#(girl who is tempting fate voice)

[h0neyfreak]

***

#lost 10 pounds and my period came back and my skin cleared up PCOS can get fucked #I need new pants……again!!!!! #but whatever my uterus is no longer on strike and falling out at random times #and I haven’t had a migraine in forever #(girl who is tempting fate voice) #also for context I was a normal weight 10 pounds heavier and I’m a normal healthy weight now #my body just functions best at a lower weight #I think of it like an allergy or food intolerance #does it suck to have to micromanage my food to be healthy? #yeah it does. but I prefer it to feeling like shit all the time so no use dwelling on it

[perlelune]

Oxytocin | Coriolanus Snow | ii.

One act of kindness from a peacekeeper may be your salvation or your doom. Possibly both.

Warnings: NON-CON, Blackmail, District 8 Reader, Stalking, Kidnapping

This is a dark story. Heed warnings before reading under the cut.

𝖘𝖊𝖗𝖎𝖊𝖘 𝖒𝖆𝖘𝖙𝖊𝖗𝖑𝖎𝖘𝖙

You do your best to avoid him for as long as you can. 

You show up at the factory each day, diligent and focused on your work. You thread, dye and sew miles upon miles of fabric. It’s exhausting and repetitive but assists you well in burying the peculiar encounter. And if sometimes a particular shade of blue fabric stir memories of eyes you’d rather forget…you ignore that as well. It’s better that way. You narrowly escaped imprisonment, perhaps even death. No need to tempt fate once again. 

But it’s no matter. 

Because fate finds you anyway. 

It happens as the end of your shift at the factory comes near. Your cold-bitten digits are interweaving two different colors of thread on a gigantic wooden loom. Same as the girls and boys surrounding you. They’re all quick and efficient, threading and weaving with the ease of practice. A lifetime of it. Some of them are as young as five years old. There’s a saying floating around the districts.

If one can walk, they can work. 

You often wondered if that same logic applies to the Capitol’s children. Are they too expected to work until their fingers are numb with pain and their eyes red-rimmed with fatigue?

You somehow doubt it. 

Once again, the weight of someone’s attention blankets your shoulders. You tense, the needle nicking your fingertip when your attention falters. 

You curse and swipe away the blood beading on your finger.

Your head rises. 

Anger simmers inside you at the sight of the smug face smirking at you from across the room. 

Coriolanus. 

He showed up one hour ago, switching places with another guard, and proceeded to stare at you since.

Dread pools in your gut. His gaze hasn’t strayed from you once.

What could the peacekeeper possibly want from you?

You have nothing, and it’s obvious he’s some rich kid from the Capitol who somehow found his way here.

“Your yarn is coming loose.” 

Yara’s frenzied tone wrenches you away from your thoughts. 

You look down, your forehead scrunching as you do. She’s right. The threads have broken out of their pattern, forming disgraceful zigzags over the loom.

Besides, there’s a minuscule crimson stain on the fabric. The pristine beige cloth is now ruined. This will come out of your pay.

Your ire grows. Your gaze narrows as it finds Coriolanus’.  This is all his fault. He distracted you. Annoyance at the strange peacekeeper gleams inside you.

You bolt up from your stool.

“I have to go,” you announce, already gathering your satchel from the floor.

Yara’s eyes round.  “Our shift’s not over yet,” she whispers below her breath, tossing wary glances at the guards. Your frown deepens. Any slight sign of disobedience could be seen as a hint of rebellion these days. It’s how much the Capitol wants to avoid a return to the Dark Days.

You smile at her in reassurance.

Yara was kind enough to show you the ropes when you started working at the textile factory. She even stayed late at night with you to teach you the most complex needlepoints.

Fidgeting, you apologize, “I’m sorry, but it’s an emergency. I’ve ruined it anyway.”

You don’t stick around for her response, rushing towards the nearest corridor to slip away.

A deep, teasing lilt echoes behind you in the hallway.

“Still trying to fly away from me, huh?”

Your heart leaps. Not again. 

“You shouldn’t be here,” you chide as you keep hastening across the hallway. It doesn’t matter though. A stolen glimpse at your back reveals to you that Coriolanus’ long legs easily maintain pace with your frantic strides.

You unleash a weary sigh. 

“I shouldn’t but I am, pretty bird.”

You can hear the smile in his voice and it infuriates you more.

“Leave me alone, Coriolanus-”

A sharp breath ripples through your throat as warm fingers suddenly clasp around your arm.

“What are you…”

The large hand that drapes over your mouth quiets your budding protest.

Ignoring your muffled shouts, he pulls you flush against his frame and drags you into a dark room inside another hallway.

Your heart hammers in your chest as you grab at anything you can. He’s undeterred by your feistiness, only unhanding you once he’s slammed the door shut.

A chill dances on your spine  as every deadbolt is meticulously slid into place by him.

Leaning back against the locked door, Coriolanus’s eyes drag over you. He drinks you in for a while as you retreat, as far away from him as the small room allows.

Uncrossing his arms, the blonde starts inching towards you.

Your nerves flare up at his impending proximity. A heavy sigh drops from his chest.

“Why do you make that face when I’m only trying to help you?”

“I don’t want any help from you. I want nothing from you,” you shout. 

He tilts his head, closing the distance. He shoves his hand in his pocket, seeming to search for something. You freeze. 

Shock rocks through you when he conjures a familiar vial, shaking it in front of your face. 

“Hm, Are you sure?” he taunts. 

The urge to steal it from him has your fingertips tingling. But you tried that before, and it didn’t work in your favor. So you snuff out the impulse.

“How did you find out?”

“I have my ways.”

You search his stark cobalt orbs. They give nothing away.

“I just want to take care of you,” he adds.

“Why?”

You startle as his long fingers creep under your chin. You didn’t realize how close he’d gotten, now bending over you so you’re at eye-level.

“Because I can. I could make your life easier.”

His tender inflection, oddly intimate, makes discomfort pool in your stomach.

“I don’t need…”

“Take it.”

As you do nothing to take the bottle he holds up in his fist, Coriolanus exhales wearily.

You gasp when he shoves the vial between your trembling palms.

“Don’t be stupid,” he admonishes. “That cousin of yours won’t make it through winter without these. They’re antibiotics.”

You stare down at the amber bottle. Your shoulders slump. You hate to admit it but he’s probably right. Tilly’s coughing fits are progressively getting worse. She can hardly breathe properly most days. It hurts to see and you’ve been praying for a way to help her. 

And now you have that way. Is it even fair to Tilly to turn his help down because of your own personal hang ups with the peacekeeper? 

His motives elude you but you’re not sure it matters at that moment. 

Tilly’s life is on the line. 

Your fingers squeeze around the vial.

“I know what they are. It’s written on the bottle.”

Interest springs in his cobalt gaze.

“You can read? Interesting,” he hums. “Most people can’t in the districts.”

Your cheeks heat at his assumption. A respectable amount of people in the districts can in fact read. Not the majority, but a few at least. The knowledge just isn’t widespread enough and schools are a luxury most districts cannot afford.

“My grandmother taught me when I was young,” you defend.

He pauses, studying your defiant features. 

His hand wraps around your hand holding the bottle. You try not to shrink, afraid he’ll take it back.

His thumb sweeps over your knuckles.

“These are very rare and hard to get. Don’t let your pride get in the way, pretty bird.”

“I won’t,” you mumble. 

Another bag materializes before you. Coriolanus nudges it in your arms before you can think to protest. “Take that too.”

You glare at him suspiciously. “What is it?”

“Food, water, supplies.”

Grounded in disbelief, you peer inside the bag. Your jaw hangs slack. He wasn’t lying. The bag is brimming with rations. There’s even a few slices of bread and cheese on top. This has to be worth at least a hundred coins.

You purse your lips. “I can’t accept…I have nothing to repay you.”

Corolianus sighs, keeping the bag in your hands with his steely grip as you attempt to return it.

“Then just remember you live because of me,” he says. A lopsided smile blooms on his lips. “That’s the only payment I require.”

You snort. It can’t possibly be that simple, can it?

But Coriolanus’ features harbor no mirth. Skepticism heightens your pitch.

“That’s it?”

“Yes.”

You nod. “Okay, I will.”

Displeasure flickers in his gaze. His fingers sneak below your chin to angle it upward, forcing you to drown in his cobalt stare.

“No, I want to hear you say it, sweet bird.” His tone is laced with a solemnity that wasn’t there before. Your stomach knots. “That you live by the will of Coriolanus Snow.”

A shaky breath flows out of you. You’re suddenly reluctant under his keen scrutiny.

Still, your voice comes out a tremulous croak.

“I live because of you, Coriolanus Snow.”

His entire face lights up with your words, a strange glow appearing in his orbs.

For some reason, you feel as if you just tied a noose around your own neck.

You take a sip of your beer, basking in the bitter, heady aftertaste. Usually, you’re not much of a drinker, but it’s the first true respite you’ve gotten from the blue-eyed peacekeeper in many weeks and you plan on enjoying it. 

A tavern wouldn’t be your first choice but Yara invited you and it occurred to you this isn’t the kind of place a boy smelling like old money and roses would visit. 

It’s rare for you to be anywhere these days without his disarming presence hovering in a corner of the room. 

You’ve even considered abandoning your job at the factory altogether. But it’s not like a girl like you can change careers on a whim. You have no connections, no skill, no talent whatsoever. Nothing but your hard-earned ability to weave threads of fabrics together. 

Maybe the mines at the northern end of the district. 

It’s far from a tempting prospect. The work is downright dangerous. But at least it would shield you from the peacekeeper’s relentless scrutiny. 

“Your shadow isn’t here today," Yara notes.

You drag your eyes away from the band playing on stage. 

“My shadow?”

“That pretty boy peacekeeper who follows you around," she elaborates, her lips curved in amusement. You grimace. If only she knew. There isn’t a shred of mirth in your current predicament. 

You roll your eyes. “He doesn’t follow me around.”

You refrain from saying he does a plethora of other things that puzzle you and stir your discomfort. 

You refuse to trust him, but thanks to him your cousin has been getting noticeably better, even able to walk on her own again now. It’s a relief. Tonight she’s at friend’s and gets to laugh, play and be a regular kid again. 

Besides, though it pains you to recognize it, your belly’s fuller than it’s been in a long time. 

It shames you to admit it, but it took you no time to cave in and gobble down the food he offered. Hunger does strange things to people. 

You loathe yourself for yielding but the feeling of an empty stomach is infinitely worse than that of your wounded pride. 

"He is pretty though," your friend says, glancing away dreamily. 

Your face warms.  "I really don’t care how he looks. I just wish he’d go pester someone else."

"Hm, fair." She drinks from her jug and shrugs. "He could just be bored. I’m sure he’ll stop at some point."

The conversation reaches a halt when a brown-haired guy around your age with a scar across his face stops at your table. 

“Can I ask you to dance?” he asks. His cheeks redden as he awaits your response. A quiet glance passes between you and Yara. You kick her under the table when she nearly lets out a chuckle.

Endeared by the boy’s bashful manner, you answer with a smile, “Sure, why not.”

You let the stranger drag you into a dance, your worries fading into the buoyant, lively  notes played by the band and the boy’s nonchalant grin.

It’s the kind of normalcy you’ve been longing for.

Engrossed in the moment, as the boy slips a hand around your waist, an audible gasp spills out of you when he pulls away from you out of the blue. 

Or rather is wrenched away from you. 

Your brows rise to your hairline.

You gape in horror, the sight of Coriolanus hauling the boy up by his lapels striking you mute. His features are taut with anger as the boy’s hands rise defensively. A mix of befuddlement and fear decorates his features.

Guilt needles your chest. You never expected the blond to show up here of all places. Paranoia seizes the chaotic train of your thoughts. Was he here all along, watching you like a hawk the entire time? Is he always here, never wandering too far from wherever you are?

Fear coils your insides.

"Hey," you call out, relief trickling inside you when your legs move again. You make a beeline to Coriolanus. 

“What is wrong with you?” you shout, trying to pry him off the poor boy. 

It’s not the useless hand scratching his bicep but rather your tone that appears to jerk him out of his trance. 

His grip on the boy loosens as he whirls to you. The stranger wastes no time in running away. You can’t even blame him. You can’t imagine there’d be many repercussions if the blond harmed him, but the opposite can’t be said. 

Coriolanus’ hands slowly lower before balling into fists. 

Irate blue eyes flare as they fall on you. 

You recoil.

“With me?” he growls, crowding your space. "His grubby paws were all over you."

You blink in disbelief, shocked by his accusing tone. You did nothing wrong. It’s not like he can tell you who to dance and not dance with. "G-Grubby…what? I’m not some damsel in need of rescuing, Coriolanus."

He squints at you, displeasure evident on his angular features. 

His hand latches onto your arm, yanking you towards the exit. You can barely keep up with his furious stomps.

“I think it’s time we had a talk. Come with me.”

“I’d rather stay here."

He ignores you, his grip on you turning deathly. Tears burn the back of your eyes. 

“No…”

You toss a desperate look above your shoulder to find your friend just as shocked as you are. She won’t help you. No one will. 

Your stomach sinks. 

The tears break past the confine of your lashes. 

He takes you outside. The chilly air skates across your skin, spreading gooseflesh over it. The silver glow of the moon lights the tortuous path he takes through dim, narrow alleyways. This is nowhere near your cabin and your panic swells. 

You dig your heels into the ground, resisting. 

Coriolanus heaves out a weary exhale. He hunkers down to pick you up. You squeal, flabbergasted by his nerve. He hoists you on his shoulders as if you were a sack of grain, taking firm, irate steps into the night. 

"You can’t do this," you weep, slamming as hard as you can into his back. 

Hardly flinching, he scoffs before stating, “I don’t remember asking for your permission, birdie."

#coriolanus snow x reader #dark!coriolanus snow #tbosbas fanfiction #hunger games #coriolanus snow #the ballad of songbirds and snakes #divider credit: samspenandsword

[mediumgayitalian]

part one

———

Nico’s memory is…screwy.

The Lethe warped things, but the body stores memory in strange ways. The only image he has of his mother is the gentle swish of her skirts as Zeus incinerated her, the echo of her fond scoff and curled r’s. Even that memory was shown to him. Most of his childhood memories are from the Lotus Casino, really, running after Bianca through the flashing games and then running away from her, laughing, when she forbid him from driving on the racetrack. His sister is the centre of his memories. He keeps them under lock and key, buried in the same place he keeps Mythomagic stats and his constant string of fear.

(The key is rusted and the lock is loose. He sees her in every mirror, now, in every mirror. She was pretty. Beautiful. He always thought so. She hid herself in too-large sweaters and shapeless skirts, crooked stockings and her floppy green hat. Kept her hand curled around his, turned away from the boys who smiled at her, touched her shoulders. She was his entire world, and he is beginning to realize that he was her world, too, only she had no one to care for her. It makes Nico ache to think about, the tears he sometimes saw welling up in her dark eyes, the creases in her angular, beautiful face. Her pain is as familiar in his reflection as the shape of her nose, identical to his.)

(Gorgeous, Will called him.)

Warped as his memories are, Nico isn’t completely stranded — he has dreams.

His dreams, although rare, are clear. He is a spectator of himself, and voyeur of his own life. He does not remember Venice, does not remember his bedroom, the country side, the kitchen table. But he remembers every dream he has.

Including, embarrassingly, a lecture that had both him and Bianca red-cheeked and scowling.

“You-a smart, bambina,” Maria had said to Bianca, squeezing her chin with flour-covered hands. “Una belladonna giovane, si, Niccolò?”

Nico had snickered into his hands, legs kicking, looking at his sister cross-eyed with his tongue sticking out.

“Bianca è una picchia,” Nico had teased, repeating his mother’s words from the last time she’d been scolded. “Una piantagrane!”

Bianca’s eyes had flashed. “Nico, I’m gonna sell your stupido toys —”

“Sonno worries forra my Bianca,” Maria had interrupted, eyebrows raised. “Ragazzi comma running. But you, Niccolò.” She dragged him back by the cuff of his shirt, cutting off his escape attempts. ““È importante, capisci? Lookame. Niccolò. Lookame.”

He spent a lot of time fidgeting, he remembers. Bouncing off the walls.

His mother was patient.

“You gonna be uno marito, un giorno. Gonna marry a nice-a girl. You gotta sai come fate.”

He wakes up from the dream embarrassed.

He knows why it was brought from the depths of his subconscious. He’s not dense. But he wishes, as he rips the sheets off his sweaty body, that it had stayed in those stupid trenches.

His mother’s raspy, cigarette-smoker voice twists with Will’s smooth rumble: You gonna be uno marito, one day. I’ve had a crush on you for forever.

He buries his burning face in his knees. What is Will’s problem. Who says that?

Nico has had crushes before. Telling Percy made him nauseous for three days. And Will just — said it. Said it!

He rolls onto the floor, refusing to think about it any longer. He has things to do today. Children to humble. He cannot afford — distractions.

Of course, he is distracted anyway.

He hears the kids in his sword fighting class whisper to themselves. They usually do, but there’s an audible difference to it; they sound more like the giggling naiads than nervous kids. Nico spends all three of his classes tense as a rod, stiffer than he usually is a suffering for it.

He dismisses each one of his classes early.

By lunchtime, he’s exhausted. He’s tempted to skip all together, but yesterday he ran out of snacks, and if he skips two days in a row Will’ll come marching, which is the last thing he needs. He lingers in the amphitheatre, biting the inside of his thumb, weighing his options. Eat with a crowd of people, go hungry.

In the end, the choice is made for him.

He startled when his name is called by a group of people, each with similar levels of enthusiasm. Leo, Piper, Jason, and Annabeth — Percy is with his mom this week, Nico recalls — approach him, waving.

“We are flagrantly breaking the rules and eating at Jason’s table,” Piper says, smiling. “Sit with us.”

She says it like an offer, but Nico has a feeling it’s more of a command. He nods, hesitantly falling in step with Annabeth.

(His friendship with her startled him. So many years seething with jealousy, simmering with misplaced hate and pain; only to find out she’s stubborn, like he is, and kinda cagey. She knows what it’s like growing up glancing over your shoulder. They stand the same, shoulders loose but knees locked; and eat the same, like they’ll never see food again. She knows when to let him have his silence. He knows when to let her have her space.)

She nods at him, smiling slightly. Her grey hairs are dyed with pink, today. It clashes horribly with her camp shirt. It suits her.

“Kids do alright today?”

“Yeah.”

“Harley blow anything up?”

“Yeah.”

“Impressive, that one.”

Nico smiles. “Yeah.”

They’re the last ones to the dining pavilion. Most tables are already full, conversations rising and lulling, food disappearing from plates. Several people duck close to their friends as they walk by, whispering. Nico pretends not to notice, pretends not to see Annabeth’s frown.

“Nico! Hey! I was just about to come find ya!”

Tripping in his haste to get up from his table — or maybe over his snickering sister’s extended foot — Will bounds up to meet him, hair flopping into his eyes, grin wide and blinding.

Nico’s palms begin to sweat.

“Will,” he acknowledges, after a beat too long.

Will doesn’t seem to notice.

(Everyone else does.)

“Just wanted to let you know that I was up last night digging through the records, and I found a hymn that’ll fix up your face faster. Not that it needs fixing.” He winks, or maybe tries to. What he really does is blink both eyes, beam so bright it forces smile lines. Nico goes bright red. “So just drop by whenever! I’m not on duty today, but it’s cool, just come find me. Better sooner than later, right?”

He doesn’t wait for Nico’s response, already half turned away by the end of his sentence. “See ya!” he shouts, too loud for the limited size of the dining pavilion, already stumbling back to his table, halfway through a new conversation with Austin. He watches him, amused, indulging.

“So,” says a teasing voice, dragging out the vowel, gleeful. Nico turns to find four identical smirks. “He sounded eager.”

“Nope,” Nico says immediately, turning back the way he came. His face continues to grow exponentially more red, which at this point must be some kind of hazard. “Food is overrated. I’m gonna —”

“Oh, no you don’t,” and then there’s a hand clenched in the back of his jacket, pulling, and four echoing cackles, and he’s dragged over to Jason’s table kicking and hissing. “Time for you to spill.”

———

part three

#oh i’m sooooooooo excited for this one yall it’s gonna be so so so sappy #the bianca angst is there bc it’s always there but the FLUFF and pining that will come BELIEVE ME #also featuring horribly painfully oblivious will believe me #pjo #percy jackson and the olympians #hoo #heroes of olympus #pjo hoo toa #nico di angelo #will solace #solangelo #will/nico #nico/will #pining nico di angelo #pining will solace #well #kind of???? #autistic will solace #like. deeply and obviously 💀 loml fr #soft solangelo #fic #longpost #my writing #crush fic #im particular proud of the italinglese here lmk if y’all need a translation #nico di angelo & annabeth chase #i love them not sorry

[undreaming-fanfiction]

Eddie's hard work has finally paid off. Corroded Coffin is the new sensation and soon enough, Eddie gets an invitation for an interview, one that could promote the band on a much larger scale. He's excited but also terrified and Steve, being the supportive boyfriend he is (and also CC's unofficial mascot, "the yellow sweater boy" or simply "Stevie" to the fans) offers to go with Eddie. Eddie introduces Steve as his "emotional support ex-jock" and it goes well.

Until it doesn't.

Eddie gets more lively as he talks about the band's beginnings, the inspiration behind their songs and their influences, his own musical idols and influences. He's at ease, gesturing animatedly as he explains the evolution of the band's style, so he's caught off guard when the interviewer brings up that fateful spring of 1986. Eddie freezes, opens his mouth but nothing comes out. The memory of snapping bones, feeling of helplessness...it all comes flooding back.

