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gonesgone · 1 year

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[🧷] / so close, yet so far, part one.

[🫀] \ bridging the gap, part two.

— synopsis: as you distance yourself from Izogie, she decides to take a different approach.

— pairing: Izogie x black!fem!reader.

— author’s note: decided to make this a three part series. this part is quite lengthy but it’s my way of saying thank you for all the support on the first one. happy reading, everyone.

almost two weeks.

that’s how long you had been avoiding Izogie.

ever since you overheard her expressing a lack of interest for love, you wanted to lose any romantic feelings you held towards her.

“she will be miganon one day,” you thought. “pining after her was a big mistake in the first place.”

that same night, you decided to take matters into your own hands and do what was best for you.

so, at the start of the week, you kept yourself out of Izogie’s line of sight. you also made sure not to draw the attention of others as well.

luckily for you, your initial plan started off smoothly.

a new group of trainees had arrived at the palace and most of the focus was on getting them settled in and trained. per usual, Izogie was the one chosen to show them the ropes and because of this, she was quite occupied. you didn’t mind though. it made sneaking around a lot easier.

on top of that, relief washed over you when you found out that you were now training with Amenza, Nanisca’s right hand woman. it would’ve been embarrassing to train with the newcomers, especially under Izogie’s guidance.

what you needed was for enough time to pass so that your love for her could fade. but as the days went by and you saw less and less of her, you wondered if that was what you really wanted.

at times, when you heard her voice in the distance, butterflies erupted in your stomach and you wished it was you she spoke to. when you walked into a room and got a whiff of her scent, you found your eyes searching, needing to catch a glimpse of her.

but what you wanted didn’t matter.

Izogie wasn’t looking for love and even if she was, you wouldn’t be her first choice.

the thought of that felt painful but you needed to come to terms with it. you had to lose feelings and for once, you planned on succeeding at something you put your mind to.

so, you focused on your trainings instead. when you had time, you engaged in fun activities with the few friends you had and carried out your daily duties. going forward, you swore to never feel this strongly for another person ever again.

love seemed to be a luxury you could not afford.

as the week drew to a close, all was still going well. until the arrival of the second week.

everything started one nightfall. the agojie, as well as the trainees, were fast asleep. the only people awake at the time being the guards who kept watch.

in your quarters, you found yourself restless and after a while, you decided to take a trip to the bathhouse. it was the perfect place for you to clear your head.

upon arriving though, you thought you heard a sound come from the inside but nevertheless, you proceeded to walk down the stone steps.

soon enough, you were greeted by the serene, deep blue color of the water. candles on the walls were lit, giving the space a dim, orange glow.

off to the side, you noticed some clothes were neatly folded. as you wondered whose they were, the owner came up from the water, wiping her face with both hands.

it was Izogie.

you stood frozen in place as her brown eyes locked on yours. in the water’s embrace, the complexion of her skin glistened even more and her gaze was low, almost as if to invite you in.

all you could do was stare, way too absorbed with how good she looked from afar. for what seemed like an eternity, neither of you said a word to each other. soon, her eyes left yours as they traveled down the rest of your body.

Izogie licked her lips slowly as she watched you. instantly, your heart pounded furiously. when her eyes returned to yours, a glint resided in them and you held your breath, nervousness coursing through your veins.

then, she swam towards you.

immediately, all types of warning bells went off in your head. this wasn’t good at all, especially for your blood pressure. you needed to leave, you thought. but as she got progressively closer, you couldn’t find the strength to move.

before you knew it, Izogie was in front of you.

well, at your feet to be precise.

she still hadn’t gotten out of the water but something about looking down on her made your legs weak. she looked softer, tiredness having settled deep on her facial features.

in that moment, you wanted her head buried between your neck and shoulder as you caressed her back. you wanted to enclose your thighs around her waist as you whispered sweet nothings in her ears. you wanted to feel the weight of her body on yours as she slept.

but what you wanted didn’t matter.

before Izogie could step out of the water, you quickly turned on your heel and ran up the steps, exiting the bathhouse. you didn’t stop running until you reached your quarters, unable to sleep for the remainder of the night.

the next day during training, you were working on rope tying with Amenza when you felt an extra set of eyes on you from across the courtyard.

they were from none other than Izogie.

under the hot sun, her skin was oiled well, further highlighting her muscles. she had one hand rested at the hilt of her weapon as she walked around, monitoring her trainees’ progress.

but every so often, her gaze wandered over to you. soon, it began to stir up mixed emotions inside you.

for one, a part of you felt elated. in the past, Izogie rarely looked at you. and whenever she did make eye contact, it was usually when she was scolding you. but for today, even when you caught her staring, she never looked away.

it made you want to smile as your hands fiddled with your rope.

it felt nice.

it felt hopeful.

but then again, being seen by her was not a part of your plan. at the bathhouse, the feelings you had been working so hard to get rid of only amplified when you were in front of her. in the end, it was you who suffered the sleepless night.

you couldn’t keep putting yourself through that.

as you worked on your knots, Amenza noticed how tangled your rope (and mind) was. she smiled softly as she placed her hand on top of yours. you quickly snapped back to reality and apologized.

not long after, you, as well as Izogie’s group, were called to gather around.

the new trainees would be going on a tour today to learn about the different routes the agojie used. you already knew all about them but seeing as you didn’t graduate, you were still required to tag along.

Amenza and Izogie each formed a group and divided the trainees until you were the last one left. then, they allowed you to choose who you wanted to join.

you quickly ran to Amenza’s side. for your sanity, you needed to stick to your plan.

she gave you a small chuckle as she began to explain further rules. but while she spoke, you made the mistake of allowing your eyes to meet Izogie’s.

she was already looking at you but for the first time today, it was her who quickly averted her gaze upon meeting your eyes. as Amenza continued to address the group, you couldn’t help but feel that Izogie was refraining from looking in your direction.

this is for the better, you thought.

but as both groups began departing in different directions, you wondered if that was a lie you could really keep telling yourself.

as for the tour, the first half went quite well. Amenza explained the various routes in an understanding way and answered questions thoughtfully. once in a while, she even allowed you all to take a quick break.

this time, the group had stopped by a small stream to rest. some birds were chirping high in the trees as the sound of water flowing filled the air.

off to the side, you noticed some of the girls were stone skipping while others dipped their toes in playfully. you decided to take a seat at the bank of the stream in order to enjoy the scenery.

soon, your relaxation time was cut short when you spotted three trainees not too far from you.

they were huddled up, laughing obnoxiously as they pointed in your direction. you sighed as you did your best to ignore them. nowadays, they didn’t even hide the fact that they were talking about you.

as you tried to focus your attention on other things, you couldn’t help but overhear their conversation.

“i’m surprised they still let her stay here. i thought Dahomey needed warriors, not an extra mouth to feed.”

the other two girls snickered and you felt anger bubble inside you upon hearing her comment.

Nanare.

she was one of the trainees who arrived a week ago but for some reason you weren’t aware of, she had a strong dislike for you.

the funny thing was that you didn’t even know her prior to joining the king’s guard and till this day, you never once had a conversation with the girl.

from what you heard about her from Fumbe, she had willingly signed up to join the agojie and was beyond competitive. as of late, she was the only trainee at the top of all her classes.

you also found out that you were older than Nanare. but seeing how everyone knew of you failing to pass the final test, you figured that was why she felt emboldened to speak about you anyhow.

at times, you thought of reporting her to Amenza then later brushed it off. her behavior was childish and you only hoped she would grow out of it soon.

you still didn’t want to draw any attention to yourself and besides, the agojie did not tolerate any form of bullying against one another. if any of it was found out, it was Izogie who handed out punishments.

if anything, you were saving Nanare by keeping quiet.

but then, the younger had the audacity to utter a specific sentence and for the first time in your life, you felt provoked to hit a woman.

“maybe she’s sleeping with King Ghezo.”

you instantly got up and started walking in their direction, both of your fists balled at your side. you may not be the best fighter here but in that moment, something in you felt compelled to swing first, deal with the consequences later.

before you could act though, Amenza called out for all the trainees to gather around.

the other two girls smirked at you as Nanare eyed you up and down. she then bumped into your shoulders as she went to join the rest of the group. you simply stood there, watching in disbelief.

soon, Amenza waved you over and you had no choice but to join the rest.

for the duration of the tour, the younger’s insults lingered in your mind. although it’d been frustrating to hear, Nanare’s words couldn’t compare to the headache the next day would bring you.

per usual, the afternoon started off particularly hot. Izogie, along with the trainees, were heading out for training. before they left, she asked you to sharpen the agojie spears that had grown dull.

on your way to gather up the weapons, you noticed one of the palace workers, an elderly woman, struggling. she was trying to transport pots of indigo dye and you remembered that festival day was in a few days.

it was a celebration of Dahomey’s prosperity in the trades and towards the end, various goods were given up as offerings in hopes of the success continuing.

since last week, all the workers had been busy with making clothes, jewelry, palm oil and more. the busiest being the indigo dye makers.

upon spotting her, you offered to help move the dye to storage for safekeeping. she thanked you graciously and you got to work.

you didn’t mind the heavy lifting but soon, one trip turned into two, which turned into four and before you knew it, the sun was starting to fall. the trainees would be back any time soon and you still hadn’t sharpened a single spear.

you quickly parted ways with the elderly woman as she thanked you even more.

then, you scrambled to collect the spears and made your way to the sharpening station. when you arrived, you set everything on the floor and wiped the beads of sweat that trickled down your forehead.

not long after you sat down to work, Izogie entered the space. instantly, you felt your heart drop. her face and shoulders were covered in sweat. as she walked further into the room, you noticed some of her hair sticking out of place.

