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missdawnandherdusk · 4 years

Text

Ten Things I Hate About You

Muggle!Born!Reader X Draco

Summary: Request: @thelostandweeping If it is possible may I request a Draco x Muggle reader. Reader is really bad at potions so Snape has Draco tutor the reader. The reader doesn't like Draco but he finds her bluntness and her ability to be aloof interesting and tries to win her over. She later shows she's actually very kind and sweet. They become best friends and later together.

A/n: Okay this... but add a bit of Shakespeare and ABBA and you’ve got yourself a deal. This is super cute and a bit angsty and 100% pining. Let me know what you think! It’s currently 2am and I’m crying over these dorks. Love you guys so much

“Not Malfoy!” I distressed, standing. “Professor, please. I need to pass this class,”

“And you will do so, if Mr. Malfoy tutors you,” Snape hissed. “I don’t have to do this Miss Y/l/n, I could watch you fail and be quite fine with it.”

Clenching my fists, I took a deep breath and sat back down. Snape’s eyes narrowed at me.

“You and Mr. Malfoy will meet here every Friday afternoon.”

“Yes, Professor,” I sulked. “Thank you, Professor,”

“Now get out of my sight,” He snapped, and I stood, huffing out of his office and into the hall, nearly running over Malfoy.

“Watch it, mudblood,” He snapped, shoving me aside.

“Watch yourself,” I snarled, shoving him back.

He looked surprised at me, as if no one had dared to ever retaliate against him. Stupid self- righteous prat. That I needed. I made me loathe him more. I growled and stormed away, throwing my stuff onto the table in the Great Hall, sitting beside my friends.

“Well, that’s not a pretty face,” Ernie gave me a teasing look. “Snape that bad, huh?”

“He’s making Malfoy tutor me!” I lamented. “I think I’d rather fail,”

Shocked gasps rose around my small group of friends.

“Look here he comes,” Susan nodded to the door and sure enough, the blond prick was storming his way over here with murder in his eyes.

“You!” He sneered, stalking up to my table.

“What about me?” I gave him a cold look.

“You’re a filthy little mudblood who just ruined my Friday afternoons!” He shouted.

“And you’re a heinous misogynistic asshole who I have to deal with every Friday afternoon instead of going to Quidditch practice so forgive me if I’m not weeping at your feet begging for forgiveness,” I snapped, standing, my arms folded.

Onlookers of our conversation let out a low gasp of surprise as Malfoy stammered for the next thing to say. I raised an eyebrow at him, waiting.

“Cat got your tongue?” A smirk spread across my face. He drew his wand, pointing it at me. I didn’t flinch.

“Mr. Malfoy!” I heard the familiar voice of McGonagall. “Wand away! Unless you wish to serve detention,”

My smirk grew to a grin as I watched Malfoy stomp his foot and storm out of the room, shoving a few first years out of the way. A few clapped and cheered at the encounter before getting scolded by McGonagall.

I dreaded Friday. More than I dreaded anything. I’d rather never listen to music again if it meant I didn’t have to listen to Malfoy teach me about Potions. Okay, well, maybe the situation wasn’t that dire... but I was considering it.

“You’re early,”

I hadn’t even closed the door and he was already snapping at me.

“Hello Malfoy,” I gritted, turning to see him already standing over a cauldron, ingredients laid out around the table.

“Let’s just get this over with?” He nodded me over, his eyes still trained on the knife and leathery skin in his hands.

I shed my robe and rolled up my sleeves, going to hover beside him.

“Can you tell me what this is?” His voice lost some of the snap to it as he slid the crushed hide into the bubbling brew.

“If I could do you think I’d be here?” I huffed, grabbing my textbook and notes, flipping through the pages.

“Oh, for the love of Merlin,” Draco snatched the book from my hands.

“Give it back!” I shouted, reaching for the textbook.

“You won’t get better if you’re cheating,” He disappeared the book with a wave of his hand.

“That was my book! Malfoy, I swear to god!”

We were toe to toe, inches from each other. There was a calm, careful, infuriating smile on his face and anger on mine.

“Now, tell me, little mudblood,” He took a careful step back. “What potion is this?”

I narrowed my eyes at him and with a deep breath I looked over at the grey sludge that boiled in the pot. My eyes took inventory of the ingredients that were laid around the desk.

“Knotgrass?” I guessed, picking up a jar inspecting it.

Draco gave a seldom nod. We went on like that, until I had named all of the ingredients that were before us.

“I know this!” I groaned, rubbing my face. “I should know this!”

“Well, why don’t you?” Malfoy smirked. “It’s quite simple,”

“If it was simple,” I gritted out. “I wouldn’t be here,”

My book was suddenly back in his hands.

“It’s easier to find a potion by looking at the index. You know the ingredients, find them and cross reference,” He handed it back to me.

“That’s... actually really smart,”

I took the book and flipped to the back. It took some time, but I eventually flipped to the page I felt was right: Polyjuice Potion.

“Well done,” He didn’t smile, but he wasn’t quite scowling. “Perhaps there is hope for you yet, little mudblood.”

“Watch it,” I growled. “I’m still not above punching you,”

“What would you like me to call you then? Little shrew? Spitfire? Gorgon?” His smirk was back.

“Oh, kiss a dementor, Malfoy,” Grabbing my things, I ditched him and the Polyjuice Potion, heading outside into the setting sun to clear my head with some fresh air.

______________________________

Draco sat back, leaning against the table, watching you storm out. Your adamant hatred for him was quite amusing. The fact that you needed him to pass Potions and your loathing of him, made him laugh to himself as he began to clean up with a quick flick of his wand.

“I am to glad to see that my office is still intact,” Snape mused, flowing into the room. “I can’t say I had high hopes for you two,”

“It wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be,” Draco admitted. “She’s... bearable.”

“Is that sentiment I hear Mr. Malfoy?” Snape raised an eyebrow.

“Not at all,” Draco scoffed. “A challenge.”

“You’re absolutely daft!” Pansy dismayed later that night in the common room. “You really think you can tame that shrew?”

“Do you doubt me?” Draco raised an eyebrow. “Besides, I wrangled you in, and I put up with Crabbe and Goyle, and you have not been to a family dinner of mine. Y/n? She’s a piece of cake.”

“Ten galleons says you’re wrong,” Pansy held out her hand.

“You’re on,” Draco grinned as he shook it.

The next Friday, you just as riled and furious as you had been last Friday, and it was almost enough to make Draco laugh. Every other girl seem to... how did you put it? Weep at his feet begging for forgiveness? That seemed about right. But you? Oh, he was right, you were a little spitfire. Especially when you were frustrated because you couldn’t figure out how to brew Sleeping Draught. He left that tutoring session smiling to himself, watching your livid form head down the hall.

The next day Draco wandered down to the Quidditch Pitch, surprised to see you out there alone, running drills. You had mentioned giving up practice to let him tutor you. Thinking back to his bet with Pansy, he shed his robe and grabbed his broom from the closet, changing quickly, and headed out into the air after you.

“Bloody hell!” You screamed, nearly falling off your broom. “What the fuck is wrong with you Malfoy!?” You hovered feet from him, covered in sweat and dirt.

“Well, at the moment, the chance of losing a bet,” He grinned.

“Shouldn’t have taken it then, asshole,” You rolled your eyes, balancing on your broom as you stretched out your arms. “But I meant why are you here? Are you following me now?”

“Not particularly, I leave my stalking abilities for Potter. Nothing to waste on a mudblood.” Oh, he loved watching the fire grow in your eyes as he called you that.

“Piss off, Malfoy.” You snapped, flying away from him, taking a lap around the pitch.

He followed. You sped up. So did he. When you pulled straight up, it was all too easy to follow. He could hear your aggravated growl as he chased you around the pitch. You stopped short and he nearly ran into you, having to swerve out of the way. Your face was a mask of calm and disgust as you shook your head and landed, heading for the locker rooms.

“How’s the shrew?” Pansy asked later that week. “Still think you can tame her?”

“Patience Pans,” Draco chuckled. “These things take time,”

It wasn’t hard to figure out your schedule that week. It was even easier to make sure that he was there just long enough for you to notice him and then watch your mood sour as you stalked out of whatever room the two of you shared.

“Hey there, Spitfire,” Draco grinned leaning against your table at the library.

“What?” You snapped, not looking up at him. “Oh, I’m sorry I forgot, in this society, being male and an asshole makes you worthy of my time.” You shot him a deathly glare. “Bugger off, Malfoy,”

“You hate me, don’t you?” He smirked. “I get under that muggle skin of yours,”

“I really don’t think you warrant that strong an emotion,” I leaned back in my chair.

“Maybe another strong emotion then? Because they say if a girl constantly rips of a guy it means she likes him.”

“Am I that transparent?” Your face fell flat with you tone. “I want you. I need you. Oh baby, oh baby.” Rolling your eyes, you went back to your book. “Go find some other girl to fuck, Malfoy,”

“Ooh, see but that, there. Who needs affection when I have blind hatred?” He grinned and sat beside you, taking your book.

“Malfoy!” You hollered, only to be scolded by Pince. “Give me my book.”

“Now where have I heard that before.” Draco flipped through the pages of your book. “Ugh, a muggle book, I should have known,”

You snatched it from his hands and cradled it to your chest.

“You wouldn’t know a good book if I hit you in the face with it,” You snarled, grabbing your bag and storming off.

The few students who were watching the encounter quickly turned back to their work as Draco glanced around the shelves of books, noticing the missing space your book left in the shelf and the plethora of similar books.

“Shakespeare?” Draco mused, drawing a book into his hands.

________________________________

“He’s obsessed! He won’t leave me alone!” I cried in frustration. “I wish he’d go back to stalking Potter because I’m sick of it!”

“Have you ever considered that maybe he likes you?” Hannah asked.

“Likes me?” I snorted. “Ah, yes. Because calling me a mudblood, or a shrew is just a tell of flirting,”

“He called you a mudblood?” Ernie demanded.

“Calm down, I can handle myself.” Rolling my eyes, I sulked, standing. “I’m going to the pitch, anyone wanna join?”

There was a resounding chorus of ‘no’s. Which was probably a good thing. I needed some time alone to think and blow off steam. After a few hours of running drills I headed back to the locker rooms. Wiping my face with a towel, I jumped nearly a foot when I saw that I wasn’t alone.

“For the love of god, Draco!” I shouted. “What are you doing?”

“Well, hello to you too,” He smirked. “And I do believe I have quidditch practice,”

I pursed my lips and slammed my locker shut. His irritating casual conversation still had the ability to make my blood boil.

“I hope you fall to your death,” I snapped, heading towards the girl’s showers.

“Well, there’s a way to get a bloke’s attention,” He smirked, leaning effortlessly against his locker.

“My mission in life,” I smiled cheerfully. “And I’ve obviously struck your fancy, so the world makes sense again,” I sighed wistfully and deadpanned.

“See you Friday,” He smiled politely.

I let out a sound of disgust and shoved down the urge to go back in there and punch him in his perfect face. The days until Friday seemed to fly by, mocking me with their abruptness.

Taking a deep breath, I walked into Snape’s office, where Draco was waiting for me, the same lazy smile on his face. I didn’t say a word as I shed my coat and rolled up my sleeves, taking out my book and notes.

“What in the bloody hell is that?” Draco stammered, almost knocking over a vial of Wormwood—I think.

“What?” I looked around then behind me. “What are you playing at?”

“Around your neck!” He gestured, annoyed.

“Headphones?” I chuckled, easily sliding them off. “You know... music? Your lot do have that sort of thing, don’t they?”

“I don’t see what... headphones—” As if the word was foreign to his tongue, “—have to do with music,” Draco scoffed.

“You can listen to music anywhere?” I slid them off from around my neck and pulled up my portable CD player from my bag. “Have you really never seen a CD player or headphones?” I was baffled. “I don’t know what I’d do without music,”

“CD?” Draco frowned at the player in my hands.

“Yeah, Mom just send me ABBA’s Gold album and I’m a bit obsessed,” A slight pink touched my cheeks. “I’ve been wanting it so long,”

“ABBA?”

I laughed and shook my head, shoving both my headphones and CD player into my bag. “Maybe I’ll show you one day,”

It took less time than expected for me to figure out that he had a cauldron of Veritaserum in front of me. And maybe I genuinely smiled at Draco and fought the urge to hug him because, Potions really was making sense to me now. I would never understand how he managed it, but he could teach it in a way that I understood.

“Hey Draco?” I paused at the door on my way out. He looked up from cleaning, his careful blue eyes meeting mine. “Thanks,”

I hated that I wasn’t annoyed at him when he found me in the library again.

“So, is this for Muggle Studies then?” Draco nodded to my book, sitting the incorrect way in the chair next to mine, resting his arms against the back, almost nonchalant.

“No,” I rolled my eyes, slipping off my headphones, pausing the CD. “On contrary to popular belief, we muggles aren’t uncivilized. I do enjoy things like reading and art and music,” The annoyance in my voice was false.

“I’m aware,” Draco grinned that lazy smile again.

“Oh, so you think you know me then? Have enough from stalking me these past weeks?” I raised an eyebrow.

“Not like we’ve spent the last few Fridays together...” He drawled. “And I think I’m getting there.”

“The only thing you know about me is that I’m muggle and suck at potions,” I muttered, turning back to my book.

“You’re interesting,” Draco shrugged, causing me to backtrack and frown.

“Is that all I am to you? Something to ogle at? Maybe get a laugh in here and there with your pureblood buddies?” My voice went back to being venomous. “Just because you're pureblood, doesn't mean you can treat people like they don't matter!” I grabbed my belongings and stormed out of the library, fighting tears.

________________________________

Draco hated that you were right. And he hated that he almost made you cry as well. He hated that you could see right through him. And he hated that he felt any of this at all.

“The bet’s off,” Draco hissed to Pansy.

“You know what that means...” She grinned mischievously. “That means you have to do my homework for a week, and you pay up.”

Draco forked over the coins, not missing them in the slightest.

“She too much for you then? Not able to tame our little mudblood shrew?” A wicked grin curled on her face.

“Don’t call her that,” Draco snapped. “You don’t know a thing about her,”

“She’s a mudblood, Draco,” Pansy sat up, looking concerned. “Don’t tell me you actually have feelings for her?”

Draco didn’t have an answer for that.

He didn’t have an answer for any of this. As he laid in bed that night, staring up at the satin green that draped over his bed, all he could think about was the hurt on your face and in your words. It was different from your remarks before, those he could brush off easily. But not the tears in your eyes or the betrayal in your voice. Pansy was right, he shouldn’t care at all. You were beneath him. A mudblood, muggle born, shrew.

But he fucked up.

Because now you were so much more precious than that and he let you do it to him. He gave you the place in his heart where you resided.

That Friday he almost didn’t expect you to show. When you did, after the initial shock, there was an apology rushing to his lips, but held back by his pride. You barely looked at him that day. Your movements were muted, gentle. You murmured soft answers.

“Why are you doing this?” It was the first thing you said to him that wasn’t some ingredient.

“Tutoring you?” He raised an eyebrow.

You shook your head and took a deep breath. “All of it—what's in it for you?” Your eyes met his and he felt like you were reading him like one of your books. “What’s your game, Malfoy?” It hurt more than he thought as you switched back to the use of his surname.

“So, I have to have a motive to be with you?” He snapped back defensive.

“You tell me.” The tone of your words had him weak at the knees, gripping at the table for support.

“Can’t I just enjoy your company?” Draco snapped, slamming the book closed. “We’re done for the day,” He shook his head, looking down at the table beneath his hands.

You left without another word, but a glance back to him that had him reeling. He wanted to call out after you, but the words were trapped by fear and uncertainty.

Draco still watched you in the halls and in class whenever he could steal a glance. You seemed to always have your headphones in and your head down, nose in a book. Snape informed him about mid-week that your grades were adequate and that the tutoring would end promptly. He should have been happy about that. And a month ago he would have been more than glad to be rid of you... but he made a huge mistake.

He fell for you instead.

And you hated him. For everything he was and is. He couldn’t find it in himself to be angry that you closed yourself off from him. He didn’t blame you. Things were as it should be, and the world could spin around and not threaten to implode.

It was absolutely ludicrous. He shouldn’t care. He shouldn’t be doing this.

Every night, he slipped on headphones, and fell asleep to ABBA singing about love and loss behind the safety of his closed bed curtains. Sometimes he could almost hear your gentle voice whisper the lyrics, broken and defeated. Maybe he whispered a few back to the memory of you. Maybe a tear or two slipped out.

Maybe he sent you a note in class. Maybe it said that he was sorry and understood why you hated him. Maybe he deserved to watch you crumple it up and shove it into your bag and not give him a second glance.

Maybe enough was enough.

Determined, one crisp spring morning, Draco rose. After tucking away his guilty pleasure, he didn’t bother with house colors as he pulled a jumper over his dark wash jeans, scouring the castle grounds for you. It shouldn’t have been that hard, he had your scheduled memorized for Merlin’s sake, but still you evaded him.

To be fair, you didn’t evade him at all, he just wasn’t paying attention to your curled-up form in the Quidditch stands.

He called your name and gritted his teeth when you didn’t look up. He tried again.

“Go away,” You pulled your arms tighter around yourself.

He didn’t. Instead he sat down beside you, not saying a word. You two sat in silence that about killed him when you spoke up again.

“Did you win... your little bet?” Your voice was broken. “Did you tame the shrew?”

“You knew?” Draco gaped.

A soft shrug fell from your shoulder. “I know what people say about me...” A sigh escaped your lips. “And Pansy’s always one to hold anything she can over me. She’s my cousin, you know... my mom was a squib...”

A frown fell on Draco’s face at the new information. How had he not known that? Pansy was always near him and well, he did stalk you for about a month. Maybe you had been right, and you were nothing more than a spectacle to him until that last week...

Your careful eyes were trained on the empty pitch before him. No emotion was evident on your face... maybe an air of melancholy.

“I... I’m sorry,” Draco glanced down. “You were right about me... about everything.”

“I really don’t want to talk about...” You sighed. “Things we’ve gone through...”

A smile tugged at Draco’s lips. He knew those words. And it was so like you to quote them at him. He wondered how many other times you had gotten away with quoting song lyrics at him.

______________________________

I could feel Draco’s eyes study my face and the small smile that rested on his. I glanced over at him an eyebrow raised in question.

“You can’t just quote song lyrics at me,” He toyed, the familiar irritating smirk on his lips.

“I can do whatever I please,” I snapped, my cheeks flushing that I had been caught. Then it dawned on me. “Wait—”

A laugh escaped his lips. A wonderful sound that I had never heard before. One that I wanted to hear again.

“I was curious...” He shrugged, nonchalant seeming.

“You... listened to ABBA? A muggle CD? And you... know the words?” I gawked at him. “Who the hell are you and what have you done with Draco Malfoy?” I couldn’t help the smile on my lips.

“I’ve been asking myself that for about a week now,” He grinned, then looked down, his smile dropping.

“Draco?” I asked softly, reaching out for his hand. His blue eyes met mine, hesitant. “It’s... you don’t have to... I know you can’t...” Fumbling over my words, I couldn’t find the ones that seemed to fit right.

He reached out, the hand I had seen for weeks on end delicately handle ingredients and potions, just as precisely reached out and tilted my chin up.

“Tell me,” He whispered. “Have I messed up so badly that you can’t forgive me? That you won’t take a chance on a... how did you put it? Heinous misogynistic asshole?” There was a teasing smile on his lips that somehow moved to be inches from mine.

“Who’s quoting song lyrics now?” I mused softly, “And what kind of idiotic question is that?”

“That’s all I needed to hear,”

His mouth was on mine then, and I couldn't fight him. Not because he was possibly stronger than me—but not by much—but because my will crumbled into dust the second our lips met. So, I kissed him back. His hands memorized my face, the same way mine were tracing his, and, in the brief seconds when his lips were free, he whispered my name.

“I promise I’ll make it up to you,” He breathed out. “I’ll do better,”

"Don't promise me anything," I whispered softly, my hands falling to his shoulders. “Next week you might change your mind... or Pansy might—”

His lips were on mine again, silencing my words and doubts.

“Will you please try to hear what I'm telling you? Will you let me attempt to explain what you mean to me?” His stark eyes pierced mine as he cradled my face. “I am so sorry. I know I’m an asshole, and I know I’ve fucked up—” I started to protest but his thumb brushed over my lips, keeping them closed “—I have. And for a while I thought it was because I fell for you, but I see now is that it was because I didn’t fall for you sooner,”

“Sap,” I mumbled against his thumb, fighting the urge to roll my eyes.

His hands fell and I drew him into a hug. He held me close and for a moment, I just let him hold me. No fears, no doubts, no malicious thoughts, no blood status, no magic. Just two teens and something that might be love.

.................................

“Pansy is actually going to kill me,” I whispered, hesitating outside the Great Hall doors.

“Not while I have a say in the matter,” Draco pressed a soft kiss to the top of my head. “And besides... what’s the worst thing that could happen?”

I walked into the Great Hall, hand in hand with Draco. There was the clatter of dropped dishes and silverware and a collective gasp that fell into a hushed silence. Hundreds of eyes were on us.

“Well, that could have gone worse...” Draco muttered under his breath and I snorted a laugh, shaking my head, letting him pull me to a nearby table.

Nervous chattered and hushed whispers filled the hall. I guess they had good reason though. Draco and I had both tamed the other shrew.

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i-am-a-closet-fanfic-fiend · 3 years

Text

As It Should Be ~ Lucy x Caspian

A/N: Hello lovelies, so this is well out of my wheel house. But thanks to Shadow and Bone I am well and truly back on my Ben Barnes Bullshit. Which included re-watching the Narnia movies and then I had some feels. I'm completely ignoring the books and this is way AU but I couldn't get it out of my head. So if there's any Lucian shippers out there, this ones for you. Spoilers for the movies.

Summary: Lucy had not been ready to leave Narnia. And Caspian had not been ready for her to go. Perhaps fate still had a plan.

Characters/Pairings: Lucy Pevensie/Caspian (everyone is of age, time works funny between the realms); Edmund Pevensie, Aslan

Warnings: Fluff, a little bit of angst, pining, spoilers for the movies.

Word count: 5800 (I don't know how it happened. I just had a lot of feels)

Caspian’s voyage on the Dawn Treader had been a success on all counts. But in spite of his resolve to be a great king of Narnia and to treasure the lands and people he had been chosen to rule, the young king was sorrowful on their return journey. His crew had known better than to question him when he returned alone from Aslan’s country. Drinian put a comforting hand on his shoulder, and Caspian clasped it for a moment before giving him a meaningful nod. Drinian got the Dawn Treader sailing for home while Caspian ducked below deck for just a moment to mourn the loss of his friends. When he returned, his smile was not quite so bright as it had been when the king and queen of old had been on the ship.

The crew was happy to be going home, but they also felt the loss of their companions quite acutely. It had taken no time at all for them to love Lucy and Edmund. The younger of the Kings and Queens of old were kind and hardworking and had immediately treated them as old friends. Narnia they supposed was their great love. And while Eustace had taken some extraordinary circumstances to warm up to, he too was missed, and they all found the ship far too silent with Reepicheep’s running commentary.

Their return took nearly six months as they returned all those who had been taken by the mist to their home islands. So, while the crew was joyous to be returning home after nearly two years, everyone was weary when they finally docked on the shores beneath Cair Paravel. Drinian directed the landing team, as more sailors came to help them unload. Caspian gazed up at Cair Paravel in all its glory. It had been mostly restored before he departed, but now, it was back to its true grandure, he wished Lucy and Edmund could have seen this.

He had only a moment before his advisors were upon him, welcoming him back and informing him that a feast was already being prepared for his return. They clamored for his attention, luckily with good news. They each were reporting that peace remained and things had grown even more bountiful in the past six months. Caspian listened carefully making notes on what to discuss with them tomorrow, before finally excusing himself to clean up before the feast.

After what could only be described as the most delicious meal he’d ever had, Caspian took his time reacquainting himself with the halls of his castle. During his time away, the team in charge of the interior restoration had finished all of their projects, which included the portraits of the Pevensies at the height of their rule. He inspected each one closely, trying to find the familiar features of his friends in the older faces.

For the most part he could see it. Although it was odd to see them at that age - all older than his 23 years. Well, all but Lucy. She had been just shy of 21 when they tumbled back through the wardrobe. She was the only one who never mentioned how hard it was to go from being an adult back to being an 8 year old. But he suspected that she struggled more than she let on, though she would never tell her siblings while they suffered their own distress. His thoughts lingered on the youngest of the great kings and queens. He couldn’t help but wonder if his dear friend would look the same when she reached 20 again.

Her portrait hung beside her sister’s and one could easily spot the differences. Susan held a quiet beauty, befitting her title of Gentle. But even the stillness of a portrait could not tame Lucy’s wild beauty and adventurous spirit. He knew well the twinkle of excitement the artist had captured. It was one that never failed to bring a smile to his face.

Caspian had been captivated by Lucy during their time on the Dawn Treader. More than he’d been willing to admit, even to himself. Though he suspected Edmund had seen it. He’d even expected a brotherly talk at one point, since Peter was absent. But he merely smiled, and took every opportunity to let them be together. Drinian had also made more than a few subtle comments, but Caspian had chosen to remain silent.

While the young prince had had eyes only for Susan upon their first meeting in terms of amorous intentions, Lucy’s unwavering faith and goodness had endeared her to him. When she stood across the river with only a dagger in her hand, facing down an army with a smile he could see why she of the four was the Valiant. She was amazing, even at age 11.

Her return 3 years later, had only deepened that opinion. She had matured and Caspian found himself lost in her. He’d been telling the truth when he told her that he hadn’t found a queen as beautiful as Susan, but what he left out was that there had been none as fierce as her either.

The pair had spent every possible moment together – stargazing, checking maps, telling stories. He loved her stories. Queen Lucy the Valiant had truly been a queen of her people. While her siblings had often been on the frontlines of battle, Lucy had always been protecting the people – evacuating them, learning from the healers how to dress wounds that didn’t require her cordial. She was the most beloved of the four, even in the stories Caspian had heard before he met them. Though she would refute that claim a thousand times over.

Other stories were filled with tales of dancing with fauns and dryads. Mr. Tumnus was a frequent character, and Caspian could hear the heartache in her voice when she spoke about him. He would often take the opportunity to squeeze her hand in comfort, which she also responded to with a grateful smile. Edmund would often join in, offering tales of his own or teasing Lucy.

One time in particular, he felt the need to remind her of the time a suitor had come to court and she had been so used to dancing with the fauns during their revelries that she panicked when he had offered his hand for a formal dance.

“All you could hear in the ballroom was Tristan grunting and Lucy apologizing,” Edmund chuckled.

Lucy’s cheeks flamed red and she glared at her brother for a moment, before a smirk slid across her features.

“At least I didn’t end up in a fountain after my first kiss,” she shot back.

Edmund’s cheeks tinged ever so slightly, but his expression was wistful.

“She was lovely. And it was worth it. I hope she had a good life.”

“I’m sure she did. But I’m sure she missed you.”

The siblings shared a look, regrets and memories flowing through their minds. Once again, Caspian was struck by how much life and loss these two “children” had experienced.

Later that night, after confirming their course with Drinian, Caspian was ready to retire to the barracks area for a few hours of sleep. But as he passed his quarters which he had given to Lucy, he heard humming. Moving as quietly as he could, he neared the cabin, noting the slightly ajar door. Caspian couldn’t help the smile that crossed his lips as he watched Lucy dance to her own tune as she looked in the mirror, the steps somewhat disjointed. He slipped inside, leaning against the doorjamb, making sure she couldn’t see his reflection.

“Would you like a partner?” he finally asked.

Lucy jumped at the unexpected voice, whirling as her cheeks filled with color upon realizing she’d been caught.

“Caspian! I was just… Edmund made me remember and I thought I’d practice.”

“In case we have a ball on the Dawn Treader?” he asked, grinning wildly at her.

“Of course. I’ve been to many balls on ships,” she giggled before sobering slightly. “No, but there’s dances back home. And I’ve never been, but I suspect they don’t much care for the type of dancing the fauns and dryads do.”

The mention of home twisted in Caspian’s gut, but he pushed the thought away. He would enjoy what time he had with her. Each moment was a gift.

“Well, I don’t know how they dance in your world, but it always helps to have a partner. May I?”

She nodded, uncharacteristically shy.

He snapped to attention and made a formal bow, which made her laugh but she curtsied anyway before taking his hand. He pressed a quick kiss to her knuckles, before placing her hand on his shoulder. His right hand fell to her waist, he his left clasped hers firmly.

“’Ready?”

“Absolutely?”

He wasn’t positive, but they both sounded breathless.

He began to hum, counting the beats by gently tapping his fingers against her side. He gave it a count of 8 before he began to move. It was rough at first, they were both out of practice… and nervous if he was being honest. But after a few crushed toes, they found their rhythm and soon they seemed to float. Caspian waltzed her around the room, twin smiles adorning their faces. Before they knew it, they were simply swaying in place gazing into each other’s eyes.

“I wonder if Susan is dancing like this with her naval officer,” Lucy wondered aloud, regretting it the moment it slipped past her lips. “Oh, I’m sorry, Caspian. I wasn’t thinking.”

He chuckled and shook his head.

“Don’t worry, Lucy. I’m not upset. I’m happy that your sister is moving on with her life. No one deserves to be alone.”

“But you’re alone,” Lucy pointed out.

Not cruelly, more confused by his logic.

