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seeds-and-sins · 5 months

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Light My Fire - Part Four

Pairing: Ben "Soldier Boy" x F!Reader

Rating: M (Crude Language, mentions of depression and death)

Description: During incarceration, you come across a special boy. Years later, memories are brought to the forefront that you don't recall ever existing.

Tagged: @tonixe, @chernayawidow, @mrsjenniferwinchester, @deans-spinster-witchs-favorites @ophennie, @virgoelf-blog, @my-obsession-spn

Author's Note: I hope this makes up for the lost time. I know it has been a while. More so the fact that I have a lot going on and definitely not the fact that I had this sitting on my laptop for weeks. Please don't hate me. :)

Part Three

You sipped from a cigarette, smoke flowing like a stream from your nostrils. You blankly stared down at the tray in front of you, flicked the excess ashes into the bowl.

"So, would you say you have seen an improvement in your time here?" Your eyes drifted up to the white coat sitting across from you. She had wrinkles all over, beady eyes, cat eye glasses, freshly manicured nails tapping against her clipboard.

You don't even remember why you were here. In this white room, with nothing around you, nothing but a table and two chairs. You had been here for weeks. After each session, they would move you from this room, into another. That other room was also mostly empty; a single bed, an end table with a lamp, a toilet and a sink. Between this room and that one, there was nothing but a hallway of doors. One door after the other, titanium metal doors.

You didn't know where you were, you didn't know why you were here, all you knew was that you weren't thinking about *him* anymore. You didn't want to die anymore. There was a strained calm that blanketed you and it was because of these pills. You were complacent to your situation. And in your eyes, compacency was a better comfort than a struggle. You had been struggling for so long. You wanted to relax. You could relax here. Everything was taken care of for you, everything was what you needed it to be, to clear your mind.

"Sure." You replied in between another drag, smoke wafted in the woman's face, she didn't react. She was used to you. She had been your lab coat since you first arrived here, after Vogelbaum started losing interest at least.

There was one thing to be noted about this room. One thing that you had never realized before, or one thing that had never been there in your previous visits. Your eyes kept darting toward it, fluttering to and fro, like a bug to a flashing lightbulb.

There.

Tucked in the corner, in the far corner of the stark white room...

A tiny red lego.

Through a sea of fog in your mind.

It wouldn't have been noticeable to the average eye from this distance. Not unless the eye was trained. Your eyes weren't average and they didn't need to be trained to see what you saw.

Your immediate explanation:

"Someone didn't do their job." You said outloud, lining a stare directly on the white coat. Her fingers wrapped around her clipboard and her eyebrows furrowed at you.

"I'm sorry?" You rolled your eyes, stamping the cigarette out in the table as you stood. You circled the table and with bare feet, trotted your way over to the miniature piece. You crouched down, pinched it between your fingers and lifted it high. You inspected it with a deepening curiosity, which only grew further when your white coat began to tremble in her red high heels. You focused on her again, extending the lego to her.

"Ya'know, you don't have kids here, do you?" You already knew the answer, so you were definitely patronizing in your tone. Luckily, you had been working on your anger issues these past few weeks; otherwise, you would have blown a fuse.

Kids?!

What the fuck was Vogelbaum thinking?!

What happened to old heroes? Grown adults that worked their asses off to get recognized for a program like this.

In your opinion, heroes shouldn't even be made anymore. The Hero Program should have ended with Soldier Boy. The Hero Program should have ended with Payback.

"My goodness, I have no idea." She feigned a gasp, holding her chest.

That answer didn't suffice.

You flicked the lego piece so hard that it put a dent in the white wall of the room.

"Okay." You looked directly up at the camera. "You want to play it that way?" The calm was gone. So began the rampage. You stormed for the metal door and easily ripped your way through it. The white coat screamed, she began shouting into the collar of her coat.

"HELP! CODE RED!" You made your way down the hallway, starting with the first metal door you came across. You broke through it like butter.

Empty.

You went for the next door, after a few seconds of walking, it was to your right.

Empty.

"Phoenix! Listen closely! Stop this!" Vogelbaum sounded over the intercom.

"Oh yeah?" You broke through the next door.

Empty.

Metal shards were everywhere. You broke through three more doors before Vogelbaum's pleas intensified, you knew you were getting close.

You broke through another door. It was the last one you broke through.

And there...

A child.

You found a blonde haired, blue eyed boy on the other side. He was hunched in the corner, arms held up defensively, but there was no fear in his eyes.

"Phoenix, Go back to your room. Walk away." You ignored Vogelbaum's evenly voiced demands. He sounded completely devoid of the panic he previously expressed. Now there was just stillness. Now there was just calm. Your eyes narrowed on the boy, you stepped forward.

"Hi," You greeted, not certain of what exactly you were looking at. What exactly was happening here? "What's your name, kid?" He was wearing a red, white, and blue stripped shirt and jeans. To any outsider, he appeared to be a normal kid. And despite his living conditions, they weren't terrible living conditions. But no child should be imprisoned, no child should be experimented on.

"John." He said, eyeing you up and down, he stepped from his corner. "What's your name?"

"I don't remember," You replied honestly. "Haven't gone by my real name in decades." You lifted your chin, inspected the room with a quick glance. "People call me Phoenix."

"Why?"

"Because I became something else." You said with confidence, "like fire."

"You're fire?" He squinted at you, "You don't look like fire." You inhaled a deep breath, that was a fair deducation. You crouched down to his level, despite the distance that he stood from you. You lifted your hand in front of you and snapped your fingers, a small flame appeared at the tip where your thumb and pointer convened. The boy's eyes balloned with wonder.

"I'm a special kind of person, kid..." You smiled, dismissing the flame with a swing of your hand and standing up. "I'm betting you're special too."

As you finished your sentence, armed men, dressed in all black, and wearing masks, flooded the hallways on either side of you. You jolted into the room and spun, standing your ground between the boy and the men that soon filled up the entrance. Their guns were trained on you.

"I didn't want it to be like this, Phoenix." Your eyes flashed red, fists balling up at your sides.

"He's just a kid, Vogelbaum."

"He's not yours to worry about."

"I'm not leaving this room without him."

"Maybe he doesn't want to leave." You paused, then glanced over your shoulder at the boy. He seemed unfazed by the events taking place before him, but his wide blue eyes stared up at you expectantly. You cocked your head at him, the red in your eyes faded.

"Where are your parents?" He blinked at you, like he didn't even know what you were talking about. You spun around and crouched in front of him, grabbing his shoulders with your hands. You conpletely ignored the armed men lined up behind you, guns now trained on you and ready to fire. They wouldn't be able to hurt you anyways. "Listen to me, kid, how did you get here?"

"I've always been here." He replied, your eyebrows furrowed, you rubbed his shoulders, not exactly knowing how to react to that response. What you really wanted to do was go find Vogelbaum and shove his head up his ass. A child?! Really? That was some piece of shit scientist bullshit.

Something overwhelmed you in that moment. Something you hadn't felt in years:

Purpose.

This was the reason you were here. This was the reason you had been willingly waiting in that stupid white room, week after week. You were here for this boy.

"Do you want to come with me?" You asked, lips forming a tight lipped smile. John's eyes scanned every inch of your face, you could tell he was trying to figure out if he could trust you.

"Are you my mommy?" You didn't hesitate in your response.

"No." You said firmly, "And I don't know who your mommy is." You sighed, "But I do know that you don't belong in a goddamned box. You're a person, John. You're a very special person-"

"Phoenix-"

"Shut Up, Vogelbaum!" John's head tilted, attention moving between the intercom, the camera in the corner of the room, and then back to you.

"You want to take me with you?"

"Yeah." You stood up, hands still held on his shoulders. "I'll get you out of here. You can see what the real world is like. I'll take care of you." John rushed into you, his arms wravelled around your waist and a gasp escaped you in surprise. You patted him on the back, the strength in the hug increased as he adjusted his arms, but you didn't mind. He was really strong. Strong to the point that if you didn't have powers too, you'd probably be crushed by now. "Vogelbaum..." You cupped the back of John's head and he withdrew enough to look up at you. "I think it's time for me to get back out into the world again." You smiled brightly, and this time it was the first genuine smile you had given in years. "And John is coming too."

...

2022...

"The unexplained explosion at the Chimp Country Sanctuary is now being attributed to a gas leak. At this time, the bodies of countless chimps that were harbored at the sanctuary are being recovered by authorities. Including the body of the beloved hero, Crimson Countess. As you know, she was a member of Payback and Soldier Boy's fiancé. More information-"

"Those goddamned gas leaks..." You muttered under your breath, standing directly in front of the giant flat screen TV with a consterned expression on your face. "You can never trust'em, ya'know. One put me out a while back and I scarcely think I recovered from it." You were talking to no one in particular. You were in a smaller room with a window that spanned one side, giving a quarter view of a city landscape. There was a leather couch behind you, a coffee table in front of you, a bookshelf in the corner. Behind you, an elderly woman with silver hair, who had her back turned to you, was preparing a cup of coffee.

"I'm sorry, dear, what was-" As the elderly woman turned, she gasped and nearly dropped the steaming cup of coffee in her hand. She startled with a jolt, having to cling to the surface of the counter beside her to keep herself steady. "What the fuck, Phoenix..." The woman grumbled through bright red lips. "What happened to your clothes?!"

"I took them off. Helps me think better. Agnes!" You spun around, the woman rolled her eyes and began a slow walk toward you. "I've decided I'm going to be a vegetarian."

"Phoenix, honey..." The woman took her time bending down to put her coffee on the table. She then stepped up to you and placed her hands on your shoulders. "That is wonderful, but you have an interview in ten minutes and you are completely naked."

"Oh, it's no big deal." You waved Agnes away and stepped past her toward the window. "I'll throw my suit on when I'm good and ready."

You had become erratic over the years. Your train of thought was constantly everywhere, thinking everything, all at once. If you weren't keeping yourself busy somehow, you were thinking about things you didn't want to think about and that just wouldn't do. You were thinking about things that never even happened.

Oh no.

Too much thinking.

"Do you think I should be more upset that Countess is dead?" You sighed, Agnes plopped down on the couch in defeat. She had been working with you for the better half of twelve years and she knew you all too well to know that you weren't going to relent. "Like I'm not going to her memorial or anything, but..." You chewed the inside of youf cheek, "I thought I would be more upset."

"I don't know, dear. I really don't know."

Knock. Knock.

An orange head popped into the room, you recognized that it was Ashley, Vought's newest hero executive.

"Hey-" Who entered the room with a chirpy energy about her. "JESUS CHRIST!" There it was. "Why are you naked?!" Ashley cupped the side of her eye and turned her head away, clutching her clipboard like a vice to her chest.

"What's wrong, Ashley? See something you like?" You purred, leaning your shoulder into the window. "Urgh. You guys are so boring." You snapped your fingers at Agnes expectantly, she reached into the pocket of light pink button up and procurred a small packet of white powder. It was tossed haphazardly across the room, you swiftly swiped it from the air. "Is John coming?"

"Just uh-" Ashley was a stuttering at this point. "Will you please put clothes on?"

"Fine. I will. Answer my question." You scooped some cocaine from the packet and shoved it into your nose. White residue covered your nostrils and your finger as you had messily used the subtance. You sniffed heavily, nostrils flaring. You shoveled a second scoop and repeated the motion.

"No. Homelander has other pressing-"

"Fine." You shook your head, lips flapping comically. "Okay." You stood tall, "Get me my suit. It's show time."

Within minutes, the three of them were walking down a hallway. Persons were speeding back and forth with papers in hand and tasks to complete. You were at the head of the trio, weaving between the workers with ease, walking with purposeful and long strides. Your black cape flowed behind you with each step, boots thumping in time. Agnes was off to your right, struggling to keep pace in her old age and her high heels, and Ashley was already a nervous wreck so she was keeping up just fine but building a sheen of sweat.

"Let's go over the rules again." Ashley breathed heavily, the three of them paused at an elevator. Agnes hunched forward and tries to catch her breath. You paused and then sent Ashley the blankest expression. "Tell me. I need to make sure you know them."

"No telling people to fuck off on live TV."

"Yes. Next." Ashley prompted, the elevator dinged and the doors slid open. The three entered, Agnes hobbling behind.

"No mentioning sex on TV."

"Anything sexual, don't mention it." Ashley explained further, nodding to herself. "Next." You crossed your arms and pinched your chin, eyes narrowing in thought.

"Um..." You shook your head, "It has something to do with minorities, doesn't it?"

"Politics." Ashley firmly aided, "No political talk."

"But-"

"No. Please." Ashley was genuinely begging. The last time you were on TV and you made a major messup, it wasn't on Ashley's shoulders. Now, it was on Ashley's shoulders to make sure that this interview went as smoothly as possible. And it only made matters worse in knowing that the person hovering over her was not the normal Vought executive. It was Homelander now.

Stillwell was gone. Stan Edgar was on his way out the door. And Homelander was officially set lose. No one was safe.

The doors dinged open and they walked out, arriving at the floor on Vought tower typically used for the news. The studio was already set up, workers were everywhere. You made a path straight for the empty spot on the couch beside Cameron Coleman: Vought's celebrity news anchor. As soon as you came into view, the usual ruckus of a studio set dissipated into murmurs and quiet. Coleman stood and held his hand out, he was anxious. You had a reputation for being a hastle to keep control of, you didn't blame him. You only made it worse when instead of shaking his hand, you grabbed it, flipped it over and kissed his knuckles.

"Wrong answers only." You winked at him, to your amusement, he became more flustered than he already was. You took your seat, swinging your cape up behind you to keep it from getting caught. Through all the bright lights directed at you, you saw Ashley waving frantically. She pointed at you when you met her gaze and mouthed, *Behave*. You spotted Agnes beside her and stuck your tongue out between two fingers, the obscene gesture made the woman turn red and she turned away.

"Are we ready?" Coleman asked as he buttoned his suit jacket and sat down. Someone behind the camera held up a thumb and then a count down started. Loud music blared in the background, Coleman's face grew stern and he stared at the camera.

"Is our government doing what it needs to protect us from this super-villain threat? Can we trust our leaders to take the proper stand and protect our nation? Here, I invite a former member of Payback and current hero against the super-villain threat overseas, Phoenix, how are you today?"

Everything was going well...

At first.

Ever since heroes were allowed into combat, publicly, Vought had put you in the Middle East. You had been taking down terrorists in caves and capturing enemy territory for almost an entire year before Vought brought you back. Vought didn't tell you why they brought you back, but you could assume it was because of your conduct. You weren't being very merciful over there. Targets that were supposed to be detained, were killed.

And how were you supposed to know the difference? They all acted the same anyways.

The truth was, you had gone way off the rails over there. Bringing you back was Vought's way of trying to maintain the peace. At this point in time, the government liked having heroes overseas. They wouldn't like it much longer if you continued being a problem.

So now, in the months following your return to America, you had become something of a spokesperson. You were labeled an American hero, a soldier, another defense against those 'vile super-villains'-as John so insisted they be called.

But really. Truly. You weren't okay. You hadn't been okay for a long time. Something was off. In your head. Your ventures in the Middle East had only made it worse.

You answered all the questions with conviction and a charming smile. Ashley even gave you the thumbs up, because everything was going great.

Until it wasn't...

"Phoenix, I'd like to touch on one more subject before you leave us today and I'm sure it will be a tough one..." Oh boy, you thought, another curve ball that you hadn't prepared for perhaps? "Crimson Countess..." Dread filled you, Coleman shifted in his seat and sent you a sad smile. You knew it was all an act and you prepped yourself to do the same. "In light of her death, is there anything you'd like to say? Any fond memories you have that you'd like to share?"

"Uh..." You shrugged, feeling a little panicked. You still didn't know how you felt about any of it because, frankly, you felt nothing for her. "Not really. Her and I weren't very close." Coleman's eyebrows furrow, that answer didn't seem to satisfy him.

"Really? But didn't you serve alongside her for four years?" You saw in the corner screen, facing the set, the images they were broadcasting. They were of the past. Crimson and you were clinging to eachother in one photo, laughing about a joke you don't recall. Another photo of the both of you, fighting crime together. Another photo of you standing side by side at a charity gala, dressed to impress, smiling brightly. "Surely, you both used to be great friends. What happened?" You squinted, head cocking to the side, the photos were removed from the screen and the small tv went black. Then it was the mirror image of Coleman and you, sitting on the red leather couch. You stared at yourself, at the consternation in the mirror image. "After Soldier Boy passed, I imagine you both would have gotten closer? Am I wrong? Phoenix?" Coleman insisted, your head began to throb.

Soldier Boy?

What did he have anything to do with this?

You squeezed your eyes shut and shook your head.

"Soldier Boy?" You were trying to catch yourself, but miserably failing. Your eyes shot up to Coleman and he raised a brow at you.

"Phoenix, are you okay? Talk to me." He was just prodding, as any interviewer would, given the circumstances. You gulped, then looked to Ashley who waved aggressively at you to continue talking.

But before you could speak, a rush of memories overcame you. You felt like your brain was being trampled on by a herd of buffallo.

Images of what you knew...

Fading.

The nuclear power plant in Ohio...

Soldier Boy laying on the ground...

It was almost like...

"Please try not to cause trouble out there." That charming smirk encompassed his face and you felt warm at just the sight of it. You were surprised to say that you were glad he stopped by. It wasn't like anyone else on the team had bothered.

"Honey, trouble is my middle name." You laughed at him, but your giggle was cut short with a harsh cough that sent you hunching forward. You felt his hand at your back and when you looked up you saw the deep scowl on his expression.

"Get Vogelbaum in here again. I don't like this."

"It's fine. I'll be okay. When you get back from Nicaragua, I'll be good as new." You attempted a reassuring smile, but it failed you. You looked more uncomfortable and the wince from the sharp inhale in your lunge did not go unnoticed.

"You better be." Soldier Boy cupped under your chin and you both stared at eachother before he withdrew. "I'll be back before you know it, hot stuff." He winked at you before turning away and heading down the hall.

...

It never happened.

The nuclear power plant never happened, but how could that be?! You have memories of escorting people away from danger, putting out fires, and Soldier Boy? You recall him telling you to...

"Go save the civilians. I'll take care of this."

You could hear his voice echo in your head, those exact words.

Before he died.

Before you found him laying in a mess of concrete and he was in your arms and you were crying because even if he was an asshole a part of you always loved him.

And then nothing...

"Phoenix?" Coleman called, snapping you from your trance like state once more. You blinked at him, then you gulped. Your throat had gone dry.

"I don't know." You answered grimly, "Actually, I should be going." You stood up and slowly walked off the stage. The crowd of crew members surrounding the set parted for you and watched in confusion as you walked away. Ashley met your side with furious steps.

"What happened?!" She was panicking. Everything was going good. What happened?! "You need to go back up there!" You had gotten as far as the elevator when Agnes was jogging up behind the both of you.

"Phoenix, honey, what's wrong?" You stared blankly at the seam of the elevator doors.

"Soldier Boy..." Your eyes rose to Ashley and they furrowed at her. "Where is his grave site again?"

"Washington D.C., I think, next to the Lincoln Memorial." Ashley answered in a weak whisper, she was looking at you in horror. "Why?"

Ding!

The elevator doors slid open and you entered them. Neither Agnes or Ashley followed, they gazed at you with questioning looks and you didn't give them any answers.

The doors slid shut behind you.

You were gone.

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#soldier boy x reader #reader #soldier boy x female reader #soldier boy #the boys #payback #oc hero name #crimson countess #vought international #tnt twins #black noir #homelander #the seven

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undiscovered-horizon · 1 year

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Imagine being the one who releases Morpheus. - Part 3 A/N: I've got other WIPs and requests but Emo Brooding Morpheus and Gentle Warm Reader is a brainrot I welcomed a little too warmly

[Part 1] [Part 2] [Part 4] [Part 5] [Part 6] [Part 7] [ENDING] [ALT. ENDING] || Sandman-inspired playlist

🫀REQUESTS ARE OPEN🫀

"Have you found them?"

Your voice was hardly audible over the sound of crashing waves and screaming seagulls. The wind kept tugging at your clothes, gnawing at your skin and soon you found yourself feeling cold. The warm sunrays, sporadically emerging from behind the grey clouds, were a pleasant relief as they gently brushed against your face. Spring never comes soon enough...

"What exactly do you mean?" Morpheus asked.

The reason why he accompanied you on your walk back home was a lovely secret - one that might be ruined the moment someone tries to learn it. To your satisfaction, he never questioned why you were walking on the sand and not the bricked boulevard, which would have been a lot more comfortable. Despite the sheer pleasure that it brought you, your choice of route was motivated by something more profane: the loneliness that you shared. Morpheus would never admit that himself, you could already tell but he needed to talk to someone as much as you did. In that moment he was about as human as an entity can get and yet he was never going to realize that; when people recognize each other's loneliness as their own they form a connection a little too deep to be captured by a language and far too strange for the mundane world.

"Your belongings, naturally. The jewel, the pouch..." you counted as you recalled the wonderful and strange trinkets he had with him that day, "the creepy mask," you added as your face involuntarily turned into a grimace thinking about the unnerving bone contraption he wore. "Father seemed very content with his, well, theft."

Morpheus suddenly stopped. His eyebrows furrowed slightly and those cold, blue eyes stared into yours with astonishing intensity. The cold wind pulled at his hair as it brushed against his forehead. Looking at his face, you could see the small moves of his jaw as he clenched its muscles.

"Do you know anything of them?"

His voice didn't waver and considering his alarmed appearance, it was an impressive feat. The longer you admired his otherworldly composure the more you grew convinced that you had misinterpreted it the first time you had seen him: what painted his expression blank was not the lack of emotions behind it but rather a certain reluctance in feeling sensations that were already there. Such a disconnect was strangely human for a king of dreams, not to mention horribly forlorn. If one desires no relation to their feelings, how could one ever relate to another being?