“why did she have to come straight here?” you thought.

as you set your tools down, she watched you with a blank expression. then, you slowly got up from your seat to address her. in that moment, everything in you wanted to run but you knew you couldn’t.

so, you stood straight, mentally preparing yourself.

“i gave you all afternoon to sharpen these. why have you not finished?”

in your chest, your heart was pounding as you looked up at her. Izogie was only a couple inches taller but it always felt like she towered over you. not just height wise, but in other aspects as well. one example being her voice.

it was always deep and firm, easily sending goosebumps through you. for a split second, you even found yourself wishing her lips were speaking directly into the shell of your ear.

she raised an eyebrow at you and you realized that you had just been staring. you quickly cleared your throat.

“i’m sorry. i was helping one of the older women move indigo dye and it took some time. i’ll stay up until i’ve finished these.”

Izogie looked at you for a while, not saying a word. soon, it was becoming hard for you to maintain eye contact and the air in the room felt very thick. then, she broke the silence.

“is the job i asked you to do that hard?”

you were taken aback by the question. the last thing you needed was for her to think you were dodging the tasks she gave. you tried to explain again.

“no, no. it’s just that the woman was elderly and—.”

you couldn’t even finish your sentence because she started walking towards you, a stern look appearing on her face.

“so now you can disobey my orders and do as you please?”

you furrowed your eyebrows at her. was she trying to pick a fight with you? because it felt like she was deliberately ignoring your explanation.

“none of that was my intention. i just couldn’t let that woman do all the work herself. she had no help.”

Izogie stopped in front of you.

“do you want me to applaud you for being a good samaritan?”

now, you were getting irritated.

“excuse me?” you asked, way too exhausted to be doing this. “what was i supposed to do? just walk by as she struggled?”

in the past, you had never spoken back to Izogie whenever she scolded you. that was because at the time, you believed the things she was saying made sense. and it did.

but at the moment, this specific conversation seemed quite nonsensical to you. it’s not like you completely abandoned your work. you came back and told her you would stay up until it was done.

why was she so upset?

you snapped out of your thoughts when she brought her face closer to yours, mere inches separating the both of you.

“it seems you have forgotten the first rule of training because i don’t talk to you as much.”

you could feel your entire body getting hotter by the second. if she wanted to take it there, two could play that game. you spoke up in a strict tone.

“Izogie, you’re not who I answer to anymore. when you asked me to sharpen the spears, I agreed to do so because it is part of my duty as a trainee. it was not because I needed to obey you.”

she smirked, the whites of her teeth showing.

“so now you can talk. you must be happy not having me as a teacher.”

the look on her face was genuinely pissing you off.

“i am happy. at least Amenza teaches me instead of criticizing everything i do and then avoiding me.”

her eyebrows raised slightly, smirk fading.

“do you want me to hold your hands like a child for every single thing you have to do?”

you instantly scoffed at her, tears beginning to pool in your eyes. deep down, you knew you always tried your best but for her to not see that, it stung.

“you would be a terrible miganon. you know that, right?”

instantly, she looked shocked by what you said. you tried to keep your composure but soon, a tear ran down your cheek.

“all you see me as is some sort of burden you don’t want to deal with. Izogie, if I was bleeding out on the battlefield, you would leave me there to die wouldn’t you?”

Izogie stood frozen in place, pain engulfing her eyes.

was that what you thought of her?

your words kept replaying in her head, cementing themselves in her mind. as your tears continued to flow, a pang of guilt spread throughout her body.

she instinctively brought a hand up to your cheek but you quickly swatted it away as you spoke.

“please. just go back to ignoring me.”

then, you stepped out of the room.

Izogie stood there alone, a dazed look on her face. she inhaled and exhaled shakily as her gaze landed on the spears. she stared at them for a while before her jaw clenched, tear drops falling from her eyes.

you on the other hand, felt like you couldn’t breathe.

it was as if Izogie knew how to stitch and unravel the fabric that was you and there was nothing you could do. it was your own heart and yet, she controlled its beating. none of it was fair.

you were still crying but you needed to collect your bearings. so, you tucked yourself away in a far corner of the palace and waited an hour or so. then, you headed back to the sharpening station. thankfully, she wasn’t there anymore and you got back to work.

as you sharpened the spears, you found yourself at an internal crossroad. a part of you felt that you had gone too far with what you said to her. but at the same time, another part felt proud of you for voicing your thoughts.

as night fell, you decided to stop thinking so much and focus on the task at hand. once you were finished, you leaned back in your chair, too tired to move. as you reminisced about the encounter, sleep soon took over your mind.

the next day, you woke up groggily and rubbed the pain from your shoulders. you could hear indistinct chatter in the background as events from the night before came flooding in. you tried to adjust to the bright light, only to realize you were in your quarters.

girls were busy getting ready for the day and some were even eating breakfast already. you turned to the side and saw Nawi who was rubbing oil on her skin. she smiled brightly as she looked at you.

“finally, you’re awake. Fumbe wanted to get breakfast with you but you just kept sleeping. she eventually left like half an hour ago.”

instantly, you were confused. did you end up coming back here? but you were sure you had slept on the hard, wooden chair. you decided to ask.

“Nawi, did you see me come in last night?”

she looked at you for a couple of seconds, a smile threatening to fall from her lips.

“Izogie brought you in.”

you looked at her like she had nine heads.

“what?”

Nawi laughed.

“I stayed up quite late talking to my mother and on my way back, I saw Izogie carrying you.”

now, you were even more confused. there was no way what Nawi was saying could be true. not after last night. but then again, Nawi had no reason to lie.

as you kept thinking, you heard a last call for breakfast and quickly bolted up. at the serving station, there was one bowl left, wrapped up with leaves on top.

it was a bit odd but you didn’t think much of it. as you reached down to grab it, a server stopped you.

“i’m sorry but this dish is reserved.”

this morning just keeps getting odder and odder, you thought. since when did anyone reserve breakfast? you were about to explain to the server that you hadn’t eaten yet when someone interrupted.

it was the elderly lady you had helped move indigo dye for. she had a smile on her face as she grabbed the bowl and handed it to you. she then turned to the server.

“don’t worry. Izogie was saving the food for this girl, not herself.”

you blinked twice, wondering if you had heard wrong.

“Izogie?”

she nods.

“she told me this morning to make sure that the girl who helped me yesterday ate. isn’t she kind?”

you stood there, unable to comprehend what was happening. quickly, you thanked the server and the elderly woman as you returned to your quarters.

little did you know, Nanare was off to the side and she overheard the entire conversation.

throughout the day, you tried many times to speak with Izogie but there was never an opportunity. this time though, it wasn’t because she was avoiding you. it just happened to be one of those hectic days.

you figured your best opportunity to see her would be at night so you waited. when the time came, you snuck out and headed to her quarters. it was located on the other side of the palace but you didn’t mind.

upon arriving, you saw her on the front steps. she was sneaking a flask under her shirt and you took in a deep breath before walking up.

“Izogie,” you called out.

she turned to look at you, her face tired from the day.

you fiddled with your hands, unsure of how to even begin the conversation.

“i just wanted to say thank you for bringing me back to my quarters and for the food.”

she stared at you with a low gaze, saying nothing. you mentally told yourself to keep going.

“i also wanted to say that i’m sorry for what i said to you last night. it was not right of me and i will accept any punishment you give.”

Izogie still said nothing as she watched you. soon, your mouth was moving faster than your mind.

“can you please say something? if you hate me and never want to speak to me again, just let me know.”

she kissed her teeth slightly as she averted her eyes briefly. soon, she motioned you over with her hand.

“walk with me.”

the night’s air felt cool against your skin as you walked alongside her. both of you were silent, watching few palace workers go by. occasionally, she drank from her flask, staring straight ahead.

then out of nowhere, she spoke.

“i want to apologize to you as well.”

“what?” you asked, staring at her side profile.

“i want to apologize to you. i should’ve done it first.”

you turned your head back to the front.

“tell me what you are apologizing for specifically.”

she scoffed and began counting on her fingers.

“for speaking harshly to you. for avoiding you. for not spending more time helping you as you struggled. for last night.”

she paused before continuing.

“i’ve never once saw you as a burden.”

you heart skipped a beat as she drank some more of what was in the flask.

“there are lots of things inside me that i struggle with. old wounds. i don’t know how to handle a lot of them but i promise, i won’t let it affect how i treat you anymore. i’ll be better to you.”

you quickly took a couple of steps forward, now standing in front of her. she looked down on you as you admired her face in the pale moonlight.

all you ever wanted was to be close to Izogie. everything about her made you curious and for the first time since you liked her, you felt that she would finally allow you to learn.