“I’m not alone right now. I’m with you.”

And I will take that, he thought to himself. Just this moment and whatever else I get.

“Susan and I are worlds apart. In more ways than one,” he added slyly.

Lucy gazed up at him, no longer swaying at all.

“Caspian, I-“

At that moment, the ship lurched sending her crashing into his arms. It lurched again and sent them both to the floor. A storm had reached them and they heard the crew members racing about on deck. They shared one more moment before sprinting into action.

“Your majesty.”

His chief advisor’s voice jostled Caspian from his memories.

“Lord Pallburn. How can I help you?”

“You requested updates on the refugees and the five lords.”

“Of course. We shall speak on the way to my chambers.”

Caspian shot one last look at Lucy’s portrait before leading his advisor away.

Lucy sighed quietly as she watched the happy couple spin around the dance floor.

Years ago, on a ship a world away, Lucy had been held like that. Her thoughts strayed to Caspian and his near obsidian eyes. She had thought of him often in the years since. She wondered how long it had been for him.

Was he married by now?

A father?

Dead?

No.

Her heart couldn’t bear that last one. She had to believe Caspian was alive and well and happy or she wouldn’t be able to carry on.

She shook the thoughts away and returned to the view in front of her.

Susan was absolutely radiant in her wedding dress. Her smile lit up the room as Tom held her in his arms, leaning down for a peck as the song ended. They held hands as they exited the dance floor to chat with their friends.

Peter had his younger daughter, Jane, balanced on the top of his shoes as he moved them about in a decent facsimile of a waltz. Lucy smiled as she remembered her oldest brother doing the same with her when she was much younger.

Edmund was sitting with his girlfriend Margaret and their cousin Eustace laughing quite merrily.

With the exception of her cousin, Narnia had taken on the golden tint of a fond memory. But a memory none the less. Her siblings had been content to leave it at that. Lucy could not find it in her to do the same. Narnia had always felt more like home than this world. A fractured childhood would do that to you she supposed. After all she had grown up in Narnia first.

She still knew their customs and constellations better than England’s. But she knew it wasn’t just that. Her heart lay in Narnia, or rather with the King of Narnia. Caspian had a way of making Lucy feel seen when others didn’t.

“Enjoying the party, Lu?”

She nodded as she looked to Edmund who had slipped into the seat beside her.

“It’s wonderful. Everyone is having so much fun.”

“Everyone?”

“I’m having fun,” she insisted, knowing Edmund could see right through her.

“Talk to me.”

She looked again to the dance floor, eyes flitting from couple to couple.

“Do you think that I could ever find that here?”

“Love?”

Lucy nodded again.

“What makes you think you won’t?” he pressed, avoiding her question.

“I can’t imagine finding anyone to share my life with like that. There’s so much I couldn’t tell them. I don’t know how you all do it.”

Edmund hummed in response.

“Narnia meant everything to me. It made me who I am, but the only one who needs to know about it for it to be real is me. And I’m lucky enough that I got to share it with you, and Peter, Susan, and Eustace. Margaret doesn’t need to know what made me the man I am. Only that that man is someone she wants to be with.”

Lucy regarded her brother carefully for a moment. He’d clearly put a lot of thought into this and she appreciated it.

“I guess that makes sense. I guess I’m not ready to admit that Narnia is my past. Even though I have to.”

They were quiet for a moment.

“Is that the only reason you think you won’t find love here?”

Lucy knew where he was going with this, and finally she sighed – more an exhale after holding one’s breath.

“I think I loved him,” she whispered, not needing to specify who “him” was.

“Loved?” he clarified.

“Love,” Lucy corrected.

“He loves you too for what it’s worth. I could see it. Clear as the Northern Sky.”

“I don’t think it matters much. We’re worlds apart now. He’s probably married by now. I’m not sure how I managed it, but it seems I’ve left my heart in Narnia.”

Edmund wrapped an arm around her shoulder and tugged her into his side. She leaned her head heavily against his shoulder.

“What has been lost, can be found. We just need to have faith about these things. You taught me that.”

Lucy smiled at the reassurance.

“Thank you, Edmund.”

“Anything for you. Would you like to dance? We can even pretend we’re at Tumnus’,” he offered.

Lucy shook her head, but smiled more genuinely than she had all night.

“I think I’m going to take advantage of the gardens, and get some fresh air.”

“It’s not like there isn’t air inside,” he joked making her roll her eyes.

“I’ll be back soon.”

Edmund nodded and squeezed her once more before letting her go.

“Be safe.”

Lucy slipped through the crowd unnoticed, as usual. After a few minutes walking through the gardens she happened upon the entrance to a hedge maze. Looking back at the lights of the reception, she took a deep breath and hurried into the maze, following the turns at random.

It couldn’t possibly be big enough for her to actually get lost.

Caspian perched on the rail of his balcony, one knee up as his back was pressed against the palace wall twirling Lucy’s dagger in his hand. If anyone entered his chambers they wouldn’t be able to see him unless they stepped outside. Closing his eyes, he leaned his head back against the stone enjoying the cool breeze off the Eastern Sea. He had chosen this room specifically for the view of the water. It had always calmed him, and now it held an even more special place in his heart.

In the morning, he would return to his duties as king and this journey would leave the forefront of his mind to make room for diplomacy and logistics. And if his advisors had their way, finding a queen. But for now, as the wind whipped around him, he could imagine that he was back on the Dawn Treader. And if he listened closely enough, he could hear Lucy’s familiar humming. He allowed his mind to run wild with memories.

When the humming only grew louder, even after shaking himself from the sweet memories, Caspian grew concerned. Alert now for possible danger, he scanned the grounds for the source of the sound.

The beach was clear. As were the cliffs to the north. But as he turned his gaze to the south, a flash of auburn hair in the garden maze caught his eyes. She was deep within the heart of the garden without alerting the guards which was no easy feat.

Fastening his sword belt on, he sheathed Lucy’s dagger which she had gifted him on the shores of Aslan’s country.

“I think you’ll need this more than I will.”

“It shall never leave my side.”

You shall never leave my heart had remained unspoken.

Not wishing to alert the guards, Caspian scaled down the side of the castle, jumping from the lowest window and rolling to his feet.

The wind was carrying the humming to his ears quite clearly, as though it was actively helping him find the intruder. At the edge of the maze he took a deep breath before stepping inside. He allowed himself to be led through the turns by the voice, although he was nearly certain it must be a trap. Surely it was a siren or some spell luring him with his heart’s desire. But still he pursued her.

A few times it seemed they were just on the other side of the hedge from each other, but he would round the corner and find only a dead end.

Finally, he caught a flash of lavender fabric whooshing around the corner and he sped up as well as he could while maintaining his stealth. Lucy’s dagger fit comfortably in his hand. Peeking around the corner to ensure she was coming, he waited until she had passed by before leaping out and grabbing her, the dagger pressed against her throat.

“Who are you? And what are you doing here?”

She froze in his arms.

“Caspian?”

The woman squirmed in his grip enough to see his face and in his surprise he let her.

“It is you. How on Earth did you get here?” she asked.

“Lucy?” he mumbled as he released her and she turned to look at him, giving him his first good look at her.

“Yes, it’s me. I know I look a bit different. But goodness, you haven’t aged a day,”

“Lucy,” he repeated before dropping the dagger and pulling her into his arms, burying his face in her neck.

She held him just as fiercely as if he would disappear if she let go for even an instant.

“I missed you so much,” he murmured. “I thought of you every day.”

“As did I. How long has it been for you?” she asked as she lifted her head to look at him, unwilling to break their embrace any further.

“Six months and thirteen days.”

Lucy huffed out a little laugh.

“Is that all?”

Caspian already knew it had been much longer for her. Years, he guessed, given how much she looked like her portrait.

“How long?”

“Six years. Four months. Eleven days.”

She’d been counting. In spite of knowing that Aslan’s plans for Narnia did not include her.

“Oh, Lucy,” Caspian sighed.

Years. She had thought of him every day for years. The knowledge made his heart beat faster.

“It’s okay. You’re here now. How on Earth are you here?” she asked again.

Caspian glanced upward, just to ensure he hadn’t been transported to her world, but sure enough his stars remained, twinkling down at him.

“Lucy, you’re in Narnia.”

Whipping her head around to gain bearings she didn’t know she’d lost, Lucy’s expression clouded with confusion.

“But how? I was at the wedding. I just stepped out for a few minutes –“ She paused and shook her head with a serene smile. “Things never happen the same twice,” she murmured. “Or four times I suppose. I’m not sure how it’s happened, but I am glad to be home.”

Caspian’s heart both clenched and soared at the word home. But he was still stuck on the earlier revelation.

“You were at a wedding?”

His mind raced as he took in her demure dress and artful curls.

Six years, his mind screamed. Even if she had thought of him, of course she would have found someone else in that time.

“Yes,” she affirmed absent-mindedly. “Of Susan will be so cross I’ve left her wedding.”

Elation.

“Susan’s wedding?”

“Yes.” Lucy’s face dropped. “Oh, I’m sorry, Caspian.”

“So you are not married?” he asked, ignoring the apology.

Lucy’s laughter was a balm to his soul.

“Goodness, no. Not even close. The closest I’ve come to marriage was holding hands with Dennis Macmillian when we were 17. And even that was mainly because I was slipping on the ice. I’ve never even gone for a stroll with a boy.”

Caspian smiled, pulling back just enough to offer her his arm.

“Well then, please, allow me. It would be a shame to waste such a lovely Narnian evening.”

“So it would,” she agreed, looping her arms through his. “Tell me everything I’ve missed,” she insisted as they walked deeper into the maze.

“There’s not that much to tell you. We’ve only just arrived back to Cair Paravel this morning. It took us several months to return everyone to their homes before we could return. Beyond that, I’ve just received reports of peace in Narnia.”

“That’s wonderful, Caspian.”

“I’m sure your time has been far more interesting. Tell me everything.”

“Longer doesn’t always mean more interesting.”

Caspian shot her a look of disbelief.

“I’m telling the truth. After the Dawn Treader we stayed with Eustace until the end of the War. After that, once Susan, Peter, and our parents returned, I went back to school. I learned how to become a nurse.”

“Did you now?”

“Mhmm. Top of my class even. It’s been fascinating to learn, although I still think the healers here have a better bedside manner. And goodness have there been days where I wished for my cordial on the job.”

“It sounds intense.”

“It is. But I love it.”

Her smile confirmed it.

“It suits you,” he agreed.

“Besides all that, not much has changed for me. I spend most of my time working or with my family, though that’s been difficult of late.”

“Difficult? Why?” he asked with a furrowed brow.

“They’ve all become convinced I’m doomed to become an old maid. Well, not everyone I suppose. Mainly my parents and Susan. Peter would prefer it that way, over protective as he is. And Edmund, well he just wants me to be happy.”

Despite her comments, the fondness she had for her siblings still shone through.

“I’m sure they all want you to be happy.”

“I know that. I just wish they wouldn’t keep trying to set me up. I think falling in love should happen naturally.”

She glanced up at Caspian who was watching her closely.

“As do I. So it sounds to me that you’re turning suitors down left and right.”

“Hardly,” she scoffed. “Although I think Susan believes that she’ll have a better chance at marrying me off now that she’s officially taken. They’ll have to settle for the lesser Pevensie sister.”

Caspian narrowed his eyes at the assertion, footsteps coming to a halt as he turned to face her.

“In what way lesser?”

“In every way,” Lucy laughed humorlessly.

“You are Queen Lucy the Valiant. The most beloved Queen Narnia has ever seen,” he reminded her, continuing on before she could argue with him. “You are amazing. You are in no way lesser.”

His words made her smile but it didn’t reach her eyes.

“That may be who I am here. But in my world, I’m just Peter and Susan’s little sister. An afterthought.”

Caspian hated to hear her talk about herself like that.

“Then everyone in your world must be fools. You are valiant and beautiful in every world.”

Lucy found herself unable to hold his intense gaze.

“I’m not beautiful like Susan.”

He lifted her head up with a finger underneath her chin, forcing her to look at him.

“Perhaps not. But you’re beautiful like you. And brave. And kind. And loving. And a million other wonderful things.”

“No one’s ever seen me the way you do.”

“It’s an honor to know you this way, Lucy.”

He reached up cradling her cheek before sliding his fingers into her hair.

“I love you.”

It was a relief to finally say it out loud, and her smile was well worth it.

“I love you too, Caspian. I have for a long time.”

He leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to her lips. When he pulled away, he leaned his forehead against hers.

“I was so scared I’d never see you again,” she whispered.

“I was too. I was certain that I’d lost my chance. But you’re here now.”

“I am.” She looked around and somehow he knew she was looking for Aslan. “But I still don’t know why.”

“I’m sure Aslan has his reasons.”

“He usually does,” Lucy agreed with a smile. “I’m sure we’ll figure it out in time. For now…”

“For now, I’m just going to be grateful. And enjoy every second of my time with you.”

“I like that plan.”

They walked through the gardens for a time before Caspian escorted her up to the castle.

Sure enough they spent the next few weeks enjoying their time together. In fact the entire kingdom rejoiced at the return of their queen. But with no indication as to why she was there, soon a quiet anxiety crept in.

Neither Lucy nor Caspian were willing to make too many plans when they didn’t know when she would be returning, so instead they focused on ensuring Narnia was well taken care of. Lucy helped Caspian reinstate the High Council so that every type of creature was represented. Caspian watched in awe as the land flourished and now that everyone had a voice they found it even easier to keep peace. In fact, many days it seemed there wasn’t much ruling to do at all. So he spent more time with his people than ever, which he loved.

And he grew to love Lucy more every day. He knew at some point that she would have to leave, to return to her family, but he also knew that he couldn’t bear to be without her. His decision was made, although he was sure that many would consider it selfish.

Which is why a year after she arrived, Caspian led Lucy into the maze he had found her in.

“This is quite lovely. We haven’t done this in a while. What brought this on?” she asked as they walked.

“Well, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking lately. And I have a question for you. And I thought this would be the best place to ask it.”

She tilted her head in question, noting the slight nervousness in his voice.

“What kind of question?”

“An important one.”

They had reached the center of the maze and Caspian led Lucy to sit on the edge of the fountain that contained a stone carving of Aslan. He hoped it would bring them the Great Lion’s blessing.

He took both her hands in his as he sat beside her on the edge of the fountain.

“Lucy, my love, ever since I first met you, you have been a source of strength and someone who I have never failed to believe in. On our first adventure I learned never to overlook you, and I am eternally grateful for learning that lesson. Because it allowed me to see you for who you are on our second adventure. On the Dawn Treader, I fell in love with you. And the day I had to say goodbye to you it felt as if my heart would never be whole again. But by the grace of Aslan, you were returned to me. And I have spent the past year falling more and more in love with you. I’m not sure how long we have left in Narnia, but I don’t want to waste another moment without asking you to be my wife.”

She gasped as Caspian shifted down onto one knee.

“There is no other I would bind myself to. I love you, Lucy Pevensie. And my only wish is to have you by my side for as long as you’ll have me. Will you marry me?”

“Of course.”

She tackled Caspian to the ground in a very unladylike move, and kissed him soundly.

“Of course I’ll marry you.”

Caspian’s smile was brilliant as he reached up to cradle her face before pulling her down for another kiss. They reveled in their new engagement alone for a while longer before deciding to return to the castle.

They were nearly out of the maze when they saw a flash of golden fur.

“Aslan?”

Lucy took off after the lion and Caspian was right on her heels. He couldn’t help but wonder at the timing.

They made it back to the fountain and found the lion himself in front of his stone counterpart.

“Aslan, it is you.”

Lucy launched herself at him, burying her face in his fur.

“Hello, dear one.” It came out in a deep rumbling laugh.

Caspian knelt before Aslan, keeping his eyes on the ground.

“Rise, King Caspian.”

“Aslan, what are you doing here?”

“I’ve come to talk to you about your future, dear one.”

Caspian felt unease coil in his stomach.

“My future here or…?”

Lucy took a step back to stand next to Caspian taking his hand in hers.

“That is your decision to make, Lucy. Your heart longed for Narnia when you returned home. You had not been ready to leave it behind. Is that still true?”

She looked to her betrothed and considered her words carefully.

“I could leave Narnia. But I cannot leave my heart. I cannot leave Caspian. Not again.”

Aslan turned his massive head towards the king – looking at him expectantly.

“Caspian?”

The king lifted Lucy’s hand to kiss her knuckles, looking to her as he answered.

“Narnia was the only home I ever knew. But Lucy is the only home I will ever need. I would leave Narnia if she wished me to. If you would allow it,” he added as he finally turned to face Aslan.

“Caspian?” Lucy gasped at him.

Aslan seemed to nod so Caspian continued, looking back to his love.

“Lucy, in the past year we’ve changed Narnia. It is ruled by its people. As it should be. They don’t need a king. But I need you.”

Tears gathered in the corners of her eyes, but there was no mistaking her smile.

“Are you sure?”

“I am,” he assured her.

Lucy kissed him for a moment, before turning to Aslan.

“Aslan, is it possible?”

He huffed a laugh and nodded with a shake of his mane.

“Yes, dear one. It is possible. All is as it should be with Narnia thanks to you. But you both must be sure.”

They shared a look before turning back to Aslan.

“We’re sure,” they said in unison.

“But we must not abandon Narnia this time,” Lucy insisted. “I want to say goodbye properly.”

“Of course. You two can stay as long as you like, you have earned that. When you are ready return to this fountain and take the path behind it.”

They both peeked around as the hedge directly behind Aslan’s statue opened up. If she listened closely Lucy could hear the music of the reception.

“You’ll be returned to when you left,” Aslan answered her unspoken question.

Lucy hugged him again and Caspian joined in this time.

“Thank you, Aslan.”

“Thank you, for all you have done for Narnia. It is better for knowing you, dear heart.”

Lucy and Caspian were married after six months on the day before they stepped down and allowed the high council full rule over Narnia. Surprisingly, no one begrudged them their decision. Narnia was happy and they saw that they could rule themselves and be their own heroes.

Two years to the day after Lucy arrived, they said their final goodbyes to the land that had given them so many gifts, the dearest of which was each other.

Hand in hand they entered the maze and followed the turns to the center. With one last look at the great stone lion, they walked through the hedge behind him, coming out into a dark night. Lucy was once again in her lavender bridesmaid dress. Luckily she had had the foresight to have a suit made for Caspian so he would blend in.

“Shall we?” she asked, excited to see her family after so long. Well so long for her. Just moments for them.

“Are you sure I shouldn’t just wait here until after the wedding? How are we going to explain me just turning up?” Caspian asked, daunted by the new world around him.

It was louder than Narnia, and undeniably strange. Lucy cupped his cheek, and kissed him.

“The evening is nearly over. The others will want to see you. You were at the other party and we ran into each other in the garden. You’re an old friend from our time with the professor. And I insisted that you come say hello and congratulate Susan in person.”

“You’ve thought about this,” he teased, considering the plan in his head.

“Of course. It was the first thing I thought when you threatened me with my own dagger,” she reminded him with a mocking look.

“Oh really?” Caspian chuckled, quirking an eyebrow at her.

“Yes. Right after ‘he’s here. Maybe I get to be loved after all’.”

“You are so loved, my valiant Lucy. And I shall love you forever. In every world.”

She smiled up at him, blissfully happy.

“And I you, Caspian.”

They shared one more kiss before walking hand in hand back to reception. Everything was as it should be.

A/N: I hope you enjoyed this. I've got loads of Ben Barnes feels lately and this is how I'm dealing with it lol. Thanks for reading!

#Caspian x Lucy #Prince Caspian Fic #Lucian Fic #Lucy x Caspian #lucy pevensie #narnia #prince caspian #Lucy Pevensie fic #Narnia fic

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binbons-character-stuff · 3 years

Text

The Thief of Joy

This was requested by @emmaloo21 like a hundred years ago.

"Hey," you heard a whisper from around the corner from where you were definitely not hiding, and then Peter's golden head peeked at you from the other side of the shelf of books in the library.

You hurried to dash away your tears, but Peter had two younger sisters and could see the signs of crying well enough. "Oh, darling, don't cry," he soothed, sitting next to you and pulling you into his arms, your head going naturally into the crook of his neck.

"I am not crying," you said, though Peter could feel the dampness of your cheek against his neck.

"Shhh," he shushed you. "It will be alright, I promise."

"Of course it will," you said, pulling back a bit and forcing a smile to your face. "You're here."

Peter smiled at you with genuine affection. You had fallen into his family so naturally that it felt like you were another sister most of the time. "Tell me what has you sad and I'll fix it straightaway."

You chuckled. "Just having you here is enough."

"Darling, you know I'll always be here for you, don't you?" Peter crooned to you as he rocked back and forth.

"Of course, Peter. I never feel so safe as when I'm with you," you said honestly, if a bit sadly.

Caspian sighed silently, heart shattering a little more as he witnessed what he had suspected for some time: you loved Peter.

And who could blame you? He was young, handsome, courageous -- well, aside from 'young' he was everything that Caspian wasn't and probably never would be. And Caspian could accept all of it from everyone but you. You were his life. You had been inseparable until his escape; most of his people assumed the two of you would marry one day; he had assumed that the two of you would marry one day.

Caspian left as quietly as he had entered; he had known you were upset and he knew where you would go to be alone. He just didn't realize that Peter was also aware of the spot. Was it now a secret lovers spot?

As Caspian made his way silently out of the library, he wandered the corridors aimlessly, his only destination somewhere quiet and empty. He feared that his heartbreak was going to become a bit of an embarrassing affair and he preferred to kick the wall and throw his childish tantrum with no witnesses.

Peter. Always Bloody High King Peter the Bloody Magnificent! He took over command, bowled over any decision that Caspian ever made, he insulted him and acted like Caspian was a complete incompetent. And if that wasn't enough, he now was romancing the girl he had loved for as long as he could remember, the woman he had always hoped to make his Queen. More than that, though, you were his best friend, he needed you in the way that he had always thought you needed him.

Apparently he had been mistaken. Now you had Peter to run to when you were upset.

You had calmed down, focusing on Peter's soothing voice as he told you about something called automobiles in his home world.

"Feeling better now?" he asked quietly.

"Yes," you whispered. "Thank you."

"How about you tell me what's been troubling you, then?" he coaxed.

"It's nothing, really. I'm being silly."

"I shall decide what's silly and what isn't," Peter announced arrogantly.

You smiled, though his arrogance was a trifle annoying. Caspian was never -- you sighed, unable to complete a thought without him interfering.

"Come, now," he said sternly. "I am a King of Narnia; you must tell me."

"I missed Caspian terribly when he was gone."

"He spoke of you a great deal while we were in hiding. I understood you to be quite good friends."

"Yes," you said, not realizing that you wrinkled your nose a bit when he said 'friends.' "It just does not feel like he missed me as much. He seems to want to spend all of his time with your sister."

Ah, Peter thought. She loves Caspian. "Lucy and he do seem to be together a lot."

"No, Peter, I meant Susan."

Peter hesitated a moment and said, "Shall I tell you a secret?"

"If you wish," you replied rather disinterestedly. You were too busy picturing your old age as a spinster, dying alone for the overwhelming love you felt for your King.

"Susan thinks Caspian is beautiful."

Your eyebrows drew together in anger. "Thank you so much for sharing that with me, Your Majesty."

"So beautiful, in fact, that he could wear one of her dresses and be prettier than her."

You gasped, scandalized and amused. "She did not say this!"

"Perhaps not in so many words, but dear one, Susan and Ed and Lucy and I...we're old. Caspian is a boy. Susan is not interested."

You smiled then, but ruefully. "It does not mean that Caspian wants me because Susan does not want him."

"Then more fool he, I say!" he said buoyantly.

"Thank you, Peter," you said quietly.

"Of course," he said gently. "I must go, but do not tarry here too long, it will be supper time soon."

"Yes, Peter," you said quietly, smiling bravely for his efforts to cheer you.

You watched Peter leave and sighed. You were selfish enough to be pleased that Susan wasn't interested in Caspian, but as you had said to Peter, Susan not wanting Caspian did not make Caspian want you. There was an old saying that your Mother told you when you coveted a sibling's toy or sweet: 'Envy is the thief of joy.' You knew that it was wrong to be jealous that Susan held Caspian's heart, but you simply could not help yourself.

You sat and stared out the window at the late afternoon sun painting the courtyard below with a golden shimmer, pondering how to go on without Caspian in your life.

Caspian had retreated to his bedchamber, wanting to be alone for a moment. Well, physically alone. Since he had been crowned King, he had felt nothing but alone and lonely.

Before he had run away, you and he had been together whenever possible. You had taken lessons together -- and skived off of lessons together, as well. He had shared with you his worries of ruling a Kingdom someday, and you had simply smiled and told him he would be a wonderful King. Now, you barely met his eyes, leaving the room as quickly as possible.

Perhaps you knew of his feelings for you and were trying to keep him from humiliating himself? You were always so kind and generous to him, giving him perhaps the only affection he received since his mother died when he was small. How had he so badly misinterpreted your actions to mean you loved him as he loved you?

Or had you been plying him with honeyed words to become his Queen but decided that Peter was a better catch?

Caspian's jealousy ate at him as he paced his bed chamber, thinking back to all of the times he thought he had seen love in your eyes. Was it only a reflection of his own love, and not a genuine emotion at all? Were you simply smarter than the other girls at Court who had sought to snare him with their beauty and wiles? Had you seen the desperate need for love that he carried within him and exploited it?

He had to know.

Caspian gathered his jealousy, anger, and outrage close to him, wrapping himself in coldness to stave off the hurt. He stormed out of his bedchamber, his expression clouded with the anger and anguish that had taken root in his heart.

A few people tried to stop him on his way back to the library; he did not even acknowledge them. He was so focused on getting the truth from you that nothing else mattered. Indeed, for just this one moment in time, the Kingdom could burn.

Caspian would find out how you really felt, and Aslan help anyone who tried to stop him.

You heard someone come into the library, low voices conversing, and then someone left again. You went back to staring out into the courtyard below, wishing that you had been brave enough to share your feelings with Caspian before he had run away to escape his Uncle. Would it have mattered to him, knowing that you loved him and were waiting for him to return safely? You sniffed, too depressed to even wipe away the tears from your cheeks.

You shook your head and muttered, "If wishes were fishes --"

"We'd all swim in riches," Caspian surprised you by finishing the rhyme.

"Cas -- Your Majesty!" you gasped, jumping to your feet and dropping into a deep curtsy. "You surprised me."

Caspian narrowed his eyes angrily. "You cannot even bring yourself to use my name any more?" he growled.

You looked up, tears streaming down your cheeks, confusion in your eyes. "I was not certain I still had that privilege."

"Rise," he said harshly. "I do not wish to have you cowering before me."

You got to your feet, hands folded primly before you and eyes on Caspian's toes, but you kept your silence.

"Why are you crying?" he asked, softening a bit.

You shrugged. "I do not wish to burden you with my worries," you whispered.

Caspian stiffened. "Did Peter not return your feelings?" he spat.

Your eyebrows shot up. "I beg your pardon?" you said, deceptively softly.

Caspian should have known better; he had known you for most of his life and he had seen both the storm and the calm before it. He was simply too angry to recognize your tone of voice. "I said," he snarled, "did High King Peter not return your love? Did your plan to catch a better husband than me, a mere King, fall apart? Do you regret tossing aside my feelings for you in favor of Peter?"

You finally understood the expression "to see red." Your fists clenched at your sides and you gnashed your teeth. "How dare you speak to me that way, Caspian!"

"I saw the two of you together earlier, sitting in that very spot!" he yelled. "He had his arm around you and you put your head on his shoulder, sweet as could be!"

You shook your head angrily. "He was comforting me because I am in love with a very stupid boy whom I thought was in love with High Queen Susan," you said in disgust.

"I have loved you since I was twelve, Caspian! I was crying because you spend all of your time with Susan and cannot even be bothered to speak to me, and you accuse me of being a faithless trollop for my pains? Well, fear no longer, for I do believe I am over my feelings for you!

"I cannot believe I have wasted so much of my life loving you. And you tell me now that there were feelings to toss aside, as you accuse me of currying favor with Peter because he has a higher rank? Well, congratulations on finally telling me you once cared for me while you essentially called me a whore," you sneered with anger and distaste. "But I suppose that is acceptable behavior for a King. I do hope it was worth it, Your Majesty." You gathered your skirts in hand and swept away from him and out of the library.

Caspian stood in stunned silence, unable to fathom the tremendous insult he had just given you out of jealousy and stupidity.

You loved him.

You loved him, and he had crushed that love under his boot heel for the sake of his cowardice and envy.

Caspian dropped to his knees, head in hands in grief and self-loathing.

He stayed like that for a few minutes, then got to his feet and steadied himself; he needed to figure out what to do.

You were in your bed chamber among the suite of rooms your family had in the castle. You were crying quietly lest you alert your parents of your fight with the King. Your Father had supported Caspian and even been thrown in a cell when Caspian had escaped; you did not wish to sow discord between them.

How could Caspian accuse you of such low behavior? And even if you were casting your nets for Peter, what business of Caspian's was it? He had never made any declarations, never even insinuated that he was interested in you romantically, or even politically. What about his behavior, either before or after he had run away, should have conveyed his intentions?

You were not wrong in this, and if it meant your exile from Court...well, perhaps you could do with a visit to your grandparents, at that.

You called your maid in and asked her to begin packing your things while you went to convince your parents that some time in the country would do you a world of good.

