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prospcriity · 6 years

Note

Royal AU / Arranged Marriage + ofcourse for shiikae

// good taste lee, good taste~

fanfic trope match up ::: ( royal au / arranged marriage ) + shiikae

hmmm~ well there’s quite a lot of possibilities for these two when it comes to royal arranged marriage au~ but i guess i’ll choose my favourite. this might be a bit tricky to follow so i hope you can follow along~

in this au, no god exist, there are two realms, the humans and vampires. the vampires live on the other side of the wall and once in a millenia the wall goes down and the vampires strive through the human realm, seeking out preys of all kinds. demons rule above them as kings, there will be one king ( who has absolute reign over all humans && vampires alike ) and there are three princes who are demons, the eldest is michael a.k.a shii. the heir to the throne and dashingly handsome~

he’s quite the scoundrel, considering how many times he had slept with people and sired many children. despite being a demon, he was still a being of status and thus his actions were looked down upon by his father. but michael had always been a little rebel.

well moving on, and we’ll get back to them later, we have the humans who live in the earthly realm, the veil that separates the two realms is like a semi-transparent mirror. the humans cannot see nor sense the demons that may be lurking from the other side of the veil. and unlike demons, humans cannot cross it due to the fact they have a soul.

the human realm is very small, and very dispersed, kingdoms are way too far away from one another. to visit another kingdom is to consider it as like visiting a whole new continent, because of how far the distance stretch between them.

however in this case, the human realm set in japan is ruled by the hiiragi family. the crown prince/princess of the hiiragi family wields the most power and their orders are absolute. however they are still below the demon king and the three princes.

below the hiiragis are the different branch families that serve the hiiragis. sanguu, jujo, goshi, nii, etc. these clans had more power the closer they are to the hiiragis. for 500 years, the sanguus had been the closest to the hiiragis, and are second in command. the sanguu heirs are to take over if the hiiragi family was either massacred or wiped out of existence. though the title for second in command could be changed overnight if the hiiragis wishes for it to change.

for 500 pathetic years, this had continued. and ever since the first time demon-kind had met with humans, long times of horrors and bloodshed ensued. lasted for centuries to no end. however, one day a human king sought out the demons themselves and offered a deal. every thousands of years or so, a royal family chosen by the king themselves would present a spouse ( nowadays many humans believed he had meant ‘sacrifices’ ) for the demons. of course, the demons were not interested in this at all. but they agreed anyways since the human soul and humans themselves are just very amusing for them~ either keeping them as food, playthings, etc.

so of course they agreed because the humans were beginning to grow quickly and adapt to attacks from demons. building weapons that could inflict actual damage. so to avoid them from ever figuring this out, they agreed to the human king, as long as the humans never harm a demon. nor even think about harming the demons.

the deal favoured one side too much, but it had saved the population and allowed mankind to grow and prosper in peace.

now going back to the demons, shii is the crown prince and future heir to the throne, and ever since that deal, demon kings before and after his father would be required to devour a human virgin as part of their coronation. and the tainted blood of said virgin would be what he drinks in order to enter his full fledged form as a demon.

and with the blood moon and the ceremonious ‘sacrifical’ tradition that had been going on for years. and from then on would be the first step to shii becoming a full fledged demon.

long ago, demons had no idea what was a full-fledged demon or a complete demon. all demons were practically the same, the only reason why there was a monarchy to begin with was because there were a group who were different from other demons and held extraordinary powers. but if the other demons learned to harness this power as well, they’d be just as strong. though sadly, many of them do not have the capability nor the intelligence to understand how to harness that magic within them.

meanwhile in the human realms, the modern age was beginning to emerge but the monarchy system still stood strong. the kingdom in japan was recognized as one of the strongest and most prosperous ( ? am i saying this right ) in the world next to russia and egypt.

and with modernization coming along, and the humans evolving and multiplying and dying, it was only obvious humankind grew more terrifying in more ways than demons could ever be. the system had too much biased and holes in it. their morals were twisted and there was not a single person in the world, who was not tainted by greed.

sakae is from the ichinose family, the lowest branch that serves the hiiragis, they were treated like dogs for many years after one of their ancestors tainted the hiiragi name. thus why they live being treated worse than dogs. despite being above commoners. the royals seems to only show common sense and good manners to literally anyone else other than the ichinose clan.

the ichinose clan being so biased treated and so hated, it was obvious that the first born of the ichinoses would be chosen as a sacrifice during the blood moon cerenomy. which was the marriage ceremony ( or in other words, when the human realm was required to sacrifice a virgin to the demon realm ).

sakae was the eldest heir and was the candidate despite his father’s protest that his son was to be chosen. but after a single meeting with the hiiragis, he became silent, bruised and in the hospital, but silent.

thus his fate was sealed as he was adorned with garments to ‘seduce’ his potential demon spouse. and to be honest? sakae was shaking and terrified.

he never had thought his life would turn out this way, but if he refused ( since he had the right to do so, because the deal clearly said no matter who is in power and no matter what sort of norms surrounded society by then. the human who was about to be arranged to marry the demon could decline. ) bur if he did his family would be executed.

so for the sake of his family, he’ll endure this.

The belief that this marriage could lead to a genuine life of happiness where both demon and human could be happy with their crossbred children. but alas, it was leaked to the human world that the humans were meant for entertainment, food or playthings to torment.

but despite all that sakae faced shii with confidence, despite the fact he was ready to basically run off. he was quite the coward after all, and very faint-heart.

obviously it was quite awkward for the two, shii understanding this sacrificial offering was supposed to actually be his ‘spouse’ of sorts. and required by tradition to spend time with them in a cabin near the woods that they named ‘ the bridge ‘ the bridge was the only one area where the veil does not touch. it’s quite far from the main demon kingdom and the human kingdom as well, they must at least get to know their spouse, since it’s required by human standards. ( a honeymoon ). it’ll be a month before they go back to the demon world, where by then, shii could do whatever he wants with sakae. but the bridge area is where it’s neutral ground. sakae can’t hurt shii and shii can’t hurt sakae. it was against the ancient laws.

the ceremony began when the blood moon was high in the sky and sakae and shii shared a drink, exchanging their vows, thus sealing their bond for eternity. despite the fact the vows were said so half-heartedly.

they were also required to spill their blood on a sacred stone, that connects the demon world with the human world, with that their union is official.

after the ceremony and the grand party to celebrate their wedding, and shii and sakae were sent off to the bridge.

their travel was fairly uneventful. they mostly avoided each other on the ship they used to move their stuff to their new temporary home.

they were required to share a room, but most of the time they kept to each other.

only simple greetings were passed towards the other whenever they could not avoid the other.

it got even more awkward when they reached their honeymoon destination, though it was during the third day did sakae finally muster up the courage to talk to shii a bit more often. asking him what he wants for breakfast, lunch and dinner, etc. his hobbies and whatnot. basically making an attempt to make this relationship genuine.

shii was a bit hesitant on opening up to the human but after weeks and weeks of persuasion, sakae is able to melt through his defenses, and shii found himself enjoying being around the human.

he never did enjoy engaging in conversations with others, but he finds himself rambling whenever he’s with sakae.