But where Eddie feels like curling up into a ball and hoping the world will finally leave him alone, Steve is ready and prepared. He grasps Eddie's shoulder - Eddie blurted out a confession in one of his concerts so it's no secret for his fans that they're together, but why tempt fate - and gives the reporter a wide smile, sincere to someone who doesn't know him. He slips into his charming persona and speaks for the first time during the interview. "Thank you for asking this question," he says and the drop of poison easily dissolves in the sweetness of his voice. "I hope my recollection will be enough because I sure don't want to have Eddie go through all that horror again. But I assure you...I was there for nearly all of it. So ask away. I'm glad to finally set the record straight."

And so Steve talks about that March, about how Eddie found Chrissy dead in his trailer, mutilated in such an inhumane way his body took control and got him out, no call to the police, not a single thought. He mentions there was a witness who saw him enter the trailer and immediately stumble out, not enough time to harm anyone (Max has stuck to this story and never changed it, no matter how much anyone pushed). He talks about how he met Eddie later, how shaken he was and how the town started a manhunt for Eddie for no good reason, except that he was different. "He started a club for kids who were outcasts, who just wanted to remain children for a bit longer - and the whole town went to hunt them down. They attacked a thirteen year old girl. They beat up a fifteen year old boy just for belonging to the club."

Now it's Eddie's turn to grasp Steve's shoulder, his arm, worried about his sharp tone, his hardly contained anger. But Steve carries on, staring the reporter down as he stutters that he will have to verify this information. "This is rather different from the official story," he says, his forehead glistening with sweat.

And Steve just flashes the disarming smirk that established him as King Steve once upon a time and tells him to verify it all, please. Because Eddie Munson has nothing to hide and neither does the Corroded Coffin. "It's not different if you paid any attention to the police report," he mentions calmly, leaning back in the chair. "People don't like to speak ill of the dead, but a dead person is exactly who's at fault here. Jason Carver riled up the mob. He bought a revolver after he did that, publicly for self-protection, but..." he shrugs, buries the edge in his voice under his charm yet again. "We have a witness that heard him admit who it was for." Dead men tell no tales, but Nancy Wheeler sure does.

And as the reporter scrambles to put together a coherent thought, Steve lands the finishing blow. "It's a shame you only invited Eddie to discuss this," he says and the sympathy in his voice is almost believable. "After all, his band mates were also targeted and attacked."

The reporter stares at him, speechless.

"Oh, you didn't know?" The disbelief is genuine for once and he leans in, looks the man straight in the eye. "Jason Carver and his friends went to interrogate the band, you know. Only to talk, they said. Except they almost broke Gareth's hand during that talk. Once again...there is a witness. A different one, if you were about to ask. Perhaps you should talk to them too, I can give your their contact details. You know," he adds, smiling at the reporter, "I am incredibly thankful you brought this up. There aren't many who are willing to dig up old wrongs to set things right. I wasn't sure what to expect of this interview, there was always a possibility of someone malicious taking advantage of this traumatizing event, just to get a shocking scoop on a bunch of guys who have worked incredibly hard to get where they are. I was wary because there are always people willing to destroy lives just to get a bit further in theirs. I'm so grateful you aren't one of them. Because I see you as someone who wants to do more than shock their audience...I think you're someone who wants the truth, no matter how ugly it is."

And no matter what the reporter intended before, he is that man now. He nods frantically, assuring Steve that he will bring justice to Eddie and the Corroded Coffin. Steve Harrington has that effect on people - if he believes in someone, that belief is often enough to give that final push. Anything to keep Steve Harrington's faith, not to disappoint that earnest look in his eyes. Eddie almost feels sorry for the reporter - after all, he knows the best what his boyfriend is like when he doesn't hold back. It's a sight to behold.

After a few reassurances from the reporter, the man finally turns to Eddie. "I apologize for bringing up bad memories, Eddie," he says and perhaps this time he means it. Eddie would like to believe that. "Is there...would you like to add anything?"

Eddie thinks screw it and firmly grasps Steve's hand, homophobia be damned. He needs to get through this. "Yes, actually..." he says and his voice is low, almost broken, but at least it's coming out now, carrying the words he's wanted to shout at the world for years now. "That night...was probably the worst night of my life. Worse than when I almost died. Well. When I actually died before someone brought me back," he smiles at Steve, briefly, before turning back to the man scribbling down every word. "It took me a long time to realize I couldn't have done anything to save Chrissy. Hell, some days I still don't believe myself, I'm thinking if I've done something differently, been faster, but...in the end, it didn't matter. Doesn't stop me from feeling like I failed her."

Steve knows these things, of course. That's why he doesn't interrupt, just strokes his thumb over Eddie's whitening knuckles.

"Chrissy Cunningham was a wonderful, bright girl. She was friendly to everyone, even outcasts like me. There is no way in hell I'd ever want to harm someone that...that warm. Kind. The truth of the matter is - for years I didn't defend myself against these accusations that still appear from time to time, no matter what the official investigation said. I didn't sue anyone even though I was advised several times to do so, for the slander, the attempts at my life. Because you...because I felt guilty just for being there. For surviving when she didn't." He looks at the reporter with full force now, straightens his spine. "But I knew Chrissy Cunningham and I know she wouldn't want anyone feeling guilty for something they didn't do. She brought joy to others, not misery. And I want to honor her memory. So once and for all, for the record - I didn't kill Chrissy. I never hurt her, couldn't have. But I still keep her with me as an inspiration, as a soothing voice behind every bitter thought - I don't talk about her, don't use her story for publicity because she didn't, doesn't deserve that. But she's what I think of when I see bright smiles of our fans, when I see young people having fun at our concerts - I wish, more than anything, that she could have been one of them. So I try to bring as much joy into this world as I can to make up for the empty space she left behind, even if that might never be enough. That's all."

The interview spreads like a wildfire. Headlines like "Corroded Coffin's Eddie Munson breaks silence for the first time!" or "CC's frontman reveals details of persecution and mass hysteria in 1986". The news pick up the story, question the people in Hawkins who deflect or begrudgingly admit to their actions, justifying their deeds...but some of them talk. Karen Wheeler becomes the star of the show, recalling in horror the hunt for her daughter and her son's friends. "I vouch for Steve Harrington's recollection," she says firmly, shushing her husband's feeble attempts at deflection. "I'm glad someone finally had the courage to call the spring of 1986 what it really was - a witch hunt."

Eddie finally has the courage to do what he's wanted for years - he names the next album This One's For You, Chrissy. The world knows now, it knows that he mourned for her in his own way and that she meant so much to him, as a first extended hand, as a symbol, as a human being. He donates as many profits as he can to a foundation in Chrissy's name, providing the much needed mental health support to Hawkins children and teenagers. And piece by piece, Eddie Munson heals.

Before the interview becomes the sensation it is, Eddie crushes Steve in a hug and thanks him for everything, for making this burden easier. He's still worried his words will get twisted, that there will be a new wave of hatred, but Steve just chuckles and kisses his head. He reaches into the leather satchel he had at the interview and presents Eddie with a dictaphone - everything they've just talked about recorded. "Please, Eddie," he rolls his eyes in that bitchy way that has Eddie swooning, "I may be pretty, but I'm not stupid or naive."

Apart from the much needed closure and at least partial justice, there is an unusual side effect to this whole ordeal - Steve gets a new nickname in the Corroded Coffin fan base. After the way he handled the interview, after shielding Eddie and his band mates from unwanted attention, he becomes "The Guard Dog Steve", also lovingly referred to as "Golden Retriever Steve". Eddie loves it. Steve finds it ridiculous, but it makes Eddie smile so maybe it's worth it.

#eddie munson #steve harrington #steddie #steddie drabble #corroded coffin #steddie ficlet #stranger things #stranger things drabble #protective steve harrington

[dreamwritesimagines]

Garden of Secrets [32] - Viscaria

A.N: Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback and support my loves, it made my whole week, you’re amazing!❤ I hope you’ll like this chapter as well, and please don’t forget to tell me what you think, thank you! ❤

Thanks so much to @theskytraveler​ for helping me with the chapter!

Summary: Honesty makes bonds stronger. 

Warnings: Regency era society and social rules, some gender specific language and terms, mentions of trauma and violence.

Word Count: 4000

Series Masterlist

The following week was very chaotic, and that was saying something considering what this whole season had been like so far.

Daphne was back from her honeymoon and had a lot of things to share with you, and you weren’t sure if you were ever going to be able to recover from that conversation. It was one thing to know and hear that nightly activities were -as Daphne had called them- pleasurable beyond words and it was another to know despite they were pleasurable beyond words, you still hadn’t…

Consummated.

Because Benedict had told you once that he would only touch you when you fell in love with him and you were not going to get rejected again.

The other thing was that Anthony had tempted fate that night apparently, because now everyone was talking about Colin and Marina. As Lady Whistledown had written on her society paper, Marina was pregnant from another man and she had been since she had got to London. Once the news had broken out, her courtship with Colin was brought to an end immediately and she was sent away from London by the Featheringtons to the countryside and as far as you had heard from Eloise, she was to marry the brother of the baby’s father, since the father was dead.

You shuddered to think what that poor girl was going through.

Colin was quite heartbroken but as Benedict had told you, he was slowly getting better. He and Marina had had the chance to talk before she had left for the countryside, so you figured that had to have cleared out the air at least a little.

Not for the ton, of course. That scandal was to keep them busy for at least a month if you had to guess.

As if all that wasn’t chaotic enough, both Bess and your aunt had decided that they would throw balls back to back; Bess’ ball was tonight while your aunt’s was next week, and you had spent the last week rushing from her house to Bess’s to make sure everything was going smoothly.

“I have a question for you,” Lottie said as she flung herself next to you. You still had hours until you would all go to Bess’ ball, so you had decided to relax in the park a bit. Though you were supposed to focus on your book away from the crowd under a tree, you couldn’t help but steal glances at Benedict who was in a deep conversation with Margery and Henry before you frowned and turned to see Lottie better.

“Yes?”

“So you know how everyone is talking about Marina being…” she lowered her voice, “pregnant out of wedlock.”

“Hasn’t escaped my notice.”

“But how?”

“Sorry?”

“I thought one was supposed to be married to become with child.”

You blinked a couple of times. “Well not—not necessarily,” you managed to say and she took a deep breath.

“I asked mama.”

“Oh dear God.”

“And she says it is an act full of love and desire that should only happen once you’re married.”

“Uh huh,” you said, looking around in an attempt to distract yourself. “Oh look at that, a butterfly—”

“What act?” she cut you off and you let out a whine.

“Lottie.”

“What happens when you’re married?”

“You know what, that’s a really good question,” you pointed out. “And the better question is; why does everyone keep asking me that?”

“Because you’re married,” she answered. “Not to mention, even before you got married you and Benny have been…”

“Debauched?”

“Full of desire,” she whispered and you felt your cheeks burn. “Even before your wedding, you two—”

You cut her off, careful to keep it quiet. “We didn’t do anything before the wedding!”

Nor after, now that you thought about it.

She lowered her voice. “But you kissed.”

“Nothing more!” you whispered back in a haste. “And you’re telling me you and Anthony did not?”

She repressed a proud grin, trying to keep a straight face.

“Perhaps.”

“There you go!”

“But that’s not our subject right now,” she said. “I forgave you after lying to me for months and you will keep it from me?”

“Lottie…”

“My two best friends and the love of my life lied to me, and now you keep another thing from me.”

“You’re devious,” you pointed at her, causing her to smile at you sweetly. “You really are.”

“I’m just hungry for knowledge.”

“You and I seem to have that in common,” you murmured. “Lottie, it’s just…it’s a pleasurable act.”

“That causes one to be pregnant?”

“Not always,” you said. “Marina’s was just bad luck I’d say. It’s only on specific times if you do that act that you become pregnant, it’s a mystery. I heard people say there are ways to prevent it as well, she must have not known.”

“And?”

“And,” you cleared your throat. “When you’re in love, and you desire that person and they desire you back…It’s—well, it’s divine.”

Or so I heard.

She thought for a moment.

“And you knew all this when you married Benny?”

“I didn’t grow up in the ton,” you said. “People talk about it more back in the countryside.”

“And Benny knew as well?”

“…Mm hm,” you pressed your lips together to keep yourself from laughing but she still saw the look of amusement on your face.

“What does that mean?”

“He’s very well practiced, and that’s the only thing I’ll say about it.”

“You know,” she mused. “There was a lady and one of Benny’s friends during my debut two years ago who were caught in an inappropriate situation at night in her bedchambers, and at their wedding breakfast I asked Benny what that situation was and he only laughed and told me I’d learn after I got married.”

“Wise words from the ton’s horizontal refreshment,” you muttered and she tilted her head.

“Hm?”

“Nothing.”

“So it’s pleasurable then?” she insisted. “If it is with the one you love?”

“Not to quote Benedict, but you’ll find out soon enough,” you said with a small grin. “Anthony and you will be married before the season is over, you know it as well as I do.”

A bright smile curled her lips, then she took a deep breath.

“I still haven’t forgiven him.”

“How much longer are you planning on making him suffer?”

She let out a giggle. “I would never make him suffer,” she said. “My heart is his completely.”

Your grin slowly faded when your gaze drifted to Benedict chuckling at something Margery had said, then joked back, making Margery laugh. Henry had to have walked away so it was just the two of them, and you felt the bitter taste of jealousy burn your throat before you looked at Lottie.

“So um—are you going to forgive him then?”

“I’m hoping to talk to him tonight at the ball,” she said. “He is coming as well, no?”

“Oh all of them will,” you said. “Even Colin, apparently. Benedict is dragging him there.”

Lottie nodded slowly, then stood up.

“I’d better see if my siblings are up to something, excuse me,” she said and walked away from you. Benedict saw her out of the corner of his eye, then said something to Margery before rushing after Lottie, no doubt to try to talk to her considering she hadn’t forgiven him yet either. Margery looked around, then waved at you and approached you.

“Well hello there,” she said and you offered her a smile.

“Hello.”

“Riveting read?”

“Not quite, but it’s a good excuse to keep myself busy,” you said and she shot you a smile.

“Understandable,” she said. “Can I join you?”

“Sure,” you said and scooted over so that she could sit down.

“We missed you at the party last week,” she said. “Why didn’t you come with Benedict?”

You shrugged your shoulders. “I was quite busy,” you said. “At the ball. But he says it was very much fun.”

“Oh it was!” she said, pressing a hand over her chest. “You really should’ve been there Y/N. Jane throws wonderful parties, you simply must come to the next one, I insist.”

“I will,” you said. “And are you coming to the ball tonight?”

“Absolutely,” she said and let out a laugh. “Benedict was just joking about how he has never seen me dance and he has this theory I’m terrible at it. He says he will see at tonight’s ball.”

You could feel your stomach doing a flip. It didn’t really mean anything, nor was it something that was ought to make you feel this jealous but—

Alright, this was ridiculous.

They were friends after all, so of course they were to joke around, there was nothing for you to feel bad about. You cleared your throat and smiled.

“Does he?”

“My mother used to give me these endless lessons until my dancing was perfect,” she made a face. “I hated it, but I do admit it comes handy at the balls.”

“Things we do for the ton,” you said as your eyes fell on Benedict who was making his way to you and Margery stood up.

“I should leave you two be.”

“Oh no, you don’t have to—”

“No no, it’s no issue,” she said. “I should find Lucy anyway. See you tonight Y/N.”

“See you,” you said as she walked away, and you watched Benedict come closer to you.

“The ton’s horizontal refreshment?” he asked and you repressed a laugh at the look of complete puzzlement on his face.

“You talked to Lottie?”

“Talked at her before she—did you seriously call me the ton’s horizontal refreshment?”

You shrugged your shoulders, adapting a look of complete innocence.

“I could’ve called you the town harlot,” you pointed out. “But I’m nicer than that.”

A laugh escaped from his lips and he motioned at your side. “May I?”

“Of course,” you said and he sat down beside you, making your heart skip a beat.

“So what brought that on, exactly?”

“She was curious about what happens when one gets married,” you said. “You know, with the Marina scandal and everything.”

“Ah,” he said and paused for a moment. “And what did you say?”

“Well I certainly didn’t say she would learn after getting married, which is more information that you gave her,” you pointed out. “Hypocrite.”

“It was not my place to inform her on that,” he defended himself and turned to look at you. “Please tell me you didn’t tell her it’s unpleasant.”

“Wh- of course I did not!” you said in a haste. “Everything aside, I don’t want to listen to Anthony whining about it.”

Benedict made a face. “Let’s just stop talking about that because I do not want that picture in my mind.”

You hummed. “How is Colin?”

“He’s heartbroken but he will pull himself together,” he said. “I’m not sure if Anthony will though. Third scandal involving our family in one season.”

You shrugged. “So far.”

“Don’t,” he said, shaking his head. “I honestly think that he might have a heart attack if another scandal happens, and I do not want to be a Viscount.”

You grinned at him before you saw Margery and Lucy walking by the park out of the corner of your eye, and lowered your glances to your book, smoothing out the corner of the page. Benedict frowned.

“Are you alright?”

“Hm?” you asked, lifting your head. “Oh yeah, sure. Just thinking about tonight’s ball, Bess put so much effort into it so I hope it goes well.”  

“I’m sure it will.”

“And uh—Margery is coming as well?”

“They all are,” Benedict said. “Should be fun.”

You tried to smile, then nodded your head.

“Yeah,” you said. “Should be fun.”

                                      *

In all honesty, it really was a fun ball. Bess was a wonderful host, albeit a busy one because you hadn’t had any chance to talk to her or Josie or Andrew for that matter. You had hoped to talk to Lottie but you barely had the chance to see her before she had excused herself from the ball after one dance, saying she was still tired from the park. Anthony had left around five minutes after Lottie had, but they were the only ones because every other guest seemed to be having so much fun.

Felix had somehow convinced you into being a part of the next dance which required you to switch partners every once in a while, and you were now paired with him while Lucy danced with Henry and Benedict danced with Margery. You let out a laugh and let him turn you as the dance required.

“An artist and a good dancer,” you said, taking a step forward with him. “Full of surprises, are you not?”

“I hope my art skills are better than my dancing skills,” he said with a smile and you shrugged your shoulders.

“I’m not complaining,” you said. “Any new paintings you have been working on?”

“Just drawings,” he said. “And you? Have you discovered a new flower yet?”

You scoffed a laugh, “Mm hm, I’ll name it Felix,” you said. “And when will I see the drawings? Or does that privilege only belong to my brother-in-law?”

He suppressed a smile and stole a look at the dancing couples, and you winked at him.

“You two are such close friends after all,” you said airily as he held out his arm and you put your hand on it. Felix grinned.

“We talk a lot about art,” he played along. “He has many interesting ideas. It’s quite inspiring.”

“I’m sure it is,” you said, still smirking and clapped your hands together along with other couples, then switched partners and Henry smiled at you.

“Mrs. Bridgerton.”

“Sir Granville,” you greeted Henry and put your hand on his shoulder. “Having fun?”

“Quite so, you must give my gratitude to Lady Hadfield,” he said. “A wonderfully planned ball.”

“There’s nothing Bess can’t do wonderfully, except for keeping her plants alive,” you commented and let him twirl you before you took a step.

“Our lovesick couple is back in the honeymoon phase then?” he asked and you shot him a lighthearted glare.

“I’m sure I have no idea what you mean.”

“No?”

“Not at all,” you said with a smirk, stealing a look at Lucy who was now dancing with Benedict, “We were simply enjoying the fresh air.”

Henry chuckled, then you both clapped your hands and switched partners, Benedict grabbing you by the hand to twirl you, making you giggle.

“Hello Mr. Bridgerton.”

“Hello to you too Mrs. Bridgerton,” he grinned at you, “How are you on this fine evening?”

“Enjoying the ball, and yourself?”

“Enjoying the sight of the most beautiful lady at the ball as we speak,” he said and you scrunched up your nose at him, ignoring the burning in your cheeks.

“Ever the romantic,” you teased him. “I should write you a sonnet or something, to pay back the favor. Can’t have you covering that whole front.”

He let out a laugh and you both circled each other as the dance required.

“A sonnet,” he said. “That sounds lovely. Will you carve it on a stone with a knife or something?”

“That does sound romantic now that you mention it,” you said. “And a stone can be a weapon as well, so you would have a sonnet you can actually use if need be.”

“Ever the practical,” he teased you back and you both clapped hands along with other couples, the music coming to a stop. Laughter and chattering filled the dance floor as you dropped a curtsy and Benedict bowed.

“Come on, let’s grab drinks,” he said and offered you his arm, and you put your hand over it so that you both could walk away from the dance floor. Benedict grabbed two glasses from the tray, then gave one to you.

“Is Lottie alright, do you think?” you asked and he nodded.

“She said she was, before reminding me she still wasn’t talking to me.”

You repressed a laugh and stole a look at Colin who was talking to Penelope by the corner.

“And Colin?”

“Pen will make him snap out of it,” he said. “Being around her always makes him feel better. Look at him, smiling already.”

You tilted your head, turning to glance at them but before you could comment on it, someone touched your back, making you look behind you.

“Andrew,” you said, turning around to see him better. “This is a good surprise after what, two weeks?”

“I know,” he said, giving you an apologetic smile. “I have been busy. Hello Benedict.”

“Hello Andrew.”

“Busy with a certain artist?”

“Maybe,” he winked at you. “Where is he anyway?”

“He was just on the dance floor,” you said and Andrew looked through the crowd, then nodded.

“Alright, I’ll be back but before I forget,” he said. “Y/N, Josie says you’ve been worried about the letter from your father and I get that but trust me, even if they do come here there’s no—” he stopped talking as your eyes widened, your heart dropping to your stomach. Benedict slowly turned to look at you before turning to Andrew with a frown and Andrew glanced between you, then hissed in a breath.

“And you haven’t had the chance to tell him,” he muttered. “Damn it. Sorry, I thought…”

“Your parents are coming here?” Benedict asked you and you pursed your lips together, then cleared your throat.

“Andrew, do you mind?”

“Yeah I’ll just—” he motioned at the other side of the ballroom. “Go and mess up another couple’s relationship on my way there so that you won’t feel alone. Sure.”

