#he is indeed not like the otters
Text
maybe, i'm afraid.
azul ashengrotto x (female) reader
cw: slight angst, nsfw, azul bottles his feelings and is insecure
note - happy birthday to my favorite tako in the whole world. <3 may you have wonderful days forever!! // loosely inspired by lovelytheband's "maybe, i'm afraid."
i. spring - dancing in your party dress, you were singing me some frank sinatra as you wept. pull me close enough. it seems like we lost touch, so hold me as the record skips.
“Can you believe we’re gonna be fourth years?!” Kalim exclaims with wide, sparkling eyes. They look like twin garnets set into his face—polished jewels having caught the aquatic illumination from Mostro Lounge’s aquarium. “Time really does fly, huh!”
“Feels like yesterday,” Ruggie agrees around a mouthful of food. His plate is stacked as high as it can possibly get, piled with contrasting flavors. “Pretty crazy to think we’re all gonna be heading off in different directions soon.”
Jade nods. “Our school lives are as fun as they are fleeting.”
An odd quiet falls over the three of them, which is soon broken when Floyd drapes himself over the booth. He leans down to swipe a sliver from Jade’s plate. “Whatcha talkin’ about?”
“Just reminiscing.”
“Ah. S’bout that time, ain’t it? Gettin’ sentimental in the spring.”
“Makes sense. The semester’s ending and people are starting up their internships or going home. Really makes you think…”
Ruggie gazes at the group huddled near the bar. Riddle, Jamil, and a half-awake Silver chat alongside you and Azul. You seem to be in the middle of a riveting story, for your arms gesticulate wildly. Azul looks on with what Ruggie thinks is the most mushy-gushy, ooey-gooey smile he’s ever seen.
“We’re gonna come back in the winter, aren’t we?” Kalim asks, tilting his head.
“Indeed. For the cultural festival.”
“Yeah, that’s right! It’ll be fun to see you guys after so much time apart. Oh, we should all keep in touch! That way it’ll feel like no time has passed at all.”
“Perhaps not for us.” Jade follows Ruggie’s line of sight, landing on one person in particular. “For others, the gap is cavernous.”
“What do you mean, Jade?”
Floyd catches on then. “S’not our fault he’s not sayin’ anything.”
Ruggie shrugs. “It doesn’t concern me.” He pops up from his spot in the booth, grinning. “It’s been great and all, but I’ve gotta get my fill. Wouldn’t be right for a guy to skimp out when it’s Azul hosting.”
Giggling, Floyd waves him off. “You do that, Sharksucker.”
Kalim turns to the twins, brows raised. “You’re talking about Azul?”
“He’s been swept up in Shrimpy ever since. It’s been—how long now?—about two years or something.”
“Oh.” Kalim blinks back at him, slow on the uptake. And then, seconds later, it hits him. “Ohhh! He likes (Name)!”
“There ya go.”
“I’m afraid he’s yet to confess,” Jade adds around a bite of cake. “You should see the plans he’s drafted. Dozens of them, in fact. Each one is… Oh, perhaps I’ve said too much already.”
“I don’t get it. If he likes (Name) so much, why wouldn’t he just confess? Why make plans?”
“Wow, Sea Otter, you don’t play when it comes to feelings, do ya?”
“If it was me, I’d want everyone to know how much I care about someone.” To demonstrate this point, he cups his hands around his mouth and shouts, “You’re the best, (Name)!”
You glance past a now wide-awake Silver at the twins and Kalim. Mirroring his actions, you reply in a giggly voice, “Thanks! You’re great, too, Kalim!”
Beaming, he says, “See? It’s not so difficult. If Azul needs any help, I’d be happy to—”
Floyd throws his head back and cackles like a madman. “Not so difficult for you!”
Jade masks his amusement behind a gloved fist. “My, my. I think I’ve just witnessed the very soul drain from Azul’s eyes. You have quite the talent, Kalim.”
Kalim doesn’t hear the underlying meaning or the backhanded barb in his statement. “He’s got time, doesn’t he?”
“That’s what he keeps saying. But deep down he knows.” Floyd watches Azul hurry to recover his composure before anyone can notice. “He’s leaving for his internship after school’s over and then graduation’s next spring. He’s running out of time.”
“Does (Name) like him? Maybe she’ll confess before he does!”
“That’s just it. He doesn’t know what Shrimpy feels for him. Been driving himself crazy all school year tryin’ to figure that one out.”
“I suspect he’s grown excessively cautious as a result of his fear of rejection,” Jade explains, dragging his fork through the buttercream smeared on his plate.
“But if he confesses now and she doesn’t feel the same, he’ll have all summer to recover.” Kalim turns his stare on you next. “(Name)’s always been nice. I’m sure she wouldn’t shatter his heart.”
“When you’re Azul, even the tiniest push is enough.”
“Really? But he’s always so strong!”
Jade hums. “Three hearts are quite the boon-burden.”
“Only makes lovin’ someone that much worse. Cuz then you’re lovin’ ’em three times as much.”
“Isn’t that good? I think it’s sweet Azul cares about (Name) so much.”
“Sweet…” Jade shares a look with Floyd. Something unspoken passes between them. “Yes, I suppose that’s one way to put it.”
“Azul thinks it’s a pain in the ass. Throws him off his course and he loooves bein’ on his course.”
Kalim stares a moment longer. “Maybe he needs a push in the right direction.”
“Liquid courage works wonders—”
“—or gives way to woe.”
“Nothing like that.” He doesn’t elaborate further, instead getting up and padding over to the bar with a cheerful bounce in his steps. “Hey, everyone, let’s take a picture!”
Riddle welcomes him with a warm smile. “Ah, hello there, Kalim.”
“You seem to be enjoying yourself,” Jamil comments, arms folding across his chest. Which, arguably, is worse because it can only spell trouble should Kalim find himself inspired.
“Way ahead of you!” You hold your Ghost Camera up, turning the lens on Kalim. Lighting up like the very sun in the sky, he poses just as you snap a photo. It takes a few moments for it to develop, but once it does you hand it over to him for his perusal. “Looking good as always.”
“Aww, thanks! Okay, your turn next! Let’s get a big group photo and then individual photos.” With the camera now in his possession, Kalim’s free to fidget with it as he pleases. “Ooh, this is neat!”
“Careful with that!” Jamil bounds forward just in case. “The Headmage gave that to (Name). Don’t break it.”
“I won’t,” Kalim promises, holding it up to capture you and Jamil in its sight. “I think I’ve got it! Everyone, group up! Picture time!”
There’s lots of fumbling. An argument about height breaks out. Floyd pokes fun at Riddle for having to stand in front to account for his height. Riddle fumes, red with anger, and stomps his foot indignantly—all while insisting he’s still growing. You offer to stand beside him, but he hisses at you like a cat: “Don’t patronize me! I’m of perfect, healthy stature for someone my age!”
Kalim looks on from behind the camera. “Actually, can we get (Name) and Azul together first?”
Azul, who had been in the process of adding to the joke with a comment of his own, hesitates. He peers at Kalim, his walls rising. “Me?”
“Yeah! Only fair to put you front and center. You’re the host, after all!”
“Ah, right. Of course. But then—”
“Why me?” you ask, confused. “If anything, I should stay out of the picture. I’m not a third year like the rest of you.”
Kalim gasps, scandalized. “We can’t do that! It doesn’t matter what year you are. You’re still our friend, and parties are for everyone to enjoy.”
“Doesn’t that throw off the original plan?” Ruggie wonders, munching on a frosted donut.
“Kalim, we need to account for height. Riddle can’t stand in the back.” Jamil glances apologetically at Riddle. “That’s just the reality of it.”
Riddle huffs, refusing to dignify that with a response.
“I’ll stand in the front,” Silver offers.
“What? No, that’s not the issue here, Silver.”
“It’s not? I thought we were picking who stands beside (Name).”
“Ooh, I wanna stand with Shrimpy!” Floyd wraps his arms around you from behind, resting his chin on your head. “C’mon, Sea Otter, take our pic!”
Jamil sighs. “All of you…”
“Shall we take individual photos with (Name) first?” Jade suggests, smiling placidly at Kalim.
This time the message is received loud and clear. “Oh, great idea, Jade! Azul and (Name), could you stand next to each other?”
The group disperses to allow you and Azul to do just that. Rigidly, Azul steps closer. He keeps a healthy distance between your bodies, one Jade picks up on right away.
“Please smile and pretend like you love each other,” he instructs, to which Azul flusters.
“W-What? Jade, that’s—”
“C’mere, Ashengrotto! I don’t bite!”
With a joyous laugh, you wrap your arm around Azul’s waist and drag him in close. He stumbles, flushed in the face, just as the camera flashes. The corresponding photo slides out next, blank for a while. Eventually, the image begins to show up with striking clarity.
“How’s it look? Great, right?” As soon as it happened, it’s gone—your warmth. The comfort of being held. Azul almost pursues you when you release him from your grasp and move towards Kalim to inspect the photo. Thankfully, he catches himself. “Hey, this is nice! Good job.”
You and Kalim share a high-five.
“Me next, Sea Otter!” Floyd crowds in, baring his pointed teeth in an unruly grin.
With everyone’s attention on you, Kalim, and the camera, Azul’s left to stand behind in silence. Anticipating the rainless deluge, Jade lingers within earshot.
“I know,” he mutters in a brittle tone. “Don’t say a word.”
“Not a peep. Although if I may share just a tiny tidbit… Kalim offered some very helpful advice. You may want to hear it.”
Azul stares at him, stunned. “You told Kalim?”
“Not directly, no. It was implied.” Jade averts his mismatched eyes on purpose. “More or less.”
“I should’ve made you and Floyd sign NDAs…”
“Is it really so sensitive?”
“Yes! Yes, of course it is!” Azul deflates with a sigh, looking on mournfully. You’re trying to snatch the camera from Floyd’s hands. He holds it up and out of reach, laughing raucously. “What did he say?”
“If you confess now, you’ll have the entire summer to mend your tattered heart.”
Azul barks out a short, hollow laugh. “In an ideal world, that’s easy.”
“You’re making it more difficult than it needs to be.” Jade issues an encouraging smile. “What’s the worst that can happen?”
“Are you seriously asking that?”
“It’s just something to consider.”
A minute ticks between them. Jade watches the scene alongside Azul, delighting in distant chaos.
“I’m afraid, Jade,” he admits quietly, the confession as soft and fragile as a single breath. “She’s everything and I’m…nothing.”
Jade frowns in disagreement.
“I’ve looked at it from every conceivable angle. There isn’t any calculated risk to be made—no potential profit or success to be had.”
“Are you certain?”
“Very.”
“Well, it doesn’t hurt to get it off your chest. We have a few weeks left before the break. If not your heart, perhaps you could establish a means to communicate?”
“I suppose it wouldn’t hurt… For the sake of networking—”
Jade chuckles. “Networking? Is that it?”
Azul scowls. “You’re awfully irritating tonight.”
“I’m not the one with his tentacles tied, hopelessly infatuated.”
“You—”
“(Name), there’s something Azul would like to tell you,” Jade announces, and you turn to look at him.
Azul thinks he should just go ahead and die right there. Is it possible to spontaneously combust if he thinks about it long enough? Is such a phenomenon magic? All he needs to do is visualize it and then the spark will catch and—
“Yeah? What’s up, Azul?”
Azul flounders, his concentration broken. Like he’s done so many times in the past, he plasters his trademark smirk-grin on and falls into the shoes of the sleazy conman. “If you ever find yourself in need of study materials even after I’ve graduated, do not hesitate to contact me and I—”
You laugh. “I think I’ll be good. Thanks, though.”
With withering confidence, he chuckles. “I could give you quite the deal. You’d be missing out…”
You roll your eyes, unconvinced.
Jade—annoying, asshole Jade—brushes past, smooth as sea glass. “I shall take my leave, but please continue your chat. I believe there’s a camera waiting to capture the memory of me.”
Now it’s just you and Azul. He clears his throat, suddenly awkward.
“(Name), I—”
“Azul—”
“Oh.” He stares at you, a smile twitching on his lips. “You first.”
“No, no, you spoke before me.”
“Ah. Well…”
If you confess now, you’ll have the entire summer to mend your tattered heart. As if a love that’s been flowering for two years could possibly be resolved within the span of a few months.
He tries again even though it’s not what he really wants to say. “I do hope you’ll have a pleasant summer.”
“You as well.” You nudge him. “Kick ass at your internship.”
“I intend to.” Right. Internship. Work. Business. He can hold a normal conversation if that’s the topic. “And you? Do you plan to stay here?”
“Yeah. Crowley’s letting Grim and me live on campus since we don’t have anywhere else to go. I’ll work part-time in Craneport. Summer is a great season for tourism, but I shouldn’t have to tell you that.”
Azul laughs. “If it’s a family, they may spend more on kid’s menus for the novelty of it all. Be sure to talk it up to truly sell it. All children deserve to know the magic of a seasonal menu, do they not? Food in fun shapes. Fairy tales and sparkles. All of that razzmatazz. It’s the experience they’re paying for, after all.”
“Is that advice free?”
“Is it?”
“Fine, fine.” You dig through your pocket and hand him the photo from earlier. “Your payment, good sir. A memento of me.”
Azul takes it from you, admires your effortlessly pretty smile, and then freezes. “Oh, I look positively dreadful!”
“Not at all. It adds character.”
“A horrid sort of character.”
You sidle up beside him, peering at the picture. “I like it. It’s a photo of an imperfect Azul.”
“What an ambiguous compliment.”
“I’m serious! It’s Azul when he’s not acting. I like imperfect Azul. He’s authentic. A real person.” You pat him on the shoulder. He stiffens, betraying his initial nonchalance. “Or maybe not. One day I’ll catch you off guard.”
“We’ll see.”
“One day…” Your attention is stolen when you catch sight of the group attempting to bunch together for a selfie. Offering Azul that same smile he’s admired ever since he saw it, you add, “Have a fun summer. Don’t be a stranger next year, okay?” And then you’re bounding across the lounge. “Wait for me! I want in, too!”
For the rest of the semester, Azul keeps the photo tucked away in his phone case.
I have time to mull over the pros and cons, he tells himself when he departs through the mirror, summer break at his fingertips.
ii. summer - maybe i’m just too good. maybe i’ll run away. maybe i’m over you. maybe i shouldn’t stay. maybe i just don’t care. maybe i talk too much.
It occurs to you, while sorting through the photos you’ve taken throughout this past school year, that there’s an absurd amount of Azul. Whether on his own or with others, he appears in more photos than anyone else. You wonder how that happened—how you managed to be there for so many of his moments, each one documented in photographic permanence.
Some of them are humorous. Azul looking unimpressed when you lifted your camera to capture him. Grim jumping into his arms to demand snacks. His glasses sitting crooked on his face. Some of them are endearing. Azul reading in a comfortable nook in the library. Azul smiling fondly at the lens during an alchemy lesson. Azul laughing after you cracked a joke during PE. Some of them are animated. Azul waving at you from across the courtyard. Azul rolling his eyes at a dull pun. Azul playfully blowing a kiss to the camera after you told him to do something memorable. Some are special. Azul in his birthday robes. Azul during that time Mostro Lounge became a butler café for one week. Azul on his last day of the semester, leveling the camera with a roguish smirk.
This one—the most recent and last photo taken of him—is especially important. It’s the conversation that prompted an unforgettable expression that fills you with butterflies whenever you recall it.
“I think you’ll miss me,” you told him, elbowing him for good measure.
“I think I will,” he replied, his lips curling.
Unequipped to deliver a witty retort, you could only gawk.
“Don’t tell me that’s all it takes to shock you into silence.” He chuckled, and there was that infamous smirk-grin—sitting so perfectly on his face, as if it was meant to be there for this very exchange. “You’re too easy, (Name). Where’s the challenge?”
Wordlessly, you raised your Ghost Camera and snapped his picture.
There are so many facets to his person that you’ve managed to catch on your camera—complex layers you wouldn’t have otherwise witnessed if you hadn’t spent so much time around him.
Now you realize why you have an abundance of Azul photos.
We sure hung out a lot this year, and every time I had my camera…
Is he your muse? Is he just naturally photogenic? He fits into plenty of backgrounds, but it’s never the scenery that fascinates and bewitches. It’s always his expression, his body language, his emotions. And the reason all of these photos are so important is because this is an Azul who is comfortable enough to show these sides to you. An Azul who wants you to document his best and his worst, his beautiful and his ugly, his silly and his serious.
Sitting at your desk, thumbing through stacks of photos, you know he’s more than a muse. As you watch Azul move in various pictures, you wonder what he’s doing. It’s only a month into summer, but everything feels so slow. Campus has cleared out, and with it the lounge has closed for the season. You’re certain he still has his ways of making profit and spreading word of its wonders. Azul isn’t foolish. He’s always working an angle. Endlessly clever and stubbornly ambitious.
Does he miss me, too? you think, running your finger over his smiling face. Or was that just something he said to get a reaction?
Just then, a gut-wrenching thought lodges itself deep: Are we even friends? What if he thinks I’m a nuisance? Maybe he’s just tolerating me and all this time I’ve been delusional.
You glimpse the photos again, watching Azul laugh soundlessly in an animated loop. What am I to you, Azul?
As if on cue, having sensed your sadness, arms wrap around you from behind. For a second you think it’s Grim, but then you see distinctly human hands clasping together. You whirl, startled out of your skin, to find Azul Ashengrotto standing there.
“Wha… What?”
He’s…here. Azul is standing in your bedroom.
You blink once and he remains. You blink twice and he’s still there, gazing down at you with soft, smiling features.
“Hello to you as well.”
“Hey…?” You pat his cheek and flinch away. “Oh, you’re real!”
“Of course I am! Why wouldn’t I be?” Chuckling, he withdraws and moves to stand at your deskside. “I’m wounded. To think you would forget me just like that. And I thought I was plenty memorable.” He blows you a mock kiss then, and that’s when it finally strikes you.
This isn’t your Azul. This is an Azul from your photos.
How is this even possible? you think, scrambling to find which picture—which memory—he’s from. In doing so, you remember a particularly unique fact about the Ghost Camera. It’s a magical device that allows a photographer to capture slivers of their subject’s soul, which gives way to a special sort of connection known as a soulbond. The deeper the bond, the more likely the person in the photographs is to take on animation and, in some cases, slip out of the image that contains them.
So this is Azul from the time at which he was last photographed, you determine, holding up pictures to match his corporeal likeness to that of the scenery. The Ghost Camera is so cool…
“I missed you, you know.”
“Did you now?” He leans in close, curious. “How much?”
You push him away with a weak scoff. This isn’t good for your heart. Any closer and you might say something you’ll come to regret.
“Not as much as you think.”
“Is that so?” His gaze pans over to the pile of photos on your desk. “And these photos are simply here for convenience?”
“D-Don’t worry about it! Summer project. You wouldn’t get it.”
He flashes his teeth at you in a bright, competitive grin. “Try me.”
“You’re so nosy. Don’t you get tired of prying?”
“Not in the slightest.” He leans against the desk, his arms folding casually over his chest. “That’s besides the point. You’re avoiding the subject at hand.”
You turn in your chair and open your mouth to reply—why are you so invested in this?—but a better idea crops up. Meeting his cerulean stare with fierce, fiery eyes, you challenge him: “If it matters so much to you, I could be convinced to share my plans for the small price of one kiss. A real kiss. Not that fake one from before.”
Azul blinks back at you, a smirk crawling onto his face. “Is that all you desire?”
“What do you mean by—”
Your question is cut off when another set of arms embraces you from behind. Warm, soft lips press against your cheek; his breath tickles your ear.
“Are two not better than one?”
With a yelp, you jerk back so fast that you almost fall out of your chair. Standing there, looking very proud of himself, is another Azul. But this one, unlike Dorm Azul, is dressed in his school uniform. A very helpful distinction.
“D-Don’t sneak up on me like that!”
It’s the only coherent sentence you can manage. Your mind is a panicked muddle: I can’t believe it. Two Azuls. Am I dreaming? This is definitely a dream, right? There’s no way he’d kiss me on the…
You slap your hand over your cheek, gasping. “Y-You kissed me?!”
“Is that not the price you wanted me to pay?” School Azul asks, one brow raised as if daring you to deny that fact.
Dorm Azul’s fingers curl under your chin, guiding your gaze towards him. “Unless you’d like to raise the price…”
You swallow thickly. This can’t be happening.
“Of course, in raising the price, it’s expected you raise the value of the information you’re willing to divulge,” School Azul adds with a chuckle. “Is that not fair?”
You shrink under both of their insistent stares. “W-Why do you even wanna know?”
“Why not? Any information is good information so long as it’s useful.”
You scoff, but it comes out choked and shy. “I… I’m going to use these photos to put together a present for you. I know your birthday’s so far away, but I’m getting a head start.”
“And this present would entail…?”
You click your tongue at him. “I already paid my half for that kiss. No more.”
“Aah, is that right?” Dorm Azul leans in, kissing dangerously close to your lips. You reach up to touch the corner of your mouth after he’s pulled away. “How much for the full story?”
“How much are you willing to pay?”
School Azul rests his chin on your shoulder. His hands settle on your waist, pulling you up from your seat. This proximity allows you to feel his hair as it brushes against your face. Dorm Azul closes the distance as if it’s second nature, and now you’re sandwiched between the both of them.
Your heart stumbles in your chest. He’s quite literally surrounding you, but you wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.
“A very valid question.” Dorm Azul glances coyly at School Azul. “What do you think, Me?”
“Will we be enough for you, (Name)?” he purrs, rubbing slow circles into your hips.
You’re dizzy in their arms, your entire body warming with anticipation and embarrassment alike. Is it okay to be selfish? Even though this isn’t technically Azul—just mere memories of him—it seems so real. He’s holding you, touching you, reaching for you…
“Hmm. Two does seem to be a bit much.”
“Let’s call it a holiday and say it’s seasonal spoiling.”
“A gift for the summer.”
“Do open the window to let in the breeze. The heat is prone to making one feel rather…stuffy.”
They’re doing this on purpose. Maybe another Azul is more troublesome than I once thought. I can only handle so much charm!
Shrugging off self-doubt, you grab Dorm Azul by his lapels and yank him towards you, sealing the space that once separated your mouths in a hungry kiss. He melts against you, eyes fluttering shut. It’s quick and starved, the way you chase each other’s lips. You cling to him before you can fall, arms looped around his neck to keep him near.
Fully clothed and achingly desperate, you loathe the unbearable heat, but nothing is more molten than the space between your thighs.
Meanwhile, School Azul takes his sweet time running his hands along your sides, up the length of your body until he reaches your chest. With his form pinned to yours, you can feel his erection pressing against your ass. Rather shamelessly, he rolls his hips. You’re pushed up against Dorm Azul next, who takes hold of your hand and guides it to the strain in his slacks. He pulls away briefly to allow School Azul to slide your shirt up and over your head.
