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creative-caramel-coffee · 22 days

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Icicles and Injuries

Pairing: Wandanat x Reader

Prompts: Frozen (Day 2) + No way out (Day 11)

TW: minor injury, being trapped, hypothermia, mentions of death, partial nudity (consented)

Words: 2K

Summary: Reader gets trapped and needs to be saved before she freezes to death.

For once the miss had gone well. No injuries or accidents or hidden traps. It had been a breeze. Now all that was left was to sit tight in the nearest safe house in the woods and wait for Tony to send a jet to come and collect you. ‘You’ being Wanda, Natasha, Kate and Yelena.

By late afternoon it was still light outside and snowing lightly. A white dust of flakes covered every available surface in a thin layer of pale snow.

Being in the woods it was a beautiful sight to behold, yet Natasha and Yelena having come from Russia were most winters bordered on nuclear, did not share your enthusiasm.

Wanda and Kate had spent some time in Europe before and were a little more used to it. And sure, you had seen snow many times, but it was always a point of beauty to you. It helped you relax. Soft and cold it continued to drift down from above coating the landscape below.

“Wands? Natty? Do you guys wanna come with me for a walk?” You asked popping your head into the lounge room of the cabin.

“No thanks detka. Not right now. Yelena and Kate were going to watch a movie and I think Wanda was going to start dinner soon.” Natasha said looking genuine.

“Okay.” You said feeling a little saddened by the fact nobody would be coming with.

“Make sure you take a coat. It’s cold.” Nat said over her shoulder as she positioned herself between her sister and her sister's girlfriend with a shit-eating grin. Always the older sister, you thought rolling your eyes.

You said a quick goodbye to Wanda who echoed Nat’s statement about a coat before putting one on and a pair of gloves, boots and a beanie before entering the snow scene outside the cabin.

You headed for the trail behind the house. It was marked with signs on the trees as it snowed enough around here for trails to be easily lost without proper signage.

You sighed, feeling at peace and relaxed as the snow crunched softly underfoot. Setting off down the trail it was lined with fresh snow and small animal tracks, probably squirrels or rabbits.

As you continued down the track the cabin grew smaller behind you. It was a loop and came out down by the other side of the house.

Seeing the first sign on the tree you smiled at the small red arrow which was on a wood-stained oak board nailed into the tree.

You continued down the track listening to the serene quietness and peaceful sound of snow and birdsong.

Pulling your coat around you some more it was getting colder as the evening wore on and your nose was surely frozen as small snowflakes collected on your eyelashes.

As you continued down the short trail a flicker of movement out of the corner of your eye caught your attention. A small squirrel had hopped up onto what looked like the snow-covered husk of an old tree. The little creature chittered at you and you smiled softly at the peacefulness of the moment.

But before you could even think the squirrel ran up the tree. The tree looked like it had survived many winters and was well past due to be fell in the summer. The squirrel continued up the branches which were creaking eerily already laden with snow on the branches. Then there was a sharp cracking crunch, and the tree began to fall.

At the last minute the squirrel jumped onto a nearby branch out of harms way. Yet you stood frozen. You just had time to duck and cover as the tree crashed down onto the path. It fell in a way that had managed to avoid hitting you but had pinned your coat under its heavy trunk. Your left boot was also pinned, and you bit a cold breath of air back in shock.

The snow continued falling, however it seemed almost menacing now. If you stayed out much longer into the evening the temperatures would continue to fall, and that beautiful snow might be the thing that kills you.

You cursed yourself from forgetting your phone, not that it would have a signal, but it would be better than nothing. They may have been able to track you at least.

The sun began to dip under the tree line and the temperature began to drop faster without the sun to provide warmth.

The snow was collecting on top of the tree making the chance of escape seem slimmer and slimmer.

The snow was beginning to build up either side of you now. Blocking you inside the wooden ribs of the tree. The branches caving around you with the snow beginning to form a roof and sides.

It was cold and it no longer felt like just your nose that was frozen. Your cheeks stung with the cold, and you wiggled your fingers and toes to try and warm them up as well. Frostbite was a very real thing and one you did not want to ever have experience in.

As the sun began to cruise lower and lower in the sky it continued to get colder. The light was starting to go now as well, a dusky overcast type of light was all that was left. If this continued on for much longer you worried, they may never find you until the snow thawed, by then it would be too late.

Back in the cabin the movie was almost over. Yelena and Kate had ended up beside each other again with popcorn in their hair after flicking it at each other for the whole duration of the movie. Nat had already seen the movie and headed to the kitchen to fetch four mugs of hot chocolate to share.

As she stepped into the kitchen which smelled like heaven and smiled at Wanda.

“Wheres Y/n? Surely, she’ll want hot chocolate as well.” Natasha smiled.

“I thought she was with you?” Wanda said looking up from where she had been seasoning chicken.

“No?” Nat said frowning. “She should be back from her walk by now.”

“Oh god.” Wanda paled slightly. “She’s not still out there, is she?”

“If she is we better find her fast before it gets too dark. Cold weather like this can kill.” Natasha said. “You send Yelena and Kate to check the bedrooms before joining us in the woods. I’m going to see if i can find her. Join me when you’re done.” Nat said already slipping on a coat with a sense of urgency to her movements.

Wanda nodded her assent and went to tell Yelena and Kate.

After a little bit all three girls were out searching the woods. Wanda was focusing on finding you with her mind, but you were either asleep or close too it which worried her greatly.

Finally, she sensed you under an old looking tree covered in snow. She called the others over and focused, using her magic to move the tree off you.

When your red jacket came into sight Natasha was the first to get to you. Scooping your cold and limp form into her arms. You were breathing but also freezing cold.

“We need to warm her up. NOW!” Nat said as she began sprinting to the cabin with you in her arms.

Your cheeks had long since turned from a rosy red colour to a dusky blue as the temperature had fallen further.

Once Natasha burst through the front door she headed for the bedroom you, her and Wanda had been sharing the past few nights.

Wanda, Kate and Yelena followed close behind, nobody commenting on the water that was being tracked through the cabin. Their focus elsewhere.

Natasha gently set you down on the bed, Wanda beside her and Kate and Yelena hovering in the doorway.

“Alright.” Nat said. “Wanda i need you to help me get her out of these wet clothes they’re doing more harm than good.” She said already starting to peel off your soaked coat. “Yelena, Kate.” She began and the two stood a little straighter. “Go and run a warm bath, not too warm but just enough to not be cold.” Nat said and the two turned tail and headed for the bathroom.

Wanda was now working on taking off your snow-pants while nat continued stripping off your top half. After a minute you were left laying in just your sports bra and boxers, long past shivering.

“Now what?” Wanda asked seeming panicked.

“Now we warm her up. It works best with skin-to-skin contact. So, we need to cuddle her. Bring that blanket and put it on top. Once Yelena is done with the bath, we will kick them out.” Nat said. Pulling off her shirt and taking off her track pants. She was now stood in bike pants and a sports bra much like what she wore to training in the gym.

Wanda was one step behind as she took off her shirt in a matching outfit to Natasha’s.

You, Wanda and Natasha had been together almost three years now, so it was nothing new. But still, nat had sent Yelena and Kate away just because.

Nat climbed onto the bed beside you and began pulling a sheet over you. Wanda slipped into the bed on your other side and cuddled up close. Sucking in a sharp breath when your frigid skin came into contact with her. You made a small noise of pain and curled into her front. Your face tucked into her chest. Natasha curled up behind you, tucking you between the two of them. Wanda had one arm around your waist and the other holding the back of your head to her chest. Natasha had her arms over you and on Wanda’s bare hip and back.

After a few minutes of quiet cuddling, and the sound of your short huffy breathes, you began to stir slightly. Your eye’s blinked open before you whined and screwed them shut again.

Wanda carded a hand through your hair and shone softly to you.

“There we go. Come on. Come back to us baby-girl. You’re doing so well for us my love.” She coaxed, her hands tangling in your wet locks.

After a second the sound of the tap shutting off was heard and Yelena’s footsteps came down the hall. She peaked in and smiled at Natasha looking so domestic but bit back a comment.

“Your bath is ready sestra.” Yelena said with her heavy accent hiding her amusement.

“Alright.” Nat said as she shifted Wanda’s arms around you tightened.

“Can i carry her this time?” Wanda asked sounding almost scared to let you go. As if you may disappear.

“Sure baby. But you’ll need to give her to me before you get into the bath with her.” Nat said and she glanced back at the door where Yelena had disappeared from before getting out from under the sheets.

The process of bathing you was simple enough. The flush had come back to your cheeks as Wanda held you in her lap in the bath while Natasha ran and warm cloth over every inch of your skin slowly warming you up. After they had been satisfied you were warm enough, they towelled you off as you start to come around again. They dressed you in Nat’s warm hoodie and Wanda’s red track pants.

Wanda had you in her arms when the three of you re-entered the kitchen slash lounge room.

Yelena grinned. Having set up a nest of sorts on the floor with a ton of blankets and pillows. Kate had five cups of hot chocolate on the bench and a movie queued up.

You buried your face into Wanda’s chest as the five of you got settled into the nest. Blankets were thrown over the five of you and you settled in for the movie.

Wanda’s dinner was still cooking and right now nobody wanted to leave you by yourself let alone out of their sight.

So, you curled up in your girlfriend’s laps and listened to their hearts beat with the soundtrack of parks and recreation playing in the background.

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readychilledwine · 3 months

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Hi, I would like to make a request. So it's winter and It's raining heavily outside the cabin/apartment where Az and reader live and az makes hot chocolate for both and they makeout while sitting next to the window. I need the flufffff

Snow Day

Warnings - Snow. As someone who is currently dealing with over 2 feet of snow and more coming. Snow.

A/N - an adorable little Az drabble 💙 hope you enjoy it

You shivered as the rain began to shift to snow, clinging to the layer of ice that haunted the trees and grass.

You and Azriel loved Winter. You loved the beauty of fresh crisp snow crunching below your boots. You loved the excuse to use extra blankets as decorations. You loved the smell of pine needles and mulled wine warming the cabin you and Azriel shared.

But mostly, you loved these moments. The moments when Azriel would hold you on the couch wrapped up a fluffy heavy knit blanket as the fireplace roared. Two streaming mugs of hot chocolate sat on the table both long forgotten in favor of the kisses you were currently sharing.

Your mystery novel sat perched on your knee, his romance novel dangling in his hand that wasn't tilting your head back to him.

He pulled back for a second, lifting and adjusting you so you were chest to chest and at an easier angle to kiss. "So cold," you whispered to him as you looked out the window behind him.

Azriel peeked, making a face that mixed between excitement and disgust. "I hate when rain freezes over into snow. Just give me the damn snow," he muttered.

You hummed, nodding. "Or just rain." You moved his chin, forcing him to look back at you. "Where were we?"

Azriel blushed, pulling you back to him with a soft chuckle. His lips met yours, eager to go back to the practiced dance.

You two spent the day like that, napping, kissing, reading. The hot chocolate had long gone cold and forgotten as Azriel lifted you, carrying you into your bedroom as the snowstorm continued to rage on.

"Same thing tomorrow," he asked as he set you down at your vanity, gently brushing your hair.

In your half asleep state, you looked at him and smiled. "Only more hot chocolate, less kisses."

Azriel hummed softly, continuing your nighttime self care routine for you as he did. "No promises."

#acotar #acotar x reader #azriel acotar #send asks #send anons #azriel #azriel x reader #azriel x you #azriel x y/n #azriel drabble #azriel shadowsinger

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dustofthedailylife · 1 year

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Let It Snow

→ Masterlist || → Taglist

Pairings: Zhongli, Diluc, Alhaitham x (gn!) Reader (separate)

Summary: Snowy adventures with the boys.

Tags: Fluff (the cavity-inducing kind), SFW, kissing, established relationship (Zhongli, Diluc), unestablished relationship (Alhaitham)

A/N: This is my gift fic for @jellalism for the GI Secret Santa event. Merry Christmas to you and I hope you like what I wrote! I had a look at your blog and saw you also like Alhaitham so I took the liberty to include him as well, because I had a great idea. No biggie if you actually don't want to read his part though <3

ZHONGLI

"Good morning, love.", the soft baritone voice of Zhongli hummed into your ear. His voice still sounded a little sleep drunk, so you assumed that he must’ve just woken up as well.

It was still fairly early in the morning. You could tell by the way the light was falling through the cracks of the blinds.

Zhongli lazily draped his arm over your waist, pulled you firmly against his chest, and placed a featherlight kiss on the back of your neck. You felt his shallow and relaxed breaths tickle over your skin, prompting you to push up against him further. If it was up to you to decide, this moment could’ve lasted forever.

“Good morning.”, you mumbled in response as your lips curved into a smile.

You turned around in his arms, pressed your forehead against him, and nuzzled into his broad chest. He placed his chin on top of your head while he slowly traced circles over your back with the thumb of the hand that he placed over your waist. You lay in his embrace in silence for a while and simply basked in his comforting presence all while listening to the steady drumming of his heart and inhaling his homely scent that never failed to calm you down.

After a while, you slowly got up from bed and tiptoed over to the curtains to pull them open. And what greeted you in front of the window made you gasp in ecstasy and turn around with a smile that was a telltale sign for Zhongli.

“Did any snow fall overnight?”, he asked, propping his head up on his arm in bed and smiling fondly to which you nodded excitedly in reply. “Let us go for a walk, love. What do you think?”

Of course, you agreed and quickly slipped into some warm clothes before rushing outside. It was as if someone had evenly sprinkled powdered sugar all over the ground and the cold air smelled like the icy bliss that the world was covered in. Every sound seemed muffled by the thick layers of snow and all you could hear was the familiar crunch below your boots after each step and the quiet sounds the thick snowflakes made when hitting the ground.

Zhongli approached you from behind and intertwined the long slender fingers of his right hand with yours. The snow that was falling got caught in his brown locks and his cheeks and nose were starting to become red from the cold. He pulled his scarf a little higher into his face and smiled fondly before gently pulling you along with him by your hand.

A comfortable silence settled between you as you walked. Each other’s presence was enough to feel content.

You eventually let go of his hand when a big frozen puddle came up along the path and you decided to charge toward it and smoothly slide across it. Turning around on your heel with a proud smile in Zhongli’s direction you prompted him to follow suit.

“Come on! Try it as well!”, you cheered him on, seeing a sliver of uncertainty peek through his facade. For how well-mannered and regal he usually acted you always managed to coax a different side out of him that only you had the honors to see.

He took a run-up and mirrored how you slid across the frozen puddle, or at least he tried. Because unlike you, he slipped at the end of it. A crack in his usual graceful expression exposed itself before he crashed into you, toppling you over in the process and inelegantly landing on top of you. Both of your forms molded a shape into the unscathed snow along the path he had just thrown you in, sending the powdery snow flying and spreading it all over both of your hair and faces.

The next thing you heard were a thousand apologies falling from his lips, asking you if he hurt you and if you were okay. But the only thing you replied with was laughter so intense it made your belly hurt and tears of joy well up in your eyes.

You crossed your arms behind his neck and pulled him closer to your face so that your breath was fanning over his lips. A deep loving gaze into his amber eyes made your heart skip a beat. They would never cease to amaze you all over again.

Zhongli raised one of his hands to brush some of the excess snow of which had landed on your face before gently cupping your cheek. You nuzzled into him with closed eyes, once again making his heart swell with pride that he was able to call you his’.

Still lying on the frozen ground in the midst of the falling snowflakes he tenderly placed a passionate kiss on your lips that made you forget the cold that had begun to seep into your clothes.

His warm breath fanned over your face and the cold tip of his nose grazed your cheek before he pressed his forehead against yours and held your face in between both of his hands. Gazing at you as if you were the greatest treasure he ever had the honor to lay his eyes on. And if he was being honest, you were.

“I love you so dearly.”, he muttered.

“I love you, too, Li."

DILUC

“Luc!”, you yelled as you rushed out of your shared bedroom and down the stairs of the Winery.

Diluc was sitting at his desk, filling out some paperwork before looking up as soon as he heard your voice. You peeked at him with a wide smile before rushing straight for the front door and outside.

Diluc got up from where he was sitting to follow you for whatever you were planning to do outside. The sun was already setting and he watched as you spun around amidst the falling snowflakes. You hadn’t even bothered to put your jacket on or any warm winter clothes for that matter. All you were wearing were your slippers and some comfy but thin clothes.

“Look, Diluc, it started snowing!”, you exclaimed excitedly, spinning around, leaving footprints in the deep snow that fell over the course of the last couple of days.

“You will get a cold, love.”, he remarked and stood in the doorway to the Winery with crossed arms. But you didn’t miss the small smile that played around his lips as he watched you twirl around in excitement.

“I’m not cold.”

You turned around with a smile and stretched your hands out to let the thick snowflakes fall into your palms. You looked up into the sky and watched how they fell into your face, leaving icy specks on your skin wherever they landed. You absolutely adored snow and while it was indeed cold, the excitement and happiness that washed over you made you numb to it.

You rushed down the stairs in front of the winery, feeling the satisfaction of leaving the first footprints in the otherwise undisturbed snow blanket covering the ground. You stretched out your arms before plopping down into the thick snow, creating a snow angel.

Diluc yelled your name and hurried after you as soon as he saw you dropping into the snow only wearing what could be considered a glorified T-Shirt. Although as soon as he arrived by your side he couldn’t help but smile. You were laying in the snow with snowflakes covering your hair and the brightest smile on your face. The one that always made his heart skip a beat.

He plopped down into the snow himself and created a snow angel right next to yours. And you both had to laugh at the sheer absurdity and childishness of the situation.

He paused for a moment staring at you, before half tackling you and throwing you back into the poofy snow. His long scarlet locks fell over his shoulder, along with some snowflakes that had gotten caught in his hair, tickling your face in the process.

One of the snowflakes that fell down landed right on the tip of your nose. Your skin was already so cold that it didn’t immediately melt. Diluc’s eyes shot up from the flake to your eyes for a brief second before he placed a warm kiss on the tip of your nose to kiss it away. A warm flush crept across your cheeks and you were sure you were never going to love another man as much as you loved Diluc. Every moment with him was like a gift from the Heavens themselves. And you were eternally grateful you were the one who had the honor to see him as you did now.

