#bane header | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

everlaneptune · 1 month

Text

Second official post! Yay! It's been a while, and I apologize for the wait. I have been experiencing writer's block the past few months.

Allow me to place where credit is due. Thank you to Hoyoverse for providing the name card for my custom made Tumble header, which I made myself! Italicised paragraphs is Xiao's inner monologue, also provided by official Hoyoverse lore.

I tweaked this content to match the flow of my story. Without further ado, please enjoy!

•°•

Qingxin and the Golden Eyes

Qingxin

People gather around the tea master, Liu Su, and her brother demands that they go listen to him. The legend he is to deliver tonight is one that has never been shared before. It is rumored that he will be delivering a legend unearthed a few weeks ago.

“We have to go!” Bao whines. “It’s not likely he will tell this story again!”

He has a point. Clever boy.

Qingxin joins her brother at the round table near Liu Su. Bao practically beams with excitement. She waves over a familiar face, a waitress who served them many times. Her eyes glisten with recognition, and a smile appears on her face.

“Well, hello strangers,” Chu Hua greets them. “What can I get for you today?”

“A glass of coconut milk, please,” her brother grins.

She nods. “And for you?”

“I would like a shot of osmanthus wine,” Qingxin answers. “I hear that it rouses a feeling of nostalgia upon consumption.”

“Strange, I never heard that before,” Chu Hua giggles. “I will return with your drinks shortly.”

She scurries away to fetch their drinks. At the same time, Liu Su speaks.

“Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to tell you the legend of the vigilant yaksha,” his booming voice silences the chattering crowd. “Some of you may already know this legend, but historians have recently uncovered details lost to time. It is a harrowing story that plagues him to this day.”

He opens his mouth.

She hears another voice speak.

What am I wrestling with? The tactful answer would be old grudges, unfulfilled dreams, the lamentations of the vanquished…

Liu Su says. “The unmitigated truth says the yaksha battles the remnants of fallen deities from the Archon War. Morax has slain these gods and buried their remains beneath the earth.

“However, gods are immortal. Their consciousness may diminish, but their unrivaled power and seething hatred fester and spread like poison. Relentlessly, they stir chaos for the world and its inhabitants.

“Liyue’s sovereignty, aware of the truth regarding the vigilant yaksha, refers to his millennia-long experience as the ‘bane of all evil.’”

Whispers rises in the crowd, the phrase seemingly leaving a foul taste in their mouths. Qingxin stands out amidst the crowd, being intrigued by “bane of all evil.”

“Why is his experience referred to as the ‘bane of all evil?’” she asks without realizing.

Elders narrow their eyes at her disruption. Nearby adults shake their heads.

Liu Su replies with a smile. “I will answer your question shortly, young lady.”

Is it because this war I fight can never be won and will never come to an end? It is an invisible war that no one will ever witness or thank me for.

“Except for one individual,” he says.

Audience members sit at the edge of their seats. Bao gazes at the storyteller in anticipation.

He must be introducing the information recently unearthed.

“Lady Qingxin, Lady of Song.”

What?

Lady Qingxin was a gentle soul who never touched the poison, nor did the poison touch her. She roamed Liyue with a Dihua flute in hand. I always heard her playing Jueyun Karst, and I always found her sitting on the highest peak, surrounded by the flowers named after her. I often spent the rest of my evening, listening to her play.

“Qingxin!” Bao’s voice snaps her back to reality. “Pay attention!”

“Sorry!”

She has failed to notice that she spaced out.

“According to the new information,” Liu Su remarks. “Lady Qingxin knew the yaksha’s true name. No one ever heard her address him by that name, as she called him by the name given to him by the Geo Archon.”

Back when I was younger and naive, a god gained a foothold of my weakness. He forced me to serve as his bloodhound, in which I was forced to perform cruel and violent deeds.

Many died by my hands. Many hopes were crushed. I was forced to devour my victims’ dreams, and as much as it pained me, I was helpless to resist.

I was a prisoner until I heard Lady Qingxin’s flute play.

“The god enslaving the vigilant yaksha knew not about the sweet lady. She stood under the protection of the Seven since birth,” Liu Su explains. “When he received a moment of clarity, the yaksha sought refuge in her embrace. He yearned for her to rid him of his haunting misdeeds. Despite her lack of power to fulfill his wish, Lady Qingxin comforted him.

“She dared not to turn away a poor, unfortunate soul like his. Fortunately for the protagonist of this story, she knew of someone who could help him. On the battlefield, Morax had a fateful encounter with the god, and the current state of our world is the result of that battle.”

Rex Lapis liberated me and bestowed upon me the name “Xiao.”

“Morax said to him, ‘In the fables of another world, the name ‘Xiao’ is that of a spirit who encountered great suffering and hardship. He endured much suffering as you have. Use this name from now on.’

“Upon returning, Lady Qingxin introduced herself properly. ‘I am Qingxin, the Goddess of Song. Some knew me as the daughter of Rex Lapis. Do not treat me as if I am superior to you. We shall continue to stand as equals, Xiao.’”

Qingxin said those words at some point. She does not remember when, where, or why.

If I had known the truth about Lady Qingxin, I would have addressed her properly. Even so, I will forever be grateful that she remained at my side during my suffering.

To repay my debt of gratitude to her and Rex Lapis, I shouldered the burden of protecting Liyue in the following millennia.

All my fleeting innocence and tenderness disappeared during my service to that cruel god. All that remained was an unrelenting murderer and the weight of his sins. The only way that I could serve mortals was through combat.

But, what could the people of Liyue do for me in return?

“You need not worry,” she mumbles. “For the people of Liyue will repay you in time.”

“What was that?” Bao asks.

“Nothing!”

“No one would ever stop to ponder such a question,” Liu Su informs the crowd. “The sight of the vigilant yaksha, even from a far distance, is intimidating enough to send people fleeing for their lives.

“With that said, if someone truly desires to demonstrate their appreciation, they can participate in a practice started by Lady Qingxin Long ago.

“She required a secret agent from the Qixing and assigned them to support the yaksha. That secret agent oversees a front organization called ‘Wangshuu Inn,’ a place where she and the vigilant yaksha resided after the Archon War.”

Occasionally, I stopped by for a bowl of almond tofu. Lady Qingxin always had a bowl prepared when I returned to the inn. She said, “If someone could see the look on your face when you eat it, there’s no mistake — You clearly love the stuff!”

I ignored her comment. Told her that she spouted nonsense, but I never argued.

It was not the sweet tasted that I chased. The texture was what I found irresistible. It was similar to the dreams that I used to devour.

Almond tofu was an excellent substitute, but the dessert never satiated my hunger. I developed the habit of devouring her dreams, but she never seemed to mind. In fact, Lady Qingxin asked what her dreams tasted like.

I never gave her a straight answer.

“Authoritative powers in Liyue know of the vigilant yaksha’s battle against the poison left by fallen gods.” The storyteller startles her from whatever story she listens to previously. Who is talking to her? “If you ask him the same question, he may give you a different answer.”

I was once enslaved by an evil god. I suffered under his rule until Rex Lapis freed me.

“The vigilant yaksha’s powers were highly regarded by the adepti to begin with.” Liu Su takes an unexpected turn with his story. “He seemed to vanquish all manner of evil demons with relative ease, but fallen gods held immense power. Their lust for revenge coursed deeper than any mortal could imagine.”

I slaughtered countless manifestations of vengeful soul remnants, but these souls only became increasingly fractured. Fragments of their hatred eventually tainted my own soul.

Lady Qingxin could see it.

“The only way to eradicate such hatred is to accept the karmic debt accompanying it,” he stated with certainty. “The magnitude of bad karma that the vigilant yaksha accumulated over the years can consume flesh, bone, and soul.”

I did not feel any hatred. Having lived for over two thousand years, no single karmic debt constitutes anything more than a fleeting memory. No grudge could last a thousand years, nor was any debt so great that it couldn’t be paid off in time.

My battles had never been in vain.

With my spear in hand, I marched back to Wangshuu Inn to enjoy a fresh bowl of almond tofu. I crawl to Jueyun Karst, searching for her meadow of qingxin. Where her Dihua flute played, I followed its tune over mountains and rivers.

I always found her where I expected to. When I stood behind her, the mellifluous song always ceased. She always greeted me with a bright smile on her face. “Welcome back, Xiao!”

Lady Qingxin guided my head onto her lap and continued to play her flute. Her melodies always inflicted such rejuvenating wonders on my body. It tempered my wild instincts and soothed the fragmented souls tainting my own. Furthermore, it mended my wounds.

All I had to do was listen.

Once the song concluded, wiser words had never been spoken. “Xiao. You are ultimately the one wrestling with yourself.”

What was it that I fight again?

“A select few understood that he fights against the darkness threatening Liyue and protects us from it.”

But who will defend me? For she is dead.

“There was a moment when he spent most of his strength fighting from dusk til’ dawn, with him emerging as the victor by a mere hair,” Liu Su describes the scene like he witnessed it. “The reed fields were sliced to ribbons in the fierce fight. Plucking his spear from where it was planted in the ground, the vigilant yaksha began his trek home.

“One says ‘home,’ yet where could he go? He was merely leaving the battlefield. Lady Qingxin aided him in battle and sacrificed her own life for him. The vigilant yaksha failed to protect her from the poison of fallen deities.”

Her last words to me — I will never forget them.

