Cat and Mouse
"See, I was dead when I woke up this morning. And I'll be dead before the day is done." -Seven Devils, Florence and the Machine
Raphael x reader (gn)
Cause how could I not write something to go with this gifset?
Your blood had run hot as you’d shared passion in a devil’s den. Simmering beneath your flushed skin as your fingers traced his fiery veins.
Your blood now pumped cold, dread and fear following wherever you ran, leading him right to your every hiding place.
Your blood would run red upon the ground if he caught you. The betrayal rotting bitter upon his tongue. Turning hope to an acrid ash that he would choke you with.
You heard your name again, spoken with the force of expelling a deadly toxin, behind you. Again, you thought to the events taken place not hours ago.
Raphael on his knees before you, defeated. The bodies of his devilkin scattered and strewn like so many crumpled and brittle leaves. His eyes barely able to open, he made to plea for his life, no more honeyed words to try and sway you.
Your sword raised high, paused. You looked down upon the devil who had committed no trespass against you. It was your fault, this aching sundering. Your careless blundering.
“Shit.” You said, lowering your weapon. You knew time was short. Raphael would lash out, sensing weakness like a shark smells blood clouding the water.
Your companions were already jumping desperately through the portal, you saw Astarion calling for you, unable to hear beyond the steady thrumming in your ears. Your world tilted as you staggered sideways, fighting to remain conscious long enough to retrieve the health poultice from your pack.
“I won’t allow him to have you.” You wondered if he heard you, his bright eyes met yours and you knew he understood.
You threw the poultice at him, turned and staggered for the sparking doorway back to your dimension.
Your name, snarled from within the dark ruins brought you back to the present. To the situation you’d custom made for yourself. Raphael had caught your scent, try and you might to avoid the inevitable fate.
He was powerful once more, perhaps more so than last you’d seen him. You turned, unable to run further, your feet useless as blocks of ice supporting your weight. Your fingers numb upon the cold stone column you leaned against.
A plume of orange fire lit the very back of the old temple, the bright light momentarily blinding your wide eyes. You heard heavy footsteps approaching, unhurried, purposeful and intent on your destruction.
Leathery wings stretched wide, lit scarlet by the inferno. The glimmer of eyes slowly gave way to the familiar angles and ridges of a hellish face and curving horns.
Something metallic glinted in the flickering light, sat in regal splendor upon Raphael’s head.
“No.” You whispered in horror. You’d given it to Gale.
“Out of touch with reality, as ever.” Raphael’s large hand took a fistful of your hair and pulled, yanking a cry of pain from your throat. “I gave you every opportunity and you squandered it all like a petulant child.”
Your breath was ragged, the freezing air scraping through your lungs like daggers. The crown of Karsus mirrored the natural curve of Raphael’s horns, like it was tailor made just for him.
“Gale…”
“Is in pieces spread from here to Cormyr by now.” With an insulting ease, Raphael tossed you by the hair to the ground.
The air left your lungs and you gasped in vain to regain breath, struggling like a fish out of water, trying to drag yourself away from his approach.
Raphael rolled his shoulders, the bonfire far behind continuing to blaze at his command. He circled slowly, waiting for you to regain your feet, like a cat playing with an injured and frantic mouse.
“I spared you.” You hissed in pain, clutching your side as you struggled back up.
“You doomed yourself.” Raphael answered, the edge of his voice seeming to take physical form to cut your very soul.
His arm moved and something small clinked upon the ground, rolling to rest against your foot. You looked down, your lips twisting into a grimace as you recognized the health potion.
“How generous.”
“With you, my dear, I am lenient as ever.” Raphael waited for you to restore yourself, his wings folding slightly, but his posture remaining tense and ready. “Now we will finish what you started.”
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I want to be the difference maker like many guys on this team, and yeah, I believe it will start working.
[ Note: This boy is already a big difference maker. At the time of this interview, he's on an 8-game, 12-point streak and his line has scored the majority of the team's goals over the past several weeks and his playmaking has helped them to be one of the hottest lines in the NHL in February. But he's a team player, so team losses are his loss, too, no matter how much the media hypes up his success. Exhibit A: ]
—Juraj The-Saddest-Little-Munchkin Slafkovský, Montreal Canadiens, Post Game, February 17, 2024
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