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#aroace fic
iryght · 6 months
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Fic rec - Crossover
Mdzs/Svss
This fic was terrifyingly well written, considering the low expectations I had for it. I am very sorry that I dared to set the bar so low because it feels like this stared at the bar with disgust and threw it at me with deep indignation that i ever dared to doubt it.
Now that my drama is over, the basic premise is that Shen Jiu from Scum Villain reincarnates into Jiang Cheng, not helping at all with the kid's mental health.
We got some great Nie Huaisang content, a surprising amount of Jin Zixuan and a positive but far from unrealistic take on Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian both. Wei Wuxian's image makes sense and is far from bashed, despite Jiang Cheng's view of him at certain points. Jin Ling and Lan Zhan get extra points for being entertaining. Good chemistry with pretty much every relationship. AroAce Jiang Cheng is implied and stated by the autor in the notes too, which is a bonus.
Overall, a very fun and depressing read, just how I like it. Well written ending as well, in my opinion.
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Books Don't Burn - Chapter 1
Levi Ackerman x fem Reader
Chapter 2
Story Summary: You work as a bartender in Paradis, a small town in Germany's Black Forest. Paradis is mostly inhabited by monsters, so a minotaur stomping through town or a naga slithering along the pavement doesn't even make you blink. But then there is Levi Ackerman, who looks completely human, but apparently doesn't come close to being a member of the human race at all. Despite all the warnings thrown your way, you just can't help but feel a strong connection to him.
Chapter Summary: It's a usual night working at the bar. Until a certain patron shows what he's got under his sleeve.
Word count: about 3k
Tags: eldritch horror!Levi Ackerman; aroace!reader; queerplatonic relationship; reader is in her thirties; mentions of alcohol consumption (you work in a bar so); fluff; monsters and some weird stuff but I'm aiming for cosy vibes; you have a cat; Levi's got one too; so cats; lots of books; Levi and you bond over books; you're slowly losing your mind a bit; not beta-read
Chapter specific tags: short mention of a mass shooting; short implication of Jean Kirstein x reader
A/N: I thought a lot about writing the reader as aroace. I also thought a lot about the relationship I want to portray in this fic. When I got the idea, I felt that I wanted to try writing a queerplatonic relationship, but I hesitated because I don't know if anyone wants to read that. But well, as much as I enjoy romantic orientated fics, I want to read more about QPR's with aroace!readers. And explore those themes in my writing. I also figured it already got monsters and such, so why not add a QPR? This is already combining some very specific elements. So yeah that's that and here we are now :)
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It’s a quiet night. Most are in Paradis, a small town in the middle of Germany’s Black Forest region.
You don’t mind the quietness. It makes your job easier. You never thought of yourself as the type to work as a bartender, silent and reserved as you are, but in Teufelsparadies, the only bar in town, the regulars aren’t too social either way. They don’t often make conversation with you and when they do, they don’t mind doing most of the talking.
‘Another.’ Jean Kirstein roughly places an empty half litre beer glass on the bar. He’s not usually so rash, so he’s must have had a bad day. Like most young minotaurs in Paradis, he works in the local mines. You know, honest but hard work. It isn’t unusual for Jean to show up covered in soothe.
You fill the glass with some of the locally brewed beer. As you hold down the handle of the tap, your eyes drift to the right, lured by the sound of the door opening. It isn’t one the regulars, but the dark haired man comes often enough for Hange to have warned you about him.
Levi Ackerman may look human, but he isn’t, okay?
There are barely any humans in Paradis either way. Your boss is a shapeshifter. So sometimes you arrive at work to be greeted by a cat purring on one of the more comfortable chairs or a slender looking, red haired person with four arms cleaning the premise. You never quite know what to expect with Hange. In a town full of werewolves, harpies, minotaurs, fauns and vampires Hange stands out the most when they are just in their unassuming, human-like form. The only thing that betrays them then are their shark-like teeth.
‘Easier for eating,’ they told you once.
Like most shapeshifters, they mostly eat charcoal or burned wood. It is hardly the weirdest dietary habit you’ve heard about by now.
So it doesn’t bother you that this man — creature? — isn’t human. What does bother you, is that no one has ever told you what he actually is. You have asked Hange once, but they only shrugged. It doesn’t help that he looks completely human. But only with his sunglasses on. He never takes those of. At first you thought he was a gorgon, that his eyes could turn you into stone, but then you met Sasha, an actual gorgon with actual snakes for hair, who goes about life wearing sunglasses in the form of hearts, stars, clouds and such to keep herself from accidentally turning someone into a stone statue of themselves. Since then, you’re rather sure Levi isn’t a gorgon. Because as far as you know he has normal, black hair. But maybe he is half gorgon? It isn’t unheard of. Humans and monsters have kids all the time.
‘There you go,’ you place the filled glass on the bar.
Jean shoves you a five euro note. You take it and move to get the change for the register, but he says, ‘Keep the change.’
‘Thanks.’
Instead of rejoining his friends he takes a seat on one of the bar stools. You can’t help but notice he’s wearing a different septum piercing. Nose rings are important parts of a minotaur’s get-up, you’ve learned. Jean always wears a silver one, but now there as golden one pierced through his nose, decorated with a single golden bead. What’s the special occasion?
You have half a mind of asking him what’s up, but then Levi takes a seat at the other end of the bar and beckons you. His neatly cut hair is damp from the rain that’s been soaking Paradis since night fall. He has taken of his coat. Levi’s the only one who actually uses the coat rack. As usual, he’s dressed rather smartly, once again making you wonder what kind of work he does. No one in Paradis dresses half as well as he does.
‘What can I get you?’ you ask, although you know the answer already.
‘Tea.’
You don’t ask which type. You already know. He never asks for one of the many types of beer you serve, not even some type of soda or at least coffee. It’s always tea, always just black tea. To each their own, you guess. As you busy yourself boiling the water, you notice Jean is looking at you. Carefully you meet his glance.
‘So,’ he says in a peculiar tone. Why does he seem nervous? ‘How are you doing?’
You blink once. ‘I’m working,’ you answer. And when you realise that might come across as an attempt to cut the conversation short, you add, ‘So not particularly good or bad. Just, okay. You?’
‘Had a long day.’
You poor the hot water in a cup, place it on a saucer and shove it towards Levi. As you do so, you inquire, ‘Work?’
‘Yeah, but let’s not —’ He gulps down some beer, and tells you, ‘I’ve got the day of tomorrow.’
‘That’s good. Then you can get some rest, recover from today.’
You give Levi the whole box of black tea and an infuser. He shoves you the exact amount of three and a half euros. The tea only costs two and a half, but he always insists on a small tip. You don’t particularly need tips, but you appreciate the gesture. ‘Enjoy.’
He gives you a nod, already adding some leaves in the infuser.
‘I was thinking about going to Marley,’ he says.
