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xxxsweetdreamzxxx · 3 years

Text

warnings/tags: dom!Jaehyun sub!reader, fanfic, smut; cursing, hook up, fingering, cunninilingus, unprotected sex, cream pie

summary: a chance meeting while shopping for bathing suits turns your summer vacation a little hotter

word count: 4.4k (help)

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this was interesting to write as the beginning and ending are based off of separate dreams this time, so hopefully I was able to link them in a way that made sense. please enjoy!!

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"How does this look?" You asked your friend Jamie, holding a skimpy neon bikini set to your body.

It was the first full day of your annual summer beach trip with your bestie, and you'd arrived in the seaside town you always traveled to late last night. After eating a mediocre breakfast provided by your hotel, the two of you had headed to a nearby mall to buy new swimsuits. She'd had luck finding one relatively quickly. But the reason you were still there, on the second story of a large department store several hours later, was because you had yet to.

She made a face. "No offence, but it's not really your style..."

Sighing, you put it back on the rack. "I know."

Rounding the stand that contained the bikini you'd just put back, you briefly glanced over at the neighboring section, which had swim trunks. Movement had caught your eye, caused by three guys walking through. You barely even paid attention to them at first glance, but the one in the back caught your eye, and you did a double take.

At this second glance, you saw they were all young, probably close to your age, and very attractive. 'Are they models?' You wondered. But again, it was the one behind the first two that really made you look on in awe. He had muted fluffy purple hair that covered his forehead, and dark eyes that shone like diamonds even from this distance. His soft features and perfect skin made you wonder if he was an angel. His thin white shirt hugged what was probably toned muscle underneath. When the taller of his two friends said something funny, he smiled and oh my God, he had the cutest dimples.

At that moment, he shifted his eyes up and saw you standing there, staring. Like a deer caught in headlights you froze, embarrassed as fuck you'd been caught. But his smile only widened, and he gave you a slight nod in greeting.

Ripping your gaze away, you acted like nothing had happened and tried to return to shopping.

"Oh wow y/n, you saw those guys right?" Jamie exclaimed, following you. "Now that's what I'd call eye can-"

You interrupted her, face flushed, by holding up a pale blue gingham bikini. "What about this?"

Before she could answer, her eyes focused on something behind you, mouth falling open slightly. A deep voice then responded to your question. "I think it looks cute."

You whipped around, only to come face to face with the man you couldn't keep from staring at. Your eyes widened and you gulped, startled. Up close, he was simply breathtaking. Literally; you felt your breathing become strained as your heart pounded in your chest.

"Th- Thank you, um..?" You stuttered before taking a deep breath.

"Jaehyun." He answered.

"Ah, Jaehyun." Damn, even his name was cute. You gave him a shaky smile. "So I should get it?"

"Definitely." He encouraged. He then looked to Jamie, who'd been speechlessly watching the exchange. "What do you think?"

Turning around, you waited to see her response. After looking between the two of you for a couple of seconds, she grinned and gave a thumbs up. You weren't sure if she was approving of the bathing suit or...

"Hey, what are you guys doing the rest of today?" Jaehyun asked.

"Oh, not much." You replied quickly, not planning to elaborate.

"We'll just be at the beach!" Jamie said louder and at the same time, speaking over you. "Wanna come with?"

You gave her a look, trying to shut her up. She looked back at you as if to say 'what?'

He smiled. "Sure. Let me ask the boys if it's okay with them."

He beckoned the two of them over, who didn't hesitate to comply. Jamie introduced you and her to the group, as you were still majorly distracted by the million thoughts running through your head. The tallest of the three then introduced himself as Johnny, a friendly guy with a round face and sculpted arms that were on full display thanks to the tank he wore. The other was Mark, who shyly said hi to you and Jamie. He had a boyish and youthful aura about him that made you immediately assume he was the youngest. They both readily agreed to head to the beach.

Still not fully registering what had just happened, you walked to the check out in a near trance and bought your swimsuits. Then you exited the mall, and made your way to the parking lot. Jaehyun went to get his car while the rest of you waited at Jamie's. When he pulled up, the guys got in. After quickly entering her car with her, Jamie pulled out of the parking lot and followed them as they lead the way to the beach.

"Y/n, you okay?" She asked, taking her eyes off the road for a split second to glance at your face. Your prolonged silence had prompted her to speak.

You removed yourself from your racing thoughts. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just surprised."

She grinned. "Well, today's not gonna be boring, that's for sure. It'll be a lot more eventful than if we'd hung out at the beach by ourselves."

You nodded in agreement. You knew there wasn't much harm in doing this - there would be plenty of people on the beach around you - they couldn't try anything. And besides, you didn't even get those vibes from them. That wasn't what made you uneasy. It was the thought of spending a day at the beach with such attractive guys that made the tips of your ears turn pink and your heart rate increase. You just prayed you wouldn't say or do something utterly embarrassing.

Jamie drove into the public beach parking behind their car, parking a few spaces away from them. Exiting the car, you and her first made your way to the bathrooms to change. This beach was well maintained, a stone walkway lead to them and then continued on and up to a wide bridge that arched over the barrier dunes and then down onto the sand. Palm trees provided shade, which was made good use of as it seemed wherever a tree cast a shadow there was a cool bench to sit.

Locking yourself into a stall in the women's bathroom, you undressed and then pulled on your brand new swimsuit. Thankfully, despite not being able to try it on in the store, it fit extremely well. The gingham pattern, pale blue color, and small ruffles on the waistband and straps made you conclude this was the cutest bikini you'd ever seen. Exiting the stall, you briefly peered into the mirror above the sinks to pull your hair into two low pigtails.

Turning back around, you found Jamie standing there in her new suit, smiling at you.

"Ready y/n?" She asked.

You took a breath before replying. "Yep."

Arm in arm, you walked out to meet the boys, who'd already changed and were standing there waiting, beach bags in hand. Johnny got excited as he spotted you both and practically ran towards beach, Mark trying to keep up with him. Jaehyun looked unbothered as he stayed behind to walk at a normal pace with you. By the time you'd crossed over the sand dunes and strolled onto the beach, Mark and Johnny had already found a good place a little ways away to set up. They'd brought two large towels, big enough for multiple people to sit on, and had spread them out over the sand.

Jaehyun sat down on one, then patted the ground next to him, motioning for you to sit next to him. After a few seconds of contemplation you complied, folding your legs to the side as you still kept a couple feet of distance from him. Jamie sat down with Johnny and Mark on the other towel.

For the next hour or so, the five of you talked about various topics in an effort to learn more about each other. Gradually, you loosened up as you got used to their company. Johnny and Mark were college friends of Jaehyun's, who'd came into town a few days before you to visit him where he now lived on the coast. Funnily enough, the two boys were staying in the same hotel as you and Jamie while they did so - it was the closest to Jaehyun's apartment.

Noon came and went, and the air continued to heat up around you until it was unbearable. You looked out at the ocean water longingly, but didn't want to leave by yourself, and the others seemed to be having such a great time...

Glancing over at you, Jaehyun made a suggestion. "Who's up for the water?"

Despite your assumptions, the agreement was unanimous. As one, you all rose and ran towards the rolling sea, chasing each other. Diving into the waves, you ran out until the water was up to your waist. Johnny swam out farther than any of you, while Jamie and Mark stayed in slightly shallower water.

You heard the sound of someone sloshing around in the water directly behind you. Spinning around, you were met with his chest - his white shirt was now wet and you could see some of the muscles through it - as your eyes widened and you looked up into Jae's eyes. He smiled down at your face, less than a foot away, dimples on full display.

"Hi." He said in a way that made your heart melt. Then: "Feel better?"

"Y- yeah, it was really hot before." Your words betrayed your body - being in the water wasn't cooling you off at all anymore.

You stood there for a few awkward moments in silence, not knowing what to say.

"Um-" You began.

"Woah y/n look out!" He cut you off, sudden panic on his face as he closed the small distance between the two of you.

Suddenly, a large wave crashed into your back. It pushed you straight into the only thing that would keep you standing - his body. Instinctively, you gripped onto his shirt tightly so you didn't fall, tugging it towards you. He didn't hesitate to wrap his strong arms around your waist to steady you. Only after the wave had passed did you realize what you'd done, quickly releasing the fabric from your hands. But he didn't let go.

"Are you okay?" He asked, worry in his tone.

You nodded, heart pounding loudly in your ears. However, you were shaking slightly.

He began leading you back towards the shore, not convinced. Stumbling onto the hot sand, he guided you back to the towels, sitting you down once you got there. Getting a smaller towel, he wrapped it around you so you could dry off, then he sat down next to you.

You looked at him, embarrassed. "You can go back if you want, I'll be fine here."

"No, I'm good." He leaned back a bit. "I'm not much of a swimmer anyways."

He then lifted his arm and ran his fingers through his damp hair, brushing it back off his forehead. You gulped, incredibly bothered by the motion.

He looked at you with a slight smirk. "Thirsty?"

"Yeah." You replied.

Smirk widening, he handed you an unopened water bottle. You drank, trying desperately to calm down.

Jamie ran up to you, Mark following close behind. "Y/n are you okay?" She asked, confused and concerned. "What happened?"

You explained without including the details that made you blush when you thought of them. She sat on the towel next to you, deciding not to go back out. Mark followed suit and shortly after Johnny joined you again when he realized everyone was out of the water.

After a bit, you began to get hungry and got up to try and find some food. Luckily, there was a food truck nearby with some cheap lunch. Returning to the towels, you ate in relative silence as the sun moved slowly west overhead. The rest of the afternoon was spent walking, playing with a frisbee, and sunbathing. You noticed Jaehyun seemed to be keeping you within a few feet of him the entire time, never leaving you alone or with the others. Even when you went back out with Jamie into the shallow water, he followed - even though he tried to appear like he wasn't.

.•°•. ♡ .•°•. ♡ .•°•. ♡ .•°•.

Once the sun went down, everything was packed up and taken back to the cars. You threw back on your shorts from earlier before heading to a nearby bar, open to the sea and cool night air. It was already crowded with many tourists, and once you entered you quickly lost sight of the others, later catching a glimpse of Jamie talking to Johnny off to the side with a drink in hand.

Seeing the bar, you made your way over to it by yourself and sat on one of the barstools. You beckoned the bartender over to order your drink.

"What can I get for you?" She asked, polishing a glass.

"A margarita please." you answered.

She then looked at the seat next to you. "And you sir?"

"A margarita for me too, thanks." A familiar voice answered.

You turned around in your seat to face Jaehyun, blinking at him.

He smiled and nodded in greeting, those adorable dimples reappearing on the corners of his mouth. Feeling your face heat up, you quickly turned to look at the bartender as she made your identical drinks.

You cleared your throat a little. "So... you like margaritas too?"

He chuckled softly at your attempt to break the awkwardness. "Truthfully, I've never tried one. Thought tonight was good first time."

You could feel his eyes on you, boring into your soul in an attempt to get your attention. When you couldn't take it any longer and tilted your head to look at him, his eyes immediately met yours. A slight smirk spread across his lips.

When your drinks were served, he was the first to take a sip, eyes not leaving you for a millisecond. You drank and shifted in your seat, fully aware of how he was checking you out as his eyes began to roam. You wondered if maybe you should've put on a shirt over your bikini top to cover yourself better. But that thought was quickly dismissed as a new one took its place. You liked it - the way his attention was focused on no one but you. There were plenty of other hot girls there that night, but he paid them no mind.

The hours drifted by as those around you melted away and it felt like you and Jae were the only two in the entire world. The music and voices of patrons were only a buzz in the distant background as you focused on his soft words. You found you enjoyed each others company - he made you comfortable with the idea of spending as much time in it as possible.

When the clock struck ten, you could feel the beginnings of fatigue creeping into your mind. An incoming text made his phone buzz. He checked it, relaying the message to you after briefly lifting up his eyebrows in surprise.

"Your friend's heading back to the hotel with Johnny and Mark, she's driving them there."

"Oh!" You replied in surprise, glancing around the bar but finding them already gone. You knew what was probably going to happen to Jamie, but you didn't voice it.

He looked at you for about a minute before speaking again, slowly. "Do you.. wanna come to my place?"

You met his eyes again, heart and mind racing at his invitation. The implications of his question didn't slip by you, they were fully realized. Still, it didn't take you long to make up your mind - in fact, you'd already made it before he'd asked.

"Yes." You replied.

He smiled wide and grabbed your hand, intertwining his fingers with yours. You quickly slid off your barstool and exited the bar, making for the car. You giggled as he pulled you along. The moon shone down on you from high overhead, lighting the way. Once reaching the car, he opened the passenger door for you and you hopped inside as he then closed it and rounded the car to his seat. Getting in, he started the car and drove out onto the road towards his apartment.

Your mind raced as you made the silent drive to his apartment, listening to the low sounds of the radio coming through the speakers. It only took a few minutes before he was parking, getting out, and coming around to help you out of the car. Grasping your hand tightly again, he lead you into the building. The lobby of his apartment had only dim lights on at this time to illuminate the room. No one was around. Jaehyun took a left after guiding you through the main doors.

"This way." He practically whispered, taking you into the elevator.

He hit the three and the doors closed, leaving you alone in the small space with him for a few moments. He didn't waste any time in turning you around to face him, closing the gap between you. Locking his lips with yours in a heated first kiss, he backed you up into the elevator wall, driving you up it slightly with his strong arms. You instinctively wrapped your limbs around his body to steady yourself and kissed him back. You could taste both him and the drink he'd had at the bar - the mixture was heavenly.

A ding signified your arrival at his floor, forcing you to part. Thankfully for the both of you, his door wasn't too far away. Pulling you down the hall quickly, Jae stopped at his door and took out his keys, fumbling with them for a few seconds as he tried to rush. When the door was unlocked, he pushed it open, letting you both walk through before harshly closing it again.

For the few seconds it took for him to throw the keys on a small table next to the door you glanced around the dark apartment. Through a cracked door to your left you could make out a bathroom. A small kitchen stretched across most of the right wall from the door, a long bar separating it from the rest of the room. In this main room was both his living area and bedroom. His bed was pushed up against the farthest wall, which was taken up entirely by two giant windows. The moonlight shone through them, illuminating a balcony on the other side that looked out into the night and the street below, where palm trees waved back and forth in a light breeze.

The sudden grip of his large hand on your waist from behind made you jump. He spun you around, and gave you that soul piercing stare that made all your self-control fade away. You leaned in this time, seeing a smirk spread across his face right before you closed your eyes. As soon as your lips brushed against his again, he picked up were you'd left off, kissing you relentlessly and leaving you breathless. Slowly, he backed you up further into the apartment until the backs of your legs bumped up against the edge of the bed as you struggled to bring air to your lungs.

He lifted you just enough to clear the mattress and sit you down on top of it. Climbing onto it himself, he gently laid you down onto the sheets underneath him. He kept himself up with his knees, one on each side of you as he started to move his plush lips down to your neck. He proceeded to mark you, painting several dark spots onto your skin that would surely be there the next day.

"Ah, Jae." You moaned out for the first time, when the tenseness that had been building between your legs became too much to stay silent.

He paused. "What is it princess?"

"I need..." You began, heating up at the petname.

"Yes?" He asked patiently, waiting for your commanding words. He smiled down at you, raising a hand to your cheek to stroke it soothingly.

"You." You finished, meeting his gaze. "I need you."

He smiled wider. "Sure thing."

Removing his hand from your face, he moved it down to the waistband of your shorts. Unbuttoning them with both hands, he slipped them off and down your ankles with ease. Placing his strong hand on your upper thigh, he spread it away from the other and began moving his fingers closer to your heat. Shivering at his touch, you sunk deeper into the bedsheets. He let his fingertips get to the edge of your bikini bottoms, but stopped there, teasing you.

"Hey-" You breathed, scolding him when you realized what he was doing.

He looked down at you, hair messily splayed around your head as your chest rose and fell beneath him. Your skin was beginning to glisten with perspiration, your eyelashes fluttering slightly every time you blinked your half-closed eyes. "Hm?"

You took a moment to respond. "Touch me Jae."

He smiled a dark smile as he brushed your bikini bottoms to the side. The first touch of his fingertips against your slick clit had you lifting your hips up off the bed, curses falling from your lips. He forced them back down, pinning you to the bed with his body. He quickly resumed his actions, running his fingers back and forth over your folds as you moaned at the pleasure. He then suddenly inserted a finger into your dripping core.

"Ah-" You gasped in surprise as he continued, using his thumb to trace circles across your clit. It was all too much for you to handle. He watched as you gradually lost control beneath him, writhing about in pleasure. The dangerous combination of things he was doing to you quickly brought your first high like a rising wave that crashed into the beach before it.

You didn't have time to warn him before your walls clamped down on his finger and your juices spilled out onto his hand, sheets, and down your legs. He let you ride out your orgasm and calm all the way down before removing his finger and sitting up, licking every last bit of you from his fingers. You peered down the bed at him, watching in fascination as he lapped it up like a man starved.

"Shit, you taste good." He complimented, making your face feel flushed.

When his hand was clean, he bent down and stuck his head between your legs. A second later, you felt the flick of his tongue on your inner thigh. He left a trail of wet kisses up it, making his way back up to your heat. Without warning, you felt his lips brush against your folds as he proceeded to use his tongue to clean you up as best he could. His hot breath against your pussy made you squirm and draw your legs up closer to your chest. Once satisfied he sat up again, licking the last of you from his lips.

He then repositioned himself above you. Removing his swim trunks, his hard member sprung free and stood erect, precum trickling from its pink tip. Slipping a couple of fingers into the waistband of your bikini bottoms, he pulled then down your legs, leaving them with your shorts at your ankles. Lining up with your entrance, he held himself up with his strong arms, caging you in. You looked up at him, his faded purple hair messy across his face. He gave you a reassuring smile - dimples and all - before pushing into you with ease and rolling his hips down onto yours. Matching the pace he set, you pulled his face back down to yours to kiss him again, softer this time. He complied, kissing you deeper and slower as he pushed further into you with each thrust.

When he bottomed out, he speed up the movement of his hips, gripping yours to bring them closer to his. The lewd sounds of sex filled the apartment, combined with both of your increasingly loud moans.

"Jae." You moaned out, breaking your kisses. You felt the tenseness building in your abdomen again.

He groaned as you felt him twitch inside you. "Fuck, you sound so hot saying my name like that."

He then hit your g-spot with the tip of his cock, pushing you over the edge. You came undone all at once, flexing your walls around him, gasping for air. Seconds later, hot strings of his cum shot through you, spilling out onto the bed along with your own. Riding out your orgasms simultaneously, your heavy breathing gradually quieted until he pulled out and sat up on the bed beside you. Watching him slide off the edge and stand up, your eyes followed him as he made his way to the bathroom entrance, ducking in for a second and returning with a towel.

Climbing back onto the bed, he leaned over you and gently cleaned you up with the towel, being extra careful around your sore clit. When most of it was wiped up, he discarded the towel onto the floor and laid down next to you. You rolled onto your side to look at him in the moonlight.

His skin had a visible sheen to it and his hair was a fucking mess - it stuck partially to his damp skin. But that only made his perfectly sculpted features more beautiful. You felt him wrap his arm around your naked waist, holding you to his body. Brushing a loose strand of hair away from your face, he spoke for the first time in minutes.

"Let's do this again tomorrow."

In your fucked out state, you couldn't respond with much else than an excited nod as you snuggled up to him. He gently kissed your swollen lips, happy.

Brushing your nose with his, he whispered: "Night y/n."

You replied by kissing him back, closing your eyes, and drifting off to sleep in his arms.

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sluttbuttsstuff · 3 years

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Hucow!AU Part 5 (FINALE!!!)

WOOHOO!! It’s finally Bruno’s turn, I saved best boy for last. All parts combined in gdocs are 29 pages total, this is def the longest thing i’ve written in over a decade!! I hope you enjoy, and look forward to whatever i decide to write next

thanks, and enjoy!

as always. credit goes to @dark-side-blog2 for the wonderful hucow! au

WARNINGS: not sfw, yandere, duncon, noncon, sleep fucking, force feeding, manipulation, dark themes, afab reader, she/her pronouns, all characters 18+!!

After taking care of Narancia and tucking him into bed, Bruno returned to your room once more. You slept like the dead, worn out from a long night. Bruno smiled proudly, you had been wonderful for them. Each bull, you had accepted their love, their passion, their essence and earned your place in the herd once again. It filled Bruno with such joy, knowing that you were the perfect mate for them, for all of them.

You were caring and kind for Narancia, playful and fun for Mista, calming and gentle for Fugo, accepting and attentive for Abbacchio. And for Bruno: you were everything. For so long, there had been a piece of the puzzle missing in his life. He had a family with no mother, no children.

Bruno had met you first in a very dark part of his life-his herd was beaten, driven from his home in fear, on the brink of death with no hope. And then, you had appeared, an angel hidden away in paradise, offering safety, shelter. Much more than that, even, with a little bit of convincing, and a lot of planning. He would have his family, his children, and you.

Bruno knew how to play the long game, how to strategize and manipulate, but he only did it for good reason. He had to, you were too prideful, too stubborn to realize how much you needed him. You were running a giant farm several acres large by yourself, no employees, relatives or neighbors to help. Bruno couldn’t have that,now could he? He and the other bulls took over the hard work and heavy lifting-eventually, after a lot of hemming and hawing from you. Bruno managed to talk you into it; it was beneficial for both of you, a way for the bulls to earn their keep and for you to get some help.

The bulls helped with Bruno’s plan as well, in their own ways. Mista put his cooking skills to use, making you healthy meals infused with lackweed (Mulgeo, a plant that encouraged your body to lactate) and pills that increased your sexual urges. He’d even been adding charcoal to your meals to cancel out your birth control; it wasn’t necessary, Bruno had gotten rid of your birth control months ago while you were asleep, but Bruno appreciated it nonetheless.

Narancia had gotten you to warm up to them very quickly, being as innocent and naive as he was, and Bruno was able to use him to display his parenting skills. Yes, Narancia was a grown bull, and mostly treated as such, but he was still the youngest, and hard not to spoil. Plus, the way you seemed to light up when Bruno would baby Narancia- it was clear your maternal instincts were awakening. Good! It was excellent practice for your own children.

Fugo was admittedly the most awkward around you, it wasn’t really his fault, though. He had the least experience out of the bulls with women, but Bruno could tell his true feelings about you. So, he encouraged Fugo to show his strengths to you; mainly his brain. There was an old tractor collecting rust that needed repairs, and you had lost several crops last season due to lack of irrigation. Fugo was able to repair them, thanks to researching some books and some help from you. Plus, it was one less job for you to do, and another reason for you to depend on them. Bruno knew Fugo was nervous, but Bruno was certain he’d be a good mate and husband. He would make their children very smart.

Abbacchio could be a little rough around the edges, it's true, but he clearly had a soft spot for you. While he would smack Mista and Narancia around when they got on his nerves or got ornery, you he respected and let a lot slide. Bruno had seen you tug on his tail (admittedly by accident) , elbow him (after a funny joke), and even put flowers (that he was allergic to!) in his hair! Abbacchio had taken it in stride, and even defended you when Mista’s teasing or the other shenanigans went too far. Plus, Abbacchio’s skills as a lockpick let them sneak into your house when you were away or sleeping. Very useful indeed…

Bruno knew he had to share you, as much as he wanted you for his own. He couldn’t hurt his herd, his brothers, who loved you almost as much as he did. So Bruno was patient, he let them have their turns first, keep the peace….

But Bruno couldn’t wait any longer.

The timing had to be perfect, to ensure he had the best chances. He had snuck into your home months before, stealing and disposing of your birth control, and destroying your refill prescription. Thankfully you were too busy and preoccupied to make a new appointment with the doctor for new medication, which Bruno appreciated greatly. Digging through your trash, he was able to record and determine your cycle, in order to find out when you would be most fertile. He would allow his herd many things,including you.

But his child would be first.

Letting the others go first- he allowed it before you were truly in heat. They didn’t know why, but were grateful nonetheless, eager to claim you.

He pulled back your blankets, after making sure you were deep in R.E.M. sleep. Birds started chirping as dawn rose outside, but you were dead to the world. So much, in fact, that when Bruno pulled back your bed sheets you didn’t so much as flinch. You were still nude, too tired to put your pajamas back on last night; Bruno admired the early morning light glowing on your body. Bruno kissed down your face and body everywhere the sun touched, relieved you were still asleep. Bruno made note of every bruise and marking on your skin to treat later that morning, as he went lower and lower down your body. Spreading your legs, you tasted divine. You were definitely ready, too: now would be his best chance.

Licking the others out of your core, he heard you quietly whimper- he paused, waiting for you to stir, but you eventually drifted back to sleep. You always were cute when you slept, the way you would sometimes talk in your sleep or kick your legs “Running.” Bruno had learned a lot observing you, and intended to learn a lot more from you today. He cleaned you out with his tongue and prepped you thoroughly-maybe it was petty of him, saving you all for himself, but Bruno was the alpha bull, and the perfect mate for you. That’s why it was so important to not just get you pregnant, but pregnant with his children. It’s what you, the both of you deserved.

Once Bruno was certain you were ready ( you were still soft and wet from last night, and pleasantly warm against his tongue and fingers) he leaned over you, pulling your legs up against his shoulders into a mating press. It terrified him how easily you slept, how dangerous it would be if his herd hadn’t found you. What if someone else had found you before them, taken you like this in your sleep? It worried him so, that’s why he had to do this, claim you and protect you from any rivals.

Bruno stroked your cheek, before pressing inside. Finally, after all this time, he was inside of you, warm and wonderful and all his. You squirmed in your sleep,but otherwise accepted him without complaint. Bruno was so happy he could cry, he settled for kissing your shoulder as he pushed into the hilt. Bruno couldn’t hold his urges back any longer, he thrust into you again and again, hitting against your sweet spot. You cried out in your sleep, jumbled noises Bruno convinced himself were his name. In this position, he was able to reach so deep, force himself as far inside as he could reach.

His grip on you tightened, feeling the strain of the position, the slap of his balls on your ass fueling his desire more. But it wasn’t enough, he had to make sure you felt good too. He suckled your chest, licking your nipples the way he had seen you enjoy. Your pussy was so wet he was able to rub slick onto your hard throbbing clit, careful to rub the raw skin gently.

“Y/n, I’m so thankful to have found you, finally we can make our dreams come true~” Bruno whispered to you, desperate for you to know the feelings he’d held back for so long.