“Great, you do that,” you said and he squeezed at your arm in an assuring manner before walking away from you. You took a deep breath, your heart beating in your throat before you nodded at Benedict.

“Come with me?” you asked and made your way through the crowd with Benedict following you. You both left the ballroom and you climbed the stairs, then turned left and opened the first door which turned out to be one of the guest rooms. Benedict stepped inside after you, then closed the door behind him and put his hands in his pockets after a pause, clearing his throat.

“So?” he said, his voice completely calm. “What is happening?”

You heaved a sigh and ran a hand over your face.

“My uh…my father sent a letter,” you managed to say and Benedict frowned.

“To you?”

“No, to my uncle,” you motioned outside vaguely. “He talks about wanting to host Teddy for the rest of the season, which will not happen by the way, over my dead body,” you added in a haste. “It’s just a trick to ask for more money from my uncle, at least that’s what he says.”

Benedict nodded. “And they’re coming here?”

“It was implied on the letter,” you murmured, biting inside your cheek. “But my uncle thinks they won’t.”

“And you?”

You could feel your whole body stiffening and it was so familiar to you that it made you scoff, then you shrugged your shoulders.

“I don’t know,” you said curtly. “Father didn’t send another letter.”

“But why wouldn’t you tell me earlier? When did—” he stopped talking as a look of realization dawned on his face, making you shift your weight.

“That’s what you were going to tell me,” he said slowly. “Earlier.”

You pressed your lips together, fixing your gaze on the wall as you crossed your arms.

“That’s why you…” Benedict let out a breath, nodding his head. “Now it makes sense. You wanted to tell me, and I was at a party.”

That familiar feeling of defenselessness sent a shiver down your spine, making you frown before you cleared your throat.

“It doesn’t matter,” you said almost stoically. “It’s fine.”  

“Y/N, I’m really sorry—”

“No need to be,” you cut him off, trying to ignore the uncomfortable sinking in your stomach as you rubbed at your wrist, his eyes following your movements. “We don’t even need to talk about this really.”

“I think we do.”

“We do not.” You shook your head, your mouth dry all of a sudden. “I’m fine.”

“If they come here—”

“I can handle it,” you interrupted him again and rolled your shoulders back. “It’s fine. I don’t need—I can handle it, even if they do come here. I don’t need anyone’s help, I’m fine.”

That soft light appeared in his eyes and he stepped closer to you to pull you into his arms, heaving a sigh.

“Oh my stubborn girl…” he murmured into your hair, his hand cradling the back of your head as you rested your forehead on his chest. His other arm snaked around your waist and you felt the stiffness of your muscles relax slowly, almost melting into his touch. The music coming from downstairs slowly washed away from your ears as your hearing became muffled and you felt the tears rushing to your eyes, making your whole body tense up again. You took a shaky breath and pulled away from him even if you wanted nothing more than just stay there in his embrace forever, then you ran a hand over your face.

“Are you alright?” his voice was gentle and you nodded.

“Yeah I just don’t—I don’t do that anymore.”

“Do what?”

“That whole crying nonsense,” you rasped out, blinking back the tears as you went to sit down on the bed. A silence fell upon the room before he approached you, and crouched down to look at you while you played with the ring around your finger, your gaze growing distant as you found yourself lost in thought until you heard his voice.

“Y/N?”

“Hm?”

“Why not tell me afterwards?”

You shrugged your shoulders, nibbling on your lip.

“We weren’t on best terms,” you muttered. “I could not.”

A gentle smile curled his lips and he entwined his fingers with yours, stroking the back of your hand with his thumb as if trying to assure you.

“No matter what happens between us,” he insisted. “No matter what, I will always protect you. Nothing could change that.”

It felt as if someone was squeezing at your heart inside your chest but you managed to find your voice.

“Benedict, if they do come here…” you trailed off and he shook his head.

“Even if they do, nothing will happen,” he said, his voice determined. “I promised you, remember? No one will touch a hair on your head, ever.”

You dragged your gaze to his as you swallowed thickly, then nodded. For a moment, the only thing you could hear was your own heartbeat, the desire rushing through you. If you leaned in just a little to brush your lips against his, you could—

Your head whipped around as the sound of what was probably a vase falling down to floor and smashing reached inside and you heard Andrew’s laugh and Felix shushing him before someone slammed a door down the hallway. That was enough to snap you out of the haze you were in and you pulled back, blinking a couple of times to focus.

“Can we, um…” you muttered and Benedict seemed to understand what you were going to ask.

“Back home or back to the ball?”

“It’d be rude to Bess if we went home, we must stay,” you said as he stood up but you didn’t let go of his hand and stood up as well. You gave him a small smile, swinging your hands absentmindedly and Benedict raised your hand to press a chaste kiss on it, then shot you that lopsided grin of his.

“Would you spare me another dance, Mrs. Bridgerton?”  

The simple joke made you feel as if that heaviness in your chest was lifted off, letting you breathe again. A giggle escaped from your lips and before you fixed a serious expression on your face, pretending to consider it for a second.

“I suppose I can,” you mused in an airy manner and tugged at his hand to lead him to the door. “You are quite easy on the eye after all.”

Chapter 33

#benedict bridgerton #benedict bridgerton x reader #bridgerton #bridgerton x reader #regency fic

[arminsfavoritepookie]

ROCKSTAR EREN HCS

( How rockstar Eren would be in a relationship with his girl)

- Mentions of explicit smut and lots of fluff

More rockstar Eren hcs

More rockstar Eren hcs pt.3

Rockstar Eren was mysterious to everyone, but to you, he was a man who always knew what he wanted. He was always seeking your presence, needing your touch, and nothing could tear you apart. Your love was a precious gem, one that needed to be guarded with all your might, for you knew that paparazzi and the tabloids were always eager to dig deep into Eren's private life.  

You had both agreed to keep your relationship under wraps, enjoying the thrill and excitement of keeping your love hidden from prying eyes. However, being with Eren was like walking on eggshells. Every time he tried to remove your sunglasses that concealed your identity, you couldn't help but worry about your cover being blown.

Your heart would race with every touch, your body trembling with anticipation. You wished that he wouldn't tempt fate so recklessly.  Eren's hand wrapped tightly around yours as you walked through the bustling streets. You were lost in a sea of thoughts, and the sound of his footsteps was like a lullaby. The thrill of being with a famous celebrity was unlike anything you had ever experienced before. You couldn't believe that someone as talented as him was by your side.  

"What if someone saw us?" you whispered, casting a nervous glance over your shoulder.  Eren's eyes sparkled mischievously. "Let them," he replied, a smug grin playing at his lips.  "But your reputation-"  Eren's grip on your hand tightened.

"That shit doesn’t matter to me" he replied, his eyes holding yours in an unbreakable gaze.  Your whole body felt hot, and your heart began to race with anticipation. You couldn't help but be swept away by the moment.  

"I think it's time that everyone knows that I've settled down for good." he whispered, his breath warm against your skin.  You gazed into his eyes, feeling as if you were about to step off the edge of a cliff. You had no idea what the future held, but you knew that being with him was worth the risk.  

"For good?" you asked, your voice trembling.  Eren's smile softened, and he took your face in his hands. "Forever,"

Rockstar Eren even in the most public of places, was not afraid to show his love for you. It was almost as if he was drawn to you, his hands constantly on you, tracing patterns on your thighs or tugging on the hem of your dress. His lips would find their way to your neck, and his kisses would send shivers down your spine. It wasn't uncommon for him to do this when the two of you were out to dinner, much to your dismay. The waiters and other diners would watch in shock and awe as he lavished attention on you, completely enthralled by your presence.

"She wants to know if you want red or white," you scolded the rockstar, trying to bring him back to reality. But he was too far gone, completely ignoring your pleas. It was like you were the only two people in the restaurant, and Eren's need for you was reaching its peak. You coughed softly, trying to break through to him. "Red will be fine," you stuttered out, feeling flustered by the intensity of his gaze. The waiter scurried away, leaving you alone with Eren once again.

"Eren, what has gotten into you?" you asked him, frustration lacing your tone. "We're here to have a nice time, not to just... touch each other."

"Can you blame me? Look at you," he replied, his voice low and husky. He leaned in closer to you, his eyes intense.

"You're irresistible."

The feeling of his warm breath against your ear sent a shiver of pleasure through you, despite the anger and frustration you were feeling. You tried to pull away from him, but his grip on you only tightened. "Relax, pretty," he whispered, his lips trailing down your neck.

"Let me show you just how much I need you."

Rockstar Eren exudes an aura of toughness and a bad boy image with his impressive tattoos and worldwide reputation. He's not one to be labeled as submissive and hates it when others do. But behind the tough exterior, lies a vulnerable side, one that only you can unlock.

The moment your lips trace his collarbone and you're quickly unclasping the metal of his belt after a show, Eren melts like butter under a hot knife, moaning and whimpering like a lovesick puppy. It's as if you hold some sort of power over him, one that makes him weak in the knees.  The intimacy between the two of you is like nothing he's ever experienced before. His hands shake and sweat as they try to hold back from palming the thick bulge in his jeans, all because you told him not to. He's not used to giving up control, but with you, he willingly surrenders every inch of his being.

"You alright there, Ren?" you asked, gazing up at him through fluttering lashes, your eyes innocently wide. You knew the effect you had on him; his once neat and tidy hair now a mess, his forehead covered in sweat as he struggled to maintain control. But you weren't going to make it easy for him. You continued your torturous licks, your tongue swirling around the swollen head of his thick and hard cock, reveling in the taste of him. His breathing quickens and his hands grip the sheets tightly as he struggles to maintain control. You know he wants to let go, to let the pleasure consume him, but he's holding back. That's where you come in - to push him to the edge. 

"Fuck, baby," he groaned, his lips bitten in neediness as he contributed fucking your mouth, every movement deliberate and controlled. You could feel the veins pulsing beneath the skin of his dick, feel the globs of spit that coated him as you moved up and down his girth.  "Please," he begged, his fingers tangling in your hair as he tried to control his breathing. But you weren't done yet; you were just getting started. With a soft moan, you took him back into your mouth, taking him as deep as you could go. It was hardcore, intense, and utterly exhilarating. 

Your fingers dance along his thighs, eliciting a low growl from Eren's throat. You know he's close - he just needs one final push. As you worked him with your mouth and your hands, you could feel the tension building in him, the heat radiating off of his body as he neared his breaking point. With a final moan, he came hard and fast, filling your mouth with his hot, sticky cum. You swallowed eagerly, savoring the taste of him, the feeling of him against your tongue.  When it was all over, he looked down at you with a mix of exhaustion and adoration, his eyes meeting yours in a moment of perfect intimacy.

"You're too good for me," he whispered, his fingers playing with your curls. You smiled, feeling more than a little smug. "I know," you said softly, feeling more confident than ever before. With a final kiss to the tip of his cock, you got up from your knees. you release him from your mouth and crawl up to his side, tracing circles on his chest. "You good, baby?" you ask, planting a gentle kiss on his cheek.  He nods, a small smile gracing his lips. "Better than good," he says, his voice still laced with arousal. You cuddle up to him, enjoying the afterglow of a job well done.

Rockstar Eren had always been one to feed off the energy in the room. The rush of excitement, adrenaline, and anticipation filled the studio, leaving everyone on the edge of their seats.

But it was your presence that electrified him the most, the mere flicker of light from your smile setting his energy levels soaring. As Eren fiddled with the buttons, knobs, and switches of the soundboard, the sheer amount of options in front of him sometimes felt daunting. However, every time he looked over at you, the challenge of conquering this instrument felt nothing but exhilarating.  

You were the Yin to his Yang, complementing his every move. As Eren layered different beats and instrumentals, you ran your soft and delicate fingers over the curves of his scalp, sending a wave of relaxation coursing through his veins. "Damn," Eren breathed, leaning back against the chair. "I could get used to this." His eyes scanned the room, finally coming to rest on you.

"I swear, I'm going to marry you someday." 

  For a brief moment, a look of shock passed over your face. Eren's words had come as a surprise, but deep down, you couldn't help but feel the same way. A small, fleeting smile crossed Eren's lips as he tried to play it off, but you saw through his act. His attention drifted back to the soundboard, where the familiar glow of the green and red buttons beckoned him once again.  

A few moments later, you began to sing along with the tune Eren was producing, adding depth and warmth to the composition. Your voices entwined with each other's to create a soulful melody that tugged at Eren's heartstrings. The intense and almost tangible connection he shared with you sparked something inside him, a flame that refused to flicker, no matter how hard he tried to extinguish it.

Suddenly, you spoke up. "Eren?" you said softly.  He looked up at you, his eyes soft and warm. "Hmm?" he hummed.  "I want to marry you too," you said, the words slipping out before you could stop them. "Someday."

He gazed at you with so much love in his eyes, and in that moment, Eren knew he never wanted to lose you.

Rockstar Eren looks sexy as fuck when performing. Your gaze was transfixed, drawn inexorably to him as if by some primal force that defied explanation. The crowd around you went wild, but you hardly noticed them. All that existed was Eren, and the heat that emanated from his body as he strummed his guitar with fingers that moved like lightning over the strings.

Your eyes trailed down to his lower abdomen, where a web of intricate tattoos snaked around his hips and disappeared into the waistband of his jeans, which hung low on his hips. You imagined yourself running your hands over the curves and valleys of those tattoos, tracing every detail with your fingers and marveling at the artistry and beauty of each one. But then he looked up, and your breath caught in your throat. His eyes, a piercing green that glowed like emeralds in the bright stage lights, were locked onto yours with a fierce intensity that made your knees tremble and your heart flutter. He was singing, his voice a sultry blend of velvet and steel that stirred something deep within you.

And as he sang, he never took his eyes off you, making you feel like the only person in the world that mattered in that moment. But it wasn't just his voice that entranced you. It was the way he moved - with a liquid grace that flowed through every muscle and sinew, a tantalizing dance that seemed to beg you to join him on the stage and move in time with him. His hair was wild, a mass of dark waves that tumbled down his broad shoulders and framed his chiseled face with an air of casual arrogance that made you weak in the knees.

You imagined running your fingers through that hair, tugging at it just a little as he whispered dirty words in your ear. His fingers were adorned with rings that glinted in the light as he played his guitar with a skill and finesse that was nothing short of hypnotic. And his lips - flushed with the heat of the music and moving to the beat with an erotic allure that made you feel like you were about to combust with desire.

The air was thick with the lingering notes of the last song, as if the music itself was a living, breathing entity. The auditorium was slowly emptying out, but you were rooted to the spot, still caught up in the magic of the night. Your heart was pounding in your chest, a heady mix of adrenaline and euphoria pulsing through your veins. Eren's stage presence had been magnetic, and his every move had been imbued with a raw energy that left you spellbound.

Your feet finally took you backstage, the excitement building within you with each step. Security recognized you instantly and waved you through with a knowing grin. You couldn't wait to see Eren, to bask in the afterglow of his show. You burst into his dressing room, heart in your throat, and there he was - every inch the rockstar you had fallen in love with. He was breathtaking up close, his chiseled features and strong jawline illuminated by the soft glow of the dimmed lighting.

Eren's lips pressed hard against yours, as if he was staking a claim on your lips. You could feel the feral intensity emanating from him as his tongue began exploring every nook and cranny of your mouth. His need was evident, and you could sense it in the way his hands clenched onto your waist, pulling you in even closer to his body. You shivered involuntarily, but it was more from the pleasure of his touch than the cold air that surrounded you.

His lips were rough against yours, the chattering of your teeth the only thing keeping you from biting down on his plump bottom lip. You could taste him in your mouth - the metallic tinge of his saliva mixed with the subtle hint of mint from the gum he had been chewing earlier. His desperation was a drug, and you were completely hooked.

The space between you seemed to be humming with energy as he leaned in, his lips brushing against your ear. "You enjoyed the show, didn't you?" His voice was a low growl, his breath hot and heavy against your skin. You shuddered involuntarily as he spoke, unable to do anything but nod in response. He seemed to sense the raw hunger in your eyes, his own dark and dangerous. He didn't waste any time, his hands roaming over your body with an almost needy intensity, tracing the curve of your hips, the arch of your neck.

Every touch was a jolt of pure lust, and you felt your knees buckle slightly as he pressed closer. "I could tell by the way you were looking at me," he murmured, his eyes blazing with emotions. With one fluid movement, he pulled you flush against his chest, his hand wrapped around your neck. You stumbled slightly as you looked at him, your senses completely overwhelmed.

"Let's hurry and get to the hotel, yea?" His words were like a shot of adrenaline straight to your veins, and you could feel the slick building between your thighs. "I don't think I can wait any longer."

He pressed you up against the wall, his hands gripping you tightly, making you gasp with pleasure. "I thought you were taking me to dinner, Ren? What happened to that?" you breathed out, your heart racing. Turning to look at you, Eren’s eyes bore into yours, filled with hunger and wantonness.

"We'll order room service after I've had my fill of you, baby,"

Rockstar Eren navigates his grueling schedule, he only finds solace in one thing: sleeping next to you. The intensity of tour life and endless rehearsals takes a toll on his mind and body, leaving him drained at the end of the day. But as he steps into the hotel room and catches sight of you curled up in his oversized shirt and snuggled under his favorite blanket, he feels a warmth spread throughout his body.

Your soft snores provide the perfect background music to lull him into a state of tranquility. He walks over to you and kneels beside the bed, admiring the way your hair is wrapped up, a testament to your strict hair care regimen. Eren gazes down at you, mesmerized by the way your face glows under the soft moonlight filtering through the drapes.

As he watches you breathe peacefully, he feels his heart fill with a love that he never thought possible. In that moment, he knows that nothing can ever compare to the bliss he feels when he's lying next to you. Suddenly, Eren notices a small drop of drool escape your lips, and he can't help but chuckle softly to himself.

He runs his fingers over the flesh of your lips, taking extra care not to wake you up. Eren revels in the quietude of the moment, his eyes glinting with joy as he drinks in the tranquility of the scene. The weight of Eren's world melts away, as he realizes that the only thing that really matters is right there, snuggled up next to him. For a while, he just kneels there, soaking in your presence and cherishing the stillness of the moment. It's just the two of you, locked in a beautiful bubble that protects you from the frenzied pace of reality.

Eventually, Eren slips under the covers next to you, and your sleeping form molds itself to his embrace, creating a cocoon of warmth that makes Eren's heart feel full. "You know, you really shouldn't be drooling on my shirt like that," he whispers, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

“Fuck off, Jeager”

Rockstar Eren absolutely adores when you sit in his lap and play with his hair. The way your nimble fingers deftly weave intricate braids and knots into his luscious locks, it sends shivers down his spine. And the way his hands rest on the small of your back as he watches you work, it feels so intimate and romantic. Sometimes, Eren's mind just goes blank as he closes his eyes and succumbs to the euphoria of having his hair played with. His body sinks into the cushions as you knead his scalp, fingers moving in slow, hypnotic circles.

He drifts off to a blissful sleep, snoring softly, unaware of the world around him. When it's time for bed, you softly kiss all over his cheeks to wake him up, and he whimpers pitifully, not wanting to let go of you just yet. His voice is hoarse and gravelly from sleep, but he manages to mumble a few words of endearment, telling you how much you mean to him and how he can't imagine life without you. As he struggles to gather his wits, you help him up and lead him to the bathroom, where you take care of his nightly routine. He feels so vulnerable and exposed in your presence, yet it's a vulnerability that he revels in.

He loves how you take care of him, pampering him and spoiling him like a king. Finally, when it's time to retire to bed, Eren clings to you tightly, unwilling to let you go. He whispers sweet nothings in your ear, telling you how much he adores you and how you complete him. He falls asleep with a goofy grin on his face, feeling so loved and cherished. For Eren, you are not just his lover or his friend, you are his everything.

With that being said

Rockstar Eren's love for you knows no bounds. It's evident in the way he spoils you, his heart bursting with happiness every time he hands you his card and watches you indulge in whatever your heart desires. And who could blame him? You make him feel complete, even in the darkest of times. His love for you shines so brightly that he can't resist spoiling you at every opportunity. In his hands, you feel cherished and adored, your every whim and desire met with the utmost care.

His tender touch makes your heart race, his warm embrace melting away any worry or stress you may be feeling. Eren's unwavering affection is a treasure to behold, something you never take for granted. As he kisses your nose and whispers sweet nothings into your ear, you feel the love and gratitude flowing from every pore in your body. The world may be chaotic and unpredictable, but with Eren by your side, everything falls into place. His generosity is not just a reflection of his wealth, but of his devotion to you.

His desire to spoil you was only matched by your willingness to grab his hand and pull the seat down in his car, eager to feel the rough embrace of his body. You always craved his presence and the insatiable sensation that came with riding his cock. As you rode him hard, a bead of sweat formed on your brow, your thighs tightening around him with every thrust. You let out a small whimper, feeling him go deeper and harder inside your warm cunt, your entire body writhing with pleasure. "Can you feel me, Ren?" you asked, your voice a low, throaty whisper as you locked eyes with him.

He replied with a guttural groan, his large hands gripping your hips as he took control of your body. Smashing your hips down to the base of his throbbing cock. You let yourself fall into him, your squelching walls tightening around his thick girth as you moaned in pleasure. He pulled you in closer, and you could feel every inch of him, every crevice, every vein pulsing on his dick.

You gasped as he took you harder, faster, his breathing ragged and erratic. "I can't get enough of you," he said between grunts, his voice deep and husky. His balls smacking the back of your gushing cunt. You felt yourself losing control, surrendering to the raw intensity of the moment. He was your addiction, your pleasure, your everything. And you never wanted it to end.

Rockstar Eren can't stop talking about you. It's like you are constantly on his mind. Whether he's with his trusted tour manager, Levi, discussing the logistics of his next show, or chilling with his buddies Armin and Mikasa, you always find a way to slip into the conversation. Levi has grown used to Eren's distracted musings about all the exotic restaurants and must-try dishes he can't wait to share with you. "Hey Eren, are you even listening?" Levi would interject, trying to bring Eren back to reality. But Eren's mind would drift off to the romantic image of holding your hand while taking you on a culinary adventure.