Marley is a slightly bigger town just a few kilometres from Paradis. Marley’s grocery store is open for a few hours on Sunday morning, so you’ve been there a couple of times when you didn’t manage to do your groceries on Saturday. Although a lot of people in Marley are in some far and distant way related to the citizens of Paradis, it isn’t unusual for Paradis and Marley youth and adults to get into fights with each other.
‘There’s a fair going on now, right?’ you ask as you busy yourself cleaning up the counter.
‘Yeah. We want to go and try some of the rides.’
Jean’s voice is getting a bit hoarse, and you can hear him tapping his hove on the floor.
‘You should go. You deserve some down time.’
‘Yeah, well, most rides don’t allow minotaurs on them,’ he murmurs.
‘Oh.’ You frown. ‘Because you’re too big?’
He raises his glass a bit and takes a sip.
You let out a sigh. ‘As if they can’t make it so that the rides can handle your size.’
Jean’s Adam’s apple bobs visibly as he swallows down — what is he swallowing? His nerves? He looks so alert. You’ve got the feeling you’ve done something wrong.
Seconds slip by only filled with the sound of the radio playing some rock music and the laughter of Jean’s friends, whose beer glasses are swaying dangerously on the table as it trembles with their enthusiastic movements.
‘Everything alright?’ you ask, just as he blurts out, ‘Do you wanna come with?’
‘To the fair?’
‘Yeah. I mean, I can’t get on most of the rides, but you can, and there’s the shooting stand and maybe we can get some Ölkugeln, or —’
‘I don’t know,’ you say with a frown. ‘I don’t really like fairs.’
Before Jean can respond, Eren Yaeger brusquely sets his empty beer glass on the bar.
‘Jean!’ he exclaims in a slightly mocking greeting.
The werewolf boy pats the minotaur’s shoulder. You’ve been told that Jean and Eren are friends, but they never seem particularly friendly with each other. You’ve already heard them yelling at each other twice this evening. First about some car one of them supposedly crashed, then about Eren’s tail wagging annoying Jean. Friendship comes in many shapes and sizes, you assume? But Jean certainly doesn’t seem pleased by Eren’s interference.
‘What do you want?’ he grumbles.
‘Another one of these, human.’
Something bright is flickering in Eren’s brown eyes. He’s always very active, to say the least, which is probably because of the werewolf genes. And full moon is in a few days, so his behaviour is only more erratic.
‘Sure thing, wolf boy.’
You’ve taken to calling him so in retaliation of him calling you human. He’s far from the only one addressing you as such, but he always makes it sounds like a bit of an insult. Eren, of all the monsters you’ve met in Paradis, is the most weary of humans. You can’t really blame him for that, but his treatment of you is a bit tiring. At least he’s finally gotten over his outright suspicion of you, so you don’t have to worry about him growling at you anymore.
‘And we want to play billiards,’ he adds as you fill his glass.
‘Hange says you guys aren’t allowed to play anymore. Not since you managed to get one of the balls thrown through the window.’
You gesture at the window that’s covered with some piece of cardboard and a lot of duct tape.
‘Ah, c’mon, that was an accident,’ he whines.
‘Take it up with Hange,’ you tell him, handing him back his glass.
‘Hange doesn’t have to know.’ Eren leans on his elbows on the bar. ‘They aren't in town now, so it could just be between you and us.’
‘And me, brat.’
You feel the hairs in your neck rise at the sound of Levi’s empty voice. You don’t really get the relationship between Levi and Eren. Or any of the younger monsters in town honestly. There’s something going on between Levi and the local youth that you can’t quite place. Some sort of… guardianship, maybe? Anyway, for what it’s worth, Eren doesn’t give up easily.
‘Levi, sir, please, we’ve all had a long day, hell, a long week, we just want to unwind.’
Unbothered Levi takes a sip of tea and then calmly, yet frighteningly menacingly says, ‘The human said no billiards, Eren, so no fucking billiards it is.’
‘Yes, sir,’ he mumbles.
You know you mustn’t take pity on them. The ordeal with the billiard ball and the window pane isn’t the first case of damage caused by those kids’ careless enthusiasm. But, honestly, most of them do work jobs way more tasking than yours and they are still so young. Just two years out of high school. So you relent.
Shaking your head you offer him a net of small, plastic balls. ‘Hange didn’t say anything about table football.’
Eren clacks his tongue excitedly and accepts the net. ‘Thanks, human. So you coming to the fair tomorrow?’
‘Eren,’ Jean grumbles.
Without thinking about it, you just flap out, ‘What?’
‘Thought Jean came here to ask you out on a date.’
Jean roughly gets up on his hooves, pushing Eren away from him with his brute movements. ‘Shut up, Eren.’
‘I didn’t realise you were asking me out,’ you tell Jean. ‘Sorry.’
‘So she rejected you?’ Eren jabs the minotaur in his ribs with his elbow. ‘Ah, buddy, it happens to the best of us.’
‘You better shut up now.’ Jean huffs, his nostrils flaring with the hard exhale, and you can hear him scraping his hoof against the wooden floor panels.
‘Or what? You gonna charge at me, you old milk cow?’
‘You guys,’ you try to step in, ‘Stop it.’
‘He’s technically more of a bull,’ Connie, a lean elf who’s too daft to ever be up to anything good, yells from the table the kids are occupying.
‘Is that so?’ Eren looks Jean up and down with a studying frown on his face. ‘You sure you don’t have any udders under that shirt of yours?’
With a growl Jean leans over and charges. Your eyes widen, amazed but mostly frightened by the speed with which the massive minotaur manages to take off. Eren tries to dodge the attack, but he’s too slow. Jean’s gonna push him over, crash their bodies in a table — you know it’s going to happen, yet it doesn’t.
Because Jean trips and falls on the floor with a dull thump. With a squeal, for which in any other situation you would’ve felt ashamed, you run around the bar. Eren’s already let out half a laugh, when he too seemingly for no reason at all leans forwards and falls face first on the ground.
You see them as they recoil. Dark, purplish tentacles let go of Jean’s and Eren’s ankles and slide away over the wooden floor panels, up along a stool at the bar, back into the sleeves of their owner. Levi’s sleeves.
Mouth agape you stare at him. So that’s what he’s been hiding. Tentacles. Where does a man as slender and short as he even keep those? He’s not a man, you remind yourself, but what is he then? An octopus? Doesn’t he need to live closer to the sea?
‘If you two want to smash each others' inwards to mush, do so somewhere else,’ he says drily. ‘Some people are trying to enjoy their tea.’
‘Are you guys okay?’ You move towards Jean, helping him back up on his hooves.
Mikasa has come to help her boyfriend back on his two feet, but he accepts her help only with reluctance.
‘I’m fine,’ Jean murmurs.
