#nozel x selena
Text
I walk alone
Summary: Nozel walks through the shadows and sees scenes of what his life could have been.
Type: One shot
Genre: Heavy ANGST
Warnings: blood
Word count: 1551
Ships: Nozel x Vanessa, Nozel x Selena, Nozel x Fuegoleon, Nozel x Helia, Nozel x Briar, Nozel x Dorothy, Nozel x Helena
Author's note:
OCs in order belong to @thoughtfullyrainynightmare, @loosesodamarble, @koneko-pi and Helena is mine.
The vibes of this fic were inspired by @f-oighear's one shot: But the cold, dark gaze is your own.
Illustration is at the end.
Ao3
Is he in a dream? He does not know, but the shadows that swirl around him are ominous. He looks away, but it is the same on the other side. Shades of gray. There is a path and he walks on it, because what else can he do?
Each step feels heavy. He feels the burden resting on his shoulders. The burden of responsibility, burden of duty. It is suffocating, but he pushes on. He knows nothing else. Stronger! Stronger! Stronger! He keeps on repeating. My path is mine and mine alone.
So he walks by himself, dragging his feet, tripping. Shadows come closer.
He cannot take a break, but… his composure is shattering. Just a moment, a little bit.
So he stops, nobody will notice. He turns his head to the side and his lilac eyes widen, surprised.
The shadows part, just in that one spot, they swirl away and there is light. He needs to squint, because he is not used to it. Dark markings strangled him, kept him away from it, he kept himself from it, for fifteen years of his life. So how is this light apparent now?
He looks closer and he sees a flutter of pink. Pink? He smells wine, but why wine?
His eyes meet with those of amethyst color and he sees flushed cheeks.
“Hello handsome,” the woman winks. It is just that she is not talking to him. There is a man next to her. Man that could be his twin, because they both have silver hair, fair skin, lilac eyes. However it is not Nozel, because he knows himself and he is not happy. So how does this Nozel look as if he was? He wants to know the secret, wants to know how?
He takes a step closer… he falls on his knees.
The light is gone, only shadows remained.
He struggles to stand up. His legs are wobbly, because the burden is back. Somehow heavier than ever. Alone he pushes on.
Stronger! Stronger! Stronger! The words are there, repeated like a mantra.
Yet another step, yet another drag of his feet and they hurt. The soles of his sandals are not enough to shield them from the hard rocks, which suddenly appeared on the path.
He looks at them.
However then suddenly a flash of light appears. His eyes dart to it and he is focused. His legs feel lighter, so he approaches it.
Silver? No she is not a Silva, he does not know her and yet she feels familiar. As if when he looks at the night sky he sees her. The moon looks down at him. And once again there is a man beside her. She is soft with him and he… he is soft with her. Yet another impossible twin.
So he wants to gaze longer, but the moment he takes a step closer, light fades again. The burden settles, crushes him. Markings strangle his neck.
Stronger! Stronger! Stronger!
He walks down the path. The sharp stones seem to break the soles of his sandals, but they are still fine… for now.
When the light appears again, he is not surprised and he runs to it, once again magically rid of the heaviness. He stops close enough so that he can see, but not too close, worried that it will disappear.
Why is his rival there? Why are they sitting under a tree? What are they talking about?
Fuegoleon seems to be calmly explaining something and the man beside him… listens. They are younger, teenagers. But he has no memory of that. What does it mean? This Nozel does not look burdened.
He cannot stop himself from taking a step. It fades… once again it fades…
Stronger! Stronger! Stronger! But he wishes for yet another light.
His shoulders hurt. The burden digs into them. He is struggling not to trip. Not to fall down on the sharp rocks.
He sees it. He darts towards it. Somehow his prayer was answered.
Gold? Gold and green. The woman is standing in the water and smiling. She submerged her hands in it only to lift them up and splash them! He flinches, but she did not splash at him. The man beside her gets a little wet. He expects the man to snap. He does not. The man looks… happy?
He needs to take a closer look. He forgets and takes a step. The light fades.
Stronger! Stronger! Stronger! Stronger to see another light?
He feels the rocks. The soles of his shoes begin to have holes in them. It hurts! He pushes it down. He does not hurt. He is strong.
However when the light appears he does not have to pretend anymore… because the pain fades away.
The woman is not facing him. She has long, light brown hair, so long that it nearly touches the ground. He notices her ears… they are pointy? Then a man comes up from behind her. He puts his hand on her shoulder and she turns around. Her eyes… They are beautiful, peach colored. Her expression is serene as she looks up at the man. That man… he is not nervous… he is happy.
Maybe if he got a closer look he too..? However when he does the shadows remind him that he cannot. They swallow the peach eyed woman and the man. Once again he is alone.
Stronger! Stronger! Stronger! Why is it on repeat?
He flinches. Pain. His shoes break down. The soles do not make it and sharp rocks dig into his feet. The burden, the duty lies heavy on his shoulders. He wonders will his spine make it? It has to. He is strong… right?
However he only feels strong, when the light appears again. His wide open eyes look at those with interchanging colors. Colors of pink, blue and purple. Why is that witch there? How is she not asleep? She makes a V-sign with her fingers and giggles, but she does not giggle at him. She giggles at the man whose cheeks are bright pink. He is embarrassed, but not in an uncomfortable way. This is softer. The man smiles tenderly.
He wonders would this expression look the same on him? So he tries, but the corners of his lips are not used to the movement. The muscles seemed to forget. An ugly grimace forms instead. He covers his mouth.
This time he is the one to step back. The light fades.
Stronger! Stronger! Stronger!
Something wet.... There is blood on his feet. He feels his back crack, he needs to lean forward, because the burden is too heavy. He wishes for the light no more. It gets worse with each one. Or maybe… just one more time? One more time, before he hurts his feet and they cannot walk anymore. One more time before he gives away to the burden. He walks, but it is hard. It is hard to breathe with the markings suffocating him.
He trips. His hands bleed. The rocks cut the skin open. White fabric on his knees tears. There are no tears streaming down his cheeks. He is strong. He tries to stand up.
The light shines. He looks up and suddenly he is able to walk, able to run, but he is scared. He worries that if he gets too close it will disappear again. However he cannot see from this far. His feet decide for him.
He takes a look. The man standing there looks the most like him, from all of those he saw. His expression flat and arms crossed over his chest.
He furrows his brows. What does it mean?
But before he can wonder, a flash of red appears and a woman comes from behind the man, she excitedly jumps up and wraps her arms around him. The man nearly stumbles… but he is not angry. And the woman laughs. Her dark chocolate hair falls on him and contrasts with the silver. It frames her bright smile and deep brown orbs… almost black. She whispers something to the man and he rolls his eyes affectionately. Affectionately..? How does one do that?
He wants to ask, so he opens his mouth… but no words come out. He tries again, but he is mute. He puts his hand to his throat. It burns. The markings burn, they suffocate. He tries to scream, but those two surrounded by light do not hear, because there is nothing to be heard. So he reaches out his hand.
The light..? Why is it… wet?
It disappears. Only his outreached palm stays. His eyes widen. It is red, just as that woman’s dress. Blood red and the droplets fall on the sharp rocks. Right… they cut it open.
Stron… He is not strong anymore. He falls on the hard ground. It hurts his body. The burden crushes his lungs. The markings tighten around his neck. The shadows swirl and blood… it spills. He lies there looking up at the dark. Nothing is there.
Nothing… nothing… nothing…
Something wet trails down his cheeks. Tears? His eyes open and he stares at the white ceiling of his room at the Silva estate. What was that dream? He wonders. Heavily he lifts himself up on the bed and looks to the side.
It is empty…
#Let me know if this needs more warnings#This was very spontaneous#I wrote it today#nozel silva#black clover fanfic#black clover oc#nozel x helena#nozel x fuegoleon#nozel x vanessa#nozel x oc#nozel x briar#nozel x helia#nozel x selena#nozel x dorothy#angstpril2024#angst#cw blood#angstpril#one shot
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Chapter 50:Nozel needs to deliver the news about the upcoming battle against Lucius, as well as bid her off at the gate. Because he does want to save his family. And while back in Thea, the twins need to make a decision.
Will they destroy the gates, or simply seal them for the time being and have hope?
This chapter is Nozel/Selena centric.
Tag list: @succulentsunrise @loosesodamarble
This work contains themes and topics some may find uncomfortable, which is why reader discretion is adviced.
Warnings: This chapter has the theme of approaching death, war, and hopelessness, and is considered an angst chapter. Will contain manga spoilers.
Chapter 50: How much to hope?
Nozel’s mind ran empty as he hurried down the corridors of the Silva estate, sometimes aiding the way, a long stretch of a hallway when no one was in sight, with the aid of his mana, just to get where he was going sooner, despite not yet knowing what he’d say once he got there. And that was the sole reason why he wasn’t running. Flying. Rushing. Because he needed time, time that he didn’t have, to think about what to say to her.
But it was as if some, yet another, cruel twist of fate that his mind failed to cooperate.
His thoughts swayed, but got nowhere, as if a tide in a lake. A tide with which there was the aching sense of nausea, as it was all… happening again.
A devil, though this time something worse than a devil, had come to take his family away from him. Even if, this time, not quite as directly as before. But still… directly enough.
Directly… enough…
And he was holding the task of needing to protect. Last time it hadn’t… quite, been his place, but rather that of his mother, though he still failed to see it, entirely, as such. Because surely, as the first born, the eldest son of House Silva, he should have been able to contribute even back then, when he wasn’t quite a man yet.
Back then I … couldn’t do a single thing…
And he wasn’t sure if he could do a damn thing now, one that mattered anyhow.
But I need to do something now… I need to succeed… in protecting… this time around…
The battle in Spade had only gone to show him how weak he truly was, as a knight, as a captain… as a man… But it didn’t mean that he wouldn’t still have had a squad to lead and a country to protect. He still had both. Which meant something for the country. He wasn’t sure what entirely, but they couldn’t just ship every citizen they had into neighbouring countries, that was for sure.
The battle that would take place, would take place in Clover, in the Royal Capitol. Because that was the target. Everything that it symbolized, everything that it held, and everything it meant. And it was also their strongest fort.
But it didn’t mean that it was strong enough to hold what he held most dear.
I need to succeed… this time… he repeated in his mind, when he ran out of time, and stood before a door, as if the final barrier between himself and the future that laid beyond it. A final frontier that he’d need to cross.
And that door… it mocked him. It ridiculed him. And it… made him feel so small… Like he was nothing. Meaningless. Helpless. Worthless. It made him feel every emotion, and no emotion, all at once.
But, no matter what he felt, he still needed to enter, and tell her. He needed to ask her.
So, he took a deep breath, placing his hand onto the handle, and opened the door.
The bedroom before him was silent. Almost cold. As if devoid of some warmth of emotion he couldn’t yet quite name. But he didn’t need to name it in order to feel it.
His eyes scanned through the room, as he closed the door, as if in a dream, and saw her standing in front of the window, just looking outside. It was, as if, she was standing before a stage, hoping that what she was seeing was simply make-believe, rather than reality, even though it was a mere palace courtyard on the other side.
“Tell me…” she implored him, while looking at him through the reflection of the windowpane. “What is going on outside?”
His eyes averted, because of the sheer gravity of any answer he might have. ‘The world’s end’, ‘the end’, ‘another war’. All of it seemed too… much.
Too much to say. Too much to think. Just… too much of …everything.
So, instead he said: “Julius came back.”
And she frowned at him through the reflection. “He came back? That’s the source of this commotion?” She asked, turning to him, as if to make sure she heard him correctly.
Which he confirmed with a nod. “He… came back and… is claiming to become a…” he frowned, just as she did, while trying to gather the words, to comprehend them himself. “Magic emperor.”
“A magic emperor?” There was disbelief in her tone, along with the faintest of senses of ridicule.
But he could only nod again, as he didn’t quite know how to elaborate.
“Julius? The king that couldn’t bother to be a king to begin with is looking to be an emperor?”
He exhaled, not sure why, but perhaps out of the relief that there was a topic to which he could answer. “He claimed Julius to be dead, and to be Lucius now.”
“So, he’s copying William?” She asked while taking steps across the room to him.
“I doubt it’s about copying as much as it is the truth,” he replied, focusing on the statements that seemed like facts.
“But we fought something like this once, and there is no reason why we couldn’t do it again.”
He had to admire her resolve, and he could see the logic in her argument. But the thing was, that she hadn’t been there to see it for herself.
“He’s only one man, with, what, maybe a few allies? We have grown and become stronger since then,” she argued, as if insisting, as she reached him.
And though he could see where she was coming from, telling him that they should stand their ground, and do so together, was something with which he didn’t want to comply. She had logic, she had determination, and she was spunky. But even with all that they had, they couldn’t win. He was certain about it. So, this time, he wouldn’t give in to her. He wouldn’t agree to her, even if he thought that she might argue about staying, this time again, as he had asked her to leave once already for a battle.
He knew that she wanted to stay. On this occasion. Because she was gnawed by guilt of leaving last time. He knew… but he couldn’t give her what she wanted.
So, he stood there as if a pillar, unyielding and insisting. But so did she.
She was stubborn as well. And it was a quality of hers that he loved and disliked at the same time.
He loved it because it was a quality of hers that allowed her to be as successful in her career as she was, as well as love him, because he was sure that it took someone stubborn to love him with all that they had. But he also disliked it because, at times, it made life more difficult for him.
However, love outweighed dislike, on every other day but this one. Because this… this was something he could not lose. This was something with which he couldn’t give in, no matter how much it might have pained him.
And it did pain him. It pained her too. That is why she stood there with a frown, as if a pillar of her own, with the fury of a mother that wanted to protect the family in which she and him, along with their child, belonged.
Which made it even more horrid in its sweetness to him. Because he knew that look. That determination and ferocious drive to push forth to protect the family they had, and it, even while within that stubbornness that he disliked, made him love her more. It made her more beautiful, wonderful, divine and cherished to him.
It made him think how he couldn’t have found a better wife for himself, who would do anything to protect their child. A devoted mother, and a loving wife.
But the mother, and wife, was now against him.
“I don’t know who he thinks he is, but he can be fought! I don’t see why you think that we should just yield and roll over and give up like that. So what he came back with an attitude and calls himself by a new name, or his real name, or whatever it is and-“
“Lena!” He commanded.
Raised his voice.
He hadn’t… risen his voice to her ever before.
The tone seeping with something that reminded her of anger. It was harsh and ragged and filled with sharp edges in its primal state, with which it rose from deep within his lungs; deep as an ocean of grief. But it tasted like a plea.
It tried to be anything but a cry. And there was desperation in it which she had never known before.
Never before.
Not one that was… this alive. It was as if, instead of the man she loved, before her there was all his grief and desperation incarnated. Which… made her wonder which was more alive at that moment; the man, or the emotion.
It made her eyes flicker, but she couldn’t look at anything else than his expression. The stern, near harsh look that he had, but there was no wall. Instead, there was a well in his eyes, one that wanted to overflow, but his pride wouldn’t let it.
He’d rather drown in his tears, than let her see the pain that pricked him from within. But the thing was that he could no longer hide it from her. He had grown too close to her and her to him.
She would know it. She had watched his pain, and tried to brush it off; pick the needles and thorns one by one without leaving more scars behind. And because of it, she knew the look he had.
But before that moment, there hadn’t been a… beg, in him.
Nozel Silva did not beg.
That was a fact.
“Lena…” he repeated with a whisper that was, this time, nothing else than silk and feathers, as he placed his hand onto her cheek and just looked at her.
Her lips parted, but no sound came out as she wished she had something to tell him. Something to say, but she didn’t know what. What words of comfort, or reassurance, a plan or a suggestion, she could give? If there were any to give.
“Selena…” he repeated, again, this time as if cherishing the taste of her name on his tongue, as his eyes fell to look at her baby bump, and then back up to the ceiling.
This can’t be it… She found herself thinking as Nozel chewed on the words that were gathering in his mouth.
His lips parted again, after a time that must’ve been only a few seconds long, if even as much, but it felt like a third of an eternity. The sound of seconds had been buried in the ashes of the world that was to come, and only they remained in that room, within those four walls. And then he let his gaze come down again, as if to repent a crime that wasn’t his, as his hand moved from her cheek, taking a hold of her hand instead.
Her head swayed from side to side as a wall grew in between them. An invisible wall of glass and ice that she hated, resented, and despised. And she wanted to pull his hand, so that they might again be on the same side of that wall that shouldn’t be.
But he wouldn’t let her. She knew as much.
His lips parted again, as if to confess to a crime he regretted, but didn’t commit. “I would rather lose you from myself than lose you to death,” he said. And there was no lie in his words.
But it didn’t mean that she would have liked the confession, not because of what he was saying, but for what it stood for.
“So…” he uttered as his right foot took a step forward, and he begun lowering down.
Kneeling down.
The Captain of Silver Eagles does not kneel.
His Royal Highness Nozel Silva does not beg.
House of Silva does not plea.
But a man does.
“I beg of you…” he placed a kiss onto her hand, and pressed her hand against his face.
“Leave…” was the sound… that remained echoing in the room, or perhaps just her ears.
The sound of a man, who had everything to lose, begging.
---
“I already missed one battle,” she told him with a whisper.
“And I would have you miss a thousand more if it meant for you to live,” he whispered back.
“My place is by your side,” the syllables were light as ash, and tasted just the same, spoken without vigour, without a purpose. As if a mere breath, and exhale, escaping from her lungs.
It was as if a breeze that flew by, one that he cherished. One that he listened, as if trying to enjoy the last day of summer before an autumn, or winter colder than death itself.
“Your place… is among the living,” he replied.
He wasn’t this poetic. Never had been, and didn’t think to be now. And yet, for words, that were spoken by a man who was bad at them, they were perfect. They were perfect in their morbidity. Because of the meaning that lied beneath, as if a corpse not laid to rest.
---
The day came, the day he didn’t want to come. The day that he would rather have been nothing but a nightmare.
The day when they walked, side by side, holding onto each other with pale knuckles, to the marble arch.
“You need to go,” he whispered. He must’ve whispered at least thrice during the walk.
But she wasn’t sure if it was more so meant as an implore to her, or a reminder for himself. Because though the words were addressed to her, the way he spoke them, under his breath, as if struggling to breathe, felt more like they were for him.
