#I was out in the middle of nowhere whilst it was pouring rain over the past two days

[summerofsnowflakes]

With All My Love

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Reader

Word Count: 1.7K

Summary: You come home to find your apartment completely trashed. Fearing the worst has happened you search for Bucky only to find in the middle of an episode.

Warnings: Hurt/Comfort, PTSD, an episode, lots of fluff

Dividers by @firefly-graphics

Marvel Masterlist | Masterlist

You fumbled with your keys, turning them in the lock whilst balancing your bag of groceries against the wall.  

You heard the plastic ripping underneath you, sighed defeatedly as your food spilled onto the floor, a lone apple slipping between the gap in your door. 

The bag hung lifelessly in your empty hands. You stared down at the floor, your groceries surrounding your feet, mocking you. 

“Bucky I’m home.” You called through the door as you gathered everything in your hands clumsily. You kicked the door open with your foot, moving into the apartment as you checked the hallway for any missing items. 

You looked up from the floor, your jaw dropping, the food fell to the floor once more. 

A bomb had hit your living room, dust had settled over the debris. Everything from the pillow cushions to the bookcase has been trashed. 

Fabrics torn, tables overturned, knick knacks broken. Your cracked TV screen flickered harshly behind you. 

The initial shock subsided, moving further past the threshold to examine the damage more carefully. Your food was long forgotten. The second wave hit twice as hard. 

Where was Bucky? 

He was nowhere in sight, there was no sign of life where you stood or in the kitchen. Panic set it, you called out his name again, desperation seeping into your throat and choking you. 

Had someone taken him? It certainly looked as though a fight had taken place in your apartment. 

Your blood pulsed through your body loudly as you crept towards the bedroom and the third and final shockwave hit you. 

It was pristine. Better than it had when you left for work this morning, Bucky had been sprawled out in the bed, the duvet scrunched around his large frame. 

You could bounce a coin off the bedspread now, everything was in the correct place. From across the room, through the closed bathroom door you heard the shower running. 

A new wave of hope rushed through you and you sprinted across the room, bursting through the door. 

Relief flooded your entire body as you laid on Bucky, huddled up on the floor of the tub, fully clothed as the rainfall soaked into his skin.

You crouched down beside him as you slowly pieced the story together as best as you could. 

There’d been no signs of forced entry to the apartment, there were none. You suspected it may have been Bucky that ruined the furniture, now you just had to pull him from the depths of his own hellscape.   

You carefully placed your hands on the bathtub, uttering his name delicately. He looked at you for the first time, fear and anguish pouring from his eyes. He barely recognised you, his body trembled fearfully, his head dropped to his knees.  

“Is everything okay?” You spoke softly, your fingers itched to reach out and touch him, but you held back. You could tell this had been a bad episode, you weren’t willing to push past his comfort zone, whatever that may be. 

Bucky gazed over at you again, his blue eyes stained with irritated pink, teardrops on his cheeks mingled with the rain that poured down over him. 

Shaking his head, a sob wracked through his chest. He dropped his head on your relaxed hands, his long wet hair dampening your hands. 

“Can you tell me what happened?” 

Another sob bounced off the tiled walls. You followed his lead, knowing it was safe to comfort him, you leaned in, placing a kiss to his head. 

“It’s okay if you can’t, I’m just here to help you.” You murmured encouragely. A shaky breath escaped his lips, it was barely audible over the heavy flow of the shower. 

“I was back in the chamber they used to t-t-torture me.” He hiccuped, “t-the one where they bought him out of his c-cage. Only this time he managed to break free from the chains.”  

“You did break free Bucky, you did that. You’re not there anymore, you’re home and you’re safe with me.” 

He peered up at you, as though you’d uttered the most profound statement in the world. His features softened slightly, he was coming back to you. 

“I wrecked their lab, but it wasn’t their lab.” He continued, fresh tears rolled down his cheeks. “It was our home. I ruined our home. I’m sorry, I’m so so sorry.”

You cupped his face in your hands, forcing him to stare into your eyes, where you saw the shame. “Bucky it’s okay, you were defending yourself. You did nothing wrong.” 

“But I ruined everything.” He bowed, overwhelmed with shame and sadness.  

“I wasn’t really a fan of that sofa anyway.” You simpered, pulling a soft broken laugh from him. You buried your head into his neck, fingertips caressing his scalp, the shower now claiming you too.  

“I’m sorry.” 

“You have nothing to apologise for. I don’t care about the apartment. I’m just happy you’re here. I was terrified you were gone.” 

“Thank you.” Bucky wrapped his arms around your shoulders, his soaked red henley clinging to your skin. His hot breath evened out over your neck, he felt safe.

“Shall we get you washed up?” You suggested, he nodded and slowly stood up before you. 

Standing in the shower fully clothed too, you carefully took off his clothes. He was always a bit more shy after an episode so you knew this would help him. Once he was bare before you, you followed suit. 

You wrapped your arms around his wide torso, running your fingers up and down his back soothingly, peppering kisses along his scared chest. Slowly his muscles relaxed against you, he grounded himself by holding onto your hips. Love poured between your bodies. 

You grabbed the shower gel from the side and poured some into your hand. You rubbed the soap over his skin, lathering it up, applying pressure to his taut muscles. 

His eyes fluttered shut, a delicate sigh fell from his lips. You smiled up at him, taking the shower head in your hand and washed away the soap. 

“Can you turn around for me so I can wash your hair?” You asked, grabbing the shampoo and conditioner. 

You stood on your tiptoes, but you were still too short to reach the top of his head. “I’m sorry Buck, can you bend down for me. I can’t quite reach.” You muttered bashfully. 

It surprised you when he plonked down on the floor of the tub. “This okay?” 

You chuckled softly, he was now the perfect height for you. You hummed softly, massaging the shampoo into his roots and washing away all the suds. Then repeating the same process with the conditioner. 

Once you were done, you turned the shower off and grabbed two towels from the wrack. 

“Wait here and I’ll get you some clothes.” You smiled at him, placed a kiss on his cheeks and slipped out of the steamed filled room.

You pulled out a fresh t-shirt and some grey sweatpants from his dresser and placed them on the bathroom sink. “Shall I order us some food?” 

He ran the towel over his body, wiping away all the droplets of water that covered his body. “Sounds good.” 

You threw on one his t-shirts and a pair of shorts, calling up Bucky’s favourite pizza joint from around the corner. 

Once that was done, you went to work. You flicked on the fairy lights and pulled the plaid fluffy blanket from the corner chair. Finally you pulled up one of your comfort films on the TV. 

You wandered out into the living room, scanning over the destruction and decided it was a job for tomorrow. Tonight the priority was Bucky. 

You sent Sam a text, explaining in short terms what had happened and that you were missing Tony’s party. 

You tapped your fist against the bathroom door, slipping through the gap. He sat on the toilet, staring off ahead at the grout between the tiles. 

He’d managed to get partially dressed, his t-shirt remained draped over the sink. 

“How you feeling?” You pulled his hand into yours, running your thumb over his warm palm. 

“Bit better.”

“You wanna watch a movie?” You asked, he nodded softly, his damp locks swayed softly. 

You guided him out of the bathroom, hearing the soft gasp fall from his lips at the scene you’d set. “Thank you.”  He wrapped you in his arms immediately, kissing your hairline. 

“Of course, I know we’re still working on finding your favourite movie, so I’ve put on Dirty Dancing because it’s mine.” The bell rang downstairs, you broke away from the cuddle, smiling up at him. “Go get comfy, I’ll get our food.” 

You returned moments later with two pizza boxes and a small one filled with garlic bread. 

Your heart fluttered at the sight of Bucky tucked into his side of the bed, the fluffy blanket draped over his shoulders. He looked so small, but a loom of contentment floated over his body. 

“Food delivery for my favourite guy.” You sang, careful not to startle him and set the food down on your bed spread.  

You crawled onto the bed, settling in beside him and pressing play on the movie. You dug into your food, but Bucky remained still, eyes flickering from the food to you. 

Another beat passed, before Bucky broke his timid silence. “Can we cuddle while we eat?”

“Get over here, Barnes.” You could barely contain your grin as you set down your slice. He crawled over to you, settling between your open legs, resting his back against your chest. 

A comfortable silence settled over you like the fuzzy blanket Bucky had resting over his legs. He passed you slices of pizza and with your free hand you played with the hair on the nape of his neck. 

“The party!” Bucky shouted out of nowhere, startling you. 

“What?” You offered him a confused look, even though he had no way of seeing it. 

“Tony’s party, we’re meant to be there right now.” A new type of panic settled in the tone of his voice, he knew attendance was mandatory and they weren’t there. 

“I texted Sam an hour ago saying we couldn’t come.” You replied, running your fingers through his hair. 

“I’m sorry.” He grumbled. 

“Hey, Bucky, look at me.” He turned his head, his regretful blue eyes met your reassurance.  “You have nothing to apologise for, pizza over canapes any day. I’d rather spend my night right here with you.”

His lips parted, wonderful etched into his features. “You really are amazing, you know that?” 

“No Bucky, you are.” 

Tags: @theselilwonders @elemenhoepe @delaber @ramp-it-up @nikole-witha-k @@mistressmkay @maladaptivexxdaydreaming @im-a-marvel-ous-hoe @aquariusbarnes @ysmmsy @anxiousgirlsarehotter @give-me-bucky @goldylions @natbarnes1917 @jobean12-blog @late-to-the-party-81

#Bucky Barnes #bucky barnes x you #bucky barnes imagine #bucky x reader #Bucky Barnes x reader #bucky barnes x female!reader #james bucky buchanan barnes #james bucky barnes #bucky barnes fanfic #marvel bucky barnes #mcu bucky barnes #bucky barnes fanfiction #Sebastian Stan #summerofsnowflakesfic

[queenshelby]

Roommates – Part Four

Pairing: Cillian Murphy x Reader

Words: 2,385

Warning: Smut

Note: This plays in 2020. Please interact. Your interactions and comments mean a lot to me.

Just as you were in the middle of your morning routine following a night filled with erotic dreams about your roommate, you heard a loud knock on the door.

You quickly turned off your vibrator and chucked it into your bedside draw before pulling up your panties and singlet and walking into the hallway.

When you opened the door, you were surprised to see James. His face was flushed and he looked like he had been crying.

‘You don’t fucking answer my messages and calls anymore’ he said and it quickly became clear to you that he must have been drinking all night when you smelled his breath from the distance.

‘You shouldn’t be here James, please leave’ you said firmly, knowing that his visit wasn’t permitted under the current lockdown restrictions.

‘Just hear me out Y/N, please’ he begged once again after he had been trying to get back together with you for the past four months and, whilst you initially maintained contact with him, you no longer responded to his messages and ignored his calls for the past two weeks.

‘There is nothing more to discuss James. I am through with you’ you said before you tried to shut the door on him but, just as you did, his foot caught in the doorway and he pushed his way into the hallway.

‘James, honestly, get the fuck out. You cheated, more than once, and I am done with you’ you huffed out and thought that, clearly, he would have received the 2,000 Euro engagement ring he had bought you in the mail by now.

‘You can’t just throw away what we had Y/N’ he went on to say and, just as he did, Cillian returned from his morning run.

‘Get out of my house James or I will call the Gardaí’ Cillian said calmly as he noticed that you were distressed.

‘Alright Murphy, go ahead, call the fucking cops’ James huffed out angrily and, before you knew it, James pushed you with your back against the wall in frustration.

‘Y/N, please fucking listen to me. I didn’t mean for any of this to happen’ he pleaded again with a whiny voice but his grip on you was becoming rather aggressive.

‘James, stop, you are hurting me’ you shouted out and, just as you tried to push him off, Cillian grabbed James by the back of his t-shirt and pulled him out of the house.

‘That’s enough James, fuck off and leave her alone’ Cillian said harshly and, when these words left his lips, James turned around suddenly and hit Cillian across the face with his right fist.

‘Jesus James’ you panicked as you quickly walked over towards Cillian and him but, when James realised what he did, he was quick to run off.

‘Fuck, Cilly, are you alright?’ you asked as you watched him hold on to his face.

‘I am fine’ Cillian chuckled before acknowledging that his face would likely be swollen before Lindsay would arrive in the evening.

‘I am sure she won’t mind Cilly’ you said before giving him a hug and thanking him for defending you and making James leave.

‘Y/N, I stink, you probably shouldn’t…’ Cillian said but you didn’t care and hugged him anyway, pressing your half naked body against his.

Ironically and almost surprisingly, you actually didn’t mind the scent of his sweat covered body. You could still smell the deodorant and aftershave on his skin and the hint of mint from the toothpaste he used that morning on his lips.

‘Let’s get some ice on this, hmm’ you then said before forcing him to sit down at the kitchen table while you prepared an ice pack for him.

After you wrapped the sachet of ice into a thin cloth, you gently pressed it against Cillian’s cheek which, already, had turned red.

The skin on his face felt soft and slightly moist and his deep blue eyes gazed into yours for a brief moment while his lips smiled at you.

His smile was warm and beautiful and you couldn’t help but pay attention to the large freckle on his upper lip.

‘So, uhm, I…uhm…I think I might go and get dressed’ you eventually huffed out after you had gotten lost in his eyes for a short moment.

Cillian nodded in response and, just as you walked away from him, an unfamiliar feeling washed over his body.

It was a feeling he couldn’t explain and it was almost unique in a way. In addition to his arousal which, by this point, had also formed in between his legs again, he felt shivers run over his spine and down into his stomach. These shivers felt almost like flutters and made him feel uncomfortably warm.

***

It was 5 o’clock and Cillian was out, walking his dog and getting some Aspirin from the nearby pharmacy following his incident with James and you decided to have a bath before the said storm was scheduled to come in later that evening.

Despite, you really needed to get your mind of the fact that Cillian was about to shag Lindsay which, in the past, hadn’t bothered you but, more recently it did. In addition, your friend Laura continued to nag you about updates on Cillian’s life, telling you that she was still very much in love with him and asking for your help to turn things around between them.

The sky had already darkened and you decided to gather all of the scented candles Cillian had in the house and carry them to the bathroom. You arranged them all around and poured yourself a glass of red wine before settling in the hot tub which was facing the backyard through a one-sided window, meaning that no one could see inside.

With Cillian being out, you didn’t bother closing the bathroom door and allowed the heat from the fireplace in the living room to radiate throughout the house.

Just as you sat in the half full tub and watched as the steaming water began to fill it completely, you reached for your phone and ipods to listen to something relaxing.

When, finally, the tub was filled completely, you lowered yourself into it allowing the bubbles to overtake your body. Your knees were slightly bent as you laid back and your breasts were floating on the surface just barely exposed to the air above the water. Your hair was floating and the bubbles were popping all around your head while you listened to an audiobook narrated by Cillian.

His voice was always something you enjoyed listening to, now more than ever and you closed your eyes to take in this moment of solace.

But, just as you did, Cillian’s face appeared beneath your eyelids and your heart instantly skipped a beat. You wanted to feel his strong hands on every inch of your wet body and, with those thoughts in mind, your hand began to caress your ass cheek while thinking about him. With each stroke you moved a little further up your thigh and back down the back of your ass. Your pussy lips were throbbing and wet from more than just the warm water, begging to be touched.

You were in a trance, listening to Cillian’s voice through your headphones as you slowly began to pleasure yourself and, with your mind being so far gone, you didn’t even realise that Cillian had returned home from his walk early as it was pouring with rain outside.

‘Y/N?’ he shouted through the house as you were nowhere to be found until, eventually, he realised that you may be in the bathroom.

With the bathroom door open, he looked inside only to find you with your eyes closed, facing the opposite direction towards the large one-sided window.

‘Y/N, shit, I am sorry’ he huffed out and, as you continued to run your hand up and down your naked body, he realised that you had your headphones in and didn’t hear him.

Cillian turned around quickly and you released a gentle moan that softly echoed in the bathroom. In your mind, you wanted him more with each touch of your hand but, of course, he didn’t know that.

When Cillian heard your moan, his manhood immediately went on alert and whilst he knew it was wrong, he couldn’t help himself but turn back around and watch you.

Unbeknownst to you, Cillian watched you as one of your hands was massaging your breast while the other slowly spread your legs exposing more of your pussy to the warmth of the water. It crashed against your lips like waves in the ocean and they were pulsating, begging for more.

‘Jesus, look away, fuck’ he said to himself quietly inside his mind as he stood there motionless and with a raging erection. He wanted to strip down naked right there and join you and it took all of his willpower not to do exactly that.

‘Hmm’ you moaned again as you listened to Cillian’s voice through your headphones and took your fingertips and tightly squeezed your clit. You could feel your juices being released and your legs spread wide as your hand pressed and caressed your mound.

‘Fuck’ Cillian’s mind said again, urging him to walk away and, just as he had built up enough strength and turned around, he heard you again.

‘Cillian’ you huffed out but with your eyes still tightly closed and feeling each sensation you were creating as you indulged on the sound of his voice.