“Swear to me that you will live a fulfilling life. Do not drown in the all-consuming darkness devouring my flesh, bone, and soul. Help common people who need to be saved from this poison. As the Goddess of Song, Qingxin, I order this of thee.”

Pain flares in my chest. She rests a hand above her heart, attempting to soothe the sudden pain. She resists the urge to double over in pain. It subsides after a moment.

What was that just now?

“Long and exhausted, the vigilant yaksha felt the effect of the divine hatred tainting his body. Limitless hate flooded his senses, and he fell to the ground in agony.”

Liu Su’s dramatics elicits gasps from his audience. Bao gawks at him, astonished.

“At that moment, the pain vanished without a warning. This was not by the yaksha’s own strength, for he was rescued by the sound of a flute.”

It was not the Dihua flute of Lady Qingxin. The clear, lovely sound of the flute came over the mountains and rivers, carried on the wind where I lay. It continued to ring clear until the first light of dawn brought with it the startled flight of distant birds.

It protected me and gave me a moment of peace, massaging my wild senses.

I wondered who play this music. Lady Qingxin was dead, but I was a moment too late. Despite being curious, I didn’t ponder on the matter. For I already had an answer. The last person who could help me was one of the Seven themselves. This person must be—

“And that is where our story ends, ladies and gentlemen!”

An applause erupts from his audience. Bao leaps from his seat and joins in. Qingxin watches him with a fond smile. She notices the waitress never returned with their drinks, not that she minds. Any desire to drink vanished in the blink of an eye after her chest pain.

She is bothered by the familiarity of the story, yet she does not remember where she heard it from. Did Nana tell her this story?

Qingxin swears that she heard someone else speaking the entire time.

“I never heard a story like that before!” Bao’s eyes sparkle with delight. “This version was better than the original.”

“Yes, it was,” she replies. “Although, we have to hurry home. Mom and Dad will start to worry if we fail to make it home by midnight.”

Taking his hand, Qingxin guides him through the lively streets.

A hand suddenly grabs her wrist.

“Qingxin?”

She faces the stranger.

He is a fair man who possesses dark, medium length hair with teal undertones. She glances up at the small purple diamond on his forehead. His eyes intrigue her — golden eyes with cat-slit pupils accentuated with red makeup.

This man sticks out like a sore thumb.

They stare at each other for a moment. Then he says. “I have mistaken you for someone else. Excuse me.”

Qingxin watches him leave.

He looks… familiar.

“Qingxin!” Bao whines, which draws her out of her thoughts.

“Coming!”

Qingxin leads her brother home, unaware of the golden eyes following her.

#genshin impact #genshin impact x oc #genshin impact x reader #xiao #genshin impact xiao #xiao genshin impact

4 notes · View notes

marshthedumbest · 1 year

Text

untitled burkebane oneshot

(header by yours truly!)

word count: 2405

notes/intro: UM. uhm. hi. i bet you didn't ask for this or expect this. but yea i occasionally write as a side hobby and this is my first time posting it to a public platform. as such, yes, i'm just a hobbyist and i don't have years of experience and i am not a native english speaker so expect it to be kind of amateurish. there might be capitalization errors in the dialogue parts, but i honestly don't know how that stuff works. all in all just please don't be mean to me.

synopsis: it's burke's birthday and bane comes over to his lab. romantic tension and awkwardness ensue because they're both dumbasses who just can't confess to each other. that's kind of it. [side note: burke's bday happens on his character day bc i said so. also this is before bane's poacher incident so he doesn't have the deer head, yet.]

(click the keep reading button for the actual thing btw)

----

It was a cold, sopping wet November afternoon. The last leaves that have fallen from the trees were now being mercilessly battered by the never-ending rain, and if you listened closely, you'd hear thunder rumbling in the distance, although there was no lightning in sight. Not the most romantic kind of weather. The sky has already darkened itself with a greyish blue tint, making everything look all the more gloomy. And contributing to this gloominess was an enormous manor, standing just barely at the edge of the town and menacingly towering over its surroundings. Passersby either ignored it or picked up speed when walking past it, as if it was some silent, huge beast waiting for its prey. To the outside observer, it was unlikely that in this weather, and in this very manor, someone would be having something as joyous as a birthday.

It was November 27th, and that day marked the 51st birthday of the Oletus Manor's architect and head of security, Burke Lapadura.

Despite the occasion, however, the man so far has done nothing to even acknowledge that. Like any other day, he's locked himself in his personal lab, diving head first into work again. Just as he was finalizing a blueprint, however, something grabbed him by the collar and pulled him right out.

Knock, knock.

Burke threw a quick glance at the wooden door across the room. Reluctantly getting up from his chair (and instinctively grabbing his back as it produced a minor cracking noise), he took a few steps forward before the sound repeated again.

"I swear, if it's those kids…" Burke whispered to himself as he made his way to the door, his mumbling growing more and more annoyed. With a sigh, he unlocked the door, reached out to the doorknob, and… immediately felt relieved as soon as he saw who came to visit him.

"Oh, it's just you. Come in." Burke gestured towards the room. In went a strong, long-haired bearded man in a forest ranger uniform, badly trying to hide some kind of bouquet and a gift box behind his back. He greeted Burke with a nod and a smile, so charming that the old man couldn't help but smile back…

Burke quickly brought out a spare chair from a corner of the room and offered the guest to sit down. The ranger looked at him, and made a barely audible gulping sound before speaking up.

"So, um…" he said, pulling the flower bouquet and the present out. "Happy birthday, Burke!"

Despite having already seen this man's comically terrible attempt at hiding these, Burke still felt his heart skip a beat at the sight of the gifts. Although visibly hesitating, he gladly accepted them and placed them on the table - but not without instinctively smelling the flowers first. They weren't his favorite, but it was a rather surprising and pleasant gesture to him. Especially for a day like this.

"Th-thank you, Bane…" Burke replied. "But, really, you're too kind… I don't even celebrate my birthday, you know?"

"Hah! There's no such thing as "too kind"! Besides, why wouldn't I celebrate my friend's birthday?" Bane cackled lightheartedly, to which Burke rolled his eyes.

Burke sighed.

"You're right, I guess. Thank you again, Bane."

Not knowing what else to say, he turned towards one of the three tall windows on the wall. Before the atmosphere got too awkward, though, Bane spoke again.

"Yeah, you'd think that on a special day like this, the weather would be much nicer, eh?"

"Right. A bad omen." Burke said the first thought that came to mind.

"Come on, Burke, you're a man of science! Since when do you believe in omens?" Bane leaned in towards the architect with a smile on his face, once again leaving the other with nothing to say. Yes, admittedly, sometimes he was too pessimistic for his own good…

Thus, the conversation paused again. It wasn't something that Bane wasn't used to, though. His friend was never too good at this kind of thing.

Bane coughed in an effort to clear his throat and brought up another point.

"Y'know, the manor owner's kids have been asking where you are… Pretty sure they've prepared some kind of gift for you, too. So um, what I'm saying is - maybe take some time off today and visit them? I know you don't like 'em all that much, but it'd be a shame to disappoint them like this, no?"

Burke sighed, his voice reflecting his realization that he had no choice now.

"Fine, fine, I'll put my work aside," he said. "But only for today."

Bane leaned back, getting comfortable in his chair again. As he carelessly brushed his gaze around the room, his eyes suddenly stopped at the various blueprints scattered across Burke's work desk. Some were messier than others and had multiple parts scribbled out or badly erased, and some even looked a bit crumpled. The cleanest one was that of a strange, penguin-like machine.

"Yeah, speaking of work… What's all this? Starting a new project, eh?" Bane pointed to the blueprints. As Burke caught on to this, the gloominess in his expression completely faded away. It's as if he was waiting for Bane to ask this question.

"Oh, this?" A small chuckle escaped his mouth. "Well, I can't entirely tell you yet, but I can assure you that it won't disappoint you one bit once I'm done with it. You know… I've always wanted a helper. I am getting old, after all."

"So is it like a robot, then?" Bane asked.

To this response, Burke leaned back on his chair, putting his arms behind his head and smiling proudly. For some reason, Bane's expression turned somewhat flustered at the sight of this. Before it all got too awkward, though, the architect continued his speech.

"Hoho, precisely. But it's no ordinary robot. I have some big plans for it… yes, very big plans. Just you wait and see, Bane. I'm sure that with just a few modifications, this thing could solve that poacher problem of yours in one fell swoop."

"Woah, you seem really proud of yourself… but, I mean, Burke- I don't really think I need help with those people. I mean, if I just keep letting them off peacefully, they'll understand eventually, right?" The ranger said. "I don't want to resort to violence. Only the lowest of the low would dare to do that."

Burke thoughtfully stared off into the distance before answering.

"I think you need to understand who these people truly are if you think that this can be solved peacefully."

Bane crossed his arms and let out a quiet "mmph" in disagreement, which prompted Burke to quickly add on to his sentence.

"...But that's just my humble opinion. I'm not the gamekeeper here anyway."

The gifts left on the table caught Burke's attention again.

"Oh, by the way, can I open this?" he asked, pointing to the box tied up with a neat velvet bow.

"What kind of question is that, Burke? That's your gift… for your birthday…" Bane answered.

"Right. Sorry."

With nearly surgical precision, Burke untied the bow and carefully lifted the lid from the box. Inside he found a hand-crafted wooden deer figurine, a metallic watering can decorated with a fake sunflower, and- huh? A box of chocolates? Why?