Caspian was more nervous than he had been even before his coronation. He was about to serve penance before attempting to apologize, but even though he had mentally prepared himself, his heart raced and he had broken into a cold sweat.

His hand shook when he raised it to knock.

The door opened quickly, thrown wide by Queen Lucy exuberantly, as she was with all things.

"Caspian!" she shrieked happily, leaping into his arms as if she hadn't seen him for months rather than the few hours since the morning meal.

Caspian hugged her back, always touched to be worthy of this kind soul's affection. "Hello, sweet one. And what have you been up to today?" he asked, trying to hide the true purpose of his visit from this angelic child.

It didn't work, of course. Lucy might be the youngest of the Pevensie family, but one must keep in mind that they had lived entire lives in the past; this adorable, chubby-cheeked little girl was over a millennium older than Caspian.

"What troubles you, Caspian?" she asked kindly, pulling him over to sit.

"I need to speak with Peter, actually," he said quietly. "Do you know where he is?"

"I believe he went to visit your future Queen," she said mischievously.

"Hush," Caspian said automatically. Lucy had divined his feelings for you while they were still hiding from Miraz and took every opportunity to discreetly tease him.

"Tell me what is wrong, Caspian. Are we not friends?"

He looked down at his boots. "I behaved very badly," he said, his voice a broken whisper. "I do not believe that I can undo this mess I have created. I think it rather more likely that her father or your brother will call me out."

Lucy sat up straight, concern drawing her features into an uncustomary frown. "What have you done that is so bad?"

Caspian took a deep breath and looked down into his hands that were clenched into fists in his lap. "I was almost mad with jealousy! I...I accused her of trying to ensnare Peter with her wiles so that she would have a High king rather than just a King. She took that to mean I was calling her a -- a person of low morals."

"Goodness," she breathed.

"Yes, and she was livid, as she absolutely should have been. I imagine she's told her father or Peter by now. I would not be surprised if one or both of them are sharpening swords as we speak," he said dully. "I am worthy of neither my crown nor her love. And I know that I should be more concerned over failing my country, but right now all I can feel is bereft at the loss of the girl I have always loved."

"This is bad, Caspian," Lucy whispered.

Edmund strolled into the room just then, so Caspian and Lucy stopped talking.

He looked at them and said, "Well, that wasn't suspicious at all! Were you talking about me?"

"No, Ed," Lucy said with a roll of her eyes. "I do have an errand I need to run, though. Be a good sport and keep Caspian company, would you?" she asked as she got to her feet.

"Lucy," Caspian began in a warning tone, getting to his feet as well. "Where are you going?"

"I say, Caspian, if she isn't safe here then she isn't safe anywhere," Edmund said jovially. "Fancy some exercise? You said you'd show me that move where you change hands with your sword while you spin away from your opponent."

"Excellent," said Lucy as if the matter was settled. "You two go and play." I have work to do.

Normally, Lucy would go to the library or the sitting room where the six of you could usually be found of an evening, but Caspian had confided that your row with him had taken place in the library, so she headed to your family's apartments, knocking politely.

The maid who opened the door immediately dropped into a deep curtsy, then led Lucy to the sitting room and scampered off to alert you of her presence and then to prepare a tea tray.

"Lucy," you said warmly. "I was not expecting you, what a lovely surprise."

Lucy pulled you into a hug. "Are you well?" she asked quietly.

"Of course!" you lied, knowing that your red eyes and runny nose told a different tale.

You both smiled politely while your maid brought in a tea tray. "Shall I pour, Miss, or would you rather I continue packing your things?"

Lucy raised her eyebrows at you wordlessly.

"I'll pour, thank you," you said quietly, avoiding Lucy's eyes by busying yourself with the tea and biscuits. "One lump, yes?"

"Yes, thank you," Lucy said politely, accepting the cup and taking a small sip. "And would you prefer to give Caspian one lump or two on his thick skull?"

You looked up quickly from your own tea, then nodded acceptance. "Of course he came to you," you said with a dry chuckle. "I am so very angry with him, Lucy."

"And it sounds like you have every right to be. What a complete idiot!"

Your eyes opened wide in surprise, for you would ever expect Lucy to try to broker peace and support Caspian. "Quite so," you agreed quietly, surprisedly.

"I cannot believe how cruel and selfish he was with you," Lucy went on. "I rushed straight over to see you. I know how much you loved him, it must have been such a disappointment to find out how wrong we all were about his character!" Lucy internally crossed her fingers, hoping that she was taking the correct tack with you and that attacking Caspian would lead you to defend him.

Your eyebrows furrowed at Lucy's words. "Perhaps that is not entirely accurate," you said hesitantly.

"How could we interpret his actions any other way? He besmirched both your honor and Peter's! Just because he says he was mad with jealousy," she said, emphasizing the 'mad with jealousy' bit in a disbelieving way yet loud enough that you could not possibly miss it.

"You do not think he was jealous?" you asked, insecurity showing in your expression so clearly that Lucy almost felt bad.

"Oh, yes, he was positively raving! Never seen a fellow so head over heels for a girl. But he's a King; just because he has always loved you and wants you to be his Queen, that doesn't mean that he can lose control of his emotions like that."

"But he is not just a King, Lucy! He is also a man. Of course he will make mistakes! We cannot burden him with expectations of perfection!" you defended him.

"Well, now that he has insulted you so greatly that you couldn't possibly forgive him, I'm afraid he'll be stuck with some political match and wind up in a cold, loveless marriage. He probably won't have anyone to allow him to be just Caspian; they will all expect the Perfect King Caspian at all times." She sighed sadly. "Unless he does something truly reckless and gets himself killed or abdicates."

"No, he will not," you said angrily as you surged to your feet. "Not if I have anything to say about it. Where is he?"

Lucy struggled to keep her smug satisfaction to herself. "I believe he is having Edmund pummel away some of his guilt in the training yard."

You turned away without another word, caring not at all whether Lucy accompanied you or not. Lucy did follow along, of course. She had orchestrated this peace, she was absolutely not going to miss it.

As you grew near the training yard, you heard the clanking of metal weapons clashing alongside the whomping sounds of wooden weapons being used for training.

When you arrived, it still took you by surprise that Caspian had recruited Narnians to work alongside Telmarines in the army as well as his personal guard. The training arena had been expanded to accommodate the increase in numbers of guards, not to mention the size of some of the newer members.

Of course Caspian would go out of his way to treat the Narnians with fairness and respect. He was simply a good man.

You found Caspian and Edmund on the far side of the arena, pounding away at each other with metal training swords and shields. You watched for a while, proud of how adept he was with a weapon. His movement was smooth and fluid and you found yourself watching him with the same dull expression as all of the other unwed girls lining the fence to watch the two handsome men train.

You were able to forget for a moment that you were angry with Caspian -- well, miffed, really. He had always been graceful and quick with his weapons, but he had been coltish still when he left. He had returned with broader shoulders and far more muscular. He had gained strength and reach and lost none of his quickness and agility. He was truly a formidable fighter and you were proud to think that perhaps if his apology was very very good, he just might still be your husband one day soon.

You giggled to think that you had even considered leaving his presence. It was ridiculous to think that now you knew he felt the same, why in the world would you go away? As close to Caspian as possible was where you wanted to be for the rest of your life, and after you had given him a suitable opportunity to grovel for forgiveness, you planned to inform him that there was a wedding to plan.

Caspian heard the melodious giggle that always made him smile and immediately looked around until he saw you, leaning against the fence and smiling dreamily. He certainly -- CLANG!!!

"Caspian!" you shrieked as you clambered over the fence and hurried over to his side. He was down on one knee, dented helmet off and laying in the dirt at his feet while he tried to shake the ringing out of his ears.

Edmund was livid. "I could have killed you, Caspian! How dare you take to the training field this distracted," he raged at Caspian before turning his wrath on you. "And you! Do you not know better than to distract a man while he trains? I've got a mind to turn you over my knee!"

Caspian surged to his feet, still a bit dizzy but not so woozy as to allow Edmund to berate you in front of half the inhabitants of the castle. "That is enough, Ed," he said quietly.

You reached Caspian and took his face in your hands. "Are you well, my love?" you whispered as you looked into his eyes, trying to see if his pupils were normal.

Caspian threw his gauntlets to the ground and covered your hands with his. "Did you just call me your love?" he whispered back.

"I did. You are," you said with a smile.

"Then I am more than well," he said with a grin that lasted only a moment. He took your hands in his and pulled them away from his face and dropped back to one knee. "I cannot begin to tell you how sorry I am, dearest. I was jealous and stupid and do not deserve you."

You tugged at his hands, trying to pull him to his feet. "I forgive you, of course! Now stand up, everyone is staring!"

"Not just yet, I have more business to conduct on one knee," he said with a happy smile.

You smiled back. "Oh, indeed? Checking soil quality? Collecting rents from worms?"

"Silly girl," he chided playfully. "No, I thought since I was already down here I would check to see if you had plans for the rest of your life?"

You pursed your lips and looked up as if giving his question deep consideration. "Hmmmm let me think," you hummed. "I suppose I could make time for the right activities."

Caspian grinned at your sass, then said earnestly, "You have been my best friend and favorite person for as long as I can recall. You have supported me, counselled me and comforted me over those years of friendship, and I am so grateful to you for that. As we grew up together, my feelings of platonic love for you grew and evolved into very, very romantic love. I would spend every day of my life with you, showing you how much I love and appreciate you. Will you do me the very great honor of being my wife and Narnia's Queen?"

You had felt yourself melt as Caspian spoke until you were amazed that you were able to remain upright. "I would be honored to be your wife, Caspian. It is all I have ever wanted. I love you so very much, my darling."

Caspian jumped to his feet and pulled you to him with a think against his armor, but you didn't mind at all. He whispered, "I love you," as he leaned down to gently kiss you.

You slid your hands up Caspian's chest to wrap them around his neck and kissed him again. When you broke apart and opened your eyes, Caspian's were still closed, but he had such a look of bliss on his face that you knew that this was right.

"Judging from the silly look on your face, perhaps we should have a healer evaluate your head before I hold you to your proposal?" you teased gently.

Caspian opened his eyes and smiled happily, overwhelmed with joy. "No, my love, I was just savoring the moment."

"Come. I still want you to see a doctor," you said, pulling him along. "Oh, and we must name our first daughter Lucy."

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#caspian x #prince caspian #king caspian #ben barnes #binbons 1k follower event

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isolemnlyswearpevensie · 4 years

Text

God Damn Smile | Edmund Pevensie x Reader

Warnings: Fluff :)

Time/Era: Modern AU

Word count: 3.7k

Summary: Edmund reconnects with his childhood best friend, and it makes old, forgotten feelings resurface.

Request: Hey! Can you write an Edmund x reader based on “A Typical Teenage Love Song” by Tate McRae? It’s fine if you can’t. Tsym in advance!

A/N: This song is so cute :D Ahhh, I love this imagine!!! I hope you enjoy! Let me know what you think! Thanks for the request :)

masterlist | read on ao3

“No! Don’t step on him!” Five year old Y/N L/N yelled at her friend, Edmund Pevensie. He had his foot raised above a small garden snail, right in the middle of a game of Godzilla. The pair were currently in Y/N’s back garden, playing amongst all the plants. Both children were dressed in brightly colored rain boots and their play clothes to enjoy the rainy weather.

“It’s just a snail,” Edmund responded, lowering his leg to the ground. Instead of squishing the garden creature, he kneeled down to the ground for a better look. It wasn’t anything special, just a normal garden snail, but it seemed to be rather important to his playmate.

“He is not just a snail! He is my friend.”

“If he’s your friend, what’s his name then?” Edmund let the small snail crawl up onto his finger before standing upright.

“Snaily,” Y/N responded, putting her hand out and throwing the teddy bear in her arms to the ground. Edmund placed Snaily on her palm and smiled a toothy smile. This made Y/N grin, putting her hand at eye level. “Thank you for not squashing him.”

“He’s my friend now, too. You don’t squash friends.”

Y/N nodded in agreement, “You don’t squash friends.”

“Do you remember being a baby?” Edmund asked Y/N. They were now eight and sitting on the Pevensie family swing set, avoiding the youngest Pevensie child, Lucy. Y/N adored Lucy, she thought the girl was adorable, but Edmund insisted the two have “big kid things” to attend to.

The swing set was old and rickety, as it had been in their family since Edmund’s older brother, Peter was a toddler. The colors were faded, the slide had a large crack in it and Edmund had written his and Y/N’s initials on one of the support beams. “No, am I supposed to?” Y/N answered. She had been last to reach the swings, so she was stuck with the squeaky one. Her face cringed each time the chains made a noise, despite her attempts to stay as still as possible. Y/N brought her hands to the teddy bear on her lap, covering its ears. Having been in the sun all afternoon, the swing was hot on her legs and it stuck uncomfortably to the skin on her thighs.

“I don’t think so. My parents were looking at our baby books this morning so I was wondering,”

“My mom has a picture of us when we were three hanging in our living room,” Y/N’s nose wrinkled and she kicked up a small patch of dirt. “We’ve been friends since we were babies. I don’t remember meeting you, though. You were just, there.”

Edmund laughed, standing so he could lean his stomach against the seat of the swing. He swung on his stomach once before situating back onto his feet. “Our fathers are friends which means we’re friends. That’s just the way the world works.”

“Friends forever, even if one of us moves far far far far away?”

“Friends forever, Y/N.”

“Do you have to go?” Ten-year-old Edmund stood outside of Y/N’s house, holding a box of barbies. Mr. L/N took the box from Ed’s hand and put it in the trunk of his car.

“It should only be for a few years at most, Ed. I’m getting relocated for work,” Mr. L/N responded, messing the young boy’s hair up with one hand. “We’ll be back. I gave your Dad our new address and you can write to Y/N to your heart’s content.”

When Y/N joined them at the car, backpack slung across her shoulder and her favorite teddybear hugged between her arms, tears were rolling down her face.

“I don’t want to go, please don’t make me!” She cried, holding to her teddy to her chest. Her face was scarlet and her mouth was etched into a frown.

“You can stay with us!” Edmund offered, his own tears starting to roll down his face. Y/N was more than just his playmate, she was his best friend. They had spent the last seven years of their life seeing eachother almost daily, and now all of that was going to come to a sudden halt.

“That’s sweet of you, buddy, but I think her mother and I would miss her too much,” Mr. L/N smiled down at the two before walking to the front of the car where his wife was talking to Helen Pevensie.

“I wish you didn’t have to go,” Edmund sniffled. “I’m going to miss you. I have no one to play on the swings with!”

“You can play with Lucy.” Edmund made a face at this suggestion, making Y/N sadly giggle. “Or Peter.”

“No, Lucy cries too much and Peter always kicks sand in my eyes.”

A thoughtful look came over Y/N’s face and she looked down at the plush in her arms. After a small moment of what looked like intense thought, she held her teddy out towards Edmund.

“Here, Ed, now you can have a friend!” Edmund hesitantly took the bear from Y/N’s hands and looked down at it. It was obvious Y/N really loved that thing because it was a bit raggedy and one of the brown button eyes was replaced with a bright green one. “Teddy likes it better here, anyway. You can take care of him.”

Y/N awkwardly gripped her upper arm with her hand, swaying on her heels. Edmund hugged it to him and nodded stiffly. “He’s in good hands. I will protect him with my life.”

Both kids laughed and embraced before Y/N was whisked into the car.

Dear Y/N,

Happy 12th birthday! I’m sad I couldn’t be there for it, but I hope your cake was yummy. The picture my mum showed me looked absolutely delicious. She also said you took up archery at your new school! My school doesn’t offer that, so I thought that was cool. Did you shoot anything? I know you are too nice to shoot any animals but I never know with you. ;) I hung out with this girl in my English class the other day, she reminded me of you. She had long brown hair and blue eyes and a laugh that sounds like yours. She wasn’t as fun as you, though. I think she wants me to be her boyfriend. I’m not sure if I want to be her boyfriend. She kept trying to hold my hand. Her hand was sweaty. And she kept saying I have a cute smile. I don’t know how a smile can be cute? Teeth are weird. Peter said that was her way of trying to flirt with me. Do you flirt with boys at your school? What do you say?

Maybe we can play Minecraft together again soon. Last time we played I had a great time. Have your mom text mine and we can try to schedule something. I want a phone, it would be easier to talk to you.

I attached a picture of me and Teddy at the park. He misses you almost as much as I do.

I’ll be waiting for your response,

Ed,

Thank you for the birthday wishes. :D The cake was delicious, I wish you could have tried it!!! And to answer your question, yes, but I’ve only ever shot targets. It’s against school rules to shoot anything other than them. Sort of a bummer, though.

Your not-girlfriend sounds nice. I agree with her, your smile is very nice. You always look so happy when you smile, especially when your eyes light up.

I don’t really flirt with boys, boys are kinda gross. Not you of course, but the guys at my school. There is this one guy named Ethan who is kinda cute. He wouldn’t want to be my boyfriend though. My friend always talks about kissing him. I want to kiss someone...have you ever kissed a girl?

My mum said I can get a phone when I turn 14. Then, we can text and call whenever we want! I miss you. How’s teddy? He looks so happy in that picture. I hung it on my bulletin board.

Respond quicker this time, will ya?

Y/N

EDMUND!!!

I’M HAVING A CRISIS AT THE RIPE OLD AGE OF 13! Remember that boy, Ethan? Well, apparently he has a big crush on me. That’s fine, he’s cute and everything, but my friend has a big crush on him. I guess it’s like friendship code to not date him? I feel bad rejecting him. I kinda have a crush on someone already. I know he doesn’t like me though.

Are you still dating that one girl? In your last letter, you said you were gonna break up with her. How’d that go? Did she cry? Did you cry? I hope you didn’t. I don’t like it when you cry. It makes me sad.

Can you believe we’re teenagers now? It seems like just yesterday I was handing you Teddy and crying in the car for an hour. I hope we come back soon. But hey! I’m almost 14, which means I’ll be getting a cell phone. Maybe if I have a phone my mum can convince yours to get you one.

I miss you, Ed. I hope to be back soon.

Y/N.

Y/N!!!!

I’m not sure if that really counts as a crisis, but okay. If you don’t like him, don’t date him. That’s why I broke up with mine. I discovered I kind of like someone else, so I broke up with her. And no, I didn’t cry. If felt like a relief more than anything. Let me know how the “crisis” turns out.

I can’t wait until I get a phone. My entire grade has one, and so do Susan and Peter. I feel kind of left out, having to write letters when I want to talk to someone. It’s always fun when I get them, though.

If I have to hear Stitches by Shawn Mendes one more time, my head is going to explode!!!! Susan keeps playing it on repeat. I tried to turn it off earlier and she almost broke my arm. Why are siblings so mean? Or are mine just weird? You’re lucky you’re an only child. I miss you too, Y/N. If you were here life would be so much easier.

Edmund

“Edmund, you got a letter,” Lucy says, dropping the envelope on his desk. He was working on college applications, typing away on his laptop, and looking grumpy. Music blasted through his speakers as he worked.

“I didn’t order anything?” He grunted in response, not taking his eyes off of the screen.

“It’s from the girl you’re basically in love with, I think. It has her name on it.” Edmund looked at the envelope with scrunched eyebrows. Sure enough, it had her name and address written on the front in her familiar handwriting. His heart rate sped up while he gently (and shakily) broke the paper seal. Why didn’t she just text him?

Hey, Edmund,

I know we haven’t talked since we were like 15 and I could have just texted you, but this seemed more nostalgic and romantic in a way. You know how I tend to romanticize everything.

Anyway, I wanted to let you know we’re moving back for Senior year, crazily enough. A few years my ass, huh? We’ll be back on the 14th, so get ready for chaos.

Seriously, I’m looking forward to seeing you outside of Instagram again. You don’t have to come see me if you don’t want to, I know it might be a bit awkward, but I’d really like it if you did. My address is 1014 Swanwhite Lane. Come stop by if you feel like it.

I do miss you. Judging by your social media, you’re doing well. I’m happy to hear that.

Hopefully, I’ll see you soon.

Y/N

“Oh my god, she’s coming back,” Edmund says, gripping the thin paper in between his thumb and middle finger. “What’s the date?”

Lucy pulled her phone out of her pocket and unlocked it, “The 28th. Why?”

“She got back the 14th! She’s been back for ages and I had no idea, oh my god!”

“Well, are you going to go see her? You lost your chance to sweep her off her feet by waiting for her to arrive.”

“Sweep her off her feet?” Lucy rolled her eyes and hit him with the rest of the family’s mail.

“Don’t play stupid. I’ve heard you and Peter talking.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” His eyes skimmed the letter again. Lucy snatched it from his fingers and hit him with it.

“Don’t know what I’m talking about? Really, Ed? The whole ‘I’ve been in love with her since I was 8 years old’ thing you told Pete? You don’t recall? Or the fact you have her post notifications on?” Lucy read the letter herself. “She wants to see you! Come on, this is your chance. You haven’t even looked at a girl since you were like 13.”

“I’ve been focusing on school. What’s wrong with that?”

“It’s a Friday night in the middle of August and you’re getting a head start on college applications. Ed, go see the girl.”

“Mum will never let me,” Lucy held up one finger and left the room. After about 5 minutes, she returned and held his coat out to him.

“She said to go have fun. Here, it might be chilly.” Edmund sighed and took his jacket. The corduroy felt soft under his fingers as he slid it on.

“You don’t have to be so pushy, Lu.”

Lucy smiled, “It’s only because I love you. Besides, if I didn’t push you, you wouldn’t go.”

Edmund sat on the curb across the street and looked up at Y/N’s house. It was well past 11 at this point and only one light in the house was on. Hopefully, it was Y/N’s.

He awkwardly thumbed through his contacts before pulling up Y/N’s. The last text was on his birthday, a simple two message conversation consisting of “Happy Birthday!” and “Thanks!”

Look outside

He watched nervously as his message went from delivered to read, but no typing bubble popped up. Edmund sighed and stood, shoving his phone into his jacket pocket and walking towards the house. Sure enough, the front door opened and a grown-up Y/N stepped out. She was still dressed, but her shoes were off and her hair was tied back. Edmund smiled at her mismatched socks, old habits die hard apparently.

“I thought you were never going to come and see me,” Her voice was like honey.

“I just got the letter today, so blame the postal service. Not me.” The two walked to the curb and sat down.

“Well, I’m glad you still came. I was expecting you to wimp out.”

“Wimp out?! Why would I do that?”

Y/N let out a forced chuckle and looked at the pavement. “Because you stopped answering my texts and calls.” She crossed her arms across her body and shivered. She was only wearing a short-sleeve shirt and a pair of pajama shorts. “But I get it, life gets in the way sometimes.”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to. Are you cold?” Without waiting for an answer, he shrugs off his jacket and drapes it across Y/N’s shoulders. It smelled like spearmint gum and pine.

Y/N let out a real chuckle this time. “Smooth, Ed. Very cheesy.”

“I will happily take it back.”

“Please don’t, this is the closest I’ve been to you in years.” Her fingers gripped the material and closed it around her torso. She scooted closer to him and laid her head on his shoulder. Edmund didn’t quite know what to do. “I missed you, Edmund. It’s so nice to see you again.”

“I missed you too. Your return is a few years late.” His chest vibrated with a snicker.

“I know, but I’m back now.” A moment of silence filled the air as the two tried to grow more comfortable in the familiar company.

“I used to dream about sitting with you like this, you know,” Edmund said before he could stop himself.

“You did?”

“Yeah, I used to picture us in all sorts of situations, but most of them were small things like this.”

“But not anymore?”

Edmund sighed, laying his head on top of hers. His hair tickled Y/N’s forehead. “I figured you moved on from me.”

“Moved on? What do you mean?”

“I mean, you have so many friends and a new life… and we stopped texting as often. I don’t know, I thought you, maybe, outgrew me.”

Y/N played with the zipper on Edmund’s jacket, making a small clicking noise fill the air. “I never outgrew you, Ed. In fact, a day didn’t go by that I didn’t wish I was here with you.”

“I don’t see why. You had so many friends and such an exciting life. I’m rather dull in comparison.”

“You’re definitely not dull. And it doesn’t matter how many friends it seems like I have, you’re the only one I consider a best friend. I should have reached out more, maybe I could have had a better year.”

Edmund shifted so he could wrap an arm around her waist. “Did you have a bad year?”

“Yeah, that’s sort of why we came back. But, I mean, I’m here with you, so everything has a bright side.”

Edmund grinned and tightened his grip. “That’s one of the things I love most about you. You can always see the positives in everything.” Y/N pulled back and looked at his face.

“I love it when you smile,” Y/N commented. “I could spend hours staring at that god damn smile.” Edmund’s cheeks reddened and his smile grew bigger.

“Why don’t you, then? Stay with me for hours, I mean.”

“I will if you let me, Pevensie.”

Edmund sniffed once.

“Did you ever end up dating that guy from your Chemistry class?” Edmund asks, studying the side of her face. His eyes scanned over her skin, admiring how soft it looked.

“No, I’ve been in love with someone else for quite some time.”

“What a lucky guy, then.” Edmund’s voice was only a bit louder than a mumble as he turned his head away from her.

“Yeah, I guess he is. I’ve known him since I was really young.”

“How’d you meet him?” Every word felt like a dagger into his stomach.

“I don’t remember, he was always just there. Our dads were friends so we were friends. That’s just how the world works.” Edmund took his hand off of Y/N and placed it in his lap.

“Oh, I see.”

“Yeah, he’s super cute. He’s really smart, too, but kinda oblivious.”

“Wow, he sounds great, Y/N. I’m so happy for you.” Each word sounded like he was choking them out. He stopped listening a few responses ago, but he still wanted to support her. No matter how hurt he felt, he was still her friend.

“He’s the best person I’ve ever met, if I’m being quite honest. He can be a bit of an ass though.”

“What’s his name?”

“You might know him,” Y/N tucked her hands into her sleeves before continuing. “His name is Edmund Pevensie.”

“Wow, what a cool- wait what?” Y/N giggled at the look on his face. His eyebrows were lifted and his mouth was open slightly.

“Yeah, I don’t know, maybe you’ve met him.”

“You’ve been in love with me?”

“Been and am, darling. God, when I got your text tonight my heart almost stopped.” Edmund was speechless, he couldn’t believe the girl he had been in love with for so long felt the same way. “Of course it’s okay if you don’t feel the same-”

“-No! I’m just shocked. I can’t believe this. I have loved you since we were little, I feel like I’m dreaming.” He couldn’t help but let the smile engulf his face, making his freckles stand out against his red cheeks. This was not what he was expecting when he had walked to her house.

“There’s that handsome smile I love to see.”

“So, you were waiting for me?”

“Just like you were waiting for me. Lucy texted me about six months ago about how you never show any interest when she tries to set you up with girls. Now is just our time, unless you aren’t going to show interest in me.”

“When did you get so sassy?” Edmund turned so he was facing her straight on.

“When did you get so flust-” She was cut off mid-word by his warm lips being pressed against hers. He tasted like licorice and mint, and Y/N instantly got intoxicated off of his lips. Both parties had dreamed about this moment for years, so now that it was happening, it left them both feeling light-headed. Edmund pulled back and smirked.

“Who’s the flustered one now?” He asks, hand cupping her cheek.

“Does this mean you’re finally mine?”

“Y/N, I’ve always been yours. Hell, I’ll always be yours.”

Edmund made a face as if he remembered something and reached into his backpack, “By the way, I’m not the only one who missed you.” He placed a very old teddy bear in his lover’s lap.

He had raggedy fur and one green eye.

#edmund pevensie #king edmund #king edmund the just #edmund pevensie x reader #edmund x reader #edmund pevensie fanfic #edmund pevensie fanfiction #the chronicles of narnia #the chronicles of narnia fanfic #the chronicles of narnia fanfiction #narnia #c.s. lewis #c. s. lewis #modern au #edmund #fluff

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minaminokyoko · 4 years

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Peace Talks Reactions

Hey, Dresden Fandom. You guys may or may not be knee deep in Peace Talks, but if you are, I welcome you to the below reactions, in handy dandy bullet form. I would love to discuss the book if you’re interested, whether you reblog with comments or shoot me a chat. I just finished the book, so all spoilers are below the Read More tag.

Woof. Well, at least it was something after six fucking years of waiting.

· So before Butcher’s giant hiatus, we had this first chapter of Peace Talks already and I have to say I still feel like I felt six years ago: I don’t really know where he’s going with Thomas becoming a father. In terms of what that will do for him as a character. For Harry, it’s different. Harry keeps it close to the chest with his decisions, willing to die for the greater good in an instant, and becoming a father made him have to be more careful and thoughtful in his actions to be sure he can be there for his baby girl. I’m not sure where Butcher is going with this for Thomas, but I guess we’ll see.

· I was pleased to find out Harry decided to stick with the protected apartment and is trying his best on Dad duty. Me gusta.

· Right, let’s get to the first big elephant in the room: Ebenezar. Oh my fucking God. I want to punch his fucking lights out. My friend and I have argued about his reaction to seeing Thomas at the apartment already. I know Eb has Harry by a thousand years or more in experience, but it pisses me off that Eb can’t be bothered to learn more about Thomas. Nope. Just skip straight to irrational anger. It was also disappointing to find out that Eb is not a part of Harry’s life as much as I thought he was in the past, so clearly he doesn’t understand how important Thomas is to him. I’m a bit miffed that Harry didn’t explain Thomas is his half-grandson to help him understand, but at the same time, Harry might be worried about what that revelation will do. Either way, it displays a massive lack of trust in Harry. To think Harry—who has survived all this fucking shit from the supernatural world so far—is just a pawn and he doesn’t know how incredibly dangerous the White Court is. Eb is downright disrespectful and insulting to his own grandson. I’m sorry, but I think he’s being an asshat in huge proportions by just thinking Harry is too stupid to know better and by not asking him why he feels loyal to Thomas.

