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pollyaunt · 2 years

Note

Can you make a fanfic that is canon divergent as it’s in the same setting where Cardan and Jude are enemies to lovers but Cardan is a brooding boy and Jude is a gentle girl? https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/BroodingBoyGentleGirl

WHEN LIGHT MEETS THE DARK: one-shot

Fandom: The Folk Of The Air

TW: Mentions of smoking & some swearing.

Summary: He broods, she smiles. He grunts, she chuckles. He scowls, she pouts. Total opposites, yet they still somehow are meant for each other.

a/n: i tried my best 😬🥂

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I lit up my cigarette before taking an inhale, enjoying the taste of husky smoke in my mouth and made my way towards my jeep in the nearly empty school parking lot.

I took another inhale when I felt a presence hoovering above me but I didn't get a chance to look what was happening because the next second, I was smashed onto the ground with a girl's body above mine.

"Ow, ow, ow. I'm so sorry, oh my God! I didn't mean to push you-"

"Can you shut the fuck up?" My voice came out harsher than I intended and she scrambled away from me, causing me to wince in pain.

I sat upright after a few moments and noticed a few scratches on my tattooed arms all the while the girl was babbling about how late she was going to be and how sorry she was.

"Are you always this annoying?" I scowled.

She looked up at me for the first time since she started recollecting her sharpies and other art crap from the ground causing my breath to hitch.

Her hazel eyes were lit with a burning fire despite their softness, her brown chestnut hair were neatly blow dried with a black polka dot bandana across it. She was wearing a white mini skirt with a pale green crop top and matching white sneakers. The sun made her tanned skin turn radiant and the clothes she wore stuck to her curvy figure as prominently as possible.

Holy fucking Gods, she was definitely the most beautiful girl I had ever met.

Her eyes widened and I followed her gaze at my arms where blood had started pooling due to the road, stones and sticks I fell onto. She started chanting under her breath and said, "No, no, no, no. Follow me, I've a first aid kit in my car."

I glared at her, "I don't need your help. You've caused enough damage to me so I'd like you to go and leave me the fuck alone."

She winced at my jarring words and a pang of guilt went out in me before it got dissolved as equally as it came. Despite my rude behavior, she looked at her watch her face portraying her emotions easily to make me realize an internal debate was going before she finally came to a conclusion.

In a much softer and gentler tone she said, "Let me help you with those or else you'd get an infection. It's the least I can do after knowing I was the cause of them and it'll make me feel equally guilty-"

I clenched my jaw and raised a hand to stop her rambling, "I got your fucking point. Now, stop talking it's giving me a headache."

Lies. Such dirty little lies I spoke and if the flash of hurt that occurred on her face was any indication, it just made me feel ever more guilty. Yet still I said, "Let's go to your car."

She nodded and I started following her towards the end of the parking lot where a light yellow convertible stood. She quietly went and took out the kit from the trunk before motioning me to sit on the hood.

The silence was killing me. Even though I had met her for only a few minutes, I knew she was the polar opposite of me in every way. So just to see her mood lifted back for whatever reason I said, "I'm sorry."

She looked at me with surprise, pausing her ministrations on my scratches and gave me a kind smile, "It's okay. I'm sure you must be having a bad day."

I kept looking at her while she dabbed the cotton with the lotion on my arms and neatly wrapping them in bandages. I noticed how a single strand of her hair fell over her face, the way the light in her eyes remained unblinking and most importantly that innocent and warm smile that was always on her face.

"There all done."

I didn't realize it was over so soon and momentarily comprehended how my cheeks were burning. Goddamn this had never fucking happened what the hell was wrong with me?

I coughed and stood up from her car meanwhile she packed her stuff and went back to keep it in the trunk. Not sure what to do with how my body was suddenly feeling flustered, I remained there when she returned with a piece of paper and a number on it.

She extended it to me with that still gods damned smile on her face and said, "You can call me if you need anything, here's my number."

I took it from her absentmindedly, my mouth working on it's own accord, "Why? Why are you being so nice and...kind to me? Especially after how I treated you."

She sighed and turned around to settle in her car. When she started the engine, I moved away from my spot and she softly replied to, "In Harry Styles's words, Treat people with kindness."

With that she left leaving me standing alone in the parking lot, only two things on my mind. First, the world had never treated people like me with such gentleness until now which is why I was quite surprised to find someone like her.

Second, I never got to ask the girl her name.

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PHEWWW ITS FINALLY DONE OMFGGGG

I HOPE ITS GOOD CUZ THIS IS THE BEST I COULD DO.

@jurdannet @slightlyrebelliouswriter23 @thewickedkings @thekingdomofelfhame @greenbriarxrose @cinnamonsketchdust @charincharge @clockworkgraystairs @jurdanhell @rhysandswingspan

#jurdan #holly black #tfota #tfota fic #the folk of the air #cardan x jude #jude x cardan #jude duarte #cardan greenbriar #tcp #twk #tqon

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cruelprincae · 4 months

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@sunnydalescoobiies sent from 🐝 * ― 𝑾𝑰𝑵𝑻𝑬𝑹 𝑨𝑵𝑫 𝑪𝑯𝑹𝑰𝑺𝑻𝑴𝑨𝑺 𝑷𝑹𝑶𝑴𝑷𝑻𝑺.

❛ i've never seen snow before. ❜ / through @crownedhopelesss

Were one to consider the fact that part of Elfhame runs beneath the mortal land, spreading under its ground like festering weeds then it is perhaps far from unheard of that part of its weather has begun bleeding into the mortal territory with time. And, though at first glance it appears humane if one is to pay closer attention, they would realise someone is off, similar to how mortal eyes can briefly spot the falter to a Fae's glamour from the very corner of their eyes or when looking at a glamour through rock with a natural hole in its midst; the snowflakes gliding from the grey-covered sky are light as a feather and as translucent as glass, reflecting the light of day in a way that casts iridescent prisms every time it caught the eye of someone ― be it Fae or mere mortal ― in just the right way. The green blossoms are all covered by this snow, gathering in piles in some particular areas like the bark of trees, or the very top of the plants and mushrooms; all are snowed, except the path the pair is walking in, which gives the illusion of being recently trimmed, even if Cardan knows no Folk in their right mind would go out of their way to tend to a land ( a mortal one, nonetheless ) had they not been inhabiting in it.

That can mean either of the following things; the land can be absorbing the magic coursing below its grounds like a child in the womb, or the land is infested with solitary Fae but if the latter were to be true, then there would be evidently more signs than a merely trimmed road and glassy snow. It is relieving, in a way, to know that the Prince needs not to worry about his kind for the time being ― and yet, all relief is short-lived, for the closer they get to the borders of Elfhame, the more danger lurks around each and every corner like a ghostly breath on a cold day.

Nowhere in Faerie is safe, be it the High or the Lower Courts. That is yet another lesson he had learnt the hard way when he was little still. However, that does not necessarily mean that the Folk inhabiting the mortal land are any less of a threat for the majority of them are even more feral and bloodthirsty than the bound citizens of Elfhame.

But Cardan needs not to worry for he has a slayer by his side; an even wilder and far more feral than Fae can ever be, and of that he is certain. Perhaps, it is that exact unknown, that danger in which the majority of her appeal lies. Himself is never particularly drawn to things that are good for him, anyway.

❛ I would have thought you did. The weather in this land is feeble and impervious to change. You have not seen snow, not once ? ❜ Inquires the Prince. His sharp features are drawn with evident curiosity behind the dark locks that reach his cheeks, despite the Cheshire grin still lingering across his plumb lips. Reaching into the leather bag strapped across his shoulders ― one enchanted to hold a number of items vaster than any normal bag would ― Cardan retrieves a woollen cloak embroidered with fur around the hems, designed particularly to keep one warm in the freezing temperatures of the Court of Moths. ❛ You shall need this. You may not be cold just yet, but human bodies are not made to withstand the Faerie chill. Slayer or not. ❜

#sunnydalescoobiies #( sunnydalescoobiies | buffy summers )#( 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐮𝐧 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐄𝐥𝐟𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐞 ┊ main au )#( 𝐍𝐨 𝐤𝐞𝐲 𝐟𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐤 ┊ crossover )

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mmvalentine · 3 years

Text

The Pianist pt 3 | Jurdan

Modern AU. Part 1 part 2 part 4

Jude scooped her hat off the ground and bolted.

She knew full well that she wasn't as good as the Juilliard students, but it was something else entirely to hear Nicasia laugh her head off as she strode off. To hear Valerian mimicking her as his voice replaced hers to echo around the subway station.

To see Cardan turn away from her and walk away like he couldn't even stand to look at her.

It wasn’t that she thought she thought she was something special. Not like the Juilliard students, with their showcases and enormous posters. It was just that Jude's voice was the only thing she had left of her mother. She didn't fancy herself any kind of super talent, but she had been told that she sounded just like her mom. And that was enough for Jude to love to sing.

The anger pooled in her gut, and soothed the heated shame from her cheeks. Fuck those guys. She hadn't marched onto the stage at their beloved school. She hadn't asked them to come see her. Up the road there was some guy playing the spoons; you could busk anything in New York and she didn't need their permission.

Still. The fifty dollar tip from yesterday didn't seem to mean as much now. A small voice that Jude despised whole heartedly wondered if it had been pity money.

She slowed down, sighed, and rounded the corner. May as well turn back home.

It was then she heard the pounding footsteps behind her.

"Jude!"

She turned, and was surprised to see Locke standing there, panting. Jude narrowed her eyes.

"What," she spat, "did you follow me down the block to keep taunting me?"

"No!" Locke said quickly. He shook his fox coloured head. "No, not at all. Hey, sorry about my friends. They're assholes and they can't sing anyway."

Jude didn't bite. He hadn't stopped them at the time.

"Really," Locke pressed. "They just think they can get a rise out of you. They don't actually think you're bad, or anything."

Jude rolled her eyes, and kept walking. "Sure, whatever," she said.

"No wait!" Locke ran out in front of her. "I'm Locke," he told her.

"So?" Jude shot out.

"So, I'm producing this musical at one of my father's playhouses next month, and I think you have just the perfect voice for my lead role. You should come be part of it."

"No," Jude said, and tried to walk on. Locke stopped her again.

"I'm serious!" Locke said. "You have a gorgeous voice, and you could get a lot of attention for performing with us. My dad's a Broadway producer, you know."

"I couldn't give two shits who your dad is," Jude hissed, and Locke sighed.

"Okay look," he said. "I get it, you've been waiting our table for four years and you have no reason to trust me as far as you can throw me. I know, alright? But... give me a chance."

Jude stared at him skeptically, but didn't walk away. Locke pulled a business card out of his pocket.

"I'm having a party this weekend. Come meet the crew. If you like us, come sing with us. If not, I won't bother you again. Okay?"

"Don't you have to be like thirty and in a suit to carry business cards?" Jude asked. But took it anyway. Locke laughed.

"You're funny Jude," he said as he turned away. "I like you."

"Yeah well the jury's still out for you," Jude grumbled, but Locke was already disappearing through the crowd.

/////

Nicasia sat down in Cardan's lap, and he almost spilled his drink.

"What do you want, Nicasia?" he asked, irritated.

"What do you mean, darling?" Nicasia purred, twining her arms around his neck. She wore a shiny green dress that rode up high on her thighs, and seemed to shove her cleavage under his chin. Subtle as a frying pan to the head, was Nicasia.

"You know what I mean."

Nicasia wriggled in his lap. "I want you, silly." She tugged his earlobe between her teeth.

"Since when?" Cardan asked, pulling away. Nicasia stared at him, wide-eyed.

"Since always, babe."

"Oh yeah? And where were you when I called you and told you I was stressed about my parents coming through?"

Nicasia rolled her eyes. "You're always stressed."

"What about how you've been hooking up with Locke for the past three months?"

"Babe you know we're not exclusive."

"Well then don't call me babe."

Nicasia frowned. "What's gotten into you?" she asked. "You’re always so fucking cranky these days.”

"Nothing," Cardan said, and pushed her out of his lap. "I'm just sick of this. Don't come round to my place anymore."

"Cardan!"

But Cardan didn't come back.

To be fair to Nicasia, she was right. They had dated in high school but since they got into Juilliard, they had agreed to see other people. And then they sort of drifted apart, and now it seemed that Nicasia only came round when she needed sex and there was nothing better on offer. They hadn't slept together now in months, and honestly, Cardan had no desire to anymore. He couldn't have said when exactly it had started, but lately when he was around Nicasia, he just felt... bored. And sometimes, when he looked too hard at her face, he could swear that she was bored, too.

At any rate, Cardan was fairly sure him calling it off would actually make very little difference to their relationship.

He wandered through the party, walking up the stairs and nodding at people who clapped him on the shoulder or called out his name. He recognised barely any of them.

And then he heard it.

Heard Jude's voice, he was sure of it. But how could that be? Why would she be at one of Locke's parties?

Cardan followed the sound until there she was, standing on a table, her mahogany hair piled on top of her head in a messy bun, and wearing a tight black dress with long sleeves and a high neckline. She was curved like a cello, and she laughed as she sang and she looked magnificent.

"Jude?"

Around her, a small crowd of people sang along. Her voice carried above the others, and she looked so natural in the centre there that for a second, it didn't seem strange that she was here at a Juilliard party at all.

Jude looked up when he called her name, and to his surprise, she smiled wider.

"Cardan!" she cried. "The cruel prince of Juilliard himself!" She gave a mock bow. "I should have known I'd run into you here."

"That's Cardan," someone whispered, loud and drunk. "Do you think he's really as good as they say, or is it all just hype?"

Jude heard it too, and her eyes sparkled. Cardan hated them all. He rolled his eyes, and left the room.

"Wait up!" Jude slid down from the table, and followed him. He stopped at a landing that looked over the living room.

"What are you doing here?" Cardan asked her.

"Your friend Locke invited me," she said. He smelled whiskey on her breath. "Something about wanting me to sing in his musical."

"Oh." Cardan blinked. "Well. You should."

Jude leaned on the railing. "I don't know," she said. "Locke seems like kind of a dick."

"He is," Cardan agreed. Suddenly he felt way too sober. "But he's connected, and you may as well use him if he's offering."

Jude gave an exaggerated groan. "Ugh I just don't want to have to kiss Locke's ass in order to get ahead," she said.

"So don't," Cardan said. "Just go and be amazing, and let your voice do the talking. Er, figuratively."

Jude appeared to consider it. Cardan put his forearms on the railing next to her. "Or what? You're gonna sing in subway tunnels the rest of your life? You're too good for that Jude," he said.