"I'm afraid I don't," you answered in a mild tone. "I've only heard rumours among the manor staff as though your gem had been stolen by my father's mistress. But, unfortunately, I cannot speak for the reliability of that hearsay. Even if that were true, I haven't the foggiest where she's gone."

"What of the pouch and the helmet?" he coexed. It seemed as if the remnants of his hope long gone were being washed away with each wave that crashed against the white sand of Southend-on-sea.

"Hard to say," you said with a shrug. Digging your hands further into the pockets of your coat, you began walking again. "Perhaps they're locked away in the deepest dungeon underneath the mansion or maybe they were sold on the black market. In any case, I'm afraid I can't even try to inquire about that. My letters were never answered."

"You have written letters to your father?"

"No, not to Rodrick," you said quietly as you absentmindedly shook your head. There was another for whom your heart broke - someone who might never know the amount of love you once had for them. "I wrote to Alex. I know he hasn't been exactly kind to you but he's an exceptional boy. He will grow up to be a great man, I'm sure of that. Although, I'm afraid I shan't get to see that..."

Morpheus silently studied your somber expression as you looked at the faraway horizon. Somewhere there, where sky dipped his toes in the endless waters, you saw all the magnificent possibilities of Alex's future. A sad smile appeared on your face as if those fantasies made you both proud and completely heartbroken. For the second time, Morpheus began wondering why humans were capable of feeling such contradicting emotions at the same time.

A tear fell from your eye. It glistened in the afternoon sun with a myriad of colours as if misery could once be breathtaking. As the teardrop run down the curve of your cheek, Morpheus instinctively raised his hand but only slightly like some anxious thought at the back of his head prohibited him from moving his arm further. It was the very same hesitation that had decided about the fate of the world more than once.

He thought something you had told him all those years ago when you said you wished your brother never had died. Back then he didn't quite understand the difference - the small difference, a change of perspective - that made your choice different from your father's. But now, watching the glistening tear on your cheek, Morpheus felt a fraction of understanding due to nothing more but his selfishness: instead of wishing to brush away your tear, he wished you never had cried.

"I'm so sorry, I just miss him a lot," you whispered. A sniffle and a deep sigh left your lips. "Oh, only now do I realize my utter lack of manners," you resumed the conversation. With a frantic move of your hand, you brushed away the stray tear. You forced a gentle smile on your face and Morpheus grew angry, although he couldn't quite explain why. "You're a king, are you not? Should I not call you 'your majesty'?"

"There is no need for that." The cold tone of his voice never once revealed the silent affections he had pondered just before. "You are not one of my subjects."

"As you wish, Dream of the Endless. I may not know where to look for your belongings but I do have a burning suspicion that we will not find them among those cold sands and murky waters. As much as it pains me to say so, we should leave this lovely town as soon as we can."

"My affairs are not of your concern."

You stopped walking only to look at him. For a moment, your kind face stared into his eyes - they were such an exceptional shade of blue. Their cool hue was both haunting and dazzling, perhaps serving as an adequate showcase of their owner's nature. It was a wonderful thought that no other but Morpheus inspired the saying that 'eyes are the window to the soul'.

"I want them to be," you confessed before continuing to walk towards your house.

Morpheus couldn't follow your step. He wasn't sure what to make of your words or most of all - whether you actually meant them, at least in the same way he understood them. The longer he listened to the echo of your confession inside his head, the more the realized that only the reasonable part of him desired to dismiss your decision. Yes, deep inside Morpheus wanted you to be concerned with his affairs. Maybe one day, when he lets that intimate thought resound in his mind, he'll realize he wanted to be your concern.

Looking over your shoulder, you noticed that Dream hadn't moved from his spot. His dark attire was a startling contrast to the white sand under his feet and the greyish-blue water behind him. The cold wind kept nipping at his hair and clothes and yet his skin was just as pale, not a shade of red or purple revealed that he could be cold in that weather.

"The world is spinning, your majesty," you yelled over the crashing of waves and seagulls' calls. "We can't just stand on it."

___ Tagging people who were interested in a follow-up: @rosaren2498 @jessiboobdbdb @chantzmar @lexi-anastasia @bisexualunicronrunningloose

#dream of the endless imagine #dream of the endless fanfiction #dream of the endless x you #dream of the endless x reader #dream of the endless #morpheus imagine #morpheus sandman #morpheus x you #morpheus x reader #morpheus #the sandman fanfic #the sandman imagine #the sandman netflix #the sandman fanfiction #the sandman #the sandman x you #the sandman x reader

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foxyanon · 2 months

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Worship

SURPRISE SHAWTY! This little idea took root and I had to get it out. Didn’t think I’d write for Masema, but here we are. I typed this up in my phone and half assed reread it. It’s officially 3am where I am and now, I can rest.

Summary: How far would you go for your obsession?

Pairing: Masema Dagar X Rhaenerys Targaryen

Rating: 18+, MDNI

Word Count: 3230

TW: mentions of death, blood, murder, slightly manipulative Rhaenerys (she’s Maegor’s daughter, that’s all the warning you are getting), no beta, we die like Maegor

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from Wheel of Time or A Song of Ice and Fire nor do I own any of the images used.

Dividers made by @arcielee 💙

He didn’t know what happened for him to land here. One minute he was fighting Seanchan soldiers at Falme, the next a portal opened around him and everyone within a 20 foot radius while Rand was busy fighting Ishmael. He vaguely recalls being pulled through the swirling vortex before landing harshly in a grass field, the salty smell of sea air filling his nostrils. While he worked to regain his bearings, he noticed multiple Seanchan soldiers fell through with him, alongside his own comrades. There was a pause between everyone involved before they started fighting again. He brought his blade up just in time to block an attack before the sound of thunder rolled across the field. He would’ve ignored it, if it hadn’t been followed by a deafening screeching roar. He looked up just in time to see a large black and purple dragon fly overhead, circling the field for a place to land.

Just as the beast landed roughly, shaking the ground and throwing several people off balance, Masema caught sight of something that would be burned in his mind for the rest of his days. There, in the saddle of this magnificent creature, was a woman. She hopped down out of the saddle, her very presence commanding the attention of the battling warriors. She unsheathed her own sword, the blade looking as though it were made for her and her alone.

“I command you to lay down your weapons or face your end by dragonfire!” Her voice rang out, clear and commanding, as she approached those assembled.

A few dropped their weapons, but Masema laid his sword down and dropped to his knees, some powerful feeling within him telling him to obey her. The closer she got, the more he could make out her unique features and he was taken by her beauty. Her long silver-white hair was pulled back into elaborate battle braids and her eyes…Creator help him, her eyes were the prettiest shade of purple he’d ever seen. She looked out over the soldiers assembled and snarled, the dragon perched behind her roaring loudly, a reminder to do as she said or else. Everyone suddenly dropped their swords and threw their hands up, probably hoping for mercy. The mysterious woman sauntered through the crowd, the blade in her hand glinting dangerously in the light of the midday sun. When she stopped in front of Masema, his heart nearly stopped. She placed the flat of her blade under his chin, tilting his head up and staring into his eyes with an intensity he became addicted to instantly.

“You were the first to kneel in my presence, so I shall speak with you and you alone. Who are you and where have you come from?” Her voice softened, but was no less as commanding as before and he was hooked.

He answered her without hesitation, telling her who they were and briefly explaining the strange situation. She tilted her head to the side, an enchanting smile gracing her lips as she pulled the blade away from his neck.

“A pleasure to meet you, Masema.” The way she said his name caused his mouth to run dry and his heart to race. “My name is Rhaenerys Targaryen, Princess of Dragonstone and heir to the Iron Throne.”

He bowed his head in submission, feeling an intense feeling of obeisance spreading through him. When he looked back up at her, she had sheathed her blade and gestured for him to stand. He did so willingly, following behind her as she separated the Shienaran forces from the Seanchan. The threat of her dragon kept everyone in line, none daring to challenge the Princess. Once everyone had been separated, she faced the Seanchan men and gave them a sadistic grin.

“My new friend here has told me you are the enemy, so I shall treat you as such. Make peace with your deity, you shall meet them shortly,” she said in plainly, staring at the scared faces of the Seanchan soldiers.

Dracarys.

With just one word she had uttered and the soldiers Masema had been fighting were engulfed in flames as her dragon responded to her decree. He looked back at the Princess and swore right then and there that he was in the presence of a goddess amongst mortal kind and he would serve her faithfully until the end of his days.

Several months had passed since his arrival on what he learned was the island of Dragonstone, the primary home of his beloved princess. He and the rest of his companions had been added to her household guard, and while some had wished to return to their world, he and many others wished to stay. He worked tirelessly to prove himself loyal and faithful to her, acting on her orders without a thought. Anyone he came in contact with, he spoke nothing but praises of her and her deeds, feeling proud to be of service to one so divine. He was naturally a charismatic man, so it took no time at all for him to secure a steady following that joyfully supported Rhaenerys’s claim to the throne.

He had met her father and mother, King Maegor and Queen Elvira, as well as her grandmother, Dowager Queen Visenya. While his loyalties were with Rhaenerys first and foremost, he would do as they commanded since she regarded them highly. He had heard the rumors of the King's cruelty, but he never believed them. In his mind, those who were dealt with harshly often deserved it and he had no qualms doing the dirty work of taking care of the problem. It didn’t take long for him to move up in the ranks, quickly becoming House Targaryens most loyal servant and deadliest warrior. He prided himself on his skills, feeling beyond grateful for the recognition he was shown, especially when his Princess praised him for his deeds. There was nothing he wouldn’t do to see that radiant smile on her face, even if she asked him to eliminate a threat to her future reign. To him, nothing was too great an ask that he wouldn’t do willingly and with a smile on his face.

His hands may have brought about the death of lords and commoners alike, anyone who wouldn’t support her claim for whatever reason, but he didn’t care. Their blood may have been on his hands, but his actions kept hers clean and pure, just as she was meant to be. It was his duty, no his honor, to carry out her orders. Wherever she went, he was sure to follow like her shadow. Whenever she held court at Dragonstone, he was there at the foot of the dais. She was the judge and jury, he was her executioner. Some of his fellow Shienarans tried talking to him, saying he was acting like a fanatic about her and that she was just as cruel as her father. He snapped back that they didn’t understand, that this was what he was meant to do and that she was a perfect princess, that they couldn’t possibly understand what that meant and how dare they speak such treason about the woman who saved them.

That night he reported what they had said to Rhaenerys, on his knees at her feet as she sat in her rooms. He felt like a failure, his own people betraying the woman who gave his life meaning. After he spoke, he couldn’t look her in the eye for fear of seeing anger in her mesmerizing eyes.

Instead, he felt her soft fingers against his chin, gently tilting his head up as she gave him a soft smile. Her thumb gently brushed across his lower lip, his breath catching as she leaned forward and whispered softly.

“You have not failed me, Masema. They have simply lost their way. Speak with them, lead them back to the path of righteousness and let them see the error of their ways. If they refuse, you know what must be done,” her soothing voice squashed his doubts and he nodded vigorously.

“As you wish, Princess,” he responded breathlessly, quickly standing and bowing deeply before leaving to speak some sense into his friends.

When dawn came, several had changed their minds. Masema was very convincing, but not enough to convince all of them. Those who refused to follow Rhaenerys met their demise by his hand. He delivered their heads to her, laying them at her feet as she broke her fast. His hands and face were still covered in blood, leaving imprints on the floor as he bowed deeply before her, his forehead and palms pressed against the cold stone.

“You have served me well, Masema, removing potential weak links from my guard. Now, I must ask another favor of you,” Rhaenerys spoke in her usual enchanting voice, impressed by his devotion to her. The sight of the decapitated heads and blood bothered her none, her gaze trained on Masema.

Masema looked up at her with barely contained enthusiasm, eager to please her again and hear praises for his deeds fall from her soft lips. “I am yours to command, Princess.”

“The time for me to marry has come. I need you to spy on the potential suitors as they come to Dragonstone. Learn everything about them and report back to me with the one you think would best serve me as consort,” she told him, reaching out and gently cupping his bloodstained cheek. Masema leaned into her touch, her exotic scent invading his senses and reaffirming his devotion to her. “You have proven to be the most loyal and faithful to me and my House. Only you can do this task for me, Masema.”

His heart swelled with adoration and pride, the knowledge that she trusted him above all others making him feel lightheaded. He kissed the back of her hand, swearing to fulfill her wishes before leaving her chambers.

None of them. Absolutely none of those weak willed, pompous fools are worthy of being in her presence, let alone marrying her. The Lannister boy was too self centered and focused on his own House, rather than expanding the greatness that is the House of the Dragon. He had no real qualms about the Stark lordling, but the stoic Northerner wasn’t interested in the affairs of the Iron Throne and that just won’t do for his princess. The Baratheon brat might’ve been a contender, but his wandering eyes and hands knocked him off the list. Princess Rhaenerys deserved someone who would be devoted to her and only her, someone who wanted to ensure the survival of House Targaryen above all else. Someone like him.

As he stood there reporting his findings to Rhaenerys in the chamber of the painted table, he felt rage at the lack of options for his sweet princess. She walked slowly around the lit map table, her grandmother sitting at the head of the table as the women listened to his report.

“None of them are suitable for potential consorts, Princess. They are either more concerned with their own Houses legacies or they care more about their own personal interests than yours. They are barely fit to lead their own Houses, let alone have the privilege of being your consort,” he ground out, his anger boiling over before he remembered where he was. Masema cleared his throat and looked at the ground, embarrassed by his outburst. “Forgive me, I should not have let my emotions get the better of me. I will do better in the future.”

“No need, Masema. Your honesty is refreshing and much appreciated on this matter. Knowing you care so much about the future of this House is a good quality, one that should be rewarded,” the Dowager Queen spoke, her voice wizened but still just as assertive. “There will be more that arrive in the coming weeks. Continue your work, there is bound to be someone amongst the nobility that will suit our needs.”

Masema bowed deeply, casting a quick glance to Princess Rhaenerys before departing the chamber and slipping into the shadows again. He was thrilled to serve at her leisure, but he felt a bit of envy towards the man she might marry. None of them deserved her, she was far too heavenly for the likes of those fools. She needed someone who would worship her as he did, but none came even close.

Many weeks went by and all hell broke loose. During another suitor's visit, Queen Visenya passed away in her sleep. Rhaenerys was heartbroken, her cries burned into Masema’s mind as she sobbed in his arms, not allowing anyone else near her when she was so vulnerable. Not even a fortnight later, during a visit to King's Landing, was Maegor impaled on the Iron Throne by his consort, Elinor Costayne, in front of numerous witnesses that included Rhaenerys and Masema. That very same day, Prince Jaehaerys returned to the Red Keep and attempted to usurp Rhaenerys of her birthright. The massacre that happened after would be written about as a dark day for Westeros. Many had flocked to Jaehaerys and supported his claim, but more had followed Princess Rhaenerys thanks to the silver tongue of Masema and the months of traveling he had done in his early days, garnering the support of the smallfolk and even many of the smaller Houses.

At the end of the slaughter of King’s Landing, Rhaenerys stood in the throne room and was crowned Queen of the Seven Kingdoms. The army of Jaehaerys met with the millions of small folk who supported the rightful heir and the outcome was brutal on both sides. Thousands lay dead, burned or maimed in the streets from both sides. Her kin that supported Jaehaerys were executed by Masema, because he refused to have her named kinslayer. Only the twins, Aerea and Rhaella, and her cousins, Alysanne and Rhaena, submitted to her rule outside the new Dowager Queen Elvira, Rhaenerys’s own mother. Despite Alysanne having been Jaehaerys’s wife, even she knew that what he did was wrong. Queen Elinor was executed for the murder of the king and since three of Maegor’s wives were already dead, the remaining bent the knee and were allowed to live out their days as well cared for widows at Dragonstone, under the watchful eye of Elvira. The dragons of the deceased riders were secured in the Dragonpit, to be cared for by the keepers until new riders had come of age.

Despite the chaos, the coronation was life changing for Masema. He always believed that Rhaenerys was beautiful, but she was truly stunning when he saw her sitting the throne for the first time. She wore the crown of her father and grandfather, Dark Sister shining brightly in her hand amid the dull blades that made up the Iron Throne. After that day, the number of men vying for her attention and hand increased exponentially. If he thought the prospects were sorry before, he was truly disappointed by them now.

He knelt at the foot of the Iron Throne, staring up at her as he reported on another batch of suitors, these ones worse than the last. She gave him a little smile when he finished and stood up, speaking in a captivating voice as he looked down at the floor.

“All these men, they are not suitable for me?” She asked as she took a few steps down the stairs of the throne.

“No, my Queen.”

“They will not further the glory of House Targaryen?” Another few steps down.

“No, my Queen.”

“They would not be loyal to me and only me?” The last few steps and she was standing in front of Masema.

“No, my Queen.”

“They would not love me the way you love me?” She walked around him, her fingers dancing across his shoulders and causing him to lean back into her touch.

“No, my Queen.”

“Perhaps I have had you looking for my husband in the wrong place,” she said musingly, stopping in front of her right hand man and placing her fingers under his chin. “Perhaps, my consort is right here, looking so pretty on his knees for me.”

Masema inhaled sharply, looking up at Rhaenerys with confusion and maybe a little excitement in his mismatched eyes. “I-my Queen…”

She chuckled darkly at his stuttering, tracing his lips with the tip of her finger. “Hush, Masema. I see it so clearly now. Those noblemen were never going to be suitable because they weren’t you. Only you can do this for me. I need you, Masema. I must have heirs and I trust only you to fulfill my needs,” her voice lured him in like a siren and he found himself instinctively leaning forward towards her before he caught himself.

“My Queen, I am not worthy of such an honor. I am a sinner, my hands stained with the blood of your enemies. I would not forgive myself if I tainted you with my touch,” he whispered, feeling her fingers thread through his hair as she softly scratched his scalp.

“Then find redemption with me. You, my devotee, shall be absolved of your wrongdoings by giving me what I want and need. Let my touch cleanse you, my sweet Masema,” she whispered in that enchanting tone of hers and he knew he would do anything she asked of him.

He hesitated only for a second before agreeing to her proposal, kissing the inside of her wrist as he was consumed with euphoria at the idea of serving his Dragon Queen in a more intimate manner.

They flew to Dragonstone that afternoon on the back of her dragon, Abraxsas, and were married in the traditions of House Targaryen as the sun set, with her family their only witnesses. Their first kiss was one Masema will remember vividly, the taste of her blood on his tongue the sweetest thing he’d ever tasted. He vaguely remembered the small wedding feast but he definitely remembered the wedding night.

He remembered the way she looked like a goddess both in her dress and out of it. He remembered the way he kissed every inch of her perfect body, taking his time memorizing her sensitive spots and paying special attention to them. He certainly remembered tasting her essence for the first time, thinking how this was where he was meant to be and that he could spend the rest of his life praying at her altar like this. The sounds she made as she cried out his name when she finished on his tongue and the way her skin felt against his when they finally became one are forever embedded within his memories.

Once they were both spent and satisfied, she had fallen asleep amidst the silk bedding as a gentle breeze blew in from the sea, the moonlight shining through the large arches and casting a pale light on her unconscious form. He had taken care to make sure she was cleaned up from their intimacy before crawling back into bed beside her. He gazed at her adoringly, feeling appreciative for having been transported to a world where such divinity was within his grasp. He fell asleep with a smile on his face, feeling cleansed of the sins he committed in her name and having found a new way to worship his beloved Rhaenerys.

Taglist: @sihtricfedaraaahvicius @whitedarkmoonflower @valeskafics @gemini-mama @bouncehousedemons @mrsarnasdelicious @synindoodles

#masema dagar #masema #Masema x OC #wheel of time #a song of ice and fire

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dreamywriter143 · 1 year

Text

Nga Yawne Lu Oer

Genre: Fluff, Slow-Burn, Unrequited love, Love-Triangle/Square?, Angst, SFW, NSFW (like one chapter later on, MDNI), Romance.

Status: Ongoing

Warnings: Depictions of battles, blood/weapons, NSFW (later on) and it’s NOT incest. (That will also be revealed, much later on) Also, all the characters are AGED-UP (Neteyam and Ao’nung are the eldest being 18 etc…..)

Parings: Neteyam X Reader, Lo’ak X Reader, Ao’nung X Reader

Summary: Y/N, the twin sister of Tsireya and eldest daughter of Ronal and Tonowari is faced with new challenges and obstacles as the Sully’s arrive to Awa'atlu. Y/N cant help but be amazed by the new Na’vi, who intrigue her as well as raise a sense of connection within them. What will she do when lives are in danger? When the RDA attack? Or more Importantly, when her heart is torn between the two brothers who steal her breathe away upon first contact?

Word count: 5k

Chapter Twelve: Whispers Under the Stars

________________________________

~Neteyam's POV~

The sun begins to set with no sign of Lo'ak. I have been keeping an eye out for him; he should have been back by now from apologizing to Ao'nung. After I left Y/N's hut, I hung out with Tuk for a bit. After she got tried, I dropped her off to mom, and I have been looking for that troublemaker, Lo'ak ever since.

I begin to feel fear bubble within me knowing the last time I saw him was when dad sent him to apologize Ao'nung. It's been a good few hours since then. And he has yet to return. I peek into our Marui, checking to see if he had arrived unannounced. To my luck, he was not there. 'Where is that Skxawng!' I grumble under my breath walking towards the shore.

Recalling what the chief had instructed Y/N with, maybe she's seen Lo'ak. She was going to find Ao'nung anyway. I feel a smile twitch at the thought of her. My lips felt hot reminiscing how her delicate fingers danced across them not to long ago. Oh, what I would do to relive that moment.