in a few weeks, he was able to pick up on some of sakae’s habits. ( when he’s laughing he covers his mouth, he’s more comfortable wearing socks around than slippers, enjoys gardening and would often have a little routine where he’d check that all the doors are closed before going to bed. )

he never thought he’d enjoy being in a garden, but seeing sakae so happily digging through the soil to plant little vulnerable flowers in the dirt, to grow them and nurture them. shii can’t help but feel a slight sense of wonder.

as a demon after all, he had no idea what warmth was, what love was and what happiness was. he was a stranger to all those emotions. he never knew true happiness, true love and despite living somewhere he called the underworld where fire was everywhere, it was still quite cold.

but when he met sakae, he knew what true warmth feels like whenever he brushes his knuckles against sakae’s. he knew it was that feeling he gets whenever he hears a heartfelt laughter spill from the others mouth.

he knew what love was like in those lingering moments with the human. knew the comfort between them was deeper than meets the eye, the connection they had with one another. even in the silence, they could feel it. and the understanding look sakae has whenever shii spilled too much information regarding his life.

he knew what happiness feels like whenever he was in the garden, in the library or in the bedroom with the other.

they had never been intimate with each other before, and yet sakae is already making him feel this way without so much of a glance.

the same went for sakae as he realized surprisingly, that the demon made him feel more sure of himself.

gave him more confidence, he’s not as scared anymore as he usually was, and felt more at ease with the demon than with any other human.

he admits he was really glad that he didn’t decline to this marriage, not only for the fact that his family was safe, but he got to meet this demon.

but he knew reality was soon crumble once the honeymoon ends, shii is after all, first and foremost, a demon and demons being demons would do whatever they could to get what they wanted. so despite his wants, despite what his heart tells him to do. he cannot fully trust him nor fall in love with him. because in the end he’ll just be another plaything for the demons.

but in the end he can’t help himself anyways

SOOOO i wasn’t so sure which route to take, the angst or the happy one so i just left it off here :D i hope you like it lee!! sorry this took so long!!!

#[ WHOO IM DONE ]#[ im so sorry i couldn't help it ]#[ but making it the usual would be too dull ]#[ btw i don't think this si how you do it ]#[ but it's the easiest for me to do it anyways so :D ]#[ i just love making aus out of nowhere??? ]#(( --❝ people looked for their whole lives to find the thing that i've found in you ❞-- // shikae ))#「 .progenitr. 」#﹁ ' an unexpected lover who brought meaning to his life once more ' -- a fallen angel ﹂#[ i love lee thank you dear ]#‣ ( ooc )#﹁ / replies / ﹂#[ too much detail but i have no regrets ]

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smoochi-modest · 3 years

Text

✿ [ Wilted ] ✿

—> Genshin Impact - [ Xiao x Reader ]

—> [ Fem! Reader. Blood. Gore. Character death. Fluff into angst, with a rather bitter ending. ]

—> Description - [ It all started with a promise, and now here you were. It seems Xiao will never escape his karma, he thought. The hope you once gave him began to escape within his tears. ]

—> Note - [ 2,231 words - I hope you enjoy;; it'll be one of the few times I write angst, I can't bring myself to hurt him more. ]

" Xiao... you're immortal right? "

Head rested peacefully on the adepti's shoulder, you couldn't help but smile fondly towards the boys face. Xiao had been staring back at you for quite some time now, you were unsure why but you hadn't been bothered to ask. Feeling safe under his watchful eye.

" I am still able to die, just not by time. " Xiao said firmly to you in response, his normally sharp glare found itself to soften the moment you lock eye contact. A feeling of nostalgia bubbled beneath the surface of his skin.

"Mm... That's no good, that means you'll have to die in pain. Right?"

He was taken back by your words for a moment, a frown creeping onto his features. Brows furrow while listening to you patiently. He opened his mouth, only to shut it once more for you to continue.

"I mean... You're already going through enough pain as it is."

He was. And he knew it hurt not only him, but you as well.

"Will you be alright when I'm gone...?"

No. He wanted to say oh so desperately. Closing his eyes, Xiao leaned his head to the side, nuzzling on top of your own while he whispered gently.

" Please do not utter such words. "

Then there was silence, within the heavy atmosphere there was clearly something plaguing your thoughts. He feared it would trap you in a world similar to his own, a place full of pain and self doubt.

" . . . "

" I am an adepti, not a child. "

" . . . "

Yet again more silence, that is... until you shot up from your seated position, knocking your heads together on accident while whining in the process. You lifted a hand to your head, muttering small curses. But now wasn't the time for that! Brushing off the complaints, you make light of the situation. A new idea found it's way in that pretty head of yours, as he stared at you rather irritated by the sudden bash of skulls through your unexpected excitement.

" Wait! I got it! " You seem to beam, " I'll just reincarnate as soon as I am dead! Then I could embrace you just like this, all over again! "

Xiao scoffed, looking to the ground as a sudden warmth found its way across his cheeks and the bridge of his nose. A rose red hue, adorning his face.

" Reincarnation doesn't work like that, you have no say in how long it takes for you to return. "

This seemed to make you pout, sitting yourself back down, you take his hands in your own. The sudden connection, brought him to lift his head slightly to have a glance at your expression. Your fingers intertwining with his.

" Fine then! Just watch me, Xiao. I'll prove you wrong. "

"I'll even promise you!"

That day was forever imprinted in the back of his mind, staring down solemnly at your gravestone. He couldn't remember the last time he felt your touch, oh how he craved to feel it again. Wishing to go back in time, and replay everything all over again.

Xiao missed the way you'd hold his hands ever so delicately, bringing each knuckle to your soft lips. With each kiss, came so much unfamiliar warmth. He wishes he could have told you just how special you were to him, but now it was too late.

You were always the one to nurture his hands, the way you'd caress them with your thumb- leaving tingles behind. You'd claim time and time again, that those hands weren't only used for bloodshed. But for love as well.

His hands let him eat Almond tofu, grasp onto your face while peppering you with soft love pecks. He can almost hear you giggles still, whenever you'd try to push him away out of embarrassment.

Now he awaited for your promise to come true... he's waited nearly a decade now, or had it been more? Visiting your grave whenever he had the time, he treated your gravestone like it had truly been you. Leaving flowers behind, all different colours. Some white camellia, all the way to some dandelion he picked from the ground during his travels.

Ever since that day, the fateful day of your demise- Xiaos life fell into shambles. Feeling tears swell up beneath his mask each day as he slaughtered all his inner demons, along with many threats that came too close to the city of Liyue. His life didn't feel the same, forgetting what he had done on a regular biases without you by his side. So much pressure weighed at his faltering heart. A pressure that almost made him feel equal pain to his karmic debt.

He longed for a day to come where he could have worn the mask and danced with you in his arms — not to conquer demons, but to the tune of that flute amid a sea of flowers he heard once before, long ago. Before he had met you.

The once glittering sun found itself to rest behind the ocean's view, darkness consuming your gravestone and him along with it. Allowing the moon to grace Xiao with it's knowing call, a sign of more pain to come, a call reminding him of his duty that he must serve for the rest of his lifetime. He bid your grave a farewell after adjusting some of the fallen flowers.