Armin and Mikasa have gotten used to their friend's fixation with you too. They would listen intently to Eren's elaborate plans to surprise you with gourmet meals from around the world, nodding along and occasionally throwing in a teasing joke or two. In Eren's hands, he cradles his phone, flipping through foodie blogs, checking out new restaurants, and researching different culinary traditions. It's all for you. He wants to make every moment spent together a memorable and romantic experience, filled with unforgettable flavors and delights.

But there's also a sense of urgency to Eren's enthusiasm. He knows that as a rockstar, he has a demanding and unpredictable schedule. Every day brings a new city, a new venue, a new crowd. But no matter where he is or what he's doing, he wants to make sure you feel cherished and adored. "I know we're on the road a lot, but that just means we have more opportunities to explore new shit together," Eren would say, his eyes shining with excitement.

Armin and Mikasa exchange a glance, secretly pleased that their friend has found someone who brings out the best in him. As for Eren, he can't imagine his life without you. You've become his muse, his inspiration, his reason to keep pushing forward. "So, when are you taking her out next?" Armin asks, a playful grin on his face. Eren chuckles, a little embarrassed but mostly thrilled to talk about you. "Soon. Very soon. I've got some new places in mind that I know she'll love."

#aot fanfiction #aot x you #aot angst #aot x reader #eren x black reader fluff #eren x reader #eren jeager #eren headcanons #eren jeager x reader #eren x black fem!reader #shingeki no kyoujin eren #eren x you #eren jeager smut #eren jeager x y/n #eren jaeger #eren jeager x you #eren jeager headcanons #eren x black reader smut #eren yaeger x reader

[jeonjungkookenthusiast1997]

Tempting Fate

Synopsis: Y/N in a bid to get revenge tries to summon a powerful demon prince called Bang Chan but the demon who she actually summons couldn't be more different. Han Jisung, an incubus, decides to show her how useful he can be.

This is my own work not a reblog! Please do not repost or translate.

Content Warnings - demon sex, magic used in sex, oral (fem receiving), cursing, pet names, creampie, unprotected sex (wrap it up people!), multiple orgasms, overstimulation, possessive language, explicit consent, demon form, fluffy ending, mentions of past relationships, mentions of cheating (not Han!), slight voyeurism, Han is a little shit

Word Count : 5,677

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# Han's horns and tail for reference, think Belphegor from Obey Me #

It was an unusually cold October evening when Y/N decided she was going to try summoning a demon from an ancient book her grandmother had given her. It was a dusty old book bound with brown leather with creases all over the old pages and honestly she wasn't sure this was even going to work but growing up her grandmother had always been adamant that demons were real so she would give this book a chance to prove her right.

Once all the necessary ingredients were collected she grabbed some white chalk and started drawing the summoning circle. Some of the symbols were a little blurry but that didn't stop her from trying her best to make this work. She had read as much as she could about the demon she was hoping to summon, his name was Bang Chan and he was, according to the dusty book, a prince of Hell capable of bring down the most heinous of foes so she highly doubted he'd have much trouble with her cheating bastard of an ex boyfriend.

She waited a few moments as she looked the circle over, her eyes flitting from the book to the symbols she'd copied and once she deemed it was as good as it was going to get she sat down at the base of the circle, closed her eyes and started reciting the spell she'd found on the following page. Her fingers tapped nervously on her thigh as she waited a few moments but nothing happened, highly disappointed she was about to throw the infernal thing into the closest rubbish bin when the circle started to glow a deep shade of red.

A dark energy which made the girl feel uneasy started to crackle and buzz as a gust of wind suddenly blew from the circle with light shooting out to all corners of her living room, the wind was so strong in fact that it blew her backwards causing her shoulders and back to hit against her sofa. She let out a pained whimper as she held her arm when she realised a man was standing in the middle of the summoning circle. She used the palms of her hands to rub across her eyes as it sank in that the spell worked and the book was legit. As the dust and wind started to clear she hesitantly called out into the dark room "Bang Chan?" She questions in a voice much more timid than she would have liked.

From the shadows she sees, what looks like a man, staring at her with a frown on his face. This 'man' shakes his head and lets out a surprisingly dark and raspy chuckle "guess again little witch" her eyes widen as she looks at the being standing in front of her. He has chocolate brown hair that stops just below his ears, dark brown eyes that she could have sworn shone red in the light of the candles she had placed around the room. Finally she noticed the thick boots attached to his feet that seemed to shake the floor with every step he took, once she looks back at his face what he had called her sunk into her brain "I'm not a-" she gasps as she fumbles on the floor rushing to stand "I am not a witch!" she asserts as she narrows her eyes at him.

He looks amused as he tilts his head to the side before looking her up and down "really? Then what is that?" He speaks as his head nods to the open book on the floor, confused as she bends to pick it up and holds it open to show him "this? It's just a silly old book! It- my grandma has owned it my whole life" she stutters as she finished her words trying to prove to him, that she is not in fact a witch, but her babbling only made him chuckle "that.." he points down to the page "is a grimoire, it's a book of spells yes? That's how you summoned me? You cast a spell" His brow furrows as she looks at him blankly "did you really not know what this was when you used it?! When you summoned a fucking demon?!" He asks incredulously and she simply shakes her head as an answer.

The demon tuts at her and moves from the circle to look around the room, he's about to make a comment about her lack of expertise and how easy it would be to take advantage of her when he hears her gasp "wait- you said you aren't… Bang Chan?" Her frown is enough to tell him how confused she is which only makes him grumble to himself about 'silly little witches these days' when he sees she's pointing at a page in that damned book.

Deciding to humor her somewhat he bends down to look at the book while sighing dramatically "afraid not sweetheart" shaking his head as he further examines the tattered pages muttering to himself before he suddenly claps his hands making her jump and points to one of the symbols the girl had drawn on the floor "well that's where you've gone wrong, you've written something closer to my name than good 'ole Chan's and infernal magic working the way it does decided to send me to you" he shrugs as she frowns "infernal magic?" She questions before deciding on a different question to ask the admittedly very handsome demon "well who are you then?" she asks, looking him up and down, his physical appearance would have led her to believe he's her age, maybe a little younger but clearly that wasn't the case.

He chuckles quietly and leans forward towards her his warm breath tickling her earlobe "my name is Han" he whispers huskily "and I'm an incubus" he smirks as her face changes from confused and frustrated to flushed and embarrassed, her cheeks glow a vibrant shade of pink as his words sink in "I don't need a sex demon! I-I needed Bang Chan! o-or this one..." she flicks ahead a few pages and points to another ancient name "Changbin, I want revenge not... not... you!" she gasps as her breaths come out heavy "no offense" adds off handedly hiding her face in her hands.

He holds his chest in an overly fake manner pretending to be hurt by her words,at her insistence that she wanted somebody else's help but quickly laughs loudly as he pulls back slightly so that their noses aren't touching anymore "revenge? Revenge for what exactly?" he asks curiously "what could a little human girl like you ever need revenge for?" he tilts his head to the side clearly very amused at her frustration. "Little?!" she all but screeches as she stares at this demon 'Han' she thinks he said, she huffs but tries to calm herself down enough to explain the situation realising that he's not going to help her until she does "my ex is who I want revenge on" she sees his eyes widen slightly but carries on before he can butt in "he cheated on me, treat me like shit and just... yeah I wanted someone to make him feel as small as he made me feel" she crosses her arms and looks down "nothing a lust demon could help me with" she sighs disappointed as she assumes her plans a bust now.

However Han simply nods his head and clears his throat "you're right I'm not Channie or Binnie" she raises her eyebrow at the names "nicknames for my older brothers" he quickly explains making her giggle a little as he continues "I can't make that ex of yours fall to his feet in despair or physical pain it's not my style" he shrugs but moves closer to her smirking "but I can make him feel the deepest levels of jealousy, I can make him feel utterly useless… for what mortal could compare with a lust demon" a look of confusion passes over her delicate features "how are you going to make him jealous?" She questions Innocently making the dark haired demon laugh darkly "you're asking me how? what a precious little human has fallen into my lap" he stalks over to her with purpose, his dark eyes seeming to shine with each step he took.

When he reaches Y/N he twirls a lock of her hair around his finger "I'm going to make you feel levels of pleasure you never thought possible and then I'm going to show him just how fucked out I can get you" he tugs her hair lightly "once I'm through with you, you'll never think of that mortal again" he smirks as her face flushes again "if you consent of course" he adds as if its completely impossible any mortal would or has ever said no to him. Y/N flushes deeply at his words and gulps, she's trying to think all of this through and plan for the best outcome but Han is so close and he smells so addicting, it's almost like he knows the effect he's having on her as the smirk he's wearing almost reaches his jewel adorned ears.

Y/N shakes her head as if that's going to clear her mind but it still remains foggy "h-have you done something to me?" she asks him in the sweetest voice it almost makes him swoon "not purposely sweetheart" he chuckles as his thumb smoothes over her cheek almost affectionately "you're feeling the effects of my natural charm as a incubus, it helps me to get you feeling relaxed and ready for me~" the words fall of his tongue so readily she can't imagine he's lying but it's hard to think of anything right now other than Han as a burning desire starts to lick at her bones. Han takes a deep breath and visibly shivers "I can smell that it's working, you smell so delicious for such a little thing" he almost groans as his nose prods at her neck before giving it an experimental lick making her gasp "I think what I have in mind will be more than enough to make you forget that mortal and get you some revenge too" he chuckles darkly before moving his face to brush his lips against hers, the kiss is soft at first as to ease her into the feeling but quickly grows more passionate as he probes her lips with his tongue.

A whine bubbles in her throat but she pushes it down as best she can "before we can start though sweetheart I need you to tell me you want this, want me" Y/N looks up to his face dazed and nods which only makes Han grunt impatiently "need words baby~" he smiles as his hand moves under her shirt to rub at her bare skin making heat trail from his fingertips to her spine almost like electric sparking through her bones "I- I want you Han" her words cause his smirk to return but he doesn't move nodding for her to continue "want you to fuck me" she pouts at him for having to sound so needy for a being she barely knew or trusted but his wide spread grin almost made it worth the flash embarrassment that spread over her heart and cheeks.

Han hums as he leans in to kiss her again "so sweet" he whispers, the kiss he gives her is passionate and urgent "now, let's get you ready for me~" his eyes glitter with devilish excitement as his body shines and crackles with energy "hold on tight sweetheart" he grins at he teleports the pair to Y/N's bedroom.

Almost in an instant they're in her bedroom and he's throwing her onto her bed, she looks around alarmed "how did you...?" she uses her hand to gesture to the room and it makes him chuckle slightly "have you already forgotten? I'm a demon baby~ I can take you anywhere you want to go" and with that he's joining her on the bed and pushing her down to climb over her. Han takes a moment to look at her frame enjoying how fragile she looks under him, his tail swishes around behind his back showing his excitement, he clicks his fingers causing the red crackles to return as he magically strips her of her outer clothes leaving her only in her red and black lace bra and panties.

Han blinks owlishly as her body is revealed to him "oh my, look at you~" he hums as he takes in the sight of her "it's almost like you knew I'd be coming, red and black are my signature colours sweetheart" he chuckles and explains as he sees her confused face. He admires the intricate colours and textures before he climbs on top of her, his thick thighs cage her body in underneath him as his fingers explore her exposed skin stopping back at her bra he uses his nail, which looks suspiciously like it has transformed into a claw, to shred the strap moving down to repeat the process with her panties "there, that's better" he hums happy with his work.

She gasps as the shreds of material fall off her body "that was new!" she almost cries which only makes him chuckle to himself "I'll replace it" as the words leave his mouth the atmosphere in the room shifts back to the hazy and electrifying feeling from before making her body tingle all over as his predatory gaze lingers on her nipples hardening from the cold room. Taking note of her body's response he decides to take advantage, leaning down he takes one pert nipple in his mouth suckling gently on it making her moan and sigh softly. His tail twirls around her body, wrapping around her waist and holding her tight to him as he continues to tease her breasts.

She watches his tail curiously reaching her hand down to trail her fingers along the soft fur making his eyes widen a fraction as his breath hitches slightly at the light touches she leaves on his body, but quickly regains composure as he leans forward to kiss her deeply tasting her sweet lips savoring every second of their passionate embrace. As they break apart he pulls away smiling mischievously "I'm going to have you screaming my name tonight..." Han moves his face up to her neck placing soft kisses against the column of her neck, his promise makes her heart thud against her ribs.

Y/N tilts her head to the side giving the demon better access as he licks and nips his way down her throat, he sucks delicious bruises on her skin as he moves across her body with her whimpers filling his ears "are you always this sensitive?" he smirks as he sees her chest heaving slightly, his smirk only grows as she shakes her head 'no' "your lips feel so h-hot" she whines as he sucks marks into her delicate breasts, his fingers toying with her pebbled nipples "your body's response to my touch is... intoxicating" he murmurs as he sucks on the skin just under her nipples his tail tightening its hold around her waist and holding her tight to him, his lips lick and suck at her skin with an intensity that leaves her almost gasping for air.

He chuckles at her statement as he takes her mouth in a deep kiss, his tongue probing her lips forcing her to open for him. "Oh, you have no idea" she can feel wetness gathering against her thighs at his teasing touches, she's starting to get antsy wanting more "H-Han please... need more" she tries to hide her face as she asks for more pleasure.

As if on cue his tail twitches as he feels her writhing beneath him, the smell of her arousal soaking into his skin making his eyes glow a beautiful shade of crimson "fuck I can smell you sweetheart, you smell so sweet" he bites his lip as his hands slide from her breasts to her thighs as he moves back to study her body. His long fingers trail down her body past her hips and stopping where she needs him most, his eyes flick to her face "last chance to back out sweetness, if I get a taste of you I won't be able to stop myself" as if to make his point known his eyes shine brightly while his tail moves down from her waist to wrap around her thigh pulling it off to the side, spreading her open for his dark eyes. Y/N bites her lip at his warning but she nods "want this, want you to fuck me" she whimpers pitifully as she spreads her legs further for him, feeling his tail tighten at her words she reaches her hands out for him which is all he needs to snap the last remnants of his patience, he lowers himself down as he returns his lips to her neck sucking and nibbling as his fingers finally find purchase on her entrance. He groans loudly as he feels her slick sticking to the digits as they run up her slit resting at her clit.

Han couldn't resist any longer, the sight before him was almost too much to handle. Her scent drove him mad with lust and he hadn't felt such an intense longing in many years, making things worse was how sweet she sounded while begging for him. He growls roughly as he moves his kisses to her jaw then to her lips as he kisses her roughly pushing his tongue inside her mouth while his fingers rub soft but firm circles against her clit causing moans to fall from her lips as her hands come to grip his body. Her little sounds of pleasure grow steadily as he steals the breath from her lungs "have to prep you for my thick cock before I can fuck you sweets" he mutters against her lips as the speed of his fingers increases. his finger finally moves from her clit to dip into her waiting pussy so he can stretch her out, realising how wet she was he quickly adds another finger moving his thumb to rub against her clit as his fingers fuck her, her mouth drops open at the sudden increase in pleasure her head tipping back against her pillows.

She gasps when he pulls away from their kiss, his voice sounded rugged and husky that she couldn't help herself anymore. She needs more than just his fingers; she needs his cock inside her. She whimpers softly as he removes his fingers from her dripping cunt before suddenly returning them, thrusting faster as her moans pick up in pace "Han~" she whines as her walls start to clamp down on his fingers. Han nibbles on her ear lightly before whispering to her "you getting close sweetheart? gonna cum on my fingers?" he licks a stripe up her neck before he gives her clit a hard rub as his fingers thrust as deep as they can causing her thighs to shake "'mm~ I'm g-gonna-" she barely has time to warn him before she cums gasping his name

Han's eyes darken as he felt her walls clamp down on his fingers, he gritted his teeth as he continued to thrust helping ride out her orgasm. His eyes close as his fingers slip from her spasming hole and he brings the digits to his mouth moaning as he gets to finally taste her. The sight is so damn sinful that it makes her heart thud in her chest, once he seems happy his fingers are clean she gives him another heated kiss "I'm ready now Han, ready for you to fuck me" she tries to pull his body to her own to start undressing him but he only shakes his head "want to taste you properly first sweetheart" he lowers himself down to settle between her legs as his tongue pulls through her soaked lower lips "need to feel you cum on my tongue" he growls as she whines from the overstimulation starting to seep into her body. He smiles against her skin as he hears her whine, the sound making him want to tease her even further. So instead of licking all around her pussy he chose to focus on teasing, slowly slipping his tongue along her slit tasting every inch of her until finally reaching her clit.

She moves her hands to fall above her head as she grips her sheets tightly "stop teasing Han" she begs as she bucks her hips up against his plump lips, he chuckles softly hearing her beg so sweetly for more so he decides to indulge her request increasing the pressure with his tongue swirling it across her sensitive bud making sure not to miss any spot. Her moans become louder as he devours her "I can feel how turned on you are sweets, it's making my cock so fucking hard" he mumbles against her clit causing the vibrations to buzz against her swollen nub.

Painful pleasure blooms over her thighs and down to her throbbing clit as the sensations become too much, overstimulation hitting her body hard "n-need more... please Han~ need your fingers~ need to cum" she bucks her hips again as his tail forces her hips further apart to give him more space. He looks up from between her legs seeing the desperation in her eyes he nods before slowly sliding two fingers inside her wet pussy feeling her walls contract around them almost squeezing them like a vice grip "fuck you're squeezing my fingers so tight~ how will you ever take my cock?" he asks with a teasing smile as he returns his tongue to her clit.

Y/N's eyes screw shut as her breath hitches in her throat and she throws her head into her pillows as her back arches "Haaan~ I'm cumming! fuck I'm gonna cum again!~" she cries as tears fall down her cheeks, her juices soaking his lips and fingers as he continues lapping at her clit and thrusting his fingers until he's sure she's come down from her high. He moans as he feels her cumming on his face, he takes his time licking her clean then sucks her cum off of his fingers looking into her eyes as he does "you sound so sweet when you cum baby" he smirks as he crawls up her body kissing her passionately and pushing his tongue into her mouth, letting her taste herself on his tongue.

Han's eyes shine as he stares down at her body "I love seeing how fucked out you are right now baby~ gonna be thinking about your pretty face as you cum for a long time~" he smiles mischievously as he places one last kiss on her lips before he retracts his tail from her thigh and moves it to wrap around her upper body, the fur at it's edge teasing her nipples as looks into her eyes "are you ready for me sweetheart?" as her breaths calm down she smiles up at him "need you Han please~ need your clothes off" he smiles at her request clicking his fingers as his magic strips his clothes away leaving him bare above her body. She can't help the gasp that makes its way out as she finally sees his bare cock, thick in length and wide enough to make Y/N physically gulp and lick her lips.

He chuckles softly as he pulls away from their kiss, his hands running through her hair gently as he kisses her neck again. His other hand slides under her thighs lifting them slightly "of course~ I'm going to give you a night you'll never forget remember" he whispers huskily against her skin as he presses himself closer to her, he gives his length a few sharp tugs before lining himself up with her slit rubbing up and down to cover himself in her wetness before he gives her a pointed look. A curt nod is all the consent he needs as he slowly starts pushing his thick length into her tight wet walls giving her time to accept his well endowed member, Han licks the tears off her cheeks as he mutters hushed praises of 'you're taking me so fucking well sweetheart' and 'look how your greedy pussy sucks me in'. Once he had bottomed out filling her so deliciously her hands shoot up to grip his hair as a long moan leaves her lips, her hands tighten around the base of his thick, dark horns securing her hold on his body.

He hums quietly as he continues to slide himself inside her tight walls, it takes all of his willpower to keep himself as steady as he can while she adjusts to his size. A loud husky moan reverberates through his chest as she grips his horns making his hips cant forwards pushing him into her heat "s-shit~ my horns are s-sensitive sweetheart" she tries to move her hands from his hair quickly at his confession "shit sorry Han, I didn-" but a low growl stops her in her tracks "I never told you to stop" with a knowing smile she moves her hands back scratching the edges of his horns with each thrust he gives her "fuck- call me Jisung baby, it's my given name" he moans as he rocks his hips faster, she wraps her legs tightly around his slender waist pulling him impossibly closer to her body as she moans his name with each hard thrust "Ji- Jisung fuck~", Han bites his lip as he thinks his name has never sounded sexier than it does coming from her lips.

His breath hitches as she pulls him towards her, he feels her hands on his horns as he slides deeper inside her. A small groan left his throat as he heard his given name moaned so sweetly, his cock twitched slightly against her inner walls as he pushed himself deep inside her. He could feel her tightening around him "so fuckin' tight baby~" he whispers as his thrusts start to pick up their speed as his own moans fill the room, her bedframe rocks against the wall in perfectly timed thrusts as he breaks her body down filling her with immense pleasure "fuck your cock is filling me up so good~" she moans as he angles his hips to hit that deep part of her pussy that makes her eyes roll back into her head.

He grunts loudly as he keeps up his fast and rough pace, his grip tightened on her thighs as he begins to pound his hips forward faster. The sound of flesh slapping together fills the air along with their heavy breathing, sweat drips off both of them onto the sheets below them staining the material as her walls are fluttering against his length her head rolls back, her moans are increasing in pitch as the coil in her tummy begins to tighten "Ji~" she whines as her grip on his horns tightens, scratching against the hard bone when suddenly a loud ring shoots around the nearly silent room.

Han's thrusts still as he looks at her phone with a burning rage he doesn't usually feel "ignore them Jisung" she moves her hands from his head to his jaw as she pulls him into a kiss. His hips start to build up to his previous rhythm when her phone rings again "Fuck!" he growls as he reaches over and grabs her phone "who the fuck is Taehyung?" her eyes widen as she hears the name "my ex..." she frowns, worried this interruption has ruined the moment but Han adorns a sinister smile "oh really? the whole reason I'm balls deep in your pussy right now?" she nods, not understanding where he's going with his question, he thrusts the phone in her face and mutters a dark "answer it" she blinks a few times confused but hits the green answer button.