A mantra that he didn’t want to be. A reminder that this needed to be done. That this was the good, and the right decision to make.
This is the only right decision…
The words might have hung over their heads without a sound, but their hands, with the way they clenched around each other, as if their lives dependent on it, spoken of something very different.
The only good decision…
There was a horrid rancid taste in all of it. The air, the wind, the way sun was hidden behind clouds that day. But sometimes the things that are good for you, will have the most awful flavour. Or so they told each other.
This… is right.
A conscious thought. A forced thought. The idea that it was correct. That they were there, before that arch, before that portal.
His other hand settled onto her cheek, as he looked at her. Just looked at her.
There was something in her eyes that he didn’t think he had seen before. Not like this at least. A look that he didn’t think she was capable of. Because she wasn’t that expression. She wasn’t that emotion. She was anything but.
And yet… fear, was reflected from her eyes, as deep as an ocean beneath the night sky, reflecting the light of the silver stars above.
“Darling…” the word was barely audible.
Barely, but it was.
And he pondered… thought about what he could ask of her. What wish could he express to her, one that wouldn’t be too selfish? For her to not forget about him? For her to love him? Oh no, that would be too much to demand for the days she had left; the days he wished to be plenty. Which made him think about if he shouldn’t ask for her, but rather for himself. Maybe he should request for a memory for himself.
It would be gone soon in any case.
Less damage. Less of a burden.
And if a burden, then it’d be his burden. Not hers.
“Let me remember your smile…” he asked, as he didn’t know what to do.
There was absurdity in the request too, because he did remember her smile. And it was, at that moment, that so many of them flashed through his memory, which brought a painful smile to his lips. Because he couldn’t help but smile when she smiled, but in the moment he wasn’t happy.
So, his smile couldn’t be happy either.
Instead, it was desperate. It was in agony. And it was sad. More of a grimace than a smile.
A sad, anguished smile, with which a single tear rolled down his cheek.
“Please… let me remember your smile…” he asked again, this time wondering if he had the right to ask, and yet asking anyhow. Deeming it as nothing more than a selfish request of a selfish man. But the last request he’d present to her.
So maybe… maybe it’d be alright.
The only issue was… that she didn’t know how she could give him what he was asking. Because she couldn’t give him the happy smile that he wanted. She simply couldn’t. This was not a happy occasion.
This was not…
How it’s supposed to go…
She squeezed her eyes shut and let a pair of tears roll down her cheeks as she swallowed the lump in her throat.
“Don’t be this sweet,” she told him as a reluctant smile appeared on her lips.
It was forced, and pained, and just as desperate as his. But she had to try. She felt that she had to try to give him a smile.
Because it was the last thing, it sounded like the last thing, he’d ask from her.
His hand circled around and settled onto the back of her head as he leaned forth and pressed his head against hers. Perhaps to hide any tears that might have followed, or perhaps to feel her close for one… last… time.
She wasn’t sure. But she didn’t think she needed to be. Not as she pressed her face against his cloak and buried her face into it, as if trying to hide from the world that tried and tried and tried… to do wrong.
Only wrong.
Agony.
Toy with the mortal beings that they were.
Or so it felt. That the world around them was only there, to torment and toy.
To torment and toy…
And around those broken sobs, the air was still, quiet, without a sound. Other than the inaudible ringing of a silver bell that couldn’t be heard. As if a call for a funeral mass that was for none to hear.
But does one need to hear something, in order to know that it is there? Or is it enough to feel the approaching cold, numb, stiff touch of creeping darkness closing in?
Does one need to hear, in order to know?
---
The celestial twins, the nickname granted as a half of a joke, the punchline of which was now missing, stood before the arch, the gate, and the portal. The portal that was now closed. And they pondered a question, quietly, to themselves. The question of what to do.
What they had been urged to do.
What they had been asked to do.
And what they wanted to do.
The ticking of time continued forth ruthlessly, without a care for them, or the decision of how to long to spend by the gate. How many minutes to spend by it? To take enough time to seal it shut, or be quick and quite simply destroy it? Or take none at all, and just step away from it, leaving it up to the Fate to decide what would happen.
So, how many minutes to spend, if none at all?
“[Should we…?]” Lara asked with a whisper, spoken by a mouth that was dry, devoid, as if trying to settle into knowing something… else…
“[We should… do… something…]” Lena uttered, but she didn’t sound convinced. She didn’t sound confident, or with direction. It was all but ash and tides.
“[You think it’ll make a difference?]”
“[I…]”
There was a breeze in between the breaths, the words, the utterances that sounded more like desperate attempts to grasp for air than speaking.
“[They have spacial mages.]”
“[Which is why… I don’t know… I just… don’t know…]”
“[The security will hold just as it has been holding, if we leave it be, but that would still be making it easier than it needs to be. To pass through.]”
“[But would it make… a difference…?]”
“[That is the question.]”
And that was… the question. Because neither had made a promise. Neither had made that promise; to destroy that gate.
“[If we destroy this gate, we should destroy the other one too.]”
Lena nodded. Just nodded. Because it would be the sensible, rational thing to do.
It would be the smart thing to do.
“[What are you thinking?]” Solara asked, both curious and without an answer to the problem.
“[That it’s the same damn thing all over again,]” she said with a whisper, a sound that tried to be a cry, but one that was choked by itself.
And Lara nodded. Because it really, did seem like the same damn problem all over again. Thea wouldn’t fight a war for Clover. Especially if it was a war Clover was having against their own king. Even the idea of it sounded ridiculous. Because internal conflict was internal conflict. And no outsider had a say in it.
Clover was fighting itself, and from Thea, as a nation, stood, it wasn’t their issue.
But for the two of them, there was so much to loose in that fight.
Just for the two of them.
“[So… what do we do?]”
They stared at the gate, the marble arch that stood there, and hoped how it wouldn’t become a passage into a cemetery.
“[It depends…]”
“[How much we have hope,]” they spoken in unison.
Because that was what lied at the heart of it. How much they dared to hope for the future? Not even about how much they could afford to hope, because that’s not what hoping was about.
Either one hopes, or then one doesn’t.
So.
How much do they have hope?
As the bells… grew silent.
Quiet like a grave.
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@thoughtfullyrainynightmare mentioned that if we were to combine all of Nozel’s wives from across the different universes that he would have a football team…so I made a family tree to show just how large his family (along with the other Silva siblings) would be! I made this a while ago, so sadly there isn’t any Vanessa x Nozel or Dorothy x Nozel 😅.
Nozel x Helena ( @kalolasfantasyworld ‘s OC): Noureen, Heinry, and Natalia
Nozel x Helia ( @loosesodamarble ‘s OC): Aecor, Fleuriana, Chalivas, and Soliel
Nozel x Selena ( @/thoughtfullyrainynightmare ‘s OC): Morena, Verity, and Nathan
Nozel x Briar ( @koneko-pi ‘s OC): Avalinia, Nymphadora, and Mikhail
Nebra Silva ( @/loosesodamarble ‘s OC): Skylar and Elana
Solid x Holly ( @/loosesodamarble’s OC): Eirlys and Ferro
Asta x Noelle (mine and @/loosesodamarble’s OCs): Brielle, Aimee, Mizuki, Naru, Kaiyo, and Filomina
#black clover#black clover oc#nozel silva#nebra silva#solid silva#noelle silva#nozel x oc#solid x oc#asta x noelle#oc; helena#oc; selena#oc; helia#oc; briar#oc; holly#black clover next gen
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Chapter 48: Nozel and Selena have a conversation about their baby, as Lena is also pregnant. This time for real. Which brings out Nozel's fears and doubts, but also his affection.
Yami stops by at the CLK's base, because he does have an uneasy feeling that something is going to happen, but the conversation is short lived, because there isn't much to discuss in the end.
Later, Fuegoleon and Solara continue to dwell in their bliss of building a family.
Tag list: @succulentsunrise @loosesodamarble
This series contains themes and topics some may find uncomfortable, which is why reader discretion is advised.
Warnings: This is a heavily pregnancy related chapter, also contains vague manga spoilers
Length: ~4.7k
Chapter 48: The best thing
Time seemed to just fly by, especially since the newly formed alliance was being brought into action, or rather, now that it existed on paper, relations were being formed on a more concrete level. As in reality the willingness to collaborate wasn’t based on simply what it stated in official documents that existed within the walls of the royal archives. And with it, it would take time to see more Theans in Clover, and Cloverians in Thea. But it was all a step into a new direction, and the bonds would continue to build over time. After all, the alliance was now, as one thing, an agreement to start a common journey where they were both their individual nations, but could rely on each other in certain matters.
The question of what became of the 28th Wizard King still remained, but as the months went by, it was best seen to continue onward without him. Of course people still remained weary and uneasy about it on both sides of the border, but Julius was just one man. And a mortal man at that.
So, though the issue of what to do about the situation remained in Clover, it didn’t prevent Clover and Thea from starting to build a bond that they would hope to last for centuries.
And as a part of that bond, royal babies became a centre of attention, both Vermillion-Equinox and Silva-Equinox. The public went as far as to place bets on which last name would the children bear; a harmless fun.
Interestingly enough, the public opinion seemed to sway in favour of Equinox when it came to the Vermillion lineage, and Silva in the Silva lineage. And it wasn’t the general opinion on the matter that annoyed Nozel. It was the fact that some people seemed so bold when it came to bringing it up; just to try and casually bring it up while making small talk.
Of course it was an obvious attempt to gain some information based on which people might win a bet and benefit off of him. Or simply an attempt to climb into his good graces by showing interest in his wife and child. A very clumsy attempt, but… supposedly an attempt.
But regardless of what it was, it made his brow twitch as he headed towards his bedroom, down the corridor of the Silva estate. It was bad enough to have to deal with the stress of having a baby on the way, in addition to the kingdom not having a king, and going through the aftermath of a war, without having people prying such personal matters so boldly.
The audacity… He would have thought that people would have been discouraged from such questions over the years, but it seemed that after he had become a married man, it, somehow, made him more approachable to the eyes of many.
Too approachable, if one was to ask him.
He placed his hand onto the doorknob of the room and took a deep breath while trying to relax his jaw. She doesn’t need my annoyance…She does not need my annoyance… he repeated to himself as he tried to force himself to relax; will the tension of his muscles and the twitching of the corner of his eye melt away.
She has more important things to be concerned about than my annoyance… he breathed out again, and opened the door to see Selena reading a book in a corner of the room, by the bookcase. The very bookcase that she had insisted on having in the bedroom, and he had finally caved in, requesting that she wouldn’t be bringing anything work related into their safe haven. Which she had promised.
Though, he had to admit, that even if she was to bring in work related literature, he most likely wouldn’t contest it, not to a great extent at least. Because if she was carrying out a passion of hers, that made her happy, who was he to deny it from her.
He parted his lips to greet her while pushing the door closed behind him. But. Didn’t manage to get the first word.
“What’s the matter?” She asked without looking up from her book.
“Do I seem like something is wrong?” He replied with a question of his own, while taking off his cape and placing it onto a coat rack near the door.
“You were standing by the door again,” she replied as a veil of amusement rose to her lips. “You don’t do that unless there’s something bothering you.”
He could have contested her words, because he didn’t, at least he thought that he didn’t, always take a moment to calm himself if something was annoying, or bothering, him. But then again, what would have been the point of contesting it? She would have asked about it in a different way, possibly stopping at that, but not coming to another conclusion. And besides, he wasn’t exactly eager to argue.
There was enough arguing in his life overall. He didn’t want to bring it home too.
So, he sighed and looked at the ceiling.
His mind ran empty of words, coherent thoughts. But it didn’t mean that he couldn’t speak out his emotions. “People were asking about our child’s name again,” he half said, half breathed out as if letting a weight fall off his shoulders.
“They’re interested,” she commented with amusement.
“They could be more interested in their own lives,” he scoffed.
“That they could,” she chuckled. “But. You don’t need to care.”
“I don’t. I’m annoyed.”
“That I can see,” she mused while putting the book down. “But there’s also a finite number of nobles in this kingdom, and they’ll learn about not being that friendly with you.”
“They didn’t … used to think that they were so friendly with me,” he pinched the bridge of his nose before making his way to the liquor cabinet.
“Men grow soft when they become fathers,” she commented. “Or so I’m told.”
“I am not soft,” he stated, quite frankly, making her giggle.
“I disagree,” she grinned while settling into a more comfortable position on the chair.
“You may, but the rest may not.” Another frank statement that made her giggle. And as she giggled, he could feel the corners of his lips tugging up into a smile, as if against all odds. Because the conversation wasn’t fun, in a traditional sense at least, but… he couldn’t claim that hearing her laugh, wouldn’t make him smile. He couldn’t claim that it wouldn’t make his heart flutter within his chest, or melt that tension away from his bones.
“I see,” she mused glancing to the side for a passing moment as the topic slipped away from them, and another one took its place. “Come here,” she urged him with syllables, light as feathers.
“Hm?” He hummed while turning to look at her.
Her attention, however, wasn’t to him, it was to her stomach. And her hands were stroking the baby bump, as if petting. “The baby is kicking.”
It wasn’t often that he was around for it. Or maybe he was, and he just didn’t feel like he was around as often as he would have liked. And so, he wouldn’t miss any of the occasions when he was there.
He put his glass down, and walked over to his wife, with steps that wanted to be hasted, but weren’t. Not quite. Almost, but not quite.
And he crouched down next to her, lifting his hand, but hesitating to place it onto her stomach. Just for a moment, a passing second, as if to ask from himself if he could, or perhaps to cherish the moment. He wasn’t sure which it was, but he didn’t care. Because it wasn’t important.
He placed his hand onto the bump, and felt the faint tremors from coming within, some stronger, and some softer, but there, nonetheless.
His smile widened and eyes collected an undertone so soft and warm that Selena had to wonder if she was simply imagining it. But she wasn’t. The smile, the gaze and the tender affection were there.
“Don’t kick your mother,” he scolded with a whisper. “You only have one.” His hand rubbed the surface of the bump with a tender touch as he spoke with a tone that was far from scolding, despite the words that left him. Had he thought more about it, he would have stated how he was more so reminding the child that they, indeed had only one mother, and she was to be cherished.
“They only have one father too,” she told him, which seemed to break his trance like state, causing him to shake his head with a faint motion.
His lips parted, as if to say something, but he closed them without a word.
Her hand lifted from her stomach and instead rose to his hair, allowing the soft silver locks to run between her fingers. “You’ll be a great father,” she told him, which earned a glance from him.
But again, he said nothing.
And she giggled, brushing her fingers through his hair again as the kicking ceased. “Nap time,” she said, which made an amused huff leave him.
“It seems so,” he agreed with another whisper. “Or then they simply listened,” he continued while standing up.
But as soon as he did, there was a violent pulse extending from Lena’s tummy as the baby gave a strong kick.
Nozel looked at the tummy, and Lena looked at Nozel. After which she burst into laughter.
“It seems they didn’t,” she managed as the giggles still rolled past her lips.
He sighed, but even so, there was a hint of that same, warm, adoring affection in a smile that wanted to be so much, while he tried to conceal it.
“At least they’re feisty,” she continued with a glimmer in the corner of her eye. “And can hold their own.”
“Of course, all Silvas can hold their own,” he mused.
“Oh? And Equinoxes can’t? Just watch when our child goes head-to-head with their cousin,” she continued as the smirk grew even wider.
His eyes turned to the side as something that resembled a scoff left him.
“Oh come now,” there was another giggle in the air as she got up from her chair.
He took a step closer, and offered his hand to her, which she took, while wrapping the other around her shoulder. The movement felt natural, effortless, as easy as breathing itself, and anything else would have felt as if going against some profound law that he hadn’t quite uncovered. But he didn’t particularly care to uncover it, as long as that which was most prized in his life, were alright.
“Are you still salty about my sister announcing pregnancy before we did?”
“It’s not about your sister,” he replied. “It’s…” he begun, but didn’t continue, as he knew how juvenile it must’ve sounded, the idea that this was an extension of his rivalry with Fuegoleon. Because it wasn’t supposed to be. And yet… there was something about it that made his brow twitch, even if just a tiny bit.
“Well it certainly wasn’t because of lack of effort,” she joked, making him close his eyes in a slow blink.
But he didn’t say anything, again. He didn’t know what was there to say. Or if to say. He had never been good with things that were or weren’t supposed to be said, not in this manner. If it was instructions, or procedure, or etiquette, he had an answer ready, but this… things in which there was, and weren’t, right answers. There wasn’t one definite answer, but there were good answers and those that were less than good.
She must’ve noticed how his thoughts sank into a swaying sea of wordless wonder; of incoherent thoughts, as she placed her hand onto his cheek. “Hey…” her syllables were soft like silk, and warm like a bath just drawn at the end of the day. “It’s been a year, a little bit over a year since the war…”
“Yes?” He looked at her with a raised eyebrow.
Her eyes flickered, as if studying what might have been going on beneath that veil of mauve, before she breathed out and let her eyelids fall and rise. “Nothing,” she assured him. “You just had that… look.”
“Look?”
“When you’re thinking about every burden of the world.”
“I can hardly think of every burden in the world.”
“But you try to.”
“How else am I supposed to prevent evil from befalling onto our child? Unless I think about it, so that I can prevent it.”
She paused.
Stayed silent.
It wasn’t often that she was without word. She might not have spoken them out, but it didn’t mean that she would have been without them.
However, this time. She had none. So, instead, she smiled. She smiled in a way in which only a touched, adoring wife can smile.
“You’re a good man, you know that, right?” She placed her hand onto his chest, but this time his reply was a scoff.
“I am a lot of things, but a good man isn’t among them,” he spoke, syllables as harsh as thistles meant to prick his own skin.
“Everyone sins,” she said, again with those silken, feather like syllables that ran over the thorns. “But a good person repents.”
“One can only repent so much,” he sounded bitter; sour.
“But if one can only repent so much, then is it not enough to repent as much as one can? Are we not judged by how much we carry, compared to what we can carry?”
“Judged by whom?” He glanced at her, looking like he wanted to hear an answer. Out of curiosity, and none other.