“Were you anticipating this?” he whispers, taking hold of your breasts.
“No way,” you protest between kisses. “Not… No. K-Keep dreaming. It’s too much trouble to wear one in the summer. Gets hot and—”
Dorm Azul captures your lips in another ravenous smooch, and the objection dies in your throat.
“There’s no need for these pesky articles where I’m from,” School Azul murmurs. He presses kisses into your bare shoulder, humming his very obvious delight. “You’d have already been laid out beneath me if that were the case… Soft and sweet, all mine to love at the bottom of the sea…”
“Humans have so many steps,” Dorm Azul laments, tutting.
“And merfolk don’t?” You try to sound smart with your question, but it comes out breathless when your nipple’s twisted between two fingers. “Oh…”
“Not when it comes to clothing. The very concept doesn’t exist beneath the waves.”
“You could visit sometime and see for yourself. I’ll welcome you with open arms.” Dorm Azul rests his forehead against yours. “And maybe then you’ll find yourself so taken with my home that you’ll want to stay.”
“A tempting offer.”
“But?” he prompts, his gaze falling to your hand as you palm him through his pants. He inhales a shaky breath.
“What’s stopping you?” the other Azul asks, his voice muffled in your skin.
“Firstly, I’m not a mer.”
“My dear, that’s nothing. Have you forgotten my proficiency in potionology?”
“And how much will one of your potions cost? I’d love to visit, but if it’s going to bankrupt me—”
“For you, a single kiss is all I require.”
“Isn’t that awfully cheap?”
Dorm Azul chuckles at this back-and-forth. “You say that as if you want me to charge an exorbitant amount.”
Glaring, you squeeze him out of revenge. His laughter comes out choked next, replaced with a needy whimper. Unbelievable.
“Maybe I do.”
“I would be careful with those words, dearest. I might take them to heart.”
He ruts against your hand, panting into your mouth. The kiss is sloppy and wet, all tongue and saliva. You move on instinct, grabbing at his shoulders when you’re taken to bed next. Both Azuls peer down at you from where they kneel on either side of you. They issue you hazy, lust-drunk smiles. Hands wander, feeling every inch you have to offer. You shut your eyes and submit to titillating touches.
“You really did miss me,” School Azul remarks when his fingers slip into your shorts to rub you through your sodden panties. Your breath hitches, a strangled whine squeezed from your throat, and he laughs. “I missed you, too.”
“I really like you,” you blurt, chest heaving with your every breath. He squeezes your clit to draw another sinful groan from you. “I think—Azul, you’re so—I think you’re so amazing… I wish we talked more. The year—aah… It went by so fast.”
“It did, didn’t it?”
“I wanna know you—the real you. I wanna know what Azul’s like when he’s comfortable and when he’s sad and when he’s happy. I wanna—ooh! Please… Please, Azul…” You grab fistfuls of the sheets, arching up towards the hands that caress your stomach lovingly. “I just want you.”
“And you’ll have me,” he—you’re not sure which—promises, leaning over to kiss you. It’s soulful passion, lust bleeding into love. Your cries are lost on his lips when you come undone beneath him, buoyant on a mellow wave.
You sense the loss before you see it.
Half-nude and gasping for breath, you stare up at the ceiling. Your bedroom is empty. All that remains of the Azuls are the animated memories imprinted on the photographs.
“I’m losing my mind…” you mutter, draping your arm over your eyes.
Please let summer pass quickly.
iii. winter - maybe all we are is fools with hearts that tried too hard. and maybe that’s just fine as long as you’re here in my arms.
Azul paces restlessly in his VIP room. It’s been months since he’s seen you, but his heart hasn’t swayed in the slightest. If anything, he’s only grown fonder in the time spent apart. Absence… What a bothersome thing.
“You’re gonna walk yourself into the floor, y’know. Your shoes’ll be all worn out by the time you’re done.”
“I’m aware,” Azul quips, uncharacteristically jittery. He turns towards Floyd. “Do I look presentable? Is anything crooked or misplaced? How about my hair?”
“You’re fine.” At Azul’s disbelieving glower, Floyd pouts. “I mean it. Shrimpy’s gonna like it either way.”
He bristles, defensive. “Who said anything about (Name)?”
“No one, but you’re thinkin’ it.”
“I… T-That’s besides the point! It doesn’t matter. She’s only here because I invited her. Common courtesy and all that.”
“Mm, I dunno about that one.”
Azul frowns at the vault set into the wall behind his desk. If only he could pack all of his fears in there and lock them away for good. Then he could continue masquerading as someone fearless and confident. With winter having descended upon campus, bringing with it layers of fluffy, glittering snow, and the cultural festival having concluded successfully, Azul finds himself lost.
This is the last birthday he’ll celebrate at Night Raven College and, subsequently, the last February he’ll spend with you. He’s running out of time.
“Invitation or not, Shrimpy’ll always wish you a happy birthday. S’not like her to forget. Plus, she cares about ya.”
“You can’t be sure of that.”
Azul’s tone is so sharp that Floyd raises his hands in defense. “Guess not.”
“What would you do?” He inhales a wobbly breath. “If you were in my shoes…”
Floyd scratches the back of his neck, contemplative. “Dunno. Guess I’d wait for the right moment and say somethin’ to get it outta my system.”
Azul sighs. “Jade said something similar.”
“He ain’t wrong.”
“I’m not prepared.”
“No one is.” Floyd smiles at Azul’s baffled expression. “C’mon, Azul, you can plan all you want, but you know life’s never gonna go the way you want it to. S’just how it is.”
“Even so, it’s better to know all viable routes and options before diving into uncharted waters.”
“That’s just it. You can’t know. S’kinda the whole point, ain’t it?”
“I can’t do it,” he decides, the words heavy on his tongue. “I’d rather accept my future failure now than continue working towards it.”
“Like a coward.”
“Far from it! In business, that’s known as rescission. It is a completely valid method of—”
“You ever realize your feelings and business are two separate things? Not everything’s gotta be about business.”
Azul stands there, nonplussed.
Floyd makes for the door, stopping only to add, “Your fly’s unzipped, by the way.”
“You—” He scrambles to check. Much to his relief, it’s not. “Honestly… That’s not even funny.”
He smooths nonexistent wrinkles, schools his expression into something brave, and exhales slowly. I’m not going to ruin an occasion as grand as this with a half-baked confession.
Having made up his mind, he steps through the door out into the bustling lounge. Like clockwork, all eyes turn to him. He searches the crowd for you, hopeful. But before he can locate you, party poppers resound with a loud bang. Confetti trickles down like colorful rainfall, landing on his suit and getting stuck in his hair.
“Happy birthday, Azul!”
He wants to run and hide. He wants to dive into the sea and seek solace in his favorite octopus pot. He wants to bury himself in the sand and disappear.
Instead, he smiles and spreads his arms like he’s just pulled off an astounding magic trick. “Why, thank you, everyone! I’m pleased you could make it. Do enjoy yourselves to the fullest tonight.”
Cheers erupt amongst the partygoers, but they might as well be on a completely different island. Azul turns, hoping to make his rounds and escape, but Kalim intercepts him. Jamil isn’t far behind.
“Azul, happy birthday!” Kalim smiles just as Jamil catches up.
He passes two expertly wrapped gifts into Azul’s empty hands. “On behalf of Kalim and myself, thank you for the invitation.”
“Yeah, super thanks! It’s been so much fun. I hope you’ll like your gift, but if you don’t just let me know and I’ll get you something else. Whatever you want! You deserve it on your special day.”
Azul looks past him, not in the mood to entertain. “Yes, of course. It’s not a problem.”
Jamil raises a brow, but then it clicks. “(Name) wanted me to pass on her regards.”
As expected, that draws his attention. “Why’s that?”
“She wasn’t sure if she’d get to see you on your big, busy day.” Jamil eyes Azul knowingly.
Kalim nods. “We ran into her on the way here, but she said to go on without her.”
Azul doesn’t like the way they’re both looking at him—as if they’re in on some joke he’s not currently aware of.
“Well,” he says, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose, “her regards are well-received.”
“You’re not going to meet her?”
“It’s my big, busy day, isn’t it? I’m afraid she’ll have to catch me at her earliest convenience.” Azul, gifts in hand, smiles. “Please do enjoy the party, you two. Thank you again for your thoughtful gifts and birthday wishes.”
On his way to the table designed for gifts, Azul spots Riddle, Silver, and Ruggie. They stand off to the side, chatting amongst themselves. He supposes, if anything, he might as well say hello. Setting the gifts down, Azul struts over.
“Good evening, gentlemen. I do hope you’re enjoying yourselves.”
“You know it. Parties at Octavinelle are always somethin’ else,” Ruggie says. Unsurprisingly, he’s done well to fix himself a plate and more. With him around Azul doesn’t have to fret over food waste.
“Your presentation at the cultural festival was very informative, if I may say so,” Riddle commends, sipping his fizzy beverage.
“As was yours.” Azul’s smile tightens. For some reason, he’s always felt the need to walk on eggshells around Riddle. And for good reason, too! Whatever Azul seems to accomplish, no matter how lofty a feat, Riddle seems to do better. “I’m sure you’ve had quite the rewarding experience yourself.”
“Indeed.”
“It’s good timing,” Silver notes, and all eyes drift towards him. Azul perks up. Timing. He needs more of that. “Your birthday came right after the festival. It’s almost like celebrating your hard work and another healthy year all in one.”
“Never thought about it that way. Guess it makes sense when you put it like that.” Ruggie grins cheekily. “Lucky you, Azul.”
“I wouldn’t call it luck. The dates just happened to align… Either way, thank you, Silver. I’m pleased you can look at it with such inspiring positivity.”
“You catch up with (Name) yet?”
“No? Am I meant to?”
“Just asking.” Ruggie shrugs. “She had me run a few errands for her yesterday. Said it was all for your sake, but when I tried to get more info outta her she told me I’d have to wait for ‘the big reveal’—whatever that is.”
Now everyone’s looking at him. Azul feels small.
“With how often I’ve heard her name tonight, I’d think she’s the one with the birthday.”
“Is she really so popular today? Odd. I haven’t had the chance to greet her,” Riddle muses.
“I thought I saw her this afternoon.” Silver furrows his brow, uncertain. “She seems busy.”
“Which is precisely why I can’t fathom the insistence that I ought to have met with her already.”
Ruggie tilts his head. “That the only reason?”
Just how many people are in on this asinine joke? More importantly, which eel is he going to have to wring out for spilling a not-so-secret secret?
Azul realizes his mask is slipping and so he repairs it expertly. If Ruggie takes notice of this, he doesn’t say anything. “It’s bad manners to show up late to a party. I’m sure one of us will agree.”
Riddle nods, but his words are surprisingly lenient. “Life happens. I suppose we can’t fault (Name) entirely.”
“She’ll make it. I’m sure she will. Don’t worry, Azul,” Silver reassures.
He’s not. He won’t. He isn’t.
“If the world was ending tomorrow,” Ruggie says, sliding into a new subject with practiced finesse, “what would you all do?”
“The end of the world…” Riddle frowns. “That’s impossible.”
“It’s a hypothetical. Anything’s possible.”
Silver hums thoughtfully. “I’d spend what time I have left with my loved ones.”
“You sure you’re not just gonna go running back to Briar Valley to protect Malleus?”
“As a guard it’s my duty, but fighting against the inevitable would be pointless.” Silver looks to the rest of them for their input. “If the world is ending and there’s nothing a guard like myself can do to prevent it, then I can only offer what’s left of my time.”
“So companionship. Okay, good to know. What about you, Riddle?”
He huffs. “I refuse to let the world end before I’ve accomplished my goals.”
“Yikes. You academic types don’t rest, do you?”
“No, no, it’s true,” Azul pipes up. “I agree. Why am I going to let the world get in the way of my plans?”
“So both of you are going to resist it until the very end?”
“You said anything can happen in a hypothetical, yes?” Riddle smirks. “In my hypothetical the world says it’ll end tomorrow, but it never does. It keeps saying so like it’s a faulty forecast. The end of the world is scheduled for next week, the week after, three weeks from now. By then, a year’s passed and the world still hasn’t ended.”
Ruggie groans. “That defeats the whole purpose of my question. You can’t give yourself more time when it’s already so limited.”
“Anything is possible if you know what you’re working with,” Azul adds, nodding alongside Riddle. “I quite like this hypothetical.”
“Leave it to the honors students to logic it out and make it more complicated than it needs to be…”
“You wouldn’t spend it with your loved ones?” Silver asks, but it appears as if the question is directed entirely at Azul. “I think I’d want to tell them the things I never got to say. Things I put off saying… Would you do that, too, Azul?”
“I…” He shuts his mouth and then opens it. “I’m not sure what I could possibly say within such a limited timeframe.”
“It doesn’t have to be complex.”
“I guess a good, old ‘love you lots’ is better than nothing,” Ruggie says.
Azul stops short. The end of the world. Time. Loss. Loved ones.
Time! He’s running out of time!
“Well, this was quite the lively discussion, but I’m afraid I’ll have to excuse myself now. There are a few more people I must meet.” Azul smiles gratefully at the three of them. They wish him another happy birthday before he finally departs, his heart in his throat.
He’s running out of time.
Logically, Azul knows the feeling doesn’t reflect his reality. It’s not as if he has to confess by the end of the school year. Logically, he has his entire life to confess. But who’s to say you’ll stay in his life after he graduates? You might be gone by the time he finally finds the right words, the right time, the right circumstance.
You can plan all you want, but you know life’s never gonna go the way you want it to.
Floyd’s right. There’s no way of knowing for sure until he does it. There’s no way to know what lies in those uncharted waters until he dives in. There’s no way to know where your heart lies until he confesses.
The world isn’t going to end tomorrow, but if he doesn’t say what he needs to before graduation he’ll never have another chance. And then that world—the world contained within NRC’s boundaries—will implode and that will be that.
At that very moment, a camera flashes. He spins around to search the photographer out and—
There you are, striding through throngs of people to reach him. There you are, dressed for the occasion. There you are, wearing that pretty smile he sees in his dreams.
“Happy birthday!” You turn the photo towards him for his viewing pleasure. It’s of him, staring off into space. He looks so stone-faced with his knitted brows and pursed lips. “Sorry about showing up late. I had to add the finishing touches to your present.”
You hand it to him. The amateur wrapping job makes the gift appear more lumpy than it actually is. It’s heavy like a textbook. Shaped as such, too. Azul wonders what its contents could be. Perhaps something relating to economics? A novel in a particular genre?
“Thank you very much. I’ll take good care of both.” He tucks the picture into his breastpocket, battling the urge to tear into your gift now. He needs to know. What did you get him? What could it possibly be? “I’m glad you could make it.”
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world!”
“Even if the world was ending?”
“Uh… What?”
“Ah, never mind that. It was simply a lingering thought from a previous conversation.”
“That’s so grim! And on your birthday, no less.”
Azul waves his hand through the air. A playful smile draws his lips apart. “Can you believe Riddle said he’d make the apocalypse wait on his behalf?”
“Seriously?” You snort, eyes brightening with amusement. “Even the apocalypse gets a schedule…”
He barks out a laugh. “Insanity, isn’t it?”
“Maybe for us, but definitely not for Riddle.” You glance at him. “What about you? What does Azul Ashengrotto’s last day look like?”
He intends to answer with something prepackaged: Awash in success until the very end!
“Alone.”
“Really? No friends or family by your side?”
“Would that make it better? Perhaps being surrounded by others only intensifies the dread.”
There’s some sort of symbolism in coming into the world alone and going out the same. Azul just can’t quite phrase it eloquently.
“Maybe there’s no right answer. Maybe there’s not any comfort in it either.” You run your fingers over the edges of your Ghost Camera. “We can’t know what lies ahead until we’re there. Maybe that’s why we spend so much time theorizing.”
“Quite the insightful judgment.”
“For the record, I wouldn’t mind being your plus-one for the end of the world.”
“I’m flattered.” He grins. “I shall be yours in return.”
“No strings attached?”
“All the strings attached. So many,” he exaggerates.
“No fair!”
Silence fills in the cracks. You stand side by side, drinking in Mostro Lounge’s upbeat atmosphere. After some time, you nudge him.
“Look at us, speaking about all of these sad things. It’s your birthday, not a funeral!”
He wonders if now’s a good time. Should he lighten the mood and confess? But wouldn’t that just make it even more serious and somber? Is there ever going to be an opportune moment?
You can plan all you want, but you know life’s never gonna go the way you want it to.
Surprises. Spontaneity. Luck. All things left to chance. All things Azul attempts to anticipate. He thinks back on the many plans and what-ifs he calculated and wonders if it was worth it.
“(Name), I just wanted to say—” He stops himself, his fingers curling around the gift cradled in his arms. I love you and I want you in my life. I don’t want the world to end here with you and me. I want to know what lies beyond and experience it with you—the good and the bad. Everything. “I just wanted to thank you.”
For being my friend. For being yourself. For existing in the same world as me, even if it feels like we’re doomed to be islands apart.
“What’s this? Genuine thanks? Am I going to find an anemone on my head next?”
“That can be arranged. Isn’t it tradition to grant the person of the hour one birthday favor?”
“Hah! You wish!”
I do. I really do.
The party wears on into the night. Azul repeats the same mantra as before: I have time.
When he’s in his room, gifts piled high on his desk, he sits back in his seat and carefully unwraps yours. It’s a book, leather-bound and regal. It looks expensive. While attempting to approximate its value, he reads the title spelled out with alphabet stickers: My Azul. His brow furrows. Just what are you playing at here?
Cautiously, he opens the book to the first page. Your writing winks back at him: Happy birthday, Azul! This is my gift to you. It’s a chronological journal of your school life! :D People often say it’s difficult to picture themselves through the eyes of others, so I wanted to show you what I see every time I look at you. I hope you’ll never forget just how important you are. If you ever do, open this book to remind yourself.
With love always,
(Name).
“Curious,” he mumbles, flipping the page. The layout reminds him of a scrapbook. You’ve decorated it with stickers and patterned tape, scrawled words in different colored inks. There are two photographs—each from Azul’s second year. He’d forgotten about these. That time it snowed so much the students had a snowball fight in the courtyard. That time an alchemy accident (courtesy of Grim) led to Azul speaking in cat for the rest of the day.
In the center, a small blurb reads: My Azul is terrifyingly good at making snowballs within record time, just as he’s terrifyingly good at marketing them at all the right moments. My team was totally losing. Leave it to Azul to swoop in when he knows it’s advantageous… He’s intelligent and passionate. Even when mistakes occur, he works through them effortlessly. (Although it was nice having Catzul for a day!)
He rolls his eyes at that last bit.
The next page displays photos in much the same fashion. You’ve clearly put lots of effort and thought into each arrangement. Azul feels like he’s walking through a museum with every page. Like the first, the rest of the pages that follow include photographs of himself (some with others and some with you) and a short paragraph describing your observations.
His eyes are on the verge of a typhoon as he soaks in every sugared sentence.
My Azul is strong. My Azul is silly. My Azul has the best laugh. My Azul is great at bargaining. My Azul is awkward. My Azul is clumsy (in the best ways). My Azul is resourceful. My Azul makes the best study guides (thank you!!!!). My Azul is a hero. My Azul never gives up. My Azul is a talented mage. My Azul is…
All of these things he’s never heard anyone acknowledge before—have you always seen him in this way? Is this truly what he’s like through your eyes? He finds that hard to believe, and yet there he is on the page, winking at the camera or posing in an outfit from one of the many school trips he’s attended. You’ve added little comments and doodles in the margins and corners. Azul smiles as he reads them.
Noble Bell College sure was something! I’d like to visit again one day…
Vargas Camp was exhausting! I still can’t believe we survived.
Halloween! I want to experience it in the Coral Sea one day. But maybe just for one night. An endless Halloween is too much…
The ceremonial robes are very pretty. They’re so different from the uniforms in my world.
Happy Beans Day! Azul prepares all year for this. That level of commitment is impressive!
Azul reaches the end with watery eyes. He sniffles, so enveloped in a love he’s never felt from any friend before. You care. You truly, honestly care. It’s clear in each and every page—in the words you’ve written. You care about him.
The final page has a blank space the rough shape and size of a photograph. For some reason he understands what he’s meant to do. He slides the photograph you gave him all that time ago from his phone case and pastes it to the space. And then he reads what’s written below.
My Azul keeps all of these walls up in order to protect himself. He’s sensitive and self-conscious. He likes to uphold a perfect image at all times. He likes to keep his weaknesses hidden, his cards close. But then he’s also funny. He’s sincere and gentle. He’s sweet. He’s someone I admire from all sides, good and bad. Even when he’s scheming, even when he’s acting, he’s still Azul. My camera’s captured so many of his moments, which is very apparent now that you’ve made it to the end. But I’m happy to have documented these moments because they showcase everything that makes my Azul himself.
My Azul has never looked “positively dreadful” to my camera. Even on the days where he feels like nothing, my Azul is everything to me. I will always think so.
He’s crying. He can’t help it.
Azul sits there and he sobs.
He sobs until his throat is dry, until his eyes are blotchy and red. He sobs until he can’t anymore.
Holding the book close to his chest, he wonders how he ever managed to befriend someone like you.
An angel. That’s what you are.
An angelfish.
And he’s Azul. Your Azul.
iv. spring - but, baby, i’ll be there. yeah, baby, i’ll be there. it’s been a little hard. i’ve been a little tough. but maybe all along i’m afraid, i’m afraid, i’m afraid. i’m afraid, i’m afraid, i’m afraid.
The air is sweet with the scent of blossoming flowers, thick with pollen. Azul’s chest is light, swelling with excitement. A new chapter is about to begin. In just a few hours he’ll graduate along with the rest of his peers and then it’s off to start another story. For Azul, this is just a continuation of something already so prolific.
He strolls past The Great Seven, pausing briefly to admire the Sea Witch in all of her tentacular glory.
“With this weather, it’s almost difficult to imagine they called for rain.” Jade peers up at the sun, shielding its obtrusive rays with one hand.
“They’re always gettin’ it wrong,” Floyd says, stuffing his hands in his pockets. “So annoying. I was hopin’ it’d rain and then they’d cancel.”
“Unlikely. There are always contingency plans put in place when it comes to an event as momentous as graduation.”
“Bleh. Lame. I wanna skip. I hate bein’ in those stuffy clothes, packed in close like a sardine.”
“If you’re absent, you won’t receive your diploma.”
“What a scam.”
Jade simply smiles. Ironic.
Azul turns around to look at them. “Four years… Gone in a blink. Will either of you miss it?”
“It was certainly enjoyable. I admit there are some aspects I’ll miss quite fiercely.”