“I can hardly hold back with you; I’ve been waiting so long for this, and I can tell now that so have you. Don’t worry, I’ll take care of you, we all will. Just give in, you can trust me.” Bruno pleaded, close to the edge. Bruno grit his teeth, it was about to end, all too soon. Bruno wasn’t ready, he wanted to stay like this with you forever. Relief washed over Bruno as he heard you cry out in release, tightening around him and bringing him to release.

“I’m cumming, y/n. Please, accept all of me!” He gasped,spilling his seed inside. Tears Bruno had held back spilled down as his emotions overcame him, something he would only allow to happen while you couldn’t see. He was certain this was the right thing to do, now more than ever. You were his, all of theirs, safe and protected.

In the next months, you would become full with child. Naturally, you would have to stop manual labor-which would be fine, you could depend on your sturdy bulls to run the farm for you. And then when you had their children, you would need to raise them. Obviously, you had five capable mates to help you; taking turns feeding them, staying up on long sleepless nights, teaching them right from wrong. So many precious memories to be made with you, Bruno could

hardly wait.

As Bruno turned to leave you to rest, he saw you start to rise.

“...Bruno?” You called weakly, and Bruno was by your side in an instant.

“Y/n? What’s wrong, you’re up so early?” Bruno asked, concerned.

“...It’s hot” you groaned, reaching out for him. Bruno’s heart fluttered, you called out for him. He felt your forehead; admittedly sweaty, but not necessarily from illness.

“You are a little warm. Let’s get you out of these sweaty blankets and cleaned up.” Bruno helped you out of your sheets, and ran to get a damp washcloth. He returned quickly, sitting on your bed and wiped the cloth over your body. Your body flushed, and whenever you thought Bruno wasn’t looking, you would glance over at him. Bruno smiled to himself, you really were spoiling him this morning-he couldn’t be more delighted.

“Are you feeling any better? You should take it easy today, you had a long night.” Bruno said as he washed your stomach.

“Umm, yes, im-ahh!” You jumped, as Bruno’s wash cloth reached your nether regions.

“Relax, bella, It’s important to clean this area as well. We don’t want you getting sick now do we?” Bruno continued, unfazed by your reaction. You fidgeted a moment longer, but considering all that had happened, you relented. What more could Bruno do to you?

He toweled you off quickly, patting you dry and then headed to your closet.

“Let’s find you something extra comfortable to wear today, shall we?” Bruno asked, flipping through your hangers. What a shame, most of your outfits were utilitarian and industrial, not befitting a mother to be.

“Oh, Bruno, you don’t have to-” You began, but Bruno cut you off.

“Here we go, perfect! Ah, and this shade of lavender will look lovely on you!” Bruno proclaimed, holding up a flowery sundress made of soft cotton. Very comfortable, but not the best for farm work. Bruno couldn’t be stopped though, grabbing some undergarments for you (how did he know where you kept them?) and helped you sit up in bed.

“Let’s get you dressed, as much as I love the thought of having you nude all day, nothing will get done around the farm with the boys fawning over you.” Bruno chuckled, sliding socks onto your feet for you.

“Bruno, please! I can dress myself!” You pleaded, trying to pull away, but Bruno stopped you with gentle but firm hands.

“Bella, please-let me take care of you the way you’ve taken care of us. It’s only fair, isn’t it?” Bruno smiled, tugging your socks up to your ankles. He held a white pair of panties out for you, “Step in, dear, one foot at a time” You groaned, turning an adorable shade of red Bruno loved, but did indeed let him slide the panties up and onto you. He convinced you to skip a bra today (Bruno wasn’t completely selfless) and slip into the sundress, snug as a bug.

“Much better! Now, do you want to see if you can get some more sleep? You didn’t get many hours of sleep last night, and your body must be very sore.” He asked you, stroking your cheek. “Well, maybe later, but-” You began, only to be interrupted by your growling stomach. Bruno chuckled, “Ahh, of course, let’s get you fed shall we?” he winked, placing a hand on the small of your back and escorting you to the kitchen.

You tried to make yourself breakfast, really you did, but Bruno wasn’t giving you any leeway this morning.

“Please, Bambina, let me cook for you. You always make the rest of us meals, and I’m not completely hopeless in the kitchen.” He told you, sitting you on a kitchen chair, rolling up his sleeves. True to his word, he was decent in the kitchen-more than decent, in fact. Bruno fried up a pig’s worth of bacon, crispy and fried with a sprinkle of cinnamon. Eggs, sunny-side scrambled and over-easy, just a little bit runny and fresh from your henhouse. And the cru-de-ta, a mountain-pile of fluffy home batter pancakes, smothered in homemade syrup and creamy smooth butter dollops piled on top. Bruno piled your plate to the brim, sure to give you only the crunchiest bacon strips and roundest pancakes, with plenty left over for the boys. It was a miracle the other boys hadn’t woken up yet, but you supposed they were still wiped out from the night before and needed a little more rest.

Bruno didn’t mind one bit, enjoying the one on one time with you he rarely got. Sitting patiently for him like a good mate, letting him clean you, dress you, even feed you. Bruno was determined to spoil you, so you would never want for anything other than him again. Looking around your plate, you asked Bruno, “Sorry, but you forgot to grab a fork and knife. Would you mind?”

Bruno smiled, unblinkingly, “Oh no, I didn’t. Open wide~” He cooed, stacking a silver fork full of your breakfast. You looked at him incredulously, “Seriously?”

Bruno didn’t relent, smile unwavering, “You wouldn’t turn down all my hard work and this delicious food, would you?”

You wanted to argue with him, you really did. For every inch he gave you, he took a mile, and it was starting to be humiliating. But for whatever reason, Bruno always made you cave. Besides, after everything you’d been through, he’d never hurt you, always gentle and caring. So, against your better judgement, you sheepishly opened your mouth for him.

Bruno lifted the fork into your mouth, watching your lips close around his fork. You savored the buttery rich flavor of the pancakes, the spongy texture bouncing lightly in your mouth as you chewed. To say it was delicious would be an understatement; you were starting to consider letting Mista and Bruno handle mealtime more often. Bruno bit the corner of his lip, watching you eat your meal. You wanted to pout, not give Bruno the satisfaction of knowing you enjoyed being babied like this, but you couldn’t help smiling as you swallowed bite after bite, opening your mouth and even leaning forward. Each bite was better than the last; the salty sweet bacon grease and runny eggs soaked into the pancakes, soaking up the flavor medley and sending your palette into overdrive.

Bruno loved every minute, watching you let your guard down for him, licking up syrup from your chin, even letting him wipe your cheek clean with a napkin. Your stomach puffed out as you ate through your meal, it excited him to know he did that to you, and that your stomach would soon be even more distended and full with his baby. Your plate was nearly clean, but you didn’t think you could eat another bite. Bruno had given you so much already, and it was all delicious and rich, and had no more room.

“Please, Bruno, I’m full to the brim. I’m sorry but I can’t eat anymore.” You groaned, clutching your stomach.

“Oh please, just another bite, bambina~ you’ve done so well, you’re almost done.” He cooed, forking the last bits on your plate. You tried to excuse yourself, but Bruno stuffed it into your open unsuspecting mouth. You nearly choked on the utensil forcing your way into your mouth, a sugary syrupy mess that was starting to nauseate you. It was too much, too rich, but Bruno held your mouth shut.

“Please, y/n, you have to eat more. Think of our children, won’t you?” You froze, as you remembered everything that had happened last night with a wave. You looked at Bruno, mouth still full and ready to vomit. His gaze tore into you, more serious than he had been all morning. In fact, the last time he looked at you like that…

Bruno rubbed your back, as your eyes watered and spilled over. Poor thing, were you already having morning sickness? No worries, it was only natural; he would take care of you. You were having trouble breathing, not sure if it was the food or the panic setting in.

“Come on Bambina, you’re almost done. Just swallow it all down, you can do it~” Bruno hissed, as he plugged up your nose. Bruno sighed, watching your eyes bug out; he didn’t want to be harsh with you, but what other choice were you giving him? You needed to follow his orders, that’s how he kept you safe and happy. “Now, y/n”

Despite the lump in your throat, you had no choice but to swallow, the lack of oxygen making you gag. How could you forget who you were dealing with? How could you let him take advantage of you again and again? You wiped the snot and tears from your face, catching your breath. You flinched as a familiar hand reached out and grabbed your chin. Bruno turned you to look at him, his face calm and smiling as if nothing had happened.

“There, Bambina, that wasn’t so bad was it? You have to let me take care of you, okay? We don’t want you hurting yourself do we?” He asked, voice soft and patronizing, like he hadn’t just force fed you against your will. You wanted to run away, but didn’t know where to go. It didn’t help any as you heard footsteps coming down the stairs.

“Yo, y/n! You’re up already? I thought we wiped you out last night!”

“Guess we’ll have to try harder next time.”

“Are you okay, y/n? You look ill. Maybe you should go back to bed.”

“Ohh, it smells so good! Did you make breakfast for us, y/n?”

You were surrounded. No way out. Five strong angry bulls that had taken over your life, your home, even your body. You couldn’t trust them, not any of them. There was no escape.

“What’s wrong, bella? Are you crying?”

“Don’t cry, y/n! There’s nothing to worry about, we’ll take care of you!”

“You can count on us, y/n. We’re mates, after all.”

You were trapped.

Trapped.

You opened your mouth to scream, but it was no use.

It’s not like anyone would hear you, anyways

END

#sluttbuttsstuff #fic #not sfw #hucow!au #yandere #bruno #brunoxreader

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sisterspooky1013 · 3 years

Text

Good Pitches

Rating: Teen and Up

Words: 3179

Read it on AO3

@today-in-fic

Summary: post-ep for Milagro/The Unnatural

April 1999

Something had shifted after Padgett. She’d been afraid that this would end like it had with Jerse, Mulder angry at her indiscretion and further than ever from understanding her. Maybe this was different because they were different, closer than they were when she met Jerse. Maybe it was what Padgett had said, about her being in love. She hadn’t been able to bring herself to refute that statement, but she also hadn’t been able to meet Mulder’s eye. Did he know? She could admit to herself that she wanted him to. Maybe if he knew, he’d be brave enough to take the leap that they were both too chickenshit to take, each of them too fearful of learning that they were wrong, of being rejected. How could they carry on after that? If Mulder knew how she felt about him, maybe that would be all it took.

The way he treated her after he found her blood-soaked on his apartment floor was nothing like the derisive cut of his words after Jerse. He was so incredibly tender with her, holding her like a glass vase, soothing her like a brittle plant. Even in her abject terror, she had noted the feel of his fingers against her sternum while he unbuttoned her blouse, and the gentle flutter of his touch as he explored her torso for wounds. If not for the state of shock she was in, she may have caught his eye, and told him without words that Padgett was right, she was in love. Instead she folded her tiny body into his, tucked safely against his chest. Even as the crime scene investigators wandered in and out, even as Skinner came by and eyed them suspiciously, she never let go of him. She was unashamed, for once, of needing him. And he was unashamed, as always, of wanting to be needed by her.

That night, after her bloody clothes had been collected as evidence, he drove her back to her apartment wearing his t shirt and basketball shorts, which fit her like capri pants. He’d packed himself a bag under the excuse of his apartment being tended to by the crime scene cleanup crew, but really he just didn’t want her to leave her alone. He’d stood by her side in the bathroom and chivalrously turned his back so she could step into the shower, standing guard nearby in case she needed him. Watching blood swirl around the drain as it sloughed off her skin, still unsure of it’s origin, she’d wished desperately he were right beside her under the water, something sturdy to lean against. Her touchstone. Knowing that he would be here in a heartbeat, if only she’d ask him, somehow made it even worse. When she shut off the water, he stood just outside the curtain with a towel held open wide, protecting her privacy until he wrapped it around her shivering frame, and she steadied herself against him, breathing in the smell of his skin through his t shirt. They stood there like that for a long time, until finally he wordlessly scooped her up and carried her into her bedroom, seeming to sense that she didn’t have the strength to get herself there. Seeming to know that she would allow and even welcome this particular show of intimacy and care. She’d had the overwhelming urge to tell him she loved him, but she didn’t. Sitting on the edge of her bed he’d dressed her, first pulling her t shirt over her neck and then allowing her to pull her arms free from the towel one at a time and thread them through the sleeves. She was relatively sure that he could see her breasts, but it didn’t seem to matter. What was a breast when he had seen her broken open in grief, in pain, in fear? Her nakedness hardly seemed as private as all that. Next he’d held her pajama pants at her feet so that she could slip each leg in before standing to pull them over her hips, discarding the towel. He didn’t give her underwear and she didn’t question it, knowing him well enough to predict that he thought it would be an invasion of privacy to open her underwear drawer, and seeing that she was too distraught to care about underwear.

“You should eat something” he told her as she crawled under the covers, his voice laden with concern.

She shook her head; food was a foreign object right now. All she needed was sleep. When he went to leave the room, she sat up, her eyes full of fear. She didn’t need to voice the question.

“I’m going to take a shower, is that okay? I’ll only be gone a few minutes.”

She nodded solemnly.

“I was going to ask if you wanted me to sleep on the couch…” his voice trailed off as her face answered him. She wanted him close. Needed him there. He nodded. “I’ll be right here, just give me a few minutes.”

She lay there, listening to the rush of the water, waiting for him to return to her side. She was so incredibly exhausted, but unable to sleep. Each shadow seemed to take the form of the psychic surgeon, each creak of the floorboards was Padgett here to look into her soul. Within 5 minutes, Mulder slipped into the bed beside her in a t shirt and his boxer shorts, his skin warm and welcoming, his hair wet and spiked. She went to him, without regard for personal space, professionalism, boundaries or logic. Tucking her head just under his chin, she pressed the length of her body to his and he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her somehow even closer than she had gotten herself. Fresh tears rolled down her cheeks and dampened his shirt, and his hand gently rubbed her back, his lips planting soft kisses to her hair.

“You’re okay, I’m here” he told her, and she wished she could somehow crawl inside his body, needing him even closer than this, wanting him in more ways than she had previously understood.

She fell asleep to the sound of his heart beating, the metronome to which she kept the time of her life. A rhythm unwritten but that she knew by memory. The sweet song of Mulder.

Since that night, something was different, but delightfully so. She felt less guarded with him, more free to laugh and be silly. Unafraid of incidental flirting or mixed messages. When he’d asked her to meet him at the office on a sunny Saturday afternoon, she’d had the girlish idea that he had ulterior motives and that this would be something like a date. She was disappointed to find that he just wanted her help digging through the archives, but the playful way he interacted with her, culminating in him stealing a bite of her ice cream, set off butterflies in her belly in a way she hadn’t experienced in years. She’d spent the rest of that day in a dreamy stupor, smiling idiotically at nothing, garnering friendly hellos from passers by and her neighbors. Had love made her more approachable? Returning from the grocery store to his message, she’d talked herself out of changing her clothes or freshening her makeup, not wanting to read into this something that wasn’t there. The case he was researching was baseball related, after all, so in all likelihood he was asking her to join him there for help with the case.

She was able to keep her demeanor cool and unaffected right up until he put the baseball bat in her hands and curled his long body around hers. His breath hot on her neck and his fingertips on her hip bone made her heart race; this definitely wasn’t work related. When the kid running the pitching machine told Mulder that his mother was expecting him home and took off, she’d felt the words rising in her throat to bid him a good night and go home herself; that’s what she would typically do, after all. Instead she swallowed and waited to see what would happen if she didn’t leave. What would have happened so many nights if she’d simply stuck around?

Mulder walked into the small dugout, sized for little leaguers so that he had to duck a little to fit. He was putting the bat, glove and baseballs into a large duffel bag, perhaps also preparing himself for the night to end. Ignoring the nervous flutter in her gut, she followed him into the dugout and sat down on the little bench that ran along the back wall. How was it that after as many dangerous situations as she’d been in, as many times her life was at risk, that this felt scarier than any of them? How could she know exactly what to do with a gun pointed at her, but be completely lost when it came to something as simple as telling him how she felt? When the choice was possible death or possible rejection, she only knew how to risk her life, not her heart.

Mulder sat down beside her, an open bag of sunflower seeds in his hand, and propped his feet up on the half-wall that faced the field. He held out the bag and she took a handful, which was a rare occurrence. He always offered them to her, though 98% of the time she declined. The few times she had accepted, the delighted smiled on his face was worth the unpleasantness of picking shards of shell out of her teeth for hours (she wasn’t nearly as skilled as he was at cracking them). She felt like now was a good time to make that sacrifice and see that smile, and he delivered. She held his gaze for a moment as he beamed at her, the doubled joy of her sharing his interest in baseball and sunflower seeds apparent on his face.

“How do you open these things without destroying the shell, Mulder? What’s the secret?” For every time she’d rolled her eyes at the things that excited him, she was going to make up for it now.

“It’s all about breaking the shell at the right angle, watch.” He held a seed between his front teeth with his lips pulled back so she could see how he applied pressure until it split evenly along the seam, then deftly used his tongue to pull the seed into his mouth, flicking the shell away with his breath. She mimicked him and he laughed when the shell and the seed splintered, an inseparable mess. They shifted their bodies so that they were turned towards each other, one leg bent against the back wall of the dugout. He showed her several more times and she was an eager student, studying the position of the seed, but also taking the opportunity to admire the fullness of his bottom lip and the shadow of his stubble sprouting so late in the evening. When she finally got it, the seed emerging intact, she smiled at him so broadly her gums showed, a rare sight. He gave her a high-five and their fingers instinctively threaded together upon contact, dropping down to rest between on the bench them still interlaced. Her heart started to race, recognizing the tension in the moment and the desire that flickered in his hazel eyes. She knew he wanted to kiss her, and she knew she wanted him to, so why was this so hard? She was afraid the moment would pass, but she couldn’t figure out how to capture it. Should she lean forward to signal him? If she did and he didn’t reciprocate, she’d die of embarrassment.

“What are you thinking about?” His voice startled her, and she was suddenly afraid he could hear her thoughts.

She gave him a shy smile and chuckled, averting her gaze.

“I was thinking about” he started, “being up to bat, playing baseball.”

She gave him an incredulous look. Maybe she had misread his signals after all. Their hands were still wrapped together between them.

“Hear me out, Scully.” He responded to her expression. “I was thinking about being up to bat and looking for the good pitches. You only want to swing on the good ones, or you’ll strike out, right?”

She nodded, indicating that she was following him.

“But sometimes, you’re so afraid of swinging on the bad pitches that you miss the good ones too. And I was thinking that….sometimes I feel like that with you. I’m not sure if it’s a good pitch, and I don’t want to fuck it up. I don’t want to strike out, so I don’t swing at all.”

She met his eye and smiled coyly at him, understanding. Feeling a surge of bravery.

“You could always ask, Mulder.”

“No, that’s definitely against the rules, Scully. You’re not allowed to ask.” He was being glib, a typical response to his own discomfort.

“Different game, different rules” she offered, shifting slightly towards him, almost imperceptibly, but he picked up on it.

“So, if I were to ask you.” He paused to take a breath. “If I were to ask you if it would be okay if I kissed you right now, would that be a strike or a run?”

“The baseball metaphor lost me, Mulder” she answered, the lean of her torso increasing towards him steadily, the hand that wasn’t holding his floating up to meet with his jaw, her thumb brushing his cheek.

He slowly closed the remaining space between them, his lips meeting hers in a gentle brush, then sighing as she slid her hand to the back of his neck, pulling him into her and pressing the full pout of her mouth against his. His free hand found her waist as their lips separated briefly and then met again, this time slightly parted, and she darted her tongue out to slide against his lower lip before she pulled it into her mouth and sucked it gently. He made a little sound in the back of his throat that sent a rush through her pelvis and she had an overwhelming urge to crawl into his lap. Mulder must have intuited that urge because he let go of her hand and slipped both palms under her thighs, pulling her on to him. Pivoting his body so that he was again facing forward, towards the ball field, she steadied herself with a knee on the bench on either side of his hips and sat on the tops of his thighs, the suggestive nature of the position sending a thrill through her. Her hands on his neck and his on her hips, they explored each other’s mouths, licking, tasting and nipping each surface, recognizing something familiar and yet entirely new. When his hands pushed down to cup her ass, a little moan escaped her lips and he growled in response. Breaking the kiss, she pulled back a little, breathless and flushed.

“We should probably go” she heard herself say. The reasonable side of her brain was taking back over.

“Probably should. Go where?” He asked, unsure if this proposition was a conclusion or a location change. His hands were still on her ass.

She laughed “It occurs to me that we’re in a children’s baseball dugout. I’m not sure it’s the most appropriate venue.”

He nodded, agreeing begrudgingly. “I just need a minute, if you don’t mind.”

She laughed again, ignoring the new wave of desire that sent through her, and stood up, moving to sit on the half-wall opposite him.

He took a deep breath, blowing it out hard through puffed cheeks, then looked at her with adoring eyes. She felt so beautiful when he looked at her, especially like that. She resisted the urge to go back to him and and pick up where they’d left off. After a moment, he slowly stood and picked up his duffel bag, and she followed him out of the dugout and towards the parking lot. He draped his arm over her shoulder as they walked, neither of them speaking. What was there to say? This moment, a culmination of years of tiny brushes of intimacy, didn’t need explanation or discussion. They both knew, intuitively, that it was the start of a new chapter, perhaps even the opening of a new book, and that they’d discover where the plot took them as they went along, just as they always did. They reached her car and he set the bag on the ground as she opened the door, leaning against the body of the car instead of getting inside. They stood there facing each other for a moment, awkwardness again taking root, both knowing what they wanted but unsure of how, or who, to initiate. Finally Mulder spoke.

“Thanks for coming. I had fun.”

She dipped her chin with a smirk and a blush, the implication of his statement both exciting and embarrassing.

“Likewise” she forced out, meeting his eyes only momentarily. She wished they had driven together so there would be a reason for them both to end up at one of their apartments, and at the same time she was grateful that wasn’t the case because it would probably be too much, too quickly. He stepped toward her, but the lack of height in her shoes meant he towered over her, a full foot between their faces.

“I’ve always known you were short, but it’s suddenly much more noticeable” he cracked, and she turned her face up to his, smiling softly.

“You’re a smart guy, Mulder. I’m sure you can problem-solve your way out of that conundrum.”

He stooped a little and lifted her by the hips, eliciting a delighted squeal, and pinned her against the car with the weight of his body so that they were face to face, his hips planted firmly between her thighs. Her hands wrapped around his shoulders for stability and her breath caught at the feel of his groin pressed firmly between her legs.

“See, I knew you’d figure it out” she teased as his hands danced under the hem of her shirt, lightly grazing the skin of her sides. Her pulse was quickening again, but there was even less privacy here than in the dugout.

He shook his head at her as if to chastise. “You’re gonna get me in trouble, G-woman.”

“I’ve never known you to avoid trouble, Mulder.”

He laughed then, and kissed her, softly, twice on the lips before dropping her back down to the ground. She was surprised that she felt disappointed that it hadn’t continued, but given the venue she knew it was for the best. She climbed in to the driver’s seat of her car and buckled her seat belt, leaving the door open. Mulder leaned in as she turned the key in the ignition and kissed her again, three times, before pulling back.

“To be continued” he said, then closed the door and walked towards his own car several spaces away.

#the x files #txf #dana scully #fox mulder #gillovny #sculder #msr #xf fanfic

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jerkbitchidjitassbutt · 3 years

Text

It Was You (Part Three)

A/N: Jensen and Y/n are childhood best friends. When his agent informs him that his image could use some improvement for a role, will she help him? Or will her feelings get in the way?

Surprise! I know it’s late (at least by my standards), but ta-da! Part Three a day early!

Read Part One here, and part two here.

A holiday (Christmas centric) Jensen x Female!Reader Best Friends to Lovers series for @spnchristmasbingo. This chapter and others will fill the square of ‘fake dating’, and this one specifically fills ‘Christmas Pajamas’. Un-beta’d, so all mistakes are mine. Header created by me with images from Google. Chapter word count: 2790

Series Warnings: angst-ish at times (if you squint), but mostly all the fluff.

I consider this an AU, as Jensen is single in this fic. This is completely a work of fiction, and I wouldn’t want his reality to be any different, this is purely for entertainment.

You pushed the image of his wink from your mind as you finished up breakfast while Jensen called Stacy and set up a meeting for the three of you. She sounded particularly excited that he had taken her advice, and more so that you were on board. You spent the rest of the morning goofing off with each other as you normally would, singing along to the radio while you cleaned up from your meal and resting a bit before your meeting. When you decided to hop in the shower, Jensen retreated to his own apartment to freshen up.

You dressed for the cold weather once again, opting for a pair of dark wash jeans and boots with thick socks underneath. You layered yourself with a sweater and your peacoat, opting for a scarf and gloves to shield yourself from the cold, but left your hair down to cover your ears as best it could.

Jensen returned to your apartment about an hour after he’d left before escorting you to his SUV in the garage to shlep you across town to Stacy’s office, where she met you with a warm smile. You’d met her plenty of times before, as Jensen considered her a friend after working with her for so many years.

“Y/n, it’s so great to see you again. You look beautiful.” She gushed, causing heat to rise to your cheeks. “And may I just say, you’re making my job a lot easier today.” She added with a breathy laugh.

She welcomed you and Jensen to take a seat opposite from her at her desk before diving right into the semantics. It was pretty simple – you and Jensen were to start posting even more on social media, even suggesting that you share some old pictures of the two of you from your childhood to reinforce your story. She was okay with Jensen’s suggestion of not announcing a relationship explicitly and said the gossip would be enough to keep up the facade of the two of you being together. Her next idea, though, made you shift a bit in your chair.

“I would love it if we could get some paparazzi shots of the two of you with some PDA at some point. Nothing explicit, of course. Maybe just some hand holding or something, you know, to get the fires going.” She proposed flippantly as she shuffled some papers on her desk.

After you shared a look with Jensen, he shrugged and simply replied, “We’ll see what we can do.”

“Alright, then. Jensen, I’m going to ask you this as this is your decision, but do you feel we need to sign a non-disclosure agreement with Y/n? Normally, I would insist, but seeing as you two are such good friends, I’m not going to.”

Jensen waved his hands, “Not necessary. I trust Y/n with my life, so there’s really no need. She’d never do anything that would warrant one.”

You reassured her as well, “I wouldn’t do anything to hurt his career, no matter what. We trust each other to handle this appropriately.”