But to her, it looked like, at that moment, he wanted to be judged. Because if he was judged, then maybe he could grow to be at peace with it. Maybe he’d be offered a chance to reconcile.
“By the people in your life,” she finally stated, catching him off guard. It wasn’t an answer that sounded like something she would say. And yet, she had.
“They don’t judge enough,” the words were again sour, like a handful of ripe cranberried on a cold autumn day.
“So you judge yourself instead,” she continued. But she sounded like she understood.
He wasn’t sure if he had before realized how much she understood. And so, again, words failed him like so many times before.
Words might have failed him, but she never did.
I don’t… his head swayed from side to side before his hand took a hold of hers, and brought it to his lips.
Words might have failed him, and would continue to do so, but she, he was confident, never would.
The one sacred thing in his life.
He pressed a kiss onto her knuckles, and hoped that she’d understand.
To which she nodded.
---
Heavy steps echoed from the walls of the Crimson Lion Kings’ headquarters, made by the boots of someone who didn’t often make a visit there, quite simply because he, most often, didn’t have business with the King among Lions. However, the man couldn’t say that he disliked the King. Not this king, because he was an honourable man, and someone with whom difficult conversations could be held, because he was a reasonable man as well.
Though, the man with heavy boots, smelling like cigarettes and hasty decisions made at 2 am, wasn’t sure if there was a full on discussion to be had. Because what he had, was more so a hunch. Or. He wasn’t sure if it was even a hunch, but rather concern that he’d need to get out, even if just stating it to someone else.
He ran his fingers through his hair, and to the back of his neck, as he sighed. It’s been over a year since Julius disappeared… I shouldn’t be this uneasy about it at this point anymore, but I can’t shake the feeling that something is wrong. Usually I’d be talking about this to Julius, but since he’s the one missing, I can’t exactly do that. And Marx has enough on his plate. Braid-face is out of the question, and the rest of the captains know as much as I do. Well, technically King of Hardnoses is one too, but maybe being royalty buys a token of information or two. Least it gets me to share some of my thoughts.
His steps came to a halt in front of the office door, and he sighed again before knocking the wooden surface a couple of times with his knuckles.
“Come in,” came a voice from the other side.
“’ey,” he greeted while pushing the door open and entering.
“Good afternoon Yami. It is not often I receive a request for audience from you,” Fuegoleon replied while gesturing to the seat opposite to him.
“Yeah, you got me there,” he uttered while looking at the seat and the steaming pot of tea on the table. “Don’t remember you offering beverages the last time,” he half joked, trying to lift the mood; his own more than Fuegoleon’s.
“I don’t recall a ‘last time’,” he quirked an eyebrow.
“Fair,” Yami muttered, as he couldn’t remember a last time either.
“You’re welcome to refuse if it’s not to your taste.”
“Didn’t say nothin’ ‘bout it,” he half joked again while taking his seat. “Thanks,” he took a hold of the pot and poured himself a cup. It wasn’t often that he had tea nowadays, after coming to Clover that is, but there was something homely about it, even if the taste wasn’t what he remembered it to be back in Hino. “You want some?” He looked to Fuegoleon from under his brows, lifting the pot a bit as if to direct attention to it.
“I would,” he nodded, with which Yami poured him a cup as well.
“Congrats, by the way,” he continued, not thinking too much about it beforehand, but as soon as the words had left him, there was a realization of how he indeed hadn’t given his congratulations.
“Hm?” Fuegoleon hummed while quirking an eyebrow.
“The kids. I guess they’ll soon be running around the place, wreaking havoc, but I suppose you’re up for it after having wreaked havoc yourself.”
“I’m sure we’ll have our hands full for quite some time with the first, but perhaps there’ll come a time for another,” he agreed.
Yami hummed in thought, wondering to himself if he should say what he was thinking.
“And thank you. It is most joyous,” Fuegoleon nodded. “But surely that is not why you’re here.”
“Yeah… ‘bout that,” Yami uttered while leaning back in his chair. “I’ve been… having this feeling for quite a while…”
“A feeling?” Fuegoleon frowned.
“Yeah, like… something is about to happen,” Yami thought out loud, rubbing the back of his neck. “Guess it could be because of the whole deal with the elves and then the devils happening pretty much right after it, that… There is something more that’s going to happen.”
Fuegoleon looked at Yami for a moment, but he couldn’t exactly deny the uneasiness of the situation, especially with all the concerns they had had during the past year. “Yes, the situation with Julius’ and Damnatio’s disappearance has been most unsettling, which is why we still need to stay vigilant and try to resolve the case.”
“So… you don’t know anything more about it?”
“No?” His frown deepened. “If I would, I would have disclosed the information at the latest Captains’ meeting.”
“Thought so,” Yami nodded.
“So, why are you asking, if that is what you thought in the beginning?”
It was a fair question, but Yami didn’t exactly have a reply. “Don’t know,” he replied, truthfully. “I guess I’ve just been wanting to talk about it. The winter and spring were spent on getting things in order.”
It was a fair reply to a fair question, because most of the winter and the spring had indeed been spent on trying to get things sorted and settled. And not a whole lot of the energy had gone into trying to work through the disappearances or the concerns. The investigation had been ongoing, but not the first priority, because of which it had been on the backburner, for perhaps far too long.
“We can bring it up during the next meeting,” Fuegoleon suggested, to which Yami nodded.
Just nodded.
“Is there something more you’d like to discuss about it?”
Yami hummed in thought again, as he wasn’t sure. Is there? That’s a good question. It’s like there’s a lot of it I’d want to talk through, but I don’t really know what ‘bout it to talk. Honestly, the audience was starting to feel like a waste of time, but had he not brought it up, he would have continued to have the uneasy feeling. “It’s just that…” No, that’s stupid.
“Just that?” Fuegoleon repeated.
Yami sighed again and leaned forward while placing his elbows against the table, crossing his fingers in front of his face. “That every time this kingdom seems to have a footing nowadays, that something comes and tries to knock it back down.” He wasn’t sure where that statement had come from, but it wasn’t exactly untrue.
In fact, it was something he had been, for some time now, thinking quietly in the back of his head.
Seconds ticked away as the men sat in silence, unable to argue against the feeling. Because it was, even objectively speaking, one that seemed true. So much had happened during the past couple of years that it seemed ludicrous to try and argue anything else.
“Let us hope that this time it shall not be the case.”
A faint, muffled chuckle left Yami with the statement. “Never thought you’d be one to rely on something like hope.”
“Which is why we also need to prepare,” Fuegoleon continued.
“I hear you,” Yami agreed. “I wish I’m wrong, which I don’t wish a whole lot.”
“I believe we all wish that we were wrong,” Fuegoleon noted, to which Yami, again nodded.
Because it would be so much more simple if they were. Living with some degree of paranoia would be indefinitely easier than going through the worst of their fears, for the paranoia would diminish over time. Little by little.
“Gotta get going,” Yami shrugged with a half of a yet another sigh. “Thanks for the tea.”
“You’re welcome,” Fuegoleon nodded as Yami started making his way out of the door.
“Oh, and good luck with the delivery, in case I forget to mention it afterwards,” Yami called from the doorway. “Twins can be tricky business.” And with that, he was gone.
---
Quiet. Tranquil. The light of the still setting sun filtered through the window as Solara and Fuegoleon laid in bed that evening.
She combed her fingers through his hair while humming that gentle, warm tune of hers that was one of the most blessed melodies his ears had come to know, as he rested his head on her stomach, just trying to listen.
He still couldn’t quite grasp it. How Yami had stated such a thing with such ease and degree of carefree. As if it had been only a trivial matter. And perhaps to Yami it was. After all, it wasn’t his children being talked about.
But to Fue, it was nothing but a trivial thing. It was… frighteningly wonderful. For he had been excited to become a father for only one child, and here he was, having been told that it was indeed twins in there. Which did make him wonder if Yami had told her before, and because of which, he supposed, that he could ask about it.
“I had an interesting conversation with Yami today,” he uttered.
“Oh?” She hummed while still combing through his hair.
“Mhm, he told me that… we’re expecting twins,” his hand stroked her bare skin, as if trying to show that he did cherish the lives within.
She paused for a while, the movement of her hand ceasing in that moment as well, before a muffled, amused chuckle left her. “See? I told you,” She teased.
“Did you know?” He tilted his head up to look at her with curiosity.
“No,” she leaned forward and placed a kiss onto his forehead. “It was just a hunch,” she smiled. “But I’m glad that I was right.”
A low, quiet chuckle left him as he turned his head back down, and looked at the bump, simply accepting the reply and the revelation. His hand continued the stroking motion, and his eyes gathered undertones so deep and filled with affection that he didn’t know how he could contain all of it. Or even if he should. Because was the point of harbouring affection in keeping it, or showing it?
“Little ones…” he begun with a whisper. “When you two are ready… your mother and I are mor-“
There was a kick. Right to his face. As the bump stretched for a moment to give way for the strong, and sudden, motion.
“Hey! You two,” Solara scolded, with a bit of amusement in her tone despite of it. “Don’t kick your father.”
Fue touched the underside of his nose, just to make sure that the kick hadn’t cause him to bleed, and smiled. “They’re strong,” he commented with a glance to Lara before settling back down. “And ferocious,” he continued with a whisper against her skin. “Just remember to behave as well. Because you shouldn’t be kicking your mother either,” he continued, as if trying to scold the children as well.
“They have to stretch their limbs a little,” she mused while placing her hand onto his, and the other on his head, fingers burying into his hair yet again.
“I suppose,” he mused. “But still, go easy on your mother,” he whispered, feeling, if only humanly possible, more in bliss than before. Because, despite the worry for the kingdom lifting its head yet again, something that would never entirely cease to be, he was going to be a father for two beautiful, strong, and resilient children.
He wasn’t only blessed with a loving wife, who he knew would stay by his side, but two little ones as well. Which would be a lot of work, for the two of them, but that didn’t scare him, not the work or the sleepless nights, because that they could handle. He was worried about being a good enough father. And he was certain that he’d always worry about being good enough father. But it didn’t make him any less happy.
Because this was the best thing to happen to him. These children, this life, this family that they were building, it was the best thing to happen to him, now and always. And he could never have imagined something as wonderful as this.
I love you all so much. All of you… he thought, feeling the word ‘love’ to be lacking for what he felt while simultaneously being the closest to it, as he placed a kiss onto her stomach, and she continued to hum that tune of hers, the gentle lullaby that nearly brought tears into his eyes as he could, almost, feel his very soul swaying to the melody. My most cherished. Most loved… all three of you… Whatever did I do, to earn this blessing? He had to ask within the depth of his mind, but the heavens stayed silent, as they always did.
There was only the sound of her humming, and the sounds of movement in her baby bump.
And Fuegoleon? He couldn’t stop smiling. He could barely keep the tears of joy from rolling down his cheeks, but he couldn’t stop smiling, if for some reason he would ever have wanted to stop. Because doesn’t one smile when they feel something that is more than love, deeper than affection, and sturdier than loyalty and commitment. By now, he might have been, completely and utterly, unable to depict his emotions with words, but it didn’t mean that they still wouldn’t have embraced his entire being; all of him, bringing peace and warmth and something so soft and gentle that he couldn’t name, to him.
It was all just too much to be put into words. But still, he wouldn’t have had it any other way.
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Since there's still time to ask for shipping headcanons, I've got mine questions ready~! 💖 I'd like to ask for your Nozel x Selena headcanons in answer to questions 8, 23, and 41 if that's okay.
aaaaaaaaa T^T <3 And I'd be more than happy to supply!! ^^
8. What do the like best about their partner?
It might sound far fetched, at first, but Selena likes best how committed Nozel is. As in, he pours all his love into the relationship, which is something that only she can see, because Nozel doesn't express affection in public. But beneath all the layers of that cold exterior and struggling to express himself in a way that would be best understood, there is someone who does care, and cares very much, is highly devoted and committed, and someone who asks nothing else in return but to be loved for who he is.
And if one was to ask Nozel what he best likes in Lena, and he was to answer it truthfully, he likes how she's patient and understands him. She gives him time and love and affection, and tries to understand him in a way that allows him to try and convey his thoughts and feelings the best he can. He doesn't feel like he's judged, but instead he feels that he is loved and cherished and can trust her with his emotions.
23. How do they hug? Kiss? Tease? Flirt? Comfort?
Kisses can come in a wide variety, but in most cases Lena is the one to initiate them. A quick peck on the cheek, or a soft one on the lips in passing, or a longing one at the end of the day. And usually, if he initiates one, it's almost always an almost insisting one; like he'd be asking her to stay. The same applies to his hugs. When he wants to settle down into that moment of showing affection, he doesn't want to do it haphazardly. But it doesn't mean that he wouldn't appreciate any of the more hasted gestures that Lena makes. He would miss them, in fact, if they stopped. He just doesn't think he "knows how to do them". They feel clumsy to him, to give, but not receive.
She's much more or a flirt and a tease than he is, but he does taunt her sometimes with a clever word play or an innuendo of some kind, but usually it's very subtle. He's also not very good at comforting her per se, but rather tries to help by "solving" whatever is troubling her. And it takes a while her him to learn that sometimes she just wants him to listen, and not do anything else.
Lena is much better at giving comfort and reassurance, but she usually tends to favour a solution oriented method as well, if there is one to give. But usually if Nozel just goes on a rant, she let's him rant, and if he wants to just curl up in bed with her, she'll do that and stroke his hair. And at times she'll try to distract him from his troubles with something and give that moment of peace of mind to him, so that he can have at least a little breather.
41. Are they party-goers? What are they like when they’re drunk? Does it happen often?
They're not really party goers. If there is a function in which they are expected, then yes, they will attend, but parties per se aren't their thing. Nozel's speech, while drunk, grows more slurred, and he becomes a bit wobblier and affectionate, but again the affection can be seen behind closed doors. And usually he drinks in moderation, so he isn't in that condition at the ends of the evening.
Lena, while drunk becomes a bit more prone to giggling. And her movements will grow more sluggish as well, but later on just turn into her being sleepy. She, too, doesn't usually drink to that extent, because she likes being in control of herself, especially while out in public, because she doesn't want to stumble and for example bump into things, and potentially fall, or rather increase the likelihood of falling in public.
Headcanons requests were open 27.02-05.03
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Chapter 43: Fuegoleon has a discussion with Nozel about what to make of the title of the Wizard King, ad later on Solara asks about it from Fue; exactly that. What are they planning on doing.
Tag list: @succulentsunrise @loosesodamarble
Keeping in mind that this series contains themes and topics some may find uncomfortable, thus, reader discretion is advised.
Warnings: There are references to Nozel’s and Selena’s ordeal when they thought that she was pregnant, but in fact wasn’t, mentions of alcohol and drinking, Nozel does get drunk but he’s just sleepy because of it, also there’s a suggestive scene for Fuelara
Length: ~4.2k
Chapter 43: What to say and what to not
Snowflakes. Large, light flakes floated down from the sky as if a thin curtain which would soon coat the world in white. Soon, but not yet, for now they still melted as soon as they hit the stones that paved the road to a bar that had been booked for a private function. This time, however, that function was not a friendly meeting for all of the Captains.
Instead, it was a meeting between just two of them.
Fuegoleon and Nozel had agreed that they should have a conversation, such as the one they were going to have, in a place that was neutral ground, so to say. They shouldn’t talk in the office of either of them, and the meeting rooms of the castle seemed… too official, strangely. As if they would be there to make a definite decision, when in fact they were only supposed to talk about it; about what to do with the title of the Wizard King. If they’d be willing to take on the position.
But. It wouldn’t be an easy discussion, because there was so much to consider, so much weight on the entire topic that Fuegoleon couldn’t help but feel a heavy sigh leaving him before he set his foot inside of the establishment, and was shown to a booth where Nozel already sat with a drink in hand.
“I trust that I’m not late,” he commented while taking a seat.
Nozel’s eyes closed in a slow blink as he took a sip from his glass, and let out something that was nearly a shrug. “You’re not. I’m just early.”
Fuego nodded. Nozel nodded. And they ordered drinks along with a few side dishes for the discussion. Because they were certain that they’d be there for a while, and it had been a log day for the both of them until then already.
“How have you been?” Fuego asked, trying to make small talk.
Small talk. Neither of them were great at it. And the thought that they needed to have something as hollow as small talk, would have seemed ludicrous if not for the setting. But. This time it was welcomed. This time it felt like a bumper, a cushion, between the silence, and the discussion that would follow.
Plus, it wasn’t that they didn’t have catching up to do, or that they wouldn’t have been interested in how the other was doing. Because even if they saw each other quite often, it didn’t mean that they would have talked about personal matters.
“I’ve been… We’ve been fine,” Nozel corrected himself as a hint of a smile appeared on his lips.
“Good to hear,” Fuego nodded. “I hope that married life is treating both of you well.”
“Likewise. I hear that… there has been discussion of … family planning.”
“Correct. I have heard similar discussion between the two of you, and I wish that you shall be blessed.” The sentiment was genuine. It was sincere, because Fue still felt the swirl of his own, consuming feeling of joy within his chest.
Nozel nodded, still wearing a faint smile on his lips as he stared ahead of himself. “I wish that… this time it will be for real.”
“Oh? You mean to imply that…”
“I don’t mean to imply anything.”
Fue wasn’t quite sure how to take the remark, as a result of which, he raised an eyebrow, but didn’t comment on it.
“I… simply wish that… now that we’re again hoping for a new addition to the family, that our wishes would be fulfilled,” he explained.
And Fuego understood. He had heard about how they had gotten their hopes up, only to discover that Selena hadn’t in fact been with child, but instead burdened with stress, and thus, there had been a disrupt in her cycle.
“I hope so too,” he replied, but felt the need to add: “for us both”, as an afterthought that made Nozel glance at him, but as the drinks and side dishes arrived, he didn’t ask. Not about the added remark, but instead another thing.
“How are you?” The question felt clumsy, but, held genuine sentiment as well.
“We are well. Enjoying life as newlyweds,” Fue said with a gentle smile, trying to not let the secret seep into his expression, not too much at least.
Nozel hummed in agreement. “It is… quite something,” he agreed as his smile widened, for a short moment. Only a little one, as there was something else to discuss as well. “But that is not why we’re here,” he cleared his throat as they had been left alone, just the two of them.