· In that same vein, Eb’s whole thing about wanting Harry to leave Maggie somewhere can kiss my ass. I’m with Harry on this one. It’s not that I don’t trust the foster care system and I think anything negative about adoption, either. Maggie is a target because she’s a Dresden. That’s it. There is nothing she can ever do about it. She is the daughter of Harry Dresden, Captain fuckin’ Disaster of the supernatural world. There is no place she can go where she will be safe and Harry is honestly her best shot at being watched over and protected, but not only that, if she’s gonna be in danger her whole life, she might as well be loved and cared for by her father too. Harry brings up such a good point about feeling abandoned and rejected and how Eb’s “protection” jag didn’t work for Margaret either. I know he wants what’s best for her, but I agree that Maggie has a better chance of surviving at Harry’s side than somewhere else. Hell’s bells, that’s how this whole fucking thing started anyway. Susan’s bitch ass hid the kid and it didn’t work. Sheesh.

· And now the other elephant in the room: Murphy. I think part of me forgot how severe her injuries were. I had assumed months of PT and such would allow her to be mobile again, but then I read Chapter 5 and now I’m just angry and hurt. You don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone. You just don’t. I can’t help it. Murphy is my favorite, goddamn it. I’ve reread the books where she’s helping Harry the most because their dynamic is so phenomenal. They’re my OTP. She is one of the best written female characters I’ve ever known, so ripping her ability to be at Harry’s side away is so…2020. It’s just a nasty, horrible thing and it’s shot my excitement for this novel right in the foot. I didn’t realize how important it was to me that Murphy is Harry’s badass ace in the hole until I was told she’ll be lucky to walk again. I know things have to get worse for characters in order for them to grow, but fuck this so much. I am praying she gets a magical contract or healing or a wish or something so she’s back in action or I’m done.

· With that same elephant, fuck Jim Butcher for skipping over the foreplay at the end of Chapter 5. Yes, I said it. Fuck him. I know he thinks it’s funny to frustrate us, but this is an act of betrayal of the highest order. Why? Because I’ve waited TWENTY FUCKING YEARS for Harry and Murphy to go canon, and what does he do the first time we, the audience, get to see them in a relationship? Cut to curtains fluttering. Fuck you. We deserved that foreplay scene. No, I will NOT use my fucking imagination, pun intended. I just paid you $15 to use YOUR imagination, Jim. You spent fifteen books building up the trust, love, loyalty, and sexual tension of these two characters. That’s countless words and countless pages. And now that they’re FINALLY together, nope, skip it. Skip what should have been something intimate and powerfully emotional. Ha-ha-fucking-ha. I hope you step on a Lego barefoot. I will try to have faith that Butcher will give us what we want—a canon version of Chapter 14 of Skin Game—but if he doesn’t, I’m gonna lose my fucking mind.

· The thought of Mab and Lara Raith working together is utterly terrifying. No. Just no. Ugh, there are bad times ahead. I also thought it was kind of contrived that Lara is owed favors, which forces Harry to not be able to say no, and I think it’s a bit lazy on Jim’s part for this convenient block to be there and he can’t refuse the favors. It just felt like he didn’t want to put the energy into painting Harry into a corner this time, so here, a convenient favor. That being said, I cackled when Mab called him a bowl of porridge. That was legitimately hilarious. What a bitch.

· Mm, Harry just called Murphy his girlfriend. I’ve waited twenty years for that alone. *happy sigh*

· Oh, great. Someone sent Thomas to assassinate someone. I’m betting blackmail, whether he admits to it or not.

· LOL @ Harry’s cursing policy with Maggie.

· Harry. Don’t. Make. Promises. EVER.

· I would not be the least bit surprised if this assassination attempt is Mab’s idea to cut off all of Harry’s allies but her so he will have no choice but to use her protection more often. Mab is a cold fuckin’ piece. Pun intended.

· Harry, for real, do not square up with Ebenezar. You are a wolf, for sure, but that man is a werewolf by comparison.

· I’m getting real tired of Ebenezar’s anti-vampire schtick. I get it. They’re bad. Now shut up.

· This is so unfortunate: I’ve been missing Lara Raith just because she’s a hoot but with this whole favor thing and Harry and Murphy being fitted for chastity belts, I’m more tired than anything else.

· Oh, neat, one of Gard’s sisters!

· Of course Lara knows about Thomas being Ebenezar’s grandson. It’s Lara.

· Oh, good, I’m sure whatever deal Harry just made with Molly isn’t stupid or reckless.

· Yes, Sanya is a VERY weird man. That is an understatement, Butters.

· Aha. I had a hunch it was River Shoulders and not the Genoskwa.

· And oh good, the Genoskwa’s not dead. Yay. I hate you, Butcher.

· Now there is a good tidbit of story for the series: that the reason everything is accelerating into bad news is we’re about to hit that 666 year mark that people are talking about, where the even worse shit hits. We’ve had small clues about Harry being starborn and this helps provide context for the shit that happens to him. I hope it’s not a Chosen One scenario, but it does explain why he’s been in so many scrapes and why he’s made it out of them so far. However, I tend to dislike destiny in most stories. It can get tedious. We’ll see what’s in store.

· Ugh, and there it is, but I already knew Lara was gonna make poor Harry break Thomas out from the book trailer anyhow. Sigh.

· Murphy calling the White Council useless is a fuckin’ mood and a half. I swear, they ain’t nothing but useless since these books first started. Harry hit the nail on the head earlier with Carlos and the Wardens, that they spend a lot of time talking at Harry but not listening. That’s been their entire M.O. from the start. They don’t listen to anything he has to say; they just insist they know better and that he should fall in line, not caring about what he has on said line, which is very often innocent lives. I love the hypocrisy of them preaching to him about making cold, rational decisions when it’s not their asses who have to deal with the consequences. Yes, there is fallout from what Harry does, but the opposition is always there and it doesn’t act solely based on what Harry Dresden does. I really fucking hate the Council at this point.

· So we get a second of tender kissing in the tub and an “I love you” and then Butcher cuts away again. I am so over it. I don’t have enough energy to put towards how angry he’s making me right now and he doesn’t deserve it anyway. I cannot believe he spent all this time building this relationship up and then makes it canon and won’t touch it. Fuck you.

· Murphy immediately spotting all three of Harry’s tails is life. God, I love my bad bitch.

· I do like that Harry has been practicing his Veils. That’s smart. It also shows character development and wisdom that he’s recognizing how much more useful stealth is and that even though it’s hard for him, it’s worth the effort to learn. Good book boyfriend.

· It’s still Murphy, bitch. Injured or not. My queen is a queen. Try her if you want, Freydis.

· PFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFT MURPHY YOU POOR CATHOLIC DARLING COME HERE. That pass was hilariously unexpected in a book that hasn’t been all that funny so far. Thanks, Jim. That got a whole bunch of cackling out of me.

· “I like your brother.” I just clapped and squealed. I mean, duh, of course Murphy likes Thomas, but this pleases me greatly to hear her say it aloud. Murph is tough and doesn’t like to say stuff like that out loud usually. I’m delighted.

· For all my complaints, I appreciate Butcher bringing Murphy in to help Harry plan everything. She’s hella smart and experienced in matters where you need to get someone out without being all guns a-blazing. And it is an apology for her being benched halfway thru Skin Game, imo.

· Oh, shit. Harry doesn’t know Molly’s the one who attacked Carlos. Ugh. I bet this is gonna explode in someone’s face.

· And Harry just fucked up the rest of his friendship with Carlos, not know Molly already did the same thing. Greeeeeeeeeeeeeeat.

· “You just went from a three to a six.” Jesus Christ, immortals are so savage, I swear. I laughed, tho. That was mean as hell.

· I’m dying that Freydis wants a threesome with Harry and Murphy. I mean, who can blame her? Fuck, I want a threesome with Harry and Murphy, if I’m being totally honest here. The thirst is so fucking real.

· Finally, someone made a joke about Harry and Murphy getting together.

· Ah, this IS what I missed about Lara, though—she loves to fuck with Harry for the lolz and nothing other than the lolz. I mean, he’s such a peach. I would do the same thing.

· Also, Jim, for God’s sake, make up your mind about vampires getting burned! I don’t get it. Thomas can touch Harry, and Harry is and always has been loved, so when do vampires get burned and when do they not? We’ve seen Harry touch Lara even when Susan was still alive and remember the kiss in White Night? MAKE UP YOUR GODDAMN MIND. I had a debate about this with another fan because it’s so goddamn inconsistent! If anyone being loved by anyone else burns them, then that would mean the entire world would be in the know about White Court vampires because they’d get burnt left and right touching people who are loved. I thought it only happens if they try to feed, not just touching each other. I think Jim needs to pay better attention to his own lore or finally spit out an explanation. We’ll see if he does later with that whole kiss thing from the book trailer, I guess. Argh! *Yosemite Sam curses*

· I’m really starting to hate Harry’s condition and the fact that he didn’t stop to ask Eb what it is or how to stop it. Ugh.

· Oh, good, and now everyone will think Harry and Lara are a couple. Convenient. Like they don’t already have constant trust issues. I’m sure Eb won’t block a gasket or anything.

· Oh, yay, a Malcolm Dresden flashback! This is a delightful surprise. Like a lot of the fanbase, we’ve always wanted to know more about him. He seemed like a good man.

· Yay! Vadderung to the rescue!

· Okay, I do NOT like Murphy being alone with a starving Thomas and Lara. Not one little bit.

· Ah, so the goddess Ethniu gets introduced in this book. That’s why Peace Talks got split and then Battle Ground popped out as the next book.

· “You’re out of the White Council if you do this.” FUCK YOU, EBENEZAR. Jesus Christ, fuck you. All the Council has EVER done is use and abuse Harry Dresden. They have constantly blamed him for everything or forced him to fight their goddamn battles. You can shove it right up your old crusty ass for all I care. I am sick to death of this belief that they are just so righteous and trustworthy and good when they’re self-important douchebags who think that people are ants and can’t be bothered to protect them unless it directly benefits the Council.

· I think I’m angriest because up until this point, Ebenezar has been mostly reasonable and it feels inorganic that Jim pushed him this hard. It’s just kind of exhausting because it feels like the plot needs Eb to lose his shit instead of it being something natural. I won’t be shocked if we find out he’s been compromised somehow, but I guess I’ll have to find out myself.

· Murphy is right on the money. We thought we knew Eb, but we REALLY don’t. And that sucks. A lot. Especially since Harry has barely any family at all.

· I can honestly tell why this book took Jim six years to write. It’s awful stagnant. It’s the exact same reason that the first draft of Of Fury and Fangs kicked my ass. I wrote the story in the first draft incorrectly, in a way, because all the characters were passive for the most part, and the other half of the problem was that I got halfway through this book and thought up an idea for a better book, but in order for the better book to happen, there were too many things I couldn’t ignore in this one, so I still had to finish it and make it good. Peace Talks, to me, feels like it’s obligatory to set up the next book, and maybe that’s why it feels lackluster to me. It’s a transitional book, which isn’t a bad thing, but it’s definitely in the bottom five of the entire series. Transitional books aren’t bad, but they aren’t good either. Most authors know that this tends to happen if you write a trilogy. All the really big, important shit tends to happen in the first and third book if you’re not careful. In this case, yeah, there’s stuff happening, but it’s largely passive. It’s kind of like why back in 2010 people were so hard on Iron Man 2—it spent all this time setting up shit for the MCU, which in the long run is a good thing, but that makes it weak when it tries to stand on its own.

As it stands, Peace Talks is mediocre. Jim took way too many shortcuts. It felt rushed, ironically enough, because he was so busy moving pieces around to set up for Battle Ground that Peace Talks doesn’t really stand out as interesting or likable like the other books. I really understand why he got stuck and couldn’t write on it for six years. My two biggest beefs here are him pushing Ebenezar into the antagonist role and him completely fucking bailing on the Harry/Murphy relationship after sixteen books of waiting. I mean, yeah, fine, because everything in this book is just set up for Battle Ground, maybe then we’ll get more acknowledgment of the romance and the importance of the relationship, but as it stands, I’m dissatisfied with both aspects. This is part of why we didn’t want a hiatus. If you make us wait this long, inevitably, the result is not going to be up to par. There are VERY few things we as people have waited forever for that ended up living up to our expectations. I almost feel like all the fan theories and fanfiction was a better, more creative result than what actually happened in Peace Talks. That’s harsh, I know, but I’ve been reading the fan generated stuff for six years and that’s just how I feel.

This is a mediocre novel that’s placing a LOT of weight on what’s to come, which is dangerous from a quality standpoint. It could be a lot worse. I was expecting a disaster. Instead, I got a disappointment. I can live with it, but only if Battle Ground makes up for it. If it doesn’t, then we’re all in a world of hurt.

I’ll take maybe a week or so and then consider if I want to do an actual review or not. We’ll see how I feel once I digest everything and talk it out with friends.

Overall Grade: 3 out of 5 stars

#Peace Talks #Jim Butcher #The Dresden Files #Dresden Files #Harry Dresden #Karrin Murphy #Thomas Raith #Ebenezar McCoy #Lara Raith #spoilers #spoiler alert #live reading #reactions #reaction post

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smileyjaeminies · 4 years

Text

In times of war

Synopsis: As captain of the archers, you try your best to defend your country in time of war. Your closeness with the Prince and his first ever battle come to sway your concentration on the battlefield.

Word Count: 6, 8 k

Genre: Narnia au!, Prince Minho! Au, angst

Warnings: Fighting, war, curse words here and there

Member: Minho, ft. Changbin, Jisung and Hyunjin

A/N: This work is quite dear to me, for Narnia formed my whole childhood. I really hope you can enjoy this as much as I enjoyed writing it!

UPDATE: In times of war now has a sequel!! Click here to check it out!!

You took your last steps, climbing the hill of the overlook as the sky assumed one of your favourite colours, a beautiful magenta you couldn't tear your eyes off of. Indeed, Narnia was a gifted land, with skies more beautiful and stars more bright than any other. You greeted the guard, exchanging a few pleasantries before taking your assigned position. The other guard took off, making for a pub or back at the camp to rest.

The silence engulfed you completely as you kept watch over the valley. Your thoughts drifted away as the world beneath you slowly fell asleep. It had been almost a year of fighting and now and you begun to feel the heavy weight of war over your heart.

From a very young age, you had loved being athletic. From fighting with your brother, to running in the fields, you had tried everything your parents could offer you. However, you found your true passion in the form of a bow and arrow, a gift for your seventeenth birthday. You trained and trained, learning and improving with each passing day. You never thought it would be a skill you'd use at war.

One day you were hunting in the Shuddering Woods, a forest near your home. You were trailing a doe, certain you'd be able to catch it this time. Your bow and arrow were ready at your hands, your feet light upon the leaves as to not make any sound. The doe was still; the kill seemed almost easy to you as you lifted your bow, taking a deep breath and taking your aim. You were startled to hear hooves on the ground and raised voices coming closer and closer.

By the time you let your arrow fly it was too late, the doe was already off. You used words your mother would be horrified to hear coming from your mouth and made your way to the raised voices.

"I suppose you consider yourselves very clever indeed" you said, leaning on a tree as five men on horseback made their way to you.

"And what would you know about it?" one of them challenged you.

"Well, you just scared off my family's dinner with the awful ruckus you were making" you answered, standing straight in front of his horse.

"Oh really? I supposed that bow and arrow were your brothers'. What are you doing with that, little girl? You are going to get yourself hurt." he mocked you.

Without a moment's hesitation, you drew your bow to your face, aiming exactly over the man's heart.

"Want to bet?" you challenged him.

"The kid's got nerve!" one of the other men said.

"What were you hunting anyway?" another one said.

"A deer." you answered, not taking your eyes off of the man you were aiming at.

"Let me cut you a deal then. If you bring me that deer, I'll take you in in my unit." he said effortlessly.

"How do I know you're telling the truth?" you asked, tearing your eyes off your target but without lowering your weapon.

"I'm going to give you this" he said, offering you a horn. "You can tell the guards it's mine and they will lead you straight to me."

You hesitated only for a moment. Fighting was not something you loved, despite the fact that you were good at killing. You hesitated to use your skills opposite other humans. Maybe you wouldn't even catch the deer. Maybe you'd go back empty- handed.

You lowered your weapon, taking the horn from the man’s hands.

"Who do I ask for?" you asked.

"General Ravenseer" he said.

You simply nodded, turning to shoot another harsh look at the man that taunted you. You turned on your heel, getting lost inside the safety of the trees.

"You really going to take her in?" you heard someone ask.

"No way can that girl catch a deer." the General answered him, all the men breaking into laughter.

"Sure, laugh now, you won't be able to do it for much longer" you thought.

It took you three days to find another doe and this time you wouldn't let her go anywhere. You chased it around and around, and finally you were able to take the kill. Carrying a 60kg deer back home was no easy task, but you managed. You skinned it, and with the help of your mother smoked its meat, placing it into two large baskets.

You then took some time to think. Think about how your life would change depending on your decision. Think about how you would feel about yourself, if you could bear the burden. You thought and thought, your head aching and spinning. Overall, your will to serve your country and to be a proud Daughter of Narnia overpowered everything else. You thought upon Queens Susan and Lucy of the legends, both truly brave and strong. They stood as equals next to their brothers, fighting and serving their country at the best of their abilities.

The very next day, equipped with the two baskets and the General's hunting horn, you made your way to the castle. It was a long journey to Cair Paravel, but you were determined to arrive in two days. When you finally reached the gates, you asked to be led to the General and by showing his horn you were granted access. The General was stunned to see you walk through the door, easily placing the two baskets along with his horn in front of him.

He seemed to truly take you in for the first time, weighing your odds. You returned his look, determined to serve and make Narnia proud. And that's what you did. Working tirelessly next to other soldiers, it didn't take long for you to start climbing through the ranks.

You took a look at your shoulder, the Captain's badge embedded onto your uniform. You were proud of yourself, you had made it. Even when war came upon your peaceful kingdom, you didn't cower, instead rushing to battle.

Your thoughts drifted to your first battle, the crying and screaming, the sounds of metal on metal. Your General screaming at you and your comrades to load, draw, loose again and again, until your hands were bleeding and your back aching.

You brushed away the thoughts, shaking your head to be cleared of them. You turned your attention back to the valley where a shadow had just started to move. Your eyesight was not as strong in the moonlight, but you readied your weapon as you saw the figure move. It was carrying something? Someone? You readied your shot, just as it stopped moving.

The figure made the mannequin it was carrying stand, fake hand outstretched and stepped back. He moved, hitting the mannequin again and again, circling around it only to hit it again from behind. You lowered your bow, standing back. Just another soldier trying hopelessly to prepare himself for battle.

"Just like the prince" your mind added before you could stop yourself.

And just when the thought came to your mind, you turned to look at the soldier once again. He was still dancing around the mannequin, hitting it from any angle he could. You took a closer look, as close as the moonlight could grant you and it became clear; your Prince was before you. It was unmistakable, you reprimanded yourself, the line of his shoulders, the way he set his jaw, his moves and technique all screamed of Prince Minho.

Your mind rushed back to the day you first met the Prince. You were about to complete your training and finally be able to leave the grounds. You were seerving a night watch, the cold seeping through your light armour despite the fire that burned right next to you. Your mind wished to trail away, to remember of days filled with sunlight and laughter back at your parents’ house. You willed yourself to stay alert and do your job.

Not long after, your ears picked up the faint sound of footsteps coming your way. Unsheathing your longsword, you turned to the stranger, pointing the edge of your sword to his neck.

“Who goes there? What is your business, up and about in the small hours of the night?” you asked.

The stranger weighed you in, his eyes darting from your face to your sword, to your eyes. He stayed silent, watching you.

“So? Answer me!” you said abruptly.

“One would think that he’d be free to walk his own castle as he pleases.” He stated simply, smirking.

You were frozen in place, everything becoming clear. The Prince was before you and you tried to arrest him like some kind of criminal. You dropped your sword to the ground, bowing before him.

“My Prince, I have made a grave mistake. Please forgive my folly, I was merely trying to do my job” you tried explaining.

“That is no way for a lady to bow. You should curtsey before your Prince.” He said.

Anger pulsed through your veins, heat rushing to make your cheeks hot. You took a deep breath, trying to calm yourself down before answering.

“But it is the way a soldier should bow before their Prince. I am no less a soldier of your guard and of your armies than any other man in this castle, your Highness.”

“What is your name, girl?” the Prince asked, grabbing your chin and making you face him.

“Y/N, if it pleases your Highness.” You answered, meeting his eyes.

“Y/N, I am glad to have soldiers like you in my guard. Thank you for your service.” He said.

You gasped then and gasped again at the memory. The honor of someone in the Royal Family saying those words to you was immense.

“Thank you, my Prince. I am always at your service.” You managed, bowing again.

The Prince only nodded, smiling at you.

“Until we meet again, Y/N” he said, moving away from you.

And from that moment on, you saw Prince Minho everywhere. Where you had barely seen him a couple of times from afar, for the next months until your discharge he would turn up everywhere you went.

He wouldn’t shy away from talking to you either, going as far as to offer you tea on one occasion. You tried to keep your distance as much as you could without offering him any offence, but the Prince seemed set on befriending you.

You were horrified to see him in the training field one day, the General beside him. You walked up to a post not too close to them, but before you could get ready, the General beckoned you over. While walking there your mind didn’t fail to notice the Prince, his hair now pushed back away from his face and a loose white tunic falling around his frame. The gear he was wearing made him look more sophisticated and grown up, despite his young face.

“Captain! I knew you’d turn up eventually!” the General said.

“Always do sir, we all need our training.” You answered him.

“Yes, yes, that’s true. Captain Y/N, this is Prince Minho, I doubt you’ve met formally before-” the General was saying.

“Oh, we’ve met. I told you when I asked for her, General” the Prince cut him off, a smirk falling on his lips.

Your cheeks turned crimson with anger and shame. How dare he ask for you, as if you were a new piece of furniture he wanted? And how dare he talk like that in front of your General, a man you looked up to and owed your whole career to? You said nothing, stood there and waited for further instructions and it killed you.

Prince Minho didn’t fail to notice the difference in your stance, but had to quickly turn his attention to the General.

“Yes I suppose all our paths cross around the castle” the General tried to cover up. “But, as I was saying, Y/N, you will have the great honor of mentoring our Prince in the art of archery.” He announced.

You stood frozen while your mind was overwhelmed with a whirlwind of emotions.

“M-Me, sir?” was all you managed, as the Prince smiled down at you.

“Well you are the most talented archer I’ve seen in years and Prince Minho is Narnia’s future. We can as for nothing than the best, right Captain?” the General turned to question you.

“Of course sir. You will not be disappointed.” You said at last.

After a few more words and a promise to check up on the Prince’s progress regularly, you were left alone with the Prince. None of you spoke for a few minutes as your eyes scored the grounds and his were trained on your face.

“Are you cross with me?” he asked and you were surprised by how small his voice was.

“No, your Highness, I would never.” You answered him.

“Please drop the formalities, Y/N. Also, I need not remind you I have five sisters and a very loving Mother. I know what an angry woman looks like.” He said.

“Come here” you told him, drawing him closer to you. “You see that woman over there, gathering weeds? That’s one of your Mother’s spies. And that man down there, planting the flowers? That’s the General’s. The boy that is carrying that sack? That’s from your friends in Archenland. Every single move you make is being watched. You should be wary of every choice you make both inside and outside your castle. Do you understand now?” you asked.

“Yes. Yes I do understand.” The Prince said.

After that day, your training with the Prince was peaceful. You took pride in the progress he had made and how the General thanked you for your good work.

You saw none of that now. The Prince was breathless, beating the poor doll like a savage. That’s why you hated one on one battles. You found the bow and arrow much more delicate and artful.

Another memory popped in your mind, of a day you tried your best to forget. It had been a month before, while you were dispatched back to Cair Paravel as part of the King’s guard. One day, as you were going back to the barracks to rest, you found the Prince’s close companion, Jisung, sitting on the steps.

“Captain! Finally you’re back!” he exclaimed upon setting eyes on you.

“Jisung, what brings you here?” you asked him.

“I have urgent word from the Prince. He wants to see you at once.” He told you.

“Let’s get going then!” you answered, quickly going up to the castle.

Jisung led you through parts of the castle you’d never seen before, walking quickly and without talking. He ushered you through a door to what you could only guess were the Prince’s chambers. The room was in shreds. Parts of the bedding had fallen on the floor, torn, pieces of glass and porcelain were everywhere and before the window stood Prince Minho, breathless, cheeks burning, sweat dripping from his hair.

“Y/N…” he says, and his eyes dart to Jisung. “Get out.” he says, burning eyes on him and Jisung almost trips over his own legs in his effort to do his Prince’s bidding.

“Your Highness… what did you do?” you ask Minho.

“Y/N…” He says again making his way to you.

You take note of his hands, which are filled with blood. The knuckles are red and irritated, the skin has broken open and the palms are bleeding, with tiny bits of glass embedded inside. You ask Jisung, who is standing right outside the door, for some water and a cloth, a salve for cuts and gauze.

In the meantime, you try to have Minho sit down. He tells you bits and pieces of what had happened and you listen without speaking. In an effort to keep yourself busy, you close the open windows and do your best to gather the broken pieces in a single corner on the floor. Jisung rashes back with a basinet filled with water and a cloth like you asked him, only to disappear immediately.

“I-” the Prince starts, but you cut him right off.

“Let’s get you cleaned up first. This is going to sting.” You warn him and he nods.

You slowly brush the wet cloth on his hands, trying to get rid of the excess blood. After that, you start picking out the glass shards. The Prince stays quiet, biting his lip bloody and hissing here and there. After treating both his hands with the salve and wrapping them up with clean gauze, you finally take one good look at him.

You only see a person torn. His eyes are still bloodshot from crying, his hair is as messy as you’ve ever seen it. You let the silence engulf you for a few more moments before he speaks up, voice low.

"I can’t stand it anymore, Y/N. Changbin is out there, fighting my battle. My father is always close to the battlefield. Even you, you’re fighting and I sit here waiting for any of you to come back. No more. I can’t just sit in here while my people are giving up their lives. I have to fight"

"You don’t get it, do you? Prince Changbin is third in line! He might never see Archenland’s throne! You are our future. No one will ever be you. Narnia is nothing without you. You are a selfish boy, who knows nothing about battles. You've never struck a foe and I hope you'll never have to." You answer him, exasperated.

That fight went on and on in circles, as the whole castle heard your raised voices. You stormed out of the Princes chambers some time in the small hours of the night, tears streaming down your face because he would just not listen.

Though you tried to hide it and often failed to admit it even to yourself, you were fond of the Prince. You would always find your mind trailing to him, your eyes would follow him without your knowledge and your mind would note the tiniest details of his features and face.

As you looked at him from the overlook, you knew, and had known for quite some time that you should put your feelings for the Prince aside. But the heart reigns over the mind and as much as your mind was telling you no, was not enough.

When he guard for the next watch arrived, you rushed back to the camp. You had barely walked in when Jisung approached you out of the blue.

“Captain, I-” he started.

“I know he’s here. You can tell His Highness I’ll be with him shortly.” You told the boy before he had the chance to speak to you.

You did your best to clean yourself up, tying your hair back on a loose ponytail. You found your way around easily through the darkness. Your previous wins had allowed you to stay at the same place for quite some time now, but the soldiers were getting tired and grumpy.

Fighting was not easy and as much as you won, the losses you had were immense. The war seemed to go on indefinitely and what had begun as a small murmur was now in every conversation. The arrival of the Prince seemed to quiet things down, but for how much longer?

Lost in your thoughts, you allowed yourself in the Prince’s tent, only to let out a small yelp. Before you, stood Prince Minho, shirtless, wearing only a loose pair of trousers. He seemed surprised at your sudden entrance as well, fumbling over a chest of clothes.

“Your Highness, I am terribly sorry” you mustered, facing the wall of the tent, giving him some privacy.

“I should’ve expected that” you heard him mumble and you chuckled lightly.

His shadow danced on the wall of the tent, still looking for a shirt in the big chest. An array of profanities left the prince’s mouth as you still looked directly to the wall. You saw his shadow pulling a shirt on his frame and tried to calm your racing heart down.

You were too preoccupied to notice the Prince walking up to you, raising a hand to touch your face. You jumped at the contact, but that did not faze him as he brought up a second hand, cupping your face in his hands. He stared into your eyes and you tried to do the same, but the intensity of his look forced you to look down.

“You just had to do it, didn’t you?” you whispered.

“You know I have to be here.” He answered.

“No. No you don’t.” you said.

You moved to turn away, move out into the camp and back in your small tent. The others would be moving soon, you should be resting. Before you could move though, a strong grip on your arm pulled you back.

“Please. Please stay” the Prince asked in a small voice.

“I can’t” you tried to tell him.

“Then your Prince commands you. Stay.” He said, his voice not small anymore, but sure and steady.

You turned to face him, trying to erase every emotion from your face. You didn’t know if you succeeded or not, but the Prince led you further inside and sat you down on a couch.