Stacy seemed satisfied as she nodded and stood to straighten her black blazer, “Well, I think that covers my end of everything. I do think this’ll help. Granted, Jensen is an agent’s dream when it comes to image, really. He’s scandal-free and always has been, but the bachelor title can be weary in the eyes of a casting director at times, particularly for the role of a young father. I’ll keep pushing forward with communications with the producer and I’ll call you when I hear something.”

She reached over her desk as you and Jensen stood from your chairs and shook both of your hands before showing you out and wishing you a good day. As you left her office, Jensen placed his hand on the small of your back. It wasn’t anything he hadn’t done before numerous times, but when he left it there as you walked down the sidewalk to the parking area, you couldn’t help but wonder how much of it was just for show now.

....................

The next week was spent in relative normality. You and Jensen spent time together, as you always did, but now being sure to post more frequently to social media. Jared popped over early in the week before his flight back home to Texas so you could fill him in, since if anyone needed to be “in” on the charade, it was him. He’d be the first one calling Jensen if he’d heard any rumors, so he was thankful to be included and happy that it was you and not someone else. Jared understood, for the most part, and empathized with how difficult management could be at times.

“You guys can definitely sell that chemistry you’ve always had, so I think it will work.” Jared shrugged, but you didn’t miss the implication of your shared chemistry with Jensen, causing you to take a long sip of your water as he continued. “I’m not sure how they would’ve suckered some rando into faking it with this guy.” He teased, making Jensen huff in amusement and shove him lightly.

Giggling from your seat in Jensen’s apartment, you delighted in witnessing their brotherly bickering.

Jared stood from the chair at Jensen’s island to bid his farewells, “Well, y’all let me know if I can help in any way. My flight leaves at 5, so I’ve got to run, but I’ll see you guys next week.”

Yours and Jensen’s flight back together to Austin wasn’t until a few days before Christmas and Jared wanted to get home a bit earlier. The two of you would see Jared at his Christmas party before making your way to Dallas, where your families still lived. Jared and Jensen shared a quick hug before Jared scooped you up in his arms, pulling you tightly into his chest, “Now you let me know if I need to kick his ass for anything, you hear me?” he whispered in your ear.

Another laugh escaped you as you poked his side before he gave you a quick peck on the cheek and made for the door, waving as he exited.

“Alrighty.” Jensen exclaimed, clasping his hands together after he saw Jared off, “I’ve got some plans for us tonight.”

You settled in front of him, gazing up at him with a questioning squint, “Do you now? Do I get to be privy to that information?”

“You sure do. C’mon, let’s go.”

He whisked you out of the door quickly after helping you into your coat. You walked with your arm linked in his, the gesture completely natural at this point in your lives, down the bustling streets of downtown Vancouver as you window shopped and grabbed some coffee at the café before he pulled you to your next stop, the artisanal bakery that made your favorite treats. He grabbed all the necessary ingredients to make hot chocolate and pushed you from counter to counter instructing you to grab whatever your heart desired.

“Tonight, we are cooking an amazing dinner of spaghetti – and yes, before you even ask, I’m making my grandmother’s sauce – and then, we’re getting in our most festive pj’s and having another Christmas movie marathon as we shove our faces full of cookies. Sound like a deal?”

You nudged him with your hip as the basket swung from your arm, “Ackles, you’re a man after my own heart, aren’t you?”

Grabbing a bag of chocolate covered truffles from behind you, he threw them into your basket with a grin, “I’m just trying to woo you, Y/n. Should I be so lucky.”

If only he knew.

After spending way too much on chocolate, decadent candies and other treats, you went back to your apartment to grab your Christmas pajamas that were given to you as a gift last year from Jensen’s parents. They had made the whole family dress up in matching sets for their annual Christmas eve dinner with both of your families, and it made for the most relaxed evening as you all gathered around their outdoor fire-pit for dinner instead of the formal table setting you’d experienced in so many years past as it was a tradition for both sides, with Jensen’s and your parents alternating hosting each year. The pajamas were red and had snowflakes all over them and you decided to grab your polar bear bootie slippers from your closet to bring also. You changed quickly and pulled an oversized shawl around your shoulders before creeping back down the hallway, praying that one of your neighbors didn’t peak out to see a grown woman rushing down the hall in snowflake jammies.

Letting yourself back into Jensen’s apartment, you heard a loud chuckled as soon as you shut the door. He had emerged from the short hallway that led to his bedroom wearing his pair of the same print, but he was barefoot.

“Great minds, huh?” he quipped with a wide smile, still laughing as he ventured into the kitchen.

The two of you made dinner together and ate at his island, talking about all of your family’s traditions for this time of year and gushing about how much you were looking forward to being home for the holiday. You’d head straight to Jared and Gen’s home in Austin from the airport and spend the night there so that you could attend their holiday party and drive to Dallas the next day. You were so excited to see your family, and Jensen’s. They were sort of a package deal, becoming one large family over the years. You adored his parents, and always had. His home was your escape and yours was his, and each set of parents treated the two of you as one of their own. You’d spent many nights having dinner with the Ackles’ and he had a standing invitation at your table, courtesy of both of your parents and your sister. She was fiercely protective of both of you, taking to Jensen as if he was her little brother since he was born. In fact, the shared family tradition of Christmas Eve dinner began because she was afraid that you would miss Jensen too much if you went a few days without seeing him. She threw an enormous fit one evening when you started to cry, and she had it in her mind that it was because you weren’t with your best friend. You were only three, and at the time your sister was six years old, and so the tradition came to last. You would gather together, eat, and open gifts with everyone piled into a small space to exchange. This year, they had elected to do a secret Santa and you were lucky enough to draw Jensen’s mom.

You each finished up your meals and cleaned up the kitchen before plopping down on his large, u-shaped sectional that faced his entertainment center that house a huge TV and showcased his DVDs, record player and collection of albums and 45’s. You were fortunate to live in the same apartment complex as he did, though Jensen’s paychecks were obviously a bit larger than yours. He had refused to allow you to be in a separate building from him when you moved from Texas to Vancouver, so he found one that was secure enough for someone with a bit of fame but wasn’t too overpriced that you couldn’t afford it on your salary. He even offered to pay a portion of your rent to ensure he wouldn’t be too far away, but thankfully this building had worked out for both of you. It had a doorman and was as secure as it could be, so you took the one-bedroom apartment on the same floor as Jensen’s two bedroom. His was larger, but you had a better view in your opinion.

He had set up all of your bounty from the bakery on the coffee table and made a bowl of popcorn, your steaming mugs of hot chocolate nestled between all of the goods.

“C’mere.” He gestured, encouraging you to curl into his side.

He pulled his cell from underneath his leg and snapped a few photos of the two of you smiling for the camera. Then, he grabbed a handful of popcorn and held it to his mouth, taking another picture with it spilling from every corner and cascading toward his lap as you laughed at his funny expression. His eyes were wide as he made a ridiculous face, but it was always one of your favorite sides of him. He had many, to be sure, but that man could make your sides hurt with laughter at any point in time when he was simply carefree and looking to be a jokester. It was one of the many things you loved about him – his ability to make you laugh like no one else could, but he was also the sweetest man you’d ever met. You settled back into your spot underneath his arm, taking the bowl from his hands as he tossed his phone on the cushion next to him and picked up a few stray pieces of popcorn, tossing one at you. You threw it back, but he caught it and pitched it into his mouth with a victorious grin. You rolled your eyes playfully before munching on some yourself. He laid his arm around your shoulders and pulled you close, pressed his lips to your hairline and kissing you on the side of your head.

“You should’ve taken that picture… that would’ve gone over well.” You half joked.

He raised an eyebrow in your direction with an inquisitive glint, “You think? Should we do it?”

Shrugging, you nodded indifferently. Again, it wasn’t anything out of the ordinary that you were doing, but it would make people talk, so he grabbed his phone once more and repeated the kiss. This time, you smiled but didn’t look directly at the camera, letting your eyes flutter closed until he pulled his mouth away. When you looked up at him through your lashes, you heard another click.

Showing you his screen, he thumbed through the few he’d taken, the last two made you suck in a sharp breath. He left his eyes and mouth slightly open and had a huge smile as his lips attached to the crown of your head, the crinkles around his eyes accentuated slightly and he was looking off into the distance. The last one he took made your heart swell. It looked like two people in love, staring into each other’s eyes. You were both smiling but giving each other such looks of adoration that even you would buy it, and you were in on the rouse.

It was easy to be with him. Your relationship was not give and take, but mutual exchange and the type of comfort you can only have after knowing someone for so many years. He knew you in a way no one else ever would, and you had been through every up and down together. When he’d left for L.A. to pursue acting, it hurt all that much more because it felt like that would all be lost. You were grateful that even after those few years, everything fell back into place as soon as you were near each other again. Success and fame hadn’t changed him, at least the him that you got to know. He was still the same man you’d always known and had matured with, the boyish charm he’d always had and the distinguished charisma that he’d grown into combining into who he was today.

He elected to post the first few photos, captioning them #matchingjammies and #nopopcornforyou @y/i/h, looking for your approval and causing you to chuckle against him before he put his phone down once again. “We’ll save the others.” he mentioned casually.

It wasn’t long before you’d picked your way through as many treats as you could, both satisfied that your sweet tooth had been satiated. About halfway through your second movie, you were resting your eyes once again coiled against him, comforted that everything smelled like Jensen.

It wasn’t until the credits rolled of The Grinch that he noticed you were sleeping. Your head was nestled against his chest, with your knees pulled to you tightly and the blanket tucked beneath your chin.

This time, Jensen scooped you up and carried you to his bedroom, holding you close to his chest and ignoring his spare bed down the hall. He pulled back the covers and tucked you beneath them before removing his button up pajama shirt and climbing in himself, leaving him in his pajama pants and a fitted white t-shirt.

He could have woken you up but, frankly, he didn’t want to. Something told him that he couldn’t bear to have you go home to your apartment, not just yet. He wanted another night of sleeping next to you, of holding you close and feeling you beside him. The thought caused him to wonder, even in his sleepy mind, if he could continue to pretend any longer.

To be continued...

…………………………………………………………………………………………

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Jensen Only

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excitedlysuffering · 4 years

Text

Something Real- Kakashi X Reader

Dedicated to Chloe ( @butterfly-showers) who’s going through the aftermath of a tough relationship💔 I hope this fic can at least bring a smile🥺💕💕

Had someone asked you a few years ago where you saw yourself, you’d say you’d be a Jonin and in a fairy tale romance. If someone asked you now about those goals, you’d say you’d accomplished about seventy-five percent of your ambitions.

You had been a Jonin for quite some time now, completing your first aspiration. As for the second part, you were a little iffy. You were in a relationship, yes, but you weren’t quite sure if you would call it a ‘fairy tale’ romance.

You and your boyfriend of two years, Daichi, had met on a mission that had left you stranded together for a week. The two of you became close friends, and it quickly became more. He was witty, funny, and overall a seemingly great guy.

Everyone had flaws you knew that, but after a few months of being together, you found yourself questioning what can be considered a flaw.

You loved him, and you were convinced that he loved you just as much and that was why he didn’t want you going out with friends as much. He wanted you all to himself. You assumed it was harmless.

It only got worse from there, not that you could see it. The way he demanded to have complete control over your life in the name of love, his quick, abrasive temper, and his seeming indifference towards your feelings.

You could slowly feel yourself growing more and more discontent with him after each passing day, but… what would you do if you didn’t have Daichi?

You’d be lonely all over again, and despite your steadily growing list of cons, two years was a lot to throw away.

It was something of a boring day for you at the moment. Daichi was on a mission in a neighboring country, leaving you to your own devices.

You couldn’t help but feel lighter now that Daichi wasn’t there, as if you could breathe and not be uneasy because of it.

You figured now was the opportune time to go catch up with Kakashi, your longtime friend who you hadn’t been able to see much of according to another one of Daichi’s whims.

Calling him up was easy, and setting up a spot to meet at was even easier, but suddenly it became difficult to get up from your couch.

Thoughts of Daichi’s reaction to you hanging out with Kakashi, his least favorite of your friends made your stomach lurch. Still… he was far away in Suna. Making up your mind, you prepared yourself for the outing, a small smile adorning your lips.

O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O

You flipped through the menu in front of you, not at all surprised that Kakashi was already twenty minutes late. In fact, you had planned on it, bringing a new book with you to keep you entertained. You’d quickly ordered a tea and had dived into your novel.

It was hardly ten minutes later when a familiar head of silver hair popped into your field of vision. “Yo.” A grin lit up your face as Kakashi sat across from you. “Hey, Kashi! How are you?” He shot you one of his closed eye smiles as he responded.

“Busy with Team 7, Naruto, to be specific.” You laughed at his dramatic grimace and the feeling of an easy atmosphere began to slip over you, helping you realize that this was the right decision. Kakashi always had this calming presence that seemed to lift all the burdens from your shoulders.

As lunch went on, however, you could tell that something was off with the silverette. You caught him staring at you, obvious skepticism in his eye. At first, you brushed it off, thinking that his mind was off somewhere else. But it only increased and so did your nerves.

“Kakashi, is everything okay? You’re a little preoccupied today.” His incredulous gaze landed on you. “Me? I should be asking you that! You seem so… happy?” Your eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

“Well, yeah? I’m out with my best friend, why wouldn’t I be?” His eyes narrowed as he studied you. “What about Daichi?” You took a sip of your tea, still confused at the direction of the conversation.

“What about him? He’s on a mission in Sunagakure.” You took another sip of your drink, missing Kakashi’s face fall. “(Y/N)... You know I don’t sugar coat things... I just saw Daichi... with another woman on the way over here.”

Your mind screeched to a halt, and if it wasn’t for Kakashi’s lightning-fast reflexes, you would have a cup of scalding hot tea all over your lap. He winced, seeing a few drops hit your legs, but you didn’t even register the pain.

Daichi… with another woman? Your heart didn’t even want to entertain the thought of him cheating, but the logical side of you knew Kakashi would never lie to you about something like that. Plus, he’d been a lot of relatively short ‘missions’ lately.

Your wide eyes met Kakashi’s sympathetic ones, and he looked away. “I assumed the two of you had already broken up…” You shook your head, feeling tears prick at the corner of your eyes.

Money was set on the table and arms lifted you up out of your chair. “C’mon, let’s get you out of here.” You vaguely noticed Kakashi perform the hand signs for a Shunshin before the two of you disappeared in a plume of smoke.

You blinked, coming face to face with the silverette. He gently sat you down on the couch next to him, waiting for you to get your bearings.

You looked up to him with tear-filled eyes. “Kashi, he’s been cheating on me… what did I do wrong?” He shook his head vehemently.

“Nothing. Daichi is a manipulative bastard who doesn’t deserve you. None of this is your fault.” You leaned your head against his shoulder. “I… wasn’t happy with him, but I never thought it would come to this.”

His arms wrapped around your shoulders, holding you to his chest. “He was bad for you.” His tone was flat, but you’d known him long enough to know that it wasn’t because he didn’t care, but because he cared too much.

“I know I just didn’t want to see it, I didn’t want to admit that I hadn’t found a love that would last.” Kakashi’s hands combed through your hair, soothing you further. “You don’t have to rush that, (Y/N)... let me be here for you, okay?”

Startled (e/c) eyes met his single visible one and he brought his hand down from your hair to your cheek, caressing it with a feather’s touch. “I love you, (Y/N). I have for a long time. I’m not asking you for anything, not yet at least, but let me show you what real love feels like. Let me take care of you.”

His lips met your forehead at the same moments your tears finally spilled over. Your hands shamelessly clutched at his shirt like it was a lifeline, and in a way it was. “Is that okay with you?” Broken sobs tore from your throat as you nodded, collapsing against him.

“Please…” It was the only coherent word you could find through your mind-numbing heartache. Every memory of Daichi’s manipulation, his gaslighting, and his general carelessness toward you seemed to find you all at once.

For two years you had been subject to this, but now, now you had a way out, an escape. An escape in the form of Kakashi Hatake.

“I swear to you, (Y/N), I’m going to show you something real.”

#naruto x reader #kakashi x reader #hurt/comfort #dedicated #Chloe⚡️🌺💞

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you-can-call-me-wanda · 3 years

Text

Picking Up A Prescription

Pairing: Nasty Suicide x Reader

Author’s Note: Don’t know how this one got so long, but I guess I was really into it. Special thanks to @thespacecowboyyy for their help with this!

Jan considered himself a man who had come to expect the unexpected. His rock and roll days had taught him that few things played out like one thought they would. But you, stumbling through the pharmacy’s door that Friday afternoon, well, that had been truly unexpected.

He had nearly fallen out of his chair when you had come in, the chime of the door interrupting his quiet humming and scaring him nearly to death. You were soaked to the bone and shivering, your hair plastered to your forehead. It had been storming out all day and the pharmacy had been pretty empty, which is why your presence had shocked Jan so.

“Uh- how can I help you?” he called out after recovering from his near-heart attack. The shop was relatively small, and you stood right by the doorway, only a few meters from the counter.

Your eyes danced around the room for a bit, taking it all in, before they landed on Jan.

Fuck, he thought to himself as your eyes met his. You were gorgeous.

He swallowed nervously as you approached the counter with a polite smile. Even though you were dripping rainwater all over the floor and your cheeks were flushed a dark pink from the cold wind, Jan still found you to be captivating.

“I’m here to pick up a prescription,” you said easily.

“Oh right, of course- I mean- right,” he stumbled. “Can I get the name please?” He looked down to the counter, trying to concentrate on the grain of the wood instead of on your beautiful face.

“Hilda Koskinen.”

Jan nodded and offered you a small polite smile before turning away and darting towards the back room to look for the prescription. It was easy enough to find, but he stayed back there and out of your sight for just a moment or two longer than needed, trying to calm his nerves and snap himself out of whatever spell you had cast on him.

Why are you so nervous? It’s just a customer!

He found himself glancing down at the pill bottle on his way back to you taking note that it was for hydrochlorothiazide, a common blood pressure medication. This type of medication was normally prescribed to much older people than you, which confirmed his belief that you were definitely not Hilda. He had figured that all along. You looked nothing like a Hilda, but who was he to judge? He was now curious as to who you were picking up medication for though. He decided to just shrug it off though. It wasn’t any of his business.

“Okay,” he said when he reached the front counter again, attempting professionalism. “Here you go.” He placed the pill bottle into a small paper bag and handed it over to you.

“Thanks,” you said, sticking the medicine in your backpack. “Have a nice night.”

You began walking away as Jan was still trying to come up with a response. His brain fumbled for something witty and charming to say back to you.

“Stay dry!” he called out to your retreating form, right as you reached the door. He instantly cringed.

Yeah, real cool. Good one, Jan.

The sound of your short laugh interrupted his self-deprecation though and he looked up in time to see you wave as you opened the door.

“I’ll try!”

****

He didn’t see you for another four weeks.

He had virtually forgotten about his encounter with you, but the memory sprang back to life instantly when you walked into the pharmacy for the second time. His nerves sprung back to life as well.

“Hello,” you said, approaching the counter again. “I’m here to pick up a prescription for Hilda Koskinen.”

“Sure,” Jan responded. “I’ll go grab that for you.”

Like before, he went to the back room where all the medication was stored, got the prescription for you, and returned to the counter.

“Here you are,” he said, handing it over.

His fingers brushed against yours as he handed the medicine over and he pulled his hand away much too quickly. He silently prayed that you hadn’t noticed his dumb reaction to your accidental touch, but you sent him an awkward look that told him that you had picked up on it.

“Sorry,” you said, feeling a bit like you had done something wrong. Of course, you hadn’t meant to graze your fingers against his, but his reaction had you feeling like you’d upset him.

“Don’t be,” he murmured, feeling like an idiot. Why couldn’t he just act like a normal human being in front of you?

“Right,” you said. “Well, thank you. Have a nice evening.”

Jan watched you leave the shop before banging his head down on the counter.

Nice going, stupid.

****

Jan picked up on the pattern of your visits pretty fast. You came in every first Friday of the month to pick up the same prescription. You had done so for the past five months, and Jan assumed you would continue to do so.

Today, he was expecting you. It was a bit pathetic, he knew, to wait for you to come by. Especially when you only came once a month, but you were intriguing to him. Not only were you pretty damn hot, but you were also always polite and kind to him. On your last visit, you had even come up with some witty comment about the weather (it had been raining again). Everything about you seemed so effortless. He was falling for you, something that surprised him greatly. He had never been one to believe in love at first sight. The last few visits had been somewhat unremarkable, but his crush on you still grew with every visit.

Just as he had thought you would, you showed up again that afternoon.

He greeted you right away. Today he had promised himself that he would try and break past the point of your usual conversation and then try and make his move on you. In the back of his mind, he knew he’d most likely chicken out, but still, he was going to try.

You’re a grown man! You can do this!

“Hi,” you said. “I need to pick up a prescription for-”

“Hilda Koskinen. I have it right here,” he said, interrupting you and giving you the meds straight away. He had known you would most likely come in today and had taken the liberty of bringing the prescription up to the front.

“Oh,” you said, taken back. You took the bag and stuffed it into your backpack. “You remembered?”

“Yeah,” Jan said, trying to keep his confidence up. “You always pick up the same thing.”

“But how did you know I was coming in today?” you asked, furrowing your brows and tilting your head.

“Uh, well, you always come in on the first Friday of the month,” he said, realizing how completely creepy he sounded. “I just assumed.”

He began to bite at his bottom lip when he finished speaking, a nervous habit of his. This was not the kind of thing he had practiced saying to you in the mirror this morning. He crossed his fingers behind his back that you wouldn’t leave.

“Huh,” you said, not looking scared or worried like Jan had thought you might have after hearing he memorized your routine. “I didn’t realize I was so predictable.”

Jan chuckled good-naturedly and shrugged his shoulders, still a bit tense. “Nah, I’m just weird and memorize when my customers come in,” he joked. It was a lie obviously. He only memorized your routine.

You laughed and he internally celebrated, proud to have made you smile.

“So, you memorize when all your customers come in, huh?” you asked, and if Jan wasn’t mistaken you sounded almost disappointed.

This is your chance!

“Nah,” he said, “just the cute ones.” He added a wink at the end and prayed it wasn’t too much. Willing himself to remain calm, he leaned forward and rested his elbows on the counter as he gauged your reaction.

You broke out into a grin and a blush rose to your face.

“Oh,” you said, seemingly more shy now. “Is that so?”

“Mhm. I’m Jan by the way,” he said, introducing himself to you.

“I know,” you replied, pointing to his name tag. “I’m (Y/N).” You stuck out your hand for him to shake.

“It’s nice to know your name,” Jan said, taking your hand in his. His next actions surprised you, but you were more than pleased as he brought your hand up towards his face and pressed his lips gently to the back of it. “In my mind I kept referring to you as the person who picked up Hilda’s prescription,” he said, letting go of you.

“Hilda’s my neighbor,” you said, satisfying his curiosity from the first time he met you. “She’s quite old so I run some errands for her every now and then.”

Jan could hear his heartbeat pounding in his ears, but he continued on with his smooth talking.

“Interesting,” he said. “I guess I need to give Hilda a ring and give her my thanks.”

For the second time that day, you looked at him confusedly.

“What for?” you asked.

“For sending such a lovely person to pick up her meds.”

“Oh,” you said, face flushing again. “Thank you.” You appeared unsure of how to respond to him. It wasn’t every day such a gorgeous man flirted with you like this. And he had seemed so shy at the beginning too. You were surprised by his newfound confidence.

Jan took a deep breath. “Can I take you out sometime? Like on a date?” he asked.

You nodded your head quickly. “Yeah, I’d really like that.”

“Yeah?” Jan asked, making sure he was hearing you right and not dreaming.

“Yes!” you laughed. “You’re not the only one with a crush on a near stranger.”

It took a second for Jan to realize that the near stranger you were referring to was him, but once he did, an uncontrollable grin broke out across his face.

“You like me too?” he asked, biting his lip. He was aware that he sounded a bit childish and that his suave tone was now diminished, but he couldn’t care less at this point.

“I’ve found you adorable since the first time I came in,” you explained, happy to tell him now that you knew the feelings were mutual.

“I felt the same way,” he confessed.

“Let me give you my number,” you said, “and we can see each other sometime before next month.”

Jan nodded, laughing. “I’d like that.”

#nasty suicide #nasty suicide imagine #nasty suicide x reader #hanoi rocks x reader #hanoi rocks #hanoi rocks imagine #wanda writes

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justaghostingon · 4 years

Text

Warmth of the Heart

Mona has a few very unexpected guests in the form of her ‘dear nephew who she’s totally met before’ Hugo, and his new friends.

Set in the same universe as “Cogs in a Steal Heart”

To read on ao3, click the link, https://archiveofourown.org/works/25256038

or read below the cut.

Living in the west district meant Mona had her fair share of interesting encounters. After all, the west district was the “weird” district in the eyes of every other person in the city. Certain cobblestone streets burned as hot as fire beneath her feet even in the coldest winters. Voices whispered in the darkened entrance to the open sewers, where everyone knew better than to investigate. Mysterious Alchemists bought and sold strange magic to local mafia, minor nobles, or anyone who came to their shop with enough money to pay. In a place like this, it would be weirder if she hadn’t had a few strange experiences in her life.

So when four children appeared in front of her door in strange, bright clothes that were covered in oil stains and grime, she was not nearly as surprised as she probably should have been. Children were no strangers to her door. In the absence of any children of their own, she and Cyrus tried their best to provide a safe place for all the neighborhood children to come and eat a cookie or two. It was only a matter of time before that knowledge spread among the street rats of all the districts, and really she was more surprised it had taken this long.

But there was something undeniably bizarre about these children, something that tickled in the back of her brain. For one thing, they were considerably older than most of the children who came to their door, being either near adulthood or having just begun it. Not that age made them stop being children, Cyrus had a thousand stories of Hugo to prove that fact, but it was still odd to see them here.

Then there was their clothing. Even under all the grime, she could see the bright colors and light, floating fabric that only nobles or foreigners would dare to wear. They didn’t even have any spikes or hooks or anything sensible to tell people to leave them alone! The closest they had were the strange balls in that weird staff, which looked far too fragile to be used as a weapon. Honestly, she wasn’t certain how they’d made it to her doorway in one piece.