"Bane, I don't mean to look the gift horse in the mouth," he began, "but isn't this chocolate… how do I put it… isn't its theming more on the, um, romantic, maybe even Valentine's day-esque side?"

Bane tilted his head, his thick, dark brown eyebrows furrowing. "Huh? What are you talking about?"

In response, Burke took the box in his hands and showed it to the gamekeeper, the former's expression slowly welcoming a visible tone of confusion. The box was an overbearing pastel pink, complete with golden, swirly text reading "For Your True Love" and a tacky illustration of two cupids hugging each other plastered on the side. Even more, the box itself was very obviously heart shaped. So saccharine, it could make you puke.

"I know that you're not the type to just grab the first thing you see in a store, so…" he continued. "Is this just a coincidence, or…?"

Bane turned away with unusual speed, with tiny droplets of sweat forming on his forehead.

"It is just a coincidence… I mean, I bought it, to, like… signify our friendship? May-be?" He nervously side-eyed Burke, only to see him looking even more unamused than before. Panicking, Bane said the first thing that came to mind; at this point, he'd do anything to save face. "Look, Burke, i-it's just a gift, okay? D-don't look too deep into it."

Burke narrowed his eyes. No, this isn't right… his friend's gifts were always so meaningful, so heartfelt… even the other presents he received from him today reflected that. The shiny watering can being decorated with his favorite flower was an example. And now he was being told to "not look too deep into it"?

As he watched Bane anxiously shuffle around in his seat, though, he couldn't help but feel at fault. Perhaps he's really made the poor man uncomfortable?..

"Sorry, I didn't mean to-"

"No, no, it's all right! I'm- you see, if I'm honest with you… I wasn't really… thinking all that much when I bought it."

Both have found themselves staring into the ground in complete silence.

Burke, feeling panicked by the awkwardness of it all, would eventually take initiative to lighten the mood. Albeit with a lot of hesitation in his movement, he slowly walked up to Bane and… gently patted him on the head.

His hair, long and wavy, turned out to have felt very soft and pleasant to the touch. It happened suddenly, but Burke saw his hand instinctively brush against it once again… and again… and again - only slowing down when the forest ranger looked up at him, and as he did, the surprise on his face momentarily turned into a warm smile, painting a soft blush onto Burke's cheeks… He felt as if time froze for a moment before he could utter another word.

"I-I'm sorry. I'm not good at this kind of thing." Burke half-whispered, feeling a corner of his mouth raise. Before he knew it, though, a wave of warmth surrounded him, causing his heart to pick up pace. Bane's strong arms have wrapped around him in a gentle, comforting hug. Realizing this, the old man let this warmth consume him and let it course through every part of his body.

"It's all right. I can't get mad at you either way, heh." Bane muttered, with his deep, rough voice flaunting a color of joy that Burke has never seen before. It's as if the gamekeeper has opened up a completely new side to him…

As much as Burke would love to stay like this for ages, eventually the two parted from each other, dissolving the hug.

"Well then, should I get going?" Bane asked. "I mean, I was wanting to ask if you'd like to go out and get some fresh air, but judging by the weather, I think you'd rather spend the day inside…"

Burke nodded.

"That reminds me… could you ask the kids to come over? Since you mentioned that they've made some sort of gift for me, and, you know - I don't want to make them sad."

"Hey, that's the first time I've seen you actually acknowledge them! Usually you just tell them to go away, don't you?" Bane chuckled and then followed up with a wink as if to make sure that there's no hard feelings involved. He made a sudden pause, as if something just came to his mind. Only a moment after, though, he continued.

"This makes me think… I doubt that you actually hate people. At least, you don't hate them as much as you say you do."

One of Burke's eyebrows raised at the sudden proposition.

"And what makes you think that?" He asked. In response, Bane smiled again.

"Well, if you truly hated humanity, we wouldn't be friends, would we?"

"N-no, Bane, you don't get it-" the architect protested. "You see, you're an exception, because-"

"Nuh-uh! I'm no exception! Don't tell me you forgot what you said about those kids just now!"

Bane laughed, softly patting Burke's shoulder. It was a small form of affection, but it was enough to make the latter back down from the argument.

"All right, I won't pry into you any further." The ranger gave Burke another playful wink. "Er… happy birthday to you again. Take care."

Burke followed the guest all the way to the doorstep, exchanging nods and goodbyes on the way. Just as Bane stepped out into the hallway, he turned back around and slowly raised his hand as to signal Burke to not close the door yet.

"Oh, and don't give any of the candy to the kids, okay? It's- it's got liquor in it."

With that out of the way, Bane waved to the old man and disappeared into the poorly lit hallway. The door would shut behind him shortly after.

But the moment it closed, Burke's heart suddenly started to race in realization of what had just happened. Those chocolates… it can't be a coincidence, right?! Bane has always been unimaginably terrible at lying, after all. So, does that mean that those feelings towards Bane, the feelings that Burke tried so hard to suppress in anticipation of the worst case scenario - have they finally been reciprocated, albeit in such an embarrassing, clumsy way..?

Suddenly, he burst into giggling, brushing his left hand along his wrinkly cheek as a rosy blush one again found its way onto his face - this time even stronger than before. Normally, he’d consider such a reaction to be unacceptable for himself. He'd angrily whisper something like, “Why are you acting like a little girl with a crush?! Get a hold of yourself!” But today, this sensation… this fluttering, electrifying sensation coursing straight to his heart and making it throb in sheer euphoria… it was all too strong this time… besides, it's not like anyone was watching him, right?

Burke plopped back down on his chair and opened the accursed box of chocolates. As he picked one out and put it into his mouth, he smiled. To be fair, he’s never liked sweet things. But liquor candy was the sole exception…

#idv #idv fanfic #burkebane

15 notes · View notes

selfilluminatingkyu · 2 years

Text

Of Blood and Thorns pt. II

Fae Crown Prince!Dabi x AFAB!Reader

Summary: Long before you were born, your village made a deal with the Fae, a deal you never quite understood. For as long as you can remember, you’d been told the story of Parade of Maidens. Once a century, ten girls between the ages of 20-30 were selected for the parade to presented before the Fae’s current Crown Prince. Of those ten, one lucky young woman was hand picked by the prince himself and she’d spend the rest of her life in Fae. However, upon the current Crown Prince’s first selection ceremony, things began to change. ...and somehow you’re at the center of this mystery.

Story Warnings: Death (not any many characters’); Alluding to servitude; graphic depiction of sex; Swearing; Fighting; Misogyny (briefly)

Chapter Warnings: Swearing; Bodily Harm (mild and not overtly described); Heated Makeup Sess; Dabi is a shit who goes from Hot to Cold

Word Count: 11,811...I went overboard...again my bad.

A/N: I know my header awful I haven’t made one in years and the program I used is like a cheap version of PS so it was giving me some issues. There should be two more parts to this, maybe three and there will definitely be spice in the next chapter so...from there I will put a MDNI warnings.

Taglist: @browneyedgirl22

Pt. I | Pt.III

The next days were, much to your chagrin, spent in a state of melancholy. You did not understand how you had gone from being so close to take your relationship to the next level only to fall to a level lower than when you’d first arrived. Your cheeks felt like they had burned for hours after the tongue lashing the Crown Prince had given you.

In the span of maybe thirty seconds, you’d gone from flying high to falling flat on your face. You idly wondered if this is how Icarus felt as he fell.

You’d avoided the library after that, having grabbed a stack of books and retreated back to your room afterwards and not truly venturing much out of it after the fact. You’d even started to take your meals in the kitchen. Yes, it was a bit much but to have the warmth you’d felt so quickly dosed into bitter freeze had left you feeling jarred. You just couldn’t find the courage in you quite yet to shrug your shoulders and carry on.

You wanted to be amusing for His Highness…but you didn’t want your pain to be what amused him. Arguably though, you didn’t have much control over that.

Despite your best efforts to remain hidden away from prying eyes however, you’d been forced from your room by one of the very few people in the house that had actually taken a genuine interest in you. A summer sprite by the name of Alfie. She was quite the character you had quickly learned; and the bane of the head maid’s existence, which was much to your pleasure. Alfie had, apparently, been ordered to take care of your every need. She was to be your escort around the palace and see to you.

It come as a shock to you when you’d awoken the morning after the library incident to find her just making her way into the room. You’d been startled, thinking you’d truly done yourself in and were being taken away to be punished when she’d curtseyed and said she was here to help you with you morning bath and dress. As she flinted quickly around the room, peeling the gossamer drapes back and allowing the sun to come in fully, she’d only briefly stopped to ask if you were alright and what you wanted for breakfast.

You’d done your best to shake her at first, thinking that maybe she was a spy for the prince and that she was reporting back to him your every move so he could find fault in you and give him an excuse. Not that he’d actually need one. Your life was and is to do with as he pleased. But you’d been culled of that concern when she’d blinked at you when you’d asked about the prince’s being.

“I wouldn’t know my lady. I’ve seen His Highness Dabi only a few times since I entered Azul Palace 45 some odd years ago now. He’s not one to be seen often by the likes of a lowly maid like me.” She said softly, smiling at you as she went about folding your freshly cleaned clothes.

“Dabi?” You’d questioned, blinking at her, wondering if she’d meant another prince.

“His Highness my lady? The Crown Prince…have you never heard his name ma’am?”