Not focusing on where I was walking, I accidentally bump into someone making them hiss. "Watch it" he growls, making my ears twitch at his voice. I quickly spin around, grabbing him by his bicep. Clenching hard to insure he stays within my grasp. He turns to me, his black eye prominent. I hide my smirk; I cannot remember if it was the result of Lo'ak's punches or mine. But the look suited him, and his smug face.

"Where is Lo'ak" I demand, feeling him tense under my hold. He glares at me, shrugging my hand away. I allow it waiting for his answer. "I don't know, leave me alone" he says trying to walk it off. I was about to let him off the hook but something about his expression did not sit right with me.

He looked guilty.

I pull him back, making him face me. "My father sent him to apologize to you. He has not returned. Now, stop lying. Where. Is. He" I hiss through gritted teeth. He looks at me, a fearful expression on his face. "I-I don't know. He came along with me on a swim. We went our separate ways afterword's" he says uncertainly. I frown at his words; it did not seem all that convincing.

"How about Y/N? She was sent to look for you. Where is she? She has not returned either" I inquire, his ears twitch at the mention of her name. His eyes widen as I let go of his arm. "W-what do you mean?" he asks shakily. I shake my head at his obvious attempt to get away from the situation.

"Your father sent her to look for you! I haven't seen her around ever since." I explain slowly, hoping he can understand what I am trying to say. Just as he opens his mouth, I hear a familiar screech. Turning to the sea I see Y/N's Iiu swim towards us, stopping near the shallows. Atan, flaps his fins wildly, all while staring at me and Ao'nung. I notice a saddle on his back, not fastened properly and hanging loose.

I feel my heart sink to my stomach. I turn to Aonung who had an equally horrified expression. "I'll ask you one last time! Where is Lo'ak and Y/N!" I growl grabbing onto his shoulders roughly. I see him take in a deep breath.

"I-I took Lo'ak beyond the reef as a joke and left him there" he whispers making my blood run cold. Ao'nung seems to realize the situation he is in as I grab him by his neck, dragging him towards our hut.

While I am dragging him, I hear him mumble incoherently to himself. "What?!" I demand as we near the hut. "If Y/N followed us...they're both in trouble" he replies making me push him harder. I try to stay calm, but we were taught that beyond the reef was dangerous. For us, considering we were not trained for that environment yet. I push him into the Marui gaining father's attention as he stands up.

"Tell him!" I growl.

"Tell him what you told me!!"

~~~~~~~~~~

~ Lo'ak's POV~

A harsh cough ripples throughout my body as I strain to open my eyes. The sudden light caused me to struggle to keep them open. I groan wiping the water away, feeling around me. I feel a solid ground under me as I recall what just happened. We were under attack, then I was drowning. My grip on Y/N's hand was-

Wait....Y/N!

I look around me, seeing her laying down beside me, her eyes closed shut. I crawl towards her seeing her chest rise slowly. I feel relief seeing that she was breathing. "Y/N" I say shaking her softly. I watch her ears twitch at my voice as she slowly forces her eyes open. She looks at me, her eyes widening in shock. I couldn't explain the happiness I felt when I knew I wasn't alone and noticing that she was safe by my side made me that much more relieved.

Out of no where she pulls me in for a hug, at first, I am caught off guard, but I slowly melt into her embrace. She felt so warm but her body was shaking. I couldn't tell if it was from the cold temperature or out of fear. But I squeezed her back, nonetheless. We almost died, and her warmth reminded me how thankful I am to be alive.

"Lo'ak! You are safe. Thank Ewya" she says pulling away from me, looking over the few scratches I had on my face and shoulder.

"Yea, for now. What happened?!" I ask looking around us, as if on cue the 'ground' underneath us shakes with life, letting out a puff of air. I jolt at the sensation as Y/N looks down, her eyes widening. I lean back to get a better view of the large creature.

"It's a Tulkun!" She exclaims, a different kind of happiness taking over her features. She looked so happy, full of childlike wonder. I heard of the Tulkun, I also knew they were very important to Y/N and her clan. It made sense as to why she looked so happy and excited.

Taking her hand into mine, we swim closer to the head of the Tulkun. I guide her up beside me, as we sit upon its huge fin. I investigate the Tulkun's eyes. Feeling something within me stir. I felt as though I knew him, or that he knew me. I couldn't quite explain it. But it felt strong.

"You saved our life, thank you" I say staring at him. He kept my gaze as I also signed a thank you. Y/N does the same. The Tulkun watches us, humming. I let out a chuckle. It seemed to have responded to us it some sort of way.

"Buddy, I have no idea what you just said" I say trying to understand.

I feel Y/N lean over to me, her heat radiating off her on to me. I feel myself feel hot suddenly. She was so close "Oh my Ewya" I hear Y/N mumble turning away from me. I see her slip into the water, following her eyesight I see what looked to be a harpoon of some sort lodged into his fin. It looked painful.

"They hurt you, didn't they?" I realize. Going near it, I see Y/N trying to fiddle around with it. I look at the Tulkun. "We'll try to pull it out" I say.

Helping Y/N, we manage to take it out after struggling for a bit. As we resurface, I chuckle at the Tulkun who seems relieved. Y/N lovingly pets around its eyes to further comfort him. I swim closer.

"Friends" I say, signing the words. "We're friends" I repeat. Glancing over I see Y/N stare at the Tulkun fondly. He seems pleased as he swims around us happily. He seemed so happy, I notice Y/N hold on to his fin, motioning me over. I follow her grabbing on, the Tulkun purrs before going under water. I hold my breath watching Y/N's eyes look around us as we swim. Her wonderment making me let out a soft smile, also enjoying the ride.

After swimming around, as Y/N and I are still latched on to his fin, we seem to come to a stop. I could not help but love the smile on Y/N's face the entire time. She was enthralled by the creature, and so was I. I swim to the other side, Y/N follows close behind.

I immediately notice one of his fins was severed off. Feeling a wave of sympathy surge through me I look to the Tulkun. 'I'm sorry' I sign to him his chirps in response. I glance at Y/N. Who also seems pained at the sight. But I also seem to catch another look with her beautiful E/C eyes.

Fear.

~~~~~~

"We should head back Lo'ak" Y/N whispers from my side as we are on the surface, still with the Tulkun. It had become quite late as we swim near the rock formation we were at earlier. I glance at her seeing her look down at the Tulkun, her hands softly against his rough skin. She seemed to be in deep thought.

I noticed she seemed to on edge for the ladder part of our time together. Unable to put a finger as to why she was acting so strange I open my mouth to respond but get cut off when I hear distant calls.

"Lo'ak!!! Y/N!!"

"Y/N!!"

I hear calls erupt as I see some Metkayina's ride in their Skimwing. Out of instinct Y/N and I duck out of sight. Y/N hisses looking down at the Tulkun. She seems to realize something as she glances at me. "Tell him to go, he can't be seen right now!" She whispers. I nod looking at him. "Go! I will see you again" I sign back as he swims away, disappearing into the depths.

~~~~~~~

~Third Person POV~

"The Sully boy has returned"

"We found Y/N!!!"

The horn signals the party's arrival as the clan is waiting for them to come to dry land. Y/N and Lo'ak are riding on a Skimwing, nestled behind warrior who swam it towards land. Y/N feels her ears flatten in fear as they come to a stop. Seeing the furious expressions on her family's faces.

She caught sight of Ao'nung first, his eyes looked relieved upon making eye contact, but her stomach turned thinking about what she and Lo'ak had to go through because of his stupid joke.

Lo'ak is first to get off, he reaches out his hand to help Y/N. She graciously accepts. The moment she is standing Tsireya leaps down, rushing to her sister. She grabs her hands and her face looking them over. "Oh my Ewya, Thank you" Tsireya whispers to herself making Y/N look at her sister fondly, forgetting the crowd that surrounded them.

Lo'ak turns to the chief seeing Ao'nung. He looked defeated, sad even. But all Lo'ak could feel was rage. He was the reason why he was almost killed, why Y/N was almost killed. He took a threatening step towards him, but his father intervenes.

"Hey, let's have a look at you" Jake says looking his son over. Noticing a few scratches, he lets out a sigh. He glances at Y/N, who seemed unscathed as well.

"He's fine, he's fine. Just a few scratches" Jake assures turning to the clan. The clan moves aside as Neytiri, and Ronal come into view. Ronal quickly rushes to her daughter, who was already being inspected by her younger sister. She quickly looks her over for any serious damage.

Neytiri walks to Lo'ak, an unforgiving expression on her face. Neteyam and Kiri are last to arrive. Neteyam's shoulders relax upon seeing Lo'ak, safe. He turns to see Y/N, being held tightly by her mother who was whispering things into her ear, a relieved look on her face.

"I pray for the strength that I will not pluck the eyeballs out of my youngest son" Neytiri growls at Lo'ak who looks away. Tonowari raises his hand in protest.

"No, my son knows better than to take him outside the reef, the blame is his" he turns to Y/N. Ronal steps aside, placing the H/C girl in view of everyone. She looks down at the attention. "Y/N. What happened" Tonowari demands, wanting to know how his daughter got caught up in all of this.

Jake takes this opportunity to usher his son and his family away, but Lo'ak stops him, seeing the distressed look on Y/N's face made him feel brave as he faced the chief.

"No, this is not Ao'nung's fault. This was my idea. He tried to talk me out of it, Y/N was at the wrong place at the wrong time...she saved me. If it were not for her, I wouldn't be here right now" he states causing mummers to spread amongst the clan.

Tonowari sighs looking to his daughter as Ronal makes eye contact with her son. Deep down knowing her son was at fault. Jake let's out a sigh effectively pulling his son away as they disappear into the crowd. Neteyam turns to glance at Y/N one last time, seeing her face look glum as she looked down. He knew Ao'nung was at fault, and he knew he was deeply responsible for having his sister get involved. Neteyam wished he could stay behind to check on her, but right now his family needed him.

"Is this true?" Tonowari asks quietly. Y/N looks up, her eyes pleading. She did not want to open her mouth. If she spoke the truth Ao'nung would be in bigger trouble even though Lo'ak tried to save him.

Ronal let's out a sigh noticing her daughters' nonverbal response. "Let's go home, we'll discuss this there" she explains taking her daughters with her. Tonowari sighs dismissing the clan. As Y/N follows her family, her head is elsewhere.

She could not seem to get the Tulkun, who she recognized was Payakan. Out of her head. She couldn't help but wonder why they were spared when they should have died.

~~~~~~~~~~~

~Y/N's POV~

I look up at the roof of the Mauri, I could not seem to catch any well needed rest. It was like my eyes refused to close. I couldn't stop thinking about Payakan, the young bull Tulkun who was known to kill his own, and Na'vi boys as well not too long ago. The story was known, everyone in the clan was weary of his existence and choosing to stay away as he was an outcast.

That being said he saved us, he went out of his way to attack the Akula, effectively saving Lo'ak and I. If he was the killer, they say he is. How and why did he choose to save us? Were the stories even true? I begin to question everything while turning onto my side. I spot Tsireya in deep sleep beside me. She looked exhausted. She cried herself to sleep after I briefly told her what had happened.

The poor girl was terrified. Seeing her cry for me was heart wrenching, especially since I couldn't do anything about it. I silently sit up, realizing that I would not be able to sleep even if I tried. I glance at Ao'nung's form. He has not said anything except a quite sorry before he fell asleep. I should have responded, but I felt anger towards him which outweighed my proper judgement.

Glancing at the separate part of the Mauri I quietly get up, making my way outside. The cool air hits my face taking away any traces of sleep I had in me. Smiling softly to myself I walk towards the sand, wanting to stare out into the sea, hoping it would lull me to sleep. I find myself walking to the familiar sandbank, finding my spot I sit on the sand. Though the air was sharp and cool, the sand was warm and inviting.

I pull my knees up against me staring into the sea, which reflected the beautiful array of stars above. My thoughts, once again drift to Payakan. If the stories were indeed wrong, what could I do to rectify that? He is alone, an outcast. Tulkun's thrive in huge pods. He must be miserable. Maybe when the Tulkun's arrive I could convince Saeyla to visit him, my spirit sister.

She was just like me, the perfect daughter to her mother. But she was also quite mischievous, always trying to write her own rules. I don't think it would take much convincing on my part to get her to meet Payakan.

I was so lost in my thoughts I didn't realize someone had snuck up on me, sitting themselves right beside me.

"Can't sleep?" I hear Neteyam whisper from beside me. My head whips around to see him, sitting beside me, his arms supported his body as he leaned back, his eyes on the stars.

“Same goes for you?”

"How can I? Lo'ak almost died.... You almost died...Again" he whispers.

My eyes widen, meeting his. They looked so sad, so broken. He searched my eyes carefully before sitting up straighter. "Y/N, Lo'ak told me about what happened. That an Akula attacked you.... you guys could have died" he mummers his eyes glistening slightly. I frown, I didn't want him to be this upset.

"And earlier today, you stopped breathing..." he adds taking my hand into his. I could feel his hands shake against mine. "I don't know if my heart can take any more scares" he admits looking into my eyes. I see them pleading, pleading for an answer to his many questions.

"I'm a warrior, I'm trained to hunt, I'm trained to watch over my people, my family. I'm trained to stay strong" he says softly.

"But I don't know how much more I can handle. I have so many responsibilities, I don't want to let anyone down" watching him so vulnerable I feel myself also well up with tears. Everything I've went through weighing down on me. Neteyam reaches up, wiping the stray tear I am unable to hold. He lets out a sigh as I look into his eyes. I didn't want him to look at me as if I were a freak, I wanted to tell him, but it would kill me if the gaze he held toward me turned into that of disgust.

"Neteyam"

"Hm.." he hums not looking away from me.

"Will you accompany me on a swim?" I see a tiny smile break through.