The only one who didn’t look like they were a walking trouble magnet was the tall blond in the front. He was dressed in sensible muted green, and had spikes on his wrists and goggles. The goggles tickled the back of Mona’s mind, but she couldn’t place why. His eyes darted back and forth, clearly aware of exactly how strange his friends were. He was most likely a local, and there was something oddly familiar about the way he held himself that reminded Mona of Cyrus.

Their eyes met, and he gave her a charming smile, but there was something strained in its corners. “Auntie Mona?” he asked, voice loud enough to carry into the street while the shadow in his eyes begged her to play along.

Calling her Mona, now that was definitely odd. She narrowed her eyes as she looked him over once again. Most children called her Auntie and never bothered to learn the rest of her name. She searched his face. Blond hair up in a ponytail but clearly well taken care of, glasses well polished and pushing up on his nose to mock people, A charming but insincere smile, and a scar on his eyebrow. Mona bit her lip. She knew how he’d gotten that scar, Cyrus had sobbed it out in her arms. It was a face she had never seen with her own eyes, but whose description she’d learned so well through her husband’s rants.

“Hugo??” She exclaimed, pulling the startled young man forward. “What happened to you?” And where was Cyrus? He’d said they’d stopped traveling together, but there was no way Hugo would be coming to her if something hadn’t happened right?

His eyes snapped wide, as she pulled him inside, muscles tense under her grip as she pulled his face down to examine it for damage. “I-I,” he stuttered, before taking a deep breath and stepping slightly back, pulling gently away from her grip. “I’m so glad to see you again, Auntie,” he flashed her a smile that was clearly meant to seem familiar but came off as nervous. “But could we all be inside for the introductions?”

“Of course, of course!” Mona waved them all inside, closing the door firmly to keep out any watching eyes and locking it. She was well liked in the neighborhood, but one could never be too careful. She turned to her new guests, who stood awkwardly in the living room. “What happened?” she asked, fear clawing in her throat as she leaned heavily against the door. Where is Cyrus? she hoped Hugo understood her unasked question.

“We were attacked as we tried to complete an alchemic trial,” Hugo waved his hand dramatically, but his eyes sent her a warning look. “By a rival alchemist and a thug for hire. But never fear, we escaped without any conflict.”

“And thug?” Mona’s hand tightened around her heart.

“He and the alchemist are regrettably still out there,” Hugo bowed his head as if in shame, but he shot her a look that clearly said, ‘he’s fine.’ Mona closed her eyes with relief.

“We’re sorry to bring trouble to you,” her eyes snapped open to see the boy with the staff had stepped forward. “If you don’t think it's safe harboring us, we can leave and look for shelter somewhere else.” He smiled, but there were dark shadows under his eyes. Mona felt her heart go out to him.

“No, no,” she shook her head. “My husband has quite the reputation in the community, so you’ve nothing to fear here.” Hugo shot her a look and she quickly snapped her mouth shut, realizing that mentioning the man who probably helped attack them was not a good move. “I’m Mona,” she gestured to herself, hoping the change in topics would provide a distraction. “You can call me Auntie.”

“Varian,” the boy in front said, extending a hand to shake. Mona took it and found his grip was strong for someone who looked so skinny.

“I’m Yong!” the shortest said, pushing himself forward to pump her hand up and down enthusiastically. “It’s nice to meet you!” he beamed up at her with a smile brighter than the sun.

“Nuru,” the young woman dropped a curtsy. Mona stumbled into a rough copy of her movements, feeling suddenly horribly underdressed in her work clothes and stained apron. The girl before her moved like a princess.

Princess? Why did that word remind her of Cyrus’s letters? She cast another searching look over the three companions, noting the goggles on Varian’s head and the dynamite strapped to Yong’s leg. Something in her mind clicked. “You’re Princess,” she pointed at Nuru, whose eyes went wide as saucers. “And you’re Goggles, and Firecracker,” she pointed at Varian and Yong in turn.

“How did you...?” Nuru opened his mouth and then closed it with a shake of her head. Yong and Varian both tensed minsiculy and Hugo shot her a panicked look.

“Letters!” Mona clapping her hands together. All three children’s attention snapped to her. “He sends me letters!”

“I do?” Hugo mouths at Mona as the three children’s attention snaps to him. “I do!” he says loudly as he runs his fingers through his hair, flashing his friends with his trademarked smile.

The smile that never worked on people who knew him well, if she remembers Cyrus’s words correctly.

“You send your Aunt letters?” Varian says as he raised an eyebrow at Hugo. “That’s surprisingly sweet of you.” Hugo blushed bright red and sputtered. Which is not in character at all with the boy Cyrus had described. Now wasn’t that interesting?

“What did he tell you about me?” Yong bounced on his feet. Oh no. Mona felt her hands twitch as he fixed her with a wide, eager smile.

“How about I make you some cookies?” she offered as she linked her hands together to stop their movement.

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

Being in the kitchen calmed Mona. Her hands moved with practiced ease, almost entirely of their own free will. There was very little need to think as she beat the eggs and mixed in the dough. But alas, there comes a part of baking were the food must go inside the oven, leaving Mona to pace and stew as she waited.

She wished Cyrus were here. He was more comfortable in silence that she was, and he knew Hugo well enough to easily pass for a relative when the questions began to inevitably began. He’d even gotten a fairly good read on his friends if his letters were anything to go by. Meanwhile she’d never even seen Hugo’s face before today. How was she possibly going to be able to keep this up?

A small part of her wanted to throw her hands in the air and admit the whole thing. To tell them that she was the wife of the man who they had fought, and that she wasn’t really a relative of Hugo’s at all.

But...but Hugo had come to her house for aid. Hugo, who trusted no one, who bragged about his ability to go it alone and complained heavily on having to rely on anyone else had come to her and Cyrus’s house when he was in trouble. That meant something. That was important.

She’d suspected as the years had passed that Hugo had grown somewhat attached to her husband, as much as he could attach himself to anyone. And now here he came knocking on her door with three other children for whom he’d willingly turned on Donella, the closest thing he had to a family, asking for Mona’s help. Hugo must be fully aware of how if Mona wanted, she could very easily send a neighbor up to her husband’s workplace and bring Cyrus and Donella down on Hugo’s head. But he’d still come here, not because of anything she had done, but because he trusted Cyrus enough to risk trusting in her.

She didn’t know what had happened on that journey he and Cyrus had gone on together to change Hugo so drastically. Perhaps it was his new friends, perhaps it was living away from Donella’s toxic influence, perhaps something else. But whatever the cause, Hugo had taken a leap of faith coming here, and Mona was loath to let him down.

Biting her lip, Mona tried to make a mental list of everything that Cyrus had told her about Hugo, and everything about her new house guests that had filtered through his letters. She had a war to wage, and she was going to do it right.

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

Mona marched back into the living room like a soldier going to battle, wearing a smile like a shield and holding a plate of cookies like a weapon. “I brought cookies!” she practically sang as she placed them directly in front of Yong, whose eyes lit up as he reached automatically for one. Nuru batted his hand away, and directed his attention back to Mona as she slipped into her seat at the end of the table. Both children stared up at Mona, hunger written in their faces.

Mona gave a laugh as she waved her hand. “You can eat them, that’s what I made them for.” That was apparently all it took, because both Nuru and Yong instantly reached for the cookies, devouring them with a gusto that made Mona feel slightly proud and very concerned for their stomachs. Varian joined in as well, and even Hugo took a cookie, although he only nibbled on it, shooting her nervous looks from his place to her left as he did so.

Mona gave him a wink, confident her cookies would buy them some time before the questions began, but she underestimated her opponents. No sooner had he bitten into his second cookie than Varian said, “So Auntie, what has Hugo told you about us?”

The question sounded casual, but there was a glint in his eye that was sharp as steel. Hugo stiffened and for a brief second Mona panicked, afraid that their cover had already been blown. But no, Varian was leaning far to much into Hugo’s space, and the tilt of his smile was lopsided and teasing. She’d been married for many years, she knew that look.

“You’re a little shorter in person,” she said, watching Varian reel back in shock, teasing smile melting into surprise and slight hurt. Hugo spun towards Varian, hand half raised to reassure him as Mona delivered the final line, “But just as handsome!”

“H-handsome?” Varian’s cheeks turned red as cherries. She hadn’t seen anyone get that red since Cyrus’s blush when she’d loudly proclaimed to the guild leader that Cyrus gave the best hugs in the world in front of all the other guild members. She hadn’t actually meant for anyone else to hear and had been quite embarrassed, but Cyrus had pulled her into his lap for the rest of the evening, so it was worth it.

“MONA!” Hugo screeched, and that’s right, she was in the present, dealing with love struck kids and not back in the past with Cyrus. She had to focus here or they’d be caught.

She flashed Hugo her best apologetic smile. “I’m sorry dear, was I not supposed to mention that?”

“Those letters were written in confidence,” Hugo grit his teeth as he struggled to come up with a believable reason to stop her from talking. “Shouldn’t they be kept confidential?”

“Oh no!” Varian leaned forward, head in his hands and a goofy grin on his lips. “I want to hear all about how handsome you told your aunt I was.” From across the table, Nuru rolls her eyes.

Mona gave the boy an indulgent smile. “Now, now. If Hugo says the letters were in confidence, then I will of course keep quiet.” And not give away just how little she actually knows about them. She glanced at Hugo, wondering if he planned that, but his head was ducked as he nibbled on his cookie, ears flame red.

Yong piped up, asking about the cookie recipe, and table filled with quiet chatter. Mona kept herself alert, trying to steer the conversation to baking and other neutral subjects while Hugo did the same. She almost felt herself relaxing when Yong raised the innocent sounding question, “What was Hugo like when he was a kid?”

Mona’s face froze in a smile, and Hugo shifted slightly in his seat to hid his discomfort. Oh no, what would be the least suspicious answer? “A handful,” she said at the same time Hugo says:

“She doesn’t know.”

Mona started, glancing over at Hugo to meet his wide green eyes. Mona flicked her eyebrows towards the others to signal, “what now?”

Hugo cleared his throat. “What I mean is, when I met Auntie Mona, I was already in my teens.” He shot her a look that clearly said, ‘follow my lead.’ It looked very much like the one Cyrus used, and she had a feeling he would be proud.

“Thirteen is still a child,” Mona added, because really, it is. Hugo frowned and she continued, “I’m the auntie to all the children in our neighborhood.” This is the truth, and Mona has always felt that when lying, its best to stick to the truth, so there’d be less to remember.

“So Hugo grew up here?” Nuru asked with a curious tilt of her head.

Mona opened her mouth, but Hugo cut her off. “No,” he says, shooting a look at Varian. “I grew up in a different part.” Varian’s eyes fill with sympathy, and Mona wondered what parts of Hugo’s actual childhood he has told the boy. Clearly nothing to do with Donella.

“My husband found him,” she decided to explain, hoping Hugo would understand what she was referring to. “Chased off some thugs who were messing with him.”

Hugo grimaced, clearly not happy at her choice of backstory. “I would have been fine,” he grumbled with a half pout, then clearly remembering he needs to keep his friends curiosity sated he added. “They were more interested in hurting Olivia Cheese.”

“Yes.” Mona blinked for a second, trying frantically to remember who in the world Olivia Cheese was. A little mechanical mouse caught her eye, waving its paws frantically from the side of the room. She didn’t even question how it got on the table, so relived to recognize it from Cyrus’s story. “Yes what happened to her was horrible,” she gave Hugo a mock frown. “But I do remember having to clean human blood out of my carpet.” This was again true, although the blood was not Hugo’s.

Hugo’s shoulders hunched. “I was okay in the end though,” he said, sounding for all the world like a petulant kid upset over an embarrassing memory. Mona was impressed with his acting skills.

“You did brighten up after we got some food in you,” she conceded, and this is a lie, but it wasn’t too much of a stretch given most children’s reactions to her cooking.

“That’s true,” Hugo leaned back in his chair. “And I’ve been coming to visit ever since.”

“I’m glad you had someone one your side,” Varian’s smile is warm, but his eyes are far, far too old. “Having one person can make all the difference.” There’s a history there, Mona can tell, some time in his life when he’s had no one. But he seemed genuinely happy for Hugo, and it broke her heart for the child Hugo really was.

“Oh my, look at the time!” she hastily jumped to her feet. “I have to get the stew started for supper!” Hugo shot her a look, but she ignored him, tilting her head so he couldn’t see the sadness on her face. She only stopped when she reached the doorway to the kitchen, half turning back with a fixed smile, “Any allergies I need to know?”

There was a course of ‘No’s” and she hurried out of the room, hoping no one noticed the tears welling up.

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

Ok, so she’d gotten a little emotional at the end, Mona thought as she absently chopped the potatoes and pushed them into the waiting pot. But it was nothing a few deep breaths couldn’t solve in the sanctity of her kitchen. She could already feel the tension leaving her shoulders as she watched the boiling pot.

Today’s meal was her famous stew, and as Cyrus frequently reminded her, it was a dish that not even the pickiest child could refuse. It was simple, easy, and best of all, it could be expanded to feed the many unexpected guests that had a habit of wandering through her house. It was perfect.

Cyrus would be sad he missed it though. A slight frown graced her lips as she got to slicing the carrots. She would need to save him a bowl, for whenever it was he came home.

And wasn’t that going to provide its own set of problems? She’d have to meet him at the doorway, or have Hugo to get there first. Someone had to warn him of what was going on. Had Hugo’s friends seen Cyrus’s face? Hugo mentioned they had run into Cyrus and Donella, would any of the remember him? Best not to risk it. But what could she do to prevent that? She glanced up around the sparse kitchen, looking for anything that could hide his face. Her eyes landed on the doorway and she froze.

Varian leaned against the door frame, a sheepish smile on his lips. “Do you need any help?” he offered as he ran his fingers through his hair.

“That’s very kind of you,” she gave him her warmest smile, “but I’ve got it under control.”

“Are you sure?” Varian pressed. “I know they’re a lot of us to drop by unexpectedly, and I’m very good at chopping vegetables.”

Mona opens to her mouth to turn him down, but stopped. There was something about the way he stood, a practiced relaxation hiding a strong desire to move that showed itself in the twitch of his hands. The barely hidden eagerness in his eyes to be useful, to make her like him.

It was a pattern of movement she was far too familiar with, from her own experiences trying to make a good impression to Cyrus’s family and friends. And from other, much darker parts of her past. But she didn’t dwell on those.

She moved slightly over to reveal the half chopped carrots behind her, as well as the rest of the vegetables. “If you could get these chopped for me, that would be a big help,” she said.

Varian didn’t need telling twice, quickly crossing the tiny kitchen and picking up the knife. He was very good, Mona noted, in fact he might be better at slicing than she was. A man who could cook was always a plus, she thought to herself, Hugo certainly had good taste.

And on the subject of Hugo... She spun the stew carefully. “How did you meet Hugo?” she asked, trying to keep her curiosity hidden.

Varian gave a start, clearly not expecting the question. Interesting. “Its a bit of a funny story,” Varian gave a half laugh, turning his eyes down to the carrot underneath his fingers. “He kinda...stole the totem from us?”

“Did he now?” Mona mused. That certainly sounded like Hugo. Varian gaped at her lack of reaction, and she realized she must have made a misstep somewhere. Perhaps thievery was a less common method of survival in his kingdom? “Hugo has his own path,” she said as she gave the stew another stir. “I’m not in a position to tell him which of his limited options he should take.” Varian still looked a little disgruntled, really, what kingdom was he from? so she added. “That being said, I am glad to see him putting his energies into questing with you and your friends.”

“Yeah,” Varian nodded, appeased. “Yeah, I’m glad he’s with us too.” He smiled down at the vegetable below his hands, this time a turnip. For a few minutes there was silence, before his shook himself out of whatever daydream he had entered. “But you want to know how he joined us right?” he gave her a sheepish grin.

“If you please,” Mona nodded, hoping to move the conversation away from any questions on her rather lackluster response to finding out her supposed nephew was a criminal.

“He gave it back,” Varian said, a slight smile playing on his lips. “The totem I mean, told us we were absolutely useless on the road and would need his help. It did not make a good impression.” Varian shook his head as he reached for another turnip. “But he was right. I-we did need him.” He bows his head, bangs brushing over his eyes, as if he thought that could cover the bright red blush on his cheeks.

“I’m sure he needed to go with you too,” Mona offers as she gave the stew another stir. “He’s a lot happier now. With all of you.” In more ways than you could possibly imagine, she didn’t add. Varian peeked up at her through his bangs, a pleased twinkle in his eyes.

“Varian where are...oh,” Mona looked up to see Hugo in the doorway, eyes darting between Varian and Mona. “What’s going on in here?” He asked, a note of panic giving away his inner turmoil that his otherwise relaxed demeanor did not.

“Just getting to know each other,” Mona giggled and Hugo’s eyes widened in alarm. “Your friend here is quite the cook!”

“What can I say?” Varian leaned against the counter with a smug grin. “I’m gifted in many areas.”

Hugo raised an eyebrow, “I don’t think chopping counts as cooking by any means.” Varian sputtered in protest, and Mona threw her head back and laughed.

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

Dinner was an all around success. The children loved the stew, and all of them went back for seconds. Mona was glad she’d saved a bowl for Cyrus, sitting innocently off to the side.

The conversation was also far easier to navigate, as its seemed the more personal questions has all been used up over cookies, allowing Mona and Hugo to direct the conversation to safer topics, like where they were all from. It was here she learned that Nuru was an actual princess, and not just called that because of her proper manners. Varian was from Corona, which explained his aversion to crime, if even half the rumors of King Frederick were to be believed. Yong had a passion for fireworks and gunpowder that would have served him very well if he’d grown up in their kingdom, and Mona was privately glad he reserved it for much happier things.

But as the evening began to wear down, Mona began to grow quieter, eyes on the front door. Cyrus was out awfully late. Hugo had said that they had fought him. She knew Hugo thought Cyrus had been uninjured, but perhaps there had been an injury he hadn’t seen?

Hugo bumped her foot slightly under the table, and she turned to see him give her a reassuring smile. “She’s probably just keeping him late, like she always does when she loses,” he whispered to her. Mona gave him a weak smile in return, and tried to look at the door less. Hugo must be feeling really guilty if he was trying to reassure her, and the last thing she wanted was to make him worry more.

The sharp scratch of old keys in the door echoed through the room, and both Mona and Hugo jumped to their feet. “That’s my husband!” Mona cried as she pushed forward, “I’ll go greet him!” Hugo,” she waved her hand behind herself, “take care of the guests.”

“Oh hell no.” Hugo said as he hurried after her, leaving their three guests confused at the table. “They can take care of themselves.”

As the key made the final turn, Mona quickly pulled the door open a smidge and pushed herself outside, making sure that Hugo was directly behind her to keep the three curious kids from seeing him. Cyrus’s mouth opened in shock as he got a glimpse of Hugo’s face behind her, before she was tugging him down the street as the door closed behind them.

“What’s going on?” Cyrus gasped as Mona pulled him into a hug.

“Hugo’s brought his friends to visit,” she hissed in his ear. “Put this on and don’t talk.” She pulled a brown paper bag from the pocket of her apron, and pushed it into his hands.

Cyrus placed it over his head without question, and oh, Mona loved this man. But she restrained herself. She couldn’t kiss him with a paper mask on after all, so she settled for linking their hands as she pulled him back inside.

Hugo shot them a look that made it very clear how very stupid he thought the paper mask was, but he couldn’t exactly object as Cyrus’s large form came into his companion’s view.

“Everyone, meet my husband! You can call him Uncle!” she smiled as brightly as she could. Cyrus squeezed her hand in reassurance.

All of Hugo’s friends stared at Cyrus’s mask as if they’d never seen anything so strange in their entire lives, which Mona did not think was fair considering the adventures they’d been telling her about. “What is on your head?” Yong piped up with the question that no one was voicing.

“I can explain,” Hugo stepped forward between his friends and Cyrus. “You see, he suffers from horrific facial scaring, which he is quite embarrassed about.” All three children had the decency to look a bit ashamed of staring after that response, and Mona felt privately grateful for his silver tongue.

“That’s horrible!” Nuru said, expression morphing into one of sympathy. “May I ask what type of scaring?”

Cyrus let go of her hand to make a fist. With his other hand, he wagged his fingers around it to mimic fire.”

“Third degree?” Nuru gasped, raising a hand to her mouth. Beside her Varian and even Yong looked upset.

“He means fire,” Hugo rolled his eyes. “He got in an explosion.”

“Then why was he holding up three fingers?” Yong frowned.

“Those were the flames,” Mona offered, and Cyrus gave a thumbs up.

“We’re very please to meet you sir,” Varian said, clearly trying to take control of the conversation, but halfway through a yawn punctuated his sentence.

“Oh dear,” Mona raised a hand to her lips. “It’s gotten very late. Perhaps you kids should go off to bed.”

“We’re fine,” Varian suppressed another yawn, which set off Nuru and Yong. “We wouldn’t want to be rude.”

“Yeah, they can handle a bit of rudeness, trust me,” Hugo moved forward to tug Varian out of his seat. Cyrus made a shooing motion with his hand to agree.

“We really don’t mind,” Mona added, hoping that they would give in and just go to sleep so Cyrus could take off the paper bag she’d stuffed him in. It couldn’t be fun to wear. “The guest room is the second door on the left. Go on.” Varian looked like he might protest, but another tug from Hugo was all he needed to stumble off, Yong and Nuru trailing behind him.

As Hugo pushed the door closed on the others, muttering some excuse about needing to talk to his relatives for a moment, Cyrus turned to Mona and tugged off the paper bag. “Anyone going to fill me in on what’s going on?” he whispered.

Hugo and Mona exchanged a look. This was going to take a while.

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

“You know the one thing I don’t get?” Cyrus murmured as they cuddled together on their bed, voices low so as not to disturb the sleeping children in the next room. “Why’d he bring them here?”

Mona raised her head from his chest to him in the eye. “I thought something happened on the trip, something to make him trust you more?”

Cyrus shook his head. “I listened to him give his reports, but he was totally willing to lie to me to keep me away from them. Him coming here after that, it doesn’t make sense.”

“I see,” Mona frowned. Thinking back on Hugo’s words as he’d explained himself to her and Cyrus. “Maybe then he did it for the reason he said, ‘because it’s the last place Donella would look?’”

“No way,” Cyrus ran an absent hand through her loose hair. “He’s got a hundred better hiding holes than this one, and a lot of shady places and favors that even Donella doesn’t know about. I just didn’t mention them so he wouldn’t get defensive.”

“Well,” Mona bit her lip, trying to come up with the words to express what she was thinking. “That wouldn’t be very welcoming would it?” Cyrus cocked his head to the side, and she knew she had his full attention as she pressed on. “They’d be safer, but they'd be cold and miserable. Coming to us, its a lot warmer, you see?”

Cyrus gave a nod, and pulled her close. “We do run a very warm household,” he agreed.

“The best in all the kingdom,” she murmured as she snuggled back into his chest.

Tomorrow they would have to wake up super early to sneak Cyrus out of the house without their guests taking to much notice. Tomorrow she’d have to brew them all a very large pot of porridge to feed them properly before their big journey. Tomorrow Hugo would leave with his friends, after dramatizing his sadness at leaving his “dear aunt and uncle.” But tomorrow could wait a few more hours.

#varian and the seven kingdoms #varian and the 7 kingdoms #varian #hugo the human #princess Nuru #yong #varigo #cyrus #mona #warmth and steel

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rosesvioletshardy · 4 years

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life as we know it - b.h. - chapter 6

a/n: this is the shortest time i managed to write a chapter. there are some new characters introduced that will also be mentioned in future chapters. also there’s some drama in this that i think is going to be good. it’s a little shorter than what i originally had planned because i had to take some stuff out but i still hope it’s good

also thank you so much for 50 followers and the picture is what imagine ben wore in the beginning

masterlist

summary: when their two best friends die, it’s up to ben and y/n to take of their goddaughter and the challenges that come with it.

# of words: 3,608

warnings: a little angst, drama, fluff, a little language

taglist: @myfatbottomedgirls, @evemarie05

(message or inbox me if you want to be added to the taglist on this story)

------

a month has passed and so far everything has gone smoothly. ben and y/n have figured out how to work around their schedules. most of the time she had charlie because ben was filming but whenever he wasn’t, he was with her. they moved in and ben had brought frankie with him. at first they were a little hesitant about how she would act around charlie and vice versa but now frankie had become her protector. whenever charlie was napping, frankie would be with her. sean was another problem. he didn’t like the idea of y/n living with ben but he had managed to forget about it because he knew he had her wrapped around his finger by acting like the perfect gentleman and changing his attitude.

they had spent the next month planning the funeral and the only date they managed to get was one the 1 year anniversary of christian and lennon’s wedding or else they had to wait another few months until august and y/n didn’t want to wait that long because she didn’t know if ben would still be filming or if he were going to be taking break. ben advised her to go with it. she had never been more stressed in her life to the point where she falls asleep at random places. ben had noticed her behavior and advised her that she should go see a therapist. she didn’t want to. she didn’t want to talk to anyone about how she feels let alone a stranger, he understood where she was coming from but still encouraged her to go. he couldn’t say the same for him, he did have his bad days and did hide his emotions often.

now y/n was in her room putting finishing touches on charlie. they knew that taking a baby to see their own parents funeral wasn’t the best idea or the right one, but they had no choice. ben was in the bathroom fixing his tie, or at least trying to before getting frustrated and throwing it off and putting his hands on the sink counter. Knowing he needed to calm down, he went downstairs to get some water. on his way he saw her with charlie in her lap rocking her back and forth as charlie played with the ends of her dress. she felt someone staring at her and picked up her head to find ben staring at the both of them

“hey” he whispered

“hi”

ben walked into the room and sat on the bed with them. all three of them sat in complete silence with the occasional noise from charlie. she noticed that ben’s tie still wasn’t tied and decided to do it for him. she sensed that he got frustrated about it with what the day was about. rather than celebrating the marriage of two people, they were now honoring the dead. setting charlie on the bed, she went and stood in front of ben, grabbing his tie and started to tie it.