Everything around him seemed to be void of any sound, slashing away at potential threats in his path. Piercing monsters abdomens like it were a kabob, before ripping his weapon of choice out in swift motion, allowing blood to spill out of the inhumane creature. Spinning his jade-winged spear to rid of any remaining traces of blood or guts, the ground had been painted in the horrifying colour which you seemed adore. A rose red.

There had been very few times where Xiao was caught off guard, however it was during this onslaught that something abnormal began to sprout like a rose bud. A harsh force knocked him off his feet, collapsing to the ground as he winced in pain. A weight then followed, hovering over him as a small hand grasped his throat. Choking on his breath, his piercing gold eyes widen at the sight ahead of him.

There sat a young girl, resembling his fallen lover. He couldn't allow this inconvenience to halt him from his duty, yet Xiaos mind began to churn still. Ripping the mystery girls hand off his throat, he kicked her off of himself. Quickly standing back up, in a more defensive position.

The two opposing figures stare at each other with undecipherable expression. Both wearing their own masks. His of an Oni, hers of a butterfly. The broken mask only covered the top left half of her face, and he prayed his eye's were playing tricks on him. A familiar colour of messy hair, lips coated in blood as it appears she had previously bitten herself while taking the impact of his kick. But what really through him off was that single eye. An eye that resembles your exact image. But why here? surely this couldn't have been you, he pleaded for it not to have been you.

" Wait! I got it! " You seem to beam, " I'll just reincarnate as soon as I am dead! Then I could embrace you just like this, all over again! "

" Fine then! Just watch me, Xiao. I'll prove you wrong. "

Feeling a sudden rush of pain course through his veins, Xiao stumbled backwards. Clutching onto his mask, desperately trying to snap himself back into reality. A low growl seems to rumble from his throat as he gasps, picking up his lowered head, the girl had yet to approach him.

After one more glance, the adeptus made up in his mind that it must have been you. The way those now empty eyes pierce into his tainted and damaged soul. It sent shivers down his spine, a feeling he had been unfamiliar with. Was this fear? He had no idea. Afraid that this was the fate you two had met, was this his karmic debt returning to torture him in every possible way?

Xiao could understand why he was brought back into his world of inner demons, but why... why were you here? you didn't do anything to deserve this. The girl he once knew, wished to live a happy life, one full of flowers and pillow talks. All that innocence, silly promises that seemed to make his heart flutter all came crashing down.

Fighting through the pain, he got back into a protective stance. You noticing his caution, slowly approach him. This caught him off guard, and that was his first mistake. Allowing your expression alone to throw him off. A single tear seemed to stray down your cheek, lunging forward at him with impressive speed. He lifts the shaft of his spear ahead of himself, protecting himself from the blade you pulled out from your hip. Deflecting it and jumping back, it was clear the boy had no interest in harming you.

" If you are who I believe, please listen to the words I say- argh! " Another sharp pain shot in the back of his head, interrupting his futile attempt to have a conversation with the reborn you. Xiao was unable to accept the fact you had become something so opposing to the angel you once were. Old memories of you smiling in his direction ate at his rotting sanity.

He knew this had to be you, a you that Xiao wished he didn't have to see. Your figure was covered head to toe in blood, hair knotted as you seemed to huff out shallow breaths. It was clear your body had been worn out from whatever you previously were doing.

" Please, you made a promise to embrace me once again. So why are you standing so far away, don't you remember?! "

His normally calm nature seemed to crack, a voice unbearable to hear. The way it would crack mid sentence, he was at a breaking point. Not wanting to harm his love.

The silence between the two of you felt like hell, air so heavy he could hardly breathe.

Xiao knows all too well, he had the upper hand in a one on one fight with you, but harming you was the last thing on his mind. Pleading once again, realizing his voice didn't seem to reach you at all.

He missed those small talks.

The screams all sound the same.

After another moment of silence and hesitance, you crouched down. Fingers tracing the ground without removing you gaze from his. He asked for your gentle stare to return, the way you look at him now with such emptiness- it truly hurt.

Its the old voice in his head that held him back.

Realizing what you had been attempting to do, it was his time to lunge forward. Pushing you away from the graphic pile of your now comrades bodies.

Xiao managed to gain a firm grip on your wrists in a single hand, while you were trapped beneath him. You squirm, thrash and scream in a desperate attempt to escape. Each shout felt like a knife had been plunged deep into his heart.

He hated to see you like this, the mask once keeping his face hidden found itself to dissolve in thin air, allowing you to see his saddened expression. Brows furrowed, tears streaming down his once expressionless face, his body began to quiver knowing what he had to do for this all to end.

"Will you be alright when I'm gone...?"

His unoccupied hand reached for his spear. Lifting it up above your form beneath him. He wanted this to be quick, a painless death... but that pain would only transfer back to him. Know that the hands you once adored, would be your own bitter end.

" How are your hands so soft, Xiao?? smooth~" You coed " I could touch them forever... " You brought his hand up to nuzzle your cheek into its warmth. Your smile always felt contagious, a ghost of a smile tugging at the corners of his lips as well.

Pitiful hiccups erupt from the boy, unsure how to handle the flood of emotions.

After a while, your struggle seemed to end. Not realizing what he had done. The ear piercing scream you let out, went unheard by the boy who was so focused on old memories, his head pounding. Opening his eyes, they widen in shock.

There you were, blood spilling from your chest as his eyes focus on the weapon now dug deep within your chest where your heart was.

The same weapon he used to slay evil, the weapon he used to protect you with a long time ago. Now, the weapon that he coated in your blood.

A sudden sense of distraught met the boy, crying out for you only to hear his own echoes. Still sat on top of you, he removes the weapon. Throwing it to the side as he clutches your body close to his own.

Blood and tears merge together.

Embracing you just how you promised, he wrapped one arm around your waist while the other allowed his hand to hold your head against his shoulder, nose nuzzled in the crook of his neck. Your blood painted his torso, staining his clothes.

You used to adore hearing his heartbeat on late nights like this... oh how he wished he could hear yours in this moment too.

#genshin impact #genshin angst #genshin x you #Xiao x reader #genshin xiao #genshin impact angst #Genshin impact x reader #genshin imagines #Angst #smoochi modest

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calpurniawoods · 3 years

Text

When Love & Death Embrace

Prelude to Introduction

We live in a world where our selfishness reaches a point of wanting immortality. Something that has been forbidden to us by a God who promises a better life will wait for us in the next life. Yet there are those who deceive the word of God, and chose to live by their own means of rules, unaware that they are only human, and vulnerable to one of God’s greatest creations. Death is a taboo topic in different parts of the world. Every culture deals with their loss differently from the next. When death comes into the lives of people they always seem to forget that the life of their loved one could have not been created if it were for the opposite of death; Love. Truth be told that the opposite of death is considered birth, but even before birth something had to have created that being before it was even brought to this world. Love has to become a factor when creating new life. As society continues to view these two as bitter opposites, there are those few who understand that the beauty in life does not exist in the way a person wants to life their life, but by how it is given to them, and taken.

When Love & Death Embrace

What is the meaning in life if the essence that created it, is affiliated with the being that will end it? Why are we breathed in life, only to have it taken away from us? Can it be that we really aren’t meant to live forever, and death is doing us a favor in stopping what ever suffering we have? Can it really be true that out physical life must end, but our whole being will move on to an even greater life? One where love promises life will never end, and we thank death for this new life? Is Death our mother learning to let go of her precious child called Life? Is our father Love who created us through his seed of care?