Cillian immediately turned around in a panic, thinking that you had caught him watching you. Why else would you have said his name, he wondered.

To his surprise, when he turned around in a panic, you still had your eyes closed and continued to pleasure yourself. Your hand was working over your mound from top to back and teasing both of your holes now and, with Cillian watching, you continued to touch and tease yourself, caressing the inside of your thighs.

Perhaps he was imagining you calling out his name he thought. You couldn’t possibly have said his name while you were masturbating. Clearly, his mind was playing tricks on him and he was sure about it.

Then, the unimaginable happened. You stood up inside the tub in all of your naked glory. Bubbles were running down your body and the smell of vanilla was in the air as you climbed out of the bathtub.

Cillian was quick to disappear into the hallway and thought that, perhaps, he should have closed the bathroom door. But then, he heard his name leaving your lips again and, just as he went back to see whether you were, in fact calling for him, he watched you lean against the vanity with your headphone still inside your ears and your fingers running over your outer walls of your pussy before teasing your clit with a soft abrasive touch.

In a trance and consumed by pleasure, you dropped your towel to the floor and squeezed your clit between your fingertips as you stood there with your eyes shut. The candle lights still danced in the room, bouncing off the water drops still on your soft skin.

All of your tattoos were on full display and so were your piercings, including the one on your clit which Cillian became rather curious about.

He could not take this any longer and watched you desperately as your body cried out and you responded by slowly inserting your index finger into your cavity and sliding it back out. You did this a few times until she pushed it in deep and held it there, massaging your inner walls. Then you added a second finger into your hot pussy pushing some of your juices out onto your hand.

Cillian swallowed harshly when, eventually, you removed your fingers from your hole and placed them one by one into your mouth, sucking them clean.

‘Jesus fucking christ’ he thought and, despite the fact that he knew that Lindsay would be visiting him in the next hour or so, he turned around and made a quick run to his bedroom.

Seeing you like this was too much for him and, without giving it a second thought, he unzipped his jeans and pushed them down half way in order to release his raging erection.

Leaning against the dresser in the bedroom, he began to stroke his hard shaft vigorously, thinking about what you did in the bathroom at the same time as he was seeking relief.

Just as Cillian was stroking his cock hard and fast while thinking about you, you thrusted your fingers in and out of your pussy while thinking of him. Eventually, you began to pound your pussy, slapping your clit with each thrust. Faster and harder bringing yourself to an orgasm.

Just as you came, your moans filled the entire house, thinking that you were on your own.

‘Oh god, yes Cillian’ you groaned and there was no mistaking it. It was his name he heard when you came and this alone sent him over the edge, causing him to cum hard onto the pile of dirty clothes besides the dresser.

Just as he stroked the last few drops of cum from his shaft, he heard the doorbell ring.

Quickly, he grabbed one of the t-shirts from the pile of clothes and cleaned himself up before walking downstairs and opening the front door.

‘Hey Sweetie’ Lindsay said, carrying two shopping bags.

‘You are early’ Cillian said before giving her a brief kiss.

‘I wanted to surprise you and thought I would cook for you. For Y/N too, of course. At least this way, you can finally introduce us properly and I don’t feel like your beck in call’ Lindsay explained.

‘Sounds great’ Cillian said somewhat flustered just as you walked through the hallway almost completely naked.

‘Oh my god, you are home…fuck’ you shouted, covering your breasts with a towel and Cillian couldn’t help but sigh.

He thought about you, calling out his name as you masturbated and now he was in his hallway with Lindsay who clearly wanted to mark her territory.

 Tag List:

@lilymurphy03 @deefigs @theflamecrystal @desperate-and-broken @weepingstudentfishhorse @livinginfantaxy @rosey1981 @atomicsoulcollecto @peakyboyslover @nerdy4itall@elenavampire21 @hanster1998@mariapaiva13 @fairypitou @harry-is-my-sunflower @zozeebo @lauren-raines-x @kasaikawa @littlewierdalien @sad-huffle-nerd @theflamecrystal @peakymalfoyscullymulder @themissthang@0ghostwriter0 @stylescanbeatmyback @1-800-peakyblinders @datewithgianni @momoneymolife @ntmynouis @lilymurphy03 @mcntsee@cloudofdisney@missymurphy1985 @peakymalfoyscullymulder @otterly-fey @janelongxox @uchihacumdump @basiclassy @being-worthy @chaotic-bean-of-smolness @margoo0 @chocolatehalo @vhscillian @ysmmsy @littlewierdalien @crazymar15  @stickyknightflowerbailiff @im-constantly-fangirling @goldensunflowe-r  @tellingyouastory  @captivatedbycillianmurphy​  @namelesslosers​  @littlewhiterose​  @ttzamara​  @ttzamara @cilleveryone  ​

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#cillian murphy smut #cillian murphy #cillian murphy x reader #cillian murphy imagine

[pine-lark]

Ooh trap him somewhere either very hot or very cold?? :D

Oh.

Oh.

This is a perfect excuse to write an old daydream from my childhood. Well, there's two-- Arion on a grill and Arion in a box. I chose the box for this one but I may be tempted to write the grill at some point. I haven't written The Box before now because it doesn't exactly... fit with the plot of the actual story, but I mean...

Alternate Rescue AU, coming right up, Anon. (Also sorry I'm like, infinitely late haha. School threw me into a hell pit and I've been recovering. I'm back now ((though I'm not sure for how long, things might change in a week or two... we'll see.)) For now, I'm working on a lot of Arion stuff that will hopefully pop up within a few days! Cheers!)

CW: Tiny whumpee, some blood, cold/hypothermia symptoms (duh), cages/referenced captivity, briefly implied forced nudity from said captivity, brief reference to a past fever and resulting vomiting, referenced/implied physical abuse, water/rain/storms/being submerged in/splashed with water, thoughts of dying (of the "I might die" and "Am I dead?" and wishing to be put out of misery type), crying, (thinking about) needles, short (kind of) graphic description of a bird being run over, brief religion references

-

His legs still ache from running.

Arion sits in the cardboard box he found on the side of the road, huddled in the corner, shivering in the dark. Although he tries to clamp his jaw shut and stop it, his teeth chatter and his shoulders quiver. It feels like the frozen autumn air has grasped him entirely in icy claws that shake him violently in an inescapable grip. It reminds him of being trapped in Heston’s hand, shaken, body tossed in every direction until his head pounded and his eyes watered.

It’s colder outside than it used to be in the garage. But it’s better out here. No one can hurt him here.

As long as they don’t find him.

He rubs his hands over the goosebumps on his arms, hoping to warm them up and calm down the wild pain buried deep in his skin. As he does so, blood smears along the path he touches. It’s still gently creeping out of the series of cuts etched into his forearms. With it, the image of Heston’s glinting eyes surfaces in Arion’s memory. He buries his head in his shaking knees with a wet sniff. But he’s done it, he reminds himself. He’s escaped. Finally. Chewed through rope, slipped through an unlocked door. Heston's gone. For now.

Please, please don’t come looking for me.

A dog barks somewhere in the distance. He jumps. It sets off an echo of shivers all the way down his spine as his hair stands on end.

A raindrop falls on the cardboard roof. Then another, and another. Thunder claps harshly overhead.

Arion shuts his eyes tight, bites back the frustrated tears welling up at the corners of his eyes. He curls up tighter, hugging himself, doing all he can to keep any scrap of heat he has close to his body. A storm might just do it. Might just kill him. A storm means wind. Freezing wind. And freezing rain. The last thing he needs right now is rain. It can’t rain. He presses his body closer to the cardboard wall, knowing it might not be standing there much longer if it rains.

And it does. It pours.

He sees the rain splash into the road before him. The storm swiftly grows. It’s ferocious and feral and cruel. The temperature around Arion drops. His tiny body shakes uncontrollably, as if it weren’t his own. It reminds him of the terrifying fever he had, long ago, in the confines of his red cage just weeks after being taken from his home. He’d been throwing up and twitching and having the most horrible, vivid dreams (on the occasions that both Heston and the illness let him sleep). The fits of shivering drove him mad, the endless teeth-chattering and flashes of uncomfortable warmth and sticky sweat made him feel even worse. It's like that, he thinks. Except, now, as he shivers, he’s unbearably cold.

An involuntary whine fights its way out of him. When he swallows, his throat feels stiff and achy. Snot runs profusely down his lips and no amount of wiping it away with his bleeding arms is helping it slow. Water has thoroughly and entirely drenched the cardboard, at this point. Has crept through the floor and the walls, and, gradually and persistently, has started to drip through the sagging ceiling. For a moment, Arion remembers he has toes, and that they’ve been numb for awhile now. Actually, now that he’s thinking about it, his feet haven’t felt like anything either, and when he tries to move his fingers, they only twitch. They feel heavy and prickly. He feels prickly all over. Like Heston had shoved a thousand frozen needles into a thousand different places all over his body. It hurts to breathe. There’s no way to get warmer. Nothing to hide under, not even something as decent as clothing. No way to escape, nowhere to run to, even if he had the energy left to try. He lets out a miserable sob.

And then the ceiling falls through, in a blur of collapsing cardboard and splashing waves of water that crash over his head and the rest of his body.

Arion tumbles out of the box, drenched. He coughs up water through jittery movements. For a second, he chokes on a mouthful, and he briefly he thinks he'll never breathe again, before his chest jerks and with another cough, the water falls out of his mouth. He tries to get his arms and legs under him, to stand or even crawl, but his limbs fail him and he crumbles face-first back to the harsh surface below him. The rocks mixed in the road’s tar are sharp. They cut deeply through his nose and cheek and the shoulder that followed his face in the fall. Arion winces against the fresh, sharp pain and the beads of blood that begin to form where he’s been hurt. His breaths come in ragged heaves.

He sniffs. Tears drip from his eyes. He lays helpless in the middle of the little road, in his mind begging to no one that a car doesn’t come along and crush him. Under any other circumstance, he’d love to be put out of his misery. But he’s seen a bird been run over before. Under a truck’s tire. And the memory makes his stomach churn. Flattened face, open stomach, popped like a bubble in a stream.

Briefly, Arion thinks of himself in place of the bird. He thinks of the smear of red underneath his empty, open eyes. He thinks of the way the headlights might look as they would suddenly appear right in front of him. The horrid, mind-numbing honk of a horn. The image he creates in his mind of those headlights, his last moments, is vivid. It’s so vivid that he thinks it might be real, or maybe hypothermia is setting in and beginning to ruin his mind.

It’s just his imagination, he thinks.

And then he smells exhaust from a car.

And the screech of brakes.

And for a second, whilst his body is numb and bright white light is all he can see, he thinks he might be dead.

“I swear, if I keep stopping my car for every mouse that sits in front of it, I’m never going to get anywhere.”

That voice drifts from the car stopped in front of him.

Not dead, then.

Almost, he thinks.

“Can’t help it though. What else am I supposed to do, run them over? Just vet instincts, I guess. Huh, Jasper.” There’s a meow in response. Arion’s breath hitches. The voice says, “Me-ow. I know, I know. I’ll be right back.” A car door shuts. Then there’s heavy wet footsteps. Boots clopping over puddles and asphalt. Panic floods Arion’s chest as a shadow cuts through the blinding white light from the vehicle. The outline of a human lowers, kneels in front of him. His breath stops. His mind goes blank.

“What…”

A moment passes. Something touches him. He flinches hard, but trying to run isn’t an option. His body is completely, entirely, wholly exhausted and far too numb to move more than flailing back a couple inches.

“Oh, geez, that’s-- not a mouse. Okay.” Her head turns in a way that Arion can see her face. A young woman with red hair, watching him with a warm but frantic gaze. “Okay. Okay okay. Oh, God, you’re injured pretty bad, little buddy. Your arms are all… cut up. That’s not good. Um.”

Arion stares blankly ahead. Suddenly, freezing to death isn’t something he feels like putting too much effort into avoiding.

“Okay. Here’s what we’ll do,” the girl continues. “I’m gonna bring you into my car where I can see you better, alright? Then I can help you. It’s gonna be okay. Here. I’m picking you up now, ‘kay?”

The feeling of a warm hand washes over his body. It’s both terrifying and incredibly welcome. The sting of cold seems to seep out of his skin, albeit very slowly. Quickly, though, burning prickles replace whatever comfort the touch brought him.

“Oh, you’re freezing, little guy. You must have been out here for a long time. That can be really dangerous… I’m glad I found you. I’ll get you all warmed up in the car.”

Arion whimpers against the hands that carry him to somewhere warmer, where he hears the faint, deep sound of a large beating heart. For a second, he wonders if this is God. And then the car door opens and creaks, and the girl curses under her breath, and Arion remembers he’s an atheist.

Still, as the stinging in his warming skin subsides, the warmth of her hands starts to feel… nice. If his mind were still intact (instead of shattered into vague, useless fragments as it is now), Arion would have done anything and everything to get away from any human or other predatory beast in sight. But with his head swimming, he leans into her touch, and compliantly accepts the soft feeling of some kind of cloth being wrapped all around him.

Words are spoken to him, but he can’t listen. To him they sound broken up and blurry as the insistence of sleep becomes more desperate in the back of his mind. As he gets warmer, his muscles relax, and his eyes get droopy. His vision darkens, and the girl’s voice hushes.

Just before he drifts off into a far overdue, deep and restful sleep, he thinks to himself, vaguely, that he hopes this human is different. He hopes that when he wakes back up, it won’t be in another cage.

-

Tag list because this ended up being a full drabble:

(Also, let me know if you'd like to be removed from the tag list. No hurt feelings! I know it's been a long time and if you've lost interest that is A-Okay, friend)

(Also, if you'd like to be added or if your username's changed, let me know!)

@whumping-every-day, @deluxewhump, @sola-whumping, @haro-whumps, @inaridriscoll, @whatwasmyprevioususername, @kiretto-laorentze, @just-a-whumping-racoon-with-wifi, @ahorriblebimess, @whump-me-all-night-long

#whump #tiny whumpee #tiny whump #g/t writing #g/t #asks #arion #amber #amber's scarf #amber's scarf is its own character #tiny blanket for tiny cold person :’) #hypothermia #cold #storms #rain #escape #crying #blood #needles #warm #water whump #au #alternate escape au #sleep #rescue #arion origin

[cloverque]

the sound of music (miya atsumu)

森林里的钢琴 (宮 侑)

during a war with the karasuno kingdom: the beautiful sound of a piano being played leads injured knight, miya atsumu, to a cottage deep within the forest

4738 words

medieval setting, knight au, reincarnation, slightly ambiguous end, strangers to lovers, cottagecore, (tw) a little blood, violence, attempted assault

a short story gift for my friend hana-chan :) it’s super overdue but i promised i’d upload this! <3 love you very much @atsumoon

PART 1, PART 2

Once upon a time, there lived a fair maiden residing deep within a forest. She barely ventured beyond the evergreens, thus she was incognisant of the war ravaged lands beyond the forest, and of the country’s feud with a neighbouring kingdom.

The maiden lived in peace, busying herself with her own devices in her humble cottage. Her favourite pastime was playing the piano, for she relished the sound of music. It was her pride and joy, and she sought solace in the magic within the row of monochrome keys. Through music, she could be free; like a bird, unbound by gravity as it soared in the open skies.

One day, her sweet melody led an injured knight to her cottage. A dashing, young knight whom had wandered a little too deep into the forest, where she dwelled...

Miya Atsumu blindly stumbled into a nest of ferns. The bracken rustled as he staggered past, snagging thistles on his boots when he dragged his feet along the earth. His chest heaved with effort as he continued forward sluggishly.

How many days had it been since his squad was ambushed? Two? Three? Atsumu had lost count.

A couple dozen soldiers and him were on the way back to camp when they were pounced on. It had happened too quickly: flaming arrows rained from above, metal clanged and sparks flew, crackling like fireworks. He was thrown off his horse as chaos ensued, and before he knew it, he was fighting for his life.

The faux blonde barely made it out alive, having clashed blades with endless waves of soldiers. Blow after blow, the unyielding man cut down opponent after another, until he was forced to flee into the trees, like a fox pursued by a pack of blood thirsty canines.

A dry gasp for air escaped Atsumu’s cracked lips as he fell to his knees. He stabbed the dirt with his blood-stained sword to catch himself, but he slumped over, head pressing against the cold, dulled blade. The weight of his armour was dragging him down; he was struggling against the chains binding him to Hades.

A murder of crows observed him atop a young branch, their beady eyes flashing with interest as they regarded him with hunger. He met their stare and groaned inwardly. At this rate, he would be food for the crows, and he knew it. Having discarded his helmet long ago, he pushed back his dirty, matted bangs.

He was in the middle of nowhere, in a forest with no end. The trees stretched intimidatingly over him, making him feel small despite his toned, muscular structure. The sky was barely visible, and sunlight poured through the gaps of the canopy of leaves. A skittish doe spied on him from behind the fronds of bracken, and a squirrel skittered past the forest floor.