“thank you,” you said. “for saying those words.”

a small smile formed on her lips and you felt like you were floating. it was the first one she’d ever given you and it was beautiful.

as you both stood there, you eventually cleared your throat. you didn’t want to say goodnight just yet.

“what is it you’re drinking?” you asked.

she looked at the flask before handing it to you.

“like i told Nawi, it’s the only thing the white men bring worth having. they call it whiskey.”

you eyed the drink skeptically before tasting it.

as soon as the liquid hit your tongue, you spat it out immediately, face scrunching in disgust.

Izogie smirked as you quickly handed the flask back.

“how do you drink that nonsense?”

she shrugged.

“it’s an acquired taste.”

you were about to voice your displeasure for the drink even more when you felt her thumb come in contact with the side of your mouth.

you instantly went still, heart pounding.

apparently, a trace of whiskey was left on your lips and she was taking the liberty of wiping it off for you.

her finger maneuvered around the area, not wanting to scratch you with her nail. then, she retracted her thumb, only to put it back in her own mouth.

your lips parted slightly.

“why did you just do that?” you asked, butterflies erupting in your stomach.

Izogie smiled.

“i cannot let good whiskey go to waste.”

she patted your shoulder and continued walking straight ahead. you slapped your cheeks softly as a way to collect yourself before jogging to catch up with her.

at a distance, Nanare stood, watching you both.

eventually, you went back to your quarters but you couldn’t fall asleep. every time you thought about her, a smile found its way onto your face. now that she apologized, it felt like a huge fog had been lifted.

as you replayed all of her words, you prayed to the ancestors that all of it wasn’t a dream or worse, a lie.

the next day, you found out that your hand to hand combat lessons would be with Izogie, not Amenza.

it had been a while since you both trained together so it made you nervous. at the same time, there was also a newfound excitement for the future.

in the middle of the training ground, you both stood across from each other. the sun was beating down on your oiled bodies and soon, class began.

Izogie had her hands behind her back, a focused expression on her face.

“throw a punch,” she said. “i need to see what you’re doing wrong.”

you got into your stance, punching the air once.

“again.”

you steadied yourself and punched again.

she walked over and bent down to your knees, tapping them.

“first of all, your knees. they’re too stiff. loosen them.”

you quickly shook your legs out before getting back into your position.

she then stood in front of you and held both of your hands up to your face.

“always keep your elbows tucked in and your guard up. you need to protect your chin.”

you nodded as you made a mental note.

she grabbed your right arm.

“you swing your arm when you punch. don’t do that. keep it straight as you follow through with the jab.”

she quickly demonstrated and you copied, determined to execute it properly.

after a few practices, you were getting the hang of it. Izogie’s nods of approval also made you feel better.

the first hour went by and you felt accomplished. at this rate, you would get better in no time.

then, she wanted you to try hitting her once.

you thought she was joking at first until she said in a no nonsense manner,

“we will not leave here until you have succeeded.”

in your head, you had already deemed the task impossible but since you were in training, you couldn’t disobey.

for the rest of the afternoon, you threw punch after punch at her but none of them landed. to make matters worse, you had to bare witness to that smirk she always had on her face, as well as her taunting.

“you move just like Nawi. very sloth like.”

you rolled your eyes as you kept your guard up, ignoring the sweat that covered your face.

“you still talk too much, Izogie.”

you gave her a two piece combination but she dodged with ease. you screamed out in frustration and as she laughed, an idea entered your mind.

you quickly gave a convincing wince, holding your right shoulder. her face instantly turned serious as she eyed your arm and then you.

“what happened?”

you faked a look of pain.

“i think i pulled something in my arm.”

“let me see.”

she came over and held your right arm, examining it. you mentally smirked as you thought,

this was going to be too easy.

when she saw nothing wrong, she began to set your hand down and that was when your left hand went directly for her face.

Izogie instantly weaved back, causing you to miss. you quickly swung your right hand but she grabbed it. before you could fully grasp the situation, she drew you close to her and turned you around. your back was now against her chest.

adrenaline ran through you as you felt her hands travel down your waist, holding you in place. you felt her breath down your neck as you heard her smirk. the heat radiating from both of your bodies, as well as the sun, was driving you crazy.

then, she brought her lips to the shell of your ear.

“did you think i was born yesterday?”

your legs instantly felt weak at the sound of her voice. you shook your head no because your mouth couldn’t seem to form words.

she gave you a small laugh as she spun you around.

you were now facing her and you saw beads of sweat cascading down her forehead. her chest heaved up and down as she looked at you.

“why did you just do that?” you asked, voice low.

Izogie brought her face down to yours.

“you were having trouble hitting me so I came closer.”

your eyes flickered down to her lips and you felt the grip she had on your waist get tighter. you stuck your tongue out to wet your lips and as if on instinct, her head inched closer to yours.

in that moment, you uttered two words.

“thank you.”

then, your fist collided with her jaw. you quickly detached yourself from her grasp as she held her face. you kept your distance, face lighting up with joy.

finally, you thought.

you were done for today. as you headed out, her voice stopped you in your tracks.

“come here.”

you turned around.

“what?”

Izogie beckoned you over as she tried to hide a smile.

“i said come here. do not make me ask you again.”

you shook your head in a no way.

“you said if i hit you, training would be over. i just did that so i don’t have to obey you anymore.”

before you knew it, Izogie was chasing you around the training grounds. as you sprinted away, laughter bubbled from your chest.

unbeknownst to the both of you, Nanare had seen the whole ordeal.

the next day, you were on cleaning duty.

to be honest, you didn’t really mind. it gave you ample time to think about her, focus on something other than training.

per usual, all the trainees were assigned to a specific section of the palace and it usually took quite some time to clean. for today, you were working on one of the agojie quarters.

the space wasn’t too disorganized and that meant you would be done a lot faster. you set your supplies down and got to work.

not too long into cleaning, you spotted a bracelet sitting inside a small clay bowl.

it was gold and had colorful stones running through it. you gently picked it up and admired it. you never had jewelry this beautiful and you wondered who it belonged to.

as you held it, Izogie and Esi, another agojie soldier, walked into the room. the moment Esi saw you with the bracelet, she rushed over and took it from you.

“do not touch another warrior’s belongings.”

Izogie laughed as she looked at the bracelet.

“especially that one. Esi is sensitive about it.”

she pretended to hit Izogie who ducked away quickly.

you apologized.

“i’m sorry, Esi. i shouldn’t have touched it in the first place. i just thought it was beautiful.”

Esi sighed as she set her bracelet down.

“no. i’m sorry for snatching it from you and yelling. my mother made it for me and it’s the only thing from her i have here.”

you fidgeted a bit.

“did your mother pass?”

Esi laughed.

“no, no. she’s alive and well. she actually sells these in the marketplace but the townspeople can’t look upon the agojie so i haven’t seen her face in a while.”

you nodded in an understanding way as Izogie spoke.

“do you like it?”

you looked at the bracelet and nodded yes.

Esi smiled and patted your shoulder.

“don’t worry. when i go to the marketplace again, i’ll get one for you from my mother.”

you gave her a surprised look.

“really?”

she nodded. you thanked her well and went back to cleaning. soon, you could hear her and Izogie in the back arguing about who the better fighter was.

you smiled, a feeling of warmth spreading through you. these days, it really felt like things were starting to fall in place for the first time in a long time.

but little did you know, tragedy would soon be knocking at your door.

the next day, you started on your duties as you typically did. but, you felt that something in particular was off. all morning as you worked, you noticed the eyes of others constantly on you.

it was becoming quite burdensome because it wasn’t just from the trainees. most of the palace workers, as well as two of King Ghezo’s wives, were watching you as well.

whenever you entered a room, it immediately went silent, only for the whispers to pick back up the moment you left.

for the life of you, you couldn’t figure out what was going on. had you done something wrong? but if you had, wouldn’t someone have called you by now? you were mentally racking your brain when Fumbe came up to you.

she pulled you to the side and you both sat, her soft facial features displaying worry.

“Fumbe, are you alright?” you asked.

she looked at you for a while before speaking.

“is it true?”

you furrowed your eyebrows at her.

“is what true?”

she sighs.

“don’t tell me you don’t know what i’m talking about.”

you looked at her with an even more confused look and she realized that you really didn’t know.

“you haven’t heard what’s being said about you?”

your heart started racing and all of a sudden, you were hanging onto her every word.

“Nanare told most of the palace that you were sleeping with Izogie.”

in that moment, your ears couldn’t even comprehend what you were hearing.

“excuse me?”

Fumbe continued. “if you are, i’m not judging you. i’m just worried about what King Ghezo might do.”

instantly, you laughed hard.

it might’ve been the hardest you laughed in a while.

Nanare spreading a rumor like this was actually funny. you would give her that.

Fumbe looked at you sternly.

“this is not a laughing matter. are you really sleeping with her?”

you quickly shook your head no.

she let out a sigh of relief.