‘Maybe it’s already time to shackle you,’ Mikasa tells Eren. She’s clearly unamused by her boyfriend’s antics.
‘It isn’t full moon until Tuesday,’ he argues, sounding very much like a toddler in the moment.
‘Yet you already behave like a mindless mammal,’ she sighs picking up the net with the plastic balls. Ignoring her boyfriend who’s reaching for her hand, Mikasa turns to her friends. ‘Sasha, you and me, table football.’
As the kids get to their game, you turn to Jean who’s already trying to sneak off. ‘Hey, I like you, and we could hang out sometime, but not in the context of a date.’
You wonder if he’s blushing or not, you can’t see it with the fur on his face. But there does seem to be some kind of panic in his brown cow eyes.
‘Ah, that’s okay —’
‘You should date someone closer your age, Jean.’
‘You — you aren’t that old,’ he says.
You let out a short laugh. ‘Do you even know how old I am?’
‘Twenty five?’
You’ve got the feeling minotaurs aren’t the best at guessing a human’s age. ‘I’ve recently passed thirty.’
He’s silent for a moment and then utters an, ‘I don’t mind.’
‘Jean.’
At least he got the grace to look a bit ashamed. ‘I am sorry.’
‘No need,’ you assure him. ‘It was just a question and you were polite about it. Just don’t try to run over Eren anymore. Keep that behaviour for outside.’
He gives you a nod and leaves you be. The doors open and in come two other locals, both minotaurs who work with Jean in the mines. After you’ve served them, you’ve got nothing immediate on your hands. You look at Levi from the corner of your eyes, feeling as if you should approach him, but unsure whether that would be wise. It’s finally not you but circumstance that makes the choice for you. Levi’s cup is empty.
‘Thank you for earlier,’ you tell him as you clear up.
The kids start cheering loudly, as Mikasa and Sasha are starting to take their little competition a bit too seriously. Levi shoots a glance over his shoulders and sighs.
‘If they cause you too much trouble, just let me know,’ he says, already getting up.
‘There’s no need to feel responsible for them,’ you tell him.
Levi looks at you and in that moment those sunglasses are the bane of your existence. They make his expression even more impossible to read.
‘Most of them don’t have anyone else left to make them behave themselves,’ he notes.
A cold feeling seeps into your body. You know what he’s referring to. A purge, almost ten years ago. Humans and monsters have been living together for centuries now, but cohabitation is not always peaceful. Not everyone approves. And ten years ago some radical, anti-cohabitation humans came into Paradis just to shoot as many monsters as they could.
You give a slow nod.
‘Besides I’m already busy enough, so I’d rather prevent any of those shitheads from committing a crime. I don’t want to be called up to defend Eren in court because he decided to commit arson again.’
‘Arson?’
He shrugs. ‘He set his brother’s car on fire.’
‘I didn’t know he has a brother,’ you note.
‘Zeke. Lives in Marley. Count yourself lucky you don’t know him. I can’t really blame Eren for wanting to explode that asshole’s car.’
You narrow your eyes just a bit. ‘And you’re a lawyer?’
‘Unfortunately.’
You can’t help but smile. You doubt that he’s trying to be amusing, but he’s surprisingly pleasant to talk with. Even if he’s a bit crude and dry.
‘I see. So did you ever defend Hange in court?’
‘I can’t discuss my clients with just anyone,’ he notes.
‘You just told me about Eren’s arson but can’t give me some intel on my boss?’
‘Everyone knows about Eren’s little fire accident. He’s still paying up for that.’
‘But no one knows about Hange’s crimes?’
‘I didn’t say Hange committed a crime, did I?’
You hum. ‘You didn’t, but knowing Hange, it’s highly unlikely they’ve never done something illegal.’
‘It’s the shapeshifter’s nature.’
‘And what’s your nature?’ The question, so bold that it’s completely unlike you, has left your lips before you realise it yourself.
Levi straightens his back at the mention of your words. ‘You wouldn’t be able to comprehend that, human.’
The emptiness in his voice fills you with a feeling of inky dread and liquid awe. You want to ask him what he means by that, what he is, but you can’t bring yourself to open your mouth. So instead you watch him go, leaving you with his empty cup.
His cup. Normally you wouldn’t read someone’s tea leaves without their permission. Reading leaves without being posed a direct question by the one who drank the tea is a risky ordeal. But this time you can’t help but look at the residue leaves in the cup.
After a short while you’re able to discern two things in the black, wet shapes. A misshapen heart and a wheel. Love and the inevitable.
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thewritersrambles · 9 months
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Tuff Not Broken
Fandom: How To Train Your Dragon/Race To The Edge
Characters: Tuffnut-centric but the whole gang is there
Word count: 3595 words (one-shot)
Summary:
Tough adjective [1.] Able to withstand adverse conditions or rough handling [2.] Able to endure hardship or pain Not the same as unbreakable. Or, Tuff struggles to understand when the rest of the gang begins to fall for people and convinces himself that he's damaged and unlovable. They have a lot to say about that when it all boils over one night on Dragon's Edge.
Tuff Not Broken - theadhdravenclaw - How to Train Your Dragon (Movies) [Archive of Our Own]
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arojenniferwalters · 9 months
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From Pride to Pride (Marvel Voices Pride 2021 cameo)Gwen Poole; Jennifer Harris; Jennifer Walters mentioned [post Love Unlimited #48; Marvel Voices Pride # 1 (2021)/Gwenpool Special #1 (2015) referenced] 1244 words (30.6-1.7.2023)
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teadrop-12 · 10 months
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so i have a bunch of aroace hcs for ejen ali, n like,,, Alicia n ali r aroace but Alicia is romance positive n Ali's aegoromantic where like he hates the idea of being in a relationship himself in any way but he roots for like ships in his shows n other things and i kinda wanna think of the way he discovered it right so like throughout the show, even though some ships with him in it are teased, he has never shown any sort of attraction to anyone ever. In season 1, one of his classmates gives him a love letter n he thinks it was meant 4 him but it was actually meant for his best friend, and dis is where my headcanon starts. Like, after the whole thing he feels flattered, but then disappointment right. But then after some thought he realizes that it wasn't disappointment, it was actually releif. So he thought that was weird bc he's seen so many people get happy n stuff with a relationship right? but he's never thought he could feel happy in one, so he thought it was only a thing he had with girls right, so he thought he was gay for a while but then realized that the same thing was happening with guys and enbys, so he would have thought he was broken for a while, like the common thing that unknowing aroaces go through, bc when he tries to tell some of his classmates (not alicia she realizes later) they say somethings wrong or that he'd feel that way when hes older cuz its natural right, so now i have 2 ways of how he could learn about it: 1) He basically just goes online, searches up "is it bad that i don't want to fall in love" and finds a bunch of forums of aroace ppl saying the same thing n then he realizes that he's aroace but i think that ones kinda emotionally lacking in the show
2) Viktor helps him realize. Like, not that hes exactly aroace, but like,,, so Ali starts to confide in him that he thinks that somethings wrong with him bc of the no attraction to anyone right n like Viktor says sumthing like how feeling romantic/sexual attraction isn't a need for happiness, and thta even if he doesn't know what he is and it might change later in life, theres no need to feel sad about it, or that he's broken, bc theres no reason to be because theres nothing needed to fix.
idk i just rlly luv dis one
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underwater-ninja-13 · 1 month
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Aro/Ace!!