He felt equal about you, too. Eternally unsure how someone like him managed to find someone as perfect as you. You made his heart feel light and never failed to make him smile even on the darkest of days. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say you were the light of his life.

You took his face between your hands, your icy-cold fingertips grazing his warm cheeks. Both of you gazed deep into each other’s eyes, each mirroring the other’s adoration. Every exhale from each of your mouths crystallized in the cold afternoon air, glittering in the setting sun.

You pulled his face down to your lips and tenderly pressed your lips against his. You felt the cold slowly seep through your clothes and prick at your skin and the slight shiver that had started to settle in but you didn’t even realize you were freezing, for Diluc made you feel so incredibly warm.

He sat up and grabbed one of the hands you had rested on his cheek to pull you back on your feet again. The cold air pricked at your back since a bit of the snow had melted while you had been lying on it, leaving a wet splotch on your clothes.

“You’re shivering, let’s get back inside and warm up, love!”

Diluc draped his coat around your shoulder and led you back inside, never letting go of your hand. He sat you down in the armchair in front of the fireplace and knelt before you, taking both of your hands into his.

A warm glow emanated from the vision on his hip and you immediately felt a shot of warmth seep into every fiber of your being. It was hard to describe the way you felt every time Diluc used his vision on you but it was as if he was pouring his entire heart into your soul. To you, it was the most beautiful feeling in the entire world.

“That feels nice.”

“Getting warmer already?”, he asked with a fond smile painted across his face. “Next time you should wear a jacket.”

“Aww, what do I have you for then? You’re like my personal portable heater!”, you pouted.

“Oh, so is that all I am to you?”, he inquired with a smirk and teasingly raised an eyebrow at you.

“No.”, you fervently shook your head. “You’re the love of my life.”

ALHAITHAM

You’ve been sitting in the library for the majority of your morning so being greeted by snowfall as soon as you stepped out of the Akademiya building was the last thing you had expected. After all, Sumeru City lay in the Rainforest area of Sumeru. So not exactly the part of Teyvat that regularly got any snow, if at all. You could probably count the number of times you had experienced snow in your life on one hand.

You walked down the path up to the Akademiya and took shelter from the falling snow under one of the awnings of the stalls. Snowflakes were swirling around you and the air smelled cold and pricked at the skin of your face. You opened your palm and caught some of the snowflakes with your hand, watching them melt upon contact with your skin.

You decided to approach him and plopped down on the bench next to him. He didn’t even bother to lift his eyes off the book to look at who had sat down next to him. But that didn’t deter you, you knew him for long enough to know his mannerisms. Maybe even too long. Because due to that, you knew he was more to you than just a friend.

Suddenly you saw a familiar figure appear in your peripheral vision and turned your head around.

Alhaitham was striding toward one of the benches under a roof. He shook the snow off his hair and clothes and kicked the snow off his boots before sitting down and opening the book he had been holding. His face remained as unphased while doing so, as it always did.

“Not exactly the weather to read outside.”, you remarked.

“I needed some fresh air.”, he replied curtly, not even dropping his book by an inch.

“What are you reading?”

“Combinatorics and graph theory.”

You got up from the bench again and went to gather some snow. You formed it into a ball. Carefully weighing it around in your hand. With a mischievous smirk plastered across your face you flung it in the direction of the Scribe. It landed right on his neck, some specks of snow sliding down into his shirt and making him cringe from the cold.

Ew.

It never ceased to amaze you how he read some complicated science books like light novels. Especially without falling asleep while doing so.

He turned around with a frown, rubbing the back of his neck with his hand and trying to pick the melting ice pieces out of the collar of his shirt in vain.

“What was that for?”, he grumbled failing to hide the little upturn of the corners of his mouth, even with how much he tried to suppress it.

You simply just shrugged, preparing the next snowball to throw at him. But you didn’t get far since he lunged at you to snatch the snowball right out of your hands. He quickly took a few steps back and threw it right at your face in return.

“Oh you…!”, you grumbled with a laugh.

“You picked the wrong person for a snowball fight.”, he stated matter-of-factly, taking a few steps in your direction.

You ran into a side alley in an attempt to escape the next snowball he threw after you. With success. At least partly, because you had run into a dead end. Playfully cursing under your breath you turned around, stretching your arms out left and right in defeat.

“Guess you win.”, you shrugged.

“Not yet.”, he said and put his hand next to your head on the wall you were leaning on.

He lifted the perfectly round snowball up in front of your face and smirked victoriously. You preemptively closed your eyes, fully expecting him to smoosh it into your face.

But instead of the cold snowball, you suddenly felt his lips crashing into yours. The unexpectedness of the situation caused you to open your eyes in shock and inhale sharply. You feared your knees would give in any second as they were turned into pudding in the span of milliseconds. Alhaitham’s intuition seemed to be quite on point since he wrapped his free arm around your waist to stabilize you and keep you upright.

Emotions of unknown caliber washed over you and it felt like a swarm of butterflies tried to escape your core, transporting you right to cloud nine.

As soon as your lips parted again you each looked the other deep in the eyes. Your expression was one of disbelief while he had donned a complacent smile, whispering three words into your ear that damn near made you pass out.

“Now I win.”

Do not repost, copy, translate or edit - © dustofthedailylife || reblogs, comments, and asks about Genshin or my fics are always greatly appreciated! Maple dividers are mine - do not copy.

#genshin impact #gixrsecretsanta2022 #genshin fanfic #genshin x reader #zhongli x reader #diluc x reader #alhaitham x reader #genshin headcanons #genshin scenarios #genshin imagines #genshin impact fanfic #genshin x you #genshin fluff #genshin x female reader #genshin x gn reader #genshin drabbles #🍁 dust writes

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desert-fern · 5 months

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(Holi)Day by Day - 1940s Bradley 'Rooster' Bradshaw x Fem!Reader (historical AU)

Pairing: Bradley Bradshaw x Fem!Reader

Summary: After everything you and Bradley had gone through during the war, you both had scars (both mental and physical) and nothing seemed to remedy them better than each other. When the Christmas season comes around, the tree needs decorating, and maybe even a new tradition for you both.

Warnings: small flashbacks from the war in nightmare form (bombings, blood, death all mentioned but not described), a little self-doubt, lots of love and teasing, and other than that first bit of dark stuff, this is cute and fluffy!

Word Count: 4.8k

Author's Note: Welcome back to Roo and Rosie! This little oneshot was written for @bellaireland1981's Winter RomCom Challenge with the prompt “Home for the Holidays” and while I might not have hit the comedy part of a RomCom, I do hope that you won't be too disappointed in this. Also, this sweet little fic was inspired by Frank Sinatra's Day by Day (which is also the song they are dancing to at the start).

This can be read as a standalone or as a continuation of Ring Around my Rosie.

===

Day by day

I'm falling more in love with you

And day by day

My love seems to grow

There isn't any end to my devotion

Frank Sinatra’s voice crooned quietly from the small radio perched on the windowsill of yours and Bradley’s small apartment in Washington. The street below was noisy, with shopkeepers closing up for the night and night shift workers greeting one another as they met up. White snow blanketed the roofs and windowsills, giving the world an angelic sort of peacefulness as you swayed in your husband’s arms. Boots crunched on the sidewalk below, the sound crisp yet soft under footfalls that left tracks back and forth in the snow.

It hadn’t been easy, these passing months. Bradley was still serving as a Navy officer, choosing to follow this path that he had started on before the U.S. had entered the war. But for all his successes, you were stuck at home. Being married, wearing Bradley’s last name as your own and his mother’s ring on your left hand meant that no one would hire you, despite your skills developed overseas.

Both of you struggled with shell shock, waking up in a cold sweat nearly every other night as your memories replayed the worst moments of both of your short lives. Bombs falling, the screams of men, blood, so much blood everywhere you both turned in these dream states. You had shot awake late the night before, feeling blood on your hands and got up quickly to wash your hands over and over again, trying to free yourself from the stickiness and coppery smell that always lingered no matter how hard you scrubbed.

Bradley had found you in your small kitchen, scrubbing your hands while tears coursed down your cheeks and had gently turned the water off, mumbling a soft “Oh Rosie…” before pulling you into his arms. He held you tightly, letting his sleepy warmth envelop you and pull you from the horrors of your mind. “I’m here sweetheart. Ain’t never letting you go.”

You had said nothing, your eyes staring unseeing out the small kitchen window at the frost clinging to the pane. Snowflakes dancing on the howling wind, but you hadn’t heard it. Not over Bradley’s heartbeat in your ears. He had coaxed you back to bed after a while, clutching your hand like he was afraid you would vanish if he let go while you both walked back to your cozy bedroom. “Dearest…”

“I’m here.” Bradley’s soft voice murmured close to your head as you settled back under the covers. You had drawn a few shaky breaths and curled into his chest, letting a few more tears fall against his chest while Bradley’s strong arms wrapped around you. “I mean every word, Rosie Doll. I’m here.”

And in his sleep-heavy voice, you believed every word. You had married him, knowing your own trauma and quickly realizing his own after the first few nights spent together. Bradley thrived on touch, choosing to curl into you or hold you to him whenever his demons crept up from the darkest parts of his mind. Even when his memories remained just that, he had a hand on you as often as he could.

But for now, Bradley held you close, running a large hand up and down your back as he watched sleep claim you as snow whirled past the window. If he could take away everything, he would. His father’s words rattled around in his head as your breathing evened out, “When you love a woman, love her with everything you have.”

Sleep snuck up on him, and before you both knew it, the alarm clock trilled and Bradley was slipping out of your bed to get ready for his work day. But he never left without waking you gently to murmur an “I love you” against your temple and kiss you sweetly before slipping out the door and making for the Navy Base nearby.

Now though, now he was here with you, pressing loving kisses to your temple whenever he felt like it. You both were safe, warm, and wrapped up in each other’s embrace as the radio seemed to hum along to your gentle swaying circles around in the dwindling light from the kitchen window.

“You never did answer me,” you said softly. “I asked you how your day went.”

Bradley hummed noncommittedly. “Better now that I’m here, Rosie doll.” Even now, after nearly a year of marriage, he still was as big a flirt as he had been when the two of you had first met. “But, I do have news. Good news.”

Pulling back a little to look up at his face, you had to smile as you took in his closed eyes. Bradley looked so content in this moment, like the neighbour’s cat Spot when he curled up in the sunlight down on the street below. For a minute, you could imagine that the two of you hadn’t met in the midst of a brutal conflict as he swayed your bodies gently to and fro in time with the man crooning over the tinny device. “And? What sort of news?”

“So nosy, my sweet Rosie,” Bradley teased, shooting you a wink as his mouth widened in a boyish grin, the one that quirked his mustache up a little each time. “I ought to make you wait now.”

“Bradley William Edward Bradshaw,” you began, trying for unamused but you knew your tone betrayed you. “Tell me this instant. If I need to bake up your mother’s shortbread for your big news, I need to know.”

He shook his head at you, the grin only growing wider as seconds passed. “And what if I wanted your mother’s awful fruitcake instead?”

You shot him an unimpressed look. “Bradley, dearest, that recipe is older than us both combined. It was my grandmother’s pride and joy during the holidays.”

A quiet chuckle bubbled in his chest. “I know doll, I know. I’m just teasin’. I’ll tell ya the news.” Bradley pulled you back into his arms, smiling as he felt you sigh into his shirt when you relaxed into his arms. “Bossman says that I could be promoted in the next round if I keep performin’ the way I am now.”

You stiffened in his arms, coming to a standstill. “Promoted? Bradley, that’s wonderful!” A quick glance up had you sealing your lips to his and kissing him deeply. “I’m so proud, my dearest.”

“All thanks to your love and cooking, Mrs. Bradshaw.” And God help you if your knees didn’t weaken at his words. The pride in both his whiskey-brown eyes shone down on you and his tone, his tone only served to make you more flustered. “I couldn’t have done it without you.”

Certain that your cheeks were as red as the flower he called you, you turned away shyly. “Oh come now. A few meals doesn’t equate the hard work you’ve been putting in.”

“Nonsense!” Catching your chin and directing your face back to him, Bradley continued “Without those meals and the incredible woman waiting on me back here in OUR home, I wouldn’t be nearly half as successful. So, Rosie. You were instrumental in this.”

You rolled your eyes fondly. “Alright then, Mr. Bradshaw. Maybe I did help a little.” His thumb traced gently along your cheekbone, and you leaned softly into his touch.

“That��s my girl,” he praised, leaning down to kiss you once more. “I won’t stand to have you go unappreciated, you hear?”

You found your hand creeping around the back of his neck and toying with the fine hairs at the base of it, wondering at how you had gotten so lucky to have this man, this gentle, kind, loving man.

It's deeper dear by far

Than any ocean

I find that day by day

You're making all my dreams come true

Bradley had become everything you were unknowingly looking for. As much as you hated everything that had transpired for the two of you to meet, you had to admit that the stolen moments between the two of you during the war had given you a hope you had both been lacking.

So come what may

I want you to know

I'm yours alone

So as Bradley spun you gently, you hummed in response. “I suppose not.” The music changed, joyfully opening Nat King Cole’s Joy to the World, and trumpets kicked in jovially, startling your husband to the point he grabbed you tightly and pulled you to him like he was trying to protect you from some unseen enemy.

He chuckled awkwardly, letting go of his tight grip on your hip and shoulder. “Sorry Rosie honey, damn trumpets scared the wits out of me.” But despite the smile plastered on his face, you saw the haunted look in his eyes, the same one that crept into your own on occasion. “Didn’t mean to give you a fright.”

Instead of replying, you rose on your tiptoes and pressed a kiss to his cheek. “No harm done, dearest.” In these moments, all you could do was offer your presence like he did for you. The time spent together during the war had been far removed from the realities the two of you had faced apart and now, standing barefoot on the cool living room floor, you couldn’t have pictured your life now.

“Rosie… I’m not… perfect. I still… ya know. I barely sleep through the night, I can’t hold my wife in my arms and dance to her favorite Christmas song because the trumpets startle me every time. Why…?”

You gave him a firm look, stilling in your movement. “None of that. You hold nothing against me, dearest. Not even my most insane moments. Why on God’s green Earth would I do the same to you?” The words poured from your lips like a fountain, racing free and refusing to let you breathe. They had choked you from the moment Bradley had pulled back, freezing like he expected to find himself curled in a foxhole, fighting for his life. “I married you. I knew you weren’t a perfect man, but you were perfect for me, and that’s all that matters. Do you hear me?”

He nodded, pulling you into a hug and buried his face in your neck. You could feel tears pouring down his cheeks, his shoulders shaking as he cried. Saying nothing, you let your eyes fall closed, running a gentle hand up and down his back, trying to soothe him. “I love you,” you murmured softly. “My handsome sailor, so strong and brave. You saved me.”

You weren’t sure how long you stood like that, only that a few songs had started and ended. Bradley’s neck and back had to be hurting him, but he was content to stay in your arms, hiding from the world. Eventually, he pulled back, wiping his eyes with a shy look. “Thank you,” he muttered, his voice raspy. “I needed that.”

The two of you were a few inches apart, chests nearly touching, yet unlike the last minutes, hours, you weren’t touching. “I know.” The words were soft, like saying them any louder would shatter the bubble around you, like they would let in the darkness. “I married you, Bradley Bradshaw, don’t you dare tell me that I made a mistake taking your name and your mother’s ring.”

He grinned at you, the previous moment’s sorrow seemingly falling to the wayside. “Yes ma’am. Now, do I get my mother’s shortbread or not?”

You swatted his chest, hiding your smile. “If you don’t get out of my kitchen, then you won’t get anything,” you teased, moving out of his grabbing hands and further into the room, hissing as your feet touched the cold floor.

“Is that so, my Rosie?” You could hear the grin in his voice, knowing that it was all over his face without even having to turn around to face your husband. “Your kitchen, your house, anything else you want to label as yours?”

Spinning around, your hands on your hips, you faced him and rolled your eyes at his antics. “I believe I did a year ago when I married you. Isn’t that right, my husband?” The fondness in your voice betrayed the sharp look you were trying and failing to muster up.

Bradley stepped forwards, crowding you. “I will never cease to love hearing you say those words, Mrs. Bradshaw,” he whispered lowly, pecking the side of your mouth before pulling away and meandering into the small living room. “Need any help with the tree, doll?”

Drawing a deep breath, you brushed your hands over your apron, taking a minute to collect yourself. “I think I have it under control, dearest,” you told him, coming around the corner to see him elbow deep in the crate of Christmas decorations that you and he had collected from your families. “Unless you want to get started while I start with the shortbread?”

“Rosie, honey. We just finished dinner and I had to fight you to let me help with the dishes. Take the apron off and let’s decorate the tree, okay?” Bradley wheedled, gently placing the tree angel on the table before making his way to you and taking your hands in his own. “Please doll? Who knows if I’ll be home next Christmas and I don’t want to start without you.”

“Alright, alright, but I’m making tea before I do anything else.” Under his brown-eyed stare, now shining like the colour of good ale, you were helpless to resist.

The smile Bradley gave you was so full of happiness that you couldn’t help but smile too. So, minutes later, when you emerged from the kitchen yet again with two cups of tea and you found your husband tangled up in a garland that had to have been your mother’s given the shade of red, you had to laugh. “Bradley! What in the world…?”

“Sorry Rosie, got a little caught up in the excitement.” The grin he shot you was sheepish and you burst out laughing at the sight. “Okay, come on. Quit your cackling, neighbours are gonna think it’s Halloween not Christmas if you keep that up.”

Setting the teacups down, you pressed a hand to your mouth, shoulders shaking as you stifled your laughter. Bradley had somehow looped the garland around his neck and shoulder, pinning his arms to his sides as he tried to glare in your direction. “How in the…. You really tied yourself up tighter than a Christmas goose, didn’t you dearest?”