That had also been when you’d learned of the Crown Prince’s name. You’d found it odd that you’d been there for so long and never once had known his name, not that it truly mattered. What good would it do you? You referred to him as solely Your Highness. To do otherwise would be stupid or would have to come directly from him as a courtesy to you.

Nevertheless, here you were, wandering around the Azul Palace—another thing you’d learned the first fateful morning upon Alfie’s arrival into your life—at her behest, because “sunshine and fresh air is important for humans my lady.” She’d fitfully pulled you from bed and dressed you in a flowy dress that far exceeded your station in life. You’d felt a little odd in it initially.

You hadn’t been dressed in clothes that dissimilar to what you’d arrived in originally. But when you’d been out one day in the kitchen having a meal, the small amount of clothing you did have had suddenly been replaced with fine dresses. Dresses you’d only seen on very affluent women in the larger cities. Even the wealthy women of your own village did not wear such dresses day to day. Maybe of finer occasions by not to simply walk the garden.

And yet here you were, a dress the color of a spring sky that was light as a feather and soft to the touch. The bodice hugs your figure in and push your chest up but was not constricting or uncomfortable like you’d come to know with all of your formal wear. It was breathable and flowy, much to your pleasure. There were little flowers and butterflies dancing along the hem and on the sleeves of the dress, the arms made of a gossamer material that obscured your skin in the most luxurious of ways.

“The prince will be called to court soon I’ve been told by Mrs. Poole. She says I need to make sure that all your nicest dresses fit perfectly and if there’s any jewelry that needs to be mended or taken care of to let Mr. Cricket know.” Alfie trills, looking about the garden. You’ve stopped to admire the flowers that look strickling like azaleas as she rambles on, causing you to lift up swiftly.

“Why would that have any bearing on me and what I do Alfie? Surely I’m not going with His Highness?” You want to laugh at the absurdity of her statement. Why would a mere plaything go to court with the crown prince? That’s the job of his future crowned princess, not you. A nobody. An amusement.

Alfie blinks at you slowly before her eyes narrow. You’ve gotten used to their peach color and the obsidian lashes that frame them, but when she looks at you like that, they look almost umber in shade. It is in those moments that you are other in this realm, where many of the beings do not have skin shades that fall on a singular scale, but that can come in every shade of the rainbow, and all its variations.

Shockingly, or maybe not, Alfie’s appearance seems to be that of the most subtle of all of the prince’s help you’ve seen. Her skin is that of a lilac shade, and when the sun hits it, it looks almost opalescent. The ends of her fingers, ears, nose, and you would guess toes, are all a dark shade of purple with her nails being the same. As you said earlier, her eyes are peach in color with obsidian lashes, the same as the top of her hair. The bottom a silver color that has hints of green to it. She has an ivory pattern that trails over a large portion of her and the flowers that pop up here and there reflect her mood. Their colors changing and the flowers wilting in proximity to her current state. She’s shorter than you, but much stronger and she can flint and pop in and out of places in the blink of an eye. She can also control the greenery around you. You found that out the other day when an errand boy by the name of Arai had shown up and the flowers had bloomed beautifully the moment he’d greeted her…and then promptly wilted when he began to flirt with another maid named Wysteria. You’d feared momentarily that she’d sick the bees on him in her moment of wrath.

“Of course you’re going to Court with the Prince my lady. You’re his lady. Why ever would you not go?” You couldn’t tell if Alfie genuinely didn’t know the circumstances behind your presence here or if she truly thought that you were above your station as she spoke.

You opened and closed your mouth several times, much like a fish out of water before Alfie giggled and placed a delicate hand under your jaw to stop your floundering. “My Lady, I’m not entirely sure you know this or not, but you were the woman Crown Prince chose, that makes you a very high member of the Court.”

“But I’m human.”

“But you’re the Crown Prince’s consort…that is until you all wed. Then you’ll be the Crown Princess.” She says smiling at you gleefully and you can’t help but laugh foolheartedly.

Alfie is out of her mind you decide. And completely unaware as to the nature of your being here.

“Alfie, I am a sacrifice. I’m not a consort, nor will I ever be the crown princess. I am a human who the crown prince chose from a group of young women because I amuse him so. I think a paramour would be a better title if the crown prince were to ever call on me like he’s supposed to. I was not a high-ranking woman in the human world, and I am certainly not one here amongst the Fae. I am so honored that you think me as such, but I think you’d got it wrong.”

Before Alfie can even cut in, another voice, one much deeper, does. “And I think you’re the one who is confused madam.”

Both of you are startled as Hawks appears from behind one of the many rose bushes in the garden. His bronzed figure is striking against the crisp white roses that act as a backdrop and he seems to be delighted by the way he’s flustered you both, especially Alfie though, who’s turned a peculiar shade of blueish teal along her cheeks, the flowers on her hidden arm blooming like crazy.

Turning away from her you look to Hawks again. “I beg your pardon Sir Hawks--”

“Call me Keigo, just Keigo my lady. Hawks is the name His Highness and those of the human realm call me, but I feel you should call me by my given name.” He bows his head, the wings on his back—which you had just noticed—ruffling as he presses a fist to his chest.

“Keigo.” You let the name settle on your tongue before meeting his eye. “Why exactly am I the one who’s confused?”

His smirking before you can even finish you question, and you notice subtly as the feathers on his wings, and his arms for that matter, seem to preen and ruffle as he stands a little taller, spine straightening out as tucks his arms behind his back.

“Because…you’re wrong.” He says simply.

“I’m…wrong?”

“Yes, you’re wrong my lady.”

“Sir Hawks!” Alfie chastises and he gives her a look filled with mirth before winking at her that sends her into an absolute tizzy. It’s effective in shutting her up completely as he turns back to you.

“Yes, you’re wrong my lady. You’re not wrong about the fact that you were chosen from the Parade of Maidens but, in truth, and I shouldn’t really be saying this to you, His Highness would have found you eventually as you’ve been promised to him since birth. You are his and only his.” He says matter of factly, as if that somehow negates everything you stated earlier.

“Yes...I am his. I am his to do with as he pleases.” You said and Hawks seems pleased with himself before you continue. “That however does not change my station. I am his to do with as he pleases because you are right, I am his and his alone. Whether it was through the Parade of Maidens or by some other design, I am nothing more than a trivial human that has been placed in his charge to do with as he sees fit. That does not mean I am somehow befitting of the title of Lady or Consort or Crown Princess. I think both of you are the ones who are confused in this situation. I have been well aware of what my standing is here. You two seem to be unaware of that fact though.”

Both of them stare at you utterly confused. The mirth and pomp on Hawks face earlier has been clean wiped off and Alfie almost looks as though she’ll cry, a small “my lady” leaving her lips as she looks at you. You’re not entirely sure why either of them seems so shocked by your outburst. There is no hope in having hope…it’ll only lead you to be hurt in the long run.

Hawks seems to bristle a little as he regains himself, looking you over slowly, calculating before tapping a finger to his chin and nodding his head. You have no idea what he’s thinking and truthfully, you’re a little scared to know. But regardless of whatever it is that’s going through his head, you know in your gut that what you’ve said isn’t wrong. The means by which you came here really don’t mean much now, it could have been the parade, or it could have been because your parents made a bargain when you were just a baby. Regardless they are dead, and the Parade is over, and you are here…alone…and living with the outcome all the same.

“Well,” Hawks startles you out of your thoughts, clasping his hands together and smiling at you. The smiling is unsettling, not because you can see what look like small fangs, but because of the way he smiles. It’s too tight, forced to look perfect. “Despite what you’ve said my lady, you are to accompany His Highness to Court in just a few short days. So, the entire reason I am out here is to tell you this, and to let you know that starting tomorrow morning you will be having formal lessons with His Highness in the library. You are to be there promptly at ten my lady. His Highness is looking forward to it. And with that I bid you both good day.” He says swiftly, and just as quickly as he had come, Hawks is gone. Not actually walking away and back towards the manner, but by taking flight.

He spreads his wings and shoots off faster than your eyes can truly trace. His shadow and the grass disturbed from his feet the only things letting you know he was there, and quickly enough both of those things fade and cease to be. Turning to look at Alfie she seems just a frazzled as you, but also distressed. Probably from your earlier statement but you try not to pay it too much mind.

“My lady--”

“Let us go inside Alfie. I’m tired and it’s getting rather hot out here. I also don’t think I can take being in the garden much longer with all of these poisonous flowers. I am only human after all.” You say softly, patting her hand gently and giving her a smile before turning toward the archway to exit the garden.

“I don’t think he views you as just some thing my lady. His Highness was much different before you arrived…and not in a good way either. Since you’ve been here though he’s been…lighter? Not so agitated. I don’t think it’s some small coincidence. And I know for a fact that His Highness would not take you to Court unless he thought you worthy of it.” Alfie asserts and you stop for a moment pondering before turning to look at her.

“I’ve heard that the Northern Court is not a friendly place, would that be a correct assessment Alfie?” You questioned and she’s quick to nod her head. “If it were you Alfie, would you bring someone you care about there? If you were in His Highnesses position, would you want to bring your Consort there?”

You can tell that your question has done exactly what you’d aimed for it to do with the way she deflates. “No, my lady, I wouldn’t. The Northern Court is said to be a very dangerous place. It’s not the King and Queen that make it dangerous, but the Lords and Ladies of the court, and those their Majesties’ hold in favor. It would be especially dangerous for a human.”

“So, by that reasoning, do you still think that His Highness places much value on my life?”