Honestly, the words were coming out of their own accord. He definitely needed another drink. Or eight. Cardan was just considering leaving Jude and finding a bottle when she leaned forward suddenly, and kissed him on the mouth.

For a moment, Cardan just froze.

Then his eyes slid closed and he cradled her jaw gently in his hand, and kissed her back softly. She tasted like scotch and caramel, and something very hot was just waking in his stomach when she pulled away as abruptly as she had come in.

Jude shook her head as if dazed. "I'm sorry," she mumbled. "I shouldn't..."

She didn't finish the sentence, just slipped through the crowd and left him cold by the railing.

****

Oh noooo my babies 🥺🥺🥺

JURDAN MASTERLIST

TAGLIST: @asteria-of-mars @swankii-art-teacher @loosingdreams @feysand-loml @cityofbookish @story-scribbler

#jurdan #jurdan fic #tfota #mine

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adxmparriish · 3 years

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sirens in the beat of your heart - read on ao3

writer: lizziebxnnet / godgavemelou words: 3510 rating: explicit

As Jude’s hands grab Cardan’s face, cradling him between her palms, the pounding on the door rattles her nerves. She can hear them trying to pry it open. They only have a few moments.

“Everything is going to be fine,” Jude assures him. It feels ridiculous coming from her mouth, with the alarms blaring and the door on the brink of being busted down. She knows she’s right, though. She can feel it.

OR an AU where Jude and Cardan rob a bank.

I'm tagging a few blogs I tagged for Folktober! If you enjoy please reblog and share <3 @jurdanhell @jurdannet @slightlyrebelliouswriter23 @clockworkgraystairs

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As the alarm rings loudly inside the Southern Standard Bank, Jude thinks to herself, We’ve really done it this time.

There is endless shouting and random popping coming from behind her as she sprints down the hall, her shoes pounding the marble floor. Her breath is ragged, her heart is racing, and she prays to a God she doesn’t believe in that she can get to the vault in time. The long red wig she’s wearing keeps getting in her eyes and her mouth, and she brushes it back again as she makes her way to where she needs to go. Another pop and a bullet wizzes past her shoulder. The cops are narrowing in on her.

She counts the doors as she runs. One, two, three, four, until she reaches the eighth, kicking it in and slamming it behind her when she’s safely inside. Someone’s desk sits abandoned, and quickly she realizes it’s owner is knocked out cold underneath it, his hands tied behind his back. Jude lets out a relieved breath. She quickly moves, throwing all her weight into moving the desk in front of the door. It won’t hold the police long, but hopefully long enough so she can get out of here.

Right as she’s positioning the desk, fists begin to pound the hard steel of the door. They’re all shouting, their words mixing together. She does her best to ignore them, moving away from the door and into the vault that’s standing wide-open, fluorescent lights bleeding into the room.

“We’ve got company!” Jude shouts into the vault before she enters.

“The bags are full, we just need to get to the underground.”

Jude sees Cardan kneeling on the floor, zipping up two duffel bags. He hasn’t packed up all the money, nowhere close, but it’s enough to keep them going for a long time, years probably, and that’s enough. Cardan’s blonde wig sticks to his forehead with sweat, his hands shaky as he finishes his work. After all their years of robbing, it’s never gotten easier on him. Sure, they mostly steal from smaller places, just enough to get by for a few weeks. Robbing a well-known bank… well, it’s certainly new for both of them.

Jude kneels beside him, grabbing a handle of her bag, before looking him in the eyes. He’s so nervous and scared, it bleeds into all his features. Jude is scared too, every inch of her lit up with nerves, but she keeps it together. For Cardan, she can do that. They need this.

“Give me the plan,” she demands, hoping it’ll calm him down to talk to her.

“There’s a door behind the vault that leads to an underground tunnel. We are going to take it all the way to the end, where the car is waiting. Then we ditch the disguises, and drive as far south as we can.” Cardan exhales shakily.

As Jude’s hands grab Cardan’s face, cradling him between her palms, the pounding on the door rattles her nerves. She can hear them trying to pry it open. They only have a few moments.

Cardan’s inky eyes look misty, but he nods. His hands grab his own bag, shouldering it as they stand. Jude puts her own on as well, and quickly they move to the hidden door behind the massive vault. When they’re both inside the passageway, the door separating them from the police finally crashes open. Quickly, they slam the door, Cardan pulling out a chain from his own bag.

He hands it to Jude and her hands fumble as she wraps it around the handles, finally snapping the heavy duty lock. The snap of it rattles them both, and at once they begin to run. Jude’s hand finds Cardan’s as they sprint through the tunnels, the low yellow of the emergency lights their only companion.

Jude has studied the map of the tunnels Vivi stole for her a thousand times. She knows they don’t have long to go. The curves are winding and narrow, but only a mile or so away from the bank. It’s eerie as they run, the only sounds being their feet on the concrete and their ragged breathing. Cardan’s hand is sweaty, his fingers struggling to keep hold on hers as they grow tired. The bag of money on her shoulder slams against her thigh every time she takes a step.

Finally, when Jude is pretty sure she can’t run another minute, the dim light of the outside shines underneath another door at the end of the tunnel. They slow down when they reach it, Cardan putting his ear to the metal to listen. They’re quiet for a few moments before he smiles wide, the first bit of happiness Jude has seen on his face in days.

“No sirens, no nothing. I think we’re clear.”

They open the door and light blinds them, the afternoon sun blazing down brightly. Their car sits exactly where Vivi parked it, a beat up old Honda she bought with cash a few weeks ago. They move with haste, opening the trunk and finding their new clothes. They change behind the car, discarding their other clothes and their wigs. Jude wraps them in a trash bag before throwing them in the trunk and closing it. They’ll discard everything later - now, time is of the essence. Cardan climbs in the driver’s seat, Jude next to him, and they both take a deep breath.

“Remember Cardan, we want to go slow. We don’t want to look suspicious. They don’t know about this car, if we aren’t here when they get here, they won’t find us.”

“Got it,” he says, fingers shaking as he tries to start the ignition.

Jude grabs his hand, squeezing his fingers tightly. Her own hand threatens to tremble but she can’t let it take over. Not right now.

“Baby, we can do this. We are almost done, and then we don’t have to worry again. Not for a long time. Maybe not ever.”

Cardan’s eyes find her own and his breathing is shallow as he tries to stay calm.

“We can do this,” he repeats back to her. Jude grins. He doesn’t look completely sure, but regardless, his fingers finally turn the key and the car starts.

Slowly but surely, they pull out of the alley. They leave the radio off, listening closely as they edge on to the street, heading to the highway. Jude can hear sirens, but the sound is distant. They must still be back at the bank. They move at the speed limit, keeping their eyes peeled, but so far, they don’t see anything suspicious. They aren’t being followed.

The few minutes it takes to get the highway seem to drag on forever, Jude’s leg shaking as anxiety pricks at her. Cardan’s own hands tremble on the steering wheel. They don’t say a word to each other as they drive. Right before they need to turn on to the highway, they get stopped by a red light. Of course, Jude thinks.

The car is stifling, so Jude rolls her window down. Only a little longer before they truly get away. Only a couple miles of interstate before they can find some back roads and get lost, head south, completely start over. She has to fight a smile from breaking over her features. If only the damn red light could turn green.

Then, like a sledgehammer to the heart, she hears more sirens. They start to grow louder, and the light isn’t changing. They can’t run the red without looking suspicious, and Cardan looks over at her, his eyes wide and terrified. Her own breathing grows stuttered and she looks in her side mirror, trying to find the blue and red lights. How did they find them already? There weren’t any cars around them.

“What do we do, Jude?” Cardan asks, his knuckles white as he grips the wheel.

“If they’ve found us, we have to go as fast as we can. Hit the gas and go. Don’t stop for anything.” Jude’s voice quivers, but she tries to hide it. They were so close, she really thought they were going to get away.

Like a gift from the Heavens, the light finally turns green but they can’t move, as the car in front of them hasn’t. Jude fights the urge to scream as they remain still, the sirens growing louder in her ears. They need to move, and quickly.

A few more seconds tick by and Cardan’s fist pounds on the dashboard, shaking the car. Jude jumps in her seat, her nerves shot.

“What the fuck is going on?”

Finally, at the same time, they see it. An ambulance flies through the intersection, the lights and siren blaring as they go. They watch it go by, mouths hanging open, not even noticing the car in front of them has finally gone on. Someone behind them honks their horn and finally, Cardan moves, taking their exit and merging onto the highway.

When their tires hit the black of the asphalt, the long expanse of road that will take them south, Cardan’s lips break into a smile that overtakes his entire face. A laugh erupts from his chest, and Jude can’t help herself but to do the same, giggles overtaking her quickly as she finally realizes they made it. They fucking did it.

Tears leak from Jude’s eyes as she laughs, her cheeks beginning to hurt from it. One of Cardan’s hands finds her own, gripping it tight over the center console as they drive.

“I can’t believe we mistook the sirens for cops and didn’t recognize them as an ambulance,” Jude says when her laughs finally calm down.

“I was a little busy shitting myself from robbing the biggest bank in the area, Jude. I had more important things on my mind than the sound of a siren.” His words hold no malice as he speaks, but Jude knows he’s telling the truth. He’s been worried for weeks about this going wrong.

“I told you we could do it,” she says. His reply is a smirk, and she takes it.

In about twenty miles, they pull off the highway, merging on to a smaller one. It’s quieter, less police presence, and it goes for hundreds of miles. They plan to take it as far as they can. Cardan finally gets the nerve to turn on the radio, and the only station he can find is playing old country music. He rolls his eyes but settles there, turning it up enough to drown out the noise of the car.

Jude’s hair whips in the wind coming from her lowered window, as does Cardan’s. When she looks at him, the afternoon glow of the sun lighting up his features, her heart aches. They’ve been through so much together. Living on the streets, stealing here and there to eat, to live. When they met in college, everything had seemed destined to be perfect. Years later, when student debt, no job offers, and no opportunity greeted them, they did what they could to survive. It hasn’t been easy, but they’ve made it and that’s what matters. She can’t imagine doing any of it without him.

Jude rotates in her seat, her head leaned against the headrest, so she can watch Cardan drive. This reminds her of their first date, both of them barely nineteen, driving to a local diner at golden hour. She smiles at the memory, at him, and he notices, glancing over at her with an eyebrow cocked.

“What’s going through that devious brain of yours?” he wonders.

“Nothing,” she replies. She glances at the clock on the dash, noticing it will be getting dark in a few hours.

“We should try to find somewhere to stay tonight. We can grab food, a room, and think about where we want to head.”

Stacks of twenty dollar bills and abandoned take-out boxes lay all across the floor of the motel room. Jude and Cardan sit with the stacks surrounding them, slowly counting everything they have. They move the money from one pile to another, Jude jotting down the numbers on the little notepad provided by the motel. When their last stack is accounted for, Jude does a tally and almost cries when she sees the final number.

“Well? How much is it?” Cardan asks, leaning over the look at the notepad.

Tears collect in Jude’s eyes, her voice cracking as she speaks.

“There’s almost 2 million here.”

Cardan snatches the paper, eyes grazing over the tally again, ensuring she’s correct. Jude’s heart hammers in her chest as she takes it all in. As Cardan double checks, his eyes grow wider.

Finally, Cardan glances up at her, a breathtaking smile causing her heart to skip a beat.

He laughs, wrapping his arms around her neck and they tumble to the floor, knocking over the pile of money, the stacks cascading all around them. His breath warms her neck as he laughs, and her hands find his hair, tears falling from her eyes as she does.

“We fucking did it,” she murmurs. All of the struggles, the pain, the fights, the bad luck. It’s gone. They’ll never want for another thing again.

“We did,” Cardan replies.

He lifts his head from her neck and moves to kiss her, his lips sliding over her own. She deepens it immediately, clutching at his inky black hair and pulling it hard. He groans into her mouth as she does. Desire pools inside her, making her want more, more, more.

A stack digs into her back as they kiss and suddenly, an idea pops into her head. Reluctantly, she moves away from him. Cardan frowns.

Jude sits up, grabbing a few of the bundles and ripping off the paper strap holding them together. He watches as she scatters the money on their queen bed and suddenly his eyes light up, mischief dancing in the darkness of them.

“My sweet villain,” he says, coming up behind her and wrapping his arms around her waist. Jude grins wickedly.

As the last bill floats to the sheets, she spins them and pushes Cardan down to the mattress. All around him is the money they stole, wrapping around him like a blanket and she smiles so wide, she’s afraid her face might crack.

“Haven’t you ever wanted to fuck on a pile of cash?” she asks, leaning down to remove Cardan’s t-shirt. The milky white of his skin taunts her and she runs her hands over his chest, nails making tiny red lines as she does.

“Of course,” he replies, doing his part to remove Jude’s own clothes. “Just never thought we’d have the chance.”

“We can do it every day for the rest of our lives,” she replies, her jeans finally coming off as she does.

“As long as I’m with you, I’d be ready and willing.”

Jude captures Cardan’s lips, kissing him fiercely at his words. She finally gets his pants removed after a few minutes, their inability to stop kissing causing some slowness. Jude goes to move her hand between Cardan’s thighs but he beats her to it, his own hand sneaking it’s way into her underwear. She gasps as he finds the small bundle of nerves, his middle finger caressing it carefully.

Jude’s head falls to Cardan’s shoulder as he plays with her slowly, teasingly. Every once in a while he’ll dip a finger inside her, making her cry out, before withdrawing it again. A warmth builds in her belly and before she can ask him to, Cardan dips two fingers in, his thumb rubbing furiously at her clit. It’s like he can read her gasps, the way her breath hitches in her throat. He knows her like their favorite song.

Jude bites her lip and grips the sheets, bills collecting in her fist as she does. Cardan moves his head up, his other hand pushing aside her bra so she can capture her nipple in his mouth. Overstimulation lights a ravenous fire inside of her. It’s all Jude can do not to scream out as his teeth graze her nipple slightly, causing her to tip over the edge, an orgasm crashing over her.

She shivers and shakes as she comes down, Cardan’s hand moving slower as he helps her ride it out. Before she can protest, he flips her over so her back is on the mattress. His lips find her lips, her cheek, her earlobe, her neck, her chest, her stomach, and then finally, the one place she’s been waiting for.

Jude looks down just in time to meet his eyes before his tongue finds her folds, licking a hot, wet stripe. She’s still sensitive so she moans loudly, the sensation overwhelming. Cardan places her thighs on his shoulders, moving closer to her as he does.

“You deserve this,” he says, licking at her again, making her writhe in his grip. “Your plan got us here. Your determination, your brain.”

“I’d do anything for you, for us,” Jude pants. And it’s true. Her happiness with Cardan was more important than anything. It still is.