If it had not been for his near death state, perhaps he could have enjoyed the peaceful ambience of the forest. As much as an exhausted knight could sigh, he sighed.

He thought of his twin, his parents and even the annoying brothers he had made at camp. All of which were waiting expectantly for him to return. Atsumu managed a wistful smile. Alas, he doubted he could make it back in one piece, or even head back. There seemed to be no way out of the forest; he had trekked in it for an eternity.

Before his thoughts could wander further astray, his ears picked up the soft hum of a melody. One from a piano. Hope bloomed in Atsumu’s battered chest. Mustering his remaining strength, he got up and pushed forward.

Sheathing his sword, he pushed past the branches, and hissed as they pettily snagged his face. The undergrowth stench gradually dissipated, and he was hit with the sweet, sweet scent of apples and cherries. Gradually, the music grew louder and clearer, and he finally stumbled out the forest and into an open space. The blonde knight shielded his eyes from the bright glare of the sun, wincing whilst his eyes adjusted to the sunlit glade.

In the middle of the clearing was a rustic cottage. Climbers trained up the white fences surrounding the perimeter, their tendrils sneaking into the smallest cracks as their bright flowers bloomed across the barrier. Apple and cherry trees lined the glade, and Atsumu could smell produce, perhaps somewhere behind the cottage. However, what welcomed him the most was not the rural setting but the sound of music.

It was a beautiful melody, one that had led him out of the forest, and to this humble abode. Atsumu frowned. Would he have to take shelter by force, seeing as how he was an enemy?

A sharp pain flared in his side, and he gripped it with a grimace. Hopefully it wouldn’t have to come to that. Clenching his teeth, he swallowed back his pride and doddered up to the cottage.

Your piano was by a window, and in the distance, a shambling soldier tottered out of the dense forest. You were oblivious to the bloodied knight’s arrival, having been so absorbed in your song. The piece you were playing was recently written: a simple, sprightly tune with a high pitched accompanying melody. Feet tapping at the pedals, your fingers bounced across the keys as you swayed to the music.

A row of crows lined the window sill, chirping as you played. They were your neighbours, your everyday audience. Smiling at them, you continued your performance until you heard a loud thump.

Startled, the birds frantically fled with protesting caws. Question marks hovered over your head as you stood up and glanced out of the window. In the distance was a person, collapsed in a crumpled heap.

“Oh my gosh,” you gasped softly and hurried out of the house, to where they laid. Crouching beside their motionless form, you gently tapped their armour clad shoulder. “Um... are you alright?”

A low groan rumbled from their throat, and you realised behind the tangled tufts of blonde locks was a handsome face. Cut and dirt stained, the man‘s sharp features were twisted in what seemed to be pain, and you realised he was lying in a pool of blood.

What should I do? You bit your bottom lip and glanced around. There was no one else around, it seemed. No one to help him, except for you.

You creased your brows as you rolled up your sleeves and knelt beside him. Wrapping his arm round your shoulder, you attempted to haul him into a standing position. But he was simply too heavy, and you were too weak. It didn’t help that his armour weighed him down to the ground, literally.

It took you a while, but you managed to heave him into your place, though his battered body left a bloody trail leading to the guest room. Your back ached and it felt like you had become an octogenarian, but after gingerly stripping him of his armour and dirty attire (or at least, just his top), you began to clean him up.

Atsumu awoke when you pressed a cold cloth to an open wound. Pain seared through his chest, and he hissed and jolted up to grab your wrist by reflex. His hands swallowed your joints as he squeezed tightly, and you yelped whilst he glared viciously.

“What are you doing?” He shot accusingly, dark brows creased as a drop of sweat dribble down his bandaid plastered cheek.

“Y-You fainted outside my house! And you were bleeding badly...” You squeaked out, and winced as his grip only tightened. “It hurts–!”

Atsumu narrowed his amber eyes, taking in his surroundings warily. He was in a room with faded beige walls, with a window and door at one end, and he was sitting on a single bed with white bedding. The night stand beside the simple bed had an unused candle and a bowl of water. Beyond the open door was what seemed to be a living room, and he noticed a wooden piano.

You managed to wrench yourself free when he loosened his hold. The blonde came to the conclusion that he must have collapsed like the maiden in front of him said he had, seeing as how he had no recollection of entering the abode.

The fair lady in front of him was dressed in a demure cotton dress with white lace, all of which were stained with faded patches of blood. You were rubbing your wrist with an expression he couldn’t quite read.

In your hand was a damp cloth, the one that had roused him from his slumber, thus rankling him. Atsumu eyed you silently before laying back down.

“Are yer gonna patch me up or what?” He murmured and you straightened up. You inched closer and gently tended to the wound you had previously zoned in on.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, you dapped at the plethora of criss crossing grazes and raw slits on his chest. When the cloth needed a wash, you dunked it into the water bowl and rinsed it.

As you silently wrung the cloth, Atsumu’s mouth twitched in discomfort. “‘M not from around here. Tell me where I am, miss.” He croaked, and you glanced at him without rancour.

The injured man on your bed had a strange accent, along with a unique timbre in his voice. It’s a good kind of unique.

“You’re in the outskirts of the Karasuno forest. The forest is infamous for the murder of crows that reside within it,” You maundered as you returned to your previous position. Pressing the cloth to the cut on his pec, you sighed. “Surely you must have heard about the forest, sir?”

Atsumu stared up at the ceiling. It needed a fresh coat of paint. “No,” he blatantly lied, “I haven’t.”

At least he had an idea of where he was. Roughly, at least. It was unfortunate that he had no map on him, it were lost during the ambush.

His head swirled with a deluge of thoughts, while yours was preoccupied with marvelling his body. You shouldn’t be thinking of such things, but you were amazed at how solid his chest looked, how pretty his (upper) body was, and how deep the lines of his muscles ran. The stranger lying on the bed before you was indubitably sculpted by God himself.

“Are you a travelling knight?” The blonde knight had almost reacted to your question. You gestured at the stained collection of metal lying in a huge wicker basket in a corner. “Your armour and sword had strange engravings. They resembled foxes.”

Should he come clean? Maybe you’ve already noticed that he’s from the enemy kingdom.

The faux blonde’s eyes shifted to yours, but your focus was on his bruised body as you cleaned assiduously. He let his heavy lids close shut, and the male managed a hum. “Who knows.”

His ambiguity confused you, but you decided not to push it. By the time you were done bandaging and band aiding his wounds, it was already evening. The sun was setting rapidly in the horizon, and shadows had seeped into the room, painting the faint walls with vermillion hues. Cleaning up the place, you stood at the door and smiled.

“I’ll be back with dinner soon. The bathroom’s at the end of the hallway if you need it. Make yourself at home.” You were about to close the door when he turned his head to you.

“Why are you being so nice to me?” Fixing you with a genuinely confused yet curious gaze, he grumbled. “You don’t even know who I am.”

You blinked back your surprise and gave him a lidded eye smile. “I’m just trying to be kind.” Although, you weren’t quite sure if you were being magnanimous out of pity or curiosity for the stranger.

Atsumu regarded you with a small smile in return. Somehow, it felt that the previous tension had dissipated with his gesture.

When it came to dinner, you had to spoon feed the man the stew, whom claimed to be too weak to do it on his own. His head rested against the headboard and his pillows as you sat at close proximity, feeding him patiently. He was clothed with a fresh set of cotton pjs, ones that you just so happened to own (and fit) in your wardrobe.

A metal tray, which was used to carry his food and water into the room, was stationed atop the modest night stand, along with a candle stick that lit the room with its singular flame. Shadows danced along the walls as you silently fed the handsome man.

It was Atsumu’s first time being babied like this. Even when he was sick he never had to kowtow to his twin brother to take care of him. He had to swallow down his pride, and what little of it, every time he reluctantly opened his mouth for food.

“So, what’s a pretty thing like ya living all alone in a place like this?” He chewed with his mouth full, and you chuckled as he stared at you with those inquisitive honey hued eyes.

Scraping the bottom of the bowl, you scooped the carrots and broccoli onto the spoon. “Oh, it’s nothing too deep. I just wanted some peace from the city.”

“Huh,” the man scratched his gauze covered chin in thought. “But isn’t that where all ta fun is?”

“It’s not too bad here, mister. I have my crow friends and my piano.” You told the blonde with a kind smile. Raising the wooden spoon to his lips, he hummed before putting it into his mouth. Jolting up in realisation, you gasped, “Oh, right. I’m (y/n). What’s your name?”

“Atsumu, but some call me Sir Atsumu.”

“Sir Atsumu? So you’re really a knight?” Your eyes grew wide as you subconsciously shifted closer. He cocked a dark, bushy brow.

“Yeah? I thought we already discussed this.” His tone was laced with something between impatience and annoyance. The self proclaimed knight eyes trailed down to the empty bowl and then back at your glimmering orbs. “Why are you staring at me like that...?”

“Oh!” You reeled back and placed the bowl onto the tray to fiddle with your fingers. Shyly staring at your skirt covered thighs, you admitted, “Knights are pretty cool, I think.”

“Pfft, not all. I know a bunch of self centred dudes. Some are just downright filthy,” Atsumu corrected her, making her look at him questioningly. “And then there are some that enjoy taking advantage of pretty little girls living alone in their cottages.”

You raised your brows. “What do you mean–“

He had you pinned down to the bed before you could blink. Your hair fanned out underneath you on the mattress as your breath hitched, wrists pressed down by his larger hands. His knees dug into the bed on either side of your body as he hovered over you, dangerously close. The knight’s face was centimetres away from you, so close that his breath tickled your face.

Atsumu frowned. “Ya seriously don’t know who I am? Most importantly, where I’m from?”

You were frozen under his scrutinising gaze, amber eyes burning into yours as he searched for the truth. As if he could unearth it just by staring, he stared harder.

“I-I have no idea what you’re talking about,” You whispered as you met his cold gaze with your shaky orbs.

Atsumu’s discerning gaze seemed to tear away at any wall you had built between you and him. He scanned your facial expression before relenting. You gulped nervously as he gave your wrist a squeeze before sitting back up. Propping himself against the headboard, he turned away from you.

“Ya shouldn’t invite random strangers into your home. Hurt or not, miss.”

Wordlessly, you sat up and barely glanced at him before hurrying out of the room with the tray. You made it out of the room and accidentally slammed the door shut, breathing hard as you recalled the moment that had just happened.

Heart racing, you slid down the door and hid your face in your hands, cheeks suffused with red. “What... on earth just happened?” You mumbled into your palms.

Meanwhile, Atsumu shut his eyes and groaned. Maybe he shouldn’t have pulled that stunt... Now his sides were killing him.

　　　　　　　　　　　. . .

Over the next few days, you continued tending to Atsumu’s wounds and answering his every whim. About a week had passed and he became fully independent and was on the smooth road of recovery. He was resting peacefully in the guest room when he awoke to the sound of music.

The faux blonde with an undercut shuffled into the living room and found you playing again by the piano. Be it rain or shine, you played the instrument every single day without fail.

He leaned against the window sill and titled his head. “Another one of yer songs?”

Your eyes snapped open, having been previously closed whilst playing. Jumping up from your chair, you scrambled to close your piano. “S-Sorry, did I wake you?”

It was a bit awkward, seeing as how both of you hardly spoke after his antics on your first encounter. You barely looked him in the eye anymore. The tall blonde shook his head and withdrew the wooden board over the monochrome tiles.

“You did, but ‘s okay. What’s this one called?” He nonchalantly inquired, and you snapped your head up to look at him.

“It’s a song I composed recently! I’m still working on it,” You answered eagerly, before realising your overreaction. Abashed, you tucked rogue hairs behind your ear and averted your eyes to the piano.

He hummed and dragged a chair over, its wooden legs rattling in protest before he stopped beside you. He straddled the chair, resting his chin on the top of the back frame. Tilting his head, he stared at you expectantly. “Aren’t cha gonna play?”

You blinked back your surprise and quickly sat back down. With a soft exhale, your fingers danced across the keyboard with expertise. The song you played was of moderate tempo, neither fast not slow.

It reminded Atsumu of autumn: when trees shed their leaves, their viridescent leaves fading to orange. It was strange, how you played as if the war in the kingdom never existed. Did you even know? He cast a side eyed glance, but your lids were slanted in crescents, focusing intently on the keyboard at your fingertips.

“Sounds familiar, but not so much at the same time.” He comments, resting his head on an arm draped over the chair. You stopped playing to respond when he frowned. “You’re always stopping at the good parts.”

The blonde knight randomly tapped a few keys, producing a string of random high pitched notes. He scrunched his nose in disapproval. It seemed as if he was trying to mimic your previous fingerings.

Giggling, you placed your hand next to his and demonstrated the order. He tried again, but still couldn’t quite get it. After a couple more tries, the stranger beside you finally succeeded. Both you and Atsumu played in unison, yours a lower key than his, but together it formed a wonderful accompaniment.

“That was great! You’re a fast learner,” You praised, turning to face him when you halted. You hadn’t realise how close he was. Again.

The male’s amber eyes locked onto your lips then your eyes. You barely pulled away even when he began leaning forward, too stunned to react. As if shutting your eyes could save you, you screwed them shut. Atsumu almost scoffed. You were a bunny at the mercy of a ravenous fox.

His lips ghosted over the shell of your ear. You flinched as warm breath fanned your skin. “You’re letting your guard down too fast, (y/n).” Atsumu’s tone was a curious mix of amusement and haughtiness. It sent a shiver down your spine either way.

But when he pulled away, he added with a hardened expression.

“Don’t forget I’m the enemy.”

　　　　　　　　　　　. . .

You mulled over his words for days. An enemy? What had he meant by that? You dipped your head, deep in thought as you tended to the crops in your vegetable garden. It was located behind your cottage, and the verdure ranged from peas to cabbages, the whole lot.

It was a clement Saturday afternoon, and you wanted to check on the growth of your baby carrots. You had planted their seeds a little while before Atsumu came, and now they were finally sprouting. Speaking of the devil, he was standing a few feet away, swinging his sword like nobody’s business.

His thick brows were scrunched together as he executed drill after drill, all of which your eyes could never keep up with. The harsh glare of the sun glinted off his polished blade, blinding your retinas every few seconds. You rubbed your eyes with your forearm to rid the dancing spots. The mysterious blonde claimed his present movements to be enervate, but even in his injured state, you were certain he must have been a quintessential knight in his kingdom.

Atsumu swung his blade at the ghost of a person before returning to his resting position. His blonde hair looked almost brown under the afternoon sun. The man lifted his shirt to his face, wiping his sweat as it glistened on creamy skin, trickling down his chiseled abs... Wait what?

He caught you staring, and you flushed inconspicuously. Ducking your head, you averted your eyes like a maiden (read: you’re the maiden) and nervously prodded at the carrot sprouts. Atsumu smirked knowingly.

“Need some help?” His voice was laced with faux honey, much like his bright hair. You shook your head profusely.

There‘s no point wondering about who he is and where he’s from, you reminded yourself. You would let him open up when he was ready.

You resumed your gardening; spraying your crops with homemade pesticides and clearing the soil beds from weeds. With a huff and a puff, you harvested a few veggies and plopped them into your soiled wicker basket, one you used to cart your harvest in. Produce after produce filled the basket, and you were plucking some apples behind your cottage when trouble arrived.

Vendure rustled, and you were too focused on your task to notice the two males who had strayed into your territory. Your wicker basket was propped against the bark of the tree, and you used your skirt to bear the apples you had picked. You had dropped a luscious red one into your dress when one of the men whistled.

“What a cutie!” He commented, a curly mop of hair atop his head. You barely turned around when he looped a toned arm round your waist, tugging you to his breastplate clad chest. “Looks like we got lucky, huh.”

The armour’s cold metal stung your back as you were held flushed against him. You dropped your skirt, letting the apples tumble to the earth with a collective thud. You whipped your head around to look at the strangers, evidently alarmed.

They must have been knights of this kingdom, you realised, assuming from the details on their polished armour and the swords hanging at their sides. But they radiated a different vibe from the same knight you nursed in your estate. The same man who claimed to be an enemy, yet never harmed you, unlike these two from your home kingdom.

“Are you alone?” Another man joined the other, a sinister grin on his stubble dotted face. He gripped your jaw and inspected your face with calculating eyes. “Looks like we’re gonna have a fun time, missy.”

It was as if your body’s homeostasis had halted. As if your heart had failed on you, and there was no more blood rushing in your vessel. For your blood blood ran cold in your veins as you caught drift of their filthy insinuations. They began to drag you towards your cottage, igniting your fears.

“Let go of me!” You insisted, struggling against the former’s grip on your waist. Squirming like a beached fish, you brought down your foot to stomp on your captor’s.

Caught off guard, he released you and you barely managed to get away when the second male grabbed your wrist. He yanked you into his arms, and you stumbled blindly into his chest, face smashing against solid steel. A tingling sensation consumed your numb nose.

