you learn something?”

“You’re asking me questions?” I ask. I tilt the book down so I could look at him. A few tears escaped my eyes. I only noticed the tears once they clouded my vision while reading.

“Yes. We can trade question for question.” Illumi ignored my response. He might’ve thought they were happy tears at the prospect of being allowed to do something I so desperately longed for. Instead, they were the tears of the days spent in the pit. I had almost forgotten the fear due to time. He wouldn’t understand that.

I put the book down while marking my page. “Okay, questions.” I wiped a few of my tears away. I hated that the response to fear is sadness. Tears show a weakness that I’m not ready to give. “Yes, I learned something new with Zeno. Where are we going?”

“To follow Killua. What did you learn?”

“Things you refused to teach me with Nen. Why are we following Killua?”

“Because he has control over the most powerful thing in existence. What did you learn?”

“Transmutation techniques. Is that the sister you never told me that you had?”

“I don’t have a sister.”

“Then who is she?”

“It’s my question,” Illumi said. “Are you afraid of me?”

“Yes. Who is she?”

“Alluka. The second youngest sibling. Why?”

“Because you chained me up,” I said. I could feel myself becoming hotter with anger. My voice rose slightly with each question. “And I’m not property. Yes, you took me but that doesn’t mean anything.”

“But you’re my wife.”

“You never asked me. You assumed I would go along until there was no other option. I was stuck with this role. You forced me into this role. Plus I’m not your wife. If anything, I am only a girlfriend. We would have to make this official.”

“Would you want to make this official?”

“It’s my question,” I say. Heat rose within my body. I could even feel my own bloodlust within the expanse of the surrounding area. “If she’s a Zoldyck then why did you keep her from me?”

Even though I was getting angier, Illumi stayed as calm as ever. He might’ve been even more calm than I’ve seen him in awhile. “I didn’t tell you about him because he was not important. Now he is. How many kids would you like to have?”

Illumi’s question threw me off. It was so out of left field that it made me stutter. “What?”

“How many kids do you want?”

“I don’t want to talk about kids right now,” I said.

“But you have to answer. I’ve answered all your questions and you’ve rarely answered any of mine.”

“Then you know how it feels.”

Illumi paused for a moment. I could tell his mind was thinking once again. “I was thinking three or four.”

“Why are you still talking about kids?”

“Hisoka said that I should try to be a little honest with you. We have a big mission and I want to have something to look forward to after we have Killua under our control once again.”

I scrunched up my face and sighed. “Can we discuss this more tomorrow? I’m feeling tired from today’s events. I want to go to bed.”

“That’s fine,” he said as if it didn’t phase him. “Would you like me to join you?”

I stood up from the seat to go to the bed part of the airship. I couldn’t tell if his comment was meant for sleeping or for sex. I didn’t want him to join for either. “No.” My voice was quiet. I felt conflicted on whether I truly didn’t want him to join me to sleep; however, he didn’t touch me or allow me to touch him after sex. He slept on one part and I on the other. I didn’;t have much protest before because I wanted to sleep. Tonight was different. I wanted him to hold me and apologize but I knew he wouldn’t. That is why I said no.

Illumi didn’t follow me as I got my restless night of sleep in the air. This mission was going to be hard on both of us. I could feel it in my soul.

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#illumi x reader #illumi zoldyck #hunterxhunter #Hxh #A Hunter's Prey #chapter 17

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nadana-vhet · 4 years

Text

Prompt 12: Tooth & Nail

Rating: Teen? cw violence I did not mean for this to get so angsty I’m sORRY.

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“Your friends were a disappointment. But you – you will entertain me, will you not?”

N’adana readied her shield as Zenos approached her, vision closing in as she focused solely on her opponent. Her surroundings quickly blurred around him – the burning of Rhalgar’s Reach, the smell of smoke and blood, the presence of Alisaie and Pippin flanking her as they prepared to fight with her.

But all she could see was him.

He did that to Shtola.

N’adana charged forward with a fierceness her friends had scarcely seen before. Her blade clashed with Zenos’s, no room for error on either side of the fight. Watching them fight was like being in a trance – blades moved faster than you could keep track, both blocking and parrying each other in a deadly dance.

“I have no need for this rabble,” he spat, knocking the three of them back in opposite directions away from him. I am much more interested in you, he seemed to say as his predatory eyes practically burned a hole through her chest.

N’adana recovered quickly, the adrenaline coursing through her too strong to keep her down for more than a moment. “Alisaie, Pippin!”

“We’re fine – don’t worry about us!” she heard Alisaie call out, but she couldn’t see where she was. Her vision was still focused on Yae Galvus, who stalked towards her at a languid pace.

N’adana rushed towards him once more, and once she made contact she pushed all of her weight against her shield and into his chest. He used his sword to push back, knocking her to the ground and quickly trying to take a stab at her. She was fortunate enough to roll out of the way and stand once again, throwing herself at him again with no hesitation.

“Hm, yet you stand. Mayhap you have potential,” he growled, parrying her sword once again.

Despite all physical odds, N’adana pushed back furiously against every swing and stab he managed to throw at her. Each parry and swing became like second nature to her – like fighting was breathing itself.

Her vision was going red by now, throwing every ounce of her being into her efforts to best Zenos Yae Galvus. “You killed them, you monster!” she screamed as she swung at him, “I will not let you live after what you’ve done!”

“Don’t stop now…” he purred, pleased at how easily the Warrior of Light quickly sank to such a bloodthirsty level of anger.

It was so easy to push her further down as she fought tooth and nail against him. She wasn’t deterred in the slightest, brushing off every hit or swipe like it was nothing. She slammed her tiny body against his chest so hard that he actually stumbled.

She wanted him dead in that moment. She wanted his being to be erased from very existence.

Before she could take advantage of his weakness, he pushed back, N’adana barely avoiding is counter.

“It would seem I misjudged you. This ends now.”

And then suddenly, N’adana was on the ground. The burning sky above her spun as she heard the heavy thud of footsteps approaching her.

The miqo’te tried desperately to stand, but he was upon her by the time she had gotten up to her knees. He slashed at her before she could pick up her sword again, cutting a gash straight through her breastplate and across her stomach.

“N’adana!” she heard a familiar voice call, but she couldn’t tell where it was coming from. All she could smell was smoke, all she could taste was blood, and all she could feel was searing pain.

“Pathetic.”

It was the last thing she heard before everything went dark.

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N’adana groaned as she came back into consciousness, and suddenly all she could hear was “oh, thank the gods you’re awake.”

She opened her eyes to see the twins sitting dutifully at her bedside in the infirmary of Rhalgar’s Reach. The light that threatened to blind her also let her know it was about midday, through the archways in the stone that lead outside.

“How are you feeling?” Alphinaud leaned forward, pushing her back down onto the cot as she tried to sit up.

“Like shit,” she managed, though she didn’t know how, since her mouth felt like it was stuffed with cotton bolls. “Is Shtola- “

“She’s recovering just fine,” Alisaie assured her, standing up and moving over to a table where she began to pick out pieces of bread and cheese before bringing them back over and putting the plate next to the bedside table. “Eat when you’re ready. I’m sure you’re hungry – you’ve been out for two days.”

“Two days?” N’adana groaned, this time pushing away Alphinad’s hands as she forced herself to sit up. Her stomach growled as she picked up the plate of bread and cheese, suddenly too hungry to restrain herself as she shoved a piece of cheese in her mouth.

Alphinaud nodded, “You collapsed after helping some of the wounded, assumedly from loss of blood. It may have just been the fact that I was preoccupied with healing others, but it didn’t even seem that you were as injured as you were.” He went on to explain how there was now a nasty new scar across her stomach and ribs, but he did his best to minimize the damage as much as possible. “Let me go get you some soup, I’m sure you’ll want something more substantial than that,” he smiled softly at her, squeezing her hand gently before he got up.

Once Alphinaud was out of earshot, Alisaie leaned forward and lowered her voice. “So, about that fight with Zenos,” she bit her lip as if she were nervous. Worried. “The way you were fighting, I… I’ve never seen you fight like that before. It was as if you were-“

“Just like him?”

“That’s not what I was going to- “

“I know, it’s just…” N’adana hung her head, catching herself with her hand and rubbing her forehead, “When I saw what he did to Shtola, everything just… went red. I had this uncontrollable urge to rip him limb from limb, to destroy his very being.”

Alisaie frowned, leaning back in her chair and propped her chin in her hands as she thought on her friend’s words. “I suppose I’m simply surprised. Sometimes I forget that you are prone to the same emotions as we are.”

N’adana’s cheeks felt hot, “What, like I’m not a person? That because I’m the Warrior of Light that I should just be this perfect, flawless- “

“That’s not what I meant!”

N’adana went quiet as her eyes began to burn with tears, turning away from Alisaie to wipe them away.

“N’adana-“

“No one thinks about how I feel, do they? I’m expected to be this perfect hero with no flaws, ready to fight for Eorzea without a moment’s notice. No one notices when I’m angry, or uncomfortable, or sad, or… tired.” She sighed. Suddenly she was very tired. “I’m tired, Alisaie. I’m tired of being treated like I have to be this perfect person, just because I’ve killed a few primals or whatever.” She didn’t bear to look back, keeping herself turned away as she continued to sniffle and wipe tears from her cheeks.

Alisaie was quiet for a few moments, the only sound between them the sniffling of a scared, lonely child. Before she could speak again, Alphinaud returned with the soup he had promised.

“I’m back with – what happened?” he looked at his sister, who looked to be the guilty party. “Alisaie, what did you do?” Alphinaud hissed at her.

“I believe I’ve something to attend to.” The red mage muttered lamely, standing up and stalking off before N’adana managed the courage to turn back around.

Alphinaud tried to comfort N’adana about an argument he knew nothing about, but she didn’t give him anything to help his case. She simply thanked him for the soup and ate it quietly, avoiding his eyes as he waited to see if she opened up.

She didn’t.

Once Alphinaud left to find his sister (presumably for answers), N’adana simply rolled over and fell back asleep, trying to remember what it was like before she felt like everything and everyone depended on her.