Cardan doesn’t respond with words, but in action. He doesn’t come up for air for minutes, feasting on her like he’s a starving man. Jude bucks against him at every turn and he welcomes it, pulling her closer and closer until she’s sure she’ll suffocate him. The fire burning inside her begins to build again. Her fingers find his hair, gripping and pulling hard as she rides his face.

Her hips begin to buck against him as she threatens to spill over again, only this time Cardan removes himself before she can. Jude pounds a fist on the bed, and at that, Cardan smirks.

“Don’t worry my dear criminal,” he says, leaning over her to kiss her. “I’d just rather you come around my cock instead of my tongue.”

Jude gasps as he enters her slowly, taking all the time in the world. She can taste herself on his tongue as he kisses her. She has so many feelings trying to override another. Her hands scramble to find purchase before they finally settle on Cardan’s arms that are framing her face. He pulls away so he can look in her eyes as he bottoms out. Jude wraps her legs around his waist, pulling him closer, deeper.

Moonlight filters through the curtains of their room, threads of silver highlighting Cardan’s face. Jude reaches up, wrapping her arms around his neck to bring him closer. She loves him, with every piece of her soul. She loves him enough to fight tooth and nail, to steal, to lie, so they can live happily. She’d risk herself every day for him, for her Cardan.

Like he can read her mind, Cardan bends down, kissing her roughly.

“I love you,” he moans into her mouth.

He begins to move faster, a hand snaking between her thighs so he can play with her clit. Jude bites her lip to fight the scream that threatens to rip from her throat. She loves him so much she can hardly breathe, or think, or feel anything else.

“More than all this money?” he asks, teasing. He pulls away and looks into her eyes.

“More than anything.”

He grips her hair and yanks, exposing her neck to him. He mouths at her throat, sucking a bruise into the light mocha of her skin. Everything is too much. Jude feels like she’s burning from the inside out. Her arms around Cardan’s neck circle tighter and she lets herself be taken completely over. Everything fades away and it’s nothing but Cardan. The way he makes her feel, his eyes, his laugh, his voice, the pounding of his heart, his everything.

Jude erupts for the second time, her orgasm crashing over her like a wave. Cardan follows soon after, a moan falling from his mouth and into the skin of her shoulder. When they’re both completely spent, he rolls off of her. He immediately pulls her into his chest, her forehead meeting his neck.

A twenty dollar bill sticks up from underneath Cardan’s arm and Jude laughs lightly, pulling it away from him and throwing it to the floor. It’s everywhere, sticking to their sweaty skin as they’ve moved across the bed.

“I meant what I said, Jude,” Cardan says, eyeing her carefully. “All this money… well, it wouldn’t mean a damn thing if I didn’t have you.”

Jude fights a lump in her throat at his words. She’s never been the type to say how she feels, it’s always been more of Cardan’s thing. She blinks away the mist in her eyes before grinning at him.

“I know what you mean.” Jude pauses. “I love you so much.”

Cardan leans in, kissing her forehead.

“Let’s start our new beginning.”

#jurdan #jurdannet #tfota #tfota fanfic #jurdan fanfic #the cruel prince #the wicked king #the queen of nothing #jude duarte #cardan greenbriar #judecardan #my fic

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goldenchan-fx2thepeacock · 3 years

Text

Johnny, Kitty and Shadow

Johnny Cardan was by no means special. Yet another kid who'd aged out of the foster system and sent to live on the streets. All he had now was his best bud, Shadow. He didn't know Shadow's real name, but it didn't matter. He gave everyone the name 13 anyways. If he trusted someone enough, he'd tell them his first name. But Cardan was his best kept secret.

The two of them had gotten into a fight. Some guys who thought they were all that came to pick on the street kids. Shadow, silent as always, had jumped into the fray. Johnny had tried to join in but got knocked out within the first five minutes. the mark left wasn't very nice. He grimaced. Oh well, another thing to add to his aethstetic as a greasy street kid. Shadow stared at him in silent judgement. Johnny was pretty sure the guy was mute. He never spoke, and people said bad luck came off of him in waves. Johnny didn't care. Shadow was the coolest person he knew. He didn't believe in all that bad luck shit.

He was skipping rocks across the polluted river in town while Shadow got some food. Someone walked up behind him. "Can I join you?" She asked him. He twisted around to look into her deep brown eyes. "Sure, don't see why not," He smiled at her. People would judge him for liking a black girl, but she was pretty, no matter what they said. "Thanks. It's not having a guy like you act all high and mighty," "I am by no means high and mighty. I think the sewer rats have a higher social status than I do," She laughed. "Well, I think you're cool. I'm Kitty by the way," "I go by 13, but you can call me Johnny," He replied. "How 'bout Johnny 13?" "Well Kitty, I think that fits wonderfully. May I ask what a pretty girl like you is doing on this side of town?" "Oh you. I've been on the streets for awhile now. Aged out of the foster system," "Huh, same. Stupid system didn't do its job anyways," "Preach," A revving sound came from behind them. Shadow waved from a bike. It was black with a green 13 decal on it. "Hey Shadow. Nice bike you got there," Johnny walked up to his friend. Shadow gestured to it. "You got it for me? Why?" Shadow desperately gestured to the sky. Johnny stared for a moment before it caught on. It was his birthday. "Aw man, can't believe I forgot. Thanks for the birthday present dude," Johnny pulled him into a hug. Kitty joined their hug.

Kitty became part of their group that day. She and Johnny were dating with Shadow sticking around. The big guy wasn't interested in dating, so he wasn't jealous. It was amazing the first few months. He and Kitty flaunted their relationship, ignoring the stares they got. The romantic nights under the stars that ending in rocks pelted at them, the restaurant stops where Johnny ended up grabbing food and they ate outside because black people weren't allowed, that one time they snuck into a concert. The girl on the stage could sing. The posters advertised her as Amber McLain. Those were their dates. Maybe it wasn't normal, but it was amazing and they loved it.

It was now a year since they'd met. The three of them were crammed onto the bike barrelling down the road. Maybe they were a little fast, but other than that, no laws were broken. Suddenly, a massive tractor trailer came careening towards them. The driver had fallen asleep. They screamed and Johnny desperately tried to avoid it, but he was too late. They made contact and felt as they were flattened on the concrete. Pain ripped through every limb and none of them could tell if the pain was theirs or the person next to them's. It was all a big muddled mess. The world faded to black.

The three of them woke up surrounded by green. Johnny looked down at his hands and saw the ashy gray that they were now. He saw movement next to him and saw Kitty, her hair green, eyes red and skin the same ashy grey as him. A dark shape with green pupils swept up next to him. Somehow, he knew it was Shadow. "Johnny?" Kitty said quietly. "Yeah Kitten?" "I think we're dead," And everything came rushing in. They were dead, murdered in a bike accident. And he knew no one would care. Their bodies would be kept in police custody and burned, no sign that they'd ever existed. Lost to the system.