When Love looked into the eyes of Death, he did not know what to say. For he had fallen for Deaths large, noir, orbs like a foolish romantic he was. Death was not someone people believed to be beautiful, but in fact she was more than beautiful. In a way, she was almost unreal. Unimaginably perfect, that any man would fall for her look of morbid grace to his death bed. The black hooded robe that everyone spoke about were actually her jet black tousles of wavy hair that ran past her whole body as she walked, framing her thin, pale face and physique. She was dreadfully tall that one could only imagine how long her ebony locks were. The stereotypical scythe that held the reputation of fear was actually just her long walking stick she used because…she was blind…

Love did not know exactly why he found Death so appealing. Maybe it was the way she carried herself. Unable to see the people in front of her, but still able to walk with grace towards those who have met their time. Maybe he was just infatuated with her appearance. He could't help but find her morbid, macabre state…warming. But if Love were questioned what it was he adored about Death the most, he would have said her smile, not missing a beat.

It was in her nature to not display any kind of emotions towards others, yet when he was in her presence she couldn’t help smiling with him. Her small, pouty lips were the only thing that has any color in them. Red, the color of romance and affection; the color of blood and deception. Because that was what she was. Love was okay with that…He heard her laugh once. It was random, and completely unexpected. But ever since that day he’s tried to make her laugh every time they would meet. He would even settle more a small chuckle, as long as he heard it from her. It was haunting, and hollow, but inside he knew she wasn’t empty and she wasn’t haunting. All she needed was love.

The time had come for their reunion. Although they had been together just moments ago, to Love it felt like years had been put between he and Death. He always looked forward to these encounters, yet he still dreaded them. He knew that every time he would meet Death it wouldn’t be for a friendly chat; Death was going to rip his heart out.

Love: It’s nice seeing you again…how long has it been dear? Two weeks maybe? Haha.

Death: It feels more like two hours. Then again what do we know about time…it’s not like I’m a heavenly angel, or God.

Love: …No, you’re not. But then again you aren’t the devil either.

She stayed silent, not sure of how to respond to such a dramatic and confusing comeback from him. He always did this to her. Every time she would lash at herself with the worst of comments, he’d always say the opposite…She didn’t know whether she liked it, or if she was supposed to hate him for it. She didn’t even know if she was supposed to hate anyone at all. Death was always curious about Love’s actions. Ever since they were created he was always this hopeless romantic who was too hopeful in mankind's ability to remain faithful for his own good. He spoke about everything in such a blissful state that Death found herself enchanted by his words from time to time. The optimistic he was compared to her pessimistic. She couldn’t help but wonder if opposites can really attract. Because right now as he stood before her about to die for the infinite time he smiled, and that always pained her to see.

Death: Why do you do this to yourself…why do you let this happen to you every time when you know you can always tell God you’re tired of getting broken every time this happens…why do you let yourself die Love…why do you let the love die?

He smiled at her, and she looked away. Damn him. Damn his bright smile that made everything okay. Why couldn’t he see that it literally hurt her to do this to him…She looked up, because she felt something different. Instead of a bright smile she always felt from him…she was met with broken, tired eyes, and a bittersweet smile.

Love: Nothing is meant to last forever dear, not even us. Thats why…when we have to end it, I always look forward to seeing you again. Even if it took a day, a week, a month, or even years. You and I are inseparatable. We’re made for one another darling.

He closed the distance between them, taking her in a warm embrace. If only she could see his face. His angelic, perfect face. Her white eyes could only see a dark outline of him, but even with that she knew he was beautiful.

Love: God really knew what he was doing when he made us. Opposites by fate, yet destined to be lovers. God’s a pretty good Shakespeare isn’t he? Then again he did create him too.

Death could only laugh at his witty thoughts. For once she realized he was right. They were destined to be lovers, just not always together. She guessed thats what it must be like to be a human too. Not everyone born spends their life with their first love. She sort of thought her situation was like that, but it wasn’t either…With the distance they shared coming to a close, Love couldn’t help but get lost in Deaths large pale eyes. With their faces only inches away Death brought their lips together with her cold, thin hands for life’s most bittersweet kiss.

Love: Until next time, my sweet Death.

Death: Until next time, by everlasting love.

In the event of life’s misfortunes, there will be two things that will always be a part of life. Love and Death. Life cannot be created with the absence of love, nor can death keep the balance without the existence of life. Love will forever continue to create life as long as Death continues to let it go. The two things that people can come to fearing the most are histories tragically, oldest soul mates that can never be. Love will always be understand, and Death will always have to let the love go, and Life will continue to be their children they must learn to set free for a better life.

#love #death #writeup

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ladynissa7 · 4 years

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The Beginning and the End.

“You say I took the name in vain I don't even know the name But if I did—well, really—what's it to you? There's a blaze of light in every word It doesn't matter which you heard The holy or the broken Hallelujah “ ~Leonard Cohen, Hallelujah

Some words are more powerful than others, some cannot fully convey fully that which is felt and some that are designed for that purpose. There is a word, a word when spoken by those who believe, that transcends all emotion, it is an emotion, an exaltation beyond all understanding. Praise God, to feel joy in the praise of God. For Dahlia, this word would transcend its religious meaning and transcend into the pagan, into the forbidden, and the blasphemous

Hallelujah.

Behind an old Victorian House and deep into the woods there was a somewhat odd modern building, inside a pool of the deepest black. To the onlooker it was a void, only their reflection could be seen upon the surface and then, only for some. The stillness was disturbed by movement as someone slowly entered the water nothing reflecting on the surface of the water and then they, too, disappeared. All was still.

Dahlia allowed herself to sink all the way to the bottom of the pool before becoming as fluid in form as the water around her. A perfect place of reflection and purpose. Here, some truths became clear. She would never escape that which drove those around her and the passion that consumed them in the name of what they believed in. In the name of some cause, overcome with the drive to achieve if only to please whatever high power demanded of them. From birth to now she would be confronted with zealotry and it molded the girl. It dictates to the woman, even know. Hallelujah

Born not long after California became a state and the Missions had become either obsolete or simple Churches, Lorena Rodriguez found herself with no shortage of influence from Spain, Mexico and the Catholic church. Mission San Juan Capistrano was her home and the place of worship. A theme that would go throughout Lorena’s existence, she passionately took hold of those teaches and set out to embrace them with enthusiasm. Upon her catechism she took the name Rosa as her middle name, emulating, Santa Rosa of Lima, patron Saint of South America and devout Catholic. She might not have married had her parents not insisted and upon coming of age she became Lorena Rosa Rodriguez Silva dutiful wife and soon to be mother of four. The dream of every young woman of the time (empty) She did not love him. But God wills it.

Hallelujah

An Angel had other plans for this young woman so passionately faithful. As though perhaps sensing the longing in her heart it destroyed her world, one by one, until nothing of what she clung to had mattered anymore. Until hatred for that faith and love of duty had been completely devoured. Then, and only then did he appear to her like a beautiful (and dark) answer to all that had gone before. He gave her new life, new purpose, and answers never understood.