"Of course, Y/N."

~~~~~~~

Neteyam and I stare at the stars' above, after he had agreed on coming with me, I brought him to our spot. Once we had sat down, he seemed to relax. Neteyam looked at peace as he sat there, probably remembering his home like last time. I could not help but feel proud, he loved the place that brought me nothing but comfort.

"Can... we talk?" I hear Neteyam ask politely. I nod, turning my body so I am facing him cross legged. He does the same, his focus long gone from the stars above. "What do you want to know?" I ask fiddling with my fingers nervously. I would be lying if I said I was looking forward to this conversation. "Well, how about when you went to look for Ao'nung" he says watching me. I nod looking up to him, as I open my mouth.

"Well, I went to look for Ao'nung. After searching I couldn't find him anywhere. When I noticed Lo'ak leave on his Iiu, I decided to follow him-" I say, watching how intently he was listening to me, holding onto every word that left my mouth.

"-when I overheard Ao'nung suggest going hunting beyond the reef I decided to follow them. I knew I didn't have enough time to come back just in case they ran into danger.....after following them we made it to three brother's point" I explain as he nods, urging me to continue.

"Is this when you sent Atan away? He came swimming, trying his best to get our attention. It was then I realized you must've been where Lo'ak was" Neteyam says making me smile. "So Atan went to you? Thank you for understanding the situation" I say, almost missing how his deep blue cheeks grew deeper in color.

"When I found Lo'ak he was being attacked. Ao'nung was long gone and I had to help him.... we almost died" I say feeling Neteyam's breath hitch. "You must have been so scared..." He says, making me nod in response. I was indeed scared, scared for my life as well as Lo'ak's. I didn't think any one of us would make it out. "Luckily, we made it! Lo'ak's breathing has improved a lot, it really came in handy. Though I had to provide some air to him, I didn't th-"

"What?" Neteyam interrupts.

I stare at him quizzically.

"What? what do you mean you had to give him air?" he asks, sitting up straighter.

"We had to wait out the Akula, and he was running out of air. I had to supply him with some air" I explain nonchalantly. Neteyam visibly frowns. "How did you..do it?" he ask genuinely curious. I tilt my head wondering why he was so invested in a very minor part of the story.

"Orally of course. How else?" I say, in a questioning tone. I see Neteyam grit his teeth as he hears my response.

"So, though a kiss?" he states the obvious.

My face heats up at what he entails. I quickly shake my head and hands around me frantically wiping the thought. "It was for an emergency! It can't be considered a kiss!!" I say still feeling quite flushed. Neteyam does not look impressed before he brushes it off. He looked a little angry.

"Then the Tulkun saved you, correct?" he asks.

Clearly, he had heard the story from Lo'ak already. I nod before my thoughts trail me away. "I didn't see the Tulkun in my vision though..." I mummer quietly deep in thought. I did see myself drown though, I felt it.

Forgetting I was with Neteyam when he speaks up, it catches me off guard. "Your vision?" he asks. I look at him, feeling the blood leave my face out of fear. Had I said that out loud? Clearly, I had, because Neteyam was holding my fearful gaze. Waiting for an answer. Taking a deep breath in I look to my hands, not feeling brave enough to tell him head on.

"E-Ever since I was little, I've had visions...Weird visions that would later come true. I thought it was a fluke but as time went on it proved that whatever I had seen in my visions came true...and that is it was being shown to me" I say barley above a whisper. Hoping maybe he didn't hear me.

"Is that why you fainted? During the altercation today?" Neteyam asks. Still with my head hung low I nod. "Yes, whenever I get visons, I pass out. After a few minutes I will awake from what I see. Until then I'm out cold" I explain. I hear Neteyam's uneven breathing. Was he freaking out? Did he want to run away and never look back? Was he scared of me?

"Who else knows?" I hear him say. Surprised by the question I look up. My eyes widen when they meet his beautiful yellow ones, filled with worry. Over me. And concern, over me. I feel myself choke a little before I continue. "Tsireya, Ao'nung and another friend of mine.....now you" I admit. His eyes widen as if realizing something. "That's why Ao'nung completely flipped when you passed out. He knew you were having a vision" he sates. I nod biting me lip nervously.

Neteyam seems to catch on and grabs my hand. "Y/N, I believe you. Kiri, my sister told me about the episode you had with her. She also has moments like this where she is unreachable. We believe she gets lost within nature. Within Ewya. You are special, just like her." he says softly making me hold my breath at his kind and loving words.

"Y-you don't think I'm a freak?" I ask trying my best to hold back my tears. Neteyam lets out an amused laugh at my expense.

"Never, my sweet girl. You have a gift, from Ewya herself. How could this be anything but good?" feeling myself lose composure I jump into his arms, my tears run freely as he squeezes me close to him. "Thank you" I whisper against the crook of his neck, unable to think of anything else to say.

Neteyam believed me, he trusted me, and he said I was special. How could I be blessed to have a friend so understanding? I gently pull away wiping my face embarrassed. Neteyam is smiling wide, fangs and all. A sight I wanted to engrave into my brain.

"So... when you were with Kiri. What did you see?" Neteyam asks as we settle down.

"I saw which part of the beach you guys were at. I also saw myself with Tuk. Feeding the baby Iiu" I say smiling at the memory. "Do you get to choose what you see? Does it come at random?" he questions me.

"No, I cannot choose what I want to see. They appear at random...it's been years since I've had my visons. They just started recently" I admit as he nods back. Taking in a deep breath he looks to me serious. "What did you see earlier today?" I feel my stomach clench.

"I saw someone, I didn't realize it was Lo'ak at the time, being chased by a Akula. I then saw myself.... drowning" I say looking down. Neteyam squeezes our interlocking hands. "Is that why you stopped breathing?" he asks making me shrug. "I'm not sure, its the first time that's happened" I admit.

Neteyam nods in understanding before letting go of my hand. "Y/N, I want you to know you can confide with me regarding anything. I'll try to be there for you when you have your visions as well" he says softly. I look to him giggling. He raises an eyebrow in question.

"You are so kind Neteyam. Sometimes I wonder why you care so much for me....thank you"

~Neteyam's POV~

My breath hitches at her words, my heart beating wildly in my chest. 'Why did I care for her so much' I question. I cared and loved my family; I would do anything for them. But why did I also feel this special connection with Y/N. She was not family, she wasn't even Omaticayan. I did not care for her family as much as I cared for her, or for any other Metkayina.

Why did she mean so much to me? Was it because she stood up for my family when we first arrived?

Y/N smiles softly at me, her smile lit up her entire face, beautiful eyes twinkling under the moonlight. I watch her peer up into the sky. The way the white stripes and dots that decorated her body seemed to glitter and glow; it made her look ethereal. It was unlike anything I've ever seen. I've seen many beautiful Metkayina's, even beautiful Omaticayan's back home. But none held a candle to her.

"Thank you for listening to me Neteyam" Y/N says, her gaze still trained onto the sky. Her voice held a melody I knew I would always answer to. It was as if I always looked for her, always looked forward to seeing her, hearing her, being near her. Whenever I left the comfort of our Marui I always felt myself actively seek her out. The weeks she had disappeared felt like my heart was being ripped into shreds.

Then it clicked.

Why when we first met, I felt as though the wind was knocked out of me.

When she stood up for my family, I could not help but admire how beautiful she looked standing tall amongst her people. How the water cascaded down her enticing figure when we first entered the water, how graciously she swam to go looking for Kiri.

The way she would look at Tuk, as if she couldn't be any happier.

The first night she brought me here, curing my sadden homesick heart in the process. The way her eyes light up as I told her stories about my home, how she genuinely seemed interested and wanted to learn more. I could not forget the way my cheek burned when her lips pressed against them, I desperately wanted to burn the feeling into my head. I felt like I wanted more, needed more.

Her disappearance effecting me greatly, and when she came back the heartbreak I felt upon seeing her worn out state.

The anger that surged trough me when Lo'ak touched her, when I saw how his pupils dilate upon her when he stared her way. It was unforgivable, I cant believe I wanted to beat up my own brother over a touch and glance.

The rage I felt when I saw her hurt, due to her stupid brother and friends. The feeling of wanting to tear everything apart was so strong at the time.

And when she fainted, how it felt like my life was ending when I noticed her lack of breathing. It was as if I was going to lose her. I would never be able to see her smile again, never have her look up at me with those alluring E/C eyes. I wouldn't hear her contagious laugh, I wouldn't be able to feel her warmth that my body seemed to crave.

My breath hitched, it seems harder and harder to breathe as I rack though all those memories. My feelings were so clear, I was just stupid not realizing it.

My eye's trace her features. She didn't know it, but she had taken every part of me, she HAD every part of me. She whisked them away the moment our eyes met. I should have known from the start. My denial all this time had just delayed the inevitable truth. But now, I had to come to terms with it. She had my heart. My soul.

I am in love with Y/N.

________________________________ A/N: Yikes!!! That was so long!! Also, Neteyam finally realizes he is in love with Y/N!!!! YAYYYY!! One down, two more to go!

@highlady-ofthe-summercourt @avatar4life @juneonhoth @blushsage @lilgurlbeoncrack k @anxietydrogz @arminsgfloll @yeosxxx x @zootymcnooty

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violetlunette · 1 month

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Runaway Chapter 7: A World Shaken

Summary: Malleus continues to sort through his emotions while Lilia finally receives news...

Previous Chapter

Master List

Ao3

Notes: *Twst spoilers for Chapter/Book 7

Lilia’s heart pounded in his ears as hurried to the office of the headmaster. This was one of many moments that he missed his magical abilities, as, in the past, Lilia could have been there the instant he heard the news. Whether or not it was good news had yet to be determined, but at least it was something.

It had been a week since Silver ran away and nothing had changed, except that he and Malleus weren’t speaking, something that agonized Lilia. He wanted to work things out with the Prince as he was just as dear to him as his lost son, however, every attempt was rebuffed. And to be honest, that may have been for the best as Lilia had no idea what he would say to the boy and, with his emotional state, his attempts to reconcile may just lead to another a fight, or overwhelm Malleus again.

Thus, Lilia chose to do nothing at this time, as he felt that was all he could do without making the situation worse.

Thankfully, Sebek took the opposite approach;

While just as upset, Sebek decided that taking action was the best course. He worked with Azul and Carter to make “lost” posters of Silver, which the latter posted on social media, while Azul had Jade and Floyd hand out fliers around town. (Both who paid Ruggie to do it in their stead.)

This all turned to be fortuitous as thanks to Sebek efforts, they struck something:

A sailor had some items floating in the sea and, thanks to the fliers, guessed the items were connected to Silver and so contacted the school.

Upon arriving, the sailor had been brought to Crowley’s office to discuss things while Lilia was summoned.

Despite losing his ability to transport, Lilia arrived quickly, running over any unfortunate soul that happened to get in his way. (Thankfully the loss of his magic didn’t hamper his physical abilities.)

He burst into the office, demanding what the man knew between breaths.

“Not sure if it belongs to yer kid, but we found these,” The sailor answered in a gruff voice after Lilia’s barrage of questions.

He placed a broom on the table first, its wood and bristles torn apart by the tides. The headmaster hummed beside Lilia.

“Hm, well, this is ours, without a doubt. Though, usually, our brooms are in better condition.” Crowley pointed at the NRC graving on the wood, confirming to Lilia that this was the broom used to carry his son away.

“Was it just a broom you found?” the fae inquired. The sailor shook his head.

“No, we found this as well.” The sailor then opened a sack and dumped a few items on Crowley’s desk.

“I recognized the hat being something I’ve seen the NRC kids wear, so I figured there was some connection.” Said hat was a Diasomnia hat, exactly like the one Lilia usually wore atop his head before he turned his uniform in.

If the hat wasn’t enough of a clue that this stuff belonged to Silver, then the baton was.

Lilia picked that item up and stared at the key chain. This was definitely the baton he gifted Silver during his first year at school.

As he looked at it, Lilia couldn’t help but recall how Silver, despite his best efforts, had dozed off before the cake was served and had to be shaken awake as Lilia and Malleus watched in amusement.

Silver had been glad to receive the wand, seeing it as an acknowledgment of his efforts in training.

Lilia hadn’t the heart to tell the lad that Lilia gave it to him for another reason.

There was an incident the year before when a brave fool tried to sneak into the school to get at Malleus. He didn't make it far, thanks to Lilia. However, the father was worried about his son getting hurt, so he decided to provide a weapon with more—kick if needed—to defend Malleus and himself.

However, the item that held his gaze like a cobra was the ring.

The gold ring glimmered in the light as Lilia stared at the stones that reflected Silver’s eyes.

Lilia’s heart tightened as he plucked it from the table, reading the engraving.

“May my child’s eyes remain as clear as these jewels and never cloud with sadness.”

Lilia’s entire being was filled with emotions that he was only barely able to hold back.

“Where did you get these?” he asked, keeping his voice even.

The sailor shrugged, shoving his hands in his pocket.

“A mermaid I work with found them at the bottom of the ocean, along with a body.”

The world shook then came to a stop.

~*~

In the courtyard below, Malleus wandered lost in thought. The wind tasseled his hair around his black horns and across his face. He lifted a hand to brush it away from his eyes, laden with dark sacks from several sleepless nights.

Things were starting to settle down again after the traumatic event.

The STYX officers were on standby while investigators searched the school for the cause of all the blot outbreaks. However, the guards of Briar Valley returned to their homeland with the Queen, who had duties to attend to. She promised to spend time with him and talk to him when he returned for the next school break.

Malleus understood and was grateful that she took the time to come in the first place. However, now he felt like he truly had no one to talk to. Especially since he and Lilia still weren’t talking.

The thought of his guardian made Malleus’ whole body tense, the leather of his gloves groaning as he tightened them into fists.

Lilia made attempts to talk, but Malleus rejected him every time. This was partly because of how furious he was at the other but, more than that, Malleus didn’t know how to talk to Lilia anymore.

The fae had always been his support. Someone Malleus could trust and count on when everything became too much. But now things were different.

Lilia’s lies shattered his perception of everything, and, in an instant, all Malleus thought he knew had come into question. What did he believe anymore? What could he believe if he couldn’t believe Lilia? Lilia, who was always there, taught him magic and self-defense. Who protected him from visible and invisible foes, who had been there for him since he hatched...

What other secrets did his guardian keep from him all these years? What other lies had he told? If Malleus couldn’t trust him, then there was no one he could trust.

Malleus hugged himself, and his head fell forward as he realized something he wished he didn’t: Lilia just wasn’t “Lilia” anymore.

He was not the person Malleus thought he knew better than anyone else. He was no longer the person Malleus could put his faith in when the world was against him.

Lilia wasn’t...Lilia.

‘All because of Silver...’ Malleus’ jaw clenched as his emotions swirled like poison once more: despair and anger in equal measure. The feeling was so overwhelming that he fell against one of the many apple trees that covered Night Raven College, using the trunk to steady himself.

Silver was the son of the man who killed his mother. While a part of Malleus knew it was unfair to blame the other, the prince could never forget that fact.

He could never forget that, if not for Silver’s father, Malleus have had a family with her.

He could have gotten to know her. To see how she felt about gargoyles and learn what she liked, what her favorite treats were. She could have taught him things in his dragon form that Lilia, despite his efforts, could not, and more.

But all those moments that Malleus could have had… were impossible now.

All because of the humans that invaded their land. Because of Silver’s humans.

The dragon's brow furrowed in anger.

It wasn’t just Malleus who suffered. His grandmother lost her daughter, and his people lost their homes and were forced to fight in a war for centuries. They all suffered as well.

Malleus couldn’t forget that. Nor could he forgive it.

‘Even so…’ He released a breath as he tilting his head toward the sky for answers to the troubles plaguing him only to be blinded by sunlight. However, he did catch the gaze of something.

A raven gargoyle.

“Behold its artistry; don't you feel as though it could take flight at any moment? It is no doubt the work of a famous artisan.”

“So there are raven gargoyles? I thought they were modeled after demons and such.”

Malleus’ expression pinched as his eyes shined at the memory.

He hated this. He hated this feeling. And he hated Silver.

Silver was the reason for all this. The loss and hollowing of Fae lands, the death of his mother, Lilia’s betrayal—it was all because of him!!

Malleus folded his arms and bowed slightly, his hair hiding his face.

“Tch! That human. That…” He was glad Silver was gone. Had he been there, there’s no telling how Malleus would have reacted. And having the boy there saved him the trouble of finding out.

He only wished he had taken all the memories they made together as well, so he had to think of the human ever again.

The time Malleus taught Silver magic, Silver’s first steps, their first meeting...

“…What is that? It looks like a hairless simian.” The memory of that day came unbidden into his mind, causing a sharp pain in his heart.

Lilia hadn’t seen him for some time, so Malleus decided to visit him.

Once he entered the forest, he was overwhelmed with the flutters of the woodland fairies’ gossip about the strangest news he ever heard: Lilia, the feared General of Briar Valley, had adopted a baby. A HUMAN baby. It was so ridiculous that Malleus hadn’t believed it until he saw it himself.

The sight was shocking in more ways than one.

Malleus had never seen a baby before, much less a human one, and to be frank, he wasn’t impressed. Lilia, on the other hand, was smitten. Smitten, a word the prince never thought he’d use to describe the other.

“He’s the baby in question, and his name is Silver. So, what do you think? Isn’t he just adorable?” Malleus had scrunched his face in disgust.

“Adorable? This thing…?” Seeing the general coo over the thing did nothing to appeal him to the child. If anything, it annoyed the dragon as bits of jealousy filled his eyes. But then Lilia did the unthinkable; he shoved the human into his arms!

What was the madman thinking? Even one wrong move and Malleus would shatter it like he had so many toys over the years.

But the baby didn’t break. Instead, it grew into a young man who became Malleus’ knight. Someone Malleus could depend on.

Or rather, someone Malleus THOUGHT he could depend on. Now…

Malleus tightened his grip on his arms.

When Silver was just a human Lilia found in the woods, there was no doubt he could put his faith in the boy. Now that Silver was the son of the foe who slew his mother, however…

The corners of his lips trembled as his eyes narrowed.

“Dammit..!” He hated this. He hated Lilia. He hated Silver. He hated both. If it wasn’t for them, he wouldn’t be in this pain.

How could Lilia do this to him? He claimed it was for Malleus' father, but did he have to betray his mother to honor the other? And why in the world did it have to be THAT human?

But even as he thought about it, Malleus knew the answer.

“I want to see if I really can love a human from the bottom of my heart.”

Malleus pressed his lips as Lilia’s words rang in his ears.

Lilia wanted to know if he could truly live in peace with humans and forgive them for their crimes. So, he chose the human he hated most to test himself.

Apparently, he passed, considering how much Lilia adored the boy now. Malleus, on the other hand…

Malleus pressed his lips tight.

The bat fae hadn’t said it back then, but Lilia wondered if Malleus could do the same. And, despite everything, he did.

Malleus did love that sleepy human baby dearly. So much so that the dragon prince was willing to attend a human school and meet other humans.

But now the question was different; now the question was, could Malleus forgive the sins of the past and love the son of his enemy? And the answer to THAT…

Words tumbled through clenched teeth, each low and shaking.

“I’ll never forgive him,’ he said, not knowing if he was referring to Lilia or Silver. “Never!”

Behind him, the tree withered. Then, an apple fell before decaying as well.

~end~

A/n:

*I’m sad that this story has been mainly about the others as this was originally supposed to be Silver’s story. Oh, well. I’ll make up for that in future stories.

*Ahh, it’s hard to sort through Malleus’ emotions. I want his to get from “a” to “c,” but I know I have to deal with “b” first, which is a pain.

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mimiiis · 1 year

Text

El Sol (pt.3.1) (Namor x Latina!Reader)

(photos are not mine)

Summary: Namor fulfills his promise, you show him a piece of your heart.

Warnings: !!All Mayan used was taken from a translator, i apologize if anything if wrong!! Reader is heavily mentioned/implied to be Meixcan— tiny bit of angst (??), some curse words, hunger, small mentions of cuts n bruises n pain, that should be alll ? !! Not thoroughly proofread!!

Series Masterlist- Prev. Next.

Word Count: 10.3k

A/n: Heey… Month and a half since I last updated 😧 hope a few of yall r still here 🤠 🫶 It says 10k on that word count but i feel like nothing happened…let me know what yall think 😭

Where the land meets the sea, that is where you’ll find my heart

You stare dumbfoundedly at the words before you. A heart aching pang ripped through your chest as you set down the piece of parchment you held, processing the words you had just read.

You swore you’ve heard that before, felt those words. But you’re sure you have never read this book before. Maybe it was from a movie, a song, a poem? Or was it a dream?

Your wrist had that dull ache again, the one you get from writing for too long without stopping. You whirled it around, stretching the tense and tight muscles of your hand. Your brows knit together as you tried to recall why the quote before you made you feel so…empty? Something about it made your soul cry out, as if you were so close to figuring out where it belonged only to be misplaced after each guess. Like a puzzle. But you got one piece wrong, you needed to start all over.

But you couldn’t have known it right? This book and story were kept down here for centuries, hidden and preserved from the rest of the world. But there are endless possibilities of the same words being written over and over…

Thinking about it made that melancholy feeling inside your chest grow, you may have even started crying. You decided that was enough translating for the day.

You sat up, stretching your arms over your head as the rest of your body extended itself as well. Bones cracked and joints popped at the relief of not being so stiff.

You looked over to your bed as your head hung slightly upside down. The neatly folded blankets in one corner, the fluffed and clean pillows, they had no sign of life. You blinked at them, ignoring the temptation to crawl back into the hammock and go to your dreams.

That day with Namor, it felt like one. And it was all you thought about. All you saw when you closed your eyes.

That grand city, it’s sun, it’s people. And their King. It was the king who consumed your waking thoughts. Who made your cheeks flush and kick your legs in a girlish manner at each thought of him.

When you awoke the next day, he kept his word. The second you had finished dressing, he called for you. You almost ran to him actually, anxious to see if the man from your dreams was still real. And he was, the smile that he gave you was still there. That soft sincere look fell upon his face when he realized it was you who entered his space. It made your heart full and each nerve tingle in excitement.

He let you talk, let you ask questions about Talokan, his people and their culture. Though he did not go into much detail about exactly why they ended up there, he did tell you how. About the vibranium-infused herb. About its properties, why and how he became king. He told you of his abilities. How he was born with them and why he was so different from his people. The question which led him to showing you talokan was finally answered, the gift of fast healing given by the herb. You marveled at his stories, they truly were something out of a fairy tale. But it was real. He was proof, Nikté was proof.

Though the subject on why Namor’s people lived in the water was what you would call touchy. He always tensed and quickly found a way to change the subjects each time you asked why his ancestors needed the vibranium infused herb in the first place. You never wanted to pry him for answers, but something inside felt like you knew what it was. You felt silly to pray that you were somehow wrong.

So you did nothing but listen to him. Let his words fill your soul and mind with the memory of him and his voice.

He let you do the same. For each story and question, he was allowed to ask for one in return. And you let him. He showed you his home, his heart. Though it may have been nothing but a pure glimpse, something told you he was not the kind to do that to just anyone.

You told him of your mother, your childhood. Your sisters and brothers, grandmother. About their significance in your life, the lessons they taught you. He listened as well, an intrigued look always on his face as you told him a story of your childhood.

Though the way he frowned and his brows rose when you ever brought up a sad memory of someone breaking your heart, it made you want to comfort him instead. He always looked like he wanted to say something.

I would never hurt you, the look read.

I know, you wished to tell him each time.

You had grown weary of the cave. You still didn’t know how time worked in the dark, often wondering what day it was after naps and sleeps.

You craved for the sun, prayed for it. You missed the breath the wind would bring to your lungs. The sounds of waves crashing upon the shore- of children and people laughing. Music and seeing people dance without a care in the world. That was the only home you’d ever known. How you yearned for it.

You thought about Namor's promise a lot.

3 days on land each month. But when is the next month? Has that month already passed? He didn’t say it would start immediately, maybe only when he wished. You’d never asked about the conditions. You felt that if you asked again, that painful and hurt look would appear on his face once more. The way he said your name echoed throughout your mind. You hardly truly knew him but something about the way he said made it seem as if centuries of longing and heartache were behind it. You couldn’t tell the difference if your heart was breaking in agony for the fact you could not have him in that moment or for pure human empathy.

You sighed, lifting yourself back up and closing the book that had managed to keep you distracted for the past days. Shaking your head lightly as you attempt to clear your head from those thoughts.

In fact, you were almost done with Le Ujo’ . The Maya only got easier, though still tricky when heard and spoken for you, reading was not as hard anymore. You were able to communicate with your blue skinned friend a bit more easily now- having her write down things while you practiced speaking in response.

You can’t say you were getting anywhere though, the way the syllables parted but blended into one made your head spin as Nikté said them so quick and precisely. Sometimes you’d give up and begin speaking gibberish, she’d always almost start yelling the phrase she wanted you to learn repeatedly. You’d simply laugh at her rage, seeing her brows knit as she tried to make herself look more intimidating for you made you take her less seriously instead. Eventually, she’d laugh back. The cave would explode in fits of giggles and snorts as the lesson of the day was long forgotten.

You smiled at the memory, wondering where your friend was now. The roaring growl of your stomach made you realize you were now hungry, which meant that lunch was near and she’d soon call you out. There was a bowl of fruit near you that you could snack on of course but, the thought of seeing him again made you want to wait.

Heat crept to your cheeks as you thought of being alone with Namor again. It was a regular occurrence now, spending every meal together, but the idea of it still made your heart pound. You had just seen him yesterday. But the image of his strong arms, thick hands, and chiseled face crept up into your mind.

Namor, his name like a melody you never wanted to end. It was torture to have to wait to see him again.

You hummed as a smile crept onto your cheeks, biting your lip as a giddy feeling coursed through your veins. You would have giggled in glee imagining him if it were not for Nikté suddenly coming up to you and gently poking your shoulder.

Your heart leapt out your chest, turning around quickly as your eyes widened at the sudden company. A silent scream escaped you as you met her eyes. You took her in as best as you could, doing your best to calm your racing heart as she simply looked at you in confusion and worry.

“M-Ma’alobech?” She asks, hands reaching towards you. Are you okay?

“Nikté!” You gasp, the realization that it was her in front of you finally processing into your mind. You let out a breathy chuckle, grasping her hand with yours as you steadied yourself. She made no noise, didn’t do her usual whistle and call of your name whenever she entered. Or maybe she did. Maybe you were just distracted with thoughts of Namor.

“Ma’alobech?” She repeated, her free hand coming up to grip your cheek as she lifted your head. The cold skin made you shiver, the feeling going down your back. It seemed as if you had swallowed the sun with her touching you. No matter how many times she did your hair, held your hand, or came near you, you could never get used to her freezing body temperature.

“Je’el.” You finally reply, nodding as you do so.Yes

She glared at you for a second, as if she truly didn’t believe your answer. You blinked, trying your best to say I’m fine without speaking. It seemed to work for she backed away a few moments after, letting you go before giving you a small soft grin.

“Le ajawo' taak u wilech.” She says. The king wants to see you.

One of the phrases you knew word for word.

~~~~~

Nikté didn’t do your hair that day. Didn't hand you any of those fine embroidered dresses or the golden cuffs either. Simply placed large jade earrings, the same as Namors, inside your palms before leading you to meet him.

As you walked you noticed that the cave was unnervingly quiet. The faint dripping of water was the only sound besides your own breath. No sounds of scattered and hushed whispers as you strolled along the rock carved halls.

There were no signs of guards either. The other women you’d occasionally see holding fruit or fabrics around the cave were gone as well.

You thought you may have gone mad, that you were purposely blocking out noises again. Maybe it was just the time in between guard shifts, maybe more were coming soon. You thought it was all fine, that you were becoming worried for no reason. Until you passed that room, the one previously full of those beautiful dresses. Only to peer inside and see nothing.

Empty. Completely barren. Besides that vanity style mirror on the wall, not a trace of life ever being there was left. Not a speck of gold, silver, or jade flashed upon the floor.

How strange.

The realization of how abandoned the cave had truly become finally began to sink in. Your skin crawled and goosebumps spread as you wondered why everyone had left.

The previous day the halls were bustling with laughter and gossip. The sweet scent of freshly cut fruit and coconut water was now gone, replaced with wet rock and bitter sea salt.

You turned to Nikté, wanting to ask her where is everyone? What happened?

But you saw that she too was on edge. Her shoulders were tense, along with her back straightened. She had always kept her hair free and flowing, but today it was done and kept in a neat long braid, you had just noticed. Even her aura changed. That once laid back and welcoming warmth around her was set to match the cold of her skin.

Your stomach churned at the thought of something horrible having happened.

You didn’t even have enough time to think of possibilities as you crossed those small stepping rocks to Namor huts. Looking up to only see two of the most terrifying beings you’d ever laid eyes upon.

You had a suspicion that everyone from Talokan was utterly beautiful. That their race was the gods favorite and they personally carved each of its warriors by hand. Looking at them, well, they proved you right.

It was two of them. A man and a woman. Simply looking into their eyes made everything inside your body cry. Each nerve and bone yelled at you to go hide or run as far from them as possible. You froze in their powerful presence as the fear inside you grew and grew with each millisecond.

Tall, thick, and muscular, the man was covered in a necklace that looked to be shark teeth protruding from each angle. Armor coated his shoulders and neck but kept his bare chest open, the leathers beginning again at the waist where you noticed scars. Scars that looked like they had been etched into his skin in a manner the person who did it knew it would leave scars. But that wasn’t what surprised you no, it was the large hammerhead shark skull that rested upon his head like a crown. Just how that may have gotten into his hand, you could not decide if you did or didn’t want to know.