“thank the ancestors. i didn’t want to see you exiled. you need to clear your name though.”

oh you were going to clear your name alright.

you? sleeping with the soon to be miganon?

so this is what happens when you give people an inch, you thought. they decide to take a mile.

you weren’t worried though.

you would gladly drag Nanare down the mile she so desperately wanted to go.

right then and there, you wanted to confront the younger but you still had work to do.

so, lunchtime it was.

as noon drew closer, you prayed that Izogie hadn’t gotten wind of the nonsense circulating.

luckily for you, because festival day was in two days, some of the agojie soldiers were sent to retrieve large quantities of meat from the nearby butchers in the village. she was a part of that group.

it put your mind at ease to know she wouldn’t be here for the confrontation.

then, lunchtime arrived.

when you got to the serving station, some of the girls were already eating while others waited in line.

your eyes searched for Nanare and soon, you spotted her and the two girls she was always with. they were sitting in a circle on the floor, food in hand.

you walked over to them and kicked the younger’s bowl hard. the contents spilled everywhere and some trainees took notice.

the other girls scooted back in shock as Nanare looked up at your looming figure.

“stand up,” you said to her, tone commanding.

she scoffed as she rose to her feet. after dusting her uniform off, she locked eyes with you.

“well, well, well. if it isn’t Izogie’s whore.”

the palm of your right hand immediately met her cheek with a resounding slap.

now, the entire courtyard was watching. Nanare held her face as you spoke.

“you must think i won’t put hands on you because i allow your insults to pass, right?”

she smiled slyly.

“it seems being with Izogie has you feeling bold.”

you stepped closer to her.

“i’m going to make myself clear. i’m not with anyone at all, so keep my name far away from your mouth.”

she eyed you up and down.

“if you’re not with anyone, then why are you allowed to stay here? it’s not like you contribute anything.”

you felt your blood boiling.

“does my presence annoy you that much?”

she nodded her head yes.

“i really hate people like you.”

you furrowed your eyebrows.

“i don’t even know you. why do you feel you have the right to keep speaking to me like this?”

Nanare rolled her eyes.

“i don’t need to know you to know you’re weak. latching onto the strong to survive. do you think Izogie will always be there?”

now, you were just confused.

“where is all this coming from?”

she clenched her jaw.

“stay away from Izogie. stand on your own for once.”

a thought quickly ran through your mind.

“Nanare, do you have feelings for Izogie?”

the younger immediately laughed hard in your face. this went on for a couple of seconds and you found your patience wearing thin. soon, she spoke.

“love makes you weak. i don’t have a care in the world for it.”

she then leaned in and delivered what you deemed to be the final straw.

“just know that on the battlefield, Izogie won’t be running to save you; the girl who opened her legs to get there.”

you instantly punched her in the jaw.

Nanare stumbled back but you kept raining blows at her head.

all the trainees watched in awe but no one dared to step in.

soon, she fell to the ground and you got on top, pinning her underneath.

you sent punch after punch at her face but she managed to keep her guard up.

then, somebody grabbed you by your waist, lifting you off of her.

they threw you down.

it was one of her friends.

you quickly got up.

as the girl’s hand swung for your face, you ducked your head and wrapped around her torso, knocking the both of you over.

you got on top and began punching her as well.

the girl’s nose started leaking heavily so you stopped.

then, someone put you in a headlock from behind.

it was the second girl.

she raised you up but you could feel she was struggling to hold you.

you began elbowing her in the ribs in order to break free but immediately, Nanare ran up and punched you in your stomach repeatedly.

the girl released her grip on your neck and you doubled over in pain.

as you tried to crawl, someone kicked you hard in the face.

you fell on your side, tasting something metallic on your lips.

due to the sun, you squinted as you looked up to see Nanare. you spoke, voice hoarse.

“if you want to prove your strength, fight me alone. don’t involve your friends.”

anger flashed across her face as she kicked you in your stomach.

you winced in pain.

over the sound of your heartbeat pounding in your ears, you could hear some girls begging for the fight to stop.

you quickly tried to stand but someone kicked you in the back.

you fell down and another stomped on your rib.

you could feel your breath growing weak as the sun’s sweltering heat was becoming too much to bear.

then, the blows came frequently.

your head, your back, your ribs, your thighs and essentially your entire body was met with fists and feet.

instantly, your vision began to blur.

you entered a fetal position, weakly putting your guard up.

soon, all the noise started to fade.

your eyes rolled to the back of your head.

then, you blacked out.

the end.

[🫀] \ bridging the gap — extended scene.

in a grassy field just outside the palace, Nanisca and Amenza set up their lunch picnic style. as both women ate, they occasionally took in the view.

soon, the older of the two spoke.

“has Izogie confessed to that girl yet?”

Amenza immediately started choking on her food. she coughed a couple of times to clear her throat.

“you know about that?”

Nanisca gave a small laugh.

“even a blind man can see how she looks at her.”

they sat in silence for a while.

“you’re not upset with Izogie?” Amenza asked. “you remember what happened last tim—.”

Nanisca quickly interrupted her, voice firm.

“we promised not to speak of that situation again.”

the younger sighed. Nanisca continued, a look of sincerity on her face.

“besides, i cannot be angry with Izogie. that child carries so much pain but for the first time in a long time, my successor seems happy again.”

worry found its way onto Amenza’s features.

“but do you not fear the past repeating itself?”

Nanisca sighed.

“in this line of work, of course I do. but for Izogie’s sake, i pray the ancestors are not that cruel.”

Amenza nodded in agreement as she ate a fruit.

“so, do you want me to tell Izogie she has your blessing?”

Nanisca scoffed playfully.

“do not push it. i’m already having trouble getting her to focus in my class nowadays.”

Amenza chuckled lightly.

“she really does like that girl.”

as their conversation continued, they spotted Nawi from afar. she was with some agojie soldiers at the gate and they were carrying heavy boxes made out of straw.

Migan’s men greeted them and quickly took the containers inside. while looking around, Nawi then saw Nanisca and Amenza and went to join them.

“good afternoon, mother. good afternoon, Amenza,” she said as she sat down on the grass.

“how was your trip to get meat for festival day?” Nanisca asked.

Nawi rubbed both of her shoulders in pain.

“remind me to hide the next time they ask for volunteers.”

Amenza laughed as she spoke.

“where is Izogie by the way? we did not see her at the gate with the rest of you.”

Nawi grabbed a fruit from Nanisca’s plate.

“she said she was going to stop by the marketpla—.”

before the youngest could even finish her sentence, an ear piercing scream rang out in the distance.

all three women immediately bolted up and looked in the direction it came from.

on the pathway up, a trainee was running towards them at full speed. her hands waved frantically as she yelled, trying to get their attention.

the women looked at each other, concern spreading across their faces.

when she finally arrived, they noticed she was crying furiously and hyperventilating.

Amenza quickly rested her hands on the girl’s shoulders in order to calm her down.

“breathe, my child. what has happened?”

the trainee spoke between sobs, her body shaking.

“they were just fighting at first. a normal fight. that’s all. none of us thought it would go that far. we should’ve stopped it sooner.”

Nawi’s brow furrowed.

“a fight? between who? where?”

the trainee sniffled as she spoke rapidly.

“at the courtyard. it was between y/n, Nanare and her friends. y/n was confronting Nanare about something and then they started fighting. we all thought it would be over after a while but then, all three of them starting beating her even though she was on the ground and—.”

the girl stopped talking and started crying into her hands even more. Amenza squeezed her shoulders as Nanisca stepped in front of her, slowly loosing her patience.

“pull yourself together this instant. what happened?”

the girl removed her hands from her face as she looked up at Nanisca.

“miganon, y/n isn’t breathing.”

Nanisca immediately ran in the direction of the palace as Amenza’s eyes widened. Nawi covered her mouth in shock as she stumbled back.

Amenza quickly turned the trainee to face her and spoke urgently.

“go into town and find the palace physician. he should be buying herbs for festival day today. bring him back to the palace as fast as you can.”

the girl nodded and took off running.

Amenza turned to Nawi who had tears building up in her eyes. she held the younger’s shoulder tightly.

“Nawi, I need you to find Izogie and keep her far away from here for as long as you can. no matter what, do not tell her what is happening here.”

Nawi stood frozen and before Amenza could speak again, rustling was heard in the grass.

it was from Izogie.

she was standing not too far away and she eyed the both of them suspiciously.

as she walked closer, Amenza sighed, lowering her head in defeat. Nawi fell to the ground, a tear running down her cheek as her hand still covered her mouth.

Izogie raised an eyebrow as her gaze shifted between the two of them. on one of her fingers, a golden bracelet with colorful stones dangled. she slid it into her pocket as her facial expression turned serious.

“do not tell Izogie what?”

#izogie #izogie x reader #izogie x black!reader #the woman king #lashana lynch #agojie #gonesgone

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queerasfact · 10 months

Text

Today is Independence Day in Benin, so we'd like to share a little piece of Beninese history with you!

The people is this photo are Agojie - often called Dahomey Amazons by Europeans.

The Agojie were regiments of soldiers who served in the army of Dahomey - now Benin - in West Africa in the 18th and 19th centuries. Numbering around 8000 at their height in the 1840, they were renowned for their fearlessness in battle, and considered the backbone of the Dahomean army.