“Indeed,” Fuego agreed, taking a sip of his drink. “So, what are your plans about accepting the title of the Wizard King?”
The question was perhaps a bit more forward than Nozel would have liked, simply because there was no clear answer to give.
“There isn’t a solid plan, yet. Unless you do.”
“I have been thinking about it greatly, as of late. And though there would be a clear merit in having a leader among us, during these times, changing one so abruptly from the public’s point of view could cause uneasiness. Not to mention how, during the last battle, I cannot say to have performed in a manner that I would expect from a Wizard King myself.”
Nozel nodded, because he agreed, and shared the sentiment for himself.
“And… if I may be as frank as to say, that I … would have preferred to have settled into married life before taking on such a position.” He continued, thinking about how he wasn’t particularly fond of the idea of becoming a new father, only to take onto himself so much work that he wouldn’t have time to spend with his wife and child. And trying to piece together what had become of the kingdom due to the battle, and the upcoming winter, as a king, would surely take him, even more so, away from those he held most dear.
“I understand the sentiment,” there was another nod, the words spoken with a tone that was careful, but soft. This was one of the sentiments he could understand. “I would have wished to have more time to spend with my wife in the early stages of our marriage. Granted that we haven’t been married for long either.”
“But there never seems to be a good time to settle down either, for it seems that there is always a new issue at hand.”
“Mhm.”
The men took another sip from their drinks, taking a moment to themselves.
“So,” Fuego continued after the brief pause. “Are we in an understanding if I say that neither of us is eager to accept the position.”
“We are,” Nozel agreed. “None of use performed in Spade in a manner that would be fitting for the Wizard King.”
“But do we suggest someone else for the position?” That was the next issue at hand. “There is clear merit in having someone lead us through the winter, which would have been a difficult one even without the added pressure of the Devil situation that currently exists in Spade, along with the battle that took place. But on the other hand, there is the very likely fear from the public, that whatever or whoever was able to make Julius disappear, would pose a threat to the country, which would make an already bad situation worse.”
“Not to mention the concern of Julius possibly double-crossing us, which poses another set of issues.” Nozel pointed out.
“Precisely, which is why… I’m wondering it’d be, for now, better to still keep up appearances of Julius being in charge, or not.”
“Rumours are already going around,” Nozel continued. “But we could claim him to be unwell. We have already done so once with Owen.”
“We have.”
“Which would allow us to focus on making it through the winter.”
“I am going to propose suggestions for that, which does involve Thea.”
“Good. Sound sensible,” Nozel nodded with a heavy sigh.
There was another pause that lingered between them, as they simply focused on taking a few breaths, eating the side dishes and sipping their drinks. There was a weight in the bottom of both of their stomachs that twisted and turned in the most unpleasant kind. But they would manage it. They had to manage it.
“So, our suggestion for the rest of the Captains, and Marx, is that we keep the title of the Wizard King as it is, for now, and manage the country the best we can together with the rest of our peers?” Nozel glanced at Fuego from under his brows, speaking out the conclusion.
“I think the public would take well managing them closer. Thus, if we ask each Squad to look into their own quadrants of the country, and see what they have, and what they need, they’ll be more present from the public perspective. And that can bring a sense of comfort. That would also allow each of us to have a smaller workload, because we’d need to only focus to a portion of the country.”
“And we could then have a discussion of how to distribute good between those regions, which isn’t very different from what we’re already doing, since we are overseeing our territories within the country.”
“Precisely, we’d just be expanding the concept to more than what it currently is.”
Nozel finished the drink, but the glass remained in his hand. The heavy, sturdy glass tried to glisten in the dimly lit room, but only managed so much.
“It requires more planning, but I believe it’s a viable solution to present at this time,” Fue continued, finishing his own drink as well.
“It is,” Nozel sighed. “But I need another drink before we continue there.”
“I don’t oppose another round. Solara stated that she’ll be meeting with some friends today.”
“Does your wife not condone you staying out late?” There was a smirk on Nozel’s lips, as he couldn’t resist the remark.
“Do you not want to go home to your wife?” Fue shot back.
“She is out as well.” This time the tone was far more serious, the smirk having wiped off.
“Which is why there is no hurry; to an empty home.”
Nozel let his silence be his reply to the statement. And neither felt the need to continue with remarking how it was pleasant to go out with a friend, every now and then, even if just for drinks. Granted that this was more than just drinks. Or at least, that was how it had started. But. Perhaps it’d be nice, if it would become just having a casual meeting, a drink, with an old friend.
They both needed it, more or less.
---
Just a little bit more… Just, walk normal… Normal. Normal. … I shouldn’t have had that last-, drink. Nozel tried to breathe steadily, and walk in a straight line through the halls of the Silver Eagle’s Headquarters.
Damn the Vermillion alcohol tolerance…
The journey seemed long, and short, at the same time. His pace was quick, but as he was concentrating on his breathing and steps, he couldn’t focus on the passage of time; just taking one step at a time.
A little further… he thought while turning the last corner to the bedroom door, and placing his hand onto the handle.
The door opened, he stepped in, and he closed the door. There…
He stumbled forward, trying to take off his cape with a single motion, but ended up tugging, pulling, and ruffling it as he went on. The cape became thrown onto a chair haphazardly before he sat onto the bed, trying to be as careful as he could. And he did think that he was being careful.
But as he leaned forward, and begun taking off his shoes, there was a sound of sheets ruffling, and a quiet, gentle voice coming through the dimly lit room that basked only in whatever moon’s luminescence trickled around the drapes.
“Did you have fun?”
“It w..as… pleassshant,” he managed.
“Good to hear,” she giggled as he was trying to undo his other shoe.
“I jusht want to sssleep…” he mumbled.
“Mhm,” she hummed, pushing the covers to the side from his side of the bed so that he could simply crawl into bed.
But as he turned, and begun climbing into bed from Lena’s side of the bed, instead of continuing onto his own side, he stopped over her, lowered down, and pressed his head against her chest.
She smiled, and combed her fingers through his hair, dethatching the hairclip as she did so. “Don’t you want to take your clothes off first?”
“The …damn shoes… were… The straps didn’t want to come off…” he frowned while nuzzling closer to her.
The mumble, the words and the meaning behind them that she could make out, made a quiet and muffled chuckle escape her. “Zel?”
“Yeah-, honey…”
“I love you, I really, really do, but… you have he worst taste in shoes…”
“Mmm…”
“You should wear the boots,” she tried, while still running her fingers trough his hair.
“Your feet are cold…” he mumbled as his hold of her grew stronger.
“So are yours,” she giggled.
“You should-, wool socks would be good…”
“Then I’ll make you a deal. I’ll start wearing wool socks at home, if you wear boots outside. Fair?”
“Mmmm… hm…” he shifted over her, rolled next to her and nuzzled close. “I love you…”
“I love you too,” she smiled, looking at him, nearly having drifted off into sleep. “And I take that as an agreement,” she pressed a kiss onto his forehead, still running her fingers through his hair before his breathing steadied, telling her that he had fallen asleep.
Her smile widened at the sight as she pulled the covers over him.
“We’ll talk about it in the morning dear,” she promised, settling down next to him and allowing her own fatigue take over her now that he was home.
---
Fuegoleon walked through the halls of the Crimson Lion Kings, feeling a bit lighter headed, but nothing to worry about. The state would soon subside anyhow, and didn’t compare to how tired he felt due to the workload and his schedule. But. He didn’t have regrets about staying later, and having a few drinks.
It had done him good, both of them good, to get out, to get to talk about official matters, as well as much more casual ones. Catching up had done them both good.
But still, as he reached his bedroom, and he was able to push open the door, comfort set in him for good. Because what greeted him, was the sight of his wife lying in bed, eyes closed.
There wasn’t a conscious thought running through his mind, but what took over him, was a feeling of how that was right. Everything was in place. Even if only within that room; their room. Everything, was as it should be.
He closed the door behind him, trying to close it as silently as he could; sneak across the floor, as quietly as he could. Undress as q-
“How was it?” The question flowed through the air with a soft, tender tone, which felt like home.
“It was good,” he smiled, making his way to the bed and taking a seat on the edge of it. “Did I wake you?”
“No..” she uttered while turning on her back and looked at him. “I was just resting my eyes,” she assured him. “I sleep better when you’re here anyways.”
He didn’t have a reply, not to the statement, and not one that could be given with words. So, instead his hand found hers, and he gave it a squeeze.
There were still so many things he felt that he had to say to her, a swaying ocean of things, sentiments and utterances to give. But none of it came out. All of it needed to be said and didn’t. It was both.
It was both.
“[I love you],” he told her as his thumb drew circles onto the back of her hand. “I’ll come to bed soon,” he assured her with a tender smile.
“Hurry,” she urged him with a slight tease. “Can’t wait to have you close.”
“I’m not very far,” he smirked as his gaze still cascaded over her.
“Not very far is still too far,” she grinned, making him chuckle.
“So, I promise to hurry back,” he told her while leaning closer and pressing a kiss onto her forehead.
I promise, to always find my way to you. To hurry, to you.
---
Fuegoleon sat in his office, trying to concentrate on writing down his suggestions for a plan of action when it came to distributing resources for the upcoming winter, which involved requesting some aid from Thea. Though he would have preferred to have at least one year of partnership before requesting for aid. But. The times called for them, and he supposed that it was more than understandable due to the war they had just gotten out of. In fact, he didn’t simply suppose. He knew so.
It would be more than reasonable. He would be a fool to not request aid, and by doing so not use all the options at his disposal.
And, even if the situation was difficult, out of the decision to make, this was easier to settle. Because, for this one, he had a plan. There had been harsh winters before this, and there would be harsh winters in the future.
This issue he knew how to deal with. But… what to make of becoming, potentially becoming, the Wizard King under these conditions he… didn’t know. He still didn’t know what to make of it, even after his discussion with Nozel.
Neither of them, had an idea on what to do.
There was a knock on his door, but before he could answer, the sound of wood scarping against wood flowed through the air. And the sound, with the flutter of mana that came with it into the room, brought a smile to his face.
“Hey,” she greeted, with a smile, and a tone that was soft, and gentle. A tone that held no hidden meanings within itself.
“Hey,” he greeted back, glancing up from the paper.
She closed the door behind her, and made her way to his desk, sitting at the edge of it, without a word. Because she had just heard a rumour, and though she knew that rumours would be better left at their own value; this, she thought, would conceal, perhaps, a hint of truth in it.
“How was your day?” She asked with a smirk that wanted to be a grin, but which she tried to suppress.
He let out a hum as he thought about it, but nothing quite noteworthy had taken place. “It was relatively uneventful,” he concluded. “We held a meeting in the morning, and I’m making a list of propositions concerning the upcoming winter and how we’ll manage through it, which does involve some aid to be requested from Thea that I think you should be aware of once they become topical.”
“Mhm,” there was a hint of tease in her tone, to which he quirked an eyebrow, but didn’t comment.
“How was your day?” He inquired in return instead, while quietly wondering what was to come.
“I heard an interesting gossip in passing,” she grinned.
“Oh?”
“That the kingdom is in the middle of choosing a new Wizard King.”
He sighed with a slow blink, as if trying to take a moment to set down a burden from his shoulders. “That is one matter that is currently being discussed.”
“And?”
“And it’s being discussed.”
She stayed silent for a while, this time the smirk having turned into a frown, and she simply looked at him. “I thought that this was… that it’s being finalized that Julius isn’t coming back?”
He paused as well, thinking what exactly to say, but the truth was, that he wasn’t quite sure what to say or believe himself. “Nothing is finalized. Yet,” he added.
Her lips parted, just a little, but they did, only to close again as she didn’t really have anything to say.
“For…” he begun, putting down the pen and looking at her. “For you Theans it might be convenient, when dealing with your other allies, to say that Julius is no longer the Wizard King for whatever reason, which is why his questionable behaviour won’t be a problem in the future. But that is not the case for us-“
“I know,” she replied. ��Thus, you should choose a new one, right?”
He lifted his hand, and let his eyelids to fall in yet another slow blink, as if to request her to give him a moment. “I know that you know,” he clarified. “But choosing a new one so… abruptly, isn’t quite as simple, and it would mean having to make a public claim that Julius has… either betrayed us, or that someone strong enough has managed to make him disappear. Both of which are deeply unsettling for the public.”
“Isn’t the Wizard King being… even if he was on just a long outing out of his own whims, wouldn’t that be concerning to the public as well? That their King is more interested in pursuing his own interests than those of the public?” She frowned with the question, which, in all honesty, was understandable. The question was a reasonable one.
“The public… don’t know how much time Julius spent on his expeditions. Most of them have very little knowledge and perception of what’s going on with the Wizard King, which is why it was possible to conceal his sudden… lack of aging, but to announce that we’ll be prematurely choosing a new King is a sign of something being wrong.”
She looked at him, still keeping quiet.
“Even if we’re, to put it less than mildly, living in highly unconventional times.”
“So… you’re still not saying anything definite and hoping that he’ll come back?” She had to ask, but he hesitated. And she saw that he hesitated.
“I’m… unsure of what to wish for,” he admitted. “By now, I don’t think there are particularly good options on that front, because even if Julius does come back, there is the question of why was he gone for all this time.” He let out yet another deep, deep sigh, one of the too many that had left his lungs as of late. “Which, even in the best of possible worlds, would make his motives and priorities questionable.” He concluded while picking up the pen again.
“Meaning that… it’s being under discussion, but not exactly a favourable solution? The choosing of a new Wizard King?”
“Nothing is a favourable option,” he repeated with faint melancholy dripping through his tone. This was not how he wanted to start their first year as parents.
She crossed her arms in thought, or she seemed like she was in thought, when in fact, there wasn’t anything concrete running through her mind. No solution to give him.
And yet, he asked: “What are you thinking?” Which, under any other circumstances, would have made her smile. But this was not a small matter.
“I think… that I’m going to take a shower,” she said with a sigh, glancing to the ceiling. The syllables left her, as if shedding a burden.
“Mhm,” he uttered, with a tone that didn’t seem to imply anything. It was a tone of acknowledgement of her statement. Nothing more, nothing less. Even if there, within his mind, was quiet amusement, because there was nothing that could be done about it at this instant. So, taking a shower, and some time for her too, to process this, was as good of a choice to make as anything else.
“A long… shower,” she spoke, this time the syllables dripping from her lips as her eyes turned to him through a half-lidded gaze.
“Mhm,” he repeated as his pen still danced over the document he was working on. The scratching of the pen without even faltering.
“A long… soapy shower,” she continued, taking a step towards the desk. Then another, and another.
“Mhm,” he replied, as the pen, still scratched the surface of the pen.
“You’re welcome to come too,” she purred, leaning over the table, letting those soft, silken syllables flow from her tongue and coat her lips like honey, as her gaze still cascaded over him.
The scratching of the pen ceased. As if having hit a wall. And his eyes turned to her.
His chin stayed where it was, creating an image as if he was looking at her from under his brows, questioning if he had heard right.
But… After the pause that had lingered in the air, him having concluded that he had indeed heard her right. He smirked, shaking his head, and turned his gaze back down to the document, continuing the sentence in the middle of which he had been.
“Well,” she spoke with a flutter in her tone, pulling away. “You know where to find me,” she teased on her way out of the door, swaying her hips a bit more than she otherwise would.
And his eyes… glanced at her, following her as she went, hoping that he’d be able to write down the paragraph as soon as possible.
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BWHI snippet between Nozel and Selena:
“Well?” He asked, trying to still contain his own grin from coming to surface.
She took a hold the hairclip at the end of his braid, keeping it between her thumb and index finger to the side, as if to peek behind it.
“You can’t get away from replying with a smile,” he told her, this time failing to give her a glimpse of a smile; telling her that she could get away with it, if she wanted to. With him, and about silly little things such as this, she could.
If she wanted to.
But the thing was, that she didn’t want to get away with it. Which was why she pulled the hairclip off, tossing it onto the floor before running her fingers through the hair of his braid, opening it. And the fingers of her other hand joined in, ruffling his hair, before combing it back.
His eyes widened, locking in with the hair clip before she tossed it away, only to find their way onto the expression she wore, while his settled into a frown.
“I’ve always wanted to do that,” she grinned.
Because... undoing his braid does have an undoing effect
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Afterword
Tag list: @succulentsunrise @loosesodamarble
Length: ~0.7k
After the first book in the series, I pondered about what the book had been about, and I suppose that, in a way, the series is still about love, rather than romance. Because the journey has continued, and there have been even more trouble coming their way. But then again, the events of the manga have dictated a lot of how the events will play out in the grand scheme of things, since I did want to write this in a way that would allow it to fit into canon as seamlessly as possible.
The story, Embers, as it is at the end of this book, would also allow for it to stay as it is. In which case the events would have been nothing more than a dream he saw while in coma. A dream he’d forget as the days go by. Or then not. Perhaps it’d stay lingering in the back of his head, the thought of what he could have. But that’s going into a different discussion as the intention is still to write a third part into the series. However, that might still be a good distance away, since the last part would require knowing some plot revelations which the manga hasn’t addressed yet.
This book was yet another journey for me, as much as it was for the characters. And though I enjoyed dwelling in the relationship aspect a bit more than in the previous book, it made it more emotional for me as well. The joys and the sorrows hit harder, as we experienced both a wedding, and the lurking threat of death. And that threat is still not over for them. If nothing else, at least Lena and Lara have some support from each other if all else fails. But it is not much of a comfort for them.
Aside of that, I’m again not sure what all should I talk about. It seems that each time I finish a book, I sit here and look at what I have accomplished, and it’s almost as if I had said all that I have to say in the book itself. Though we all know that it’s not entirely the case in the long run. I will continue to have words to say, as there is still another book in me. And perhaps that’s why I’m without a lot of thoughts about the story, at this time, because the journey isn’t complete yet. Which perhaps gives me consolation as well, because the characters I have grown to love so much are in anguish, though it’s all of my own making.
That being said, I didn’t intend them to suffer as much as they ended up suffering. The hand they were played was better in the beginning, but just as in a game of poker, you’re not playing with only your own cards. But how does one prepare for it? For the cards they can’t see.