And then he and Kitty had their first fight. Their relationship stayed strong, but it got so much easier to fight with all the pent up anger of dying. They were smooth when they tried to go through the portal. Of course it didn't last long. This was their existence now. Johnny had no clue why he told the kid. He just did. And Danny had sat and listened, not criticizing. Just listening to Johnny vent. Maybe they'd started out fighting, but now Johnny thought they could be friends.

~~~~~~~~~

You like? I wanted a take on these three. And I needed something where Kitty was a POC. I hope you enjoyed my chaos.

#johnny 13 #danny phantom #kitty 13 #shadow (danny phantom)

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clockworkgraystairs · 4 years

Text

Christmas Dinner || Jurdan X-mas in July

AHHHH there is more Christmas!Jurdan!!!!!!!!! 🎄🎄

Rating: T

Summary: The Duarte's are hosting their Christmas dinner and Vivi sets a trap for Jude to bring his boyfriend and introduce him to the family.

I guess this can be considered a little prequel to You got me trippin?

This is also my first time posting somethin in 1st person sooo...let’s see how it goes lmao

Tags: @jurdannet @jurdannetrevels @slightlyrebelliouswriter23 @sweetlyvillainous @aesthetics-11 @thesirenwashere @jurdanhell @demydreamer-otaku-and-book-lover @nightbringer @b00kworm @mysweetvillain @thefolkofthefic @yafandomsdotnet @vanessa172003

[if you wish to be tagged/untagged or if I forgot to tag you pls let me know!]

A massive thank you to Becca @sweetlyvillainous for betaing this for me!! Love u 🧡

Masterlist Read on AO3

This is a terrible, terrible idea I keep repeating myself.

If I’d shown a little more steadiness with my sister I wouldn’t be in this situation. I knew she was nervous about presenting her girlfriend to the family, specially to our father. And because she is extra as hell, she couldn’t choose another date that wasn’t on Christmas Eve. For weeks now she’d been texting me, grumbling about how was she going to be able to pull it off. I told her to relax and just go with it.

What I didn’t expect though, was for Vivi to arrive out of nowhere to the school where I work, talking nonsense about me bringing a fake date to dinner with hopes of taking the attention away from her.

After spending 15 minutes trying to convince her it is not necessary for me to do that, her insistence is such I end up babbling how bad that idea is since I already have a boyfriend, and fake dating someone else would certainly create problems.

Big mistake.

Looking at me with something like betrayal in her eyes, now she starts questioning me about that boyfriend who I’d never talked about before. I bite my lip. When it comes to personal stuff I prefer to keep it private, even with my own family. I have my reasons.

And just because luck is not on my side today, in the middle of her inquiries I hear a faint “Hey, babe!” behind me. I groan. Of course. Of course he had to arrive in that moment.

We both turn to look at him. Cardan approaches us wearing that mischievous grin reserved only for me, so different from the polite smile he uses with his students. His hair is tied up in a bun as he also wears it for work, few curls escaping it in the most adorable way.

With a pang of panic, I notice Vivi noticing how dumbfounded I’m looking at him. Her eyes light up in a way that I know means nothing good. I frown at her.

“I was looking for you on the cafeteria, one of your students told me you were here.” He pauses. “I- didn’t notice you were busy though, sorry.”

“Not at all!” Vivi says with exaggerated enthusiasm. “I’m Jude’s older sister, Vivi! You must be her lovely boyfriend.”

“Oh, yeah I am. Nice to meet you!” If I didn’t know him so well I wouldn’t notice the slight blush on his cheeks or the way he looks at me in contained alarm.

It’s too late by the time I put the pieces together. When I realize what is about to happen, my sister is already handing Cardan a rolled piece of paper.

“I came to make sure Jude invites you to our family Christmas dinner! She’s so absentminded sometimes isn’t she?”

I’m going to kill her. Slowly.

Horrified, I stand there and see Cardan take the invitation, grinning. His polite, charming smile.

“I wouldn’t miss it,” He says. “Thank you so much Vivi.”

My sister turns to me and whatever look it’s on my face makes her hesitate. Although, not enough. She claps her hands once and makes an excited squeal. “Well I must go now! But I’m so excited you’re coming to join us Cardan, see you there. Ciao!”

With that she turns and leaves.

So here we are. My boyfriend driving by my side, as we are about to arrive to my parent’s house.

My knee bounces without control as I twist my scarf between my fingers. At any moment now, I’m sure my heart is going to bolt out of my chest.

“Jude dear, is everything ok?” He asks. I notice I’ve been quiet almost the entire road.

I turn to look at him. He looks dashing, even if it’s not a strictly formal dinner he always finds a way to dress as it was. Black ensemble and green scarf that stands out his pale skin, though his nose and cheeks have a touch of color because of the cold weather.

“Yeah it’s just... My family is a little,” I pause. “I don’t know how to explain it.”

We are not the type of family that introduces romantic partners, ever. My twin sister tried to do it some years ago with a terrible and embarrassing outcome. At some point in the middle of breakfast, she’d asked her daddy to pass the salt. Both our father and Locke moved to grab it at the same time. What came next, well… if that Locke dude had restrained himself to make a sarcastic and really tacky comment about it, maybe he would still be welcome in the house. Alas, he is not.

Ever since that day, every time someone brings a guest to the house my father gets in a mood that is pretty uncomfortable for everyone. Sooner or later he makes everyone run. Not exactly the first impression I want Cardan to have.

We’ve been together for some time now, about eleven months. But the topic of introducing our families has never been on the table so far. I know he comes from a problematic family even if he doesn’t talk much about them. As for me, I have to admit I’ve grown so attached to him that I’m terrified of Madoc, or any other of my relatives, scaring him away.

He takes my hand in his, warming it, and smiles softly. “It’ll be ok. Breathe.”

I sigh, hoping he’s right and grip his hand tighter.

The inside of the house looks as if Santa’s bag had exploded. There are lights and ornaments everywhere. Even the tree is bigger than previous years. A delicious smell of food fills the place. As I stare in awe I hear voices coming from the living room.

“Jude? Is that you?” Hurried steps sound in the wooden floor and a few seconds later my little brother appears wearing an absurd red and white onesie. He crashes against me and I laugh, hugging him back.

“You do realize that’s for little kids don’t you?” I ask. “It looks good on you, though.”

Oak scoffs and pulls back. “Well of course it does. I look good on everything.”

Cardan chuckles next to me and for the first time my brother notices him. His eyes and mouth open widely, blinking at him and then turning back at me. Once. Twice.

“Jude,” He murmurs. It cracks me up how shy he can get around new people. “Who’s this?”

Ah, here we go. I take a deep breath and grab Cardan’s hand again.

“Don’t be rude,” I warn him. “His name is Cardan. Cardan, this is my brother Oak.”

Cardan greets him, extending his hand to him. Oak shakes it, visibly puzzled. “And Cardan is…?”

“My boyfriend.”

A slow, mocking and devilish smile spreads on his face. I swear to god that kid was taken out from the movie Cheaper by the Dozen. All the shyness is suddenly gone.

“You and Vivi are really trying to give dad a heart attack today aren’t you?” He turns to Cardan and adopts a serious expression I almost believe. “Please tell me Jude doesn’t call you daddy.”

“OAK!” I hiss. I look at Cardan and he gazes back with amusement, I notice he’s biting back a laugh.

“WHAT? I need to know earlier if I need to take my phone out, last time I didn’t have time to record when dad…” He motions with his hand. Yeah, I remember.

“She doesn’t.” Cardan affirms. Mimicking my brother’s mischievous smile he asks. “Is there a story there I need to know?”

Oak hesitates, even though I’m sure he’s dying to spill it out.

“Taryn would kill you.” I remind him.

“She’s not coming. For what I’ve heard, either it’s Locke’s turn to visit his family or something about dad running him under the car if he dared appearing. I’m not sure.”

Great.

“What if I beat you at Mario Kart?” Cardan asks, pointing at the console resting next to the tv.

Oak squints at him. “Are you challenging me?”

“It’s not a challenge when I know I’m going to win.”

Turning to me, my brother grins. “I like him.”

I know this is the first time I’ve brought someone home, but still I don’t know if I should be offended at my parent’s surprised faces. Oak had to tell my mother twice that Cardan is my boyfriend before she nods in understanding.

On his side, Cardan is being the full gentleman. To be fair he always is, but I notice the extra effort he’s doing today. It warms my heart. The only sign of nervousness I notice in him are occasional deep breaths he takes when he thinks no one is watching.

We get to meet Heather too, who is adorable and I honestly don’t know how on earth she fell in love with my lunatic sister. In a matter of minutes Cardan is already friends with her which helps with her evident tension. Vivi seems to relax as well.

Christmas music plays on the background as we eat. This is probably my favorite part of the evening. Don’t get me wrong, I love gatherings with my family but food calls me on a spiritual level. Cardan knows it too, chuckling at my excitement while I’m serving us mashed potatoes.

“So, Cardan.” My father starts, serving the wine. My heart leaps in my chest, oh no. “You met my daughter at work?”

He nods. “Yes sir, I arrived there about two years ago. I teach preschool and first grade.” Winking at me he adds. “Jude used to hate me.”

Madoc turns to me, frowning. “What happened?” I roll my eyes, classical worried dad.

I take a long drink from my wine and shrug. “Nothing, he stole the ‘best teacher award’ from me, on his first six months. I’m pretty sure he bribed the students that year.”

To my surprise, my father barks a laugh. We all stare at him wide-eyed.

“Keep repeating that to yourself, love.” Cardan teases. “It was a clean triumph.”

“You’ve always been competitive Jude, that’s no secret.” Vivi adds. “It’s nice to finally meet someone who can pull up with that.”

I turn to glare at her. You and I are going to talk later. She sticks out her tongue at me.

“Do you guys have sex?”

“Oak!” My mother shouts as my father and I both choke on our wine.

When Cardan parks the car outside my apartment it’s already past midnight.

Surprisingly, this turned out to be one of the best Christmas celebrations I’ve ever had. My boyfriend somehow managed to not only avoid any uncomfortable moments around my family but also to wrap them up around his little finger. With jokes and tales about us the night had passed incredibly fast.

Toasts were made, hugs and gifts were given. By the end, we were sprawled on the floor wearing silly sweaters and watching the merciless Mario Kart match between Oak and Cardan. It ended up in a tie. Rematch was already set for New Year’s Eve.

It was everything I never thought it would be.

“Well, did Vivi’s plan work?” Cardan asks.

I turn to find him already looking at me with a knowing smile on his face. Still, it doesn’t reach his eyes.

“C’me on, you weren’t really planning on inviting me to your family’s dinner. Something was surely going on the day she gave me the invitation.”

Sighing I whisper. “I’m sorry.”

He knows me too well, more than I even know myself sometimes.

“Don’t be, it’s not a topic we usually discuss.” He shrugs, reaching my hand with his. His thumb makes slow circles on my skin “Still, I should’ve asked if it was ok with you. Forgive me if I crossed a line.”

“You didn’t. I just wasn’t planning for you to meet my family yet.” I regret those words the moment they leave my mouth, knowing how they sound. Cardan doesn’t let go of my hand but he stops his ministrations. “Wait, that wasn’t…”

“Jude, it’s ok.” He says, turning to the windshield. I know him well enough too, and notice the touch of sadness behind his words.

“No it’s not. Please listen.” I insist, my heart is beating fast now. That look on his eyes is exactly what I tried to avoid the whole night. “The reason why I wasn’t thinking to introduce you to my family is that they’re ridiculously hard and annoying with every new person that visits. And this is the first time I took someone home and…I don’t know, I-”

“You thought I’d leave?” He turns his gaze back to me, warily.

At the beginning of the day I did. But I don’t find the words to admit it, so I don’t answer.

After a moment of silence he asks “Do you want to know why I agreed to go?”

I swallow and nod. Cardan inhales deeply..

“We’ve been together for some time now. And you know, you must know, I’m not playing around Jude.” I start to say something but he silences me with a soft finger against my lips. “I love you. If I agreed to whatever scheme your sister had in mind it was because I wanted to show you that I’m not going away. No matter what.”

“My family…”

“They love you. It’s only natural for them to ask what my intentions are… and maybe tease us about it too. I’m willing to admit your dad is a little scary. But not enough to make me run away.” He winks, cupping my face.“There is nothing on earth that would make me want to run away, Jude. That’s how much I love you.”

Feeling my eyes sting I blink. “I love you too.”

We’ve said those words before. But I find that they acquire a different meaning, somehow deeper. My chest is suddenly too small to hold everything I feel for this man. He’s not going anywhere. He loves me. I’m grinning like an idiot and I’m proud of it.

I lean to rest my forehead against his. “Since it’s our first Christmas together… and you already met my family.” His smile widens at that. “Would you like to stay the night?”

“There’s nothing I would like more.” Cardan angles his head to give me a kiss that I accept gladly, coiling my arms around his neck. “I usually spend Christmas alone, I guess it’s time for new traditions.”

We remain entwined for some minutes, it fastly turns into something hotter and desperate. I’m already straddling his hips when I pull back a few inches. I bet my lips are as swollen as his. He is looking at me with hunger… and love.

“How about a tradition in which we spend Christmas night undressed and watching some crappy Netflix movies?” I suggest.

My toes curl when he leans to bite my lobe and purrs. “Yes, please.”

#a very jurdan christmas in july #jurdannet christmas in july #jurdannet #jurdan #jude duarte #cardan greenbriar #tfota #holly black #tcp #twk #tqon #qon #judecardan #jude x cardan #the cruel prince #jurdan human au #vivi duarte #madoc #tess writes

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thefirebreathingqueen · 3 years

Text

Tis the damn season

a folk of the air fic based on tis the damn season by taylor swift.

Summary: after years away from her quiet hometown, Jude returns for the weekend. Someone is still there, waiting for her (Jude x Cardan) All human AU

Snow drifted lazily through the sky as her legs took her on an all too familiar path, collecting in her hair. This path was one well-traveled, Jude remembered it from ditching class with Larkin and Liliver and early morning study seshes before exams. The path had hardly changed in the years she had been gone, the quiet little town she called home hardly changing either. Small, old houses still lined every street, decorated with bright, twinkling lights. Children chased each other through the snowbanks, throwing loose powder at each other with gloved hands. Memories of her and her sisters doing the same pushed to the front of her mind, memories of a life long abandoned.

Taryn would be home, she knew, Vivi might be. Jude hadn’t been back since graduation, not for holidays or birthdays or anything. If her family needed her, they would pop over to her apartment hundreds of miles away.

And yet, she was here. After nearly five years of absence.

With a chime of the bells on the back of the door, the door swung open, Jude hastily slipping inside. Stopping the snow of her boots, she entered the room. Coffee assaulted her nose, freshly ground and made. Inhaling deeply, a small smile pricked at her lips, shoulders dropping she fell into the comforting warmth of the small café.

Plush armchairs sat scattered around, varying shades of reds, oranges, and greens, the colours rich and inviting. Tables and chairs were mingled with them too. The glow of the lights cast everything in a bright and warm hue. Making her way to the counter, she smiled at the barista. Fand, she remembered, only a year or so younger than herself. Footsteps sounded behind her as she ordered, light as a cat and barely audible. Moving to the side to wait for her coffee, Jude turned, catching a pair of dark eyes already fixed on hers. A familiar smirk danced across the mans even more familiar mouth.

“Cardan,” She said, keeping her voice stiff and polite. He nodded at Fand as she asked something about a usual, dark hairs stirring on his head. It was longer now, styled in a way that simultaneously looked like it took seconds and hours.

“Jude,” her name rolled of his tongue smoothly. Jude’s stomach fluttered at it, at the way his lips curved around her name. Like it fit perfectly in his mouth.

Cursing herself quietly, he moved to stand next to her waiting on his own cup.

“How’s the city?” he asks, leaning closer. It was small talk, but somehow it didn’t feel like small talk.

Small talk was boring, and absolutely nothing about Cardan was boring.

Black eyes bore into mine as he waited intently on her answer. Refusing to look away, she shrugged, “It’s okay.”

After a moment, “How’s the town.”

Cardan shrugs, “It’s okay.” He mirrors her, “Empty now.”

“Empty?” she can’t stop herself from asking. Curiosity fell on her, forcing the words out far quicker than she wished.

Noticing he smiled a bit, but his eyes were still melancholy, “We seem to be missing a fiery brunette with a tendency to threaten people. Have you seen her?”

Jude’s throat tightened, “I don’t think you’d want her back.”

Looking around he muttered, “I think we would.”

The Greenbriar’s had known Jude and her family for a long time, Cardan was in her and Taryn’s grade, Rhia used to babysit us, Dain had given Jude her very first job. The Greenbriar’s had been a part of this town for as long as it’s stood.

A cup landed on the counter, nearly black steaming liquid inside. Grasping the cup, careful not to burn her fingers, she moved to an olive green armchair in the corner. Barely two minutes had passed before an extravagantly dressed man sat across form me, his own mug full of some sugary smelling, light coloured, drink.

Looking at him expectantly, as she took a sip, she waited for him to begin.

He was off, acting so much like and unlike himself at the same moments. Who he had grown to be was a mystery Jude, their last interaction at eighteen as he begged her to stay and she refused, chasing her dreams outside of the bubble they had lived in.

Seeing him now a small bubble of regret bubbled in her stomach. Jude didn’t regret leaving, didn’t regret going to university and finding her job. But for just a moment, she looked at him and imagined what it would have been if she didn’t.

“How long are you staying?” Cardan asks, eyes barely meeting hers.

“Just for three days,”

He nods, “I can work with that.”

Cardan had walked her home, standing beside her, arms gently brushing. Warmth pooled in her chest at it, at the feeling of him next to her again. They had stayed and talked about everything and nothing for nearly an hour before she looked at the watch on her wrist. Everyone should be at home by now, and the sun would no doubt begin to fall on the horizon soon.

At the gate out front her parents place, Jude turned, pulling the lapels of her coat tighter around her body. A larger hand slipped into hers, squeezing it gently.

“I’ve missed you, Jude.” His voice was quiet.

Without room for another word, he turned and continued his way down the road.

Knuckles hitting the door, she waited for just a moment. Nerves spiked, choking her out slowly. Dark wood pulled open in front of her, light and warmth escaping quickly. In the doorway was a tall, slender woman. Features of her face sharp and angular. Before Jude could even open her mouth arms wrapped around her.

“What are you doing here?” Viviane asked, excitement lighting her face.

“Thought I’d come for a visit, if you’d all be okay with that?” Jude tapped her boots together nervously.

With a small shake of her head, she pulled Jude inside.

“Who’s at the door?” A dark head poked out of the doorway to the kitchen, long hair in perfect curls. Taryn’s face dropped in surprise; mouth agape as she stared.

“Jude’s here.” Vivi said plainly, pulling the coat from Jude’s shoulders and hanging it by the door.

Rushing over, her body collided with her twins, hair of the same exact hue mingling in their embrace.

“Come on, Dad, Mom, and Oak are going to be so happy to see you.”

The next time Cardan appeared was in a sleek looking black car pulling up next to her as she walked off the large breakfast she had been stuffed with. The window closest to her rolled down. Hesitantly she leaned into the open space, her nose just reaching the interior of the car.

“My darling Jude,” a broad smile fell across his mouth, “Get in.”

After a moment of debate with herself and against her best judgement. She got in.

The town had hardly changed since she left, still trapped in its own bubble. Just like the café, they talked easily, slipping back into who they were in high school. Jude’s shoulders felt lighter than they had for a long time. They drove up and down every street, and then back again, filling their time like they did when they were teenagers.

Eventually they came to a stop, climbing out into the busy streets. A small store selling handmade novelties sat quietly. It was always the best place for buying presents, and despite the fact she had purchased a gift for everyone before she came, one name had been missing on her list.

Holding the door open for her, Cardan followed her inside, moving silently through the rows of shelves. Items crowded the space, each marked with a little twine and tape price tag. Scanning the shelves, Jude searched.

“Look at this,” Cardan muttered behind her, grabbing her hand to keep her from walking any farther forward. They still fit together perfectly, calluses and soft skin in the same places, slotting like the final pieces of a puzzle. He held a small charcoal grey box. Inside was a necklace, a simple chain with only one pendant. A silver dagger, highly detailed for its size.

“It’s beautiful,” escapes her lips. After a moment, he sets it down, pulling her along the isles, not dropping her hand.

After a moment she managed to snag something while he was off looking for last minute gifts for his brothers. A small bag slung off her wrist as he met with her at the front of the store, his own bag in his hand. Silently, he slipped his hand into hers ago. And surprising herself, Jude did not let go.

The third time Jude found Cardan was at night, right after Christmas dinner. Her family has already unwrapped their gifts, muttering apologies that Jude didn’t have any to unwrap. They had already sent them in the mail.

One final gift stayed heavy in her pocket.

The Greenbriar estate was the largest in town, built and added on over two centuries, maybe even more. It was light up, brilliant lights lining the doorways and rooftops. For a moment she paused, debating on whether approaching was a good idea. Her chest tightened, unease settling in her bones.

“Looking for someone?” a playful voice reached her ears.

Turning quickly, and very nearly slipping on the ice, she found the source of her conflict standing right behind her, leaning against a tree lining the street.

“Indeed I am.”

“May I be of any service then, my darling?”

Jude’s heart sped at the nickname. Cardan looked unphased by their teenage term of endearment however.

Pulling the small box from her pocket, she held into him.

“For me?” his dark rows raised, looking more unsettled than he had any other time this weekend.

“For you.”

Gently, he pulls the small box from my hands, popping open the lid.

“Are you proposing darling? I must admit that is one hell of a gift.”

Jude’s cheeks burned as blood rushed to them, “No I just know how you never go anywhere without them.”

Nestled on the black satin was a silver ring, one thick band. Scales were etched all around it, the head of the snake swallowing the tail.

Pulling it out, he slipped it on, fitting it perfectly on his middle finger. Brushing a strand of hair behind her ear he whispered, “Thank you, I love it.”

Throwing all her judgement and reservations aside, Jude’s palms brushed against his cheeks, pulling his face to hers.

Cardan responded quickly, entangling his fingers in her hair, grasping right at the base of her neck.

“What are we doing?” he asks between kisses, lips sliding over each other’s.

“This,” she answers, “Just for the weekend.”

The last time she saw Cardan was when her car was loaded with her suitcase and she was idling outside the driver’s door. Waiting for something she didn’t want to admit to.

She had already said her goodbyes to her family inside, hugs and tears shed from all of them with promises of visiting more often.

As he always does, Cardan rounds the corner, already walking toward her.

Jude’s heart thumps in her chest, she had done this once, she could do it again.

Standing close, voice small and steady, he asks, “There’s nothing I could say to get you to stay is there?”

Shaking her head slightly, voice thick she whispers back, “No.”

Cardan nods, looking much like the eighteen year old she had left the last time.

Soft lips meet hers, slowly. A finale.

A goodbye.

Without wasting anymore words, he steps back, giving her room to slip into the driver’s seat. Moving forward she refuses to look in the rearview mirror and the man she is leaving behind.

As she drives along the busy highway and the town shrinks behind her, Jude pretends she doesn’t feel her heart shattering in her chest.

Back home, she had unpacked her bags, throwing a load of laundry in and beginning to dust every available surface in her house. Anything to keep her busy, her mind away from the images of dark eyes, long ring covered fingers, soft pink lips.

Finally, she collapses against the couch, a thin sheen of sweat coating her body.

A knock sounds against her door. Moving quickly, she pulls it open. Her whole body stutters as she takes in the image on the other side.

Leaning against her doorframe casually, Cardan smiles, “Hey.”

A/N: so its been awhile. I’m not sure the last time i even wrote and i think this SUCKS but im trying to get back into it. The characters both seem pretty ooc to me so sorry bout that but im trying to get back into the grove of things.

#jude duarte #jude x cardan #cardan greenbriar #high king cardan #The Folk of the Air #the cruel prince #the wicked king #the queen of nothing #tfota #tfota fanfic

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courtofjurdan · 4 years

Text

One Chance part 9

Jurdan College AU - Previous Chapter

masterlist

*I took a leap of faith with this chapter. Some big news is announced so I hope you all enjoy!!!*

Warning: mentions of blood

It’s Friday. Jude was excited because her and Cardan were going to do something fun after school. She didn’t know what “fun” was but she was excited nonetheless. So after school she meets him at his car.

“Hello Jude dear, are you ready to have some fun?” He has this smug smile across his face.

That’s not a confident smile for her so she hesitantly replies, “Sure.”

Cardan’s smile grows wider, “Okay well we are not driving in the car today.”

“I’m not walking, Cardan”

“Hold your horses, we will be riding this.” He takes the tarp off of the motorcycle parked next to his car.

Jude’s eyes went wide, “You have a motorcycle!”

“Yes Jude dear, I do. And you're going to learn to drive it today.”

Still shocked, Jude says, “Okay.”

Cardan showed her the things to press and hit, how to steady herself and what not to touch. He takes her around the campus once to show her what to do in action. Once he is finished explaining, Jude is left with an excited- nervous smile.

“Are you ready?” Cardan asked.

“Ready as I’ll ever be.”

Jude goes slowly around the campus first. She is getting warmed up. Getting the hang of what to do, what it feels like.

“Can I go again?” Jude asked happily.

Cardan could see that happy face everyday. She doesn’t always show her emotions well so just being able to see this happy smile on her face warms his heart. It makes his chest tighten.

“Of course you can.”

They go around about fifteen more times until Jude is ready for an even bigger challenge.

“Can I drive on the road?”

Cardan took a deep breath as he said, “Umm do you think you're ready? You can’t chicken out when you're on the road.”

“I promise I won’t chicken out. Besides if I mess up on something, you’re here to help me.”

That last sentence made him feel tingly inside. That last sentence showed something like trust.

At that Cardan smiled and said, “Okay get ready.”

Jude gets on the road and she’s nervous. But Cardan keeps on telling her she’s doing great. Jude sits in front of Cardan. Cardan puts a little space between them, being mindful of what she has gone through. He does put his hands around her waist to make sure she doesn’t fall off. Jude gives him permission to do so.

Everything was going great until it wasn’t. They were going through a traffic light and the light was green for them, but the person on the left drove past their red light and hit them hard on the side.

Cardan tried to grab onto Jude but her body took most of the conflict having shot her forward. Cardan was able to turn her around so she didn’t hit the front of her face but unfortunately she hit the back of her head hard against the road. And because of momentum, her body slid across it causing small and large, bleeding cuts.

Cardan fell off the side, with momentum also making him slide across but he was able to stop himself. He got left with a few cuts that probably would need stitches.

Cardan laid on the ground for a couple of seconds, trying to come to terms with what just happened. And then he remembered Jude. He was up before anybody could stop him. Looking ferociously for Jude. People were getting out of their car to make sure everyone was okay.

When Cardan spotted her he ran over to her. She was conscious. But barely. It looked like she kept going in and out. Cardan knelt by her head and held it still just in case she had any spine injuries.

He didn’t realize it, but tears started to run down his cheeks. He couldn’t stand hearing Jude moan in pain. He felt like he had failed her. She had put her trust in him, and he failed her even though the accident wasn’t their fault. He shouldn’t have let her drive on the road. But he can’t think about that right now. He needs to help her. He thought maybe talking to her would help.

“Hey Jude, you’re going to be okay. I’m here. I’m here. And I’m not leaving you. I just need you to keep your eyes open for me, okay? Please?”

She let out a small whisper of “yeah”. Cardan took one of his hands that were holding her head and went to wipe his eyes when it came back with blood and he realized it wasn’t his. He wiped it off on his clothes and put his hand back on her head and looked at his hand again, and it was indeed her blood. He looked on the asphalt road and it was turning dark with her blood.

Cardan went into panic mode. People were surrounding them so he called out, “I need a cloth or something to hold on her head right here. She’s bleeding. And it’s a lot.”

Someone came up and tore their shirt and gave it to him. Cardan held it in place. Jude started to close her eyes, and Cardan started freaking out.

“No, no, no Jude, keep your eyes open for me, baby. I need to do that for me.”

Baby, that felt good rolling off his tongue even though he didn’t think about what he said.

She opened her eyes and some tears ran down from her eyes. Cardan took his thumb and wiped them away.

“You’re going to be okay. You’re so strong, Jude. So brave.” He bent down and gave her a small kiss in her matted hair.

And then she closed her eyes and was unconscious. Cardan tried to rub her face and talk to her but she just couldn’t keep them open anymore.

Cardan felt like this was the longest moment of his life. He was hoping someone called 911 because he didn’t even think to do it. But his speculations were proven when he heard sirens.

Cardan was still holding her head when the EMT’s came over. They put a neck brace on her and said he did the right thing in holding her still. Cardan told them about the deep cut she had on her head and they put a clean, sterile bandage on it. They had Cardan move away while they did that. They asked him if they were wearing helmets and he said no. He didn’t even think to have her put his on. He cursed himself under his breath. Another EMT came to check on him.

He said, “I have a couple of cuts but nothing to worry about. Just take care of her.”

With his consistent fussing, they ended up getting him to let them put on a few clean bandages on his cuts.

He asked if he could ride in the ambulance with her, and they told him it was okay.

They had monitors on her. Had an IV in her arm, probably for pain meds. Cardan sat in the ambulance seat in the back and held her hand. With his other hand, he let it softly run through the hair on her head.

The woman EMT spoke to him while getting settled. “So is she your girlfriend?”

Cardan laughed a little bit, “No she’s just my friend.”

“Well then, you're a good friend then to stick with her.” She gave him a small smile.

Jude started to wake up a little bit. The EMT told Cardan to talk to her.

“Hey Jude, we are in the ambulance now. We are on the way to the hospital so they can make you feel better.”

At that Jude tried to take the neck brace off with the hand Cardan wasn’t holding.

“No no Jude, that has to stay on.” She started making a whining noise. “Jude look at me, it’s okay. Leave it on.”

She must not be hearing him because she didn’t listen to a word he said. She tried to sit up but the straps of the gurney didn’t allow it. Then her heart monitor started to beep faster.

Cardan asked the EMT, “What’s wrong?”

The EMT said while administrating some medicine that made Jude go to sleep, “She is just freaking out a little bit. Her body is in a lot of stress from what happened. It’s like waking up trapped so that's why she tried to take all this off of her. But I gave medicine that will make her sleep and calm down.”

Cardan just nodded his head and sat silently, holding her hand for the rest of the ambulance ride.

When they got to the hospital, Cardan was trying to follow Jude, but they told him he had the get stitches on his right leg and arm first before he could stay with her, and of course he said no but they came to an agreement when he realized Jude would be in the curtain room next to him.

They got his stitches in and gave him some tylenol for his achy body. His limbs were pretty sore from the crash. Right after they were finished, the nurses told him to stay a couple of hours for observation, but he said they could observe from Jude’s room.

While Cardan was being cared for, the nurses took some blood from Jude and she had an ultrasound of her stomach and CT scan of her head. She got stitches on the back of her head, right shin, and right elbow. She woke up a little in the room, but she was very drowsy. The nurses ask questions like “where does it hurt?”, “Do you think you broke anything?”, “Does your neck or spine hurt?”

Jude told them where it hurt, luckily she didn’t break anything. Just some whiplash, cuts and bruises, and a pretty good concussion. Jude ended up having some low dose pain medicine and she dozed off.

Cardan went to the curtain room beside him and saw Jude asleep. He sat in the chair beside her. A couple of hours later, a nurse came in and said that they are admitting her. So they rolled Jude’s bed to the fourth floor. and Cardan didn’t leave her for one second. If Jude only knew how much he cared for her.

Once they got her settled in her room, Cardan sat down on the edge of the bed and held her hand. A piece of her hair was in her face and he couldn’t fight the urge to tuck it behind her ear.

At his touch, she started to move and then groaned at the pain. Cardan noticed and when she opened her eyes Cardan sat up, still holding her hand and asked, “Hey how are you feeling?”

Jude was starting to become more like herself. “I’m quite sore. My head hurts.”

“The doctor said you have a concussion. I’m not sure if anything else is wrong, I couldn’t hear what they said. I asked if anything else was wrong but they would not give me any news. They said it was a breaking protocol or rights or whatever.”

“Oh okay. Well maybe you can tell them I’m awake and maybe they will come here and tell me.” Jude said, sleepily.

Cardan nodded his head and said, “Yeah, sure.”

He went and told the nurse that she is awake and much more like herself. She nodded and said she’ll have a doctor come in soon. About thirty minutes later, the doctor came in.

“Hello, I’m Doctor Val Moren.”

They both smile at him in greeting.

He continued, “If you would step out, sir, so I may tell Jude her medical rundown.”

Jude rushed and said, “No it’s fine he can stay.”

Cardan was surprised she said he could stay. He was ready to just get up and walk out, thinking him knowing would make her uncomfortable. But, I guess not. She must think having him there for support is good. And Cardan didn’t mind.

Doctor replied, “Okay so your blood work came back great. We stitched up your cuts so just keep them clean. The CT scan came back and showed a little bit of blood on the brain which can be common with a concussion. So lots of rest and your head will probably hurt quite a bit but you are young and healthy so it should heal within a couple of weeks. And the ultrasound showed a good and perfectly healthy baby. With a great heartbeat. Just take it easy.”

Jude was just silent with wide eyes for a second. She said slowly, “Did you say baby?”

“Oh you didn’t know. You're about 9 weeks pregnant. Congratulations! Well that’s it, I just wanted to keep you for observation.”

Surprised, Jude could only nod her head slightly. The doctor went out with a quick bye which left her and Cardan alone.

Next Chapter

masterlist

_________________

Well there it is guys. I hope you are not disappointed.

Tag list:

#jurdan fanfic #jurdan #queen of nothing #the wicked king #the cruel prince #The Folk of the Air #the queen of nothing #tfota fanfic #tfota #queen jude #king cardan #cardan x jude #jude x cardan #jude duarte #cardan greenbriar

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creampuffqueen · 4 years

Text

Fanfic Advent Calendar- Day 4

Beware- I have not read Queen of Nothing! No spoilers please! Also, I have never written anything Jurdan ever, so like yesterday’s, you may want to take this one with a grain of salt, just in case is sucks. And on that positive note, enjoy!