“Guess it’ll be a bummer not seein’ everyone all the time. I’m gonna miss playing with Baby Seal and Shrimpy.”
“I’ll miss them, too.” Azul sighs. “(Name) especially…”
“You still haven’t told her?” Floyd raises a brow. “You’re gonna leave without sayin’ a word?”
“That does seem to be the plan,” Jade answers.
“I… I’ve thought it over.” He clears his throat. No time for waterworks. He needs to be in top shape if he’s to deliver the opening speech as Salutatorian. Riddle took first place, which wasn’t a shock to anyone. He always did say he’d make Valedictorian no matter what. Azul had been keen to fight him for it, even if it became clear he’d never surpass him. Second place is irksome, but it has its merits. Although he isn’t going to settle with just that! He’ll get first place one of these days. “We’re better off friends.”
“Whatever you say.”
“Is that enough?”
“Is what enough?”
“Her friendship.”
“It’ll have to be.” Azul’s gaze glazes over.
He’s run out of time, but maybe that’s okay. Maybe that was meant to be.
“Well, let’s not dwell on it any further!” He claps his hands and turns swiftly on his heel. “There’s still work to be done.”
Jade and Floyd exchange furtive glances. They know as well as he does that he’s lying.
But maybe that was also meant to be.
— — —
Crowley tasked you with snapping photos for NRC’s yearbook. “Because I am a paragon of magnanimity,” he said, “I am entrusting this very important task to you once more. Take lots of pictures! Don’t miss a single moment!”
You do just that, photographing the graduates as they wait in a room behind the stage, chattering eagerly amongst themselves. You raise your camera to document Azul when he stands at the podium to give his salutation speech. You do the same for Riddle when it’s his turn. The ceremony is grand, ballooning with emotion. You look on with a cheek-splitting smile, proud of every student who crosses the stage. It’s bittersweet. The friends you made when you were enrolled as a first year are now moving on in life.
Time flies. What a whirlwind year it’s been.
When it’s Azul’s turn and he goes down the line to shake the hands of his professors and Crowley, you wave at him from your place in the audience. He meets your eyes from where he stands, and he smiles.
Your camera catches that moment in perfect permanence.
By the end of it all, your face hurts from smiling, your throat sore from cheering, your hands raw from clapping. Grim grumbles at you to knock it off with the sun shower, your tears dampening his fur. You wipe your eyes and sniffle. “I’m happy for them. It’s a good day.”
He forces his head under your palm, allowing you to pet him and cry through it in peace. He doesn’t say anything. You don’t need him to.
While the graduates meet up with their family and friends, you make your rounds. Kalim introduces you to his parents and siblings—all thirty-something of them. You’re in a daze by the time introductions are finished, and Jamil leans over to whisper, “No need to commit everyone to memory.”
“Have you talked to Azul yet?” Kalim asks after everything has settled down.
You shake your head. “Why? What’s up?”
“Just wanted to ask. I know the Headmage wants you to take lots of pictures.”
“We shouldn’t keep you any longer than we already have,” Jamil adds with a curt nod.
You smile. “Congrats, both of you. Good luck.”
“We gotta keep in touch. Promise me you’ll call whenever you can. You’re always welcome to visit, too! Oh, I’ll go check with my parents now! I’m sure they’ll say yes!” Kalim bounds off in their direction.
“Just let me know well in advance. That way I can plan for proper accommodations,” Jamil says, following Kalim with sharp eyes.
“I’ll do that.” You turn to leave and then stop. “I hope you get your vacation one day, Jamil.”
He stares at you, mystified, before a gentle smile softens on his face. “One day,” he echoes. “I hope you’ll find your way home.”
“One day.”
The two of you share a final look before going your separate ways.
Surrounded in such an energetic environment, talking to and meeting families, you find yourself longing for your loved ones. So much time has passed. You wonder how they’re doing. Are they well? Are they worried?
“Aah, it’s Shrimpy!” Floyd crashes into you with so much force you nearly topple. He steadies you with a giggle. “Where’s Baby Seal?”
“Left to gorge on refreshments. Hey, since you’re here, can I get your picture?”
“Course you can.”
Detaching himself, he poses for you. You take a few photos, mirroring his good mood.
“Are your parents around?”
“Mhm!”
“Seriously? They came?”
“Course they did.”
“Did they take transformation potions?”
Floyd nods. “Pops does land business sometimes, so he’s used to it. Mama doesn’t leave home much. She’s real bad at walking on her feet.”
“Ah, got it.”
Floyd grins down at you. “You wanna meet ’em?”
“Maybe later… I’ve gotta keep taking photos.”
“I gotcha. Make sure to snap a few of Azul.”
“Right! Speaking of him, where is he? I’ve spoken to everyone but him.”
Floyd peers out across a sea of faces, scanning each one like a predator sizing up his next meal. “He’s avoidin’ ya.”
“What? Why?”
“Why don’tcha ask him when you see him? Bet he’ll have a fun answer for ya.”
You would, if only you could find him. As the afternoon wears on, you begin to lose hope. If he’s truly hiding from you, he’s doing a great job of it. After what feels like hours of walking in aimless circles, you take pause to consider the situation. If you were Azul and you wanted to hide away for a little while, where would you go?
To someplace familiar. To someplace comfortable. To someplace quiet.
He’s pacing in front of Ramshackle when you arrive. You open the gate and step through, taking each step one at a time. Once you’re within a close enough proximity, you make your presence known.
“Azul?”
He startles and whips around. As soon as he sees you, he lurches forward, intending to leave.
You block his path. “Hey, wait! What gives? I’ve been looking all over for you. Floyd told me you’re avoiding me.”
“Floyd doesn’t know what he’s talking about.”
“But I’m sure you do. So what’s up?”
“It’s…nothing. I merely wanted to tour campus one last time.”
“Oh. Why didn’t you say anything? I would’ve come with you!” You attempt to elbow him, but he side-steps you. “Uh, right…”
“Ah, sorry. I… Admittedly, there’s quite a lot on my mind.”
“I get it. Congrats, by the way. Your speech was really good.”
“I’m pleased you think so.”
This…isn’t Azul, you realize, a frown flickering on your face. At least not the Azul I usually see.
“I got to meet all of Kalim’s siblings.”
“Did you? All of them?”
“Every. Single. One. His family’s huge!”
An uncomfortable silence festers between the two of you. You glance at your camera and then at Azul.
“Can you believe that Crowley? He wanted me to take all of these pictures, but there were dozens of professionals who did it much better than me! What was even the point?”
“Terrible, isn’t it? A job as good as the one you do deserves proper payment.”
“Exactly! My services aren’t free.”
Azul smiles, a wistful gloss to his gaze. You can see the cogs turning behind his eyes—can see the calculation as it comes to fruition.
“You can cry. I won’t judge.”
“I’m not going to.”
“It’s fine. It’s normal, Azul.”
He inhales a deep breath, holds it for three seconds, and then releases. When he looks at you next, his expression is hard and riddled with subdued anxiety. A zephyr blows between you, rustling the leaves in the trees, raking through the grass, dragging wispy fingers through your clothes and hair. The quiet expands and stretches wide.
Azul opens his mouth, shuts it, and sighs. A forlorn resignation flits over his countenance.
“I—” he swallows hard and then it just bursts free, the admission he’s kept secret for so long— “I love you.”
Another breeze combs through the premises. Your gasp is swept away with it.
“I’ve loved you for two years. And I… I wanted to tell you so many times in the past, but I never could. I was scared and I ran away. I still am! The truth is that I’m afraid of losing you. I’m afraid of messing up in front of you and looking like a fool. I’m afraid of showing you the parts of myself I hate most. I’m even afraid of that phrase—of saying it because it terrifies me to think, in some distant world, it might be reciprocated. But I have to say it, and I want you to know. Even if you don’t feel the same, I have to tell you.”
You gape at him, utterly speechless. The longer you do so, the more flustered he becomes.
“Y-You’re free to think it’s gross or weird. I understand I’m not the most ideal candidate, but I…” He wrings his hands, exhaling shakily. “I think you’re everything. My whole world.”
There are so many things you want to say. So, so many. But they’re all jumbled, carried along like flowers floating down a stream in spring. You close the gap, taking his hands in yours, and you kiss him.
Azul startles, squeaking against your lips. It takes a minute for him to find his rhythm, but soon he’s wilting against you, his body relaxed. You taste saliva and salt—tears. When you pull back, he’s crying.
“I think you’re the most ideal candidate. I’ve always thought so.” You cradle his cheek in a warm hand.
A sob trembles through him. “I never thought—you’re just so… I couldn’t have imagined…”
“That I’d like you?”
“Yes!”
“Why?”
“Because…”
“I’ve always liked you, Azul. I’d never lie about that. Your birthday gift—those are my honest opinions.”
“Every one of them?”
“Each and every one.”
He sniffles weakly, drying his eyes with the heel of his palm.
Instinctively, you reach for your camera. And then you hesitate. You’ve always stood behind the protective lens of your trusty Ghost Camera, assuming the role of photographer in order to remain in his orbit. But now you’d like to try putting the camera aside and documenting Azul’s moments with your own two eyes.
He loves me.
You just manage to shut the front door before you’re pulling him flush against you. He presses you up against the wall in the foyer, a knee slotting between your legs. You melt in mutual merriment, grabbing at every part of him. Your uniform blouse is ripped open in a hurry. You try to handle his graduation robes with caution, appreciating expensive embroidery, but vehemence gets the better of you. It’s a wild rush. Hot and panting, you’re shuddering in carnal delight, every nerve alight. When he presses up against you next, half-dressed and hazy with an addictive adoration, you can feel the result of your exploratory touches straining for release.
“Upstairs,” you mumble against his mouth, sweating out of your skin.
You fall into bed as one, tangled around each other. Azul trails kisses up the expanse of your stomach, working you open on skillful fingers. You shiver beneath him, your heart pounding in your ribs.
“I love you.” A kiss to your belly.
“I love you.” A kiss to the valley of your breasts.
“I love you.” A kiss to your lips.
You love him just as intensely.
He drags his fingers out next, admiring the slick coating them like it’s a valuable substance. You giggle, dizzy with delirium.
“Can I call you mine?”
You run your hands up and down his arms. “I’d like that.”
“Your boyfriend,” he murmurs, astonished. “I’m your boyfriend…”
“Mhm…” You sit up in bed and climb into his lap. Slowly, inch by inch, you lower yourself. He sucks in a breath through grit teeth. “And I’m—mmh—I’m your girlfriend.”
Azul whines into your mouth. His arms wrap around you to keep you firmly pinned to his body, and he bucks his hips up to meet you the rest of the way. Filled in such a way, connected so intimately, you breathe a satisfied sigh. You dig your nails into his shoulders. Every muscle slackens. It’s bliss, pure and perfect. The both of you mold to one another like sea meeting shore.
You grind down, chasing a mounting climax. “You’re the best—perfect. So perfect. Oh, I love you, Azul. I love you so much. I’ve always wanted to say it.”
He presses his forehead to yours. “You have no idea how fervently I’ve yearned for this—for you.”
You can’t possibly begin to imagine, but you can definitely relate. Weeks of silent pining, of hoping something might happen and you’d be able to confess without fear. Those days are behind you. Now you can know love in his arms and it isn’t so uncertain.
You lose yourselves in the sensations of sweet, soulful sex. He’s gentle like a spring breeze, dedicated like a devotee at your altar. You’re much the same, your moans just as plentiful. Just as loud. You’re wrapped in wonder when you look into his eyes and find the same amount of love reflected back.
I’m so happy I met you.
When he cums, he digs his fingers into your hips to drag you down and bury himself deeper inside. You unravel shortly after, your orgasm coaxed out by a few attentive massages to your clit. Your bodies, sticky and sweaty, stay connected even after you’ve come down from the clouds.
“Had I known, I would’ve said something sooner.” After catching his breath, Azul rests his head in the crook of your neck. “I regret it.”
“I don’t. Things happen when they happen.” You run your fingers through the tangled, silvery strands of his hair. It’s soft just like him. He leans into your touch and hums appreciatively. “I’m glad it happened when it did.”
“I’m glad I could say it. It would’ve eaten me alive if I’d left without telling you.”
“And are you still afraid?”
Azul places his hand over yours. “No, not anymore. The world ahead looks much clearer now.”
“Am I in it?”
He laughs. “More than that.”
“Oh?”
“You are my world.”
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♡˗ˏ✎*ೃ˚ 𝕄𝕪 𝕨𝕠𝕣𝕝𝕕 ₊˚ˑ༄
*ੈ✩‧₊˚ @kataba request: Before requests close, could I request Thoma, Ayato, Neuvillette, and Wriothesley being told they're their s/o's whole world?
*ੈ✩‧₊˚ Yes, of course! I made one-shot format and with reader kinda confessing or blurting it out... so hopefully this'll suit you too!
*ੈ✩‧₊˚ fluff
Thoma was honestly so purely kind for you. Despite just coming back from work, he still willingly helped you with small cleaning at your place. You knew it was a bit messy and could probably take care of it alone, but he didn't seem to take no for an answer.
He was just softly humming as he calmly did the dishes for you. It was the last thing that needed cleaning and he was stubborn enough to make you sit down while he finishes it.
Using the moment and your boredom, you layed on your hand and looked at him with gentle smile. He's doing so much for you... so you might as well drop small compliment that'll hopefully make his day!
"You're like... my whole world, you know?"
You could hear your boyfriend slightly chuckle as he dried his hands. Despite him not being turned your way, you just knew your words had to cause him at least a little blush.
"Well... why thank you. It goes both ways, so I hope you know it goes both ways!"
He finally turned to you with hand scratching the back of his neck, his face indeed had slightly pink hue.
﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌
@bleachtheidiot - come get your perfect malewife~
Ayato was working like always and you just came back from little tea break with Ayaka, hoping that her brother will be done by the time you two finished your endless chat.
But when you came back into his office, you saw him still filling those papers... A bit bored you decided to give him a little surprise~
You sneaked behind his back and swiftly kissed his cheek, causing his head to finally raise from those papers and look directly at you.
"Oh? And what's that for, my love?"
You could see the slight surprise in his eyes. You thought he'll notice you faster than get scared but it seems like you catches him off guard after all! He almost made it too easy for you to be a little bit cheeky.
"What? Can't I even kiss my world now~?"
You chuckled while asking your little question, noticing it caused small smile on your boyfriend's face as well! Because there was particular compliment that catched his attention... he knows you're not one to throw words on air, so you describing how he's your world really just made his day.
"Thank you... I believe we both think similarly of each other. Because believe me when I say, I can't even imagine my life without you next to me..."
﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌
@bleachtheidiot - come get your boba lover!
Neuvillette and you were on your classic walk, so the two of you could just hold hands and relax after long day...
None of you mind the silence but your boyfriend decided to break it, because he just found topic he wanted to explore. Knowing you most likely wouldn't mind, he decided to just straight up ask you that.
"I'm curious if you find Teyvat charming... you're not from here if I remember correctly... or maybe you don't like it at all?"
You looked around and was about to answer normally, but then you for a perfect idea for that a situation and looked directly at him instead with a cheesy grin.
"Honestly... the only world I'm currently admiring is you."
You could just see your boyfriend smoking under his nose and having his head down. The sky also seemed so much brighter all of the sudden... well it is 12pm so no wonder about that actually.
When Neuvillette was finally done with smiling to himself after your comment, he raised tour hand with his and placed soft kiss on its back, silently thanking you for your compliment before you continued your walk
﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌
@bleachtheidiot @toyaswif3y - come get your otter judge!
Sigewinne asked you one day about your feelings towards Wriothesley, so naturally you answered them, not hiding the fact you think of him as of your whole world.
When you entered his office, you just saw Melusine walking out in dancy peace and humming happily. You looked at your boyfriend with slight confusion who was slightly smiling.
"Sorry for that, Sigewinne just... kept me company for a while. I was worried you might've changed your plans..."
You just smiled in assuring way, noticing his mood. You came closer and places your hand on your shoulder.
"No, no... I just needed to explain the path to few explorers. I could never forget about my whole world, you know~?"
On your words, Duke just smiled we if you've just confirmed every informations he needed.
"So it's true... sorry to spill it out bur Sigewinne told me how you called me."
You normally wouldn't mind but you really just ended up rambling to Sigewinne at some point... and if she said it all to Wriothesley... well, it certainly boosted his ego. But seeing this proud smile on his face... you really couldn't mind how much he've heard in this moment.
﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌
@bleachtheidiot - come get your teddybear duke~
#genshin#genshin impact#x reader#genshin x reader#genshin impact x reader#thoma#kamisato ayato#wriothesley#thoma x reader#ayato x reader#wriothesley x reader#genshin thoma#genshin ayato#genshin wriothesley#genshin thoma x reader#genshin ayato x reader#neuvillette#neuvillette x reader#genshin neuvillette#genshin neuvillette x reader#genshin wriothesley x reader#fluff#genshin fluff#oneshot#genshin oneshot
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die for you , part 1
“ swear i couldn’t sleep a wink last night ”
series m. list
next chapter
( socialmedia!au )
yourusername
liked by jasonrob19, mush__27, trevorzegras, and 314,882 others
yourusername got new pink leg warmers 😈🎀
view all comments
username12 trevor has been liking and commenting for MONTHS there’s no way they’re not hooking up
→ username25 calm down she’s friends with turcs and cole 😭😭
logan.stankoven WE GET IT you got new skates or whatever
→ yourusername i will personally send you back to the ahl
→ logan.stankoven okay i was on fire on the texas stars 🥱
→ yourusername what if i light you on fire 🤗
→ logan.stankoven oh!
→ jpav8 let’s be nice guys
_alexturcotte is that the lululemon water bottle
→ yourusername HOW COULD YOU TELL FROM THE LID??
→ _alexturcotte my spidey senses tingled
→ yourusername turcotte tingle is insane
→ _alexturcotte HEY MAN don’t slander the family name ❌❌
username36 my figure skater idol 🙇♀️
username4 trevor zegras eh??
colecaufield and new skates and new skate guards and a new bag
→ yourusername you sent me money what was i supposed to do with it????
→ colecaufield use it to pay off your student loans 😒😒
→ yourusername but you already paid them off for me 😶
wyattjohnston_ that’s so preppy and coquette
→ yourusername stop. just stop 😭
→ wyattjohnston_ I’M TRYING TO BE SUPPORTIVE
→ yourusername THEN STOP
→ wyattjohnston_ you don’t want me to be supportive of you? 😔
→ yourusername no
jasonrob19 i bought those skates for you
→ mush__27 we know you spoil her 🙄
→ t.harley48 fr you ain’t gotta flex
→ yourusername indeed you did 😈😈
username41 i’m patiently waiting for the day trevor accidentally posts that they’re dating
→ username88 is he not with dixie??
→ username12 LMAO as if
jackhughes niceee solid skates
→ yourusername jack hughes 😱
→ jackhughes yes that’s me
→ yourusername i feel like a successful fangirl
→ jake30oettinger i thought you liked the stars 😒 yourusername
→ yourusername I LOVE THE STARS I PROMISE OTTER
trevorzegras 👍
liked by yourusername
→ _alexturcotte you’re such a pussy
→ trevorzegras you are what you eat
→ _alexturcotte stfu
→ colecaufield stop being so critical turcs
username53 it’s so preppy in here!
ilia_quadg0d_malinin oh please we all know i can do better
→ yourusername your ego is unbearably big
→ ilia_quadg0d_malinin say that to me when you land a quad
→ yourusername I LITERALLY DID IT BEFORE YOU THO????
→ ilia_quadg0d_malinin that’s a lie and we both know it
→ yourusername STOP GASLIGHTING ME THIS IS NOT BEST FRIEND BEHAVIOR
lhughes_06 Ma’am, would you like to visit the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey to watch us practice prior to our game against the Anaheim Ducks?
→ jackhughes you’re supposed to dm her, not publicly comment…
→ lhughes_06 YOU TOLD ME TO COMMENT ON A POST
→ lhughes_06 this is ur fault
→ yourusername YES I WOULD
→ lhughes_06 see it worked anyways jackhughes
t.harley48 you messed up the ice before practice 🤬🤬
→ yourusername stop whining start grinding 🥶
→ wyattjohnston_ stop whining start grinding 🥶
→ logan.stankoven stop whining start grinding 🥶
→ mush__27 stop whining start grinding 🥶
→ t.harley48 once i get on that zamboni it’s over for you all
yourusername
liked by miroheiskanen, trevorzegras, _alexturcotte, and 300,024 others
yourusername someone tell him i’m outside waiting rn 🙏
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username29 PLEASE TELL ME “HIM” IS TREVOR
ilia_quadg0d_malinin oh! when did you start posting about your crippling love life 😍
→ yourusername you’re like the only person i told and you proceed to make fun of me 😃😃
→ wyattjohnston_ no you told me
→ logan.stankoven and me
→ jpav8 and wyatt told me
→ hhinee you told me as well
→ miroheiskanen i also know
→ matt9duchene so do i
→ tseguin92 oh you told me too
→ t.harley48 don’t forget about me
→ jake30oettinger you literally told me too
→ mush__27 good lord how many people did you tell (i know about it too)
→ ilia_quadg0d_malinin you told an ENTIRE nhl team. yourusername
→ yourusername ……..i told you first…..?
→ jasonrob19 what are we talking about
nickrobertson01 that’s not one of your jackets…
→ yourusername how would you know if you haven’t been in my closet 🤨
→ nickrobertson01 you just gave me a closet tour on ft yesterday…..?
→ jasonrob19 then whose jacket is it?????
→ yourusername no one i swear it’s mine 😰😰
jamiebenn14 is that not a literal nightgown?
→ yourusername stop judging my stylistic choices 💔
→ tseguin82 THAT’S WHAT I WAS THINKING
→ yourusername you old men are NOT hip with the kids
→ jpav8 you’re breaking our hearts here 😔😔
username33 is that or is that not the outside of an ice rink???
username20 i swear to god she’s seeing trevor
username94 someone tell me i’m insane because i swear i’ve seen the ducks practice there before
→ username17 no no you’re not insane i think you’re right 😰
→ username11 lmfao maybe she just practices there too???
hhinee so to be clear, “him” is HIM right?
→ yourusername yes yes you’re right roop
→ jasonrob19 why do i not know what you’re talking about
username6 IF I’M RIGHT, i think i’ve seen that backpack in the background of one of trevor’s stories before…
logan.stankoven so what i’m hearing is if you hang out with him, you leave us alone?
→ yourusername what happened to the kid that BEGGED for my autograph when i showed up to one of the texas stars games
→ logan.stankoven YOU SAID YOU WOULD NEVER BRING THAT UP
→ yourusername 🙄
→ wyattjohnston_ HE BEGGED?????