“Tch! We’re knights protecting the kingdom, y’know? You should thank us for our service.” The one you had collided into clicked his tongue in annoyance. You struggled from the vice grip on your wrist. At this rate, you were certain there would be a red imprint burned on your skin for days.

Tears you didn’t know you had been harbouring threatened to spill. Your bottom lip trembled as your mouth moved on its own accord.

“Atsumu!”

You scrunched your eyes shut for the nth time as the mentioned blonde dashed forward at your cry. The earth trembled and a gust of wind zipped past you, fanning your hair around your face in discordant strands.

It was a mistake for you to have opened your eyes. Atsumu swung his sword at the intruders, cruelly slitting their throats without any hesitation. He had gone in for the kill with a steely gaze, a look so sharp and remorseless as if he had not murdered two people.

The knights, who had been too slow to react, stacked atop each other in a crumpled heap. Their eyes were wide, mouthes agape, as if to protest against the bright red liquid gushing out of their mortal wounds. The earth welcomingly swallowed the pooling fluids as they watered the land with their crimson blood.

The scene before you was mortifying, and you clasped your hands over your mouth as your gorge rose. You were too stunned to utter a word, knees too wobbly to step back.

As if he could sense your discomfort, Atsumu turned around. His shirt, which was once clean, was now soiled with bloody sprays. A trail of blood trickled down the tip of his sword, hovering over a fallen apple. It painted the red fruit in a morbid, bold vermillion.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　(to be continued...)

#haikyuu!! #haikyuu imagine #haikyuu x y/n #haikyuu x you #miya atsumu #atsumu miya #atsumu x you #atsumu x fem reader #atsumu x reader #atsumu fluff #haikyuu atsumu x you #haikyuu atsumu x y/n #atsumu miya fluff #atsumu angst #atsumu imagines #hq atsumu #haikyuu angst #haikyuu fluff #🍡.atsumu

[itstheendofthegoddamnworld]

Male Drow (Dark Elf Vevmis) x Human! Female Reader Part 5 (FINALE)

The final chapter to The Underestimated, so I hope you’ve enjoyed this five-part series. - Stay safe guys -

Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3 - Part 4

The Underestimated Part 5 (FINALE)

Of the high shadows and prowling outlines, you acknowledged them as your demons and mistakes; even when you were locked away in slumber.

The seclusion swarmed you, it was just as cold and sharp as you had remembered it being; more so bitter than a fever.

The people: the people you saw, of the distressed faces of your mother and father, opposing of your wants and desires for medicine and to become a doctor, the subtle words of those who said you could never do what you dreamt of craving; their words wanting you to give up.

You were belittled, laughed at, told to give in and try something different, all while telling yourself one day, you would prove them wrong. 

Maybe even in the eternal slumber between the states of existing and drowning, you could not even prove yourself anything, nor them.

You couldn’t remember much: the scuffle with the group of Drow, the pain you felt that had numbed in your flesh, Vevmis-- oh, Vevmis, was he okay? Alive even?

You didn't want to believe it, never in a thousand years, but you accepted that his kind hadn’t been so merciful with sparing his life. The darkness, was this what all Drow saw in the Underdark?

When you had to open your eyes, the reality was dim and sullen, the sky was overcast and drab, with the sound of rain flooding through, dropping down in buckets around you.

You could hear it properly: the sound of the drops hitting the roof of something with such force, smashing down like a wave over cliffs below.

You keened softly, shifting, your bones creaked with the make-shift bed that you laid on, where you felt the dull ache reside in your ribs, your head tender from how you had fallen.

There was a sound that vibrated beside you when you registered it, not realising someone was there, talking you through something thoroughly.

Standing before you was a high elf that had been described many times before in the books you had read: of knights who were bold and brave - he looked to be one with his rich gold-green mail; a bleeding star sigil in the breastplate.

He was towering like all the other elves except he was pale in complexion compared to Vevmis: pale-silver hair that came past his waist, braided back, it fell beautifully past his shoulders with little movement when he moved. He radiated the pride his kind held grandly; with his appearance made him look like royalty.

With a hard disdainful look; his eyebrows raised to you when you saw his features, his eyes carefully: one eye was as fair as spring growth, whilst the other had a long fading scar that reached just above his eyebrow arch and down the middle of the lid - the pupil the hue of dull clouded moss.

You watched his mouth move open and close, his eyes scrutinising you when you didn’t answer but rather gape. When you came around to it, you blinked owlishly. “What?-”

“Common? Do you speak Common?” He asked impatiently.

“I-Yes. I do.” You found your voice again, the hoarseness resided in the back of your throat and when you moved your tongue, it ached with the pain of veiled swelling. Your fragile hand came to touch at your throat waveringly rubbing it.

The high elf sighed beside you, bringing forth a cup from his grip, holding the back of your neck so you had no other choice but to take down the liquid, the cup coming to your lips. “Drink, it’ll help your head.”

“What- I-” You choked nearly between swallowing and talking, your words muffled as you took down the earthy mixture; as syrupy as marsh water.

You nearly gagged but took it down, squeezing your eyes tight as you drank it down with too much force, finally having it removed from you as you wiped your mouth from the slop. There was a consistent feeling in the back of your mind, driving you to speak the one thing you had been worrying you since you had come around.

“Vevmis-- where is Vevmis?”

“The Drow?” He leered at the one word, his face wrinkled. “Probably fighting my men. Provoking them of some kind.”

Your heart sank like lead in a river, dropping to the bottom, your eyes glaring back at the high elf once more for little regard. He sensed your disdain for his mockery, stepping away but keeping his posture stiff as bark.

“I’ll go get him. I’m sure he’ll be most eased to see you awake.”

“Yes, uh, thanks-“

“Fenrith.” He coolly replied, leaving with not much else to say, leaving you surrounded by the deafening sounds of the weeping sky. You listened to the best of your abilities, hearing nothing but the rain pour heavy through the tent you were in, the only body surrounded by hundreds of empty ones.

A lost soul. You lamented. Perhaps that is what I have been in this life, nothing more than a nuisance. Your head was pounding, thrumming like a constant drum who’s percussionist is consistent in the rhythm and pace. A pair of shuffling feet heavy and chaotic could’ve sounded similar to the heavy rain falling around you, but your eyes had known well enough that the footsteps belonged to someone important. 

The smell of rainwater strung up your nose when you heard the smallest of exhales released, a cold damp hand brought you out of your misery with a startle when it touched the knuckle of your hand.

Your name was spoken so soft you had mistaken a spirit to of been present at your bed instead of the Drow. Vevmis’ presence was dishevelled and unkempt, the rain had soaked his silver hair to look nearly greying in the dim light, his amethyst eyes so sharp and clear. “Vevmis.” You croaked, trying your best to shift to reach for him.

He noticed and with some tentativeness and wariness, came to the side of your bed and kneeled, his shaking hand came to hold at your head carefully, his eyes glistening with opaque drops that looked like rainfall. “I’m here.” His voice was gravelly as if he had been caught mid-screech and was trying to cool down. 

“I—what happened?”

“A camp came through, just before we were to both be executed. A Band of the Faith regimented by whatever high lord ruled that area came and slaughtered them, putting each one of them to the sword, sweeping through them like butter.”

You were a loss for words, astonished. “They spared you though.” 

“Hardly,” Vevmis had laughed humourlessly, his wine-red eyes flickering, “I knocked one of their teeth in when I had the chance to, another I broke their arm.” You chortled dryly, knowing that Vevmis would do such a thing. “they dragged me chained and bolted to the end of a horse, where we ended here in their camp. That was almost—” his light eyebrows scrunched in awareness, “that was almost three days past.”

You were left wordless, thinking about everything to yourself silently, the pressure of his hand on yours a soothing reassurance to bring you back to reality. “But I promised myself that as soon as you would wake up, I would get you out of here, no matter how.” There was a brittleness to his word as if the promise to you was everything you needed, but he knew more to the end of the story, a few pages ahead.

“You… wanted me to get back to my village, didn’t you?” You questioned softly. The Drow’s’s face fell downcast, full of emotion compared to when he had never once shown it anything to you but callousness in the beginning. “Vevmis, you know I cannot leave you.”

“But you could, and that is for certain. You could go and live and die in your quaint little village and live a wonderful life, with a husband and child, but what about me?” His irritation was not hot nor full of rage. It was him having to grasp at this being his only choice. “No matter where I go, my sister’s wraith will see to have me miserable in this life and beyond. No matter where I go, I shall never be welcomed.” 

Tears pricked in the corners of your eyes at his words, the Drow hadn’t raised his voice nor show any tears. But he had shown you that there was a growing part of humanity he had that you had shown him and he had grown to accept one human. “You wish to become a doctor, but you will wish to become one in your village.”

“How so?”

“It has been your want, and you have that want to help people.” Vevmis accepted. “I cannot be happy anywhere.”

“I have a want- yes, but I also have learnt much more along this journey with someone who I did not believe would accept me.” You began. “There has been so much we have gone through and I will not stand to just have one person happy, Vevmis. I will not stand with it.”

He squinted his eyes quizzically to your words. “What do you mean, pet?”

You smiled at the nickname he had given you once, one that had the connotations to something sour and awful, but now, that little word had become something so much sweeter. “What do you dream of, Vevmis? The arrival of spring? Eternal wealth? To live on a farm in the middle of nowhere and live the rest of your days as a farmer?”

He had smiled at them all, but he had not said yes to any. “I could see spring every year and not miss it. Wealth only makes you happy for a short time, but not for forever. And to live on a farm spreading cow shit? Now, perhaps that would be your dream. I like no animals.”

He had cradled your face in his fingers, stroking the flesh there. “No, one thing would make me happy, and that would be to be beside you and live out the rest of our days in contentment.”

A soft groan had come from the pitched bed and the soreness of your bones and body when you had tried to sit up, Vevmis was hesitant in letting you when he helped you to the end. You had collected the strands of his moonglow hair, a small smile on your face when you had spoken.

“Then, what are you waiting for?”

-

The glare had been bright but heartening, it soft glows came in through the gaps of the sheltered interior, with the smell of buckwheat and hay strong in the air. Maybe a long time ago, Vevmis would never have believed he would’ve liked the long days of the summer, but he had grown to like many things. 

His dirk had been shining and pure, the cool smooth silver-blue stone had been clasped in his hand when he sharpened the silver blade over and over again; his own state of euphoria and tranquillity that had lulled him into a dream of hope.

He couldn’t have lied if he said he didn’t like the smell of nature around him, the constant essence of being outside, with crops flourishing in an everlasting heat that grew throughout the day and never ended in the nights.

Through the afternoons when the sun was not so high, he found serenity through meditating, controlling his breathing and going into a state of silence, breathing in the past and exhaling the future. This, he found was the most peaceful thing about his days, resting and keeping out of the sun and seeking shelter for a state of serene. 

He had been known he was being watched when a small sneaky snap of hay came from metres behind him, the noise that made Vevmis’ ears prick upwards immediately, a small smile gracing his features, pretending to remain oblivious.

The steadiness made Vevmis count in-between the waits, his breathing stilling as he awaited the strike, the moment for all to go stale and cold- “Gotcha!” 

A squeal came when he had been as quick as a deer, he swiftly grabbed the culprit and raised them high above his head, the joyous sound of laughter filling the sweet air. The Drow lowered the small one down, his wine-coloured eyes assessing with false discipline. “You almost had me there.”

“Almost,” Vevmis had looked over the little one with curls of silver-white just as bright as his, dusky skin with freckles along the skin, bright eyes that no Drow had before. “but I’m becoming quick.”

“I could hear you as soon as you were by the door, Rayelle.” Vevmis grinned, his white teeth gleaming. “But you’ll get there.” He was swift to once again lift the little girl up and swing he around and about, her joyous giggles and squeals echoing through the barn. “Again, papa!”

“No, we must get inside before mama has a go at the both of us.” He said, before finally putting his daughter over his shoulders, her small dusty feet dangling just below his neck. “You’re not wearing shoes, pet.”

“No,” Rayelle grinned from ear to ear, holding her father’s silver hair in her round fingers, “mama told me to get you.”

“Ah, so you thought you could test your stealth on me?”

“Uh-huh!” She beamed, pulling at his long ears.

“Hmm, you will have to remember them for next time. It is dangerous not to have them out.” Vevmis hummed as he sheathed his dirk into its holster, knowing that his daughter’s eyes were on the blade when he put it away. “When will I get a sword, papa?”

“When you’re older.”

“But I am older than I was today.”

“When you’re older than you already are tomorrow.”

“Aww.” Vevmis knew she had been pouting, so he compromised. “You can have a pony or another goat. I know your mother would like another one of both.”

“I don’t want a pony.” Rayelle thought for a moment, giggling to herself as she blurted. “I want a dragon!”

“A dragon huh?” Vevmis chuckled warmly. “They smell and always burn things. They would be irritating.”

“But I’d get to fly! Like now!” Rayelle brought her arms out to both sides, swaying side to side as she screeched and roared. “I am Zirenth the Old!”

Vevmis rolled his eyes playfully, pretending to sway with her when she rocked side to side. “Come now, young dragon. Before mama dragon calls for us.”

The two had wandered through the long tall grass, watching over the endless sunset that was beginning to fall slowly across the horizon, a sea of trees below in the distance. Vevmis wondered had he hadn't gone with you and lived this life of solitude, what would his life be like now? 

They entered through the back of the small home, the soft humming drawing Vevmis to the kitchen as he lowered Rayelle off his shoulders. The small home you had made five years ago had been filled with old scrolls of sepia and tubes full of crushed medicines and herbs, the constant smell of sage and mint burning in the air; a healer you had become and a good one too.

“You two back in?” You called. “Mama! I’m a dragon!” Rayelle pretended to breath fire when you came through to peer at the two, needle and thread you had put down as you picked your daughter up.

“Oh, and what a mighty one you are!” You exclaimed brightly, Vevmis watching from the side as he took in your matured features of the new wrinkles you had picked up and small fine silver-grey wisps growing through your roots. You had still looked beautiful in his eyes, no matter how much you had aged within the last few years.

Your eyes had been on him when he had looked to him, the glint that he had know a long time ago, bright and bold still. “But I see another one not too far. He is rather old too.”

He had chortled dryly at that as he neared to you, running his hands over your hips and along your waist. “My little family of dragons. Bold and daring, my two girls.”

You leant over to kiss Vevmis’ lips, earning an exaggerated “eww, that’s gross!” from Rayelle, before lowering her down. “Come now you two, dinner is ready. And this dragon wants to eat everything before it is consumed!”

Rayelle joined you with a linked hand as Vevmis joined behind, smiling broadly at the life he had made.

Maybe his luck wasn’t so thin.

#drow #drow elf #male drow #drow oc #dnd drow #dnd #dark elf #male elf #elf oc #exophilia #exophilia drow #drow writing #Monster #monster story #monster boyfriend #drow boyfriend #part 5 #monsterlover #monster drow #dnd writing #drow vevmis #Vevmis the drow #human reader x monster #human reader #drow x reader #male drow x reader #just a whole load of fluff #fluff fluff fluff #vevmis deserves a good ending

[ji-yaaan]

°•°•°•°𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞°•°•°•°

A Silver x Reader Oneshot ^v^

Note: for the sake of third person it's a fem!reader, and I'm really sorry about that cuz I made this in like... Idk 2-3 am... So my brain is not functioning properly (꒦ິ⍸꒦ິ) sorry bout that guis, but feel free to replace the pronouns and gender thingy ( ´༎ຶㅂ༎ຶ`)

Mistakes were made under the cut!

A midsummer night with the twinkling stars that adorned the vast night skies. There lies a boy with silver hair under the cool shade of the big oak tree. After a long day of school, exhausted from the activities done, the boy leaned over the tree, relaxing at the comfortable ambiance in the middle of the dark forests illuminated by the stars and moonlight. Drowsy from exhaustion the boy nodded off to sleep as the crickets sing the songs of the night. What a sight to see.... The girl thought to herself.

In a sleepless humid night with the stuffy and dusty air suffocating the halls of the ramshackle dorm, a late night stroll in the forest for a breather seems like a good way to pass time and boredom. She ventures out in the dark forest as the moon watches over her up above.

As she strolls in the forest savoring the cool night's breeze. Adrenaline rushed through her veins as she saw a man lying down under the oak tree in the middle of the vast forest. How odd... She thinks to herself. In the dark woods of twisted wonderland, lies a young man deep in slumber, completely out in the open from unknown dangers lurking around. But who was she to judge? There she was venturing out in the forest in God knows what time...The girl stood frozen in her spot as she peered over the young man.

There sat a boy with soft and fluffy silver hair flowing from the cool breeze. With long silver lashes adorning his porcelain face, his chest rising and falling, evident of his state in deep slumber. The girl crouched down mesmerized with the silver haired beauty's stunning visuals.