#FFxivWrite2020 #ffxivwrite #ff14 fanfic #ffxiv fanfiction #teen!wol #alisaie leveilleur #alphinaud leveilleur #zenos yae galvus #I'M SORRY THIS IS SAD #THEY MAKE UP LATER I PROMISE #BUT WE NEEDED TO ADDRESS ALISAIE'S IDOLIZATION OF THE WOL SOMETIME OK!!!#also feel so bad she didn't tell alphi anything ):#but she's mad at the world rn #a kid this young does NOT need this much responsibility #n'adana vhet #faeluria writes

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fistsoflightning · 4 years

Text

and then there was two.

there will always be someone who is completely, wholly unsaveable.

gatheredfates’ [30 day WOL challenge] | prompt: salvation

even before zaya met the newest reincarnation of minfilia, part of them knew it wouldn’t be who they were expecting.

minfilia—the first minfilia, the one who kept this world living for two centuries longer than it should, started a cycle of new minfilias that inevitably dashed their lives against the horde of sin eaters because her self-sacrificing, bleeding, golden heart would never be dimmed by something as simple as time and new life—had been dead for a very long time. even before those two centuries lost to halting the flood. she may have died in the sil’dih aqueducts to save what warriors of light she could, but to zaya she died the moment they drank firebrand poison and wine while toasting to a naive new ul’dah.

the memory of her haunts both of them in the worst ways, the two of them cursed to be in pain just by being touched by minfilia back before she was a leader and icon and a banner to rally under; hells, that selfsame memory nearly got both thancred and zaya killed, back when they were out for someone to blame for all the regrets wadded into the hole in their chests that losing her made standing by the cliffside outside of idyllshire.

but she will always, always be right over zaya’s shoulder no matter what, so they try their best to separate the minfilia living inside their head and the minfilia standing right in front of them; in this world, minfilia is more than a decade younger than her, more a daughter than a sibling and deserving of so much more than what zaya can give her. it’s going through the motions but with only half the heart behind them; half-moon smiles, quiet adventures in il mheg, laughs that are less than their usual thunderous quality. their heart has been bleeding for far too long to remember how they even managed to comfort lunya, sirius, and valdis in those humble beginnings in pearl lane, wound deepened by missing friends and another war.

zaya may have been one of many warriors of light, but minfilia was the leader of the scions, the one who remembered thancred and zaya from before the calamity split their memories into two, the one who persevered through countless duties and pains to make sure the world at large would be safer, if even by just a fraction.

and even in death, she leaves both zaya and thancred on their knees when the child whose name is only minfilia because it fulfills the populace’s need for heroes and legends and lights at the ends of countless tunnels says:

“i wish they’d just say it—just say that they hate me! i can see it thancred’s eyes, in zaya’s smiles—that they wish i was dead so she could return…”

…

there will always be another version of them hiding behind the topmost layer, and zaya finds that the newest one is quieter. more akin to brooding than to escaping or confronting, more like the state they were in after fighting zenos back in ghimlyt dark. they thought they’d shaken this version of themselves off, stored it in the back of their mind.

and yet here it is, with all the dreadful penchant for reminiscence they could ever want.

someone in their motley crew of heroes suggests they take a night of rest before facing a trolley ride one might not return from—honestly, zaya wouldn’t be surprised if it were lunya or hanami who asked (more like demanded), hoping to get them (or thancred) to say something, anything—and by the dirty looks lunya gives both of them before retreating to her sleeping bag, thancred hasn’t done anything either.

“i can’t believe either of you right now. idiots, the both of you.” lunya hisses as she rolls out her bedroll next to hanami’s, and zaya silently agrees before slinking out of the small room all of them have been spared to sleep in for a few short bells.

even in spite of the light festering under their skin, eating away at the font of lightning at the center of their soul and sapping their energy. zaya is too tired to sleep. too awake, too aware to sort through everything, and too in pain from the swell of their heart beneath their skin to choke out the words i’m sorry in some worthless attempt to make up for faults that have been lying below the surface of their skin for years.

so instead of retreating to the shed thaffe and jeryk cleared for them to sleep in, away from the endless light, they climb up to the tallest cliff, sit at the edge, and stare blankly into the orange sands of amh araeng. waiting, observing, taking in the endless weight of a dying world and drowning in it to see if they can even possibly measure up to what little minfilia feels when the people of the crystarium call her oracle, a beacon, a living legend.

even if zaya was fourteen again and filled with the anger at their own family they’d dispensed a while back, they don’t think the sheer rage of being shunned would match up to the despair of not just feeling, but knowing two people who are supposed to be your guardians detest you. zaya couldn’t dare to pretend they knew the pain minfilia was going through. hells, they barely knew themselves; understanding others was beyond them.

so they don’t, and instead of dwelling on the things they cannot understand, they focus on meditating—familiar, comforting, simple. close your eyes, breathe in deep, count to ten, exhale, repeat until your thoughts are calm instead of thunderous.

and, inevitably, in the quiet lull of the thunderstorms inside their head, their thoughts wander to the minfilia they knew—the one that yet lives inside their head.

she might be two summers their elder, but zaya can’t help but think of her as younger, even when they met in the goldsmith’s guild all those years ago—she a miner with a gift and an almost-brother and they a goldsmith with nothing left to lose. even now, with her eyes stolen away by the crystalline blue of hydaelyn, zaya can remember the warm grey from before she was a mouthpiece for this god all of them were bound to, and wonders why.

why take her? why someone so dedicated, so optimistic, so many things left to do and say? why make her a mouthpiece instead of giving the mercy of not seeing your friends and almost-family suffer at the sight of you? why can’t zaya save the first woman they thought of as my sister since leaving the steppe?

i promise i won’t hurt you, they said once upon a time to a girl afraid of them because of their legacy as the ‘bolt from the blue’, coliseum menace and one of few to face off against ‘raging bull’ raubahn aldynn and survive the encounter. i promise.

why were they calling themselves a hero—or worse, minfilia’s friend if they couldn’t extend, couldn’t keep that promise with a girl that carries minfilia’s legacy?

zaya opens their eyes to the expanse of orange sands once again, entirely drained and wanting to go back to a time before… everything. they can’t come up with an answer before sati comes out from the bushes and sits beside them, laying her hand over theirs in a solidarity zaya hasn’t seen from her in years—not since she was small enough to not see above their waist and living under both dorbei’s and their care.

“are you…” sati trails off, her voice murky, like zaya is underwater and hasn’t surfaced in a long, long time. “no. i’m… i’ll just sit here, ‘kay? not gonna leave you here.” her voice is the firmest it’s been in years, more confident in her decision than ever before, and zaya doesn’t fight it. they don’t fight reese or rjoli’s pitying stares, ihget’sae’s worried glance from the corner of the room, hanami’s angry tail whips, or lunya’s frustrated silence when they walk back into the shed, either. they don’t rest much either, instead pulling out their journal and flipping to the page where thancred had jokingly wrote some poetry over five years ago, before everything crumbled and their ul’dahn trio fell to two, fingertips running over the words—

but i have promises to keep, and miles to go before i sleep, and miles to go before i sleep.

…

zaya quietly walks over to minfilia as thancred and urianger do some final checks to their equipment and the talos, not really knowing where their fellow warriors are but knowing they don’t have long before they leave. their stomach churns, empty and hollow, but filled with imaginary butterflies instead; the kind that accompanies both their feelings for thancred and the dread of arguments.

“minfilia?” they say as clearly as possible, voice still cracking from the dryness of amh araeng and the struggle of learning to speak after decades of hardly opening their mouth. “c’n we talk?”

she sniffles, nodding her head, and zaya scoops up both of her hands into theirs, quietly turning her to face them and oh, her eyes are still red and teary, she’s still not handling this well. the urge to just pull her into a hug and never let go is overwhelming, but what she needs is not a pat to the head, not a simple hug, not just loving words and a sincere apology but all of the above.

if only thancred could pull his guts together to join them.

“heard you an’ urianger yesterday,” zaya says soothingly, tightening their grip over minfilia’s small hands only when fear seeps into her expression. “and ‘m so, so sorry i can’t love you the way you need me to.”

minfilia practically stumbles over her words, quietly tugging her hands further and further from zaya’s grasp and oh gods zaya really hopes they aren’t hurting her, quickly letting go when she tugs next. “i—no, it’s fine, i promise! yesterday was just—”

“no, y’u were…” it’d be too cruel to say that she was wrong; too cruel to say that both of them truly wanted the best for her, didn’t hate her in misguided parts when thancred said nothing at all and zaya couldn’t find the right things to tell her, but it was easier, if needed. then again, zaya had never been one for the path of least resistance. “you were right, but not about one thing; we… we both hate ourselves.”

she looks utterly shocked at the idea, but zaya pushes forward and tells the tale of how they and thancred almost didn’t live to see norvrandt; how they pushed each others’ buttons until he cracked first, how they both tortured themselves over the mess that was that age-old escape from ul’dah and how minfilia’s legacy has haunted them for longer before they knew her… with many, many changes. it isn’t a ballad, nor a fairytale, but it is the truth, and it is what she deserves to know about her guardian and her ally.

“you… you two…?” she mumbles, eyes wide and less teary than before. good. “but—you two are practically—when we were in dhon mheg, and the ravel, and the temple, you two were inseparable.”

zaya feels like that is a gross exaggeration—they can stand not knowing how thancred is doing for a few minutes—but continues anyways. “not always. we’re a lil’ stupi’ now, b’t we were worse ‘fore this.”

“i don’ wanna be forgiven,” they say, quietly; a secret that very few know and even fewer try to remember. “i don’ deserve to, an’ neither does thancred. but…” they pull her closer, wrapping their arms around her back and hugging her tight, as if she might suddenly disappear from zaya’s life like minfilia did all those years ago before they could tell her how incredibly glad they were to know her. “i wanna try again—do better, f’r you, if you let me.”

minfilia, for all her strength, doesn’t respond—not speechless, but occupied. her tears drip, drip, drip down zaya’s back, the blue overcoat they normally wear tied around their waist to reveal their (rather ragged) white tanktop. when she does catch her breath for long enough in gaps between her silent sorrow, she pulls her arms away from zaya’s chest to wrap around their neck instead, burying her face into their shoulders.

“i… i don’t know, yet,” she says truthfully, and zaya is glad thancred told her about the whole lying versus harsh truth thing they’ve always had a hard time explaining themselves. “can i tell you when we get back?”

when we get back, zaya thinks, sifting through the words in their head. she was always more earnest around them, or lunya, or any of their small crew that wasn’t thancred, really, but in her words she promises, not tries to promise. we.