_quinnhughes cool fit i like it 👍
→ yourusername aw thank you ☺️
→ username37 OH MY GOD IS IT QUINN
→ username72 WHAT THE FUCK WAIT A SECOND
colecaufield i see you’ve been gaining more attention..
→ yourusername are you saying i’m not successful enough to regularly get attention??
→ colecaufield oh my god YOU ALWAYS DO THIS
_alexturcotte i have never seen someone leave mid-convo as quickly as i just did
→ yourusername you were with him?
→ _alexturcotte no he just stopped typing all of a sudden
→ yourusername so you were.. texting him????
→ _alexturcotte yeah??
→ yourusername THEN HOW TF DID YOU SEE HIM LEAVE??
→ _alexturcotte I DONT FUCKING KNOW I WAS JUST YAPPING
→ yourusername you know for someone so smart, sometimes you make no sense 😭
mush__27 you being 1,500 miles away should be a crime
→ yourusername oh stop complaining i was literally back home like 8 hours ago
username17 has trevor not commented yet??
→ username99 it’s not as if he comments frequently
jake30oettinger you’re so not slick
→ yourusername that’s great i’m so glad you noticed even though you literally didn’t know until i told you!
→ jasonrob19 PLEASE GOD JUST TELL ME 😔
next chapter
notes )
your bitch is back with a trevor au and this time it’s gonna be irl + smau because i was fucking STRUGGLING with feather..
and also i’m thinking of the nickname being lacey because i think it’s just so cute and also i got a whole backstory and all… 😈
but regarding ilia malinin and all of my favorite dallas stars.. yall might have to know some stars and figure skating lore for this one but i don’t really think it’s gonna affect the plot of the story or the story itself (you just might not know who anyone is 😭😭)
as always if you wanna be tagged, just comment or dm me!!
#trevor zegras#trevor zegras fanfic#trevor zegras fic#trevor zegras x reader#trevor zegras x y/n#jack hughes#quinn hughes#luke hughes#alex turcotte#cole caufield#jason robertson#nick robertson#tyler seguin#jamie benn#joe pavelski#miro heiskanen#roope hintz#mason marchment#matt duchene#thomas harley#wyatt johnston#logan stankoven#jake oettinger
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The Chief Justice and the Worst Painter in Fontaine Chapter 3: The Chief Justice, the Painter, and the Otters
summary: It was supposed to be your time to relax and get in touch with your (extremely) buried creative side…but then your boss showed up.
Masterpost here
Chapter 1 || Chapter 2 || Chapter 3 (Bonus Scenes) || Chapter 4
The week seemed to pass by at a crawl. You found yourself looking at the clock frequently and tapping your feet. You got scolded more than once for being distracted. When Sedene delivered Neuvillette's note to you that Friday, you surprised even yourself with how eagerly you took it from her.
However, confusion replaced excitement when you read the note.
We will be going underwater tomorrow.
Some of your coworkers dived in their spare time, but you yourself had never done it. You could barely even swim. What did Neuvillette mean by this?
Except for the meeting spot, there was no other information. Not even instructions to bring spare clothes.
Maybe this is a euphemism for killing me after I shouted at him, you thought half-jokingly.
By now, you knew that Neuvillette wouldn't do such a thing. But, just in case, you wrote a note for your roommate and put it in your drawer.
You went to the designated location the next day. Your stomach was filled with butterflies, and your arms were filled with your painting supplies. Come to think of it, how were you even going to paint underwater?
Neuvillette was already there, as always. He was wearing his usual clothes. There were no diving suits or anything that could be remotely used for diving in sight.
"Hello, Monsieur Neuvillette," you greeted him like normal. "Are we not going diving today?"
"We are indeed going to go underwater today, but not by diving."
"Going underwater...but not diving?" you repeated, confused.
Neuvillette saw the confusion on your face, and a small wrinkle appeared between his brows. "I'm sorry, I can't explain it in any more detail than that. But I assure you that it will be completely safe. Although, you are free to decline if you wish. I won't mind."
I don't know why, but I feel like he would mind if I refused, you thought, and happened to glance up at the sky. It was a brilliant blue before, but now you could see white clouds slowly drifting across it.
You pondered. Going underwater without any aids seemed like a surefire way to die, but you were going to be with Neuvillette.
It was funny. You still didn't know anything more about him that you hadn't already known before you two started spending time together. And yet, you instinctively knew that you would never be harmed as long as you were with him.
And besides, going around Fontaine had awakened the spirit of exploration within you. You weren't about to quit your job and become an adventurer anytime soon, but the chance to see the underwater world for the first time...you couldn't let that get away from you.
You nodded eagerly and stepped closer to him. "Yes, I would love to go underwater! Although, I'm really not a strong swimmer, so I'm afraid you'll have to look after me a lot."
Perhaps it was the shadows of the (rapidly receding) clouds playing tricks on your eyes, but you could have sworn that Neuvillette's lips curved into a smile. "I'm perfectly fine with that. And there's no need to worry, you won't be required to swim."
Not required to swim? Just how were you getting underwater? As if he read your mind, Neuvillette said, "Please allow me to carry you in my arms."
"Okay?" Did you just hear him right?
He seemed to take that as agreement and lifted you into his arms easily. He must be stronger than he looked. You nearly dropped your things. His face was suddenly very close to yours, and you had the urge to bury your face in your hands. An attractive person looking at you so closely was not good for your health.
"I-um-I...what...um...sir..." you babbled like an idiot. Never in your wildest dreams did you imagine that you would be held in the Chief Justice's arms.
"My apologies, I startled you. But don't worry, it won't be for long," Neuvillette informed you. Wow, his pupils really are slitted, your brain thought idly, as though to prevent itself from spontaneously combusting by distracting itself from the current situation.
He slowly stepped forward into the water. "I hate to make more requests of you, but could I have you close your eyes? It will make this a bit easier for both of us."
How would I closing my eyes make it easier for him, you wondered, but obliged. You didn't think you could handle staring at his face so closely for any longer.
Neuvillette walked forward a few more steps. Before long, you felt coldness surround your feet, then your calves, and slowly rise upwards to your waist. Your clothes didn't feel wet, strangely enough.
As the water came up to your chest, and soon, your neck, you held your breath. You did trust Neuvillette, but anyone would feel a little bit of panic at the prospect of going underwater, right?
You feel the water caressing your cheeks, then rubbing against your temples, before covering the top of your head. You were underwater now. Though you couldn't see anything with your eyes closed, you could sense that it wasn't completely dark.
The two of you were going somewhere. You hoped it was close by because you weren't sure how long you could hold your breath for. You could feel the cool currents of water rushing past you, though they weren't as bone-chilling as you expected. You were moving pretty fast--was Neuvillette swimming? Somehow, you just couldn't imagine the elegant Chief Justice doing something like that. Maybe that was why he asked you to close your eyes? Probably not.
Your head was starting to hurt. You needed to take a breath. Bracing yourself to breathe in water, you exhaled--and nearly gasped in surprise. You were breathing normally like you were on land. What was going on? You didn't dare open your mouth to speak, though.
Eventually, Neuvillette slowed down. It seemed that he had reached his destination. There was a brief resistance like he was pushing through something, and then you were inside some sort of building.
"You can open your eyes now," he said, and gently let you down. You slowly opened your eyes, and your breath caught. He had taken you inside a round, gazebo-like building. At first, you thought it had full-length windows on all sides, but when you looked closer, you saw that the "glass" was wavering like water. The inside of the building was perfectly dry and tastefully furnished with bookshelves, a rug, and tables. There was even a gramophone.
"This is an observatory built by researchers," Neuvillette explained. "It's currently unused by anyone, so I thought that it would be a perfect place for you to paint."
"It really is..." you said, and then suddenly realized something. "It's incredible."
The outside was even more fantastical than what you've seen in pictures. The surroundings were cast in a dreamy blue light. Fish swam through kelp and coral formations like birds flitting between the branches of a tree. The white sand at the bottom glittered in the sunlight that filtered down. It was like you were on land, but everything was more...magical. Even the crates and pottery scattered around and half-buried in the sand looked like precious treasure chests.
You were so distracted by your surroundings that you belatedly realized that your clothing and things were completely dry. You were also able to breathe normally earlier. Was this Neuvillette's doing?
"Um, Monsieur Neuvillette, were you the one who kept me dry on the way here?"
"Ah," Neuvillette looked awkward all of a sudden. His gaze wandered around slightly. "Well, as the Chief Justice of Fontaine, having such powers is a necessary part of my job. And I made a promise to you that I have every intention of keeping."
He nodded, like that was supposed to be convincing. It wasn't.
How? You wondered, but decided not to press him on it. Everyone in Fontaine knew that the Chief Justice was hundreds of years old. There were many theories about who or what he was, but someone as long-lived as him would most likely have some kind of power. You were just a lowly desk worker without even a Vision, so there was no real reason for you to know his true identity or anything.
Still, the fact that an ancient, powerful being like him would spend his time on you, even using his powers to help you with something as trivial as your hobbies...you felt something warm and indescribable well up inside your chest.
He did so much for you out of the kindness of his heart. You wanted to repay him with what little you had. An idea was forming in your head.
You set up your easel and paints and got to work. All of the paintings you painted until now were neatly stored away in your apartment, never seeing the light of day again, but this one will be special.
Though it was cool in that underwater observatory, your forehead was damp with sweat from concentration. You could picture the underwater scenery perfectly in your head, but it wasn't quite transferring onto the canvas in the way you hoped. It was so frustrating that you felt like crying, but you couldn't stop.
You discovered something new about yourself--you enjoyed the challenge. Perhaps it was honed from having to meet your superiors' exacting standards over and over again. (Wasn't this supposed to be my relaxation time away from work, a part of your brain wondered).
As you painted, you could feel Neuvillette pacing around, throwing glances at you frequently. It was strange, he was usually so still as you painted. Perhaps being underwater made him restless. You felt bad that you couldn't divide your concentration well enough to talk with him as you worked. He must be feeling bored.
That realization hit you surprisingly hard. You'd felt similar feelings before, but there was something deeper to it this time. More than a subordinate worrying about disappointing their boss. What was it?
You decided not to probe those feelings any further. It felt like you were crossing a line.
You finally put on the finishing touches and stepped back. Now you needed to wait about half an hour for it to dry. Feeling shy about showing it to Neuvillette before it was ready, you found a blanket on one of the couches and threw it over your painting.
Neuvillette saw what you did. His brow furrowed in confusion. "May I ask you why you covered your painting? Forgive my forwardness, but I was quite looking forward to seeing it."
"I want to wait until it dries before showing it to you," you put on your best, most innocent smile despite the butterflies in your stomach. Neuvillette's eyes widened slightly and he took a few steps back. Was your smile that horrible?
Electing to ignore that bruise to your ego, you changed the topic. "Monsieur Neuvillette, I would really love to see the underwater world more. Could you please accompany me outside? I-If it's okay with you, of course."
You wanted to kick yourself for being so presumptuous, but that was the first thing that came to mind.
"Yes, of course. Please, give me your hand." That was fast.
You obeyed, and he pulled you towards the watery film that served as the entrance of this observatory. When you went outside, you felt the coolness and pressure of the water on you, but you could still breathe. Your legs were dangling below you. Maybe this was what flying felt like.
"You can talk as well, as long as you're with me," Neuvillette told you. He looked majestic even--maybe especially--in the water. You had to look away for the sake of your heart.
Your gaze landed on a group of adorable otters. They were swimming together on their backs, holding shells in their little paws. They occasionally flipped the shells up into the air and caught them, twitching their noses as they did so. They were the most adorable creatures you had ever seen in your life.
"Oh Archons, they're so cute!" you squealed, then practically dragged Neuvillette over to them with you. The otters didn't startle when you approached them. In fact, one of the otters even came up to you, its tiny face peering into yours and its paws brought together. Your noses were practically touching. You really wished you brought a camera with you.
"Look, sir!" you turned to Neuvillette excitedly and was caught off guard by the smile on his face. When he realized you were looking at him, he cleared his throat. "Yes, they are indeed lively and adorable creatures."
Something suddenly occurred to you just then. Neuvillette's white hair and the otter's long white fur, the shared blue streaks, even the fact that they were both wearing (figuratively in the otter's case) the same shades of blue...could it be possible?
A vivid image of Neuvillette swimming around leisurely on his back, his nose twitching happily, holding his cane in his hands and flipping it in the air, appeared in your mind.
Oh no, you could feel your lips curve up into a smile. Giggles threatened to spill out from you at any moment. You had to hold them in, but it was so hard, especially when both Neuvillette and the otter were looking at you with the same confused expressions.
Unable to endure it anymore, you reflexively pulled yourself from Neuvillette--and immediately started choking as water flooded your lungs. Thankfully, Neuvillette got to you before you could become a permanent part of the sea. At least your giggles had disappeared.
After repeatedly assuring Neuvillette that you were fine and both apologizing profusely to each other, you had a fun time exploring the fascinating things that lay beneath the surface--with Neuvillette's hand firmly around your arm, naturally. You liked the silky feeling of the seaweed beneath your hands and the plump Blubberbeasts lying on their backs.
Before long, you two returned to the observatory. Even in the water, you could feel your hands getting sweaty as you approached the gray building. This was a whole new level of anxiety from before. Maybe it was because you were giving your painting to Neuvillette this time.
Well, you've learned from experience that there was no point in putting things like these off. If he doesn't accept it, maybe I can beg him to let me stay here forever, you thought, half-jokingly.
You walked over to your painting and uncovered it. It was all dry now. It didn't look as good as you hoped, but it was finished and there was nothing you could do now.
"Here, Monsieur Neuvillette, please take a look at my painting."
Neuvillette stepped up next to you and gazed at your painting in silence. That was normal, except for the fact that the silence stretched on unusually long. You could hear your heartbeat in your ears.
"...Did you paint a dragon here?" Neuvillette said at last, pointing at the blue, wavy lines in the center of your painting.
"Yes...?" you said. Oh no, is it so ugly that he can't even recognize what it is?
"Why?"
"Why...?" The clipped, blunt tone of your voice made you panic. You shouldn't have done this after all. "Well...because dragons are...cool...and amazing...and stuff, like you. I mean, my favorite story when I was little was the story of the hydro dragon, and now that I'm underwater, I thought that it'd be cool to imagine the dragon swimming in the sea. So I wanted to put that in this painting. Which I am giving to you, sir. As a gift."
Your explanation sounded lame even in your ears, even though it was the truth. And come to think of it, did the hydro dragon even swim? The tales you knew only spoke about it being able to make it rain.
"You're giving me your painting as a gift?" Neuvillette repeated.
"Um...you don't have to accept it if you don't want it..." You were seriously considering jumping out of one of those watery walls right now.
"Perish the thought. I shall frame it and put it in my office."
"Huh!?"
"I think it's your finest work yet. You captured the essence of what it is like being underwater perfectly."
"Really? Oh, uh, please don't put it in your office, sir. It's embarrassing..."
"Embarrassing? Not at all. It deserves to be displayed for all the citizens of Fontaine to see."
Now you felt like jumping out into the water for a different reason.
"No, no, please don't do that...it's just my way of saying thank you for everything you've done for me. You encouraged me, brought me to all sorts of wonderful places, even here...and yet I've never done anything for you."
Neuvillette turned to look at you then. There was alarm in his eyes. "A thank you gift? Does that mean our trips together are ending?"
"What, no!" you exclaimed. "I just wanted to thank you in some way, for being a good friend. I'm not rich or powerful or anything, so this is all I can give you."
Silence hung in the air. You said it. You said the f-word. But you didn't regret it. Even if it was one-sided, that was who he was to you. You looked straight into his eyes, almost daring him to say something.
He leaned forward until his face was right next to your ear. Your breath caught.
"I wouldn't trade your gift for any amount of gold or jewels."
Neither of you said anything more on the trip back to the surface.
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knock knock who's there it's me 🥺🥺🥺 politely asking for an update on de-aged max?
WHO'S THERE, oh yes, more de-aged Max.
(this link shows the stuff I’ve already posted in chronological order if the tag isn't working. But anyway, this bit follows directly on from this part.)
The package with the new nightlights in arrives after lunch, and Max pads silently around Daniel's apartment after him, watching him set them up. The Jimmy or Sassy cats come too, of course, winding their troublesome selves around Daniel's feet and the trailing wires. They are an accident waiting to happen, so Daniel tries to make Max giggle by doing a silly dance to step around the cats, but Max is quiet today, like Daniel's little shadow, and just hooks his little fingers through Daniel's belt loop.
There's a cat shaped light for the hall outside their bedrooms, and Daniel has to position it on a little stool because there's not a useful surface near the plug. It has a selection of settings, from a changing wave of colours to single colours at various brightnesses. Max carefully touches the cat's head, in between its ears, to get it to change colours, before settling on a soft blue glow. The one for the bathroom is shaped like an otter, and Daniel has to move some of their shit out of the way to find space for it on the counter. There's a new package of Pokemon-themed face cloths and towels and a matching toothbrush that he hasn't sprung on Max yet because he's waiting for bath time, a routine Max still does not approve of and Daniel hasn't figured out how to make fun yet. Max could go back to being big at any moment, but until he wakes up his normal size again, Daniel is committed to ensuring that Max is clean and fed and safe and warm for the duration, even if Max seems to believe that baths are a very bad thing indeed, and bath time in general is exhausting for them both.
Even given that Max does not approve of bath time, and he keeps wetting the bed and Daniel hasn't slept through the night since that brave little knock on his door last week, getting to spend all of this time with Max like this is great. He wouldn't change it for anything. He's sort of dreading the moment it all comes to an end and Max wakes up normal-aged again, if he's honest.
It doesn't make it any better, however, when it all goes wrong when Daniel tries to set up the night light he'd got for Max's bedroom.
"No," Max says, little arms folded, bottom lip jutting out, cheeks red.
"No?" Daniel asks, after he's tried to put the animal themed night light on the drawers by the bed more than once, and Max has pushed it away.
"No," Max says again, stamping his foot.
"Don't you like it?"
"I'm not scared," Max says. "Take it away."
Daniel hadn't been entirely certain if Max was afraid of the dark before he'd ordered the nightlights. It was another weapon in the online parenting websites' arsenal of tools to combat bedwetting, something he thought he might try, but one look at Max's bright, scared eyes as he mutinously maintains he doesn't need it, and Daniel is convinced he's terrified.
Which is— well.
"Okay," Daniel says. "That's okay, Maxy-Max. Can I tell you a secret?"
Max still looks mutinous. He hasn't unfolded his arms, his little bottom lip sticking out. He's frowning. It would be cute if Daniel wasn't secretly so worried.
"I'm scared of the dark," Daniel says in a whisper. "But I didn't want anyone to know, so I never had a light. But if you don't need this one, then maybe I can have it in my room, so I won't be scared any more. Do you think that might be okay?"
Max's expression does something complicated. His eyes have gone very wide. He's looking up at Daniel like he's one of those monkeys with the huge eyes. "You are not scared of the dark, Daniel," he says, after a moment of staring, unblinking, up at Daniel like a very worried little alien.
"I am," Daniel says. He lets that settle for a bit. Max looks worried, but he's also thinking. Daniel's learned to recognise that thinking face.
"But you're a grown up," Max whispers. He twists his fingers into Daniel's t-shirt, just above the waist, like he can keep hold of Daniel if Daniel tried to leave him behind. Daniel's not leaving him anywhere.
"Grown ups can be scared of things," Daniel says, in as gentle a voice as he can manage. "Big Daniels are scared of lots of things." Max looks amazed, and more than a little bit worried, which Daniel does not like. "I told you I was scared of the dark," Daniel says. "I don't like it in the middle of the night when I wake up and it's all dark. I don't like it when you go swimming in the sea and there are fish and they swim up to you. Sharks are scary too." He does a pretend full body shiver, to make Max laugh, but Max isn't laughing. He sits down on Max's bed, and pats the mattress next to him. Max obediently clambers up next to him, tucking himself into Daniel's side. "And can I tell you another secret?"
Max nods uncertainly. His fingers are pulling on Daniel's t-shirt, holding on tight.
"Charmander scares me," Daniel tells him, "because his tail's on fire."
Max's eyes go even wider. He blinks up at Daniel, then buries his face in Daniel's t-shirt, mumbling something that Daniel can't make out.
"What did you say, Maxy-Max?"
"You'll get in trouble," Max whispers, without unhiding himself from Daniel's shirt.
Oh, Daniel thinks, and does not cry. Instead, he wraps an arm around Max's shoulders. "It's okay to be scared of things," he says, without much hope that Max is able to listen and understand. "Nobody gets in trouble here for being scared of things. Everyone is scared of something."
Max shakes his head, face still buried in Daniel's side.
"Do you think you can help me set up my new nightlight in my bedroom?" Daniel says. "That way, tonight I won't have to be scared any more. And I was thinking that we could put the light on in the bathroom, and the one in the hall, and I'll keep my bedroom door open too, and then it'll be light if I wake up in the middle of the night. Is that okay, Max?"
Max tucks his hand into Daniel's, but won't let go of him.
"Do you want to sit here for a bit? We could look at your flag book for a bit, if you'd like. Have a cuddle."
Max shifts a little, face tucked into Daniel's side. "I know about your flags," he says, because they've been reading about Australia, and about Italy.
"You do," Daniel agrees, reaching for the flag book on the drawers by Max's bed. "Do you want to pick a page?"
Max flicks through his book for a while, before coming back to Daniel with the book open to the chapter on South America. If there's ever a point where Daniel is racing again, and there's a geography Grill the Grid, he's going to smash it. Race Max to the winning place. But not yet. Not just yet. Daniel leans down and kisses the top of Max's head.
Max looks up at him with a worried little smile.
"Do you know who my favourite little boy is?" Daniel asks.
Max's brow furrows. He shakes his head.
Daniel leans in and blows a little raspberry into Max's ear so that he giggles and squeezes Daniel's hand. "You, Maxy-Max. You're my favourite."
Max is quiet today. That's okay. His hand's tucked into Daniel's. One of the Jimmy or Sassy cats comes and sits on the other side of him, and Max strokes their little fluffy head. Daniel reads him the flag facts about Brazil, about Argentina, about Uruguay. Later, he can set up the nightlight in his bedroom, on the drawers by the door so it'll light up the hallway. He'll leave all the doors open so that the light will bleed into Max's room, and hopefully it'll help. Hopefully he'll let Daniel buy him his own nightlight. Maybe one day soon he can say that he's scared and not worry about getting into trouble for it.
Until then: this. He's okay.
Thank you to @flawlessassholes for reading this over! And the other lovely people who listen to me go on and on about small Max.
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better together
❀ warnings: yandere theme (but slightly), obsession, someone else flirt with the reader, jealous oikawa.