The Agojie were all assigned female at birth but they expressed their gender in a variety of ways. Some renounced womanhood, and identified themselves as men. At other times, the group embraced womanhood in their war songs, comparing themselves to lionesses, and linking womanhood to their superiority over male regiments.

Learn more

[Image: photo of a group of Agojie, some pose with weapons including guns and large knives]

#benin #beninese history #queer history #agojie #african history #black history #lgbt history #lgbtq #queer #benin independence day

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naomis-daydream · 1 year

Text

ex-factor // modern au!officer!izogie

summary: exes who can’t let each other go, based on ‘ex-factor’ by lauryn hill. izogie gets hurt and calls the one person she needs to feel better, but also the same person she should stay away from.

warnings: mentions of injuries (blood, cuts, changing bandages), past relationship, suggestive language.

a/n: i have been neglecting my girl, so i present a treat for u. this is my first angst so lower them expectations pls… those who were asking for izogie content here u go, show her love <3

✧

it could all be so simple, but you’d rather make it hard. loving you is like a battle, and we both end up with scars. tell me who i have to be to get some reciprocity. cause no one loves you more than me, and no one ever will.

she shouldn’t have called you, she knew that. she should’ve left you alone, let you move on. though, a part of her hoped you’d answer. that you’d sigh, complain about the hour or nature of the call before inevitably caving, but you didn’t. you didn’t do your usual game of answering on the last ring just to keep her on her toes. you didn’t let it go to voicemail before sending a text saying you were too busy or too tired, but not enough to ignore her. you didn’t do anything, and that surprised izogie, maybe even hurt her, but it didn’t stop her.

it didn’t stop her from ignoring the alarms in her head telling her to turn around. it didn’t stop her from pushing the lift button and knocking weakly on door. and it certainly didn’t stop the small smile that crept up her lips as the barrier opened to reveal you.

your tired expression dropped slightly, being replaced by one caused annoyance rather than interrupted slumber. your cardigan fell off one shoulder as you rubbed your eyes while sighing. “what are you doing here, izogie?”

she looked down at you, forearm pressed against the doorframe while the other clutched her abdomen. “when you say my name like that, it almost makes me think you don’t wanna see me,” she laughs gently, immediately groaning lowly after.

this draws you to look down to her midriff, seeing her applying pressure to the area that was an increasingly growing deep red stain on her gray Police Academy shirt. your eyes widen quickly as you open the door entirely to guide her her in, locking it behind you as she leans against the island. “what happened?” you ask hurriedly, walking briskly to grab your emergency kit.

she smacks her teeth, shaking her head. “you worry too much.”

“yeah? you show up battered and broken in the middle of the night too much, so i think i’m well within reason.”

you crouch down, avoiding her eyes watching you as you took out supplies. she stays silent for a moment, unsure if she should attempt to make conversation. it’s been longer than usual since the two of you have spoken, much less been in such close proximity.

“it’s just a graze.” she says finally.

you look up, soaking a wash cloth with water as she continues. “the bullet. it only grazed my skin, didn’t puncture enough to go through.”

“but enough to cause so much bleeding,” you say, reaching to clean the blood from her stomach as she instinctively held up a side of her shirt.

this wasn’t her first time coming here, maybe not her last. the two of you did the whole will they, won’t they dance for nearly two years during your friendship. the tension between you was palpable, and it didn’t help that you got along so well too.

she got all parts of you—the late nights, early mornings, and countless hangouts in between. stolen kisses on hands and foreheads, hugs that lasted a bit too long to be platonic, and roaming hands when one thinks no one else is looking. she would tease and flirt shamelessly, often leaving you with a racing heart and an ache between your thighs.

until one day she didn’t. one day she went all the way. it was heavenly, her giving you so many parts of her. only it was never all of her, and you were okay with that—with waiting. relationships take time, which you understood, but after a year of being together, she still wasn’t ready. she wasn’t ready to introduce you to family, tell you more about her life before moving from her home country, talk about moving in together. she also wasn’t ready to tell you why she was so hesitant, so stubborn with you, hellbent on locking you out.

so, you had to let her go.

“why didn’t you go to the hospital?” you ask, breaking the deafening silence that filled the room. “they could help you a lot more than i can,” you say, gaze glued to your hands applying disinfectant to your wound.

“i’m sure they could, but you’ve always had better bedside service,” she replies, wincing shortly when you press into her stomach. you raise a brow in warning, continuing to clean her injuries.

there was a reason you hadn’t answered her calls, hadn’t replied to her texts. you broke up over four months ago, yet every time she called, you came, and if you didn’t, she’d come to you. the cycle was unhealthy, you knew that, but so is the insatiable drug they call love.

izogie knew that you’d come too, because that’s what you do for those you love. a part of her felt bad for preying upon a vulnerable piece of your heart, the piece that’d she carved herself into, but the other craved being around you, because only you could make her feel better. though lately, you’d been pulling away. the leftover love you held for her was fading, because in your heart you both knew that she wouldn’t change, and that this cycle would repeat until one of you let go.

you finished disinfecting the wound, applying anti-inflammatory healing ointment before wrapping gauze around her torso. once you finished, you looked up at her, finding her eyes already on you. her mouth parted to allow her tongue to wipe over he bottom lip.

“this position is awfully familiar, no?”

you blinked up at her before rubbing your hands over your thighs as you stood. looking around you wrapped your cardigan around yourself. “well, you’re all patched up, so…i don’t see any reason for you to stay.”

“not one?” she asks, head turning as you washed your hands beside her.

you kept your eyes on the suds forming on your hands. “not a good one.” you clarify.

she hums quietly as you dry your hands, turning to face the island as you put away the kit. “you don’t worry about me anymore.” she states instead the usual question. “what if i need assistance changing my bandages?”

“then you go to the hospital, izogie. not show up at my place well after midnight expecting me to fix you.” your reply comes out tired, and you are, so you’re finally letting her know.

“yet you always do, don’t you?” her words come out more bitter than she intends. you shut the closet door, turning to her.

“maybe that’s the problem.”

her face softens, brows that were previously knit relaxing in your presence. you exhale, trying to find the words that have been struggling to come to light for weeks.

“i can’t do this anymore,” you say, motioning between the two of you. “this back and forth, running ‘round in circles thing with you. i did when we were friends, i did it when we were together, but i can’t do it now.”

izogie’s head drops, palms tightening into fists atop the counter as she listens. “i’ve given you so much, and i’ve been fine with hardly anything in return, but i deserve better than that.”

your voice is soft and timid as you speak, fingers fiddling absentmindedly with the hem of your sleeve as your eyes begin to shine. you look down to prevent izogie from seeing her effect on you, but she already has. her heart falters seeing you cry, especially knowing she’s the cause. “so, i need you to go,” you say, sniffing as you look up, as a tear falls down your cheek, “i need you to let me go.”

the taller woman bites the inside of her cheek, an attempt to get that pain to mask the one she felt in her chest. she hated seeing you cry, and would often tell off anybody who did so much as look at you wrong, but this time, she needed to take a long look in the mirror. look at the woman who made the love of her life struggle to hold on to the pieces of herself in her own home.

so she walks around the counter, going to stand directly in front of you as she takes you in, trying to cement the moment to memory. you don’t want to look at her, because you risk breaking the fragile boundary you’ve been trying to create. it isn’t until she shakily whispers, “please, look at me,” that you slowly lift your eyes to hers. her irises are swimming with emotions you know all to well; regret, uncertainty, acceptance.

her lower lip trembles. you frown, wanting to ease her pain, but you know that’s impossible without hurting yourself in the long run. she wraps strong arms around your waist as she pulls you into her. hesitantly, you curl your arms up her shoulder blades, both of you relaxing into the other’s touch. izogie tucks her chin into your neck, closing her eyes as your hands press into her. you feel damp droplets prick onto your skin through the wool of your top as her arms get impossibly tighter around you, wanting you closer.

you stay there. every word left unsaid or actions left undone being released in the moment, being freed.

you’re the first to pull away, hands sliding down her back, trailing down her forearms and to her hands. you breathe deeply as you look up at her, tear-stained cheeks glistening under the warm light.

she keeps her eyes on you as she walks backwards, holding onto your hand until her arms can no longer reach. you fold your arms around your middle, watching her as she grabs the knob, giving you one last look. you close your eyes, looking down to your sock-clad feet, only looking up once you hear the door shut.

gone, you think, which is good. it should stay that way.

right?

i keep lettin’ you back in. how can i explain myself? as painful as this thing has been, i just can’t be with no one else. see i know what we’ve got to do. you let go, and i’ll let go too. cause no one’s hurt me more than you, and no one ever will.

✧

taglist: @princessmel-1995 @gonesgone

#naomis-daydreams #izogie #izogie x reader #the woman king #agojie #lashana lynch #izogie x black!reader #izogie x fem!reader #izogie woman king #izogie fanfiction #izogie fanfic

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gr00vyminibus · 1 year

Text

A woman's heart.

Izogie x Black!fem Agojie

After drinking with Izogie your feelings become admitted.