“o’ course,” zaya promises back, because it’s the least they can do. they have a lot of promises to keep, they realize shortly after opening their mouth, but it feels… good. “always.”

...

the trolley crashes—because yet again, nothing is ever easy for the warriors of darkness, is it?—zaya’s horn is cracked from falling onto a very big rock, ran’jit is soaked in the memories of an old, different minfilia and then betrayed by the newest minfilia, and thancred stays behind. zaya prays it’s not because he fears what he might say to the old minfilia but because he’s had decades to learn that sometimes actions speak as loud as words do from learning zaya’s story until it was burned into his memory, fingers calloused and burnt from learning a storm made incarnate inside out, and he’s finally decided to use that knowledge instead of keeping it boxed in his chest. their head is utterly throbbing as they run ahead of lunya, lightning running through their blood faster than ever before because what if they lose not one but two on this journey, what if thancred has finally bit off more than he can chew, what if it’s like ul’dah all over again—

“zaya!” ihget’sae barks out in worry, even if his voice is more angry than it is soothing, and it hurts so much more than they thought it would to listen. “slow down!”

they stop, then, if only because the sickening feeling of bile rising up their throat from the pain is new, different, horrible. minfilia—who looks worriedly at them as she passes—keeps running ahead, and only when hanami and sati catch up to all of them does zaya start their desperate sprint again.

when the light-seared sky makes hanami’s aurum regis horn glint menacingly, zaya clutches at their own horn tighter. the crack feels bigger than it should, but it—their horn—doesn’t matter. if the price to pay for norvrandt’s salvation was their horn and the pain sure to follow, they’d pay it gladly. they’ve survived worse than a loss of balance; even if it did mess up their ability to fight with their fists, it would be a equal exchange for a world.

one life for one world, urianger’s voice rings from memory, except this time he had no say in the sacrifice.

good, a more bitter part of them responds. the pure rancor from the voice inside their head sings of something abyssal, something they usually bury under lightning and fire and earth, but it sings truer than most of zaya’s scattered thoughts, as of late. as it should be.

zaya keeps running.

and when they finally make it to the fallen palace of nabaath areng and get dragged through a centuries-old memory of ardbert, minfilia, the warriors of darkness before them, and the flood, zaya is left on their knees by minfilia for the second and final time.

“ours is a meeting long overdue,” the word says to the oracle, not even waiting for the warriors surrounding little minfilia to regain their bearings. “full glad am i that we may finally speak.”

zaya remains sitting on the liquid crystal floor as lunya, hanami, sati—everyone but them gets up to look minfilia—the word of the mother minfilia—eye to eye, instead staring at the light bleeding and blurring her figure like some runny painting in a tarnished storybook left out in the rain. maybe it’s the tears stinging at the corners of zaya’s vision, but she looks… tired. tired of waiting, tired of watching, tired of perpetuating a cycle of pain and suffering that is going to end, one way or another, now.

and suddenly, they have one answer to thousands of whys. minfilia cannot be saved, they think, because she is like you. determined. blessed. chosen. (cursed.)

so when the word—minfilia looks to them longingly, zaya does not say how they wish she was still alive, how they wish they could show her what they can accomplish now. instead, zaya foolishly says, “t’hncred says ‘ello,” and keeps their mouth shut for the rest of the short visit to some realm where the gold of both minfilias’ hair bleeds into the light-soaked scenery, their saved tears quietly hidden behind untied hair and long bangs.

they think they might make it from this conversation relatively whole, watching quietly and contentedly as the two daughters of hydaelyn speak their minds with them as the witnesses. the almost do, and then minfilia whispers “i am truly sorry, friend. i love you.” and zaya’s heart is undone.

…

they don’t wake up with everyone else at the foot of nabaath areng, after minfilia disappears for good and after the waking memories of ardbert being refused his sacrifice.

instead, zaya wakes to their hair untied, thancred’s (torn, bloodied, stained) coat thrown over them, and a girl with grey eyes and terra-cotta hair looking surprised to see them awake. not a few seconds later does zaya sit up, head reeling as they look around to see the scions sitting just a little bit over three yalms away

“zaya,” she exhales tiredly. “you’re awake. lunya thought—” she points to their right horn, not daring to touch the ridges. “—the wound you were hiding here was more serious than just knocking you unconscious, seeing as it… well.”

they reach up to touch where the crack was, fingertips shaky and scratched up beyond all belief and find the smooth surface that only accompanied crystal, and from the slight thrum in their horn from the touch…

“thancred says it’s lightning crystal, or some gemstone attuned to your aether.” the girl carefully presses a mirror—dusty, old, slightly cracked—into their hands. “i, er. i don’t quite understand it all, but… when she—minfilia, that is—brought us back to nabaath areng, my appearance and your horn were already like this.”

zaya lifts the mirror to their face, and oh—the crack on their horn is filled with small slivers of gleaming gemstone; blue topaz, which explains the weird, sharp, clear and crisp tones to all of the sounds zaya’s can hear. it’s almost too similar to the exarch’s situation, what with the crystal marking his face and arm, but hells, they’re surprised they can hear at all with the gemstone filling the gaps between rough bone. gemstones aren’t crystal, after all.

but zaya has more pressing matters to attend to than figuring out the logistics of filling in a fracture with a non-organic material; besides, it’s not like their horn will be going anywhere.

“who are you?” zaya asks as the chatter from the scions and warriors die down.

“i—” the small girl with the weight of a two century long legacy in her hands and every last one of them standing by her side pauses, a small glimmer of hope crossing her eyes like a thunderbolt as she looks at them carefully. they both know what zaya asked wasn’t from amnesia, but of something else. “my name… is ryne.”

firefly, zaya quickly signs, and thancred inhales sharply from three yalms away even as ryne tilts her head in confusion. he knew nearly every sign in the book; it wasn’t surprising he’d catch them giving ryne a gift of their own. it’s the closest to saying i love you so, so much without saying it at all, because words wouldn’t possibly fit i’m sorry, are you alright, and can i try again all in six words.

“means firefly,” they clarify for ryne when she looks back at thancred, confusion turning into worry. “your new namesign, if you want? can’t keep callin’ y’u minfilia.”

“...i would like that very much,” ryne says, smiling and trying to keep a few tears from building at the corners of her eyes, and in that very moment—then there were two of an old friendship left behind, the shadow of minfilia finally lifting from zaya’s shoulder as ryne’s smile brought zaya’s heart back; salvation.

#ffxiv #final fantasy xiv #shadowbringers #seaswolchallenge #ryne #zaya qestir #minfilia warde #thancred waters #ryne waters #my writing #i have a lot of feelings about the amh araeng section of shadowbringers and it shows #shoutout to mom squad who for whatever reason continues to put up with my angsty bullshit for like. the third week in a row #im so sorry to literally Everyone who reads this #i was experimenting with some ideas and ended up with brainworms #bonus shoutout to lordofcrowns for making a post with the poem i've linked because i've literally been looking for that exact poem for AGES #this is. a very experimental introspection piece and i hope yall like it a little! :3 #best of elie #tales from the blue #s: bound by faith

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inviouswriting · 4 years

Text

Dragoon

Something I am still on the fence in pairing is a mild au for Kiya and Aymeric including Estinien into their relationship. Specially after Kiya is going through a lot of the Dragoon training with him. I do see a little bit of a possible romance between all three of them. Aymeric to make Kiya happy, Kiya to make both happy, and Estinien still retains his freedom without being tied in marriage with them.

So I’m going to write and see how this develops.

This is full smut.

We have Estinien x Kiya.

then Aymeric x Kiya x Estinien.

Kiya has been on many training expeditions with Estinien in her quests to learn the lance. He is a patient teacher with her, and he enjoyed her as a student to learn from him. Albeit at some points she had to learn from Alberic too, but she had grown well in learning, even surprising him when she knocked him down for a change.

Even now she was mastering the deeper parts of her training in the same way he did with the dragons. Seeing her with the swirl of energy around her, she is mesmerizing in the power even after she manages to tap deeper into using Nastrond. When she lands her blow on him and he is knocked over he only stares at her with a newfound proudness.

If she wasn’t married to his best friend he would have claimed her hand moons ago. Back when she had saved him, but by then she had bonded with Aymeric enough to develop a very deep love with him that he himself knows would be broken by a slip of trust on either side.

Estinien shakes his head free of thoughts, taking Kiya’s offered hand, he admired her donning the drachen armor more than the one he wears. Probably easier to move around for her. Though the moment their training concluded and the aether swirl of power subsided. She changes from the armor to adventuring clothing.

It is one of the first times he sees one of the expressions she keeps to herself. The strain of her roles, she had come to him after returning from The First, after nearly losing her mind to becoming a sin eater. She had nightmares that plagued her worse, even Aymeric had stayed up at night with her as she screamed in terror the first few months after coming back.

Asking her to give it up is foolish, even he knows better than to utter that to her. She can’t. But the mass people do not see what he or Aymeric see. Or even some of the close friends in the Scions. The pain in her eyes, from countless losses, horrors witnessed even at the risk of her own life absorbing so much aetherical light. She had spoke about it brief with him, Aymeric told him more.

“You feeling alright?” Estinien questions her, he earns a worn out smile. A practiced one. The morning she had confided in him, fears and worries.

“Do you not get tired of it all?” He questioned her, just to try and see what response he’d get.

“I am tired of it all every day. I just want to sit down and actually pursue my married life.. but if I don’t. They’ll just ask someone else, put them in danger, subject them to horrors untold all for the sake of feeding into an adventurers thirst.” Kiya hugged her knees to herself, something she does when the pressure is too much and she was about to crack under it.

Estinien sees just how much her travel to The First weighs on her mind. She did not have anyone to lean on. Except G’raha or Urianger from time to time. She was otherwise alone in a world that cared less of whether she lived or died. She could have died and not a single person in her home now would ever know of her demise. They’d expect her to just come back. Hopes to be had, quests to be ran, all waiting without knowing their warrior of light became a monster or perished.

There is a sadness in Kiya’s eyes, and when he realizes more of how much the world puts their problems onto just one person to solve. He almost wishes he could sprint back to Ishgard and drag Aymeric off to find some place to give them peace. All three of them. Doing so was selfish with the Empire still around, specially in Zenos.

Kiya gets up and wanders to her belongings for things to clean herself off with from the training. Another pained look to her eyes, and a hint of a blush.