The world of the Sabbat was, in retrospect, simply trading one religious’ zealotry for another. But it felt good to the angry and lost young woman, to our new Lasombra. To hate God and to be a servant to that which also hated him. She saw herself in what they taught and did not look back, it was not hard. She had been introduced to a path pure pain and rage, of pressing on into further aggression and lust. The choice of path would not be the only joy in sin to be discovered, Armitage (She/they/he) would take her into new realms of passion she had no idea existed. Among other things, the Sabbat were in a time of war, raging against the Camarilla and she was taught violence in all forms. They made her into a monster. Forever.

Hallelujah

Nightmares plagued her though, horrible, and monstrous. Fire, death, rage, harm... every night. In one battle somewhere in the fields of Kansas, Lorena fell in battle and was removed by a Camarilla member. He would be her new Angel and the world would change again. Addiction is a cruel mistress, the rage and passion surfaced many times threatening her existence, threatening her press toward something different. Along the path to recovery she met Sokar, who brought her back into a world of drugs, passions and a new religion, ecstasy. She might have stayed forever and on occasion he tempts her back. He was not the only one trying to pull her back into that world. Nepos, despite being camarilla was on a path and often challenged her to remember that time. Many helped along the way. Roman, gave her a home a place among Lasombra who were not engulfed in such evils. Ezeanu, taught her philosophy and temperance. She taught him the joys of intimacy and the flesh. Amyntas, educated her on how to control that beast within. Talon, beautiful in her love, helped maintain those lessons taught. Lucius was the only member of her family that could even temper her. Even with all of these, if not for Pretty Boy and Buzzard she would have died at the hands of the Sabbat or rejoined them in that darkness, it was easier there. Dahlia, “A delicate fucking flower” was named with them and sanity kept. Then there was Armitage. The years spent together at created a bond that would not and could not easily be broken. Even though Lorena had fallen away and left the Sabbat behind Armitage managed to find her. Every meeting between them was a reminder, a test, oh they pushed each other, they fought, they attempted to kill each other and in it all they expressed their love in the only ways they knew how. It was the most she had ever felt for another and it was the most cruel, broken existence. Once there was even an attempt at diablery and then murder. Yet still they were drawn together. And when Nathaniel West died, he almost won that fight. The grief overwhelmed her.

Hallelujah

Times had changed by then and the Sabbat were no longer warring. Suddenly Serafino was in her world again and concerned for her. She felt drawn to him then and one would think that might have been the end of it, except he did not want her to go to him that way not in pain or anger. So unlike her embrace but fully and with peace. The presence of the Sabbat so close was disturbing to her, fearing them, and those who would see her return she seemed destined to fall away again. There were few among them she would fight and if Vox showed up, her family’s patriarch, she would not tell him no. (and when he asked, she did not). Lorena’s story became about the lasombra then above all. A thing that never got openly challenged by others or tested, at least fully. She became friends with many, including Diego Amador who had become someone she admired.

This story might have had a predictable end at this point if not for the next person to enter her life. An unexpected presence. He was a sincere and relaxing calm that was almost disturbing in its genuineness. In many ways he drew her and made her uncomfortable all at the same time. Who was this person who should be hating her and judging her for her choices, for her life. What could a Ventrue, Old Dog and proud Anarch want with a young overly feisty Lasombra who had left the Sabbat and probably done so many horrible things that would be unforgiveable to most? She did not understand and tried to make him go away to show some sort of hatred or dislike of her.

“Hate me.” He did not.

Hallelujah

John became her anchor and she began to settle her soul. Things, as they always do threaten that very peace. Pretty Boy’s death shook her hard, Roman’s ended her relationship with his family. All throughout John was there. Until he almost was not. As normal in Lorena’s life, something comes along to threaten it and, in this case, it was Enyo. He did not remember, she knew, they had been lovers more even if she was to understand the entire thing. Doubt was expressed in this moment for their future and she might not have been okay. Damn his honesty in wanting to understand what he did not remember. Lorena might not have stuck by another person, but she helped him with his memories, whatever the outcome may be. Isn’t that what you do when you love someone?

Lorena left for a week for answers for herself and when she returned, she simply said “I want no one but you.”

His response ended all doubt, forever.

“Eternal and unchanging we are, finding each new day to slowly wear on us like the waves the sea. Little by little a piece of me is pulled away into depths, cold, bottomless, and void. Yet I do not despair, as much as I am the land upon which I have defined myself, the mass to which many may find a shore and safety, there is only one core, one center, that gives life to all things I touch, all tasks I do are because of this furnace, and forever it churns and beats with the name of you." (John Doe, as written by Daniel Goode)

Hallelujah

While the lines continued to blur between the Sects and the Sabbat seemed less the Sabbat and more the Camarilla while the Camarilla appeared to be more like the Sabbat every day, religion threatened Lorena’s life yet again. This time in the form of religious Hunters. There was a time when her clan would have simply handled that. It was easy in the days when everyone was God fearing and the Church was all powerful. When you look like an Angel, the world is yours to command. But the world had moved on and even the most fervent of Religious people would not be fooled by the Angelic Beauty her clan offered them. The Hunters were everywhere now and threatened everything the kindred of the world had built.

Kindred society had become sloppy and arrogant. And now a choice lay before her. Fight. Fight hundreds of very well trained and very experienced Vampire Hunters, who had been successful in nearly taking her out before or hide. Fighting had its appeal. It is what she’d been born into this life to be. But the price for fighting was high. The cost would be her humanity and everything. Not to mention, the death of Humanity, something she knew would cause problems among many others. Protect humanity, but humanity wanted to kill her. Hiding wasn’t an answer either. What was? She felt lost. The answer seemed to be to leave, to walkway from where they knew she was and to just see the world. The nomad in her preferred that. It had been a life she led and John would go. He was already telling her of many places. Lorena was comfortable in the knowledge those left behind would be okay, they were capable and wouldn’t need her. They might even be safer.

As she lay contemplating all the water moved. Someone was entering the pool disrupting the water all around her and causing even the shadow of herself to move about. For a few brief moments she relished in the sensation of it and then turned slowly toward them. The shadows moved gently up toward the figure and then around it as though climbing before fully forming into a very solid Dahlia, looking up into John’s face with a small smile. She was momentarily caught by his beauty and said nothing. He smiled in return. “Are we going?”

The smile fell away and she pressed into him with a small nod. He obliged her by wrapping his arms tightly around her and for just that moment she felt perfectly safe from the world. From everything.

The road lay ahead, neither knew what would be there, but they’d travel it, for as long as forever would allow. Hallelujah.

Nicole Ortiz

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jennycalendar · 7 years

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imperfections (39/?)

in an unexpected twist, celia returns to the braveryverse (after telling herself she’d Completely Abandoned the braveryverse) with a chapter that’s been sitting on her computer for three months

ao3

Xander came over at the beginning of December, an overnight bag slung over one shoulder. “I have to stay the night tonight,” he said, not offering any explanation. He was shaking.

Rupert placed down his newspaper, looking mildly concerned. “Xander, what—” he began.

“You remember when we went to the beach?” Xander’s eyes were on Jenny. “I’m pretty sure my dad never noticed. And I was gone for, like, the whole day, and he never noticed.”

“Are you okay?” Jenny asked carefully.