"Hmmm......? Pfffft!" The girl found herself chucking upon noticing the man frowning in his sleep, his eyebrows knitted together, wrinkling his forehead. What in the world could he be dreaming for him to frown even in his sleep? She asks to herself...

Dazed and confused, the girl subconsciously poked the man's forehead Ahhhhh! I've done it! flustered and shocked from her dumb actions, she tries to get up and leave from embarrassment, only to be interrupted with a big hand that tightly gripped her frail wrists.

The man has awokened from his slumber. "What are you doing?" Exclaims the young man as he furrows his eyebrows while glaring at the girl. The grip tightening at the young maiden's wrist, she said "Wait! Wait! Time out! Time out!". The boy furrowed his eyebrows yet again while he slightly loosens his grip. "Ehehe.... You see.... How do I explain it......" The girl reasoned as the young boy started to tightly grip his hands at her wrist yet again. "Uhmmm! You see I was just having a midnight stroll to take a breather! The ramshackle dorms are pretty iffy and stuffy, so I wanted to get fresh air! But then I saw you sleeping here in the oak tree where I usually go! And then.... Uhm... Oh! And uhm..... I saw you're frowning in your sleep?! so I think I subconciously poked you without me noticing?! I mean who even sleeps in the middle of nowhere frowing right?hehe-....... I mean! I'm so sorryyyy! Please let go of me!!!" The girl started blabbing in panic in front of the boy. "Is that so?......." The boy replied letting go of her wrist.

Thus the akward silence began. The night was silent as the moon shone above the both of them, with crickets singing, as the cool night breeze flew past the two. The night was finally settling in. The ambiance was calming and relaxing. It was the type of akward that is comfortable in it's own way.

"Uhmm..... Have a hard time sleeping too? The night was really stuffy...... I had a really hard time sleeping....." The girl said breaking the ice.

"Is that so?....." The silver haired boy replied. What's with his answers?? I swear if he answers iS thAt sO again I'm disowning grimm.

"Uhm.... My name is (y/n)! A first year from the ramshackle dorms!" she said. "I see you're the first year who made quite the ruckus at the ceremony." He calmly said. "Well.....yeah, there’s that...." (y/n) relpied embarrased and dissapointed.

"Silver" the man said. Hmmm? Silver? The girl thinks to herself. "My name is Silver.... a second year from the Diasomnia dorms." The boy continued whilst sighing."Well.....nice to meet you Silver!" The girl giggles as she beamed a smile to the boy before her.

Little did they knew that this nightly rendezvous marks the start of ever occuring meetings. Encounter after encounter, a morning greeting whilst gazes meet, a warm smile paints their faces. Both of them truly grew fonder and closer with each other as time passed by.

Late night rendezvous became a habit of the two, telling each other tidbits of themselves as they enthusiastically share how their day went with each other, with smiles and laughter that echoed in the forest.

But this innocent friendship between the two of you was soon to be short lived... As silver finally understood what he felt about you. As shocking as it was for him, he felt happy in your precence, but the moment he realized his true inner feelings, he felt his stomach churn from the joy, love, and fear he felt for (y/n). It felt as if all his emotions were stirred up inside him giving him butterflies.

The next following days were a blur. It felt as if viewing a cheesy romance movie with rose tinted glasses. With every smile, every laugh, even the little mannerisms (y/n) did, it never failed to make his heart flutter. Silver felt complete in her precence...

They say humans are naturally greedy creatures....... Silver wanted more he wanted to indulge himself in (y/n)'s light more...... So he did his best to convey his emotions to you.

As much as she'd hate to admit it, the mellow touches silver gives sends butterflies in her stomach. She noticed little bits of the feelings silver conveyed, but she refused to believe the little voice inside her that says maybe, just maybe, silver actually had feelings for you. She was in a state of a blind denial. But she truly appreciated and loved all the small gestures Silver did, she really did found herself a friend she loved.

their innocent friendly relationship could only last for long. The more time passed by, the more sexual tension aroused between the two. With playful fights turning uncomfortable, when they laugh at each other as their gazes suddenly meet.... It was very hard not to notice the tension, leaving both very flustered and bashful with each other. The little nightly tryst the two had felt like a stroll in the clouds. Living life wearing rose tinted glasses was sure a luxury one could have.

A refreshing gush of wind flew past the luscious silver locks of the boy, with his periwinkle orbs fixated unto the book he was holding, a deep sigh escaped his lips as he flips through the pages spaced out, not focusing on the contents at all, as hundreds of thoughts linger on his mind, preoccupying him from reading his book. A thought crossed his mind, no..... This thought was plastered all over his mind when did it go wrong? The cloudy skies above was peaceful, how he wished to have his mind be as peaceful as the clouds above. The boy then put down his book, and succumbs to the drowsiness he's suffering from, due to restless nights of tossing and turning.

As he's nodding off to sleep yet again, the little birds chirp in joy singing the songs of the forest. Along with the songs of the birds, there was a familiar voice who hummed a familiar tune of a melody one has heard before. Yet again, there she stood in front of Silver drowsing off to dreamland. "Hmmmm! Is this deja vu?" (Y/n) sat beside her friend as she put silver's head on her lap. "If you keep sleeping like that, your neck would hurt later you know?"

Time passed by quick with thunders rumbling in the distance, grey clouds enveloped the whole skies threatening for it to pour any moment. Silver then awoke to the sounds that disturbed his peaceful nap. Ah! I've overslept.... what time is it now? but before he could even pull himself together, he was shocked to see himself lying on your lap whilst you slept like a child leaning on the big oak tree.

The lonely nights slowly became brighter and colorful. Without even realizing it, the two started to look forward to the late night meetings under the twinkling stars, basking under the moonlight. These secret little meetings felt like joy to Silver, he felt like time stops whenever he's with (y/n). Mhmmm.... I may have found myself a friend i cherish deeply, huh? Silver thinks to himself smiling whilst looking at (y/n) grinning widely.

He felt his heart melt right then and there...

Was he dreaming, is this a dream? "Wait no, the sky might come pouring down any moment now....." Silver woke up the girl lost in dreamland how cute.....

"AH! I ACCIDENTALLY SLEPT! I was about to wake you up but I bombed it!.... Wait is it going to rain? Oh God....." Cold Raindrops started pouring from the grey skies as the two ran across the forest to seek shelter in the Diasomnia dorms.

The both of you drenched, like little children who had fun playing in the rain, the both of you start laughing at yourselves. Malleus entered the room shocked to see the two of you drenched."Ah! MalMal-Senpai~!" called out (y/n)."Hmm~?.....I see you still call me that nickname huh?" Malleus smiled softly as he offered a dry towel for (y/n).

Silver watched as (y/n)'s face lit up just from simple exchanges from his young master. Ah I see now, this is when everything went wrong huh?..... He thought to himself.

One sleepless night with the humid breeze flowing through the windows, as dusty air covered the rooms of the ramshackle dormitory, (y/n) goes with the usual late night stroll to the forest to find her buddy, Silver. She wanted to talk lots to him about her long day with the troubles that the trio has cooked up yet again. She was so excited just by thinking about it, but she was left dissapointed when she did not find her friend waiting at the usual spot. Silver is probably busy she thought. Ready to go back to the dorms, she stayed a bit longer to linger in the cool night's breeze.

Whilst enjoying the calm ambiance,she felt a presence with her, and to her shock, there was a mysterious man with horns that stood behind her, he seemed oddly familiar to her.... As their eyes locked, the only thing that (y/n) felt was her heart racing out from her chest, a feeling like someone squeezing your heart out making it hard to breathe. "How pretty....." She slipped. "AH I'M SORRY MY THOUGHTS SLIPPED!" (Y/n) admitted to her crimes embarrased.

The man with horns furrowed his eyebrows, but soon after, he chuckled at the young girl's foolish actions. "Hmmmm...really now?... how interesting you are little girl...." The man with horns replied.

(Y/n) was flustered and mesmerised by the man that stood before her. He made her breathless. With the beautiful raven hair that flew past the wind, and the chartreuse eyes that shone in the dark like sparkling emeralds. His porcelain ghostly white skin that almost look transparent......how beautiful.....

"Uhhhmm.... Hello... My name is (y/n)!" Did that sound akward?? She thought. "You're one of the first years that stirred up trouble in the ceremony right?" Says the man with horns.

"Well....ehehe.....yeah, that happend...." She peeked at the man again, only to be caught with his sharp glowing eyes. How embarassing..... "Oh! uhm so you are???" Truth be told, in reality, she already knew the man in front of him, the infamous man who supervises the Diasomnia dorms, the young master of your friend Silver, The Malleus Draconia himself. But it is still courtesy when you introduce yourself to others, they should return the introduction as well. (Y/n) stared at the man anticipating a reply. "Don't you already my name though?" He said. "But it's still respectful to introduce yourself, when someone introduced themselves to you!" (Y/n) whined like a little child, still looking expectant with eyes that shone innocently right back at the dark fae that stood before her. Malleus stared at the small girl, then smirked at her cute behaviour she kept showing. How odd..... how can someone like her not be afraid in my presence?how can she act honestly in front of me? How refreshing.... he thinks to himself. "Hmmm? But you already know my name? What is there for me to introduce?" The man said slightly smirking anticipating the girl's reaction. "Hmmm....is that so?" She replied dissapointed like a puppy with it's ears down. The man smirked again with (y/n)'s honest actions. She wears her heart on her sleeve.....how cute....

"then how about this? Call me whatever you want...." Even Malleus was confused with what he was saying, but he wants to see what her reaction will be, she piqued his interest..... She baffled the fae that stood before her.

"Reeaally??!! You cant take that back!!!" She grinned happily and exitedly as her eyes shone in pure delight. The fae smiles to himself finding the little girl quite odd, I mean, He's Malleus Draconia a poweful man, one of the greatest mages in the world. Yet he's perplex with a young girl approaching him without care in the world, not caring on who he is it warmed his heart to find someone this honest to approach him without being terrified.

"Hmmmm, now what can I call you?......" The girl questions to herself deep in her thoughts as the fae stared at her face, interested eager for the answer she'll come up with. "Pfffft!! I got it!" She says as she peered at the fae's glowing eyes. "Can I call you Malmal?" Her gaze unwavering stared at the man in front of her as she stops herself from breaking down in laughter. "Pfft! Ahahaha!" Malleus was baffled with the nickname (y/n) came up with as he bursts in laughter.... how interesting this girl is.... To have the audacity and bravery to call him that nickname, its starting to appear her bravery is just plain foolishness, but he did not hate it at all.

Silver knew deep inside that (y/n) is slowly falling for his young master. With each encounter with malleus, (y/n)'s eyes lits up like diamonds as she greets malleus with the nickname she came up with.... "Oh! MalMal? Goodmorning! hehe". Silver can't even deny the jealousy that prickled his heart as he saw the person he cherished and loved dearly, falling in another man's arms, worse, she seven fell for the young master that silver truly respected with all his heart. What can he do? He's just your friend, he's just a guard to his young master.....

He felt like his world came down crushing on him, why must this happen? , It felt like a thousand stab wounds pierced his heart... Indulging himself in the light (y/n) gave him was enough for him...... He wanted to do his best to protect your smile and laughter..... That's what he's best at doing..... Right?? He loves (y/n) so much that seeing her happy was enough for him.

Slowly, the nightly rendezvous turned into (y/n) telling silver love songs about Malleus... Even if it hurts, silver sat there listening to (y/n)'s every word, he felt happy to see (y/n) smile ear to ear as she tell about malleus. She never smiled like that before... silver thinks to himself. It left a distinct bittersweet taste in his mouth.

The peace was soon interrupted after muffled sobs rang in the woods, only to see a girl with stains of tears evident in her cheeks and glossy eyes as salty tears trickled in the corners of her eyes.

Meeting after meeting, a tryst under the moonlight as a sweet delightful feeling bloomed in (y/n)'s heart. She fell smitten for the fae with each passing second.

"Silver, what do I do?" She asked the silver haired boy choking on her words. Silver felt his heart drop as (y/n) fell in his arms choking on her sobs. Silver was speechless and was in a state of panic as he tries to console the girl by patting her back, tracing intricate patterns in attempts to calm (y/n) down....

A sunny day as bright clear skies lit the world of twisted wonderland, a chilly breeze flew past the silver haired boy as he woke up from slumber. The birds are chirping melliflous melodies. The once lush leaves that now turned orangefell from the trees as a single leaf stuck unto the boy's hair.

"Hic, he knows...... Malleus knows...... he asked me if I liked him, and I think he doesn't like it.... hic...... He hates me now right?" Reddish eyes gazed at silver as he felt his heart shattering into millions of pieces. "Uhmm..... Don't worry.... No one hates you... You know I like you" he replied with a gentle smile, as he rubbed (y/n)'s back calming her down. "You don't have to say that to make me feel better..... It's fine.... Maybe i'll just make these feelings dissaper? That'll do the trick right? It's better than malleus hating me..." As much as silver wanted to say yes, he wanted to hold (y/n)'s hand, he wanted to kiss her.... He wanted (y/n) to be his..... Seeing (y/n) in pain broke him. "You should just tell him how you feel..." A pained smile painted silver's face...."so can you please cheer up now?" He asked (y/n)..... "You're right...... I should be brave and face my problems...... Thank you silver...... You're the best!" Simple kind words that conveyed innocent feelings felt like a thousand stab wounds...... How stupid have I grown from being with you?...... I guess it's true that love can make someone the most stupid person in the world.....

Springtime is finally over..... Now it's time to stop wearing the rose tinted glasses and continue to live on the life of dull colors..... But that's fine..... The bright hues of the autumn leaves still colored the world of it's dull grey colors.....

"Silver! There you are!" a girl happily called out as she ran in silver's direction. "Sleeping in the middle of the day?.... Haaah...... I can't blame you... Oh! That reminds me! Later this evening, I'll be borrowing malleus hehe~ so you and sebek shouldn't fuss over him later m'kay?~" (y/n) grinned happily smiling ear to ear. "Glad to know you're back to being your usual loud self again...." Silver smiled at the girl. "HEY! LOUD?! Whats that about!" She replied as the both of their laughter echoed in the forest.

On one sleepless night, as silver sat under the oak tree savoring the fresh air of the night. He felt solitude in the peace and quiet surrounding him.

A cold wind blew the autumn leaves as Silver ventured in the woods in a chilly night to pass time of boredom. He leaned in the oak tree that once was green and lush, now with its leaves slowly falling in the ground. Staring at the big oak tree where everything started, his lips curved up to form a weak smile It's time to let her go now huh?. He looks up at the dark skies as tiny shards of light twinkled in the nothingness, he smiled to himself again for the last time, as he goes back to his dorm. But to his surprise he heard faint giggling in the distance as two couple held hands basking under the serene glow of the moonlight on a midnight tryst.

For a brief moment, the girl caught Silver's gaze as a soft mellow smile forms on her face only to be broken when the fae started talking and the girl got her focus back on her lover. His heart throbbed even with just a stare.... When did i become this stupid? but soon enough, a pained smile graced his face, accepting his circumstances, accepting his defeat.

"I lost..... Yet I still care for you.... Now when I look into your eyes, all I see is a stranger who knows all my secrets...... I guess... A soulmate who wasn't meant to be?......now it's finally time to say goodbye..." The autumn leaves flew as the chilly breeze blew past the young boy with silver hair........

• The End •

Y'all if you thought this was fluff.... I'm sorry.... I'm so much very sorry for that..... Pls stone me gently.... ( ´༎ຶㅂ༎ຶ`)

The story became Silver x Reader x Malleus real quick huh? 👁️👄👁️

Also i keep writing fics based on songs i play the song that inspired me here is called: "A soulmate who wasn't meant to be" by Jessica benko ^~^ 

Solstice: either of the two times in the year, the summer solstice and the winter solstice, when the sun reaches its highest or lowest point in the sky at noon, marked by the longest and shortest days.

Edit: WHY THE FRICK IS TUMBLR MESSING THIS UP! I HAVE TO EDIT THIS FOR LIKE.... 5 TIMES NOW! TUMBLR WTF!

#twisted wonderland #twst wonderland #twst #disney twst #disney #twst fanfic #twisted wonderland x reader #twisted wonderland malleus #twisted wondeland silver #twst silver #silver x reader #malleus draconia x reader #malleus x reader #silver #twst memes #malleus draconia

[captnbarnesrogers]

Fall: Reality Kicks In

Pairing/Characters: CollegeAU!Bucky Barnes x Reader Warnings: smut LOTS of SMUT, angsty as fuck also Chapter Summary: You find out the real reason why Bucky brought you to Brooklyn. Word Count: 3.5k A/N: just call me an orange because all i do is give yall juice ;) SMUT BELOW THE CUT

PREVIOUSLY FALL MASTERLIST

“Stop staring at me, creep.” Bucky says, his morning voice disgruntled and lower than usual. You let out a little laugh.