❀ request by anon! Can I ask for a Yandere Oikawa fanfiction? *no cheating* thank you
❀ a/n: I loved writing this for tooru! he is one the character that wrote a lot back when i used to write back on twitter, so it’s make me quite happy to someone to request him. and I have decided to write a small fanfic instead of the usual headcanons because why not?
maybe agreeing to hanging out with oikawa wasn’t a bad decision, regardless of he choosing to visit an observatory, the boy paid for the dinner earlier. so, why not sticking around to get know him better?
“are you enjoying it?” his voice brought you back to reality. how long have you spacing out while looking to the fish’s aquarium? he was probably talking about something important.
feeling his hands into yours is a reminder that oikawa might be disappointed that you failed to hear whatever he was talking about. that’s is really bad for a first date, you don’t want to lose this opportunity.
you nodded, “yep.” the small smile in your lips is way more than enough to make his day better. “i never being to an aquarium before, so thanks for bringing me here.”
“I’m glad to hear it, [name].” he replied.
soon, the silence took over them. it might a little awkward between the two, but oikawa feel it’s better to stay like this than ruining the mood between the person that he wants to know more. continuing to hold your hand, the brown haired boy showed you the rest of the aquarium, at least, his favorite parts.
one place that call your attention is the souvenir shop, where many things are in sell. candies, clothes, plushies and other stuffs that you are looking forward to buy to him. maybe an otter plush will suit him.
“I’m buying this for you.” you said, handing him the small plush as you paid at the cashier. while a smile is on your face, oikawa is quite surprised by how you just got him something so cute as this plush, but he also quite disappointed in himself, after all, he was the one to supposed to buy cute things to you.
after staring at his new gift, oikawa let a small giggle of his lips, he is both impressive and happy with the way you act with him. none of his previous dates ever got him something like this! his friends were right, you are indeed a small box full of surprises just ready to be open.
“thanks, [name].” he smiled, feeling the soft texture of the plushy in his hand is a reminder that he will ask you out more after. “do you want to go home already?”
you smile and hold his hand once again, ready to leave the aquarium with oikawa at your side. you definitely will let him take you out in more dates like this, especially if you could more gifts to him.
@lyomeii stuff || don’t repost
#yandere imagine#yandere#oikawa tooru x reader#yandere oikawa#yandere x reader#haikyuu x reader#haikyuu imagine#oikawa x reader#hq oikawa x reader#yandere headcanon#yandere x you#yandere male
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Hi! I’m currently working on a big, detailed Blackfish rebuttal, which means lots of rabbit holes. I recently started rereading John Hargrove’s book (ugh). He talks about how the original Shamu died of pyometra and septicemia, claiming that it was something that, apparently, would almost never happen in the wild. The obvious implication here is that captivity caused these conditions, and/or that such is common with captive orcas. However, obviously septicemia can be caused by a variety of things, wild or not. As for pyometra, he doesn’t provide other examples of captive orcas suffering pyometra, nor have I been able to find other examples described in peer reviewed literature. It seems that that isn’t particularly common in cetaceans period, whether they’re wild or not, but I’m also not a marine mammal veterinarian. Since you’d know better about cetacean medicine, I was wondering if you knew anything more about this.
Ooh, that'll be interesting! I'd love to read it!
You're correct that Shamu is the only reported case of pyometra in a killer whale, wild or captive. The CRC Handbook of Marine Mammal Medicine makes no mention of pyometra in cetaceans, although it does occur in both wild and captive pinnipeds and has been reported in sea otters and sirenians. Pyometra is typically the result of bacteria migrating up the vaginal tract into the uterus, which at certain times is more susceptible to infection due to normal hormonal fluctuations. Theoretically, anything with a uterus can get pyometra, though some species are more commonly affected than others.
I would hedge to bet that pyometra is rare in cetaceans because of their truly unusual reproductive anatomy. Females have a lot of redundant tissue in their vaginal tract, creating "false cervixes" and overall making it a lot more difficult for anything to reach the uterus.
See all those extra recesses around the cervix?
I did find this case report on a necropsy of a wild short-beaked common dolphin. Pyometra was one of many nasty issues afflicting the poor girl, so it can indeed occur in nature. Since this individual was suffering from co-infections of bacteria and cetacean morbillivirus, she was clearly immunocompromised. It's highly likely Shamu was as well.
Overall, pyometra of cetaceans (including orcas) appears to be quite rare in both the wild and managed care. Shamu was the very first orca intentionally captured for public display, nearly 60 years ago, and only survived six years in captivity before her death at approximately age 10. Virtually nothing was known about killer whale husbandry at the time, so it's not at all unreasonable to assume that poor husbandry, nutrition, and stress negatively impacted her immune function to the point she succumbed to pyometra.
However, it's a weak argument on Hargrove's part to compare the SeaWorld of today (with multiple orcas now in their 30s, 40s, and 50s) to the SeaWorld of the 1960s, and their very first whale at that. Especially using a condition that has not been reported in a captive orca since.
#orcas#killer whales#dolphins#shamu#cetaceans#marine mammals#vet med#pyometra#answered asks#ihazyourkitty
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could you do kitty dew, puppy mountain and otter rain sleepy cuddles maybe? just sleepy little guys?
THIS IS THE CUTEST!!! (I made them shapeshifters here so the three of them are literally little fluffy guys heheh)
also obligatory @sphylor tag for not only terrarium boys but little fluffy and cuddly terrarium boys ehehehe :3
Swiss has a lot on his hands.
He had chores planned for the day, something with Copia, but he never made it. In the morning he couldn’t find one of his hoodies and went to Dewdrop, assuming it was him who stole it. It wouldn't be surprising in the slightest, but what he found instead of the 5’7 fire ghoul was a small orange kitten curled up in a little ball on, indeed, his hoodie. The multi ghoul sighed and picked him up with one hand still sleeping—he’s so tiny he fits in his grasp perfectly.
Swiss wanted to take him to Rain’s room, knowing Dewdrop preferred the water ghoul to be the one caring for him like this, but there waited for them another surprise. In Rain’s bed was Rain, sure but he was in his otter form. A big otter at least. He started squeaking and wiggling happily at Swiss' presence and the multi ghoul had no choice but to pick him up with his other hand and take both of the little creatures to yet someone else.
Rain isn’t small enough to fit in his hand, though, and his wiggling definitely didn’t help, so he ended up hanging over Swiss’ shoulder and squeaking as the multi ghoul walked to another door. At that point he was definitely late for his chores already.
Mountain was the one Swiss was hoping would take care of Rain and Dewdrop, but it didn’t work either. He was already quite amused by the situation, and getting jumped by a cute little bernese mountain dog puppy made him burst out into a full body laugh and nearly drop Rain in the process.
Swiss figured he was getting no chores done today and so he let Copia know with a quick text before bending down to somehow grab Mountain, too, and doing his best to carry all three of them to the common room. He managed—even without waking Dewdrop up—and now the kitten and the otter are napping together on the couch while Swiss tries to keep Mountain from eating the edge of said couch.
"Mount, buddy, please," Swiss pleads, even though he's still very amused by the whole ordeal, and tries to pry the puppy away from the couch. His fangs catch on the damaged fabric, though, and Swiss would absolutely hate himself for hurting him by pulling forcefully. "Okay, puppy, here. Here!" the multi ghoul tutts at him and waves his fingers in front of his fluffy little face.
It succeeds in distracting Mountain from the couch and he lets out a happy little chuff, but Swiss regrets his methods as his exceptionally sharp puppy teeth latch onto his hand. "Ow!"
He sighs and shakes his head, still smiling through it all, and returns to the couch. Both Dewdrop and Rain respectfully chirp and squeak at the disturbance, but once Swiss settles with Mountain tucked under his arm, the otter and the kitten deem the multi ghoul's chest a more comfortable nap spot.
Dewdrop meowing crawls onto the middle of his chest first, and flops onto his side before immediately kicking up a loud purr. Rain squeaks some more as he follows his best friend and cuddles up to his back, right under Swiss' chin.
Faced with cuddles, all the excess energy Mountain had leaves him and he snuggles happily into Swiss' arm. The multi ghoul sighs and closes his own eyes, hoping that later it will be him who wakes up first; before any havoc that might go down with the three menaces well rested and ready for more mischief.
A few hours later—why did it take so long for someone to get to the commons?—Cumulus and Phantom take in the image that the four of them create on the couch.
Swiss is sprawled out flat on his back and snoring loudly, Mountain is drooling against his arm, Dewdrop is purring up a storm, and Rain is squeaking and huffing into his fur as they all sleep.
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Yandere!YutaxGN!Reader
His eyes were always intense.
Dark… there was a darkness about his eyes and no matter how much you tried to brush off his stare, you always felt scared. Your body feeling as though someone dumped cold water on you whenever you met his eyes.
Yuta wasn’t a quiet loner.
He wasn’t much of a bad boy in the stereotypical sense though he did hang out with a rough crowd.
He was nice to everyone, always laughing, a big grin stretching his lips that made him look very inviting and warm.
He was respectful too though, if you didn’t respect him well… let’s just say that won’t end well.
Yuta in a sense was a bad boy with a heart of gold, making use with the wrong hand he was dealt with.
Out of his friends, he was the only one attending college, majoring in Physical therapy.
He had told you on a double date that he wanted to get into sports medicine since he wouldn’t be able to do football because of an injury.
One of your friends got asked out by his friend and thought it would be cool to make it a double date since they were nervous. You didn’t expect to see the bleach blonde but there he was standing next to his friend.
Yuta was really sweet.
He wasn’t weird or tried anything.
It was nice to have someone listen to you talk about miscellaneous things like pro wrestling, Splatoon lore, and random facts about sea otters.
He was everything you expected him to be.
And honestly, that was a terrible thing to do.
Suddenly, you began receiving little messages of encouragement in your morning English class that you always had on Wednesdays.
It was sweet words that always made your day so the only thing you really wondered about was who was writing them.
Pretty normal.
Then the letters of encouragement started appearing on the desks you always say at in your other classes.
This should’ve been when the warning siren went off because this was very obviously the same person, you can tell from the handwriting but in all your classes, you didn’t share multiple classes with any of your classmates. But still, you didn’t think about that, only thinking about the nice words you were receiving.
The letters though started becoming flirty, your ears becoming warm at the compliments you were getting.
One day though it finally got to you that this whole thing was a bit weird.
How did this stranger knew what you were wearing? How did they know the tests you were taking?
At some point, you began to not read the letters anymore, believing that continuing to entertain whoever was sending you these letters will only lead to trouble.
Sadly, the trouble began the night you met Yuta.
It wasn’t like Yuta wanted to fall for you.
In fact, he didn’t expect it.
It was genuinely surprising.
He shared one class with you, Applied Mathematics on Thursdays at 2:30pm.
You were cute but quiet.
You weren’t shy at all but you really only kept yourself around your close friends.
That night listening you just gush over random things that you liked, something kind of just clicked in Yuta’s head and he felt his heart flutter for the first time as he heard you laugh, your hand covering your smile.
Did you think your smile was ugly?
Yuta would assure you that your smile was indeed not ugly.
That night when he got home, he couldn’t stop thinking about you and immediately he decided to make you his.
Yuta was a neutral man in terms of doing morally questionable things to get what you want so even though he beat himself up after the first couple of days of stalking you, he got over it quickly.
Yuta noticed how you always seemed to be in your own world, humming a random melody sometimes or just repeating a song lyric.
He saw that you were a helpful person. In fact, you seemed pretty selfless.
He fell more in love with you and began leaving little letters of encouragement on the desks you always sat at.
Oh the sadness he felt when you stopped reading his letters.
Was his compliments creepy?
He wanted to know and so he asked you.
“Um.. I just think it’s a bit weird that you know all of my first classes of the day.” You told him quietly, finding it difficult to look him in the eyes.
“Oh…” Fuck.
Yuta backed off that day. It was obvious he had cross the line and made you uncomfortable but that quickly didn’t matter once he saw you talking to a classmate of yours and you were talking to him a lot in Yuta’s eyes.
The guy made you laugh and smile. He would buy you coffee and even hug you!
Yuta never even got to hold your hand but this guy that you don’t even know can just hug you?!
Yuta knew he wasn’t thinking healthy but he couldn’t stop it.
He hated that that guy was in his place.
Yeah, Yuta shouldn’t had stalked you but it was just a little mistake.
That’s all.
He couldn’t help staring at you.
He never glared, always stared.
When your eyes would meet his, his heart would flutter.
Didn’t your heart flutter too?
It had to.
There’s no way it didn’t.
He just needs to fix everything and get you the proper way this time but first, he needs to get rid of that classmate of yours.
In Yuta’s mind, you’re already his and he won’t let anyone get in the way and he had came to realization that he wouldn’t even let you get in the way as well.
The darkness of delusional obsession has possessed him and you saw it within in his eyes.
#now I shall go to bed#yandere yuta nakamoto#yandere yuta#yandere nakamoto yuta#yandere nct 127#yandere nct#yuta nakamoto x male reader#yuta nakamoto x reader#nakamoto yuta x male reader#nakamoto yuta x reader#nct x male reader#nct x reader#nct 127 x reader#nct 127 x male reader
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Hey! Your writing is amazing!! Do you have any Sterek fic recs?
Thank you so much 💖! I have absolutely loads of recs - way more than I could possibly fit in one post - but here's a little selection of things that I've read or re-read recently for you. It's a mixture of genres, some are classics, others are newer, but I loved them all. In no particular order, here you go:
No Superman by WhoNatural - E, ~48k words
Scrubs AU. I've never seen Scrubs, but if this fic is anything to go by I probably should. This is one of those fics that I'll re-read every time I see it linked somewhere. If you're into medical dramas, this is a great one. A+
A Functioning Adult’s Field Guide to Enemies With Benefits by BisexualGoblin - E, ~31k words
A delicious case of enemies to lovers, with a boatload of misunderstandings and a hefty case of pining idiots. Love it.
The Importance of Turning Around Three Times Before Lying Down by Otter - M, ~31k words
I'm a sucker for fics where Stiles unwittingly ends up looking after a dog that is very much not a dog, but a Derek. This one is excellent.
Lock All The Doors Behind You by Entanglednow - M, ~25k words
There's just something about a fic where Derek is feral and Stiles is the only one he trusts to get near him. I think this is one of the very first Sterek fics I ever read, and it still hits just right.
A (Sort of) Fairytale by Briecheesie - M, ~25k words
Fox Stiles. It's a classic, and it's so good.
Introduction to Zero-Sum Anthropology by Apocryphal - T, ~19k words
Derek Hale deserves nice things. But he cannot simply accept them, so a war of gift-giving must be in order. So so cute.
this dance of days by Imprintofadream - M, ~28k words
We've got Firefighter Derek, we've got Deputy Stiles, we've got wildfires and a delicious bit of slow burn. These are all good things, and they add up to something pretty excellent. 10/10.
I'm Not Asking Questions, I'm Taking My Chances by Keldjinfae - E, ~80k words
Let's get a bit of fantasy going here! Stiles is the prince of a kingdom where supernatural entities are banished, Derek is a werewolf with a mission to complete. It's not a Merlin AU, but if you're into Merlin I'm pretty sure you'll love this (and I am very much into Merlin, so obviously I loved it too). The plot had me hooked, and once I started reading I could not stop. 100% recommend.
DILF by Twentysomething - E, ~30k words
I'm not always the biggest one for kid fic, but this one is excellent. Stiles is a kindergarten teacher, Derek is a single parent to his two nephews. There's slow burn and a wolf sanctuary, and some impromptu howling. And Derek is, indeed, a DILF.
The Lawn Ranger by Snowjob - M, ~47k words
High school AU. It's summer, Stiles is a jock with a broken arm and a crush, Derek is the werewolf who gets roped into mowing his lawn. All. Good. Things.
Where the Real Beasts Are by Kaistrex - E, ~109k words
Do I love Stiles as a prince? Yes. Yes I do. Long and plotty and excellent. There are evil Argents, there are direwolves, there's some wonderful slow burn. All things that we love.
Bogarted by HalfFizzbin - M, ~3k words
Hilarious. Just A+. Derek is hit by a film noir curse, and it's just as perfect as you would imagine.
Stand Fast in Your Enchantments by DevilDoll - E, ~77k words
It's a classic, and I can't not rec it. Derek is feral, Stiles is magical, and they're held captive together. Read it. If you've already read it, heck, why not read it again?! I certainly will.
Wild Horses by ThePsychicClam - E, ~79k words
Ranch AU. Derek is a drifter that ends up at the Stilinski's failing ranch. I love this one. It has all the wonderful slow-burn UST goodness that I love, plus horses! 10/10 would recommend.
Can I rec my own fic? It feels kind of self-aggrandising, but I'm proud of it and I'm not above giving myself a little promo. I'll call it a bonus item and just leave it at the bottom here:
Way Down We Go by Wolfspurr - E, ~50k words
I wrote it! If you like stuff set around S3B, post-Nogitsune healing, and slow burn roadtrip fic, I hope you'll give this one a chance 💖
#sterek#stiles stilinski#derek hale#teen wolf#fic rec#sterek fic rec#sterek fic#fanfic#fic#asks#recs#my recs
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Underwater Adventure
Furina:Aether have you seen Freminet, the diver boy by any chance?
Aether:Nope. Haven’t seen the twins either. Though knowing my luck I’ll find them again before my own twin.
Furina:Wow. Didn’t know you could be passive aggressive.
Aether:I’m just blowing off a little steam. Anyways, why do you need Freminet? Lose something in the water?
Furina:No. I figured he was likely to know the location of Fontaine’s most dazzling underwater locations.
Aether:Why wouldn’t y- oh. Oh! It never really crossed my mind but if you only got your vision recently then you’ve probably never experienced Fontaine below the surface.
Furina:Don’t be silly! It’s not as of I’m completely unaware. There’s been tons of pictures, videos, and textbooks spanning the centuries. Though you’d be correct in saying I’ve never actually experienced it all with my own eyes.
Aether:If that’s the case, want me to fill in? I’m no expert diver but I think I’ve seen some pretty remarkable sights.
Furina:Oh I wouldn’t want to take up your time or anything of your busy- you’ve already grabbed my hand.
Aether:Want me to let go?
Furina: *sighs* Not really…
xxxx
The beauty of Fontaine is there really isn’t a bad place to start when it comes to experiencing the water. Any vision holder can simply dive right in. Even so, Furina was a little hesitant, only going waist deep with Aether as he slowly walked backwards deeper in while holding her hands.
Furina:So you can literally breathe like normal? No fancy trick!?
Aether:If it scares you then you can take a deep breath first and watch me be perfectly fine. You can even talk underwater!
Furina:No but I’ll do it.
Aether:Three…two…dive!
She dove towards him as he sunk into the water, still holding one hand to keep her close. Aether didn’t think he’d ever play travel guide, nor did he expect to catch a glimpse of what had to have been the same look on his face when he first entered the waters. Apprehension and fear vanished in an instant as Furina’s eyes grew wide with awe.
So many years of learning, studying, and even fearing her nation’s waters could not compare to the breathtaking sight it imposed. The lush sea grass under schools of fish. The way the sunlight broke apart through rippling waves like dazzling gems. Even the melodic hum of the currents around her all served to make Furina take her first breath without even realizing.
Furina:Wow…
Aether:Right? I can easily say I hadn’t seen anything like this until I got here.
Furina:There’s just so much color. The coral, fish, and crabs! Is that a pod of seals!? Aw they’re like a giant family!
Aether:Have you realized you’re talking yet?
Furina:Huh? Oh! Hey, I’m fine! Not that I thought you were lying or anything. It’s just…wow.
Aether:So, anything you may have wanted to see particularly?
Furina:Show me everything you can!
Aether:Ha, say no more.
xxxxx
Hard to believe the girl who nearly sent him to court was now playing with otters under the sea. From spotting sunken ships to petting seahorses, the girl held a gentle wonder in her eyes. Even after accidentally getting stuck in a current. Aether watched her swim down to the sea floor and sit crisscross so he went to join her.
Aether:Having fun?
Furina:Boatloads! I said it before but it should be repeated, pictures and videos doesn’t do this sight justice. I know I’m human and by all means I’ve lived my entire life on land, yet something about being down here feels so…natural.
Aether:I’m sure Freminet would have similar feelings.
Furina:I’ll admit though, swimming for so long is indeed a workout I wasn’t completely prepared for. You’re probably feeling it more; I did seem to interrupt your day.
Aether:My commissions weren’t that hard. Plus I gathered some stuff I needed while we’re down here.
Furina:If that’s the case then shall we finally go back up for proper air?
Aether:Actually…would you like to see a super scenic spot underwater that’s also under the water?
Furina:Oh so like a sea cave?
Aether:Even better. Hehe, follow me.
A spark of energy flared in his voice as he swam off. Furina couldn’t say her interest wasn’t piqued. It took awhile to reach but when they did, Furina was shocked to found the water had ended and they were suddenly walking on solid ground into old ruins. Once again her sense of wonder reached new heights as the ruins opened up to what looked like a long forgotten kingdom with a still towering castle that was wrapped in the embrace of a silhouetted Oceanid.
Furina:This place looks like it’s right out of the tales and records of Narzissenkreuz.
Aether:Funny you should say that…
Furina:….
Furina:Is this the place!?
Aether:Y’know I’m kinda amazed just how vast your knowledge goes; and I really don’t mean to sound rude when I say that. I guess it only makes sense for you to know a bit of everything when you have informants for centuries. Still…you must’ve read a dozen libraries worth.
Furina:Try a cities worth. I’m not always on the stage or drinking tea you know? I was very diligent about finding any means to prevent the prophecy. It’s only natural I learned an array of topics as a consequence. It’s actually a little silly. Sometimes I feel like if my life was normal from the start, I may have ended up somewhere like the foundation of the research institute. I really did enjoy learning the things in those dusty books.
Aether:What do you think your field would’ve been?
Furina:Not the biggest fan of machinery myself, all things considered. I’m leaning more towards marine biology.
Aether:Somehow picturing you majoring in a science is really out of left field.
Furina:*pouts* Hey! I’m being honest here. What’s with all the jabs all of a sudden? Don’t tell me you take me for someone who hasn’t read a book in their life?
Aether:Not at all. I just get this feeling that somehow no matter the reason, you would’ve ended up on stage and dazzling the crowd. Not because of who you are now; I don’t know. It’s almost like I think you’re born to perform.
Furina:*red*Well…..haha! I mean I can’t argue with that. I do have a natural knack for acting and with my beauty I’m sure it was only a matter of time before a genius would want to put me front and center when the curtain came time to open. *nods* Yes, that sounds about right.
Aether:*smiles* Was what I said really that embarrassing?
Furina:I have no idea what you’re talking about!
Aether:If you say so. Ready to go deeper in? The spot isn’t that far now.