Silence enveloped you as you did your best to sit straight, look straight and breathe evenly. The Prince’s eyes burned the side of your face as his hand held yours tightly, tracing shapes on the back of your palm.

“What is it like? War?” he asked finally.

You tried to take a deep breath and gather your thoughts before answering him.

“It’s nothing like training. It’s messy. And dirty and loud. I don’t know how it is one on one but I suspect it’s even worse. It’s… A nightmare.” You answered truthfully.

The Prince nodded, but you knew he wouldn’t understand. No one understands until they fight.

“Why do you do it? Why don’t you run away? Go someplace safe?” he asks again.

“If war is here, soon it will spread everywhere. Narnia is as much my country as it is yours, your Highness. I’ll fight for it until my last breath.” You replied.

The silence was deafening as the Prince took in your words. Suddenly, the entrance of the tent opened and Prince Changbin emerged, holding a bottle of wine and exclaiming Prince Minho’s name. You jumped, stepping away from the Prince as he looked at his friend.

Prince Changbin looked from you to the Prince several times before asking “Bad timing?”

Prince Minho laughed loudly, getting up to greet his friend.

“No, not at all, dear friend” he said, hugging the other Prince.

“About time you joined us! I was beginning to think you a coward” Prince Changbin said.

“No, no such thing. Only the loving fear of a Prince first in line” Prince Minho answered him.

“Well, at the eve of your first battle, I come bearing gifts!” Prince Changbin announced.

“I do not think that would be wise, friend” Prince Minho says, pointing at the wine.

“You were always the wise one, were you not, Minho?” he asked.

“I think you’ll have to excuse me, your Highness” you spoke up.

Prince Minho turned to look at you. You knew he couldn’t speak up while Changbin was there, so you moved to the entrance of the tent.

“Yes, yes, thank you for your service or whatever.” Prince Changbin dismissed you.

That was all you needed. You walked away, back into the clear air of the night and found your way to your tent. Not bothering to change, you laid under your blankets.

Before you fell asleep, you sent a prayer to Aslan to keep the Prince safe in the battle to come and not to let him drink that night.

After what felt like mere minutes, the sound of raised voices woke you up from your slumber. You woke up dipped in sweat and breathless from another nightmare. You had dreamt of standing in one of the balconies on Cair Paravel, facing the sea. Prince Minho was beside you, talking to you, only you couldn’t hear a thing. You couldn’t speak either, your tongue stuck to the roof of your mouth.

You shook your head, shaking the thoughts of your dream away with it as well. You got up, getting ready for battle. Gathering your equipment, you moved quickly through the constant flow of other soldiers to find your unit. It took a long time for everyone to move accordingly, taking their places for battle.

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The archers were placed on the same overlook she had been at the previous day, looking down at the valley, only the view was wildly different. The serene, quiet picture she recalled was filled with people that morning. The metal from the soldier’s armour blinded them as they moved, the huge crowd making her anxious.

Before long, the others were standing opposite Narnia’s armies. They came from behind the trees, taking their own place on the chessboard the valley had transformed into. The General shouted out for the archers to load and keep steady. Everyone was holding their breaths, waiting for someone on either side to make the first move.

A man on horseback from the others started to move forward, the man everyone knew started the war, the selfish King, along with a Minotaur. Narnia’s side answered, sending forth Prince Minho with one of the Centaurs. The short discussion of those moments was filled with anger and resentment from each side.

Simultaneously, two voices whispered their quick prayer to Aslan. They prayed for safety and grace, of an upcoming victory and concentration and most importantly, to save the others’ life over theirs.

And within a few minutes, the battle had begun and mayhem had ensued. The cries of commands being given rung in everyone’s ears as she did her best to stay focused. Bringing down enemy after enemy, the metallic smell of blood filled the air. With effort, she spotted him, from her place up and away with the other archers, watched as he moved elegantly here and there. He was an avenging angel, a coursing river, fire spreading in a forest.

Nothing, not all the training in the world could have prepared him for the thrill of battle. He struck at foe after foe, never quite certain he did anything but push them back. Adrenaline cursed through his veins as he had no time to think, just act, his instincts taking over.

And as quickly as it had started; it was over. The others were pushed back onto the tree line and Narnians remained victorious. A deal for ceasefire was struck and time was given to each side to gather their losses and tend to their wounded.

During the battle, the archers had been forced to move downward, so her way back to the camp was quick. She longed to lie down, every bone in her body screaming for her to rest. She moved quickly, bee-lining to her tent, brushing off the soldiers shouting and drinking the horror of battle away.

Safe as ever, she buried herself under the safety of her blanket. Closing her eyes, she thanked Aslan for his blessing as sleep enveloped her, guiding her to a blissful oblivion.

His story was wildly different. He laid on the ground, hearing different voices shouting over his head. A familiar face finally appeared and relief washed over him. If Jisung was there, everything was bound to be okay. The only sound to come out of his mouth was her name, low and repeated like a prayer. Then, there was darkness.

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Your sleep was restless once again, with nightmares plaguing your dreams for yet another night. You twisted and turned under your covers, dreaming of a vast darkness surrounding you, the Prince shouting your name from afar. You were confused, unable to understand where the sound was coming from. You were woken up by the raised voices of men outside the tent.

“I can’t go in there!” one voice said.

“Well, someone has to!” the other argued.

You allowed the fight to go on, slowly getting on your feet and pulling on your boots. You opened your tent to find the two boys still going at it. They jumped at your appearance, both awkwardly looking back at you.

“Jisung.” You greeted the boy. “And Hyunjin. What brings you here?” you asked calmly.

The two boys started talking at the same time, then turned to stare at each other for interrupting. You saw Hyunjin was about to snap, so you took action, stepping in.

“Jisung? Talk to me.” You said.

“Captain, I am terribly sorry for this, this fellow-” Jisung started but Hyunjin interrupted.

“Captain, I barely did anything, this one-” Hyunjin countered.

“BOYS. Enough.” You shouted, both of them immediately snapping their mouths shut.

“Jisung. What’s up?” you asked again.

“Captain, the Prince…” He hesitated.

You shot him a hard stare, urging him to go on.

“He was injured. During the battle” He announced finally.

“How is he?” you asked, trying to mask your feelings. You hoped the crazy pace of your heart was not heard by the boys in front of you.

“Much better. The healer was with him, he said he’ll be just fine, thank Aslan.” The boy said.

You released a breath you didn’t know you had been holding and fought to compose yourself.

“Okay.” You said, trying to keep a straight face. You moved to turn to Hyunjin, but Jisung stopped you. “He was asking for you.”

“Fine. Just give me a second alone with Hyunjin” you told him and he walked a few feet away, giving you some privacy.

“Hyunjin. Is everything alright?” you asked.

Hyunjin was a greenie. He had only turned up a few months prior, but aced his training, giving himself a one way ticket to the front of the line, with you. A precious relationship had blossomed between you, for he reminded you so much of your brother, who you had lost in one of the first battles.

“Y/N…” Hyunjin said, dropping the formalities, “I’ll be okay, you’ve been summoned, you have to go.” He told you.

“Are you sure?” you asked, placing a hand on his shoulder.

The boy just nodded, giving your hand a reassuring squeeze and pushing it off of him. He then turned on his heel, off to only Aslan knew where.

You took a few seconds to compose yourself before turning to follow Jisung’s lead to the Prince’s tent. Your mind whirled with questions and emotions in the short walk. What had happened? Jisung said he was okay, but how hurt was he? Was he in a lot of pain?

Arriving at the Prince’s tent, Jisung gave you a curt nod, leaving you alone. You let yourself in, finding a bright fire burning inside, making your cheeks flare up. You saw the outline of the Prince’s body laying quietly on the bed. Walking closer, you saw his black hair spread unevenly upon the pillow, eyes shut tight and mouth hanging slightly open.

You moved his covers a little, careful not to disturb his sleep. Looking inside, you discovered the Prince was shirtless, layers upon layers of bandages covering his torso, some of them already bleeding through. You laid the covers back down, watching the Prince wince when they made contact with his skin.

Making an effort to keep quiet, you drew a chair next to him. You watched his chest rise and fall in an even rhythm, mesmerizing you and allowing your thoughts to roam free. You had been staring for a while, so you noticed the Prince taking a few deep breaths. Slowly and with visible effort, he opened his eyes, which landed on you.

He gave you a small smile, closing his eyes again for a few seconds before opening them again, only to find you looking back at him.

“Y/N?” he asked, his voice hoarse.

“I’m right here, your Highness” you told him.

“I thought you were a dream” he confessed.

“No, your Highness, I’m here” you said, smiling at him.

“Can you stay?” he asked, his voice faltering.

“Of course. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.” You told him.

“Neither would I” the Prince told you, giving you another weak smile before sleep overtook him again.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

The injury the Prince had sustained was not too serious. With rest and quiet, he was able to have a speedy recovery. Meanwhile, the King and ambassadors worked tirelessly to strike a peace with the others.

And there you were; in Cair Paravel’s Great Hall, feasting upon your victory. Peace. It seemed unbelievable to you that the war was finally over. You sat at the table with the other lower officers, at the back of the hall. You drank and sang with them, ate and talked, all the while feeling two eyes burning through the side of your head.

At the other end of the hall sat the King and his family, ambassadors and officers surrounding them. Although it was not too far away, it felt like a lifetime separated you from them. That day was the Prince’s first appearance since the battle. He looked well, strong and there was nothing else you could’ve asked for.

As the feast reached its climax, the officers around you started passing out, with some even being gently carried away. Before long, the smoke from their pipes caused your mind to become hazy and the loud music ringed in your ears as the dryads were dancing in the middle of the hall.

The combination of scents and sounds made you sensitive, so you excused yourself, making your way outside to take a breath of fresh air. Your feet carried you around the castle you knew so well, leading you to one of the lower balconies.

Your mind noted how similar the view was to the one from your dream. You marveled at the beautiful view of the ocean and sky meeting at the end of the horizon. Looking down, you saw the soldiers were having their own feast next to the castle. You looked at the fires burning bright, fawns dancing around them to the sounds of flute and lyre.

“Are you looking for something?” a voice asked you, making you jump.

You turned around to meet the Prince’s eyes only a step away from you.

“No, your Highness. I just needed some air” you answered him.

“So we’re back to square one?” he asked you again, making no effort to mask his frustration.

“I don’t understand-” you began, trying to make an excuse, but he cut you off.

“You know perfectly well what I’m talking about, Y/N.” he told you sternly.

You did know what he was talking about. The day after the battle, the Princess Sophia arrived at the camp to tend to her wounded brother. She found you in his tent, helping the Prince with his breakfast. A huge fight ensued between brother and sister about your place, making you hear insults you that stayed imprented in your memory.

After that, you retreated into the back of the camp. Jisung would come to summon you again and again, but every time you made up some excuse. Hyunjin was very curious, but respected your privacy and didn’t press you for an explanation.

You hadn’t seen the Prince since that morning. And now, he was looking back at you with those dark eyes of his, seeing inside your soul. He was dressed formally for the occasion, his dress shirt tightly fitting his body, dark trousers on his legs. Your hands longed to touch him, to reach for him and keep him close. But that was unacceptable and it would never happen again.

“Your Highness, you forget my place.” You tried to explain.

“You think I care? You think I care what people will think? What they say? You think I care about my sister, or my Mother and Father? No, Y/N. All I care about, all I’ve ever cared about, is you.” He said passionately.

He took a step closer, raising a hand to reach for you. Without thinking, you took a step back, your back hitting the railing of the balcony. Emotions flashed in his eyes one after the other, so quick you could barely tell them apart, as his hands dropped to his sides. Your eyes filled with tears as you turned back around to look at the sea in an attempt to conceal them.

“You think I don’t know that? You think I don’t care about you? You think I’ve spent all these years next to you without loving you? No, my Prince, that is not the case.” You told him.

He came to stand next to you, placing his hand on top of yours. You tried not to flinch as a steady fire started burning where his skin touched yours.

“Then why-” he began, but it was your turn to cut him off.

“Why don’t I accept my feelings? Because they are entirely wrong. You and I both know it, no matter how much we hate to admit it, even to ourselves. Even if you say you don’t care about other people, that is not true and we both know it. You are the Prince of Narnia, first in line for the throne and your Princess will one day be Queen. I can never be Queen.” You said.

“Why would I or my people want a silly rich girl for our Queen? You’ve fought valiantly for Narnia, you’ve given back as much as you could. There is no man or woman that loves their country as much as you. I don’t see why you would be unfit to rule.” He countered.

“I love Narnia. Which is why I must leave it.” You announced.

You heard the Prince gasp, you felt him move next to you, but you couldn’t bear to look at him. You kept your eyes trained to the distance, to the soft waves and to the clouds, running around the sky.

“You’re leaving? When? Why?” he asked.

“Next month. I’ll be the Master of Archery for the Princes of Archenland.” You answered him.

“Next month… But, Y/N you can’t leave Narnia. This is your home, this is your place.” He told you.

“Don’t you realize I have to? Soon enough, this land’s finest Ladies will come paying visits hoping to earn your favour. And I’ll have to watch from the sidelines as you fall for someone new, someone that can and will stand next to you for the years to come.” You said.

Your cheeks were burning and new tears were filling your eyes. This time, you made no effort to conceal them, letting them make their way down your face.

“Oh, Y/N” the Prince said, cupping your face.

You let him. You had nothing left to lose. You melted into his touch as he looked into your eyes. He crashed you onto his chest and you wrapped your hands around him, holding onto him with everything you had.

“Y/N, Y/N, my Y/N” he whispered, squeezing you in his arms.

You let him pepper sweet kisses at your hairline, on your cheeks, on your eyes, at the tip of your nose. When his lips finally found yours, you felt your heart soar. Thoughts died in your mind as every thought was overwhelmed but him, him, only him.

You broke away first, gasping for air. You kept close, your foreheads touching. If you moved an inch his mouth would be on yours again. The mere thought had your head spin in circles. You took deep breaths, making an effort to keep your head straight.

“I seem to always be asking for you to stay. I will try once more. Stay” he whispered.

“I can’t” you said, your voice breaking.

“Give me tonight then. Just tonight. You’ll be mine, and I’ll be yours.” He pleaded, running a hand through your hair.

You met his eyes, trying to find the right answer in them. You were shocked to find such despair and urgency. You knew that the right thing to do was disappear. But when he held you like this, looked at you like this…

You nodded your head, knowing your words would fail you. He pressed another sweet kiss on your mouth, then took your hand to lead you back inside the castle.

You took one last look at him, the true love of your life, before disappearing the next morning. Even if you were never going to see him again, that night would stay in your mind and your heart forever.

#narnia #chronicles of narnia #narnia au #minho #lee minho #lee know #angst #minho prince #prince au #minho angst #stray kids #skz #stray kids angst #skz angst #skz lee minho #skz lee know #alex #alex writes #minho x reader

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raywritesthings · 4 years

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Happy Accident 3/3

My Writing Fandom: Arrow Characters: Oliver Queen, Laurel Lance, Thea Queen, Susan Brayden, Adrian Chase, Susan Williams, Quentin Lance, Talia al Ghul, Curtis Holt, Rene Ramirez, Rory Regan Pairing: Laurel Lance/Oliver Queen Summary: Felicity’s punch has consequences no one intended, driving Oliver to take drastic measures with their own unexpected result. *Can be read on AO3, link in bio*

Laurel didn’t know what to think upon stepping through yet another strange portal into their base to find a couple strangers standing there. She’d heard the others mention recruits, of course, but it seemed odd not finding her teammates there waiting for them. At least, not both her old teammates.

Thea stood from a chair at the computer monitors, arms crossing as she eyed Laurel with a mix of mistrust and pain. “Rene and Rory filled me in. So, any sudden, overpowering need to kill a person yet?”

“Aside from your usual moods,” one of the men added. Laurel cringed; Iris had told her that a number of the others’ Earth-2 doppelgangers had also been criminals, but she did not love being judged as one herself.

“Where’s Felicity?” The other man asked.

“Felicity is taking a leave of absence,” Oliver answered simply, which Laurel thought was probably for the best rather than getting into details. She was still shocked it had even happened. “And we’ll be monitoring the situation with Laurel to see if the Lotus is necessary and if we can acquire more of it.”

The first man raised his eyebrows. “I thought the plan was bring her back, lock her in a cell.”

“Well, considering I haven’t even been read my charges let alone my rights, I’m not sure I agree with that plan,” Laurel decided to interject. “There’s also the fact that I’m not really who you think I am. When Ollie tried to bring back my doppelganger, it didn’t work, but somehow he found my soul and brought me back instead.”

“And you are…?” The second of the two men asked.

Oliver stepped up beside her and laid a hand at the small of her back. “Rory, Rene, I’d like you to meet the Dinah Laurel Lance original to Earth-1, the Black Canary and someone very important to me.”

The one she could guess was named Rory gave a start; Rene looked skeptical; but in that moment, Laurel really only had eyes for Thea, who gasped and swayed a half-step forward before catching herself.

“You’re really…?”

Laurel nodded, a smile growing on her face as Thea rushed forward.

Before her friend’s arms could circle round her however, Rene called out. “Wait a minute. Hoss, how do we know she isn’t just playing you again?”

“I mean, the Flash team thinks it’s her, so if she’s not that’s gonna be awkward,” Curtis remarked finally. “I mean, I only met Laurel — the real Laurel — once. I only met her doppelganger once, too, so that doesn’t help much, I guess. But if I had to say which one this Laurel reminds me of more, it’s probably the real one. I think?”

“Thanks, Curtis,” Oliver said, not doing much to disguise how insincerely that was meant. “Laurel - this Laurel - knows things that only the version I knew would really be aware of. Cisco tested that for himself as well.”

“Maybe people would feel better with one more test?” Rory suggested.

“I’ve got something,” Thea said. She turned to Laurel and asked, “What did I tell you about Alex compared to Roy?”

It took Laurel a moment to recall, but she nearly laughed when she did. “That you’d be surprised who uses more tongue?” Beside her, Ollie pulled a disgusted face.

“It’s you,” Thea declared, then practically squealed as she launched herself into Laurel’s arms. Laurel grinned from ear to ear as she hugged her friend back just as tightly. This, in some ways, truly felt like a homecoming.

Thea pulled back abruptly, her eyes darting from Laurel to Oliver and back again. “But this is — I mean you guys — did you tell her?”

“Tell me what?” Laurel asked, looking back at Oliver who had gone a remarkable pink color.

“One thing at a time,” he said. “First thing’s first; Thea, I’m gonna need your help drafting a proposal.”

“Okay. To City Council?”

“To the President of the United States.”

More than a few jaws dropped, and Laurel waited for Oliver to break or otherwise indicate he was joking. Yet apparently he wasn’t.

As it turned out, only the previous month Oliver’s team, Barry’s team and Sara and her crew had all repelled an alien invasion — because of course there were aliens — along with a different alien from a totally separate world and had been declared heroes by the President. Who had been the Vice President, last thing Laurel knew.

Ollie’s plan was to use that goodwill from their Commander in Chief to parlay some kind of deal for Laurel to receive immunity against being prosecuted. It wasn’t a terrible idea, all things considered, except for one small problem.

“This might just cover me for everything I did as Black Canary in the past, but it’s not going to hold up for anything I continue to do.”

Oliver looked at her. “What do you mean?”

“I mean when I go back out in the field with you guys. I’m going back out there,” she added before he could even start. To her annoyance, the Queen siblings shared an uneasy look. “I understand that what happened last spring was traumatic. It was for me, too. But I am not going to let some kind of fear from what Darhk did to me make me waste my second shot at life.”

“We know,” Thea said. “We just — it’s been hard without you. I haven’t even been going out in the field much. Things were rough.”

Laurel rubbed Thea’s shoulder with one hand. “I’m sorry, and I’m glad you’re giving yourself some space to figure things out. But I don’t need time off. In fact, I’m pretty sure you need as many hands on deck as possible,” she added to Oliver, “considering Felicity is taking time off and John also doesn’t seem to be around.”

Oliver and Thea both looked down. “John’s in prison.”

“What?”

“He was framed by a superior officer,” Thea said. “Cause he went back for a fourth tour. Like I said, things were rough.”

Laurel couldn’t believe what she was hearing. John couldn’t be sitting in prison; he had a family to take care of, a daughter to watch grow up. “Can we get him pardoned with me?”

“I have a friend working on his case,” Oliver told her. “That’s the best hope we have for him right now.”

Privately, Laurel made a note to review said case and said friend’s handling of it so far, but there wasn’t much else she could say now without knowing all the facts. She’d have to see John as soon as she was allowed to walk about without risk of ending up the block above or below him.

All too soon, Laurel found herself standing in one of Oliver’s beta sites in front of a large screen that currently displayed the president’s seal. Oliver stood beside her dressed in his Green Arrow uniform.

The screen finally changed, showing President Brayden sitting at her desk in the Oval Office. “Green Arrow, Miss Lance.”

“Madame President,” Oliver said. “Thank you for agreeing to meet with us in this manner.”

“I’ll admit, there was some debate on my part as to whether I should insist on a meeting face-to-face. This is a very sensitive matter. But why don’t you explain from the beginning what happened to you back in April, Miss Lance?”

Laurel nodded, taking a deep breath as she recalled the story they had practiced. She didn’t relish getting to lie to the president, but all of them had agreed that the less world governments knew about the Lazarus Pits, the better. “Last April, I was taken from the hospital by men working for Damien Darhk. I guess they must have substituted some kind of fake body or something for me to make everyone think I had died. According to them, since I had lived, he wasn’t done punishing my father for betraying him. But I guess Darhk was killed before he could make good on his promise

“I was moved from place to place. They didn’t seem to know what they were going to do with me, and there wasn’t a good window of escape for a long time. I wasn’t tortured, but they would starve me or leave me without water for periods of time, and I was still recovering from my injuries.

“What allowed me to finally escape was me discovering my metahuman abilities.”

“And these are?”

She’d been expecting that question; she and Oliver had agreed it was best to be forthcoming about this development so it didn’t look like she’d been concealing something on purpose from the Commander in Chief. “I can produce screams at loud enough frequencies that the sound waves are visible and can physically impact a target. I’d offer to demonstrate, but I imagine that wouldn’t be very good for your speakers.”

“No, probably not,” Brayden agreed wryly. “And upon escaping, you returned to your city and your team.”

“Yes, Madame President,” Oliver confirmed. “We were unbelievably grateful to have Laurel back with us. But we’re afraid to lose her again.”

“Green Arrow and the others wanted me to ask you for a pardon,” Laurel said. “But if I was granted one, it wouldn’t allow me to continue to operate as Black Canary.”

“And that’s something you wish to do.”

“Yes. Being the Black Canary is a part of me, and it’s the best way I know how to help people.” Laurel shrugged. “As much as I have loved being a lawyer, I know there’s no practice or District Attorney’s office that would take a publicly known vigilante. A lot of other jobs would be leery of it, too. That’s why I have a proposal.”

President Brayden steepled her hands together and leaned a little closer towards the camera. “I’m listening.”

“I understand that last month you gave an address commending my fellow heroes. You see the need for what we do, but I imagine there are some in Washington who don’t like the idea of trusting us blindly.” Laurel laid a hand over her chest. “With my identity known, I could act as a liaison of sorts between my team and your administration. I’m accountable to both sides since everyone knows who I am.”

Brayden thought for a few moments. “That would be a tremendous responsibility for you to take on, answering for any of the actions your fellows take.”

“It would be my honor to represent each and every one of them, Madame President,” Laurel said. Okay, so she didn’t actually know Rene or Rory or even Curtis all that well, let alone most of the people Sara traveled with. But Laurel trusted Oliver and Sara’s judgement in who they would choose to fight alongside them.

“And we would be honored to have Laurel representing us,” Oliver added. “Not one of us is going to take the trust she, you or the greater public have placed in us for granted.”

“Let me say that this arrangement is an attractive idea,” Brayden finally said. “But I will need time to discuss it with my advisors. You can expect a call from me as to my final decision within two days, Black Canary. Thank you for your time.” With that, the president signed off.

“I think that went well?” Laurel said, turning to Oliver.

“I’m inclined to agree. No matter what happens, though, we’ll handle it,” Oliver told her.

A week of negotiations ensued. All the details of Laurel’s new appointment had to be worked out; how and when and to which agency or body Laurel would be reporting to, what she was expected to disclose and what infringed on the other’s expectations of privacy. She remained down in the beta site the entire time, visits from Thea or Oliver with food and reminders to sleep breaking up the monotony of video calls and working out, testing the limits of the body she had woken up in. She really was going to have to send a blood sample to Caitlin for analysis; whether it was the meta gene or something about Earth 2, she felt stronger and more durable than ever, and part of her was itching to get out into a real fight to see for herself.

She took a round trip on a private plane to sign the final documents in D.C., shaking hands with President Brayden immediately after doing so while Secret Service members stood incredibly close. She supposed a metahuman would present a highly unique risk to the life of their charge.

“I’m hopeful that this is the start of a beautiful partnership, Laurel,” the president told her as the White House cameraman snapped their picture for the next morning’s press release. Laurel would not be attending since she would be in a special closed court session back home getting her death overturned.

“I’m hoping with you, Madame President.”

It was still early evening when she arrived back in Starling even though a whole day had passed for her. “I’m exhausted, and I miss a real bed,” she admitted to Oliver, who had been waiting just outside the tarmac to pick her up. She was sure once she had fallen into the cot in the beta site she wouldn’t care what she was sleeping on, but right now with her freedom very nearly secured, she longed for those kind of simple comforts.

“Why don’t you come back with me instead?” He asked.

Laurel stilled for a moment, then gave a quiet, “Okay.”

She was still so confused about what was going on with Oliver. She had wanted to chalk up his happiness, the frequent touching and the near-constant praise to just the newness of her being back, but it had been nearly two weeks and there was no sign of it slowing. Then there was the sort of excited buzzing about Thea seemed to do whenever Oliver so much as entered the same room as Laurel. Laurel recognized the behavior from Thea’s childhood; she had a secret, and she wanted to tell it. If she hadn’t been so busy working out the details of her new life as a publicly sanctioned vigilante, Laurel would have demanded her friend just tell her already.

Stranger still was the continued lack of Felicity’s presence and Oliver’s continued lack of seeming to care about that. Laurel had honestly thought the couple would have made up by now and resumed their lives together, yet her resurrection had seen them further apart than ever. She didn’t have the whole story yet; Laurel knew something had happened to a man named Billy who Felicity had obviously cared for, and there also appeared to be tension surrounding the way Felicity and Oliver had been clashing on leading the team’s new recruits, but Laurel would have thought Oliver would be devastated to be experiencing even more troubles with the love of his life. What exactly was she missing here?

All these thoughts were running through her mind as Oliver parked the car in the garage attached to his new home as the Mayor of Star City. He came around to lead her up through the house and to what looked to be an unused guest bedroom. Laurel bid him goodnight and climbed beneath the covers, letting herself succumb to sleep. Tomorrow was going to be an extremely important day, and Laurel wanted to be prepared for it.

She woke up to Oliver’s soft knock on her door the next morning, a breakfast tray in his hands. Laurel smiled and combed some of her hair back from her face. “Breakfast in bed? Careful, I might not want to go back to my apartment.”

“Well, I wouldn’t mind the company,” he replied, his eyes soft once again as he gazed at her. Laurel took a bite of her eggs so she wouldn’t be expected to reply. “I also thought you might like to call your dad before the big announcement from the president this morning.” He took out his phone and a piece of paper, setting both down on the edge of her bed. “That’s the number to the rehab facility.”

“Thank you, Ollie. For everything. Really, it’s kind of impossible to sum up how much I owe you for all this.”

Oliver shook his head. “You don’t owe me a thing. It’s what you deserve from me.”

She was speechless again. Laurel looked down, taking up the paper and fiddling with it.

“I’ll let you make that call,” Oliver said, backing out of the room.

Laurel willed the heat rising up her neck and into her cheeks back down as she tapped each number in its sequence. She waited as it rang twice before a woman with a pleasantly calm voice answered. “Evergreen Care Center, how can I help you today?”

“Hi, my father is staying at your facility right now, and I was hoping to speak to him. Quentin Lance?”

“Date of birth?”

Laurel gave it, followed by his phone number and the last four digits of his social. She’d memorized such information years ago after her mother had left them and Laurel had realized she would be his designated representative in any emergency situation.

“Let’s see here. Oh, yes, we do have Quentin with us. I’ll see if he’s up to a phone call this morning,” the woman replied, and Laurel felt her heart sink lower in her chest. She should have called sooner. “One moment, please.”

Laurel waited as she was put on hold, her fingers drumming on the bedspread a counterpoint to the soothing music that played. Eventually it cut out, and her father’s voice — tired to her ears — came on the line.

“Sara? You’re back in town?”

Laurel’s lips pressed together for a moment before she answered, “I’m not Sara, daddy.”

She heard a sharp gasp, then a thump that had her worried, but her dad asked, “Laurel?”

“Mm-hm. I’m alive. Ollie — it’s complicated — but Ollie found out about another Pit, and I’m okay now.”

“Oh, God. Oh, thank God. You — I’ve missed you so much, missed your voice, baby. Where are you?”

“I’m in the city. Listen, I’m going to get myself declared alive again today, and I’ll come visit. Please don’t check out of this place, dad. If you need it, you need it. I want you to get the help you need.”