“You look so peaceful when you sleep.” You plant a peck on his cheek and move to his lips. He wakes up a little more when he feels your lips against his. His hands land on your hips and he moves your body to straddle his thighs. He moans into your mouth and your breathing starts to pick up. He rolls the both of you over and he ends up on top of you. He pulls away from you and your groan from the loss of contact.

“I think we should, um, stop.”

“What? Why?” You pull him back to your lips and begin to kiss him again. He, once again, pulls away.

“Because I won’t be able to stop if we start.”

“I don’t want you to.” You pant against him, wanting him to deepen whatever it was he wanted to do next.

“Fuck me…”

“That’s the point, isn’t it?” You giggle. He goes back to kissing you, deepening each movement as you grind against him. Each movement was unpredictable. You couldn’t read him in this state. You were lost in him, in his lips, and his hands which were travelling down your body. His hands go under your shirt and tease your hardening nipples. You moan and he pulls away from you, only to have his warm mouth leave open kisses down your neck, sucking against your sweet spot, “Y-you’re going to leave a-a mark… Fuck.”

“Good, then everyone will know who you belong to.” He latches onto your nipple and teases it softly, licking and sucking to leave more marks to remind you of what happened later on. His fingers play with the hem of your panties and your hips lift wanting his hand to creep inside of it.

“Bucky, please do something.” You moan as his tongue travels down your stomach.

“Patience, baby girl.” It was something about the pet name that turned you on even more. He slides your panties down your legs, losing them somewhere on the bed, “I need you to be very, very quiet, okay?” He faces you once again and holds your face in his hands, “Okay, baby?” You nod and he kisses you before going back down to your throbbing heat, “If you make a noise, I’ll stop.” His tongue darts against your clit, his finger teasing your soaking hole. You put the palm of your hand on your mouth, trying to silence the noises that threatened to leave your mouth. He placed your legs over his shoulder, trying to push you into his mouth more. You pull on his hair and he moans on your clit which caused vibrations that made a whimper leave your mouth. As promised before, he stops at the sound.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry.” You chant, “Please, Bucky.” He smirks above you and goes back down to resume what he was in the middle of. His finger enters your pussy and moves it in and out, in a come hither motion. You couldn’t help but moves against him. He puts in a second finger as he sucks in your clit and your hand flies to his hand, your fingernails digging into the skin of his hand.

“You taste so fucking good.” He moans. You couldn’t help but grind into his face more as his fingers fastened in and out of you. You could feel your stomach tighten, “You gonna cum for me, my girl?” You nodded and you bit your hand, trying to stop the scream from emitting from your mouth, “Cum for me.” Your legs shook as his mouth kept assaulting your clit and his fingers pushed up into your g-spot, “Fuck, you’re such a good girl for me, so fucking beautiful and all mine.” You could feel the desperation run through your body. You wanted him in every single way possible. Whichever way he wanted. He pushed his fingers into your mouth, making you taste yourself on him.

“Bucky, I need you.” You moaned. He grabbed a condom from the bedside table. Ripping the packaging and rolled the thin rubber onto his hardened cock.

“Ready?” He asked with assurance and you nodded. He pushed himself inside of you, your mouth agape.

“Fuck.” You moaned. He laughed, placing his hand against your mouth and shushed you.

“Quiet.” You nodded and he began to move.

“S-sorry.” His lips landed on yours and sucked your bottom lip into his mouth as his thrusts began to get quicker; hips jerking into you and hitting your g-spot. You pushed his shirt up, surprised that you hadn’t desperately ripped it off before. He stilled his hips too take off his shirt and yours along the way.

“Christ, you’re so tight.” He whispered in your ear. You wrapped your legs around his waist as he buried himself inside of you. He set a quickening pace, pounding his hips. The sounds of skin slapping and heavy breathing filled the room. Your nails dragged down his back, definitely leaving marks. You bite the space between his neck and shoulder trying to silence your moans but it didn’t help. He felt so good inside you.

“Fuck, Bucky.” He sunk himself deeper when he heard your moans in his ear, “Y-you’re so big, fuck!”

“Shh.” You were desperate to make sounds, to moan against him, to let him know how good he was making you feel.

“Please.” You breathed hotly.

“I know, baby, I can feel you.” His thrusts began to slow, pace becoming unsteady, “Cum for me.” You squeezed him tightly as you came on his cock. He followed behind you. You could see that he was going to moan, loudly you might add. You quickly covered his mouth with your hand and he groaned into it. You laughed as he rested his head on your shoulder, finishing into the condom. He rolled off of you and threw the rubber into the bin beside the bed before resting beside you and kissing you softly.

“So much for keeping quiet.” You both laughed. You looked at him like he created the stars and then you noticed the mark near his neck. A bite mark, “Oh my god, I’m so sorry!”

“What?”

“I bit your-” Unable to see it, he felt it. Hissing at the feeling, “Are you okay?”

“I guess we’re even.” He traced his finger against the mark on your neck. You grinned and kissed him again before he pulled away and let out a breath of satisfaction, “Now, now, don’t start something you can’t finish.”

“Wanna bet?” You smirked, climbing on top of him.

“Insatiable… I love it.”

---

“Don’t wait up for me okay, love?” He asks, placing a kiss on your soft lips. You nodded.

“Okay.”

A guy’s night out with Steve. Something you definitely knew he needed after spending all day in bed with you. Rain poured heavily against his bedroom window. Bec visited a few times but inevitably fell asleep in her room after chatting away on her phone about prom night. You were about to crash into slumber but the sound of thunder came and disturbed your peace. You gasped at the continuous claps of thunder. You wished Bucky was here to comfort you, to hold you as each moment passed by. You let the feeling run through your body, not wanting to disturb Bucky whilst he was out on the town.

4:33 AM. The clock read. Thunder still active.

Suddenly, like a crash of thunder, Bucky crashed through the front door. You snuck out of the bedroom and quietly made your way down the stairs. Bucky turned back to the opened door.

“Relax, man, Y/N? She’s just an excuse to get my mom off of my back.” He laughed, clearly drunk, “Alright, see you whenever.” Bucky says nonchalantly.

Your heart broke. The words kept replaying over an over. Each time took a small piece from your heart. You meant nothing to him, you’d convinced yourself. You snuck yourself back into the bedroom and tucked yourself into bed. Bucky followed behind you and laid next to you as if nothing happened beforehand.

You knew nothing about him anymore. You didn’t want any part of him.

You crawled out of bed and started to pack your bag.

You had to go but you couldn’t, the party was tomorrow.

Bucky woke up with a pounding headache and a dry mouth. He felt the empty and cold space beside him. He shrugged it off, thinking you were downstairs. He heard a knock on the door. He groaned in response.

“Bucky, have you seen Y/N?” His head propped up at Bec’s question. He sat up and looked at his little sister.

“She’s not downstairs?” She shook her head, no.

“I just need to give her lipstick back.”

“Uh, just leave it on the table, I’ll give it back to her.” She shrugged and placed it on his desk.

When Bec exited his room, he got up and got dressed. He searched the park, the café, high and low but you were nowhere to be found. He called and called but to no prevail, you had not answered. Your voicemail rang through and he left a message.

“I’m getting worried, where are you? Call me back, please.”

Brooklyn, a foreign place to you, made you feel a little calmer than the night before. You only had to put up with Bucky for one more day, you kept reminding yourself of this. Your phone was ringing off the hook. You declined every phone call that you received from him. Just get through the party tonight and you can leave, you think to yourself, you can pack everything else after the party. You walked through the streets, the icy cold wind hitting your reddened cheeks. However, the icy wind couldn’t be as equal to how cold you were towards Bucky.

You entered the house, Bec greeting you with a smile as you walked in.

“Hey!” She smiled, giving you a hug, “I left your lipstick on Bucky’s desk.”

“Thanks, I’ll make a note of it, make sure I put it in my bag.” You laughed.

“Where ya been?”

“Just went for a walk.” She giggled.

“Geez, how long was the walk?”

“Long enough.” You say with a sigh and a smile.

“By the way, Bucky’s looking for you.” You nodded and thanked her, making your way upstairs.

When you entered the bedroom, there stood Bucky, phone against his ear and your phone vibrating in your pocket. He acknowledged your presence and dropped his phone on the bed.

“Hey!” He moved fast to hug you but you take a step back. Confused, Bucky steps back too, “where have you been? I’ve been calling you all morning.”

“How caring of you.”  

“Um, yeah… I guess.” You hung your jacket on the hooks on the back of his door. You move towards your suitcase and scuffle through it to find your dress, “Is everything okay?” You stood back up and grabbed your towel.

“I don’t know, James, is it?” You always called him James but somehow, this time, it felt different. Mean. Angry. You reach for the door, trying to get to the shower.

“Baby, I-”

“I’m not your fucking baby.”

---

He waited on the bed for you to finish your shower. Every minute that passed by made him more anxious. What had he done for you to be this mad? You’d never been angry at him, annoyed yes, but never angry. Everything was going so great. The morning before was unforgettable to him. It set his feelings for you but suddenly, somehow, everything changed. You entered the room, drying your hair. He watches you as you go to your suitcase to grab your make up bag. Only then had he realised that your bag was halfway packed.

“You were going to leave?” He questions, walking towards you, “You weren’t going to tell me?”

“I don’t understand why you care now.”

“Y/N, can we at least talk about this? Why are you so upset?” You scoffed and stood up, make up bag hooked in your arm.

“No, James, you’ve said enough, I know where I stand now.” He shook his head at you, “And upset? That’s an understatement, I’m fucking furious and I wish I couldn’t feel this way but I do, I fucking hate you right now.” Bucky’s heart dropped at your words, a lump in his throat began to form, “So, after tonight, we can act like the happy couple that you want but I’ve booked my flight and I’m going back to LA when it’s finished.” He tried to push through your harsh words, “When you get back to LA, don’t even bother trying to be my friend, we’re nothing now.”

“Y/N-”

“I hope I was a good enough fuck.” He was taken aback by your words. You went to go and sit down in front of his mirror but you stood back up, “I can’t even be around you right now.” You went back into the bathroom and began to sob. You looked in the mirror and began to do your make up. You didn’t know if you could handle anything more but you needed to push through. When you finished with your look, you lightly dabbed a tissue on your eyes. You took a deep breath but before you could exit the bathroom, Bucky burst through the door, closing the door behind him before engulfing you in an embrace.

“Please, please don’t leave me.” He begged. Your arms stayed at your side, not wanting to give into his pleas, “W-we can talk through this.” He said through clear sobs and sniffles.

“I can’t do it, I can’t even look at you.”

“Then tell me what to do!” His face was hidden in your neck, you could feel his tears dropping on your shoulder, “You’re not just some girl to me, Y/N, please, let’s talk about this.” You escaped from his grip.

“God, you’re lying to yourself!” You scoffed through tears. He grabbed your hands and lifted them to his lips, kissing desperately.

“I need to make this right.”

“Why? So you can continue with this fake relationship? So you can have someone in your bed every morning?” He shook his head.

“Can’t you see that this is becoming real!?”

“What is!?”

“That I’m falling in love with you!” You were speechless. But you couldn’t believe him. You wanted to but you couldn’t, “I’m fucking smitten, can’t you see it?” He plants a kiss on your cheek, “I love you, Y/N, I love you so fucking much it’s hurting me that this is happening.”

“You don’t, James.” You shook your head.

“Stop calling me James.”

“I’m just here to keep your mom off your back.” This sparked a memory for Bucky of the night before. If he could punch himself right now, he would.

“I’m sorry, love, I’m so sorry, everyone was just up my ass about you and I just wanted them off my back.” For the first time since you got back to his house, you held him, “I’m so so sorry, Y/N, I didn’t mean it.”  You couldn’t speak. You didn’t want to speak but curiosity sparked within you.

“What about Dot?”

“What about her?” He asks, still embracing you.

“It’s obvious that she still likes you.” He kisses your neck and pulls away.

“I can promise you that nothing is going on.” He rested his forehead on yours, “Please kiss me.”

“Okay.” You leaned in and caught his lips on yours. His hands gripping any part of you desperately. You jumped on him and he caught you, placing you atop of the sink. You could feel your lips were puffy from the deepened kiss. His hands travelled up your dress and his fingers played with the hem of your panties. He pulled the clip out of your hair and let your hair fall down as he kissed your neck.

“Tell me we’re okay.” He whispers in your ear as he kisses the back of it.

“We’re okay, Bucky.” You finally called him Bucky after an hour of arguing and crying. The satisfaction of you lightly moaning his name as his fingers slipped into your underwear could make him cum alone, “We’re okay.” You tilted your head back when his fingers entered your sopping cunt, “Bucky!”

“Does that feel good, baby?” You nodded your head and whimpered at his words, “Tell me, use your words.”

“I- I love your fingers, fuck! You fill me s-so g-good.” His fingers pumped into you faster, curling up as you spoke. Your back arched when his thumb played around on your clit, “Please, Bucky.”

“What do you need, baby girl? Hm?” The way he said it was almost condescending, “Do you need me to go faster?” You shook your head, “Need my mouth?” He licked a stripe up your neck. You shook your head again, “What is it, my sweet girl? Tell me.”

“Oh god,” His thumb moved up and down your sensitive clit, “I- I need your fucking cock, please, please, fuck me.” You begged with a whisper.

“I need to get a-”

“No, please, just cum inside me, I’ll get a Plan B pill after.” You were so desperate and willing. You wanted him inside of you, you needed him inside you.

“Fuck, you really want this?” You nodded, biting your bottom lip, “Okay, baby.” He pushed his sweats down and moved your dress out of the way before entering your raw, dripping pussy.

“Bucky, fuck, Bucky!” You cried as he entered you. You desperately grabbed a hold of him as he fucked into you needily. His hands gripped the back of this sink whilst you wrapped your legs around him and your hands grabbed his shoulders, trying to keep yourself steady. He kisses you, sliding off the straps of your dress. He set a quick and steady pace as he thrusted into you. Giving out low growls in your ear. Your pants and whimpers evident of the pleasure he was giving you. You needed him deeper and faster, tightening yourself around him. He caught on and lifted your leg, thrusting harder and faster into you, “Fuck, fuck, fuck.” You chanted.

“You’re such a good girl for me.” He moaned. The praise he gave out made you wetter.

“I’m so fucking close.” He bottomed out inside you, giving you all he had. Thrusts got slower, sloppier as he felt you close around his hard cock. His thumb playing with your throbbing and swollen clit. He grunted as he felt your warm pussy tighten.

“I’m gonna cum.” You nodded, sensitive from your orgasm, “I love you, I love you, I love you.” He chanted, spilling his warm cum inside you. Sweaty and sticky, Bucky rested his head on your shoulder and caught up with his breath. He pulled out of you and you whimpered from the loss. He grabbed a small dampened towel and cleaned you up, “You okay?” He asks, kissing your soft, puffy lips. You nodded, “Are you sure we’re okay?” You nodded again, “Can you please talk to me?”

“I love you too.”

---

After stopping by the pharmacy, you both made your way to the engagement party. Everyone was happy, dancing, and having fun. Throughout the night, a few drinks were consumed and you and Bucky were pretty tipsy. A couple of stolen kisses here and there and sweet little whispers consumed your thoughts.

Soft music played in the background of the party. Bucky looked at you with adoration in his eyes. He couldn’t believe that you’d told him you loved him. You watched over all of the couples who danced in the beautiful moonlight. The music making for a romantic setting. Bucky stood up and you looked at him. He held out his hand in front of you.

“May I have this dance?” He asks. You nod and take his hand. He pulls you toward the court yard and starts swaying you both to the music, “You look very beautiful.”

“Thank you, you scrub up well too.” He kisses your neck, his hand landing on your waist. Something about the air made him feel like now was the time. He placed a kiss on your hand and you smiled.

“Y/N?” You hummed in response, “Can I ask you something?”

“Course.”

“Will you be my girlfriend?”

You thought for a moment. Could this be it?

---

taglist

@krismeunicornbaobei @allonszassbutt @ahalvedgrape @marvel-fanfic-recs​ @captianlibby​ @matsumama​ @pastyoverlord265

#sebastian stan #bucky barnes #sebastian stan imagine #sebastian stan smut #sebastian stan fanfic #sebastian stan fluff #sebastian stan x reader #bucky barnes imagine #bucky barnes smut #bucky barnes fanfic #bucky barnes fluff #bucky barnes x reader

[callumsmitchells]

for @mitchellandhighway

or, three times ben said i love you and one time callum heard it

i love you always forever (ao3)

I love you.

Ben had said it a lot, actually. Just, not exactly to Callum’s face. There was an element of vulnerability to it, to say those three words to someone who looked at you as if you had hung the moon and the stars in the sky – and that was a vulnerability that Ben Mitchell, under no circumstances, would show. But he loves Callum, and with that feeling of butterflies and sweetness bubbling over in his stomach, Ben couldn’t help but say those three short yet meaningful words out loud, even if they were to nobody in particular. 