They didn’t. I didn’t. But somehow it feels right. I don’t think I would change any plot point in the story itself. There’s been a lot of discussions in it about love, about marriage, about the right choices to make, even if there have been only bad ones at times. And sometimes in life there are only bad choices to make.
I did cry a few times while writing this book, and I’m sure that I will cry while reading it again. I will be frustrated, because the characters are. I will be happy because the characters are. And I will be at a loss, because the characters are. Overall, I think all of them are genuinely who they are supposed to be.
And who they are, are incomplete, erring people.
Which is what this series, I think, is about. It’s about people trying to live, trying to love, trying their best to be the very best versions of themselves. And it’s about how sometimes, even with the best of efforts, it’s not enough, because life is messy. Politics is chaos. And love is not always simple.
Perhaps this book was about life.
Thank you for making another part of the journey with me.
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Not me, breaking Nozel in... anything but the best of ways atm...
She slammed the door shut, and leaned against him, wrapping her arms around him and pressing her lips against his as tears streamed down her cheeks.
But Nozel didn’t know what to think. He didn’t resist, but also didn’t know what to think. He didn’t know if he should think.
And yet, he wrapped her into his embrace, pressing his head against hers as hard as he dared, lifting his chin to look up at the ceiling. Not the heavens, never again the heavens, because those very heavens had only sent him one blessing, a single blessing that was now in his arms, denying every other kind thing a mortal man could imagine.
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Chapter 35: The wedding reception continues, during which the youngest Equinox sister makes an appearance. Which is followed by a bouquet toss, and something else.
Josele belongs to @loosesodamarble
Neva belongs to @lyranova
Tani belongs to @succulentsunrise
Tag list: @/succulentsunrise @/loosesodamarble
Keeping in mind that this series contains themes and topics some may find uncomfortable, reader discretion is advised.
Warnings: suggestive content
Length: ~4.5k
Chapter 35: Go suck a strawberry
“So, how does it feel to be married?” Even if Solara hadn’t seen the smirk over Mereo’s lips, she would have heard it from the tone; flowing out of the fearless lioness with ease.
“The best hours of my life, so far,” she smirked right back, leaning against her arms while swirling wine in her glass. “You should give it a try.”
The red-head hummed, looking up to the ceiling, as a result of which, Tani’s gaze fell down and her posture slouched forward; a hint of blush rising to her cheeks.
“In time,” was the reply, after a few seconds of deliberation that seemed more to have been for the sake of seeming less enthusiastic about the idea than she actually was.
“But perhaps it’s better to not wait for too long,” Lena noted, taking a sip from her wine glass.
The table at which they sat, along with Neva, and Josele, was to the side from the main table. Not too far to be considered a corner, but far enough for them to have a more private conversation. Though most of the guests had retreated into conversing in their own circles. Much like them.
“Agreed. One shouldn’t wait for the fulfilment of marriage. Life is short, after all,” Josele noted, thinking back to the days passed, far longer than they seemed. But also the days ahead, now that the battle with devils had been won, even if only for the time being.
Mereo’s eyes turned to her, as if assessing. But since she had not been acquainted with the brunette previously, aside of having heard what had happened, she couldn’t say that she was happy about it. Though under the circumstances, it was better to stay quiet.
“I see,” was the only comment she gave to the statement. Not meaning anything more with it, but the way the words left her, gave an impression that she might have.
“We’ll just need to see who catches the bouquet,” Tani interrupted, trying to ease the tension. “It tried to make it sturdy enough to actually withhold the toss.”
“And I have no reason to doubt that it wouldn’t hold,” Solara replied, trying to shift the conversation elsewhere. “Thank you, again, by the way,” she continued as a soft smile crept onto her face. “It wouldn’t have been the same without your input.”
“It was nothing,” Tani protested. “It was a simple task, really, and I was happy to do it.”
Had Solara had to guess, she could have sworn that there was a hint of a blush on Tani’s cheeks along with her tone. But as Mereo wrapped her arm around her beloved, and pulled her closer, making the guessing unnecessary; although this blushing was for other reasons.
“And you too Neva,” Lara turned her gaze. “You really outdid yourself. Thank you.”
“Of course!” She half blurted, half said. “I mean… Of course, I would help. And it was good practice on mana control.”
“Regardless, thank you.” The words were spoken with a nod, and a smile, while the platinum blonde girl took another piece of cake in front of her. She still needed time to get used to compliments. Being recognized for her work. Though she couldn’t say that she wasn’t exactly given credit, it was more that she wasn’t… most often, thanked for it.
“It was interesting to see other Theans… doing… a ….” Tani begun, trailing off as someone floated through the air on a piece of… metal? Surely such spells existed, but something about it just caught her attention. Which caused the others to turn to look towards the same direction, to see a young woman, easily below twenty, approaching.
“’ey,” she greeted, stepping off the board and taking a seat by the table, all with a swift motion.
Her hair was short, reaching only her jawline; mostly platinum white, much like Selena’s, but a couple of individual streaks of red ran through them.
“Didn’t mother tell you to leave that at home for today?” Lena asked, glancing at the board.
“[She told me to behave,]” the woman remarked.
There was a pause which spoke more than words might have. At the end of which Solara let out a soundless sigh.
“What? I’m behaving,” the woman retorted.
The gazes turned expectantly to the twins; to make introductions if nothing else.
“I’d like you to meet our little sister,” Solara motioned to the woman.
“Yo,” she said with a wave of a hand. And received various replies; all of which were a greeting of their own.
Selena glanced at her from the corner of her eye, but the sister didn’t seem to mind.
Mereoleona’s brows furrowed, as she thought about it. And she could recall seeing the woman briefly at the Divine Evaluation. But they hadn’t actually talked. Barely exchanged a greeting beforehand. Though, she supposed, the situation had perhaps been weighing on the little sister to the point where making such greetings felt obsolete.
“Aurora, was it?” She asked, quirking an eyebrow.
“Yeah… Though, I prefer Rory. Because ‘Aurora’ sound so… formal, y’know?”
There was a second, and two, three, during which Mereo only looked at her, until she nodded.
“So… what’s up?” Rory’s eyes shifted around with an awkward smile. “What’s the plan for next?”
“Where have you been?” Lena asked with a tone that was trying to not be displeased.
“Around.”
“[You could have been more present.]”
“[I was!]”
“Please… you two,” Solara sighed, taking a sip of wine.
A moment of silence passed around the table. Lena’s expression settled down into a composed one, right before her gaze fell, looking into the depths of the table.
Meanwhile Rory’s brows stayed furrowed, but her eyes, too, were directed down and ahead of herself.
“I was around… I just… I don’t like these kinds of socials… But I’ve been around,” she insisted. “I saw the ceremony, the cake cutting, the dance and everything, but I…”
Lena hesitated for a moment, while Lara waited for Rory to continue. But instead, it was Lena to speak up first.
“You could have come say hi,” this time her tone was softer, more gentle and understanding. But there was an underlying veil of hurt.
“I guess…” Rory’s gaze turned to the side.
“You’re here now,” Lara concluded with a vast array of emotion. But… She was glad that Rory did eventually make an appearance. “Not everyone likes to be … on display, in lack of a better word.”
Rory only nodded. Not sure what she should say about it. Because she couldn’t say that she wouldn’t have been placing herself on display at times, but the stuck-up kind of being on display that was associated with nobility was the specific kind she didn’t want. If she was noticed she wanted it to be for a reason of her own choosing.
“I don’t really like these kinds of socials either,” Neva admitted. She wasn’t exactly sure why she was the one to speak up. Perhaps she just felt that she could relate.
“Like a plant out of a pot,” Tani tried to joke. Because she was also very much out of her comfort zone with noble balls, parties, alike.
“But you kept an eye out for your sister,” Josele smiled. “Even if from the side lines.”
Rory thought about it for a while. How they all seemed to … not like such socials. Or at least understood her motivations. But still they were there.
“Rory…” Lena continued. “It’s not that I’m upset with the fact that you made an appearance, but I… wished that you… I wish that you’d be around more. You’re always coming and going.”
Rory nodded. “Look, Lena I… miss you guys too. Both of you,” she looked at both Lara and Lena. “And you’re tied in things a lot. Plus, I have my own life to figure out…” she begun to trail off; but stopped before she did so fully. “You’re right though. I could have come say hi.”
There was a smile shared, but no words exchanged. Perhaps because neither knew what to say, or perhaps because there was no reason to say.
“Bouquet toss.”
Everyone glanced at Lara.
“The next ‘event’ is bouquet toss,” she repeated with a faint smile.
“Cool,” Rory said. “And garter toss?”
“Garter toss?” Lena quirked an eyebrow.
“Yeah. I heard it’s this thing where the groom reached under the bride’s skirt and removes a garter, which he’ll then toss like the bride tosses the bouquet.”
Lena blinked.
Rory looked at her. “Yeah. I’m serious.”
Lena blinked again, and turned her attention to Lara, raising an eyebrow.
“Yes. It’s a real practice Lena,” she commented. “But we’re not doing it. We’re tossing something else.”
“Oh?”
“My hairpiece,” she replied, her fingers reaching towards the accessory that held large red roses, although artificial.
Lena hummed in thought, but said nothing. Simply because there was nothing to say.
“So… any of you, or your spouses gonna take part in the tosses?” Rory asked, glancing around the table; trying to make conversation, more than anything.
“I think I’ll pass,” Mereo remarked, taking another sip of her drink.
“Oh?” Tani glanced at her.
“You’re welcome to, if you want to. I just don’t see a reason for it,” she shrugged.
“I’ll also join,” Neva uttered. “Just for fun.”
“And Yuno?” Solara asked.
“I don’t think he will,” Neva blushed slightly, tilting her head. “I don’t think it’s really his thing…”
“The same applies to Nacht,” Josele thought out loud. “But I think it’s entertainable.” Her eyes shifted around, trying to catch a glimpse of him. Speaking of which… where is my darling devil divine? She thought right before the announcement came to perform the bouquet toss.
Solara took her bouquet as the people arranged themselves. Some gathering into a rather large crowd near French doors that led to the balcony. Meanwhile others gathered around to see who’d be the lucky one to catch the assortment of flowers.
Tani positioned herself around the middle of the group, thinking that the bouquet was slightly lighter than it might have appeared, but the fact that it was a cascading one, might make it more difficult to throw.
Neva settled onto the left side of the crowd, concluding that right-handed people, while throwing something over their head most often end up throwing towards the left.
But Josele settled to the back. The game was silly, although for good fun. However, she didn’t see a reason to position herself to a place where those who were intent on catching the bouquet might push around. She could take it, but there seemed to be no real reason to subject to such. And besides, from there she could try to keep an eye out for Nacht, in case he’d appear from somewhere.
“Ready?” There was the sound of a smile in Lara’s tone, but it nearly slipped Josele as Nacht appeared next to her.
Her head turned to him, away from the crowd.
He extended his hands forward, as if to present a point. “Josele? I’ve been thinking abou-“
There was a bouquet in his hands.
“Hm?”
“HE CAUGHT IT!” Someone yelled.
Nacht turned towards the sound, to see a good number of women staring at him as Josele’s hand rose in front of her mouth to hide her smile, and the laugh that tried to leave her.
“I DEMAND A RETOSS!” The same voice called as Nacht’s eyes shifted between Josele and the crowd.
“I’m…”
“LET HIM HAVE IT!” Yami yelled in return with a grin.
The crowd turned to Solara who was trying to contain a laughter, her hand, too, covering her mouth.
“Ladies…” she managed through her amusement. “If he wants to get married this much, then perhaps we ought to let him.”
There was a displeased grumble from the crowd, but no real argument against.
“Good catch,” Josele teased while placing her hand onto his arm.
“I… suppose…” he uttered, looking at the item in his hand. “Actually I… was thinking about something like this…” He uttered under his breath.
“For what?” She chuckled, not quite sure exactly what she was referring to.
His eyes turned to the side, the crowd and the people nearby who might hear. And it was too early for them to hear.
“You were saying something?” She asked, seeing the glance, the apprehension and the reservedness.
“Yes…” his gaze travelled around the room, after which he pulled her with him out of the doors and onto the balcony, as people begun to disperse.
The activity had been concluded. Even if not all were pleased with the outcome, despite it having been all fun and games, more than anything actually meaningful. Silly little tradition that had served a good laugh with the unexpected turn of events.
Solara made her way towards Fuegoleon, who was standing next to Nozel and Yami; as Yami was musing to Nacht having been the one to catch the bouquet.
“Sure hope he takes this as a sign,” he laughed. “He’s been looking at Josele like a puppy dog for ages. Better if he finally took the plunge.”
“Sometimes it requires time Yami,” Fue noted as Lara linked her arm with his.
“Sometimes,” she teased.
“Sometimes,” he agreed.
“Yeah, you two waited for a while too,” Yami remarked with a straight face.
Solara shook her head while Fue sighed. And Nozel frowned.
“So, now to the hairpiece toss?” She asked, looking at Fue, but before he could get anything past his lips; barely having had time to open his mouth, Yami spoke on top of him.
“Hairpiece toss?”
“Yes,” Fue nodded. “Since it’s… unfavourable to retrieve a garter in public, we’re opting to do a similar practice, but with her hair accessory.”
Yami looked at Solara without an expression.
“Mhm,” she nodded. “The hair comb with roses in it.”
Yami glanced at the accessory with large, red roses with a little gold dust around the edges of the petals. “Hm,” he uttered with an exhale, thinking to himself about how it’d suit Charlotte. Though, he couldn’t think of anything that wouldn’t suit Charlotte. And yet, the hairpiece, the roses and the faint glimmer of the gold dust which… reminded him of the way her eyes sparkles when the light hit them in the right angle.
Yeah… He couldn’t imagine it not looking good on Charlotte.
Solara turned her head towards Fue again, placing her other hand as well onto his arm. “Are we going to-, Hey!”
Her attention darted back to Yami, who was now holding onto the accessory with a thoughtful look in his eyes. The hairdo came undone, strawberry blond locks now flowing past her shoulders, down her back and framing her face. Her left ear was still visible due to a braid keeping it together, while the right side held volume.
“That was uncalled for Sukehiro,” Fuegoleon’s arm wrapped around Lara’s waist, pulling her close as he glared at Yami. And his tone… was cold.
It was cold.
Lara looked at him for a moment, and as she did, he pulled her with a faint motion, as if to assure her. As a result of which she pressed her forehead against his cheek, from where she made a rolling motion to look back at Yami without pulling away.
“You were going to take it out regardless,” Yami commented with a blank expression.
“That is the argument I was making. It is not your position to take it from her,” his jaw was tense, and she had to wonder if there was a growl in his tone. Or if she had just imagined it.
There was a pause as Yami stood there, seemingly wondering about what to say, or do. Until he waved his other hand in front of him. “Okay, well, sorry ‘bout that.”
Fuegoleon’s lips parted to reply as Solara leaned back, placing her hand onto his other cheek.
She pulled, every so faintly, guiding him to look at her.
“If he wants to get married that badly…” she uttered with a whisper, before pressing a kiss onto the corner of his mouth.
For a moment Fue’s brows stayed furrowed, as if trying to make a decision; until the expression melted away and settled into a much softer one.
“Alright,” he finally said, glancing at Yami. But the rest of the sentence was left hanging in the air; left unsaid. Not that it needed to be said.
Yami knew that he wasn’t ‘proper’, and didn’t behave according to the etiquette, because that just wasn’t the kind of a person he was. To him many things weren’t that serious, and life wasn’t meant to be enjoyed, the best one can. Because life would to well to serve problems regardless, there was no need to make it harder than it already was.
But he also knew when he had crossed a boundary. Even if without meaning to.
This was one of those moments.
And he might need to talk it over with Fuegoleon in some point. But that moment wasn’t now.
Nozel scowled at him, but that wasn’t anything out of the ordinary. At least he had refrained from calling him as ‘foreigner’ with a that judgemental tone. Though it was more of a result of Nozel being married to a foreigner, and now having a sister-in-law, who was also a foreigner. The irony itself was a victory in Yami’s books.
“Easy there Braid Face. You’ll pop a vein in your forehead at this rate,” he said, directing the conversation elsewhere, or at least somewhat elsewhere.
“Mind your tongue, Yami,” Nozel retorted with the frost of winter time.
Meanwhile Lara locked gazes with Lena, who sighed.
“What? I’m just saying that getting this worked up over something that’s not about you, isn’t good for your health,” Yami remarked, with a point. But the reaction that he received from Nozel, was anything but receptive.
Fuegoleon sighed at the exchange, because people just couldn’t seem to behave while in the same room, even if for only one day. Though the day had already turned into evening, and soon night. But he supposed the many hours that had gone smoothly had merely lulled him into wishful thinking that no verbal back and forth would be exchanged.
Nozel’s lips parted to reply, but before he could, Lena tugged his hand, pulling him with her.
“Choose your fights dear,” she whispered, and gave him a glance that was laced with a tenderness. But underneath it all there was a hint of something playful, even if only evident to him. The mischievous, almost decadent veil that was hidden from everyone but him.
Because of which he sighed, letting go, for now, and followed her.
“Did you greet my parents already,” Lara asked, leaning away from Fue with the intent to move on.
“Briefly,” he replied, thinking nothing much of it.
She tugged him with her, away from Yami and the situation, towards her parents who were talking with Rory on the balcony. But as the couple approached, the conversation ceased and attention was directed to the two.
“Hi,” Rory raised her hand, as if to wave; more to Fue than Lara, since she hadn’t properly met with him yet, while Celeste and Arcturus gave them a nod.
“Evening,” Fue replied.
“I hope you had nice time,” Lara smiled, directing the statement to all of them.
“As nice it can be, with yet another daughter moving away,” there was a hint of a grin in Celeste’s tone, but there was a sense of melancholy that was more prominent. Because this was, although a joyous occasion, also an end of an era. There was sadness in that change, even if the change was a good thing.
“Mother,” Solara replied with a tone that tried to be a scold, but instead flowed with a grin.
“I know,” she said while taking a step forward and wrapping her arms around Lara, as if trying to shield her from the world for one last time. “[I love you, my darling daughter,]” she uttered, squeezing Lara in her arms one more time.
“[Love you too mom.]”
Celeste took a step back, giving Solara a smile before turning her attention to Fue.