~~~~

Sleigh Ride (Jurdan)

“Vivi! Jude! Look what I made at school!” Oak squeals as he leaps into Vivienne’s car. I’m in the passenger seat, fluffy blanket draped over my lap. It’s so cold in the human realm, colder than I ever remember Faerie being.

Oak’s school lets out for winter break today, and Vivi has already promised him a milkshake on the way home. She spoils him, my sister does. I can’t fathom why he would want a milkshake when it’s near freezing outside.

Vivi drives away, nodding to whatever Oak is chattering about, tapping her fingers on the steering wheel to the tune of whatever song is playing. I clench the blanket tighter in my hands.

It’s been months since I was banished from Faerie, and I haven’t seen hide nor hair of anyone since then. The only faeries I’ve seen have been my sister and brother. Not even Taryn has tried to contact me.

We pull into the drive-thru of a fast food chain, and I shake my head when Vivi offers to buy me something. She shrugs and gets a second milkshake for herself.

The whole town is blanketed in snow and lights, houses covered from top to bottom in both. Oak talks and talks and talks, only taking a break to slurp his shake. He’s come out of his shell so much since coming to live with Vivi. Despite all my regrets and bad decisions, this has worked exactly as I intended.

We make it to the apartment, with the twinkling tree in the window. Oak swings between Vivi and I, milkshake abandoned in the car. With the glamour on his antlers and ears, he looks just like any other seven-year-old boy.

Vivi turns on the TV for him and sways over to the kitchen, humming something under her breath. She turns on the music again, adding to the chaoticness of the place.

Every available surface is covered in decor, white and red and green exploding across the apartment. Garlands, tinsel, figurines, you name it. Oak and Vivi revel in it all, while all it does is make me want to close my eyes.

Months. Months, since I left. Taryn hasn’t looked for me. The Roach and The Bomb haven’t searched. And Cardan…

He hasn’t sent so much as a dandelion puff my way.

I’m sure Vivi knows what’s wrong, but she hasn’t mentioned it. At least she isn’t treating me like I’m broken, a treatment I’ve become all too familiar with.

Snow starts falling outside, and Oak begs to go and play in it. Vivi, in the kitchen fixing dinner, tells me to take him.

“And make sure he keeps his hat on!” She calls after us, bundled in our coats and scarves and gloves. Oak snickers and pulls his cap further down on his face.

My little brother sprints through the snow happily, pausing every now and then to stick his tongue out for snowflakes. The sky gets dark, and I manage to wrangle him back inside.