Hi Al!
The first post about this fic is HERE
Here's a snip of Eddie POV for you! Eddie thought he was done discovering new things about himself, but Frank loves to prove him wrong as often as possible. When the topic of past relationships is brought up, Eddie feels like Frank will say the same things he always hears: “Sometimes relationships don't work out” or “That’s unfortunate, but you’ll find the one”. Instead Frank surprises him as always.  All he could think about as he drives home is how he needs to talk to Buck. He needs to tell the man he loves about what he learned, what he always knew. He knows Buck will understand – Buck always understands. But he can’t shake the feeling that this will be the thing that separates them. They can still make the relationship work – the relationship has been working – Eddie is sure of it. 
The boys are in their feelings era again.
Ask me about my Wips
@loserdiaz
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chinelacanta · 8 months
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i just know he’d be a really awkward but supportive dad (< delusional)
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catpeepeepoopoo · 2 months
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doodling murderbot everyday until i get someone to read it - day 6
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bananadramaaa · 9 days
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Thanks to @birdsaretoddlers and hers "A Gentleman's Calling" (!murder besties fic!), I have one more woman who's wrongs I support. Terrible woman save me, save me terrible woman.
(Dolly's design by @lemonberyl)
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familyofpaladins · 1 year
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Saw a poll thati implied people only read fanfiction for shipping. And I KNOW that's not true. but now I'm curious to what the ratio is
Ship fics are referring to any fic that is about two or more characters and their romantic/sexual relationship, where the story revolves around that relation ship, or takes a good chunk of the story
Gen fics refer to any fic where the main plot/story is NOT focused on the romantic/sexual relationship between two or more characters (gen fics can include ships, like if there is an established relation ship, but the fic is not focused on the ship)
The main point though is, do you go looking for ships, or other reasons
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turtleofthehollow · 1 month
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Lucifer starts flirting with Alastor purely to annoy him
It’s the only time Alastor is actually at a loss for words
The only other person who would attempt to flirt with the radio demon is Vox, and he’s too much of an anxious idiot around Alastor to actually flirt with him openly
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Books Don't Burn - Chapter 2
Levi Ackerman x fem Reader
Chapter 1
Story Summary: You work as a bartender in Paradis, a small town in Germany's Black Forest. Paradis is mostly inhabited by monsters, so a minotaur stomping through town or a naga slithering along the pavement doesn't even make you blink. But then there is Levi Ackerman, who looks completely human, but apparently doesn't come close to being a member of the human race at all. Despite all the warnings thrown your way, you just can't help but feel a strong connection to him.
Chapter Summary: Your cat has attempted an escape, so you bother your neighbour. Who turns out to be someone unexpected.
Word count: about 4k
Tags: eldritch horror!Levi Ackerman; aroace!reader; queerplatonic relationship; reader is in her thirties; mentions of alcohol consumption (you work in a bar so); fluff; monsters and some weird stuff but I'm aiming for cosy vibes; you have a cat; Levi's got one too; so cats; lots of books; Levi and you bond over books; you're slowly losing your mind a bit; not beta-read
Chapter specific tags: some very indirect allusions to depression; short conversation about the book Vita Nostra by Marina and Sergey Dyachenko. I don't think what is being said is a spoiler, but maybe for some it is?
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It’s half past one in the morning when you get home. Your apartment isn’t far from the bar, just a five minute walk. The first few nights you were anxious about walking home alone in the dark, so Hange had accompanied you. For most of your life you’ve lived in cities, where you learned the hard way not to be alone on the streets so late at night. By now you’re much more at ease walking the streets of Paradis on your own this late. The only danger you can encounter here is the occasional sewer rat or a very lost chamois.
You put on your pyjamas and rinse your face of sweat and dried beer droplets. You’re already brushing your teeth when you realise that you haven’t seen or heard Spooky yet. That’s strange. Usually you arrive home just in time for your white, fluffy cat’s late night exercise session. With your mouth full of toothpaste foam you start looking for him at his favourite spots: in the cardboard box in which your newest pairs of shoes had come; on the pile of neatly ironed, clean clothes you haven’t put away yet; on the chair by your desk; on the fridge; under the couch. Nowhere to be seen.
Slightly panicked you rinse your mouth and start calling out for him. ‘Spooky, come out now. You’re worrying me!’
You call out a few more times and finally you hear soft, distant meows. You follow the sound to your bedroom window. Your open bedroom window. Shit. Spring is already much warmer than you like, turning your apartment in some sort of downgrade sauna when the sunlight seeps in. So you’ve started opening windows whenever it’s colder outside than inside. Apparently you forgot to close this one when you left. Luckily this window opens over the balcony, so Spooky wouldn’t have tumbled all five floors down into the communal garden. But as far as you can see, Spooky isn’t on your balcony either.
You step out and call out softly as to not disturb the neighbours, ‘Spooky?’
You hear his familiar meowing again. It’s more insistent now, almost scared or angry. You realise the sound is coming from your right. From behind the thick, iron and glass panel that divides your part of the balcony from that of your neighbour.
‘Spooky, please tell me you’re not on the other side of this thing,’ you grumble as you grip the railing and lean over to glance behind the panel.
But there he is, your white, fluffy menace of a cat, sitting on a small coffee table. Your neighbour’s balcony is tidily furnished, with cushioned outdoor seats and plants. Yellow light seeps through some thin, white curtains, before it falls through the glass of the large windows. Their balcony is much more well kept than yours. You’ve only got a small table and folding chair on yours. Ah, and one dead plant.
‘How did you get there?’ you ask your cat.
He stands up, jumps from the table and tiptoes towards the panel dividing the both of you. Then he gives you a growling, angry meow, as if he’s blaming you for the situation he’s found himself in.
‘It’s your own fault, Spooky,’ you reprimand him softly yet sternly. ‘Now, get back here, okay? If you can get there, you can get back here.’
He only gives you another mad, slightly panicked meow before placing his paws against the panel. You try several more minutes to encourage him. But Spooky seemingly didn’t like the whole process of getting on this side of the balcony, because he refuses to even jump on the railing. Although usually it’s impossible to even keep him of off that.
Finally you let out an angry sigh and relent. ‘Fine, I’ll come and get you.’