She looked like she had something to say. But as seconds ticked by, it was as if she wasn’t sure precisely what it was that she had to say.
“Ma’am, we haven’t had the chance to converse quite as often as what would be considered favourable, but I know that you care for your daughters; your entire family, which-“
Celeste raised her hand, and cut him off. Because she didn’t need him to try and convince her of… whatever it was that he needed to convince her of.
“I know you’re a good man,” she said. “I just expect you to stay as such.”
Arcturus’ eyes closed as his lips tugged up into a smile. “Give the boy some slack,” he commented with amusement.
Fue glanced at him, and though he wasn’t exactly pleased with being called as ‘boy’, he understood the tone and the well-intentioned meaning behind it.
“He’s gaining our daughter and now he’s supposed to gain ‘some slack’ from me too?” Celeste mused with a glance to her husband.
“Fair,” he laughed, as Fue let out a hum that vibrated in his throat with displease.
“Look,” Celeste begun, thinking that Arcturus actually did have a point, and turned her attention back to the vermillion haired mage. “I don’t like the fact that she’s moving away. Yes, even if the portal makes it far easier to travel. Which creates certain risks.”
Fue did not like the possibilities where this conversation was going.
“Or the fact that Lara won’t be taking on the position she was supposed to, at least not as planned, which creates complications.”
He really didn’t like the conversation.
“Or the fact that she’s moving to a country which has currently no strong leadership.”
Hurtful, but Fue couldn’t exactly argue against. And it made him like the conversation even less.
“But…” she continued. “I do want her to be happy.”
Solara intwined her fingers with Fue’s and leaned against his side.
“And … emotions, when it comes to love, don’t look at these things.”
Fue could feel Lara giving his hand a squeeze, as if to tell him that it’d be alright.
“You two have… fought to be together, and I can’t claim that I could think of anyone more worthy of her,” she admitted, eyes down to the space between them. “But I still don’t like her moving out of Thea,” she added, glancing up at Fue.
“Understandable,” he nodded. Because it was. Moving to another country, wasn’t easy.
“You do have my blessing, to make it clear,” Celeste added.
“But you’d prefer us moving to Thea?”
“Among other things,” she nodded. “But. It’s also not my choice.”
He nodded to her. She was being reasonable. There was frankness in her tone, and the things she had listed, were fair. She was also honest with how she felt.
Celeste recognized that she would have wanted things to be different form what they were, but also that it wasn’t about her. Which was all that could be asked of her.
“Just make her happy.”
“Mother!” Lara scolded. “We’ll make each other happy,” she insisted, as Fue chuckled.
“I intend to,” he said, eyes turned to the side and to Lara, even if the statement was directed at Celeste.
“Okay, now I’m going to steal you away before Father has his turn,” Solara insisted, tugging him with her as Arcturus let out another laugh.
“I’ll have plenty of time for that,” he joked bidding the two off.
Solara tugged Fue towards refreshment, under the disguise of getting a drink, without trying to make it too obvious that she was pulling him along.
“Sorry, about… my parents, it’s…”
“They care about you, my love,” he mused with a faint chuckle.
“Even so, they shouldn’t… I mean it’s…”
“Your mother is… stern, yes. But her arguments are valid,” he told her as they reached the table. “Two of her children have moved abroad, leaving behind duties they were supposed to undertake, which leaves them to figure out how to distribute those duties to others. Even if you’d be able to partake to some of it. It requires more work. And Clover is, at the moment, in a rather unstable setting due to Julius’ disappearance. Her concerns are valid,” he picked up a chocolate covered strawberry from the table.
“But her comment was out of place,” she replied.
“Not as much as you think, beloved,” he held the strawberry in front of her mouth. “Because I am intent on making you happy.”
Her eyes shifted between the strawberry and his gaze which cascaded over her like the gentle rays of the evening sun; bringing her comfort, warmth and security.
“Go ahead, take a bite,” he encouraged.
She shook her head in amusement; the corners of her lips tugging up into a smirk. After which she took a bite.
The juicy fruit gave in under her teeth, and her lips wrapped around the treat for a moment; her eyes looking into his… Until the piece was in her mouth, dancing over her tongue as she chewed, it, up.
Air flowed out of his lungs with something that resembled a content chuckle and a huff, while not being fully either. After which he placed the rest of the strawberry in his own mouth, the sweetness coating his tongue for a while.
“Another?” He asked, making Lara chuckle while shaking her head.
“People are watching,” she replied, glancing for a fraction of a second towards a small group, who were watching the exchange.
His eyes followed, making the same observation before turning back to her with a slow blink. “True,” he agreed. “Perhaps we’ve been scandalous enough for the day.”
“Everything can be scandalous,” she noted. “But the strawberry was perhaps the most one of it all.”
His lips tugged up into a smirk, along with a faint chuckle as a spark rose to the corner of his eye. “What is a man to do when he can’t taste the very sweet heavenly thing he wishes upon his wife’s lips, but to quench it with a poor substitute of a succulent berry?”
“Oh go bite a strawberry,” she told him with a grin.
To which he laughed, eyes gathering a deep undertone of purple velvet. Something rich, heavy, and soft against one’s skin.
“Perhaps, later…” he said, nearly purred, while brushing off her strawberry blond locks. “Later…” he repeated, swallowing, this time, as a thirst begun tormenting him. And this thirst, wouldn’t be quenched by none other than her.
#before we have it#black clover fanfiction#fuegoleon x solara#fuelara#nozel x selena#nozena#oc: solara equinox#oc: selena equinox#oc: josele canty#oc: neva belmonte#oc: tani chartreuse#oc x canon#not all ocs are mine
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Chapter 37: The first morning as husband and wife for Fuelara, during which they open some wedding gifts. And Selena is determined to have some time with her husband as well
Just as before Josele isn’t my OC.
Tag list: @succulentsunrise @loosesodamarble
Keeping in mind that this series may contain themes and topics, some may find uncomfortable. Reader discretion is advised.
Warnings: A brief, light, smut scene (a quicky), and some suggestive themes. I promise I’ll get into proper content soon enough
Length: ~3.9k
Chapter 37: Their wives
Light trickled in through the curtains, landing onto Fuego’s eyelids, making them flicker open. His body felt light, despite the sensation combining with the feeling of having sunken into the mattress.
He couldn’t remember when he had slept this well last; when had felt this rested last.
His head turned to the left, where he saw the still sleeping form of his wife.
My wife…Wife. He thought as a smile crept onto his lips. My beautiful wife… he rolled onto his side, and pulled her closer.
“Mmm..ue…ive more…inutes…” she mumbled, making him chuckle.
“There’s no rush, my beloved,” he leaned over, placing a kiss onto her cheek.
His fingers traced her hairline, tucking a lock behind her ear.
“There’s no rush to anywhere. Not anymore,” he murmured against her skin, sending vibrations down to her neck; making her tickle. “Never again…”
“That tickles!” She giggled while wriggling in his embrace.
“Oh?” He grinned, burrowing his face into the crook of her neck.
“Hey!” She laughed, rolling further away from him, now wide awake.
“Mhm,” he followed her movements, rolling on top of her, without putting his entire weight on her, but still feeling her naked back against his chest.
“Well, aren’t you frisky,” she teased.
“How could I not, when you’re there?”
“Aha,” she chuckled. “Usually I’m more eager.”
“I believe we agreed to take turns.”
“We did,” she agreed pushing her hips back. “Well?” She glanced over her shoulder. “I’m all set, and it feels like you’re too.” The grin in her tone was something else. Almost as if she was daring him to go.
And it did nothing but stroke his ego.
“I am,” he agreed, lining himself with her, and pushing in.
She buried her face into the pillow under her head, and moaned into it. Which only made him lower his head, next to her ear, while rocking into her.
“I want to hear you,” he purred, nearly growled.
“But it so good,” she mewled, turning her head to him.
“Mmm…” he pressed his head against hers, feeling her tighten around him.
“Harder,” she encouraged.
A request to which he answered, doing just that; keeping the tempo as it was, but thrusting harder into her.
Her body tensed under him, as she kept repeating his name, along with encouragements. Time and time again, until she drew her lungs full of air, tensing for one more time, before coming undone.
And he, thrusted in one more time, closing his eyes as he allowed himself to climax, knowing that his wife did too.
His wife.
His. And only his.
Whose hair he could brush to the side, before leaning down to kiss her. Just like now.
Who he could pull into his embrace, just like now.
Who he could watch undress, as well as dress, just like now.
Whose life he could share, just like he was, right at that moment; as they were dressed, although only lightly, and merely existing in the same room.
There was still some wine left over from the previous night, which was why they poured themselves a glass, despite it being only eight in the morning. But it’d be a shame to waste good wine, and so, they decided to have that glass while waiting for breakfast to arrive, and open at least a couple of the wedding gifts.
“Which one do you want to open?” She asked, going around the room, and looking at the gifts that had been supplied to them. But a coupled of them stood out; to her, that being one that was accompanied with an envelope, rather than a gift tag.
Fuegoleon let out a thoughtful hum as he saw one of the cards have slightly darkened edges, as if it had been burned. Even if only for an artistic touch. He picked up the package and looked at the tag.
“Who’s it from?” She asked, having chosen one already.
“My sister. And miss Chartreuse,” he replied turning around and making his way to her. He sat onto the love seat, holding the package in his hands, and feeling amusement from the card. “I suppose that she couldn’t help but put her… input into the card,” he mused.
“She made it her own,” Lara smiled, placing her hand onto his arm.
A puff of air left him, flowing out with tenderness of the crackle of fire in the fireplace, which kept them from remembering how autumn was soon upon them. And he smiled. He smiled a warm smile.
“Come on, open it,” she encouraged, enthusiasm seeping through the syllables.
He glanced at her for a moment, allowing his smile widen before looking back at the package. “Whatever my queen desires,” he uttered as he started unwrapping it.
And inside there seemed to be a blanket, only that the roll was much heavier than one would expect a blanket to be. So, he started rolling the bundle open, to reveal a bottle of wine.
“Mereo took part into the gift,” he commented, but there was a smile on his face.
“Mhm,” Solara hummed as her fingers traced the dark red blanket. “There’s also a monogram on the blanket,” she noted, making him turn his eyes to her hands, and the letters she was tracing, which depicted the initials of their first names.
“So it seems,” he uttered with a whisper.
“We could… curl up on the balcony once it’s proper autumn… maybe light some candles and open that bottle of wine and just.. look at the stars…”
“Does it entail holding you close?” He smirked, leaning closer to her, his hands trailing along the crimson fabric, until he could lock the tips of his fingers together with hers.
“And as many kisses as we count the stars,” she leaned closer.
There was a pause, as his gaze flickered between her lips and her eyes.
“I would rather spend the energy to kisses than counting,” he commented.
She blinked, and looked at him. After which she pressed her forehead against his shoulder and laughed. She laughed, feeling how she might run out of air.
And he… He smiled.
He smiled because she laughed, and that sound, the melody, the tune to which he could almost feel their souls dance… It was almost too good to be true. To know that they were finally there, was almost too good to be true.
“You’re adorable,” she pressed a kiss onto his cheek, making his smile only widen as she pulled away, eyes radiant as ever.
“Which gift did you choose?” He asked, glancing to her hands and to the small box, and an envelope that she held.
“Miss Canty’s and Lord Faust’s,” she replied, handing him the envelope.
He let out a hum while taking a hold of the envelope. There were still mixed feelings when it came to his opinion on Miss Canty, even if Solara seemed to have made friends with her. Up to the point where they were… at least on first name basis, if not nicknames already. Though he supposed that he had called her address Josele as Joey, once or twice, now that he thought about it.
But to him, there was still a… hint of apprehension. Which he did want to shake. Because of, both, his own sake as well as hers. She wanted to be better, and he wanted to believe that she was better, while recognizing that he had made a mistake back in the day, which had resulted into her harsh words.
And… she had made a formal apology. So, perhaps he was being too hard on her.
His eyes turned to look at Solara, who was trying to untie the ribbon around the box.
Her fingers pulled onto the ribbon, but the box refused to open willingly. So, she extended her mana skin to her nails, creating claws, and cut through the red piece of fabric. The box itself was blue, and the lid could simply be pulled up, which she did, to reveal something that resembled a pendant.
“Just one?” Fue asked, looking at the box.
She hummed in thought picking up the item from the box, or intending to do so, but nearly dropping a part of it.
The blue box tumbled onto the floor, but in her palms, she had managed to capture not one, but two pendants. One was a solid heart, made of a stone that had a faint pink hue to it, meanwhile the other, seemed more like an outlining of the very same heart, but still was of a heart shape itself. But the larger one, was made of stone that was of lavender hue.
His eyes scanned over the pendants, not thinking much of them, other than there was a faint, barely unnoticeable flow of mana. “A… heart warming gesture,” he commented, quietly wondering about the purpose of the mana.
“There’s a letter too, right?” She asked, looking at the envelope in his hand.
His reply came in the form of a hum, after which he opened the envelope to indeed find a letter, which he begun reading out loud.
“Congratulations to the both of you Lady and Lord Vermillion, on this joyous occasion.
We wish nothing but peace and love on the journey you’re undertaking as a couple, but since the world has shown each of us, that life is not without trouble, we wish to bestow a small blessing onto you.
The box holds two pendants, crafted of different stones. The smaller one that bears a faint pink hue and some darker red spots, is made of strawberry quartz. It’s believed to be calming and soothing, but also a stone of self-understanding. While the other one is made of lavender quartz, and is said to aid in time of doubt and bring a sense of security into oneself and their capabilities. However, we wished to extend our wish further than mere symbolism of the stones, and embed them with magic.
Strawberry quartz and lavender quartz are both receptive in similar ways as rose quartz, which is a stone of healing. It channels healing magic, as well as stores it, much better than any other type of material Nacht has been able to find, which is why we felt this to be the best fit for the two of you.
The pendants are embedded with healing magic that charges itself on your emotions. But due to the nature of the stone, and the emotions we wish upon you, they respond only to the feeling of love, may that be the love you feel for each other, your friends or your family, the pendants respond to it and store mana into themselves. And this mana will then be used to heal you in time of need.
Sadly, the potency extends to only small cuts and bruises, but sometimes it’s the little things that matter the most.
We wish you all the best on this journey you’re taking. May it be filled with love and laughter.
Best wishes,
Josele and Nacht”
She smiled, and looked at the pendants in her hand. “I think it’s a lovely gesture,” she uttered, leaning her head against his shoulder.
“It is,” he agreed. Though he wasn’t quite yet… over what she had said to him once upon a time, he couldn’t deny, especially after hearing this well-wishing, that she was a much better person than what that one ‘assessment’ would have led to believe.
“So, which one do you want,” she asked, holding out the pendants. “The lavender one matches your eyes.”
He smiled at the words, and looked at the pendants. In a way, he supposed, that the larger one was a depicting himself, meanwhile the smaller one reminded him of her.
“It does,” he told her, taking a hold of the larger pendant. “But… I think it would suit you better.” He pulled away, just enough to turn to her, and opened the lock of the chain which held the pendant.
“Reminds me of you,” she half said, half corrected, while turning around and brushing her hair to the side.
“Among other things,” he admitted while putting the pendant on her.
“Mark me as yours?” She teased.
“Perhaps that too,” he leaned forward and placed a kiss onto her cheek.
“Hey!” She laughed. “Hold on with the love until we can get a pendant on you too,” she cooed while turning around and wrapping her arms around him, to place the smaller pendant onto him.
“Perhaps I’m eager,” he suggested.
“And perhaps the ten seconds it took, wasn’t too long,” she smirked.
“Almost,” his lips parted and he leaned closer, as if beckoning her to do the same.
“Hmmm… Almost you say,” she grinned, staying still.
“I do,” he inched closer. Forgetting for a moment that the loveseat was narrower than the imagined, which made him tumble onto the floor.
She covered her mouth with her hand in surprise, even until he locked his gaze with hers.
“This is what happens if I don’t have you, my love,” he smirked, and let out a faint chuckle.
She laughed, lowering down onto the floor, on top of him. “What am I going to do with you?”
“Anything you see fit.”
“A dangerous thing to say,” she purred.
“You say, as if I would give in so easily,” he cooed with feather light syllables and cupped her face between his hands.
“Mhm,” she lowered down, her lips hovering over his. “And you-“
There was a knock.
The door opened.
“Sir, breakfast is being-“ The maid froze, glancing at the two, and holding the tray.
There was another maid, holding another tray. Who also froze in place.
Fuegoleon and Solara looked at the two in return.
“You can put the trays down,” Fuegoleon commented with a faint nod.
And the maids did before hurrying out of the room, nearly slamming the door shut on their way.
A few seconds ticked in the air, after which Fue sighed, and Lara laughed.
“Great timing,” she chuckled while sitting up.
“It is nine in the morning,” he said, perhaps trying to reason with him. “It is the latest I’ve had breakfast in a while.”
“So, they did give us time,” she cooed, finding amusement in his faint frown.
“Mhm,” she smirked while rolling her hips, still sitting on his lap.
“The breakfast will get cold,” he commented with a flicker in the corner of his eye, as his lips tried to tug up into a smirk that he tried to hide.
“Not if we’re quick,” she suggested, nearly pouted, with a taunt.
---
Nozel made his way back to the bedroom, intending to bid her off on his way to work, but instead found the bed empty.
The bed wasn’t made, but that was fair considering how he had told the staff to keep out until breakfast was being server. The only exception being the servant who did his hair in the morning, but for that purpose he entered a dressing room, instead of staying in the bedroom itself.
His eyes scanned around, but as he felt a flow of mana, he turned around to see Selena emerging from the bathroom.
She was wearing a dark blue sating robe, and her hair was down. Only brushed but otherwise free, which made it flow with her movements.
“I’ll be going to work,” he told her, looking at how the hem of the robe swayed around her, while the rest of it hugged her body. And how her hair, platinum, almost white, framed her features.
“Oh?” She uttered standing in front of him.
“Oh?” He repeated with a slight frown.
“Mhm,” she hummed, while placing her hands onto his chest, and playing with the feathers of his cape. “You see, I’m going to do something that you’ll hate me for.” There was a faint coo in her voice, speaking of something far less dire than the words itself might have implied.