Bradley snorted, the sound so undignified and unexpected that it startled a snort of your own to escape through your hands. “Okay, okay. I know, I look ridiculous.”

“Only a little, dearest. Let me help you,” you replied, trying your best to look sympathetic to his obvious plight. You began to unwind the garland from his arms, smiling to yourself as you watched yourself in his brown eyes. A combination of love and embarrassment seeped out of him and you hummed along to the brass band playing from the radio, trying to keep your mind from wandering.

A few minutes passed, the room filled with little more than the faint music and the sound of your’s and Bradley’s gentle breathing. Then you found the loop of the knot and gave it a pull. The garland fluttered to the floor, landing with a soft ‘thump’. “There we are,” you said softly, stooping to pick it up. “Finally free. Now to put it on the tree where it belongs.”

Bradley’s hand on your hip stopped you in your tracks. “Rosie…”

“Yes, my love?”

“Thank you,” he whispered, lips brushing against the skin of your cheek. “For freeing me, for loving me. For everything…”

You turned into his touch, leaning up on your toes to kiss him sweetly. “You needn’t thank me for something so simple, Bradley. Thank me when it becomes a chore to do something so simple, which will never be.” A brush of your fingers against his forehead, moving his hair, had him melting into your touch, sighing softly. “Now, let us decorate the tree.”

Bradley nodded, smiling down at you. You had so easily become the best part of his life, then again, you two had met in the middle of one of the biggest conflicts the world had ever seen. But beyond that, you gave him a reason to smile, filled his heart and your home with light even when it felt like the dark was closing in. He appreciated you more than you could ever realize and he had known the minute he proposed that you were the very balm to his jagged soul.

The softness in your touch despite horrors unseen stunned him at every opportunity and if he had the chance, he would marry you all over again, if only to see the love in his own eyes mirrored in your once more.

“But,” Bradley said to himself. “All I have to do is meet her eyes now. She loves me for me, not in spite of my demons.”

“Bradley?”

“Hmm?”

“Can you help me?” He snapped out of his head, finding you on your tiptoes, trying to string the rest of the garland through the tree branches, but failing because you couldn’t reach. “You bought another damn tree that is too tall for me to do it on my own.”

“Maybe I want you to ask me for help,” he replied, smiling at you. “Maybe I should start putting things on the higher shelves if only so you would ask.”

You dropped the garland in your hands, glaring at him in the most mocking way. “Bradley Bradshaw. You wouldn’t.”

“Would too,” he replied with a wide grin. “I know you can do it, but I always want to help.”

“Here.” You handed him the end of the red ribbon. “Work your magic on those upper branches and I will start on the bows.” You had intentionally ignored his last statement, doing your best to maintain a straight face, but his words had turned your spine to liquid and you fought the urge to swoon.

“As you wish, Rosie,” Bradley said with a wink in your direction, beginning to effortlessly weave the garland through the top boughs all while you stood ramrod straight like a doctor was chewing you out. The only difference was the warmth in your cheeks was from the flirtatious nature of your husband rather than shame at a perceived error in care.

Red bows in hand, you began to tie them to the green boughs, smirking when an idea popped into your head. As gently as you could manage, you brought a bow up, tying it to the belt loop of his pants as quickly as you could. You continued in this pattern, one for the tree branches, another added to the now impressive collection of red bows around Bradley’s hips.

You were being as quiet as you could, but giggles still escaped you when you went back to the crate full of decorations. What you didn’t know however, was that Bradley had noticed your little prank almost immediately.

His focus on your soft humming to Glen Miller had been broken when you stopped suddenly. One look down and he saw a bright red bow tied to his trousers, all the while, your shoulders were shaking with silent giggles. Bradley had elected to ignore it, trying to see if you would give yourself away, but you never did.

“Rosie…” he began, turning to face your back as you grabbed the last of the bows. “Why do I have bows all over me?”

A giggle broke free as you faced him. “I don’t know, dearest.”

He raised an eyebrow at you, humor glinting in his eyes. “Is that so? You have no idea?”

“Not the foggiest, my love. Perhaps some elves snuck in and decided that you were worthy of being under the tree.” You shrugged, a grin playing on your lips as you approached him. “I can’t say I blame them either.”

Bradley reached out, grabbing you by the hips. “That’s my line, Rosie doll,” he chided in a teasing tone. “If you wanted me that badly, all you had to do was ask.”

Heat spread from your face down your neck and up to your ears under his cocky smile. “The tree is half-done, Bradley. Let’s finish that first before we get distracted by… other things,” you tried to compromise.

“Sure thing, doll. But first,” Bradley leaned down, capturing your lips in a bruising kiss. You gasped against his mouth, hands balling up his shirt as he pulled you closer. His tongue mingled with yours and you seemed to fall into him, surrendering the kiss to him and letting him take control.

When he did pull away, he was pleased by the haziness of your eyes and the redness of your lips. You stammered a little before snatching one of the bows from his waistband and set it atop his head. “There. Now you are ready,” you said with a wide smile. “The only gift I need.”

Bradley laughed, shaking his head at your antics. “You call me a flirt and a tease nearly every day, Rosie… are you trying to take that from me?”

You shook your head, still smiling widely. “No. I just… I can’t help it. Maybe the Christmas spirit is infectious and I caught it from the Hilsmans and their obnoxious lights display?” The smile only grew when he bent down to kiss you sweetly, your eyes fluttering in the softness of the gesture.

“Come now. As you said, the tree is only half done. It won’t match the goddamn Hilsmans and those lights so bright they would blind the damn Air Force if they flew over the block, but it’s just us,” he hummed, pulling a bow from his trousers and tying it to the boughs overhead.

The two of you worked quickly, the gentle silence broken only by the crooning of Bing Crosby as he sang about a winter wonderland and snowmen. It added to the warmth in your heart and your eyes as they were drawn over and over again to your husband, who was fixing a small bell to the highest branch he could.

Side by side in the warmth of your apartment, you both finished the tree shortly. As you stepped back from the tree to admire your handiwork, you felt Bradley’s hand on the small of your back, the heat from his palm warming through the fabric of your shirt. “Rosie,” he began, smiling down at the little angel in his other hand. “My folks had this tradition of sorts…”

“Oh? And what was it?” You ask softly, turning into his side. The heat from his body sunk into your skin, wrapping you in an embrace. “Why didn’t we do it last year?”

Bradley swallowed and you could tell that he was fighting tears as he looked at the small tree topper. “My pop used to… he used to lift my mama up every Christmas while they were putting the tree together, joking about how she was the real angel and should be on top of the tree, not this little thing,” he chuckled wetly as he looked at you. “Figured we could keep that tradition going if you wanted, Rosie.”

“Oh Bradley…” You soothed, squeezing his arm gently. “That sounds like the sweetest tradition.”

He sniffed, nodding as he met your eyes. “It really was. I always told myself that if I were ever lucky enough to find someone I loved as much as they loved each other, that I… well, ya know…”

“You wanted to keep their love alive,” you finished softly. “I’d be happy to continue that tradition, Bradley. It sounds just lovely.” And you meant it. From everything you had heard about Nicholas Bradshaw, or as he had been known to friends, Nick, it sounded exactly like something he would do. “Come on, let’s get that angel on the tree and then I’ll make us some tea that isn’t cold.”

Bradley handed you the cloth small angel, no bigger than six or seven inches tall, dressed in white with hair made of yellow thread. You cradled it gently, tracing over the dress with a soft touch. “Pops always said that it looked like my mama, it was the reason he started the joke in the first place. I asked him about putting the angel on the tree and he lifted up my mama like she weighed nothing. He asked me if I wanted to help put her on top of the tree. I laughed and laughed, I had never heard anything so funny…” He trailed off, looking wistfully at the tree before you both. “I remember telling him that that was mama not the angel and he just got this look on his face… told me to grab the angel and give it to her so that our angel could stay with us and the tree had the fake one. It never failed to make her smile…”

“That’s beautiful, dearest,” you hummed, glancing up at him. “Your parents sounded like they had so much love to give, Bradley. Just like you do. And while I might not necessarily look like this angel here, why don’t we fool Heaven a few days longer, hmm?”

The look Bradley gave you was so full of gratitude that you swore he nearly fell over. “Yeah?” He asked, scarcely able to believe what he heard. This was something so unique, so personal, something that he was convinced that he would never be able to find outside his parents. The tradition had been something he had only ever heard of from his parents and here you were, so open to accepting this tradition as one of your own without hesitation.

“Of course. It means this much to you, I would be a horrid, evil little troll if I said no. Not that I ever would, because it is such a beautiful idea and something that is a part of the Bradshaw name,” you replied, a small smile adorning your features. “And this ring on my finger made me one of your small, but very loving, kind, and gentle clan. I would be honored to continue this with you.”

Fingers brushed against your cheek, gently tipping your head up to face your husband. His whiskey eyes shimmered with unshed tears, a furrow had seemed to take over his brow, one that you quickly smoothed over with a gentle touch. He leaned into your hand, his eyes falling shut while he tried to rein in his grief. “Bradley… shall we?”

“Hmm?” he answered in a broken voice. “Yeah Rosie, let’s put my angel on the tree.” His hands found your hips, spinning you around and lifting you up high enough to jokingly put you on the tree.

A giggle fell from your lips before you could stop it and Bradley lowered you back down, the angel still in your hands, while you shook in his arms. “I’m sorry,” you breathed. “I couldn’t help it.”

Bradley smiled at you, the tears in his eyes receding a little. “I know, but my mama always laughed too, so it’s perfect. One more time?”

You nodded and up you went once more, but this time, you stretched your arm out, gingerly placing the angel on top of the tree. A tap to his arm had him lowering you back to the ground, and when your feet touched the floor, you surged forward, wrapping in your arms with a soft “thank you.”

“What’re you thanking me for, Rosie doll? I should be thanking you.”

“Thank you for letting me be a part of this, Bradley. Your family is just lovely and I love that I can keep their memories alive,” you whispered.

Bradley didn’t say anything, just let himself be wrapped in your embrace all the while looking up at the angel sitting atop your tree. This wouldn’t be the last time this tradition would be done, all thanks to you. So while Ella Fitzgerald sang about Santa Claus, Bradley held you close and began to sway under the watchful eye of the angel and for a moment, he swore she smiled at the sight.

His love for you grew three sizes that day, and Bradley knew that without a doubt you were the reason his life was as good as it was. You, his Rosie, had brought him back, piece by piece and he never wanted to leave you.

He was yours forever, never once wavering in his devotion to you. The reason his house became a home during the holidays.

And I'm in love to stay

As we go through the years

Day by day

===

A/N: Hey all! Hope you enjoyed this latest instalment of Roo and Rosie. Big thank you to @startrekfangirl2233 for kicking my butt a little and making sure that this wasn’t complete garbage and thank you to @sarahsmi13s for being so incredible when it comes to these two!

Tagging: @horseshoegirl @teacupsandtopgun @footprintsinthesxnd @dakotakazansky @roosterforme @cherrycola27

#WinterRomComChallenge #bradley bradshaw x reader #bradley rooster bradshaw #bradley bradshaw #wwii au #(holi)day by day #winter fics #top gun maverick #historical au #bradley bradsaw x reader #bradley bradshaw fanfiction #bradley bradshaw fic

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mandowifey · 10 months

Text

Right Place, Right Time; CH 3.

Ray Harris x Fem!Reader

Warnings: NSFW, P in V unsafe sex, oral (f receiving), counter sex, mostly clothed sex, a sprinkle of degradation, teasing, just the tip, sort of cum eating, nipple play, biting, marking, begging, demanding Ray, Au!Dark vibes Ray, porn with plot.

• • • •

Winter came harsh as it always had and buried your town in heavy white blankets. Chimneys smoked and the older folks would offer five dollars to the local boys to plow their driveways. A snow day closed schools and you were bouncing beside your mother along the path leading towards your home. You were ten, bundled in jackets with a beanie warming your scalp and fur lined snow boots to protect your feet. While your nose went pink and stung from the bite of the wind, you relished watching your breath waft from your mouth.

“Honey, look over there, by the trees, do you see it?”

Your mother crouched and pointed, guiding your vibrant eyes towards a line of barren trees. But you saw nothing.

“Mama, I don’t see- “

“Shh! Look, right below that tree.”

You strain and manage to make out the shape of a white rabbit. Its ears forward and alert, eyes seemingly on you now. A smile stretched across your features, delight warming your insides as you gazed upon the small creature. Eagerly, you begin to prowl forward with loud, clumsy crunches in the snow. You wanted nothing more than to touch this animal, to get closer and steal a better look.

A firm hand catches your arm, and you are pulled backwards into the warmth of your mother’s body.

“You can’t do that, Y/n.” Her voice was soft and kind.

“Why?”

She chuckles and drops her chin to your shoulder. Both of you quietly admire the rabbit. “Because you will scare it, and it will run.”

The words make little sense to you.

“But I won’t hurt it!”

Hands close around your stomach and squeeze you gently.

“Doesn’t matter. Everything is dangerous to a rabbit.”

Your eyes are caught in the creature’s stare. Fixed pupils and twitching ears as though it could hear you both. Maybe it could. The rabbit watches you, transfixed, thinking, ready to run the minute you make a move. Suddenly, in the blink of an eye, it took off, causing you to gasp.

“Why did it run? We didn’t go near it.” You were dismayed.

As your mother stands, she takes your gloved hand in her own and makes a non-committal sound in the back of her throat.

“It must have heard something.”

“Something dangerous?” You chirp, following in step with her.

She smiles and squeezes your hand.

“Yes, something dangerous.”

○ ○

The smell of burnt food roused you from your sleep.

In the transition from dreams to reality, you found yourself disoriented. This was not your bed, and the walls surrounding you told you it was also not your house. A dull ache bloomed between your legs and you groan as you push yourself up. Last night came back to you, and you recalled the stranger you had followed home. When your eyes adjusted to the hazy bedroom interior you brought your attention to your naked body, still raw and sex stained from the encounter before. You felt bare and vulnerable in this strange place, and shifted onto your feet to search for your clothes.

Head aching, you gather the scattered remains of your outfit and dress as you go, already rehearsing your excuse for why you slept over and that you were going to walk back to the bar to get your ride. When you composed yourself, you walk out the bedroom door and into the hall. You linger when you pass the basement, worrying yourself that this exchange would be awkward. Stepping into the kitchen and steeling yourself, you drew a breath.

“Hey,”

The kitchen was empty.

A plate with scrambled eggs, toast and very burnt sausage patties sat on the counter with a note beside it. Curious, you step closer and pick up the hand written letter.

‘Ran to get gas. Be back shortly, help yourself to whatever. Enjoy the food. – R’

Your eyes flick towards the plate again and like clockwork your stomach growled. While you weren’t hungover, your mouth was dry and that told you food and water would solve your headache. Grabbing the plate but not bothering with silverware, you bring your stuff to the tiny dining table and hurry to fill a cup with water from the sink. Finally seated, you finger eggs onto the toast and eat the lukewarm meal gratefully. Even cold, the grease from the sausage and salt from the eggs melted down your throat and eased the tension from your forehead.

After destroying your meal and polishing off two glasses of water, you felt better. Ray had left dishes in the sink which you decided to clean as a thank you – and to kill time. There was a small window that gave you a view of the backyard and dense lining of trees surrounding the property. Your eyes catch on a small shape near the edge, but it bolts before you can get a good look. Drying your hands, you jump at the sound of keys in a lock.

Now you could get the awkward part over with.

The door swings wide as Ray steps in, dawned in his leather jacket like the night before. You smile and fold your arms, feeling a tug in your loins. Beer goggles or not, Ray Harris was a handsome man. Though now in the light of day you could see his age. You knew he was older than you, but now that you could clearly see the lines etched into his skin, you realized just how significant it was. As warmth pooled in your stomach, Ray tosses his jacket on the back of a chair and kicks the door closed with the back of his boot. He catches your eyes and smirks.

“Hey kiddo, how’d you sleep?”

Tension eases off your shoulders as your cheeks go pink.

“Oh, hi- yeah, I, well, great I think,”

You feel like a schoolgirl with a crush on your teacher. Ray crosses the room towards you in three strides and he slips his arm around your hips as he leans in. His mouth was on yours before you could speak again. The man tasted of mint with a hint of tobacco, which you got to taste as his tongue forces past your teeth and swipes across yours. Head spinning, you snap your hands to cup his cheeks, kissing him with equal vigor. So much for feeling awkward.

He was moving you backwards, using his larger frame to guide you until you bumped into the kitchen island. Your lips were crashing together obscenely loud, and Ray devoured your mouth like it was his last day on Earth. You cannot help the mewl that stutters in the back of your throat as your hands wander down the expanse of his torso. Breaking the kiss, Ray peppers soft pecks along your jaw and you turn your head to offer your throat. He rumbles, licking over your velvety flesh before biting down hard enough to draw a gasp.

Ray was a man possessed. His large, strong hands pawing your sides and groping your breasts by the fistful. He couldn’t get enough of you. “Sorry I wasn’t there when you woke up, had shit to do.” His voice is like thunder against your skin. “Woulda fucked you first thing.” He added, suddenly hoisting you up to sit on the edge of the islands top. You were reeling, your ability to form a coherent sentence long gone now that lust had made your brain blow a fuse.

All you could think of was him and how much more you needed.

You reach down and pull your dress up to your hips, exposing the soaked fabric of your panties. This prompted Ray to draw back, watching as you widen your legs to offer him everything he wanted. Those husky eyes of his taking in every inch of you like a hungry animal. A wolfish grin sprawled over his face and exposed edged, predatorial teeth as he reached down to fumble and open his belt.

“Looks like my girl wants it too.”

He effortlessly takes his cock out while simultaneously pushing your panties to the side. Ray draws in a breath, able to smell the delectable heat of your cunt from there. You blush, leaning back onto your palms to brace yourself. The older man slots between your legs and tugs you closer to the edge, your ass nearly hanging off as he guides himself against your folds. “Damn, missed this fucking cunt,” He sighs as his swollen tip nudges your tight opening. “Let’s see if it missed me.” You see a flash of teeth before Ray drives inside of you to the hilt.