Annoyed that you’re now going to have to bother your neighbour — you haven’t even met them! — you put on a pair of slippers. With the weather already being so warm, your pyjamas consist of just some shorts and a loose t-shirt, so you put on a dressing gown with strawberry pattern that you got from the thrift shop. Heart pounding in your chest with both annoyance and stress, you get out of your apartment, letting the door fall close behind you, and knock on your neighbour’s door.
You don’t have to wait too long for a response. As the door starts to open, you begin, ‘Hi, sorry to bother, but my cat —’
You short circuit as you see your neighbour’s face. You know that face, you just saw it, you just talked to it.
‘Your cat?’ Levi Ackerman inquires.
He’s still in the same clothes as when you saw him earlier this evening in the bar, but he shed some layers, leaving him in just his dress pants and white shirt. The tie is gone by now, the first button of his shirt undone. His hair is a bit messy. He looks more casual than usual. But he’s still got the sunglasses on.
‘We’re neighbours?’ you squeak.
He doesn’t seem surprised by the circumstances at all. ‘Yes.’
You raise an eyebrow. ‘You knew?’
He shrugs. ‘I’ve seen you around, so I figured you lived in the building.’
‘I haven’t seen you around,’ you mumble, rather displeased.
Knowing yourself it isn’t entirely strange that you haven’t seen him in the building or around the premises. You’re not one for being that well aware of your surroundings.
‘I can avoid being perceived when I feel like it,’ he says casually. ‘So, if you’re not here to apologise for the disturbing singing practices —’
‘What?’ Your voice reaches a high tone you didn’t it could hit. ‘You can hear that?’
‘The dramatic singalongs?’ He crosses his arm and leans against the door frame. ‘Yes, unfortunately my ears are able to pick that up.’
‘S-Sorry. They told me the building was well insulated and I have never heard one of my neighbours and no one complained,’ you rattle, ‘so — so I though I wasn’t disturbing anyone.’
He hums. ‘I guess the others aren’t able to hear it. So it’s just me you’ve been disturbing.’
Shit, how good is his hearing?
‘Sorry,’ you mumble.
He seemingly accepts your apology with a nod. ‘So, your cat?’
‘Yeah, my cat.’ You take a deep breath, trying to soothe yourself. Was this whole ordeal already even more embarrassing than you’d feared? Yes. But you came here with a mission and you’re not going back until it’s completed. ‘My cat, Spooky, he managed to sneak out and now he’s on your balcony. I think he’s too afraid to attempt to come back. Or he has decided he hates me and wants to live on your balcony.’
‘My balcony is hardly a suitable living space for a cat,’ Levi decides.
He invites you in with a hand gesture. Biting down softly on your lip, you step inside. If you had to describe Levi’s apartment in one word, it would be tidy. No empty mugs to be found, no piles of read and unread magazines, no basket of clean laundry yet to be put away or post-it scattered around surfaces. Generally his furniture was a soothing mix between classic, casual and modern. It felt very much like the man himself: impossible to pinpoint. Levi closes the door behind you.
‘Before my cat can attempt his great escape,’ he says nodding at a slender, tabby cat sitting on a glass coffee table.
‘What’s his name?’
‘Kater.’
The tabby cat let’s himself fall on his behind, before stretching his leg and reaching down to clean his asshole.
‘Fair,’ you admit.
‘He’s a bit stupid,’ Levi comments. ‘So on the balcony?’
‘Yeah.’
You follow him through the living space into the bedroom, which is as clean as you expected. You can’t help but raise the corner of your mouth when you see a Nintendo Switch on his night table. He may not be human, but he doesn’t shy away from human games. You almost trip as Kater rushes past your legs, towards the window.
‘It explains why Kater was constantly walking in and out of the bedroom,’ Levi explains as he pushes aside the thin curtain, revealing Spooky sitting on the other side.
Kater lets out a whiny meow, and places his paws against the glass door.
‘Is that what you wanted, eh? For me to let your friend in.’ With a sigh Levi opens the door and the two cats meet each other halfway, moving to sniff each other.
‘To be honest,’ you say as you and Levi watch the cats greet each other, ‘I thought Spooky would be more of the “I will rip your throat out” kind of feline when meeting another cat.’
‘Yeah well, you never know with cats,’ Levi says.
‘I hadn’t really expected you to be a cat person,’ you note as you crouch down and reach out your hand in an attempt to attract Spooky’s attention.
‘I’m not very much of an anything person,’ Levi responds.
Spooky ignores you. You roll your eyes and look up at Levi. ‘So what are you then?’
Levi doesn’t respond immediately, so you get back up and give him an expectant glance.
‘Humans don’t have an adequate name for what I am,’ he finally admits.
‘What do you call yourself?’ you insist.
‘You’re physically incapable of even grasping that,’ he answers. ‘My native tongue isn’t meant for human ears.’
‘Oh,’ you say. ‘That’s a shame.’
Spooky finally headbutts your shin, prompting you to pick to pick your fluffy cat. You suddenly feel as if you’ve crossed a million different boundaries. You just barged in his bedroom to get your cat, asking rather personal questions in the process. Shit. Time to go.
‘I will leave you be,’ you say with an awkward smile.
Levi bobs his head and leads you back to the front door. Spooky tries to free himself from your grasp, desperate to have some more time with his new tabby friend. Levi’s already opened his door, when you realise something.
‘Fuck,’ you hiss, swaying your body in an attempt to feel or hear whether your keys are in your dressing gown’s pocket. But you don’t feel the familiar weight, neither do you hear the common jingle of your keys.
But you closed your door, didn’t you?
‘What?’ Levi asks as you hurry outside and glance at your door.
‘I closed my door.’ You lean your head back. ‘But I haven’t got my keys.’
‘That’s stupid.’
‘Yeah, I know,’ you grumble. ‘I hate to bother you some more, but can I use your phone? To call a locksmith?’
‘If you let them come now, they’ll make you pay an ungodly amount,’ Levi says. ‘Call them in the morning.’
‘Could I climb over your balcony then?’ you ask.
Levi pauses for a moment, then notes, ‘It’s quite a big fall.’
‘Yeah, but I can manage.’ Less sure you add in a whisper, ‘I think.’
‘No, you can’t, that’s why you knocked on my door instead of trying to climb over the balcony to get the cat. C’mon get in.’
‘I can’t just —’
‘You can sleep on my couch,’ he interrupts coolly. ‘It’s comfortable. At least comfortable enough for Erwin. If a faun can sleep on it, you’ll manage for sure.’
You don’t know what puzzles you more. The fact that Levi knows Erwin — that sympathetic coffee shop owner who knows your order by heart — so well that he sometimes sleeps on his couch, or that he’s willing to let you sleep on his couch.
Somewhere in the back of your mind you hear the echo of Hange’s voice. Levi Ackerman may look human, but he isn’t, okay? Alright, but you’ve met all kinds of monsters by now and none have been dangerous. So surely, there would be no harm in taking Levi’s offer, right?