But the woman. You believed Nikté to be the most beautiful creature you’d set your eyes upon but she… she was absolutely devastating. Her lashes were thick, cast upon her almond shaped eyes as she stared back at you. A halo of lionfish scales sat utop her own head, the light of the cave gleaming softly through the sheer material. There were some on her neck and shoulders as well, poking out in every direction like feathers. Her strong arms were out on display, nothing covering the tops of them as you admired the muscles. You couldn’t tell if the blue skin made them more prominent or if it made those strong arms look softer. She didn’t stay still long enough for you to find out.

They moved swiftly and suddenly. You almost jumped as their resting and tense arms moved. You couldn’t say what you expected for them to do next but this certainly was not it.

The salute. They were doing the Talokan salute— to you. As well as bowing, bending their waists ever so slightly. They closed their eyes and bowed their heads to you as well.

Confusion ran through you as you stared at them. You moved to look at Nikté, to ask her why they were doing this. But you found no help, for she was doing the same.

A sense of panic surged through you as you looked at the scene before you. Not much had happened today but it was turning out to be the strangest by far. You almost wanted to run, to get away from this sudden change of everything. The silence,no other people, these warriors. Nothing like you’d seen before during your time here. Everytime was so consistent, you weren’t wrong for being caught off guard now.

You wanted to say something, to ask what was happening. But nothing came out of your mouth. Not a squeak or breathe as your mouth opened. So you did the next best thing. You recalled how the salute was done by the Talokanil to Namor, how they placed their right wrist over their left. And in return he did it as well, only the left over the right. You had no idea if that was the correct way to respond, if that way was only for the King or not but— it was all you could think to do.

You bowed your head in return, wrists going over each other as you looked at the two intimidating soldiers in front of you. You prayed you didn’t do anything wrong, hoped you did something right.

And it seems as if you did, for they nodded their heads soon after. They moved quickly once more, straightening and placing their hands at their sides before moving around you and leaving into the halls behind you.

You sighed a breath of relief as they left, going to look back at Nikté in hopes for answers but you could not find her. You almost began to panic once more, swiftly turning your head around in hopes she’d still be near. And she was, right behind you on her way out behind the two frightening soldiers.

You called her name, hands softly grasping her shoulder and turning her to you.

“Ba'ax úuch?” What happened? You ask her.

Her eyes meet yours, that tense look still cast upon them. Though the softness she held whenever she looked at you was there, hidden beneath a thin mask of fear.

She grabs your arms, her fingers holding onto your flesh tightly as she stares into your soul. A fire blazed inside her large black eyes, the flame bright and clear as she spoke.

“Mante u salvo in reina.” Her words were no louder than the cool breeze around you. The words were sincere though spoken rather swiftly, a familiar air around them as they settled into your mind.

Reina. Reina.

“What?” You ask. Queen, she called you her queen. You were taken aback, she’d never called you that before. It was never so empty in this cave either. You’d never gone a day without her doing your hair in elaborate ways. Never seen those warriors here before. And no one had ever done that salute to you. It was all so strange, so out of the ordinary you had gotten used to.

A thousand and more questions ran through your mind. The feeling to ask and beg for answers filled your body, the amount of strangeness that suddenly appeared out of nowhere overwhelming you. You almost shook in the want to yell each question out, to demand answers at the sudden stir in this small cave.

But instead, you just stood there. Stunned at the words she spoke to you.

Stay safe my queen. Your brows furrowed together and you continued to gaze into your friends eyes. What does that even mean? Safe from what?

Nikté could see the confusion in your eyes. Her intense gaze softened, the corners of her arched brows coming down as she suddenly pulled her hands away from you.

She bowed, turning onto her heels and finally disappearing into the dark of the cave.

You stood still, the previous interactions you had just experienced running through your mind.

“I see that you have met Namora and Attuma.” A voice spoke behind you.

It seems as if today everyone decided to band against you. As if all those around you felt the need to frighten you by making no noise and suddenly coming up behind you. You swore your heart stopped as you heard him, swiftly spinning around to come face to face with the man that you had almost forgotten you were meant to meet. His soft eyes greeting yours.

“I-uh.” You stutter, “I suppose I have.” Uncertainty rang through your voice as you looked him up and down, taking him in.

His top was bare, toned chest and abs out for you to see. Tan skin that was complemented by the thick gold and blue necklace he wore. His cuffs shone in the cave light as he extended a hand for you to take. You had still been on the small stepping stones when he approached you. You grasped the hand that reached for you, intertwining your fingers together as he pulled you up onto the small rock of an island surrounded by the water.

It was not unusual to see him like this. In fact half of the time you saw him he was half naked. But still, you never stopped marveling at his sculpted body. The way his muscles tensed and how fluidly his body moved always astounded you. When he helped you up, he let out no grunt or whimper like other men would have. He made you seem weightless as you stepped near him, staring at the strong muscled hand that held your own.

He did that alot, touched you. It was never anything too drastic, no he’d never go that far. But small pats and holds were how he seemed to communicate when words couldn’t. And you’d embrace it. Each touch calming a blazing cold inside of you and warming your heart whenever his hand met your own skin.

“How did you sleep?” Namor suddenly asks, his gruff voice bringing you out of your thoughts.

You flush, cheeks growing hot as you look up and into his eyes. “Since when do you care about how I sleep?” You attempt to tease, desperately not wanting to make your embarrassment obvious.

“Am I not allowed to care?” He smirks, the whites of his teeth showing with a smile. A low chuckle leaves his chest as he does so. You can tell he knows your true feelings.

You try to feign annoyance, rolling your eyes at him and letting go of the hand that held yours. But the muscles of your cheeks get the best of you as a smile slips and paints your face.

“You’ve never asked before.” You respond. The smile on your face only grew and soon one appeared on his as well.

Giggles and chuckles escape from both of you. The small and fake argument clearly not going anywhere as you laugh. The previous embarrassment you had vanished, the warm familiarity of him sunk in at last.

“Well I am asking now.”

“I slept well“ You reply, a soft and sincere smile on your face.

“So uh-Why am I here exactly? All Nikté said was that you wanted to see me.” You finally ask after a few beats of silence. You had still wanted to ask many questions, and needed many answers. But you don’t think that now was the time to bombard him with them all. You ball your hands into fists, needing some way to hold in your anticipation. The tapping of your foot was heard throughout the cave, echoing softly off the rocky walls.

The small leftover smile on his face suddenly grew. The familiar fire of his eyes began to blaze as he stared back into your own eyes. The intense look made you shiver, intent burned brightly on the man before you.

“You and I are going to be taking a small trip.” He tells you in a chipper tone, stepping closer to where you stood.

“A trip?” You ask, tilting your head slightly.

His smile only grows even more. He begins to come closer. Close enough that his chest is almost touching yours. The action makes you realize how cold you are, his warmth radiating off of him and onto your own skin. The cave was always cold, that was something that you had grown quite tired of as well. The use of thick blankets and long sleeved dresses while knowing it was summer in the world above didn’t sit quite right with you.

You may have also been accustomed to the fact he liked to hold you, but feeling it could never get old. His skin burned your own and you swore the heat could have left a scar. Why would you need the heat of the sun when you had him?Goosebumps cover you as he grabs your hands, softly caressing the tops of your palms with his thumbs.

The endearing look he had whenever he saw you finally returned. His intense brown eyes went soft once more, soothing the small bit of anxiety that you felt build in the pit of your belly.

He comes even closer, lips at your ear and chills run down your back as he breathes out two simple words,

“Three days.”

~~~~

The cabin was by no means large. Big enough for a small kitchen, bathroom, living area, and a small bedroom. It was what you would call cozy. Empty besides a few pieces of furniture that seemed to be made of pure and rich wood. The dark colors of the dimly lit room bled into each other as the sunlight poured through the thin curtains.

You felt disoriented. The plush pillows and blanket were a different material than to what you had gotten used to. Your arms and fingers stretched themselves out as you came to your senses and began feeling the fabric beneath you.

It felt like fleece as you gripped soft tufts of it. You were drooling, arms and neck sore as they once were earlier. Even when waking up with such comfort, your body managed to go against you.

You curled your head back, lifting it up with a light jump as you realized there was a small patch of light before you. Only it wasn’t blue. But a bright white with a yellowish hue.

You almost threw yourself off the bed you laid upon, rushing to the window. Legs giving out and falling onto your knees in such a haste, you crawled. Pulling back the feather light fabric of the curtain you opened your eyes fully to take in the world before you.

Tall grass and thick palm trees created a dense forest of green. Red and pink wildflowers scattered against the dirt floor as the baby blue sky brought a painfully bright light into your eyes. You squinted, grasping the wooden edge of the window sill and pulling yourself back up.

Real.

You tried to breathe. Gasping in and out as you took in your surroundings.

This was real.

Wood. It was wood that greated your bare feet and not the sharp rocky floors of the underwater cave. And it was a bed next to you. Made of foam and covered in thick blankets, ones you’re sure to have seen in your mothers closet. And your clothes. You were wearing the dress from your first night in México. The one he had found you in.

You pulled the thin white fabric on you, feeling it hug your skin as you tried to remember what had exactly happened.

When Namor had spoken those words, you knew what he meant. You remember lighting up in excitement and practically throwing yourself at him in thanks. The words also helped explain everything, why everyone had left, where everything was. Who those two warriors were.

He told you they were Namora and Attuma, his second and third in command. How they were to be in charge of his country while he stayed on the surface with you.

You remember that part vividly. The way his soft eyes looked at you when he saw how happy you were being told you were going to see the sun again. But you didn’t miss the slight pained and annoyed flash of his eyes when you told him how thankful you were to see your home again.

And Nikté’s words. You knew what they meant now. Or at least you think you did.

When you asked him how you would get to the surface, he hesitated to answer. He almost cringed when you did in fact. But you managed to get it out of him. He told you that you couldn’t be awake for it, that you needed to sleep. Namora told him they could not risk a human telling someone else about the location and route of how to get to that small cave. It looked as if it pained him to tell you that. Said he knew you would never.

But she was right, you were just a human. And she was the serpent gods’ second in command, so who were you to second guess her words. You didn’t feel insulted, but maybe you should have. Namor made you feel so special, treated you like an equal to him that you had actually almost forgotten you were simply human. A surface dweller.

You stretched your arms over your head, leaning back as tensed muscles popped and cracked with every motion you made. You continued to stare at the world outside, the disbelief and shock still rattled and echoed inside of you but a sense of calm settled as well.

You finally managed to breathe. Fresh air filled your lungs and you closed your eyes as the gentle heat of the sun soaked into your skin.

A wave of sleepiness began to wash over you again, yawning as you went to sit down. Until your stomach growled. Loud and aching you froze in your spot. Your cheeks flushed as you stared dumbfoundedly into the floor, standing still hoping that wherever Namor was, he hadn’t heard.

Right. You hadn’t eaten at all today.

You slowly turned, the floorboards squeaking and beneath you as you made your way to the door in front of you. Loud and creaking, you slowly tried to open it. Cringing as the noises rang throughout the cabin, you stepped out to see the rest of the space.

Air flowed through the cabin and blew the curtains in the wind. They danced as their glimmering and sheer fabric swayed to reveal a deep blue color in the distant skyline. Yellow and greens mixed into one as you suddenly began to hear the faint but still loud push and pull of waves.You moved to the window nearest to the door, rushing to the view.

The Ocean.

You could almost smell the bitter saltiness. Feel the way the sand felt in inbetween your fingers and toes. Your skin crawled as the never ending siren song of the sea rose into your ears, calling you closer to the water. And you suddenly forgot about your hunger.

Get to the water. Get to the water. Ran throughout your mind as you stared at the large blue streak upon the horizon.

You grab the flimsy door knob beside you, battling to open it in one swift motion as a strange sense of panic takes a hold of you. Your body was moving on its own, as if it were looking for something. For someone.

You almost ran out the door, getting ready to sprint and answer that far off call, wanting to rid that strange sense of longing that you hadn’t felt in weeks. Until you felt someone grab you. Strong hands pulled you back into the cabin by the waist, wrapping around you and warmth seeped into your back. Whatever trance you had been in, this feeling had taken you out of it.

Consciousness hit you like a truck again and the calling of the waves stopped. The loud song of the sea ended abruptly, as if it had never even been there. You became aware of where exactly you were and what you had almost done. As well as who was holding you.

“A el igual que le áanalte'o'.” A deep voice whispered behind you. The breath so close to your ear sent chills cascading down your back. You wriggled at the feeling.

“Are you okay?” The rumble of his chest shaking your body as his large hands pulled you in closer. You could blame it on the summer heat, or the fact that he was so warm, but your body became hot again. Too hot. Every inch of your body and nerve ending sparked in flame that he had surely lit himself.

“I-“ You begin, slowly looking down to see his tan hands around you. They were veiny, his fingers thick and strong, covered in small but once deep scars that even his healing powers could not mend back together. Looking at them, you swore you began to sweat.

“I’m alright.” You finally finished replying, slowly pushing him off of you. The warmth of his chest and the feel of his sculpted body parted from yours as you turned to look back at him.

Worry painted his face as he looked at you. He wanted to say something. You could tell by the twitching of his upper lip and the light biting of his bottom one. But he said nothing, only sighing before asking you if you were alright once again.

“What happened?”

The question sent ripples of uncertainty through you. Shit.

How were you to explain that that was normal? That the need to run to the water and dive into the waves was something he had to deal with for the next three days. You couldn’t even tell him where it came from. Why it happened. Of all the things you had told him in your time together, how could you not mention this?

You stared at him, knitting your brows as you tried to make some bullshit excuse to tell him.

“I just.. uh-“ You begin to stutter. Words fumbling and falling from your mouth before you even had time to process what you even wanted to say. But thankfully (or un-thankfully?), your stomach growled once more. It cut you off, the loud rumble shutting you up as your hands quickly placed themselves atop it. As if by doing so would muffle the loud noise of it. It may have saved you from explaining your previous actions, but it sure as hell was embarrassing.

Your cheeks flushed, going warm once more and you swore you’d eventually end up passing out from a heat stroke today.

“Hungry.” You half shouted at the man before you.

“Oh!” He simply said in response.

You screamed on the inside. Yelling at yourself to ‘stop being so weird!’ as you ground your teeth together and balled your hands into fists.

The whistle of the wind and gentle rustle of leaves took up the space between you two. Made up for the loud silence as you finally took your time to truly look at where you were.

The cabin rested utop a small hill, surrounded by an overhead of trees and native plants. There was a clearing in the distance. Large and wide enough for you to see the distant Ocean and the foam that rested upon its waves. There was a dirt path leading to it, overgrown with weeds and covered in rocks. You could almost see where the dirt and soil meet the sand, the transition of brown to a soft yellow beyond the curve of the elevation. It looked lonely here, or in other words, isolated. Far from any sign of society, or at least you assumed.

“Have you not eaten?” Namor questions you after a few moments of silence. His hand reached for you as he stepped a bit closer, hesitantly going to touch your shoulder.

You turn your head back to him, hands still on your stomach as you answer, “I wanted to see you first.”

His eyes widened a bit and you swore a sudden hint of red flashed upon his high cheeks. His lips parted slightly at your words, a soft gasp escaping him before he closed them not a second after and his hand retreated back to his side.

A beat of silence rang through the air. Neither of you said anything and you had almost started to regret your response. You could never tell with him. If what you had said was right or wrong. If you should apologize and tell him it was a joke. But the strange feeling inside you that called you to him knew you’d never said anything wrong. That you could never. Not with him.

"There is a small village nearby. There is no food here but I do not doubt there is some there." Namor begins to speak again. “Would you like to go?” His words are hesitant, almost laced in regret as he asked.

“I thought you didn’t like people seeing you..?” You ask while tilting your head, though your voice was anything but a murmur. Namor had expressed his dislike towards surface dwellers during the time you’ve met him. Always commenting and making snarky remarks about their ways. You would always remind him that you were one of them and he’d always say the same thing.

“It’s different with you.” He simply states. Using the same words he always did.

“Ah.” You hum in response. Nodding, you feel your cheeks heat once more and head begin to spin at the small comment. You truly believed he was going to be the death of you. “Alright.”

~~~

It wasn’t a tough hike. The thick bushes and branches brushed against your legs as you did your best to hold onto the bark of each tree you passed for support. The shorts you had chosen to wear rode up your thighs, leaving you uncomfortably trying to pull them back down with each step down the steep hill. You cursed at yourself for not choosing to stick with the dress.

‘I’ll chafe’ You remember thinking ‘I’ll sweat in pants.’ But right now that seemed like the better option.

After agreeing to go to the village, Namor informed you there were clothes in the cabin. Perfect fitting clothes of all kinds inside the tiny closet of the room you had previously woken up in. You wondered where he had gotten it, who had brought it.

“Change if you’d like.” He said. “It is a few miles away, unless you’d like to fly there.” There was a small smirk on his lips as he said it.

“In your dreams.” You scoffed, walking away as his loud laughs echoed off the greenery around the cabin.

Though you really should have paid more attention to what you had chosen— but your hunger had almost made half your brain stop working. Sweat dripped from your forehead and down the backs of your legs as you heaved, trying to catch your breath.

“God just how out of shape are you!” You internally screamed to yourself. You leaned up against a nearby tree, wiping the sweat off your brow. At this point, you could give less of a damn of where you were going, only when you were going to get there. Not a care in the world lingered in your mind as you fanned yourself with your hands.

You knew Mexico was hot. You remembered how badly you cried as a child when you stayed in your family’s rancho without air conditioning. But this. This was something you hadn’t prepared for. All those times as a little girl, you had done nothing besides lay on the cold floor for some kind of relief. Had gone anywhere to get away from the seeping hot walls of the cement house and the blazing rays of the sun.

It was just as bad even now, maybe even worse. The fact you hadn’t eaten, hadn’t drank water in nearly hours, and were now hiking through hot, sticky, and humid air, it almost made you want to beg Namor to fly you the last few feet to your destination.

Not even an hour above land — and you were already regretting it.

All those days in the cave, you missed the warmth of the land above. Wished to feel the kiss of the sun upon your skin and wondered why you ever hated it. But now, sitting there in the shade of a palm tree, you remembered exactly why.

“Are you alright?” Namor asks from beside you, appearing out of nowhere. This entire hike, he had stayed behind you. He simply followed, told you when to turn and to watch out where possible dangers were. His voice was laced with worry as he asks.

You eyed him, not moving your body or head as you continue to attempt to cool yourself down.“Guess.” You sigh, stretching your legs out. You throw your head back, groaning as the sole of your feet are no longer touching the rocky ground which caused sores and aches to appear, which made the hike worse. You had found a rock nearby, sighing in relief at the sight of it before going to sit down.

He lets out a breath of a laugh as he looks at you, shaking his head as he does so. “I am not around humans often, but I have never seen one look so out of place on land as you do.” He chuckles, his top lip curled far enough to touch the end tip of his septum piercing. The jade jewelry of his nose and ears shone in the small gleams of sunlight that made their way through the leaves, it was your first time seeing their true colors. They were a beautiful dark green with swirls of lighter hues, a bit transparent even with how thick they seemed to be. Actually, this is your first time seeing him in a natural light.

It wasn’t exactly him that you saw though. No. The Namor you knew was the King of Talokan. The feathered serpent God that wore regal clothes and jewelry. Constantly adorned by gold and clothes which made his intimidating aura more powerful. A man who had soldiers and warriors at his beck and call, someone more powerful than anything or anyone you previously knew.

But right now, looking at him in a loose button up and too tight pants, you almost wanted to giggle. The building irritation in which the heat caused started to slowly melt away at the sight of him trying to pull the itchy fabric from his thighs. The cowboy hat he wore on his head to cover his pointed ears flopped to one side, covering his eyes as he furrowed his brows, getting a bit mad at the fact it won’t stay in place.

Pure awe fills you as you look at him. Even as he was so obviously uncomfortable and awkward, he did it for you. He didn’t have to, you told him. But he had insisted on it. It may have been an act. A way for him to make sure you wouldn’t expose all those secrets he had shown you, but some part of you made you believe he just wanted to be near you. And you did too.

You continued to stare at him. Noticing that the few spots of skin that allowed the sun to kiss him through the leaves, you swore he glowed. His skin radiating light that clashed with that of the natural one of the sky.

You admired his slightly hooked nose, his side profile, something you adored about him. His high cheeks and the way his plump parted lips made butterflies well up inside of you, a small smile waking its way onto your own face.

“I’m not really built for land.” You say, finally having caught your breath. “You should see me swim though. My mother always called me half fish.” You chuckle at the memories.

“Really?” He sounded interested, curiosity ringing through the word he spoke.

“Mmhm.” You hum, “I don’t know why I love it so much though. Ever since I can remember, every time I was near water I’d have to jump into it. My skin would itch if I didn’t.” You explain, looking back up and to him.

He was looking at you too. Soft eyes meet yours and you feel your heart pound in your ears. He looked at you as if you were all that mattered, that existed. He was attentive, hearing every word and whisper you dared to breathe. It made you flush and look back at your feet. You studied the dirty shoes you wore, the way the creases stayed a clean white as the rest was caked in mud. You tried to do anything to get your mind off his gaze and back to what you wanted to tell him.

“I have this thing which she and my best friend would always teased me for.” You speak again after a few beats.

“What is it?”

You could trust him, right?

“It's common knowledge with everyone that I know, my love for the ocean and water. But onlymy mother knows I truly can’t help it.” You paused, finding the courage to look back at him. His face stayed the same. Those damned butterflies begun to whirl inside your stomach — and you fought so hard to resist the urge to look away again.

But you somehow didn’t. Didn't bat an eye or shy away as you finally told him.