As soon as Y/N mutters a shaky 'hello' Han starts his sharp thrusts into her pussy with a smirk, the more she tries to answer the other man on the line the harder Han thrusts until he hears an angry "are you being fucked right now?", Han grabs the phone from her shaking hands and grins mischievously "yeah I'm fucking her and I can guarantee I've made her cum harder in one night than you did the whole time you dated her" he punctuate his point his thrusts hard into her g-spot causing her the scream out his name. With a satisfied smirk Han ends the call and throws the off to the side letting it land on the pile of their clothes so he can return his attention to her body, his thrusts pick up in speed as he moves his hand to her hair making her focus on his face as he wrecks her.

He smirks as he continues to ravage her tight little pussy, her moans and whimpers of his name getting louder as he feels himself nearing climax. "you're mine sweetheart and mine alone~ your body belongs to me now" his voice was filled with lust and desire, wanting nothing more than to claim her completely, he reaches his hand down to play with her clit as his thrusts abuse her walls. Y/N can't help the moan that leaves her throat at his possessive words "yours Ji~" she smiles as she returns her hands to his horns tugging tightly as her thighs wobble and shake loosening their grip on his waist as she starts to become tired.

Han's fingers continue to toy with her clit while he pounds away at her pussy, he groans loudly when she acknowledges his possessive rambling "shit baby~" he groans as his hips stutter from the feeling of her hands gripping his horns again "can't hold on much longer you smell too good, wanna pump you full of my cum" he bites down on the dip of her shoulder as he gives her a few hard last thrusts aimed at her g-spot. She cries out as he thumps against her g-spot, his bite and teasing fingers on her clit pushing her over the edge as her eyes roll back into her head, thighs shaking as she cums harder than she ever has before almost blacking out as the pleasure shoots across her body.

Han grunts deeply as he slams deep inside her one final time, holding onto her hips firmly as he releases all of his seed within her womb, filling her up completely as he pants heavily trying to catch his breath. "fuck... fuck.. shit… Y/N" his whole body shakes as he comes down from his high, sweat slicked across both of their bodies as their breaths even out and he suddenly collapses down onto her smaller frame. He giggles softly as he looks into her eyes "shit sweetheart, haven't cum that hard in years" he groans as he stretches his arms across her body when he suddenly winks "told ya I could help you" he laughs as she shoves his body away playfully while laughing.

He groans as his body clicks with his stretches, he carefully pulls out of her abused walls and falls onto the bed next to her pulling her into his arms as he places a kiss to her forehead. She giggles softly as his light touches "are incubus always this cuddly after sex?" she asks as she pushes his wet hair away from his eyes. He chuckles quietly as he nuzzles her neck gently with his nose "I guess we'll have to find out huh? you are mine now after all" he says with a smirk before leaving soft kisses against her neck and collarbone, kissing the areas he had marked earlier.

He pulls her back flush to his chest as he praises her "you were amazing tonight sweetheart" he whispers into her ear. "I've never seen any human take me so well before" she blushes at his hushed praise while she traces figures over his muscled arms "well you certainly kept you end of the bargain, what was it you promised me again" she playfully tilts her head as she pretends to think "you could make him feel the deepest levels of jealousy?" she questions in a teasing tone. He smirks devilishly down at her, his eyes twinkling with mischief "what can I say sweetheart, I aim to please~" he chuckles as his hands squeeze her hips, he nuzzles her cheeks lovingly once more before he shakes his head "still can't believe the fucker called while I was pounding you into the bed" Y/N can't help but giggle at his frustration "I doubt he'll call again after hearing you make me scream" she turns in his arms and kisses his nose in little pecks.

He smiles softly at her words before he captures her lips in a hungry kiss, he pulls away for a second before he nips at her bottom lip teasingly as he speaks "he'd better stay away... I can't promise I'll be able to control my anger if he shows his face" he growls in a playful manner before he bites her bottom lip gently. She moans softly against his lips as she nods "got my big strong demon here to protect me" she teases as she pulls him down onto her body "we need to have a shower and clean up but after that... round 2?" she asks as innocently as she can muster. His tail swishes from side to side and he gives a low chuckle as he wraps an arm around her waist as he presses himself against her firmly as he says "there's always time for round two, sweetheart." he grins as his eyes spark with flecks of red.

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[thearchvillain]

gardenias. | nikolai

part I

nikolai lantsov x reader

summary: the setting is a grand event hosted at os alta with the intention of finding a future queen for crown prince vasily. the reader is a merchant's daughter trying to keep a low profile after her parents had dragged her there (against her will) with the hopes that she might catch the prince's attention. she, on the other hand, has different plans. plans that get entirely upheaved by none other than the younger prince nikolai who interrupts her illicit late-night meeting in the winter garden. now she's caught attention of one of the two people whose scrutiny she'd been trying so hard to avoid for the last few days of the event and she's not entirely sure she actually minds it.

preview: Irritated, she spun around and came up so close she could feel the wool of his uniform brush against her bodice as she glared up at him. "What now?"  "Now I'm thinking I should escort you to your room, just to make sure you don't accidentally commit some act of treason on your way to it." "Is that what you think? That I'm planning some grand act of treason with Zaitsev?" "You do have that look about you. A bit insolent, a bit treasonous."  She twisted her wrist in his hand as if to draw attention to it, jutting her chin out defiantly as she looked up at him. When she spoke she did her best to sound as smug and irritating as he did. "You like that, don't you?" He made a soft tutting sound, looking deeply amused. "I do like you. That doesn't mean I trust you."  "That's--" she stuttered, torn between irritation and being caught off-guard by the matter-of-factness colouring his voice, "That's not what I meant."  "You're blushing again."

word count: 5k (i know. don't @ me)

tropes/warnings: not cannon, vasily's still alive, nikolai's kinda suspicious that y/n is about to commit some kind of treason and it's reflected in the way he acts, there is tension and innuendos though sljdf, y/n does get a bit upset/frustrated at one point, nikolai does apologise but does not back down from his plan to uncover her secrets bc where would the fun be in that, there is physical touch

a/n: i'm not going to lie to you, this is absolutely going to be a multi-part. i'm enjoying writing nikolai being a teasing menace far too much not to explore it further, and i think nikolai would be far too curious and fascinated by y/n to just let it go (and a bit worried about what she's up to). note that while this is their first time meeting there's still a lot of tension that will only continue to grow, so i hope you enjoy it!

The air inside the palace winter garden was laden with the scent of jasmine. There was an oppressiveness to it that stood in stark contrast with the fresh night air she'd come in from, leaving her heady and wondering if she might suffocate from it by the time the lieutenant arrived. That would be quite the sight - a page ripped out of a book of fairytales and brought to life, a pretty young thing laid peacefully amongst the blossoming flowers, caught in the last moment before the colour had drained out of her cheeks. She would lay out her arm like so, blue petals spilling out of her still fingers and... Ghezen. This place had a way of bringing out the morbid in her. Must be something about all the death imagery she'd sifted through earlier that day in the royal library - Ravkan stories certainly had a proclivity for martyred girls and their lovely, tragic endings. It did nothing but fortify her belief that breaking into the winter garden and hiding out had been a good idea. Y/N had no interest in actually experiencing martyrdom or tragic endings, thank you very much.

That is if one ignored the fact she was tempting fate by agreeing to an illicit meeting with a man her parents had most definitely not had in mind when they'd dragged her all the way to Ravka with them. A man who was distinctly late to said meeting. Y/N twisted the leaf she'd plucked from one of the bushes, her fingers sticky from where she'd crushed it and unsteady with the nervous sort of energy that accompanied late nights and ill-advised impulses. She'd already stood up and sat back down several times when the sound of a door opening interrupted her mid-movement and she slipped behind one of the stone columns that obscured her from view. The silence stretched for a long moment before the door clicked closed once more. The stone roses of the column were biting into the skin between Y/N's shoulderblades where she pressed herself against it as if she might blend into it by the sheer force of will. Another stretch of silence before the sound of a key turning in the lock made her start, her chest tightening. Silence. Whoever was there must've just noticed the door was left unlocked and decided to close it. Good. Y/N fingered the silver hairpin she'd used to break into the garden before pushing herself away from the column and slipping towards the glass door that led onto the palace grounds. She didn't want to risk anyone seeing her going back through the door that had just been locked.

"What's the rush?" A voice came from somewhere behind her. "You're missing all the flowers. Or is the collection not exotic enough for the refined tastes of a merchling princess?" 

Y/N halted mid-step, her shoulders drawn taut as she went very, very still. This was not the lieutenant's voice - it was just a bit too silvery, too playful, too... refined in its accent. Not a native speaker, but a very well-educated one. 

"I... the smell - it's overpowering." 

A soft chuckle. "Perhaps the lady would find it less offensive if she came to visit the gardens during the day." There was a slight pause. She swore she could almost hear him smirk in the way his voice trailed off. "As most people do."

She still had her back turned to him, her head tipped slightly back to look up towards the glass ceiling as if she expected to find a solution or at least strength to deal with this up there. "You are here too, are you not?" 

"Touche." He moved then, his steps loud against the marble floor but slow and languid, as if he were a predator stalking a fear-frozen doe in some rather exotic forest. He was much closer when he spoke this time. "But I like the smell. It's jasmine. Night-blooming jasmine to be specific. My mother's favourite." 

Y/N did not see what was the relevance of his confession but she assumed he might be slightly more compliant with the whole keeping quiet about this business if she played along. "Does she garden?"

This made him laugh. It was a nice sort of laugh - the kind that belonged to someone intimately familiar with the sound, whose mouth had been made for laughing and who found her question infinitely amusing. "Saints, no. That would be quite the sight though - my mother with dirt-stained hands, taking care of a living thing."

Y/N did not respond. This sounded like a confession too, one she was not privy to. She felt like she was missing a puzzle piece. He waited in silence for a moment, and when she didn't answer she heard the rustle of fabric as he must have leaned against the column behind her. "Are you not going to turn around?" 

"I was escaping, remember? It would be silly to show my face now when I still have a chance of getting away."

He made a noncommittal sound. "I didn't realise you were fleeing. Women don't tend to run away from me very often. How... thrilling." 

Y/N almost snorted at this display of ego. She resigned herself to a sort of small, vague sound that could be left up to interpretation. "Are you going to stop me?" 

"Would you like me to?" His voice had gone low and goading, but he never moved from his spot. It had occurred to her that it might be advisable to be more nervous about this strange man standing behind her, but this felt more like a game than a threat and Y/N couldn't help the smile that tugged at the corners of her lips. 

"A thrilling proposition, but one I will have to refuse. Allegedly I'm a sensible creature, and none of this sounds very sensible."

"Neither does meeting Lieutenant Zaitsev in a winter garden at three in the morning, but here we are. Minus Zaitsev, unfortunately." He said unfortunately in a way people did when they found nothing unfortunate about a situation at all. 

Y/N spun around, suddenly very aware of the sound of rushing blood and her own quickened heartbeat that rang in her ears. Prince Nikolai looked as pleased by this reaction as she imagined a cat would as it dug its claws into some poor, unsuspecting thing or got a big plate of full-fat cream. At least now the gardening thing made complete sense. 

He was in his full regalia, as polished as he'd been when she'd seen him earlier this evening, all shiny medals and sharp lines and the sort of lazy indifference that came with inherited importance and disarming good looks. She'd half expected the illusion of grandeur to disappear once she saw him up close, but the prince remained as impeccable as he'd been from afar, almost to an irritating degree. Y/N lowered her eyes. 

"My apologies, your Highness. I didn't recognise your voice."

"How could you? We've never had the pleasure of speaking to each other." Y/N thought she might have been imagining the subtle note of accusation in his voice. He tipped his head to the side, eyes fixed on Y/N with the sort of intense curiosity that she could feel burning against her skin. "Don't apologise. I've had enough of performative politeness to last me a year."

Y/N raised an eyebrow at that, her eyes flitting up to his face for a brief moment of offence. "Are you implying my apology is performative?" 

Nikolai caught her eyes and smiled at that. She had been right - he had the sort of mouth that lent itself to charming, easy smiles and was hard to look away from. "You don't seem the type to be sorry about any of this. Except maybe getting caught."

Y/N didn't deign answer that, there was no point in pretending when he hardly appeared open to changing his mind if the knowing smirk on his lips was anything to go by. She took a slight step backwards when he pushed himself away from the column and moved towards her. He side-stepped her, though there was still an undue amount of proximity between them as he passed by her side, eyes trailing along her features before he focused on something behind her. 

"You know who I am, don't you?" she asked. He'd called her a merchling princess, he'd known exactly why she was here and who she'd intended to meet. Something was unsettling about the casual way in which he considered her question as if he were toying with her the same way he was toying with the leaves of some unnamed bush he'd stopped to observe. 

He was quiet for a while, the only sound a low chuckle that rumbled in his chest as he plucked a pretty, pink flower from its stem. "It's in my job description," he said simply as if that might explain the overabundance of information on her. 

"Is it? I've heard princes have people for that. To whisper over your shoulder whenever they see someone coming your way."

A laugh this time. "You're not wrong, but I find those quite overbearing and tough to get rid of when one wishes to slip away unnoticed. I'm sure you can relate." 

She hummed in response, eyes narrowed. "Where's the lieutenant?"

"Am I boring you that much? You wound me, Miss Braam." 

Y/N barely held back a frustrated sound that she felt building in her chest. He was infuriating on purpose, she was sure. She'd seen him interact with people tonight and he went about it with such elegance and ease that there was no doubt Nikolai Lantsov had a way with both words and people. 

"I would do no such thing. You're a delight," she said dryly. And it wasn't a lie - Nikolai did seem delightful in a precarious sort of way, but Y/N felt far too on edge to appreciate it. "He promised..."

Nikolai interrupted her, one gloved hand raised as if he were placating a startled wild animal. "I sent him away," he said, turning to face her, "I must say, if I were in his place and meeting you in such a lovely place at a such late hour I would've personally put up much more of a fight. Alas, he obeyed - so you're stuck with me instead." 

Y/N felt the frustration rising, choking out the words in her throat even as she pushed it down to try and appear forlorn rather than annoyed. "Oh," was all she said, turning her face away so that the shadowy darkness offered some cover. 

She saw him shift in the periphery of her vision and then there were fingers on the edges of her jaw, the material soft and runny against her skin. Not cotton, silk. Of course it would be silk. She didn't fight him as he guided her chin so that she was looking at him once again, determined to appear deeply hurt by Zaitsev's abandonment rather than irritated by the fact she would now have to come up with another plan to get the materials from him. Nikolai's eyes trailed along her face as if he were drinking her in, so gentle and sympathetic she almost believed it. Almost.

"As lovely as you look in all your teary-eyed, heartbroken glory," Nikolai said, sounding amused, "I sincerely doubt you are anything of the sort. It's that Ketterdam blood in your veins. Pragmatism above all else, no?"

She tried to free her chin from his fingers, but as she did the grip suddenly became less gentle, holding her firmly in place. He smiled when he saw the flash of irritation cross her features. 

"That's more like it." He sounded almost satisfied to see the facade crack, amused by her reaction. What in Ghezen's name was his problem? 

She jerked her chin against his grip in a display of defiance before staring him down. "And is pragmatism an unfamiliar concept here in Ravka? Quit playing, your Highness. We could've been done with this much quicker if you'd just asked your questions at the start."

He only hummed in response, still looking at her as if he were observing a particularly riveting piece of art, one that might reveal some secret symbolism hiding beneath the surface. "Maybe I didn't want it to be quick?"

"I also sincerely doubt that." 

He chuckled and Y/N felt his warm breath brush against her flushed cheeks. His grip had loosened, but she still felt the warmth of his fingers seeping into her skin. "Why? You're a curious thing. Brought here to be paraded about for the Court in hopes of securing a fruitful marriage, no? But then you very adamantly avoid both my brother and me. It's a bit strange... I suppose I wanted to take my time with you."

"Maybe that was the ploy all along, the whole avoidance thing. It got you curious, didn't it?" She leaned into his touch very intentionally then, overly aware of the way he shifted them to accommodate her, her eyebrow raised in an attempt at mirroring his playfulness.

"I admire your talent for improvisation, Miss Braam. Really, it's quite charming..."

"But...?" She'd sensed he was going in that direction and interrupted him before he could say it. Nikolai chuckled. 

"But, I'm not buying it. It would've been far too risky of a plan. And unless you are more arrogant than I am - which I doubt - I don't think you expected or wanted anyone to come looking. Aside from Zaitsev, of course."

Y/N sneered at him then, finally irritated enough that she reached up to grab his wrist and pull his hand away from her jaw. The wool of his uniform was rough beneath her fingers, golden buttons digging into her palm where she gripped it. She hated how aware of him she was as she let go. Nikolai let her, grinning delightedly at this sudden display of insolence. 

"Not particularly gentle. I like that."

"Stop pretending to flirt with me, your Highness." Because that's what it was - make-believe. She thought she could see something more sinister lurking beneath it. If he didn't believe her she was meeting Zaitsev for a moonlight tryst between two lovers - which in all fairness was an entirely correct assumption - then he must've thought she had more insidious intentions. So why wasn't he dragging her back to the party, demanding answers? Perhaps making a spectacle of it was his way of intimidation, it certainly fit the aura of aloof confidence he was displaying.

"Who says I'm pretending?"

She shot him a dry look in lieu of an answer. "If you're not going to ask what my real reason was for meeting Zaistev then I'm going to ask how in Ghezen's name did you know we were meeting in the first place?" 

He watched her for a moment, head bent to look down at her and a smirk playing on his lips, then he turned and went around her to stroll between the lush flowers. She watched the moonlight glint off the golden details of his uniform, his hands clasped behind his back, something languorous and insolent about the way he moved. "Now, that would be telling," he said, "And I like to keep an air of mystery about me. It adds to the charm I think." 

"Fine. Why care to find out about it at all?" 

He halted for a second as if considering his answer. "I told you. You never bothered to introduce yourself, and the whole charade has been going on for three nights and days now. I was already suspicious on the second day as to what exactly you were doing here."

Realising they weren't going anywhere any time soon Y/N made her way over to the fountain, the soft rush of water behind her back soothing her nerves as she sat down. "So your explanation is that your ego made you do it?"

"My ego makes me do a lot of things, Miss Braam. A character fault, I know, but no one's perfect." He didn't sound sorry about it at all. 

"I have a perfectly sensible explanation for that, if you'd like to hear it?"

He was picking apart another flower, like a gardener's worst nightmare when he looked back towards her and smirked. "Another one? Are we dropping the playing hard-to-get ploy?"

Y/N ignored the jab, leaning back on her hands and tilting her head as she watched him lean in to smell some unremarkable bush. "My parents are tentatively hopeful, but I know better..."

"Of course you do."

"Would you stop that, you menace." 

Nikolai started laughing and Y/N realised that all the other times he'd laughed or chuckled at her words it had been only a good mimicry of amusement. This was the real thing. She snorted and looked up towards the glass ceiling in faux exasperation, hiding her smile.

"Anyway. It's the crown prince's hand in marriage that's on the table, right? You said it yourself - us merchling princesses are a pragmatic bunch. As nice as it sounds, I'm no royalty, so why waste my breath? Your kingdom needs political alliances, not money. Nothing's going to come of it." She shrugged. "And if I'm debasing myself like I'm a dairy cow on a cattle fair, I'd prefer not to do it in vain. I too have an ego, you know."

When she dropped her head back down she realised Nikolai was watching her from where he stood, head tipped to the side, his fingers absentmindedly plucking the petals off a rose he was holding. He seemed to be considering saying something but decided against it. 

"From what I've been told, your father is a very rich man," he said eventually, "And I find that sort of thing makes a woman rather attractive. Political alliances can be bought, you know." 

"Is that why you keep not-pretending to flirt? Does my father's money make me so irresistible?"

"Well that, and the insolence." He smirked. "But mostly insolence. Us Ravkans, we're just not as pragmatic." 

Y/N rolled her eyes, though without malice. "I can tell." She sighed, watching her fingers where they dipped into the cold water. "And besides, I'm not too keen on being shipped off to a foreign kingdom. Much to my mother's dismay."

"Not even for a crown?"

Her gaze shifted back to Nikolai who was now strolling over to her, appearing genuinely curious this time. He looked like something out of a children's book, like he might be the one to discover the fair, dead girl she'd imagined in a field of flowers and mourn over her body, impressive even in tragedy. She supposed she understood why all the girls when they were done with Vasily swarmed to try and get Nikolai's attention instead.

"I have no interest in crowns. They seem heavy."

He stopped a few paces away, watching her for a moment before a small, knowing smile bloomed across his lips. "What is it that interests you then?"

Y/N was glad he'd asked if only so she could grin insolently at him and repeat what he'd said to her before, "Now, that would be telling, your Highness. And I like to keep an air of mystery about myself too." 

He was standing over her now, looking down at where she was sprawled back on the cold stone of the fountain, a playful glint in his eyes. "Fair. I suppose I should've seen that one coming from a mile away."

"You really should have." She agreed with amusement, head tipped back to look up at him. For a moment they stared at each other, him standing so close she could feel the fabric of his pants brush against her knee, and her leaning back on her hands, aware that she could but didn't want to shift away. She'd almost forgotten she was supposed to be rather annoyed about her failed meeting and when the thought appeared uninvited at the forefront of her mind she couldn't help breaking eye contact and looking at the dark corners of the winter garden behind Nikolai. 

"Why were you meeting him?" he asked then, his voice more serious than it had ever been since they started talking. Y/N didn't look at him right away, worrying at her lip as she thought about what she would say. Playful avoidance didn't seem like a good choice here, but neither did the truth, at least not the whole truth. 

She sighed. "He has something I want." 