Estinien spoke to Aymeric before he and Kiya left on their latest training excursion. A proposition was granted to him, if he would want to be part of them. He and Kiya, with Aymeric. He told him he’d think about it, he gave an answer in agreeing to it a day later.

Aymeric knew before either of them did, and it was a solution for him in settling down with anyone. He had given him the idea and permission he needed for an event that even he was unprepared for,

Heat. Aymeric had warned Estinien that Kiya was close to a cycle, and normally he would go with them if he knew his beloved was close to tend to her needs. He couldn’t get out of matters in Ishgard, and shortly after the peak of Nastrond with Kiya she hits it afterwards.

She fidgets uncomfortable, tugging at her collar or looking dazed during a few training moments. When she went to bathe in a river, he had followed close behind to stand watch in case.

The sound of water was reassuring in her cleansing herself, but she stayed a bit longer. Till he can hear her, pained whines and pleas for Aymeric. Estinien walked away from so close to the river and found that blasted linkpearl. He had to be sure of something before he did anything.

“Aymeric. She’s in heat.” Estinien keeps his voice low, even as he hears Kiya’s increase. Aymeric closes his eyes on the other end of the link, and knows all too well, she could ride it out till she came back to him, or be left to deal with it. It pains her and he hates her suffering more.

“Are you seeking permission to help her?” Aymeric had already given Estinien permission to take care of Kiya. His guess is the dragoon is ensuring he is serious about it than a passing of words.

“Aye. And does she know about it?”

“Of course she does.” Estinien can almost see the grin he knows is there. He even scoffs a bit at being the last one clued in.

“Very well, I’ll take care of her then. Any special requests?” Estinien feels a rush in his spine.

“Without being too selfish, don’t release inside her. Me and her are still trying to have a child after all. Oh, before I forget. She is a scratcher.” Aymeric does make that request.

“Aye, I wouldn’t do that.” Aymeric only smiles more to himself, granted he wanted to be there with them the first time. He shakes his head knowing his beloved would never betray him that way. She had confided in him about her growing feelings towards Estinien. Instead of being jealous or constricting in staying monogamous he embraced her and agreed to allow the dragoon in with them.

The linkpearl connection was shut down, and Estinien shakes his head while cursing both of them under his breath. Now with confirmed permission from the man himself. Estinien approaches Kiya, he had shed his own clothing by this point.

The sight that greets him would make most men hard, Kiya on her hands and knees with a hand pleasing herself. Her face pressed into her arm as she moans pained whimpers into it.

Her moans had a mix of Aymeric’s name, but to Estinien’s surprise his name is murmured underneath in some moments. He approaches and strokes a hand down the middle of her back. This startles her, and Kiya shoots upright and turns to glare at him thinking it could have been someone else.

Kiya keeps covers herself little with her arms, and Estinien looks over her. Understanding exactly why Aymeric is insatiable with her. Curved in the right spots, heated green eyes wide in shock at him being there.

“How long were you there?” She questions, and scoots back a little reaching her hand that was toying with her to the water. Estinien catches that hand and brings it up to his lips to test a taste of her.

“I just spoke with Aymeric.” He informs her, and sees her fidget more at the mention of Aymeric.

“You have something you want to tell me?” He continues and cleans her fingers off, finding her taste enjoyable. Kiya bites her bottom lip. He is gentle in how he presses kiss on her hand and down her arm to her shoulder. To draw confessions out of her.

“I want you...” He is gentle and tender, a rare side she gets to experience.

“Want me how? Aymeric tells me you have feelings for me along side him. This true?” Kiya feels the tickle of white hair against her chest when he presses full kisses along her neck trailing them up her jawline, then back down to her collarbone.

“I do.” Kiya feels mortified in having to admit it this way. But the soft kisses on her neck trail along the front of her neck then up to her lips pressing a chaste kiss on them, testing his limits. She returns it, and looks away sheepish.

“No wonder Aymeric fell in love with you so fast.” Estinien cups her face in his hands and places a full kiss on her, a first between them. He would want to spend more time teasing her, he figured he would be invited into bed with her and Aymeric soon together.

For now he tends to her the way her husband would. Kiya’s mind is swimming hot, even as she witnesses the dragoon be tender with her. That demeanor changes to the one she is familiar with, his hands moving to cup her breasts and give a squeeze at their fullness in his palms. Or how a stray hand moves behind her to tug at her tail stroking it enjoying the feel of fur under his fingertips.

Kiya squeezes her thighs together but has her legs coaxed apart by Estinien’s wandering hands. He ghosts them down till he feels wet heat at her thighs. Kiya stares up at him, and he regards her with a patient look as his fingers touch her curious. She jolts up feeling the way his fingers are much different to Aymeric’s, a little fuller but just as long.

Estinien feels how hot she is, and vaguely wonders how Aymeric handles it, he then shakes his head, he handles it the way he is handling her now. To sate her lust. He pushes two of his fingers into her, not worried of hurting her with her being with his friend. He presses deep into her, curling his fingers and pumps them into her, listening to sighed pleasure underneath him.

He arranges them after he feels himself straining for pleasure. Estinien angles her hips back and pushes the miqo’te onto her back as he raises her legs up to fit well in between them.

Kiya feels a rush of anxiety as what was about to happen between them will change their relationship permanently. That was already changed the moment she approached Aymeric with her feelings.

“Second thoughts?” Estinien holds himself before he pushes into her, he feels her radiate heat off her body, more so at her core.

“No, no second thoughts. Just nervous.”

“Nervous should be reserved for a virgin. You my dear, are clearly not one.” He teases her, and she laughs a bit, he also sees the fire return in her eyes.

“You are right, I am not one.” A shared smile, and Estinien shakes his head once more as he pushes into her. She is hotter than he expected her to be. He wastes little time on the push in, and thrusts. He listens to her mewls and her hands go to his back. She holds onto him as he pushes hard into her.

Estinien then feels what Aymeric warned him about, her nails raking his back when he hits a particular spot she enjoyed. This one he wonders how Aymeric isn’t more scarred up from her scratching.

“Ah, damn you! I like to keep my skin on myself.” He grabs her hands and pins them above her head as he becomes relentless in his movements. He lowers his head to kiss her, she returns the kiss and eyes him for pinning her hands down.

“Don’t claw.” Estinien says, and she nods. Kiya puts her hands down next to her and digs her nails into the ground instead ripping grass and dirt from its home. He’s glad he made her grip the ground, if she grabbed him like that he would be missing more than just having a few lines down it.

He soon gets an idea, and pulls from her core and rearranges her on her hands and knees again.

“Tell me, you’ve done anal with Aymeric?” He questions as he dips his fingers into her core then trails them to her ass to press his fingers into her to prep her.

“Ah, yes! Many times.” Kiya’s face burns at the question.

“Alright then. Good to know, so I don’t have to worry hurting you.” He wanted to release his seed in her, but he made a promise not to, but her ass was a different story for him. There he didn’t worry about getting her pregnant.

Kiya feels him tug his fingers free from her and replaces them with himself. He pushes into her and revels at how she feels tight here even with their mutual lover.

Estinien coaxes her legs further apart and tugs her tail to the side as he stretches her. He waits long enough for her to adjust before he resumes his unrelenting pace from earlier.

Kiya feels a big difference, and buries her face into her arms to let sigh after sighed moan escape. Estinien enjoys it more, and even sneaks a hand underneath her to slip his fingers into her and pumps her as he thrusts into her.

“There we go, there we go. You feel amazing. I bet you also feel that way too.” He presses his front to her back and listens to the way she pleads for him. Kiya pants out and feels Estinien lift her to fit in his lap and thrusts his fingers into her deeper while his thrusts are made harder.

“Just think of how both myself and Aymeric are going to be thorough at home. Have a cock in both sides. I wonder how your husband will help me please you.” He speaks into her ears, enough to feel the way she clenches on his fingers and drives herself down harder onto him.

Estinien kisses her shoulder and next as he draws her into a frenzied mess. Kiya peaks in a way that leaves her panting and shuddering in moans. A few more dirty phrases muttered into her ears leaving her blushing and flustered all the more. Estinien pushes deep and spills himself. He waits a moment while he has her seated on him if she requires more. Or would be calm enough to get her home to enjoy Aymeric along side with him.

“Think you’ll be good for the trek home?” Estinien asks when he sees her senses return.

“I believe so.” Estinien pulls from her and helps clean her off as well as dress her in her clothing. She feels an ache subsided and replaced with another soreness.

By the time they arrive back to Ishgard, Aymeric was waiting for them outside his home. Kiya looks away sheepish and feeling guilty. Aymeric only smiles to her, and moves to stand in front of her. She raises her gaze to his, and feels the warmth behind his blue eyes.

“I take you had fun then?” He smooths his hands on her shoulders, and looks over to Estinien.

“I missed you with us though. Would have been even more fun if you were there.” Kiya says and looks at Estinien as he walks up to both of them.

“Why don’t we go inside and make up for that? Hm?” Aymeric offers, and both of them agree to it. Kiya feels that ache return, one normally filled by Aymeric, and once they were inside the room. Aymeric closes and locks it. He had excused most of the staff, anyone that would gossip from what was about to take place.

The moment he has his wife, Aymeric leans in and kisses her full, guiding her backwards onto their bed. Estinien leans against the wall for now and watches the two. Kiya grips Aymeric with a fierceness he himself felt in how she clung to him. Aymeric is already pulling her clothing off, and gazes over to Estinien.

“You just feel like watching or would you like to participate?” Estinien sees Kiya on the receiving end of Aymeric’s fingers pushing into her, hardly waiting already know she is still soaked from her heat and earlier.

Aymeric moves to the side to allow Estinien a spot to tease. He takes up behind her, lifting her up as he tugs his own pants down. Aymeric works to rid the dragoon of the rest of the clothing.

Kiya is overwhelmed by both men, and yelps out when Estinien resumes from earlier, pushing himself into her ass with next to no worry of hurting her. Aymeric steps back to watch both of them, seeing the frenzied look in his wife’s eyes and pleading him for relief. While he himself pushes into her slit hissing at how hot she is this round.

Kiya loses her senses all over again, she clings tight to Aymeric as he joins Estinien in uneven thrusts. Every pull back the white haired man does, Aymeric pushes into her, and every drawback of Amyeric’s hips Estinien is pushing forward.