“Earlier when I tried to run, I was running to the ocean. It’s strange- I know- but ever since I was a girl the waves were always so.. loud. They never left me alone, practically haunted me. Everyone only hears the sounds of water clashing against more water but not me, I’ve never been able to hear just that. I hear a song. There was always a voice, calling and beckoning me into the water.

“Come find me, Come find me’ It would constantly say to me. And each time I hear it I try. My body takes over and any rational thinking I had gets thrown out the window as I throw myself into the ocean. I don’t even know what I’m looking for, but I have a feeling that when I find it I’ll be whole. Complete. That the piece of me I feel to be missing will finally click into place, and I’ll get to be my true self. The person I am meant to be.” Overwhelming emotions swelled up inside your chest. As you spoke, your voice started to waver. Cracking slightly as you remembered the feeling of longing for something more. For something you need but could not find. You hardly talked about it, but doing so now, it hurt.

“The only time that I feel true to myself is when I am there, swimming in the waves as they embrace me. Each time I step and cross that place in which the land and sea meet, they greet me. ‘Welcome Home’ they say, until they finally quiet. And it really does feel like it—Home. I- I don’t even know what home feels like at this point but... Not a day has gone by when I didn’t hear that singing—begging me to go. No matter how tired I was or how hard I tried to resist, I would follow. Just to make it stop, to allow myself some peace. It’s exhausting” You let out a breathy chuckle at your last words. You could feel a lump in your throat build, along with the stinging of tears in the corners of your eyes.

Embarrassment filled you as you tried to calm your fast breathing, finally looking away from Namor and to the nearest lush green bush. Studying its complicated branches, trying to distract yourself from allowing those emotions from bubbling over and falling apart in front of him.

Though you suppose there was no harm in doing so, you had just told him your greatest pain in life. You didn’t know why or what it was about him that made you feel this way. That you could trust him with every secret you held close, share every heartache and scar left upon you, and believe he could help heal them.

“It’s uh… Silly I know,” You begin to speak again, trying to change the topic. The growing uncomfortable silence around you made your head spin and chest feel as if it was caving in as he said nothing. The air was thick again and the heat you had long forgotten had started to produce a thin layer of sweat upon your skin once more.

“It’s not.” Namor finally speaks. The words shook you, and you quickly jolted your head back to him.

His words were sincere. Sweet and tender. Not a hint of pity or annoyance coated his words as he said them.

The feelings you tried to fight off suddenly came back ten times stronger and you swore you could have dropped to your knees right there. Your eyes went wide as tears welled back into your eyes, slowly daring to fall from the edges of your lashes until the sound of distant laughing was heard.

You both quickly turned your heads to the direction of which they came. Down the steep dirt hill you currently rested utop. You hadn’t noticed before, the thick green around you made everything so dark and had the expanse of colors around you all blend into each, but you now saw the sand.

Golden sand that mixed with the brown dirt had fallen tree branches scattering across the edge of the steep slope and tiny green leaves that brought out its bright color. It was touched by the sun, the light reflecting off the tiny particles as it almost blinded you when you turned to look at it.

Sand. Which meant that you were near a beach, no, next to one. And that meant the ocean was there as well. But you hadn’t heard it. The song that always played in your mind wasn’t there, not even the distant sound of its beckoning call came to your ears. For however long you had been here, walking near it, you had not felt that shiver run down your spine. The sound of waves crashing upon the shore was all you heard in the moment you realized.

Fear, excitement, and anxiety coursed through your veins as you stood up. That was impossible, you could always feel the water from miles away so why..? You walked up to the small ledge, peering over as the sounds of laughter rang through your ears once more. Maybe you had accidentally mistaken the song of the sea for that, maybe it changed. But no, it had truly gone quiet.

You heard shouting in the voices of children blend into the crashing of the waves. Light and carefree voices that scolded and yelled something in spanish.

There were three of them. One laughing and two shouting. You could not see them, the overhang of the trees blocked you from seeing anything past the green of its leaves but you saw their shadows. They stretched long and wide across the expanse of the sand. You studied their movements as you saw one run away from the duo that stayed back.

“Sofia por favor!” A girl yelled, she sounded stressed.

“No!” The girl yelled back, in the shadows you saw her do a dance.

You giggled at it, a smile lifting your lips as you turned to look at Namor.

That tense and guarded look came back to him. His shoulders were squared and that kind gentle man from before had vanished.

Right, humans.

He had gone to the ledge with you, his firm grip held your forearm as you looked over, holding you so you didn’t fall. He hadn’t dared to lean as far as you had, his feet were flat on the steady ground as your own pointed downward to that land below.

You turned to face him, eyeing him as his jaw clenched and unclenched. Uncertainty painted his face as he furrowed his brows, no doubt wondering what to do now.

“Hey,” You start, reaching your own free hand out towards him, “It’s okay.” You had no idea if he would believe the words you said. But it felt right to say them.

His eyes drifted back to your face. Worry swelled in the dark of his irises as he kept darting them away. Back to you, back to those shadows.

Unconvinced.

You sighed and looked away from him again, back to where you had been looking before to see the children running now. Loud laughter echoed through the trees as you continued to smile at their acts.

“They’re just children.” You speak once more. “If anything, it’s a sign that the village you spoke of is near. Let’s just find it, grab some food, and get out of here. Yeah?” You looked back at him, trying your best to reassure him that whatever he was afraid of would not happen. You gave him a small smile as he turned his gaze back to you.

He still looked uneasy, but the grip of his hand loosened on your arm, pulling away as he nodded and looked off into the direction he knew where to go.

You went to move as well. Legs bending to pull yourself up the small ledge you managed to climb down to see the children better but that was a mistake. You didn't think to grab the small tree branch near you for leverage, thinking you could lift yourself up without its help. But you instantly began to wish you did as you felt the pit in your belly drop.

You practically went flying. Eyes widening as you saw Namor reaching for you, horror in his own as his hands went to catch you. But you were already falling, your back hitting the dirt hill as your knees buckled against the floor. You closed your eyes as tight as you could, biting your own tongue to let the scream you held in down. You wrapped your arms around yourself and tried to curl your knees to your chest, an attempt to protect your stomach and chest. You tumbled hard and fast down the steep hill but lucky for you, it was not too tall.

You landed on the sand within seconds, arms and legs flailing everywhere as your back finally hit the plush particles of the tiny rocks. You groaned as you arched your body, gasping for air as the fall left you winded.

You heard gasps, the call of that girls name again, and the growl of your stomach once more. Great. You felt the tiny cuts and bruises on your legs building already, pain seizing your body as the hunger you felt got worse.

The sun at last hit your skin entirely. The warmth of it embracing you as you lay on the burning hot floor, but you didn’t seem to care. Its kiss was different from the heat that seeped out from the shadows and air of the wood you had previously been walking in. This was kind, welcoming and gentle. Unlike the horrible wet and dry air that engulfed your entire body and made each crevice sweat.

Sweat pooled at your forehead as you tried to turn away from the blinding light in your eyes. You cursed, attempting to lift your head but the unfortunate effects of not eating had started to come into place. Your head began to ache instantly at the strained elevation you attempted, immediately throwing it back into the sand. You felt its grains scratch and poke into your head.

You thought the crunching you suddenly heard was of your head moving in pain. The grinding of your teeth almost clogged up your ears, blocking out sounds around you except for your silent groans of pain.

“Sofia!” The voices came back. This time they were angry, worried, utterly terrified. They repeated themselves, calling that name over and over. Growing more frantic by the second

Your eyes were still closed, unaware of your new surroundings and you wondered where you were, how close you were to the children, all as the sound of crunching sand grew louder, closer.

You risked opening them. But the light that hit your vision made you want to close them once more. Everything was white in its presence. It made your head ache even more, practically pounding at this point. But you couldn’t close them again. Can’t. You needed to see.

You lifted a hand, holding it up your brows as you tried to regain vision once more. Only this time you were not greeted by the blinding sun, but shade.

Shade that covered your entire top half. A shadow. You immediately looked up.

Wide eyes meant your own as you peered up into them.

It was a girl. Her long hair fell from her head into a curtain around her face, over your own as well. Her small pink lips parted as she stared at you. She wasn’t scared of you. You could tell by her face, amusement and curiosity painted her eyes as a timid smile began to form. Her body language could tell you that much as well. Her top half had tilted forward to see you, her waist slightly bent and you saw her brightly colored clothes. Bruised knees and scratches littered her tall skinny legs, colorful Hello Kitty bandaids hiding the cuts she had most likely gotten.

You couldn’t tell the color of her eyes, the slight blur from your lashes and the shadows kept you from truly seeing them, but something about them was so familiar. So warm and comforting, safe. As if you had peered into them before, and inside them was the place you called home.

You continued to stare at her, brows raising as you tried to slowly regain the strength that had been lost from your body. When you did, you planted your hands on your sides, before bracing yourself to lift your body up.

Her cheeks rose slightly, the curves of them going up and making her eyes smaller as she saw you slowly rise up. The girl suddenly runs to your side, reaching her hands out for you.

You stare at them. Small hands with different colored nail polish on each finger nail and more bandaids carefully wrapped around each. You look at her, and back to her hands, as if asking Are you sure?

Her smile brightens and she motions her hands towards herself, Yes. So you take them.

She’s small, but seemed to be tall for her age. Looked no older than 7. Her limbs were long, tanned and sun kissed and strong. You did your best to only take her hand to be kind, knowing that your own weight might be too much for her but to your surprise, she almost hauled you up on her own. It might have been because your own muscles were still not at their full force but she may have done all the work in helping you sit up right.

You sat there looking at her in shock, not able to find the words to thank the small thing. And you didn’t have to, for she spoke before you could.

“Te pareces a mi abuela.” She said. Her voice was so sweet. Full of childlike wonder. It reminded you of summers with your cousins, laughing for hours until your ribs and stomachs ached as the taste of candy and fruits lingered on your tongue. You recognized it from earlier, Sofia. Though she only said one word you could truly comprehend while inside the thick green, you could immediately tell it was her.

Your head shot up at that and you finally got a good look at her. Her clothes looked like ones you had owned as a child, the sandlas like those your favorite aunt always gifted you when you visited her home. Her eyes were hazel, hair a light brown that shimmered in the sun which almost made it look blonde as its loose curls flowed down her shoulders.

You blinked and swore you had seen this child before. Something inside you knew her, seen her before.

“Que?” You asked, your voice rough and dry. It almost pained you to talk, the force of your bite during the fall hurting your tongue. The dehydration had gotten to you in the few minutes you’d been here beneath the sun. This strange yet familiar child just told you that you remind her of her grandma. What were you supposed to say now?

“Que te pareces a mi abuela!” She says a bit louder, sounding out her words for you. Her lip curled up even higher, giggles escaping her as she shook with her laughter. “La quieres conocer?”

Your mouth opens in shock, brows rising and eyes widen at the words she had told you. You don’t know this girl, she doesn’t know you. She hasn’t introduced herself, you haven’t told her your name. Shit, you had just fallen out from the trees after watching her and her friends play in the sand.

You really should deny it— deny her request and go back to find Namor. Go back up that hill and look for that village with him like you had originally planned. But your stomach growled, no, roared , speaking and answering her question for you.

The sudden pain caused you to take both hands to your stomach, rubbing your belly in hopes to settle that pain and embarrassment as you felt your cheeks flush. Sofia laughs, giggles as she throws her head back while you sigh and frown.

You look down at your legs, covered in small pebbles and scratches from that fall, and then behind you. At those tall trees and bushes full of wildflowers. Maybe Namor was still there, maybe he was trying to get to you. But the children… Sofia approached you, began to talk and help you. It would be even stranger if a man came running after you, a stranger who fell from the shadows and into the sun.

If anything, Namor could follow, watch you go to the village and meet you there. Find you and take you back after you found food. He wouldn’t be far, he’d be close, but that was only if he had not gone by now. You aren’t exactly sure how well he knew you, or how well you knew him, but you hoped he knew you’d never leave him alone, not by choice. And you prayed he wouldn’t leave you.

You tried to tell him something, calling out to him with your heart and soul as if he could hear you. Like there was an invisible string between the two of you as you said, Follow me, Stay close.

You looked into those trees waiting for a response, in the direction you felt he was— where he should be. The anxiety you felt grew and grew, building up and up with each second that passed. You began to feel silly. Stupid for believing he might actually hear you through some figment of your imagination. You sighed, getting ready to turn down the young childs offer and go back to him.

Until you saw the rustle of leaves, and felt a gentle caress inside your heart.

It’s okay, I’m here. You swore you felt the words come to you. You heard them in his voice, loudly and clearly as if he were there with you. Your heart swelled at the response. Joy running through you at the fact that the answer felt so real.

You looked back at Sofia and finally sighed, letting out the breathe you held, brushing off the dirt from your legs and finally getting up. Though your knees still wobbly and slightly aching, you managed to stand on your own.

She held out her hand towards you. Small and slender, full of bandaids and small grains of sand. Her bright eyes and welcoming smile looked up at you with pure joy and happiness.

You didn’t hesitate grasp it. Then you began to walk with her. Away into the blinding sun.

Taglist: @cypherpt5fttaehyung @euphrosyn3 @mariaxxxxx @papsboo @omgsuperstarg @deliciousfestsalad @spacenerdpascal @lilchickensworld @ethereal-athalia @anolddayslover @nyksgoddesofnight @emililanaroj @lumenseal @starwars-edits @matcha-bird @sirenascales @strwzz @redmadsstuff @p1nkch3rries @duckwithsunglasses @queenofangrymoths @leoniexdxd @blushsage @im-sorey @damnzelsoul @lilikan @reneki @zeeader @lysssaaas-world @pinkpantheris @slutforcoffein @venus-the-sad @hypnobeautyinillustration @lizzystardust @littlecrisisworld @xxmilli (Names in white did not appear when tagging- please tell me if i got your user wrong/ sometimes the profiles are hidden and i can’t tag you properly) ask if you want to taken off or added !

Thank you for reading <\3!! Comments and reblogs are v much appreciated! If you have any insights please leave them kindly!!

A/n: I never like my endings i feel like theyre bad. But anyways yall could probably tell where i almost gave up here LMAO 💀

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angelparadox · 3 months

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" I am n---not s--sick. I am f--fine. "

he's completely unconvinced. honestly, if it wasn't for the fact that he'd caught her sneezing and rubbing her eyes, maybe they could have bought into it. but she looks awful and her eyes are puffy---there's no way she isn't sick and it makes him sigh. "come on; you're totally sick. you look awful and i don't generally tell people that unless it's true." he cracks a smile at that, hoping to make her laugh just a little bit. then, he offers his hand. "you need to lay down and take some medicine. have ya eaten today? been drinking enough water? do you have a fever?" he reaches forward to feel her head. and yeah, they know he's asking a lot of questions, okay? but he's concerned. they don't like it when other people are sick---he can't fix that, he can only heal physical wounds, not sickness.

@dcmur3

#dcmur3 #( * i recall staring at the sea for the first time // answered. )#this is so wholesome

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rinsvg · 9 months

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જ⁀➴ # first date hc’s of Aran ojiro

જ⁀➴ # warnings; extreme fluff, cheek kisses, aquarium dates, js all around cheesiness .·°՞(≧□≦)՞°·.

First date Aran Ojiro who, with Kita's assistance and Suna and the twins butting in, took three weeks to ask you out and initially didn't fully comprehend why he was so scared. Until he was going to walk up to you when you were talking with your friend and realized you were so beautiful, that’s why he was scared. He ended up power-walking away that day when you turned to look at him, his face warm with blush.

First date Aran Ojiro who eventually worked up the confidence to approach you and ask you out on a date after many tries and failures. When he heard you laugh and nod, swore he could see the sun dancing in your smile and knew right then and there he would ask you out on many more dates if this one went well.

First date Aran Ojiro who took great care to ensure that every last detail of the date was planned. He didn't want to take you to the movies because he wanted you two to spend that time getting to know each other rather than sitting in silence for a few hours, and he didn't want to take you on a hike since he wasn't sure if you had any prior hiking experience. Up until that point, when he recalled that you had previously mentioned how much you adored young seals and manatees, he now had the perfect idea to take you to the aquarium.

First date Aran Ojiro who, when it was time to come and pick you up, brought flowers for you and your mother and who spoke to your mother for at least 15 minutes to reassure her that you would be safe and would return before the streetlights turned on. Who races to open the door for you before you could even reach the front door while your mother laughed at the two of you from the doorway of the kitchen.

First date Aran Ojiro noticed how happy you looked when the two of you arrived at the aquarium and knew this was the perfect decision. who kept staring at you as you told him interesting details about numerous sea species as he paid for your tickets, beaming with excitement.

First date Aran Ojiro who smiled when you asked him and turned to look at you. “Did you know that sharks have microscopic teeth all over their bodies called dermal denticles? Their skin is as rough as sandpaper because of this”. You applied pressure with your palms to the glass enclosures. "No, I didn't, However, could you please elaborate more?”. Aran asked while shifting slightly to you as you begin to explain some more.

First date Aran Ojiro who, after leaving the aquarium, took you to get ice cream, and as the two of you sat on the curb a short distance from the ice cream cart, the two of you began playing 21 questions while laughing at each other's questions and responses. "Okay, what would you name your autobiography if you had one?". Aran asked while wiping his mouth with a napkin. “Um, I’ll name it Love, y/n". You answered while biting into your cone, "Why love, y/n?" Aran asked while raising an eyebrow. "Because it’ll be like a love letter from me to whoever’s watching". You smiled while answering, and Aran laughed while smiling along with you.

First date Aran Ojiro who, with you in tow, arrived at your house five minutes before the streetlights came on. Who walked you to your door and stood with you there for at least 30 seconds trying to see how to ask if you guys can go on a second date while also wondering if this one went okay. Who squeaked slightly in surprise as you lean forward and kiss his cheek while saying "Same time Next Friday, okay". Before walking into your house with a smile on your face while looking back slightly to wave a goodbye at him.

First date Aran Ojiro who, despite likely never admitting it, walked home with a smile on his face and a little hop in his step.

જ⁀➴ # tagging; Here go your daily dose of love @digitalreblogs @punkologist

#➶ ͙˚ ༘✶ ( 𝒥𝓊𝓅𝒾𝓉𝑒𝓇 𝓌𝑜𝓇𝓀𝓈 )#aran ojiro #Aran ojiro fluff #Aran ojiro headcanons #haikyuu x black reader #haikyu x reader #haikyuu fluff #haikyuu headcanons #anime x reader #anime fluff #anime headcanons

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speaker-of-the-void-cats · 1 year

Text

"When he reached a displacement of eight he told us he was dead."

"He sees the wolves have formed up around him. Eight of them."

"The greatest gaiaforms of our solar system are eight in number—or, if you prefer, [N]ine—but asteroids and minor planets have them too. And in their sidereal generosity, these gaiaforms will protect us, if we ask them."

Fist of Eight Moons

"Only in the Ascendant Plane—where a well-defended idea is a reality—do these moons, in this small way, still exist."

"Eight Barons and an Awoken prince - and only one of you. I so dislike betting on the underdog… But you are resourceful…"

"The man turned to his left and saw a familiar, weathered face staring up at the eight Barons of the Tangled Shore."

[...]

"’Sundance’ appears to be the victim of a single, catastrophic wound from a Devourer Bullet, modified to fire from a Scorn launcher. Projectile classified as ontological.”

“Define Devourer Bullet.”

“Payload matches the ballistics of a Weapon of Sorrow or a comparable Hive implement.”

"We are all pinched silhouettes impaled on the twitching of infinitely long spiderlegs."

"You must reckon with yourself. Can you see the path ahead?

Do you know the shape of your trial?"

Auseklis

Ogdoad

Guñelve

Arevakhach

Schläfli

Compass rose

Isotoxal | edge transitive

Eightfold Path

The Star of Lakshmi

The Star of Ishtar

The morning star

First light of the new dawn

Venus

[Consult Cryptarchy's pre-Golden Age stacks for more information]

"Is it a simple answer? Perhaps none who serve you have the capacity to grasp your vision. And so, rather than waste more of your time and attention on explaining something they will never hold, it is enough that they act as you will. The Witch and her Hive carving single-mindedness out of the cloth of the universe, that whispering Nightmare seeking the fullest gamut of existence, the Upender destroying all differentiation. Shadows on the wall.

In this case, it would be hubris to think I have understood your work, that I alone among your Disciples have grasped what purpose it is we serve. All of us must see darkly reflected.

But there is relief in simplification. There is kindness in winnowing. So then, why is this proliferation permitted?

The shadows, showing the truth by their casting. [...]

There: I have resolved the conflict within my thoughts, and I am at peace again. Once more, I am only your violence and nothing more.

The Final Shape will realize us as we strive."

—Unknown Disciple of the Witness, Inspiral

Who am I?

Call me Coyote. Call me mantis, serpent, Cagn, Anansi, call me Sri-cleans-his-brother's-stomach. Call me the grandmaster of semiosis, the jeweler's hammer which gilds the signal, a purposeful mob none of whose members know its purpose, the infinite regress of enigmas, a self-questioning answer, the word not spoken, black ice, cataract of mimes, the ache and fever of overthought while bedridden with illness, the intolerable thorn of frustrated inquisition, gray regret at the end of a fruitless day, the thing which is unlike your beloved but arbitrarily recalls your beloved to agonizing effect, architrave of the no-window, needle driven in flush with skin so that desperate fingers cannot pull it out, sweet petal, unmemorable, crystal death, the provably improvable.

Here at the center, I lie to you the truth. You have everything you need to know it, but I will give you a clue, as the duelist gives warning before she draws. The answer you seek to the Dreaming City is simple, not complex.