“Did you two have fun?” Vivi is gentle with him, taking his hat off and pinching his rosy cheeks. Oak shucks off his clothes as he goes to the living room, until he’s only in his thermals.

Vivi has started a fire, and we watch old Christmas movies that trigger my own memories of the human realm. We drink hot chocolate. A neighbor brings over a batch of cookies.

I should be enjoying myself. I should be laughing with my siblings. I should be smiling. But all I am is going through the motions, the bare minimum, letting myself sink further and further in my own feelings.

Some High Queen of Faerie.

“We should go on a sleigh ride.” Oak declares. “And we should ride it through the streets all the way to the McDonalds with the cool play place.”

At that, even I laugh. Vivi grins, and I can practically see the gears turning in her head. She’s got an idea.

Sure enough, she stands up, still smiling mischievously. “Everyone get their coats on! I’m going to get us a sleigh!”

Oak and I gather our things, and I wonder how on earth Vivi will manage this. Oak is practically bouncing off the walls with excitement.

When I step outside, I do have to give her credit. In the street is a sleigh, a perfect rendition of the one we just saw on TV.

Oak scrambles inside it, smiling and cheering the whole time. Vivi ruffles his hair and helps me up.

There is a horse pulling the sleigh, and Oak reaches out to pet it. Vivi smirks to herself, and I raise an eyebrow at her.

“Our car and a slightly unlucky pidgeon.” She finally says, quiet so Oak can’t hear. I roll my eyes, and Vivi whistles to get the horse moving.

Down the streets we go, the giddy smile never leaving Oak’s face. Snow is falling around us, flurries swirling across the road and piling against the curb.

If people see us, they don’t look surprised. Maybe Vivi is glamouring everyone. Maybe they are just used to horse drawn sleighs in the streets. Or maybe, they simply don’t care.

I find myself enjoying this. I haven’t enjoyed something in so long. Here, with my sister and my brother, I can forget, for just a moment. I can forget that Faerie even exists.

But a moment later it all comes rushing back. Taryn. Madoc. Locke. And Cardan, Cardan, Cardan. I miss him.

We reach the McDonalds, and Vivi helps Oak down and inside. I stay, letting the snowflakes catch on all my clothes.

This is magical, I think. I want to go home.

Home is not here, even if I wanted it to be. It’s not a glamoured car and bird, it’s not sugary cereal and tinsel. Home is where I wake up to crow-black hair and a purr in my ear.

Cardan, Cardan, Cardan. I wish he was here. I wish I was there. I don’t know what I want besides him. My longing is deep, and sharp, and suddenly it feels like every passerby could be him in disguise.

I see Oak waving in the window of the McDonalds playspace, and I give a half-hearted wave back. He grins, and then something catches his attention. He starts to wave again, and I turn to see what he’s up to.

My breath catches. I can’t breathe.

Cardan Cardan Cardan Cardan Cardan Cardan.

He’s here. He’s standing right in front of me, silky locks tousled and crusted with snow. He’s smirking that stupid smirk, and I’m not sure if I want to slap or kiss it off.

I settle for kiss. I run towards him, nearly slipping on the ice. Strong arms pull me upright, and I’m staring into his green eyes like my life depends on it.

“You came.” I murmur, so softly I can hardly hear it myself. But Cardan nods regardless, and pulls me into his warmth.

I’m not sure when I start kissing him. I’m not sure I ever truly stopped. But his hands are on my back and mine in his hair, ruffling the snow from it. Cardan lifts me up, delicate fingers tickling under my ribs, but I don’t mind because he came.

He breaks away first, and I grin at finding him breathless, one word on his lips.

“Jude.”

“Cardan.”

“My lovely, sinful Jude. My High Queen of Elfhame.”

“My darling, spiteful Cardan. My royal husband.”

“Kiss me again, Jude.”

I am only too happy to oblige him.

#fanfic #christmas #christmas music #the cruel prince #the wicked king #jude duarte #cardan greenbriar #jurdan #jude x cardan

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highqueenjude · 5 years

Note

can you write a cardan confession? a lot of angsttt

After a year, I finally answered this. Sorry for the wait, nonnie. I changed it up a little bit from what you probably intended but I hope you enjoy :)

Also: THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH for 500 followers! It’s actually pretty insane that many people enjoy what I post put up with me, so a HUGE thank you for that.

read on ao3

~set after TWK~

It has been three months since Cardan banished Jude Duarte, his wife and the High Queen of Faerie, from her own kingdom and into the mortal world. He hates himself for the way her eyes had found his the second after he announced her fate, tortured and betrayed. He hates how her lips had trembled and that he was the one to cause it.

It hurt, seeing her brought low.

It hurt even more because, in order to protect her, he had to laugh with all the others when she declared that she was the Queen of Faerie. He had never wanted to cause her pain, but it had been necessary. If he had not denied being her husband, there would have been an immediate target on her back.

And if something happened to Jude because of his love, then he would not be able to live with himself.

So he keeps her away and instead keeps his enemies closer. Nicasia, as the Undersea's ambassador, is always near him. It is necessary, and oh how he loathes it. He needs to have something of value to Orlagh in his possession, or she will unleash her war upon the land. He must keep the sea in line for the sake of his people.

Still, his patience wears thin with Nicasia. It is beyond difficult not to bring Jude back. Fate tests him every day, and today is no different. He feels as if he might burst. As if he might fall apart if he doesn't hold Jude and tell her that she is the most important person in his entire world.

Cardan glances at Nicasia with disgust. She is practically laying on top of him, her hand twirling his hair. She is talking, but he cannot find it in himself to listen. Her other hand comes to rest on his chest, right above his heart, and he has had enough. He stands abruptly and she topples onto the floor of the dais.

"Leave me," he commands, not bothering to see her pout as she departs, stiff and aggravated.

Cardan smoothes out his clothes and goes down and into the Court of Shadows. Once he arrives, he does not announce himself right away. No, he has found that he rather enjoys just . . . watching. Watching the Court scurry about, plotting and preparing and keeping a thousand secrets close to their chests. He gazes around at the faces that have become as familiar as the back of his leg—or however way the mortal phrase is said to go.

The Ghost is long gone, to a place he knows not. A few of the court is missing, either by death or the desire to seek work elsewhere. It turns out that betrayals leave scars that some wish to bear alone.

Cardan knew all about that, therefore he did not stop those who wished to leave. Now, there is only a handful left to do his bidding, not that he has much use for them anyway. They were more Jude's underlings than his.

They don't question him when he alerts them to his intended departure, but the Bomb approaches him after and asks if his little adventure is in any way relating to Jude. He cannot lie, and the fidgeting of his mouth gives him away all too easily. He will have to work on that.

"Ah," she says with a knowing smile, "I see. Do not worry, my king. Give the Queen my regards." She bows to hide her grin.

Cardan swallows at the mention of the alias but doubts that the Bomb knows exactly how much truth she speaks.

"Thank you," he says. "If anyone resolves to visit the king, tell them that I will be back around the setting of the moon, if not earlier. I do not plan to stay longer than that."

With this, he withdraws from the Court of Shadows to find himself transportation.

. . .

It does not take long to get from the palace to Vivienne's apartment by way of a Ragwort steed. She had given him the location to send his letters to, in the time before he had exiled Jude, and he had memorized the path to get there.

It is a small place, one he cannot image Jude living in happily. He stops at what appears to be an entrance and knocks tentatively at the door. It takes a few moments, but it eventually opens, and he is greeted with—

Nothing. Until he moves his eyes down to find Oak's curious eyes staring up at him.

"Hello," Oak says, but the word comes out in a jumbled rush.

"Hi."

"Why are you here?" asks Oak with a child's bluntness.

"To see Jude. May I come in?"

Then a voice—Vivi's, he thinks—calls from further inside the apartment. "Oak?"

Oak turns back to Cardan and fidgets. "I don't think that Jude wants to see you right now."

Oh. The admission stings him, though it shouldn't. Jude has every right to be furious with him, with her husband who banished her from her own kingdom.

"Oak?" Vivi again. She comes into his view and sucks in a deep breath when she sees her king. "Oh."

"Hello, Vivienne," Cardan replies smoothly, hiding the insistent pain in his chest. A part of him had wished it were Jude that had met him in the doorway instead. Okay, that was a half-truth—all of him wished that Jude was here, and the two of them were alone.

Her voice turns cold. "You shouldn't be here, your highness."

"I need to see her."

"Unfortunately for you, she's not here at the moment."

"Then where can I find her?"

Vivi doesn't answer him and turns to Oak instead. "How about you go pick out a movie for us to watch, yeah?"

Oak nods slowly and rushes out of sight. Vivi steps outside the apartment and closes the door partially, so as not to let the sounds of their conversation carry inside.

"You should know that you hurt my sister and that she hates you for it. I will not stand to see her like that again. So no, Cardan, I will not give you her location. Take my denial of your wish and sulk if you like, but that will not change it."

"You do not know the depths of my regret. What I did, I did in order to protect her. I should not even be here now, for I am risking her safety, but I must speak with her," he implores.

"I don't think that you quite understand. She doesn't want to see you."

"I know. I would not want to see me, either, but this must be done," his voice is powerful, commanding.

Vivi contemplates for a moment, her gaze directed at the puddles forming from the drizzle of rain.

"You sound like a king," she admits at last.

A corner of his mouth lifts up in imitation of a smile.

After quiet deliberation, Vivi speaks. "I'll tell you where she is, so long as you promise me that you will not hurt her again."

"It is not my intention, and it never was."

She gives him a look, to which he sighs in exasperation. "I promise I will not hurt Jude again. Now may I see her?"

Vivi nods, as satisfied as she can be. "Jude is at the mall, a few miles away. I can't take you, but I'll draw you a map."

He watches her retreat into the apartment, and return a minute later with a scrap of green paper. She hands it to him without ceremony. The top of the note sticks to his hand as he looks it over, confused at all of the lines and names for roads.

"Thank you," he says, genuine.

"Bye, Cardan."

"Goodbye, Vivi."

She closes the door, and he takes his leave, following the path to the mortal mall and Jude.

. . .

Mortals are weird, he decides. They walk hunched over as if they were born deformed, and they do not seem to have many clothes that fit them; some wear pants that are two sizes too small, while others don baggy shirts two sizes too big. How they manage to walk and perform mundane tasks is a wonder to him.

Cardan tries very hard to avoid them, of course. But then there are other mortals, and they walk in clans, it seems. In these groups, there are both male and female teenagers that wear the tightest garments he has ever seen. It looks horribly uncomfortable.

He wanders for a while, searching for Jude. There are many brunettes, many fierce looking-girls, but too many are not his.

Cardan walks farther along and passes the food court. A laugh rings out, and he would have passed by without a glance had it not sounded familiar. He turns and there, standing among a small group of people, Jude stands. Her back is turned, but he would know her anywhere.

His heart is in his throat, and he shifts on his feet awkwardly, debating whether or not he should just go up to her or walk away. Cardan never thought himself a coward, but at the moment he feels like one. He feels like running, he feels like taking Jude with him. Because she is there with two other people—a dark-skinned boy and a stout girl, both around Jude's age. Something pulls at his heart, strengthens his resolve to steal his wife away.

Cardan has not been jealous many times in his life, but he knows that he does not like the feeling. So that is why, without any further contemplation, he promptly strides up beside Jude and slips his hand into hers.

In less than a second, before he even has time to blink, his arm is being twisted in a way it should not. He bites his cheek in discomfort, but just as quickly as it happened, the strain on his arm is released and the pain stops.

"Cardan?" Jude is incredulous. Her eyes are wide and she looks both awed and furious. Her companions have taken a step back, surprised. Either at how Jude reacted to him holding her hand or that she knew him, he could not say. It did not matter, anyway. Jude was there.

"Jude," he breathes. It sounds reverent even to his own ears.

Her hands tighten into fists, but she does not respond, only turns to her flabbergasted friends and says through gritted teeth, "If you will excuse us for a moment?" It is not a question. Even if it was, Jude would not wait for their approval. She grabs Cardan by the arm and pulls him along, gripping his arm too tight for comfort.

Jude does not look back at her friends, not as they exit the mall or walk across the expansive parking lot. They do not speak, but Cardan continuously glances at her. She does not turn her head, though he knows that she notices him staring.

Once they make it onto the grass of a nearby park, Jude whirls to him and pushes him against a thick tree trunk, a knife to his throat. He does not question why she always seems to have at least eight knives with her at all times, not anymore. He does not question the laugh that bubbles up in his throat, either.

Her eyes are murderous. "What," she seethes. "Are you," she presses the flat of the blade harder against his throat. "Doing here?"

He wants to say so many things. He wants to tell her how he has missed her, how it is hard without her. Come back, he wants to beg. He knows it is still not safe—will never be safe—for her in Elfame. Many want him dead, and if any of them knew that Jude was his wife, then they would be after her, too. Stay away, he needs to say but doesn't.

"I needed to see you," he confesses instead.

"And I needed you," she retorts, but her voice breaks at the end. It comes out in a rush, surprises them both.

"I am sorry, Jude."

She grits her teeth and glances to the sky before returning her gaze to his. "Sorry is not enough."

He knows. They both do, in a way. It will never be enough, he does not think. Not while she does not understand why he had to send her away.

"It is not safe for you in Faerie right now," he says, searching her eyes, for what, he doesn't know. Maybe just to look because he can. Maybe to drink her in while she allows his presence.

"Faerie was never safe for me. Why is now any different?" she bites out, teeth bared. He can tell she is holding back a barrage of emotion, all of which are slowly tearing at her.

"Right now is different. There are those who wish to kill me, and—" he holds up a hand and she closes her mouth—"I do not wish for you to be a target because of me."

"Why do you even care? You did not care about my heart then, why do you care about it now?" Jude is crying, and her hand with the knife lowers.

Cardan swallows. "Because I am selfish."

Jude scoffs, tears still trailing down her cheeks. Cardan moves his hand, slowly, not wanting to frighten her into retreating. He wipes her tears away slowly. She watches him, blinking rapidly.

"Do you know how hard it was for me?" her voice comes out in a whisper. "Do you know what it is like to take odd jobs just to get a taste of Faerie again?"

Cardan had made sure to keep Jude on his radar at all times. He knew when she would take jobs and what they entailed. And he tells her just that.

"I know about your jobs, Jude." He watches her, hears her breath hitch in her throat. "I know about every job, from first to last. I know when you took them, what you did." He pauses, looks down. Grits his teeth because this is hard for him, this blatant show of emotion. "I made sure you returned to your apartment safely each time. It was the least of what I could do."

This is the least of what we can do. The words sweep them into a memory that feels like a lifetime ago. By the riverbank, Cardan watching as she shivers in her soaked clothes, clawing her way out of the water. The moment they share together, then, does not feel all that different from drowning.