The next morning you are rushing down the hallway to the library so as not to be late. You didn’t actually sleep in late, you’d just spent too much time fussing over how you looked…or maybe it was better said that Alfie spent too much time fussing over how you looked…not that you actually thought it would matter.

So here you were, rushing towards the library, checking the watch on your wrist so as not to be late and hoping that Hawks had played a trick on you when he delivered the piece of jewelry last night. After your discussion with him…and then Alfie after the fact, you’d retired to your room, to think things over and make a mental list of everything you had ever learned about the Northern Fae Court.

Alfie had been uncharacteristically down after you’d come back inside, although you weren’t entirely shocked by it. How could you be when you’d so totally doused her assertion that His Highness had deeper affections for you than was true. She had to have known that what she was thinking, and probably hoping for, were not the case simply because he was so easily willing to risk your life by taking you to Court with him. There could only be one reason he would do it outside of not actually caring what happened to you, but you found the notion that the King or Queen would request your presence there to be humorous.

So, after coming inside, and promptly dismissing Alfie for the evening, you sat down and started making a list of everything you knew about the dangerous place you were about to go.

The Northern Fae Court is of the Seelie Court and was not an ice a palace as you had once assumed when you’d first heard the name when you were little. The Northern Court was ruled by King Enji, a very large, burly man that was to be said the personification of fire. The element under his control and thus the reason why the Northern Court was not an ice palace, to put it simply. His Queen, although only in name, was Queen Rei. She was a natural Fae of the north and was the personification of ice. Despite being his Queen, she was only a figurehead and was only seen for major events, or so you’d been told by Andrea’s father who had many dealings with the Court and its King. Andrea’s father had said that although she was his Queen, King Enji had an entire harem of women, although not many of them lasted long from his understanding. All of them from different races, none of them human. It was said that he never laid with the human woman he picked when he became the Crown Prince and that she didn’t live very long while under his care. It was also said that much like his son, he created quite a stir when he rejected picking another.

Enji has at present, three named princes, and one princess. Dabi being the oldest and the current Crown Prince; Natsuo, the middle son and the one he tries to please the most; and Shoto, his youngest son and the one he dotes on the most as he has the ability to control both fire and ice. It has been hypnotized many times over that at some point, Shoto will actually been named crowned prince. Dabi, despite being the eldest of his three named sons, is the one he butts heads with the most. There are tales that, despite being several hundreds of years old, it took King Enji quite a while to bestow the title of Dabi as he did not see him as being fit to rule. There’s no note that you remember as to what changed his mind and you dare not ask.

There is also named princess Fuyumi. She is said to be the peacekeeper between the siblings and her father, being a favorite of his among all of his children. She is younger than Dabi, but older than both Natsuo and Shoto. You are unaware if she has any abilities, but you do know that her cooking is apparently revered in all of Fae.

Among the harem, you know that there is one Fae woman who has remained that longest. Her name is Nina, and she is a Blood Elf of the Unseelie Court. You’ve heard whispers of this woman. She is said to be the worm in the King’s ear and to have immense power and sway over him and the rest of the Court. The one thing you’ve heard amongst all of the whispers is how cruel she is…and how much she hates Dabi. She has long since been trying to conceive a child by the King and has yet to do as such. At one point, you’d heard that Dabi had openly mocked her for thinking she could usurp the throne from him and his siblings by bringing an offspring into their world. A half-breed of common, Unseelie blood would never hold a high position in Court, to think otherwise proved how ludicrous she was.

As such, you make a mental note to steer as clear of this woman as you possibly can. You don’t envision your life being a long one, but you’d like to keep it as long as possible.

Much of what the rest of what you know is trivial and will only be good information based on what you learn from Dabi. You stop in front of the door as you have that thought and hold off smacking yourself. His Highness, you chastise yourself. If you continue to use such a familiar tone and manner of speaking in your head when you think about him, you will slip up and do the same when you talk to him. Lightly tapping your forehead, you shake your head before taking a steading breath and placing your handle on the door before going in.

But you cannot seem to pull the door open. As much as you mentally tell yourself to do as such before you are well and truly late, your body will not respond. Instead, you remember the last time you were here, and the way you felt and all that had happened…much like a morose schoolgirl.

“Is there a problem with the door?” The words are whispered right into your ear, and you squeal, jumping and smacking your knee into the door, making you groan.

“Your Highness.” You try not to groan out as you turn around and go to curtsey for him. He stops you though, placing a hand on your elbow and looking at you with slight concern.

“I didn’t mean to startle you. I thought I had been very loud when walking over here.” You are struck by the way in which he talks to you in such a delicate manner. It’s at complete odds with the way he had spoken to you last that you are left befuddled and gazing at him dumbly.

You stutter as you answer him, shaking the stars that seem to have replaced your brain. “N-No, Your Highness, the fault is all mine. I was too absorbed in my own thoughts. I was careless. I should not have let my mind wander so far from my body.”

You are again startled when he suddenly lifts both hands and hold your head, turning it from side to side and leaning in close. “It doesn’t seem as though you’ve lost your head.” He jokes and you are truly beginning to worry that he is sick.

And your tongue, always working faster than your brain, relays that exact thought to him. “Are you unwell Your Highness?” You ask, reaching your own hand up to feel his forehead to make sure he has not been struck by a fever that’s leaving him delirious.

He chuckles, dropping one hand and using the other to remove yours from his face but not letting it go. “No, I assure you that I am most definitely in good health ____. Are you unwell? Should I be concerned of anything?” He asks and the mirth in his eyes and the tone of his voice reminds you of the day in the library prior to him chastising you and putting you promptly in your place.

As such, it acts like ice water dousing your head and you lower your gaze before shaking your head. “No, Your Highness. I am perfectly well. Thank you so much for asking.”

He hums, stepping around you to open the other door and pulling you into the library before dropping your hand and closing the door. You stand still, hesitant to be this space again and around him again. Despite how he’s acting, you keep your guard up and yourself on your toes, not allowing your mind to wander or your walls to lower. The last thing you need to do is end up irritating him further, especially before leaving for Court.

He walks past you and further into the room, headed towards the large desk and leaning against it, looking over the books and papers scattered about it.

“Do you plan to stand there the entire time we are together or are you going to take a seat?” He asks, looking over his shoulder at you and nodding his head to the seat directly near him.

Your eyes widen as you stumble out a “Of course not Your Highness” and quickly trot over to the empty seat. But today is clearly not going to be your day because just as you are reaching for the chair, your catch your foot on your dress and begin to fall. You think idly that he’ll let you, so as to amuse himself, but he doesn’t. His arm is lightning fast and before you can even brace your body for the impact of the fall, he’s pulling you into his chest, your back firming pressed to his front.

The heat radiating off of him is no different from the first time you felt it. It still has the combined effect of making a sweat break out on your skin and shiver spiral down your spine. He smells of burnt wood and smoke, but with hints of vanilla and tobacco mixed with his own natural scent. It’s a heady mixture that, prior to today you would’ve said you hated, but now clouds your mind and leaves you fighting desperately to not lose yourself in. You promised yourself that you would keep a clear head; that you would not make an ass of yourself like you had last time. That you would not allow yourself to be as loose lipped and blunt because you’d thought yourself to be something. You are nothing. You have no position or power. Losing your senses over something as trivial as this would do you no good, could provide you with nothing.

So, you let yourself luxuriate in it for a moment, in the warmth of him, in his strength and smell, before you settle yourself and begin to move out of his arms. “Forgive me Your Highness, I am not usually so clumsy.” You begin only to falter when he does not release you.

It’s only then do you feel the hot air on the back of your neck and the way he is drinking in your own smell. He keeps an iron vice grip on your waist, keeping you as close as possible and the heat radiating from him only seems to grow the longer you as pressed to him. Softly you hear a rumble, feel it more so than you hear it actually. One that had you not been paying attention, you would not have heard at all, nor probably felt.

But as quickly as it happens, it’s over and Dabi seems to come back to his sense because suddenly he’s pushing you away from him and you’re stumbling to catch yourself on the chair before you do truly eat shit.

There’s a nasty gleam in his eye when you turn around and the blood in your veins runs cold again. This situation reminds you eerily of the one you’d experienced earlier in here, so your lower your eyes and sit in the chair. You do not move, and you do not make a sound. Not as he stomps out, and only minutely when the door slams.

You sit for some time in the library wondering if he’s going to come back or not before Hawks walks in, a bemused expression on his face as he tells you that he will be handling going over everything you need to know. He explains the hierarchy of the Court and what is to be expected of you upon your arrival. He also tells you that you’ll be leaving the day after tomorrow and that you will likely be gone for at least a month. The trip will not take long as you will portal to the Northern Court. However, given the…current state of things, you will be travel to a portal that is a little ways away from Azul Palace so it will take half a day to get there. However, the portal will put you right outside of the Northern Court meaning you will be there withing a day.

He seems to take great joy in telling you that you will be staying in the crown prince’s personal chambers, although that is putting it mildly you believe. His chambers alone were that of the same size of your old home. While you may be stay in his chambers, there are several rooms within it, so you highly doubt you will actually be sleeping and bathing in the same area as him.

What does strike you as peculiar though is how serious Hawks gets when he tells you about what will happen upon your return.