“why are you helping me?” he asked her looking up

“because i can tell you’re stressed about everything, especially today.” she told him

“it’s just not fair that they-” he started

“that they just had to die. if only they had left a few minutes later then- then we wouldn’t be here having to be going to a funeral. we would be here celebrating their marriage. i-i just-” ben said before he broke down again after y/n finished.

she bent down to his level and took his hands. tears were forming in her eyes and she wanted to cry but she needed to stay strong for all of them

“listen i know that today is hard but we need to stay strong for us, for lennon and christian, and most importantly for charlie. they loved her more than anything in this world. more than their jobs, we owe it to them to keep her with us and make sure she knows who her parents were. there’s a reason they picked us.” she told him tears starting to stream down her face before continuing

“i know today like any other day without them is hard, but we have to do it for her and for them.”

they were both sobbing in each other’s shoulders at his point and didn’t know if they were able to keep it together at the funeral. they invited some people that were friends with all of them, lennon’s parents, and christian’s relatives. they’ve done the viewing and no one could keep it together and now they would have to see the official funeral and bury them.

when they got married, christian and lennon had decided to reserve a spot next to where his parents were for the future but the future came too quick for them. they’ve managed to keep it all together throughout the burial service without crying but a few tears did slip from their eyes as they gave their speeches. y/n wanted to hold ben’s hand and he wanted to hold hers but the only thing that stood in their way was sean. what surprised them the most was charlie not fussing at all since she was being passed back and forth between the two. when it was all over, they went back to the house for the reception where there were a little bit more people including the neighbors and the babysitter.

the night before she had baked a storm to make sure everything was in order and that people felt comfortable. ben looked around and saw everyone giving them the pity eyes and most likely thinking how sad it was for charlie to grow up without parents not knowing that him and y/n were capable of taking care of her. he walked around listening in on their conversations to make sure they weren’t talking ill of them dead because that day wasn’t a day he didn’t want to punch someone.

“that was a beautiful service. i didn’t know that’s how they met.” one of their neighbors, mike said

“the story about paris, that’s when i started to cry.” mike’s wife, amber said as she drank some of the tea that they were serving

“what did happen with the baby? do you know?” she continued

“oh you didn’t hear, or well see?” rachel, another woman who lived near them

“No”

“they named one of their friends. the baker who’s dating christian’s partner from the law firm, and the actor from eastenders.”

“oh yeah, the super hot one that always like looks so good and sweaty. that one” robert said before his husband gave him a look

““good”?” mike said confusingly

“oh interesting. so he’ll be about”

“what do you mean, “good and sweaty?”” zachary, rachel’s husband asked

y/n was walking around to make sure everyone was comfortable and that they were alright before she spotted jack and melissa, lennon’s parents. jack was holding charlie who looked like she was about to pass out any moment now

“thank you guys for helping set up everything. i wouldn’t have been able to do it all without you. how are you guys’ holding up?” she asked them

“no problem sweetie, you were always like another daughter. and if we’re being honest, i think we’re getting better. it is a shock that our daughter is dead and i know we look like we should be crying but i feel like she would get mad at us for crying.” melissa said taking her hand

“how are you holding up? i know you and lennon were closer than anyone else, and putting all of this together and taking care of a child?” jack asked

“i could be better, but like you said lennon would be mad at us for crying. charlie is the best. it took a while but i think she’s used to everything now.” she told them

jack and melissa knew that y/n was struggling but they knew that she could take care of herself and know that they would do anything for her

“it doesn’t have to be this hard. if either you or ben ever feel overwhelmed by even the smallest of things, please don’t hesitate to call. you may be her guardians now but we’re still her grandparents and you’re still our daughter. it doesn’t matter if it’s night here and morning for us or morning here and night for us. we’ll always be there for you.” melissa said taking her other hand

“thank you. i owe you both my life for everything.” she tells them

“and we owe you ours for making sure lennon was always happy. now i think we should take this one for her nap.” jack said as they all looked at charlie slowly closing her eyes

“she has a bottle ready in the fridge and her room is upstairs on the first door on the left.”

“i’ll go with him to make sure he doesn’t mess things up like he did with lennon.” melissa said giving jack a side eye

“that was one time melissa! it was 26 years ago.” jack told her as the two left for the kitchen

while she was talking and making sure everyone was okay, ben was doing the same until he overheard something that he found was rather interesting to him

“well yeah. see if i marry her, i get her business and become an owner as well. which means i can technically do what i want with how she’s running it because she doesn’t want to expand it to more locations even though i told her she will get more income from it.” he heard sean say before continuing

“and plus my sister can profit over it and advertise it more. so, she advertises my sister's company, my sister and my family get more money. i mean it won’t be so hard to do it. i got her wrapped around my finger already by acting like the perfect gentleman” sean finished

“but what about that guy she lives with, the actor, ben?” ryan, another one of christian’s partners ask

“please, my family is worth more than him, my place is worth more than him. he thinks he can charm his way into her life and take her away because they’re taking care of some baby. she should be glad i’m giving her another chance after she practically cheated on me by sleeping with him. i spoil her endless and that’s how she repaid me. bitch. just hope she says yes before i decide to propose to amanda and break it off with her. sometimes i just want to do that but y/n could make me more rich.” sean whispered so that no one could hear him

ben desperately wanted to go punch him in the face but he didn’t want to cause a scene or tell social services that he’s unfit to be a guardian because of his short temper at times. he never understood how people could treat others like garbage and only use them for money. yeah money is great but it doesn’t automatically make you happy all time. money doesn’t exactly buy happiness. he decided to ignore what was going on and tell her when it was the right time and sat down in one of the chairs they had set out for the guests.

she started to walk away and saw ben sitting on one of the chairs with a beer in his hand. as soon as he saw her, he got and they started to walk

“there’s a lot of them.” she said thinking about who should take charlie if they can’t do it or melissa and jack can’t

“listen, we just need to find one and if we can’t, we’ll just give her to lennon’s parents” he told her

ben met one of christian’s cousins, peter, and saw that his kids were running up and down the stairs yelling and throwing things while y/n met with christian’s uncle

“alex-” peter yelled before getting cut off by his wife, patricia

“Mason”

“Mason! take a seat right now. let’s go. eight kids..” he told ben

“eight kids? you guys have eight kids.” ben stuttered out shocked

“nine dear.” patricia said

“nine. right.”

y/n was in the other room with christian’s uncle tom, on the couch seeing that he had an oxygen tank

“it’s really nice for charlie to know everyone and know how much she’s loved.” she tells him showing him a picture

“she looks just like christian.”

“yeah. so you have a house where in the countryside?” she asked

“ashwell, hertfordshire. lovely place and lovely people”

“yes, we were hoping seeing that if her grandparents from her mothers side weren’t to take her-” ben started to explain as he sat down until one of peter’s knocked the oxygen tank over and caused the hose to come off and tom to start coughing

“oh my god.” she started to freak out as ben picked the kid up and turned him around to go to the other side of the room

they managed to get the tank working again and helped tom to stop coughing

“i’m so sorry, he came out of nowhere. are you okay now? Good as new! yay!”

“Still breathing okay.” ben said as him and she started to awkwardly laugh

everyone had left and charlie was laying on ben’s chest playing with his undone tie as him and y/n sat on the corner sofa with their feet up, clearly tired

“well, we could go with the nine kids' family. they know how to keep a child alive.” ben said before talking

“the stripper seemed nice. and the uncle’s a definite no?” he finished

“we’re screwed.” she told him

neither one of them knew what to do at this point and it seemed like jack and melissa were they’re only option which meant charlie will move to a new country. y/n just let out a sigh and put her head on ben’s shoulder and he put his on top of her head.

the following weekend her and ben had their official court hearing which would grant them legal guardianship of charlie. jack and melissa told them before they left that they were making the right decision to take on a big responsibility and knew that they could do it and were going to be at their hearing for support. they got a got from jim telling them about when the court date was and what time it was going to happen. here they now sat in the courtroom listening to other cases before theirs was called. ben and y/n were dressed formally but in a casual way to make sure that they knew what the setting was and show that they are responsible.

“the next case, the matter of charlotte wakes, index number 05893-01.” they heard as jim told them to follow him

“alright. i’ve read your submissions, along with the will.” the judge began before continuing as ben and her began to sit down before jim told them to stay standing

“given that you were named as guardians, i see no reason to countermand the parents’ wishes. However, permit-” before charlie threw her toy on the ground and continued to fuss

“until that time, i hereby grant joint legal and physical custody of charlotte lucia wakes to y/n l/n and benjamin jones” she finished

“th-that’s it? You’re not going to ask us anything? how do you know we’re not drug dealers or pimps?” ben asked as jim began to escort them out

y/n gave out a worried and laugh nervously before the judge took her glasses off and asked them

“i’ve seen your work mr. jones and i’ve been to your bakery miss l/n, and i’m sure but are you drug dealers or pimps?”

“no, ma’am. no” y/n said as she gave a look to ben

as they left the room, jack and melissa gave a final hug to the two and charlie before leaving for their flight

“congratulations you’re parent’s now! i know this isn’t how you guys wanted it to be but it’s going to be fun. i guess we better head out now if we want to make it to the airport now. please don’t hesitate to call us with any questions about anything. we know you both can do this.” jack said, hugging the both of them before melissa came to give y/n a hug. as she hugged her she whispered something into her ear

“don’t let him go, this one. he seems like a really good guy and a keeper. good luck” she said giving her one hug

y/n and ben waved a goodbye to them and they walked off and jim started to talk

“well you guys did it. you are now the legal guardians. i have another case in an hour so i’ll see you guys soon and if you have any questions regarding any of this or lennon and christian, don’t be hesitant to call.” jim told them before leaving for another case

“well we’re officially parents now i guess.” ben said as they walked down the halls

“it’s official, now we have a lot to learn more than we already know.”

“yup”

they left and went back home and got charlie’s stroller and put her in it. they realized that the day was nice so they walked down to y/n’s bakery for lunch. what they didn’t know was paparazzi started to take pictures of the two from a distance showing off ben’s private life now. if the pictures decided to run, who knows what would happen. questions would start to be asked during press tours and if they found out who y/n was her shop would be crowded and as much as she wanted that, she preferred the way it is now. it would also be good for charlie’s safety.

when they entered it was a little more busy than usual but that’s how they liked it. they found a table and y/n went to grab one of the high chairs they provided. on her way back, tyler came out of the kitchen with a new tray of their lemon tarts before spotting her. he quickly put them in the display case and yelled her name

“Y/N!”

she set the chair down in between her and ben before turning around and seeing tyler and hugged him

“hey how are you? i’m sorry i haven’t been coming in so much and only calling in to check in.” she told him

“it’s fine. don’t worry you had a lot on your plate and personal things to deal with. come back at your own time. is this them?” he asked pointing to ben and charlie

“hi i’m tyler, the co-head baker here. y/n has told me a lot of about you.” he told ben shaking his hand

“let me guess, she complained to you about me? ’m ben, this is charlie, and this furry monster is frankie” ben told him scratching frankie’s ear

“yeah pretty much. i take it you guys got custody?” tyler asked

“yeah about an hour ago it became official.” y/n told him

“wow well i know you’ll guys be great at this.” he said before continuing

“well it was nice to see you again and meet you but i have to head back to the kitchen. i’ll bring you guys some stuff out. don’t worry”

“thanks tyler, it feels nice to be back here.” she said

“he’s nice. i like him. how’d you meet him here?” ben asked

“well he told me he was on vacation here but he decided he didn’t want to go back to delaware so he decided to stay here. i was just starting out after finishing university with lennon’s help, we got this place and got everything set up. tyler came here asking if we were hiring and the rest is practically history. i gave him his break here and he’s been like a brother to me.” she told him as tyler then came out with a tray full of desserts, sandwiches, some coffee, some mashed bananas for charlie, as well as their pet friendly treats for frankie

“tyler you really shouldn’t have.”

“no exceptions. you’ve done enough for me and now you both deserve some of the best food here.”

“fine, thank you.” she told him

“alright. i’ll see you guys later. bye”

“Bye”

“thanks mate”

y/n got out charlie’s bib and put it around her. she looked at ben to see what his reaction would be to one of their sandwiches. as soon as he bit into it, he felt like he was in a whole ‘nother world.

“wow. that is a good sandwich, holy fuck. shit, sorry.” he said as he saw y/n watching him

“it’s good isn't it?” she asked him giving charlie some of the bananas

“yeah it really is”

the three continued to eat and play before it was time for charlie’s nap. they put her back in the stroller and cleaned up the table before they left. she made a mental note to pay her employees extra for their help and dealing with all of it. when ben and y/ went home, they let frankie off her leash and she went to her bed. ben took charlie from and decided to put her to sleep for once. when he came back downstairs, he saw y/n sitting on the couch with a beer bottle in her hand and another one on the table. he went and picked it up and sat down next to her.

“well, to parenthood.” he said

“to parenthood” she said as they clinked bottles

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the-black-birb · 4 years

Text

2. Early Years

pairing: Ennoshita Chikara x Reader

masterlist

synopsis: The neighborhood boy upgrades from stranger to friend.

With little to keep you amused inside your house and the threat of autumn breezing through all too soon, you had made a habit of sitting outside on your porch, lemonade in hand. Often, you’d sit with a game or a sketchbook to keep yourself busy, but you always found yourself drifting off.

Lately, you’d stop seating yourself on the steps outside your house, where rogue volleyballs would often land, and instead found yourself on top of the trashcan where you could swing your legs freely. You had definitely not sat there because it gave you an easy view over the fence, into the yard of your neighbors. Certainly, your concerns were completely separate from the boy who always stopped by your yard to pick up the volleyballs that flew your way. You hadn’t noticed the way he always asked how your day was, or made sure no matter where the volleyball flew it did not hit you. No, you hadn’t noticed at all.

Yet summer was nearing its end and though you’d been opposed to it at the start, you found yourself wishing you could spend just one more day outside, watching the neighborhood boys play carelessly and listen to their harmless chatter. The solitude you’d felt at the beginning, missing your old friends and school, was soon replaced by the nerves of going to a new school. A new environment, new people, and new challenges. You shivered at the thought of it. Not to mention, the time you’d spent gazing mindlessly at your prince charming would now be spent inside with a notebook in front of you.

You were not pleased, to say the least.

The setting sun and the familiar creak of your mother’s car pulling into the driveway reminded you of the days end, startling you to get off the trash can and instead find you way inside. You huffed, realizing that not a single volleyball had landed in your yard today. The neighborhood boys were getting better, but at what cost?

Still, the arrival of your parents brought new concerns to your mind. Your mother had told you earlier today about some surprise guests, but had opted not to tell you who, to your despair (you see, you’d never been patient enough to like surprises). But to a bored child guests meant an excuse to fuss over your appearance and if dinner was starting soon, you had limited time to put yourself together.

Rushing to your room, you were quick to put a brush to your hair and dress yourself. You had no idea who your special visitors were, but you were certain by the end of the night they’d know who you were. So, you wore your favorite shirt (the one with the cute yokai from the cartoon you watched) and your bright purple shorts that always made you stand out (a few years later, they’d be the bane of your existence. Whenever you looked at them in photos you’d cringe, wondering why your mother let you wear them. But right now, they made your confidence skyrocket and that was all that mattered). Finally, with the daffodil pin your father had gotten you from the carnival pulling your hair back, you were ready for the night. With the confidence of a gymnast getting to their floor, you strut out of your room to greet whichever strangers dared enter your house.

And immediately, you shrunk back into your shell.

Because standing in front of you was quite possibly the most beautiful person you’d ever seen. In your doorway was a woman, average in all sense of the word, and next to her stood the boy whom you’d spent the majority of your summer watching.

Even with all the yelling from his yard, you’d never quite ascertained what his name was and each time he’d come over to retrieve his volleyball you were all too scared to ask. But there was no doubt that the young boy, just a bit taller than you with neat black hair, was the same one you’d been observing.

Face hot, you made your way over to your mother who had been waving you down for… well, you weren’t sure how long. With trained nervousness, your grabby hands wrapped around her legs wear you stood behind her, staring wearily at your so-called guests.

“[F/N],” she laughed, tugging you out from behind her. She’d never been fond of your shy habits. “C’mon, greet our friends!” You weren’t sure what qualifications they met to become your friends, but you were certain your mother would never give up so you found yourself bowing your head and mumbling a timid “welcome,” and letting your head hang to the ground.

Stepping into your view of the ground were two unfamiliar feet in a pair of beat up sneakers. You raised your eyes to see the familiar smiling face of the neighbor boy. While every atom in your body screamed at you to avert your eyes and find your way to your mother’s side once again, his charming smile seemed to overload all of your senses.

“I’m Chikara,” he grinned. “I see you when I play volleyball sometimes.” Oh, you knew he saw you.

“Chi…ka…ra?” you tried out his name on your lips, handling it delicately. For so long you’d waited to know who he was, this all felt too easy. But his name sounded so right on your lips, you didn’t dare question it for a moment.

“I’m [F/N],” you replied shyly and before you could add anything, his hand was firmly in yours. He had a determined look on his face, like he’d been waiting for this chance to show off his skills. His whole face wound up like he was super focused and suddenly you found yourself laughing at him. You stopped, wondering if he’d be offended, but he just started chuckling with you.

With that, your nerves disappeared.

Dinner was relatively easy as your parents covered all the talking for you. Occasionally, your parents would bring up an interest of yours, like the sketches you made or the games you played, and you’d answer with a “yes” or another sort of agreement, but you were left mostly to your own devices. Chikara said across from you, sandwiched between his parents, and although neither of you had much of a chance to talk, he’d make faces across the table at you everyone in awhile to make you laugh. It was comfortable.

Before they could leave, both your parents went into another room to discuss something secret. Your grumbled. Although the company was pleasant, surprises really were no fun.

The silence between you two sat heavy. From the night you’d assessed that Chikara was, without a doubt, delightful to be around. He was funny and had a cute smile and was overall a ball of sunshine. But that didn’t mean he was easy to be around. When he was here, all your words got flustered and mixed up and you felt your stomach doing backflips. So when your parents were gone, you found yourself unable to do much but sit and fiddle with your thumbs.

“I like your shirt,” was his comment that finally broke the ice. Your head shot up, excited to talk about your favorite show.

“Oh yeah?” you asked. “Do you watch it to?” You were bouncing with energy, hoping you’d found someone to indulge in your fun with. Instead you were meant by a sheepish chuckle.

“No, I just thought it looked cute.” Suddenly, your face felt warm. “What channel is it on?” Oh. Soon, you were off talking a mile a minute about the cartoon. It aired every night, the perfect way for you to end your summer evenings, and so you’d watched it religiously. Even with your suddenly fast paced speech, Chikara nodded calmly, following along with you. He was a wonderful listener, you deduced. Another lovely trait to add to the list.

Before you could finish explaining to him why the character on your shirt was the best, your parents were back in the room.

“Now, now, [F/N], let’s calm down,” your father pestered you into a seat where you could all talk freely. Your mothers eyes shone with an excitement you thought was a bit concerning, but you couldn’t ignore the proud look on Chikara’s mother’s face next to her.

A hush fell on the living room as it became clear your mother had something important to share with the group (or rather, with you and Chikara). “We’ve decided,” she announced. “Since [F/N] is unfamiliar with the town and school, Chikara should walk her to school for a bit!”

Your parents cheered together, trying to act like this was a huge moment or turning point. You didn’t really understand why because Chikara was, at this point, just another kid and it was not as if you were spending your whole life with him. Quietly you tried to ignore the excitement rising in your chest and the thought that even if it was not the rest of your life, all of your mornings for the next few years was still a fairly significant chunk of time to spend all with one person.

Next to you, Chikara seemed unfazed by the preposition. Whether his mother had told him in advance or he had the intuition to guess what tonight was about, you were never really sure of. But he had no hesitation in turning to you with a now familiar smile and reaching out to shake your hand once again. “I guess I’ll be seeing you around a lot more, neighbor!”

His hand was warm.

To say the two of you saw each other more was likely an overstatement compared to the time you spend observing him from your lawn. But now instead of being separated by a fence, you were walking side by side and actually talking to one another.

Chikara was, as you had decided early, a delight to be around. As he’d been in school one year more than you, he taught you about all sorts of things in school, like how to get to lunch early by taking a shortcut and how to ask questions so teachers like you. It felt like most of your walks were really him talking at you. As much as you found comfort in his presence, you still had plenty of walls that made you weary of getting too talkative.

On occasion, though, he’d find one topic that made you start rambling nonstop. Sometimes it was a show you’d seen on TV or an assignment you had in school, but somehow you always missed the affection in his eyes when you went on your long tangents. You never managed to see the way all his features softened as he let himself take pleasure in simply listening to you.

Even now when you had certainly walked the route to school enough times to know the way with your eyes closed, he chose to join you. You’d never complain, of course. It was far easier to walk together every morning than to break routine and his presence always made you feel lighter. But these past few days he’d noticed your steps seemed to drag and your energy faltered. As he talked to you, there were less topics that made your eyes shine and sentences spilling out of you.

“What’s wrong?” Chikara asked on the way home, clearly noticing the shift in your behavior. You’d always been fairly simple minded so he was certain if something was bothering you, he could fix it immediately.

You mumbled over your words, not willing to admit to what had been on your mind. Chikara shrugged. “If you’re gonna act like a ghost I guess I could walk on my own…” he teased, pacing ahead of you.

“Wait!” you called out, immediately realizing you’d been lured. Chikara looked at you with a quietly condescending smile that read I knew that would work. You huffed.

“They’ve been teaching us to read…” you explained quietly. “It’s hard.” You weren’t used to failing grades, but you also weren’t used to kanji.

The expression on Chikara’s face wasn’t one you were really familiar with. His bottom lip jutted out like he was deep in thought, but his eyebrows remained relax. His silence gave you a moment to appreciate all his features, which you greatly enjoyed to do.

“I’ll tutor you,” he decided, without giving you time to agree. Soon, he was walking at a brisk pace towards your houses.

“Huh? Wait up!” you hurried towards him. “What’s the rush?” He’d never been one to argue with the pace you set, so you weren’t sure why he was speed walking out of the blue.

“You want to get better fast, right?” was his deadpan answer.

Your mother was more than happen to have Chikara over. Quickly she was making some refreshing lemonade to quench your mind while the two of you worked. Regardless of his own work, Chikara was fully focused on helping you read better.

Despite his kind disposition, when he came over to work with you he was more like a dictator.

After your initial surprise wore off, it started to make sense. He was a model student who got flawlessly good grades, but it wasn’t until now that you realized why. Even at such a young age, he had a bounty of ways to study and focus that had you improving at a lightening fast rate. Learning comes from repetition; he’d drilled into you. Find words wherever you go.

Your study dates (as your ecstatic mother had taken to calling them) became fairly routine in addition to your walks together. Even though your grades had improved, there were still plenty of uphill battles and Chikara, one year your senior, was the perfect person to help you through them.

Still, you wanted to make your understanding more fluid and frequent. You stayed up at night, restless to improve, and found yourself looking around for solutions.

There wasn’t much you did without Chikara staring down your shoulder, but you wanted to prove you could learn without him, too. Letting your mind wander, you stared out your room window trying to pull a plan out of thin air. You stared up at the night sky and all the stars. Find words in constellation? No, that wouldn’t work. Maybe you could find a book to read? But that was frustrating, and it took so much time. Instead, your eyes found the house next to yours and the lights still on from the room that mimicked the position of yours. Suddenly, a plan emerged.

You scavenged your room for an old sketch pad and a dark black marker. On the page in front of you, you wrote a simple message.

Hello. Speak to me?

You found yourself at the window again, opening it this time. Your eyes searched your room for something disposable, yet useful. Grabbing a spare toy from an old happy meal, you chucked the hard-plastic dragon out to hit the window next to you. You tried to stifle your laugh so as not to alert your parents that you were, in fact, still awake.

To your delight, the curtains opened and a familiar, slightly sleepy, Chikara looked out. You proudly held out the sketchpad for him to read, hoping he’d pick up on your strategy.

A proud look shone in his eyes as he walked away from the window. With baited breath you waited for his arrival, hoping he’d come back to indulge you. Never one to disappoint, he soon entered you field of view again with a whiteboard and marker.

Hello. Trying to study?

You grinned proudly at him, rushing to write your response.

Yes. Help me for a bit?

Although your vocabulary was still fairly limited in terms of what you could read on paper, you found yourself talking deep into the night.

A few mornings later, your father pointed out the growing bags underneath your eyes.

With words constantly surrounding you, reading comprehension was soon the least of your worries. Still, you and Chikara kept up your routine of talking through the window even long after he’d stopped coming over for you “study dates” and you hadn’t had a single day that you arrived at school without him beside your side.

Although you’d quickly learned to ignore the butterflies roaring in your gut whenever Chikara smiled and the way you always grew warmer around him, you never stopped appreciating Chikara’s presence next to you. While you grew tumultuously, he was always your rock and anchor to pull you back down to Earth. Sometimes, you’d look at the boy next to you and wonder how you let him remain a stranger. Now, you could not even begin to imagine life without him.

Until, you were forced to.

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lephilodi · 3 years

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Settling In (D&D RP Ch. 3)

We set out shortly after I had gathered what was important to me, namely my books and the various pieces of literature I had...kept in my possession from home. I tried to get them to wait until dark, but they were rather insistent on leaving as soon as possible. I suppose I will have to come back for my aquarium, mushrooms, and other belongings.

It was today I learned that Luciel is actually a bard of the College of Creation, as he produced a parasol for me out of thin air. Very courteous of him. It was only a few hours to get to their town thankfully, but upon my insistence, they took me to a relatively safe place in the forest not too far away, where they had stashed some strange vehicle of theirs and covered it in vines. Then they were off to celebrate their victory, leaving me alone again in the ever-darkening wood.

I watched as the stars slowly began to appear from the skies. Some of my people despised them, but I always found them to be beautiful. After all, life has no color without light, leaving creatures pale and blind...

Pale and blind, just like the one who had ruined my life. Erebossk.

I truly try not to let my thoughts linger on him. I chose to leave that life behind, thanks to help from a friend. I try to reminisce on what he taught me, rather than what I had lost.

Thankfully, sometime after the midnight hour had passed, Kala and Luciel emerged from the shadows between the dark trunks. I floated down from the top of the vehicle to greet them, but something was clearly bothering them. <I didn't expect to see you back already.>

It was Luciel who spoke first. "Heyyyy Lephi. We have a question for you."

Something is definitely off. What happened in town? <Alright... go ahead.>

Luciel hesitates for a moment again before speaking. "What's a spelljammer?"

I immediately straighten up, rooted to the spot. <Well, I know you can't read or understand Qualith. And I doubt you knew that word before. Can you tell me where you learned it?>

Both the elf and the firbolg simultaneously answer, "No.”