“[Heaven’s sent] I do need to work. It’s not our honey moon,” he noted.
“Not necessarily,” her hands glided over his chest, the fabric of his shirt, as if looking to bury themselves under the cape as well. “Considering how it��s only the day after the wedding, people aren’t expecting everything to be back in full swing.”
“Which is why I need to be there,” he replied. “I’m required to take care of duties for today in place of Fuegoleon as well.”
“His squad can run by itself for a day,” she retorted, leaning closer to him. “And I’ve distributed your duties for the day to Rob. The ones that can be distributed I mean, and your schedule wasn’t that filled to begin with.”
He paused for a while, taking in her statement. “You distributed my work forward?”
“Mhm,” she hummed. “And I’ll help you complete what the other’s cant take care of. Tomorrow.”
He let out a sigh. Despite there being a certain… allure in the situation.
“And Rob just agreed to this?” He looked at her, not yet quite sure how to take it.
“Well…” her eyes averted for a while as her fingers fumbled with the collar of his shirt. “He wasn’t exactly eager to tell me no either. Considering how I am your wife.”
She had a fair point. He couldn’t, not really anyways, blame his underlings for agreeing to a request coming from his wife.
“And I might have promised him an extra day off for his troubles.”
He sighed again. “I can’t say that I’m particularly happy with being walked over when it comes to assigning my duties forth,” he told her. “But I don’t hate you for it.” He continued. Because he didn’t hate her. He couldn’t hate her.
“So… are we good?” She asked, placing one of her hands onto his cheek.
A faint smile rose to his lips as he looked at her. “Don’t make a habit out of it.”
“I’m not planning on,” her other hand burrowed away from under his cape, and onto fur lining of it instead. “But you need a day off. And since you refuse to take one for yourself-“
“I do take time off,” he protested with a veil of amusement in his tone.
“Not enough.”
A scoff that tried to not be a chuckle, left him. Because, even if he wouldn’t admit it, he thought that she was… more right than she was wrong. He wouldn’t take this much time off; had he not been married. And though he could use this time to get ahead of his rival, spending it in other ways was far more enjoyable.
Perhaps life ought to be more enjoyable.
“Mhm,” she hummed with a lingering tease. “But that’s not what you’ll hate me for.”
“Oh?” A grin tried to climb onto him, but he snuffed it out. Because even though the taunt in her tone gave away the meaning of the statement, he should wait for her to elaborate.
But she didn’t reply. She merely wore a wide grin on her face as her fingers twirled his braid.
“Well?” He asked, trying to still contain his own grin from coming to surface.
She took a hold the hairclip at the end of his braid, keeping it between her thumb and index finger to the side, as if to peek behind it.
“You can’t get away from replying with a smile,” he told her, this time failing to give her a glimpse of a smile; telling her that she could get away with it, if she wanted to. With him, and about silly little things such as this, she could.
If she wanted to.
But the thing was, that she didn’t want to get away with it. Which was why she pulled the hairclip off, tossing it onto the floor before running her fingers through the hair of his braid, opening it. And the fingers of her other hand joined in, ruffling his hair, before combing it back.
His eyes widened, locking in with the hair clip before she tossed it away, only to find their way onto the expression she wore, while his settled into a frown.
“I’ve always wanted to do that,” she grinned.
His eyelids fell under his furrowed brows, in a slow, careful manner.
“And your hair is so smoo-“
He lowered down, hoisted her up, and carried her to the bed, tossing her onto it. Which made an amused yelp leave her lungs.
“Oh my,” she mused as he pulled his cape off, and tossed it onto the floor.
He leaned forward, hovering over her, before crawling onto the bed, on top of her.
“You did not just go through all that trouble to ruffle my hair, did you?” His tone was low, and quiet. It tasted like a warning, and sounded almost like a growl. But in fact, was neither of them.
“And what if I did?” She teased.
His eyes closed again, but this time there was no frown; only sheer, amused disbelief. “Unnecessarily difficult,” he commented looking at her.
“I don’t think so…” she cooed while wrapping her arms around him, over his shoulders. “And besides, now I know you’re not leaving for a while.”
“That, my dear, is called blackmail,” he noted, now unable to shake the smile from his lips.
“Mhm,” she hummed, but didn’t sound convinced. “What exactly am I withholding from you?” Her grin only widened as her eyes flickered between his eyes and his lips.
“You’re being … naughty,” he corrected, making her laugh.
“Oh? So now my sentence is reduced to being naughty,” she joked, sinking her fingers into his hair.
“Yes,” the reply flowed past his lips, as he lowered down, closer to her.
“And what if I don’t surrender willingly?”
“It will just prolong the process…”
“And what if that’s what I want?”
“I see…” he smirked before pressing his lips against hers; holding onto hers, caressing hers.
He should, perhaps, been more adamant on working regardless. Just to show that he couldn’t do as he wanted out of a whim. Just to show that he was dutiful. He should have…
Maybe. Just maybe.
But he didn’t want to think about it; about what he should be doing. Because what was in front of him, under him… within his reach, was far better than the piles upon piles of paperwork on his desk… And, if he was honest, there had been so many days, during which he had, while sitting in that chair of his, in that lonely office of his, just stared in front of him, into the depths of the mahogany surface of the desk before him, and thought about doing… her, on it, instead of his work. How he had been thinking about her, still mostly clothed but dishevelled, sitting on his desk, as he’d pound into her.
He swallowed. At the thought. At the touch, that wasn’t a fantasy.
It’d be unprofessional, and ungentlemanly of him, to suggest such a thing. Let alone do such a thing.
But so was this.
Her hands, having undone his pants, during workhours. Her robe, open, and her neck bare, before him.
Perhaps I did die in Spade and went to heaven, he thought while pressing himself against her. Letting his lips dance over hers, as if she was air and he was drowning.
Because, without her love, devotion and affection, he might as well have been.
#before we have it#black clover fanfiction#fuegoleon x solara#fuelara#nozel x selena#nozena#oc: josele canty#oc x canon
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Chapter 41: Solara and Fuegoleon arrive back to Clover, and begin their life together with everything that it entails. Selena and Nozel are planning an addition into the family as well, and life begins to move forth.
Tag list: @succulentsunrise @loosesodamarble
A/N: I modelled a part of this after @/loosesodamarble’s fic collection that I was so lucky to receive as a Christmas gift in 2021, which is why she deserves credit as well
Warnings: topic of pregnancy
Keeping in mind that this series contains themes and topics some may find uncomfortable. Thus, reader discretion is advised.
Length: ~4.4k
Chapter 41: The one coherent thought
Cool night air lingered outside, under the sky that was painted with various hues of red and purple, ready to welcome the blanket of stars right up above. The world was dimming down, and Solara and Fuegoleon were more tired than they had anticipated to be. But then again, they had also taken longer on their visit than expected with having stopped at the Equinox household on their way back.
It had seemed fitting, to pop in before going home. Arcturus had seemed to find amusement in Fue’s formal mannerism and speech patterns, simply due to thinking that they would have moved past it already. But the amusement was good natured and light hearted, while Celeste was still chewing on it. All of it. Lara moving away from Thea and what it meant for Lara herself. Fue could tell that she wasn’t happy, not entirely at least, and she had made a point to remind Solara that they’d need to talk. But he supposed it all fair and reasonable. After all, they would need to talk about a lot of things on Thea’s end. Though they were married and granted a blessing for it, the alliance, on paper, was yet to be formed.
Now it’d be expected of Thea to aid Clover in some matters due to the marriage, but technically speaking they weren’t obligated to do any of it. And while signing official alliance documents, Thea would need to make an announcement to the other ally countries about the formation. Which, in this case, required a lot of thought when it came to phrasing in certain documents that outlined the selection process and events that had been related to the postponing of the alliance.
And he knew that he’d have his hands filled with work again after the honey moon, the short time he’d dare to take off from his duties. Because Julius was still missing. Damnatio was still missing. All of Clover, quite frankly, was on a shaky ground, much more so than he had initially anticipated. So… there’d be a lot to do.
But for now, he wanted to focus on trying to be happy. He really wanted to focus on that, because even this trip had brought forth a lot of emotions that had been less than pleasant. Emotions that he needed to process and things that had given him something to think, but he didn’t want to add work related stress on top of it.
It’d be too much, for such a happy occasion. Time. Point in their lives.
So, now, as they were making their way back home, welcomed by the setting sun and all the colours with which it painted the air, the crisp scent of the approaching night, he made a point to simply adore the moment in which he was. The way she took a few running steps, as if to try and race him back into their room.
As if they were both carefree. As if the few boisterous laughs that trickled past her lips, were all that’d be in their future. Like they were the newlyweds that they would have liked to be.
“Come one,” she teased as she was at the door to their room, still wearing that wide smile and a twinkle in the corner of her eye.
“I’m not a young man anymore,” he commented with an amused smile on his own as he followed, reaching the door only a few steps behind.
“And I’m not a spring… kitten? Anymore myself,” she replied with a feigned pout, through which the smirk still protruded as she opened the door.
He looked at her, and perhaps it was the fatigue or the worry that lifted its head within him, but he couldn’t help but feel laughter from bubbling from beneath the surface; from somewhere deep within him.
He pinched the bridge of his nose in an attempt to not burst into laughter, and so it came out as a forcefully composed chuckle, with which his grin grew as wide as it possibly could be.
“What?” She asked, unable to not feel his amusement as her own, but he didn’t manage to reply; only laugh while stumbling into their room as she closed the door behind them. “What?” She repeated once it was just the two of them, and he took a deep breath to try and calm himself down.
He placed the box onto a nearby side table and turned to her as still a few chuckles broke past hips lips.
“What?” She asked for the third time, frowning but still smiling.
He shook his head and placed his hands onto her cheeks, cupping her face. “You are adorable,” he spoke to her with tender syllables, as if to return the words she had given him so many times already, and pressed a kiss onto her forehead.
A brief pause lingered in the air as she sank into the gesture, treasuring it, the tender moment. “So are you,” she whispered in return after his lips had parted from her skin.
“You are more,” he retorted with a tender smile.
“I disagree,” she contested while tilting her head and giving him a smirk.
“Well then…” he uttered. “I suppose we simply must agree to disagree,” he continued before placing another kiss onto her forehead.
“Suppose we do,” she agreed, giving his head a nudge with her own.
He wrapped his hands around her, and pulled her close, into a lingering embrace in which they swayed, as if there was some music, a melody, a symphony in the air that no mortal ears could hear. The melody that was composed by their heartbeats.
But as the moment continued, her eyes were met with the box, and so, she wondered out loud: “So, what do we put in that?”
He lifted his head and looked at the box with a smile. “I… have your notes and letters saved,” he confessed. “I was thinking about storing them in there.”
“Oh…” she uttered, without thinking about it. “I.. you saved yours too?”
“Of course I did,” he looked at her and brushed a lock of her air behind her ear. “I have a perfectly working filing system, so I don’t see a reason to exclude your letters and notes from it.”
“But you do discard some of the letters you receive, no?” She quirked an eyebrow, thinking back to the system she remembered.
“Some letters and documents are discarded, yes,” he gave her a nod, but the smile still prevailed. “But the most important ones need to be tucked away into safe keeping.” He leaned forward and placed a kiss onto her forehead; soft and tender, just like he thought it ought to be.
Her eyes fell down as her smile wondered, like a flickering dawn in the dimming evening that existed outside. But she didn’t have a reply for him, not one that could be uttered with words at least. And within herself she slightly scolded herself for thinking that he wouldn’t have saved her letters, while simultaneously she thought about how… she hadn’t thought of him to be quite so sentimental. He held emotions, but she wouldn’t have called him emotional; sentimental… Someone to hold onto trinkets.
Though… she had to question if written love confessions, notes and assurances could be count as trinkets. Perhaps she ought to call them as mementos; something far more meaningful. Because they were. They were much more important, which is why she herself had held onto hers.
She took half a step forward and pressed herself against him in a tender embrace, and just breathed in his scent. The memories we’ll make… from here on among those that are already behind us… I’m sure that they’ll be wonderful…
---
“[How are you and Nozel doing?]”
Selena let out a hum and looked up to the clear skies, breathing in the fresh air. But at the end of it the corners of her mouth were tugged high up, as if they were trying to reach the very heavens above; and that smile was only emphasized by the flicker in her eyes. Flicker that was as if a spark, a gentle light at the end of a forest path that welcomed one home.
“[We are good,]” she nodded. “[And we… have been talking about children again. For real, hopefully, this time…]” she added with a whisper as her eyes turned down onto the ground along with a hint of a blush.
“[It’s good to hear that you’re in a bright place,]” Lara replied with a smile of her own.
Lena hummed, but glanced to her sister with a different kind of a twinkle in her eye. “[I think the biggest worries in Zel’s life, as of now, are his quarrels with Fuego,]” she joked, and it made a light chuckle flow out of Solara.
“[And I would say that the most aggravating thing in Fue’s life are his disagreements with Nozel,]” she replied with a smirk. “[You know how it is. ‘Pretentious.’]”
“[‘Mr. Inspirational Speech Who Burns His Own Home’.]”
“[‘There is a line between pessimism and realism’.]”
“[‘Captain I’m Better Than You’.]”
“[Emoti-, … Fue doesn’t say that, does he?]”
“[No, but that’s what Zel hears,]” Lena shrugged.
“Mmm..,” Lara hummed, thinking about it for a while. “[Fair, I suppose.]”
Lena nodded, meaning nothing more with it. Their husbands just… were like that. They had always been in a competition between each other and that’s how it’d be.
“[You know, Fue was saying something about how irritated he was just from looking at Nozel’s meeting room chair, the other day, after he had gone to ask something from Marx.]”
“[I can’t blame him,]” Lena replied. “[It’s like… walking past someone’s house, or yard and just seeing the other’s… territory, I suppose. It’s about standings, I think.]”
“[What do you mean?]”
“[I mean that they’re in a competition for the title of the Wizard King, are they not?]”
“[Mhm.]”
“[And that is a kind of a … standing. A place to be. At the top.]”
“[Figuratively yes.]”
“[But the way people’s minds work is that they sometimes draw connections between very physical representations of those figurative concepts. So, for them, seeing each other’s … territory, connects to an idea of how they’re in a competition for the same ‘territory’.]”
“[You are completely coming up with this by yourself.]”
“[It’s a working theory.]”
“[There is a word for this.]”
Lena glanced at Lara with a quirked eyebrow.
“[Bullshit.]” Was the one word that was spoke with a steady, informational tone of voice.
“[You’d be surprised how much of that there is in research papers. Someone just came up with a … ‘funky’ theory and it ended up working out.]” Lena shrugged, not taking offense from the statement, because she had ‘bullshit’-ed her way through essays while in school. And thus, she couldn’t say that the assessment was uncalled for. Especially given how it could just as well have been right from one of those essays.
Solara paused for a while, and looked at her sister. But instead of replying to the statement, she merely sighed. “[Well, at least they don’t need to defend their territories, because… actually. They should probably duel. They’d get those built-up emotions and frustrations out.]”
“[Let the steam out.]”
“[Exactly, just like we do, at times.]”
Solara hummed, giving a slight nod. Because they did let out some steam at times, speak freely and occasionally blurt out things in a way that wasn’t intended. But they supposed that it was just about being siblings. And feeling comfortable with each other to the point where they could talk about virtually anything.
“[So, what you’re saying is that we should encourage them to… compete for or claim this metaphorical territory for themselves, and let out some steam by doing so?]”
“[Something like that,]” Lena replied with a hum of her own. “[A change of pace and doing something physical might help relieve some of the tension in any case, because of exercise releasing endorphins along with contributing to physical fatigue that makes a person tired and contributes to sleep arriving more easily.]”
“[Sounds good.]”
---
Weeks rolled by as people were just trying to accustom into their lives after the devil invasion and everything that had happened along with it. Searches continued for Julius and Damnatio, but nothing helpful surfaced. Though partly it felt like the investigation was lost in the haze of everything. The Golden Dawn had suffered tremendous loss as well, which meant that their responsibilities had to be distributed to other people, while the remaining knights who had survived the battle in Spade, were tired and weary from it, even if they hadn’t injured as a result of it. At least Julius’ and Damnatio’s duties could be handled by other people. Marx took care of most the responsibilities on a regular basis, since Julius going missing wasn’t out of the ordinary. And Damnatio’s work was overseen by the Juridical department, though the faction was mostly tied with Asta’s devil trial, since that was the most pressing matter at the time.
Regardless of the state of the nation, people tried to move forth in their personal lives, which for Fuegoleon and Solara, and Nozel and Selena, meant thinking about an addition into the family, hoping that they’d be blessed.
Thea was focused on crafting paper work and informing their allies of the marriages that tied them to Clover, along with the formulation of the official alliance between the nations. Though at first there had been a question of how to move forth, since one of the kings that was mentioned in the paperwork wasn’t present. However, it was deemed satisfactory to have the signature of the King, since the Wizard King was the commander of the armed forces, rather than the people. And two members of the Royal Families were involved in the marriages, which in itself spoke of Clover’s willingness to form such a tie. In addition, since the Wizard King’s intrigue and questionable actions had resulted into additional evaluation, it was deemed better that he was not involved during the continuation of the alliance formation, for the sake of which, his disappearance seemed to serve a favourable purpose for Theans.
Solara travelled back and forth a fair amount, trying to do her share. But as late autumn, near winter rolled in, it served to remind her just how much colder the climate was in Clover, which made her think to herself about if she should try to convince Fuegoleon on moving to Thea instead. Though they had agreed that it was easier for her to move to Clover, than the other way around. Plus, since a portal had been crafted onto the Crimson Lion Kings’ premises, the journey was easy to make.
But. Still, she found herself rubbing her arms while making her way through the headquarter gardens on her way back home, because the cold tried to seep into her bones; as if trying to find shelter right from within her. And even if she was inside the headquarters, the cold seemed to linger, like it had taken a hold of her.
However, she was sure that it’d leave as soon as she’d sit down by the fire, since this time of the year they always had a fire lit in their living quarters. Just rattling, swaying and dancing within the fireplace. Even the sheer thought of it made the corners of her lips tug up, because there was comfort in the thought.