1

The first time he spoke the words aloud, Callum had made Ben a cup of morning tea, alongside his cereal. Ben knew that Callum wasn’t a lover of either tea or coffee, and lived up to his sweet nature by the only hot beverage he enjoyed being hot chocolate. Despite this, ever since they had first gotten together, Callum made sure that Ben’s favourite teabags and coffee sachets were always stocked up in the flat, and it made Ben feel instantly at home. Callum was due at work early that morning, a meeting on the other side of London with another undertakers, yet Callum still gave himself precious time to spend with Ben.

“What did I do to deserve you, eh?” Ben asked from above his mug.

Callum leaned down, put his hand through Ben’s hair, once, twice and then cupped his face, pressing a gentle kiss to his lips. “Must’ve been an angel in a past life.” Callum responded. “Though I’ll believe that when I see it.”

Ben swatted Callum’s thigh, and then pulled him in a for a hug, wrapping his arms around Callum’s legs, his face pressed to his abdomen as Callum rested his hands at the back of Ben’s neck. 

“I’ll see you later tonight, alright?” Callum said, causing Ben to look up at him through his eyelashes. 

“Call me when you get there.” Ben said. That was their thing now. Always checking if the other one was safe. 

“Always.” Callum confirmed and pressed a kiss to the top of Ben’s hair, smiling into his hair. “Been using my shampoo again?”

Ben hummed in response and watched as Callum picked up his bag and walked out of the flat door. He heard footsteps descend for only a few short moments before he smiled to himself and whispered: “I love you.”

2

The second time Ben had said those three words to Callum, he was fast asleep. 

Callum had the ability to fall asleep wherever he was, even if he did look uncomfortable. Ben was never surprised when he felt Callum’s head lean on his midway through them watching a film, because it had happened that often now. 

This time though, they had spent the whole day together, the rain pouring outside, obscuring the view from the window into a mash up of shapes and colours with no recognisable features. They hadn’t changed out of their pyjamas, Ben wrapped up in one of Callum’s hoodies, and Callum’s arms around him. Ben played aimlessly with Callum’s bare thigh, drawing patterns of swirls and hearts and words onto Callum’s skin. Callum would never admit it for fear of ruining the moment, but his heart completely flipped inside him when he felt Ben write ‘Callum Mitchell’ across his skin. 

“One more episode?” Callum asked, putting his lips on Ben’s head, inhaling his scent. 

Ben smiled up at him and nodded. “Don’t go falling asleep on me though.” He said. “I actually want you in bed tonight.”

Callum grinned and pressed keep watching.

Ben got his wish. Callum had actually managed to stay awake as long as the show went on, and they had both ended up in bed together. The second Callum’s head hit the pillow, he was fast asleep, his mouth slightly ajar, exhaling warm breaths onto Ben’s skin. His hair was fluffy, pressed to his forehead and Ben knew that it would irritate him in the middle of the night, so with his index finger and thumb, he swiped Callum’s hair back, smiling to himself at Callum’s exposed forehead showing a little furrow between his eyebrows. 

“You’re beautiful.” Ben whispered, trying to not wake Callum up. He lightly touched Callum’s cheek, and smiled when Callum instinctively leaned into to the touch. “I love you. I’ll be strong enough to tell you that properly, one day.”

3

Callum was always aware that Ben came as a package deal. He could deal with his family, having been brought up in an equally as chaotic one himself – albeit with significantly less London’s answer to the mafia about them. Callum could handle the Mitchell’s, but the one person he couldn’t handle, was Lexi. The thought of Ben’s little girl terrified him. Not that she was particularly terrifying herself, of course, she was a tiny little girl and Callum was six foot and towering over everyone. But he knew that if Lexi didn’t like him, that would ruin his and Ben’s relationship.

Luckily, it never came to that. Lexi had taken their relationship in her stride, and loved nothing more than waking up in a morning and eating her breakfast with Callum, sitting on his lap whilst the television plays out her favourite show. She started to refer to him as ‘Cal’, and he’d even been given the highest honour of being guest to one of her royal tea parties. 

Ben looked on at Callum and Lexi as he picked her up, swinging her around. All three of them had days out together, taking Lexi to different parks, letting her burn off her childish energy by letting her run about on the grass, doing cartwheels and handstands. “Don’t make her sick!” He shouted. “Lo would never forgive us.” 

Callum looked back at Ben and grinned, holding his hand out and waiting for Ben to reach him, engulfing his hand, intertwining their fingers together. “Ready to head back?” Callum asked, swinging their connected hands between their bodies, watching Lexi running ahead of them. 

“Yeah.” Ben said, resting his head on Callum’s broad shoulder. “Can we get ice cream first?” 

Callum smiled. “Suppose I can spare a couple of quid.” He squeezed Ben’s hand and shouted out to Lexi. “Lex! Want some ice cream?” 

They barely had to wait for a response, because she stopped what she was doing and started bouncing up and down on the spot, her blonde hair flying all over the place. “Yes please Cal!” 

“The princess has spoken.” Callum said softly. “And Lexi.”

Ben’s jaw dropped open in shock, before he laughed in disbelief. “You better start running.”

Callum grinned, pressed a kiss to Ben’s lips and set off running, catching up with Lexi. Ben waited back, his lips tingling from Callum’s touch. He watched as Callum picked Lexi up with ease, placing her on his back. Ben shook his head softly, unable to take his eyes off of the two most important people in his life.

This time, he said it louder. Above a whisper, but nowhere near loud enough for anyone to hear him. “God, I love you so much.”

+ 1

I love you. 

It was the early hours when Ben finally admitted it to Callum’s face, the day before his birthday. He’d managed to somehow climb out of bed and find all the presents he’d hidden away, and made a start on wrapping them before Callum had realised that Ben was missing. 

I love you.

Ben was deaf. Callum, temporarily blinded with his eyes shut, not wanting to ruin the surprise element of his presents. There was a joke in there, somewhere. “Ain’t nice is it?” Ben asked. “Not knowing what’s going on all the time.”

I love you.

Somehow, Callum’s words always managed to melt Ben. He knew all the right things to say, even if he wasn’t aware of it. “Look, maybe you won’t be like this forever. Hopefully, the operation will work. But you are like this now, Ben. And if your dad don’t want to know, then he don’t deserve you. Because who you are Ben, is amazing. Dealing with all of this is amazing, and you are stronger than him, or Danny, can ever be. And yeah, you are deaf, yeah. And you might always be deaf for the rest of your life, but that is okay. And if your dad can’t be there for that, then I am.”

I love you.

Tears formed in Ben’s eyes at Callum’s words, his bottom lip trembling. In his chest, his heart beat trebled, and Ben was scared that Callum could hear every thump of his heart. Blood rushed to his head, his temples aching, and Ben swore he could hear every word that Callum spoke to him. The thoughts had been swirling around Ben’s brain for months now, and in recent days and weeks he had been thinking of all the ways he could say it. None of his ideas resembled a moment like this, but without connecting his brain to his mouth, the words finally escaped. 

“I love you.”

Callum opened his eyes and shared a look at Ben, a look of contentment and love and bewilderment and shock and Callum couldn’t think straight. 

Ben had tried to go back on what he said but he couldn’t. Callum reached down and tapped his hand, bringing it back up and pressed fingers to his chest, pointing towards himself. Then both hands pressed to his chest. Then a finger pointed in Ben’s direction. Ben knew what he was saying, of course he did. He’d secretly learned it days ago, and had put it at number three on his list of ways to say those three words to Callum. Ben looked on in shock, despite knowing that Callum loved him. Barely seconds later their lips were interlocked and all Ben’s head was capable of thinking was: I love you and you love me.

#ballum #ben x callum #myfic #prompt

[michaelgambons]

This is my first ever Drabble/imagine/ fanfic (whatever you want to call it!) so please bare with! It’s set in the UK, so if you encounter any unfamiliar language, places or references, please shoot me a message!

This chapter is intended to set the scene and introduce the characters, but it will get more exciting soon!

Baseline Romantic

Chapter 1

It was pouring with rain as the train pulled into the station. Grimacing slightly against the cold wind that was coming in from the gap in the train door, Y/N turned the collar of her coat up and picked up her bag, ready to hop off the train and made a dash for the nearest cover.

Once off the train and under shelter, Y/N paused slightly before heading for the exit. She bowed her head slightly against the rain, but it still managed to trickle down her neck and a shiver ran through her. It wasn’t just the cold and the wet that was making her shiver, though. As much as she was excited to see her friends, the idea of spending a long weekend socialising was enough to make her take a deep breath to steady herself.

For the last 10 years, without fail, Y/N and her friends had gathered in Charlie’s mum’s house on the outskirts of Peterborough for the August bank holiday. The tradition had been borne out of the boredom of the university summer holidays, during which, when stuck at home, too broke to travel, too lazy to work and keen to return to the freedom of university, they had spent the remainder of their student finance on train fares to spend the long weekend together. Charlie’s mum’s house was perfect for the piss up that ensued; it was in the middle of nowhere so they could play music as loud as they wanted, as late as they wanted, and, crucially, Charlie’s mum spent most of the year living at her boyfriend’s in Surrey. The weekends had become the stuff of legend.

As she stepped out of the station and glanced around for a lift, a horn sounded. Looking around for its source, she spotted a battered Land Rover parked a few meters away, whose driver and passenger were waving furiously at her, grins splashed across their faces. Y/N’s face broke into a wide smile as she ran across the car park to join them.

———

Half an hour later, nestled in front of a roaring fire, gin and tonic grasped in her hand, Y/N had finally started to warm up. She sighed deeply to herself, closing her eyes and allowing herself to relax into the deep sofa, but a sudden roar of laughter brought her back to the room.

‘I’m so glad you managed to come, Y/N’ Catherine said. ‘I can’t believe you were going to put your *job* ahead of spending time with your friends’ she continued with a laugh.

Y/N smiles vaguely. ‘Mate me too’ she replied. ‘Honestly though, it was touch and go right until yesterday! If the shite weather hadn’t meant that the trip had to be cancelled, you wouldn’t have been graced with my company at all’

‘What trip was this?’ Dominic asked, putting down his beer.

‘Urghhh, don’t get me started’ Y/N said. ‘It was the most stereotypical thing ever. I was taking some MP’s on a ruddy fishing trip to talk to them about protecting freshwater rivers’.

She looked round and saw everyone staring at her, unsure whether to take her seriously or not.

‘I’m not joking!’ She said, laughing. ‘It’s as ridiculous as it sounds- I would have had to have worn fucking fishing trousers. Believe me, I’m much happier, and warmer, to be here.’

‘No Dan?’ Misha asked.

Y/N grimaced internally. She was hoping she could have had at least one G&T before she had to answer that question. She didn’t need reminding of the massive argument they had had just before she’d left. Her boyfriend Dan hated these gatherings; hated the fact that they pushed him out of his comfort zone by having to spend the weekend with people who weren’t constantly plotting the next Bolshevik revolution, like he was.

‘I just don’t understand why you like these people, Y/N. They’re all so painfully middle class and you just spend the weekend drinking overpriced wine and eating twattish Waitrose food’ he had shouted as she had packed.

‘You’re being ridiculous Dan’ she had yelled back. ‘These people are as left wing and educated as they come. Just because they don’t sing Red Flag to themselves every morning doesn’t mean that they’re as vapid as you seem to think they are.’

They hadn’t managed to resolve the argument before she’d had to leave for her train. There was, ultimately, no resolution to it. Dan had taken a dislike to her friends ever since he’d met them, two bank holidays ago. He’d spent the evening on the same sofa as she was now sat on, preaching about the Marxist benefits of agriculture. Happy to entertain this for the initial hour, Y/N and her friends had happily joined in. When, 2 hours later, he showed no sign of wanting to change the subject, they had all gradually excused themselves to bed.

‘Ignorant Tories’ Dan had muttered to Y/N as they got ready for bed.

Back in the present, Y/N took a gulp of her drink before she replied.

‘He had some protest I think? He says hello though!’ she said, trying to sound bubbly and casual as she lied through her teeth.

No one seemed to question this though, and the conversation gradually drifted back to what they were going to have for dinner. Catherine, however, caught her eye from across the room, and motioned her outside.

When Y/N joined Catherine outside, she’s shivering under her coat, cigarette in hand, glancing up at the sky and grimacing at the black cloud that is looming over them.

‘So’ Catherine says. ‘Why is Dan really not here? I didn’t believe a minute of that protest bullshit’.

Y/N might have realised that, if anyone was going to see past her feeble excuse, it would be Catherine. Catherine who had lived with her on and off for the last 10 years. The only one of her friends Dan liked and simultaneously the friend of hers who liked Dan the least.

She’d just finished telling Catherine the story, when the backdoor opened again and Ben came into the garden. He stopped as soon as he saw their serious expressions though and gestured back to the door.

‘I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt- just wanted a cig. I’ll come back...’

He turned to leave, but Y/N shouted after him.

‘Don’t be ridiculous Ben, it’s not a state secret. Just Dan being a shit’ Y/N said.

Ben smiles sympathetically as he comes over to the two of them. He lights a cigarette and runs his hand through his shocking blonde hair.

‘Actually Ben, you could be useful. Y/N tell Ben the same thing you told me.’ Catherine said.

Five minutes later, Ben had been fully debriefed. Both girls turned to him to see his reaction; he took a drag of his cigarette, brow furrowed.

‘He’s being a complete fucking idiot’. He says, bluntly. ‘Totally disrespectful. You don’t always have to like your partners friends, but you should always make an effort. That’s what being in a relationship is for fucks sake’

Both girls snigger and smile into their cigarettes, opinions confirmed.

‘Catherine?’ Charlie shouts from the kitchen. ‘What am I doing with these courgettes?’

Catherine sighs and stubbs our her cigarette, before walking back into the kitchen, leaving Y/N with Ben.

Ben was the only member of the group who wasn’t part of the original university crew. He had first come to their August break 5 years ago; Dom’s out of work actor flatmate from London who was going through a bad breakup and was in dire need of wine, company and good food. No one else had joined the group before or since, but Ben had slotted in perfectly, and remained a permanent fixture. He was undoubtedly one of Y/N favourite members of the group; down to earth, thoughtful, but with a cruel sense of humour which complemented Y/N’s well. The two could spend hours snorting with laughter at jokes their friends failed to understand.

‘Mate we need to have a SERIOUS chat about your last year’ Y/N said, turning to Ben. ‘We haven’t caught up properly since before Christmas, and you’ve been to the Oscars since then for god’s sake! What was it like?’

Ben snorts into his wine. ‘I’m sorry to disappoint but it was actually very underwhelming. Fucking long and you can’t go out for food or a cigarette’.

‘That is so disappointing. I’ve been rehearing my Oscar acceptance speech since I was at least 10 with a shampoo bottle- don’t tell me it’s not all what it’s cracked up to be’ Y/N pouted.

Ben laughed. ‘What on earth are you winning this Oscar for? Have you switched careers while I was in LA?’

‘Best Documentary’. Y/A answers firmly and quickly. ‘An expose of a corrupt politician where I go undercover as his campaign manager whilst hooked up to a wire. Critics would praise my bravery and unique take on the issue’. She grinned at Ben, who is laughing at her.

‘Dan really doesn’t know what he’s missing’ Ben laughed.

The smile fades off Y/N’s face. Ben immediately realises his mistake and tries to change the subject, but it’s too late.

‘I’m sorry Y/N I shouldn’t have said anything. It’s none of my business. I just... he’s... you deserve better’ he finishes faintly.

‘Dinner!’ Comes a shout from the kitchen, before Y/N is able to reply.

————

Two hours and several glasses of wine later, Y/N finally had finally forgotten about Dan for the moment. She was warm, well fed, tipsy and in good company.

‘And that’ Misha shouts, voice confident with the gin he’s been drinking since lunchtime, ‘is how I ended up as Robert Mugabe’s private pilot’

Everyone around the table roars with laughter. Y/N catches the eye of Ben who is sitting across her on the table. Y/N looks away quickly. She doesn’t want Ben to think she’s staring at him- but it’s hard not to when you’re sat opposite someone as ridiculously pretty as him. Instead she reaches for the wine bottle to refill her glass. When she next looks up, however, she swears she catches Ben quickly looking away from her. She shakes her head slightly to clear it of the wine fog that’s descended on her.

Y/N catches sight of her reflection in the back of her wine glass. Of course Ben wasn’t staring at her. Her curly hair was all over the place after the day’s travel, and her make up had faded and smudged under eyes. Whilst far from unattractive, she’s no where near as polished as the skin thin models he was undoubtedly fucking over in LA. And anyway, she had Dan to think of.

Brushing the thought from her mind, Y/N turned to Cleo who was sat next to her and joined in the conversation she and Charlie were engaged in. Out of the corner of her eye though, she kept Ben in her peripheral vision.

—————

‘Y/N I’ve got a banger lined up for you in a second’ said Dominic with a cheeky grin. He was controlling the music they are listening to in the living room, which they’ve retreated to now dinner had been cleared away.