Taglist: @zeezeecave @mybonafidefeelings @masterajoy314 @xenaizogie @blacksapphhicmaddonna

[A/N: Switched it up, I love mess and makeup tropes 😋]

Under the clay construction, the far moon shined on Izogie and you. Illuminating your individual brown shades of skin. Two friends enjoying the night breeze with liquor in their systems. Your eyes flickered to Izogie's flask in her hand and swiped it.

Her walking halted as she watched you take a few quick sips snd give it back, frowning at the heated sensation traveling down throat and into your chest.

Izogie wouldn't drink with just anyone, you were a loyal and special friend, eserving of letting your guard down around her.

"Slow down, lightweight." she chuckled sipping next from the flask. You gently bumped shoulders with her as a way of telling her to shut up.

She smiled with her head back and managed to keep drinking the whiskey that trickled down her mouth, a skinny drop slid down the corner of her lips and left a glimmering trail that you so desperately wanted to clean up.

She led you inside her chambers and made her self comfortable on the bed, leaning back against the wall while babysitting the flask on top of her raised knee.

"You're quiet, what's on your mind?"

"I couldn't tell you if I didn't know myself.." when you focused on the ground your head was empty but if you peered into her eyes the mental space inside of it would definitely many thoughts.

"look at me." The tip of her knuckle pushed your head up. Why was she so effortlessly seductive. This small action was weakening you as you unconsciously held her wrist and flipped it over to examine her nsils.

"Can I touch them?" Your eyes hesitantly pulled away from tracing the shape and analyzed her neutral and tipsy expression. Izogie sat up straighter and flexed her hand.

"Normally I don't like for people to touch them but,"

"go ahead." The pads of your fingers pricked against the sharp edge and slid down the other side of it. You separated her fingers and then matched the palm of your hands.

But they weren't the only thing you admired. There was a scar on her neck you wanted to kiss on and make a path up her jaw, then appreciate her nude lips.

Pecking her eyelids and brows, feeling the texture of her hair and so much more, much more you wanted to do with her.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Like what?"

"I cannot decipher it.." Izogie grumbled, smirk splintering her stoic facade. You wore a nervous smile on your face, sitting beside her.

"It is.." her looked at the ceiling "kind," she glanced at you.

"—intense even. Perhaps you.... nevermind." Izogie chuckled and grabbed the whiskey, internally cursing when she shook it, only a little left.

"Go on"

"I said nevermind."

"Well you brought it up in the first place, why shy away now?" A glare was thrown your way.

"Tell me what my look means."

"What, do you like me?" Izogie jokes thinking that'll stun you so hard you'd hold your breathe, she just wants to make you laugh is all.

But your pounding heart may have been audible to her ears. Maybe the gods above finally had the chance to answer your prayers that you chanted late at night. Or even begged for with a sigh whenever she let her eyes linger on you during instruction.

If you didn't have the liquor in your system you would've played it off smoothly but your heart demanded the floor so you let it speak before you could think about.

"... yeah." Her eyes slightened widened at you as you stared back, repeating yourself a bit louder and more clearer. Your eyes lowered to her lips eventually as courage grew within you by the minute.

"You're kidding"

"I'm not." You narrow your eyes.

"Swear, y/n."

"I swear." Izogie looked off somewhere and chuckled in disbelief, "you think I'm lying?" She nodded before synchronizing with her pointing finger.

"You had me alm-" An experimental kiss was placed on her lips; and as if on instict she pressed back into you but it stopped just as quick as it started.

"Y/n!" Izogie whisper-yelled but she wanted more and you noticed.

"You kissed me back."

"You confused me."

"How?" Well this is definitely not how you thought your confession would go. Izogie stopped herself from sputtering a response and just sighed loudly. You wanted her to explain though, she looked very thoutful right now.

Sealed lips getting grazed with her teeth as she pressed her thumb to her mouth.

"Why did you kiss me back?" You placed your hand on your thigh as you rested on your hip.

The reason was because she secretly craved you. The lady right to her eye level who never complained and accepted all consequences, good or bad. A restless and determined soul just striving for pride.

And although you didn't make yourself known, Izogie paid even better attention to you. You were meek but not frail hearted and that attracted her in ways she couldn't mentally seperate from her role as your teacher.

"If you don't want to speak I'll leave." She dropped her hand and pressed up against the wall better, her eyes still not meeting yours.

"We must forget this, the kiss. It never happened." Izogie finally looked at you and saw you avert your gaze almost shamefully as the painful lump formed in your throat.

"Okay." As usual you'd never complain and this time she didn't like it, deep inside she wanted wanted to argue and protest that the kiss meant something to save the outcome of this moment but this felt best.

You picked yourself up and went to exit the hut until she called for you.

"And Y/n?"

"Hm."

"Don't let anybody see you." Your toungue poked your inner cheek as you gently moved the flap aside to leave with the little decency you had left.

Because if you stayed longer you would have broken down.

•••

The next morning was the same but a little bit harder to bear since you had to act like you didn't kiss the woman of your dreams that coldly rejected you on the spot. She carried on better though, the emotions that swirled in her eyes last night were gone.

Izogie's back was straight, chin high and ready to do what she had to do while you were toeing the sand and avoiding her surveilling eyes.

"We will do a morning run to have your blood rushing for the day. Get in formation." All of them stood in straight line towards the straw gates of the palace.

"If you fall behind, jog or be high on your knees. There will be no walking, slouching.. or complaints." She walked around the back of the line where you were and looked over you purposefully. Ouch.

You breathed in and out through your nose and looked away from the sun to calm down, why did your emotions want to flood in now when you were so skilled at hiding them.

"A mɔ nǔ jɛ mɛ à?" Izogie called out as they agreed and started jogging towards and out of the gate. Your feet carried you for miles up and down hills, tredding through grassy plains. The synchronized huffs of others began to quiet in your ear.

"The oyo will catch you, hang you by your feet and cut your throat!" Loud claps and complaint were heard from the back as nawi, a trainee was getting scolded. You ran past a few girls to drown out her voice completely.

After a while the heat definitely got to you especially since you didn't eat breakfast. The feeling of dizziness attacked and the others caught up and surpassed you multiple times until you were the only one left walking in the back.

Except for one.

Izogie jogged up to you and eyed your state.

"pick it up, y/n. Your knees." You shut your eyes and continued walking begrudgingly.

"I can't– right now."

"I did not think I would have to remind you of this but what is the first rule of training." She moved infront you as you both continued traveling across the soil. You honestly couldn't care less about what it was but your mind instantly spoke out from memory.

"To always obey you."

"Do not forget it now, shake this off and catch up." You knew she was talking about the kiss and your attitude. You dropped your hands from your hips and jogged around her. Izogie felt like she nearly severed the ribbon of your relationship.

She would have to talk to you sooner or later, to see if you were on the same page.

•••

During sparring Izogie was as stern as usual maybe a bit colder now and stricter, she was buzzing by your ear like a mosquito. Correcting you on every little thing even your breathing and posture.

She thought if she instructed with you more you'd get the memo that Izogie was not aiming to ignore you and had no harsh feelings.

But it only agitated you to the point where you stopped fighting with your opponent and threw the spear on the ground. Your hands locking above your head as you marched off somewhere.

"Y/N!" That tone, Izogie never used that tone with you. So threatning and scorching. You shook it off and kept walking, there wasn't a consequence you couldn't handle. You just needed a break.

"She's so full of it.. I swear." You hissed, voice almost breaking as steady footsteps sounded behind you. There was a woven straw barrier that you could go behind and crumble down to your knees.

Away from everybody's instructions and orders.

You hit your hand against the dry clay as a hot lone tear rolled down your cheek. Izogie finally reached you with a hand balled up by her side. Her gaze hotter than molten lava but cooling to the sight of your evident pain. She crouched down to you as you covered the side of your face and crossed one arm over your chest.

Her eyes tracked your body language before speaking. "Why did you run off?"

"That's the question you ask.." You folded both arms over your chest now and continue not to look at her. Although, Izogie didn't like how you were unwilling do so, you were technically rejecting the warrior and it stung, just on the cusp of burning if you kept treating her like this.

"If it's because I was instructing you during the sparring, my intention was not order you around like some puppet.." She spoke blandly. Face still hardened from her own personal irritation.

"You were breathing down my neck, correcting everything."

"That is my job incase you have forgotten. I am your teacher, feedback as frustrating as it may seem is mandatory."

"Why all of sudden did you want to give me all that attention?" You looked at her, pink eyes incredulous and it confused her along with your question, her eyelids slowly blinked as she shook her head.

"What are you talking about y/n-"

"Don't make me feel stupid!" Her gaze softened before it deepened.

"Lower your voice."

"And if I don't, if I say no just once will that abuse your stupid ego! Forget about the training and the run, you broke me when you told me to forget that...." You sucked your teeth and looked away as tears brimmed over your lids yet again.

You abruptly got up and wiped your whole face as she got up next, albeit slowly.

"I'll tell you this, that kiss meant alot to me." You sniffed as she stared at you.

"I ran off because you still didn't understand that, or rather you do not want too. You're so stubborn but I guess my heart is too since I still... like you. Foolish of me?" You were about to walk around Izogie when she gently grabbed your arm and pulled you back infront of her.

"What-"

"Come to my room after dinner."