Estinien grips her breasts and even lifts them for Aymeric to kiss and tug at a nipple with his teeth gently. Estinien pinches the other one and rolls it between his fingers.

Aymeric sees how his beloved absolutely loses herself in pleasure. So much his own thighs are drenched in her juices from how wet she has gotten from their combined thrusts and ministrations. Estinien sneaks a hand in between Aymeric and Kiya to roll her clit between his fingers. This causes Kiya to arch between them both and rock her hips forward onto both of them harder.

Estinien pushes Kiya forward and helps shove Aymeric to the floor. Man in question looks at them both then sees how Estinien situates himself behind Kiya.

“Now love, let’s show him what you are really capable of with those hips of yours.” Estinien guides Kiya down, and she in her frenzied state rocks down on both men. She rides them both, Estinien helping rock her hips down comfortably while Aymeric watches in amazement at how Kiya stares at him in full hunger in her green eyes.

Kiya braces her hands on Aymeric’s chest and rolls down sinking the entire length inside her. Estinien draws back on the thrust he makes when she does this, then pushes in when she raises her hips up.

“Ah! Please! This is torture on me!” Kiya pants out, Estinien returns his fingers to her clit and rubs it while Aymeric’s hips buck up into Kiya wildly. She feels tugs on her breasts as Aymeric’s hands find them and palms both then tugs at her nipples till she leans forward to him.

Aymeric kisses her deep and she whines into the kiss, a full loud cry is torn from her, and Aymeric feels a gush of fluid hit his lap as she cums hard in her orgasm. Aymeric is next burying himself deep into his beloved and giving her his seed. His and Estinien’s hands at her waist to push her down as far as she can go.

Estinien pulls from Kiya and lets his out on her back then sits back to admire the two. How Kiya seeks Aymeric’s kiss in her need. Estinien leans over the top and joins them in their kiss. Pressing at the corner of her lips and is granted in.

Kiya feels light in her blissed out state of mind. She sighs into the kisses she gets from both of them.

“How many more rounds do you think she can go?” Estinien questions Aymeric.

“Hmm... normally she can go for maybe three before she is worn out like this. After a bath we can try to get her to do more?” Aymeric answers, Kiya looks to him, then to Estinien. She is in for a very long night with both of them.

#kiya shinikami #aymeric x kiya #Aymeric x Kiya x Estinien #aymeric #ser aymeric #ffxiv aymeric #aymeric de borel #estinien #Estinien wyrmblood #polyamory in a healthy way

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sephirotha · 4 years

Text

Imperial One in the Sylphlands

Eve enjoyed being in the Shroud when she was having her down time. She loved being surrounded by the towering trees, shading her from the summer sun. She enjoyed listening to the kwehs of the chocobos at Bentbranch and the babbling brook.

How could she not be at home?

Her fingers danced along the cool metal of her flute as she practiced her songs. Her chocobo sat next to her, letting out a soft kweh to accompany the occasional note.

It wasn’t a song, per se, more like something that was being composed. The melody was fragmented, and the occasional note went off key, eliciting a cringe from the miqo’te and a startled kweh from her chocobo.

“Walking one! Walking one!”

Eve lifted her lips off the flute and turned to see a sylph flutter in her direction. It stopped before her, catching its breath.

“Walking one! It is an imperial one! A big imperial one!”

Eve leapt to her feet and stashed her flute away. “Where?”

“In the Sylphlands! Walking one must hurry!”

Eve jumped and mounted her chocobo. He let out a sharp kweh as they dashed through the Shroud, making their way to the Sylphlands.

---

Eve didn’t need to venture that deep into the Sylphlands to find the imperial that was spooking the sylphs.

A small group of sylphs were huddled behind a large tree root, chattering amongst themselves.

Eve dismounted her chocobo and one sylph turned to her.

“Walking one! Over here!”

Eve approached the group as they all turned to her, looking rather worried. “What’s the matter? Normally you’d be sending imperials away with your tricks.”

“Imperial one doesn’t react to tricks!”

“Imperial one has struck down touched ones!”

“This one is too frightened to go nearer!”

Eve frowned as she walked past the sylphs. They clustered behind her as she ducked under the root to see the imperial one.

Her brown eyes widened, and she tensed. Her left ear, the one with a large bite taken out of it, began twitching.

“…How long has that one been there?” she asked softly.

“Imperial one has just sat there, not moving for a while!”

“This one is too scared to get closer! This one could wake him!”

Eve swallowed slowly. “I don’t blame you.”

Her ear twitched more violently as she cautiously stepped forward.

Before her was Zenos, propped up against a tree and seemingly snoozing. The very man who committed suicide just a few fulms away from her by his own blade.

Why and how was he here? And why was he terrorising sylphs?

Eve took a deep breath and stepped forward. The sylphs behind her gasped softly and her chocobo let out a warning kweh.

Eve extended her arm and waved them back. She was going to approach him alone.

After a few bracing seconds, Eve took another step forward, slowly making her way closer to the slumbering prince.

As she got closer, she saw the scar up his neck from where the blade had sliced his arteries open. She could still see the way his eyes gazed upon her as he smiled, calling her his friend.

She was only perhaps five fulms away from him when he stirred. Her right ear flicked as she stopped in her steps, her earring jingling.

Zenos opened his eyes and lifted his head to look at her. He looked a little dazed, raising his hand to shield his face from the sun as he blinked blearily.

Eve swallowed hard as she glanced at the blade by his side. It was within his reach and she didn’t dare take another step forward because that would guarantee getting impaled.

Zenos lowered his hand and smiled wryly.

“Have I been caught, dear hero?” he asked in a whisper. “Have you descended to deliver retribution?”

Eve’s ears spasmed a little as she heard something was off. Her eyes swept over his pale form and her nose twitched when she smelled perspiration.

“…Are you ill?”

Zenos rolled his head to the side, leaning it against his shoulder. He closed his eyes, a soft sigh leaving him.

Eve carefully stepped forward, much to the excited and terrified gasps of the sylphs. She crouched before him, brushing his hair out of his face and placing her hand on his forehead, covering his Garlean eye.

Zenos cracked open his eyes to look up at her. Eve pressed her lips together.

“How did this happen?”

Zenos remained silent much to her frustration. The miqo’te turned to the sylphs and beckoned them. They faffed around before one brave sylph dared approach them.

“Did one of your tricks do this?” she asked the shivering one.

The sylph looked at Zenos, whose gaze was firmly fixed on the warrior, then nodded.

“Used a morbol bomb this one did! A special morbol bomb! But imperial one does not get sick!”

“Well he is sick. Is there anything that we can do to make him feel better?”

The sylph looked taken aback. “But why would walking one help imperial one?”

“Yes, walking one,” Zenos echoed and Eve gave him a reprimanding look. “Why would you aid me?”

Eve sighed softly. “I would never strike down someone who cannot fight back.”

Zenos’s lips quirked as he closed his eyes. The sylph hovered over Eve’s shoulder.

“Imperial one should be sick for a day. This one made the special bomb to urge imperial ones to go away for a long time.”

Eve sighed as she got to her feet. “Can you stand, Zenos?” Zenos didn’t answer and Eve huffed, kicking his ankle. “Didn’t expect you to be a chatterbox but you could at least make this less difficult.”

She turned a little, her hand hovering over her linkpearl. She stared ahead for a few moments, fingering the linkpearl but never pressing down.

“…Twelve be damned. Come on.”

Eve bent down and heaved Zenos up to his feet. She yelped when she staggered at his weight, stumbling and trying to balance them. Her chocobo raced to the other side of Zenos, worming his way under his arm to provide support. Eve nodded to her faithful companion as they dragged the Garlean through the Sylphlands.

---

Eve stood guard by the tent she had put up in the Bramble Patch. Surprisingly, Zenos was able to fit inside but left little room for her.

Not that she was intending to share a tent with him for the night.

Her chocobo clawed at the dirt and she reached out for him.

“You head back to Bentbranch,” she said and gave him a small pouch with gil. “This should be enough for a night in a warm stable for you.”

Her companion let out a worried kweh and she shook her head.

“I’ll be fine. Now go.”

The chocobo looked between the tent and her before nodding and taking off. Eve watched him run off and perched herself on a stump. She pulled her lyre out and began playing a simple melody to clear her mind.

She pondered what her fellow comrades would say if they found her like this, sheltering the very man who terrorised two nations, leaving broken souls wherever he turned.

The imagined reactions would more or less be the same. Disapproval and demands that he should be put down like a rabid beast.

Even to this day, Eve could hear Raubahn’s words. That allowing him to live was not an option. And Eve wholeheartedly agreed. Such a tyrant shouldn’t be suffered to live nor should he walk home scot free.

Eve had considered the many ways she should deal with him but no matter how she tried to justify her actions, it led to her realising she’d be no different to the villains she was fighting against for the sake of Eorzea and Hydaelyn. Even when presented with the option of whether to allow Laurentius and Yuyuhase to live after their heinous acts, Eve expressed her opinion that they should be allowed to live.

However, she was of the opinion that should they squander this chance to redeem themselves, she wouldn’t be as merciful, especially with Laurentius. She saw potential in the man, and she swore that should she ever see him again, she’ll break his nose.

Eve’s ear twitched when she heard the shuffling of sheets. She turned to the tent and waited a few beats before turning away.

She grabbed her bag and looked through it. She nibbled her lip, glanced back at the tent then grabbed her hatchet and gathering clothes.

---

Half an hour passed, and Eve was cooking chicken and mushrooms over a campfire. At her side was a couple of gourds filled with mint lassi.

There was no movement in the tent since she got back. She had checked earlier and saw Zenos was still sleeping.

He looked peaceful. It served as a reminder that underneath the armour and cold demeanour, he was just a vulnerable mortal like herself and her companions.

Eve plated the chicken and mushrooms, setting the saucepan to the side. She grabbed a gourd and approached the tent, parting the folds to stick her head in.

There he was, sleeping like a babe. His chest heaved with his steady breaths, hands laced and resting on his abdomen. He slumbered like everyone else she knew, cocooned in dreams to calm him down for the night.

With no piercing gaze nor cruel smirk, Eve found him to even be attractive.

“My friend, do you intend to let the cold in much longer?”

Eve’s ears pricked straight up, her earring jingling with the sudden movement. Zenos smirked slightly as he opened his eyes. Eve narrowed hers and gripped the gourd tighter.