‘Are — are you sure? Because I know I have been a bother —’
‘A bother?’ He frowns as if trying to dissect the word in his mind. ‘No. Come in, before Kater tries to rip you to pieces, because you stole his new friend.’
So you get back in and let Levi close the door once again. Once you loosen your grip on Spooky, he jumps out of your arms, practically skipping back towards his new friend. Unsure of what to do or say, you just remain silently standing by the door. Crossing your arms against your chest, you watch as Levi disappears into the bedroom for a moment. When he comes back out, he’s got a blanket and a pillow with him.
Awkwardly you approach the couch, as Levi drops the stuff on it. ‘Thanks.’
‘If you’re cold, just let me know,’ he says.
‘With this warmth, I’ll probably kick the blanket off in my sleep either way,’ you note, already feeling a bit ashamed by the admission.
You really feel like an unwanted visitor, although your brain is busy trying the deconstruct the feeling. He invited you, he insisted that you could sleep on his couch, he explicitly said you’re not a bother. Rationally you know that if he really didn’t want you here, you wouldn’t be here. Yet you feel so unwelcome. Which makes you guilty, because he’s clearly trying to make you feel comfortable.
‘I’ll open the window.’
‘Oh, no,’ you interject, ‘you don’t have to.’
‘I don’t mind,’ he assures you, already opening the window to let some of the night chill in. ‘I only experience impact from extreme temperatures. Everything between minus 300 degrees and plus 60 degrees is agreeable to my kind.’
You blink. ‘You mean in Celsius right?’
‘Of course.’
‘That’s… Wow,’ you comment. ‘And we humans are constantly sweating or shivering trying to regulate our body temperatures.’
‘Don’t sweat on my couch.’ You’re unsure whether it’s a joke or a serious request.
You think the latter, so you mumble, ‘I’ll try.’
Letting out your breath slowly you sit down on the couch, your nervousness only increasing when you notice that your anxiety is making you sweat. He just said not to sweat on his couch and here you are, sweating, on his couch!
‘Seeing as I’m wide awake again, I’m going to make some tea. Do you want some?’
Although the minty taste of toothpaste is still sharp in your mouth, you say, ‘Yes, please.’
Something about finally tasting the tea exactly how Levi likes it, makes you fuzzy inside. As Levi busies himself making the tea, your eyes drift to the book that lies on the corner of the coffee table. Vita Nostra, the title says. Another coincidence. You turn your head in an attempt to see how far in he is. Only a few pages left. You wonder what kind of bookmark he uses. You’re not sure whether he’s the type to use some receipt from the grocery store although he’s got fifty five bookmarks in his desk drawer or if just has one simple, yet pretty bookmark that he uses until it’s turned to dust.
You hear the tell-tale sound of cat claws digging into cloth. You turn to look over the back rest of the couch, where both Spooky and Kater are scratching at the piece of furniture.
‘Come on, don’t do that.’ You shoo them away.
‘I’ve tried to make that cat understand that there’s no need to mark his territory, but he’s too dumb to get it,’ Levi remarks as he places a tray with a tea pot and two cups on saucers on the table.
There’s no sugar or milk on the tray, much as you expected.
‘It’s in their nature,’ you say with a toothy smile.
Levi looks at you with his trademarked blank expression and sits down in the armchair. ‘It needs to steep for a minute.’
You give a nod and, as if you’re telling your best friend in kindergarten a secret, you say, ‘I’m reading the same book.’
He gives a slow nod. The lines in his face seem to soften just a little. ‘Do you like it?’
‘I’m unsure. It’s definitely captivating, but sometimes I need to reread paragraphs, three times, four times.’ You purse your lips. ‘It’s difficult to understand what is going on.’
‘I think it’s rather straightforward.’
You blink at him. ‘What?’
‘It’s about a metamorphosis as confusing and strange as human children becoming human adults,’ he notes. ‘It’s very insightful of how your kind views the world.’
‘Insightful,’ you grumble. You don’t really understand your own seemingly unfounded frustration. ‘Can you even access your sight enough to read with those glasses on?’
If anything, he only sounds a bit amused by your rudeness, ‘Do they bother you?’
‘At the moment, just a bit,’ you admit. ‘Sorry.’
‘Why do they bother you?’
You answer his question with another question, ‘Do you wear them so you don’t turn people into stone?’
‘I wear them, so that I don’t drive people insane,’ he corrects.
For a few slow seconds you only look at him, completely silent and motionless. Finally you ask, ‘Since there’s no name for your kind, can you describe to me what you are?’
He doesn’t answer, but does let out a barely audible sigh. Then you add carefully, ‘I saw your tentacles.’
Without saying a thing he gets up again. Still not answering he pulls out the infuser from the teapot, placing it on small plate. As he pours the black, steaming tea you ask, ‘Are you a were-octopus?’
At this he roughly places the teapot back on the tray, as if startled by your suggestion.
‘Shit, human, no, I’m not a — If I were that, do you think I’d be living in Paradis?’ He shakes his head and lifts one of the teacups on its saucer.
You accept it with a smile. ‘Thank you. And no. But I was worried you might be, you know, a were-octopus and then living so far from the sea couldn’t possible be good for you, so I was just making sure I don’t have to worry about you.’
‘Yeah well, I don’t think were-octopuses are a thing,’ he says, sitting back in the armchair with his tea.
You take a sip and frown. It’s got a rather outspoken, bitter, but soothing taste to it. You would’ve preferred it with just a tad of sugar, but it’s really nice. Way better than most black tea you’ve had.
‘And you don’t have to worry about me.’
You nod. ‘Or your tentacles.’
He places his saucer on his knee, letting his head fall back with a groan, ‘You’re not going to let this go, are you?’
‘Can you blame me for being curious?’
‘Yeah, I guess not,’ he grumbles, ‘It’s just your human nature, right?’
‘Right!’ you agree just a bit sarcastically. ‘But honestly, it’s almost as if you want to make me curious, keep me on edge. You’re being so secretive, but — I’ve seen your tentacles!’
‘You’ve made that clear already.’ You watch him intently as he takes a sip of tea. ‘Fine. There’s probably no harm in telling you. My kind have inspired enough of your human’s myths, fairy tales and horror books either way.’
You frown. ‘Yet we don’t have a name for you?’
‘You humans never bothered to name the monsters hiding under your beds,’ he notes laconically.
‘Wait,’ you sit a bit straighter, ‘you hide under people’s beds?’
‘I have some distant cousins who enjoy that kind of behaviour, yes,’ he says. ‘It’s not to my taste. Too much dust.’
‘Fair enough.’ You bring your cup to your lips, but before drinking, you ask, ‘So, you’re the monster under the bed?’
‘There are other kinds of monsters who enjoy the dust from under a human’s bed just as much as my cousins do.’