“I needed you, honey,” he argued. “This stuff, this was just to keep me going. But I’ll be fine with you back, I promise.”

“When does the program end?” She asked.

“Nother two weeks,” was his grudging reply.

“Then just do the two weeks. I’ll still be here. I want you to learn how to do this without me or Sara, because you know we lead crazy lives. Anything could happen.”

“Hey, you just said you’re still gonna be there.”

“I know.” There was a knock on her doorframe, and Laurel looked up. Thea was standing there with a suit bag that was probably holding her court clothes. “I need to get ready for my appointment. We’ll talk about this when I come see you, okay? I love you.”

“I love you too, honey. I never said it enough, before, but I- you’re my world, Laurel.”

She swallowed down the lump in her throat and said, “I’ll see you soon, dad.” Laurel drew in a breath as she hung up and let it out before getting up and facing Thea. “Okay. Shower?”

“Bathroom’s down the hall to the left,” Thea told her.

Laurel took a quick one, realizing belatedly that she had left the suit bag with Thea in her temporary room. She pinned her hair up and wrapped a towel around herself, hoping to sneak down the hall unnoticed. But as she drew up towards the guest bedroom door, she heard voices.

“I can’t believe you still haven’t told her,” Thea complained.

“It’s not exactly something that comes up in a normal conversation,” Oliver replied.

“Yeah, but how you feel at least? Ollie, you have a real chance to be happy, and I don’t want to see you walk away from that because you think you’re unworthy or something like that.”

As much as Laurel desperately wanted to know what Oliver’s response to that would be, she was hearing a conversation that was clearly meant to be private. She was also in danger of running late if she didn’t get dressed soon, not to mention that she was starting to get a little cold out in the hall with nothing but a towel on.

So Laurel pushed the door open the full way. “If I can have the room for a few minutes?”

The Queen siblings looked her way, but only Oliver sucked in a sharp breath. His eyes unmistakably flicked up and down her body for a moment, and Laurel flushed with heat a second time that morning at the way he licked his lips.

Thea crossed between them, but it wasn’t until she called, “Ollie, coming?” that either of them seemed to snap out of it.

“Right. Uh, sorry.”

Laurel backed up to give him room as he practically fled out into the hall, and she thought she caught Thea smirking as her younger friend shut the door. Laurel fanned her face with one hand as she grabbed her clothes to finally change.

Her day in court was short-lived considering all she was being required to do was appear in person and give the judge the written version of the statement she had delivered to the president, signed by both herself and Brayden. Judge Moore reviewed the document before adding her own signature.

“Welcome back to the land of the living, Miss Lance.”

Laurel smirked. Moore couldn’t know how literally that statement applied to her case. “Thank you, judge.”

She was shepherded into the car around the side of the courthouse. “Brayden’s press conference just finished up,” Thea told her. “You’re officially the world’s first publically-sanctioned hero. You ready for a gig in PR?”

“I guess we’ll find out tonight,” Laurel answered. Oliver had scheduled a gala for tonight, ostensibly to check in with some of the higher-society constituents, but really to serve as Laurel’s reintroduction to Star City. It was strange how fast everything seemed to move now that she was alive again. And she was so, so glad for it. Her life had always been messy and complicated and confusing. She hadn’t known what to do with all that peace.

---

Adrian Chase had a problem. And he hadn’t planned for problems.

Everything he had worked for these last five years, every piece he had put in place, had ensured that Oliver was walking right down the path he had designed for him without even knowing it, all the while thinking he had a fighting chance. There simply weren’t room for mistakes.

But one had apparently been made, and as the morning news told him, it all came down to Dinah Laurel Lance.

Adrian had been satisfied overall with the Black Siren’s performance and the effect she had worked on Oliver and his team, the trauma that having to fight a woman that looked like their departed friend had brought on. Even if he had had to remind the woman of her place now and then, she had always been meant as more of a blunt instrument than anything. Something to let out and play for a while before she was rounded up by ARGUS’ agents.

At least, that was what Adrian had assumed had happened to her. That had been his first mistake.

Next had been not trying harder to learn why Oliver had taken a sudden trip out of the country or why he had come back looking as though he were walking on clouds. Strange, considering that his spying had informed him that Felicity Smoak was no longer going to the Green Arrow’s base of operations. If Oliver’s team had truly splintered so badly, what could he be happy about?

In his guise as DA, he had had no luck getting his ‘friend’ to open up to him about it, or the impromptu press conference and gala he had scheduled two weeks after his strange behavior had begun. All Oliver had said was, “You’ll see.”

And he was seeing it now. He was seeing her right on his television screen.

“President Brayden, surprising the nation and perhaps the world this morning with a stunning revelation — Star City’s own Dinah Laurel Lance is alive and well. In a written statement, Miss Lance explains that she was taken captive by men associated with the late terrorist Damien Darhk and managed to escape only last month. Lance was famously exposed by her friend Mayor Oliver Queen as the vigilante known as the Black Canary. In the president’s release, she indicated that not only will charges not be brought against Black Canary, but instead Miss Lance will be taking on the role of official liaison between the Capitol and the growing roster of masked men and women we have seen take place over the years. We at Channel 52 say welcome back, Miss Lance, and Star City should be happy to know their Canary has flown home.”

He wanted to break something. How dare that woman? Who did she think she was, turning her back on him after he had rescued her from the Flash’s pipeline and running into Oliver’s arms? What sort of game was she playing?

Since he was on the guest list for Oliver’s gala tonight, he intended to find out. After all, he was pretty sure who the guest of honor was going to be.

Sure enough, that night Adrian stood in a crowd that applauded as Oliver led who everyone thought was their miraculously returned hero up to a podium with her arm looped through his. His eyes practically shined as he let Laurel go and stood just off to the side to give her the floor.

“Thank you,” she began, a picture of grace and humility. She had perfected her act in the weeks since Adrian had seen her last, and he would be hard-pressed to tell the difference now between her and the original. He could acknowledge a guise well done.

“I’m thankful and relieved to be able to stand here in front of you all tonight and be welcomed back to my home. I can’t wait to get back to work making this city the best that it can be, and I hope you all feel the same.

“I’ve been doing everything I can to catch up on what I missed while I was gone. One of those things is the significant damage done to the Glades district last spring, a section of our city which has already suffered too much over the years. There is a donation plate available tonight to help fund the relief efforts Oliver and his administration have put in place. Please consider giving if you are able.

“That’s all I really have to say at this time. I’d rather speak to you all personally. I ask that the questions about my captivity be limited. It’s not exactly a period of my life that I want to dwell on.”

Adrian fought down a smirk at that. Clever, he had to give her that.

“Thank you.” Laurel Lance stepped back from the podium and rejoined Oliver as the two made their way out to the floor to speak with groups of people here and there. They made a fine couple, which begged the question: what had she told Oliver? How had she convinced him to go along with this? Adrian had clearly underestimated the power even a shadow of the woman Oliver had lost last year would have over him.

Eventually, the pair of them made their way around the room to where he stood. “Laurel, this is Adrian Chase, my DA.”

“Well, it’s good to meet you.” There was not a hint of recognition in her features. Did she hope that here, in public, they were trapped into playing their roles, that he wouldn’t be able to get the truth out of her?

For now, he smiled politely. “You as well.”

“Adrian’s agreed to help with John’s case,” Oliver added in an undertone.

Her eyes lit up. “I was hoping to hear more of the details on that.”

Well that was interesting. Was she angling to speak with him now?

“I’d be happy to get such an accomplished lawyer’s position on it. Who knows? If things had been different, we could’ve been working this together,” Adrian said, his one hand clenched right where it rested in his pocket as she failed to give any hint that she understood his double meaning. “If I could borrow Miss Lance for a moment, Oliver? Shop talk, you could call it.”

“That’s fine with me. I’m sure you and Laurel have a lot to say on the subject. I’ll just be making the rounds.” With a last smile in Laurel Lance’s direction, the man turned and walked back through the crowd.

“It’s a little loud in here, don’t you think?” Adrian asked, not waiting for an answer before he turned and left the main hall. There was a smaller, unused room in the venue just across the hall, a few tables and chairs being stored and little else. It would do.

“So, Oliver told me you were able to have John remain here by invoking the Star City charter,” she said as she entered the room.

Adrian rolled his eyes. “What exactly is your plan here?”

She blinked. “I’m sorry?”

“You can drop the act, Siren,” he said, stepping closer and lowering his voice. “I highly doubt Oliver is listening in considering how well you’ve apparently wrapped him around your finger. I have to wonder how you did it.”

She stared at him. “How do you know about Black Siren?”

Adrian was about fed up with the games. “How does the man who sprung you from a four-by-four cell know who you are? You can play dumb with Oliver, but it won’t work on me.”

“You’re Prometheus,” she breathed, and the shock looked so genuine, he found himself honestly wondering if she somehow hadn’t known, no matter that he knew she did.

“I’m glad you’re caught up, but you seem to need a reminder of who exactly is in charge here,” Adrian said, reaching swiftly to circle his hand around her throat.

Her eyes bulged as her nails dug sharply into his hand. He threw her down before her kick could connect with his side; he just felt the scrape of her heel against his pant leg.

“This new life you’re trying to build yourself here on this Earth, you wouldn’t have it without me. I can take it away just as easily.”

She shot up and lunged at him immediately, and Adrian sidestepped her, letting her careen straight into one of the tables. The crash did not seem to faze her, for she whirled around and was on him before he could dodge a second time, clawing and punching at every bit of him she could reach. Her eyes were wild, and without his training he might have been overwhelmed.

But he rammed her with his shoulder to send her staggering back, one of her heels snapping.

Adrian straightened his jacket, reaching into an inner pocket for his stars as she rallied, lips pulled back in an animalistic snarl.

One thing was finally clear: this was not the Black Siren. This was something else. Something worse.

---

Oliver walked through the throng of people, nodding in acknowledgement whenever he caught the eye of someone he and Laurel had already spoken to. So far, the night had gone off without a hitch, for which he was immensely grateful. Laurel deserved a night of celebration like this.

He kept waiting for some sign that he was dreaming again, some indication that it was all about to be ripped away. He didn’t get lucky like this, not ever.

There was so much he wanted to say to her, it was hard to put the feeling into words. Thea made it sound so easy, but then Thea didn’t know how he had failed to let Laurel know what she meant to him that night in the hospital when she confessed her own feelings. Feelings she hadn’t spoken of or acted on since. Not even now that he and Felicity were well and truly estranged.

He had expected to feel more regret over that, but truthfully it had made some things easier. The recruits had started shaping up more, whether that was out of fear of being kicked off the team or what he couldn’t exactly say. But he was glad to be able to feel in control of this unit he had agreed to take on. Thea was coming down to the base more to borrow the training area, too, and he had a feeling she was inching back towards the life of Speedy now that her partner in the field had returned. With Laurel’s new role official, she would be joining them down in the bunker rather than the beta site as well. It would be good to have more people with experience than just himself out there.

But how to show Laurel that, that he was happy and hopeful about the future again? And a future with her. It wasn’t even a question of if he should tell her; he didn’t think he could hide the way he felt for very long. When she had come back to her room that morning looking so much like the dream he had had, Oliver had forgotten how to breathe for a moment. Forgotten, too, that he was not her fiancé with the permission to look upon her with awe and desire.

She deserved to know. He just had to get over this old fear of his, convince himself he wouldn’t screw it up this time, and tell her.

Oliver wandered the perimeter of the room as these thoughts played out in his head until he found himself standing near the door he had made note that Adrian and Laurel had left through. He wanted to be able to catch her when she came back, missing her by his side already.

“I was starting to wonder if I might catch you alone.”

He froze. “Susan…”

It was not that he had forgotten the reporter he had taken on a date. But guilt churned in his stomach all the same as he turned to face her fully. There was no reason for it; Laurel had been, as far as he had known, beyond his reach in this life, and had given her deathbed blessing to him finding happiness without her — even if she had felt that would be with Felicity at the time.

“You must be really happy to have her back,” Susan said.

“I am,” he answered with a small smile he couldn’t help. He felt guilt towards Susan as well, considering what he knew was really in his heart. He should have called her to end things before now. “Listen, about, um—”

Susan held up a hand to stop his halting attempt. “It’s been nice, Oliver, but I’d have to be blind not to see what Laurel Lance means to you. And I’m big enough to know there’s little point getting in between that.” She smirked as she added, “Probably better I don’t get too heavily involved with the politician I’m trying to cover anyway.”

Oliver nodded. “Thank you. Really.”

She nodded and turned to leave. The relief that Oliver felt was cut short when he heard a loud crash from somewhere out in the venue. Susan pivoted on the balls of her feet.

“What was that?”

“I’m not sure.” Oliver slipped out of the door, unsurprised when Susan followed him. He was fairly certain it had come from the room directly ahead. “Stay behind me, okay?” He asked as he cautiously approached the door, which had been left just slightly ajar. He peered through the gap, eyes widening in alarm at what he saw.

Adrian stood in the middle of the floor, his suit and hair rumpled and a split lip slowly leaking blood. And Laurel, missing one shoe and the other snapped off at the heel, struggled to free the skirt of her dress from where it was pinned to the wall by three throwing stars.

“I’d love to understand what you really are, but Oliver isn’t ready to know my secret yet. I’m afraid there’ll be need for a fresh grave in Starling Cemetery.” Adrian flicked his wrist with practiced ease, another star sailing through the air.

Oliver threw the door open and leapt in front, remembering Susan’s presence at the last minute. He forced his instinct to snatch the weapon out of the air down, instead letting it slash his upper-left arm, teeth gritting at the pain. But the weapon clattered uselessly several feet from Laurel.

He turned to see Adrian’s shocked gaze, and Oliver willed his voice to remain steady as he asked, “What’s the meaning of this?”

Adrian’s answer was cut off by the rip of fabric, and Oliver ducked as Laurel released a sonic scream, features contorted with blind rage. Adrian fell to it, hands clapped over his ears as he cried out in agony.

Laurel marched towards him, her intent to worsen Adrian’s suffering clear. Oliver reached out and caught her around the waist. “Laurel! Laurel, stop!”

The scream died, and she blinked as if coming back to herself. “I- I wasn’t — oh, God.”

“Hey, it‘s okay.” He rubbed her back as she sagged against his shoulder. It was clear what must have happened; the blood lust had been triggered during whatever fight had broken out here. He was just glad he had intervened in time to keep a life off her conscious. Even if it was the life of a man who must have had some sort of long game to betray Oliver planned. Who really was Adrian Chase?

He caught Susan’s eye as she surveyed the whole scene and asked, “Can you call 911?”

She nodded. “I take it the DA is actually our Throwing Star Killer,” Susan remarked, gesturing to the weapons still in the wall, little strips of Laurel’s dress hanging from them.

“Looks like it,” he agreed. “I don’t have a statement on that just now. I, uh, I’ll see what the police are able to find out about it.”

They stuck around long enough to see Adrian taken away. He was only just beginning to stir as he was led away in handcuffs to be looked over at the hospital before being transferred into the SCPD’s custody. Oliver also placed a discrete call to Lyla’s office to see what ARGUS could do about assuming jurisdiction over the case as soon as possible. Adrian knew far too much, even if Oliver didn’t yet understand how.

Laurel’s other shoe was located, and he helped her to hobble towards the back entrance of the venue, hoping to shield her from as much of the press as possible. The last thing needed right now was the press photographing her in a dress with the skirt torn halfway up her thigh.

The driver took them back to his place. Oliver knew it was likely only Laurel’s shock at how she had lost control that was keeping her from asking to be dropped off at either the beta site or the old apartment Thea still owned. She would probably return to the latter soon if he didn’t say anything. Didn’t make any kind of sign.

Once they were inside, Laurel bent down and undid the straps that were barely holding her broken shoes on. “Well, some night,” she remarked with her head still tilted down, hair half-hiding her face.

“It wouldn’t be Star City if something eventful didn’t happen,” he replied. “Was, uh, was that the first time you’ve used…”

“The sonic scream? On purpose, yeah. I didn’t really know how strong it would be. I could’ve killed him.” Her eyes had a haunted look to them as she continued, “One second we were just talking, the next was like he just flipped personalities, was trying to threaten me. He thought I was her. Siren.”

“If he’s really Prometheus, then that makes sense.”

“The way he talked about me – her,” she amended, giving a slight shake of her head as if to clear it. “It was like he thought he owned her. The others told me the things she did, but nobody should be talked to like that.”

“I know,” he agreed. “She told me that she wanted out. I never found out if it was the truth or a lie.” Seeing the way his Laurel felt about it now, he thought maybe it just might have been a truth, even one that Black Siren hadn’t actually wanted to admit to herself. Or maybe that was wishful thinking; thanks to the others, he would never know.

“Then he attacked me. I just lost it, and when you were hurt—” Her hand reached out, just barely brushing his arm below the gaze bandage a paramedic had applied. “If you hadn’t stopped me, I would have killed him,” she stated. “I guess I’m not as different from her as I thought.”

“Maybe, but that’s not such a bad thing,” he said. She looked up at him in surprise. “If I hadn’t seen some of you in her, I might not have gone so far to try and bring her back. I might never have known there was a way to save you. Black Siren wasn’t evil, no matter what the others say,” he added. “I think she was just lost. You know what that’s like.”

She nodded.

“But you’re not a killer, Laurel. That was the effect of the Pit.”

“I was hoping the new one wouldn’t have the same side effects.”

“So was I,” he admitted. “But we’ll get more of the Lotus. You’ll be fine, just like Thea.”

Laurel’s lips twisted in a funny half smile. “Thea doesn’t seem fine right now. I think she’s going to lose it if you don’t tell me whatever it is she wants you to.”

Oliver swallowed. There it was. He was being handed a perfect opportunity to open up, to be truthful about his feelings. There was never anything half as terrifying as that. “Thea… what she wants me to tell you, it wouldn’t make any sense to come right out and say. There’s things you have to know.”

“Like?”

“Like how much losing you hurt. That it caused me to look back on the last few years and think of all the time I wasted. How much I wished things had been different for you and me.”

Laurel’s throat bobbed, but she remained silent, listening.

“And a couple months ago, my wish was granted.”

“A couple months?” She asked, and he didn’t blame her for the confusion. Laurel had only been back for a month.

“Yeah. See, when the Dominators came to Earth, they took a few of us hostage, to try and study us for potential weaknesses. We were placed in some kind of stasis where our minds went to a made-up reality based on our dearest-held dreams. Thea and I were back at the Manor with mom and my father. They were alive.”

“Oh, Ollie,” Laurel said softly.

“Yeah. The thing was, you were there, too. And it was almost our wedding day.”

Laurel’s mouth fell open. He didn’t know if the shock on her face was a good or bad thing, but Oliver also knew that he needed to say this no matter the outcome.

“I love you, Laurel,” he confessed. “And I know it doesn’t make up for all the years or the ways that I’ve hurt you whether I meant to or not. All I know is, when you told me how you still felt, all I could think about was what could’ve been for us. It haunted me the whole time that I thought we’d lost that chance.” Even now, he could see her in that beautiful white gown, her face so sad as he was forced to leave to help the others. “I wondered how I hadn’t seen it, why you couldn’t have said something before.”

“You were happy,” she said, as if that was all that needed saying. Her eyes shone bright with unshed tears. “You were happier without me.”

He shook his head. “The one thing I haven’t been this past year is happy without you. This, right now, is the best I have felt in a long time.”

He didn’t just mean because he had finally given voice to his feelings. Oliver had a team that was learning to respect his judgement calls in the base and in the field; he honestly didn’t miss the constant back talk on the comms. He felt better, too, seeing Thea happier and knowing that once Quentin finished his rehab program that he would come home to his daughter and be whole again. The looming threat of Prometheus had been ended as abruptly as it had begun. None of this would have been possible without Laurel.

“I know this cannot be an easy decision to make. I understand if, whatever our feelings for each other are, you’d prefer to remain as we were before that night. All I’ll ever ask of you is to be part of my life, Laurel, because it’s a far less full one without you,” he finished.

Her head tilted as her lips pressed right together for a moment, considering him. Then at last she stepped forward, cupping his cheek with her hand. “You know I never do things halfway, Ollie.” She rose onto her tiptoes, her hand at his cheek guiding his lips to meet hers in that perfect synchronous dance he had longed for, so much better than his dream for knowing that it was real.

Oliver smoothed his hands over her arms, down her back and up into her hair, unable to choose now that he was granted it all. Laurel seemed of a similar mind, hands cupping his face then smoothing down his shoulders, then up and his suit jacket. They were each aware of the time they had wasted before and how they could never get it back, and it spurred them on towards making the most of the time they had ahead. The time they very nearly hadn’t had.

He regretted what had happened to Laurel’s counterpart from Earth-2. No version of her deserved a violent end in his eyes. He took some comfort at least that she was now free from men like Adrian or Zoom. Maybe her soul had gone to whatever was next beyond the grave to find the Ollie she had truly loved and not just the man that looked like him. He chose to believe that, since he’d been granted the same beautiful dream in its own way.

For all that he and Laurel had suffered through, if it meant they arrived at this point together, Oliver wouldn’t change it. No matter how tempting it could be to fix the past, he knew how fragile time could be. And this time, at last, was theirs.

---

Talia al Ghul was more familiar with disappointment than one of her ability and lineage would like. Her first disappointment had come from her Beloved. Bruce had been a fine warrior, full of discipline, intellect, skill and honor. Yet he had lacked the conviction to bring a permanent end to those who committed evil in the world and so he had left her and her father’s League behind.

Then there had been her father himself. She could admit with chagrin that Bruce had been the one to initially question her father’s intention to pass on the title of Ra’s al Ghul to her. As the years had worn on, Talia had seen for herself that he would never do so. And so she had left, forming her own following to carry on the mission she still believed in.

Yet now, two of her own students had disappointed her one after the other. Oliver Queen and the one who called himself Adrian Chase. The former had killed her father and handed the League of Assassins to a traitor which caused it to fail less than a year later, and the latter had failed to be her instrument of revenge. Instead, she currently watched as the news continued to cover his arrest and the accusations mounting against him. Something would have to be done, and quickly. She was not ready for The connection Mr. Chase had to her to be revealed, as it might should he be questioned.

Talia had left it up to her student to plan the reckoning Oliver should face, who it would involve and where it would be. All of this would have to be abandoned now, and more planning would have to be done. Especially to accommodate the unexpected wrinkle that had developed: the return of this Earth’s Dinah Laurel Lance, Oliver’s own Beloved.

Talia’s spies had followed Oliver and his associates’ progress to the mountains of Siberia and confirmed to her that one of the rumored Lazarus Pits was in that location. She had also been made aware of the comings and goings of Miss Lance to and from the United States’ Capitol. Yet she had not realized until tonight — nor had Mr. Chase, it seemed — that rather than the copy of her from another Earth, Oliver had somehow managed to resurrect the original. It would be like him to play with those kind of forces with little regard for any consequences.

Talia left her current base of operations to deal with one of those consequences. Mr. Chase was going to be moved from where he was being seen at Star City General to a holding cell at the downtown precinct. It was her task to ensure this never came to pass.

She took up her position only minutes before Mr. Chase was escorted out the front doors towards a waiting transport van. From the rooftop across the street, she watched her chosen spy approach at a walking pace, the umbrella he had taken from their supply store tucked under his arm. She saw the moment he fired the jet of poison gas from a crushed cyanide ampule, though it was truly invisible to the eye, then smirked as an officer moved to intercept him from fully crossing paths with the police escort. Her agent backed away, feigning as though he had not realized what was going on, and crossed the street to continue his walk.

Just as Mr. Chase was walked up the steps of the transport van, he collapsed to one knee, the poison already taking its effect. None of those around him would realize that was what it was, of course. To them, it would appear as though he suffered a sudden heart attack. They would see the matter as closed and put the unfortunate memory of their fallen District Attorney behind them.

Oliver would suspect, of course. Oliver always suspected. But he would only have his suspicions. For now, Talia would retreat and reassess the best way to bring retribution to her former student. Let him grow complacent with his loved ones; she had all the time the Lazarus water allowed her to have her revenge.

#lauriver #laurel x oliver #laurel lance #oliver queen #arrow #green arrow #black canary #my writing

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sidekickjoey · 4 years

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SAF for the musical ask!

(bless you ahh)

Favourite Character: Owen Carvour, babyyyyy! This might be somewhat inspired by the way fanfics and such portray him pre-Russian affair, but I just really like his character. I like that he’s so complicated and so conflicted with himself. He makes horrible decisions, but I think there are a ton of redeeming good qualities about him that we didn’t get to see that would make him such a compelling figure. I mean, Curt fell so in love with him that he spent four years drinking himself into a grave. There had to be reasons we did not see that made him incredible. Also his accent my god. I love Curt with all my heart, but something hits different about Owen.

Least Favourite Character: Um probably the informant? I loved a lot of his jokes, but he just seemed like an extra character. I would have been more content giving some of the time spent on him to seeing more of Owen pre-Russian Affair, or having more time to see him post-reveal.

Favourite OBC Cast Member: So I’m gonna take these two questions to just scream about Curt and Joey individually because there isn’t much of a different cast and they are legitimately my two favorite people. ANYWAY:

Curt is the sweetest, most selfless person I’ve ever met??? Legitimately??? He puts so much of himself into everything he does and genuinely strives for greatness. He played Agent Mega so freakin well, and you can just see when he’s performing (as him or any other time really) that he is having the best freakin time of his life. It brings so much happiness to me. Honestly, how he hasn’t been snatched up and put into something huge astonishes me. Also his voice makes me cry it’s so damn good- ANYWAY

Favourite Current Cast Member (If Applicable): Ok so now Joey. Joey is JUST AS MUCH the nicest person out there and is so freakin funny. I don’t know how one person managed to capture my humor exactly, but every single thing he’s in and has his hands on makes me laugh like an idiot. He’s incredibly talented in such a criminally amazing way. I really think Spies is the best he’s ever sounded vocally, and it shows his acting range so beautifully. Each time I watch, I don’t see Joey, I just see Owen. I am forever in awe of him. Softest boi rights!!!

Favourite Song: This changes every damn day omg. The one I keep going back to however is One Step Ahead. Maybe it’s because there’s so much backstory and emotion packed into one song. Maybe it’s because it’s one of the few times we get to see Curt and Owen actually interact in the show. Maybe it’s because Curt and Joey’s voices have never sounded more incredible. Whatever it is, I absolutely am a huge fan of it. Such a powerful and intense song.

Least Favourite Song: Honestly? Probably Eyes On The Prize I. I freakin love Lauren with all my heart (if I could give her more money on Patreon my dumb ass WOULD), but the song itself just doesn’t do much for me. Eyes On The Prize II has the intensity and depth I think the song needs. With Susan’s ‘you gotta’s (though funny), it just kind of loses it’s weight for me. Lauren’s voice is godly no matter what she sings, but I think a hard-nose character like Cynthia deserved a song more along the lines of Linda’s solos in Black Friday than the lighter of the two EOTP jams. It would have fit better.

Favourite Act (If Applicable): THIS IS A HARD QUESTION UGH. As a whole, I’d probably have to go with Act I. It’s got the best jokes, the story flows well, there’s a lot of intrigue and angst™. I love getting to know Agent Mega and see him trying so hard to bounce back. I also love the DMA. Aside from Vanger (god I love him), Doing This, whatever background dance Curt does in his seat during One More Shot, parts 5 & 6, and Spy Dance, Act II doesn’t do a ton for me.

Favourite Ship: NO QUESTION AT ALL -- Curtwen. Seriously. I love everything about them and forget so often that we only really see them as “them” in about three parts of the whole show. There’s just two really complex and complicated characters who you can TELL loved each other and had something so serious going on before everything fell apart. My heart aches whenever I think about just how much they had had to love each other for their dual reactions to have occurred. I love them so freakin much.

Least Favourite Ship: I literally stay away from so many other ships because I’m just really into Curtwen lmao, but I guess Owen & Tati? It’s fine if it’s as a joke or for a mission, but like...they ain’t it if it’s for real.

If There is Something I Would Change about The Musical: Oh boy, I’ll give you my top five:

1) GIVE US MORE CURTWEN BACKSTORY!!! I just want to know more of their time pre-Russian affair. I want to see why Curt was so crushed and why Owen became so spiteful. There are reasons, and maybe TCB has a thing in mind to show us those reasons, but damn I would’ve loved to know more. Even if we didn’t “see” it, just having Curt talk about it. Man.

2) Speaking of Owen, TELL US MORE ABOUT HIM! I felt myself craving more information about him and his character. All we learn about him personality wise is through Curt’s fondness in Spy Again and in the bits about him in The Coldest Goodbye. But I want to know more about him. How was he in private? Why was he so absolutely against secrets that he was willing to commit himself to Chimera? To the Baron? Curt hints that he used to lift Curt up. I would have loved to see a bit of him doing that so we could see even more prominently how big of a contrast Chimera!Owen was, why Curt was so willing to shoot him. I feel like we got tastes of him, but not anything super concrete. I wanted more.

3) I wish we had gotten a serious scene like we did with Curt and Tati with Curt and Barb. The ending scene with them is cute and sweet, but I think Curt apologizing to her or even possibly confessing he can’t ever love her the way she wants, but can love her as a friend as much as she needs, would have been wonderful. God, it would have been wonderful. She just deserved better than to be dragged along.