When she pulled herself up to stand Nikolai shifted slightly to the side so that he was right by her side, not really blocking her path but close enough to stop her if he decided to. He was close enough that she could feel the heat radiating off his body. 

Y/N looked up at him, a determined look in her eyes. "I'm not telling." 

Nikolai raised an eyebrow. "I assume you can see how that might seem rather worrisome to me."

Y/N dipped her chin in a small nod of acknowledgement. 

"And I also assume you know I won't just let it go."

"You? Unrelenting? I never would've guessed." 

He smiled at that, though it was a bit strained. "I could drag you back to your parents now. Demand an explanation." 

Y/N appeared to consider his words for a moment. "Yes. I suppose you could." She dropped her eyes down to his hands where he had them shoved into the pockets of his uniform. Her skin remembered the grip he'd had on her chin earlier that evening, prickling at the thought of those silk gloves wrapped around her arm. Was this fear she felt in the pit of her stomach? 

Nikolai must have noticed because he followed her gaze down and let out a soft chuckle when he saw the prickled skin on her bare arms and the uncertain look on her face. "I didn't mean it literally. Though I could, if that's your preference?"

Y/N felt the blood rush to her face, hot and burning, certain the blush was already spreading from her chest up to her neck. She closed her eyes and let out a frustrated breath. Collect yourself, you frivolous fool. "You just can't help yourself, can you?" she said, voice biting. 

Nikolai chuckled. She couldn't see him with her eyes shut, but she could imagine he was looking at her, thoroughly amused. "I can, I just don't want to. I was wondering how much it would take to make you blush." 

She opened her eyes to glare at him. "Satisfied?"

"Very much so." 

"Great, now that we've pleased you, let's get this over with. -- I am warning you though, my mother is prone to fainting when startled." 

She tried to side-step him to head for the door, assuming he'd follow her, but Nikolai deftly held out his hand to catch her wrist and pull her back to where she had been standing. There was no harshness to it, he was careful not to grip too hard or pull too strongly, but Y/N still gasped when she felt stopped in her path. 

Irritated, she spun around and came up so close she could feel the wool of his uniform brush against her bodice as she glared up at him. "What now?" 

"Now I'm thinking I should escort you to your room, just to make sure you don't accidentally commit some act of treason on your way to it."

"Is that what you think? That I'm planning some grand act of treason with Zaitsev?"

"You do have that look about you. A bit insolent, a bit treasonous." 

She twisted her wrist in his hand as if to draw attention to it, jutting her chin out defiantly as she looked up at him. When she spoke she did her best to sound as smug and irritating as he did. "You like that, don't you?"

He made a soft tutting sound, looking deeply amused. "I do like you. That doesn't mean I trust you." 

"That's--" she stuttered, torn between irritation and being caught off-guard by the matter-of-factness colouring his voice, "That's not what I meant." 

"You're blushing again."

She reached up to smack him on his arm with her free hand. For a moment he looked genuinely caught off guard and Y/N couldn't help the smug self-satisfaction that swelled in her chest at the startled look he gave her. She just hit a prince. A real, very gilded, very irritating prince. 

"You are the most infuriating man I have ever had the displeasure of meeting." Her chest rose and fell on quickened breath and she could hear her pulse thrumming against her ribcage like some caged bird startled by the way her voice rose in irritation. 

Then Nikolai started laughing and it was Y/N's turn to look alarmed by the display. She stared at him as he tried to collect himself several times, running his hand through his hair and leaving it charmingly tousled as he tipped his head back and took a deep breath to calm himself. 

"Like I said. You do have a tendency for treason - like hitting a prince." 

"I barely touched you, and you had it coming," she said, then shook her head and looked up above his head, "Sorry. I lost my temper." 

"No, no - it's fine. I did have it coming." 

She felt his thumb brush against the inner side of her wrist, suddenly aware that he'd never let go of it. His fingers stilled for a moment before he spoke, "Breathe. Your heart's beating like you just outran a bear. I'm not going to tell anyone about tonight." 

She did not think anything good would come of admitting the current state of her pulse had very little to do with the fear of her parents and everything to do with the way every sense in her body was heightened by his proximity. She hardly wanted to admit that silly reaction of her body to herself, much less him. She let out a shaky breath. "Okay." 

"Okay?" He was watching her when she opened her eyes again. "Do you want to go back to your parents or your room?"

She stared at him for a moment, uncertain. Had she really appeared distressed enough for him to so suddenly switch gears? She searched his face for anything suspicious as if she half-expected this sudden calmness in his voice to be a trap. 

"I'm suspicious. Not cruel," he said when she failed to answer. She felt him release her wrist as if finally satisfied enough with her pulse going down to let go. "I crossed the line and upset you. It wasn't my intention."

"Wasn't it?" There was an accusation in her voice, one she didn't realise was there until it slipped out without her permission. When had they switched roles of the accuser and the accused?

Nikolai looked away, looking almost repentant. "I don't know. I got carried away - I guess I didn't expect you to be... like that." 

She wasn't sure what like that meant and was half-afraid of asking. Maybe he'd say something ridiculous and then she'd be blushing again. No, that was a ridiculous thought. This entire exchange was ridiculous. She almost expected to wake up tomorrow and fully believe it was a fever dream. 

"So what I just... leave now? No consequences?" she said, sounding deeply doubtful. 

"Yes and no. I said I wouldn't tell." He finally looked back at her, his gaze scouring her face. "I didn't say I wouldn't keep trying to find out what you're hiding." 

"It's nothing bad if that's what you're worried about." 

"You've tried to lie to me several times tonight. Do you expect me to just believe you?" 

He did have a point there. Y/N pursed her lips. "What then?"

Nikolai seemed to consider her then. Under scrutiny, Y/N suddenly became very aware of their proximity, which in all fairness had been entirely her fault. She stepped away uneasily, worrying at her lip. Ghezen, he really was deeply infuriating, for more than one reason. 

"You'll see tomorrow."

Y/N's head shot up. "Tomorrow?"

"Save me a dance."

She was certain she looked like there were rusted cogs inside her head grinding against each other as she tried to process his words. There was clearly a double meaning in there, there always seemed to be with him, but it wasn't immediately obvious to her. 

Nikolai smirked as he watched her work it out. "Don't overheat that pretty little head of yours. I like the way it works." 

She made a face at him. "Why would you... oh."

"Oh," he repeated, smug. 

Save me a dance. It was a threat, not a request. He would approach her tomorrow in the middle of the after-dinner ball, in front of everyone. She would know it was for show, but to everyone else, it would appear as if he'd singled her out and shown her his favour. Out of the blue at that. 

She shot him a dirty look. "That's low."

"I don't consider myself a particularly immoral person, but I will do what I have to."

She would find herself dragged out of her carefully-crafted obscurity and thrust under scrutiny. Her parents would be delighted, no doubt, a welcome reprieve from the frustration her disobedience was causing them currently. She couldn't think of a worse thing. 

"Unless, of course, you decide to tell me about it beforehand." At some point, he'd strolled away from her and plucked another one of those poor flowers. "I'll still ask, of course, but more subtly." 

She stared at him, disbelieving. Did he just threaten her and then proceed to imply he'd still ask her to dance with him?

She let out a frustrated sigh. "Very well, we can play that game. I will warn you though, I tend to bite when cornered."

"I was hoping you would."

"You... you are just the worst," she said, irritation colouring her voice higher than normal, before turning around to head for the door. In the smallest, most meagre act of defiance, she decided not to tell him goodnight and instead storm out without a word. 

He was not having it. "Y/N?"

She produced some indeterminate sound of frustration. "What now, your Highness?" 

"Call me Nikolai."

"I will not." 

A chuckle. Then the sound of his steps as he approached her from the back. "I do wish we'd met on some less... dramatic terms. Honestly." 

She couldn't ignore him when he went around her to stand in her field of vision, but she did shoot him a dirty look. There was a flower in his hands now, so delicate and white that it almost blended into the whiteness of his gloves, only the leaves visible in the darkness. He hadn't yet dismembered this one. 

"Since you don't like the smell of jasmine," he said, as if that explained everything, and held it out to her.

Y/N considered not taking it, but curiosity got the better of her and she reached out her hand tentatively to pluck the flower from his fingers. "What is it?"

"Gardenia. A personal favourite, at least scent-wise." He stared at the flower in her hand for a moment, then smiled. "Goodnight, Miss Braam."

She watched him stroll back towards the door that led into the palace, unhurried, languid and infuriatingly prepossessing. For a moment she stood there, reeling, before she headed for the other door, the one that led out into the gardens, desperate for a breath of fresh air. It was only once she was outside that she realised he hadn't lied about the flower, its fragrance a sweet, charming thing. Later that night, when she returned to her room she would put it in a small crystal glass and place it next to her bed so that when she fell asleep her mind was still full of that fragrance and the memory of Nikolai's thumb pressed against her pulse point. 

#nikolai lantsov #nikolai lantsov imagine #nikolai lantsov x reader #grishaverse x reader #nikolai lantsov imagines #nikolai lantsov x you #nikolai lantsov fanfic #nikolai lantsov x y/n #nikolai x you #nikolai x reader #nikolai x y/n #shadow and bone #sob #shadow and bone imagine #nikolai lantsov my beloved #tbh nikolai drives me insane every time i write him #this is a monstrosity of a fic and i have zero regrets #gardenias

[comicarc]

𝐇𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐢𝐬 𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐥 𝐢𝐬 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞

A chance meeting with a stranger leads down the road of an inevitable devotion. Breeding a childish love into an obsessive attachment. The devil's temptation is all-consuming, only producing pain disguised as pleasure.

wc: 2906

The grace of his footsteps, despite his enormous figure, had seemed to incite an absurd curiosity within me. His attitude ranged from a spectrum even vaster than that of light, as he got along with almost everyone he met, yet peculiarly, seemed to never lose his morals or beliefs in the face of so many opinions and conversations. 

I had paid no mind to him when he first marched through the halls of Gotham high, the whole school was abuzz with chatter, gossiping about this bizarre new character. He never dressed the part of being Bruce Wayne’s ward, often rocking hoodies large enough to drown in, colored a deep blood red that seemed to fuel the fury of the teachers. He was a delinquent in every right, yet he was also as intelligent in the same capacity.

Paid for by the one-percenters of Gotham, the library the size of a Manhattan penthouse was often eerily empty, met occasionally with the presence of a student trying to pay another for answers to an assignment. I was an exception in all such aspects, for neither was I rich nor conceited enough to believe in the fantasy that I would be handed everything in life. I would relish the silence of the library, a place I had made a home of by the second week of high school. Gotham was not a city for me, and the cheap apartment that I called ‘home’ was anything but its namesake, lacking everything that the library could provide. 

I had heard the whispers of others, of how the girls were intrigued by the new kid to instantly desire him, and of how the boys spoke nonsense, fueled by a jealous rage. Though these polarized opinions had left me curious, I never thought it my place to ever participate in such an activity of imagining. That was a right reserved for the rich, for those who had time enough to do as they pleased. 

Jason Todd sat in front of me, one fine day, in the library, so enamored in The Great Gatsby that he ignored my existence. Although caught off guard, I enjoyed the silent company, feeling as though I was not alone in my fated destiny toward deterioration as I spent more and more time in the library each passing day. Life had only begun to worsen with time, yet his presence had seemed to soothe me with silent comfort.

At first, I brushed him off just as I thought he had done of me, yet the more I saw him, I began to imagine as well. He had made me a rich woman, not materialistically, but rather metaphysically. My mind spent hours trying to reason why he stayed. Was the library his abode as well? Was he trying to read every book he’d laid eyes on in there? Why? Questions only left a hole, a desire to fulfill my curiosity. 

“Hey.” Jason's soft voice, like the serpent tempting Eve, left me craving conversation. It was the third month of our silent routine when he finally spoke, soothing months of contemplation with a single word. Oh, how desperate I had been.

The days that followed after that interaction were like a daydream. Unbeknownst to most, Jason had a poetic soul paired with the heart of a hopeless romantic. He would bring my favorite coffee with a pastry to the library and set it beside me inconspicuously. He’d brush off every thank you, pleased by the apparent delight in my expression when I would realize what he had brought. These little gestures enabled us to evolve beyond the library setting, meeting instead at coffee shops near the school simply to study as we normally had done.  

Our interactions were intimate, yet physical exchange was always kept to a minimum, with either party fearful of crossing the line and losing the other. But observing the way his massive body could maneuver through the crowds of people on the street, watching him eat with a linger of an animalistic instinct through his gentle facade, and catching his radiant smile whenever he laid eyes on me was fulfilling enough. Until it left me longing for more.

It had taken me a while to muster the courage to make a move to him. I had developed feelings for him that grew deeper with each passing day, and I couldn’t hold in my desire any longer. So, on a sweltering summer day, as me and Jason sat at the coffee shop we would always hang out at, I decided that I would do something. Jason, in his tank top and jeans, sweat shining in the glare of the sunlight, had left me a blushing mess, too embarrassed to think through what I should do to further our relationship. In my state, I had barely recognized how he seemed timider than usual, keeping to himself. 

After an awkward afternoon in the quaint shop, I decided my endeavor was a lost cause. I got out of my seat, and walked to the entrance, motioning to Jason that I was about to leave. Together we walked out through the door, yet before we could part ways, he grabbed my wrist with a gentle grip. The sudden action caused me to swing around, crashing into his chest as I did. Before I could apologize, he used his free hand to take hold of my chin and tilt my face upward just enough to meet his lips. 

The world seemed to fade away, leaving only the two of us suspended in time. It was a moment of pure magic. In that fleeting instant, I knew with certainty that Jason was the perfect man for me, the one I had been searching for without even knowing it. As we pulled away, breathless and exhilarated, I felt a sense of clarity wash over me like a cleansing tide. In Jason's arms, I had found my sanctuary, my safe haven in a world full of chaos. 

And to tie the not on such a precious moment, he had whispered, “Will you be my girlfriend.”

Since that day, Jason established a routine. He’d keep his distance until the night, when he’d knock on my door, littered with bruises, crying for help. The late nights were reserved for peeling away every layer of Jason’s being his traumatizing past and his blissful present. Then, there came days that I wouldn’t hear from him for days, never seeing him at school or at the cafe. He was like a ghost disappearing and reappearing as he wished, toying with my heart every time. Yet, he always managed to make up for his absence, knowing just the right things to reel me back in when I started to slip away. But despite the distance, despite the pain, I stayed because I loved him. I had fallen in love with his fucked up ways, his twisted dreams, a secret life he kept from me.

He wasn’t a bad lover, just an absent one. His appearance had become the highlight of my days, the way he’d caress me when we hugged, the way he’d hold me in his arms while we rested in my bed. Everything he did was able to erect a lustful emotion I never knew I had. He was by all means, perfectly imperfect. Human in all rights. 

After we graduated, he became more and more distant. He’d never told me what he was up to, convinced that I would stay by his side no matter what. I felt as though I was more of a token anchor than a person to him. Existing just for him, as if I did not have passions and ambitions of my own. But he was right. His love was intoxicating, leaving me an obedient puppet who’d always wait for him. Yet the summer after graduation, when he left me for months, I finally began to become skeptical of our situation.

It was bittersweet to know that this time, he hadn’t stood me up due to his own volition. Fate was a heartbreaker, leaving love a longed-for feeling buried six feet in a grave that I could never see, even if I wanted to. Jason had a simple ceremony, with his blue roses placed upon the coffin as he was buried. A speech was given, tears were shed, and people departed more disturbed than they arrived. Or at least that was what I was told in a letter. The sender was one who shared the same address, the same life, the same ambitions as Jason, yet hadn’t the heart to allow his girlfriend the privilege of knowing about the late son’s departure from this world. 

Bruce Wayne had known loss to a degree incomprehensible to the common man, and no amount of money would ever fix the wounds that bled him dry. Yet, this experience should have encouraged communication. If he was as heartful as the news portrayed him to be, sympathizing with those less fortunate enough to form a family full of grieving children, then how had he glanced over me? The same pain had haunted me, from the moment I felt Jason slipping from my grasp, becoming more and more distant until he left me forever. Bruce Wayne, through Jason, was depicted as a madman driven by an insane drive as persistent as the Joker’s scheming. Jason worshipped the man more than god himself, and yet he often came to me with pained sobs, unfulfilled dreams, and an unbridled rage that his ‘father’ failed to provide for. 

Having never met the man before, I had formed a loose persona in my mind that I had assumed the billionaire was. Yet, my assumptions were solidified after receiving the curt letter, rather, note, written with such passive care that anyone would have thought it was merely as insignificant as a to-do list. 

To whom it may concern:  We gathered to remember Jason at Wayne Manor. It's regrettable you couldn't join us. The Wayne family extends their condolences and offers assistance during this difficult time.

Pretentious, arrogant liars. Gotham’s elite were all the same. I sat in the restaurant for two hours, danced in the street on my way home imagining what I would do for Jason's birthday, and attempted to reason another one of his absences from the date before knowing. The sealed envelope sat on the doorstep, accompanied by nothing but a red seal that indicated its correspondent. It was a strange item to receive out of the blue. 

With no notice, no knowledge of the life that Jason led among the elite, I was baffled by the harshness of facing a sudden reality. It felt surreal to imagine Jason of people dead. He was a killer, with killer looks, a killer smile, and a killer attitude. A body built to fight, and an aura as dangerous as a drug. He couldn’t have died, not my Jason. 

I couldn’t comprehend losing Jason, enough that in such denial I had ventured to Wayne Manor, forcing my way through the ebony gates onto the gothic grounds of the mansion. At the front door, after incessantly pounding on the grandiose doors, I was finally met with the face of the butler, Alfred. Before speaking I stared at him for a few moments as I cleared my blurry vision from the uncontrollable tears that rolled down my cheeks. He seemed to recognize me, as he let me inside, placing a hand on my back for support as he looked toward me with an empathetic expression. 

“Jason can’t be dead. I never saw a body, never heard a lick of what happened to him. You’re liars.” The words left like venom, hurting the old man enough to display his aching heart in his eyes. 

“We all have lost someone very special, but we must accept it.” He spoke, attempting to keep a calm demeanor. 

“Accept it? What the hell are you on about? A funeral I was never invited to and a body I have yet to see. How am I supposed to accept something that seems too imaginative?” I retorted, my anger laced with sorrow.

Silence hung heavy between us, but I pressed on, seeking the truth I feared. “He didn’t care, did he? He loved something more than he loved me, right?”

Alfred nodded, giving into his grief as his eyebrows softened, and his gaze moved to the floor, tears threatening to spill from the corners of his eyes. 

“Can you tell me what it was that he adored enough to give his life for?”

“Justice.”

I laughed. Of course, he chased independence from his family, yet revered the so-called philanthropist guardian he had. Though he might have begun with the pursuit of true moral justice, Bruce skewed into a dangerous endeavor. 

Bruce Wayne was a killer, not Jason, no he had a handsome impression, a soft smile, and a hopeful attitude. It wasn’t justice that Jason pursued, it was Bruce’s image of it. He was an imperfect man, his only weakness was the longing for a familial love he was denied by his own parents. One that I could never compensate for. He wasn’t my Jason, never had he been. I didn’t know Jason at all, I was the puppet, toyed with by the father and the son. 

After six months of sleepless nights and living nightmares, I finally found a haphazard peace to settle in. I watched the sky every night, wishing that the hope that blessed Metropolis would make its way into Gotham and give me the will to move on with my life. But, as the general populace is fated to remain in the same cycle, trapped in the chains of modern capitalism, all I was able to do was make do with my shitty job, in my shitty apartment, living a lonely life, as devoid of color as the Gotham sky was of the sun. My visit to Wayne Manor had not changed anything, for I was still left in the dark regarding every manner in which Jason’s name was exploited, whether it be a fundraiser in his honor or a gala, I was always the last to know. 

But without hearing his name, seeing his face, or feeling his touch for so long, I had begun to forget him. Out of sight, out of mind as the saying goes, and though I had forgotten everything, his soft voice still haunted me whenever I slept. I had fallen into insanity fueled by my imagination, one that left me feeling rich in broken pieces of a heart. 

Tonight I sat at the edge of my windowsill, one leg resting on a loose brick outside the apartment, while the other remained crossed beneath me. With my head leaned back against the metal of the frame, I watched the stars twinkle in the night sky, like diamonds. It was a rare night, to hear the sirens go off occasionally. There were no screams, no gunshots no cries for help, only the ambience of the city. I took it as a sign, that change had arrived, that peace was mine to finally be in. 

Closing my eyes, I decided that tonight was safe enough to let my guard down. To enjoy Gotham’s raw essence as a mother to the unfortunate. Her touch let my hair dance in the breeze, cooling my body from the heat of the day. Her sounds were a harmonic symphony lulling me into a deep sleep. But her motherly affection was short-lived, as the sound of boots hitting the fire escape had woken me from my lucid state. 

 The footsteps felt heavy yet sounded as soft as the movements of a ballerina. There was a familiar feeling about the situation, but I couldn’t quite place it, not until his breath hit the back of my neck. Even with the faint light from the neon sign, the man remained a silhouette in the darkness, bigger than what the steps had led me to believe. I didn’t move, waiting for the man to make the first move.

“Hey.” In the same husky voice in which he introduced himself to me all those years ago, Jason had come back, yet again tempting me to be consumed by him. At first, I thought I had finally broken, gone insane from the grief. I was done fighting my end when the weight of Jason's touch settled upon me. It was as though a dark cloud descended, shrouding me in a familiar embrace that I couldn't resist. His fingers traced the contours of my hand, each touch sending shivers down my spine, igniting a flame that I thought had long been extinguished.

I felt the pull of his presence, magnetic and intoxicating, drawing me closer with each passing moment. His breath, hot against my neck, tempted me to abandon reason and lose myself in his embrace. Despite the past, despite the pain, despite everything urging me to resist, I found myself unable to pull away. His hold tightened and his lips brushed against my ear, I knew that I had crossed a line from which there was no return. Swallowed by the shadows of Gotham's embrace, I had sealed my fate the moment I met him. I was fated to die a poor woman, yet the devil enticed me with a taste, and I will die a rich woman consumed by the unending pain of unreal love. 