“Thanksgiving sucked,” said Xander sharply. “Dad caught me trying to sneak out in the middle of a Harris family get-drunk-in-front-of-the TV-Thanksgiving and got super mad, so I had to help my mom with Black Friday shopping. And then you guys weren’t here over the weekend because you were—where were you?”

“We were tracking down a rare book in Los Angeles,” Rupert replied, sounding almost ashamed. “Xander, would you like some tea? I still have a pot on the stove.”

“Yeah. That’d be nice.” Xander sat down next to Jenny on the sofa, keeping himself a good distance away from her.

Jenny had learned from Faith that now probably wasn’t the best time to physically reach out. Then it occurred to her that Xander wasn’t Faith, so she moved a little closer, placing a hand on his shoulder. “Hey,” she said. “I’m gonna have to wake Faith up to let her know you’re here, but you can sleep on the couch if you want.”

Xander breathed out. “Okay,” he said. Then, “Listen—I—my dad doesn’t know I’m here—I mean, I know he doesn’t care, sometimes, but other times he does—it’s—”

This was when Rupert came in with two mugs of tea, handing one to Xander and one to Jenny. Xander barely seemed to register the mug in his hand. Rupert observed this, then said to Xander, “Take a shower.”

Xander and Jenny both gave Rupert a strange look. “I took one this morning,” said Xander, bemused.

“I don’t doubt that,” said Rupert calmly. “But I think a shower might help a little. Did you bring a clean set of pajamas?”

“I don’t—” Xander looked a little helplessly down at the bag. “I packed in a hurry, I don’t—”

“Borrow a set of my pajamas and take a shower, then,” said Rupert, in an unusually gentle tone compared to the way he usually spoke to Xander. Jenny registered this change and tried to hide her surprise by taking a long sip of tea.

Xander faltered, then handed the mug to Rupert and got up, heading down the hallway. Rupert fell back into the couch with a heavy sigh, placing the tea down on the coffee table in front of him.

“You handled that well,” commented Jenny.

“You sound surprised.” Rupert sounded thoroughly exhausted.

“Are you okay?”

“Not especially.” Rupert stared ahead, looking almost deliberately at nothing in particular. “I just don’t know if I’ve ever put a lot of thought into Xander’s home life, and that disturbs me.”

Jenny looked up at him. “You care about him,” she murmured, startled.

Rupert breathed out. “Bloody exhausting,” he managed. “But—yes, I believe I do. I suppose you’re not the only one who considers yourself bad at the whole mentor thing.”

“We try.” Jenny reached out, taking Rupert’s hand. “That’s gotta count for something.”

In the next room over, they could hear the shower running.

“Hey.”

Faith lashed out, jerking straight up in bed. It took her a moment to fully wake up, another moment to realize that she’d hit Jen in the face while waking up, and a good thirty seconds for the lingering terror to reach a manageable level. “I’m sorry,” she forced out, pulling the blankets close. “I’m—didn’t mean—”

Jen staggered to her feet, rubbing her head. “I mean, ow, but it’s okay,” she said, wincing. “I definitely shouldn’t have come that close to wake you up. I’ll turn on the light next time.”

Faith breathed out, her heart pounding. “Yeah,” she said shakily. “Yeah, you do that.”

Flipping on the light, Jen crossed the room to sit down on Faith’s bed. “Sorry to wake you,” she said, “but Xander just got in, and I know how you wake up in the middle of the night sometimes—I mostly just didn’t want you to see some shadowy figure on the couch and get nervous.”

“Or you just didn’t want me to beat him up,” said Faith a little sharply. The nightmares made her edgy.

“Yeah, that’s definitely it,” said Jen, in the way she did when Giles said something particularly ridiculous. “Do you want me to get you some tea?”

Shit. See, that was the problem with crying—once you did it the first time, other stuff made you want to do it again. “Fine,” Faith said, “whatever,” and sniffled a little bit, but it was only because she hadn’t vacuumed her room like Giles had been telling her to do and there was dust in the air or something.

“Okay,” said Jen, and gave her a tired smile. “I’m going to get tea, and then I’m going to go to sleep, because it’s two in the morning and I have a bunch of winter-solstice dinner preparations to start up on tomorrow.”

“You have work tomorrow,” said Faith, sniffling again. She kind of wanted Jen to leave so she could wipe her eyes, because the dust was getting to them too.

“Whatever.” Jen got up off the bed, hesitated, tucked the covers a little more securely around Faith, and left.

Faith could hear her clattering around in the kitchen. She waited, lying back in bed, and felt for the knife under her pillow. She still had nightmares, but it wasn’t as scary to wake up anymore. The knife felt more like a weird kind of security blanket now, because it wasn’t like she was going to stab someone with it.

Jen came back in with a warm mug of tea, carefully curling Faith’s fingers around it. “Get some rest,” she whispered, and patted Faith’s shoulder.

“Like you didn’t just wake me up,” Faith teased. There was a lump in her throat.

Jen turned on Faith’s bedside lamp. “You got me there,” she replied, quietly exiting the room. She paused to turn off the overhead light, looking back at Faith with this small, proud smile. “Love you,” she said.

Faith felt her stomach turn over. “Yeah,” she said, still not sure how to respond, and took a long sip of tea as Jen closed the door.

She took her time with the tea. Jen had put honey and milk in it, which tasted way better than Giles’s tea. Giles almost never put anything in—something about diluting the integrity of the beverage or some other wordy British crap—but it was still nice to drink tea in the kitchen with him. Faith had done that one time when they were working on her history report together.

Setting the mug on her bedside table, Faith settled into the blankets. She felt safe, which still did make her feel a little terrified, but it was worth it for hot tea and someone telling her they loved her. She’d heard people say it before, but Jen was the first person who made the words ring true.

Xander had fallen asleep on the couch in a set of Rupert’s pajamas, snuggled under a comforter and hugging a pillow. Jenny tucked him in very carefully before donning her leather jacket, grabbing her car keys, and heading quietly out the door. Now that things with her family (god, that felt a little weird to think; weird but nice) seemed to be reaching a relatively calm place, there was some other business she needed to take care of.

Jenny wanted to see Angel, not on anyone else’s terms but her own. She didn’t want to see him for the first time when Buffy brought him in to help with something, or if he decided that he wanted to talk to her. She felt like she needed something about the situation with Angel that she could control, and seeing him for the first time might qualify as that.

Halfway down the front porch, she saw a figure leaning against her car. The keys slipped out of Jenny’s fingers.

“Huh,” said Angel. “Heading off to see me?” He wasn’t smiling, and the expression on his face was too hard and too human to be anything but Angel. “I think you should consider that you’ve done enough damage as it is.”

Jenny tried to find words, but she was too terrified to move or even speak. Her eyes moved to the car keys, now lying on the step in front of her.

Angel moved forward very fast, and Jenny flinched, nearly falling down, but then he was straightening up with the keys in his hands. “You should consider that maybe I don’t want to forgive you for what you’ve done,” he continued. He still wasn’t smiling. Unexpectedly, Jenny found herself missing Angelus.

“What I’ve done,” Jenny echoed shakily.

“Sent me to Hell?” Angel looked impassively up at her.