4) During One Step Ahead, instead of having the pause be so we can check in on Barb and Tati, I would have loved pauses where Curt and Owen were firing back and forth trying to stop each other? Talk things out? And this isn’t just me being #1 Curtwen stan over here, trust me. I think it would have been interesting to see more of their emotion carrying through the chase and not just assuming it was emotional through the song (though it does a very good job). It could have added to the suspense and buildup, and contrasted well against the sillier aspects of their modes of transportation. We could have had the Barb/Tati scene fit in there still, but a few pauses in the song to have Owen and Curt speaking and Owen being like JUST SHUT UP CURT, YOUR WORDS MEAN NOTHING while Curt’s like BUT IF WE JUST TALK IT OUT. Idk, I want it.

5) PUT COLDEST GOODBYE REPRISE ON THE SOUNDTRACK PLEASE AND THANK YOU

Ratings: 9.5/10, this show took over my life. I stan it so hard it’s not even funny.

Leave a musical in my ask and I’ll reply with this list!

#carvour

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thetiptoeingtulip · 4 years

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Discworld for the ask meme?

Thank you!! This was so much fun and discworld is something at the core of my little heart

Top 5 favourite characters: In no particular order- Sam Vimes, Lord Vetinari, Death, Tiffany Aching, and the Librarian

Other characters you like: So many, I love them all so much… I think Mr. Teatime is one of the most enjoyable villains I’ve ever read and obviously he sucks but I still reread Hogfather every Christmas excited to see him. Dr Lawn was also my favourite solo appearance character. Granny Weatherwax, Moist van Lipwig, Nobby Nobbs, Death of Rats

Least favourite characters: There aren’t any characters I dislike just ones I’m less attached to. I found Gaspode annoying sometimes. I like Carrot but am less fond of the parts of books that focus on him too much. Rincewind is a cinnamon roll but also less interesting than some of the other characters.

Otps: Vetvimes and/or VetvimesRankin ;) half a crackship half a legitimate interest in their dynamic

Notps: Don’t really have any because there isn’t a lot of shipping in this fandom but there are so many characters that if you put some of them together I’m sure I’d wince.

Favourite friendships: Vetinari and Margolotta, Om and Brutha, Nobby Nobbs and Colon

Favourite family: Gotta be Vimes, Sybil, Little Sam, although I love Death and Susan

Favourite episodes: N/A

Favourite season/book/movie: Night Watch closely followed by Small Gods

Favourite quotes: My absolute favourite quote of all time is the one from Night Watch when Vimes is talking about The People- ‘The People on the side of The People always ended up disappointed, in any case. They found that The People tended not to be grateful or appreciative or forward-thinking or obedient. The People tended to be small-minded and conservative and not very clever and were even distrustful of cleverness. And so the children of the revolution were faced with the age-old problem: it wasn’t that you had the wrong kind of government, which was obvious, but that you had the wrong kind of people. As soon as you saw people as things to be measured, they didn’t measure up.’ It hits.

Best musical moment: How do they rise up?

Moment that made you fangirl/boy the hardest: Any moment where a character who is not commonly in that series makes an appearance ie. mentions of Vimes in Lipwig books, mentions of Granny Weatherwax in the Tiffany Aching books

When it really disappointed you: This is saddened more than disappointed but the last three books- Snuff, Raising Steam, Shepherd's Crown- were definitely not up to the usual writing standard, although I’m 100% certain that was because of Terry’s condition.

Saddest moment: So many come to mind. Off the top of my head, when Granny Weatherwax has to choose between the child or the mother in the birth scene in Carpe Jugulum

Most well done character death: All the character deaths are well done because of Death (haha) I have to say Granny Weatherwax though, if only because of the weight her character carried.

Favourite guest star: N/A

Favourite cast member: N/A

Character you wish was still alive: I mentioned him before, I almost wish Mr. Teatime had survived if only so we could see him used in other discworld books.

One thing you hope really happens: I just want the characters to be happy. Tiffany Aching grows into a happy young woman. Sam Vimes is happy with his son.

Most shocking twist: The vampire/heraldry dude being behind everything in Feet of Clay genuinely surprised me

When did you start watching/reading?: When I was 16 and going through the roughest time of my life. Later than most people but it really saved me (cliche but yeah)

Best animal/creature: Hm… does the Librarian count? If not than the great A’tuin himself

Favourite location: Ankh Morpork obvs

Trope you wish they would stop using: None I love them all

One thing this show/book/film does better than others: Social and political commentary in a fantasy format that actually works, isn’t preachy, makes extremely intelligent and well thought out points without being tone deaf to the fact that it is a fantasy format.

Funniest moments: Any mention of Bloody Stupid Johnson. Any footnotes.

Couple you would like to see: VetvimesRankin (Sybil still has to be there)

Actor/Actress you want to join the cast: N/A

Favourite outfit: Sam Vimes’ shoes and Nobbs disguise in Jingo

Favourite item: Death’s sword

Do you own anything related to this show/book/film?: No but I desperately want an Unseen Academics hoodie

What house/team/group/friendship group/family/race etc would you be in?: I’d be a witch baby! or an unseen academic (small part of me wants to be in the assassin’s guild)

Most boring plotline: Colour of Magic

Most laughably bad moment: None. Everything is laughably good.

Best flashback/flashfoward if any: The entirety of Night Watch, if time travel counts

Most layered character: Probably Vetinari? Nobby Nobbs was given good depth in Night Watch too.

Most one dimensional character: Rincewind in Colour of Magic (he got better!)

Scariest moment: Vorbis and his torture techniques in Small Gods

Grossest moment: Same as above

Best looking male: N/A although canonically probably Carrot

Best looking female: N/A

Who you’re crushing on (if any): Vetinari and Margolotta because intelligent + powerful = sexy :/ No one!

Favourite cast moment: N/A

Favourite transportation: Leonard de Quirm’s yellow submarine

Most beautiful scene (scenery/shot wise): N/A

Unanswered question/continuity issue/plot error that bugs you: Nothing really, Terry was always exceptional at continuity for someone who wrote about 50 books in one series

Best promo: N/A

At what point did you fall in love with this show/book: Like 5 pages into Guards Guards when there was the joke about black magic cults reserving certain hotels and having overly complicated passwords. Humour made me fall in love, humanity made me stay in love

#discworld #ask

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afictionaladventure16 · 5 years

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Safe and Sound (Robert Downey Jr. x Daughter!Reader)

Chapter 6

Masterlist

Previously on Safe and Sound...

Warnings: none

Word Count: 1,022

With the recent spotlight on your disappearence, Robert had closed himself off, not leaving the house or doing any interviews. That was until his publicist called him, explaining that Chris Evans had, unfortunately, had to cancel his appearance for San Diego Comic Con. Robert didn’t see as to why she would bother calling him for that particular reason, she explained that the slot was there for him if he wanted it. He pondered for a second, his mind was saying no but his gut was telling him to do it.

“Alright,” He said softly, “I’ll do it.”

She cheered, “thank you, Robert!”

He chuckled, “you owe me,” with that he hung up the phone.

“Who was that?” He looked up to see his wife Susan smiling at him.

“It was my publicist, I just agreed to do a panel for San Diego Comic-Con,” he said as fumbled with his thumbs. “I probably shouldn’t though, given all the attention with the media.”

Susan shook her head, “you need a distraction, babe,” she walked over to him, gently brushing his hair with her hands in a comforting way, “it’d be good for you.”

“You think so?”

She smiled, “I know so.”

He stayed quiet for a bit, looking at his beautiful wife. He wished his daughter was there with him, he wished he could have been there for her life, seen her grow up. Robert felt his eyes sting, “I miss her so much, Susan,” he sobbed.

Susan frowned, she hated seeing her husband in such pain, “I know,” she whispered as she pulled him into an embrace. She heard so many stories of his daughter, wonderful stories. She knew that (Y/N) was just like her father, from the home videos she has seen, her personality was just like Roberts. Susan would always see how much Robert loved his daughter in those videos, how much he cared for her. She sees it to this day with their own children, but stronger. The loss of his daughter, just made him fight harder for those he loved.

Susan didn’t want to say that (Y/N) was dead, she didn’t know what to believe but she did have hope. Hope that one day a miracle would happen, but she knew if that miracle would happen, there would be the trauma to deal with. The emotional support that young girl would need and she had mentally prepared herself for it.

You were sitting down outside, enjoying the warmth of the sun as you ate your lunch. You were reviewing some notes for your next class, silently repeating the formula’s for certain equations to yourself as you ate.

You were in full concentration of your notes in front of you when you heard a piercing yell, “(Y/N)!!!” You groaned slightly to yourself as you swallowed sandwich bite you were just chewing. “(Y/N)!!” You turned around to see your best friend running towards you and also seeing the crowd that she had managed to capture their attention. She jumped onto the bench next to you, placing her backpack on the table, “guess what?!”

You glared at her, “I would say you finally got kidnapped by aliens but seeing that you are still here, I’m gonna pass with that guess. So, tell me,” you said nonchalantly as you kept your focus on your notes, slowly taking a bite from your sandwich.

Your best friend rolled her eyes, “I’ve got some great news on our investigation!”

“Our investigation?” You gave her a side glance, quickly drawing your attention back to your notes, “(Y/B/F/N), I would love to hear about that but right now I really have to focus on this.” You gave her an eye gesture towards your notes.

She sighed, grabbing your notes and throwing them pretty far, almost hitting someone. You looked at her in shock, “fuck that!” She expressed, “that’s only temporary, baby! This!” she said as she placed a paper in front of you, “Can change your life.”

“So, can college if I manage to pass my calculus class!” You retorted, you got up and retrieved your notebook, quickly apologizing to the guy sitting down at the table that your notebook had managed to land on. You made your way back over to your table, “can’t this wait until after school?”

“I mean it can, but I can’t,” she said with glee.

You let out a defeated sigh, “alright, if anything I’ll take a make-up quiz after school,” you placed your notebook aside, “now tell me, what’s so important that you had to almost kill a guy with my calculus notes?”

She smiled, pushing the paper further over to you, “your dad-”

“We’re not even sure about that,” you quickly interrupted.

She rolled her eyes, “okay, Robert Downey Jr. is going to comic con.”

“Okay and?”

“San Diego Comic-Con,” she said slowly, “the comic con we’re going to, the one we’ve been planning on going to for years now. The one that is a week away... You see what I’m trying to say here??”

You looked at the paper, sure enough, he had a panel at SDCC. “Alright,” you said, still unsure of what she was implying.

“I know we got passes to the Supernatural photo sessions and we planned on going to their panel but Robert’s panel is around the same time, by the time the Supernatural panel ends we’ll probably only make it to ten minutes of Robert’s panel,” your best friend explained.

“Just spit it out, (Y/B/F/N), what are you trying to say?”

She let out a frustrated sigh, “we are going to find a way to meet Robert, passes or not!” You stayed silent for a bit, you had no idea how what to say. This could go wrong many ways, but it was probably your only shot at finding out the truth, “Well?!” Your best friend asked anxiously.

You took another bite of your sandwich, chewing it slowly as you continued the debate in your mind. Swallowing the chewed bite, you looked over to your best friend who was carrying an annoyed look, “I’m in.”

Safe and Sound taglist is CLOSED

ALSO, I am super close to hitting 1k followers and I kind of want to do something special... I don’t know what though. Let me know what you guys would like to see, like a special fic or something... I don’t know! I’m still new to all of this!

Permanent Taglist: @unapologeticallymimi @glitterquadricorn @lady-of-lies @cassmoreiraxo @just4muggles @mellorine-paprika @agirlruinedbybands @yougottalovefandoms @avngrsinitiative @lizlil @otomefan @dejaazaro @culturebay @kpopishilarious @fireproof-heaven @iloveyouthreethousand-o6 @weappreciatepower @whereyoustand @white-wolf-buckaroo @spider-woman22 @coffee-habit @supernaturallover2002 @barnes-parker @therealmrshale @myinternetissoslow

Safe and Sound Taglist: @thejemersoninferno @ximaginx @star017 @majorlyextra @tonystarkismyboy @edgyhargreeves @blancastans @maaaaryx @jupiterspoet @endgameendsme @snowangle1994 @violaprovidence @i-am-a-complete-mess @choco-3-101 @foxxien @juliae03 @strangestarkk @galaxy-meteor @hunteress-temis @gracieismydog @barnes-mendes @stickyqueenbouquetsstuff @crimsonheartstuff @a-baggins-of-bagend @imsarahsexual @ellabellabrushbrush @verymuchclosetedfangirl @snakeswiftaylor @batfam16 @springholland @ohmygoditsanthonyedwardstark @heimdoodle @chari-a @alwaysbandslut @i-am-a-lil-bit-crazy @avengerbby @gracielou0518 @inthefandomhell @ellaorelizabeth @fabinaforever11 @fangirlingisajob

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flatcherriley95 · 4 years

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How Do I Win My Ex Girlfriend Heart Back

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How To Know If I Can Get My Ex Back

#Adding Your Ex Back On Social Media Cheap And Easy Tips #How To Know My Ex Will Never Come Back

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nxjacbbnc-blog · 4 years

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chickennoodlesoupfortae · 5 years

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Secret love

A/n- this is a one-shot written at 1:40 am because it popped into my head and I couldn’t sleep not writing it. As always request are open so hit that up. Listen to “secret love song part II”

Summary- (y/n) is a celebrity secretly dating bts member jungkook. You both have been together for two years and are in love but no one knows except the members and your families. Tonight you are performing at an award show debuting your new single for the first time. The song was written during a fight between the two of you and as you sing it you see your relationship flash through your eyes and jk feels the same way. (secret love song part II by little mix all excerpts of the song belong to them) Prompting the both of you to ask why aren’t you public.

Word count- 2.2k

Warnings- heartaches and not the good kind :(

The crowd roared as the presenters announced your name.

Now presenting award-winning singer/songwriter (y/n) (y/l/n) with her new single being sung live tonight for the first time!

A round of applause followed as the trap door opened and the platform you were on a rose. A soft piano ballad began accompanied by violins causing the crowd to go silent.

You waited for your queue to start as you spotted jungkook in the crowd sitting down at his table noticeably far from your own.

We keep behind closed doors, Every time I see you, I die a little more, Stolen moments that we steal as the curtain falls

Your voice soft and strong pierced through the venue. Your mind was taken back to the first time you met the person the song was written about

Two years earlier

“Hi I’m Jeon Jungkook!” a tall man greeted you with fluffy dark hair

“Hello, I’m (y/n)” you replied as your manager pushed you along “Sorry- I have to go but call me.” you handed the stranger your business card, enchanted by his smile but too busy to find out who the person behind it was.

Later that night, while you sat in the back of a black van your phone, went off

Jk- Hi this is jungkook from earlier tonight I was wondering If you’d like to get a coffee or smth?”

You smiled at your phone causing your manager to grab it reading the text message

“I’m sorry baby, it can’t happen. For neither of you actually, you both have a reputation to uphold might as well not hurt both of your feelings by starting something you shouldn’t.”

You took your phone back. “I won’t.”

(y/n)- sure but we need to meet somewhere private…

Now

That’s what you thought of first as you sang the first line to your song that was so blatantly written about him. You opened your eyes finishing the last word in the first line. Your eyes met him and began to water.

Jungkook was sitting towards the front of the celebrity section of the award show with all the members being they were nominated. He was surprised when he heard the melancholic piano at the beginning. It was so different than your other pieces. He listened carefully to the beginning one phrase sticking with him.

Stolen moments that we steal as the curtain falls

He could feel the pain in your voice and he knew what you meant, a memory going through his mind quickly before you spoke another word.

Five months earlier

“You’re so beautiful” he whispered in between each kiss he placed on your neck. “Did anyone see you come in here,” he asked

“No. I slipped right in.” you were against the frame of beams holding the stage up behind some curtains at no more than ten feet away from the stadium of sixty thousand people. So caught up in your secret kisses you both hadn’t heard the last call and the curtain opened. You were out of sight and pushed aside so he could go on stage and act like what was happening wasn’t. You sat there surrounded by wires on the floor you had fallen on in an attempt to hide. When you felt yourself feel the pain the interaction had caused you. Your heart broke into a million pieces. You were like a secret no one wanted to tell and that hurt. You laid there unable to move in the fear of someone seeing you sobbing for the better half of the show.

Jungkook didn’t remember that way. What went through his mind was the feeling of excitement he had felt being so close to showing everyone but showing no one.

It'll never be enough, As you drive me to my house, I can't stop these silent tears from rolling down, You and I both have to hide, On the outside where I can't be yours and you, Can't be mine.

Your eyes watered as you sang the second line out. All the times you had walked out of shops early or left your home an hour later to avoid being seen came into your mind like a dagger to the heart.

He listened to the pain in your voice and looked at the table as his eyes began to water. “What does she mean silent tears?” he asked himself in a whisper recalling all the times he had heard you cry but hadn’t said anything

You closed your eyes so you wouldn’t see him, afraid if you did you wouldn’t be able to sing.

But I know this, We got a love that is homeless

It seemed as if you sang the words and told them to him and yourself at that moment. When you wrote them you had been in a state of heartbreak and couldn’t deal with what you were writing but now it seems...clear.

As the beat grew you poured all your emotion into the chorus wanting to feel it and let the crowd feel it as well.

Why can't I hold you in the street? Why can't I kiss you on the dance floor? I wish that it could be like that. Why can't it be like that? 'Cause I'm yours.

You opened your eyes and found his in the crowd

Why can't I say that I'm in love? I wanna shout it from the rooftops I wish that it could be like that Why can't it be like that? 'Cause I'm yours

At this point, tears were streaming down your face shamelessly. You weren’t singing to the crowd anymore. You were pleading to your case. It was hard, It was more than hard to be with him it was impossible.

He felt ashamed sitting there with his girlfriend singing a song about how she didn’t feel loved. It hurt him because he always knew and never said anything. He could feel the sympathetic eyes of his fellow members on him as he watched you sing with all the pain you harboured. What could he have done? He began to remember your fights.

A month earlier

“Kookie when are you gonna be able to get here” you cried into the phone laying on your bed

“I don’t know babe” he answered “I don’t think I can come today, I don’t want anyone suspecting anything,” he admitted

“Why? Am I a secret that needs to be kept at all cost?” you started to feel a pain in your chest again. One you wouldn’t admit you had.

“No. This isn’t new (y/N). We’ve always done it like this. Why are you being pissy?” he asked

That’s all he remembered, a small fight.

For you, it was different. That night you cried. Not in a normal middle of the week breakdown manner, but in a sob that consumed your body causing you to heave and stop breathing. You sobbed all night and began thinking about your relationship. Soon you were jotting lyrics.

“Hi, can I talk to Susan please.” your voice was hoarse as you asked your manager's secretary for her. “Hi-” you coughed attempting to make your voice sound normal and not like you had spent the last four hours crying “I have the debut single-”

Now

It's obvious you're meant for me, Every piece of you, it just fits perfectly. Every second, every thought, I'm in so deep, But I'll never show it on my face. But we know this, we got a love that is homeless

A sad smile crept onto your face as you sang the bridge. You thought of all the good times rather than the bad. But still, it seemed as though you saw them in a blue filter tainted by reality. You saw all your favourite memories pass through. You closed your eyes and imagined them as if they were happening now. Giggles filled your mind remembering days when you both laughed in bed joking and teasing. Then memories of the two of you watching movies on your or his couch. You remembered the look in his eyes when he first told you he loved you while you were in his arms, but you were in the dressing room of a shop hiding from the press. This fact brought you back to the reality that was your broken heart.

“Man you fucked up. What did you do to break her heart so bad” Jimin whispered into Jungkook’s ear

He was looking up at the stage watching you close your eyes wondering what you were thinking. He was wishing he could run on stage and hold you in his arms and tell you he was sorry and he wanted everyone to know that. But there he sat speechless and unable to think of an answer to his question.

“What I didn’t I do?” he said as his eyes began to water

“Stop you can’t cry. She’s been looking at you and if you cry now everyone will know.” Jimin whisper shouted into his ear

“Shut up.” he swatted him away wanting only to hear you

You sang the chorus with your eyes open and shamelessly motioning and looking at him. Your makeup wasn’t running but there was a shine on your face from where the tears had trailed.

I don't wanna live love this way. I don't wanna hide us away. I wonder if it ever will change. I'm living for that day. Someday when you hold me in the street and you kiss me on the dance floor I wish that we could be like that

You sang the last pre-chorus and thought about what you wanted. You thought about the last two years of your life and regretted nothing. You loved him with everything in you but you couldn’t live like this anymore. Something had to change. You finished the song and thanked everyone for telling them to buy your upcoming album. You looked at the cheering crowd as they stood up to give you a standing ovation. Some of them were tearing up struck by the emotion in your voice. You looked out at your peers and fans and felt like you had done well by yourself.

You walked off stage and into the dressing room where you sat down looking at yourself in the mirror. Your hand stroked your cheek as you wiped away the tear marks left on it.

“What are you going to do? (Y/n) is it worth it? Do you want this? Is this who you are? Someone who sings on stage to the man they love who doesn’t love them back? Yes. But we are also the strong woman who won’t run away but figure this out because we love that person no matter what and that means working for it.” you looked in the mirror vocalizing your thoughts a second time that night.

A knock on the door followed by it swinging open caused you to go into a panic.

“Who is that!” you screamed but your question was answered when you saw your boyfriend pressed up against the closed door tears in his eyes.

You both looked at each other, shocked at the scene that was being played out.

“I-” his voice broke “I’m so sorry.” he buried his face into his hands and sobbed “I love you so much baby, it’s not fair for me to say that now but I love you and I’m sorry I haven’t told anyone when I should’ve had a billboard saying how lucky I was…” You rushed over to him wrapping your arms around his shoulders even though he had a good seven inches on your small frame and your giant dress.

“Was?” you chuckled while sobbing with him. Before you knew it, you were both on the ground sobbing.

“So what do we do now?” you asked looking into his soft brown eyes that were swollen from crying.

“I just want you to feel happy and loved and not like a secret I’m keeping,” he said

“I don’t know how to tell everyone?” you stated

“I have an idea. Hear me out what if I were to sit next to you and kiss you when the award is announced.” he proposed the idea

“That wouldn’t work the award is in ten minutes.” you sighed, “I think it would be enough if we could just keep it private but not a secret.”

“We could hold hands in public and live together finally as you wanted and I could talk about you in interviews, we could be in the open.”

“That’s all I wanted.”

Though things were far from being normal you felt happy that you were walking one step in the right direction.

A/N- I’m gonna be doing two post a week so look up to that, I’m going away for a month or two so I’ll try to have enough pieces on queue so this account runs normally but if post stop I wan’t able too but I’ll be back in a little I promise. I SWEAR IF NO ONE REQUEST ANYTHING IM GONNA KMS but asks are open have a nice day. Why do I always put these on queue at 1 am?

#bts #jungkook #bts jungshook #bts imagines #bts fanfic #fanfic #oneshot #one shot #jungkook one shot #angst #fluff #bts fluff #jungkook fluff #jk angst #writting #fan fiction

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raiswriting · 6 years

Text

muse

request: art major!reader w law major!doyoung pls :cc bullet note format if u can!!!

a/n: he’s a year older than you but it doesn’t matter that much

warning: a few swear words oopsie

genre: fluffy college!au

pairing: doyoung x reader

summary: ummm basically just how you and doyoung meet and get to know each other

word count: 5.1k (oops)

lets GOOOOOOOO

okay so basically college has been a JOURNEY

people ALWAYS had some shit to say as soon as they found out you were an art major

it was usually “what are you going to do with that” “do you know how unsteady that career path is”

liKE I GET IT

do they really think they’re telling you something new????

oh I’m sorry your majoring in business Susan™ and you decide to throw away your passions just because some high school counselor told you that you wouldn’t be able to support yourself but IM going to make my passion a career

lol sorry I have a lot of feelings

now onto how you met your mans doyoung

your freshman and sophomore years, you had only seen him in passing

tbh you barely recognized him when you saw him more than once

you knew him as “that one dude that i always see in the dining hall wearing suits”

then junior year you got a job at the convenience store on campus (lets get this BREAD)

pls tell me it isn’t some weird niche thing that only my school has

aNyWHO he started coming in around 2 am right before closing

and ALWAYS picked up 3 coffees all of which had double shots of espresso

this happened about 2 or 3 times a week

(which is very unhealthy guys gals and nonbinary pals pls try to drink cold water instead, it helps wake me up or green tea)

so despite seeing him so often at work, he began to appear less and less everywhere else

were you lowkey kinda sad about it???

mAYhaPS

that was until winter quarter started

you needed an elective class, SO you figured ‘eh why not take philosophy’ you had heard around that the professor is really chill and overall the class wasn’t supposed to be that bad

WELL GUESS AGAIN

because that really nice professor that everyone loved isn’t the one teaching the class this quarter

but hey you figured let’s go into this with an open mind and hope for the best

well on day one of this class (which is a 9 am by the way) guess who struts through the door

mister “that one guy i’d always see wearing a suit” who became mister “that one dude who always buys too much coffee at 3 am”

the man… the myth…… the legend………….MISTER KIM DOYOUNG

yep and ya boi decided to sit 2 seats down from you, it was too far to say hi or anything (esp bc you had never really spoken to him before) but like he was also just close enough for it to be awkward

so class went by normally you found out that the new professor wasn’t THAT bad but there was definitely gonna be a lot of work involved

so yeah life carries on as normal

you still see him all the time at the convenience store

one night it had been a particularly rough shift

your alarm didn’t go off, so you were running late, it had started to rain on your walk to work, and when you finally got there your manager apparently had someone piss in his cheerios because he had S U C H an attitude because you were

TWO

MINUTES

LATE

you were sat behind the counter after what felt like hours of sweeping and mopping the floors

that’s when he walked in

you didn’t even lift your head to greet him as “hi, welcome” crawled itself out of your mouth

you did however notice when he sat his 3 cans of coffee in front of you

“hey your y/n right?”

“that’s what it says on my nametag”

“haha yeah it does. i think i have you in my philosophy class”

when you finally met his eyes, you felt a little bad

you had kinda been giving him the cold shoulder for something that wasn’t his fault

you gave him a little smile

“yeah i am. doyoung right?”

he nodded slightly

the air was a little awkward and silent as you scanned his coffees

as you handed him the receipt he asked “hey do you maybe want to study together sometime. i mean our test is in like two weeks and it’s a quarter of our grade so like if you were free we could hang out and get some work done?”

dUDE you froze

here he was standing right in front of you; messy hair, sweatpants, a sweatshirt repping your school logo and looking very nervous (but very attractive lmao)

i guess your reply took a little too long because he quickly started to back peddle

“i mean if you prefer to study alone that’s cool. i just always see you during lecture and you look like you understand the material and sometimes i get a little lost in terminology but if you don’t want to that’s fine too.”

you quickly snapped out of your haze

“no, no. i would love to study with you. here let me give you my number so we can meet up. most of my classes are in the morning so any time after like noon should be fine.”

you grabbed his receipt back and quickly scribbled your number on it before handing it back

“just text me when you want to get together”

okay honestly you had never been one to give out your phone number just like that and you didn’t really like studying with people

but something about him made it so hard to say no

you just had this urge to get to know him

so when he texted you a few days later asking if you were free to study that night

of course you said yes

and it went pretty smoothly

he has a much better understanding of the material than he let on at first

he even ended up helping you understand a few things

you got together w few times over the next couple of weeks

each time you met you got to know each other more and more

yall quickly became friends

well yall became friends after the first night studying because lets be real it was awKWARD

like neither of you felt particularly comfortable yet because this was the first time you had actually hung out with each other despite knowing of each other’s existence for two years

oh yeah that’s something you found out after getting to know one another

he had always seen you around campus and wanted to get to know you but never did because he thought it’d freak you out having a random stranger coming up to you like

‘hey I know you don’t know me but I see you all the time. let’s be friends.’

which isn’t THAT crazy but to each their own

okay but let’s jump to the time 2 days before your exam

you guys agreed to meet up at the library and the plan was to study for A WHILE just to make sure you were prepared ya know?

so like you get there and he was already sitting in a room waiting

when you open the door he gets up to hug you

which he hasn’t ever done before

and like tbh he was really warm and smelled really nice like it his cologne wasn’t too strong, and it smelt sweet but also very inviting which isn’t really a scent but like do you get me? and he gave a really tight hug like the type that you didn’t want to let go of it felt as though you could stay there forever (this is also where you lowkey start having feelings for him but shhh because you don’t realize it yet)

so back the point

obvi you start studying and besides the hug nothing was really that different

you got through the material, quizzed each other, talked a bit

ya know the usual

time flew by and the next thing you know it’s 12:30 am and the library would be closing at 1 so you decide to wrap it up

“alright doyoung i’ll see you in class. get some rest before the test okay?”

“yeah yeah i will” he rolled his eyes a little bit

“seriously dude. i know you. go straight to sleep when you get back to your place”

he worried you sometimes. He really wanted to do well and the applications for law school were opening up soon, so he’s been kinda stressed no matter how much he tried to hide it and this test coming up isn’t helping

“i will. i promise.”

he walked you out of the library and you two would usually part ways and walk alone to your apartments

before you could turn and say goodbye doyoung was already speaking

“hey it’s a lot darker out here than usual”

you looked up at the pitch-black sky

“yeah I guess it is, oh well at least I have my pep-“

“what? you have your pepper spray right?”

“no i forgot that i let my roommate borrow it. she’s going to a sorority thing and won’t be back until like 3 or 4. it’s fine though my apartment is only like a 10-minute walk. goodnight do”

“wait y/n. i’ll walk you back. it’s way too late and too dark for you to go home”

“no i couldn’t ask you to do that. you’re law and society class is at 8 am tomorrow so you need to get some sleep.”