A cry erupts from deep inside of you. His cock filling you to near painful degrees and the tip nudging near your cervix. Chest heaving, you lift one of your legs to drape over his shoulder as your cunt resizes around him. The dull ache from earlier long forgotten as he stretches you. Ray’s head turned to kiss your knee while his hands encompassed your hips in a grip that would certainly bruise. “That’s it.” He purred, before pulling his hips back.

You feel empty, but only for a moment before he drives himself inside a second time, then a third. Each impact jerking your body upwards, forcing loud cries to spill from your lips. The burn of the friction mixed with the head of his cock nudging dangerously close to your end had you coming undone. Ray was watching you as he rocked his hips steadily, building up his momentum gradually. You whine as he leans over you and pecks your lips, smiling impishly against them. “You like that? Splitting open on my cock?”

The lewdness makes your head turn and eyes fly shut. Your cunt betrays you as it twitches and squeezes around him, making the older man grunt in surprise. “I’ll take that as a yes.” You don’t need to see him to know he toted a smug expression. You groan as his hips begin to rabbit into you, your body bouncing rapidly now as you suddenly drop onto your back and cry out for him. One of your hands covers your face, trying to conceal how utterly fucked out you were.

Ray hunkers over you and suddenly rips the top of your dress down, exposing your tits. You shriek, canting your hips to meet his erratic thrusts as something familiar builds inside of you. He’s stoking your flame, pushing rapidly towards your peak. His hand finds purchase around your throat, squeezing hard enough to limit your air flow. Mouth gaping, you swing your hand away from your face and knock what remained on the countertop away. You’re howling, becoming an uncontrollable animal below him as he rocked viciously hard inside you. The man groans, leaning over to look at your face and admire how red you got. “T-that’s it, that’s it.” His voice came in heavy pants, becoming winded in his old age.

Nothing mattered outside this moment. Ray hammering inside you, oozing precum along your walls while you squelched noisily around him. Both of you were panting now, your body twitching and writhing while your nails sought purchase. You grab at his arm and he tightens his grip around your neck until you see spots. That was it, and within three more full body thrusts you felt him break you. A strangled scream bursts forth and you throw your head back, convulsing and shaking as you cum. Your walls bare down onto his cock, squeezing erratically and milking him for all he’s worth.

Ray was encouraging you, his own thrusts sloppy and uneven. He could feel how you tightened and nearly threatened to force him out, but he kept rocking. When he could take it no longer, he put both hands on your hips and threw his entire weight into you, trying to drive his cock further than before. Giving a choked groan, his eyes shut tightly and head fell to your breasts as he came. You could feel the twitch of his orgasm pulsing inside of you, and knew the searing warmth you felt was his cum painting your insides. Mindlessly stroking his greying hair, you relax finally as you try to catch your breath.

The two of you remained connected, breathing each other’s air and decompressing while your hearts attempted to find a normal rhythm. Ray kissed your breasts and sucked one of your nipples into his mouth, making you gasp softly and arch. He rumbles and pops his lips off before smiling and licking around the pert bud slowly. “T-hanks for u-uh, breakfast.” You managed to stammer, your cunt fluttering around him.

Ray sucked it back between his lips and gave a low ‘mhm’ around you, his hips lazily pushing and dragging his softened cock inside of you. Your head was spinning from all the stimulation, and your blunt nails dig into his scalp. You felt on fire, every nerve ending hyper sensitive now. After just a few moments, Ray lifts off of you and begrudgingly slides out. The emptiness that follows made you shudder, and you sit up to look at him.

“Get in the shower.”

You raise your brows, a shiver running down your spine at the intensity of his command.

“Gonna join me?” You chirp as you slip off the island. Your legs were wobbly now and you grip at him for support. Ray had put himself away before he wrapped an arm around you. He wore a smile as he leaned down and kissed into your hair. “Since you asked so nicely, sure.”

Leading you to the bathroom, Ray opened the door and flicked the switch on. It was simple, a little messy which didn’t surprise you at all. What did catch your attention was the broken mirror. You were no forensic scientist but you’d seen enough punched mirrors to know what one looked like. Catching your gaze, Ray shrugged. “Accidents happen, especially when booze is involved.” His dismissive nature was charming, and you liked how uninterested he felt about things.

“Like last night?”

He heaved a laugh as he opened the curtain and turned on the water. “Is that what you think?” His voice was an amused hum. Your eyes follow along his strong arms and admire his tattoos, before drifting down and catching his hands. The noticeable veins and bruised knuckles made you feel hot in the face. “I didn’t say that, you did.” You shrug, still smiling. When he finished setting the temperature he turned and looked down at you in thought.

“That was no accident, and if you think I regret it, I don’t regret a single thing I’ve done.”

The space between you both was tense. Eyes locked and unflinching as you stared one another down with the shower hissing in the background. Closing the distance, you pull him down by the shoulders and kiss him unlike anyone you have ever kissed before. His arms fly around you as he stumbles from your weight knocking into his. He kisses back with equal fervor, knocking your teeth together in a battle of dominance. Ray felt consumed by you, encompassed by that youthful energy you had and wanting to bury himself within it forever. His tongue rolls with yours while his lips clash. He brought one of his hands up to cup the back of your head and keep you in place.

A whimper escaped your throat as you lap at his mouth, desperate to take anything he gave. You were wet, leaking his cum down your thighs and aching for more. You’d never felt this way before, something about Ray lit fireworks off inside your belly and robbed you of common sense. When he breaks the kiss, he chuckles at the line of spit connecting you both. “Needy girl.” He wipes his mouth before kissing your forehead. “Tell me what you want.”

“You, Ray, fuck I need you.” Part of you felt pathetic to beg, the other part didn’t care.

Ray smiles and touches your chin to tilt your head back and kiss you gently. “Get in the shower.”

There was a comfort in the playfulness of your rapport. Something about Ray made it easy for you to get along with him. He didn’t look at you like the younger men did. You enjoyed the way he grabbed you and kissed you, like he feared the end was coming. Smiling against his mouth, you nip at his lips and draw backwards to climb in. Water splashes your skin in a comforting, warm embrace and you sigh loudly in relief. You couldn’t recall the last time you showered – shamefully. After you rinse your hair, you steal a glance in his direction and realize he has not moved. Standing with a shoulder against the wall, Ray folded his arms over his chest and observed you in his shower.

“Like what you see?”

The man chuckles quietly and nods. “I do.” He rolled his wrist with a finger pointed. “Turn around for me.”

Heat burns your cheeks, and you laugh, doing a slow twirl for him before turning to face him again. “Not like you haven’t seen it all already.” A smile tugs on your lips, and you lean your shoulders against the cool tiled wall. Ray tilts his head before shrugging. “Well, not sober, at least,” he pauses, “Does it hurt?” His hand gestures to his throat, and you look confused.

Ray grabs his phone and opens the front facing camera to show you.

At first, you hardly recognized yourself. It had been too long since you saw your own reflection. “Jesus Christ.” You frown and tilt your chin up while looking at the camera. A band of bruised skin wrapped around your throat. As you try to recall last night, you notice the bitemarks on your shoulders and neck that you didn’t remember receiving. “God, Ray, you really know how to mark a girl.” There is some humor in your tone, but not much. You enjoyed the idea of being rough, but this seemed a little too much.

A notification pings on the top of the screen, you catch a name, Raymond, before he yanks the phone away from you and shoves it into his back pocket. “Sorry about that. I got a little over excited.” He explained, pulling his shirt off and dropping it to the floor. “Never got to fuck someone as young n’ pretty as you.” He smirked as he winked, and your stomach went into knots. You huff a laugh and flick water at him before turning back to the stream. “Just get in here.”

He disrobes and steps in behind you. The barrel of his chest and thick stomach pressing into your back as he draws the curtain shut. Steam rises around you both, and you sigh while leaning into him. Two powerful arms slip around your stomach, and he pulls you firmly against him, his mouth pecking at your shoulder. Turning, you lean up and kiss him again under the stream of water. His lips chase yours, swallowing you whole as he nudges you up against the shower wall, your lips smacking together noisily.

You can’t help but groan as he places a hand on your breast, his thumb swiping over your pert nipple before he pinches it gently. A soft cry escapes your lips, and you arch into his touch. “Y-you’re fuckin’ killing me.” You gasp into his mouth, tasting his tongue and groaning around it. Ray smirks, pecking your lips again before pulling back.

“Not yet.”

The shower was pleasant. Ray seemed to enjoy washing your hair and admiring your body with his large, calloused hands. He even leaned down and let you lather shampoo into his own tresses, his eyes closed and expression at peace as he relished in your touch. Aside from a little squeezing here and there, Ray didn’t make another move. It had been intimate, close, enjoyable. You felt closer to him than you had before going in. After, you step out and meticulously dry your body before your hair and watch as Ray swipes his head with his own towel before wrapping it leisurely around his hips.

Ray takes you in, his eyes scoring your frame before he hums and tugs your towel away from you. “Missed a couple spots, kiddo.” As you begin to argue, Ray drops his head to your collar and licks a small bead of liquid from your skin. The strike of his hot tongue makes your breath catch in your throat, and a soft whine escapes your lips. “Don’t worry, I’ve got you.” He mumbles, dragging his mouth down and sucking your breast between his lips. He lathes you with his tongue, rolling over your nipple as well as the areola. Ray moans against you, popping his mouth off noisily before focusing on the other breast and repeating the process.

“God,” You sigh, your mouth open and head back as your fingers weave into his greying locks. The suction caused your thighs to press together and your hips to squirm. Pulling his head back with an obnoxiously loud ‘pop’, Ray seals his mouth over yours. He couldn’t get enough of you, and it showed. Licking into your mouth and over your teeth, he fondles your breasts before reluctantly moving backwards. “C’mon, with me.” Your head spun as he took your hand and pulled you towards the bedroom. Giggling softly, you fall onto your back on the bed and look up at him through your lashes.

Lingering above you, Ray feels the blood redirect to his cock once again. Not since his youth had he been able to recover and get hard so soon. You did something to him that he could not explain. “Open up for me. Let me see you.” His voice was husky and demanding, making butterflies soar in your stomach. You hadn’t felt shy the first time you fucked but now you were quite bashful. “Don’t make me ask again, kid.” He warns, removing his towel from his waist and letting it crumble to the floor around his ankles. You squeak, then part your knees.

Watching you open for him, Ray looked down at the junction of your legs. Your soft folds, pink and glistening with slick, and your little opening, oozing his cum from earlier. Wordlessly, Ray drops to his knees and grabs your hips to tug you towards the edge of the mattress. You gasp, then shriek as his warm mouth encompasses your pussy. Giving a quick lick over your slit, Ray presses a sloppy kiss to your clit before bumping it with his nose. Sparks set off under your skin and your stomach begins to tighten. You cry for him, a hand winding into his hair once more.

“Spread yourself for me.” He rumbles, sucking another kiss to the puffy bud at the apex of your cunt. “Now.” You quickly bring your hand between your legs and use your fingers to open your folds for him. Now with your clit exposed, Ray kisses your knuckles as a thanks. “Good girl.” His tongue flicks out against the underside before he sucks his lips around it gently. You keen, your thighs trembling as you buck up towards his mouth, chasing that delectable suction. “R-ray, f-fuck.” You mewl again, chasing his mouth with your thrusts.

The man hums around you, rolling his tongue in slow circles around the bud before sucking it between his lips. Ray enjoyed your taste, your flavor, everything about you that made you unique to him. He places his hands on the back of your knees and suddenly lifts upward, forcing you to bend at the waist. Ray shakes his head against you, lapping and sucking your cunt with reckless abandon. Your sounds only spur him further, and he moans around your sopping flesh. You could feel yourself rising fast, and Ray knew it. The way your breathing shuddered, and you began to gasp uncontrollably, followed by the twitches in your muscles and the tightening of your vocal cords.

Right as you were on the edge of release, he stops. Groaning in dismay, you look down at him through hazy orbs and stare questioningly. You wanted to ask why, to scream and yell and demand he finish you off, but no words came to mind. Brain fuzzy, all you could do was watch as Ray lifted to his full height and wrapped his fist around the base of his now fully erect cock. “Such a messy little thing,” He sighs, tapping the mushroom tip of his head against your mound.

“Ray- “

“So desperate too. My girl wants to cum so bad, doesn’t she?” He continues, dragging his head through your folds and stopping when the tip bumped your swollen clit.

Your body jerks and your back lifts slightly, a frustrated whine building inside of you. You wring your hands through the blankets below and try not to let him see how much his taunting is getting you off. “Please,” You whine finally. “Please f-fuck me, I wanna cum.” The humiliation causes your face to burn red and your stomach to twist. If you weren’t still teetering on the edge of cumming, you would’ve told him to fuck off. A smile dawns on his face and he bucks his hips twice, bumping his tip against your clit again before he drags down towards your soaked opening.

“I don’t know,” He sighed. “Sounds like you’re being a bit demanding.” Ray used his thumb to spread your folds before dipping his cock inside of you. You keen, then whine once more when you realize he stopped after only giving you the tip. “Still not any better, princess?” Ray brings his hand to your pubic bone and presses down gently, before his thick thumb begins to pad your throbbing clit. When you cry out, he stops moving it but keeps the pressure applied. “Uh-oh,”

You felt strung above a cliff, unable to dive off no matter how badly you wanted to. The heat that had simmered in your stomach was now molten hot, driving you further into your frenzy. Ray was barely stretching you and already you were twitching around him, your cunt trying its best to draw him further inside. Watching you intently, Ray smiles and pets your clit with his thumb. “You feel so good around me baby girl. So hot, so tight.” He sighed and gave a half thrust, pushing his head only a centimeter in before popping it back out. You groan, shuddering at the loss of him, before whimpering as he pushes it back inside, stretching you around him once more.

Ray grunts. He wets his lips and flares his nostrils in a huff as he watches you carefully. “Ray,” you pule softly, “I’m – please, I need you, it hurts, please.” There was sincerity in your words. His thumb had kept you close to that edge for long enough, and now you were ready to fall. Ray smiles and slowly begins to push inside, stopping inch by inch just to hear you whine again. When he gets halfway, he stops. His cock stretches inside of you, the bulbous tip nudged against your g-spot and making your breathing quicken.

“Say you’re mine.”

You don’t think about it, because you don’t care.

“I’m yours, f-fuck I’m yours Ray!” You wheek again, near tears now.

When he finally relents, it’s explosive. Ray groans and sinks inside of you with a noisy plap, his stomach taking over for his thumb and pressing down on your clit. Your hands fly upwards, grasping into his wrists and holding on as the world floated around you. “Fuck,” He growls, drawing out halfway before he slams in again. He decides on a quick and hard pace. Your skin impacting noisily, and the bed frame hits the wall each time he crams completely within. You are shrieking, your cunt squelching around him obscenely loud as he drove himself deep. Mouth hanging open, you drag your nails into his arms and throw your head back, crying out and babbling for him. Nothing makes sense, nothing matters, only him.

Ray pounds inside of you like he hates you. “You belong to me,” He strains between grunts, his left hand closing around your throat. “Mine. Mine!” He snaps, leaning his weight into his thrusts now and jerking your body up the bed with each one. You are screaming now, fireworks popping behind your eyelids as your muscles tense and pleasure bursts inside of you in waves.

Clenching down around him, your cunt bears down on him as you cum. Ray follows shortly after you, bucking you through your orgasm before locking your pelvises together. He groans at the heavenly squeeze around his dick, meticulously pulling rope after rope of hot cum from him. He pants, dropping his head down and releasing your neck as he kisses you.

As he slows, you realize he’s pulling out and climbing into the bed beside you. The two of you are breathless, and he has rendered you boneless. The aftershocks of your orgasm still cause you to weakly clench and shudder, your thighs still shivering as well. Turning your body, you curl into him and kiss at what skin you can. Ray wraps his arms around you and squeezes you gently, kissing into your hair as he pants. There were a lot of things heavy on his mind now. All of them pertaining to you.

When you felt like you could speak, you lift your head and look up at him, catching him in thought. “You’re something else, Mister.” You grin, flashing your teeth playfully when you notice the corner of his mouth tugging. “Well, the same can be said about you.” Ray turns to meet your gaze, his azure orbs lidded with exhaustion. Smiling, you lean into him with what strength you have left and peck his mouth before flopping your head to his shoulder. Laying in silence, you settle yourself as your heartbeat returns to normal and your lungs settle. You lay a hand on his chest and trace invisible lines and patterns across his skin.

“Who’s Raymond?” You ask finally.

He's quiet for a moment. “My brother.”

“Oh, - wait, really?”

“Mhm.”

You were smiling, your fingers stopping in their tracks while you shift to look up at him. “Raymond and Ray? You’re joking.” Ray looks at you and his brows vex. “My father liked to fuck with us. He’d call me Raymond and him Ray, get us all confused, try to say one was the other.” Sighed the man as he pets his fingers into your hair at the base of your skull. “Pain in my ass, my brother.” You lay your head down and consider what he’s told you, finding the reveal of information to be enlightening. Humming, you close your eyes and think about what he said.

“You two close?”

Ray remained silent, his head back and eyes transfixed on the rotating ceiling fan’s blades. He sucks his teeth and licks over each one in the front before breathing a sigh. “We used to be.” The man withdrew from you and sat up, shifting himself to sit at the edge of the bed. Confused, you scoot into him and put your head to his shoulder, giving him a moment of silence. You weren’t a mind reader, but based on the quiet, heated conversation he had the other night on the phone, and how he seemed reluctant to talk about him, you could put together that his family was a sore subject.

He appreciated your touch, finding the closeness comforting. Heaving a sigh, Ray shifts his shoulders, and you lift to look at him thoughtfully. “You hungry?” He asks, rising to his feet and crossing the room to his dresser, looking for boxers. Touching your stomach, you consider before nodding. “Sure, I could eat.” Smiling, you slip off the bed and stand up. “How about you take me back into town and we go for dinner before getting my car?” You offer, looking around for the clothes you’ve left behind. Ray pauses, not looking at you before he finishes hiking up his shorts. He dresses in jeans and grabs a wrinkled, white wife-beater to throw on with it.