“I’m sorry.” Jenny’s voice broke. “I wanted to help—”

“A word of advice,” said Angel, his face changing. “Stop helping.”

“You’re not Angelus,” oh god why wasn’t Jenny running, he was going to kill her and she didn’t even know why.

“A couple centuries in a hell dimension can really change a guy,” Angel informed Jenny with stony anger, and lunged—

Jenny woke up and all but tumbled out of bed, pulling half the bedsheets with her. Frantically, she tried to untangle herself, but these fucking sheets were wrapped around her waist and her leg and—

Her sleepy-eyed lover knelt down next to her, taking her hands and wordlessly pulling her up. “There we are,” he said, soft and comforting. Jenny tried to compose herself, but Rupert smoothed down her hair and pulled her into his arms. “What’s the matter?”

“Um,” Jenny breathed out, very conscious of the fact that she was shaking, “nightmare.”

“Angelus?”

Jenny had to pause a moment before answering carefully, “Yes.”

#hjlkdsfkjfds i'm so judgy of this fic all of a sudden #but i don't feel like editing the Whole Thing so!! i'm going to try n move forward with it #see where it goes #imperfections #also i'll probably rb this...many times...i want attention

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singingwordwright · 7 years

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Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Shadowhunters (TV) Rating: Mature Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Magnus Bane/Alec Lightwood Characters: Magnus Bane, Alec Lightwood Additional Tags: 2x07, Episode: s02e07 How Are Thou Fallen, Extended Scene, POV Magnus Bane

Summary:

Another "extended cut" of the Malec sex scene in 2x07.

Alec’s kisses are frenetic, hard and open-mouthed and wild. Magnus’s back hits the mattress and Alexander is crawling over him before he even has a chance to bounce. His lips are damp from flicks of Alec’s tongue and already beginning to tingle and swell from the urgent nipping and sucking. Sensitized, he can feel the rasp of stubble and the slight roughness where Alec’s lips are a little chapped.

It’s delicious. He feels like he’s being devoured and oh, it would be so very easy to let himself be consumed. There’s little sense in denying that he’s more than half gone already. He has been since this guarded-yet-guileless Nephilim boy stammered his first awkward greeting.

But this seems to have come out of nowhere. One moment they’re making their first tentative forays into heavy necking and light petting and suddenly Alec is talking about “the next step.”

I think we’re pole-vaulting over a few steps here, my dear.

The sudden leap shows. The energy in these kisses is all wrong. Thoroughly pleasant and full of potential, yes. Absolutely. Without a doubt. But still wrong. Not since he charged the wrong way down the aisle at his own wedding has Alec kissed Magnus like this, as though afraid that if he doesn’t keep plunging ahead, he’ll falter and turn back.

Maybe that was necessary at the wedding. For Alec to stop his life mid-course and veer off in an entirely new direction took tremendous courage and one hell of a leap of faith. Magnus knows that. He’ll be eternally grateful that the leap carried Alexander in his direction.

But sex between them shouldn’t be something Alec needs to psyche himself up for.

This feels...inorganic. Forced, rather than evolving in its own proper time.

Furthermore, if Alexander keeps going at the pace he’s going, the whole thing will be over in a hot minute once the clothes come off. Possibly even before it ever reaches that point. And then it’ll be awkward apologies and embarrassment and a week of Alec chastising himself for not being as adept a lover as, say, Casanova.

He doesn’t want that for Alec. Alec has waited too long, denied himself too much, for this moment to turn out to be a disappointment. Magnus wants it to be--for lack of a better term--magical.

He slides his hands over the long fingers tangled in his shirt front. Alec’s managed his collar but doesn’t quite seem to have worked up the will to stop kissing Magnus long enough to pull it over his head. He grasps Alec’s wrists and pushes. Just a little. A little is enough; heedless as Alexander’s need is, there’s still a gentleness to him that would never fail to respond to an obvious cue to back off.

Alec’s eyes slowly blink open, but at first his gaze stalls at Magnus’s mouth. His tongue darts out to stroke his lips as if to sample whatever flavor Magnus may have left behind there. Magnus waits, trying to slow his breathing because a pause to catch their breath and savor things is exactly what he wanted to propose in the first place.

Then Alec’s heavy-lidded gaze crawls up Magnus’s face to and Alec gasps quietly.

Oh. Damn.

Very much not what Magnus intended, but this sight of his unglamored eyes has the desired effect. Alec doesn’t come charging back in for another desperate kiss.

He blinks. Once...Twice...

....Gently extracts his wrist from Magnus’s hold.

...Touches the bow-string calloused tip of his index finger to the corner of Magnus’s eye.

Time stands still, hanging in that moment of uncertainty, waiting on the next crucial reaction. Magnus refuses to let himself blink or look away. He wasn’t ready for this, but he won’t shy away from it. Sooner or later, it had to happen.

Thus far, the only interaction Alec has had with Magnus’s true nature has been abstract. He wouldn’t be the first person to draw strange, self-deluding lines of compartmentalization between Magnus’s magic and immortality, and the demonic birthright which enables them.

If Alexander can’t cope with the reality, best they know it now.

Alec doesn’t speak. His stare lingers, but the initial surprise doesn’t warp into alarm or worse, revulsion. His mouth curves just the smallest bit, his dark eyes full of tenderness. He draws a slow breath and then closes in again, his lips sweeping Magnus’s.

Bless this brave, angel-begotten boy.

This kiss is slower, softer. Whatever fire fueled Alec’s focused charge toward Magnus’s bed has been banked. This is the Alexander he’s been coming to know, gently exploring, moving ahead at a cautious yet comfortable pace, finding his feet as he goes. However, now there’s a very specific underlying intent, one that hasn’t been there before. And that’s perfect. That’s far, far better than plunging recklessly forward on nothing more than breathless bravado.

Once again Magnus nudges Alexander back, giving himself some room to maneuver, which he uses to drag the shirt Alec stalled on over his head. He feels the puff of Alec’s sharp exhalation on his overheated skin, and then those calloused fingertips, sliding down his shoulder.

When his head emerges from the cloth and the shirt is banished to the other side of the room, Alec’s eyes are full of wonder and worry. Aside from his flushed cheeks, he’s gone a little pale.

“It’s so much easier when I don’t slow down to think,” he rasps, and his fingertips tremble against Magnus’s skin. “I don’t know--”

“I’m quite sensitive here.” Magnus takes Alec’s hand and guides the fingers to the tendon curving from his neck to his shoulder. Alec’s compliant caress is instinctively delicate and Magnus draws in a shivering breath, his skin pebbling as his eyes drift closed.

When he opens them again, Alec looks charmingly pleased with himself at the reaction he managed to elicit.

“Come here,” Magnus murmurs, pulling Alec up and rolling them, so that he looms over Alec as he reclines on the pillows. Alec’s eyes widen a little with alarm. The advantage is now Magnus’s, and from this position Alec can’t drive things forward with sheer determination.

He drapes himself over Alec like a blanket, taking in the tension that ripples through Alec at the new sensation of full-body contact. Nevertheless, Alec’s long fingers splay across the skin of Magnus’s back above his waist and Magnus has to draw a slow, centering breath.

He leans in and nips Alec’s chin. “What were you up to that got you worked up enough you had to rush over here tonight?”