“Are you thirsty?”

Zenos glanced at the gourd in her hand, his smirk growing a little wider. “Ah, I see.”

Eve’s ear twitched when she heard resignation in his voice. She popped the gourd open and took a loud gulp of the lassi. She swallowed and held the gourd to him.

Zenos sat up and looked at the gourd thoughtfully before accepting it. He raised it to his lips and took a small sip. Eve nodded.

“Are you hungry?”

Zenos remained silent, simply staring at the half empty gourd. Eve growled as she ducked out of the tent, grabbed a serving of chicken and mushrooms then went back to the tent to place the plate in his lap.

“You don’t have to eat everything,” she said as she handed him a fork and knife. “And I know it’s nothing fancy. I won’t be insulted if you rather wouldn’t eat at all.”

She ducked out of the tent and returned to the campfire, sitting down and taking a deep breath to calm herself down. Suddenly, killing him like this wasn’t such a bad idea.

Eve pulled her lyre out to practice her songs again. She sang along, keeping her voice soft so she didn’t attract too much attention.

Her ear twitched when she heard someone speak and turned to see an empty plate and gourd outside of the tent. She lowered her lyre and approached the empty things, sighing a little as she picked them up.

“…You’re welcome.”

#stormblood spoilers #Final Fantasy XIV #original female character #miqo'te #zenos yae galvus #sylphs #alternate universe #fanfiction #chocobo

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rollzerox · 4 years

Note

Can you do a JaeYona fanfiction prompt for me? I want a story where Yona's problem with not eating for long periods of time when she gets really stressed resurfaces? I noticed that Yona had that problem mentioned a couple times in the series, but it never really gets brought up again, and I could see Jae Ha and some of the others getting really concerned over it. I hope this isn't too sudden, but I'm surprised that there aren't more fanfictions that bring it up and I'd like if somebody wrote one

Thanks so much for the prompt anon! I’m sorry this took me so long I’m working on my backlog of prompt immediately during current events hope you like this take for my Castle AU series where Yona is queen of Kouka

“Daddy! Daddy!” tiny voices could be heard running across the hallways of the palace as King Jae-ha turned to see his twin children rushing towards him. He was currently sitting with his cane watching Hak, Ura, Hawke and Shiro practice, Lina bouncing her 6-year-old Krystal in her lap and giggling at her silly siblings. The child squealed when she’d feel her unborn sibling kick at her, considering Lina was 6 months pregnant with her next child. Sitting next to her was her second daughter, Jin-ae, who was named after the first Queen of Kouka, Hiryuu’s wife.

“Here comes Aki and Mido, Uncle Jae-ha.” Hinto, Shin-ah’s 10-year-old son chuckled as he at saw them coming with his dragon’s eye.

“Aka-dori? Mido-ka? What is it?” Jae-ha asked once the two children arrived. They were 5 years old, the girl with long raven hair and the boy with short ginger hair. The girl had clear blue eyes and the boy had green.

“Mommy won’t eat!” Aki cried, whimpering. “The cooks don’t know what to do she didn’t eat breakfast and now she says she doesn’t want lunch.”

Hak stopped his practice run and sighed, shaking his head. “… She’s still upset over…” he glanced to Zeno who nodded.

“We all miss former Seiryuu and Hakuryuu.” The Yellow Dragon answered. “It didn’t help they passed only a year apart. Not to mention former Ryokuryuu lately has…”

“Oh please, I’m just fine.” Jae-ha waved him off. “I mean seriously Lina’s 22 now, I honestly thought I would have long kicked the bucket by now.”

“Yeah and you fell down the stairs the other day again, Droopy Eyes.” Hak growled. “You gave her a heart attack.”

“Hak come on, you have enough on your plate.” Jae-ha looked at him sadly, after all Valerie had just passed away in childbirth a year ago. “No point in me bothering you all the time to get around.”

“But I can help you uncle!” Shiro, the current 12-year-old Hakuryuu said while extending his arm.

“Precious child.” Jae-ha hummed, petting the boy on the head. He sure had his father’s enthusiasm.

Tetora smiled as she hugged her son from behind. “You’re always so eager to help.”

“Really guys I’ll tend to my wife, lead the way treasures.” Jae-ha hummed, Aki and Mido eagerly rushed back in. “But don’t run or you’ll…”

“GAH!” Gigan, Jae-ha’s middle daughter growled as the twins nearly plowed her over when they ran past her, the 16-year-old looking rather annoyed. “Aki! Mido! Watch where you’re going!” she growled as she almost dropped the books she was holding.

“Done with your lesson already Gigi?” Hawke called out to his older sister.

“Yes which you skipped!” Gigan snapped at him, her eyebrow twitching at the nickname. “What kind of prince are you when all you want to do is run off and learn fighting with our Uncle Hak? Seriously you can’t solve everything with your muscles idiot.”

“Not everyone enjoys lessons like you do Gigan.” Lina giggled.

Jae-ha laughed, petting Gigan on the head. “My smart little treasure. You’re going to make a fine queen someday you know.”

That made the raven-haired girl blush. “F-father really I mean I would be honored if mother were to choose me but I’m not the oldest…”

“You really think Lina wants the throne?” Jae-ha snorted.

“Hell no, I’m traveling with Ura after the kids are grown.” Lina rolled her eyes and took her husband’s hand. “I’m a Ryokuryuu my job is to protect our mother and eventually I’ll protect the future king and queen. Which could be you and Shiro when you get married.” She teased.

Shiro practically choked as he turned red at that. “I-I-I… T-that’s n-not funny Lina!”

“LINA!” Gigan’s face turned into a fireball. “I’m not you I don’t go around marrying our cousins!”

“Please, Kija and I weren’t exactly blood brothers just dragon brothers.” Jae-ha hummed. “Otherwise Shiro & Hinto would be Lina’s brothers with their dragon connection. Besides look how happy Ura and Lina are you know I sure won’t complain…”

“FATHER THAT’S NOT FUNNY!” Gigan shouted, looking ready to explode. “GAH! Why am I the only normal one in this crazy family?!”

Jae-ha laughed how his daughter would always have a meltdown over things like this. The rest of his children got his carefree attitude and Gigan was more like her namesake it made me smile. “Anyway where’s your mother? I hear she’s being stubborn again.”

“In the library.” Gigan answered after she settled down. “One of the scholars just dropped off a new scroll with her and she said she was putting it away…. She was forcing a smile so I was going to bring her a new specimen from Kai that my instructor brought.” She held up an orange colored orchid. “Give it to her father, you know new flowers for her garden always cheers her up.”

Jae-ha nodded, smiling as he took the flower. “I will my dear. Try to not let your siblings drive you insane.”

Gigan looked at him deadpan. “Don’t ask for the impossible, father.”

Jae-ha snorted, then kissed her forehead and headed on for the library. His twins ran so far ahead of him he shook his head as they found their mother first, her back to them and not even noticing they entered as she was looking over a scroll.

Tears floated down Yona’s cheeks as it was a new illustration of her and her Four Dragons surrounding her, along with many of the tales the scholars sat her down and made her recall because they wanted to make a full record of the second incarnation of King Hiryuu. Shin-ah’s funeral was only a few weeks ago and she still wasn’t over the loss of both Kija and Valerie. She sobbed to herself as she clutched the parchment close, hating the fact her family was slowly being torn apart but at the same time blessed she had so many happy years with them…

“Mommy!” Aki and Mido were suddenly hugging her ankles, snapping her out of her trance. “Mommy! We brought you something!” the twins bounced on their toes as they pulled back.

“Oh what is it you two? Don’t tell me you’re trying to butter me up because you set the garden on fire again.” Yona sighed, bending down to her kids to pet them on the head.

“No mommy that was an accident we swear!” Aki whimpered.

“Even though it happened three times.” Mido squirmed.

Jae-ha chuckled as he walked in. “They’re just worried about you my lovely, here. A gift from Gigan.” He handed her the flower, bringing a small smile the queen’s face.

“It’s lovely.” Yona said, joining him in standing. “But you should be resting.” She scolded her husband.

“I’m behaving.” Jae-ha hummed, leaning on his cane for support. He tried to hide the fact he was trying to catch his breath from the walk over, lately just getting out of bed was a chore for the aging dragon.

Yona brushed her fingers over his bangs, noting the sweat on his forehead as she chided him. “You can’t hide from me, husband. Sit down.” She pushed him into a nearby chair that the twins helped bring closer. “Or else I’ll let our terror twins tie you down again.”

“Can we mommy?!” Aki cried, excitement dancing in her eyes.

Jae-ha snorted. “Now you’re using the kids against me, that’s not fair love.”

“You use them against me so it’s only fair.” Yona giggled, kissing him playfully as she pulled away. “Aki, Mido, go get something from the chefs for daddy along with his medicine from Grandma Yoon ok?”

“Ok mommy!” Mido darted off, Aki rushing after him.

“I’ll only eat if you do.” Jae-ha said in a sing-song voice.

Yona made a face. “I’m not hungry.”

The Ryokuryuu sighed, grabbing her hands. “… Love… Come on it’s not your fault. You know Shin-ah and Kija wouldn’t want you to feel guilty.”

“But…” Yona choked, tears in her eyes as her hands trembled. “If only I wasn’t… And one day the same will happen to our own daughter and then… I was so absorbed in worrying about you I never thought that they would…”

Jae-ha pulled her into his lap, giving her a long kiss full of love while caressing her back. “Shhhh, it’s ok love. It’s only natural, my successor was born first after all everyone even Zeno expected me to die by now. It’s a strange miracle I’ve lasted this long. Guess Ik-su wasn’t kidding when he said our child is twice blessed and I wouldn’t die as soon as I thought.” He kissed away her tears as he brushed her crimson hair. “But that doesn’t change the fact that they both loved you and wouldn’t want you upset. They lived wonderful lives here by your side and found their beautiful wives. Their children are safe here and we’ve basically broken the curse of Ryokuryuu and Seiryuu villages as their lines will continue here where they are celebrated not hated. We might even mix dragon blood with the way Gigan and Shiro are crushing on each other.”

Yona rolled her eyes. “Stop playing match maker with our children.”

“It worked with Lina didn’t it?” Jae-ha hummed, kissing her cheek. “… Please love, you’ve barely ate anything all week or do I have to pop another treasure inside you to make you take care of yourself?” he offered, fluttering his eyelashes at her.