The tension in the quiet makes tugs your nerves. You felt awkward suddenly, like you had said the wrong thing and upset him. “Not like I’m trying to run away or anything,” you add quickly, offering a shy smile. “I just don’t wanna be a burden or overstay my welcome.” Ray glances at you and visibly relaxes. “You aren’t.” He smiles and pops a mint into his mouth, sucking on it as he thinks. “Why don’t we take my ride and go get something to eat. Grab your car and you come back here with me? Stay the weekend?” He offered, dropping the plastic wrap on the floor. A smile branches across your face, the uncertainty gone as your heart throbs.

“Sounds like a plan to me!”

You dress yourself in old clothes and slip into your shoes. Ray grabs you as you both walk towards the front door, laughing. He dodges your swatting hands and grins as he slaps your ass before opening the door for you. You couldn’t remember the last time you had fun like this. No strings attached, just two people enjoying each other’s company and having a great time. Ray locks the door behind you, and you bounce down the front steps and into the grass, your eyes flicking to the tree line again as he starts for his car.

Standing near the bushes, you could make out a vaguely familiar shape. Once your eyes come to focus, you gasp quietly as you realize it’s a lovely little white rabbit. Its ears twitch as it notices you. You both watch one another before it suddenly vanishes into the underbrush. Smiling brightly, you turn your head and walk towards the passenger side of Ray’s car. When you climb in, you grunt and pull the door closed as he’s turning on the engine.

“You get a lot of rabbits out here?” You ask, adjusting the air vents on your side.

Ray looks at you as you buckle up, and he sucks the mint in thought. “Not anymore,” He leans back and checks the rearview as the car begins to reverse. You look at him again and push your hand through your hair. “What do you mean?” You chirp, unable to resist the urge to ask. As Ray backs you both onto the dirt road and gets you going in the right direction, he sighs and reaches for the radio.

“Wolves got ‘em.”

#ethan hawke #ray harris headcannon #ray harris headcanon #ray harris x you #ray harris #ray harris x reader #ray harris smut #ethan hawke fanfic #ethan hawke x you #raymond and ray #ethan hawke x reader

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mysweetlixe · 5 months

Text

-Mistletoe Kiss

College au

Words: 500

The winter air hung crisp and cold over the college campus, a soft blanket of snow covering every surface like a layer of powdered sugar. The quaint town transformed into a winter wonderland, with twinkling lights and the scent of hot cocoa wafting through the air. Among the flurry of students bundled up in scarves and jackets, Y/N and Seungmin found themselves drawn to each other in a way that transcended the season's chill.

Y/N and Seungmin had been friends since the beginning of their freshman year, brought together by shared classes and mutual interests. As the semesters passed, their friendship deepened, evolving into something more complex and significant. They spent countless hours studying together, exploring the campus, and engaging in late-night conversations about dreams, fears, and everything in between.

It was during the winter of their sophomore year that the air between them seemed charged with an unspoken tension. Both Y/N and Seungmin felt a shift in their relationship, a subtle undercurrent that hinted at something more than friendship. The snow-covered campus became a backdrop to stolen glances and lingering touches, their hearts dancing to a silent melody only they could hear.

One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm glow over the snow-covered landscape, Y/N and Seungmin found themselves alone in the quiet courtyard. The crunch of snow beneath their boots echoed in the stillness, creating an intimate atmosphere that seemed to amplify their connection.

Seungmin turned to Y/N, his breath visible in the cold air, and a nervous smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Hey, Y/N," he began, his eyes filled with a mix of anticipation and vulnerability.

Y/N looked up from the snow-covered ground, meeting Seungmin's gaze. "What's on your mind?" they asked, a hint of curiosity in their voice.

Seungmin took a deep breath, summoning the courage to express what had been swirling in his heart for weeks. "I've been wanting to do something for a while now," he admitted, his cheeks tinged with a rosy hue. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small sprig of mistletoe, a playful glint in his eyes.

Y/N couldn't help but smile at the unexpected gesture. "Mistletoe, really?" they teased, the tension between them dissipating into a warm, shared laughter.

Seungmin's gaze softened as he held the mistletoe above them, the winter moonlight casting a soft glow on their faces. "I've been waiting to do this," he confessed, his voice a gentle whisper.

Time seemed to stand still as Seungmin leaned in, closing the distance between them. Their breaths mingled in the cold air, and the world around them faded away as their lips met in a sweet, lingering kiss. It was a moment that transcended the winter night, a culmination of unspoken emotions that had blossomed between them.

As they pulled away, a shared realization settled between Y/N and Seungmin. The snow-covered courtyard, the twinkling lights, and the mistletoe had all played a part in a story that was uniquely theirs—a tale of friendship blossoming into something beautiful amidst the winter magic.

#stray kids x reader #stray kids imagine #seungmin x reader #seungmin #seungmin imagines #seungmin imagine #stray kids imagines #stray kids fluff #skz x reader #skz imagines #skz imagine #skz seungmin

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meownotgood · 1 year

Text

The lights in Hokkaido seem to glow even brighter when you're here beside him.

Aki breathes out, a cloud of crisp, cold air wisping up from his mouth into the night sky, swallowed by the pale light of the moon. A thin veil of snow falls slowly; tiny, soft snowflakes brush his shoulders, they kiss the top of his head and they get tangled in the dark strands of his hair. The snow settles onto the branches of the dead trees, it covers the ground in a fluffy blanket of white.

He's not used to the city. There's a bridge that curls over the streets below, and from here, Aki has the perfect view; he can see the crowds of people shuffling below, the colorful lights that frame every tree, every hedge. They blend together until he can't make out anything but a wash of blue and purple and white and red.

There's people all around, laughing, taking pictures. Aki can make out bits and pieces of their conversations when their voices overpower the whistle of the wind. There's kids playing with the public binoculars, there's friends complaining about how cold it is.

And then, there's you, standing beside him, admiring the cityscape's luminous glow with stars in your eyes and your face buried in your scarf, Aki's scarf. He wrapped it around your neck when you mentioned how you forgot yours.

It's pretty, isn't it, Aki?

Yeah. Aki blinks, turning his gaze away from you and back towards the city. It's pretty.

The array of lights is a sight he's never known, but the dusting of snow is the one thing his heart can never seem to forget. When the cold works in through the back of his neck and the tips of his fingers, it settles in his bones like it's been there before. It's the kind of cold that feels like darkness coming sooner than you're ready for, that tastes sharp on the end of your tongue.

He's been here before. But he hasn't been here like this in a long time. How long has it been, ten, no, thirteen years? It's always quick trips. He doesn't give himself the chance to linger.

And you're with him. You: gentle soul, twin flame. You're here, even though Aki insisted you didn't have to come, even though he's never brought anyone to his hometown before. You're beside him, sweet when you shuffle closer until the puffy sleeves of your coat are pressing up to his, beautiful when the lights reflect the softness of your hue and when the shadows cradle the intricacies of your face.

You're here. You're right here, and everything is okay. Hokkaido always chokes him, but right now, Aki feels like he can breathe again.

With his gaze still locked on the city, Aki's hand drifts towards your own in a subconscious effort to be closer, and then, in a deliberate one when you feel his fingers delicately brush your knuckles. He exhales a soft sigh, he reaches for just a bit more.

His hand is cold, frost in the future of his palm and the crevices of his fingerprint, but his touch sparks a budding warmth. You feel it spread over your arms and your shoulders. It settles in your chest when he wraps his pinkie around yours like he's swearing a promise to love you.

Just the slightest touch. The two of you, connected by nothing more than your pinkies and the resounding beat of your hearts.

The world seems to grow quieter than it was before. The lights reflect brighter. Time becomes lost to the way the snow falls.

Aki doesn't say anything. Neither do you. But when you turn to leave, you make the promise official; locked pinkies work into your fingers lacing in between the gaps of his own. They become your hand held in his, giving him a tight squeeze when you tug him along.

And then, you're hand in hand as your boots scuff the sidewalk and crunch the snow, you're walking through the twists of color and the arches of twinkling lights without a care in the world, as if you and him are the only people to exist. Like this moment is living. A breath of life, from what was once a shallow grave. This, as simple as it is, is what it feels like to be alive.

Aki's got a ghost of a smile on his face, but when you turn to him once the two of you stop to admire another huge, light-bound tree, he's suddenly looking away, his lips pursed, eyebrows pinched, cheeks red from more than just the biting cold.

You okay? You look embarrassed.

At the sound of your voice, Aki turns towards you, and the moment he sees your face, he can't stop the smile from tugging at the corners of his cheeks, he can't hold back a weak sort of giggle that explodes into a happy sort of laugh.

It feels good to worry about something dumb. It feels good to melt in the comfort of simplicity.

There's a worry that's been lingering in the back of his head for a while now, coiling anxiety in his chest. But it's the good kind. It's the fluttery, dreamy, butterfly kind of anxiety. It makes him feel nervous, but giddy, and he isn't used to feeling this way, his heart doesn't know how to handle it.

He's not sure if he should keep laughing, or start crying. He doesn't know if he should kiss you like he's yearning to or if he should try to find the words to tell you just how much you mean to him, to admit to you right here and now that he's falling for you more than the snowflakes are, and he's been falling for a long, long time.

When he comes here, he's always restless, always thinking about something so much bigger than himself. But right now, he's worrying about something so stupid, so inconsequential. And he loves it.

You're teasing him when he doesn't reply — What, what is it? You gonna tell me? Aki laughs a little more when you pout and shake his arm by his hand, still linked with your own.

He glances around for a quick second. There's still people everywhere, people walking and admiring the lights, people eating from concession stands. People who are in love, who are walking side by side, connected, who look just like you and him...

Aki meets your pleading eyes, with a shy look in his own. He leans down a little closer, and he speaks quiet enough that only you, the snow, and the wintery puff of his breath can hear.

"It's just... when we're holding hands, it makes us look like a couple, don't you think?"

#haha....... ahahaaa.......#aki hayakawa x reader #aki x reader #aki hayakawa x you #aki x you #aki hayakawa

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godlizzza · 4 months

Note

OH for the holiday prompts what about teen Dan attempting to gift Herbert a promise ring for Christmas or somethin? Could end up being fluffy or angsty i just love your high school sweethearts either way

"I feel like I'm in a snow globe," Dan said, turning in a circle, eyes tipped up toward the white sky.

Herbert clicked his tongue. "Maybe because we're walking in the actual snow?"

Dan dropped his chin down to aim an unimpressed look at Herbert. "I'm talking about the scenery, not just the snow. I mean, look." He spread his arms out, indicating the little trail edging along the forest they'd been walking along for the past twenty minutes. "It's pretty beautiful, you've gotta admit."

Herbert did have to admit it. With the soft, powdery snow falling on the landscape, everything looked like it had been dusted with icing sugar. The grass was blanketed by a layer of snow. Glittering icicles hung from the bare tree branches overhead, dripping crystalline water to the earth below. Snowflakes drifted from the sky, almost as though they were suspended in time. With no other people around for miles, the only sounds were the tweeting of birds, the crunch of their boots as they walked, and Dan's cooing at the squirrels scaling nearby trees.

"It's nice," Herbert allowed, accepting Dan's hand when he held it out.

Dan grinned and gave Herbert's hand, snug inside his mitten, a light squeeze. "Ice-cream is nice. Teachers forgetting to assign homework is nice. Snow on Christmas? Now, that's perfect."

"It's not Christmas yet," Herbert corrected him. "There's still-" He checked his watch. "-Nine hours and thirteen minutes until Christmas."

"Mmm, and I really hope Santa brings me what I want this year."

"What you want, Santa can't give you."

"Oh, really? And why's that?"

"Because Christmas isn't an X-rated holiday," Herbert droned and Dan laughed, his breath clouding in the air in front of him.

"Dang. Guess I'll have to wait 'til Valentines Day," he joked.

Herbert smirked. "Yes, and we won't be ice-skating this time."

Dan grinned but didn't offer an answering quip. They walked on in silence for a few minutes, hand-in-hand, watching the icy pines and remnants of day-old snowmen as they passed. Herbert's nose had stopped running and his ears felt toasty beneath his beanie. He'd been against the idea of driving all the way out here just so they could walk around in the snow, but Dan had been insistent and Herbert didn't want to disappoint him on Christmas Eve, so he'd caved and agreed to it. Now, he was glad they were here. Any chance to be alone with only Dan always proved to be worth it.

Eventually, Herbert noticed a slight frown on Dan's face. His thick eyebrows were drawn together beneath his knitted cap and he was staring at the ground as he walked. Herbert paused, wondering if Dan was feeling under the weather but didn't want to say anything lest it spoil the mood.

"Dan?" Herbert asked. "What's wrong?"

Dan blinked and looked up at him. "Hm?"

Herbert squinted at him through the slight fog misting up his glasses. "You look like something's bothering you."

They had both stopped walking now and were stood, facing each other. Their hands were still linked and Dan reached up with his free hand to scratch his chin.

"Um, nothing's bothering me," he said, though he glanced away as he did.

Herbert pursed his lips before crossing his arms. "Fine," he sighed. "Be that way. I was only trying to do the nice thing and ask about what was on your mind. But if you don't want to confide in me, your boyfriend of over a year, that's just fine. Even if it is the season of giving and you can't even give me an honest answer-"

"Okay, okay!" Dan relented, holding his arms up in surrender. "Geez. Using the spirit of Christmas to guilt trip me? Talk about low."

Herbert smirked triumphantly, having to stick his chin up so the collar of his puffer jacket didn't swallow half his face. "Whatever. It worked. Now, tell me your secret."

"It's not a secret," Dan sighed. He was pouting now, his cheeks splotchy and pink, and Herbert hazarded a guess that it wasn't just from the cold. He dug his hands into his pockets, bouncing restlessly from foot-to-foot. "I just had something I wanted to give you."

Herbert raised his eyebrows at this. "I thought we did gifts already?"

"We did," Dan replied. "But this is...something extra. Something I've wanted to give you even before now with the holidays and everything."

He drew his hand from his pocket, holding a small box. He pulled the lid off with shaking fingers, revealing two twin bands of silver nestled amongst a plush black cushion. Herbert stared at it, his brain drawing a blank as he watched the light filtering through the clouds sparkle off the curved metal. He glanced up at Dan, who couldn't seem to decide if he wanted to stare at Herbert or the ground. His cheeks were crimson now, nearly as bright as his red sweater.

"What is this?" Herbert asked. "Are you proposing right now?"

"No," Dan said hurriedly, nearly dropping the box. "I'm not...talking about getting married, even if we could. But I wanted to give you this because..."

He fumbled for words for a few moments sighing and reaching for Herbert's hands. Herbert gave them willingly, and Dan crowded their hands around the box, pressing Herbert's mittens to the plush velvet. When he looked at Herbert again, his eyes were calm and earnest.

"I love you. I love you more than anything, and this past year of us being together has been amazing. I want to keep doing that forever. You're the only person I want to be with, Herbert. The only person I can imagine loving for the rest of my life."

Herbert's heart swooned in his chest and he had to fight to keep himself upright and not melt into a puddle at Dan's words. They had both said their declarations of love some time ago, and had frequently expressed similar sentiments to each other since, but it still made Herbert's stomach flutter to hear Dan speak like that. Like Herbert really was the shining center to the universe, the nucleus of all things good.

Herbert had to swallow against how dry his throat had become. "That sounds a lot like a proposal to me."

Dan smiled softly, some snowflakes catching in his eyelashes. "Think of it less like a legal contract and more just like...a promise. A promise to each other to keep loving each other, no matter what happens."

"Dan," Herbert whispered. Now it was his turn to look at the ground. He couldn't take the surge of emotions crashing against his ribs, threatening to pull him under and look into Dan's homey brown eyes. It was too much to handle at once. "You know I could never...never not love you..."

A quiet wounded noise sounded from Dan's throat but Herbert knew him well enough to know it was a reflection of what Herbert was feeling, which was: too much. Dan let go of Herbert's hands to reach into the box and pluck out the rings. He held them up before him and Herbert finally looked back up to meet Dan's shining gaze.

"Herbert," he said, voice soft as a snowflake. "Would you wear this?"

Herbert tugged his mitten off and presented his pale, freezing fingers to Dan. "Of course, I will. As part of your Christmas present, of course."

The corner of Dan's mouth crinkled on one side. "Of course."

He thread Herbert's finger through the ring before pulling off his glove and slipping his own ring on. They held hands again, watching the way the light reflected off their matching silver bands. Despite what Dan had said, Herbert definitely felt like this was only one step removed from marriage. But, if it was what Dan wanted and it would make him happy, Herbert would do it.

"I love you," Dan said softly and Herbert smiled.

He leaned in to kiss Dan once before saying into his ear, "I love you too. Merry Christmas."

#lets go promise rings!!#christmas n snowww yeeee #danbert #teen danbert #dan cain #herbert west #re-animator #reanimator #my fics #asks #writing prompt

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blood-red-ocean · 4 months

Note

really glad u loved the idea! i was afraid it's too silly cause I'm not thinking properly right this moment(it's past 3am in my country)

anyway, thank you for agreeing to write for femSal! can't wait to see what you come up with!

Sorry it took so long, this is my first request so I wanted to make it perfect!

Fem!Sal x Reader

The original request can be found here! This work is inspired by @classyfruit's genderbent Moreau art! Word count: 2.3k. Warnings: None

There may be typos <3 -----------------------------------------------------------------

The crunching of leaves underfoot ignited a kind of childlike joy in you as you wove your way through the trees. The snow was melting, the harsh winter finally coming to an end and at last, you were able to return to your favourite place in the Village.

The sun would no doubt have melted all the ice away by now – or at least you had heard from your neighbour that the lake was liquid once more, he had seen it on his way back from his foraging trip and he wanted to let the Village’s resident ‘water baby’ know. As soon as you had heard the news, you packed your satchel to the brim with your sketchbook, pencils, and snacks enough to last you hours, and off you went.