"...." you were truly done talking and Izogie sensed this.

"Please." You removed her hand and walked away from her freely as the warrior and swallowed a lump down her throat, her heart squeezing for you and twisting from your absence.

All she could do is hope you would come see her. And to believe with such emptiness in that possibility didn't make her the same for the rest of the day.

••

When dinner came around you took your sweet time, you ate slower and even got a second bowl, bathing time was luxurious in duration. Stretching for nearly an hour as you took that time to relax.

Eventually you went back to your hut and moisturized your skin while putting on some fresh clothes for bed.

Izogie wasn't going to string you along so easily anymore, she could beg outside your hut for all you cared. The warrior really hurt you this afternoon and to face her in her homely hut, with the atmosphere mirroring her every aspect was like sitting in a blood curdling steam room.

Izogie didn't expect much but she did, so she had back up plans if you didn't show up. The sky was only getting darker and nothing changed besides the position of the grey clouds.

Izogie sat on her bed thinking if she walked to your hut it come off as desperate but this was a now or never situation.

So she threw her pride away and got up, pushing her flap to the side and stepping out into the night.

"Y/n I would like to say that.. I am sorry and I should've never- no." Izogie cracked her knuckles and started over.

"I understand that kiss meant a lot to you and I made the mistake of...? watering it down to- mawu." Izogie sucked her teeth and bring a thumb to her temple like it pounded painfully. Your hut was in the distance and she saw it, her heart thumping at the rate of milliseconds.

When Izogie finally stood infront of it she licked her dry lips and shut her eyes momentarily.

Praying for this to go as she hoped.

Izogie reopened her eyes and called out, "y/n." You cracked an eye open from your fake sleeping and frowned. "Y/n are you awake?" You faintly smirked and raised off the ground, slowly creeping to the flap and standing infront.

"Maybe she's asleep... " you pulled it back and watched her whole form freeze.

"Are you just going to stand there or come inside." You swiftly turned on your heel and let her come through as she opted to stand up while you settled on your bamboo mat.

"I wanted to come and apologize about this afternoon and last night. I want to actually talk about it and why I did what I did, when you.. kissed me I," Izogie walked over to you and settled on her knees.

Her gaze penetrate yet nervous. You fixed your face on your propped hand and returned the look back, minus the nervousness.

"enjoyed it."

"You don't have to lie Izogie." You dismissed as your eyes drifted elsewhere momentarily.

"Y/n, I never lie to you." Izogie stated lowly as you blinked, eyes softening.

"I wasn't led by any conscious when I kissed you back and it scared me. I felt so content and.. selfish because it felt so good."

"Then why did you push me away?" The way your voice was contrasting and gentle pinched at her heart, the warrior nearly crumbling to her thoughts of embracing of you but that would come later on.

"Because I didn't want to start something that I couldn't finish. Imagining how attached I could've been to you and then one day you're gone made me push you away."

"How can you grow attached to me, I thought I was your friend." You tried to repel all of Izogie's sentiments with your assumptions of her. It was a test to see if she felt different than what you assumed.

"If you were just a friend, I wouldn't have been with you that night, I wouldn't have kissed you, went out of my way to talk to you this afternoon, or ask you to come room. Y/n you're more than a friend.." Izogie sighed as her hands gripped her skirt, almost tearing the material.

"And?" You sat up, face to face with her as your eyes ran over her features. The woman straightened her posture and reached for your hand.

You glanced down at it and looked back into her eyes, smooth and glassy. "And I like you." A sincere smile washed over your face as she mirrored it and swiped her thumb across your knuckle.

"I don't have to forget this too right?" She chuckled with you, the mood lifting just by your harmonious laughter. "No, you don't have to forget anything, especially not this." Izogie moved into you first and connected your lips in an exploring kiss.

It was slow and wondering over the plumness and bows of your lips, your breaths mixing into the perfect pheromone for love and devotion to one another. No matter how short or long it would last.

And this time Izogie would not be rejecting her hearts desire for you. Not when it felt this blissful and not when you both rightfully deserved it.

You pulled her down to the mat as the warrior made it up to you all night with skin to skin carreses and wet kisses along the expanses of your body.

She told you her feelings all through with feathery freedom resting on her shoulders.

#izogie fanfiction #izogie x fem!reader #izogie x reader #izogie #izogie x agojie!reader #izogie x black fem!reader #izogie x black!reader #izogie x warrior!reader #wlw #black women love black women #lashana lynch #the woman king #woman king

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whoatemyshoe · 1 year

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Izogie and Nawi - The Woman King (2022) dir. Gina Prince-Bythewood

#the woman king #izogie #nawi #agojie #i just have a lot of feelings about these two found sisters #sisters #sisterhood #critical role spoilers #the woman king spoilers #my post #my gifs #gifset #lashana lyn #thuso mbedu

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zymruk · 1 year

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Izogie x reader

Izogie x fem!reader

CW: fluff, the two of you in love. Izogie being... herself. A little bit of teasing nothing really sexual though. You're an agojie.

Summary: The agojies just returned to the villiage from a mission. It is hard, two women died in this rescue mission. You and Izogie try to reconfort each other.

A/N: It's a short one-shot. Obviously the reader is black.

It had been two hours since the agojies were back in the village. It had been a quiet walk back home. While everyone was recupering and tending to wounds, you had retreated to your quarters. Everyone had treated the latest mission as a win, and although it was, you still felt grief for your past sisters.

Fortunately for you, your dearest friend was beside you. Izogie had always been a great advice giver, an even greater shoulder to cry on. If you could still marry someone, it definitely would have been her. You remember the two of you growing up dreaming of serving your people with the agojies. And now you two had succeeded at doing it.

"What are you doing all pensive" Her hand had taken you out of your dreamerie. She always had the knack to surprise you, whenever she felt like it. At this point, the two of you were sat down.

"Nothing, just thinking about everything."

"Wow, you're thinking? You should stop hanging with Amenza so much, she's giving you ideas." Her smirk was already forming by the time she finished talking. Amenza was one of the wisest people you'd ever met. Her comment only drew a giggle out of you.

"No just, things changed so much from when we were little girls." Her facial expretion was a mixture of surprised and sadness. However, as soon as it appeared it disappeared.

"Yeah, I remember when you used to cry when it got dark." she had started to laugh, you tried your hardest not to join her. Still, it was so contagious that you ended up laughing too.

It felt good to reminisce about good memories, rather than sad ones. When the laughs died down a bit, the two of you were so close that if you tried to stand up, you'd bump into each other.

As you two were catching your breaths, you were staring directly at her and so was she. Slowly, she laid her hand on your cheek. Gently stroking it with her thumb.

"Is there something on my face?" You whispered at her. You were trying so hard to not lower your gaze on her lips. I mean, she is a beautiful woman, with a beautiful personality. You'd never really thought into it, but, yeah you found her terribly attractive.

She didn't vocally respond to your question, the only thing she did was grab your neck with her free hand and link your lips together. You didn't even think she would do it, but wasn't against it either. The kiss felt the same as the enticipation you'd feel when drinking water after spending the last week in a desert. You kissed her back and eventually, smiled doing it.

"Now, I think I got it." She said with the biggest smiled you'd seen this day.

#izogie x reader #izogie x black!reader #izogie #the woman king #agojie #reader is a simp #honestly just wrighting it because there isnt much #just one out there really #dk if people are gonna read it to be honest #I'll try myself at it.#lashana lynch x reader #lashana lynch x black!reader #lashana lynch #izogie fanfic #izogie fanfiction #izogie x fem!reader

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melaninpov · 10 months

Text

The Agojie | Dahomey Amazons

in The Woman King

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jbk405 · 2 years

Video

Their size makes them arrogant and slow. Like their guns. But you don’t need a gun to use gunpowder, you just need a spark.

Sometimes, a termite can take down an elephant.

#The Woman King #Nanisca #Izogie #Amenza #Nawi #General Nanisca #Agojie #Dahomey #Kingdom of Dahomey #Oyo #Oyo Empire #Oba Ade #Fight #Rousing Speech #Dance #Video

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gonesgone · 1 year

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[🫀] / so close, yet so far.

— synopsis: you come to a realization about the love you have for Izogie.

— pairing: Izogie x black!fem!reader.

— author’s note: to me, the story is a bit sad but i still hope you’re able to enjoy reading it. thank you.

a slap to the face.

that’s what it had felt like when you heard Izogie utter those words to Nawi.