Okay, this is immensely suspicious, and I don't like it. I'm praying to Ao that I won't have to wrestle away Luciel's bag of holding, as it currently had my books, star maps, and schematics inside. <Very well. Spelljammers are ships designed to travel between planes and through realmspace. Even to other crystal spheres. Does that satisfy your curiosity?>

Kala spoke, "For now, yes."

“We were also told some...things, some negative things about you. But we don’t believe they’re true.” Luciel looks up at me, but I can still see some uncertainty in his eyes.

<Well, in that case, it’s probably all true.> I won’t deny what my people are, what we do. What I did.

Kala steps forward again. “Well, we don’t believe them. Not when it comes to you.”

The pair eventually went back into town to rest after checking on me. I got as comfortable as I could in the seat on top of...whatever this device is, and decided to rest with one eye open tonight.

Thankfully the next morning, the whole party seemed much more chipper, though Galvar seems to be suffering from a bit of a hangover. Kala removed the plants and vines from the strange conglomeration of devices below me, revealing some sort of crab tank with a set of four ballistas attached to the top, and I realized with some concern that I had been sleeping in the hot seat. Luciel crawled into the tank portion to pilot it, while Kala crawled up to the seat where I was sitting and deposited herself in my lap. She had in hand what appeared to be two halves of a coconut and began clapping them together as we began moving, somehow accelerating the pace of the whole group. Must be some strange magical item. We set off before the sun gets too high in the sky, headed north into Neverwinter Wood.

By mid-afternoon we arrived at a very run-down manse in the middle of the forest. Pumpkin patches surrounded a large house completely covered in ivy. It looked certainly worse for wear, especially with a boar's head carved into the front door. I close my eyes and open up my psionic field to get familiar with the small region around the manse as the others go over their plan on how to get rid of the gulthias tree in the manse's well, sensing four beings of low intelligence within the manse, likely the vine blights they speak of.

I follow as they head inside, floating over the broken wood of busted down doors, and out into the courtyard of the manse. Before me was indeed a well, from which great, thick vines erupted, spreading out across the flagstones. I readied my whip just in case, as I could sense the creatures down inside the well.

Luciel created a great length of chain from thin air with his magic, slowly lowering it in a circle all the way around the tree. And... Ilsensine above, Crete is flying.

I look over to Galvar to see him grinning up at the minotaur. I suppose he learned a new spell. Kala has her flame scimitar at the ready, and they begin the attack.

Combat with the blights is mercifully short and swift, leaving only the tree in their wake. The caster's flame-based spells making short work of the tree, even if Crete's halberd sent blood-like sap spraying everywhere. Finally, Kala casts her own Blight spell, and the tree withers away to dust, leaving the well empty.

<Well, I think this place could use a serious clean-up.> I pull the dehydrated cleaning cubes from inside my sleeve, going to the kitchen to submerge them in water and set them to work.

I come back out to the courtyard to the other four discussing what to do next.

"I think it would make the most sense for Crete and I to go to Neverwinter, so we can sell our loot and see what we can have made with the dragon parts," Luciel explains. “And we’ll look for some builders to fix this place up and maybe set up some outbuildings. Plus I have this sweet stuffed winter wolf head we found to give to Falcon, since he seems to really like stuffed heads of sentient beings. Y’know, just a nice gesture from the new neighbors.”

Oh I really don’t like that. I’m all for keeping repurposed skulls for pots, but at least those were once my food. I lessened the amount of waste from my kills. But I’d rather not have my own head on this...”Falcon’s” wall.

Kala’s also speaks up, “And I’ve got that spider silk weave I commissioned at the Coster to go pick up in town.”

“Then I’ll get started on that secret room for Lephilodi that we were talking about at the bottom of the well!” Galvar says cheerily. “Is that alright with you Miss Lephilodi? We thought it would be the best way to keep you safe when the builders are here.”

<Oh, I see. Well, as long as I have a bed and some space, I suppose it can’t be much worse than Axeholm. And I prefer to be awake at night anyways.>

“Aye! And we’ll set up a hidden door as best we can so no one can bother ye!” exclaimed the dwarf.

“In that case, we’re off!” shouts Luciel jubilantly, as he turns Crete into a giant eagle in front of my very eyes.

Crete plucks up Luciel in his claws and they soon are out of view beyond the trees.

Well that was interesting...

Kala shape-shifts into a wolf and heads for town while Galvar lowers himself into the well to start excavating. I decide to make myself busy and check on the cleaning cubes. They’re not too far along yet, but this will give me time to look around the house.

Unfortunately, the roof of the kitchen is caved in, and the doors on the lower level are all broken for the most part. Most of the furniture is broken, so I do my part and toss all the unsalvageable wood outside with telekinesis. This feels like settling into Axeholm all over again. However, I am delighted to find a laboratory, a library, and a bathing room that still has warm, running water. That’s good, I’ll need a bath later once this room is cleaned as well. There is one master bedroom along with what likely used to be an apprentices’ bedroom, though the latter had a giant hole in the floor and was even more filthy than the prior rooms. Thank goodness the cubes work quickly.

Towards the end of the day, I sense Kala return from town, and I go out to meet her. Galvar comes back out of the well and goes inside to wash up for a moment. Good, I’ve been wanting to ask Kala about something.

I try to speak with my gentlest voice. <Kala, I’ve been meaning to ask you. Are you...okay? You seemed even more upset than Luciel last night, and...when we first met I could tell you were trying to hide a secret from me. But I did not pry because that is not my place.>

Kala looks up at me swiftly. “Oh! Yes, well...I’m not a firbolg. I’m a changeling. I’m fine now, I promise. It’s just that some things that we were told about you, I’ve also heard said about my kind. That’s why I was upset.”

Ah. So that’s what this one has been hiding. <I see. I know little of your kind personally, but I can assure you I have no qualms against you. After all, that would be rather hypocritical of me wouldn’t it?> I project some amusement to help put her at ease before Galvar comes trotting back outside.

With Kala’s help and her Stone Shape spell, they are able to work a bit longer. I decide to head up to that much needed bath as they do so. Thank Ilsensine, the cubes are finished in here. I draw the warm water and strip out of my cleric’s robes. Even with the ivy blocking the windows, I can still see just fine in the darkened room...and I can still see the scars that criss-cross my light skin. Some were accidentally self-inflicted, learning experiences on my body from my time studying how to use a blade-whip. Others...were not. I try not to dwell on them as I sink into the tub of warm water, and I let out a physical sigh of relief. It’s so hard to stay hydrated when you don’t produce your natural mucus anymore. A symptom of my strange diet, but maybe after eating the dragon’s brain, my skin will start slicking down again. But until then, lotions will have to suffice. I soak myself for a while, occasionally shifting to get everything in contact with the water despite my height, before getting out and doing my skincare routine. I put my dampsuit back on afterwards and then my robe, stepping back out of the steam-filled bathing room only to be met by Galvar.

He snapped and pointed his forefingers and thumb towards me, shooting me a wink before he drawls out, “Lookin’ good.”

I immediately feel my face flush white. Was that a compliment???

Galvar immediately started freaking out. “I am so, so sorry, it was supposed to be a joke! I didn’t mean to freak you out!!!”

<G-Galvar, it’s just blush. We blush white, it’s okay. I just...I think it’s time we all get some rest...>

#dungoens and dragons #d&d #dnd #rp #the dragon of icespire peak #illithid #ulitharid #lephilodi #Lephi is traumatized for life by finger-guns

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purplesurveys · 3 years

Text

1106

survey by mickey-mouse

Who was the last person you couldn't take your eyes off of? I haven’t been feeling that way towards anyone, be it from real life or someone on the internet or a celebrity, for a while.

Do you drink the milk from the bowl after you eat all the cereal? I’ll try to drink some of it, since I do think milk tastes nice haha, but I keep it in moderation so that my stomach won’t end up being too upset.

Have you ever kissed anybody accidentally? Oh wow, how does this even happen? Hahaha but no I haven’t.

Who was the first person to wish you a Merry Christmas last year? Most likely a family member. My friends and I usually greet each other late into the evening.

Do you think it'll be the same person this year? It will probably be family again, yeah. I just can’t tell which one would be first.

Is your display picture in black and white? None of my profile photos on all social media are.

Do you know anybody who has had an online relationship? I don’t think so. I have some friends who met their SOs through dating apps, but I think all of them have since seen each other in person. I’m not sure I know of anyone whose relationship has been entirely online/virtual so far.

What food are you always in the mood for? No matter how full I am, I will always take a slice of pizza or two if it’s ever served at a table. That or chicken wings or spicy tuna salad.

When was the last time you played Guitar Hero? Safe to say more than a decade ago. I had always preferred Rock Band since I found it more fun that switching instruments was a main part of its gameplay, whereas you were stuck with the guitar on Guitar Hero.

What friend could buy clothes for you and not have to worry what they bought? Angela. We have nearly the same sense of style and we find the same things cute, so if I ever had to make a friend control my wardrobe for the day I will likely trust her the most.

1 thing that your guy best friend doesn't like about you: I don’t have a guy best friend. Hans is my closest friend of the opposite sex; while I don’t think he dislikes anything about me, I’m sure he thinks I’ve acted dumb about love and relationships many times before. Which is fine, we’re very honest and blunt about those things and I actually appreciate it when he gets brutally honest with me.

How about your girl best friend? Again, I don’t know if Angela doesn’t like a certain trait of mine but she’s well aware of my past stupid decisions i.e. staying in a harmful relationship.

Do you loan your friends money? No, but I’m ready to lend to my closest friends should they ever be in need.

Are Lucky Charms really magically delicious? I dunno, I’ve never tried.

When was the last time you had Lucky Charms anyway? See above.

Who is the last person you called long distance? I don’t do video calls with friends living in other countries, mainly because I’ve grown apart from them haha. My mom will sometimes start calls with relatives living abroad though; I believe the most recent one was a group video call with my dad’s side of the family, which included an uncle who lives in New York.

Do you sleep with a nightlight? No; I would find this too distracting and bright.

Is Lil Wayne really the best rapper alive? I never thought he was one of the best to begin with. Some of the songs he’s featured in are fine but I don’t like his slurred style of rapping very much.

What is the first text in your inbox? Like...the very first one in my inbox? I scrolled all the way down and it’s from Frances - an orgmate who has since disappeared off the face of the earth and blocked all her friends on social media lmao - asking about an org-related thing three years ago. Wherever she is, I hope she’s doing okay.

Are you taller than your siblings? I am the eldest yet smallest child in the family. My relatives get a kick out of it, which is fine because I do too HAHA

What are the first letters of your friends first names on your top 8? Myspace? Was never active on it.

When was the last time you almost cried from laughing? I can’t pinpoint an exact moment for you but this happens a lot when I watch 2 Days 1 Night, so this has probs happened recently.

Do you have “photoshoots” with your friends/family members? Not with me as the subject – I’m very camera shy and turn into an awkward stick once I’m asked to pose. But I love taking photos of loved ones, especially an SO.

Are you generous? To a fault.

Are you excited for Thanksgiving this year? I don’t celebrate that.

Are you excited for Thanksgiving ANY year? Yeah, I still don’t celebrate that.

Any plans for the weekend? I had plans to start a new series and spend a lazy day watching YouTube videos, but we haven’t had internet all day today and it’s felt quite deflating to have the first day of my weekend taken away from me. I’ve been running on data which is...fine, I guess, but I can’t use too much if I don’t want to keep paying for it. That said I’ve only been able to do surveys and stream music today. For tomorrow, I wanna go to a coffee shop and perhaps even treat myself to ramen because I’ve been craving.

Do you lay your clothes out the day before? Before Covid happened I planned out my clothes the night before, but I didn’t lay them out.

Who was the last person you bought a gift for? Andi; got them a dress and a skirt.

What was the last song you had stuck in your head? My Limb has been repeatedly playing in my head all day.

Are you ignoring anybody currently? Not ignoring, more of I’ve already given up on them.

Do you curse at your parents in a different language? I don’t curse at my parents in any language, lmfao.

Do you get the mailman a Christmas gift every year? We don’t have mailmen, buuuuut the maintenance staff in my village (trash collectors, security guards, those in charge of trimming the grass, etc) will usually hand each household an envelope in time for Christmas. My family and I help them out and place a certain amount in all envelopes.

Are you afraid of lizards? They are very common visitors in homes here so no I’m mostly not. They move very fast and get freaked out when they see humans though, so sometimes I’ll be shocked by them suddenly scurrying away.

How legible is your signature? I don’t make it legible at all so that it’s difficult to replicate. I actually get a lot of comments on it because my signature is mostly a lazy scribble and I don’t actually spell out any part of my name, which exactly fulfills my goal of making it hard to copy.

Do you think anybody else has a bedroom EXACTLY like yours? I actually live in a neighborhood where the houses are the same models, so I can confidently tell you that there are around 10-20 bedrooms that look similar to mine. But as for being styled and furnished exactly like mine, I doubt it.

How hot are your neighbors? Lol uh I don’t pay attention to this particular trait. All my neighbors are your typical suburban families with young kids, anyway.

Do you have pictures of clouds on your cell phone? A lot. I like looking up at the sky from time to time.

Do you send compliments through text message? Sure, when it’s appropriate and only with close friends.

Do/did your high school theme colors match? I never thought they didn’t go well together, that much I can say.

Do you own any Nike shoes? Several.

Have you ever rode in a VW Bug? Never.

How about a Mini Cooper? Never have, would absolutely love to.

What was the last fast food place you got food from? Yellow Cab. I got two pizzas and pasta for my family.

When you invite people to your house do you usually hang out in your room? I never invite people to my house because it’s too far compared to where most of my friends live, and it would only be a big hassle for everyone. As for my room, the only people who’ve been in it are Gabie and Angela/Hans, the latter only once.

Have you ever seen your crush/current bf/gf cry? I don’t have any of these.

Do you own any Spongebob merchandise? I’m pretty sure we have a Patrick plushie we continue to keep around.

Do you have any food traditions with any of your friends? My orgmates and I frequented a certain bar near our university; we went there whether it was to celebrate the end of an exam-filled week, or if we simply wanted to spend an ordinary Thursday with a few drinks. A few months ago they were in danger of closing because of the pandemic, but I hope life has been kinder to them recently.

Do you like Gwen Stefani? Erm, not particularly. Some songs of her I like, but I’m not a passionate fan.

Do you know anybody with a thick Jamaican accent? No.

Are you closer to your mom’s side of the family or your dad’s? Mom’s. Aside from being able to see them more often, our humor is also similar.

Have you ever been to a haunted house? I’ve stared at one, but never gone inside haha.

Yes or no: red eyeliner? Do whatever you want with your face and makeup, man.

Yes or no: red lipstick? ^ Still applies.

Would you ever own a pet black widow spider? No.

Do you wear holiday themed clothing? I don’t think I own any, so no.

At 6:00 tomorrow night where do you think you’ll be? On my way home, or preparing to head home, I hope.

Is it night or day right now? Evening.

What time did you get up today? Like 5:30. I fell asleep on the rooftop and got to see the pretty sunrise and the sky gradually change colors :)

#survey #surveys

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cherishtaengs · 4 years

Text

New Year

Pairing: Taeyang x Reader (Y/N)

Warnings: None

—

[10:40 pm]

You take another glance at your phone, greeted with your lock screen and the time in bright, white numbers. No text, no call, blank notification screen. Just like all the other times you'd checked.

For the past half hour, you'd been sitting in the park, shivering through your jacket and wool sweater. Snow fell lightly around you, dusting the ground and melting to tiny droplets on your cheeks. You didn't know how much longer you could wait; the crisp wind was driving the cold deep into your bones through any opening it could find in your layers of clothing. Even though it was late, the city was bustling with nightlife. People laughed and strolled through the park, enjoying each other's company on a white New Year's Eve.

You sighed.

Taeyang was supposed to meet you at the park at 10:30, and you'd even gotten there early. Both of you had wanted to spend the last night of the year together, and the date had been planned a week in advance. But he hadn't shown up, hadn't even called or texted to let you know he'd be late.

A minute later, you pulled your phone out again, knowing there was no point in doing so and being met with the same empty notification screen. Leaning back, you watched the small flecks of snow drift down from grey clouds. They seemed to be in no hurry to fall to the ground, they just fluttered ever so gently in the brisk air.

Maybe you'd wait a little longer.

[11:05]

Your phone buzzed its two, quick notes, drawing your attention to a new text. Heart jumping in your chest, you unlock your phone- but quickly sank back against your seat.

TY: Hey

TY: Something really last minute came up, sorry I didn't text earlier

TY: I'm really really sorry I can't come tonight :(

Your pulse started racing, anger and irritation bubbling up right under your skin. You couldn't believe it- the absolute nerve of him to make you wait for nearly an hour, just to cancel on you last minute! And with the worst explanation, too. You were used to Taeyang being forgetful and sometimes being late to dates, but he was never the type to stand you up when it came to more important things. Hell, you'd passed on spending the night with your closest friends just to be with Taeyang. And now he was telling you he couldn't make it? You silently seethed, blood rushing hot to your face.

You: Ok. I'm going home.

You: See you later.

You hoped that he'd catch on to how upset you were- he'd have to be a rock to not realize that you'd be angry. But right then, you just wanted to get out of the cold and back into the warm comfort of your apartment. Maybe you could make some hot chocolate and watch a movie or something and get a good night's sleep. You'd figure out your thoughts in the morning.

Stuffing your phone into your coat pocket, you pushed yourself off the bench and made your way through the park, out into the street. If you hurried, you could probably catch the next bus that would take you right to your street. It was usually a short ride home, you lived about 10 minutes away by bus, but you knew the traffic would slow you down. Making sure you didn't slip, you half-run, half-walk to the bus station, reaching it right as the bus pulled up, sides decorated with lights to celebrate the new year. You pulled yourself into the bus, relieved that it was relatively empty. Only a handful of other passengers were riding tonight, scattered in different window seats.

Dropping yourself into the seat closest to the door, you cross your arms across your chest and ignore the two short vibrations coming from your pocket.

[11:35]

Yours was the fourth stop and since everyone else had gotten off before you, you'd been left on the bus alone. You were starting to sense a pattern tonight.

There was even a stark difference between your apartment and your neighbors'; nearly everyone else had their lights on, shadows moving behind their curtains. But your windows were dark, no sign of life for the night. You'd been trying to hold it back, but the disappointment and sadness came creeping back up on you.

On any other day, you'd be understanding if Taeyang had cancelled last minute- you were sure he'd find a way to make it up to you, because he was sweet like that. If he thought he'd made you even the slightest bit upset, he would make sure to talk to you face-to-face and clear things up. So this kind of flakey behavior was unexpected, but if it was any other day you knew you would have forgiven him. But tonight? New Year's Eve? When you had this planned for days?

He'd have some serious explaining to do whenever you felt like texting him next.

Brushing the powdery snow off your coat, you turn your key in the lock and push open the door, greeted by more silence and darkness. Sighing, you kick off your shoes and throw your coat onto the back of your couch. You didn't even bother to turn on the lights, just dropped yourself on the couch to clear your mind. You sat there for some time, restless and agitated. Sulking on the couch wasn't helping, so you went to the fridge to get milk for hot chocolate. When you opened the fridge, something small fluttered to the floor.

Startled, you stepped back, bending to get a better view of what fell. In the golden light of the fridge, you saw that it was a piece of paper folded in a square. You didn't remember leaving a note for yourself before leaving.

Unfolding the paper, you read what was on it: Hot chocolate?

Sucking in a breath, you realized what was going on. You crumple up the paper and march out of the kitchen, slamming the fridge door shut.

"Yoo Taeyang," you shout, crossing your arms and planting yourself in the hallway. "Get out here right now!"

No one came out of anywhere, but you did hear the tell-tale sound of socked feet shuffling in your room. Taeyang was never very good at hiding or staying quiet when he had to.

"Taeyang, I'm serious," You roll your eyes and walk to the door of your room, waiting outside it. "I'm not in the mood."

Whatever he was planning, you wanted none of it. You weren't the least bit happy with him tonight, and you mentally prepared yourself for that goofy smile you knew he would give you.

Turning the doorknob, you throw open the door and sigh in exasperation, seemingly for the hundredth time tonight. "Taeyang, please."

You didn't know what you expected to see when you opened the door to your room, but what you actually did see was not it.

There was nothing. Well, everything in your room was still there, but there wasn't anything else. That was it. And for some reason, something in your heart dropped into the pit of your stomach. You supposed a part of you was hoping that he had tried to make it up to you, and had prepared something extra special. But of course not. Tonight was just a big disappointment.

"Taeyang, where are you," You called into the dark room, looking around, hiding the disappointment you felt. "We need to talk."

You heard the hushed sliding of the door to your balcony and his voice followed, soft and slightly nervous. "Yeah, I guess we do."

You turned to face him and saw his apologetic expression, exactly what you braced yourself for. It wouldn't work this time, not unless he gave you a serious explanation. He tipped his head, gesturing for you to join him. The clock on your table read 11:50, and you met him on the small balcony. The wind was biting, and you were glad you left your sweater on.

"Hot chocolate?" Taeyang asked, holding out a mug of still hot drink. He had set up a small table outside, with two chairs. But that was it. You take the mug and sit down before he offered a seat.

"Why'd you stand me up today," you wanted to get straight to the point.

Taeyang, however, leaned back in his chair across from you and took a sip of his hot chocolate, taking his time to gaze over the rooftops in front of him. "The view is great from up here, right. Especially when it snows, don't you think?"

You stare at him, not believing what you were hearing. He was ignoring your question, and he only did that when there was something he didn't want to tell you. "Taeyang, stop it. Or I'm going back inside."

Taeyang glanced at you from the top of his cup, brown eyes glittering with the reflection of scattered lights. When he set it down and the soft smile returned to his lips, you had to remind yourself you were mad.

"Ok," he leaned his chin on his hand, looking at you intently. There was a suspicious look in his eyes, a funny lift to his eyebrows that you couldn't quite place. "I'm sorry I didn't show up today."

A crisp gust of wind blew, chilling you through your thick sweater, sending a shiver down your body. You wrapped your hands around the warm cup, welcome heat spreading to your palms. "What was the emergency?"

Taeyang cast his gaze down to his hands, resting on the table top. You noticed he was fidgeting with a loose string on the sleeve of his sweater. He took another moment to answer, talking anxiously. "Well, there was something I had to do. It wouldn't have been right if I didn't do it tonight. I knew you'd understand."

He... knew you'd understand? He just assumed that you would be okay with waiting alone in the park, in the freezing cold, for almost an hour? This just had to be the icing on today's horrible cake.

"Well, you know what," you shake your head, fighting to keep your voice calm. "I don't. I don't understand."

Taeyang only stared back at you, biting his lower lip. The gleam faded from his widened eyes and his brows were furrowed in worry. He genuinely looked innocent right then, but you weren't going to be swayed by a few cute expressions.

You continued, anger and frustration seeping into every word you said. "We planned this two weeks ahead! If you knew you wouldn't have been able to make it tonight, you could have told me earlier! I would've been fine if you'd even told me this morning, or this afternoon. But, I told my friends I'd be spending the night with you instead of them, and I was actually looking forward to being with you, but I guess you had other plans? Why didn't you just tell-"

In one swift motion, Taeyang had stood up and leaned over the table to press his soft lips to yours. When he pulled back, the apologetic smile was back on his face and you wished it would either stay there or go away. In the moment's pause where you caught your breath, you saw the faint sparkle of snowflakes resting on strands of his dark hair and eyelashes, light puffs of breath disappearing between you two. You forgot the cold, warmth spreading from your lips across your face.

"I knew you'd be mad at me," Taeyang sighed, finally sitting back down. "And I really didn't want to do that to you. But, ironically, I did it for you. The emergency was for you. Or, you were the emergency- Well, I'm not sure how to phrase that, but I'm serious. I really am sorry, but I had to."

You recovered from the shock of the kiss, twice as angry as before. Abruptly, you stood up, pushing the chair back with a screech. "I don't know what you're talking about, and clearly you don't either. So come talk to me when you've worked out an excuse that makes sense."

You turned to go, but of course before you could make it through the door you felt Taeyang's hand wrap around yours. "It's 11:56. I have an excuse, and I think it's a good one."

He dropped his hand and waited for you to turn around. You did, arms crossed and eyebrow raised, mouth twisted in a frown. "Well?"

That nervous look fell across his face again, and he picked at the string on his sleeve, fingers clamped down on the cuff. "Do you remember when we first met? It was tonight. No, I mean, it was New Years Eve, but two years ago. You were walking out of that bar with your friends-"

Of course you remembered that. You remembered the way the two of you had ran right into each other, and Taeyang had spilled his coffee on your jacket. He'd gotten so red, so flustered, and his friends were between laughing at him and apologizing to you when he just stood there, sputtering like a goldfish. You both knew of each other, you were in a few of the same classes in college, but you'd never spoken before then. You'd felt bad after seeing how embarrassed he'd been and told him it was okay, you could wash the jacket at home. But he insisted you'd take his coat instead and he'd wash yours for you, it was the least he could do.

You weren't exactly sure why he offered to do that- after all, the two of you weren't close in any way. But he insisted, and that was how you went home in his too large, but warm, coat, and he went home shivering with your jacket and no coffee. It gave you both an excuse to see each other again. And again, and again.

You'd never forget that night, and that was exactly why you'd really wanted to be with him this New Year's Eve. But he'd ruined it.

Taeyang continued, eyes focused on yours. "And at some point after we became friends, I promised you I'd learn a magic trick for you because you said you thought that one magician we saw on the street was cool. Do you remember that?"

No, actually, you didn't remember that at all.

"I've made a whole lot of other promises to you since we starting dating, and I'd like to think I've kept them all. Well, except tonight, but in my defense we are together right now and I swear it was for a good cause."

You honestly had no idea what he was trying to say to you, but you decided to let him keep talking. The way his cheeks flushed pink and the tips of his ears got red was cute.

He stopped pulling at the loose string and reached for your hand.

"I learned that magic trick I promised you I'd learn," he lifted his other hand, with the fingers tight around the cuff, to your ears. "Not sure if it's going to work out right but, here it is."

You assumed he was going to pull something out from behind your ear, and that made you impatient. All of this for a dumb trick? Did he think this was all a joke?

Before your thoughts could rant any more, Taeyang pushed back your hair and brushed his fingers behind your ear. But instead of producing something, you heard something fall to the ground and Taeyang whispered a curse.