The sun warmed your shoulders and face as you went, and you took a moment to let your head fall back, relishing in it. Three months cooped up inside your house had taken its toll, and you were ecstatic to be out in the fresh air again. As you approached the lake, a slight breeze kicked up, sending the faintest of ripples across the surface, warping the reflections of the nearby trees. The ground was soft and muddy from the melting snow, but thankfully your usual spot – a large, flat rock, jutting out over the water – was free of dampness. You climbed atop it with a grunt and settled down, letting the sun warm you for a moment, basking in the feeling.

You frowned slightly into the distance a while later, your sketchbook open in your lap. You chewed absentmindedly on the end of your pencil, waiting for inspiration to strike you. The sunlight was casting thin ribbons of parchment-coloured light through the gaps in the trees on the opposite side of the lake to you, and you just couldn’t figure out how to encapsulate it within a drawing. But damn, you wanted to.

A faint splashing sounded from below the edge of your rock seat, and you put your sketchbook aside, leaning slowly over the edge and looking down. The sight of silver, shimmering shapes darting just beneath the water’s surface brought a smile to your face, and you readjusted to lay on your stomach, reaching down. As you gently trailed your fingertips along the surface of the lake, you giggled as the shimmering shapes nibbled your fingers curiously, some of them bumping up against your hand as they swam by.

“Well, hi to you, too,” you whispered. The fish swam beneath the surface of the water as if dancing, and you smiled softly, watching them. You pushed yourself back up to a kneeling position, feeling in your satchel for the container of mealworms you had brought with you, scattering some of them into the water. You sat back again and started to draw, oblivious to the larger rippled which were approaching from elsewhere in the lake.

The next day found you back at the lake again, not wanting to miss a day of being in your sanctuary. The sun was high in the sky, which was just as clear as the day before. You were distracted as you made the same walk as yesterday, and you didn’t notice the object on your rock seat until you were about to sit down. You made a noise of surprise and peered at it. It seemed to be an old boot, something from far before your time. It was covered in algae and aquatic moss, and the sole had been eroded over time. You looked around, thinking that somebody was playing a prank; but when you saw nobody, you simply shrugged and picked the boot up, placing it beside the rock in the soft mud. Again, you drew, this time paying close attention to the mud below the rock, trying to emulate the textures and patterns of it. Again, you fed the fish gathered near your seat some mealworms. And again, you were oblivious to the ripples rolling across the water’s surface.

The third day you went back to the lake, a sight saddened you somewhat. There, on the muddy bank, beside the untouched boot, was a small bone. Upon closer inspection, it looked to be a fish skull. You held it delicately in your hands, turning it this way and that, intrigue mixing with your faint sadness at the poor thing’s state. Holding it as if it were glass, you bent over by the edge of the lake and let it roll out of your hand into the water, fading from view as it sunk to the depths. You settled yourself down on your rock perch again, pulling your sketchbook out of your bag and, with one hand drawing and the other holding an apple you took occasional bites from, you began to sketch the intricacies of a piece of driftwood, floating atop the water. It bobbed up and down, slowly, as ripples coursed across the water’s surface. This time, just before you left to go home, you leaned over and whispered to the group of fish swilling in lazy circles beneath the steadily elongating shadow of the rock, telling them a fairytale from your childhood. Something you did quite often, even if it didn’t quite make sense.

The fourth day arrived and with it, dark clouds, heavy with rain. That didn’t stop you, though, as you simply grabbed your raincoat from the hook by the door and set out towards the lake again, slipping and sliding and laughing in the muddy puddles on the way. The lake had swelled with the overnight showers of rain, the boot now having been swept away. The rain had ceased for now, and you slowly climbed atop your rock again – stopping in your tracks as you saw something on the very edge. You peered closer and your eyes widened at the sight of an eel skeleton, curled up neatly on the edge of the rock. You looked around again, more vigilantly this time. The only footsteps in the muddy earth were that of your own, and the trees looked undisturbed, as well.

The eel skeleton looked beautiful, in a delicate, morbid way. You stepped off of the rock and to the water’s edge, where the mud was the softest, and you started to dig. With shaking hands, you very carefully lifted the skeleton and placed it in the makeshift grave, covering it up again and placing a rock on top. You took a moment to be pensive, and as you stared into the water, you saw ripples distorting the reflection of the trees. Following them with your gaze, you could see that they originated from the center of the lake. Stepping closer, just below the surface of the water you could see a faint, misshapen shadow lurking below. You frown and take another step, the water lapping at the toes of your shoes. Just as quickly as you had seen the shadow, it darted away, and the rain started to fall again, stirring the surface of the lake, rendering anything underneath invisible.

There were no peculiar objects on your seat the next day. The sun was high in the sky again, the lake still swollen from the previous day, and your fish friends had resumed their usual habit of circling for food beneath your rock perch. You laid on your stomach, fingers trailing through the water again as they swam excitedly. Lost in thought, the shadow moving towards you beneath the surface of the water went unnoticed. What was very much noticed, however, was one of the fish flying out of the water, soaring in an arc over you and landing with a wet shlap in the mud to the side. Gasping, you half rolled and half fell off of the rock, hastening to pick up the frantically flopping and flailing fish, gently placing it back in the water to join its friends.

“What the hell…” You breathed. There was another splashing sound and another fish flew out of the water, narrowly missing your face as it soared across your field of vision, landing back in the water. Returning to the rock and looking over the side of it, you saw all of the group still there, unharmed and circling as before. Mind reeling with questions and confusion, you looked around, trying to figure out what happened.

“I’m tryin’ to flirt with you!”

The sudden disembodied voice startled you, hands gripping the rough surface of your perch so as to not fall face first into the lake. Sensing movement out of the corner of your eye, you turned, and your gaze met those of someone almost completely submerged in the water. Their eyes were dark, a slight frown on their face as they stared you down. It looked as if they were wearing a crown of bones, and you gulped.

“Hey, are- are you okay?” Trepidation and intrigue combined in your chest to create a potent blend that kept you fixed to the spot.

The figure didn’t speak at first. And then: “I was tryin’ to flirt with you. Didya not like my gifts?”

The voice carried a tone of insecurity, confusion and determination. It was low and husky, like the vocal version of the crunch of gravel as it is stepped on – and it had a kind of warbled tremor, like the ripples of the lake itself. But it was pleasant, and you wanted to hear more. You sat back down on the rock and crossed your legs, pulling your sketchbook out of your bag and running your fingertips along the spine to soothe yourself.

“Flirt with me?” You asked.

“Yes,” The figure responded. The water rippled around them as they started to move up out of the water, and you saw that the figure was a woman, her skin tinged the same green-blue as the lake. “D’you not like my gifts?” She repeated.

“I… I didn’t realise they were gifts, to be honest.” The woman sloshed closer through the water, coming to fold her arms on the edge of the rock and rest her head upon them. You continued, “I hope I didn’t offend you with my actions.”

The woman stared up at you for a long moment. “Nope,” She said. “I see you here a lot. You’re good to the critters here.” As she spoke, you could detect the faintest lilt in her voice, which somehow made you want to hear her speak even more, if that were possible. Silence fell between the two of you, and without knowing what else to do, you grabbed a pencil from your satchel and started to sketch, not really paying attention to anything but her proximity.

“What’re you doin’?”

“Huh? Oh—” You glanced down at the paper before you, realizing that you had absentmindedly begun to draw her. “I’m just sketching. Would you like to see?”

You held the sketchbook up before you, going back to the first page and flipping through them one by one, telling her the backstory of every sketch. The view of the mountains from your bedroom window, the jewels of dew on a spider’s web, the iridescence of a raven’s wings in flight. Her eyes studied your sketches, focusing hard as she listened. Without a word, she splashed back under the water, leaving you alone. You couldn’t help but feel disappointed as she left and, with a dejected sigh, you turned back to your work, the pencil scratching over the paper.

“Look out! Outta the way!”

“Wh—Woah!” You leaped back as she emerged from the water, her arms full with weeds and grasses from the depths of the lake. She sifted through them, inspecting each piece and discarding some of them with an unimpressed grunt. You turned back to your artwork, but you were distracted now, curiously glancing up at her every so often. Her deft fingers worked at the pieces of grass, twisting and turning them in her hands, and after a moment you realized she was weaving something. You became mesmerized by her movements, a slight frown on her face as she concentrated.

By the time she had finished, the sun was beginning to dip below the horizon, the surface of the lake reflecting its orange glow. She held it out to you with a wide grin, your fingertips brushing her palm as you took it from her. She had weaved the grasses and weeds tightly into the shape of a fish, mirroring the fish that you often fed. It was intricately weaved, and your head spun trying to make sense of where each piece of grass started and ended. Gazing back at her, a blush crept up your neck at her intense gaze. As the chill of the night air started to settle in your bones, you were tempted to stay here for a while longer, if only to see her grin again.

“Thank you…” I trailed off questioningly.

“Name’s Sally. Sally Moreau,” She grinned, making your heart jump in your chest. “But you can call me Sal.”

You smiled. “Thank you, Sal. It’s beautiful.”

“So’s you, if you don’t mind me sayin’ so.”

Her boldness made your blush grow even more, and you shivered regretfully against the chill of the growing darkness. “I…” The words were hard to force out, as you slowly packed your things back into your satchel. “I should go home.”

Sally’s shoulders seemed to drop a little, but she kept the grin on her face. “Comin’ back tomorrow?” She asked, hopeful tones lacing her voice.

“Yeah,” You smiled. “I’ll come back tomorrow.” That night, you fell asleep with a smile on your face and Sally’s grin burned into your mind, the woven fish standing proudly on the top of your bookshelf. Somehow, you knew that today had been the start of something wonderful.

#horror #resident evil #resident evil 8 #resident evil village #sally moreau #salvatore moreau #request

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yourlocalfandomfreak · 1 year

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Okay, but imagine spending Christmas with Erwin Smith.

In a modern day AU setting, just imagine spending the holiday season with Erwin. I HC that he’s rich-rich in the modern AU so you know he’s gonna be splurging on you and your gifts. See something you like in the jewelry store? It’s under the tree. Eyeing a nice, expensive outfit? Under the tree. Got your eyes on a fancy car? Look in the small box under the tree and there are the keys.

I love the idea of decorating the tree with him. Imagine putting on Christmas music or a movie in the background while you two decorate together. Erwin ends up getting a really big tree and he has to fetch a ladder from the closet, which works out because you’ll get a good view of his ass when he’s putting ornaments on the higher parts of the tree.

You two totally dance to holiday music together, I can totally see him swaying around the room with you to “Let it Snow”, or the both of you singing “Baby, It’s Cold Outside”.

Imagine going on walks together when it’s snowing outside. Your arm linked in his as you stroll through the park with snowflakes softly fluttering down from above, your boots crunching in the snow below.

At the end of the day, just imagine: the Christmas tree lit and decorated. The fireplace roaring. Garland and lights hung around the stairs. Soft Christmas music playing. And you and Erwin curled up on the couch with blankets and hot cocoa (or tea, or whatever hot drink you enjoy). If that’s not the dream, I don’t know what is.

#attack on titan #aot #erwin smith #commander erwin #attack on titan erwin smith #christmas #erwin smith x reader #erwin x reader #erwin x you

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dkniade · 3 months

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January 7, 2024. 11:09 PM

Small Dragonspine snippet about cold to practice description

Coldness sure is… something. I wrote this to practise doing descriptions, after watching “Fear of Cold” by Jacob Geller, which is very engaging and well-presented, threading together multiple stories and their perspectives.

Notes: detailed description of the cold, snow, alone in the wilderness, scavenging

Generally speaking, Mondstadt is blessed by the Anemo Archon with warm gentle winds and soft grassy plains. As you look up from your feet, the clear stream babbles as it flows towards Starfell Lake, encircling the great oak tree, protecting it. Sweet sounds of chirping sound in your ears, as though Barbatos himself is singing a tune. No matter how weary you are from your travels, you can always rest in the shade of that tree.

But Barbatos’ voice cannot reach you here on this mountain.

Dragonspine is cold. It’s cold in the sense that a pyre doesn’t feel as warm as it looks. And the lake and the sugar-like snow that stretches on eternally is beautiful, certainly, but there’s a difference between looking at a picturesque scenery and experiencing it with your body firsthand.

Indeed, the hostile environment earns the mountain its grim reputation of claiming various adventurers. In the Starlight Cavern, you hear the crunch of snow beneath your boots echoing throughout the space, revealing its labyrinth-like scale and complexity. While walking over the fragile wooden bridge to the alchemist’s camp, it creaks under your weight, and chips of wood splinter and fall down into the emptiness of the great valley below. While resting at an abandoned camp and gazing into the fire, you hear rustles in the bushes around you but see nothing as you look out.

But the cold stalks your body like a ghost possessing your flesh. It steals feeling from your fingers. You paw ungracefully with your stiff gloved hands at the rectangular stone mechanism you occasionally find around ruins. The strength in your arms diminish as you feel the freezing wind biting your skin. With a slow creak, the mechanism comes to life and reveals the glowing amber core inside along with the warmth you had craved like an animal without food.

And the waters are not any less dangerous just because they’re not frozen. Mondstadt’s ponds and lakes are generally okay to swim in and it never gets too cold in the plains and valleys. But in Dragonspine, the cold spreads across your limbs faster in the freezing water, like a fisherman’s web that entangles you and slows down your movement. Between your safety and the loss of that notebook in the waters, it’s best to pick only one.

Food is scarce. Far from the ripe berries and sweet flowers abundant in the grassy plains, you must learn to hunt boars silently and strike with impeccable timing before you or your weapon gives in to the harsh and unforgiving environment. Even then, scavenging for amounts of flesh you could carry from the body is no easy task and you’re always vulnerable to whatever masked entity behind you, locked and loaded.

The cold reminds you of the dangers of your journey. No matter how prepared or graceful you thought you were in combat, the cold reduces you to a small creature that looks out into the horizon to admire its beauty while at the same time scan for warning signs. Your once-quick swings are replaced by slow and stiff dodges and lunges. Physical enemies could be killed, yes, but the sharp winds whispering by your ears promise a grey eternity with Dragonspine leading the dance.

But you must keep going, traveller.

#dusk fan writing #Dragonspine #snow #snowy mountain #cold #Genshin impact #Mondstadt #genshin fanfic #writers on tumblr #writing community #creative writing

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vulpes-fennec · 1 year

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Shadows Tell Me (If He Really Cares) (2/4)

Summary: For someone whose job title is “spymaster of the Night Court”, Azriel Shadowsinger is surprisingly oblivious to Gwyneth Berdara’s heavy-handed flirtation this Winter Solstice season (or is he?). What will it take for these bumbling fools to get together before the night ends? A mish-mash of Gwynriel holiday fluff (set post-ACOSF).

A gift for @shadowsxgwynriel via @acotargiftexchange!!

Notes: I made a Youtube playlist to go with this fic! Also, I don't live in a snowy place so the sledding scene might be a bit clunky, oops!

Read: Chapter 1 | AO3

❄One week before Solstice❄

“How are you not cold?” Gwyn was asking Cassian. It was the first snowfall of the year, and their little group had plans for a Velaris outing—Gwyn’s first winter visit to the city below. The House of the Wind was so far up that all one could see from the training ring was a flurry of snowflakes and a blanket of mist.

Cassian and Azriel both wore casual black pants and jackets, their crimson and cobalt Siphons glimmering in the morning light. The priestess herself was bundled up in a winter-appropriate pair of black pants, a thick teal coat, knitted teal hat, and creamy white scarf.

Our Valkyrie looks adorable today, Azriel’s shadows tittered in his ear. But she still looks cold. Go hold her hand, Azriel.

Enough, he scolded them. It’s her first proper visit to Velaris, so I don’t want to see shenanigans from ANY of you.

Shadowsinger is so stressed, the shadows snickered. He needs to relax around our priestess. They drifted over to Gwyn, who gave them a small smile as they sat on her shoulders.

“Did Nesta ever tell you how I lived a bastard’s life, before Rhys took me in? When you’ve had to survive Illyrian winters with only tattered clothes on your back, this is just a little breeze.” Cassian shrugged at the frigid winds whipping his hair while Gwyn shivered and stamped her feet.

Nesta appeared behind Gwyn, bundled up and rolling her eyes. “Just because you survived as a child doesn’t mean you won’t get sick in your old age. Gwyn, I hope you haven’t had anything to eat yet, because we’re stopping by my favorite bakery in Velaris.” Nesta jumped into Cassian’s arms, ready for flight.

“Aye, aye, captain.” Cassian gave them a salute before sailing into the mist.

“Ready?” Azriel asked, extending a scarred hand towards Gwyn.

“Ready,” she affirmed, stepping into his arms. It was not Azriel’s first time flying with Gwyn, but he savored every bit of it. Her quiet breathing against his ear. Her arms that tightened around his neck. Her scent of water lilies in the dead of winter. As Gwyn leaned against his chest to shield herself from the cold, Azriel prayed she didn’t feel how quickly his heart was beating.

Velaris had transformed into a winter wonderland. Personalized wreaths hung on doors, and garlands of holly and citrus criss-crossed the cobblestone streets. Soft white mounds of snow piled up in front of houses and blanketed roofs. The streets were bustling with cheery residents running errands and doing last minute Solstice shopping.

Gwyn let out a fascinated gasp as her boots crunched on the snow upon touching down. “I’ve never seen so much snow before. Sangravah was too close to the sea to experience snowfall,” she explained. The priestess picked up a clump of snow and held it up to her face.

“What are you doing?” Azriel asked, amused.

“Did you know that no two snowflakes are the same? But they’re too small for me to see.” She tossed the snow away and slushed through the fluffy material.

“It’s more clear when snow is falling down,” Azriel explained, following her. “When they’ve been on the ground for too long, they compress and can turn into ice.”