“When you arrive back, His Highness will be in seclusion for at least a week upon the third or fourth day of your return. This is very important for you to remember ____. You must not come anywhere near His Highness’s side of the Palace. Do you understand? It is highly imperative that you remember this. I will instruct Alfie on the specific day in which the ban begins but you must remember that as soon as she tells you.” He looks you directly in the eyes as he says it, never once breaking eye contact and you can only nod dumbly. “Tell me you understand.”

“Y-yes I understand Keigo. I won’t go near His Highness’s side of the Palace. I don’t usually.” You stumble out, mentally smacking yourself for stuttering like an idiot once again.

“You’ve wandered near it before. Even that is too close. Use the library as a boundary. You can not go anywhere passed the line the hinge the first door makes that is closest to your room, is that understood?” You nod, wanting to protest that it’s absurd. The library is a fair distance away from His Highness’s Palace and an even further distance away from his personal room.

You don’t, however. Instead, you nod and listen as Hawks continues to teach you about the ins and outs of the Court and its high-ranking members. You learn that Dabi has some friends that will be there upon your presentation to the King and Queen, and that after the first evening of events—which will, shockingly, not happen on the night you arrive but the second—you will be unlikely to see much of His Highness during the duration of your stay. This further solidifies the notion you have that his truly does not care whether you lie or die during this trip to Court. If he cared, even just a little, he’d make sure that you were under watch at all times. And given what you had learned about him and his personality, you believe his precautionary nature when it comes to Court would have made it nearly impossible to let you out of eyesight.

Regardless, Hawks’ words hold truth even before you head to Court. You see little to none of His Highness before you even depart. Finding that all of your lessons end up being taught by Hawks, much to his clear displeasure. Although, you don’t think it’s displeasure from having to be around you as it is from not whatever amusement he seems to gain from you and Dabi being together.

It's as you’re stepping into the coach that you see the prince again. He’s dressed impeccably, wearing what you can only assume is his royal formal attire. His uniform is black, with flecks of purple and green found whenever he catches the light, the silver accents playing to it all very well. The tassels that cross his body are a mixture of purples and blues, and there’s an emblem on his breast that you can vaguely tell from this distance. It looks to be like a blue flame but you’re not entirely certain. His hair normally tousled hair is styled to perfection and his horns look at though they’ve been polished. He also appears to have placed some makeup on his face, with black coal and purple dusted around his eyes.

He is, and always had been, a stunning site to see. But now, you have to look away least you make a fool of yourself, and he catches you staring. You are shocked when he comes to the door, expecting him to ride on horseback, but your first thought is proven clear when he does not open the door, but merely comes to greet you and give you instructions.

“It’ll take us a few hours to get to the portal but once we arrive we will be at Court. Once we are there you are to do exactly as I say. I’m sure Hawks has gone through everything with your thoroughly, but I just want to make a few things clear before we leave. You are a human among Fae. Although I know you are well aware of this, I cannot make this point any clearer. You do not speak unless spoken to and unless I have given permission. Do not eat what I do not give you when we are out of my chambers. When you are inside of them, only eat what Alfie or Hawks or one of my staff provides, nothing else. We are not going to someplace safe.” He says and though you mentally scream at yourself to bite your tongue, your lack of filter gets the better of you as blurt out.

“Then why are you taking me with you? It seems as if this entire thing is incredibly tedious for you, so why subject yourself to such hardships Your Highness?”

The entire party around you seems to freeze as you ask this question and even Dabi seems to pause for a moment at the sheer audacity you have to even ask. But ask you did and in front of everyone no less, so answer he must. The sneer and cold glare he settles you with has you wanting to shrink into your own bones.

“That is exactly the behavior I am talking about.” He seethed and you can tell it is taking everything in his being to not ripe into you. “You would be wise in remembering your place human. Were it my call I would not be bringing you. Alas, it is not, and you have been summoned by the King and Queen themselves. However, do not be mistaken in thinking that I care about what happens to you while we are there, aside from the headache you perishing would give me, I could not care one way or the other. I will only say this one more time human, behave.” And with that, he walks away and mounts his horse, screaming in the native tongue for everyone to prepare to leave.

The moment he begins the presession towards the portal, when the only eyes on you in the carriage is Alfie, do you allow yourself to slump into your seat and a few tears trickle down your face. She reaches out to console you but you stop her, allowing yourself to feel this pain and remember it. The Fae are a fickle race to begin with. They speak in half-truths and riddles and enjoy watching humans confuse their words and the meaning behind them. They are also a cold, heartless group of beings who find amusement in the torture and pain of those they deem beneath that. Dabi had already told you once that you were a lower being than him, so why did you continue to allow yourself to believe you meant something to him?

Your life meant very little; you knew that. Yet, you acted as if you were something more. Despite your best efforts, it seems, to not allow what Alfie and Hawks had said influence you, it had. That nonsense needed to end now, before it actually got you killed. You were a human in Fae. An interloper here by the grace of the royal family for the pleasure of the crown prince. Nothing more, nothing less. Your life rested solely and squarely in his hands, and should he choose to end it, that was his purgative entirely.

So, you wiped your tears yourself and gave Alfie the best smile you could and told her you were alright, that you’d been foolish to speak so bluntly to the prince and in front of so many people. Of course he would put you in your place, you keep seemingly forgetting exactly where it is on the hierarchy you belong.

Alfie didn’t exactly look satisfied with you answer but let it be all the same. You had a sneaking suspicion that she realized it wouldn’t do any good to voice her opinions otherwise, so she didn’t. And as such, you both settled into the journey that would take you to the portal and then to the Northern Fae Court.

You were startled awake when the carriage came to an abrupt stop and the door was opened. Blinking slowly, you turned your head only to be greeted by Dabi. Clearly your throat you dropped your head down and greeted him.

“From here on out you will ride with me and the rest of our party, minus Hawks and Toga will meet us later in my chambers.” He said gruffly and you nodded turning to hand Alfie anything you did not need nor thought proper to bring with you on the ride in.

Dabi escorted you properly, clearly play a part by continuing to hold your hand even after he’d help your down from the coach and over towards his horse. His horse was a large beast if you ever did see one, he black as night and seemed to be just as fierce. His mane, which you knew to be long and flowing, was tied back and adorned with thorns and flowers, some of which you knew to be poisonous to humans. But you made no comment about it, just mentally telling yourself to stay clear of them if possible.

Dabi lifts you up onto the horse’s back before mounting himself and turning to move the horse forward, giving another order in fae that you’re not familiar with before turning to look at Hawks and Toga. You’ve seen the woman a handful of times and each one was more displeasing than the first. It is clear that she does not approve of her master’s choice in you and if she could, would probably cut you down without a second though. That however, if only at present, is impossible and as such, she is clear in making her opinion known. Currently, she’s looking at you as though she would like nothing more than to pull you down from the horse and watch you be trampled by the rest of the party. Thankfully she does not get her way and Dabi makes some comment in fae that has her cheeks flushing and her looking forward…all the while Hawks looks on amused as ever, especially with the reprimand for her comrade, who you’ve come to realize he dislikes just as much as you.

“Hold steady and do not look away after we enter the Northern Court regardless of what you see and hear. Show no fear if possible, do you understand me?” Dabi whispers softly in your ear and the tenderness is such a stark difference from his behavior only moments ago that you get whiplash from it. You nod your head nonetheless but keep yourself quiet. Afraid you might stutter again.

Dabi kicks his stallion into gear and the horse takes off like a shot, breaking off into a fast canter almost immediately. You knew the horses here had to be somewhat different from those in the human realm, but you didn’t realize they were different to such a degree. Going through portal is an odd experience, one you doubt you will grow accustomed to with time. It feels like electricity is crawling up and down your arms, while making you feel warm and cold at the same time. Briefly you have to wonder if you’re going to pass out from the bizarre sensations running through you and Dabi seems to have to the same question himself and his arms seem to cage you in more firmly. But just as quickly as you entered it, you are coming out the other side, and the view is entirely unexpected.

The moment you step into the Northern Fae Court you know exactly why Dabi made the comment that he did before you had left. The sprawling city before you is like a mixture of your wildest fantasy and most horrific nightmare. There are being around you that make your skin crawl and your heart race…purely out of fear. On the contrary, there are also some of the most dazzling and beautiful things you have seen as well. Dabi had told you to not show fear, he said nothing as to whether you could show wonder or not, so you allow yourself the small margin to look and be awed by the beautiful people, creatures, flowers, buildings, and other things as you quickly pass through.

The moment the people seem to realize who has passed through the portal, especially given the sudden appearance of the royal guard, they begin to line the road from the portal towards the Crimson Palace. No doubt, they’ve come to see not only the crown prince, but the human he’s got placed in his lap as he gallops by with his right-hand man and most trusted guard member.

Most of the people become blurs are Dabi picks up the pace but as you draw closer to the gates of the Palace and Court, you can make out more and more face. Some look intrigued, others look surprised, but none of them, as far as you can tell, look disgusted or displeased like you thought they might. As your pace slows even more, you spot a group of children and pass them a smile. That seems to encourage the crowd even more and appease them as they cheer as you make your way through the gates. You are slightly elated by this because it has clearly caused Toga even more displeasure than before.

“I never knew you could be so petty my dear.” Dabi whispers in your ear. You can feel his smirk on the side of your face, and it sparks one last bit of bad behavior in you before you must tamper down on your unruly tongue.

“There’s a lot of things you don’t know about me Your Highness.” You say coyly, looking of your shoulder towards him minutely. Your statement isn’t a lie, but you know calling him out like this is a two-edged sword.