Furina:Yep. Let’s this undersea adventure continue! *points onward*
xxxxx
Ancient architecture, damp air, and peculiar ruins. They weren’t the first thing that Furina thought of when it came to when she thought of a good time but she found it hard not to be enamored by it all. It a very broad way, it felt as if she was connecting with her roots. Aether must’ve noticed this because Furina couldn’t help but notice the slower pace he took ever since they got here. She was thankful for it. Despite his way of challenging her whenever possible, he also found the most interesting ways to spoil her without saying.
They eventually made their way to what looked like an old library that was segmented into near identical rooms. Furina feared she might’ve gotten lost if it wasn’t for Aether immediately turning her around to reveal a hidden path. Just how do people come up with these things!? Her inspection of her surroundings came to an end when Aether causally got behind her and covered her eyes.
Furina:Umm what’s happening?
Aether:The spot is just around the corner. Don’t worry. Just keep walking. I got you.
Furina:This is starting to feel like an elaborate birthday surprise of some sort. Too bad it’s not actually my birthday.
Aether:I’m afraid when that day comes it might be something way more relaxed.
Furina:As long as there’s good cake and company then you will have succeeded in my eyes. Be warned however, I’m a stickler for desserts.
Aether:I’ll keep that in mind.
Furina:How much longer?
Aether:Relax~ Just…feel it.
Without further ado, Aether removed his hands right as Furina stepped into what felt like pure warmth. Her eyes quickly adjusted and became vibrant as they took in what could only be described as a wonderland. A sweet little cottage in a humble forest clearing stood quietly in view under gentle, muted rays of sunlight that only seemed to feel cozy instead of burning. The faint smell of spring tickled her nose as sunflowers swayed from an inviting breeze while the trickling sound of a creek whispered in her ears.
Furina was absolutely speechless, the view stirring her heart until it immediately turned calmer than an undisturbed puddle after a downpour. This place brought a sense of ease that her mind had long since forgotten and heart never dreamed off. It was so overwhelming yet still. It took Furina awhile to realize her eyes had welled up. She wiped the brief tears away and turned to Aether to see the young adventurer standing beside her with his eyes closed, welcoming the breeze. He didn’t say a word once he opened his eyes. Aether simply walked towards the creek before taking the opportunity to lay down in a patch of flowers.
Furina continued to walk with her feelings, coming a across a small doghouse before spotting a humble table outside with enough space to hold tea with friends. Furina felt temptation to enter the cottage but resisted. Instead she finally made her way towards Aether and sat beside him while he rested his eyes.
Aether:Nice place, isn’t it?
Furina:Hats off too you. I knew there were many places I had yet to see. Still, never in my time could I have imagined a place like this. The air itself even feels lighter. Where’s the owner?
Aether:Moving forward with their friends. I don’t know when they’ll be back, but I imagine it’ll be quite some time. I’m sure if they ever return, it’ll be to rest their heads before setting off again.
Furina:Is that so? You know…I don’t think I’d ever say I had a yearning to feel more connected to “mirror-me” in the grand scheme of things. But between my vision, the water, and even this, I feel like a part of me satisfied and at rest. Maybe I’m just imagining things.
Aether:I wouldn’t say that. I know many friends who would say that even the faintest connections never truly disappear. Some last across lifetimes. Speaking of which, one of these days I’ll have to show you another wonderful spot.
Furina:If it’s half as beautiful as this then I’ll be floored. Is it far?
Aether:Not really. There’s a certain desert oasis I think you should see alongside with a few friends of mine. Perfect place for a tea party.
Furina:Sounds interesting. I’ll be sure to keep my schedule flexible. Hmm today really has been a wonderful day. Thank you, seriously.
Aether:Anytime. It was fun playing travel guide. If you ever need a spot to get away from your worries and clear your mind, now you have a perfect place.
Furina:Well…I’m unsure if I’d go that far. Coming here later might not feel as peaceful.
Aether:That’s an odd thing to say. Are your trying to say it wouldn’t be same without me or something?
He said that half in jest, focused on the sun’s warmth. It was only when that warmth spread to his lips gently did his heart jump. As the warmth faded, Aether opened his eyes to see Furina focused on the creek; her ears bright red and face moved just out of view.
Furina:The mood felt right…
Aether:….
She could hear him moving, slowly getting closer to her. Furina was prepared for Aether to get right up in her face teasingly, but it never happened. Instead her lap became heavy with his head. Furina looked down at the boy to see his attention was also focused towards the water while the sight of flushed skin spread to ears as well. Furina couldn’t help but smile softly as she began playing with his hair. What a wonderland this truly was.
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CAN U PLEASEPLEADEPLEAE MAKE A PART 2 OF STEP ON MY HEART WHERE THEY ARE AT THE WAR
step on my heart² | draco malfoy
pairing: draco x reader
word count: 1,8k
summary: where draco and y/n meet again amidst the battlefield
a/n: i'm actually super proud of this one, so pls don't let it flop <3 i really wanted it to be perfect since so many of you kept asking for a part II of step on my heart, so here we are! hope you enjoy & please don't forget to like, comment and reblog ♡
warnings: angst, mentions of death
universe: harry potter
"Watch out!", Ginny screams at you, pointing to somewhere behind you before shooting a spell right at the Death Eater that was about to attack you. With a loud screech, he flies through the air and slams against the next wall - or what is left of it -, his body falling limp.
Exhausted but relieved that Ginny prevented him from hurting you, you place your hands on your knees, trying to catch your breath from all the running and fighting. You knew the battle would be bad, but as soon as the shield that was protecting Hogwarts went down, hell broke out. Spells and curses fly through the air, hitting and hurting people on both sides and all you can do is try to stay alive.
Yes, you know a lot of spells and yes, you are indeed capable of defending yourself and putting on a good fight, but it is slowly but surely draining your strength and you have no idea how long you will be able to keep going like this. Dumbledore's Army prepared you for a lot, but this was not what you expected. On the other hand, you are not quite sure what you even expected.
"We need to find my brother, come on", Ginny finally says after also catching her breath and starts walking in the direction where she assumes her brother. Even though she does not necessarily look like it, you know that she is as worried as you are. And that scares you even more.
Following her after taking two more deep breaths, you walk along hallways and passageways you roamed in your school days. However, there is not much left of it now. There is chaos everywhere, screams echo through the night and whenever you come across others, you are ready to fight. Fortunately, you only come across other Hogwarts students who are on your side before you reach the meeting point where you are supposed to wait for Ron and Hermione.
It only takes a few minutes until they join the two of you, also completely out of breath. When they reach you, you cannot even utter one single word as suddenly there is a huge explosion close to your current destination and the ground beneath your feet shakes violently. What you hear next, however, is even worse than the loud noise of the explosion nearby and can definitely serve as nightmare fuel.
Because in the next moment, at least five Dementors approach you out of nowhere, a thick layer of fog accompanying them as they hover over the ground. For a second, you cannot move a single muscle, you feel like all your life is sucked out of you until you are suddenly pushed to the side and a bright blue light appears right in front of you.
Now that your mind feels a lot clearer again, realizing that you were the clostest to the dark creatures, you notice that a sparkling otter causes them to retreat, eerie noises leaving their lifeless forms. But as soon as one of them flees, there are three others that join them and the tiny otter's light is too weak to defend all of them. And even when a horse and a dog join in, there are too many Dementors.
Feeling helpless, you can only watch how the Patronuses fight against the evil creatures because you are not able to produce your own Patronus charm anymore. The day you were able to call your Patronus in the form of an animal was also the last day you were able to do so. Since then, all your attempts to bring back the light failed. And even though you do not want to admit it, you know why. Your Patronus left with him on that fateful day, leaving you all to your own, hurt and in despair.
All that was left, are those bad memories that hurt you whenever you think back to what you used to be. What you and Draco used to be before he made you choose a side. After your paths painfully seperated on that day, both of you did everything in order to avoid seeing the other. You did not even want to see him anymore after he gave you an ultimatum. He chose his side while you chose yours and now you find yourself in the middle of what is probably the biggest battle in the Wizarding World's history, not having seen Draco properly once since then, and all you have left is that terrible aching in your chest.
You are frightened when the three little Patronuses cannot keep up with the foul creatures and turn in your direction once more. You are frightened when they get so close to you and your friends that you are shivering, that you feel like there will never be a happy day in your life ever again.
And you are frightened when your eyes suddenly meet Draco's after such a long time.
Standing closely behind the Dementors, your eyes lock with his and your heart aches even more at his sight. He is a Death Eater now, following Lord Voldemorts every order, which is also the reason why the dark creatures do not care for him in the slightest bit. Because he is one of them, because he is on their side.
But why do you see tears in his eyes then? Why does he look so devastated and hurt, perfectly mirroring your own feelings right now?
All you know, is that there will never be a future for the two of you. There will not be a future for either one of you because after today, there will not even be a tomorrow. Everything ends today. And you will leave without him by your side, death doing you both part.
These are the last thoughts you have while one of the Dementors is busy sucking your soul out of your body. And the first thoughts when there is a bright light out of nowhere, blindling you. The dark creatures screech and scream, letting go of you and your friends as they are affected by the bright light that is the complete opposite of them.
Levering yourself on your elbows after you have apparently dropped to the ground, you search for the source of the bright light and not only does your breathing stop for a second, but so does your heart. Draco, his pale face illuminated by the light emerging from the tip of his wand, comes running towards you, causing the Dementors to retreat even further as he reaches you, falling onto his knees right next to your trembling figure.
"Are you- Are you alright?!", he asks, breathing heavily as he keeps his arm outstretched to keep the Dementors out of reach. However, the light is too weak, having no particular shape to effectively fend off the Dementors, since he too is not able to produce a corporeal Patronus.
But unlike you, he never could and now he technically did not need to anymore since the Dementors would never attack him as he is a Death Eater now. At least that is what you thought and he did, too.
"I'm.. fine", you answer his question, still too shocked about what just happened. Taking a closer look at him, you notice battle marks all over him: his white shirt is torn, tiny wounds peeking out from underneath and blood splattered across, his white hair is disheveled and his cheek is adorned by a cut, dried blood sticking to his skin. And yet, you cannot help but find him as beautiful as the day you left him.
"Can you walk? We need to get you out of here", Draco says insistently, grabbing your upper arm to help you get back to your feet in a matter of seconds, still supporting you as you stand on shaky legs. What he does not notice, however, is that the Dementors by now realized that his incorporeal Patronus cannot actually harm them and they are slowly approaching you again, this time seeming even bigger and more scary.
"There is no way out, Draco", you reply sadly, but keep your voice steady nevertheless. "There never was. I guess you chose the right side after all."
After saying your words out loud, there is a sudden shift in Dracos expression and it takes him a moment to search for the right answer.
"N-No, I didn't, actually", Draco shakes his head and his eyes are teary now, screaming with sadness as he looks you in the eyes. "I didn't realize it then but I see it now. The only right side is where you are."
A single tear slips down Dracos cheek as he whispers these words to you and you cannot help it but brush it away with your tumb. Touching his skin, touching him after years of pain feels unbelievable and you still cannot fully comprehend what he just said. The utter darkness and hopelessness that surrounded you all this time, even before the Dementors showed up, is slowly lifting and you feel the light waking up. You feel hope coming back to life, beginning to breathe once again.
And when you take another look at Draco, your eyes meeting, you can clearly see that he means everything what he just said. You also see the guilt that is still surrounding him, weighing him down. But when you quickly kiss him, after all this time, the world around you comes to a stop and all the guilt falls off the both of you.
You let go of him eventually, but only to lift your wand in the air, pointing at the dark creatures. When the spell leaves your lips, all you see is a blindingly bright light as your Patronus, who has once again taken shape as an animal, attacks the Dementors. Your huge Patronus scares some of them away, but it is only then that you realize that it has changed its form. What was former the shape of a different animal has now turned into a big dragon, fighting off the dark creatures.
Taking a look at Draco by your side, you watch the rare Patronus fight its way through your enemies and neither of you can believe your eyes as Draco is able to produce his own Patronus, too. This time, it actually takes the shape of an animal, having an even bigger impact on the Dementors and scaring them off completely, as it is the Patronus you had before all of this happened.
Now, your Patronus charms reflect each other and your indestructible bond. After all, it is true that happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.
And with this, the boy who had no choice finally made the right one.
#draco lucius malfoy#draco malfoy#draco malfoy imagine#draco malfoy fic#draco malfoy one shot#draco malfoy os#draco malfoy fanfic#draco malfoy ff#draco malfoy fanfiction#draco malfoy one shots#draco malfoy imagines#draco malfoy angst#draco malfoy fluff#draco malfoy x y/n#draco malfoy x female reader#draco x y/n#draco x female reader#draco fic#draco fanfic#draco ff#draco fanfiction#draco imagine#draco imagines#draco one shot#draco os#draco one shots#draco angst#draco fluff#hp imagine#harry potter fanfiction
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A wonderful performance
[Hey, it’s a smut]
[Disclaimer, I wrote a fair share of this before 4.3 so it’s been reconstructed quite a bit. Spare me.]
“The grass is always greener on the other side” is a well known phrase put to test in many plays, movies, and of course, life. Furina had witnessed this truth many times over the centuries but she never thought it would rear its head as she was granted her new lease on life. At last she had been granted a chance at peace, simplicity, freedom, and way off stage. These were all things that brought a sense of ease to a wary mind that she did not take for granted. However, not even she expected to breathe a sigh of relief upon being granted a Vision. Maybe it was because she felt a lack of power her entire life? Whatever the reason, excitement stirred in her chest under the pale moonlight as she stood on the shore line using her gift to have a certain sway over the low tide. Divinity was something Furina didn’t care for and she was sure gaining mastery over her abilities would open more peculiar doors rather than a path of peace; yet that didn’t terrify her. Rather, Furina felt relief in knowing if she chose to stand on stage and greet the audience with another spectacle, it just might be possible. The humor heart is indeed a fickle thing.
“I’ve truly lost my mind.” She chuckled under her breath, forming a seashell out of hydro.
“That’s pretty.” Called out a familiar voice.
Furina’s broken concentration brought her creation splashed onto the sand. She looked to her right to see none other than Aether walking over, soaked head to toe. “Night swimming are we? Will wonders never cease?”
“Sorta? I was helping someone looking for something as well as collecting a few resources.”
“For your sake I hope it wasn’t crustaceans. Only a few are allowed to the public in this area during this time of season. I doubt you have the list memorized.”
“Pfft, is that so?” He laughed, until he saw Furina stare with unblinking eyes. “Wait, that’s an actual law!?”
“I am going to pretend you found some old mechanical tools and played with the otters.”
“I mean…that also did in fact happen.” He got closer to the girl before sitting on the white sandy beach. “Anyway, what brings you out here in the dead of night? Looks like you’re training.”
“Training? Ha!” Furina snapped her fingers and her honored guests appeared, running around to play while Furina crossed her legs and sat on a bubble she made. “I’m reveling in my new found strength.” She boasted happily, summoning a wheel that held different desserts.
Aether still couldn’t believe how effortless Furina made that look. “Wow, you already found multiple ways to use hydro.”
“The power of water is the ability to take any shape after all. I can even walk across it. Wouldn’t want to go around drenched all the time now would we?” She teased.
“It’s not that bad. Though I probably should’ve brought a towel to-” before he could even finish, Furina took all of the moisture out of his clothes while eating a piece of cake. “Huh…you sure you’re not somehow still an Oceanid or something?”
“Don’t be ridiculous.” Although, his question did make her look at her hands as well as examine the beautiful deep blue gem that made this all possible. “…It’s always said Visions are a blessing, a favor from the gods. I wouldn’t really know but… maybe it only makes sense I’m naturally adept at this. It’s a strange feeling. Mirror-me didn’t really teach me a lot and at the same time it feels like it would’ve been redundant.”
“Do you somehow feel closer to her now?”
“In a sense, I suppose so. I can’t really say how that feels. It simply is what it is. Fate is odd like that. Either way, I intend to express all of me. Even if I don’t exactly understand yet what that means for me.” Furina looked at the ocean. “To think after everything I can still find peace at this sight.”
“I’m sure many others feel the exact same conflicting feeling.”
“Fontainian’s and their homeland. We’re certainly a colorful group of people.” She smiled. “Although it would be wonderful if we could be a little less observant. It took entirely too much effort to sneak over here. I even ran into Clorinde during a shift change apparently. Fortunately we remain pleasant towards one another. I do hope she takes the night off like I suggested.”
“Hold on. Sneaking? Why were you sneaking around? There’s no curfew. Though I do imagine most normal people are in bed by now.”
“I don’t think that last sentence was necessary.” She scoffed. “Need I remind you that you’re here as well?”
“Don’t try and get around the question.”
“Ugh, it’s nothing, honest. I just…would rather not bump into many people. After all…Poisson isn’t the only place resentment lingers.” Furina’s bubble popped, causing her to land on the sand as she deflated. “Not that I can blame them.”
“Things like these take time. A lot has happened. It’ll take a while to process.”
“I might know that better than most. I doubt I've truly come to terms with even half of what I feel inside. Regardless, I’m not looking or expecting forgiveness. Their animosity is completely warranted. I could only treat symptoms to what was a long and threatening illness, I. The grand scheme of things that is.”
Aether scrunched his face. He couldn’t exactly call himself the biggest optimist in general or when it came to the prophecy. Even so… “I think you’re not giving yourself enough credit. In fact, neither did I. Be it your powers or lack thereof, you’re very quick to learn and adapt. Not to mention resilient. I’m sorry if it ever came across that I underestimated you.”
Furina felt her cheeks gain a little warmth. Here she was saying she didn’t need apologies or forgiveness, yet hearing it from Aether did nicely for her guilty heart. Not to mention the genuine praise of her capabilities. “Thank you, but really, there’s no need. If I was underestimated then that only means I did my job well, right? I never wanted anyone to see me worry or anything of the sort. It would’ve only brought them closer behind the curtain meant to be shut. I won’t say it wasn’t frustrating; no, I could never say that. Also, if you ask me, not being able to do more because I lacked the power to is a poor excuse. I wish I could have saved more people if anything.”
Aether could see the deep regret in her tired expression, born not from lack of trying, but from the fact her best was all she had. Aether wished he could properly disagree, but he knows the sting of wishing to be better well.
“Furina…”
“Heh, sorry.” She shook away the negative thoughts. “I didn’t mean to make this conversation heavy. I should try following Navia’s example more. Moving on is nearly impossible if all you do is bring up the past. Fontaine is in safer hands now.”
“They’ve always been.” He said with a stern voice that caught Furina’s attention. “We might not be able to do everything we wish we could, but that doesn’t mean you were lacking or inadequate. Earlier today I heard someone thank their blessings by giving gratitude to the Hydro Archon; another person said your name fondly in regards to this nation’s safety. Some even went as far as to call you Focalor.”
“Wh-What!? The news by now has had to have circulated even to the other lands about…you know…”
“My point exactly. You’re tired and down on yourself. I get that. Still, I hope you know for many people, real or not, you were their Hydro Archon for 500 years and held your responsibilities right to the very end. When that title is invoked many will think of you, and if you were to ask them me, I’d tell you that’s earned. I hope you can find comfort in that somehow.”
Furina didn’t understand why this shocked as much as it did. If anything, she was always highly aware of the feelings her, or rather, Fontaine’s people held. If she weren’t honest with herself, though the role she played brought unimaginable grief, she held zero regret in her choice or could say there was absolutely no joy over the centuries. Even the saddest of tragedies had their glimmer of light. If they didn’t, how would the character, performer, or audience truly understand what was tragic about it all?
“You know something? I think you might actually make for a good attorney. Not only do you bring sound reasoning consistently, but somehow you always seem to sway what’s in a person’s heart.”
Aether couldn’t help but laugh off the thought awkwardly. “Thanks for the compliment, but I'm honestly a nervous wreck every time I was in those stands. Don’t think I have the stomach for it all that much. Speaking of which…” he trailed off.
“Ah… is this the part where you want to apologize for nearly getting me killed?” Furina said quickly and with the utmost bluntness.
“That…was no one’s plan. I’m the slightest I might add.”
“Mmhmm, buuuut it certainly happened. There’s a suspended death sentence in my name inside some filing cabinet. That exists now.” She teased further, poking his arm with faux aggression. “As I said earlier, there’s no need to apologize for those things. I can see that I didn’t make things easy and how everyone, including myself, did all we could with what we understood. It wouldn’t make sense to hold that against any of you. However…I won’t lie and say I didn’t feel…blindsided.”
She said it nicely, but Aether remembered the hurt that riddled her eyes in the moment she realized she was lured into a trap.
“You’re right.” He said, turning away from her gaze to look at anything across the water. “I still wanted to say I’m sorry. It’s just that…”
He grew silent. Furina could understand but was still rather annoyed how now he was the one making things heavy and looking back! “Just what? Out with it already.” She crossed her arms.
“…I never wanted to make you cry.”
The rolling waves filled the space between them as they both let his words hang in the air. Furina could see the tips of his ears become stricken with red while she felt a flutter in her chest. Of all things that happened that day, she would’ve never guessed that’s what he was going to say.
“I…” she sighed. Damnit! You would think at this point she could handle curveball situations like this as quickly and easily as breathing. Furina took a deep exhale before breathing in composure, displaying a smile he couldn’t see and summoning bravado. “What an interesting thing to say. Let’s be honest with ourselves. It’s not as if you made me cry. Saying so would be taking credit from hundreds of other reasons I often want to cry about. It just so happened that day the scales tipped! Also…” her became more earnest, “Fate said I was going to weep. So please, don’t feel bad. Okay?”
Aether turned back around to see Furina showing off a smile that said “it’s fine.” Aether smiled back. “Someone is certainly more expressive.”
“I am an actress! It’s my duty to convey my feelings with my glance and every movement!” She said proudly.
“It’s a little confusing though when you look fed up yet clearly give longing looks, Madame Focalor.” He said with a cheeky grin.
Her face flared red. Furina would’ve thought her ears had grown weary of that name; yet hearing his lips say it was….“I-I have done no such thing! You’re simply awful at reading people! And don’t call me that so casually! More importantly, are you saying your gaze is so fixed on me to the point of pondering my feelings about trivial things?”
“So those glances are trivial?” He teases. “You wound me.”
“So you do want them to be longing? Ah ha!” She pointed, watching him play off the accusation with an eye roll. “Roll your eyes all you like. It’s not like I can blame fleeting flights of fancy. I still am Fontaine’s biggest celebrity!” She stands up proudly.
Aether begins clapping in a way that could only be described as petty. Furina couldn’t believe even after all of this, admitting he might have a certain fondness for her was beyond him. Meanwhile, the young man was glad to see her look more energetic. It would seem like the chip on her shoulder wasn’t all an act. It was definitely amusing and nice, if not a little tiring at times. Furina de Fontaine in a nutshell.