#jason todd x y/n #jason todd x reader #jason todd x you #jason todd #red hood #red hood x reader #under the red hood #arkhamverse #arkham knight #bruce wayne #alfred pennyworth #angst #manipulation #toxic love

[pretty-boy-streaming]

Little Brother ((Pt. 3) Oliver Aiku)

TV-MA: kissing, touching, implied sex, getting caught... several times, sendou finds you two out, ftm!reader, reader is sendou's little brother, made it pretty sweet

summary: every one of the u-20 members knows that sendou's little brother is off limits. they know he would flip out and kill them if he found out. aiku, however, loves tempting fate.

read part one, two

Sendou forgot his phone. He patted down his bag for it, patted down himself for it. He groaned when he realized his phone was completely gone. He groaned and sat against a wall, sliding down.

"So, you really can't find it?" Aiku walked over to him and leaned down to him.

"Nope. And I can't even call my brother to see if he can bring it to me." Sendou put his head in his hands, groaning loudly.

"Well I can..." Aiku trailed off. He's pretty sure Sendou would kill him just for having his brother's number. But, thankfully, you weren't the only Sendou who's number you had. "I can let you use my phone and then you can call him, yeah?"

"Oh, really? Damn, thanks, Aiku."

"Of course, anything for our ace."

Aiku was handing him the phone when a loud voice commanded the attention of everyone on the field.

"Heeeyyyyyyy! Shuuuuuu! Loooseeerrr, you forgot your phoooonnneee!"

Sendou's face went red and he jumped up to rush over to you. His face brightened when he saw his phone in your grasp and he pulled you into a tight hug.

"Thank you, thank you, thank youuu, so much!"

You chuckled and kissed his cheek. "What would you do without me, Shu?"

He looked around to his teammates and covered your mouth.

"Ssshhh- shsh- shush! That name is embarrassing!"

You removed his hands. "You think the name Shu is embarrassing? What's wrong Shu? I thought you loved it when I called you Shu when we were kids, and I would scratch my knees."

He blushed brighter and he stomped away from you. "God, you're supper annoying!"

While Sendou was putting his phone into his bag, Aiku slinked over to you, making sure that no one noticed him.

"Hey there, cutie."

"You really want to die, don't you?"

"He's not looking. Come on, I think it's time for me to show you where the bathrooms are."

You stuck your tongue out at him. "Fine then."

As practice went on, Niou and Neru looked around for their captain. Niou walked over to Sendou and patted his shoulder.

"You know where Aiku went?"

"He was taking my brother to the bathroom."

"Ah, alright. Let's find him, Niou."

"Yeah."

They walked over to where the bathrooms were and stepped in when they didn't notice Aiku was standing outside. Neru looked around and knocked on one of the stalls.

"You in here, Captain?"

There was a squeak and some rustling of clothes before a few whispers.

"Yeah- yeah, I'm here."

"Ah, we were just checking on you. And also, coach is looking-"

There was a soft moan that shut Neru up. Niou furrowed his eyebrows and stalked over to the stall he suspected Aiku was in before kicking the door.

"Captain, we can hear the girl you got in there!"

"Not a girl-"

There was silence between everyone before that voice spoken up again.

"Dammit."

There was a bit of rustling and swears on that side, but when the stall door was open, Neru and Niou looked over and saw you standing next to Aiku.

"See? Not a girl."

Neru's eyes widened. "Captain, Sendou is definitely going to murder you!"

Aiku put his hands behind his head. "Don't you think I know that? But... I mean, honestly? It's pretty damn worth it."

Neru groaned while Niou crossed his arms and sighed, turning away from you two.

"Sleeping with Sendou's brother is going to get you killed. If it was my brother who you were sleeping with, then I would definitely kill you."

"Which is why we're sneaking around."

You rolled your eyes. "I'm 18. I can make my own descions. Aiku's barely a year older than me."

"Aren't you a high schooler?"

"I graduated."

"Right..."

Niou and Neru sighed.

"We won't tell Sendou."

Aiku looked up at Neru who was also crossing his arms. They nodded at Aiku before they turned and left the bathroom.

"Aren't you going to join them?"

"Hey, I was in the middle of something. Come on cutie, let's get back to work, yeah?"

---

Neru and Niou didn't tell Sendou. No, they told all of the U-20 members except for Sendou. And they made everyone promise they wouldn't tell your brother about anything they knew you and Aiku did. The others walked in on you two various times, but Sendou never caught you.

Never.

But... nothing could stay secret forever. At some point, people get lazy, they don't check if the coast is fully clear, and then they get sloppy, not noticing when the front door opens or when there are footsteps going up to the room, or when you hear those same footsteps walking over to your room, or not remembering that you left your notebook in your older brother's room, or not having enough shame to at least pull away when you hear the door click open.

"Hey, dork, stop leaving your notebook in my-"

Sendou looked at the scene in front of him. You were sitting on Aiku's lap, wearing his jersey. He was lying on your bed... completely naked. You both looked up and stared back at your brother, who looked like he wanted, no needed to scream at that moment.

"My room. Get dressed and get in there." He slammed the notebook on your dresser before storming to his room.

You and Aiku scrambled to get properly dressed and shuffled to his room. Aiku sat down and you moved to sit next to them until Sendou spoke up.

"Nope. You're sitting next to me."

You sat next to him and he looked at the both of you before sighing and putting his head in his hands.

"How long."

"About a month. After you guys lost against Blue Lock."

He groaned louder. "Oh goddammit, that long?!"

You slowly nodded. He slowly sat up and looked over at you.

"Has he hurt you?"

"Nope."

"Has he made you uncomfortable?"

"Nope."

"Has he misgendered you?"

"Nope."

Aiku watched you two as he asked you various questions until Sendou stopped and leaned back on his hands.

"Fine. Aiku."

His head snapped up and looked at Sendou. "Yeah?"

"I have decided I won't kill you, okay?"

"Okay..."

"So long as you don't hurt my brother. If you do, and I find out, I will end you. Okay?"

"Jeez, don't play the cringy, overprotective brother, loser."

He narrowed his eyes at you. "I'm not playing anything. I know what Aiku can be like and... I just don't want you getting hurt."

You looked at him before reaching up and squeezing his cheek. "Stop with the serious shit, it doesn't suit you." You wrapped an arm around his shoulder and kissed his cheek. "And I'll let you kill him if he hurts me."

"That's my brother." He smiled softly.

Aiku nodded at Sendou. "I promise I won't hurt him, okay?"

Sendou looked at him and sighed. "Yeah, alright."

You stood and patted Sendou's head. "I'll also make sure you don't walk in on us again."

"Yeah, please make sure of that."

You brought up Aiku and walked out of his room, leaving Sendou to smile softly after you two left.

"Well... at least he has someone who loves him."

#blue lock #bllk #blue lock x reader #bllk x reader #aiku oliver x reader #aiku x reader #oliver aiku x reader #aiku oliver #oliver aiku #ftm reader #xreader #x reader

[mamabearcat]

She lives! A teeny offering for InuKag week, for both the Safe and Modern prompts – a little something something from my First Impressins AU

Safe

"Hey, quit squirming around back there like a fuckin’ spider monkey Kagome! Don’t make me regret getting outta my nice warm bed to come pick you up, or I’ll drop your tiny ass on the pavement!"

Kagome giggled loudly in his ear and Inuyasha turned his head aside to avoid the intense scent of spirits that wafted from her mouth.

"Holy shit, you smell like a distillery - did you and Sango drink the entire bar dry? You're a fuckin' mess Kittycat."

"I know you are, but wha' am I", sang Kagome, then giggled again, giving herself the hiccups in the process. She leaned in closer, her voice a heavy whisper directly into his ear. "You're cute when you're grumpy Inu."

He twitched his ear away from her mouth, his cheeks heating a little at her comment.

"Not half as grumpy as you're gonna be with the king sized hangover you'll be waking up with, dumbass", he muttered.

"Hey! My ass isn't dumb! It got me a promotion an' Sango helped me celebrate! With tequila! An I woulda stayed, but Sango called Miroku, and they were talking and sucking face and there was this guy who wanted me to do more shots with him and he even said he'd buy them, but I said no because he kept tryin' to put his hands on my butt. I told him if he did it again I'd kick him in the nuts and I missed you so I called you and... Hey! Should we go back and find that guy and we can both kick him in the nuts? Hey Inu lets go back and I'll buy you tequila. TEQUILA!"

She screamed the last word at the top of her lungs, setting off a few random neighborhood dogs to barking, then put both arms straight up in the air, giggling madly.

"For fucks sake, just stay still, would ya, or I really will drop you," grunted Inuyasha, flattening his ears against the torrent of words and noise, tightening his grip on Kagome's swinging legs. "Just a few more blocks and you'll be home safe where you can't get yourself into any more trouble!"

"Inu, I don't feel s-"

Inuyasha thanked the heavens above for his youkai reflexes. He managed to get Kagome off his back and her head over the gutter just before the waterfall of vomit appeared. He even managed to catch the ends of her hair out of the way, most of it protected by the oversized red beanie he'd given her the day they first met. She still insisted on wearing it whenever the weather was even slightly chilly.

"Is that all of it?" he asked quietly, rubbing Kagome's back gently. She shook her head, her entire body shaking with the force of the next wave.

"I'm dying", she finally whimpered, spitting out the last mouthful with a grimace, her face sweaty and very pale.

"You're not dying", he chuckled, smoothing her hair back.

"I'm dying and you're laughing at me! I bet you won't even come to my funeral", she coughed. "I'm just gonna lay down here and finish dying. Wake me up tomorrow." She wiped her mouth on her sleeve, and then looked up at him with tearful eyes. "Inuyasha, I think maybe that last drink was a baaad idea."

Inuyasha rolled his eyes, and picked her up again.

"Come on party girl, lets get you home safe."

"Will you stay and look after me?" she asked, resting her head on his shoulder with a heavy sigh.

"You betcha", he grinned, walking carefully so he didn't jostle her stomach - he didn't want to tempt fate until they were closer to indoor plumbing. "Cos then I get to laugh at your sorry ass tomorrow morning."

"I hate you", she whispered, hiding her face in his neck, ignoring his deep chuckle.

#inukag #inukag fanfic #inukag week 2023 #mamabearcat fanfic #first impressions

[rachelfoleyisntdead]

Do you believe we might get Sareena and Bi-Han interactions in a future game(s)? I don't want to be a complete delulu, but it's the "Bi-Han's future bestie" line that haunts me. I think it might mean something, but I wouldn't be surprised if it's just a *sigh* reference.

Oh I'm fine with being delulu. It's not just the Bi-Han's future bestie line for me. It's also:

Smoke telling Ashrah that Sareena wants to train with them.

Ashrah telling Kuai Liang that Bi-Han can be redeemed.

Syzoth telling Ashrah that he's worried Sareena is falling back into evil--if Sareena is hanging out with the Wu Shi, Kuai Liang and Smoke all day, who is tempting her back to evil?

Bi-Han. Her 'future bestie' and the only 'evil' person in Earthrealm. Who Ashrah believes can be redeemed.

If we get Sareena DLC (I still think we will), my hope is that we get Bi-Han trying to convince Sareena to come to the Lin Kuei, because in his opinion, she jumped from letting Quan Chi decide her fate to letting Ashrah decide her fate.

I do think Sareena would still have the most voice lines with Ashrah, Smoke, Kuai Liang, Bi-Han, Nitara and Havik. Her voice lines with Ashrah and Kuai Liang will reference Bi-Han redemption, her voicelines with Nitara and Havik will reference her time with them and Quan Chi, and her lines with Smoke will probably be friendly and maybe reference the Enenra again. I think Johnny and Kung Lao will try to flirt with her, too, and she nicely shoots them down.

Girl I am not just connecting dots, I am coloring them in. I am full delulu about this. realistically... nrs does not like Bireena and it might just be a reference. But what if I'm right. Oooh boy.

#sareena #mk1 #bireena #bi han #sareena x bi han #i am full delulu but. idc. idc.

[itsclydebitches]

Based off 4chan leaks the original draft of Ruby choosing ascension had Neo force feed Ruby the tea.

Why didn't the writers stick with that? Ruby unaliving herself amounted to nothing.

That definitely would have been an improvement, however, I personally would have done away with the Neo-tea connection entirely. Giving Neo the goal of Ascending Ruby obliterates the message that this is supposedly a good thing because why would the villain who has been looking to kill Ruby for six Volumes strive so hard to give her a therapy session/power up? Either we have to assume that Neo somehow got the totally wrong read on what Ascension does - which seems unlikely given how she's able to spy on everyone + she's not going to leave Ruby's fate to some potentially positive tea. Not after she's spent so long hunting her down. Neo is going to be sure the tea will get rid of her - or we have to acknowledge that Ascension WAS written as a suicide allegory and the story backtracked like hell because the writers didn't actually want to grapple with that for their main character.

The Prince's Ascension can be characterized as a tragedy enacted by Alyx that left him nothing like his former self. The Caterpillar can be Ascended against his will by the literal villain of the Volume. The Paper Pleasers can drown themselves after two episodes of Jaune - who has lived here for years - talking up how scary the tree is. Little can be crushed and return with a completely new body, none of their old memories, a new name, new purpose, nothing the same except for their voice actor which only exists in a meta-context...

But Ruby? Oh, she comes back exactly herself, of course! Why-ever would you think this was a kind of death?

I don't know, maybe because even putting all that aside a series long villain was gleefully pushing the tea on Ruby while her clones, speaking her thoughts, talk about how the world will be better off once she's gone? And we have no reason to believe Neo would be so wildly uninformed about this process? Oddly enough, that makes Ascension seem like a bad thing.

Neo can't be connected to Ascension, period, not if the show wants to portray it as a healthy journey of self-reflection. Just let Neo try to kill Ruby the old-fashioned way while the group - free of suicide allegories, Jaune's warnings, the horrifically extreme transformations, etc. - willingly drink some magical tea that lets them talk about their problems. We literally got that with the Caterpillar. There's no reason why that couldn't have been the Ascension they experienced, just far more fleshed out.

(Oh also, can we as a fandom talk about how the Caterpillar's smoke was this ~evil~ thing that tempted the girls, only for that same smoke to be retconned as a wonderful tool that helps Jaune and defeats the Cat? Fans have rightly pointed out how the blacksmith was changed from creepy lady to smiling ally, but the smoke is an even bigger issue imo. RT didn't know wtf they were writing this Volume it's such a hot mess.)

#rwde #rwby #mymetas #suicide tw

[ioag]

Bolesław Leśmian - The Girl

Twelve brothers who believed in dreams, scouted a wall among phantasms; Beyond the wall there cried a voice - voice of a Girl long gone through chasms.

They fell in love with voice’s sound and with their own wishful believing, And tried to guess shape of her lips from how her song died out in grieving.

They said “she cries therefore she is” - and nothing else they said but wondered, They blessed the world with sign of cross - and then the world grew still and pondered.

The hammers held in hardened hands, they launched against the walls in clamor! And night was blind, and couldn’t tell: which part was man and which - the hammer?

“Let’s hurry and undo cold stone, before in death the Girl’s enrusted!” The youngest brother thus cried out - and in their hammers’ strength they trusted.

But all their efforts were in vain, their arms exertions and pain - futile! They sacrificed their bodies to the dream enticing, yet so brutal!

Their chests caved in, their bones crushed down, decayed their hands and faded faces… They died together in one day and shared one night’s eternal spaces.

But dead men’s shadows - my good Lord! - instead of stopping they persisted! And they went on, in eerie time - the hammers’ sounds continued, twisted.

They clanged ahead! And back they clashed! And upwards in resounding clamor! And night was blind, and couldn’t tell: which part was shade and which - the hammer?

“Let’s hurry and undo cold stone, before in death the Girl’s enrusted!” The youngest shadow thus cried out - and in their hammers’ strength they trusted.

But suddenly their strength had waned, night came and they were overpowered! And - since you never die enough - they died again, by dark devoured.

Never enough, never the way the moribund would want, departing!… Their substance - lost without a trace, their story closed instead of starting!

But stalwart hammers - my good Lord! - didn’t surrender to bereavement! And on their own they fought the wall, rumbling for naught but the achievement!

They rumbled forth through days and nights, sweating like humans do, through clamor! And night was blind, and couldn’t tell: what’s hammer if not just a hammer?

“Let’s hurry and undo cold stone, before in death the Girl’s enrusted!” The youngest hammer thus cried out - and in their own pure strength they trusted.

And the wall fell with booming crash, sounding through every nook and cranny! Alas! Beyond they found no Girl, only the waiting void; uncanny.

There was no eyes! There was no lips! Nobody’s fate needed securing! There was but voice - and only voice, nothing but voice tempting and luring!

Nothing but night, and cries, and grief, and loss in every uttered letter! This is the world! Such awful world! Couldn’t it have been different, better?

Against the dreams that lied out loud, against the wish obliterated, The hammers finally went to rest, relief deserved and so belated.

And there was silence all around! The emptiness reigning forever! Why do you mock that emptiness although it doesn’t mock you ever?

Translation: Maria Gral

#Poland #Polska #linguistics #poetry #poems #wiersze #Leśmian #Lesman #translation #writing #Irian writes stuff #signal boosts are deeply appreciated btw #Leśmian deserves to be read by the whole wide world #i.o.a.g. #veterinary #art #uvlight #veterinaryjobs #sunset

[sinkingnotsoslowly]

yuan fen

Pairing: (f) Reader x Seungmin

Non idol au, slight soulmate au

Warnings: fire, death, one or two curses, little angst

DO NOT STEAL MY WORK. REBLOGS AND FEEDBACKS ARE APPRECIATED

moodboard I || moodboard II

masterlist

Autumn's sighs- little soft thoughts about our favourite boys

(n.) a relationship by fate or destiny; the binding force between two people

It was a very faint memory. So faint that one might think of it as a dream. But Seungmin knew it was a memory indeed. A grand palace, a huge pond in seclusion of the tall trees, and a girl- no a lady. A lady so beautiful Seungmin was tempted to believe she was a dream.

Seungmin had one word to describe his life, lifeless. Every day he woke up tired, had whatever was in the fridge and went to work. By the time he came home, he looked like a zombie. He was just trying to survive. The only thing he looked forward to was sleeping. He knew he would see her once he fell asleep. Eyes looking at him with pure love and a smile so dazzling it blinded him. But he could never recall the face of this lady after he woke up no matter how hard he thought about it. Seungmin could only wish to meet her in this life.

It was very odd how he just knew it was a memory of a previous life. Well, he was very confused when the dreams started three months ago, but something about it just felt right. For once he felt like he was in the right place, right where he belonged. He never thought of believing things about fate, soulmates and whatnot. But if his soulmate did exist, he knew it was the lady of his dreams.

It was mostly different dreams. Sometimes the lady was not there at all. But it was always the same setting. It was some time in ancient Korea. He often found himself by the pond, writing something that he couldn’t make out. Sometimes he was in a luxurious room, accompanied by a few maids, giggling as they watched him blush at something they said. Even though the visions were not clear, he felt every single emotion. A sense of admiration towards someone possibly his father whom Seungmin had seen in his dreams once or twice. The joy of friendship when he laughed along with the maids and pages. And immeasurable love when looking at that lady who smiled so sweetly at him. Seungmin wondered how anyone could hold such sweetness in their eyes. He would forever be grateful to ever have been on the receiving end. He always woke up feeling nostalgic and mournful as if he had lost everything he held dear.

❀ . * . *

“How has my Minnie been today?” a very loud voice of the Han Jisung came in ruining Seungmin’s attempt at focusing on his novel. He sighed, “If my father were to hear you talk in that manner, you’d sure be thrown out of here”. It was very daring of Han Jisung the page to talk to Seungmin so informally. His father had brought in Han when he was about fifteen. A good company for home-schooled Seungmin was what he said. And some company he was. After the initial shyness, Han got very comfortable with Seungmin. He learned all he had to do from the older pages. And when he had nothing but time on his hands, he accompanied Seungmin. And he would swear that not a minute went by when Han was not talking his ears off. But Han was the only one he knew of his age and so he found a friend in him. At least that was what Seungmin would say. But it was Han’s qualities that impressed him. Hard-working, kind, very friendly and a very good listener which was surprising to Seungmin since he only saw him talk. These qualities of his were revealed as the years went by and before he knew Han had built a comfortable place for himself in Seungmin’s heart. You would never catch him saying this but everyone in the palace knew how fond Seungmin was of him.

Ignoring Seungmin’s chastising, Han sprawled across from him with a mischievous look on his face, “So, you have been certainly busy milord”. Seungmin did not have to look up from his book to know that he was being mocked, “You know the last thing I am is busy these days my dear Hannie”.

“I beg to differ for I know that a certain lady friend has been keeping you busy”, he grinned as if he had finally managed to outwit Seungmin. Of course, it was about the ‘lady friend’, Seungmin was waiting for him to bring her up. He knew Han has been spying on him for a few days now. The ‘lady friend’ in question was the esteemed daughter of a noble from the inner circle of the King. Seungmin’s father being part of the council had introduced them to each other with eventual marriage in mind. It was obvious that the attraction was mutual so they kept meeting each other by this beautiful pond she knew of. Seungmin was sure that both of their fathers had gotten wind of this. It was only a matter of time before he had to ask for her hand in marriage.