It’s clear the effect your masquerading has on the surrounding crowd and the guards that stand watch, along with your own party. Cheers and boisterous whooping can be heard, and you can see the guards looking at each other, some even going so far as to whisper to themselves. You do not need to look at Toga to know she is pissed, given you can feel her murderous eyes on the side of your face as you close in and the main gates to the inner Palace. While you may not have Dabi’s direct protection, you will make sure that people are of the assumption that you matter more than you do. It may be the only thing that spares your life.

You feel more than you hear Dabi chuckle, his arm tightening around your waist as he kicks his stead forward, he mutters something softly in a language your ears do not know but you pay it little attention. It’s not as if it will do you well in the long run.

Trotting into the gated courtyard of the inner section of the Palace is both daunting and splendid in the fact that the lush grasses and hedges, the stone sculptures and the architecture are like nothing you’ve ever seen before. It is daunting, however, because, before you even dismount, several guards are making their way towards your little group and saluting Dabi.

“Hail to Crown Prince Touya, first of the line and first wielder of Ashen Fire.” The commanding officer shouts, stamping the end of his spear on the ground before dropping to one knee.

“Hail to Prince Touya.” The other guards follow suit as Dabi drops off of the horse’s back, pulling you down with him and into his arms.

“I thought I fucking told you all not to call me that.” He barks and the guards all seem to tense.

Dabi sighs and makes a motion with his hand, how they see it though it beyond you as it’s still holding onto your figure that rests in his arms. The guards rise and seem to all do a double take at the sight before them. Before bowing their heads again and giving you a salute as well.

“Hail to Consort ___. May your favor look upon us.” The commanding officer shouts again and you do a slow blink as the rest of the guards follow suit in the same fashion.

You look to Dabi before pointing a finger of yourself and he smirks, looking at you before placing your feet down onto the ground. “Who else would they be talking about princess?”

“But I-I’m just…” You gesticulate at yourself and that seems to prompt even more of a smirk from him, pulling you in close and kissing your temple.

From your vantage point you can see Toga seething, Hawks grinning a Cheshire grin from ear to ear, and another figure who you have absolutely who it belongs to look at though their entire world has been turned upside down. The unknown woman catches your eye before quickly turning around and hurrying away from her hiding spot. You wonder if you almost imagined her when you feel Dabi pull you in slightly closer to his side. Looking up, you see his own eyes have traveled to the place where the woman was, and you wonder solemnly if his show of affection had been for her sake more than being actually genuine.

You’re trying to tell yourself to hyperventilate as you and Dabi begin your walk towards the throne room but it’s a failing mission. You want desperately to grab onto the hand of the man standing next to you…or even Hawks’ hand but you know that’ll look bad considering all of the guards surrounding you and lining the hallway leading into the room. You can hear voices from here and you can faintly make out the lower ranked nobles who stand closer to the doors.

You’re grateful for the fact that you’d had a couple of dresses made prior to leaving, and this one in particular. The black of it complements Dabi’s royal uniform perfectly, although you hadn’t known that when you’d designed it with the dressmaker. You’d seen the fabric, glimmering in light and instantly be caught by how it looked like a black opal…and Dabi’s horn in a way. It was light and breathable, but formal enough that you didn’t feel as if you were about to make a fool of yourself and Dabi.

That was the last thing you wanted. You’d be meticulous in your designs of clothes, carefully picking Hawks brain about what the ladies of the upper court and what the noble women considered in fashion. You could tell that Keigo had been a little shocked for you to be questioning him, but in truth…you’d heard he was a bit of a rake. So, who better to tell you what the women wore than a man who frequently took those dresses off?

If he knew the reason behind your question he didn’t say as such. Despite his initial shock, you hadn’t missed the way the feather on his wings had ruffled in pride. Clearly, that should’ve indicated to you he had absolutely no idea why you were asking him. That was fine by you though. Better he does not know.

As your thoughts trailed off, you didn’t seem to realize just how close you were to stepping in until Dabi began to slow his pace and you kept yours. He grabbed your hand, pulling you back and your brain kicked back into reality, letting you realize how impending your presentation before the High Court was…and the anxiety panicked breathing kicked right in.

Dabi gave your hand a gentle scream, before nodding towards the page, who bowed to both of you and Hawks, before making his declaration.

“Presenting His Highness Crowned Prince Touya Todoroki, first of his name and first of the line, accompanied by Lady ____, Consort to his Royal Highness, and the Great Sir Hawks, Platinum Knight, first of his name and his line, slayer of Glarius,, protector of all of Fae.” As the page finished, he stomped his baton on the ground three times consecutively.

You couldn’t help looking over your shoulder and raising an eyebrow at Hawks, who smirked and shrugged his shoulder.

“I want to know how that bastard gets announced by his nickname and yet I can’t seem to get the same treatment as the damn crown prince.” Dabi grumbled under his breath as the three of you began walking through the crowd.

You couldn’t help but chuckle as you looked at him through the corner of your eyes. “Of course not, who would dare call the crown prince by his nickname. I can’t believe you even have to ask.”

You forget yourself for a moment as you tease him and it’s clear that Dabi is slightly taken aback by your jest…but is also thoroughly amused by your smart mouth. He smirks before giving your hand and squeeze and pulling your further into his side. When you look forward again, you become acutely aware of the eyes on you. How foreign they are. You knew that the majority of those at Dabi’s palace would not be the norm. While there were several of them that look very peculiar in comparison to the average human, you also understood they were plain in comparison to the Fae of the Upper Court. Especially when taking into account that the Court was made up of so many different kinds of Fae.

Still, you didn’t think it would be this drastic.

Before you could give it much more thought though, you found yourselves in front of the raise platform. There were three tiers to it. The first held who you figured were those of the most noble of families. There were two sets of couples on either side. One of them, you realized quickly, housed the woman you’d seen earlier. She was standing with whom you assumed to be her mother and father. Compared to them, she looked more human than Fae and you wondered idly if she was a changeling child, those stolen from their cribs at night and replaced with the sickly fae children. It wasn’t nearly as common as it had once been, but you knew it still happened more frequently than most would like to admit. Aside from her, her mother and father were quite the pair, with her mother having dark green hair with light green skin. Her father was statuesque, standing at least 7 feet tall, and had hair the color of sunshine. His eyes were voids with pinpoint blue irises that seemed to stare through you completely. Next to her stood, you assumed, her brother. He was nearly as tall as his father, with hair similar to his mother but skin much more human like. Although, the green pulsing veins let you know quickly that the man was nothing of the sort.

On the other side stood a man with his two sons. The one son was either sickly or it was just another case of “things you didn’t understand in Fae today.” His face looked as though it was both aging and extremely dry at the same time. But you could tell just by looking at the rest of his body that he wasn’t old, maybe not much older than Dabi. His brother, on the other hand, was every degree of what the fuck you could muster. You’d heard of certain Fae before, who were as far from human looking as possible…and this man was certainly one of them. You couldn’t even pinpoint a face. It was like his face was made of gas or flame and constantly moving. You tried not to stare to long and be rude.

On the next level was Dabi’s siblings. His brother congregated on one side and his sister on the other. Fuyumi was as beautiful as you’d heard her to be. Her horns matched her hair, white with red streaks running through them randomly. She seemed incredibly happy to see you. Smiling as soon as you both made eye contact and you made a small move with your head to acknowledge her.

And finally, upon the top tier sat the Kind and Queen, Enji and Rei. The queen looked sickly and tired, but the smile that graced her features as the three of you bowed/curtseyed and you made eye contact was dazzling. She looked elated to see you and Dabi.

King Enji on the other hand was a mountain of a man and looked as though he would never die. The horns on his head were the least shocking thing about him. What shocked you the most was the constant rolling flame that circled around them and down his chin like a beard. The head of his head was as red as the flame that say upon it, while his horns glowed like magma. The iron that rest of his head, though, never glowed as if it was being heated and you were both confused and amazed. As traditional of the royal family, thorns also crisscrossed over his horns and down the side of his neck, racing under the collar of his suit. You could see them peeking out on his fingertips and figured they ran along the length of his body.

He looked at you mutely. There was no expression whatsoever on his face and you idly wondered if you’d done something to offend him. If being called consort had rendered him silent in fury. Although, you’d heard that the King was not known for his cool calm or silent rages. If anything, it was more likely he’d burn something to the ground in a state of wrath.

He stood up abruptly, causing you to flinch slightly due to the just how quickly he moved and made his way down the platform. In the span of a blink he went from being seated to being right in front of you. Not you and Dabi, squarely in front of you.

You went to drop down into a curtsey again only for him to place his fingers under your chin and raise your face to look at him, you tried not to meet his eyes and be rude, but he tapped his finger on your chin, indicating that was not wanted. His eyes were the exact same shade of cerulean as Dabi’s and that calmed you a little. He looked you over thoroughly before smiling and cupping you cheek.

“You look just like your mother.” He said softly and you blinked, before letting your tongue getting the better of you and throwing Dabi’s ‘don’t speak recklessly’ swiftly out the window.

“You knew my mother?” You questioned, eyes wide and full of wonder.

The behemoth of a man laughed heartily. “And the quick tongue of your father I see.”

“F-Forgive me Your Majesty. I spoke without provocation.” You stuttered out, dropped your eyes, seeing as you could not drop your head the way you wanted with his firm grip on your chin.