‘So?’
He takes a deep breath, which he lets out slowly. ‘It’s difficult to explain, because humans can’t see us without going absolute bat shit crazy.’
‘I am seeing you right now.’
‘In an adjusted form which you can comprehend. Humans see our disguises, like my face, or just some parts of our actual bodies, like my tentacles. We cover ourselves, because should a human see us completely, their brains would melt inside their heads.’
‘That… That sounds unpleasant.’
‘Yeah, and I don’t particularly want to melt some random human’s brains with just my presence. Seems rather useless. However humans have seen parts of us and they have given those appearances names. Hecatoncheires, for example, krakens or angels.’
‘I’m guessing you’re referring to the wheels with eyes kind of angles?’ you inquire.
‘Yes.’
You hum, fascinated by the statement. ‘I see.’
‘I guess, what I prefer best is the term Eldritch horror,’ Levi decides. ‘Because what does that actually look like, an Eldritch horror? You humans have no strict description for it.’
You sit a bit straighter and frown a bit. ‘That’s not fair.’
‘Why not?’
‘You’re not horrific,’ you mutter.
‘You haven’t seen me for what I really am.’ He doesn’t make the statement sound like a reproach or some lamentation. It’s just a fact.
‘You’re not just your body,’ you note. ‘I have seen your character. And it isn’t horrific.’
He shakes his head a bit, the corner of his mouth curling down in an almost mocking expression.
‘What?’ you sneer as he takes a sip of his cup.
‘You make such bold statements about someone you don’t know.’
Your cheeks grow warm from embarrassment. You wipe away some sweat from your brow and say softly, ‘It’s not because you like to portray yourself so negatively that I have to buy into that. Your actions contradict your words.’
He’s silent for a moment. ‘It’s not like you make any sense either’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Why does a human move to a town mostly inhabited by monsters?’ He leans his cup on his knee as he places his elbow on the armrest so he can support his chin with his hand. ‘A small, gloomy town with little to no future. Most people try to leave this place, but you came here.’
You look down at the black tea in your cup, at the thin oily film floating on it. ‘It’s not so complicated,’ you note solemnly. ‘I just needed to get out of the city.’
‘Which city was that?’
‘Stuttgart,’ you murmur.
‘I see.’ And after a short silence, he says, ‘Hange said Ymir recommended you. If you’re from Stuttgart — are you friends?’
‘Roommates,’ you correct. ‘I lived with her and Christa.’
You haven’t thought about Ymir and Christa in a long time. When they moved in you were a mess. And although they could have easily just let you be, they helped you piece yourself together. But you don’t want to think about the person you were just a few months back. You don’t want Levi to know how pathetic you are. So you try to give the vaguest explanation possible.
‘I already wanted to leave Stuttgart when my previous roommates left and Ymir and Christa moved in, but it seemed so impossible somehow. I have always lived in big cities, I was used to it, but I don’t think it was good for me.’
He is silent for a moment and you know from the way his dark glasses are set on you that the response doesn’t clarify enough. But he doesn’t push the subject.
‘Yeah, I’m not one for cities either.’ He places his cup on the table and gets up. ‘You look tired, human, you should get some sleep.’
He reaches his hand out and it takes a moment for you to realise he expects you to give him the teacup. You do so, giving a small nod.
‘Thank you for the tea and letting me stay.’
He accepts the teacup. ‘As long as you don’t sing in your sleep.’
‘I — I don’t think I do?’
As he clears up, you remain seated in the same position. Kater jumps on the couch, pushing his head against your arm. Scratching the tabby cat behind his ear, you watch Levi as he cleans up in the kitchen. It’s strange to know that under that lean body hides another one, apparently so strange and unfathomable that it would melt your mind just by seeing it. Only now does it strike you that Levi might have been joking about that or lied. You just assumed he was telling the truth, but he could make you believe anything in the matter, couldn’t he?
But you don’t think he lied. You think he was very sincere about his true appearance being too horrid for you to look at.
Knowing that you can never truly see him, makes you strangely sad. Or maybe you’re just too tired.
‘That’s the bathroom,’ Levi gestures at a closed door.
You yawn and the answer, ‘I figured, your apartment’s lay-out is a reflection of mine.’
He nods. ‘I am going to lock my door, just to be sure. When I sleep, parts from underneath tend to get out.’
You open your mouth, but it takes a second for your response to fall out, ‘Oh, o-okay.’
Arms crossed, he looks at you for just a short while. ‘Goodnight, __’
‘Goodnight, Levi.’
He flicks off the light before disappearing into his bedroom. The sound of the key turning in the lock makes you sigh. You turn to lie on your side, and Kater immediately snuggles up against you. Just a few seconds later Spooky also jumps on the couch, choosing to drape his body over your legs. It doesn’t take long for your eyes to close. You dream about were-octopuses.
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If I had a nickel for every time I entered a new fandom, immediately latched onto a violent little guy that I could project my aroace experience onto, then started shipping him in one ship that the whole fandom seems to ship but also has a lot of haters and one ship that like 20 people care about, I would have two nickels, which isn't a lot but it's weird that it happened twice
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broadwayfangirl222 · 1 month
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I found this one TikTok (link is here) And I'm so happy with this for one simple fact: All radiostatic fans, even the one-sided ones, seem to always depict it as Alastor just easily laughing off Vox's offer/confession and their eventual falling out. Like he simply never cared but...if they really were as close as we're all thinking, yeah it actually would really suck to lose a friendship this way. One that likely meant a lot to him too. Sure maybe now, especially after years of dealing with Vox's crap since the confession/offer, he can go "Lol, I said 'no,' now he's pissy!" but it probably did affect him the day all this actually went down. People focus so much on Vox's side of this so many end up kinda ignoring Alastor's side of it
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shadebloopnik · 2 days
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Unrequited/One-sided Radioapple but it isn't treated like an angsty end of the world thing.
Imagine they slowly get closer after all the banters, and eventually becoming close friends. Lucifer ends up catching feelings for him, and after a long while, decides to confess and ask Alastor if he felt the same.
Alastor admittedly does not feel the same.
He's getting uncomfortable, struggling to keep his composure because he's DONE this before. He KNOWS how this ends. He remembers Vox and all his insistent declarations of affection and desperate pleas for Alastor to reciprocate; the possessive entitlement. He remembers how all those sickly sweet words morphed into something venomous when he didn't give the lowlife what he wanted. He remembers the anger, the ridiculous notion that it was Alastor's fault why he was so mad, that Alastor led him on and that he obviously deserved something in payment for it all-
So yes, Alastor knows how this ends.
It doesn't mean he isn't disappointed though, because he actually LIKES Lucifer, far more than he ever did Vox. Perhaps not in the way the king might have wanted, but he did. He treasured their little talks, their drinking sessions, their shared love for their instruments, Lucifers singing, their little duets, the banter, the playful jabs, the sparring.