In primordial space, timeless creatures made waves. These waves created us and the others. Waves were the battles, and the battles were waves. Fleeing all W'rkncacnter, Yrro and Pthia settled upon Lh'owon. They brought the S'pht, servants who began to shape the deserts of Lh'owon into marsh and sea, rivers and forests. They made sisters for Lh'owon to protect and maintain the paradise. When the W'rkncacnter came, Pthia was killed, and Yrro in anger, flung the W'rkncacnter into the sun. The sun burned them, but they swam on its surface.

Marathon 2, Six Thousand Feet Under terminal: ax1-40^23<094.95.28.85>

Oryx went down into his throne world. He went out into the abyss, and with each step he read one of his tablets, so that they became like stones beneath his feet. He went out and he created an altar and he prepared an unborn ogre. He called on the Deep, saying: I can see you in the sky. You are the waves, which are battles, and the battles are the waves. Come into this vessel I have prepared for you. And it arrived, the Deep Itself.

Books of Sorrow

XXXI: battle made waves

Verse 4:1 — battle made waves

#trace the vermicular path #follow the daito rabbit #destiny the game #destiny #destiny 2 #destiny2 #destinythegame #destiny lore #the traveler #Ishtar Collective #destiny speculation #the veil #the witness #the numbers mason what do they mean #crashing my scion tc into the witness at 100mph #macrocosm #eight points

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zelphin124 · 5 months

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The Error in Aim - Chapter five

Heh, you stuck around long enough for more. I'm impressed by your determination... Let's see where this goes this time. (I'm so sorry it took me so long to get to this-) As always, check out the masterpost for all the info on this story. Happy birthday, Aim! (Dec 12th) Hope you have a wonderful day! @zu-is-here Let's continue once more.

~oOo~

"W-W-Wake up."

The subtle change in the darkness already jolted Aim awake. He lay faced towards the wall, taking a deep breath before sitting up to look at the destroyer.

Error glitched, staring down at him. His gaze was more solemn than the first time. He would blend in perfectly with the absence of light if it weren't for his bright red shirt and yellow highlights. The strings woven across his fingers glowed.

Crickets chirped outside at the same speed the stars twinkled at. There was no moon or sun in sight. The grass blew gently in the wind, making no sound. The trees that wove above the grass also swayed, making the area very peaceful-

Error moved out of the room. His pace was quick, and he didn't look back. Aim shot out of bed, stumbling after him. He barely put on his shoes before he bolted out the door. However, he slowed his pace as he remembered what his uncle said the day before.

His eyes lit up as his soul felt heavy. Sadness was always an emotion he discarded; he couldn't recall ever forcefully putting sadness within his soul. He hoped it was enough to wake up Uncle Mare as he followed the destroyer.

"H-Hurry, b-boy." Error snapped. "I-I-I don't go-o-ot all night."

Aim observed the emotions the destroyer was feeling. He was tired... very tired. His eyes sagged like he hadn't slept in days. His body was hunched over and alert as if he was just in a fight. He couldn't help but feel pity once more for the destroyer and was about to offer to help his emotions.

"Don't l-l-look at m-me like t-that!" Error hissed, stepping away from the child as he continued along the path. "I'm fine!"

"Are you?"

Error whipped around, his gaze locking on the figure who spoke. Aim sighed in relief, recognizing the voice immediately. His powers had worked, and Nightmare found them. He removed any remaining sadness from his heart, hating the feeling of sorrow.

"N-N-Nightmare," Error rolled his eyes. "I'm s-surprised it's y-you, and not the f-father of a-anomaly #241."

"His name is Aim," Nightmare took a step closer, adjusting his hat. "And I'm one of the people looking after him."

Aim was cut off by Error as he spoke again. "W-What d-d-do you w-want?"

"I was about to ask the same thing," Nightmare got even closer, ignoring Aim and staring Error dead in the eye. He looked up at the destroyer, regarding their height difference. The negative emotions were churning like a stormy sea within him. "This isn't what we agreed to."

"A-A-And?" Error glitched, his face as dead as he felt inside.

"Where are you taking him?"

"The A-Anti-Void."

"No, absolutely not," Nightmare's eyes narrowed. "That place is too dangerous."

Dangerous? Aim recalled the previous time he had gone to the Anti-Void. It wasn't dangerous at all... In fact, it was so empty and dull, Aim figured it was safer than the AU he lived in. Did Nightmare think such an empty space would drive him insane? Or was it dangerous because only Error could go in and out of that area? Maybe it was dangerous because Error lived there.

But if they were trusting Error to train Aim, why should there be any danger?

"I-I brought h-h-him back a-alive before, I'll d-do it a-a-again." Error shrugged, looking down at his fingers as they weaved themselves into the strings around them.

"That's not what I mean!" Nightmare hissed. "I don't want his SOUL corrupting in there!"

This brought more questions than answers to Aim. Souls corrupting in the Anti-Void? How did that happen? All of the souls strung in the ceiling seemed perfectly fine. Was Nightmare talking about the curse he and Dream suffered from? Aim didn't understand how that could happen. It was a curse, not a corruption, right? To be corrupted would be a fault, a mistake...

An error.

"Y-Y-You're the o-one to talk a-a-about corru-u-uption, o-o-octopus." Error smirked, glacning up from his strings to the negative.

"Don't call me that! I am not he!"

"But y-you are h-he. So is y-y-your brother." Error lifted his eyebrow, clearly irritated. "Y-You're making n-no sense. The Anti-Void c-cannot awaken t-the corruption i-in him. It's n-not like A-Aim w-will e-eat t-the a-a-apple in t-the Anti-Void."

...

What apple?

"That's irrelevant and my point still stands," Nightmare dismissed the topic. "I don't want him becoming like you!"

Despite the smile that appeared on the destroyer's face as he continued to speak, Aim felt the jab of pain that he felt. Aim could only describe it as if the destroyer split in two. Outwardly, he laughed and mocked the negative. Inwardly, Aim felt his soul... crying.

What happened to him?

"B-B-Besides," the smile on Error's face faded. "D-Do you r-really waaaaaant me t-to train h-him here? I w-would r-r-rip this pla-ace to shreds b-by the e-end of e-e-every session!"

"If you would rip the place to shreds, that isn't training, that's attacking my nephew!" Nightmare's eyes were blue at this point, revealing the anger fuming inside him.

"You r-really think t-that p-p-paint freak i-is gonna g-go easy on him?"

Nightmare went silent, his eyes returning to normal. He glanced at Aim, knowing that too much had been shared. He opened his mouth to say something, but closed it again.

Aim let himself feel the tinge of hurt in his soul, knowing Nightmare could feel it as well. So much for no secrets, huh?

"T-That's w-w-what I thought." Error scoffed, gesturing Aim to continue walking as he opened the portal to the Anti-Void. "Now l-leave, and l-l-let me do w-what I agreed upon."

~o0o~

Aim rolled out of the way from the blast. Extending his hand, he summoned his own gaster blaster and fired it at the destroyer. As expected, he easily dodged. The grin on his face was amusing.

Aim summoned three bones and fired it at Error. Error used a bone wall to block them, teleporting in front of him.

"T-That's enough f-for today," The destroyer turned around. "Y-You've l-learned t-to use C-Cross' powers. I w-will t-teach you t-t-teleportation next time."

Aim collapsed onto the ground, breathing heavily. These powers that his dead father used were... exhausting, to say the least. No wonder Cross was always tired after using them. No wonder he rarely used them at all. Aim thought back to the only time he saw his father fight. It's why he used his swords more than the powers, because they were physically exhausting.

Or Aim just wasn't used to it.

As Error cleaned up the bones around the white canvas, the conversation that Nightmare and Error had came back into Aim's focus. There was so much passed through that conversation, but one thing stuck out to Aim the most.

What did they mean by the apple?

If Nightmare had kept a secret about some sort of apple... then he probably didn't want to talk about it. Error referenced it as if it was an apple that caused the curse his uncle and father suffered from. Aim always thought it was just a generational curse... how could one apple cause so much suffering on a monster?

"Error," Aim stared at the Destroyer, choosing his words carefully. "What... what did you mean by the apple?"

Error looked as confused as he was. "W-W-What?"

"In you and Uncle Mare's conversation. You mentioned an apple as if it caused the curse."

The destroyer's face flattened. "It did," he rolled his eyes. "Those d-d-dang apples a-are the r-r-reason for this whoooooooole mess." He destroyed the bones by clenching his fingers. The strings around them disintegrated anything within their grasp. He looked really annoyed. "Let m-me guess. T-They didn't t-t-tell you that e-either."

Aim lowered his head. "N-No..."

"I s-swear they k-keep you i-in the d-d-dark about eeeeverything." Error slammed the strings he was holding onto the ground. "Ugh! F-Follow m-me."

Aim didn't have time to react as Error opened a portal behind him. Despite the pain he felt in his bones, Aim stood up and walked over to him.

The Anti-Void was gone, and the new AU was his surroundings before Aim could comprehend what was happening.

It was dark, but not just because of the night sky. The entire area was void of life. There was a city in the distance, but no lights were on, no smoke rose, and no conversation was heard. It was in the valley below, and the two skeletons were on a hill. There were remnants of bones everywhere, but most of them were decayed and returned to the earth from whence they came.

To Aim's right was a tree stump. A very large tree stump. It was unevenly cut, and the rest of the tree was nowhere to be seen. It looked like it had been chopped down in a hurry. It resonated with Aim in such a strange way. It called to him like a grandmother would call her grandchildren.

Error startled the boy as he joined his side. Error snickered as he stared at the stump. "T-They didn't t-tell you about t-this either, d-d-did they?"

Aim shook his head. In all honesty, he had no idea where he was. Why did Error bring him here? What even is this place? Maybe this would be the new training ground? No one was living here anyway.

"Sit." Error ordered, pointing at the stump. As Aim obeyed, he sat down on the grass in front of him, sighing before he started to speak.

Error started to tell a story. He explained the basic landscape of the world they were in long ago. He told Aim about the tree and all the delicious fruit it had on its trees. He talked about the two boys who guarded the tree. One of them was liked by all, and one of them was hated by everyone.

Aim listened intently as he described one of the boys being bullied. That boy was the one to take the apple and eat it. That boy turned into a monster and cut down the entire tree, killing everyone in the AU.

The other, after years of trying to stop the other boy, gave up and ate the apple as well, turning him into the monster that he fought against. It was only when the two boys met a soldier were they able to destroy the curse.

"T-That soldier w-was Cross," Error concluded. "Those f-fruits were apples, a-and those b-boys w-were your u-uncle and y-your father."

Everything started to make sense now. The secrets, the worries, how they acted around one another, why they never ate apples... everything clicked for Aim. A part of him was relieved to know it all now, but the other part of him was angry that all of this was kept from him for so long. If this was explained sooner, maybe half of the issues that his family had wouldn't exist.

Maybe Cross would still be alive if no secrets were kept.

"I b-bet t-they s-still h-have t-that apple s-somewhere," Error commented. "Locked a-away in their room."

"Why are you telling me this?" Aim asked as three tears fell down his face.

"A-Any p-power y-you c-can obtain w-will h-help y-you k-kill Ink," he said. "T-That a-apple c-can u-unleash a n-new power f-for you if y-you o-only t-take a s-simple bite."

What? "Have you not seen what that apple has done to my family? It should be destroyed!" Aim argued, standing up. "It's evil, and it corrupts everything it touches!"

Error narrowed his eyes. "Y-Y-You cannot d-defeat t-the paint f-freak while y-you're mmmmortal. Y-You w-will d-die just l-like y-your father d-d-did. I t-thought y-you w-were willing to d-d-do aaaaanything to get revenge, h-hmm?"

Although that's how he previously felt, Aim questioned his motives now that he knew the full story. His parents reactions made much more sense than before, and he understood their perspective. However, the reason he was with Error in the first place came to mind. Ink was hunting him down, and he would not stop until he had Aim. Either way, Aim would probably die. He wanted to go out fighting.

But did it have to involve the apple?

"I-I don't have t-t-time for y-you to decide, go h-home and w-we'll t-talk about i-it next t-time." Error stood up, opening a portal to the AU Aim knew the best.

Aim's eyes widened as the portal was pushed toward him. "Error, wait-"

But he was gone, and so was DreamTale. He stood in front of his house as the sun slowly rose. So much for discussing alternatives... Aim's mind raced as he opened the door and walked inside.

Dream wasn't in his room, nor was Nightmare or Killer. There was a note on the table saying they had run to get supplies for the day, with a little joke from Killer at the end. He smiled, grabbing some food from the kitchen before he headed toward the couch to sit down.

Dream's door was open.

Aim sat down his food, glancing into the hallway. The door was almost always shut, but it was wide open. Maybe Dream just forgot to close it... but it was still unusual.

He remembered what the destroyer had said about that apple still being around. He knew he didn't want to take a bite... but curiosity got the better of him. He stepped inside the room.

Did they really still have the apple? That was the question the boy asked as he observed his father's room for the first time in a long while. Most of the fabric was torn, dark, and covered in goop. There was a large pile of garments in the corner. It looked like a jail cell when Shattered came out, but Aim also noticed that there was effort to clean the room up.

It wasn't hard to spot the locked drawer inside the open closet. Aim bent down in front of it and turned the lock, wondering what the code was. It must have been at least fifteen tries before the lock broke, swinging the drawer wide open.

Aim couldn't believe his eyes. Error was right. Before him was a black apple, covered in tar. There were two large bites out of it, and it glowed with an unsettling presence.

Aim's heart started to beat out of his chest. Sweat dripped along his skull and his breathing became shallow. His hands instinctively picked up the apple and twirled it around. His mind was racing and he couldn't think straight.

Destroy it! Eat it! Destroy it! Eat it! Destroy it! Eat me, come on, just one bite...

Aim shook his head. Was the apple speaking to him? He swore he heard it whisper and call to him. When it did, it looked like the most pleasant thing to nibble at. His heart pounded, and he couldn't control his own emotions anymore.

... One bite can't hurt, right?

#undertale au #utmv #The Error in AIm #Chapter #aim sans #dream sans #killer sans #nightmare sans #error sans #ink sans #sans au #undertale #mwhehehehe

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minhyeong · 11 months

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&. 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐚 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫 (𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐦𝐞)

genre: angst, unrequited love au | word count: 1,188

↳ Jaemin thought you were a lot like a red balloon that he accidentally released into the blue sky, hastily slipping right out of his grasp and floating far away.

He used to do this peculiar, little thing where he would allow himself to briefly, for just a few short moments, fall in love with another stranger who stepped into his line of vision on the streets, train stations, and even at the corner store that he frequented.

Jaemin was good at falling in love with strangers to fill the momentary bouts of loneliness, but he was also good at falling out of it. No face in the sea of people lingered too long in his mind.

So he didn’t understand why he allowed you, of all strangers, to stay. Perhaps you had shown up when a particular bout of loneliness stretched on for a little too long.

Jaemin couldn’t quite remember the first time he laid his eyes on you or pinpoint the exact moment you dug a deep well into his heart until you became someone irreplaceable. However, he could vividly recall the way he felt like he was drowning at the bottom of the well when you told him you started seeing someone.

The skyline was so bright, and the breeze smelled like lemons and cotton candy. Sidewalks were littered with doodles drawn with broken chalk. The chocolate ice cream he had before he left the house left a sickly sweet aftertaste on the tip of his tongue. There was a spring in his steps as he approached you, the grin reaching his eyes that squinted under the relentless sunrays. It was the first day of summer, and his life was going to change; he could feel it.

His confession was knocked right out of his mouth. Jaemin had to fight to keep the smile on his face while you raved about someone else. The revelations felt awfully like violent stabs of rejection for the words that he never had the chance to deliver.

Jaemin thought you were a lot like a red balloon that he accidentally released into the blue sky, hastily slipping right out of his grasp and floating far away.

He didn’t think it was possible for him to hate the first day of summer this much.

Jaemin disappeared off the face of the earth for four days before he reappeared. He spent his time alone sitting on park benches and empty tables at cafes where a bitter scent hung heavy in the humid air and thoughts of missed opportunities clouded his mind.

After eleven missed calls and blocks of blue text messages, he finally responded to your twelfth call.

“Where have you been?” Your voice pierced through his phone as you demanded answers. Then, you faltered, huffing as you paced around your room to calm down. “Are you going through something? You know you can tell me anything.”

A wistful silence settled in between the call. Jaemin fiddled with the hem of his white shirt. “Sorry for ghosting you,” he mumbled with a brief chuckle. “Want to... hang out?” Even without seeing him, you could sense his hesitation and mild uneasiness.

Jaemin showed up in front of your house in thirty minutes with half melted ice cream and beverages in a reused takeout bag. He barged his way into your living room before you could even fully open the door for him, and you nearly got knocked over by the force of his sudden enthusiasm.

“I brought your favorite! I was thinking we could watch a movie! Or maybe even two movies if you don’t fall asleep by then, so we have to start now!” He shoved everything on your coffee table aside and unloaded everything inside the bag. When he noticed your stillness, he paused, returned your stare, and cocked his head to the side. “What?”

He confused you like a challenging puzzle, and sometimes you wondered if you really knew him. You shook your head, simply glad to have your quirky friend back, and settled into the couch beside him. He handed you a spoon and shoved the tub of ice cream into your hands, wrinkles forming at the corners of his eyes as he took the lid off for you. “Little Mermaid?”

Jaemin sang along, forcing out every high note he could rip out of his strained vocal cords, and he appeared so happy whenever you stole quick glances at him that you forgot all about the way he behaved strangely for the past few days.

You didn’t even notice an incoming call until he faintly heard your phone vibrating next to the half emptied bottles on the table and nudged you with his knee to bring your attention to it.

He wished he hadn’t when you flipped your phone over and he saw the contact. He didn’t miss the way your entire face lit up when you answered the call, and he certainly didn’t mean to overhear your conversation even though you had stepped away.

But there was a warmth in your voice that he was unfamiliar with, the kind that made his heart lurch, the kind that filled his lungs with waves of despair. He clutched his spoon a little harder until the plastic folded under the pressure.

By the time you returned, Jaemin had already cleaned up your table of trash and wiped down the stains on the glass. He stood by your door with his sneakers on, looking a little lost.

You glanced at the television screen that was still paused at the spot you left off at. “Where are you going? The movie isn’t over yet.”

“It’s late,” he said sheepishly. “I should go.”

You blinked at him, confused by the switch in his behaviors once again. “You can stay over. It’s not like you never slept over before.” The chuckle you let out quickly dissipated when he maintained a stoic expression with glassy eyes that were bordering on sadness. You uneasily shifted your weight from one foot to the other.

His eyes flitted toward you when you called out to him with a soft murmur.

You were looking right at him, eyes unwavering as you inched toward him, but he didn’t feel seen.

Jaemin couldn’t help but think he felt a little less lonely before he met you.

“No,” he asserted, a broad grin returning to his face. “It’s fine.”

It wasn’t enough to convince you. “Are you sure?”

“Yeah, I’ll see you around,” he interrupted before slipping out the door. You rushed forward to hold it open before it could slam shut, jamming your foot in the door frame as you stepped out.

Jaemin was already halfway down the block before he pivoted on his heels. The faint street lamp tinted his features a gentle orange. He smiled at you, so you smiled back despite the inexplicable dread that sat heavy on your chest.

“Have a good summer.” He waved, the smile never leaving his face, before he pivoted again, sprinting down the street and vanishing into the summer night.

He felt like a stranger.

No, Jaemin could never be a stranger, yet an odd feeling took over, as if you were never going to see him again, and if you did, he wouldn’t be the same Jaemin you once knew.

#nct scenarios #jaemin scenarios #nct dream scenarios #nct angst

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seriouslysam8 · 7 months

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Brumous Sneak Peek

Chapter Forty-Three: Rosamond Nott

“Harry, can you confirm I’m me for Cepheus?” Sirius asked, leaning back against the footboard and crossing his arms over his chest.

Harry looked at Cepheus. “Do you not think it’s Sirius?”

Cepheus shrugged. “I mean, I just–”

“Malfoy Polyjuiced himself into me and tortured him as me, so I think he’d feel better if you could just ask me a question and confirm it for him,” Sirius interrupted.

“Yeah, right, err,” Harry said, squinting at Sirius. “You remember when we went to France?”

Sirius stared at Harry. “Yeah, I recall that.”

“Well, you know how you like to do the crosswords in ink?” Harry continued.

“Don’t you fucking dare,” Sirius said in an exasperated tone. “Can we not?”

Ginny peered at Harry curiously.

“What was the word you got wrong and caused you to royally mess up the entire crossword?” Harry asked. “You know, the one where you ripped out the page and tossed it into the sea.”

Sirius shot Harry an annoyed look. “I misread the fucking question. I thought it said the first word in the incantation.”

“You were overly confident,” Harry pressed. “So confident that you started trying to fit in words that made no sense into the other boxes.”

Sirius’ jaw clenched. “I misread the question.”

“What was the word?” Harry repeated himself.

“Wait, can we know the question first?” Ron interjected, holding up his hands. “I think we need a clearer picture on why this is firing Sirius up so much.”

Sirius licked his bottom lip, his eyes rolling to the ceiling. “It was a question about the incantation for the Animagus transformation. I thought it wanted the first word in the incantation, but it asked for the second word. I didn’t read it carefully enough.”

Ron burst out laughing. “You got a question about the bloody spell for becoming an Animagus wrong?”

Sirius pointed at Ron, his eyes blazing. “I misread the fucking question! I put Amato and not Animo, all right?”

Ron didn’t stop laughing. “How long did it take you to bloody well figure it out?”

“Harry is making it sound worse than it is!” Sirius protested. “I figured it out pretty quickly but I had two answers wrong and they were in ink.”

Ginny grinned at Sirius. “Oh, the horror, Sirius. Was that the first time you gave up on a crossword?”

“I didn’t give up!” Sirius bit back. “I was irritated, all right? It was a stupid mistake because I didn’t read the question carefully enough.”