“well i won’t be able to sleep anyway if I’m staying up worried about you. so lead the way.”

despite the cold fall air, your face felt hot

like you know that it’s normal for friends to be worried about each other but that didn’t make doyoung saying it any less charming

the walk back was nerve wracking

you guys normally don’t hang out outside of the context of studying

so like this was weird, nice but weird

and once you go to your door there was a cast of silence

doyoung was just looking at you

normally it would make you kinda uncomfy/insecure but right now you were calm

there was something about looking into his eyes

the brown was so warm and inviting

after a few seconds of the comfortable silence, he finally looked away

and I awkwardly cleared my throat “thank you for walking me home doyoung”

“of course, i’m just gald to know you got here safely”

“so um, i was gonna wish you luck just in case we don’t see each other before the test but i mean judging from our study session you won’t need it though.”

he giggled and i swear someone could have mopped up your heart because it was in a puddle on the floor

“shut up y/n. thank you though. i always appreciate your kind words. do you want to meet for lunch after the exam? i usually have a lab afterwards but it got cancelled so if you’re free we should meet up.” asjdjjklcbclkNCKDLSNCOS

“yeah i am free. i guess i’ll see you then.”

he took a few steps back “yeah i guess you will. goodnight y/n”

“goodnight doyoung. actually get some sleep tonight, yeah?”

you could see his shoulders shake with laughter as he walked down the steps

to say you were smitten would be an UNDERSTATEMENT

the smile that showed up didn’t leave even after you fell asleep

when you get to class on that friday morning, doyoung is already sitting in his usual seat

the bags that usually take their place beneath his eyes are barely visible today

hopefully he took your advice and actually went to sleep

after the test you both got some burgers for lunch and just talked it had nothing to do with the test which was nice

i guess y’all make a great pair because once the scores came out, both of you got A’s

after that studying together became a routine

every tuesday, thursday and saturday leading up to the next test, you guys would review or sometimes just hang out

it was a mutual decision to help each other study

even if you didn’t share the class, one would be there to quiz and make sure the other focused (most of the time it worked, other times you’d be the reason they got distracted and vice versa)

the two of you would go out for lunch on those days instead

as the quarter drew to a close and the break got nearer and nearer as did finals week

you and doyoung tried to keep up with your study schedule but it was getting harder

you had artwork due

you were particularly stressed over a sculpture that was assigned

your teacher gave you those choice of clay or marbleas a medium and clearly you chose clay

you were going to do marble but then you remembered the other 3 tests you need to prepare for and a portfolio that had to fit the theme of mythology

so basically you had a lot of art to produce and NO INSPIRATION like none, zero, zip, zilch, nada

you sat in the room you had reserved in the arts building

a pile of clay sat atop a slab of rock, a blank page of a sketchbook sat next to that

scrolling through pinterest had stopped working long ago and at this point you were losing hope

ring, ring, ring

doyoung’s name popped up on your screen

it was odd because you two usually texted for everything

“hey, do what’s up?”

“hi y/n i was just wondering if you wanted to grab some fro-yo. i just got out of another test and could use some company”

“ahh, doyoung i’m sorry but i’m stuck doing work. do you remember that mythology sculpture i told you about? well, it’s due next Wednesday and i haven’t even started on it yet”

his voice sounded so concerned “is everything okay? how are you doing?”

“i’m doing okay, just tired. i’ve been trying so hard but can’t find any inspiration” you sighed into the phone, looking out the window of your room

“what room are you in?”

“room 247 in building B. why?”

“just sit tight.”

the call ended before you could ask any more questions

okay when i tell yall it was less than five minutes and he was walking through the door just know that what i really mean is he rAN FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF CAMPUS TO COME COMFORT YOU

so yeah, he got there huffin and puffin, ready to blow your house down (with love)

“doyoung, what are you doing here?”

��well you were upset.” his tone was so matter-of-fact, and his eyes were so wide and innocent

honestly he looked so cute but like you were still very confused

what was he doing there?????

yeah you were upset but you also didn’t want to worry him

he casually walked over to a seat beside a window and pulled something out of his backpack

as he got closer and reached his hand out for you to take it, you noticed it was a sandwich

“it’s ham and cheese. light mayo, no lettuce or tomato”

when your eyes looked up at him he wouldn’t make eye contact

“you said this is the only way you take your sandwiches”

yALL

you only told him this once in passing because he was eating a sandwich with mayo

but pls tell you are putting the pieces together

he stopped to get you food and made it across campus in 5 minutes

the walk alONE SHOULD HAVE TAKEN 10 MINUTES

HE STOPPED AND GOT YOU FOOD TO MAKE SURE YOU WEREN’T SKIPPING ANY MEALS

MARRY THID MANFSJDLFG

alrighty anywho

obviously you took the sandwich and spent 5 minutes thanking him for getting it for you

he sat back down in his seat near the window as you guys chatted for a bit

the conversation slowed slightly and you were able to just look at him

the light was bouncing off his face perfectly

his eyes looked like freshly brewed coffee. they were warm and inviting

his smile somehow managed to outshine the light pouring in

there he was

in all of his glory

your muse

your inspiration

his expression shifted to one of confusion

“y/n, why are you looking at me like that”

he could be your subject for not only the sculpture but also the portfolio as well

“okay this may be an odd favor and you can feel free to say no”

your leg couldn’t stop bouncing up and down and you thought your hands might catch a cramp from all the wringing they were doing

“don’t be silly. what is it?”

“well, i was thinking maybe you could be the model for my sculpture.”

“of course i will but i thought it was supposed to be about mythology and i’m no greek god”

he chuckled a little bit

“shut up do. are you kidding me? your shoulders are like a mile wide. you have a great jawline and that smile? you’d have all the mortal girls falling for you i mean i did. that sounds like god-material to me”

he threw his head back laughing

mostly to hide the huge blush creeping up his cheeks

“okay, okay. i’ll pose for you. what do i have to do?”

“just sit still so that i can take some measurements of your face and then i’ll take some photos for reference afterwards.”

doyoung did as he was told for the most part

he sat there patiently

he kept peeking at your sketchbook as you laid out the rough ideas for a few of your other pieces

tbh you hadn’t even noticed

you were in the ZONE, you hadn’t been this inspired in a while and you wanted to take full advantage of it

you also hadn’t noticed the ,,,, um,,,, lack of space,,,,,, between the two of you

well doyoung had, to say the least

he sat there desperately hoping and praying that you wouldn’t notice how sharply he would breathe in everytime your hands touched his face to move its position

or that you couldn’t notice how much his hands were shaking and how he was constantly wiping them on his pants because they were very sweaty

finally, you had all the information you needed

as you stepped back and over to your chair in front of the clay, doyoung could finally breath

“doyoung, do you have any other classes today? i don’t want to keep you here if you have plans. you can go i can work off of the reference pictures”

he very vigorously shook his head

“no no, i’m free for the day.”

“okay. you should probably go get something to eat while get this started. this will probably be a long process.”

“yeah sure. do you want me to grab you anything while I’m gone?”

“nope i’m good. i already had the sandwich you brought me.”

“okay then i’ll be right back”

after he left it easy to feel the emptiness of the room

even though you were enveloped in your work it was still noticeable

the absence of his presence was palpable

the lack of it was almost suffocating

while you were worked on getting the basic shape and structure you found yourself unsettled

unable to get back into the ‘zone’ you found yourself in before

still, you pushed through the weird shift in the air, but it wasn’t long before doyoung came back with a bag of food

“hey doyoung.”

he glanced over at your pile of clay

“whoa. you made a lot of progress. okay i know you said that you didn’t want anything to eat but i brought burgers and some chips and stuff just in case.

“doyoung, you really didn’t have to. i would have been fine.”

he rolled his eyes but didn’t reply. he simply sat back in his chair and ate some of the fries that came with his burger

the hours seemed to fly by once doyoung returned

it also helped that you played music on the speaker that you brought

before you knew it, it was 5 pm and the sun was setting

you leaned back from your chair to stretch before standing and taking a good look at the sculpture

after about 4 hours of work, you were almost done

of course there were still things that needed to be touched up, like the hair and the eyes

you had decided on a pose of doyoung looking up and off into the distance

you turned and washed your hands in the sink at the back of the room

“here’s your burger if you want it. it might be a little cold, but it doesn’t have any mustard, lettuce, tomato, or pickle. that’s how you like it right?”

YALL HE DID IT AGAIN

HE REALLY JUST OUT HERE BEIN A WHOLE SWEETHEART

“yeah, how’d you know?”

“remember we met up for dinner before a study session a few weeks ago? that’s how you ordered your burger and you told me about how dill pickles were the bane of your existence”

“which they are” you chuckled “but i can’t believe you remembered that”

“of course, i did. i remember everything you tell me”

your heart melted for like the fiFTH TIME TODAY

you smiled and blushed before grabbing the wrapped burger from his hands

you guys sat and ate in comfortable silence

once you had finished you turned to him

“if you’re ready to leave you can. i just have a few things to add but it’ll be okay if you aren’t here. i’m just about out of daylight anyway.”

he playfully cocked his head to the side and crossed his arms

“y/n. i have a feeling you’re trying to get rid of me”

“maybe i am doyoung. whatcha gonna do about it?”

“cry.”

you both busted up laughing

once you had calmed down you looked at him

“seriously do. if you wanna go study or sleep or something go ahead”

he stood up and began to walk closer to you

“oh stop that. y/n it isn’t a burden for me to stay here with you. i’m honored that you would choose me to be the subject of your work and i love spending my time with you”

at this point he was standing right in front of you. looking down into your eyes.

there was no hiding the redness flushing your skin

after a few moments of silence, you looked back down at your hands

he speaks again as if you two hadn’t spent the past minute just staring into each other’s eyes

“so what next? are you gonna keep sculpting me or are you gonna draw and paint a bit?”

“ummm ,,, i kinda want to just finish the sculpture so that i don’t have to worry about it ya know?”

“yeah. where is the light switch?”

“right by the corner near the door”

as he flipped on the switch and light once again flooded the room

you were able to get a good look at the sculpture

despite it not being finished, you were still incredibly happy and proud of it

you sat back down in front of it ready to finish the work

it only took another hour or two to finish once you really got back into it

you spent the bulk of the time adding in all the little details

and you also decided last minute to add a wreath atop his head and the top of a toga

you took a final step back before sighing in relief

you were finished

you almost wanted to cry

while you were staring at the piece doyoung got up to stand behind you and look at it as well

“wow y/n. it’s beautiful.”

“well it’s you so i hope it is.”

LOOK AT YOU. BEING BOLD. OKAAYYYY

before he could say anything else, you walked back to the sink and while washing your hands, asked his help to put it in another room to dry for a few days before it goes into the kiln

“it’ll take a while to dry so i’m going to leave it here and head to bed”

“okay well i can walk you back to your apartment”

“alrighty”

okay so you grabbed all your stuff (with his help because doyoung is too nice to just walk beside you as you try carry 4 different bags filled with art supplies)

the walk back was kind of uneventful

you invited him in to drop all your things off before he headed out, not until you thanked him for spending the day with you and being your subject

okay so 2 weeks pass

you and doyoung meet up a few times because you need him to model a few poses for your portfolio

but FINALLY you finished your portfolio and sculpture and turned it all in

since then you have been relaxing, getting ready for winter break

well “relaxing” is a loose term

tbh you had been kinda stressed over the scores you were going to get on the artwork

and today, the day before the quarter ends, your professor would be handing back your portfolio & sculpture with a score

you decided to text doyoung after getting dismissed from class

y/n: “hey i get the score for my art project back today. do you want to meet up and we can find out together?”

doyoung: “oh my gosh yes. but are you sure you want me to be there?”

y/n: “of course do. you were such a big part of this, i couldn’t leave you out of it. besides you haven’t seen the finished portfolio”

doyoung: “okay. same art room as last time?”

y/n: “yep. i’ll see you in 20”

you were nervous. as you waited in the room, your legs couldn’t stay still so you decided to pace in hopes of calming yourself down

or at least having something to do

when he walked into the room, your eyes met

there was no hiding the frantic look in them either

“hey y/n. do you have it?”

you pulled a card from inside the front of your portfolio and set it down on the table

doyoung’s voice was soft and calming as he walked up to you

“can i look at it?”

he picked up the large folder

in a large gold print:

PROMETHEUS, he dies everyday but wouldn’t wish for any other way to spend eternity

“you chose me to represent Prometheus? what’s his story”

you began to recount the tale as doyoung slowly flipped through pages of your artwork

· “well he was the youngest of the titans, which were the creators of greek gods. it was said that he was also the kindest. when he looked upon the earth and saw how the humans were struggling, Prometheus felt pity and decided to give them a gift. he gave them a divine secret of the gods. he gave them fire. he did this despite knowing that Zeus would punish him if he found out. which he did. the other titans and gods were furious, so they tied him to a rock near the sea. every day an eagle would come and rip out prometheus’ liver and he would die. every night it would grow back bringing him back to life. this torturous routine goes on every day and night and according to the myth it continues until this day, as it will forever.”

as you finished the story doyoung closed the folder

all he said was “wow”

it made you nervous. “so ,,,,, do you like it?”

“y/n. this is beyond words. this is amazing. and you chose me?”

“well yeah i mean. you two just seemed to fit each other. you are the kindest person i know. you’re very generous too. so really it wouldn’t have worked if i had chosen anyone else or any other myth.”

he said nothing. just set down your work and hugged you.

you embraced each other. sharing this moment.

“y/n no matter the score on the other side of that car, just know that your work is beyond incredible. not just because it’s of me”

you both laughed before he continued

“seriously. you are an amazing artist. your art moves people. it makes me feel emotions that i haven’t felt in a while. it takes me on a journey.”

he pulled back and gave you one last smile before grabbing the card off of the table

“on 3”

“….1”

“….2”

“….3!”

a 97 was written in bright red marker

“oh my gosh y/n”

you two jumped back into each other’s arms

the smile on your face was ear to ear. there was no way it was going to fade any time soon

“I knew you could do it.”

“not without you i couldn’t have,” you say leaning back slightly, your arms still around his neck

he rolls his eyes at you

“seriously doyoung. if you hadn’t come by that day i don’t know what i would have done. you were my muse”

his arms were wrapped tightly around your waist

your eyes would have met if his weren’t staring at your lips right now

“y/n.” he whispered

“doyoung?”

“can i kiss you?”

“absolutely”

FUCKING FINALLY

ahem sorry I got a little excited for you

it was great. what can i say

it was everything you expected to be

before you thought that the whole “fireworks” thing was just movies overexaggerating

but NOW you can attest to that

the kiss with doyoung had so much built up tension and caring and passion and just wowza

when you finally pulled apart

both of you were slightly out of breath

doyoung still had this cute, dumb smile plastered on his face

he gave you a few more pecks

which of course made you have a big dumb smile plastered on your face

you actually pulled apart and out of his arms this time and took a look at the score card

beneath your score the professor left a little note

“i hope you don’t mind but i emailed the art gallery about your work. they have a small exhibition open if you’d like to showcase your art. here’s the email: _______. please consider it. you have serious talent.”

“an art gallery doyoung. an exhibition in an art gallery.”

tears fell down your face

this was an amazing opportunity

a dream came true

“i can come over tonight and we can email them.”

you just nodded your head

tbh you were still in shock

this was a huge opportunity

“so y/n. i know there is a lot going on right now but I can’t wait. will you be my girl/boy-friend?

“doyoung of course. can you help me take this stuff back to my apartment then if you want we can go grab something to eat?”

he nodded happily and grabbed the sculpture

THE END

goodness gracious that took a while

I hope you enjoyed reading this 5 thousand-word trainwreck

I know some of the stuff about creating sculptures isn’t accurate, but I need to make it work with the timeline I had in my head

I hope it didn’t bother anyone too much

but yeah

thanks for reading

also I didn’t proofread this so hopefully there aren’t many mistakes

if there are just message me and I’ll fix them

also also here’s a sequel type thing that doesn’t have to be seen as a sequel umm it isn’t as good as this one but here ya go

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brightsun-and-darkmidnight · 4 years

Text

Heartbeat: A Fragile Reminder

TITLE: Heartbeat: A Fragile Reminder

CHAPTER NO./ONE SHOT: Chapter 34 / ?

AUTHOR: brightsun-and-dark midnight

ORIGINAL IMAGINE: Imagine Loki falling in love with a Midgardian and his words to Thor about Jane during Dark World coming back to haunt him. “It would be a heartbeat. You would never be ready.”

RATING: M for Mature

NOTES/WARNINGS: ~▪︎~FOR THE WHOLE STORY~▪︎~

AUTHOR'S NOTES: Check Masterlist. It's going to be a long read. I try to keep each chapter around 3,000 words. *****sorry this chapter is not during December and posted way after but an update is finally here*****

My Ao3: brightsun_and_darkmidnight

!-!TRIGGER WARNING(S)!-!

So many triggers, read ALL of them!

Swearing. Angst. Death. Depression. Violence. Self-harm. Regret. Carelessness for safety. Doubts. Torture. NSFW. Smut. Fluff. And Of Course- Mischief.

Summary: Christmas is celebrated at the tower and some conversations leave Alicia troubled even though she is supposed to stay away from stress.

~ ~ ENJOY ~ ~

Loki got out of bed when breakfast was delivered. "Alicia you need to eat."

Alicia sat up more once her table was pushed to her with a sample of everything.

Loki watched as Alicia ate. "How do your wrists feel?"

"They feel good. I can actually use my hands now." Alicia smiled slightly. "I can't wait to see everyone today. Susan said the kids are excited."

Loki smiled at the effort of a subject change. "Yes they are excited. The gifts are all wrapped and the chefs have started cooking."

Alicia smiled but Loki knew she hated not doing those things herself.

"Well Love. Time for your morning bath."

Loki watched as Alicia got into her wheelchair and started to roll herself to the bathroom. He readied the bath as she got rid of her clothes. When she started to stand he watched but let her walk and get in the tub by herself.

Instead of a content sound she groaned.

With her eyes closed she stated. "I wish we could be intimate."

Loki felt his eyebrows shoot up. "Alicia you need to heal."

"No I mean…" Alicia's voice was filled with sadness. "I miss falling asleep with you."

Loki wet a cloth and began cleaning her. "I miss it too. But one day we will be able to have those intimate moments."

Alicia hummed as Loki helped her bathe and dry.

Loki helped dress Alicia then left her with a servant to help with makeup and hair.

Loki went to get ready for the day and when he came back to Alicia's room Eir was there with Hassiba.

Hassiba turned and smiled. "Come here silly boy. We were discussing precautions for the day."

Alicia was still seated in her wheelchair. "They want to have Hassiba and a few nurses in the same room wherever I go."

Eir spoke, "that is the simplest way of putting it. We are worried because should she have a vision trying to pop up, or magic flares we are worried about how that would affect her."

Hassiba went to a tray and gave Alicia the tumbler cup. "Emma had enough of this mixed up so it will get you through the day. It is to help with your magic flow to help prevent any issues."

With a sarcastic "yay" Alicia took a sip and grimaced. "So good."

Eir spoke with a hard stare at Alicia. "If you would prefer staying here all day you can."

Alicia took another sip and held it up as a cheers. "Disgusting drink it is."

Hassiba smiled. "Good choice dear. Now let's get you to the floor set up for the party."

There was a huge tree decorated beautifully with probably too many gifts under and around it. There were tables to sit at and some with plenty of room for food. There was still enough room to dance and plenty of beverages available.

Alicia wished she could have done something to help with the room.

The elevator opened and everyone from the team walked in.

They all stayed silent for a moment.

Alicia looked at everyone. "So… how is everyone?" Her eyes landed on Bruce.

Bruce's big smile called for attention. "The transition is going well."

Alicia saw the green skin and much larger body of Bruce, the Hulks body. "I can see that. So you are going through with it."

"Still needs some work but I will get it soon."

Alicia nodded and her eyes went to Nat who was looking at Bruce with admiration.

The elevator dinged again and Pepper joined everyone. She walked over to Alicia and let her feel the baby bump.

Alicia laughed as her hand was hit. "She is strong."

"Yes. Thankfully it won't be much longer until she gets here."

Pepper hissed an inhale as Alicia's hand was pushed on.

Alicia smiled as she removed her hand. "I think she is excited."

Pepper laughed briefly. "Maybe a little but not as much as I am to have her in my arms. Not poking my bladder all the time or stretching into my lungs."

Hassiba was still standing by Alicia. "I am sure she is excited to meet you. Newborns are always searching for that voice they have always known."

Alicia gestured to Hassiba. "This is Hassiba, she is one of the many who are helping me today. I am not allowed to get stressed or get out of this chair without supervision."

Hassiba smiled at Alicia, "my dear it is only for a little while. Soon you will back to your normal life."

Alicia looked over where the Avengers were all talking, Loki included. He smiled and his face became excited as he looked at his phone. He seemed to excuse himself as he answered.

Pepper's eyes followed Alicia's. "When Loki is not with you he goes over all the mission reports dealing with your father."

"Is there anything you can tell me?"

Pepper glanced at Hassiba before replying. "The reason why no one knew about the secret entrance is because there is some sort of cloaking spell. Tony was up testing if his technology was the issue after that mission. Loki has been helping with upgrading the analyzing parts of the suit."

Alicia's eyebrows scrunched. "He never told me any of that."

Hassiba's hand on Alicia's shoulder felt heavy. "No stress remember dear? Let's try to have a good time today."

Loki walked over with a big smile that seemed to slowly fade as he seen Alicia's face.

Hassiba whispered in Alicia's ear. "We can deal with it later."

Loki looked at Alicia with concerned eyes. "Something wrong?"

Alicia nodded at Hassiba then replied to Loki. "Something for later on. Let's have a good time."

"Alright Love. Well I just got off of the phone with Susan and everyone just got into the car." Loki smiled as he played with his ear, "the kids are really excited."

Alicia laughed. "Yes they tend to be loud. I want to get a drink, like water."

Hassiba stopped Alicia. "You have a drink."

Alicia knew disgust was on her face but still took a large sip of the beverage Emma made.

When everyone arrived the kids commented on the wheelchair, saying it was cool. Then Loki took the kids with Michael to make their plates.

Susan stayed with Alicia. "What kind of training were you doing?"

Alicia stared at Loki helping the kids make their plates. "Just stuff with my magic. It stressed my body too much and I can't do much by myself currently, to let my body heal."

Susan hummed. "Well I am glad you are okay now. And please tell me the gifts under the tree are not all for the kids."

Alicia grinned. "I am sure there are some for everyone under there."

Susan gave Alicia a glare.

Alicia laughed. "Relax, some of that is going to my house. Now go get some food."

"More like most of those gifts." Susan pointed at Alicia like she did when mad.

To which Alicia sported a huge grin.

Hassiba placed Alicia at a table with everyone and the nurses made Alicia's plates. Dinner was good but the children begged and begged to open gifts after everyone was done. Loki explained each child had their own special wrapping paper and to only open those ones.

Susan sat with Alicia and watched Loki and Michael try to keep the kids in order.

"This is very entertaining to watch." Alicia sipped from the second cup of disgusting beverage but she did have to admit Emma knew what she was doing. Alicia was calm and her magic was flowing smoothly.

Loki helped little Kevin by keeping gifts by him so he didn't need to get up and try to open his siblings gifts.

Susan laughed, "well Loki is learning quick."

Alicia laughed. "Yes. Well, he better. You know he says he wants his own army? -thats how many kids he wants."

Susan howled in laughter. "You are going to be busy." She sent a wink to Alicia then smirked. "Him with a little girl? He would be wrapped around his little girls fingers."

"And when she has her first boyfriend…"

Susan gave Alicia an accusing look. "Those boys won't worry about Loki. They would fear you."

Alicia snorted. "You are probably right." Alicia paused watching Loki's joyful face as Kevin started to play with a life like dog. "I hope they have his wide range of facial expressions… and I think I want a boy."

Susan teased before walking over to her children. "With making that army I am sure you will have plenty of both."

Alicia looked to Hassiba. "That was hard… to talk about children."

The old witch smiled kindly. "Dear you have a lifetime ahead of you with numerous possibilities. So don't just assume the worst. Your visions are not set in stone but are ripples of water with no clear picture."

"Thank you Hassiba but I just wish I could focus more."

"You are asleep and who thinks when they are not conscious? I don't know anyone either. Now keep your happy face on, this is almost over."

Alicia nodded.

Once all of the items were out of the wrapping paper they wanted all of them opened to which Susan and Michael told them only a couple.

Alicia called out to Susan and Michael and gave them a bulk pack of batteries and when they came over... Loki gave Alicia the envelope for the parents to open.

Alicia handed the envelope to Susan. "Don't say anything just open it. I know we don't usually do gifts for the other but I think you are going to like this."

Susan fanned tears away as she looked at everything needed for a date night in the envelope. "This is too much."

Loki smiled. "Nonsense. We just want you to enjoy yourselves."

Michael smiled at Susan. "We haven't had a date night in a long time."

Susan hugged both Loki and Alicia. "Thank you." She fanned more tears away. "Thats too much. You guys made me cry. Thanks."

Loki smiled. "Why do you think we bought so much toys? Some need to go to our house for when we watch them."

"Dad I want you to open this" Justin yelled from the station that was now known as the 'open toy station.'

Emily was playing on the stick horse and was excitedly hopping around on it.

Alicia nudged Loki. "I told you she would love it."

Loki had a mixture of amusement and horror. "It is still disturbing."

Hassiba agreed. "It is a bit odd…"

Alicia playfully rolled her eyes. "Its just a toy."

Loki waited until he had a moment with Alicia so he could hand her a box.

Alicia had a big smile. "Loki, what is this?" She started to open it then seen a whole bunch of new teas.

Loki grinned. "I figured we could try some new teas together."

Alicia beamed. "I love it! I will make some for us later."

"Perhaps I should have given you teas all this time. This is a far better reaction than any piece of jewelry."

Alicia pulled him to give him a kiss as they laughed.

"I love you" was breathed onto Loki's lips and they couldn't stop smiling.

Loki was happy he took into consideration all the past times of just jewelry, while she accepted them, perhaps she wasn't so satisfied. Things gifted in his colors now seemed selfish since it was mostly for his own gain of marking her as his own.

He really wanted to make her happy. The teas might have been cheaper than the jewelry but it made her happy.

Alicia was his life and he could not wait to show her off in the most official way with their wedding ceremony. Loki would make sure that day would happen once everything settled with her family. Marcus could walk her down the isle. Alicia's beauty would captivate him so much he would hold his breath for a moment. When she would make it to him he would exhale so obvious it would make her giggle as she was now.

When Loki backed out of the very sloppy kiss Alicia was still laughing and it made Loki just stare at her. He wasn't sure the last time she laughed so much. So when she was able to stop laughing she looked at him with a confused smile.

"You are beautiful."

His answer got a genuine smile.

Alicia nodded to Hassiba before speaking, "Loki I got you something as well."

Hassiba went to the tree and got a box wrapped in green shining paper with black and gold ribbon.

Hassiba gave Alicia the box who smiled and gave it to Loki.

Loki smiled as he unwrapped the box and opened it.

Alicia toyed with the wrappings on her wrists, "I wanted to give you something special…"

Loki looked at the cover and noticed it as an older sketch book from when they were at her apartment. He glanced at Alicia before opening it. Inside were beautiful sketches...of him. The first few were of him at Alicia's apartment. Then in different scenarios such as: their dates, the outside of their house, his proposal in the pjs he was in that morning, various ones of him reading, and then another sketch of the vision in the hospital room when Alicia was holding a baby. The rest of the sketchbook was empty.

Alicia offered a timid smile. "I figured I could finish the book as life takes us through its journey…"

Loki kissed Alicia's forehead. "I love that idea. Lets go make memories of today then."

Alicia and Loki played with the kids, as did most of the Avengers. Soon they were yawning and little Kevin was getting cranky. Alicia wished them well as they left with bags filled with toys and clothes.

A nurse went to Hassiba and whispered something.

The elder smiled, "Time for your bedtime Dear. Emma is ready for you."

Thor inquired quickly, "Loki are you going to join Asgard in their celebrations as well?"

"They are in the plans." Loki kissed Alicia's head, "Asgardians celebrate a month after New Years for their own feast for the safety for all till the next celebration."

Alicia mumbled, "sounds nice."

Loki kissed her forehead, "If you are not able to go, I will be going for you and have plenty of food sent to you."

Alicia yawned.. "sounds good."

Hassiba guided the wheelchair to her room in the healing quarters.

Loki helped get Alicia situated on the bed, gave her a kiss and promised, "I will be here for breakfast."

Alicia mumbled with a tired slur. "Goodnight Loki. I love you."

"I love you too."

As Alicia closed her eyes Loki went to Hassiba to watch with her.

Loki waited until the hard part of this was over but Alicia's moments of struggle passed quickly.

Hassiba patted Loki's shoulder. "Emma is getting better at guiding her. So do not worry. Get some rest."

"Let me know if anything changes."

"I will. Now go rest."

Loki nodded and went to his own rooms.

Loki laid in bed and wished for sleep to come but it did not until the early hours of the morning.

He missed Alicia sleeping with him.

He wanted to hold her and never let go.

He wanted to protect her but he couldn't.

#brightsun-and-darkmidnight #Heartbeat: A Fragile Reminder #chapter 34 #loki #check triggers #check description

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