Gwyn’s teal eyes widened and she began walking gingerly, arms out for balance. Azriel laughed. “Don’t worry, Berdara. I don’t think there’s any ice on the streets right now”

“I think you just want to see me fall on my ass, Shadowsinger,” Gwyn retorted. “So I can’t make fun of you for what happened at Windhaven last week.” Fuck, she still remembers that. Azriel cringed inwardly at the embarrassing memory.

“Here. If you fall, I’ll catch you.” As he offered Gwyn the crook of his arm, a soft emotion flashed across the priestess’s face.

“Who knew the shadowsinger could possess such good manners?” Gwyn smiled as she looped her arm through his.

“I always have good manners around priestesses,” he responded.

Keeping up with the good manners, Azriel held the door open for Gwyn as they walked into a brightly lit bakery on the corner of the street. Scents of cinnamon, sugar, and pumpkin wafted through the warm air. And Gwyn’s face filled with wonder at the range of fresh-baked pastries displayed proudly on the front counter.

Azriel selected his usual order: a plain croissant with cheese. “This is to cover whatever she’s getting,” he whispered quietly to the attendant as he dropped a silver coin into her palm. The adolescent male nodded in confirmation.

If Azriel had to guess, Gwyn would go for the chocolate glazed doughnut. There were other chocolate pastries, but the doughnut was by far the biggest one. And he was correct. “I’ll have that one, please.” The priestess pointed to the doughnut and fished in her pockets for payment.

“Oh no,” the attendant said, handing her the pastry. “He already paid for you.” He nodded to Azriel, who was standing quietly off to the side.

“Oh! Thank you,” Gwyn smiled at him, sending flutters down to his belly. “I owe you one, Shadowsinger.”

Azriel smiled back. “Don’t worry about it, Gwyn. My treat.” The pair rejoined Nesta and Cassian, who were already waiting outside. Cassian was ripping into a huge loaf of bread, while Nesta was chowing down a large egg tart.

Gwyn eagerly bit into her buttery chocolate pastry, eyes fluttering. “Gods, it’s so good,” she sighed blissfully.

Cauldron boil me. The satisfaction and pleasure laced in Gwyn’s voice imprinted in Azriel’s mind, giving him unholy ideas. Ideas about what she would sound like soaking into a hot bath after a grueling training session. Or what she would sound like if he took his time pleasuring her.

Azriel feigned interest in a shop down the street, and began walking away quickly. Nyx’s vomit. Blaring music at Rita’s. Stinky bog water. Moldy cheese. Azriel imagined his least favorite things in the world in order to suppress his dirty thoughts.

Sure, sometimes he fantasized about kissing Gwyn’s soft lips. And cuddling her with his wings as she read a book. And maybe gently combing his hands through her silky red hair. But thinking about having Gwyn in his bed? Off limits, especially if she only viewed him as a good friend.

Azriel frowned. Wasn’t he supposed to be thinking of stinky cheese? Or was it moldy bog water?

Approximately four months ago, he and the priestess had been laying out in the training ring, chatting in the balmy summer night. One minute he was bantering with his friend, the next minute he was rendered speechless by the way she smiled at him.

After that, Azriel could no longer unsee how her teal eyes brightened at familiar constellations. How happy she was when she received new book deliveries. He thought endlessly about her beautiful voice, singing quietly whenever she thought she was alone.

He’d never been seized by such feelings before. Mor was his first love: he had loved her ever since she walked into Windhaven when they were just teenagers. But the innocence of first love had soured into obsession and overprotection, and finally, rejection. Elain Archeron was another female he desired greatly. But his hunger for the prettiest Archeron had abated ever since she returned the rose necklace last Solstice.

Azriel knew he should have nipped his feelings in the bud months ago, but it seemed like his affections for the priestess only grew by the day. It was getting harder to pretend, not just to others, but also to himself, that Gwyn was just a friend.

A shadow floated up to him. If she’s always on your mind, Azriel, why don’t you just try? You are a handsome male…she would undoubtedly be attracted to you.

Nope. Azriel gently pushed his shadow out of the way. Let’s not presume what the priestess wants. She can flirt all she wants, but she said very clearly last week that we are friends. Besides, our friendship will SHATTER if she knows I like her. We keep this a secret, alright?

❄

“Did you see that?” Nesta elbowed Gwyn sharply. “How does that make you feel?”

Gwyn glanced at Azriel walking ahead with Cassian. “I don’t feel weird about it,” she tried to say nonchalantly. “It’s just Az.”

Nesta scoffed. “Okay. Just Az. Getting turned on by you eating.”

Gwyn blushed, swatting at Nesta lightly. “Nesta, we are just friends. Now, before I go talk to him again, do I have any chocolate on my face?”

Now, Gwyn hadn’t seen many males in her 28 years of existence, but she had read plenty of romance books. And Azriel’s beauty put all of her favorite male characters to shame. But she knew she wasn’t the only one who fancied the Night Court’s spymaster. Several of the priestesses would giggle about their handsome trainer between the library stacks. And Gwyn had overheard Cassian and Nesta discussing how Elain Archeron, the most beautiful Archeron sister, had shown an odd interest in Azriel last year. Even though Elain was mated to another male.

At first, she’d brushed off the possibility that Azriel could see her as anything more than a student or a good friend. But his shadows’ friendly behavior and his excessive glances towards her over the last few months pointed towards…something else.

Gwyn started flirting with the shadowsinger several weeks ago with heated stares and teasing banter to test the waters. And Azriel’s flustered responses were promising.

But when Gwyn cranked up the heat by dishing out overt compliments and initiating physical contact, like hugs and small touches, nothing happened. She’d thought about giving up, that maybe the spymaster only thought of her as a good friend, but then Windhaven happened.

Emerie had whispered conspiratorially to her after the event: “Azriel was staring at you, Gwyn. I saw it all. He didn’t even see where he was going when he crashed into the table.” That gave Gwyn some hope.

She caught up to Azriel, whose shoulders looked strangely tense and his ears were numbingly red. His gloved hands were shoved deep into his pockets. Gwyn frowned. “Shadowsinger, the tips of your ears are practically frozen,” she tsked. “Hold on.”

She tip-toed to place her knitted hat squarely on his head, squashing his black hair across his forehead. Gwyn boldly brushed it out of his eyes, delighting at how nice his hair felt. Before the shadowsinger could object, Gwyn unraveled her teal scarf and quickly wound it around his neck and shoulders.

“It does feel nice,” Azriel admitted with a tentative smile. “Thank you.” A hint of red stole across his brown cheeks, and Gwyn hoped it wasn’t because of the cold.

A large city park emerged as they rounded the corner. Fae children and adults were playing in the snow, building snow sculptures, having snowball fights, and sledding down packed mounds. “How does everybody feel about sledding?” Cassian grinned and pointed to the massive hill up ahead. Only a few brave souls were spotted sliding down the white-powdered slope.

“Sure, but we don’t have sleds,” Nesta objected.

“We don’t need to bring our own. The city usually has sleds available for public use.”

“I’ve never gone sledding before, so I’m down!” chirped Gwyn.

“That’s the attitude I’m looking for! Let’s go!” Cassian and Gwyn led the way, trudging up the steep hill.

Gwyn was panting by the time they reached the top. The hill was no Ramiel mountain, but the multiple layers she was wearing made her sweat. “Couldn’t you and Azriel have flown us up here?” she complained.

“Just because we can doesn’t mean we want to,” Cassian replied. “Our wings get cold flapping around.” Gwyn rolled her eyes. These males are Illyrian babies indeed. Sure enough, there were several large sleds available for use at the top of the hill. “We take one sled each,” Cassian said, dragging the sleds over. “Ladies, use the ropes to steer the sled as you go down.”

The four friends sat in a line: Nesta with a black sled, Cassian with a red one, Gwyn with a green one, and Azriel with a blue one. “My shadows will give us a push,” Azriel declared. “Is everybody ready?”

At her affirmation, the little shadow gave Gwyn a solid push. She let out a loud whoop of excitement as she began to coast down the hill. Gwyn gripped the ropes tightly, too nervous to steer one way or another. Nesta was screaming at the top of her lungs somewhere behind her.

“Stop swerving, Nesta!” Cassian was shouting. Gwyn glanced back to see Nesta erratically making her way down the slope. Cassian swore, yanking his ropes when Nesta almost crashed into him.

Meanwhile, Azriel had artfully maneuvered his way towards Gwyn. She could sense him watching her intently, but she was too focused on the steep blanket of white before her to return his gaze. Brutal wind whipped her hair, but it was exhilarating, the way she coasted over soft snow and had a full view of Velaris before her.

Gwyn used both her feet to slow down sporadically, attempting to prolong the ride. Azriel sped past her, wings tucked in to streamline his journey. He reached the bottom first, going so far as to stand on the sled until it slowed to a stop. “Show off,” Gwyn muttered, rolling her eyes.

“Need a little help, priestess?” Azriel held out a hand when her sled ride concluded. He hauled her to her feet with a solid grip.

“Move, move, move!” Cassian was roaring. The Illyrian general was sliding down the hill at full speed with Nesta clinging to him like a monkey. Azriel and Gwyn scrambled to get out of the way.

“What happened to Nesta’s sled?” Azriel asked when Cassian and Nesta slowed to a stop next to them.

“I fell off and I think a child stole it,” Nesta grumbled. “Can’t we share a sled?” She gave Gwyn a pointed look.

“Yes, we should share a sled,” Cassian added his words loaded with meaning. He gave Gwyn a wink behind Azriel’s back. These busybodies, Gwyn rolled her eyes.

“Sleds are not meant to be shared,” Azriel chided responsibly. Cassian gave him an incredulous look. “What? I thought our plan was to go racing down the hill. And having two people on one sled wouldn’t work out.” The Night Court general sighed in exasperation.

“Racing?” Gwyn asked, perking up.

Azriel straightened at Gwyn’s interest. “Yes, racing. I’m the best out of Rhys and Cassian when it comes to snow sports.”

“Hmmm.” Gwyn raised an eyebrow skeptically at him. “Well, we shall see about that!” She grabbed her sled and began marching up the hill again.

“You?” Azriel chuckled, following her. “You just went down a hill the first time. I don’t think you’ll be beating me anytime soon.” Gwyn could’ve sworn she heard Cassian mutter “they’re hopeless fools” to his mate.

“Are you saying Cassian is the more worthy opponent?” she demanded, spinning around. Nesta threw her hands in the air behind Azriel, shaking her head.

“That’s exactly what I’m saying. If we race, we race to win.” Challenge glittered in Azriel’s hazel eyes, but Gwyn could not take him seriously when he was wearing a fluffy hat and scarf. She simply snorted, and continued her trek.

Gwyn found a large stone on the ground and rubbed it on the wooden runners. “What are you doing?” Azriel asked, puzzled. He was standing close by, his breath clouding in the winter air.

“Smoothing this down so I go faster.”

Azriel’s brows wrinkled. “You’re supposed to use wax, not stone.”

“Okay, shadowsinger.” Gwyn rolled her eyes. “You won’t be saying that when I beat you to the bottom.” Azriel’s shadows swarmed her hands, trying to stop her from sanding down the wood. “Wow, really? You send your shadows to sabotage me?”

Azriel gave her an odd look. “I don’t control them when it comes to you.” He clambered onto his sled, with Cassian next to him. The general had gamely joined them, for Nesta had decided to play judge. “Alright little shadows. Give us a push.” Nothing happened. The shadows bobbed in the air anxiously.

“Whatever. We go on the count of three: one, two, three!” Gwyn shouted as she leaned forward, tipping the balance of the sled downhill.

Gwyn zipped over the snow, watching the world move past in a blur of white. Perhaps it was her imagination, but smoothing down the runners did make her go faster.

Smack! A small snowball hit her back. Gwyn glared at Azriel, who was several feet behind her and grinning wickedly. “Prick!” she yelled. Scooping up a snowball would only slow her down, so Gwyn gritted her teeth and leaned forward, gaining more speed.

Because she was smaller and lacked the drag of Illyrian wings, Gwyn was on the road to victory. She was about halfway down the hill when four Fae children on sleds zipped past her erratically. “Whoa!” Gwyn shouted as she swerved to avoid hitting them.

Doing so put her onto a well-trodden path of packed snow, which meant she went even faster. Any attempts to breathe were ripped away as she sped down the hill. Gwyn began to feel nervous at how quickly things were moving.

“Gwyn, watch out!” She heard Azriel shout. Gwyn’s sled suddenly coasted up a crest. Oh no, this is the ramp for skiing! The ramp ended abruptly, sending Gwyn shooting into the sky, airborne.

Pure fear made Gwyn’s stomach drop when she realized she was going to land on the ground. She screamed, flailing her arms as she sailed through the air. Do the roll! Do the roll! Remembering her training, Gwyn tucked her knees to her chest at the last moment, taking the brunt of the hit on her side. The snow was deep enough to cushion Gwyn’s fall, but it was definitely icy.

A solid figure slammed into her a split second later. Azriel.

Gwyn recognized the spymaster by his scent and the familiar feel of his body. The two of them rolled down the hill, with Azriel cradling her to his broad chest, his leathery wings shielding her from the snow.

“Shit! Gwyn, are you alright?” Azriel asked frantically when they came to a stop. Gwyn lay on top of his chest limply, listening to him breathe hard. She was still stunned by her fall, but this felt nice. Comfortable. “Oh, no. No, no, no, no.”

“Oh gods, I was too late.” Azriel’s voice broke as he ripped off his gloves to find her pulse. His equally agitated shadows moved Gwyn’s coppery hair out of her face. The little wisps dusted over her chilled cheeks, trying to wake her up.

“It’s okay,” she croaked, trying to sit up. “I remembered to do the roll.” Azriel and his shadows sagged with relief. The spymaster was lying in the snow, Illyrian wings splayed out behind him. He looks like a snow angel, Gwyn blinked, dazedly drinking in the sight of him below her.

“I’m so sorry.” Azriel’s hazel eyes were filled with anguish and guilt. “I shouldn’t have pushed you to race. I said I would catch you if you fell and I didn’t. I was too late.” The male was absolutely distraught.

There was no reason for Azriel to beat himself up like this over a fall. Especially when she was relatively unscathed. But the miserable expression on his handsome face told Gwyn all she needed to know.

Oh. He’s talking about Sangravah.

“Hey, hey,” Gwyn said soothingly. “I’m okay, Az. Hey! I need you to look me in the eyes and realize that none of it was your fault. It’s not your fault.”

Azriel nodded, trying to take deep breaths. “Alright. Alright.” The worry in his hazel eyes melted away as Gwyn clutched his shoulders, steadying him.

“I wanted to race just as much as you did. It’s okay, Az.”

“Gwyn! Gwyn!” She was aware of Nesta and Cassian running over to check up on her. “Are you alright?”

“I’m fine!” Gwyn’s mouth twitched as she climbed off her friend. “I told you I was capable of going faster, didn’t I?”

“Mother’s tits, Berdara, don’t joke like this.” Azriel sighed as he attempted to check her for any injuries. “Don’t stand up too quickly! Can you move all your fingers? Your toes? Can you rotate your neck?”

“Az, I’m fine!”

Read: Chapter 3

#gwynriel #gwyn berdara #azriel shadowsinger #gwyn x azriel #gwynriel fanfic #gwynriel fluff #acotar solstice #acotar gift exchange #acotar secret santa #acotar secret santa 2022

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zaharadessert · 1 year

Text

Last Christmas - Once Bitten (1/4?)

Rating: M to be safe for now...

Warnings: I guess the following apply. There is a Swanfire relationship. It's toxic. There is a Milian relationship of sorts, which is also toxic.

Length: 12K and climbing rapidly, hopefully 4 chapeters

Summary: The gang end up taking on Mary Margaret's parents booking at a luxury chalet at the ski resort Killian and Liam's distant relative, Nemo, happens to own. What follows is a little bit of good, a little bit bad, and some ugly too and not just the Christmas jumpers. There's a whole host of Christmas cheer to make up for it though... eventually.

Notes: Happy Holidays @stahlop!!!!! I am your secret Santa! I was so happy when you told me you didn't hate this song, and I'm really sorry it's not completely finished for me to spam you with all of the words buuuut... Have some art to go with it instead? I hope you enjoy it, I've loved getting to know you better over the last couple of weeks! Huge thanks to @kmomof4 for betaing this monster for me, even if she is partly to blame for the high word count. Full Chapter on AO3, link below.

Tagging: @jrob64b64 @xhookswenchx @wefoundloveunderthelight @superchocovian @lfh1226-linda @teamhook @jonesfandomfanatic @tiganasummertree @onceratheart18 @snowbellewells @karlyfr13s @itsfabianadocarmo @ouatpost @ultraluckycatnd @winterbaby89 @thepirateandhisson @xarandomdreamx @xsajx @captainswan21 @spaceconveyor @pirateprincessofpizza @sparlecorn93 @hollyethecurious @ammelia @pawshapedheart

As always, let me know if you’d like me to add you to my taglist for future fics :)

Also on AO3

It was a familiar ride from the airport to the resort, the route up to the cabin one he couldn’t really forget, even after all this time. Even so he was grateful to have been able to share the driving with his brother, who was possibly the only person going this weekend who was even more familiar with the terrain and weather than he was, having spent more years in the Nautilus Mountains than he had.

The range of cabins crept up the side of the mountain, following the pathways of slightly more compacted snow that connected them all to the main hotel and the resort that offered pretty much everything a rich holidaying family could possibly want which lined the heavily compacted tire tracks that spread like a spider web across this section of the mountain, recent fresh snowfall dusting everything with a soft wintry look. It was the first time he’d be experiencing it from this side of the doors marked ‘employees only’ and Killian was looking forward to it more than he’d expected. A soft smile curled the corners of his lips as their destination came into view, four trucks already parked outside one with its trunk still open as a member of staff helped unpack it and get everything inside. It was a picturesque scene, covered in snow and fairy lights, like something on a Christmas card, with the added magic of the resort radio station playing nothing but Christmas music all the way up here.

Liam turned into the last parking space carefully, even with the snow chains on the tires one couldn’t be too careful up here where the only way to get to a hospital was to be airlifted out.