The air between them began to feel more playful and rather mischievous as Furina gave a smirk, taking this man by the hands and pulling him up to his feet.
“What’s all this about?”
“I figured you’ve done nothing but grill my authenticity while you play coy. Admittedly your acting is fine but I hardly say that role suits you. All this time I’ve barely seen anything that constitutes your praise as an adventure.”
“What!? I helped save Fontaine! It’s not my fault you weren’t around for the one huge battle!”
“Excuses. That’s all I hear from you. You’re definitely cunning and quick witted, but I’m strangely unconvinced; so if you’re going to keep your eyes on me, might as well put them to the test along with a few other skills.” Furina puts her hat on Aether and tilts it down just over his eyes. “Hold it just like that and count to 70. No cheating now.”
Aether holds the hat like she says. “And when I’m done?”
“You’re a renowned traveler who’s been here for a while haven’t you? Let’s see just how well you know your way around this kingdom. Start counting.”
He could hear her sprint off swiftly. In a matter of seconds, all he could hear was the waves. Furina sure could move when she wanted to. Aether laughed as he continued to count mentally. As he hit 70, he removed the hat from his face and immediately noticed the water stole her footprints aside from the ones immediately next to him.
“Well played Furina. Well played…”
xxxxx
Skipping, giggling and sneaking about, Furina happily moved around her beloved territory. Skilled or not, Aether was in her domain. The likelihood of him even knowing the patrol of the Gardes was incredibly low.
“I do hope he makes this interesting for me.” She hummed, heading west from the main plaza.
“Psssst!” Hissed a few streets away.
Furina whipped her head around and gasped, spotting the blonde sitting at a table with a smug smile. How did he get here so quickly!? It had to be luck, right? Her answer came as he casually pointed to his shoes. Furina looked down at her own and noticed not all of the sand had abandoned the soles.
“Ah…..” Furina looked back up, gave a sheepish shrug, then immediately took off sprinting around the corner.
“Guess we’re doing tag rules then.”
Aether got up with her hat in hand before giving chase. She really was quick on her feet. He barely saw a flash of blue fabric float by as he turned the corner himself. Deeper and deeper he went into Fontaine’s alleyways; going under aquabus bridges and slipping through a side path he’s never noticed. Unlike the other places he’s visited, Fontaine’s major city somehow managed to feel dense one moment then open space the next. The chase was harder than he expected. Furina seemed to slip past every stacked box and promotional sign like a street cat. Clearly this was a path well traversed by her. It was probably how someone with her level of fame managed to slip away from unfavorable situations.
Furina casually ducked between a gap in a fence and around the back of a bakery to find herself one of the most out of the way and peaceful spots in Fontaine. It was a pretty little alleyway; hardly was there any foot traffic during the busiest days. Almost makes her wonder if her people notice it. This precious little space might as well not exist. Furina was convinced some criminal at least had to know about it, but no. This was easily her favorite little hiding hole away from prying eyes.
She put her back against the brick wall and caught her breath. Next time she’ll remember to check her shoes. She had planned to get here a little more eloquently. Oh well. She looked back the way she came, as well as down the path that would lead back to the main streets. No sign of her pursuer.
Did he double back? That was a possibility, but Furina definitely heard his steps hot on her heels for some time. “No way I actually gave him the slip.” She whispered to herself.
“Perish the thought.” He responded.
Furina’s hat fell right onto her head. Her gaze looked towards the sky to see him look down from the roof. With a single hop, he descended and landed right in front of her before she could think about slipping away. Aether put his hands on either side of her and smirked.
“That’s the game. Convinced of my skills now?”
“Quite a lot of effort you put into this. All I’m convinced of is how you can’t stand not having your eyes on me.” Furina playfully wrapped her right hand around his white scarf. It was softer than it looked. “I typically find this level of dedication from my friends a nuisance. I hope you understand that?”
“So I’m a fan now?”
“Aren’t you?”
“I might be. You are definitely talented. I’d see another show.”
“Heh, I rest my case then.” She may have been exaggerating before but now that he was this close… “I can’t be mad about eyes that are this pretty watching me.”
“Like you could be mad at all. Are we still acting like you didn’t lead me here?”
“Is that so~ An interesting accusation.”
“Well I can’t be a fan of Furina de Fontaine if I couldn’t claim to understand her even just a little bit. She’s smarter than she leads on; always thinking about her next move to get what she wants because how could she not? It’s who she is. So, Furina, go ahead. Take what you want~”
She tried remaining resolute in their face off. At this point however, Furina grew intolerant of theatrics; especially when his were so thinly veiled. Even so, she had to admit his commitment to it was something she couldn’t help but stubbornly adore. “I swear…you are so…” Furina didn’t even bother finishing her words.
She wrapped her hand further, pulling Aether down into a feverish kiss neither could resist any longer. Furina invited the boy's eager tongue to slip in between her lips while his right hand grabbed her by the waist and pressed her body up against him. Her left arm draped over his shoulder then folded in to keep his lips right where she wanted. Not that he had thoughts of leaving. Aether leaned deeply into the kiss, fully exploring her so-called, “prideful mouth.” Although right now, the only thing escaping from it were the moans he stole from her.
They savored every second of their growing passion in the secluded alleyway until Furina released him at least. Their chests heaved, desperately taking air as the two of them stared at each other’s reddened faces. She could feel his growing excitement press against her stomach and couldn’t help but smirk.
Her bewitching eyes glowed a faint blue that Aether couldn’t help but drown in. Furina’s hands began moving again, slowly trailing down his chest, then his stomach, and finally stopping at his hips as her fingers tugged on his waistband.
“Isn’t public indecency a crime?”
“I won’t tell if you won’t.” Her voice hummed with a playful hunger that reached her smile. Though it seemed Aether wasn’t letting her have free reign entirely. His right hand took both of her wrists and she let out a small gasp as he put them overhead against the wall. “Scared of getting caught?” She teased, trying to sound unbothered.
“Not exactly, but am I not worthy of your chambers?”
“Ha! And you claim I’m not the honest one? How can a I grant a plea if you’re not clear~” Furina kept her eyes on his. She used her right leg to press against the outside of his left, rubbing up against it teasingly so. His face said everything, but Furina wanted his words. “Go on, speak your mind.”
Aether gladly spoke his mind, but not before keeping Furina in check. He had no problem expressing his desires, but he wasn’t about to let her ego grow so easily. Furina remained unblinking as he removed his left glove with his teeth before dropping it. Aether found his way to her soft and cool torso, dipping lower into her shorts. The actress’s blush only grew along with her sultry smile when he reached wet, warm lips that his fingers slowly massaged.
Furina let out a quiet sigh as the adventurer slipped into her and started curling two fingers to the point her hips jutted out and her teeth sunk into her bottom lip.
“Mmm~”
“We’ve danced around too long to get to this point.” Aether leaned into Furina’s ear. “I want to savor you, so let’s take this behind closed doors; my dear Madam Focalor.”
Such a lovely little act. “That can be arranged.” She let his face back up just a little before stealing his lips. Again, his tongue was greeted by hers; only this time her hips were way more involved in their passion. Furina didn’t even try to free her wrists from his grasp. He was getting so forceful with her body. So…possessive. It was becoming a bit of a struggle to do anything besides listen, and despite her pride, Furina was finding bliss. Aether didn’t stop stirring her insides as he started to ravish her neck. Furina would’ve been done for if it wasn’t for Aether suddenly stopping the moment her knees began buckling. His fingers left her body but she quickly grabbed the lustful hand, catching Aether by surprise. She wouldn’t be put on the back foot completely.
“Shall we get going?” Furina said, guiding his hand to her face. She looked right at him with intense eyes as wrapped her lips around the two soaked digits, licking them clean. Furina left no space between them. Even if he tried to downplay the emotions on his face, the hot throbbing that poked her lower body told all of the blonde’s secrets. “I wouldn’t blame you however, if you needed just a moment of clarity before we made the trip.” Just how long could the boy endure? Furina was eager to find out. She snaked his hand around her throat to make him even more flustered, but was caught off guard to feel his grip tighten just enough for her to realize. Another gasp left her; and Aether leaned in real close.
“Lower your shorts.”
A victory for Furina, although just like always, she had put herself in a position where backing down wasn’t an option. She pulled down her shorts to her knees, allowing the chill air to greet her body while her hands were already pulling down Aether’s pants until she felt his erection spring out and tap her inner thigh. Thank goodness it was dark. It was the only thing hiding just how comically red her cheeks have gotten. Her digits ran along its length, memorizing its shape as she made it slick with a mixture of their arousal and a bit of hydro. His free hand found her butt and made her smirk even more apparent as she felt him squeeze.
“Guess you couldn’t wait after all?”
“Hush.” He groaned.
Air filled Furina’s lungs as she felt Aether push into her. Her playful gaze left as her eyes became wide from the intrusion that commanded her body to hold it tightly. “Oooh my~” Furina grabbed his face and pulled him into another tongue war as Aether rolled his hips into hers. “Mmph!!” Every thrust stole a moan. His hold on her neck remained steady while her waist was kept firmly in place for him to gouge out her insides.
Aether’s grunts matched her feverish panting she snuck in between breaths. How’d he allow her to rile him up so easily? It was as if he was spellbound, burdened with a thirst only she could quench and a desire to shut Furina up. Neither wanted to lose this little game of theirs, but Aether could barely think straight, feeling just how tight her walls are. Not to mention how wet and warm the girl was. If it wasn’t for the smacking of their make out session, the leading noise in this alleyway would be the sound of her pussy swallowing him up. The harder he thrusts, the more Furina sucked on his tongue. She moved her hands around the back of his head in fear of the pleasure causing her to squeeze his face too hard. What was meant to be a bit of foreplay had turned into full blown fucking.
“Anghn, like that~” her voice trembled. “Just like that.” Her body yielded to his movements as his cock dug into a sweet spot repeatedly. In this moment Aether could make her throw her pride aside as long as she got to cum. Every pump felt so heavy and wanting of her body. No person could deny such ecstasy. Not even a god. Furina pried her lips away from Aether’s for her own sanity. “H-Hey…you can cum.. whenever y’know?” Praying he’d leave her with the ability to walk at least.
The strength in her voice waned but Aether found it endearing. He let go of her throat and let her head rest over his shoulder; partly for his own benefit. They both may have started off too strongly. Aether gave several more thrusts before forcing himself to pull out. It was so sudden that Furina’s legs nearly gave out.
“C-Careful!” She trembled. Furina looked down at the unruly appendage that stirred her, watching it spill its seed. “Now, now, evidence is the last thing we need to leave.” She pointed at the mess and washed it away with a stream of hydro before going a little limp on top of the boy.
Aether let out a chuckle. “That’s certainly handy. You okay?”
“Better shape than you. Though a small break is much deserved for your efforts.” She said, sinking into the wall as if it was some luxury mattress.
“Heh, why thank you.”
Both of them found their antics a little ridiculous yet oh so fun at this point. Furina had half a mind to pull the blonde in for another kiss when suddenly, a rumbling trash can startled them stiff. Aether quickly clothed himself and covered Furina from any prying eyes. Their quick maneuvering was in vain however. The trash fell over and out from behind it was a simple cat running off.
Thankful for the outcome but now on edge, Furina realized perhaps Aether had a point. She had no idea how she would’ve explained this to a Garde. “Let’s move this performance to my chambers.” She whispered.
xxxxxx
“ Anyone could say what they want about Furina, but they can’t say she isn’t entertaining.” Those words were always echoed by the people of Fontaine. Aether had to admit every day understood those words more and more. Beyond entertaining however, Furina was surprisingly cunning in unpredictable ways. It made sense for a ruler, former or otherwise, to know their kingdom, but for her to lead Aether all the way to her abode unseen through the quietest Fontainian streets was rather impressive indeed.
“You know you’re quite mischievous when you want to be.”
“It’s my personal spice of life. Everything deserves a little twist.” She took him by the scarf again and walked backwards into her room. By the time the door clicked, Furina was already feeling him up once more as they kissed against it. Frankly it was amazing they kept their hands off each other long enough to get here. It would appear Aether had recovered from their brief but wonderful moment of bliss. Good. Furina wasn’t done with him yet.
Aether felt her hands mess with her shirt and helped her out by raising his arms to quickly discard it. Furina continued to guide him by the lips further into the room then playfully pushed him onto her extravagant bed laced with the finest blue silk sheets which had to be one of coziest mattresses he’s ever felt.
“Wow. Can we just skip to the part where we sound asleep?” He looked down to see the woman already fishing his erection out from his pants. “Guess that’s a n- ngh~”
Music to Furina’s ears. She figured giving the boy a taste would silence his cute banter. Right now she was far more interested in the blush on his face spreading. As capable of a warrior Aether was, Furina was surprised to learn just how passive he could be. Once again she found her gaze fixated on his flickering eyes as she took him down to the back of her throat; she even went as far to moan, sending vibrations through his body that made his hips rise.
“Furina!” He panted, overwhelmed by her hyperactive tongue coiling around him. Aether found it difficult to look at her directly which in turn, only made her more enthusiastic. He began to feel the pleasure rise gradually, his cock twitching violently before Furina dragged her lips off of him.
“Oh no you don’t.” Furina said, wiping her mouth with a single finger. “Do try to last a little longer. We haven’t gotten to the best part.” She gave him a seductive smile as she finally removed her shorts entirely, along with pale blue panties. In truth, she found her impatience a little unbecoming, but she couldn’t find it in herself to care at the moment. Furina gladly straddled Aether, raising her hips right over his raging manhood before slowly piercing herself with it.
“Mmmngh~” she couldn’t deny how full she felt; how he seemed to touch…everything. Furina took a moment to try and calm her breathing as well as her body before proceeding any further. At that time, Aether sat up to meet her and began reaching for her top, but Furina grabbed his hand in reflex.
Aether was surprised by the reaction, and to see Furina’s eyes quickly dart away from his own. “I suppose divine stars can have such relatable insecurities like these.” He spoke softly.
“I may be a star, as you say, but that makes me no less of a woman.” She said, a bit more defensively than she would’ve liked.
“That’s fair. Still, for you to be insecure about this? You, who has the noblest of forms…” he reached for her again. “Bewitching and divine beyond reason and comprehension~”
Furina felt her heart skip a beat. He removed her hat then began quietly working on her top while she remained rigidly still. Those words he spoke could’ve easily been sugar coated, yet Furina let them have their sway; she raised her arms and let Aether see…everything. “It’s not much.”
“Doesn’t matter; It’s what I’m looking for.” He said just as quickly, leaning in as he wrapped his arms around her porcelain skin. “You’re perfect.”
Furina was undone by his teeth sinking into her neck, nipping away towards her collarbone and then assaulting her chest with warm lips and an even warmer tongue.
“Mmm. Truly you are…hopeless.” She swooned, her hips rocking in his laps reflexively. “Fine then, have your fill!” Furina’s arms kept him close.
Aether gladly began to devour her figure, leaving no part unmarked by his affection. Furina didn’t know what was worse. His persistence, or the feeling of his cock growing inside deeper than ever before. Furina felt her face grow hot. His words were no lie at all. The very thought made her body squeeze him in place while her hips kept moving on their own. She pressed her soft, shapely ass onto his lap, grinding his length right up against her womb while she felt Aether’s teeth ensnare a nipple and tease it relentlessly. Furina couldn’t stop her nails from running in between his shoulder blades as she lost composure. There was no hiding it from him; she wanted all she could take from him.
Aether stopped his oral assault for only a moment but it was enough time for Furina to push him back down against the mattress, her hands roaming down his chest as she let out breathless pants. He couldn’t utter even one word as watched in awe as Furina’s movements flowed like a stream; the way her hips would raise only to slam back down and how she shut her eyes to focus on the pleasure drove Aether crazy. Everything felt so wonderful and stuck to his length like warm honey. It took so much strength to not scream when she completely sat down on his lap and rolled her hips forward while her nails grazed his ribs and traced his toned chest.
Furia looked down at him, hearing the sharp, strained breaths come in and out between as kept his eyes shut tightly. The blush on his face was a beautiful red, like a vintage wine ready to devour. Furina laid her body completely on top of his body, continuing to raise, lower, and roll her hips as she began nipping his ear or kissing his neck. As she thought. It was tastier than any wine. Furina was ready to stay like this and drink him up forever until a sudden burst of heat rushed into her body, causing her to gasp. The girl sat up immediately and looked down. Her eyes widened and cheeks glowed scarlet seeing Aether’s cock twitch violently as thick, white cum began leaking out of her. Furina looked back up at Aether to see him covering his face with one hand.
He looked through spread fingers and sure enough, the woman on top of him was grinning like a mischievous cat. “I was close from your blowjob.” He defended.
“Now why don’t I believe that in its entirety?” She cooed, loving his flustered expression. “Not that I can blame you. As you said, I’m bewitching.” She took his hand and ran it up her body, earning another twitch. “Was I too much?”
Aether had no defense for that. He sat up and put his face against her chest to hide better. “You’re annoying is what you are.” He groaned, knowing his ears had to red. He could feel Furina’s fingers playing with his braid. “I got a bit overwhelmed.”
“No need to explain yourself.” She hummed, proud of her performance. He clearly didn’t notice all the little orgasms and jolts of pleasure she was experiencing. “Feel free to recover. After all, it would be natural for someone such as I to be overstimulating to a mortal. I felt lovely. I won’t hold this against-” She cut her victory lap short, feeling Aether began to grow inside of her again. “H-Huh?”
Aether pushed his waist forward, causing Furina to let out a yelp as she was put on her back with Aether perfectly looking down at her between her legs. A jolt went through her as he grabbed both her thighs and moved her legs onto his shoulders where they dangled. The fierce determination in his gaze made Furina realize she might have spoken too soon about his submissive tendencies. Perhaps she had gloated a little too much?
“We can uh…take a break if you’re tir-aah~” She felt his waist dip until it met her body. Aether leaned over her and whispered.
“I said I was going to savor you.” He pulled out to the tip, then plunged right back in.
Furina felt the air leave her lungs and brain stutter for a moment as Aether began pounding her relentlessly. Her limbs didn’t know to grip the sheets or onto him, but they settled for clawing the sheets of the rocking bed. “W-Wait! Anngh! It’s…too deep~” her moans were blatant, mouth agape as she pleaded. The reply she received was his tongue conquering hers, and yet she made no argument against it. “Mmmmm~”
There was nothing to do but take his passion. Furina was certain he was harder than before and making her hips float with every soaked plunge into her. It was a good thing they were kissing, or else someone would’ve definitely heard her wail as he turned up the intensity. It was too much for her. His weight made sure he hit the bottom of her deepest part every time to the point Furina could only…
“MMMPH!?” Her body jerked violently, the inside of her walls gripping like a vase and unleashing a turret of her arousal that dampened the sheets as Aether pulled out and let her legs fall. Furina’s head was so clouded and her breathing was uncomfortable while the pleasure gradually subsided. So much of her strength had been eaten away, but she wasn’t even mad at it. Furina was too busy trying to calm down to care about anything else, even the fact a perfectly good set of sheets were ruined.
“Y-You…brute.” She groaned in pouty satisfaction, still feeling his efforts. Furina would not know true rest however. Aether slowly flipped her over to her stomach. She felt his strong hands grab her hips and raise them until she felt his tip press against her folds. “But I just came~” she whined, despite shaking her hips to feel him rub against her.
“Don’t tell me this mere mortal has overstimulated you?” He said with a hunger in his voice.
Furina let out a long groan as he pulled her onto his cock. “Mmngh, I’m sorry…!” she moaned, reaching for one of many pillows and burying her face in it as Aether’s hips plowed into her again, mercilessly thrusting like a piston. “Aaaaannh~”
Why did she adore this so much? She had him in the palm of her hand earlier and now she was sweating as he took her like an animal. It wasn’t that he was only thrusting, but commanding her hips to push into him, creating such a terribly indecent sound that echoed like steps in a puddle. She knew she wanted everything from him, but it was so embarrassing yet hot to give him everything he craved.
Aether listened to the symphony of squeals and moans as he watched the ripples her ass crested whenever he pushed forward into her body. Her skin was wonderfully flushed like his and the pleasure didn’t seem to end. “You’re so beautiful.”
How dare he say that to her now? When all she could do is push back even harder and submit to his hunger. She knew he could feel her grip tighten. There was no hiding from his words or what was in her heart.
Furina probably thought his ego spurred his actions. While that was admittedly part of the truth, it was insignificant to the infatuation he had seeing her so wanting and pleased by him. Furina was finally being honest.
He made her go prone and put his weight on her again and he took her gripped knuckles. “Look at me.” He rasped.
Furina looked over her right shoulder to see his face an inch away. She instantly closed her eyes and went in for a kiss they both so eagerly wanted. His fingers interlocked hers while his hips made sure she felt his unruly length get buried into her body as he fucked her into the bed. Aether ended their kiss and got his revenge from earlier, licking and nipping at her ear lobe. “Nooo~” her body trembled. “I’ll…”
“Give it to me. Don’t try to fight it. I want to see you cum, Madam Focalor~” He bit her neck.
His teeth found her neck as she was left with those sultry words that would be her undoing. “F..uck.” She put her face in the pillow and screamed, her walls taking hold of Aether’s trembling cock and squeezing it until it had no choice but to erupt again while her own arousal ran down her twitching legs.
Both of them felt the exhaustion hit, laying motionless as they groaned from the pleasure and fatigue. Aether rolled off of Furina and laid on his stomach right next to her. He turned his head to see the girl staring at him with pouty puffed out cheeks. Maybe he went a little overboard.
“Hehe…umm, my ba-”
“I want a normal kiss.” She huffed.
Aether blinked silently before giving a small smile. “As you wish.” He scooted closer and gently placed his lips on her, feeling her body ease into his.
Furina placed her head under his chin and silently, yet loudly, commanded comfort by resting against him. He was very quick on the uptake, placing his arm around her torso. “You performed wonderfully.” She hummed. “Now stay just like this for now. I won’t tolerate waking up alone.”
“Didn’t you hear what I said earlier? I was all for skipping to this part.”
“Ha, as if I’d let you. Although…I can see the appeal.” She shut her eyes.
xxxxxx
When the god finally arose, the day had already begun. Furina opened her eyes to muffled light through the curtains but more importantly, her head rested on Aether’s bare chest. It appeared they moved a bit in their sleep. It was only when she sat up she realized they didn’t just move, but properly under clean sheets and on the appropriate side of the bed.
“….” She poked Aether’s cheek repeatedly until he groaned. “Hey, did you move us?”
“Mmhmm.” He mumbled. “You’re a heavy sleeper and I got a little cold, so I took us to bed properly.”
“But where did you get the clean sheets?”