❀ . * . *

“Guess who got tickets to Garage Junk’s concert?” a sing-song whisper brought back Seungmin from his daydreams. Jeongin, his colleague was leaning all the way over to his desk with a childlike smile on his face. How he managed to be so cheerful in the zombie corporation would forever be a mystery. “Oh I don’t know Yang let me guess, you?” Seungmin humoured. “Oh my god how’d you know are you a mind-reader?” a look from Seungmin shut him up. “You’re no fun. Anyways, so I’ve got two passes from this bet that I won and the passes allow two people each so I wanted to invite you-” “No”

Jeongin pouted, “What, why? I promise you’ll have fun”

“It’s not my thing Jeongin ask someone else”

“Why are you being so mean to the hubae, I’ll snitch on you about that coffee spill to Lee Know hyung if you don’t come with me”

“What coffee spill?” and there’s the devil himself, Lee Know, the team leader who has been making Seungmin’s life a living hell since he transferred here four months ago. He seemed to have a personal vendetta against him for some reason because all Seungmin has been doing for the past few weeks was staying overtime. And it was all Lee Know’s fault. But no one would believe it because apparently “Lee know is an angel in disguise he could never do that”, angel his ass. All those fuck ups and Seungmin had to be the one to clean up all the mess. Lee Know lost his oh-so-important work diary, “Seungmin can you please help me find it?”, his assistant fucked up some calls with clients, “Seungmin help”, Yang Jeongin the newbie needs to be shown around, “Seungmin show him the ropes around here”.

“Maybe he just trusts you more than anyone else”, Jeongin suggested one day after Seungmin’s weekly rambling sessions about Lee Know being an ass. Seungmin was quick to shut down that idea. He did ask Jeongin why he was so fond of him though, “He just reminds me of my hyung back home. And he is so inclusive, he even told me I can call him hyung, youngest privileges I guess”.

“It’s nothing sir, I was just telling Jeongin about how I really want to go to this concert with him”

“Ah, the one you were talking about Jeongin? And I think I’ve been telling you this since I came here Seungmin be casual with me, please. It already feels like a funeral in here the least we could do is be comfortable with each other”, Lee Know said while giving Seungmin’s back a pat.

It seemed like Seungmin had to go to this concert, now that he had lied about it. Maybe for once, he would have a good time.

❀ . * . *

“What are you writing about?” Seungmin looked up from the littering pages to find the owner of the honey voice. “About two lovers finding each other in every universe”, he said looking at her with awe as if he were seeing her for the first time.

“Why do you always look at me like that?”, she let out a shy giggle.

“Because you are art, and art needs to be awed at”.

It was always like this between them. Seungmin, the charmer who never lets an opportunity go to waste. Not that the lady needed to be charmed anymore but he couldn’t help it. She always looked so sweet when he made her blush.

It was after a lot of asking for permission and making arrangements was she allowed to visit him at his palace. They weren’t to be left alone before the marriage, of course, so Han Jisung was diligently sitting in a corner with a Cheshire grin. It was laughable how the elders were pretending to not know that the two lovers were sneaking out to be alone with each other. If the marriage was not arranged by them, then by now chaos would have ensued because of ‘illicit meetings’. Even though this meeting arrangement was almost a formal declaration of engagement, Seungmin did not bother to arrange his space. He was at a very crucial point in his novel, the lovers were on the brink of coming together in this universe which would conclude the end of the novel, and cleaning all the loose pages now meant losing track of everything, so he let it be. He was sure she would not mind a little bit of clutter. After all, she knew how much passion he was putting into this story.

❀ . * . *

The concert hall was five stops away from Seungmin’s place which made him debate about going even when he was putting his shoes on. At this point, the only thing that made him go was that he did not want to deal with an uncooperative Jeongin on Monday. Not to his surprise, Lee Know was waiting by the entrance with Jeongin and some other guy. Obviously, Jeongin had given the other pass to the team leader. He might as well get himself adopted by Lee Know. But Seungmin understood that Jeongin was very pure-hearted. He had a way of bringing people closer. He was young with a different and fresh outlook on society and never let anyone change his optimistic way of perceiving things. Even if it was annoying to Seungmin, he hoped that Jeongin would remain like this forever.

“Hyung you’re finally here, we have been waiting for you for so long”, Jeongin whined as he saw Seungmin approaching.

“What are you talking about I’m not late you guys are just early. Concert starts at 6 and it’s just 5:20 now”, Seungmin said as he checked his phone to look at the time.

“Okay okay, Seungmin meet Felix, my brother. Felix this is Seungmin from work”, Lee Know introduced the other guy who has been silently snickering at their exchange. Seungmin gave him a nod to which Felix smiled so brightly that Seungmin was blinded.

The concert hall was jam-packed and Seungmin felt suffocated. Was it really going to be worth it? And they were seated so far away that they could barely see the stage. He thought that the crowd was loud enough but he was clearly wrong. Nothing could have prepared him for the outburst of energy in the hall when the band members came on stage. They must be some good musicians for this hype, Seungmin thought. He looked to his side to see Jeongin looking at the stage with fascination. He wasn’t sure what Jeongin was staring at because they couldn’t even make out the faces of the performers properly from this far. Some cheap passes they were.

Not even halfway through the concert, Seungmin understood why there was so much hype. Garage Junk was phenomenal. Their music resonated with his soul. All of them were amazing performers. But by the end of the concert, everyone there knew that it was the guitarist’s day. He took it away with his solo and his energy. And Seungmin could say that after a very long time, he had fun. He was still having an adrenaline rush when Jeongin said that there would be a high-five event after. Seungmin surprised himself by accepting to stay. The ones staying for the event were made to walk in a line and pass by the band members who were standing behind a barricade with outstretched hands and big smiles. They too were still running on adrenaline, excited to interact with the fans. Seungmin thought it was silly, he was not even a fan yet. He only listened to their music for the first time today. But he had no way out anymore so he went along with Jeongin and Felix. Lee Know had left first thing saying he had no interest in this. He would be waiting for his brother outside the hall.

The event itself was not very time taking for an individual. They just ran along and high-fived all the members and they were done. So it did not take long before it was Seungmin’s turn. Well if anything he would at least be able to see the faces of the members clearly. He guessed it went in this order- vocalist, guitarist, bassist, pianist and then he stopped. Seungmin couldn’t move as he stared at the pianist. His hand was still touching hers. Her face mirrored Seungmin’s in surprise. And the world seemed to stop as they stared at each other for what seemed like an eternity. And then she said something, so softly that Seungmin wasn’t sure if he heard her right. “I found you”.

❀ . * . *

No one had predicted an attack at such a time when the state was finally at peace. But when did anyone ever expect misfortune. It was not people from outside the borders, but conspirators from within the state. They targeted the houses of the council members. It might be with inside help that they could enter past the guards. They did not have to get far inside to set everything on fire. And they did not stop with the houses of the council members, they set fire to the houses of the people who supported the king which was majority. Within minutes almost the whole capital was burning down.

Seungmin’s father was unfortunately a member of the council. Times like these were when he wished he was not involved in anything, times when his family was put in danger. Seungmin and his lover were deep in the inner chambers. Han had gone to fetch two glasses of water for them and he was yet to come back when the fire started. Seungmin was thankful that at least he was out of there, possibly out of danger. He was stupid enough to come to look for them but the guards would stop him he knew.

It was a terrible sight, as far as one could see everything was on fire. Seungmin was trying to navigate them out through the fire and fumes. But no matter which direction they went every way was blocked. Left. Right. Through the kitchen. Across the garden. All along grasping her hand tightly. Seungmin was frantically looking for a way, he would save her, he had to. He couldn’t think clearly, his lungs were burning from smoke. He looked back when he felt her stop. “What is it? Why did you stop?”, he looked at her concerningly. She had a resigned look on her face, “It’s pointless, my love”.

“What? What are you talking-” “You know I’m right Seungmin. We’ve been going around in circles. There’s no way out left”.

Seungmin knew, the thought had come to the back of his head when they had tried going around the baths for the second time. But he was so desperate that he couldn’t accept it. The only thing going through his mind was getting her to safety.

“Give up my love”, she stepped closer and cradled his face in her hands.

“N-no it cannot be. There has to be a way-”, she kissed him. Soft lips enveloped his in an embrace while the fire drew closer. Seungmin’s delirious brain calmed down at her touch. At least they were together, he thought. “At least we die together”, she gave a teary smile. He did not want to know if the tears were from emotions or from the smoke. Seungmin brought her in his arms in a tight hold for the last time in this life, “I will find you, my love, I will always come for you”. The heat was increasing into searing pain. But she was smiling nonetheless, “I will wait for you”.

❀ . * . *

“I found you”

The world started moving again. Securities came barging to rush Seungmin along. But he wasn’t looking anywhere, he was entranced by her. He did not notice any of the pushing or the firm instructions to move along. He only snapped out of it when she jumped over the barricade to stop him from being dragged away. “No, no stop please I know him, let him go”, Seungmin heard the panic in her voice. He caught a glance of Felix and Jeongin at the side, confusion latched on their faces.

It was all so hazy. Even though Seungmin saw everything that was happening around him, he could not seem to comprehend anything. It was almost like an out-of-body experience. He was just watching everything happen to his physical form. He could only register that he was being dragged away somewhere by the pianist, her hand strongly grasping his as if he would fade away if she didn’t. Away from all the shocked and confused stares she brought him to the changing room, still holding his hand tightly. They stood there looking at each other longingly. No words were exchanged for a minute, just relishing in each other’s presence.

“I’ve been waiting for you, I knew you would come for me”, she spoke up first.

Seungmin stepped closer raising a hand to stroke her face, hesitatingly. He was not sure if she was real, “You are the lady from my dreams” he let out a laugh in disbelief.

He had been looking for her discreetly, everywhere he went. From the moment he stepped out of his house, on the train, scanning everyone’s face on the sidewalk, the convenience store he went to, everywhere, always, he had been keeping a lookout for her. But for some reason, he was not looking for her at this concert, so ironic. Seungmin felt his phone vibrate, Jeongin was probably bombing it with messages. He had half a heart to let him know that he was fine. But his eyes were fixed on her, unable to do anything else.

“I remembered nothing but those words, that you will find me, I-” a sob escaped her, “I’m so happy that you found me. I don’t even remember your name. I’m sorry I- do you remember anything?”

“Yeah, little things. I’m Seungmin, but you used to call me my love”.

“Seungmin”, she tried out saying it, it felt familiar. “My love”, she said looking directly into his eyes with adoration. A rush of emotions hit them both at that, bringing out fresh tears. But both of them were smiling now. It had been exhausting, living without each other. Now they were finally home.

“You found me, my love”, she wrapped her arms around him.

Seungmin brought her head to his chest, smiling in her hair,

“I found you”.

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[zapreportsblog]

Hi I was wondering if you could do a felix, Bella, Alec , demetri fix could you please base it of new moon

If you could write it I would be so grateful thank xxx

Perfect, absolutely amazing!

↱ the predators and their prey ↰

➘ summary : Bella always assumed Edward was her mate when in reality she was the mate to another vampire or rather vampires

➘ a/n: firstly I find this gif to absolutely fucking hilarious like why tf is her hands moving like that 😭 ooh update : I changed the gif

➘ volturi x reader , felix x demetri x bella swan x alec

The night had settled over Forks, casting long shadows across the quiet streets. Bella Swan sat on the couch in her dimly lit living room, staring blankly at the TV screen. Her heartache was palpable, her thoughts consumed by the memory of Edward Cullen's departure. Months had passed since that fateful day in the forest, yet the pain was as fresh as if it had just happened.

With a heavy sigh, Bella reached for the remote and switched off the TV. She leaned back against the cushions, closing her eyes as if trying to shut out the world. The empty silence of the house only served to amplify her loneliness.

Suddenly, a sound caught her attention—a faint, almost imperceptible tapping against the window. Bella's eyes shot open, her heart skipping a beat. She turned her gaze towards the window, her breath catching in her throat when she saw a figure standing outside.

It was Alice Cullen, the ethereal and enigmatic sister of Edward. Bella's heart raced as she hurried to the window and unlocked it, allowing Alice to glide into the room with a grace that defied human limitations.

"Bella," Alice said, her voice both urgent and comforting. "I'm so sorry to intrude, but I need to talk to you."

Bella's emotions were a tumultuous mix of shock, relief, and confusion. She had always been drawn to Alice, the vibrant and mysterious girl who had become one of her closest friends after she'd started dating Edward. But Alice had disappeared along with the rest of the Cullen family after Edward left, leaving Bella in a void of silence.

"Where have you been?" Bella managed to choke out, her voice a mixture of disbelief and emotion.

Alice's golden eyes held a mixture of regret and understanding. "I couldn't be around after Edward left. It was too difficult for me," she explained, her tone sincere. "But I came back as soon as I saw a chance to help."

Bella's heart hammered in her chest. "Help with what?"

Alice took a step closer, her gaze unwavering. "Edward," she answered simply. "I've seen a vision—a way to bring him back. But I can't do it alone. I need your help, Bella."

Bella's breath caught. The mere mention of Edward's name had rekindled the pain she'd tried so hard to suppress. "You saw a way to bring him back?" she whispered, her voice a mixture of disbelief and hope.

Alice nodded, her expression determined. "Yes, but it's risky, and we have to act quickly. Will you help me, Bella?"

Bella's mind was a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. A chance to see Edward again—to undo the agonizing separation that had torn them apart—was both tempting and terrifying. But deep down, she knew she couldn't ignore the opportunity that Alice was presenting.

With a shaky breath, Bella met Alice's gaze. "Tell me what we need to do."

Alice's lips curved into a small, grateful smile. "Thank you, Bella. We're going to need your courage for this."

As Alice began to explain the plan, Bella felt a spark of determination ignite within her. The path ahead was uncertain, but the prospect of reuniting with Edward was a beacon of light in the darkness that had consumed her life. And as she listened to Alice's words, Bella knew that she was embarking on a journey that would test her in ways she couldn't have imagined—a journey that could potentially lead her back to the love she had lost.

The night air was cool and crisp as Bella and Alice found themselves in an unfamiliar country. The journey had been swift and silent, Alice's preternatural speed carrying them to this distant land. Tall trees surrounded them, their branches swaying gently in the breeze, and the moon cast an eerie glow on the path ahead.

"We're almost there," Alice said, her voice carrying a note of anticipation. "Just a little further."

Bella's heart raced with a mixture of anxiety and hope. She had followed Alice without question, drawn by the possibility of reuniting with Edward. But the uncertainty of their mission gnawed at her, the weight of her decision becoming more tangible with each step.

As they reached a clearing, Alice suddenly froze, her eyes distant as if she were gazing into the unknown. A shiver ran down Bella's spine, and she watched as Alice's brow furrowed, her expression shifting from anticipation to concern.

"Alice, what is it?" Bella asked, her voice edged with worry.

Alice's focus snapped back to Bella, her eyes wide with a mixture of realization and alarm. "I had another vision," she said hurriedly. "Edward—he's exposing himself to the Volturi, thinking they won't kill him because of his abilities."

Bella's heart clenched at the words. The idea of Edward putting himself in danger to protect her was both heartwarming and distressing. "We have to stop him," she insisted, her voice tinged with urgency.

Without another word, Bella started running, her determination propelling her forward. The trees blurred past her as her steps became swift and purposeful. She could feel the adrenaline coursing through her veins, her mind focused solely on reaching Edward before he made a rash decision.

As she broke through the treeline into a small clearing, Bella's heart sank. Edward stood there, his back to her, facing the Volturi guards Felix and Demetri. The tension in the air was palpable, and she could sense the conflict raging within him.

"Edward!" Bella called out, her voice carrying a mixture of worry and desperation.

Edward turned at the sound of her voice, his expression a mix of surprise and relief. Before Bella could reach him, however, Jane appeared in a blur of motion, her eyes narrowing as she focused on Bella.

"Stop right there," Jane said, her voice cold and commanding.

Bella skidded to a stop, her heart racing as she found herself face to face with Jane. The petite vampire's gaze held an unsettling intensity, and Bella could feel the weight of her power pressing down on her.

"Isabella Swan," Jane mused, a hint of a smirk tugging at her lips. "It seems you're determined to make quite an impression on our coven."

Alice joined Bella's side, her stance poised and unyielding. "We're here to talk to the kings," Alice stated firmly.

Felix and Demetri flanked Jane, their presence imposing and unwavering. "The kings are expecting you," Demetri said, his voice carrying a note of finality.

As Jane, Felix, and Demetri surrounded Bella and Alice, Bella felt a mixture of apprehension and determination. The Volturi were not to be taken lightly, and their reputation for swift and decisive action was well-known.

With a deep breath, Bella exchanged a glance with Alice, their shared resolve evident in their eyes. The path ahead was uncertain, fraught with danger and uncertainty. But as they prepared to face the kings of the Volturi, Bella knew that the choices they made now would determine not only their own fates, but the future of those they cared for most.

As Bella and Alice stood before the three kings of the Volturi, the air in the grand chamber was heavy with tension. Aro, Caius, and Marcus regarded them with a mixture of curiosity and authority, their expressions unreadable as they listened to Alice explain their purpose for seeking an audience.

"We've come to plead for Edward's life," Alice said, her voice steady despite the weight of the request.

Aro's lips curled into a smile, his crimson eyes twinkling with amusement. "Ah, the ties that bind. Love is a powerful motivator, isn't it?" he mused, his gaze flickering between Bella and Alice.

Bella's heart raced, her emotions a whirlwind as she faced the kings. She was acutely aware of the gravity of their situation and the potential consequences of their actions. But her determination to save Edward gave her the strength to stand her ground.

As the conversation continued, Bella couldn't shake the feeling that there was more at play than met the eye. The Volturi had always been enigmatic, their motives often shrouded in secrecy. She sensed a subtle undercurrent of tension between the Volturi guards—Jane, Alec, Felix, and Demetri. Their gazes occasionally met hers, and she saw a mixture of intrigue and calculation in their eyes.

Unbeknownst to Bella, Marcus had been quietly observing the interactions. His ancient eyes, clouded with centuries of experience, noticed the shifting dynamics and the subtle bonds forming between Alec, Felix, Demetri, and Bella. The connection, faint but growing, intrigued him.

During a lull in the conversation, Marcus leaned in to speak quietly to Aro. "There's something interesting happening, Aro. A bond—subtle, but significant—forming between Alec, Felix, Demetri, and the girl."

Aro's gaze sparkled with intrigue, and a smile played at the corners of his lips. "Ah, young love. How delightful," he said, his voice carrying a mixture of amusement and interest.

As the conversation resumed, Aro's attention was drawn to the interactions between the guards and Bella. His crimson eyes glittered with amusement as he observed the way Jane's gaze occasionally softened when she looked at Bella, or how Alec seemed to be more attentive in Bella's presence. Felix and Demetri's behavior, though less obvious, also revealed signs of a growing connection.

"Bella," Aro said suddenly, his voice laced with amusement. "It appears you've managed to capture the attention of not just one, but five members of our esteemed guard."

Bella's cheeks flushed, her gaze shifting between Aro and the guards. The revelation left her feeling both surprised and unnerved.

"We shall have to keep an eye on these intriguing developments," Aro continued, his tone playful. "It seems love is in the air."

As the kings and the guards shared a knowing glance, Bella felt a mixture of emotions—bewilderment, curiosity, and a touch of embarrassment. The unpredictable turn of events had added a layer of complexity to their already delicate situation.

Bella exchanged a glance with Alice, and in that shared moment, they knew that the choices they made now could have far-reaching consequences. As they navigated the intricate web of relationships within the Volturi, Bella and Alice were both aware that their journey had taken an unexpected turn—one that would test not only their resolve, but the bonds they formed along the way.

Bella's heart raced as she absorbed Aro's words. "This can't be true," she whispered, her voice filled with a mixture of disbelief and desperation. "Edward and I are mates.”

“You stupid girl! All he wants is your blood!” growls Caius.

“There's more to our connection than just my blood."

Aro regarded Bella with a mixture of sympathy and amusement. "I understand that this may be difficult for you to accept, my dear Bella. But I must clarify that Edward is not your mate in the traditional sense. He is, in fact, a blood singer—a rarity among humans. Your blood calls out to him, hence his inexplicable attraction to you."

The truth hit Bella like a tidal wave, leaving her stunned and overwhelmed. Her thoughts raced as she considered the implications of what Aro was saying. The foundation of her belief, the idea that she and Edward were destined to be together, was being shattered before her very eyes.

Alice placed a comforting hand on Bella's shoulder, her eyes filled with empathy. "Bella, I'm so sorry," she murmured softly.

As the weight of reality settled in, Bella's gaze shifted to the Volturi guards—Demetri, Felix, and Alec. Their eyes were fixed on her with an intensity that sent a shiver down her spine. The revelation that her connection with Edward was purely based on her blood left her feeling vulnerable and exposed.

Demetri's lips curled into a subtle smile, his gaze unyielding. Felix's expression remained impassive, but there was a predatory glint in his eyes. Jane's lips curved into a faint smirk, while Alec's gaze held a mix of curiosity and something that Bella couldn't quite decipher.

Aro's voice broke through Bella's racing thoughts. "My dear Bella, you possess a unique allure—a siren's call that beckons not just Edward, but others as well."

Bella's eyes widened, her heart pounding as she realized the implications of Aro's words. The guards—the ones who had already shown signs of a growing connection to her—were now looking at her with a hunger that left her feeling exposed, like prey caught in their sights.

"You see, my dear," Aro continued, his tone almost casual, "a blood singer's allure is potent, and it can affect even the most disciplined of vampires."

The realization hit Bella like a blow to the chest. She was standing before a coven of powerful vampires, and her very existence seemed to incite a primal response within them. The guards' reactions were unsettling, their predatory gazes fixed on her as if she were the embodiment of their desires.

As Bella met their unwavering stares, a surge of determination welled within her. She may be a source of fascination and danger, but she was also more than just her blood. With her heart set on reuniting with Edward, Bella braced herself for the challenges ahead, knowing that the choices she made now would determine not only her fate, but the fates of those around her.

#bella swan imagine #bella swan imagines #twilight x volturi x bella swan #bella swan #alec volturi #alec volturi x bella swan #jane volturi #jane volturi x bella swan #felix volturi #felix volturi x bella swan #demetri volturi #demetri volturi x bella swan #twilight masterlist