Yona turned bright red at that, squirming in his lap. “… I-I… I can’t do that, they might never meet their…” she sadly brushed his cheek.

“Think of it as me leaving you a treasure behind my love.” Jae-ha hummed, pressing his forehead against hers. “Besides we know they won’t be lonely with as many siblings as they’ll have. Just think about it love.” He gave her another kiss. “After all I don’t seem to have the stamina I used to in my prime.”

“What a crime.” Yona giggled slightly, smiling warmly at her husband. “… Thank you Jae-ha… You and all the dragons helped me find the greatest happiness in my life. I just…. Hate the thought of waking up without you by my side.” She choked.

Jae-ha looked at her sadly. “… I know, I feel the same. But the kingdom and our family need you love. Besides… You know I’ll be waiting for you on the other side.”

“Jae-ha….” Yona sobbed, her eyes threatening to let out another waterfall of tears until she heard the sounds of her twins rushing back into the room.

“We got food mommy! You gotta eat too!” Mido said, holding up a tray that was bigger than he was of food as Aki was holding Jae-ha’s medicine.

Yoon stood in the doorway as he came behind them, holding a second tray. “Yona how many times have I told you that you can’t skip meals like this?”

Yona pursed her lips as she crawled out of her husband’s lap. “… I told you kids just to get your father’s medicine not tell on me.”

Aki giggled. “But Grandma Yoon is your advisor and he can advise you to eat!”

“Not like she ever takes my advice when it’s about her health lately she’s as bad as her husband.” Yoon rolled his eyes, looking over Jae-ha and handing him a powder. “Now take that or else you’re on bedrest the rest of the week.”

“Thank you mother.” Jae-ha teased, though the boy genius was so used to it that didn’t even faze him anymore.

“We just don’t want you to get sick mommy please?” Aki bat her eyes at Yona, looking ready to cry. “Daddy gets sick enough and you take care of him so who’s going to take care of you if you feel bad?”

“Me probably.” Yoon mumbled under his breath.

Yona groaned as she took a seat, her twins at her legs immediately trying to force her something to eat as she sighed and grabbed a bread roll. “Fine, I’m eating are you guys happy now?” she then had the kids put the tray down on the table full of books as she lifted them into her arms, kissing their cheeks. “You two are too precious, so worried about me and your silly daddy.”

“Because daddy makes you cry when he gets hurt!” Mido whimpered. “You’ll make daddy cry if you get sick.”

Jae-ha hummed. “That’s right dear, don’t you know it’s a crime to make the king cry?” he tried to tease.

“Don’t you start.” Yona snapped. “It’s not my fault I was tired last week and you insisted on trying to carrying me to my room like a stubborn fool.”

Yoon groaned. “Don’t remind me. I’m the one the kids got when they found you two at the bottom of the stairs.”

“So I can’t land as gracefully as I used to…” Jae-ha rubbed his cheek in embarrassment as he chuckled, then grabbed something off the tray for himself to get the bitter taste of the medicine out of his mouth.

Yona sighed at that. “Sorry. I guess I have been worrying you guys just…”

“Well all miss them.” Yoon gave her a hug. “… Just know that you aren’t alone, ok? And we can’t lose you too. This idiot will probably jump off a cliff to join you if you die on him.” He jabbed a thumb at Jae-ha.

“Yoon not in front of the little ears.” Jae-ha groaned, not exactly denying it.

“No die mommy!” Aki and Mido clung to their mother tightly. “You can’t leave us!”

Yona wilted at that, hugging her twins tightly. “… You’re right. I’m not leaving you kids anytime soon I swear.” She kissed each of their foreheads. “And now go tell daddy he can’t leave you either so he has to stay stubborn for at least a few more years.” She smirked, letting them go as they rushed to their father.

“Daddy! Daddy! You too!” Aki cried, clinging to his legs as Mido tugged on his robes.

“Oh you little darlings I wouldn’t dare leave you just yet, I have to keep seeing all the trouble you get into come here!” Jae-ha smirked, lifting the kids into his lap and smothering them with kisses. “My precious little treasures.”

Yona smiled at the sight, hoping that her precious family could stay together just a bit while longer…

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notchesandbullets · 3 years

Text

An Unexpected Alteration to the Operation (Hak x Stubborn!Reader x Jae-ha)

Prompt: An undercover operation gone wrong, Jae-ha and Hak sweep in to show them not to mess with their girl. (Spoilers for the manga [Chp 81] and implied smut)

Protective! Hak x Stubborn! reader x Protective! Jae-ha

Words: 3.4k

Night was creeping up slowly, but the atmosphere was frigid inside the quaint hotel you and the dragons were all staying at. Not because of the temperature, but because two men were looking at you as if you had grown another head. Yoon and Yona had long since been asleep, exhausted by the day's events, and Shin-ah and Kija were keeping watch over them.

Violet and cerulean eyes narrowed at your innocent expression.

"I'll be fine." You insisted, almost rolling your eyes. You had been trying to convince them that your undercover plan was a good idea, and they weren't having it.

"You're not going." Hak stated flatly and Jae-ha nodded in agreement, causing you to raise an eyebrow. Those two never seemed to agree on anything except when it came down to keeping you safe.

"Hak, Kija and I are more than enough." Jae-ha reiterated what he had been saying for the past hour as they were preparing for the operation. This time, you did roll your eyes.

They were going to infiltrate the red-light district to find out who was smuggling nadai into the Water Tribe. The only issue was they had to be convincing as customers while not breathing in the toxic air or drinking the nadai-laced alcohol there.

Alright, you didn't want them to go for a number of reasons, even though you knew they could handle themselves in a fight. But you didn't like them fighting in a battle that you weren't going to be a part of, and you had every reason to be on the front lines this time around.

"And I'm supposed to ignore that you willingly took the nadai, right? That you were fully aware of what it was, and yet you still took it." You jabbed a finger at his chest. "I had to watch you writhe in agony for hours on that bed and there was nothing that I could do about it."

The green dragon winced at your harsh tone, but knew that you were upset at him for putting you through that. To be fair, he didn't expect it to have that kind of effect, but the look of pain on your face when he woke up wasn't worth it.

Neither was Hak's punch to his face, but somehow that was more bearable than seeing you hurting.

"I'm going." You said with finality. Hak and Jae-ha shared a look.

Then, you were staring at the ground.

You thumped on Hak's back. "Hak!! Put me down!!" He had slung you over his shoulder and Jae-ha just lifted his hands up in mock innocence.

You puffed out your cheeks. The traitor.

"Sure, sure," He said dryly. "In a second."

You struggled in his hold the entire way to your room. He practically flung you down on the bed with such force, causing you to bounce several times upon impact. You glared at him, but Hak brushed it off. You glanced over to Jae-ha for help, but in a fraction of a second, he was on top of you.

"Jae-ha!" You yelled out in surprise and then shock as you tried to move your arms. He had tied your wrists to the headboard! You growled, eyes flashing in anger, but stopped struggling when you saw the hidden fear lingering in the depths of their eyes.

They really were scared for you, of what would happen if you went there and things went wrong. They were worried they couldn't protect you. Hak and Jae-ha both agreed that they would live and die for you and Yona. The red-haired princess was the heart and soul of their entire group. She bound them all together, connecting each of them to the others in the process.

But you, you were their lover. You were their entire world.

If anything happened to you, they would never forgive themselves. You went lax in the bed as realization dawned on you. They were already so critical of themselves. Jae-ha for being the oldest in the group, excluding Zeno's immortality, felt responsible for everyone. And you knew Hak still felt guilt and resentment towards himself for not being able to protect the king the night of his murder.

"If you behave, we'll reward you later." Hak promised, leaning over to press a chaste kiss to your forehead.

"Ah, Y/N," Jae-ha's eyes sparkled with playfulness. "You get to have fun when we get back." He winked and you blushed under the circumstances.

They departed with a wave of farewell, and you let out a heavy sigh.

Sorry, Jae-ha, Hak... There's no way I'm not going to be by your side.

You wiggled your hands, grinning when you felt them loosen. Jae-ha always tied them so you had the option to slip out of them, when the three of you did, other things.

It seemed it was Jae-ha's second nature by now, and you were lucky that it was. You leaped up out of the bed, snatching the dress you picked up earlier and got ready quickly.

You had to hurry if you were going to slip in with the other girls.

As soon as you were satisfied with your appearance, you ran off into the night. You found the red-light district easily, and as soon as you stepped inside, you ran into the girl from earlier, A-Rin.

You held up your finger to your lips as you saw her eyes flash in recognition. The men were still lurking around, which meant that Hak, Jae-ha and Kija hadn't carried out their plan yet. But they were nowhere to be found, which meant that it was already underway.

You subtly gathered the girls into the back of the store, but you were being too obvious.

"Hey! You!" Your head snapped up at his grating voice. "What do you think you're doing?!"

You covered half of your face behind your hand, smiling brightly, eyes crinkling at the corners giving off faux innocence. "I just thought the customers could use more alcohol, my lord."

He scoffed at you and you resisted the urge to wipe the smirk off of his face. "You can do that yourself."

You bowed your head, submitting to his authority. As soon as he was out of earshot, you turned to the terrified girls beside you. "On my signal, make sure you stay behind me." You whispered.

They nodded, and then they scattered. You picked up a jug of alcohol, most likely laced with nadai, carrying it to one of the rooms. As you slid the door open, your eyes met Kija's shocked ones calmly. There was one other girl in the room, and your eyes landed on her darkened fingernails. It would seem she was an addict too. You gestured for him to stay quiet and he shut his mouth, slipping back into character.

He quickly poured the nadai laced drink down to the floor, ignoring the other girl's protests. But her voice caught the attention of one of the nearby men who was walking by and you gritted your teeth.

"Kija!" You cried out, wrapping your arms around the trembling girl as she screamed. He slashed at the man with his dragon claw, knocking him out cold. "Go! I'll take care of the rest!"

He nodded, then sped off. You gritted your teeth as you assessed the situation. The men started to surround you. It would be at least a few minutes before Jae-ha and Hak made it to this room. You needed to hold them off for as long as possible.

"Stay behind me." You instructed the girl who was shaking in fear behind you, and shielded her from their sight with your body. "I won't let them hurt you."