Killian stretched as he unbuckled his seatbelt and climbed out of the truck, the familiar sound of snow crunching under his boots enough to push away the thoughts that had been plaguing him the whole journey as he pondered on the fact that he was due to be the only singleton around for their Christmas celebrations. At least Emma was going to be around to partner up with for the ridiculousness of charades and such, as her boyfriend had been told he was needed at work and he wouldn’t have time to do more than stay the night if he even made the trip.

His footsteps crunched in the snow as he made his way to the trunk and grabbed his cases, carrying them rather than dragging them through the snow up to the front door. He nodded at the man lifting bags out of the other truck, an older gentleman who’d worked there when Killian had and they exchanged a grin and a pointed look as the older man commented about Killian’s ‘moving up in the world’ with a light chuckle before getting back to work.

The warmth that enveloped him when he walked into the lodge from the front porch was incredible, making his skin flush and tingle. The place was a flurry of activity, the smell of baking already wafting through the main living space from the open kitchen, the thunder of young feet as Roland and Leo chased each other round the house having not seen each other since they broke up from school for the holidays, and lights twinkling on the richly decorated Christmas tree in the great room.

Killian smiled and pulled his large suitcase back just in time to not get taken out by the young Nolan lad who barrelled past with a loud, Hey, Uncle Killian! and using the bannister of the large cabin to swing himself round the bottom of the staircase and disappear through a door that Killian was fairly sure was just a closet. Apparently they were playing hide and seek.

- - - - -

Continued on AO3

#captain swan #csss2022 #ZaharaDessert writes #emma swan #killian jones #modern au #skiing #anti sf #anti milah #it's going to hurt #but hopefully it will pay off...#:D

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the-rogue-mockingjay · 1 year

Text

for those we have lost

rating: G

fandom: Final Fantasy XIV

characters: O'ravi Soltholia (WoL), Aymeric de Borel

word count: 1,853

summary: O’ravi is joined by an unexpected – but not unwelcome – visitor during one of her many vigils at Haurchefant's grave. Set maybe a couple weeks after the main scenario quest "Heavensward".

The soft crunch of boots on fresh snow alerted O’ravi to the presence of another, but the pace was slow, and she felt no need to face the visitor.

“You can’t stay away from this place for longer than a few days, can you?” Ser Aymeric said.

A small, bitter smile curled O’ravi’s lips. “Lord Commander. Would you believe me if I said I liked the view?”

“No. No, I would not.” He knelt beside their friend’s headstone, and brushed away the dusting of snow that had accumulated in the short time since she’d last cleared it. The task was futile, the Coerthan winter storms never subsided for long, but she could not simply abandon it. Neither could Aymeric, the metal scales of his gloves clinking faintly against Haurchefant’s shield like some distant chime.

“So, you’ve come to prise the truth out of me?”

Though he tried to stifle it, she still heard his sigh. “O’ravi, please.”

“Come now, I was only teasing. There is no disguising why we’re here.” She turned her gaze back to Ishgard, allowing Aymeric to pay his respects unobserved.

Ishgard, beautiful and grim and bloodstained. The finer details were lost in the winter haze, but she could still make out its silhouette, its spires and parapets and arches. A bastion of strength and order rising from the vicious aether sea below. The city, famed for its isolationism and inaction against Garlean invasion, that became her refuge when all of Eorzea turned against her. When every other safe place became a trap and her own allies turned their backs or blades on her, Ishgard opened its doors to her, foreigner in exile though she was.

Those doors opened because of Haurchefant. Because of his unshakeable faith in the Scions, in her. “Hope incarnate” he’d called her, pleading with his father to believe him when he said any reprisals or risks would be worth it. And Lord Edmont trusted his son, this once. So Haurchefant’s home became her home, his family became her family, his cause became hers.

She’d questioned what it was all for, when he died. When she fought Thordan and the Ascians at Azys Lla. All the empty nights she spent alone in the snow or curled up on the floor in front of a Fortemps hearth. All this loss, this suffering, Haurchefant’s blood staining her gloves…what could be worth all this? What could be worth so steep a cost?

But with peace finally within reach, with heretics and knights finally on the road to accepting each other as brothers and sisters of Ishgard, with highborn and lowborn together striving for a future in which no one need fear losing loved ones to a pointless war with the dragons, she began to understand. Ishgard was at last becoming what Haurchefant and Ysayle believed it could be. The new dawn that they gave their lives to make possible was approaching, however slowly, however painfully.

She did not allow herself to dwell too long on the fact that Haurchefant died to protect her, O’ravi, his cherished friend. His Warrior of Light. The more she thought of it the more liable she’d be to collapse in a fit of grief, and—not in front of Ser Aymeric. Not again. Gods knew he’d seen enough of her tears and her misplaced anger.

“Lord Haurchefant’s death was not your fault or failure,” Aymeric said, startling her from her reverie. “The blame lies solely with Ser Zephirin, my father, and myself.”

“Aymeric—”

“Nay, do not apologize, my friend. Harsh as your words were, you spoke true.”

She scowled, tail lashing beneath her heavy coat. “Your reckless mistake is not the same as willful murder.”

“The result is the same in the end.” He shook his head. “But I must confess, I am glad you do not hold it against me. I feared your resentment and desire for vengeance might consume you.”

“You needn’t have worried. It took more strength than I had to keep channeling my grief into a weapon like that,” she said softly. “Were it not for Alphinaud and Estinien picking me up and hauling me off to battle again and again, I would have fallen to my knees and not gotten back up.”

Aymeric lingered a moment beside the headstone, before joining O’ravi where she stood watch a couple yalms from the cliff’s edge.

He wrapped his arms around himself and closed his eyes. “Forgive me, if I could change the outcome of that dark day, I—”

“It’d be your father who went to the grave, and Haurchefant would still be with us.” She inhaled sharply. “Shit. I spoke without thinking. I’m sorry.”

“You fought and slew him at my behest, O’ravi. His sins were more grievous than I know how to forgive.”

His words did nothing to assuage the storm brewing inside her, and seeing this, his expression softened.

“Yet, there is still some good to come of it: you killed the Ascian that possessed your friend, and my father disposed of the other before he challenged you.”

Her ears twitched backwards, thumping uncomfortably into her hood. “Pfff. If I never fight a battle even half as difficult as that again, it’ll be too bloody soon. I wasn’t certain I’d survive it.”

“You are Hydaelyn’s chosen, blessed with Her grace, and all who have seen you in action can scarce deny that the Fury Herself goes with you. Vidofnir named you warrior of warriors with good reason.”

O’ravi hummed. “Even so, it was not my own strength that kept me standing in that godsforsaken place. Do you know what did, Ser Aymeric? What gave me the will to endure everything they inflicted on me, and to hit them back twice as hard?”

He glanced at her sidelong, watching. And seeing the sorrow in his eyes, the compassion and patience, with the memories of all that happened between them and everything that led up to Azys Lla churning together in her mind, her breath hitched and her words failed her utterly. It hurt to remember; she could not forget. Even if she wanted to.

Most anyone else would’ve been annoyed with her faltering, her sudden silence, but Aymeric wasn’t just anyone else. He waited quietly with her until she found her voice again, and she was grateful for it.

“I fought because Haurche and Ysayle gave their lives so I could have this chance.” She forced herself to speak up above the whistling wind, and as much as it stung her pride to hear the frailty of her voice, she felt no shame in allowing the lord commander to hear it. He’d already seen the worst of her after the Vault.

“Alphinaud, Estinien, and Y’shtola stayed behind—hells, Estinien trusted me with that damn Eye so that I could ensure that their sacrifice was not in vain,” she continued. “And I did. I fulfilled the oath I swore to you, to Alphinaud, to all of House Fortemps: Zephirin suffered and died at my hands, along with all the rest. I even avenged Thancred. I would have been happy to let the facility collapse and take me down with it, but…” She finished the sentence so quietly, she worried that Aymeric did not hear it. “You were waiting for me back home.”

But hear it he did. He turned to her, eyes wide. “O’ravi…”

“You were waiting for me to come home. You, and Lord Edmont, and Cid back at the airship, and—” tears welled in her eyes, her stomach twisting into knots at the memory— “and Estinien said he would find me as soon as he could. He did find me. He was weary but unharmed, and I was so glad to see him, I didn’t even care that he missed the entire battle. He said he was going to take the Eyes somewhere no one would ever find them, and then his work would be done, he’d be free. He was supposed to be free. I never thought—” She whimpered as if struck, the sudden force of barely-contained sobs sealing her throat as she doubled over, clamping a hand over her mouth.

She tried, gods damn it, she tried to help Estinien. Tried to knock an Eye out of his hand, to wrench it away. She did everything she possibly could to help him, and it meant nothing. It accomplished nothing. All of her power, her skill, her precision, focus and experience amounted to nothing. Again.

Aymeric placed a hand on her shaking shoulder.

Before she could realize what she was doing, she flung herself forward and buried her face in his coat.

It had been weeks, but the memory of her dear friend, wracked with pain and trembling, being engulfed by a crimson seething smoke as the dread wyrm took his place remained in her mind all too clearly. That scream of raw agony and rage, his voice subsumed by Nidhogg’s hideous roar—

The weight of Aymeric’s arms settling around her brought her back to where she was. She leaned into him, and rested her head.

“We have to save him,” she murmured. “He’s alone in dragon territory, as Nidhogg’s puppet. We have to free him.”

“I—I….”

“He’s suffering, Aymeric.”

“…assuming that any trace of him survives,” he said quietly, the tiniest quaver in his voice betraying his grief.

She threw her head back, flinging down her hood, and craned her neck to hold his gaze for the first time that day. “He’s still alive! He’s still in there somewhere, I know it. Thancred wasn’t lost when Lahabrea took control. We can still save Estinien.”

For the second time in little more than a couple moons, Aymeric’s famed eloquence failed him.

“If anyone can save him now, it is surely you,” he said at long last, though O’ravi sensed doubt behind his words.

“We couldn’t save Haurchefant, but it’s not too late for Estinien. Please, trust me.”

He did not reply, but his grip on her tightened.

“We're going to bring him home. Free, and safe, and alive. I promise.”

The two of them stood together on that peak, keeping vigil for their lost friends, until the setting sun cut through the hiemal mist and bathed city and highlands both in soft golden light. O’ravi’s legs ached, the chill wormed its way through all her layers into her flesh and bones, but she did not yet have it in her to leave. And though she expected Aymeric to soon depart for some responsibility or another, he remained at her side, a companionable silence between them.

“May I tell you the truth, Ser Aymeric?”

“You may tell me anything you wish, Lady O'ravi.”

“I keep coming here because it's lonely. Just stones and ice.” She turned the opal ring Haurchefant gave her over and over in her pocket. “I don’t want him to be alone.”

Aymeric's smile was small, but warm. “Haurchefant was blessed to have a friend as kind and loyal as you.”

As the sun disappeared behind the distant mountains, Aymeric at last turned to leave, and O'ravi went with him, her arm wound around his.

#this was my first time writing aymeric do not look at me #this is my first completed ffxiv piece in general actually #and i've polished it as much as is possible so here you go !!! [runs away into the forest never to be seen again]#this is the beginning of ravi and aymeric's friendship- a bond forged by shared tragedy and the weight of duty #i am insane abt them. i am screaming. goodbye ;-;#rogue writes #o'ravi soltholia #heavensward spoilers #ffxiv

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hiyoir · 2 years

Text

Fuyuzakura — The winter blossoms.

SYNOPSIS: After what felt like an eternity of not talking to each other, Eichi decides to reach out to you to civilly discuss your relationship with him after that argument.

CW/s: momentary break up (???), making up, soft kisses, comfort fic for the soul, reader uses he/him pronouns

A/N: Just a small self indulgent fic for myself~ I promise I'm hearing out all your requests, I'll get to them as soon as possible! I just want to write about Eichi being comforted..

"You've got to talk to him eventually, you know?" Wataru sighs, tracing the rim of his tea cup as he watches Eichi shuffle in his seat. His tea was left untouched, a topic like this was not best paired with tea. The blonde man hangs his head low, not wanting to share any eye contact with Wataru.

Whatever happened a few weeks ago was not the best. Eichi was an idol, and with being an idol, there is fanservice. He was in charge of swooning the crowd and making them feel loved and welcomed.

That was not sitting right with you though. The idea of keeping your relationship together under the covers was already horrible enough, and now this? It hurts to scroll on social media to see the millions of posts from fans about how much they loved Eichi, how charming and flirty he was and how they brought him gifts.

Eichi squirmed in his seat, feeling horrible. The scrunched up look on your face as you poured your true feelings out brought tears to Eichi's eyes. You looked horrible, sad, devastated even. His hands cupped each other, fiddling the thumbs as a way to calm down.

"Eichi?" With the call of his name, his head perked up. "Were you even listening?"

"Oh... No, sorry Wataru..." The ache in Eichi's heart throbbed as he let out a sigh. Wataru chuckles, picking up his empty teacup.

"It's fine... I'm here to advise you only, it's really up to you to take action," Eichi hummed at Wataru's words. It's up to me to take action, huh?

"(Name) is a sweet boy, trust me. You'll want to talk things out. After all, do you really want to spend this beautiful winter all alone?"

Right, winter is here... The cherry blossoms will bloom in the winter. It's a rare sight, I'm sure (name) would adore it.

...

(Name)...

—

Snow crunches below your boots as you take a few steps towards the blossomed tree. Spring and winter collides as frost and cherry blossoms mingle today in Japan. It's been a solid four days since you last saw the beautiful blue sky. The sky was clouded with the mellow grey hue as snow falls, leaving a blanket of snow alongside the cherry blossom grove.

With every breath you took, a white puff of air escaped through your lips. This was everything you wanted, to witness the snow covered blossoms. The frosty air penetrates through your coat, the soft chills tickling your skin. Your cheeks were a rosy pink. It really felt like a scene out of a movie.

However, something was missing.

Even with the comforting chills of winter, you longed for the warmth of someone by your side.

That's when it hits you.

The guilt weighed down onto you.

Eichi.

You blamed him for something he was obligated to do.

There's only one thing you could do to fix this situation...

—

Walking along the pavement, you made your way to Eichi's home. Your heart pounded with every step you take. It has gotten late, your anxiety holding you back from confronting Eichi. However, you figured that you needed to talk things out with him. You could only imagine how he felt being wrongly blamed.

As you stepped onto his porch, your gut feeling stopped you.

The lights in Eichi's house were still lit, meaning that he was still awake. Taking a few peeks through the window from afar, you can’t see any silhouette of anybody. He might’ve fallen asleep and left the lights open, like the idiot he is. Was it even a good time to visit? What if he's having a bad time, and you’re doing nothing but interrupting him? Thoughts raced through your mind like a high speed vehicle, but soon came to a halt as you heard a soft gasp.

A tall figure with a skinny stood in front of you. The eyes and hair confirmed your thoughts. It was Eichi.

"Eichi...?!" You couldn't help the whisper-shout. People were putting down their weary heads to rest, and they definitely do not want to be awakened by a squeaky man yelling with shock.

Eichi's lips tightened into a line, unable to force out a word in the situation. What was he even doing outside his own house? And why was he covered with snow? His frail body was shaking from the cold, immediately snapping a signal in your brain.

You wasted no time grabbing his hand to usher him in his own house. As he passed you the keys to his house, you brushed off any excess snow off his back. The doorknob twisted open as you unlocked his door, your free hand's heat warming Eichi's cold hands.

He had this unusual troubled look on his face, one you could recognize that his line of thinking has gone down to something like: I’m troubling him.. Or, This isn’t very proper of me... Or, I shouldn't make him do this especially if I'm in the wrong.

His brows furrowed deeper, leaving you worried. He was so stoic and still, you have never seen him this flushed and troubled before. He walked over to a sink and turned it to the hottest temperature, letting his fingers heat up. Turning to you, he only looked more flustered. It was like the most awkward staring contest ever, until he managed to mutter out a string of words.

"Go on and sit on the couch..." You nodded, dropping the keys on a nearby table before making yourself comfortable.

Moments later, you hear the water stop flowing, and footsteps that approach closer to you. He sat beside you, shaking off some water from his hands. The droplets fly onto the side of your pants, to which he quickly realised and apologised for.

"Sorry, (name)."

"It's just water," You smiled. "Don't apologize!"

The living room was lit bright, almost as if Eichi was expecting you. You turn over to him, noticing he’s avoiding eye contact with you. His face was a bit red, a rosy blush complimented his cute cheeks.

"Why did you come find me, (name)...?" He mumbles, still not making any eye contact.

"Well... I just felt like I needed to apologize." You finally broke the truth to which Eichi turns his head towards you.

"I... I messed up big. You're an idol, you're supposed to swoon the crowd. It was stupid of me to start an arguement about it." It was hard to swallow your own pride, but it had to be said.

"No... It's my fault too," Eichi mutters. "I shouldn't have made myself so comfortable, I could've restricted myself a little..." He looks down, absently studying the bony structure of his hands. You took his hand into yours, stroking along his veiny hand in a way you hoped was reassurance. He breathed in, pained and breathed out. The hitch in his voice made your heart break into a million pieces.

You couldn't stand the sight of Eichi hurt. You loved him too much to handle it. It hurts more than a million bullets to your chest, something you were oddly shy to admit. A hand creeps around his shoulders to pull him closer to you, resting his head on your shoulder. Eichi sighs, resting his hand on your lap.

"Let's just move on from this okay? I love you, and—" Your sentence was cut off by the soft snoring of the man resting on you. He had fallen asleep the moment he laid his head on your shoulder.

You sighed at his cuteness, but you couldn't deny the fact you missed this feeling. You missed being oh so close with him. Like any good boyfriend, you cuddled back with him.

Maybe you'll take him to the winter blossoms tomorrow. Although witnessing them was beautiful, the sleeping beauty resting upon your shoulder was worth more.

#eichi tenshouin x reader #tenshouin eichi x reader #ensemble stars x reader #ensemble stars #enstars #love you Eichi #IM SO SOFT rn im insane

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