“Nonsense. You are a guest of my Court. And the daughter of dear friends. I look forward to being able to talk to you about them. Tell me, how are they?” He asked and you heart dropped to your feet again. “I wondered how long it would take your father to cave and see the way of things.” He continued to muse as you looked him and piece together your words.

Clearing your throat, you held back your tears as you thought about your parents. You tried to not think of them often, as it brought about a pain in your heart that you sometimes could not control. A pain that was so potent that it left you wailing. Wailing in grief, wailing in anger, wailing in despair. You’d lost them far too early and far too gruesomely.

“I’m sorry to inform you your majesty but...” You paused, clearing your throat, and choking back the tears. “I’m sorry to tell you that they died some time ago. It was not my father who conceded both had but the village people thinking I would be a scapegoat for another daughter.” You said somberly and suddenly felt the uptick of heat from his hand.

You bit back a whimper as the heat increased, withstanding it for the time being. You figured that you would not burn you. You hoped he would not burn you. But that didn’t seem to be happening as the heat in his palm continued till it was becoming unbearable and you knew he’d burn you soon if you didn’t not say something.

Dabi came to your rescue though. Placing a hand on his father’s arm and pushing it away as you tried to quite your whimper. “You’re hurting her.” He said monotonously and King Enji blinked before seeing you standing before him, a red mark in the shape of his fingers on your chin and tears welling in your eyes, tears you were desperately fighting off.

He seemed genuinely dismayed by what he had done, calling Prince Shoto down, who instantly put his hand in the same place his father had and coolness granting you sweet relief quickly. There was no apology though, not that you expect one in front of such a large group of people.

Speaking of the people around you, they looked on curiously. You could feel the eyes of those around you watching carefully. You weren’t entirely certain of it, but if you had to guess, this wasn’t the usual way in which the King met guest…even the most esteemed. Your eyes flicked to Dabi’s as best as you could without moving your head too much from the hold Prince Shoto’s hold on your chin.

He looked irritated. His eyes locked on where his younger brother’s hand was placed on your chin. You watched him carefully, trying to decipher whether he was irritated with you for having caused such a commotion within such a short period of time upon arriving at Court, whether he was irritated about the fact that you’d managed to get yourself hurt…or…and you placed little to no hope on this…whether he was irritated that you’d been hurt by his father and therefore suffered so quickly upon arriving.

You didn’t think he cared much for your well-being, despite the way he’d been acting thus far, because it was just that, an act. He was putting on a show to either hurt the young woman standing on the podium or someone else, or he was simply putting on airs. Especially given that you now knew your parents/father had been friendly with the King. You weren’t entirely sure you’d go so far as to say friends with him. Was it possible for the Fae King to actually have friendships with those of humankind? You thought not but the way in which he reacted to the news of your parents made you question that notion a little.

“I think that’s enough Shoto. Why don’t we send the physician to look at ____ after Dabi and her have settled into their chamber, no?” Queen Rei said softly, coming down the steps and in front of you, placing a hand on her son’s arm. “We wouldn’t want to give her frostbite.”

At that Shoto retched his arm back, giving you a sheepish look. You curtseyed and dropped your head. “Thank you so much Prince Shoto for using your gift on me. I’m truly honored.”

The young lad went to open his mouth before King Enji cut him off, waving his hand and making his way back up to his seat, Queen Rei in hand. “Of course he should tend to your wound if he can. You are my guest.” He said, although the last statement seemed to be directed at the crowd rather than you, as if expressing a warning to those in your presence. “As my guest and the consort to the future King, you will be treated as royalty as is your station.”

You caught yourself at the last moment before your eyes bugged out of your head. Treated as royalty? As per your station? What in heaven’s name was going on here? You curtseyed again and thanked the King, not entirely sure what else you could do or say without making an ass out of yourself, potentially offending the king, and definitely pissing Dabi off more than he already was.

“Go get settled. I’ll see to it that Marcarius sees to her shortly and then I will see you in the morning Touya. We have much to discuss before the afternoon festivities.” King Enji said and with that, the page was stomping his baton again and the three of you were making your way out of the throne room…well…almost all three of you. “Not you Keigo. I need to have a word with you.”

You hadn’t been in the room two seconds before Dabi was telling everyone to leave. Slamming the door shut, you held your breath, waiting for him to yell at you or slap you. Although he’d never been violent before, you’d never caused such a commotion before either. It would certainly be befitting of the transgression.

So, you closed your eyes and braced as he stalked towards you, only to gasp when he yanked you forward and cupped your cheek. You blinked your eyes open, looking to his to find them trained on your chin and a concerned look marring his brow. They were deeply furrowed you worried that craters were form in their stead once he relaxed again.

“He’s a brute. He always has been, and I think he always will be. But I honestly didn’t think he’d been so carless with you when he knows how fragile you are.” He spoke softly, thumb gingerly tracing over where the skin was reddened. It was not welted and truthfully it did not actually hurt much. It felt more like a mild sunburn if anything.

“I am not so fragile that you must worry lines into your brow your highness. I may be human, but we are hardier than I think most give us credit for.” You smiled, trying to placate him as best you could.

His eyes flicked up to yours as you drew your fingers up, rubbing out the furrow between his brows, and chuckled softly. There was a look in his eyes that left you feeling as if you were on uneven ground and sent your heart racing. You tried to will yourself to not think too much about it, lest it become like the other moments you allowed yourself to hope. Hope was a dangerous thing you’d come to realize. It could be a beautiful thing in truth, but it could also be the small enough spark to burn down a building…or your soul.

As the eye contact continued, you realized belatedly how close Dabi’s face was drawing to yours. It wasn’t till you felt the ghost of his lips on yours that you came back to the present, away from your hallowing of failed past endeavors. You allowed your eyes to flutter closed and leaned into him more. Trying to convey that if he wanted this you were willing, but you most certainly would not be the one making the first move.

Not after everything that had transpired thus far.

Not after the numerous times he’d gone from hot to cold quicker than you could think.

That didn’t seem to be the case now though because with the inch you gave, he took a mile. Pulling you in as tight to his chest as he could, he wove his fingers through your hair and tilted your head back, slotting his lips onto yours and devouring you in a way you weren’t wholly unprepared for. With one, two, and three, shifts of his lips you were completely boneless in his arms, clinging to him in a way you never thought you would, nor be permitted to do. His tongue licked into your mouth quickly as he back you against the nearest wall, pining you to it with his hips and chest. The hand in your hair remaining anchored, while the other corralled your hands and pinned them above your head.

He tasted like summer berries and the bonfires you remember from your childhood. And the scent of him, that had your thought clouding and you veins thumping seems to grow tenfold. It swirls around you even more now, making your brain foggy and you feel even more boneless than you already did. And the heat that radiates off of him. It has you wanting to claw your dress off and forego all forms of propriety.

But you don’t. Instead, you whimper and try to move closer to him. Try to keep yourself from rutting your hips against the leg he’s placed between your legs and firmly against your crotch. You can feel him smirk, as he detaches his mouth from yours and moves his lips to your neck. You suck in harsh breaths, not realizing sooner how badly your lungs were screaming for air. Your brain far too gone to connect the dots. You’ve gone hazy and from so little. You’d be embarrassed by your wanton behavior were you actually able to form a coherent thought.

He sucks and nibbles on your neck, marking it you are sure, leaving a stake of claim in his wake. Not there was any question of the sort. He nips particularly hard at one spot and it has you yelping and dizzying all the same. Something about this particular spot tickles something in the depth of your mind and your soul. You feel yourself craning your neck, presenting more, wanting more. And an undeniable heat and wetness growing between your legs.

As you shift, you think the smell of you must travel up to Dabi’s nose because he goes from pressing into you like he’s trying to mold you into one being to being on the other side of the room. Eyes wide, pupils dilated, chest heaving, and horns…. glowing? As he opens his mouth more to wipe his teeth, it faintly looks as though his canines have extended but you brush that off as being absurd. He’s a member of the Fae, not a were-being.

The more you both seem to stand there, the more cross he seems to become. Becoming more and more agitated as the heat between you cools drastically. He stands abruptly, pulling his jacket straight and looking at you with a wild look in his eyes. It makes you want to shrivel up in your place. The place where you’re still panting and all too aware of the heat thrumming between your legs. The place where you both once were, but now starkly stand alone.

“This should not have happened. And it won’t happen again. Do you understand me?” He asks, a degree of hoarseness to his voice that he clearly can’t mask despite his best efforts.

“Yes your highness, I understand. My apologies for behaving so unbecoming.” You want to cry as the words come out of your mouth. “It won’t happen again. I promise.” There’s a pain in your neck as you say those words, like some part of you is fighting it.

All Dabi does is nod his head, before standing up straight and making his way towards the door. He casts one look over his shoulder at you before pulling the door open and summoning Alfie in. He paused again for another moment, as if he was fighting within himself about something.

“I will summon the physician to see to the burn on your chin. Do not leave my chambers unless you are told as to otherwise. We don’t need another episode like before.” He said sternly before walking out and slamming the door behind Alfie.

She looked at you questioningly. Eying where you still stood, pressed against the wall and flushed. “My lady?”

All you could do was raise your hand and shake your head, making your way towards what you thought was where you would be resting your head.

And this is why you do not allow your hopes to grow, because if they did, the weight of them would crush you completely.

#Dabi Fic #Fae Dabi x Reader #Dabi x Reader Fic #touya todoroki #Of Blood and Thorns #fic rec

23 notes · View notes