He pointed towards the door. Furina looked to see a giant note on it with beautiful handwriting she immediately recognized. It said, “Do be mindful of regular patrol and shift changes, my lady. Do not fear however. No traces were discovered, and as always, my silence is yours. Sleep well, Clorinde.”
Furina felt utterly mortified, covering her bright red face. “Why is she so diligent!? She doesn’t even work for me! I told her to relax!”
“My guess is she had a vague idea of possible trouble you could find yourself in and thought it would be better for her to find out instead of someone else by mistake. She may have even known about the alley.” Aether sat up briefly with his undone hair flowing freely. He hugged the paralyzed Furina and brought her back down to bed. “Worry later, or rather, thank Clorinde later. It’s still sleepy time.”
She had no clue how he could be so calm about this!? Yet she also wasn’t about to disturb him. Though that note rid her of sleep, Furina stayed in his arms for comfort. She would think about everything else later. Her eyes drank in his sleeping face, the way his slightly flushed lips curled made her own lips curl up. Under dim light through blinds. Furina couldn’t stop replaying last night’s performance. Those lips of his were so active, so…wanting. They took and gave everything faster than she could process. For the first time in a long time, being overwhelmed felt glorious. She had to admit that right now…if she had the chance to-
Aether opened his eyes, feeling the lady’s gaze on him. He sat up and she followed suit. “If you want something then feel free to say it.” Aether said, casually grinning.
Furina’s cheeks were struck with red. Was he a mind reader now!? “D-Don’t put this on me! You’d think I’d fall for such an obvious plea for-” her defense was immediately cut at the source via Aether grabbing her lower jaw and pulling her in slowly as he stared at her with calm amber eyes. Her heart nearly stopped.
“It might be noon, but don’t you think it’s too early for theatrics? If you can swallow your pride right now, I’ll make it worth everything and more. Just like last night.” He said, morning voice and all.
Furina was left speechless and now bright red. Such a bold proposition! How dare he commanded such authority, and yet…it wasn’t exactly terrible. At least that’s how she tried to convince herself about her feelings towards it. In truth, it was embarrassingly marvelous.
Furina averted his gaze again and removed his hand. Without a word, she bent down, putting her head in his lap while pushing away the covers. She guided his length back into her mouth and began coiling her tongue to invigorate Aether once again. She can’t believe she was doing this, during broad daylight no less! He really was so annoying. It didn’t help she felt a hand start to rub the top of her head while another grabbed her exposed rear, its fingers sliding along it to meet her folds and give them attention.
“Mmm~” Furina raised her hips, allowing two fingers to properly slip inside of her as she continued her efforts in earnest. She felt Aether grow to the point her jaw hung open, his thick and leaking tip greeting her throat.
Aether could barely feel his hips from the way Furina relentlessly lapped his length. “Nngh, good girl.” He teased, committing to his role. He didn’t expect her body to give him a gripping reaction around his fingers. Looks like Furina was still full of surprises for them to discover together. “Okay, I’m a man of my word. Get on my lap.”
Furina took a deep breath as she came up. His fingers left her wanting as they left, but that was fine when what’s to come would feel much better. She couldn’t even find it in herself to boast about Aether’s reactions. Instead she quickly put one leg on each side of him and angled herself above his cock like last night. Slowly, she lowered herself, shutting her eyes tightly as her body remembered last night.
“Aaaa~” she moaned, sinking down further until she was sitting completely on him. Furina felt her hips go numb and her body twitch from the rush of a hot tongue tracing her modest chest. Furina didn’t even get the chance to open her eyes again before feeling her body fall backwards onto the bed; added weight held her body in place as that same tongue slipped past her lips and took it away to his own. The fullness inside was dragged back out to the entrance before slamming back down. A guttural groan rumbled in her chest as it happened again, and again, and again….
Damn that Aether. Nobody moves like this without having their own desires. She could hear every sharp inhale he took and felt the hunger in his hips feed them both ravenous pleasure. He might’ve made her swallow her pride, but only to hide the fact his mind was in the exact same place hers was. Furina couldn’t be bothered to be upset at the ruze at this point. She put her arms around his neck, drowning in their embrace as the heat between their bodies grew hotter. It wasn’t long before either worked a little sweat. That didn’t stop Aether at all though. Furina couldn’t stop her toes from curling after each and every deep thrust that pried her open. It was impossible to tell who was trembling at this point, the both of them soaring high until a final plunge into her released hot seed that her body ringed out with pleasure. Their kisses ended with heavy breathing and strained breath that tickled each other’s ears.
When Aether said, “Just like last night” Furina didn’t expect him to skip towards the intensity he displayed near the end! Her eyes fluttered open, feasting themselves on a slim, yet defined and toned figure between her legs, and eyes that took in her glistening porcelain figure as if it were a crowned jewel. Not that it wasn't, but to see him marvel at her without having to prompt him was… embarrassing to say the least.
Aether watched her eyes grow wider as he put his hands on her knees to part her legs wider before taking her hips into his control, raising her waist up to thrust directly into her.
Furina gasped as if she didn’t just watch him reposition her! His hips didn’t go as hard as before but made up for it with speed and control. “Ngh- you have…too much energy!” Furina moaned. Forget the previous round; her body was still sensitive from last night! “Must you be so rough!?”
“Isn’t this what you wanted?” Aether said breathlessly.
“I…”Furina’s eyes couldn’t help but watch the thick and unrelenting cock disappear inside her, only reappear briefly; the shaft was coated in a mixture of their passion that kept it slick and entering repeatedly. The girl sunk her teeth into her bottom lip, seeing how his length only came back out messier after each thrust. She laid her back, her left arm hiding her eyes.
Aether groaned. “Mmm, you’re getting tighter.”
“Silence!” She whined, knowing it was true. “I…I…”
“Swallow your pride~”
“…..Don’t.., don’t stop, please.” She confessed, her voice wavering. Furina dug her fingers into the sheets while her toes curled again. “I don’t wanna get out of this bed! I just want to feel you!” Her face was bright red. Somehow she found the courage to remove her arm, only to not find fierce eyes dominating her, but shut ones on an equally flushed face as Aether’s hips worked overtime. A surprising sight to witness, yet it made Furina all the more needy for his touch. Her eyes shut again and the both of them bathed in the lustful, euphoric sounds of their bodies.
Aether fought so hard not to yell from the way the soaked, warm walls pleaded for him. His thighs were doused in Furina’s arousal as she slammed into them, giving her everything.
Her pussy gladly took the punishment, growing red from the persistent pounding that made her womb ache. Every inch was taken and remembered. Furina feared if this kept up, Aether might reshape her body entirely. That would be unacceptable. To perfectly accommodate her foolish consort’s body would be…
“Aangh~” she sighed. “Make me yours; for all time…” such a maddening idea.
Furina could no longer find words for her pleasure as she felt Aether’s tip rub against womb and deliver a rush of hot seed directly inside it, his hands like a vice on her hips and rigid length buried to the hilt inside her body. The ravishing feeling had a death grip on her body she wouldn’t soon forget. The word maddening didn’t do it justice. Furina let her mind wander off as the sound that finally let her throat could only be described as one thing. Operatic.
xxxxxx
Loud one moment and quiet the next. Furina’s life had been a whirlpool of emotions in what felt like a wild dream. Yet here she was now, humming in a bubble bath as diligent hands scrubbed her scalp before rinsing the soap out with soothing warm water.
“Mmm. I can’t say 500 years was worth this specific moment, but I think it’s pretty close.” She could hear Aether chuckle.
“Unbelievable. I’m glad you’re happy putting me to work.”
“I’ll wash your hair next if you want?”
“It was a little joke Furina.”
“And my offer still stands~” She leaned back against the young man, watching his arms hold her. Furina ran her fingers in between his quietly as the water settled.
“Hey?” She said sheepishly, gathering her thoughts. “Just to set the record straight, I may have lived a long life but I wouldn’t say it’s been the most fulfilling. These past several hours are acts I’ve never done, so…” why did she suddenly feel so anxious saying this to him. “All I’m saying is I didn’t do this on a whim. If that makes sense. I-”
“Furina.” He said softly, turning her head his way to put her nerves to rest with a gentle, comforting kiss. “I know.”
Perhaps she was the one who underestimated him? He could read her just fine. Furina smiled softly, resting her head on his chest. “I couldn’t ask for a person to share the stage with.”
xxxxx
“Two bags. Just as promised. I thought you would’ve picked these up earlier.” Said a vendor, handing off the groceries to Furina.
“Thank you. And I’ll try to next time. I got a little held up.” She laughed off as she began walking. As she made her way home, her feet froze in place as Clorinde and Navia nearly bumped into her as they turned the corner.
“Wow! Sorry about that.” Navia chuckled. Although it went unheard as Furina and Clorinde shared a glance.
“Did you make it home safely last night? No problems?”
“N-None.” Furina wanted to sink to the bottom of the water right now. “Thank you.”
“It was nothing. Next time though, I’d recommend taking care of all personal business in a more…private capacity.”
“I will keep that in mind. Anyways, I should get these home.Toodaloo!” Furina briskly walked off.
Navia couldn’t help but notice the girl’s awkward stride as she left. “Is Furina okay? She seemed a little…”
“Training.” Clorinde said, calmer than ever. “She was by the water training and pushed herself a little too hard. I made sure to keep an eye out is all. She’s probably still tired.”
“Ah. That’s sweet of you. For a moment I thought she still felt terribly awkward around us. Especially me. I do hope that feeling doesn’t last too long. I wouldn’t mind inviting her to tea.”
“You might have a better chance at that when I’m not around.”
“Really?” Navia squints, noticing the lack of eye contact she was receiving. “Don’t tell me you also feel awkward about it; given how you used to work for her and all?”
“…Something like that.”
“Ah ha! All the more reason to put in effort! I’ll try to get in touch sometime in the near future.”
“You really d-” it was too late. Clorinde could see the determination in Navia’s eyes. “I’ll…keep my schedule open.” The woman let out a quiet sigh of defeat. She’d be sure to grab some cake for Furina when the day comes.
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Six Sentence Sunday
Hey friends. Happy Sunday! So obviously, I posted the last chapter of Someone Wicked this Thursday. And it's bittersweet because writing this one and sharing it with you all has been like, the calm spot in the middle of the storm that was the past few months. I love hearing from some people that the story was comforting and healing because that's how it felt writing it.
Anyway, I'm being self-indulgent today and posting an excerpt from the final chapter. There are no huge spoilers for those who haven't got to read it yet, but this is a smaller moment that meant a lot to me.
When you have a disability, whether it be physical or psychological, it can be such a huge thing to admit that you need help. Or to admit to yourself that while you are indeed surviving, maybe you could be doing more than that. Maybe it doesn't have to be a daily struggle. But figuring out the line for yourself, where you feel comfortable reaching out to a friend, or getting on medication, or finally getting a mobility aid, whatever it is. It's really hard. And I just wanted to explore that with Baz in this fic. Because I've maintained that while this is very much a love story, it's also just as importantly about self-love. And so bringing this around, getting him to a place where he is consciously deciding to take better care of himself, was really monumental. A lot of his decisions in the last chapter were. I'm very proud of him.
This isn't the last mention of this in the fic, but it's one of my faves.
My gaze slowly slips toward the cane propped up in the corner of my room. I bought it a few weeks ago, polished dark wood with a brass Fritz handle catching my eye in a corner shop. I told myself it was just in case of hard days. Just in case I needed it. I haven’t touched it since.
Perhaps there hasn’t been a hard enough day. I don’t know how to tell. I’ve been living like this for years, putting up with it, working around it. I can survive.
But isn’t that just it? Haven’t I been trying to do more than just survive?
I look at it, the embossed handle gleaming in the low light. It’s a reminder, and not a bad one. (Though, it’s funny how easily hurt can turn lovely memories sour.) It reminds me that Simon didn’t want me to be in pain when there was a way around it.
Thank you again so much to everyone who was reading along, or who is just now picking it up, or simply enjoying the excerpts or the art shared to Tumblr. It's been a good experience. As someone who personally really struggles with knowing how and when to reach out for help, it's been particularly good.
Tags under the cut ♡♡
@imagineacoolusername @aroace-genderfluid-sheep @martsonmars @valeffelees @cutestkilla @bazzybelle @ileadacharmedlife @aristocratic-otter @urban-sith @basiltonbutliketheherb @letraspal @palimpsessed @whatevertheweather @nightimedreamersworld @carryonsimoncarryonbaz @raenestee @erzbethluna @chen-chen-chen-again-chen @confused-bi-queer @moodandmist @yeonjunenby @shrekgogurt @thewholelemon @whogaveyoupermission @creepyspice @onepintobean @ebbpettier @orange-peony @theearlgreymage @ic3-que3n @captain-aralias @fatalfangirl @prettygoododds @stitchyqueer @you-remind-me-of-the-babe @forabeatofadrum @ivelovedhimthroughworse @mysterioussheep @rimeswithpurple @c0nsumemy5oul @facewithoutheart @hushed-chorus @blackberrysummerblog @larkral @j-nipper-95 @alexalexinii @iamamythologicalcreature @supercutedinosaurs
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I FINALLY WROTE WORDS 🥳
It took a little bit, but I think I'm finally back 🥰 thanks to everyone who voted on the poll last week, and a big thanks to @heartstringsduet, @carlos-in-glasses, @bonheur-cafe, and @ravens-words for this week's tag, I love you, my friends 😘 also, shout out to @detective-giggles because one line in here is an homage to one of her fics.
I did not expect the Chef/Firefighter AU - Friends with Benefits catching feelings to win, but here we are 😁
When TK’s voice comes from the door, Carlos immediately grabs a clean spoon to fill before turning towards him, holding it out.
“Perfect timing. Open your mouth.”
Instead of just following the order, TK raises one eyebrow, the grin around his lips already spelling trouble before he even starts teasing. “I thought you said no sex in the kitchen. But if you insist.”
Carlos simply rolls his eyes, lifting the spoon as he closes the space between them. Apparently, TK knows when not to push his luck, as he indeed opens his mouth, letting Carlos feed him. It takes a second, TK obviously taking in all the flavors, but then his eyes fall shut and the moan that leaves him would usually be enough for Carlos to reconsider the ‘no sex in the kitchen’-rule if it wasn’t for the fact that he’s eagerly awaiting TK’s judgment.
“Good?” he finally asks when TK swallows and still hasn’t opened his eyes or said anything.
“Are you kidding?” TK replies, finally looking back at him. “That’s the fucking best mashed potatoes I ever had – and I don’t even like those, usually.”
At that information, Carlos pulls a face as he returns to the mixing bowl. “Seriously? Who doesn’t like mashed potatoes?”
“Uhm, someone with a childhood trauma?”
Looking back over his shoulder with a skeptical raised eyebrow, Carlos sees that TK has followed him. And not only that, he’s already reaching for a clean spoon (Carlos might’ve once literally hit him on the fingers with a wooden spoon when TK had tried to get a second scoop with his used spoon, so now he certainly knew better) as he steps next to Carlos.
“But this here might just cure me from my trauma,” TK muses, getting an extra big scoop out of the bowl.
His moan is no less sinful as it was before and Carlos’ jeans definitely tighten at the sound of it. He’s intimately familiar with this moan and he plans on hearing some more of it tonight. First though, he has to feed the guy.
Chuckling, he plucks the spoon from TK’s hand, ignoring his protest and pushing him towards the little table in the corner.
“Go, sit down. I’ll put you a little bit of everything on the plate.”
Tagging list:
@chaotictarlos, @sgirl18, @firstprince-history-huh, @rangergurlgleek1211, @shadesofdeviant, @actuallysara, @paperstorm, @wtfuckevenknows, @lightningboltreader, @meditating-honey-badger, @just-inside-her, @alidravana, @morganaspendragonss, @lire-casander, @otter-love-asl, @ramblingdisaster73, @first-kanaphan, @xtltokio, @buckybarnesalways, @mangacat201
#tarlos#911 lone star#noxy writes#wip wednesday#chef/firefighter AU#friends with benefits catching feelings
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THE COLUMBINA THEME/?!?!?>!>D QWJDKWBQQ OH MY GOSHHHHH IM BKFBEFE I DID NOT KNOW YOU WERE A BINA FAN AHHHH YOU HAVE IMPECCABLE TASTE AS ALWAYS... it is so so pretty i am eating it up... i am going to miss Kuni with the otter but this is just *chef's kiss* (i also hope you are doing well, your reblog made me 🥹❤️❤️❤️)
AND YESSS THE KUNI BDAY ART ARGHHH,, i can just imagine reader being a few possibilities with him... 😭 either you're the one who tagged along with him to the House of Daena just to see what he's up to all the time but then your brain just dying (like Paimon 😭) from all the long texts overload (me tbh). And Kuni would be rolling his eyes at your dramatic self and be all like i told you so... 🙄 Or you're just peacefully reading those long books and your lover is just like... huh. I know he'd scoff and mumble under his breath but he'd drape some of his clothes over you if you fell asleep... ❤️ (ignoring the presence of his sort-of admirers on the other side of the room)
(this was all over the place and probably very messy but it just came to me ❤️ luv you!!)
AAA SUZU !! 🩷🩷
thank you thank you thank you!!! omg i am figuratively kicking my feet and literally smiling so big rn okay — first and foremost, YES (つ≧▽≦)つ i am a 'bina fan since the day she showed up in the winter night's lazzo trailer~ as for kuni and his little otter buddy, don't you worry my dear mutual; here's the screenshot for your perusal alongside another one <3 ( as for me doing well, i am indeed doing well! i hope you are too dear 🩷 )
now that you presented me with his second mini illustration.......... i have brainrot to share in correspondence to yours ( LISTEN my brain is always cooking i'm not sorry )
when i was just inspecting every little thing about his second mini illustration and literally giggling at how cute it was and all — it kinda threw me back to the time i first thought about my academic rivals + roommates concept with kuni .. but now that you presented me with your side of the brainrot which thank you btw it's so *chefs kiss and totes adorbs*
so here's to another episode of 'yame and suzu cooking kuni brainrot ~
“what even...?”
you uttered under your breath, a book in hand as your eyes continued to skim through a lengthy page after another. honestly, you're skipping through almost everything you read through — some part of you admiring the amurata darshan for being able to understand all of this. maybe you should have listened to your lover's recommendation and read something else.
curious, you eye him from the side to see how he's faring. of course, you were aware that this wasn't as much of an issue to him as it was to you, and you envy the ease he found in being able to read through his share of research without complaints.
the wanderer's eyes were quick to meet yours, and he was just as quick in raising a brow at you in what you presumed to be curiosity on his end as well. but that wasn't the case...
“having difficulty?” he murmured with a subtle smirk of amusement. he was aware, not when the confusion practically clouded the light of curiosity in your eyes. yet you affirmed anyways. “i won't shy away from admitting that i am ‘having difficulty.’” you parroted his words with a little smile, deciding it's best for you to just put the book down. you could hear him chuckle a bit dryly at your affirmation, uttering a barely audible ‘i told you so’ only for you to hear. the amusement that adorned his face softened a bit as he heard you hum in response.
“actually — love, can you pass me the book you recommend at first?” the moment he heard that endearment, a rush of warmth rose up to his porcelain cheeks as he hung his head slightly lower to allow his hair do the covering for him. “mhm.” the wanderer hummed in response whilst reaching over to said book next to the small box you brought with you for him. his pinky finger coming into contact with the ocean blue colored gift box for a moment before he took the book and passed to you all the while avoiding your gaze.
with a simple thank you on your end, the area fell silent once more. just the distant sound of students coming and going, chatting about their deadlines or some who were studying in solitude. it's a kind of quiet that allowed you to focus in a way, especially while the wanderer remained by your side; it felt ideal. staying alone together in his favorite corner in the house of daena.
surprise surprise, what he ended up recommending you wasn't a book. but a collection of research papers from the vahumana darshan — researches trying to pinpoint the mystery behind tatarasuna's sabotagement, researches investigating the ancient civilization of the sumeru desert... it felt like skimming through a collection of reports. you gave him a threat-less glare upon seeing that accomplished smirk on his face. but you digress.
you spotted a familiar handwriting shortly after however, his handwriting, and you were quick to begin reading the first research paper simply and straightforwardly titled ‘societal issues in inazuma.’ it was the commentary he mentioned he wrote out of boredom while he was occupied with cooking lunch for you. a smile crept up to your lips at the resurgence of the memory.
that style... how much of a reliable yet unreliable narrator could he be? certainly the former when it came to discussing anything regarding what was once his homeland. and you adored every word spoken in this research paper. sure, it was harsh at some points, but that was just how your wanderer was; straightforward and to the point. hence the reason you felt such immense joy reading the commentary he wrote.
this time around, it was his turn to eye you from the side. indifference fading into a very slight surprise as he saw you smiling whilst reading his research paper, but he paid it no mind. at least you were having some form of fun like you usually tend to.
a while would pass, the once distant sounds of the students became more and more prominent as at long last, he finished the forsaken paper he was writing. and from the corners of his eyes; the wanderer spotted your left forearm on the table. naturally, he was quick to turn to face you and be greeted with your arms on the table and resting your head on your arms, the research papers you read neatly yet messily set aside... sleeping here of all places?
“idiot,” he mumbled whilst getting up from his seat, carefully not making a sound as to not disturb your peace. “this is exactly why i told you to stay home.”
but even then, as he complained to your sleeping self with his ‘i told you so’s, he didn't hesitate in slowly taking his white haori and gently draping it over your sleeping figure, watching you as you breathed in and out softly. and for a moment, he stood there; simply watching you. his anemo vision that now hung over your shoulder began to shine and dim at a familiar rhythm that resembled the same sweet melody he'd sleep to in your shared home, the sight allowed for a subtle smile to adorn his face that if one were to look closely, would be greeted with a softness that'd seem uncharacteristic.
whispers could be heard from behind him, the contentment and softness dissipated in an instant as he shot a glare to those students whispering behind his back, and that was enough to have them scurry away to someplace else.
a sigh escaped the wanderer's lips afterwards as he turned to look at you again. perhaps he'll let you have your little nap whilst finishing up the second thesis he had.
yes, that's a decent enough excuse to have you stay by his side for a little longer.
OMG please don't worry about the ask being messy or all over the place, seeing you here genuinely brought a smile to my face! ( what a delight to wake up to too 🤭 ) and of course, love you too friend! 🩷🩷 remember to take care, stay safe and i wish you a wonderful and kind day ~
#( ❀ ) ── passerby.#( ❀ ) ── over tea with; smooches.#shit ayame when you said you were gonna cook ..#seriously though — THIS !! SUZU YOUR BRAIN IS SUCH A GENIUS I'LL KISS BOTH OF YOU ( platonically )#scenarios like this have my whole heart :(( combine such scenarios with we all know who and you /know/ i've melted into a puddle#minimal tags because i poured my heart out this time 🤭
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