"Seriously, Taeyang," you rolled your eyes as he dropped to the floor to pick up whatever it was that fell. "I'm going to bed."

"No no no," He grabbed for you again, this time holding tight. "It's almost time. And I want you to have this."

Biting his lip, Taeyang held up what he dropped. It was a small box, velveteen and black. You flicked your eyes up to him, wide and confused. "What is it?"

Taeyang exhaled sharply, a cloud escaping from his lips and vanishing just as quickly. "I'm sorry for breaking tonight's promise. I really am. But I've had this moment planned for two weeks, too. After all of those promises I've made to you over the years, I want to make another. One I'll make a priority to keep."

He pushed the top of the box open, and what was inside stole your breath in the best way.

It was a silver ring, thin and polished, with a single twist lined with small, sparkling diamonds. A promise ring.

"What-" you didn't have the words to finish your question, so you just let it hang in the cold air.

"You mean the world to me," Taeyang whispered. "And I'm sorry for all the times I've hurt you, in any way. This is my way of promising that I'll never leave you alone again. You can be mad at me if you want, but just let me have this little victory tonight?"

You stare at the ring, unsure if you should laugh or cry. If this was what he was planning for all of today... you knew it was unfair of him to have not warned you he'd be late ahead of time, but now you knew there was a reason behind it. He meant well, he always did.

You heard the neighbor's music die down, a quick moment of silence falling across the entire complex. It didn't last for long; the countdown was starting.

"10, 9, 8-"

You grinned up at Taeyang, and he took the ring out of its cushion, an expectant glimmer in his eyes.

"7, 6, 5-"

"Well, put it on me!" You held up your left hand, smile widening as a fluttering filled your chest and stomach. Laughing, Taeyang slipped the ring onto your finger.

"3, 2, 1-"

Throwing your arms around his neck, you pull Taeyang down for a kiss, embracing his warmth all around you. Taeyang wrapped one arm around your waist, holding you close. With the other, he held the back of your neck, brushing your cheek softly. He smiled into the kiss, pulling back slightly.

"Are you still mad at me?" He asked, the hint of a mischievous pout clear in his voice.

"Hmm," you pretended to give it some thought. "Yes. But not as much as before."

At that, he laughed and despite yourself, so did you.

Maybe tonight wasn't such a disappointment after all.

#fantasylibrary #sf9 #kpop #sf9 au #sf9 taeyang #sf9 youngbin #sf9 inseong #sf9 jaeyoon #sf9 dawon #sf9 rowoon #sf9 juho #sf9 zuho #sf9 hwiyoung #sf9 chani

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rosepetals-flyingbirds · 5 years

Text

Litet-vis-maðr.

With: Biker!Ivar Ragnarson x Reader.

Warning: Language… only that?

Word Count: 2,662.

An unbearable loud noise woke you from your sweet nap. It was midday and since you weren’t feeling good your boss gave you a couple of extra hours on lunch break so you went home to try some rest.

The sound was one you grew accustomed too well. Your neighbor was Siggurd Ragnarson, but he wasn’t the problem. No.

It was his family, his brothers and their terrible motorcycles. But one of them always itched you the most: Ivar.

He was flirt in person if flirt was a person. He couldn’t see you without gazing and give you his signed smirk.

You wouldn’t spend your deserved break awake because of them. Feeling brave enough you got to your feet and walked to the small fence.

The Ragnarson’s were on their bikes and just one of them was on, the one making the annoying noise, Ivar’s.

“Y/N what an honor to see.”

“Well, some people work! Can you please stop with that? I’m not really good today and I need some sleep.” Ivar looked at Hvitserk and shook his head.

“No can do, princess. We are trying some new breakers.”

“Can’t you try at your house? You don’t live here.”

“So you know where I live now?” He teased.

“Siggurd!” You yelled and Siggurd appeared in the place holding a few beers.

“I’m trying Y/N/N, but Ivar likes the attention.”

You tried one more time more calmly, even though your head was bumping. “Ivar, please.”

Ivar turned it down and you got worried for a moment, he actually listened to you?

You walked back to your house and laid down, only to hear the stupid sound again. “Ivar.” You yelled and ran to your door. “For fuck sakes, I swear!”

Then you saw all of them leaving on their bikes.

Thanks to Ivar you lost all your will to sleep.

…

Back at your work you ended your shift around 8 P.M and walked home holding your bag near your chest. Since your job was close to your house you hadn’t brought your car and decided to walk instead.

In the middle of the path you heard the noise and squeezed your eyes praying to not be the Ragnarson you were expecting.

But it was.

“Feeling better, princess?” Ivar asked and stood on his bike howling it on the smaller speed.

There it was, the annoying nickname. “Can you quit calling me princess?”

“But is that what you are.”

You stopped your steps and glared at him. “Ivar I’m not in the best mood today. So please, back off.”

He turned the bike off and ran to your reach. “Right I’m sorry.” He reached you but you kept walking. “Listen I’m trying to apologize. Siggurd said he saw you awake late yesterday and how tired you walked back to work. I don’t want to be the reason your tiredness get worse.” He moved to your front and blocked your movements. Scoffing you stopped and gave him your full attention. “Thank you. Now how about I take you to eat something? On me of course.”

“Ivar stop trying to get me, listen you’re all pretty and everything but I’m not another name on your list! Go look for that Margaret bitch your brothers used to share.”

“First is Margret and second,” You rolled your eyes at his attempt to correct her name and pushed him regaining your steps. “Okay okay. Look I’m trying to be nice.” He defended.

“No! You’re trying to get on my pants.” He rolled his eyes. “I don’t blame you, you are a guy, your male necessity to feel on top of the food chain and all that shit-”

He grunted. “Why is so hard to believe I like you?”

You laughed. “Ivar, you are a guy, trust me I’m already tired of all the illusion.”

“Go eat with me, a pizza. Then I’ll back off.” You looked deep into his blue eyes.

After a few seconds, you nodded. “Fine! But you are paying!”

You hopped on the bike and Ivar drove you to the best Pizzeria in the town.

In there you sat in the further secluded booth trying to avoid any possible lousy girl that has eyes for the Ragnarson’s.

You two sat facing each other. “So,” He started shyly and you just watched his moves, normally he was annoying the life out of you and then he was nervous?

“So what? Come on Ivar you annoy me all the time.”

“Maybe I don’t want it to be the first and last time we hang out.” You rolled your eyes and started to get on your feet but he laughed and grabbed your wrist. “Please stay. I just can’t believe you here.” He said and his beautiful smile was melting your heart. “Tell me how was your day.” He waved to the waitress and she brought sodas and gave the menu, she spent way too much time watching Ivar’s charming persona before looking you up and down and walking away.

You let it pass and shrugged. “Nothing much, I was feeling bad so I went home earlier, but you know my neighbor’s younger brother is a pain in the ass and didn’t let me sleep.”

“Younger brother, uh? Sounds hot.”

“He likes to think so, but out of his four older brothers he doesn’t look that appealing.”

“Hey!” He shouted smiling. “I’m by far the prettiest,” He said way too surely and you just titled your head smiling at his reactions. He grabbed the drinkings straws and placed inside his mouth under his upper lip making him look like a mammoth. “And the more charming.” His voice became less raspy because of the situation and you couldn’t stop laughing at the vision.

He took it off and looked at every trace of your face. “I made Y/N Y/L/N laugh. I need an award.” He said truly happy.

You nodded your head and enjoyed the sweet atmosphere. He called the waitress back and asked the pizza after arguing with you saying that pineapple pizza wasn’t a real pizza.

The pizza came and you two ate it in silence, you were glancing at his tattoo and wondered about it, by the name Ragnarson you knew where his origins were from, and all of his brothers had the same tattoo in the same spot. “What is the tattoo about?”

He cleaned his mouth with a napkin and turned his palm to be able to see the written. “It was a runic inscription found in the Oseberg ship grave litet-vis-maðr. The owner of the ship was my great-grandfather and all my relatives have that tattoo.”

“That is nice, having something so meaningful and sharing with family, I wonder how would that be.” You smiled at the thought. “What it means?” You drank your soda and Ivar chewed the last piece of pizza for explaining.

“The meaning is debated but generally translated as “man knows little”. It shows us how we are basic down here, that it doesn’t matter how much money or power you think you have, we are just ignorant humans.“

It was really touchy. “Wow, I didn’t know you guys were that philosophical.”

“Yeah.” He shrugged and finished his slices.

The conversation ceased but oddly you didn’t want to. “So how Siggurd know I was awake until the late hours yesterday and how I looked after you left? Did you ask him to spy me?”

He snorted. “Please. If I wanted to spy on you I would do it myself.”

“Good to know, because that doesn’t sound creepy at all.”

He laughed again. “I don’t know I guess he was working on his new music with his stupid band and maybe saw your bedroom’s light on.” It made sense, Siggurd had a band and he was actually really talented, but he didn’t look like the nosy type.

“So you ask about me uh?”

He could defend himself but he always flirted with you so it wasn’t something new. “Maybe.”

You looked around the place and didn’t remember ht last time you went there, you spotted the waitress again and she was literally biting her lip looking at Ivar. “You know, I’m liking all of this.” You moved your hand mentioning the two of you. “But I guess Mrs.RedLips over there are really into you.” He darted his eyes to the young lady and smiled at her. “I can leave if you want me to.” You said pissed.

Ivar chuckled. “Jealous now?”

“Dear Ivar, do whatever you want to do. Just please don’t appear on your brother’s house tomorrow because is my day off and I want to sleep!” You pointed. “Actually if you make me the biggest favor asking your brothers to not go there whether I would love you.”

“You wouldn’t handle loving me.”

“Me? Ivar I can handle anything.” You teased and he asked for the bill.

“How about a ride?” He offered. “We jump on the bike and drive around.”

“If you try anything, just know that I can protect myself and I won’t hesitate to kick your balls.”

Ivar titled his head. “Baby keep talking dirty to me.”

You laughed heartily. “No, please don’t say that!” He laughed too and the waitress literally throws the bill on the table. Ivar shook his head and grabbed the money to pay, you let him. You could split it but Ivar said he wanted to pay and it was his idea after all.

In his motorbike he handed you his helmet. “I won’t use it knowing you can open your head.”

He rolled his eyes. “Y/N why do you make everything more difficult?”

“Look Ivar, thank you but it would be better for me to go home.” You crossed your arms and gave him a small smile.

He cut. “No, listen we can to your house and then you let your purse there and put something warmer and I grab another helmet with Siggurd, sounds good?”

“Why you want that so much? Is a bet or something?”

He took a deep breath. “Woman, you are the most unrealistically complicated person I had ever met. And you know Sigurd is my brother.”

“If it’s I won’t blame you, just tell me already because of I’m tired and way too older to this teenager stuff.” You said with no emotion.

“Is not, I swear.” He answered sincerely.

You thought about his proposal and nodded. “Then okay.” He smiled feeling happy he accomplished another small victory.

…

In your house, you took a quick shower and chose some jeans, long sleeve shirt and a jacket.

When you walked into the front yard Ivar was already sat holding the helmets. You grabbed one of them and hugged his midsection while he drove fast. You loved the feeling but he surely didn’t fear to die.

He stopped in front of a garage and you reminded him of your defense classes.

He just laughed and opened the big door. It had a few motorcycles both fixed and pieces waiting to be put together. A few old car’s seats making a different armchair style.

A couple of cars, probably something they had been working on and of course some motorcyckes. The place was cozier and bigger than you would expect. “What is that?”

“Our garage, you didn’t believe we would fix the motorcycles on Siggurd’s front yard right?” He pointed and took a few things out of one of the chairs.

“Sometimes I do.” You pointed. “That is so cool.” You couldn’t stop looking at the place, it was mainly vintage, you could easily spot all the Ragnarsons sitting around the place covered in grease working on their loved motorcycles. “So tell me, here is where all of you bring your victims?”

Ivar laughed, fully knowing you meant girls. “Nah, girls don’t like those sort of things. Our uncle has a club and well chicks dig there better.”

You laughed but your eyes were still wondering about the place. “Well, it makes sense.” You saw something craved on the door and saw it was the same runic phrase they had. “Okay, this is like the coolest place ever.”

“Seriously? I thought you didn’t like those things.”

“You’re kidding? Of course I do. I just hate how you and your brothers adore driving around while I’m trying to sleep.” You defended.

“I give you that.”

You looked at the uncountable tools it has over there. “Do you know how to use all of this?”

“I guess my father would disclose me if I didn’t.” He answered and you smirked at the absurdity.

Ivar asked why and you answered that your car has an annoying sound and you can never fix it.

Then Ivar opened a car’s hood of the one that embellished the place and said he would help you.

You tried to follow his instruction and all that he explained, when you realized your hand was all dirty just as your t-shirt. “This is easily the dumbest thing you could have put me to do.”

“No come on, look we do this and this.” He mentioned and you saved the information for later.

You looked at your hand and at him. “Ivar what is the point of teaching me if my car isn’t here?”

“Not everything is practice Y/N.” You giggled and he looked at you wondered if you had lost your mind. “What?”

“Sorry, is just. Not everything is practice could easily be your sextape name.” You kept laughing and tried to place your hand on your lips to control your loud laughs but then your hand was all dirty with grease.

Ivar laughed and said that karma came to bit you in the ass.

He gave you the cloth and you cleaned the most you could.

You two talked a few more and he told his childhood stories and you told yours, he offered a beer but you avoided and didn’t let him drink either, he was driving you home after all.

The hours passed rather quickly and you asked him to take you home, you really liked the time but you couldn’t let yourself fall for one Ragnarson, especially Ivar.

He didn’t try anything and it was comforting somehow.

…

In your front yard you thanked for the pizza and for the teaching, he agreed and asked you to give the helmet back to his brother.

The place became silent so you just said goodbye again and started to walk back. “Y/N.” He called. “What about I come back tomorrow or any other day and we can fix your car. I mean really fix it.”

“Goodnight, Ivar.” You answered and grabbed your keys unlocking the door.

“Come on, I need to change the name of my sex tape.” He yelled and you started out laugh, the old lady that lived in front of your house shook her head at Ivar’s words and it made you laugh even more. “Please.”

“I will text you.” You answered entering your house and held the knob in your hand.

He smiled but frowned. “Wait, you don’t have my number.”

“Your brother is my neighbor I will find a way.” You winked and his smiling face was the last thing you saw before you closed the door.

Ivar turned the ignition of his motorcycle on and you heard him leaving the street.

You bit your lower lip and shook your head thinking about the night.

The annoying Ragnarson wasn’t so bad after all.

…

#ivar x reader #modern!ivar x reader #ivar the boneless x reader #biker boyfriend

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itsomgitsgreenblogging · 4 years

Text

Pour Over Me: A Critical Role Fanfic, chapter 2

I finally have gotten this done...and I realized that I would need to split the actual chapter into two. So next chapter will be the last chapter! As always, I'd like to thank the Essek server! You guys rock.

I hope you all enjoy!

Read first chapter on Tumblr

Read on AO3

Preview:

He turned his head, moving out of the shade for just a single moment. Caleb was utterly radiant. In the sunlight, Caleb’s hair was fire, an even more vivid shade than Essek had realized. And his eyes were the color of the sky. A shade of blue that was almost impossible to replicate and yet by some magic it was here in his gaze.

When you tear my heart out of my chest, will you at least cherish it? Essek's thought in a strange daze. Will you kiss me, before you devour it whole?

Essek stood in the ballroom, as the Mighty Nein filtered in joking and laughing as usual. He thought his mask was meticulous as always---his smile so practiced that it was a natural feature of his face like the two moons in the sky. But Caduceus immediately frowned at the sight of him, and Jester cast him a worried furrowed look.

“Is everything alright, Mr. Essek?” Caduceus asked, the concern in his voice tugging at some of the heartstrings that Essek couldn’t believe he still had. He had sworn he had cut them all a while ago, and yet, somehow he was still in this situation.

“Yes, of course,” Essek said breezily, clasping his fingers in front of him. “A second tutor has been provided to aid me in your instruction. We shall wait for her before beginning today, she should be here momentarily."

“Are they...someone we need to take care of?” Beauregard asked him, her voice low and eyes narrowed. “Do we need to fuck someone up? Is that something we have to do at the ball?”

“No, it is not required nor is that a function of the ceremony,” Essek assured her. “She--”

“Essek!”

At that moment, Adore made her appearance. Essek wished beyond all wishes that he could push her out an open window. If he weren’t so annoyed, he would have been impressed. She was all red draped silk, cinched waist, and a slit that was very nearly scandalous...the exact kind of thing that suited her best and it made Essek want to strangle her. She ran her fingers through her fur, before pulling it off in a perfectly calculated motion that was meant to reveal with golden-shimmer of her pale white shoulders. Her tail swayed, like a too pleased predator about to pounce on her prey.

“Introduce me, Essek,” Adore demanded, voice lush and like the whisper of desire tossing her furs at a neighbor servant who looked dazed and confused.

“Mighty Nein,” Essek said, perfectly pleasant. “Lady Adore Theylss.”

“Essek’s elder sister,” Adore added, holding out her hand. “It is truly a pleasure to meet all of you. I have heard so much about you, despite my little brother’s penchant for secrets.”

“My name is Fjord, it’s a pleasure,” Fjord introduced, taking her hand and kissing it. Adore looked at him through her heavy golden lashes.

“Caduceus Clay,” Caduceus said, introduction pleasant but reserved. He didn’t move to take her hand, but he smiled.

“I’m Jester!” She introduced with an excited wave.

“Nott,” Nott said, uncharacteristically morose and with her arms crossed in front of her chest. She looked like she itched to pull her crossbow, and Essek couldn’t blame her.

“Yasha,” said the barbarian, softly, inspecting Adore as if she were a strange rare being that was meant to be approached with caution.

“I’m Beau,” Beau introduced brashly, pushing slightly in front of Caduceus, also kissing Adore’s hand.

“Caleb Widogast,” he introduced, his blue eyes raking over Adore’s face quickly, with an expression that Essek couldn’t even begin to categorize. Thankfully, it wasn’t desire. Essek didn’t think he would be able to take that. Instead, it was a cool neutral mask.

"It is a pleasure to meet you," Adore crooned. “To meet all of you. Fjord, would you mind giving me a hand for a moment--”

"Your sister is fucking hot," Beau hissed at Essek as Adore and Fjord walked to the side to move a table. "I'm sorry, is that weird? Did I say something weird because holy shit. Could she step on me?"

"Yes, it is weird," Essek said, resigned.

"You are hotter," Jester tried to soothe, her stage whisper not subtle in any way and Essek prayed that Adore was too caught up with introducing herself further to Fjord that she wouldn't notice. "Like you are really really pretty Essek."

"And-everyone-thinks-so-right-Caleb?" Nott asked her words a jumble of syllables. Caleb looked up from petting Frumpkin with startled and wide eyes.

"I--uh--"

"I am afraid I am very used to this," Essek said, cutting him off. He didn't think he could bear to hear the answer either way. "Adore! Let us not dally any longer.”

“Of course, of course,” Adore said as she clapped her hands together. “Now, I would like to see how far you’ve all progressed. Partner up please.”

The Mighty Nein got in their usual pairs, except for Caleb, who looked at Essek expectantly. Essek opened his mouth--to say something, anything really when immediately Adore saw him. Essek’s hand remained frozen by his side. He was caught in her trap, and they both knew it.

“Ah, I see there is one left over. Would you mind?” Adore asked Caleb, her expression a mask of politeness. But there was just the flick of her gaze to Essek, the smugness of that flash, and it made his guts churn violently.

“Of course not,” Caleb said softly.

“Very well then,” Adore said, taking his hand with her bare fingers delicately with a sort of ease that had Essek burning. Her body pressed against Caleb’s in ways Essek’s did not. Adore was a beautiful dancer, beyond graceful and refined. But she was daring too, in the way she arched and moved into Caleb like an unrepented wave--

Stop it, Essek demanded of himself. Stop looking. This is what she wants. She wants you to be affected, to be angry. She wants you to act out irrationally so she can report back to Mother. This is the most obvious hand she could play and you are playing right into it, you are better than this petty game.

But what if she was what he preferred? Though Essek was not attracted to female beauty and she was his sister above all else, Essek knew rationally that Adore was a beautiful woman. It didn’t take a genius to figure out how she so easily courted favor wherever she went. Her color made her rare and striking, her voice was warm and dripping with sublime elegance. Growing up, Essek had been drilled on manners, cut his teeth on High Undercommon, had to practice noble protocol and table manners and conversation. Adore had sailed through it all with relative ease, as if she had been born to rub shoulders and steal hearts.

What if she was what Caleb wanted? The thought was there as Adore coached them into a dip. Their faces were close. Close enough to bite or to kiss. And he may want to kiss her. Perhaps Caleb didn't like men at all. He had been tense when they danced together after all. Essek had to have been projecting his own unruly...feelings (but not even feelings these had to just be urges or instincts) onto Caleb. He should have just been happy with being...companionable. Caleb had called him a friend, but--

“Very good, Mr. Widogast,” Adore said, her voice a purr. Her touch lingered upon upon his shoulder a moment too long, trailing down suggestively. “I can see my brother has not stinted on your education."

I'm going to kill her, Essek thought decisively.

"The Shadowhand is a patient and thorough teacher," Caleb said simply. Not pulling away, nor moving closer to Adore. His face was a neutral mask--not indifferent, but not the desperate sort of hunger Adore tended to inspire. Adore smiled at him, a slanting sort of half-smirk tossed in his direction.

"I'm sure you need that, don't you?" Adore laughed airily. "A thorough teacher, that is?"

"Adore, I shall remind you not to ignore the other students. It isn't like you to pick favorites," Essek said with a smile that felt like scraping nails against his skin.

"Ah, but of course," Adore hummed, and her gaze met Essek's.

I see you, it said. I see you the same way I always have. You are Mother's pet, her little mutt she brought in off the streets with your wayward father, her possession. You are dispensable and we all know it. Disagree, I dare you.

It made Essek want to crawl out of his own skin.

They both took the Mighty Nein through the flourishes and quick turns. Adore took particular note to dance with Caleb, Beau, and Fjord. The three targets, Essek knew. The three she believed she could manipulate. He knew rationally that she would most likely be sorely disappointed, but the old fear was there and it was strong. Strong enough that when it was his turn to dance with Jester, she gave his hand a supportive squeeze.

"I don't think I like her," Jester grumbled as they danced together, eyes on the pair of Beau and Adore dancing. They cut a striking pair across the ballroom floor.

"If I may tell you a secret?" Essek said, leaning in closer. "I don't either."

"I can cut holes in her pants," Jester offered, with a mischievous smile. “If you want. Or I can send her scary messages! Beau doesn’t want me to do that with her dad but I could totally do it for you.”

"If anything, she would like that," Essek promised. Jester humphed like she was the long suffering heroine of some tragedy. This was something Essek admired in her; her disarming charm was nearly a lethal weapon. He wondered what it was like...to be so universally adored. Was it easy for her? Essek wouldn’t know. He often felt like he was drowning when everyone else appeared fine.

"She doesn't treat you kindly," Jester said, as her brows furrowed and lips pouting. "And that's like, super duper mean. If she's your family she ought to treat you better!"

"We have a...complicated relationship," Essek explained. "And I'm afraid I've done enough to deserve it."

"You are nice, Essek," Jester said as if it were the most obvious fact in the universe. “I don’t think you have done something to deserve someone being mean to you, unless you used to be a really bad guy. Were you a bad guy, did you do crimes Essek?”

“As I’ve told you, I’m not very interesting,” Essek said with a shake of his head before adding an extra spin. Jester smiled widely and warmly as she giggled. Essek could see how easy it was for someone to fall in love with her. Jester was beautiful, soft and rounded. She exuded a sort of childlike innocence and a whole-hearted love that was easy to sink into. He wondered, perhaps, if this was what Caleb desired? An innocent and pure love, that tasted of melting sweets and was perfumed with lavender. This Essek could understand.

Not yours, Essek thought as he looked at Caleb yet again. He was dancing with Nott now, smiling at her easily. Never yours.

“I’ll tell you a secret,” Jester said, nearly pushing her lips to his ear, like a gentle sisterly kiss. “Caleb thinks you are nice too.”

On that note they separated. Essek bowed, while Jester curtsied. Essek felt Caleb’s eyes on his neck, but didn’t turn around to look. There was only so much of this game he could take after all.

----

The table was set, filled with a dizzying array of food. The servants of the Theylss Den had to have been up all night preparing the feast. From roast fish to caviar-stuff mushrooms, the courses were brought out with all the pomp and circumstance that was befitting of the Den. There were Ladhinder snails with garlic butter and seasonal tubers and roasted squash on beautiful printed plates. Elegant soups to be served with spoons that had handles like creeping vines. All of it had been prepared by a critical eye, and served on the best silverware and porcelain that the den was in possession of and was probably worth what the average citizen made in two years. His mother waved her hand, and a servant quickly worked to fill her plate as she watched from the rim of her wine glass with a disapproving glower.

“Thank you,” Essek said to the servant girl as she placed his plate down.

“Of course, Lord Shadowhand,” the servant girl said with a relieved smile. She curtsied before disappearing back into the kitchen.

“You sweet on that one then, Essek?” Rylas asked him, eyebrow raised. As the Denfather, he was sitting beside Mother. He rubbed his chin thoughtfully, as if deep in thought.

“Of course he isn’t sweet on that one, Father,” Drari scoffed, the half-orc rolling his eyes.

“I am merely thanking the servants,” Essek said, taking his napkin and spreading it upon his lap.

“Why, so they can whisper to your little shadows?” Drari asked, stabbing a slab of meat with his fork. Probably imagining Essek’s face. Essek fought to remain polite and distant. .

“Of course,” Essek said with a polite nod. "It always pays to make nice."

"You don't make nice," Drari scoffed, a vein jumping at his neck.

"As far as I'm aware, your fiance kept their job, regardless of their ability to keep books from suddenly hemorrhaging coin--"

"In spite of you…!"

"Children," Mother said, voice cold and demanding. "Your bickering is giving me a headache. Adore, tell me, how did the lesson go?"

Essek resisted the urge to grab something and tear it apart with his hands. Adore, however, preened as if she were being called to go on stage.

"Very well, Mother. The heroes are so very interesting. Different than the tales, but I could spin a hundred songs from just one afternoon," Adore said with a dreamy sigh. "Especially about the pretty human wizard? What was his name? Mr. Widogast? Isn't that right, Essek?"