“love makes you weak.. i will be miganon one day. you cannot have both.”

it was on the night of the blood oath. the new trainees were sworn in with the rest of the agojie soldiers, officially merging them into one. the ceremony had ended a while ago but the line to the bathhouse was still lengthy. nevertheless, you didn’t mind waiting.

while looking for a quiet place to rest, you spotted the pair. they were tucked away in a small section of the palace. orange light from candles illuminating the space, as well as their bodies.

they hadn’t noticed you so all you could do was watch from afar.

watch as Izogie’s slender fingers were braiding Nawi’s hair swiftly but gently. sometimes, she would dip them in a small clay pot that held oil and continue. you could also hear that mocking tone of hers as Nawi talked about meeting a man in the jungle.

it all felt intimate.

almost as if you were watching a moment in time that was meant for them and only them.

suddenly, you found yourself feeling envious. once again, for the millionth time in these past couple months, you wished you were Nawi.

the girl who seemed destined to be a soldier.

sure during training days Nawi struggled a lot, but you could always see the zeal in her eyes. the eagerness in her steps and her hunger to learn. even though her determination often landed her in trouble, you could tell Izogie took a liking to her.

but you weren’t like her.

to say you didn’t have a grasp on being a soldier would be a huge understatement. the trainings seemed too rigorous for your body and you couldn’t succeed at hand to hand combat so you were never allowed to train with any weapons.

maybe that was why you could never get Izogie’s attention. at least not in a positive way.

you recalled the times you and the other trainees would run for miles around the outskirts of Dahomey. Izogie watched as you had came in last every time and she couldn’t even look you in your eyes.

her jaw clenched as you apologized and promised to do better, only for her to scold you in front of everyone and send you to wash up as the others continued to train.

it took everything in you not to cry each time. you were trying, truly. but it all seemed futile.

then, you found a friend in Fumbe. she arrived a bit earlier than Nawi but she resembled you a lot. for a while, you both struggled together and found a lot of relief in that.

but soon, even Fumbe surpassed you.

on the day of the final test to be a part of the agojie, you had failed. and you were the only one.

that day was one you would give anything to forget but it remained ingrained in your mind. it was the most humiliated you had ever been in your entire life and it happened in front of everyone.

including Izogie.

as tears streamed down your face, you could vividly remember the wide range of emotions her face displayed when King Ghezo announced you as the only person who lost.

shock, confusion, anger.

in that moment, you knew it was all over. your luck had finally run out. whoever failed to pass was sentenced to leaving the palace, never to return. you couldn’t even begin to think of where you would go.

you looked at Izogie who met your eyes for a brief moment before turning on her heel to speak with Nanisca and Amenza. all the other trainees stared at you, disbelief on their faces. meanwhile, Nawi was running over to join the three in their conversation.

by nightfall, you were getting ready to depart when Nanisca informed you that you wouldn’t be leaving.

apparently, Nawi had talked up a storm about how Dahomey couldn’t just abandon one of their sisters and since King Ghezo was in a good mood, they had a change of heart.

but since the test, Izogie refused to acknowledge you at all. you figured it was the ancestors’ way of punishing you for failing and you were willing to accept it, as long as you could still see her from afar.

as the days went by though, her treatment towards you became mentally painful. she only spoke to you when absolutely necessary and her sentences were short and curt. it also didn’t help that you all lived on the same grounds. you had to bare witness to her avoidance of you everyday.

when Izogie was with Nawi though, she called her by nicknames, teased her easily, let her touch her nails.

it hurt.

seeing all of that.

and then, tonight happened. you weren’t allowed to take the blood oath.

all you could simply do was watch.

and to add more salt to your wounds, here she was telling Nawi that she had no interest in love.

it made you feel like a fool.

you felt pathetic.

of course Izogie wasn’t focused on love. she was another soldier here destined for greatness. everyone admired her not just for her fighting skills, but also for her ability to balance strictness and care. she was well respected by many so why?

why did you ever think someone like her would be interested in someone like you?

it was all too much on your mental. the one time you decided to open up your heart to love, you chose to fall for the most unattainable person in Dahomey.

but maybe you always knew.

that it wouldn’t work out between you two.

it was a thought that would run through your head constantly but you buried it in the back of your mind because you had hope.

Izogie had a way of making everything seem like it was possible to achieve and for once, you dared to believe.

because when you thought of her, your heart pounded faster and harder than normal. desire ran through your veins like adrenaline. your eyes only wanted to meet hers. your ears only wanted to hear her, and your mind wanted nothing more than to feel her hands on your body and her lips on yours.

but her words were like a slap to the face.

a slap that reminded you to wake up to reality.

slowly but quickly, you backed away from the space, heading anywhere else but there.

Izogie was still braiding Nawi’s hair and they still talked amongst themselves.

a lump began to form in your throat as your tears fell.

the end.

[🫀] / so close, yet so far — extended scene.

“i will be miganon one day. you cannot have both.”

this was a painful realization that Izogie had came to a long time ago and yet, the thought of not being able to express and receive love stung her deeply.

Nawi tilts her head upwards and questions.

“will that be enough?”

Izogie’s eyes stare far off into the distance.

“it has to be.”

the younger girl furrows her eyebrows as she stares at a candlelight.

“Izogie, you cannot make me believe that you have completely closed your heart off to love.”

“and why is that?”

“i’ve seen the way you avoid her.”

the soon to be commander freezes, her shoulders immediately tense.

the one thing she had so desperately wished to keep to herself was not only known by another, it was just thrown into the wind without caution.

Izogie found herself holding her breath.

she continues braiding, eyes on Nawi’s scalp.

“i don’t know who or what you’re talking about.”

Nawi’s head shoots up, annoying her even more.

“the trainee who lost the final test. aren’t you in lov-.”

Izogie’s jaw clenches as she looks into Nawi’s eyes.

“tsetse, i want you to choose your next words very wisely.”

Nawi slowly lowers her head and they continue on her hair. They sit in silence for a while before the younger speaks again.

“why do you hide and deny your feelings for her? is it not tiring?”

Izogie straightens her posture, shoulders more wide.

“you’re buzzing around again. i have no feelings for the girl you speak of.”

“then why do you not acknowledge her? at first, i thought she had offended you but..”

“but what?”

Nawi thinks hard about what to say.

“your actions have another meaning to them.”

Izogie looks at Nawi for a while.

“explain.”

“remember when we used to run for miles as part of our training?”

“what does that have to do with anything?”

“you always punished the last five people by having them run an extra mile but you never did that with her. she always came last but you yelled at her so much about her poor performance then sent her off.”

“her performance was poor.”

“you wanted her to rest, didn’t you?”

Izogie stops braiding.

“i remember wondering why you were always so upset with her specifically but you were putting on a show, right?”

Nawi looks up at her and continues.

“yelling and kicking her out was the only way you could keep her from training without the others thinking you had a favorite.”

Izogie says nothing for a while. no witty remarks, or sarcastic comments. she only looks at Nawi.

“go on.”

“hmm?”

“what else have you noticed, tsetse?”

Nawi fully sits up in her seat, the side of her hair still unbraided but long forgotten.

“the day of the final test.”

Izogie’s tongue pokes the inside of her mouth as she scoffs.

“after the announcement was made and you were talking to Nanisca and Amenza, your face showed something i had never seen before.”

“what?”

“fear.”

the conversation was now getting too personal and Izogie wanted to put a stop to it. the feeling of vulnerability was spreading through her and it was making her sick. she wanted to tell Nawi to never speak of this to another soul. she needed a swig of whiskey, but the younger was still talking.

“i remember her coming up to me the next day, thanking me. she was beyond grateful to me and i didn’t know why. King Ghezo had called a private meeting to discuss her situation but you, Nanisca and Amenza wouldn’t allow me to enter.”

Izogie averts her gaze. suddenly, the orange hue of the palace grounds were more interesting to look at.

“you begged them to let her stay, right?”

Izogie says nothing, eyes still.

“they would’ve kicked her out without question but you must’ve advocated for her. you’re one of our best fighters and next in line to be commander. the king would’ve listened to you.”

the older still says nothing and Nawi gets worried.

“I’m sorry. i hope i have not overstepped my boundaries.”

a half-hearted smile forms on Izogie’s face as she looks back to Nawi.

“you’re really not that dumb.”

Nawi’s eyes widens. “you’re not denying it anymore. you’re in love with her, aren’t you?”

a small laugh bubbles from Izogie’s chest as she saw the excitement on her fellow sister’s face.

“you want to know why i avoid her?”

Nawi nods her head eagerly, all ears.

“she’s a reminder of what i cannot have.”

a look of confusion spread across Nawi’s face.

“what do you mean?”

Izogie stares at the dying flame from a candle.

“ever since i joined the king’s guard, becoming general has been my number one goal. every time i look at her, i lose sight of that goal and i cannot have any distractions. not after how hard i’ve worked to get here.”

Nawi sits closer.

“Izogie, she’s not a distraction. you forget about becoming commander when you look at her because love is what your heart yearns for. we fight everyday for ourselves and for our people, but we also need more than the fighting. don’t shut her out.”

Izogie sighs.

“do you think i do not want love? i want it more than anything but i cannot lead the agojie well if i still have feelings for her.”

“why not?”

“because i cannot have peace of mind when we have to step into a battlefield. i will worry about her more than the rest of you and that is not fair. when she struggles in training, i cannot have the heart to punish her or make her continue and that is not fair. when i think i may never see her again, i cannot have the strength to part ways and i—.”

Izogie pauses, her face contorting into that of pain.

Nawi is stunned, as if she herself had just came to a realization.

“you think she would be your only weakness as a leader.”

Izogie swallows hardly, blinking away the tears that pool around her eyes.

“now you understand, tsetse. i will be miganon one day. she’s the reason i cannot have both.”

#izogie #the woman king #izogie x reader #lashana lynch #izogie x black!reader #agojie #gonesgone

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