"Thank you."

He thinks that she means for her words to come out in a snarl, but they are a whisper, a breath on the wind and barely heard.

He nods. A beat passes, two. Cardan says the condemning words, the words he will curse himself over and over and over again for. He says them because he is a selfish creature. Because he is a lonely creature.

"Come back with me."

Jude's face shutters, as if a shockwave is rolling through her. "Do not deny me again."

He never denied her, they both know this. But he did not claim her either, not when she needed it most.

"I promise not to deny you ever again." He is making a lot of promises lately.

Jude smiles, and for the first time in many long months, Cardan feels his heart gallop, feels his chest swell inside the carcass he had resided in while Jude had been gone. He feels whole.

#cardan greenbriar #jude duarte #the cruel prince #the queen of nothing #the wicked king #tqon #twk #jude duarte x cardan greenbriar #tcp #cardan x jude #tcp fanfic #twk fanfic #qon fanfic #tqon fanfic #edit: i forgot to put in tags oops

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mclteen · 5 years

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The Manchester Libraries’ Most Popular YA Books of 2018

Like last year, I ran some statistics and see what our best-performing YA books published in 2018 were, as well as our best-performing books overall. Here's the list:

Top Books Published in 2018:

Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi (33 checkouts, 2 copies) Seventeen-year-old Zélie, her older brother Tzain, and rogue princess Amari fight to restore magic to the land and activate a new generation of magi, but they are ruthlessly pursued by the crown prince, who believes the return of magic will mean the end of the monarchy.

The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert (16 checkouts) Seventeen-year-old Alice and her mother have spent most of Alice's life on the road, always a step ahead of the uncanny bad luck biting at their heels. But when Alice's grandmother, the reclusive author of a cult-classic book of pitch-dark fairy tales, dies alone on her estate, the Hazel Wood, Alice learns how bad her luck can really get.

Tempests and Slaughter by Tamora Pierce (16 checkouts) Arram Draper is on the path to becoming one of the realm's most powerful mages. The youngest student in his class at the Imperial University of Carthak, he has a Gift with unlimited potential for greatness—and for attracting trouble. At his side are his two best friends: Varice, a clever girl with an often-overlooked talent, and Ozorne, the "leftover prince" with secret ambitions. Together, these three friends forge a bond that will one day shape kingdoms. And as Ozorne gets closer to the throne and Varice gets closer to Arram's heart, Arram realizes that one day—soon—he will have to decide where his loyalties truly lie. In the Numair Chronicles, readers will be rewarded with the never-before-told story of how Numair Salmalín came to Tortall.

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black (15 checkouts) Jude was seven years old when her parents were murdered and she and her two sisters were stolen away to live in the treacherous High Court of Faerie. Ten years later, Jude wants nothing more than to belong there, despite her mortality. But many of the fey despise humans. Especially Prince Cardan, the youngest and wickedest son of the High King. To win a place at the Court, she must defy him—and face the consequences. In doing so, she becomes embroiled in palace intrigues and deceptions, discovering her own capacity for bloodshed. But as civil war threatens to drown the Courts of Faerie in violence, Jude will need to risk her life in a dangerous alliance to save her sisters, and Faerie itself.

The Smoke Thieves by Sally Green (15 checkouts) The fates of teens Tasha, Catherine, Ambrose, and March, whose lives would never intersect, are intertwined in a war between kingdoms.

I Have Lost My Way by Gayle Forman (13 checkouts) Around the time that Freya loses her voice while recording her debut album, Harun is making plans to run away from everyone he has ever loved, and Nathaniel is arriving in New York City with a backpack, a desperate plan, and nothing left to lose. When a fateful accident draws these three strangers together, their secrets start to unravel as they begin to understand that the way out of their own loss might just lie in helping the others out of theirs.

Restore Me by Tahereh Mafi (13 checkouts) It's been sixteen days since Juliette Ferrars killed the supreme commander of North America and took over as ruler of the Reestablishment on the continent...Juliette thought she'd won. She took over sector 45 and now has Warner by her side. But she's still the girl with the ability to kill with a single touch—and with so much power in her young hands, the world is watching her every move, waiting to see what happens next.

The Burning Maze by Rick Riordan (13 checkouts) The Greek god Apollo, cast down to earth as the ungifted human teenager Lester Papadopoulos, and his demigod friends must go through the Labyrinth to find the third emperor—and an Oracle who speaks in word puzzles—somewhere in the American Southwest.

I Stop Somewhere by T.E. Carter (11 checkouts) After she is raped and murdered, fifteen-year-old Ellie Frias, who felt invisible in life, finds herself caught in Hollow Oaks, New York, observing other brutal attacks, the police investigation, and more.

Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson (11 checkouts) Ellingham Academy is a famous private school in Vermont founded by Albert Ellingham, an early twentieth century tycoon, who wanted to make a wonderful place full of riddles, twisting pathways, and gardens. Shortly after the school opened, his wife and daughter were kidnapped. The only real clue was a mocking riddle listing methods of murder, signed with the frightening pseudonym “Truly, Devious.” True-crime aficionado Stevie Bell is set to begin her first year at Ellingham Academy, and she has an ambitious plan: She will solve this cold case. But something strange is happening. Truly Devious makes a surprise return, and death revisits Ellingham Academy.

Furyborn by Claire Legrand (11 checkouts) When assassins ambush her best friend, Rielle Dardenne risks everything to save him, exposing herself as one of a pair of prophesied queens: a queen of light, and a queen of blood. To prove she is the Sun Queen, Rielle must endure seven elemental magic trials. If she fails, she will be executed...unless the trials kill her first. One thousand years later, the legend of Queen Rielle is a fairy tale to Eliana Ferracora. A bounty hunter for the Undying Empire, Eliana believes herself untouchable—until her mother vanishes. To find her, Eliana joins a rebel captain and discovers that the evil at the empire's heart is more terrible than she ever imagined.

The Fates Divide by Veronica Roth (11 checkouts) When Cyra's father Lazmet Noavek, a soulless tyrant thought to be dead, reclaims the throne, Cyra Noavek and Akos Kereseth are desperate to stop him from igniting a barbaric war.

Leah on the Offbeat by Becky Albertalli (10 checkouts) When it comes to drumming, Leah Burke is usually on beat—but real life isn’t always so rhythmic. She’s an anomaly in her friend group: the only child of a young, single mom, and her life is decidedly less privileged. And even though her mom knows she’s bisexual, she hasn’t mustered the courage to tell her friends—not even her openly gay BFF, Simon. So Leah really doesn’t know what to do when her rock-solid friend group starts to fracture in unexpected ways. It’s hard for Leah to strike the right note while the people she loves are fighting—especially when she realizes she might love one of them more than she ever intended.

Not if I Save You First by Ally Carter (10 checkouts) Six years ago Maddie lived in Washington D.C. with her father, a Secret Service agent assigned to the President's family, and her best friend was Logan, the President's son; but after her father was wounded in an attempted kidnapping the two of them moved to a remote cabin in Alaska and Logan never replied to her letters—but now he has suddenly turned up on her doorstep, and, while she has no intention of forgiving him for his silence, she soon realizes that first she has to save him from the winter wilderness and the men who are pursuing him.

Dread Nation by Justina Ireland (10 checkouts) Jane McKeene was born two days before the dead began to walk the battlefields of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania—derailing the War Between the States and changing the nation forever. Now laws like the Native and Negro Education Act require certain children attend combat schools to learn to put down the dead. Jane is studying to become an Attendant, trained in both weaponry and etiquette to protect the well-to-do. But it's not a life Jane wants. When families around Baltimore County begin to go missing, Jane is caught in the middle of a conspiracy...and the restless dead are the least of her problems.

Bloom into You, Vol. 4 by Nakatani Nio (10 checkouts) The script for the student council play is finally finished! To make sure it is a success, the council holds a practice camp during summer vacation. Touko, Sayaka, and Yuu soon find themselves faced with sleeping together in the same room. Whatever happens at camp, it promises to be three days of super-charged emotions!

Whisper by Lynette Noni (10 checkouts) A girl known as Jane Doe who has the power to change reality has been held in a secret government facility for more than two years, but everything changes when she gets a new handler, the mysterious but kind Landon Ward.

Top Books Published Any Year:

Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi (33 checkouts, 2 copies)

Turtles All the Way Down by John Green (29 checkouts, 2 copies)

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas (20 checkouts, 2 copies)

Tokyo Ghoul, Vol. 1 by Sui Ishida (19 checkouts)

One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus (19 checkouts)

Tokyo Ghoul, Vol. 2 by Sui Ishida (17 checkouts)

The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert (16 checkouts)

Project You: More than 50 Ways to Calm Down, De-stress, and Feel Great by Aubre Andrus (16 checkouts)

Tempests and Slaughter by Tamora Pierce (16 checkouts)

La Belle Sauvage by Philip Pullman (16 checkouts)

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black (15 checkouts)

The Smoke Thieves by Sally Green (15 checkouts)

Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas (15 checkouts)

#recommended #book lists

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clockworkgraystairs · 4 years

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Everything I didn’t ask for #2

JURDAN FIGHT CLUB AU

Rated M

Warnings: Sexual content and violence.

After his friend Locke got them a doubtfu job, Cardan finds out things won’t be as easy as he thought.

Maybe one mysterious girl will help him sort things out.

Or not.

Chapters: 1 2 3 4 5 [coming soon]

EIDAF Masterlist General Masterlist AO3

HAVE FUN

“I’m just saying, if I end up in some ditch tied up and face down it’s going to be on your dork conscience.”

Cardan rolled his eyes.

For the last twenty minutes, the Roach had been complaining about the same thing. It was getting a little annoying. By the look on Locke’s face, he was already regretting inviting him.

The guy who had talked to Locke asked him for three people for the night, and since they were the closest ones from the whole bar the decision had been easy.

When the deal was closed, the man who presented himself as Madoc, had muttered some very specific rules:

-Be at the assigned place (outside the Elfhame) the next monday at 8:00 pm.

-No speaking about the job to anyone. He claimed he’ll know if they did.

-No cellphones.

After that, he’d left without another word.

On mondays and tuesdays the bar was closed, so that was not going to be an issue. What worried him though, was thinking the kind of trouble that kind of job could bring them. The promised payment, the weird man, the ridiculous rules, the fancy limousine that picked them up at 8 o’clock from the bar…

Once the door closed behind him, he knew there was no coming back.

Now, the three of them were sitting side by side in that limo that despite its comfortable leather seats, stinked awfully like cigars and alcohol.

While Cardan was looking outside trying to see where the hell they were, Locke had successfully distracted Roach by trying to put some eyeliner on his face claiming it would make him look less like a cringy old man. At some point Roach’s attempts to escape left them both struggling on the car’s floor. Cardan could only laugh at the horror in Roach’s eyes. None of them realizing the vehicle had stopped moving. “GET THAT DEVILISH THING OFF MY…” he yelled, pausing mid-sentence when the door opened.

Standing outside, Madoc stared at them with a quirked eyebrow. With a head movement, he commanded them to sit back down before entering the car. He carried two suitcases.

Locke opened his mouth to start apologizing when he realized the man was not alone. Behind him two other women got inside and sit next to him. The first one with straight half-blonde half-blue hair falling to her waist and a long black dress, didn’t even bothered looking at them and just stare through the window, her expression empty or maybe bored Cardan could not tell. The second one though, was a little taller and her navy blue dress made her brunette wavy hair stand out, he found her to be absolutely gorgeous, and unlike her companion she did survey them with curiosity in her eyes.

Once she sat down she crossed her legs, the dress revealing a dangerous opening that ran up to her mid-thigh. It was until he raised his gaze and found her chestnut eyes looking right back at him with a playful grin in the corner of her lips, that Cardan realized he was staring, mouth half opened.

He blinked and lowered his head, feeling a rush of blood reaching his face. Madoc tapped the driver’s window twice and the limousine started moving again.

“I trust that you won’t be climbing each other like that once we arrive to our destination, am I correct?” he asked Locke. The poor guy looking pale as a ghost just nodded.

“Certainly not sir, we were just-” he babbled, playing with his hands. “We are deeply sorry.” The Roach didn’t say anything but his face was something between ashamed and angry, probably both.

“Good.”

Madoc opened the zipper from one of the suitcases and pulled out two pairs of walkie talkies. “All of you will have one of this for the entire night, you’ll have an specific work area but if you are needed somewhere else for any motive this is how I’ll let you know.” he gave a device to each one of them and kept the last one for himself.

“You must not take it off, not even for going to the gods damned bathroom, understood? If this or any other of the instructions I gave you is ignored there will be consequences. Not pleasant to say the least.” his voice calm as he leaned back on his seat opening his coat. He had a gun. The three boys immediately tensed up. Cardan inhaled a sharp breath.

The girl in the navy dress snorted. Even while gazing to the road outside, she was clearly paying close attention to everything they were saying.

The man continued as if he didn’t hear her. “Now, I’m going to need your names. I don’t care for any last name. Just first name, or nickname if it suits you better.”

When none of the others answered Cardan turned to them. Locke had gone from white to green and Roach wasn’t doing any better. His heart was hammering in his chest. Clearing his throat he pointed to each one.

“Well that’s Locke, you know him already. This one’s Roach, or that’s how we all call him.” A pause to see if he was going to correct him and tell his true name. He didn’t. “And my name is Cardan. We will attend all of your instructions so don’t need to worry about it.”

“You sure about that?” he answered, looking at the others in disbelief. “Because-”

“Gods Madoc, just give them a break.” The brunette interrupted, her voice low and silky. “We haven’t even arrived yet and those two look as if they’re waiting for the door to open so they can run for their lives.”

The man glared at her, and Cardan took those seconds to elbow his friend, hard. Get yourselves together! he seemed to shout at him. The red-haired shook his head and blinked as if he was coming back from a trance, quickly recovering and smirking to the girl.

“We won’t go anywhere miss, you don’t need to worry. We were just… processing all the instructions.”

The Roach only nodded once, still not daring to say anything but wearing a better face than before.

The car stopped. Somehow in that little time they’d managed to get out from the city. Now the driver was parking in front of some kind of warehouse, a well maintained building even if it was in the middle of nowhere. Around them were parked at least other fifty cars. Expensive cars.

Someone opened the door and the girls exit the limo. Just before it closed again the navy dress girl turned to them, her gaze on Cardan.

“Have fun.”

After dropping the girls at the entrance, his group and Madoc entered the place through a backdoor that leaded to some kind of cellar and a kitchen. A couple of guys came and went from double doors carrying trays full of glasses.