Her steps were nearly hasted. Nearly. But she’d get to the room, the fireplace and Fue, in no time. And she could wait. But that wasn’t the sole reason why she didn’t quicken her pace. The other reason was there was a swirl of butterflies in her stomach, clashing with her insides because she was supposed to talk to him about something.
On most days she had something she wanted to tell him, but she supposed that was just about being in a relationship with someone, and wanting to share one’s day with them. And she did want to share with Fue. By now it felt as natural as breathing. To tell him about her day.
The smile on her lips lingered, remained, prevailed as she stood in front of the door and pushed it open to reveal the sight of him, sitting in his arm chair by the fire with a book in hand.
“Good evening, my love,” she greeted while making her way to him and pressing a kiss onto his forehead.
“Good evening,” he greeted right back while closing his eyes to cherish the sensation of her lips pressing against her skin. “It’s unusual for you to have a longer day than myself,” he noted, meaning nothing else with it.
“I’m just sluggish because of the cold,” she half said, half chuckled, while removing her gloves and giving him a smirk before settling down by the fire on the floor. “I just need time to adjust.”
“This winter seems like it will be particularly harsh,” he concluded, closing his book and thinking back to that one especially difficult meeting they had had, that had resulted in him taking a detour home, down the forest path and just thinking… thinking about it all, because he hadn’t wanted to come back home immediately and accidentally push his frustrations and worries onto her, or the others he cared about. Only that he had met her on that forest path, collecting maple branches with bright coloured leaves as a bouquet to be placed into their bedroom.
He thought about how he, then, had told her how she was home to him. How he had told to her, too, that home was no longer just a place to him, but it was a person; her. And she had given him a smile, placed her hand onto his arm and told that she’d be there to listen whenever he needed it.
His eyes followed her as she held her hands close to the flames, trying to warm herself up, which made him get up from his seat and settle down onto the floor, right next to her.
“Shall I?” He asked, to which Solara replied with a nod as she scooted over to him, pressing herself against him.
He wrapped his arm around her, while channelling more of his mana into his flame arm, intensifying the fire and the warmth, which gradually spread around Solara’s body, melting the frost from her muscles.
“Do you want it warmer?” He asked with a near whisper, turning his head just a bit to glance at her better.
“No, this is perfect,” she uttered while looking into the fireplace, nudging his head with hers. “But there’s… something I should show you.” Her tone was quiet and delicate, but not downright worried or melancholic. It was a tone, yet another tone, which he didn’t know how to read.
“Oh?”
She leaned a way to remove her winter cloak and to reach in her pocket to take out a piece of paper as he simply observed her movements. The way her fingers opened the folded document were careful, but not apprehensive or held back by the coldness of her joints; delicate, was a word he’d use to describe it.
“It’s in Thean,” she noted while presenting it to him.
He took a hold of the paper, and looked it through, but it didn’t seem like any document he had seen while sorting through the alliance paper work. In fact, it didn’t seem like any documentation that dealt with politics, but instead, it looked more like a medical document.
“Is … everything alright?” He had to ask while trying to formulate an idea on what was stated on the piece of paper.
“Yes, everything is alright,” she replied, looking at the paper. “I just had a test back in Thea,” she continued as her fingers inched over to a line on which it stated ‘HCG’, which he supposed to be an abbreviation of a kind.
And the line below it was… an agreement? A positive indication. The wording at least reminded him of such a notation based on what he had seen.
“A positive result?” He asked, hoping that she would clarify.
And she did, with a mere nod while still looking at the piece of paper.
“On what?” He asked, searching for a hint in her expression. But the faint smile on her lips wasn’t only happy, it bore also a hint of disbelief and a shadow of apprehension, as far as he could tell. And he couldn’t think of what to make of it.
“This,” her finger underlined a sentence at the bottom of the page, but the words in it weren’t familiar to him.
“My love, just tell me, please,” he tried, hoping that she would simply tell him, speak out the words, because this suspense he didn’t think he could take. Not for much longer at least.
“Nothing’s wrong, dear,” she replied, giving him another smirk. “Take it as a language lesson for this week.”
He stayed silent for a moment. There was a gnawing sense of annoyance, but he trusted her when she said that nothing was wrong. He trusted that she wouldn’t be so… playful, if something was wrong. Which was why he sighed, closing his eyes in a slow blink for a while, as if giving in, and got up to make his way to the bookshelf. The paper was still in his hand as he picked up a dictionary and begun flipping through the pages while retracing his steps towards the fireplace and Solara.
She remained seated by the fire and looked at him. Waiting for him to find the words from between the pages, and the meaning of the sentence between those words.
Her heart raced, beating so loud that, for a while, she thought he might hear it. And for a moment, she regretted not just speaking it out to him. But the thing was, that she could barely believe it herself.
Perhaps she wanted him to confirm what she had read herself. She wasn’t quite sure. In fact, she was a collection of emotions. But she didn’t regret any of those emotions. All of them were dear to her, as strange as it sounded. She wouldn’t trade any of those emotions away. Because this, them, all of it, was a part of the journey she would, he would, they would, together make.
The sound of pages being flipper through ceased and silence settled in the air as he stopped, holding the paper on top of the pages of the dictionary, and just looked at her. Seconds flowed through the air, until it seemed to run empty of even time itself. It was, as if, again, they were in a timeless space where the whole world outside of that room, that moment, had disappeared.
Before he realized it, his hands begun lowering down, as if he had forgotten that he was holding something. Because for a moment he did, only to regain that memory before the book, and the paper, tumbled from his hands.
His lips parted, but no sound came out. For a moment, a while, a number of seconds neither of them counted. It was followed by him swallowing, as if concentrating on the taste of he words that were about to roll off from his tongue for one last time, before letting them flow past his lips.
“Pregnant…?” He asked with a whisper, feeling his heart making a large pulse, as if pulled by the golden ropes of fate.
She nodded.
Just nodded.
He didn’t realize having taken the last few steps, or lowering down onto the floor before the fire, until he had done so. He didn’t remember putting the dictionary and the paper down, but he did. The first thing he realized doing, after her nod of confirmation, was the next question that left him, as if just to make sure. One more question, just to be sure. Before he allowed himself. The quiet wish. The anticipation, the disbelief, all wrapped in a blanket of something so soft he could barely believe it.
“I’m… going to be a father?”
Her eyes turned to the side as her smile widened, hearing that he had asked the very question that confirmed what she had read. It wasn’t just her imagination. It wasn’t just a waking dream.
She turned back to look at him, and nodded. “Yes,” she whispered back. “You’ll be a father.”
His eyes turned to the ceiling for a moment, during which he allowed himself to breathe for the first time since asking the question. Perhaps for the first time since having asked if he had read the word right. But he didn’t care for how long he had not dared to breathe. Because it didn’t matter. It didn’t.
All that mattered, was the way he swallowed, the way his lips tugged up into a wide, wide smile, and the way his overflowing happiness nearly rolled down his cheeks. Words were lost from him. He didn’t know what words would have been enough. So, instead, he scooted closer and placed his hand onto her stomach.
She still looked very much like she had that morning. There was nothing that would have made him suspect that she was with child. But somehow it felt like a fitting thing to do. It felt the right thing to do. And … he thought, as ridiculous as it might have sounded, that she looked more beautiful than that morning. Though she was always beautiful.
He didn’t think he could tell her that she was more beautiful now. Or that he could, but that it’d… perhaps be inconsiderate. Perhaps. He wasn’t sure.
In that moment he wasn’t sure. There were just too many thoughts and emotions flashing through him. Too many to grasp any of them individually.
So, he simply tried to cherish them all, even if mixed together.
He leaned close, and pressed his head against hers while still keeping his hand on her stomach. But he felt that he should still say something, tell her something. Which was why he told her the single coherent thought he had.
“I’m so, so happy.”
#before we have it#black clover fanfiction#fuegoleon x solara#fuelara#oc x canon#nozel x selena#nozena
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Nozel's harem
I don't have an art today so I'm posting a doodle I made few months ago after joking with friends 😂
This was before I knew of Helia (@loosesodamarble OC), so please imagine her there 💕
Helena is mine
Selena belongs to @thoughtfullyrainynightmare
Briar belongs to @koneko-pi
#Vanessa Helena and Nozel would have threesome... this cannot end any other way#and since Vanessa's offering...#Fuego is the final choice#Nozel is like screw this I'm gay from now on#I try to be funny#Nozel's harem#black clover#fanart#black clover fanart#black clover oc#nozel silva#helena drazel#nozel x helena#nozel x briar#nozessa#nozel x vanessa#briar rose#selena equinox#vanessa enoteca#dorothy unsworth#dorothy x nozel#nozel x fuegoleon#nozeleon#nozelena#fuegoleon vermillon#black clover comic#not my oc#my oc#doodle#doodle comic
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Fall event masterlist so far
Event requests open 4.9 - 18.9
Prompt 1. “Leaf” - Finral x Finesse (October 29)
Prompt 1. “Leaf” - Acier & Nozel (October 27)
Prompt 2. “Tea” - Kirsch & Mimosa (October 28)
Prompt 3. “Candles” - Vanessa x Nozel (October 10)
Prompt 4. “Campfire” - Fuegoleon & Leopold (October 15)
Prompt 5. “Pumpkin” - Charlotte & Luck (October 16)
Prompt 6. "Fireflies" - Morgen x fem!OC (October 5)
Prompt 6. “Fireflies” - Julius x f!reader (October 24)
Prompt 7. “Foliage” - Asta & Yuno (October 23)
Prompt 7. “Foliage” - Licht x Tetia (October 25)
Prompt 8. “Blankets” - Zora x gn!reader (October 14)
Prompt 8. “Blankets” - Nozel & Noelle (October 21)
Prompt 9. "Laughter" - Julius & Marx (October 9)
Prompt 9. “Laughter” - Finral & Langris (October 17)
Prompt 10. “Unexpected” - Zora x Nebra (October 18)
Prompt 11. “It is love that resides in me, but it is a home that I have found in you” - Fuegoleon x Solara (OC) (October 19)
Prompt 12. “To be with you, that’s all I want” - Lolopechka x Gadjah (October 21)
Prompt 12. “To be with you, that’s all I want” - Zora x Kirsch (hurt/comfort) (October 12)
Prompt 13. “You’re both my source of strength and my biggest weakness” - Yami x Charlotte (October 22)
Prompt 13. “You’re both my source of strength and my biggest weakness” - Lumiere & Secre (October 22)
Prompt 14. "You're fun to kiss" - Zora x Kirsch (October 4th)
Prompt 14. “You’re fun to kiss” - Mereoleona x f!reader (October 16)
Completed: 22/22
Fuegoleon (October 2)
Prompt 2 “Is he a good kisser?”
Prompt 27 “Does he pour milk/sugar in warm beverages (e.g. coffee/tea/e.t.c.), or prefer them plain?
Nozel (October 3)
Prompt 6 “What is his earliest memory?”
Prompt 10 “What physical trait is emphasized on him?”
Yami (October 4)
Prompt 17 “Does he pour milk before cereal or cereal before milk?”
Prompt 22 “Is he a breakfast person? If yes, what does he normally eat for breakfast?”
Solara (OC; as requested) (October 5)
Prompt 4 “What does she wear to sleep?”
Prompt 16 “Does she enjoy snacking? What does she snack on?”
Prompt 22 “Is she a breakfast person? If yes, what does she normally eat for breakfast?”
Selena (OC; as requested) (October 6)
Prompt 9 “What plans does she muse have for the future?”
Prompt 15″ What would she describe as ‘comfortable clothing’?”
Prompt 22 “Is she a breakfast person? If yes, what does she normally eat for breakfast?”
Charmy (October 7)
Prompt 4 “What does she wear to sleep?”
Prompt 7 “Describe how she greets others.”
Prompt 13 “Would she get along with the mun? Why/why not?”
Prompt 19 “How does she sit? Does she take up space, or keep to herself?“
Prompt 22 “Is she a breakfast person? If yes, what does she normally eat for breakfast?”
Prompt 27 “Does she pour milk/sugar in warm beverages (e.g. coffee/tea/e.t.c.), or prefer them plain?
Noelle (October 8)
Prompt 5 “What does she normally wear?”
Prompt 21 “If she was to go on vacation, what would be the first thing she packed?”
Mimosa (October 9)
Prompt 13 “Would she get along with the mun? Why/why not?”
Prompt 25 “What is her opinion on gossip? Does she ever gossip, encourage it, discourage it?”
Nero (October 10)
Prompt 1 “How does she relax?”
Prompt 18 “Does she prefer to be in the company of others, or alone?”
Vanessa (October 11)
Prompt 1 “How does she relax?”
Prompt 10 “What physical trait is emphasized on her?”
Charlotte (October 12)
Prompt 8 “Describe what education she has.”
Prompt 23 “What is her ideal environment (e.g. big city, forest, mountains, desert, e.t.c.)?”
William (October 13)
Prompt 17 “Does he pour milk before cereal or cereal before milk?”
Prompt 24 “If social media existed in your muse’s universe, would they be on it? Which plattform/s?”
Completed: 12/12
Prompt: Love confession - Kirsch x m!reader (October 1st)
Prompt: Cuddle - Andrammelech x f!reader (October 2nd)
Prompt: Late night cuddle - Henry x m!reader (October 6)
Prompt: Waking up next to them - Jack x gn!reader (October 14)
Prompt: Love confession - Jack x gn!reader (October 15)
Prompt: Waking up next to them - Solid x gn!reader (October 17)
Prompt: Domestic feels - Marx x gn!reader (October 18)
Prompt: First kiss - Kirsch x m!reader (October 12)
Prompt: Late night cuddle - Owen x gn!reader (October 20)
Prompt: Domestic feels - Rebecca x gn!reader (October 23)
Prompt: Love confession - Klaus x gn!reader (October 24)
Prompt: Love confession - Valtos x gn!reader (October 25)
Prompt: Love confession - Licht x gn!reader (October 26)
Completed: 13/13
Fae!Morgen x gn!reader (fluff) (October 11)
Vampire!Yuno x fem!OC (October 7)
Vampire!Langris x f!reader (angst/fluff) (October 13)
Ghost!Grey x gn!reader (fluff) (October 19)
Fairy!Yami x/& gn!reader (comedy) (October 30)
Werewolf!Mereoleona x gn!reader (October 20)
Ghost!Nero x gn!reader (October 26)
Mermaid!Mimosa x gn!reader (October 27)
Changeling!Langris x gn!reader (October 31)
Completed: 9/9
Prompt 1. “Doing the deed on someone else’s office chair” - Julius x f!reader (October 13)
Prompt 2. "Almost sex but a cuddle instead" - Nacht x fem!OC (October 3)
Prompt 3. “Slow and sensual” - Vanessa x Nozel
Prompt 4. "A quickie worth being late for" - Yami x f!reader (October 8)
Prompt 7. “I want you riiight here” - Mereoleona x f!reader (October 16)
Prompt 8. “It’s okay, you can be as loud as you want” - Yami x Charlotte
Prompt 12. “Bend me over, slide it in, and own me” - Nozel x f!reader (October 18)
Prompt 13. "Secret to a successful marriage - keep the fights clean and the sex dirty" - Magna x f!reader (October 1st)
Prompt 13. "Secret to a successful marriage - keep the fights clean and the sex dirty" - William x f!reader
Completed: 9/9
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Headcanon ask game 2023 masterlist
Requesting period 27.02-05.03 from this list (1 ship, up to 3 HCs)
Ships:
Grey x Gauche; Greyche
18, 20, 29
3, 8
Nozel x Vanessa; Nozessa
1, 8, 23
Zora x Nebra; Zobra
13, 32, 42
Yami x Charlotte; Yamichar
13, 26, 39
Fuegoleon x Solara; (Fuelara OC ship)
1,18, 31
Nozel x Selena; (Nozena OC ship)
8, 23, 41
Charmy x Rill; Charmill
5, 26, 36
Magna x Luck
5, 13, 36
Bonus option (1 character, up to 3 HCs):
Fuegoleon
3, 18, 23
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Embers of Sun and Flame
AO3 Link
Status: Completed 11/2021
Total length: ~243k
Synopsis:
This is a love story that unfolds during troubling times. Clover Kingdom facing threats from all around, but still two souls battle to merge themselves into one. Though it is not easy, especially given that one of them is not from Clover herself. But will their efforts be enough? Will their tender emotions burst into flames or shall the faintly flickering embers dim down and die out in the ashes?
Pairing: Fuegoleon (CC) x Solara (OC); Fuelara
Link to masterlist
Embers of Sun and Flame: Before We Have It
AO3 Link
Status: Completed 4/2023
Total length: ~203k
Synopsis:
Solara and Fuegoleon are engaged, but there is still trouble looming over their heads with the upcoming war with the devils. Additionally, if they wish to breach the gap between their nations, much work is still needed. Can their love sustain the rains that seek to extinguish their love? Or will something come between them in the end?
The world in which they live is uncertain and filled with doubts and darkness, and it requires them to choose love time and time again
Pairing: Fuegoleon (CC) x Solara (OC); Fuelara
Side pairing: Nozel (CC) x Selena (OC); Nozena
Link to masterlist
Embers of Sun and Flame: The Vows We Made
AO3 link
Status: Ongoing since 5/2023
Total length: tba (21k on 4/2024)
Synopsis:
The war against Lucius is at hand, and Fuegoleon sent his family away, so that they might live. But is there still a chance for them to be a family?
Pairing: Fuegoleon (CC) x Solara (OC); Fuelara
Side pairing: Nozel (CC) x Selena (OC); Nozena
TBA
Embers of Sun and Flame: When Night Fell
Prequel to the Embers story
AO3 Link
Status: Ongoing since 1/2022
Total length: tba (23k on 8/2022)
Synopsis:
You have read what happens in 'Embers of Sun and Flame' during the events shown in the manga, before the Spade Arc. But what happened in the past? When the cast was children. When they were young, and the world was bright with so much to hope for. What was it like growing up in Thea?
However, this is a story that isn't told from her perspective. From Solara's that is. But those around her. And those who would become affiliated with her.
If you liked Embers, I do hope that you like this as well.
Link to masterlist (tba)
©️Thoughtfullyrainynightmare Do Not Repost or translate without permission
Works posted on A03 and Wattpad by the creator
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