Harry tried to keep the grin off his face as he turned to Cepheus. “Yeah, this is definitely Sirius. He takes his crosswords very seriously.”

Cepheus glanced over at Sirius, an incredulous look crossing his face.

“He’s actually really good at them,” Harry added. “Hence the ink.”

“Don’t try to kiss my arse,” Sirius snapped.

Harry ignored him, his gaze never leaving Cepheus. “He knows a little about a lot of subjects and can usually figure out even the hardest questions. Although, he’s abysmal with Quidditch. He normally asks me those questions.”

Sirius rolled his eyes. “I asked you once about a Quidditch maneuver that was invented while I was rotting away in Azkaban. But my overall Quidditch knowledge is fine, thank you very much. I listened to James prattle off stats and talk my bloody ear off about it for a decade.”

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ruershrimo · 1 year

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genshin impact x fem!reader: coloured goodbyes/farewell to childhood

features ayato

warnings: angst (?), no beta we die like ayaka and ayato’s parents :), quite badly written tbh, reader sighs like. three times in the whole thing they do it a lot, I honestly think that everything here is quite tame but if there’s anything that you think needs a warning just lmk :)

notes: YO I’m back haha!! I had genshin burnout for a while + was a bit busy (I’ve yet to update the masterlist and all), but I’m hoping to get back into it soon! I’ve also had my training arc (my ao3 is here if you’re a fan of yuumori/moriarty the patriot, shameless self-plug, sorryyy!!).

this fic is a sequel to yet the waves continue to crash (my writing style has probably changed a lot since then), though you can read it as a standalone fic (it would be a bit confusing though— there are a few callbacks to the first one). a sequel may be a it unnecessary, but I just chose to scribble this down, and I hope you like it!

synopsis: your invitation back to inazuma due to the irodori festival has brought to you one final night with ayato.

Upon your invitation from the yashiro commission, you’ve made a temporary return trip back home; the air in inazuma now feels a little chilly as you inhale. You pay the man who was kind enough to bring you across the sea a few thousand mora.

It feels great to be back.

——

You dump the water from the bucket on it repeatedly. Water gushes into your ears and you want to close your eyes as if there is a waterfall behind you, as if there is a sun above you and not the blaring lights that stare down at you condescendingly in his family’s bathrooms.

“Still cold?” a muffled voice questions.

You care more about whether the water slides into the walls of your ears. “I’ll be alright.”

Ayato watches you as you wash your hair.

“Haven’t tied the knot with any noble ladies yet?” you wonder aloud.

“There was never any time, nor did I ever wish to.”

Not like that would change anything.

For a while all the two of you hear are the hushed footprints atop the puddles of water, and the water beating against the tiles in rhythmic choruses, before the two of you exit the bathroom with the same silence.

Yet that is better, is it not? Better than talking. Cacophonies amidst silence are better than those which end up sounding silent, as if the words were nothing to listen to at all.

He offers to dry your hair for you. His fingers tangle in the strands— they were so familiar to him that they could have been his instrument in the past.

“Why?”

“Hm?”

“Why are you doing this? Why did you invite me to the estate specifically? Why haven’t you married anyone yet?”

“I’ve already told you— there was no time,” he replies curtly.

You stand up, wrapping your fingers around his, attempting, with every fibre of your being, to not recall when you used to do so, much more cheerful than you are now— before everything ended, before the knots were severed short.

(Then you give up, for you will never forget— you are constantly living through what could have been while being alive in what things have become— and you will never stop trying to forget, will never step away from that fool’s mission.)

Turning back to face him, you begin. “I know you, I’ve known you for all my life. And I also know the people of this nation: I know that none would not fall for you.” You take a single step closer to him, feel his fingers reaching near your elbow, barely touching them (yet you can feel that they are there, somehow, as if there was always a way for you to sense him no matter what) gazing at your eyes and not your chest, hands near your arms and not anywhere else. As it is you who had given him the life he never grew up to have, for it was you who let him taste the pure sweetness of childhood and the puerile drunkenness of teenage love.

Does he know that he was the same to you?

“So you already know the answers.”

“Yes, yes I do.”

The love of your life wants you to become his.

Such a prospect is one you shall have to wholeheartedly decline. After years of apprehension, childlike innocence, adolescent bouts of foolishness and heartbreak, the kind that pierced and still pierced your heart and clotted the blood from flowing, not in the morning but in the night when you wish to retire to the clouds of rest and slumber, a force akin to a thorn lacerating through the skin of your chest that keeps you from waking. How many years of sleep have you lost to that man, your prince, your best friend, your closest companion, your confidante?

The roles have been reversed. The love of your life wants to marry you, has confessed to you, albeit without words; you wish to push the rules down upon him.

“What say you?”

Lips trembling, you explain yourself. “I have a life outside of this and places to go, you know. And as much as this is ‘fun’, as much as I enjoy my time with you, and would love to spend it with you always, even— I can’t. Neither of us can. It was us as children who could indulge in those things, yet now, we can’t, the age-old tale repeats. The lovers have to leave.”

“Star-crossed lovers, are we?” he jests, and you almost giggle at the thought. “I love you more than anything. I wish you never had to leave. I wish you could stay forever, I wish I could marry you and that we could place our records in the official documents,” he confesses.

A sigh exits your mouth. You start to lather your hair in camellia oil— you always did use too much— before you give him and answer. “We know each other too much for us to know our words will always have replies from the other. If we argue with each other, we already have all the rebuttals we need against the other. I know you, ayato, sometimes more than I think you know yourself. I know it’s the same for you too when it comes to me.”

He nods, and there is almost nothing for you to describe his face besides it seeming to be one you’ve seen before, that downturned lip with lowered eyelashes and frequent deep breaths.

“I know that you love me. I love you too. Still, what we have is more than love, or more than romance. Because you know how to leave me and how to be left. You know you’ll be able to leave me, because in a way you’ll still have me.”

They claim that as you grow older, you grow wiser. In some ways that is true. Yet, perhaps it is the resistance from carrying out unwise actions is more suited to be a sign of growth. You hope that you are right. You hope you can resist from pressing your lips to his; hope you can abstain from having the soft skin of his lips on yours again; hope you can refrain from doing what would allow your mind to rest, after years and years of being separated from it, in the sensation of the tastes of fruit amidst the bitterness from the tea on his lips, even if only as a final goodbye.

So your prince, your best friend, your closest companion, your confidante, with the years’ echoes upon him, with each of growth’s scars in his soul, lets his silky ocean-like eyes gaze into yours, maintains the distance between his lips and yours, keeps his skin from touching yours. You know it would be the same if your roles were reversed, like how they were before. Things would end up in the same way— the two of you are a product of yourselves and history only. “I know. But I would rather have you by my side than have you only when I miss you in the night, once the day is done,” he argues back. Still his tone is unperturbed, only soft and ever so gentle as he always is, and there is nothing for you to describe this except sorrow. He would never wish such explicit anger upon you; you were worth more than any nobleman or politician he knew. Voice wavering, he chuckles. “I’ve lost all my sleep to you.”

“I’d rather we say that’s your work’s fault,” you laugh, bitter but melancholic, as if the little jokes here and there are the only times when yellow is painted with a thin brush on this saddened, dark, solitary canvas.

Ayato’s lips purse, periwinkle eyes boring into yours as if he were examining you, scrutinising and inspecting you from the inside-out. In those lakes of violet-like blues is a wistful sorrow, a young soul in reminiscence for when they were younger. And indeed, your childhood days must have been full of love— the older you get, the more you realise how each spark of love has been lost. You don’t know how you had lost your love, your childhood, but it had been lost long ago, in some gradual, cryptic process— in which you were smiling and loving one day and had lost the ability to weep on the next. Still, you couldn’t pinpoint when that happened, but it was there, and it was real, and it must have been replacing the love you had before, for it felt just as real as that love did. For what is reminiscing on the past if not yearning for a love left long ago?

But the waves are supposed to crash on, they must, they have to.

“Don’t leave me again, please.”

“We both know what we have to do.”

Then, then— he bends his back, pulls you into the tightest embrace as if he wants to let you go, needs to— but would only do so if he had one last chance to have you and to hold you, through sickness and in health. One chance to have you as if you were husband and wife. “Just one night,” he pleads, his arms tightening around you.

And you weep into the nook of his neck, head peering from his shoulder, and you wait. You wait for the comfort you’d like to have, and there is none. However, you want to stay in the position anyway, in this bittersweet position.

A while after you pull away, and ayato places the sides of his fingers under your chin. He lifts it up, as if only to soak the sights of you in; you do the same and have your eyes to his, hands which search everywhere for something to hold finally wrapped around his hands, gentle and veiny and firm but kind in such a way that is leaderly. There is the moisture of washed hair on his fingers. “Okay,” you answer. “Just one night.”

He brings your chin closer along to his, until you connect at each other’s faces, each other’s souls. When he kisses you, languidly, for the first time in years, you taste the tea off him— its taste never went away— and the saccharine sweetness that you feel emerges in your head from it is all the same. He and you remain that way for a while.

As the two of you pull away from each other, you begin. “I don’t think I can drink tea after this. It would force me into the depths of a depression so deep it would kill me.”

“I don’t think I can do anything after this,” he muses. “Everything would remind me of you.”

“I know,” you choke out, your cheeks wet with rivulets of tears. “And I know you’ll manage just the same.”

Lifting your fingers, you tuck his hair, periwinkle and as blue as a rainy sunset sky, behind his ear, then let your palm fall. It lands on his cheek, pinkish with a tear’s aftermath. “Oh, I love you more than anything.”

His hand holds your wrist. “It’s cruel. Fate is cruel. Fate is only a product of what we have done. Why can’t it keep us from having to say goodbye, over and over again?”

“I don’t know,” you respond, in between high-pitched, incoherent sobs. “Let’s- let’s go for a walk, when this is over.”

Will it ever be over?

“A walk would be alright.”

He turns his back on you, leaves his palm open behind him in invitation. Slowly your fingers crawl onto it, exploring what you’ve held before, nervously, excitedly, with sparks grazing your skin like the glow from a lit lamp. Your hands touch once, and then he shifts forward, and he nearly slips away, the two of you only connected at your fingertips. You wish to pull him back, yet he only pulls you forward with him and your palm shifts to meet his. You slip away again. He pulls you forward. The two of you leave the estate.

You bring your other hand to his wrist and grab it— you don’t pull on it— you grab it, stubborn as a mule, jejune as a child, as if a pinch of immaturity were alright if it were now. If it were before what after had to become. If there were ‘what if’s or ‘would be’s. This time he doesn’t pull you forward once more; you gather your courage to do that for yourself. Then when your hand slides again, with your other hand’s hold on his wrist still intact, you use that hand to clutch onto him. And you believe that in this moment, when he runs away from you and becomes older, farther from you once again, you have been harmed by the lacerating sweetness of a person’s love, and from that you understand that you had been made a grown woman once you’d decided to leave him in the land of your birth, away— far from you.

The stroll in chinju forest is quiet, so quiet you could only break it apart by leaving it behind.

“How’s ayaka?”

He replies, “She’s well. You’d be proud of her now.”

“Yeah,” you choke. “Yeah, I would. I really, really would.”

“I know,” he answers. “And she’d be happier to know you were happy for her as well.”

“That’s good to hear.”

Your footsteps continue creating little melodies, tiny melodies stored into tiny spaces, tiny gaps in your memories of everything else that you will never forget, that you can never re-enter. They will be tucked away, along with him washing your hair and drying it, and kissing you the way you did when you were young, when you were mere children. The quiet echoes on, conquering him, the unconquered, causing the unwavering head commissioner to waver. Yet you’d known him before that, and you know that the man inside that husk, inside that title’s shell, is stronger. Much, much stronger. And much kinder, as a result.

You stop, gripping his wrist once again. “Won’t you turn back and look at me?”

“Won’t you kiss me again?” He turns back with just as much abruptness.

Yes, yes, a thousand times. And then a thousand times more, you want to tell him.

You don’t. Instead you press your lips to his again, you feel the bitterness of tea burst in your mouth before it dissolves into that candied, giddy sensation in your head. “I love you.”

Softly he giggles, “I can’t promise they won’t suspect us of being lechers tomorrow.”

“Promises won’t help anything, really,” you sigh. “You’ll be able to handle everything they throw at you, right? You always do.”

He nods.

“Do you want to handle all of it?”

“If it were you.” He’d walk over scorching coals for you, would bear the brunt of every kind of humiliation for you. He’d put everything below you a long time ago, not in worship or obsession— but just in love, more than adoration— to give you everything he could give and to take everything he could take for your sake only. The two of you continue ambling, by the lake and through the fluorescent bright blues of the flowers, their stems buried into the bushes. “When will you be setting off tomorrow?”

“Before twelve o’clock, at least.”

“Don’t leave without saying goodbye.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it.”

“Where to next?” he ponders. The two of you turn back.

Head rested on his shoulder, you wrap your arms around his left arm. “Who knows? Maybe snezhnaya, or fontaine. I’ll buy you gifts— I heard the dresses worn by young ladies in fontaine are pretty. I’ll get some for ayaka, too.”

“Thank you,” he responds. “I’ll write, so you’d better write back while on your travels. And be sure to tell me everything that happens,” he laughs.

“I promise.”

He cuts a beautiful figure when illuminated by the flowers’ glow. He looks younger, you suppose, as if the weight of time and his life were not constantly applying pressure down on him.

That night the two of you sleep in separate rooms— you will never know what it is like to sleep beside him, to see his silhouette in the night and feel safe, to be embraced by him as slumber ensnares you in the night. You aren’t able to sleep at all, yet when you finally do, its ostensibly endless. You lie with the thoughts of the day, nuzzle your head into the blanket, and finally let tears flow out in rivulets, as if the water had finally crashed through the dam. You can finally rest, can finally, truly, sleep after years without such a night.

The morning after, you wake up and think that night gave you the best sleep you’d had in years. By the time your eyes are open and you squint to see the sunlight beaming at the tatami mat, ayato has ordered for the two of you to have breakfast together before your departure.

To sit you down, he intertwines his fingers with yours and tugs on your hand until your legs are bent beneath you, kneeling on the mat.

“I’m sad, I think.”

“Why do you think you’re sad?”

“Well,” you start, the meals decked out in front of you. “All my life I’d only felt the kind of sadness that makes me cry. The only time I hadn’t felt it was when I first left, and I’d bid you goodbye on that tiny little ship.”

“What did that kind of sadness feel like, then?” he questions, his sweet eyes holding a curious gleam on you, on your eyes that don’t face him in return. Fingers slide across the tatami mat, softly, in some sort of wistful way he can make only you think he possesses. As if it was an invitation. As if he were requesting your permission. You allow his fingers to brush against the back of your hand. He slides his fingers, ungloved this morning, in between yours. “Like a heightened version of the sorrow someone can already feel?”

You pause, “Well, forgive my inarticulateness.” You lean your head towards his, and he guides it down, near his chest. “But they’re fundamentally different. Like I knew what would have caused me sorrow was coming to me, and that I couldn’t stop it, even if I was the cause of it myself. It just feels… tragic, I suppose. That we can’t be humans and live according to our thespian urges, since life in society— a watered down version of life itself, I guess— is just awfully tragic, like the time to say what a shame. And I can’t say I don’t want it because how could we have not caused it?” Your head is in his chest before you realise it, arms circled around his waist. “It’s tragic, it’s so tragic.” And you don’t bawl or cry because you haven’t done so with such fervour in years, only letting out occasional sobs like the one from the night before. There are tears pooling in your eyes, however, so you shut them tight in hopes that you can dream again.

“Don’t cry,” he wishes. “You’ll make me cry as well.”

“Would that bother you?”

“No, but it definitely would make things harder later.” He starts sobbing, quietly.

“Then cry– as much as you’d like. I’m the only person you’ll be seeing– when I leave.”

Life is cruel in the way that humans could have prevented things, yet they did not. It is cruel in the sense that things could have happened, and yet like humans, they prevent these things from happening, time and time again.

Society is cruel in the way that it holds the wrong people back with weapons formed from obligations and names made long before they were born.

All so cruel. Yet so kind in the way it is just.

He caresses your back, cradling your head with his other hand. The two of you sit in silence for a while, the words and your thoughts sitting right beside you. All is quiet, for a moment’s respite.

You retract from the clasp of his chest, and bore your eyes into the pearly seas in his once more, smiles wistful, teary eyes in melancholy. “We had our night yesterday,” you comment. It was like a spell in a fontainian fairytale someone had bequeathed to you. But this time you won’t get married to your prince, your best friend, your closest companion, your confidante. As much as you would have liked to believe it years ago, there are no fairies, or magical shoes made of crystalline glass, or glamorous dresses made from torn fabric. There are no mice, or evil step-family members, or carriages made from vegetables. “Today, everything is going to get back to normal.”

“I know,” you croak, sniffing, the white of your eyes reddened with branches of blood-hued veins.

He chokes back, “I’m going to miss you again,” he pleads, then, “Remember me, please.”

“I could never not forget you,” you echo what you’d reaffirmed of yourself long ago, softly. Your arms circle his again.

“Be sure to visit again. And not after a few years, like how you did it this time.”

“I’ll be sure, yeah. I’ll- I’ll definitely do that.” You blink a few times.

Breakfast is tranquil, hushed. It is eaten in a comfortable silence you won’t have in years.

“When I see you the next time, you’d better be happy,” you warn jokingly while the plates are taken away. “Be married to somebody nice, give your children the family that you had as a child.”

No matter how much it hurts you, you’d hope on the stars for that, since you’d want him to finally love someone more than he loves you.

“I guarantee no promises,” he jests back.

“I know. But do your utmost to have that.”

During the last time he’s accompanying you somewhere, it’s to the docks in ritou. “Time for me to go,” you smile wistfully. There is no gleeful grin plastered on your face like the last time. The sun has only just risen an hour ago, and the scent of summer is nigh, brought on by spring’s lovely, flowered farewell. “It’s almost like before.”

“We’re older now, however,” he muses.

“Hm,” you hum in agreement. “We’re all grown-up. We’re the adults in the stories now.”

Ayato smiles. Is it pride? Joy? Melancholy? Maybe a mix of everything, making it nothing at all? You presume it’s a mix of everything. “And just one thing.”

“What’s wrong?”

“When you’re absolutely sure you’d like to, check your portmanteau. Everything I’ve wanted to say and haven’t said to you is sealed away in a letter inside it.”

You know what he’ll say, yet you want to read them from him anyway. Not because of curiosity, but because you’d like to have something to remind him by, always. Still, you wish to kiss him once more. But not now. You can’t do it now.

And you leave him again, hopping on the ship. “I’m sailing away.”

“Safe travels, old friend.”

“See you, ayato. I wish you well!” you laugh, waving, the tears already pricking at your eyes.

“And I, you,” he waves back.

The day is good. There is good weather, and the sea is calm. With weeps you soak in the sea’s scent, let your skin bask in the fresh summer sunlight and the lack of torrents.

That night you settle in wangshu inn, and you rummage through everything as if you were searching for a gold earring in a bathhouse tub.

Once you find the little piece of folded paper, buried below everything, you sigh, knowingly, bittersweetly. Of course, he would put it where it would be difficult to find, that mischievous little man. And of course, you would not know how he could have done it, or even when he could have slipped it in.

This is what’d been dispatched in the letter:

My dear,

Forgive me for copying your style of sending a letter before a goodbye, though they do claim that imitation is the highest form of flattery.

I’d like you to know that I’ll love you always— I cannot imagine how one can stop loving another, much less how one can stop loving you. I will think of you whenever I can, and whenever I need to, so I now give you my apologies in case you’d like me to stop, because I don’t think such is humanly possible. Perhaps, in another life, where we were normal people with normal duties to carry out, and our definitions of heroism and extraordinary acts were just living like decent citizens, we would have felt the joy of last night every single day. And maybe, in that life, we would have consummated a marriage long ago, and had the life you want me to have without you now. Please, don’t feel disheartened by anything, and don’t feel ashamed by crying or feeling horrible either. There is not a single soul who goes through their days without feeling terrible at least once or twice. Please be happy in the sense that you won’t forbid your own sadness or jealousy, and be in peace in the sense that you’ll allow chaos to break into the cracks of your life once in a while. The cracks will be pieced back together, sooner or later, although I myself have yet to find a way to promise when. Your sagacity is derived from how you don’t have all wisdom, and that is the best kind of it one can have, because it is the kind that you have. Your beauty is derived from how kind you are, and how you are one the best types of people in the world— the ones with little sections of the tragic in their lives who still smile eventually.

That line makes you grin subtly. He’s one of the best people in the world, then.

Never feel inferior to others only due to the fact that your head and heart tell you these. Please remember that no matter what, I love you, and if I of all people can’t help falling in love with you, then there will be several others who will see your frown, or see you doing something considered peculiar one day, and they will fall for the same qualities of yours that I had fallen for. Think of these requests as favours you’ll be carrying out for me.

For you I would trade it all.

With the end of this letter I wish you a wonderful rest tonight, my princess, best friend, closest companion and confidante. (If I’m not mistaken, that was the whole list, right?)

You shake your head in light disbelief that he had written this, but also because you finally knew what to do in life. Before you had been wandering over teyvat aimlessly, yet now you knew what you wanted to task yourself with. Before you sleep you press a kiss to the piece of paper. Its scent is just like his.

For now you bid farewell to the one who will always be your prince, your best friend, your closest companion, your confidante, even if he cannot be that person in your life anymore.

And perhaps the two of you have accepted that.

#kamisato ayato x reader #genshin ayato x reader #kamisato ayato #ayato x reader #ruer writes #genshin impact x reader #genshin x reader #ayato angst #(question mark??)

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