Madoc pointed at a cabinet on a corner. “You’ll find a uniform there, put it on and meet me at the bar outside.”

Outside, turned out to be a huge saloon lighted up with a beckoning and low blue light, half filled with poker tables as well as other gambling stations. All of them nearly filled with people. The other area was some kind of dance floor where men and women were pretty much drinking and talking.

The whole place surrounded by smoke, excited howls, and loud jazz and blues music. Roach whistled at the view. Cardan just wondered how high the bets actually went in those tables.

They hurried to the bar zone, located on the opposite corner of the main entrance where Madoc waited with a not so patient face. He quickly explained the half-area they were supposed to attend, as well as the behavior expected from all of their workers. It was large, practically doubled the Elfhame’s bar size. Across it, another three boys in the same black and white uniform were in charge of the other half.

After repeating the initial instructions, emphasizing on not dropping the walkie at any moment, Madoc was gone. People arrived almost instantly.

Rich people liked spending money, that was common knowledge. Still, it surprised Cardan how many of this (really expensive) martinis and mojitos they would dare to buy in a record time of three hours, either for themselves or to invite an entire round to some table partners. A glance from Locke told him he was thinking the exact same thing, needless to say his friend was having the time of his life flirting with some of those loaded women. Even the Roach had relaxed by now.

“Hello Cardan.” The whiskey bottle almost slipped from his hands.

He turned around to find the brunette girl from the limousine sitting in one of the bar stools right in front of him, her gaze soft. An amused smile curved her lips. “Having enough fun?”

Don’t you dare staring at her as a total idiot again, he scolded himself.

“Good evening miss, indeed we are. It has been an… interesting experience.” He gave her the charmiest grin he could manage. Her smile widened. “The mojitos are flying away, in case you wanted any I suggest you hurry.” MOJITOS? Are you fucking serious?

She wrinkled her nose in the most adorable way he’d ever seen, “Thanks but I don’t really drink.”

Cardan nodded once.

“Ok, uh- in that case maybe something with no alcohol in it?” It was getting harder to concentrate under her intense eyes. He took a glass and started cleaning it with a cloth.

“Maybe. Only if I get to invite you something too.”

A couple of seconds passed. He chuckled quietly. “There’s…no need miss. I am here to serve you. But I appreciate your kindness.”

“Do stop calling me ‘miss’. And I’m not talking out of kindness Cardan, I’m doing it because since I saw you in that hideous limousine I’ve thought you are incredibly hot.” The girl bit her lip and widened her eyes as if she could not entirely believe what she’d just said.

Actually his own mind had fully stopped working at the moment, but not exactly out of shyness.

“Well I’m sorry, miss, but I’m afraid I don’t know your name.” Keeping their gazes locked, Cardan left the glass and the cloth aside and leaned to her, resting his hands on the table. She didn’t move backwards and looked up at him through thick eyelashes. “Care to tell me?” His voice came out guttural.

She opened her mouth.

“Heeeey there!” Locke’s arm materialized out of nowhere around his neck. “Are you offering this beautiful girl a drink? Because if you’re just boring her, allow me to take it from here." He winked at her ignoring Cardan’s frown.

A flash of annoyance crossed her face before giving Locke a less wider grin. “The beautiful girl has a name, it’s Susan.” By the glint in her eyes, Cardan was almost sure she was lying. “And it’s nice of you but I’m everything but bored. I wasn’t exactly planning on asking your friend for a drink.”

He quirked an eyebrow, and she took her gaze back to Cardan, biting her lip again in a totally different way. His pulse rose again. She was not just flirting anymore. That was a look of pure desire.

Cardan could almost listen the switch clicking on Locke’s brain.

“Oh!” His friend turned to him, both amused and stunned. Then to her. “So I guess I just fucked up, my apologies milady.”

After that he crossed the bar in long-legged strides, only half turning back to Cardan to give him a thumbs up while mouthing DAMN.

She chuckled. “Was I too rude?”

Cardan kept his gaze on her. Her bright eyes, her lips, the exquisite cleavage of her dress. Gods she was gorgeous, and that damned look she’d gave him had tored him down completely. Would it be too much to rip off her dress right there? He leaned down to her again, this time at a distance that allowed him to smell her scent of violets.

A flash of Madoc’s gun passed through his mind and he froze.

Whoever this girl was, it would probably get him nothing but trouble. Even if he wasn’t the embodiment of measurement himself, he had enough to deal with.

She immediately noticed him and tilted her head, a silent question in her eyes.

“I’m sorry… I-“ Cardan gulped, backing up an inch. “Maybe it wouldn’t be the best idea to… you know.”

She leaned back onto the stool, leaving one of her hands next to his. “I guess you’re right.” His breath hitched as he felt her soft fingers tracing his, slowly. “A terrible idea, Madoc would be furious.”

Been foolish enough to ruin one of his brother Balekin’s dirty businesses had cost Cardan a life-long debt and several beatings already. He should know better than getting involved in something just as dangerous.

He really should.

The shelf rattled as her back slammed against it. Without letting go of her, Cardan kept devouring her lips as her hands tangled in his hair.

Somehow, they’d managed to sneak into a spot behind several boxes and shelves way behind the kitchen, out of sight of pretty much everyone. If any person, besides Locke or Roach, had seeing them leave Cardan didn’t know. Or care. Mostly because his mind was went completely blank as she took his hand and led him out the saloon.

As soon as they got out he’d encircled her waist fimly and grazed her ear with his lips. “Where are you taking me?”

“Careful,” She’d purred, reaching his neck with the hand that wasn’t holding his. “We may get in trouble if we’re seen.”

“I get the feeling you wouldn’t really care if we were, miss.” He’d teased, nibbling her earlobe. She tensed and pulled him faster, finally getting to a little corner where the light was low. She turned to face him, her breath ragged and her eyes dangerous.

“I told you,” Her hand grasped the collar of his shirt, tugging him down to her eye-level. “To. Not. Call. Me. Mi-”

He yanked her to him before she could finish, their lips colliding fiercely. She let out a sharp gasp, her arms lashing around his neck.

Gods, she tasted so good. She arched deliciously as one of Cardan’s hands slide down her back, then lower. Her teeth grazed his bottom lip. In a heartbeat, he lifted her onto a small shelf pushing himself between her knees, caressing her thigh at the split of her dress that had taunted him from the first moment. She pulled him closer, if such thing was possible.

Cardan growled against her lips “Will you tell me your true name?”

He felt her grin as she slipped her kisses to his jaw. “And if I do?” she sighed. “Will you drop with formalities?”

“There isn’t anything formal about what I want to do with you right now.”

Her next words were suppressed by a moan as his hand moved inwards to stroke her over her panties. The heat that came from her was enough to make Cardan want to kneel in the spot and eat her up.

But not yet.

In a swift move his fingers set aside the fabric so he could feel her exposed skin, teasing her entrance just enough to make her head roll back.

Without stopping his ministrations, he seized her neck again prompting her to look at him. He could feel her heartbeat against his fingers. “Your name.”

She breathed twice, short and ragged, her eyes still defiant. He slipped one finger inside her, deep. She cried out and tried to shift her hips.

Cardan leaned to brush her lips with his. “I said-”

“Jude.” She sighed in defeat. “My name is Jude-ah”

She whined at the intrusion of a second finger. “Are you telling me the truth, Jude?”

Breathless curses slipped out of her. “Yes yes I am, please…”

That last word was his undoing. He groaned and moved his fingers faster. Pumping in and out until she squirmed against him. Feeling her moans in the hand he kept around her neck he kissed her again. She was gripping his hair tight enough to hurt, and shivered when he changed the angle of his thrusts to a different spot.

Her breathing changed as she got closer, panting against his mouth. She pulled back an inch muttering his name.

“That’s it Jude, come for me.” He let go of her neck so he could clasp her hips still, rubbing with her clit with his thumb.

Jude jolted and cried out, falling over the edge with her hand covering her mouth in an attempt to muffle the sounds that were coming out of her.

As she came down, she leaned back to the shelf. If Cardan hadn’t already decided she was the most exquisite creature he’d ever met, the sight of her breathing hard against her tight dress, mouth parted and a scarlet trace of blush that ran from her cheeks down to her breasts, shit, that would have done it.

Pulling out of her, he took his fingers to his mouth giving her a wicked grin that made her blush even harder.

“If you did that just to know my name,” She hooked a finger in his waistband preventing him from moving. “Let me show you what I’d do for your number.”

Jude’s hands roamed soft as feathers under his shirt, Cardan cursed under his breath as one of them headed down until she was stroking him over his clothes.

His self control was not as good as it showed, he’d been rock hard since she’d whispered his name against his mouth when she was falling apart. And right now he could only think of Jude on her knees, taking his-

A loud ring came out of the walkie he was carrying, making them both stiffen.

“Cardan.”

Locke. He was going to kill the bastard.

“Pst, Cardan.”

Taking the damned thing he hissed. “What?”

“I’m sorry to interrupt… again. But Madoc is looking for you. I told him you were on the bathroom but I don’t think he is going to believe that a third time, man.”

He sighed and cursed again.

“He won’t. You need to go.” Jude muttered, getting back on her feet. Her face was serious but still got a hint of mischief in her eyes. “Besides, you’re not the only one who’s needed elsewhere.”

Cardan stared at her. “We are not done yet, you and I.”

Her lips curved. She leaned to kissed him, her lips barely grazing his.

“Oh I haven’t even started.”

For a moment he wondered if it would be worth risking Madoc’s temper.

“You are so dead”

Locke raised his hands in surrender.

“Hey don’t blame me, I’m the one who’s been covering up your ass remember?”

Cardan clenched his jaw, he knew that, he just needed to get out his frustration with someone.

“Yeah, whatever. Thanks, man.” By the look in his friend he could say there were a lot of questions waiting for him. As soon as they get to a safer place. Cardan eyed the room searching for Madoc.

That’s when he noticed something had changed.

Something in the air was different. Even the music was. The fluent jazz and blues replaced for faster and harder beats.

People weren’t gathered at the poker tables anymore. Barely a handful of them. He spotted the rest at what he thought was a dance floor. None were dancing though.

Everyone there shouting and some of them clapping. Apparently surrounding something. A stage maybe?

“There you are!”

They turned to find Madoc, rushing towards them. He eyed Cardan. If he noticed his rumpled hair or wrinkled shirt he didn’t mention it. “Leave whatever you are doing and come with me. No questions.”

As they walked near the crowd Cardan could surveyed better what was going on.

He felt his face pale and heard Locke catch his breath.

The multitude formed a circle, in the middle, two men wearing nothing but trousers were circling each other.

Both of them had bruises and blood all over.

With a roar, the broader man hurled himself against the other. They struggled for a moment before falling down to the floor. The smaller man could do little when the first one started dropping vicious blows against him. The attacker’s eyes were wide with rage, the people around screaming louder. Like animals.

A ringing noise filled Cardan’s head. Staying still as he could do nothing but stare at the blood splashing to the floor.

“Why don’t you ever defend yourself, little brother?” Balekin laughed. Both of his men standing next to him, cleaning their knuckles.

Lying on his side, Cardan tried to lift his head, blood in his mouth blocking his words. He spit, staining the floor red.

One of his eyes was so swollen it couldn’t open.

His brother huffed. “Pathetic.” A blow to his stomach came out of nowhere, throwing him on his back. He couldn’t breathe.

“Cardan. Cardan come back.”

He blinked and turned, Locke staring at him with concern. They’ve met each other since they were kids. His friend knew everything. It’s ok he nodded. Cardan’s pulse hammered in his head. Taking a deep breath he looked back to the ring.

The smaller man lay still, no longer trying to defend himself. Why is nobody stopping this?

As if on cue, a voice came out the speakers. “ALRIGHT ALRIGHT give it up for our winner, VALERIAN!”

Most of the crowd cheered, some other cursed. The champion raised and grinned with nothing but bloodlust in his eyes. His golden hair falling over his face, wet with sweat and red.

“Lift him and bring him to the back.” Madoc pointed to the unconscious man on the floor. His tone left no space to refuse. “Now.”

After the fourth fight, Cardan had already got used to carrying the losers, males or females, without looking at their faces. He and Locke took them out to a room with several beds on it.

Leave them there and return. Repeat. Were there any doctors in this place?

Matches kept going. Bets rising.

Fighters won, fighters lost. Pick them up, take them to the back. Leave them there, return.

He didn’t know how much time passed. Another fight was taking place outside.

He leaned against the wall and rubbed his face, waiting for the encounter to end. For Madoc to call for him. His mind kept going back to Jude, coming undone in his arms. Fuck. The door opened and Locke’s head popped in, wide eyed, motioning him to come out. The cheers were stronger this time.

“Is it over?” Cardan asked.

“Almost, but you need to come.”

He quirked an eyebrow and followed his friend.

Locke stopped near one of the speakers and pointed to the ring.

One of the girls fighting was trying really hard to keep standing. Her unfocused gaze travelled from the floor to the crowd. Cardan clenched his jaw. It would be over soon.

That girl was taller than the other though, and tried to take advantage of that on her next blow. Failing. Her opponent swirled under her arm and connected her elbow to the girl’s nose. She didn’t even see it coming. Taking a step back she fell to the ground.

If he thought the audience was loud before, it was nothing compared with this. They were out of control.

Sighing, Cardan entered the ring to continue his task, and froze right in his track when the winner turned.

She stared at him, breathing heavily. Her brown hair was tied up on a pony tail. She was wearing black pants and a crop top. A bruise forming on her cheekbone.

He gawked at her lips, now cracked and bloodied, and lower, where several scratches and purple stains covered her arms and torso. Blood covered the bandages around her knuckles.

Jude? He mouthed.

Around them the crowd whistled, howled and clapped. It took Cardan a few seconds to decipher their chanting.

“QUEEN, QUEEN, QUEEN, QUEEN!”

TAG LIST

@demydreamer-otaku-and-book-lover

@sensitivehighlord

A BIG MASSIVE THANK YOU TO @highqueenofelfhame for helping me so much with corrections and advice since the first chapter, you give me so much courage. THANKS!!

I’m really sorry the chapter took that long! I moved to another town and I’m starting a new job and well… time is not always on my side, bUT HEY, A LONG CHAPTER AS A ‘FORGIVE ME’ GIFT FOR YOU!

EXTRA: If you want a visual of Jude’s dress, it would be something like dissss:

#everything i didn't ask for #jurdan au #jurdan #tfota #cardan greenbriar #jude duarte #jude x cardan #holly black #tcp #twk #qon #fanfic #the cruel prince #the wicked king #the queen of nothing #the folk of the air #judecardan #jurdan fanfic

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