Your teeth bared in a snarl as the first one launched himself at you, but you caught him in his stomach with a punch. As he flew back, another took his place and you unleashed a series of kicks that Jae-ha had taught you.

He fell but there were too many of them. You dodged their attacks, striking where you could but it wasn't enough. You struggled to maintain your ferocity, adrenaline pumping through your veins but then you saw one of them reach for the girl behind you.

"DON'T TOUCH HER!!!" You screamed, tackling him to the ground, landing a flurry of punches on his face. You were pulled off of him by the others. As you violently struggled in their grasp, your eyes locked on the terrified girl's.

"Run!!!" You managed to yell out before a hand wrapped around your throat, cutting off your air supply. She fled the room, and that brought you a small sense of comfort. They started tearing at your clothes, scratching your skin with their dark fingernails. They didn't have any weapons, but their grips were tight and you could feel the bruises starting to form at your neck and arms.

Hak... Jae-ha....

The door burst open, splintering under the force.

"Unhand her right now." Hak demanded, cobalt eyes black with rage.

Jae-ha's normally calm and pleasant features were contorted murderously, and his violet eyes flashed with fury as they landed on the bruises on your skin.

"You have two seconds to get away from her before I rip your throat out." Jae-ha snarled, baring his teeth venomously.

They rushed at the men. The pace that they cleared them out was alarming. Hak didn't have his spear, but his prowess in battle was never to be underestimated as you watched him deliver lethal blows to their throats and the back of their heads. The addicts crumpled under their attacks, each one faring worse than the last.

Jae-ha spun around in a blur of green, taking out anyone who rose from the ground after Hak was through with them. The nadai addicts were unable to feel pain due to the drug. This time, Jae-ha actually didn't mind it.

They had touched what was his.

He could kick them down as many times as he wanted and they would keep rising. His eyes glinted dangerously in the candlelight. They would never lay a hand on you again.

What you didn't see was the blatant anger behind their calculated strikes. You didn't notice that they injured the men, not immediately killing them, putting them through agony as Hak drove his fists into this flesh. He didn't stop until he saw blood. Jae-ha's mouth curled up in a sadistic smirk as he heard the shattering of bones, bringing down his dragon leg with everything he had.

Hak and Jae-ha were going to make them feel every ounce of pain they dared to put you through, piercing through the nadai haze.

None escaped their wrath.

You wished you had enough energy to watch them. Then, you sunk to the ground, unable to stay upright any longer, completely exhausted.

"Y/N!!" Jae-ha called out, panicked, catching you swiftly as you fell. The men didn't get up anymore. They were either injured beyond repair or dead. "You have to stay awake!"

"Kija?" Hak frantically turned to the white dragon, who urged him on.

"It is finished." Kija responded, turning to the men that were still alive, now tied up. "Leave the rest to me."

The Thunder Beast gave him a nod of thanks, before picking you up in his arms. Jae-ha followed him all the way back to the inn, keeping an eye out for any stragglers. He was wary the entire way back, but Hak's body was tense with anger.

He let out a soft sigh.

Children... So troublesome... He thought tenderly to himself as he watched Hak settle you into bed, taking a seat next to you. Jae-ha followed in shortly after, tucking the blankets under your chin snugly.

"Yoon should look at her." Hak broke the silence and Jae-ha nodded.

"I'll go get him."

As he got to his feet, Hak stopped him. After the events of this night, he wasn't willing to take any chances. "Be careful." His dark blue eyes were serious.

Jae-ha shot him a confident smirk. "When am I not?"

He sped quickly down the hall, entering the room. Shin-ah was asleep not too far away from the princess and their little doctor. Jae-ha immediately shook the youngest awake.

"Yoon." The pretty boy groggily opened his eyes. "Y/N's hurt."

Yoon shot up, nearly knocking Jae-ha over as he tore past him in his haste to get to you. Besides Jae-ha and Hak, you were closest to Yoon. He cared about you so much, even if he had an interesting way of showing it. But you always prioritized his and Yona's safety so much so that you were always getting hurt trying to protect them.

He flung open the door, panting heavily. Hak hadn't moved from your side, but gestured for Yoon to keep quiet.

"She's asleep." Hak informed him as the pretty boy took a place on the opposite side of him. "She passed out on the way back."

The dress you had put on was nearly shredded, angry, red marks darting into view from underneath the fabric as you breathed.

"She wasn't supposed to be there." Yoon snapped. "What happened?"

Jae-ha closed the door softly behind him, alerting Yoon of his presence. "We don't know exactly." He exchanged a worried look with Hak.

Then, guilt flickered over his expression. Hak looked at the older man curiously. Jae-ha's eyes were shadowed. Hak stood up, walking to the green dragon as the kid fussed over you.

"The knot." Jae-ha whispered. "I tied it like I always do. She must have slipped out of it."

Hak stiffened, then punched him in the gut.

Hard.

Yoon nearly leaped to the ceiling, eyes bugging out of his head when he saw the Thunder Beast hit the Ryokuryuu full force.

"Not your fault." Hak stated firmly, flexing his hand open and close as Jae-ha stared at him, dumbfounded, wheezing in staggered breaths. "Wipe that guilt off of your face, you'll make Y/N cry."

Jae-ha chuckled softly as he finally caught his breath, gaze oddly appreciative as Hak went back to your side. He knew it was Hak's way of snapping him out of it. Neither one of them could find it in themselves to be angry with you, they knew what they signed up for when they started this little arrangement. They knew you were headstrong, but even more so when their lives were the ones in danger.

Love certainly made people do crazy things.

And Hak and Jae-ha would give you the world if they could. You stirred, and Jae-ha caught the movement out of the corner of his eye. Pushing himself off the wall, he went to your side, staring at you intently.

Hak looked like the embodiment of tranquility, but his knee was bumping against Jae-ha's nervously and if Jae-ha peered closer, he was sure he would be able to see the terror hidden in the depths of his eyes. The former general did his best to school his expression, but you and Jae-ha had learned to read him like a book over time.

You blinked your eyes open slowly. Your eyelids felt so heavy, and you wondered why it felt as though you fell from a height of five stories. You tried to sit up, but a firm hand pushed you back down by your shoulders.

"You're not going anywhere." Hak ordered, tone leaving no room for argument.

"Lay back down." Jae-ha echoed firmly.

You pouted and the men suppressed a groan. You were too tempting even in this situation. You didn't do as they said, choosing instead to sit against the headboard.

"She's fine." Yoon reassured, mistaking the tense atmosphere for concern. He wasn't wrong, but this time around, the pretty boy genius wasn't completely right either.

"She's got a couple of cuts and some bruises, but nothing major. She'll heal soon, but," You winced as Yoon turned his sharp gaze on you. "No more fighting."

You grinned sheepishly. "Yes, mother."

"I DON'T REMEMBER GIVING BIRTH TO YOU!!" Yoon yelled, throwing up his hands in exasperation before filing out of the room, muttering about how 'it was said once and now it wouldn't go away' for the life of him. He's dealt with you enough for one night. He was sure Hak and Jae-ha could straighten you out.

With the three of you left in the room, you nearly collapsed under the weight in the air as it shifted from concerned to heated. You met Hak's cobalt eyes guiltily, flickering to Jae-ha's burning violet, then back again.

You opened your mouth to speak, but was cut off as Jae-ha's lips smashed onto yours.

You let out a muffled squeak, eyes automatically closing. You almost jumped out of your skin as a pair of hands landed on your hips, urging you to scoot forward. You did so, with a little difficulty, doing your best not to break your kiss with Jae-ha. Hak started to kiss the back of your neck, sucking gently on your sweet spot, causing you to moan into Jae-ha's mouth.

Jae-ha pulled back, panting heavily, violet eyes swirling with desire. Your head fell back onto Hak's shoulder as Jae-ha started to gently kiss over the bruises that had formed on your neck.

Hak's breath was hot on your ear as he breathed, "Do you have any idea how badly you scared us today? Huh, Y/N? Do you like watching us lose control of ourselves around the people who hurt you?"

You whimpered pathetically at his words, wanton hunger shooting through your body at his words instead of humiliation. Jae-ha traveled lower, marking up your collarbones.

"Y/N..." He whispered, an unspoken question hanging in the air.

Your fist had since made its way up to your mouth in an attempt to stifle the embarrassing sounds that were spilling from your mouth. You almost didn't hear Jae-ha's question. Hak hadn't stopped murmuring in your ear, and his words were making you flush all over.

"You liked watching us like that? Knowing that the only people who will ever be able to touch you like this is us. You're ours." He nearly growled, fingers tightening into the flesh of your hips.

You mewled wantonly at his words, closing your eyes.

"Y/N." Jae-ha's velvety voice cut through your desire-induced haze. "Let us hear you."

You didn't bring down your hand, so Hak did it for you, weaving his fingers with yours, dropping it back down to the sheets. You squeaked as Hak pulled you against his chest, blushing as you felt his hard muscle against your back through the clothes.

Jae-ha pulled off your tattered dress, leaving you only in a cloth covering your chest and your underclothes. He leaned up to kiss you again, capturing your lips in a heated kiss.

"Do you want this?" He asked heatedly, breath fanning against your exposed skin, sending a shiver down your spine. "Tell us what you want, Y/N..."

You bit your lip and Jae-ha let out a low groan.

"I want you." You paused, tilting your head up to meet Hak's lidded gaze. "Both of you."

The growls they let out made your core heat up, and you pressed your thighs together. The movement didn't go unnoticed by your attentive lovers and Jae-ha settled between your thighs after coaxing them open. With him directly in front of you and Hak pressed behind you, the fire radiating off of them was making your head spin.

"C'mon," You breathed, tired of their teasing. "Please."

Hak shot a smirk to Jae-ha. He loved it when you got like this. When he reduced you to a babbling, incoherent mess beneath him and all you could do was moan and chant his name over and over again as he drove into you at a maddening pace.

"Hak," You swiveled your head to meet their eyes, both blown wide with lust. "Jae-ha."

Jae-ha's breath hitched in his throat and Hak almost passed out from the next words that left your lips in a whisper.

"Take me."

#akatsukinoyona #akatsukinoyonafanfic #yona of the dawn #hakxreaderxjeaha #hakxreader #jaehaxreader #oneshot #suggestive #protectivejaeha #protectivehak #stubbornreader #jaehaxreaderxhak

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