He'd even slowly grown accustomed to the other's touches, not feeling the same surge of disgust and discomfort whenever the shorter man would grab at his arm in excitement, forgetting his usual thoughtfulness of Alastor's touch aversion for the short moment of whatever distracted him. Alastor even enjoyed it at times, relaxing at the feel of soft feathers beneath his claws, or the sensation of gentle scratches against his ears.
Difficult as it was to admit, Alastor had grown to care for the angel, the same way he had for Rosie orv Mimzy.
But no matter how fond Alastor was of Lucifer, it didn't change the fact that he didn't feel the same way romantically, or even sexually. No way in the 7 rings of Hell was he going to lie to Lucifer about either, not going to even entertain the idea of pretending he reciprocated for Lucifer's sake. He respected his friend too much for that.
So a clear, direct rejection it is. It was a shame, but nothing could be done. He said his piece concisely, and waited, shoulders set, back straight, smile and eyes a careful blank canvas as he prepared for the inevitable.
Lucifer nodded, a normal soft smile still in place, "Thank you for your answer, it means a lot."
Which......what? Alastor expected an outburst, or at the very least sharp words.
What he did NOT expect was....acceptance? And not just that but, a happy one? Contentment?????
"You're....alright with that?", he had to ask, he had to. Lucifer was clearly just very good at masking his upset.
But the damn angel just smiled?? And it didn't even look fake, just as bright and soft as his normal smiles, albeit a little confused?? Lucifer smiled at him, his brows furrowing in a bit of confused disbelief, as though Alastor is being the weird one here.
"Uhh, yeah??? Why wouldn't I be??? Yeah I may have some feelings for you but its not like you're obligated to feel the same. Above anything else, we're friends first and foremost and i'm alright with that..."
Then he seemed to have reached his own little conclusion as his words trailed off, because suddenly Lucifer's eyes widened in realization of something, and his words picking up with a sense of panicked urgency.
Alastor would really like to know what Lucifer's supposed realization was about himself because he had absolutely no clue.
"I mean, we ARE still friends right?? I don't- I- I hope this doesn't like- change your opinion of me. You're not- oh gosh I'm not making you uncomfortable am I? I- I won't mention it! You can even forget this whole confession ever happened! We can just go on as before! I don't feel any different or would act any different! Honest! I mean, I don't regret confessing because you deserve to know and I'm not ashamed of my feelings, but I don't want you to be uncomfortable! It doesn't change the way i'll treat you! Or change any aspect of our relationship! I don't even think I like you more as a lover than as a friend! I really, really do love our friendship, it matters more to me than any thoughts of being in a romantic relationship with you! So please just forget it all-"
Alastor let the word vomit wash over him, every word leaving him more confused by the minute.
Because yes, there's the desperation he expected, but...it was more about, convincing Alastor to remain friends?? Reassuring Alastor that nothing has to change?? That their friendship is the most important thing here??
(If anyone asks, no Alastor's heart didn't swell. Only lesser beings would have had the urge to cry, and Alastor is anything but.)
Lucifer is unknowingly reassuring Alastor of every single one of his insecurities about the situation. Because Alastor DID want to remain friends, he cared too much about the man to let it go so easily. It was rare to find people who treasure friendships above romantic relationships.
"I don't tend to forget easily, nor will I forget this one in particular.", he spoke, finally finding his voice. At Lucifer's defeated, pained expression( is their friendship really that important to him?), he continued. "But....yes. I'd like that.. To remain...friends."
He didn't often say the word out loud, being comfortable enough with each other that it need not be reassured with the label. But with Lucifer brightening up like his namesake, relief and happiness palpable, Alastor felt no qualms at declaring their friendship out loud.
So life went on as usual. True to his word, Lucifer remained basically the same. The following weeks were a bit stilted for Alastor, as he put some rather painful distance between him and the angel; limiting their interactions, their usual touches.
Anytime now, Lucifer would break and show his true colors, Alastor would think, waiting for the boot to drop. Lucifer would end up angry, and dissatisfied, and that was that.
But it never happened. Lucifer never expressed discomfort when Alastor avoided him, seeming to be understanding of the others need for space. He was just as affectionate as before, though initially a bit held back, as though gauging Alastor's comfort.
Months would pass, and the king never faltered. Their friendship remained strong, if not growing ever closer than before. Alastor found himself even growing more comfortable with the man. Affectionate touches were becoming common, hugs and head pats and cuddles being a welcome thing, with the reassurance that the shorter king would never disrespect his boundaries.
Lucifer seemed genuinely happy about it, despite being clearly told that none of Alastor's actions hinted at anything romantic. In fact, he seemed ecstatic that Alastor was getting more affectionate towards him as a friend. The embarrassment the radio demon felt at having Lucifer basically tear up (no really, he was crying so hard, full on drama sobbing) with joy in front of him was intertwined with the sheer incredulous fondness he felt for the man at that moment.
They were sitting at a couch one night, more than a year passing since that confession. Lucifer was leaning back, resting against the cushions, while Alastor had his head on the smaller one's shoulder, nuzzling at the crook of his neck, legs tucked close to his body. Both had a book in hand, two nearly empty cups of tea on the table in front of them. Every so often, Lucifer would flex his fingers that rested on Alastor's head, running a digit against the other's ear, often prompting the demon to lean into the touch. White wings enveloped the two, blanketing them against the chill of the night.
As Alastor turned the page of his own book, relaxing into the touch of his dearest friend, he wondered how he ever got so lucky in hell.
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science-lings · 9 days
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Out of every ship i have been invested in, which isn't a whole lot but still, I think that narumitsu is the most justified in being the most painfully slow burn to ever have burned. Like, it's obvious to literally everyone around them that there is something between them but it still takes twenty years to do anything about it. Not because they're stupid but they're both just specific types of fucked up that make getting into a relationship kind of impossible.
They're both seemingly very reluctant to get into any sort of romantic relationships in the first place, one due to general disinterest and a truly incredible amount of emotional constipation, and the other due to his last (and only known) relationship being so fucked up that he kind of gave up on the concept entirely. Them being excruciatingly in denial about being in love for decades is just so in character because they're just Like That.
Their history is also complicated enough to warrant waiting around for each other forever, there's so much baggage and trauma and hurt between them that it's just crazy. They've saved each other and they've hurt each other and they push each other away, they owe each other their lives and their jobs and their hopes. They would do anything for each other but are still pretty justified in being afraid to take the last step into making their relationship not just platonic.
idk it feels like a lot of other ships fall into the infuriatingly slow romance because the characters are too stupid to take a hint and it's just kind of painful after a while but these are the most hilariously repressed characters I have ever seen and while they might be stupid about their own feelings, it's usually stemming from trauma which is far more interesting for me personally lol.
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