Essek didn't validate her words with a response. Instead just looked ahead, ignoring the stares from every person at the table that he was receiving. The servants, ducked into the shadows, all looked at him with a understanding sadness that nearly soaked into the walls like a cold rain. He knew all of their names, and their families. And he was finding it easier to focus on them then on what was happening at the table.

"Was he very pretty, my love?" Adore's husband, a dragonborn named Kan'el asked. He took her hand and kissed it, and she grinned conspiratorially at him.

"Oh, very! Most of them were absolutely scrumptious. I can see why Essek tries to keep them to himself."

Essek focused on his breath, on the sensation of his lungs and ribs expanding. Not on this. Not this--

"Tell me something, Essek," Adore demanded, eyes sliding over to him. "When you spread your legs like a common whore for that wizard, is he at least halfway decent? Or do you just let him rut into you like an animal?"

"Stop it," Essek snarled, slamming his hands down on the table. "Say another word, I dare you."

The table was deadly quiet for the span of a breath. The servants scurried into the kitchens and ducked into hallways, away from the oncoming storm. It was wise of them, no doubt.

"Wait...no," Adore gasped clasping her hands together, studying his face with a growing expression of glee. "You haven't, have you? You haven't bedded him then? Oh, brother, that is hilarious. You'll have to do it soon, or he'll shrivel up."

"My darling," Kan'el said chidingly, though obviously amused at her daring. "Don't be so crude."

"But I am right! You are entirely too tightly wound, Essek," Adore said, waving her glittering hand and claws at him. "Just fuck the man and work out whatever feelings you think you have festering like some open wound. It's so obvious, Essek, your bleeding heart is spilling out all over the floor. I know it pains you to have to pretend to be a person, but please, for all of our sakes just--"

"Adore," their Mother said, stopping her tirade. Essek glared at Adore, his teeth aching from how hard he was clenching them. "As crudely as Adore put it, she does have a point Essek."

"She has no point. I've never--"

"Essek, allow us to be serious for a second," Mother said, setting down her fork with a click. If there had been air in the dining room, it all escaped now. "Nothing about your personal connection to them will benefit you in the long run."

"They are heroes of the Dynasty."

"They are mercenaries. Traitors to one nation, and perhaps they will become traitors to ours. You will be attached to them, and it will bring you down. Think rationally," Mother demanded before sighing. "Of that you are capable, I know you are, unlike your fool brothers and sisters."

"Mother!" Adore snapped, white-skin growing brighter. Drari looked murderously at her.

"Oh be quiet," Mother commanded. Adore mouth clicked close. "Essek, my dearest. Be reasonable."

“Being reasonable means something very different for you than for me,” Essek pointed out.

“Does it?” Mother asked him. "Allow me to give you this piece of advice, Essek. The greatest skill that one learns in thousands of years? Restraint."

“Oh? Is it?” Essek asked her, a jagged sarcastic edge to his voice.

“Self-control, to be measured and to moderate your behavior to suit the situation,” Mother said, her eyes flashing. “Right now this is the area you are sorely lacking in. You are indulging yourself in ridiculous urges. You are my brightest child, and I shall not have you squander your potential--”

“As if you are one to chastise me about restraint,” Essek scoffed, interrupting her. He stood up. “Everything I have done, my whole life, is try to keep everything under control and to please you and the Bright Queen. And I’m good at it. If I say I have it all under control then I do. I have no personal connection to them. I don’t--I have no illusions about that.”

"I saw you today," Adore reminded him, smile hard and angry. "I've never seen you like that. Normally when mother let me have my way with your playthings, you just folded like a broken chair. But this was different, wasn't it?"

"They are not my playthings," Essek said firmly, throwing his napkin on the table. “The Mighty Nein are...well, it doesn’t matter anyways. Good night.”

“Oh don’t be like that, Essek!” Adore called after him, but Essek was already out the door. He was grabbing his mantle when he heard his mother's heels. He stopped and looked at her. She had her arms crossed, and was staring at him impetuously. Eventually she sighed, and almost looked fond. As if Essek was a small child simply misbehaving.

"Essek," she said, her voice almost comforting. "You know that all I wish is for us to maintain what we have."

"I know, Mother," Essek said simply. She reached to trace his features with a touch that was a cruel illusion of motherly concern.

"You inherited the only admirable traits your father had, your pretty face and comely voice. Everything else is mine," she said, grasping his chin. “We are alike, you and I. I know that when the time comes you will make the right decision. You’ll find your way to the correct path.”

You are mine, she didn't say. My belonging to do with as I wish. The honors you achieve are mine, your accomplishments are mine, you are mine.

Suddenly, he was a child again. They had all been watched incessantly for any sign of consecution. Everything was a test, everything. Your words, actions, how you looked at mother, how you slept or breathed. Just because a member of the den was your parent, it didn't mean you would stay.

Dead weight, Adore scoffed as a half-brother was given away, staring at them with eyes like broken-open graves as he was dragged out the door and away from the only world he had ever known.

Weak. It'll be you next, Essek. Just you wait and see. Drari snickered.

Be grateful that isn’t you, his father sneered and Essek's cheek hurt from where he had backhanded him. Essek had liked that half-brother...his name had been Unak. He had cried when he had realized he wouldn't hear his brother play little cheerful tunes with his pennywhistle any longer...and his father had seen it. Prove your worth and you won’t end up a failure like him.

I don't even like him, Essek's first love, his first kiss, his first everything scoffed down the hall as Essek hid in a shadowed alcove. He had a crooked smile and a daring laugh, and had been less talented than Essek but not by much. His friends snickered with him, as if Essek's existence...his love was some great cosmic joke. His Denmother told me that I just need to keep him in line until his consecution, and then I can have the pick of who I'll marry.

Essek would be thrown away. His whole life was spread out before him like some desolate plain, devoid of warmth or hope. The terror was a constant prevalent ache, like a wound that wouldn't heal. It scabbed over and tore, was ripped and bled. He hadn't been consecuted and he was of middling muddied blood. The Denmother even giving him a chance was a mercy, given only because he had been born of her. Essek was nothing but fodder or an easy target or just invisible. How? How could he escape his ruinous fate? He had to search for a way. Essek had to find a way to keep himself from being abandoned for good. If he was powerful enough, smart enough, then maybe--

And yet, all these years later, he still found himself alone and vulnerable in this house. He would rather quit it for good.

"I found my way in spite of you," Essek said, his voice cool and impersonal. A stalwart loathing was rising in him. It was the same feeling he had when he had hacked off all of his hair with scissors the morning of his consecution. He had watched the horror spread upon his Denmother's face in the chapel and had been so proud. "I'll ask you not to pretend otherwise."

"Fine," Mother said, stepping back. She looked exasperated. "Don't take my advice, but don't come crying to me when they hurt you."

"I won't," Essek promised. "In that regard, you have the second highest honor."

On that note, Essek left the house. He went home, floating as he did, grateful for the cool darkness. As soon as he was beyond the door of his towers, he leaned against the wall. The shaky exhale of breath escaped his lungs. His feet hit the ground with a soft click, and he slid down to sit on the floor.

"Stop it," Essek demanded of himself, clenching his trembling fingers and forcing the air in and out of his lungs in ragged breaths. "Stop thinking about it. You are fine. You are fine. You are going to get up. You are going to go read Weraq's Treatise on Time and Space. You will get a glass of your favorite wine. You will start the fireplace. You will relax. You will stop acting like a fool, and just calm down you fucking idiot. You must prepare. You’ll have to face them again tomorrow."

He chastised himself for a few more minutes, working to gather his strength and then peel himself up from the floor.

He had a long week ahead of him.

And so Essek continued to practice with the Mighty Nein, only occasionally bothered by his sister. But by the end of the week, even Adore was too busy with preparations to come and cause further destruction and mayhem within Essek’s personal life. The last two days leading up to the actual Day of Radiance was so busy with paperwork and shadow-monitoring that he couldn’t even check in with the Mighty Nein, though he had been informed that they had gone to get their evening attire without any out-of-the-ordinary antics.

The morning of the Day of Radiance came. He had tranced early so that way he would be able to wake early. He had wanted to be sure to collect the Mighty Nein before the ritual started. Essek, used to a realm of eternal night where the passage of time meant little, had been told that the sun rose “early” though he didn’t really understand what that meant. He hadn’t expected an extremely grumpy Beau to answer the door, her hard-worn scowl even more prominent.

“This should be illegal,” Beau grumbled. “Well...come on in. We could get you breakfast or something?"

“I have already eaten, but I appreciate the offer," Essek said simply, drifting past the entrance before dropping his spell.

"Oh my goodness Essek, my dress is absolutely beautiful! I know you'll see it tonight but do you wanna see it now?" Jester asked, grabbing his hands and bouncing up and down.

"I wouldn't dare ruin the surprise for later," Essek said, patting one hand calmingly. "I'm sure you will look absolutely breathtaking."

"Aw, Essek! You are going to make me blush!" Jester said with a giggle and a flutter of her eyelashes, tail waving behind her. "You aren't super in love with me are you?"

"As lovely as you are, I assure you no."

"Hello Essek," Caduceus greeted warmly, he reached out and took Essek's hand and shook it. He looked to picture of serenity as opposed to Beau...and Fjord who was laying on the coach snoring. "Ah...they had to wake up extra early to work out this morning."

"I see."

"It'll be nice to see the sun today," Yasha said, her quiet thoughtful voice coming from the table. In her large hands she cradled a laughably delicate elf-sized tea cup. "Are you looking forward to it?"

"It will be a very busy day," Essek admitted. "With a lot of official business."

"I understand."

"Is that a new robe attached to your mantle?" Nott called, plodding into the room. As was the rest of the Mighty Nein, she was wearing her usual clothing, but they had obviously all been washed and pressed. Essek would have to ask if they used his recommended cleaner's.

"Ah…yes, for the occasion," Essek said. He had liked it because the fabric itself had a pleasing luster to it.

"It looks very handsome, doesn't it Cay-Cay?" Nott called back as Caleb entered the living space.

Essek had been seeing Caleb almost every day, and yet, he was still punched in the gut by how handsome he was. It was horrible how clean clothes and a shaved face could leave Essek so speechless. He was thankful that he wasn't required to be the next one to speak in this interaction.

"Of course," Caleb said softly. "Good morning, Essek."

"Good morning to you as well," Essek said managing to unstick his tongue from the roof of his mouth. He smiled his usual smile. "Well, if we are all here and ready, we must be getting going. They will soon start putting out the lanterns, and the streets are already quite busy.

"We saw the stalls all going up yesterday. It really is like a big Harvest Close festival isn't it?" Fjord asked the others.

"Do you think we'll be able to throw you again?" Jester asked excitedly.

"No...definitely will not do a repeat of that performance,” Fjord said shaking his head. Yasha and Jester shared a meaningful look that Essek simply didn’t understand.

“Let’s stop fucking around and get going!” Nott whined impatiently.

“Okay Mighty Nein, break!” Fjord shouted, followed by a discordant clapping from everyone but Essek who stood there, rather confused, but was willing to usher them out the door.

The city was alive in anticipation. Stalls lined the streets, with food vendors shouting out different prices for famous Xhorhassian dishes from across the Dynasty, clothing, jewels, games, or anything else you could possibly think of. The crowd swelled more intensely directly outside the Lucid Bastion. With a little effort they were let into the Lucid Bastion, to the upper most level of the Cathedral of the Bright Queen. There, the Bright Queen sat upon her throne, flanked by the High General and her innermost court members. This level was the observatory, the glass ceiling now open and the clerics of the Luxon gathered below it as well as some high-level wizards who Essek counted as his colleagues. When everyone was settled in their place, the Bright Queen raised her staff.

“Let us commence with the Day of Radiance,” she announced.

With a nod of her head, the wizards began to somatic gestures. The Clerics kneeled upon the floor, clasping their hands and began to pray,

“Oh Glorious Lord of Light, You who were first in the Universe and Master of All Creation. Keep me and bless me, in this life and my future lives. Show me the way as you did Our Most Righteous Queen, so that I may never be led astray. Let me pray for ascension, for consecution. Let us offer our bodies--our transient and mortal vessels to the light so that we may reach true Enlightenment.”

“So I will it, so shall it be!” the Bright Queen commanded.

Then, there was a pulse of power that shot up straight into the cover of darkness. Most of the members of the Mighty Nein gasped as it occurred. Even Essek, who saw this ritual once a year, still never got over the way the sky looked as the magic pulsed and radiated within the spectral field. And then, like the shell of the world had cracked like an egg, the field splintered and evaporated. There was a roar from the crowd outside, and the Bright Queen’s smile was nearly euphoric.

Dawn was just breaking across the sky, lightening the curtain of the world. Dark blue shifted to light, and then there was the burnt orange glow of the sun beginning to gather like condensation at the bottom of a bowl. And then, the sun peaked out from the horizon. Thankfully it was low enough it didn’t hurt. And as soon as it did, there were cheers, fireworks were set off, and the sound of cheerful music burst out.

The Bright Queen announced the end of the ceremony. Immediately, the nobility began to chit chat.

“That is our cue,” Essek told the Mighty Nein. “If you would like, you may go down and join the festivities until the Illumination Ball.”

“Oh! Can we? Can we?” Jester asked excitedly. “I want to go feel the sun on my face!”

“Let’s go get some breakfast,” Beau said, stretching.

“Essek, are you coming with us?” Caleb asked, startling Essek. The rest of the Mighty Nein was looking at him expectantly. Usually, on the Day of Radiance he kept to the inside of the Lucid Bastion. Often he would pretend to be busy, but really he preferred to stay out of the light. Sunlight wasn’t deadly to his kind, but it was certainly uncomfortable after a little bit, and his eyes had always been particularly sensitive. He had been told it was because he had silver eyes...the lighter the pigment the worse the pain.

But looking at the expectant faces of the Mighty Nein, he found his protests stuck to the roof of his mouth.

“I can come for a bit,” Essek said, offering a smile. In his mind, he was calculating how long it would be before the light became unbearable. He should be fine for at least an hour.

“You’ll have to point us to the best food,” Fjord said with a grin before elbowing Caduceus. “We’ll probably find tea too.”

“They do have stalls that have tea,” Essek explained. “I’ll at least be able to show you to the popular food stalls.”

“Oh! I never thought to sell tea in a stall, that’s nice!” Caduceus said, sounding legitimately delighted at the prospect.

The streets were a hectic swell of bodies. Essek directed them through the movement to one of the stalls that served a popular drink made of rice, milk, and spices. Jester added an ungodly amount of syrup, as opposed to Nott who passed out shots to slip into the cups of anyone who wanted them. Essek himself got a bowl of rice porridge, while he watched them all attempt to figure out tofu or rice bowls or the spice of a fermented cabbage.

They had been relatively safe in the rows of stalls, in the shade cast by the building and the roofs. But almost at the next moment, Essek took a wrong step and was immediately blinded. Oh, his eyes burned. He always hated this the most about the sunlight. He squinted, trying to make it bearable, but he couldn’t help the tears that welled up in his eyes and spilled over. Essek turned quickly to face the wall, ducking his head to wipe at his eyes.

“Essek? Is something wrong?” Caleb’s voice, low and soft and concerned. Essek jumped, having not expected to be seen and in such a pitiful condition.

“I’m sorry, it’s just, my eyes are very sensitive to the light,” Essek apologized, closing his eyes and praying for strength. Even like this, the burning was nearly too much. “Forgive me.”

He felt a hand grasp his, and tug him somewhere. Then he felt a touch upon his cheek...the most delicate and gentle brush of a thumb against his cheek. The touch traced right where his tears were cooling upon his skin. Essek stayed still, desperately trying not to shy away from the sensation. It all felt so close, and so personal, and so intimate that it left him breathless. When he managed to open his eyes (out of necessity...only because if he lingered in this moment too long he was afraid he would never leave) he saw Caleb looking down at him, having led them into the shade.

When you tear my heart out of my chest, will you at least cherish it? Essek's thought in a strange daze. Will you kiss me, before you devour it whole?

"Essek?" Caleb asked, concerned, and Essek realized that he must have missed what Caleb had said to him.

"Yes?"

"Do you want me to get Jester or Caduceus?" Caleb repeated, shifting on his feet nervously like a shy animal wandering close to a person.

"No...no, I will be fine," Essek promised.

“Oh, wait!” Caleb said, rooting around in his bag. “Ah, sheisse--here it is!”

Out of his bag, he produced a hat. It was a straw hat, wide-brimmed and floppy. Essek blinked, half incredulous and half because it really was difficult to see in this light.

“Caduceus gave this to me to hold onto, if you’d like I’m sure he wouldn’t mind?” Caleb asked.

What would hurt worse? The sun in his eyes, or his bruised ego? The hat would really clash with his whole outfit. But in the end, the burning in his eyes was enough. He plucked the hat from Caleb’s grasp, careful not to brush their fingertips against each other. He placed it on his head, mindful of his ears and earrings, and was immediately glad for the shade. Essek looked up to see a smile attempting to peak out from the horizon of Caleb's lips. Essek gave him a look.

"I must look ridiculous," Essek signed, resigned to his fate, curling his hands inside his sleeves. "Feel free to laugh."

“You could never look ridiculous,” Caleb promised with velvet soft eyes that Essek could almost feel sweeping across his features. “Though I am not a good judge of these things, but you are always...”

“Always?” Essek prompted. Caleb for a moment looked caught, like a child sneaking sweets from a jar.

“You always look refined and put together,” Caleb said, the slightest tint of pink in his cheeks and on the soft rounded curve of his ears. In the daylight, somehow, it was even more charming. It was strange, but somehow in the light the human looked more alive then Essek had ever seen him before. A creature of light and fire, Essek thought solemnly. How strange it would be...if his people had never conquered the sky with magic. If they had remained bound to the Underdark their paths would have never crossed.

“Stop flirting over there and join us!” Beauregard shouted at them. Essek watched Caleb’s face go scarlett. Essek was glad for his years of rigorous court training and for the shade of the hat that hid his face.

“We ought to go join your friends,” Essek said, motioning for Caleb to follow. Caleb gave Essek a sheepish smile, and then did.

He looked at the Mighty Nein, their rambunctious spirit and their excited demeanor. He looked from Jester marvelling over sweets sculpted to look like small baby birds or spiders, Nott playing tossing games against Fjord while Caleb watched, and Yasha and Clay browsed stalls. He orbited around them, like one of the dwarf planets that their scholars documented in their reports. Essek was just thankful to be able to bask momentarily in their shine.��

Essek caught Caleb’s smile, and returned it with one of his own.

-----

“Essek what do you think?” Jester called before bursting out from a corner. The top of her dress unfolded like beautiful flower petals about her shoulders and chest, it was cinched at her waist and then unfurled out in asymmetrical waves of sparkling pink pastel fabric that lightened to almost blush-white at the bottom. The front was short enough to reveal calf, almost enough to be scandalous but just riding the line.

They were within the palace. Essek was waiting for the Mighty Nein and just hoping and praying they left everything within the suites alone. A shadow had already been assigned to check over the rooms for any missing objects or hidden dick drawings, but he had faith that if left to their own devices the Mighty Nein was capable of many unforeseeable things.

“You look beautiful,” Essek promised her, “as do you Nott.”

“Thank you,” Nott chirped, swishing her lantern-light yellow dress. It was similar to Jester’s in style, but with a high neck and gloves.

“We all clean up nicely I think,” Beau said, appearing in blue robes, with an ornate detailed sash with the design of swooping dragon flies and iridescent lily flowers. Caduceus was smiling at the long sleeves of his tunic, an ephemeral garment a swirling floral design that matched with his general aesthetic. His green vestiges had real flower buds beginning to bloom along the buttons. And his, though his symbol was there, were also adorned with creeping gold vines.

“That we do,” Fjord said before motioning Beau closer to him. He was wearing a more classic Xhorhassian silhouette, a geometrically quilted dark green gambeson and black cloak and cut a dashing figure in it. He helped to straighten her sash before giving her a thumb’s up. Yasha was wearing her usual armor, though it had obviously been cleaned and mended. She nodded at Essek.

“Ah, Essek.”

Essek’s mouth went dry.

Caleb was dressed like a main character from Essek’s childhood collection of fairy tales from across the world. He was dressed like a bridegroom on his way to woo his sweetheart, blue vest and shiny gold buttons and a jacket with a velvet lapel. His hair was even tied back with a blue ribbon, which made his hair an even richer red and his eyes a cornflower blue. Essek tried to find somewhere to look, but somehow was even more distracted. From the white ascot that contrasted against the pale cream and a dusting of dusky freckles upon his neck, to the attractive cut of his pants that certainly did him plenty of favors.

“I see the tailor earned his keep,” Essek managed to comment before immediately turning to everyone for emphasis. “You all look wonderful.”

“It’s a little rich for my blood,” Caleb said worriedly, pulling at his sleeve. “I am afraid the clothes are wearing the man, ja?”

“Not at all, Caleb!” Nott protested shrilly, grabbing onto his sleeve. “You look wonderful! Doesn't he, Essek?"

"Of course," Essek said simply. "You all do."

Nott pouted as if that wasn't the answer she was going for. But thankfully no one else pressed him, if they had Essek wasn't sure he would be able to hide the fact he was having heart palpitations. It should be against the laws of nature for a man to be so attractive. There was an old story of a drow who wasted away looking at his reflection in an underground pool so still that it acted as a mirror, and when Essek was young he didn’t understand why he didn’t prioritize his life over beauty. But looking at Caleb just now? Essek wasn’t sure he would be able to notice if he were on fire in the face of such beauty.

They entered the ballroom during the announcements. All of the important nobility and diplomats were given their dues, including the Mighty Nein who all seemed to have various reactions to all the attention that was given to them. Essek quickly ducked out, to give his mantle to one of the servants. He didn’t want to give it up because they would all see him, but he had to because the garment was too cumbersome to dance in. They would see the lines of his body in a way that Essek wished to keep private. Essek had always been good at hiding in plain sight...but without his mantle everyone would see--

“You look very nice,” a voice startled him out of the rising tide of his panic. Essek looked over to see the High General, dressed in resplendent military garb, silvered and shining like a full moon. Her mouth quirked up in a small smile. “Though, I always do forget how scrawny you are underneath that mantle of yours.”

“I can hardly dance with it if I need to,” Essek said, smoothing his silvered brocade tunic, making sure the fine black pearls buttons were properly shiny. “As much as I loathe to give it up.”

“You will dance then? With the human wizard?” the High General asked, sounding amused.

“I doubt it,” Essek said as he clasped his hands behind his back. “It wouldn’t be proper. I will merely offer support if needed.”

“You are very good at being improper,” the High General noted. “In the best ways, of course. Being too proper hurts the soul. It is better to be brash.”

“That I am not too sure of,” Essek admitted.

“Do yourself a favor, Essek,” the High General said, looking at him with a soft gaze. “Allow yourself even the slightest indulgence. You are still in your first life, now is the time to be wild and reckless.”

“I don’t know if the Bright Queen would appreciate that sentiment,” Essek said with a scoff.

“I doubt my wife would,” the High General laughed, hearty and full of life. “But she also was once a wild, young, reckless creature at heart. That I can assure you. She has always seen a lot of herself in you. And I know that she, as well as I, would hate for you to miss out on what is possible for you.”

“The comparison is enough to honor me,” Essek said, bowing deeply.

“I shall see you in the ballroom.”

With that, the High General swept out of the room the moment his mother swept in. She curtsied deeply to the High General before she looked over Essek with a critical gaze. Dierta walked around him, like she was inspecting him for any fault, but was apparently sated by whatever she saw and ending her incessant circling. He already wanted to go home.

“What did the High General speak to you about?” Dierta asked, her red gown swaying as she moved, on top of the satin a layer of sheer sparkling fabric decorated with rubies and crystal blooms caught in the lamp light and made her shimmer.

“She merely wished me well,” Essek said. “Are they announcing our den soon?”

“Yes, I would like for you to accompany me and your father,” Dierta said, holding out her arm and Essek took it automatically.

“A strange choice,” Essek noted. “But of course, Mother.”

“Of course not,” his mother said cooly, smiling pleasantly as servants moved out of their way. “You are of my den and my son, after all.”

“And you are not angry with me for the other night?”

“Angry? No, of course not,” she said, her hand reaching to pat his. “You see, your father reminded me that you are young. I always forget that, you know.”

“I am an adult, Mother,” Essek reminded her, still smiling easily. “Do not patronize me, and treat me like a misbehaving pet. And your husband is not my father, you made that clear to me the other day.”

“Now, now, of that you are right. But your father never had such a horrible temper,” Mother chided him. “I haven’t the slightest clue where you got that from.”

“You and I remember my father very differently then,” Essek told her.

“Perhaps,” his Mother said with a sigh. “You were always a sensitive child.”

Essek held his tongue, he had to, or else he would say something he knew he would regret. Keep it inside, Essek told himself sternly. Keep it inside. Do not let her see your weakness. All she ever does is exploit it and you for her own gain.

“Dance the Opening Dance with Danton of Den Kilsek,” his mother said lightly, conversationally. As if it weren’t an order. Danton of Den Kilsek? The name came to him like information written on his dockets. He was a powerful captain of the Echo Knights, one of the High General’s right hand men. A handsome drow, with a sharp smile and an intuitive talent for swordplay. Consecuted, and on his second life. He was also a stringent member of the faction who wished to erase the Empire from Wildemount.

“Why should I do that?” Essek asked her.

“I agreed to allow him to court you, of course,” Mother said. “He came to me the other day, quite taken with your eyes which ‘are as silver as the gossamer thread of the Luxon’s power’. He swore, he saw you smile ‘a smile as delicate as the sliver of the waning moon’. Really, it was quite touching. I didn’t know him to be so poetic. Now, I would prefer you just to marry a woman, your talents are simply too powerful not to pass on. But, I know you have your preferences, so I figured this would be an acceptable offer to you.”

“Dierta, Essek--”

Essek yanked his arm from his mother’s grip. Her husband and the family around them gaped, including her mother who took in a breath like Essek had slapped her.

“I shall go in by myself,” Essek told the Master of Ceremonies, who looked like getting involved in the family drama was the last thing he wanted. But he gave Essek a solemn nod before stepping out and allowing his voice to carry.

“Shadowhand Essek Theylss, of Den Theylss!”

Essek walked out, down the stairs, facing the sea of people alone.

#critical role #critical role fanfic #shadowgast #essek theylss #caleb widogast

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