“I don’t really know.” Alec gives him a small, wry smile. “I was clearing out some shax demons. Grand Central.”

“You were thinking of me while killing demons?” Magnus asks archly. “I’m flattered.”

“No! That’s not--I didn’t mean--” Alec blushes and some of the tension flees his body, sinking him deeper into the bedding. He narrows his eyes at Magnus, huffing softly. “You did that on purpose.”

Magnus smiles and gives him a long, slow kiss. Alec’s lips part and allow Magnus’s tongue to slide inside and they groan together. It’s a long moment before Magnus draws back.

“You should know there are a few rules that govern my bed, Alexander.” He beams, tracing the rune on Alec’s neck with his fingertip and relishing Alec’s responsive shudder. “The first of which is that you absolutely must be able to laugh at yourself.”

“Is that so?” Alec’s smile is small, the shy, familiar curve of his lips that creeps in at times when he doesn’t feel secure enough to truly smile. It flickers, though, uncertainty peeking through. “I’m--not really good at that.”

“It’s a learning process.” Magnus shrugs and kisses him again, and soon Alec is boneless beneath him. Well, mostly. All remaining tension is concentrated exactly where it should be, in the hips that arch unconsciously to rub against Magnus’s own and in the fingers that knead the muscles of his back.

The urgency in Alec’s kisses now has nothing to do with resolutely pushing himself out of his comfort zone. It takes an effort to break off again, to take a step back and let them both catch their breath.

“So what exactly about this nest of shax demons brought me to mind?” Magnus teases, letting his lips brush the shell of Alec’s ear. Alec’s hands tighten on his waist.

This time Alec chuckles, though his breath is rapid and shallow and Magnus can feel him almost quivering with the need to drag him in for another kiss.

“It’s not--It wasn’t--” Alec’s head tips back and suddenly there’s something very naked in his eyes. “I’ve been thinking about you all the time. All the time.”

In an instant, the moment shifts. Magnus’s difficulty with breathing has nothing to do with lust. Any thought of teasing is gone. All he can do is stare, glib rejoinders fleeing before the unexpected torrent of honesty.

“I was fighting alone,” Alec explains. “Izzy was working on something else, Clary was out looking into something, Jace is--I don’t know, whatever. So it was just me, and I found myself making smartass remarks to the demons. Which, okay, Izzy and Jace do that all the time. But I don’t. I can’t remember the last time I felt relaxed and happy enough to just start cracking jokes in the middle of a fight.”

Alec’s rush of words is as heedless and determined as that first kiss when he came through the door had been. Committed to his course, he charges onward. His hands abandon Magnus’s naked back to cup his face, and his brow furrows with an almost bewildered sincerity.

“It’s you,” Alec breathes, staring up at Magnus as though seeing something wondrous and revelatory. “It’s because of you. I mean, maybe some of it’s me, because I can be honest about who I am now and I’m not living to please my parents and the Clave anymore. I guess that’s part of it. But still--it’s you.”

“Alexander--” Magnus begins, but he has no idea what to say. His chest aches as though Alec just cracked open his rib cage and made a nest for himself inside.

He’s spent centuries on this earth and no one has managed to consistently astonish him like Alec Lightwood can.

Alec’s gaze darts sideways, a hint of self-consciousness trying to rob that moment of its power. “Anyway, I’m trying--not to overthink things. Just go for it.”

“Hmm,” Magnus nods slowly, tracing one of Alec’s eyebrows. “If what you just told me is a sample of where your thinking has been, I’d say you’re perfectly on track. What gave you the idea putting some thought into this is a bad thing?”

Alec blushed. “Overthinking. Izzy told me not to overthink. Which I guess I tend to do?”

“Ah.” A dip of his head brings their lips together again, the kiss light and gentle. Magnus brushes kisses along Alec’s jaw, and Alec’s head falls back, exposing his throat. Flicking his tongue against the fluttering pulse there wins Magnus a heartfelt moan. “Isabelle is as wise as she is charming, without a doubt. But I think in this case her well-intentioned advice may be just slightly off the mark.”

“How so?” Alec’s gravelly rasp suggests that his attention isn’t really on the answer to his question, so Magnus leaves off his attentions to Alec’s throat and waits for him to meet his eyes.

“I’m just saying, my dear, that it’s sex, not lima beans. Closing your eyes and holding your nose and forcing yourself to get through it is perhaps not the most auspicious way to begin.”

Alec’s eyes fly wide with horror and he sits up so suddenly Magnus is unceremoniously dumped to the side. “No, no! That isn’t how I--That’s not what I was trying to--!”

Magnus props himself up on an elbow, smirking, until Alec’s spluttering protests break off on a stunned guffaw. “Oh, my God. It is. That’s totally what I was doing.” He draws his knees up to his chest, pressing his forehead to them as he dissolves into helpless giggles. “Lima beans!”

The beaming smile Alec turns on him when he’s finally collected himself is better than a hundred orgasms.

With one sharp movement, suddenly Magnus is trapped beneath Alec’s body, Alec’s hands planted on the mattress on either side of his shoulders.

“Maybe I should try this again,” Alec murmurs, pushing himself up to strip his shirt over his head. “Now that I’m in a much better frame of mind.”

“You won’t hear me objecting.” Magnus has seen Alec shirtless before but not this close and certainly not with this sort of intent. It steals the breath from his lungs, all that pale skin and crisp, dark hair and those bold runes. His hands are greedy, reaching out to grasp and explore even before Alec settles his weight back atop him.

The first contact of their bare chests against one another is electric, and they gasp into each other’s mouths. Magnus feels like he’s been utterly dismantled by Alec’s confession, in a way he’s never felt before, but there will be time to delve into that later. There’s nothing inorganic about these kisses, and it would take an act of divinity to pry him away from them.

Alec gasps and jerks. In an instant, that humiliating premature finish Magnus had dreaded earlier becomes a reality, not just for Alec, but for them both. There’s a flash of light; not the sparkling flashes behind one’s eyelids that accompanies climax, but something else. Something not so much seen as felt, suffusing every molecule of their bodies and grating uncomfortably against the parts of Magnus that are demon-bred.

They’re left staring at each other in shock.

Alec’s hand presses against his parabatai rune as though it aches. “That wasn’t us,” he says, his chest heaving.

Magnus wants to remark on Jace’s capacity for disturbing them at inopportune times, except this isn’t a laughing matter. Something monumental has just happened, even if they have no idea what. Whatever it was, it was huge. He can sense ripples of it spreading through the city, the magic of other warlocks disrupted, the hackles of the entire shadow world prickling for no reason anyone can name.

Alec pushes himself off the bed and reaches for his shirt. “We need to find Jace.” He blinks, his alarmed focus melting away into tenderness as he meets Magnus’s eyes. “I’m sorry. So much for the next step.”

“It’s all right, Alexander.” With a snap of his fingers, Magnus takes care of any uncomfortable residue inside their pants. He accepts Alec’s outstretched hand and lets himself be pulled to his feet. “I’d say we’ve taken that and then some, tonight. Now, let’s go find out what your bothersome brother has gotten himself into his time.”

BUY ME A CUP OF COFFEE!!

#shadowhunters #malec #alec #magnus #fanfic #my fics #of laughter and lima beans #s2ep07 #s2a

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