‘Oh no, what have you got lined up? Cleo moaned.

‘It’s either Baseline Junkie or Rocky Racoon if it’s for Y/N’ Charlie said laughing.

Hearing this, Y/N sat up in her chair, which she had previously been slumped in, letting the conversation wash over her, content but tired by the days events.

~ Hey turn the base off, turn the base off

Big dirty stinking base, dirty stinking base ~

Y/N leaps out of her chair. The group collectively moans and laughs as they watch Y/N sing and dance along to the song- completely out of rhythm but with a huge smile over her face.

She turns to each member of the group in turn, signing a line of the song to them. As she reaches Ben, she realises he is recording her sing, grinning into his camera. Slightly taken aback for a moment at the fact that this would undoubtedly be posted to his million + followers on instragram, instead of stopping, Y/N redoubles her efforts at performing the song into his camera.

As the song comes to an end, she bows into his camera as a round of applause rings out.

She suspects she’ll regret that in the morning

Chapter 2 now out!

————-

#ben hardy #ben hardy smutt #ben hardy imagines #ben hardy x reader

[reidandweep]

The Frozen Lake

Daenerys Targaryen x Reader (female)

A/N- This was requested by @path-of-fire. Prompt: Daenerys and the Reader are lovers and the Reader joins Jon Snow at the Battle on the Frozen lake. Presumed dead, it comes as a shock to the Khaleesi, when her lover appears in Winterfell.

Word Count- 3252 words

Warning- Blood, presumed death, kissing, angst, fluff, and all that jazz.

“You don’t have to go with him?”

“I know. But I am choosing to do this. For you my Queen.”

Daenerys rolls her eyes at Y/N’s reply. A small smile gracing her face.  The pair watched as Jon and his men prepared the boats, ready to go beyond the wall.

Turning towards her Khaleesi, Y/N gently grabbed her face. Feeling the worry roll off of her in waves, Y/N leaned in to kiss Daenerys. Her lips moved across her lovers, as Daenerys’ arms encircled the woman’s waist. Pulling her as close as possible.

“Are they always like this?”

Jorah laughed at Jon’s comment.

Walking to stand next to the young man, he clapped a hand on his shoulder.

“That woman has travelled farther and wider for Daenerys than even I have. Than anyone has. They always get a little more affectionate before she goes to fight.”

Jon nodded his head in acknowledgement.

“I’ve come to guess it’s some form of good luck or stay safe.”

Pulling her lips away from her Khaleesi, Y/N smiled.

“I’ll be fine. I always come back don’t I?”

Daenerys didn’t laugh.

She squeezed her lover’s waist.

“The stakes are higher this time Y/N. The people need you to come back. I need you to come back.”

“And I will come back.”

Taking a glance at the boats, Y/N could see that they were almost ready to board. Giving her Queen one last smile, she released her grip around her waist. Heading towards Jon and his men. Y/N threw her bag into the boat, sitting across from Jon and next to Gendry.  She watched Daenerys as the boat was pushed into the water. Their gaze never breaking until she and the men were a speck in the sea.

They rowed and rowed and rowed.

Y/N watched as the man steered the oars across the water.

“You’re quite good at this, aren’t you?” Y/N stated towards the Baratheon bastard next to her.

Gendry laughed.

“More than you know.”

Y/N kept mostly to herself. These men all knew each other. She was an outsider to them. She may be with the Khaleesi, but right now she only had Jorah, surrounded by boats overflowing with testosterone.

“How long have you been with the Mother of Dragons?”

Raising her head at the voice, she looked at the man next to Jon Snow.  His hair and beard unruly, but they were as bright as the fire spit from the Khaleesi’s dragons.

“We met when she gained control of the Dothraki after Khal Drogo’s departure. I was made her maid in waiting.”

The man smirked.

“Ah. So, you were fucking her whilst she was with the Dothraki king?”

Leaning forward in her seat, Y/N’s eyes pierced into Tormund’s. Like daggers made of dragon glass.

His smirk fell.

“Unlike you, horny cunt, I have control. I would never have disrespected the Khal in any way. Not that it is any of you fucker’s business. But we were not together, until long after the death of Khal Drogo.”

Leaning back, placing her hands on her knees, Y/N licked her lips.

“I have worked my way from maid in waiting, to warrior, to commander-in-chief. I command all armies under the reign of the Khaleesi. I command the Dothraki, the Unsullied, the Iron Islands, The Westerlands, The Vale, and so much more. And if I wanted to, I could have command of you. You’ve pledged support to the Khaleesi and you are a part of the army of the North. I could order you to jump overboard right now. And you would have to.”

Gendry began to laugh at the woman’s words, and at the fear across Tormund’s face.

He continued to row.

Jon could not help but smile also.

A smirk once again settled on her face.

“But I won’t.”

Gendry ceased his laughter, disappointed taking over his features.

Y/N looked to Jon, smiling at the man’s reaction.

With silence falling upon the four once more they continued their journey.

They spent hours rowing. Days even before they got to their desired location.  Once they had arrived the group had accumulated more men. Beric Dondarrion, The Hound, and other members of the Brotherhood. All ready to face the whites.

The group walked for miles.

“We need to rest. Stop for a short while.”

Y/N rolled her eyes at Jon’s words.

“Were beyond the wall. If we rest, we die.”

Jon grew agitated.

“Yeah. Of hyperthermia. We are stopping. That’s final.”

Of course, Y/N’s prediction was right. As once the group ceased moving, the whites emerged.

They had rowed. They had walked. And now they had run.

Narrowly escaping, Jon had ordered Gendry to run back to the Eastwatch. They needed Daenerys to know what they found. To know they were in danger.

They had successfully killed and caught one white. But now they were surrounded; swarmed by hundreds. With the breaking of the ice the only thing separating few whites from themselves.

Standing between Jon and Clegane, Y/N watched as a single white walked towards them, dragging his sword along the ice.

“Pick up your fucking sword, you cunt.” She shouted.

The men all turned to her, bewilderment across all their features.

She looked back in confusion.

“What? The sound goes right through me.”

As more whites began to approach, the men and woman took their stance; ready to fight.

As quick as lightning, the whites began to attack. Swinging her sword, she sliced through as many as she could. Trying to not get over powered. Throwing punches, kicks, and anything she could to kill as many as possible. But they were overpowered. For every member of their group, there was hundreds of whites. And not all of them had the Lord of Light lighting their swords on fire. They were greatly outnumbered.

Pushing her sword through the chest of a white, Y/N turned to the sound of Tormund screaming. Racing towards him as he was being buried by the undead creatures, much like Jorah, Y/N pulled her dagger out of its sheath. Stabbing those closest to Tormund with one hand, whilst using her sword to skewer many more surrounding them. Her actions gave enough time for Tormund to gain his footing. The pair standing back to back, decapitating those that came their way.

There was still too many.

Tormund could see that Jon and the others had climbed onto the raised rock in the middle of the frozen lake.

Turning around, he grabbed Y/N’s hand.

“Come on Commando, the Dragon Queen will kill me if you die by my side.”

Running with Tormund, Y/N continued to swing her sword.

“It’s Commander not commando, you fire child!”

Tormund’s boisterous laugh rips through the cold air.

“I know!”

The successfully arrived at the rock.

Standing next to Jon, they could all see that there was no chance of them winning.

Not until the piercing screech of a dragon was heard.

Out of nowhere, Viserion, Drogon and Rhaegal appeared through the sky. Daenerys instructing her dragons to burn the whites. Trying her hardest to save Jon, his men, and her love. The men watched in astonishment as fire flooded the ground below them. Y/N smiled at the Khaleesi’s abrupt appearance. She was always there when needed.

Landing one of Drogon near the group, Daenerys watched as Y/N helped the men climb on to Rhaegal. Viserion flying high in the sky, flames still pouring out the dragon’s mouth; drowning the whites. As Jon was about to climb onto Rhaegal, a white appears out of nowhere. Before it can reach the King of the North, Y/N raises her sword to block the attack. Pushing the white back as much as she could.  Until her vision catches that of the Night King.

Staring straight into her soul, she watches as the frozen man walks through the fire. He walked through the fire. He walked through the fire. He walked thr-

“Dany go now! GO NOW!”

Daenerys turned at the sound of her love’s panicked voice. Aiming her own gaze at where she was looking.

As Y/N continued to push whites back, Jon ran to help. Slaying those that she could not see.

Before Daenery’s could act on the woman’s words, fear struck her heart, as she watched the Night King pierce his spear through Viserion. The dragon’s body hurtling towards the frozen water. Blood falling through the sky like torrential rain.

Y/N’s body froze at the sight.

“Go.” She whispered.

Her voice grew louder.

“GO! GO! GO!”

Jon repeated the woman’s words. The pair turned to run towards the Khaleesi and her dragon.

Just before either could reach the group, a pair of whites appeared out of nowhere, hurtling into Jon. The force of their bodies causing the ice beneath them to break.

Y/N could do nothing as the ice below her began to crack, as so did the majority of which surrounded her. With the force of the stampeding whites hurtling her way, the ice below her feet split. With her last few moments above the water, Y/N caught the Khaleesi’s gaze. “Sōvegon!” (“Fly!”)

She screamed.

As she fell into the freeing depth below, Drogon and Rhaegel lifted towards the sky and away from the Frozen lake. Heading back to the Eastwatch.

Daenerys’ stared down at the broken ice. Her body just as frozen. Shock coursing through her system in waves. Her heart and mind wept, but her body did not.

Under the ice, Y/N tried to calm herself. She could already feel her lungs start to lose air. Her body drifting lower and lower into the water. She watched as Jon swam back to the surface, pulling his body back through the hole in the ice. Her own body refused to co-operate. Exhaustion and hypothermia already taking over. She had accepted her fate. For her death would be honourable. Dying to protect her Khaleesi. Her Mother of Dragons. Her Daenerys.

As her body sank lower and lower, she closed her eyes, succumbing to the darkness.

Her whole body ached. Her head pounded as though rocks had been smashed onto her skull.

Wait.

She had a headache. Y/N was alive.

Opening her eyes slowly, she blinked to clear her vision. Carefully scouring the room in which she laid, it felt familiar. Y/N quickly turned her head to the sound of a door opening and closing. Watching as a young man entered the room. He was dressed in northern clothing. A dark black cape, with light brown trimming sat across his shoulders. His matte black hair laying softly on his head.

Y/N had not realised she was lying in a bed until his arrival. Pushing herself to sit upwards, the man’s head rose at the unexpected noise. It seemed he had not realised she was awake.

“I’m sorry m’lady. I did not know you had awoken.”

She stared at the man. Her mind filled with questions.

“Who are you?”

The young man shuffled towards her, a tray of food and a glass of ale in his hands. He placed them onto the bed, taking a step away, he folded his hands in front of his body.

“My name is Podrick, m’lady.”

For some reason, her body told her to trust this man.

“Pull up a chair Podrick because I have a lot of questions and, you are going to answer them. No scoot on over here. Do you want some ale, not a big fan, to be completely honest with you?”

Podrick chuckled at the woman’s brash behaviour. Grabbing the empty chair, near the window adjacent to the bed, Podrick sat near the woman. As Y/N scoffed down the bread before her, she took a sip of the ale, passing the cup to Podrick to drink straight after.

Wiping the food from her mouth, Y/N wasn’t caring to be lady like. She was starving.

The pair sat in silence as Y/N ate the rest of the food. Drinking the last of the ale offered back by Podrick.

“Thank you, Pod.”

“You’re welcome m’lady.”

“Call me Y/N. I’m no rich woman.”

She smiled at the squire.

Pulling the blanket closer to her, she sat up straighter, ready to ask the questions she needed answering.

“How did I end up here?”

Podrick licked his lips as he fiddled with his hands.

“Were not certain. Lady Sansa was called to the ground a few days ago. The guards had found your body at the gates, unconscious but breathing. Lady Sansa rushed you into the chambers where you were kept warm and on rest.”

She nodded her head.

“The last thing I remember was falling into the ice, and then the face of a man. As blue as the cold, but he sounded like a Northener. I can’t remember anything after that.”

“How did you fall in the ice m’lady? I mean Y/N?”

Y/N looked towards Podrick. Her face turning sour.

“I was battling the Night King and his whites.”

Shock took over Podrick’s features.

“With Jon Snow and his men?”

The woman slowly nodded her head.

“He fell through the ice as well. I would be surprised if he is still alive. I am surprised I am.” She laughed.

Her laughter grew quieter as Podrick’s head began to shake. The look on his face turned her stomach queasy.

“Jon Snow is alive.”

Confusion fell over Y/N.

“How do you know that?”

Podrick gulped, fiddling with his hands once more, he answered Y/N’s question.

“He arrived earlier today with the Mother of Dragon’s.”

Y/N stared at Podrick as the words left his mouth.

Daenerys was here. She was in the castle.

Shuffling the cover’s off of her legs, Y/N sprung from the bed. Happy to see that she was in some form of clothing that covered her. She would question who dressed her later. But now she needed to get to her Khaleesi.

Seeing the woman’s frustration, Podrick pointed towards the table.

He turned around to give her privacy, keeping his eyes closed as she changed.

“Lady Sansa and Lady Arya left you some items on the table. You seemed similar in stature to Lady Arya. There should be some clothes, a cloak, and a sword. Lady Arya said you looked like a fighter.”

As Podrick was speaking, Y/N quickly got dressed, impressed at how the garments fit her perfectly.

At the sound of her sword being sheathed, Podrick turned around. Stunned at the sight before him. She looked ethereal. She looked powerful.

Y/N tied her hair in an intricate braid. Putting her hands to her sides, she looked at the squire.

“Lady Arya was right. I am a fighter.”

Podrick and Y/N smiled at the woman’s words.

“Now Pod, can you show me where the Khaleesi will be?”

“Of course, Y/N.”

He escorted her towards the door, closing it behind them.

The pair twist and turned down the corridors until they approach a large, heavy-set steel door.

Muffled voices could be heard as they approached.

“The Khaleesi is very important to you?” asked Podrick.

“Yes, and I would hope I am important to her as well.”

They stopped at the doors. The voices on the other side had become increasingly louder. She could hear loud chattering and disgruntled voices.

“Why is that?” Podrick questioned.

Y/N smiled, gesturing him to open the doors.

As the doors creaked open she spoke.

“Well, I am her wife.”

Ignoring the shocked appearance of Podrick she strolled into the hall, Podrick not far behind her.

The noise was still very loud. So loud they had not even heard the doors open and close.

She could hear the voice of a women/

“What do dragons eat anyway?”

Another replied.

“Whatever they want.”

Ah. There was her Daenerys.

Rolling her eyes, she tried to push through the crowds of lords; to no avail.

She looked at Podrick. Pulling out her sword, she laid the tip on the ground.

“Follow me and cover your ears, Pod. This sound will go right through you.”

He did as she instructed.

Y/N began to scrape the sword across the stone floor.

The arguing of the Lords ceased, only to be replaced by their groans of pain. For all covered their ears at the piercing noise, moving out of the way of its direction. Y/N’s path was now clear as she walked through the group of men, her sword still trailing behind her. The lords stepping out of the way, watching as she walked into the centre of the room; with Podrick close on her tale. Once she had arrived to the centre, she pulled her sword in front of her; ceasing the noise.

Silence embedded the room. Jon and the Khaleesi could not believe their eyes.

Y/N pointed at Jon. A smirk on her face.

“Told you the sound goes right through you.”

All eyes fell to the Khaleesi at the sound of her standing from her chair; the item toppling to the floor.

The pair stared at one another.

Daenerys slowly walked around the table, standing a few feet away from Y/N.

“How did you survive? Jon said he saw you drown?”

Y/N laughed at the Khaleesi’s words.

“I did. But some blue Northern bloke saved me.”

Jon knew she spoke of his uncle Benjen. For he had saved Jon as well. Y/N turned her gaze and body to Sansa. Kneeling down quickly, she arose soon after.

“Thank you, Lady Sansa for providing me warmth, shelter, food, and clothes. For not turning me away in my hour of need.”

Whilst Sansa held a grudge against Daenerys, she could not help a small smile appear at Y/N’s gratitude.

Daenerys watched the exchange.

Quickly looking towards Podrick, with the man still standing close behind her, she smiled.

“Thank you, Pod. You have been amazing help. I have made a friend for life in you.”

Podrick could not help but blush at her words. Moving towards the side, Podrick smiled back at the woman.

Finally turning back towards her queen, Y/N stepped forwards.

A serious expression took over Y/N’s face.

“I am sorry to have worried you. I should not have left Dragonstone. I should have stayed with you.”

Daenerys shook her head, stepping closer as well.

“No. You fulfilled your role as Commander of the Targaryen armies. And you fulfilled your promise of coming back to me.”

Y/N smiled.

“I always come back, don’t I?”

Daenerys rolled her eyes.

“Oh hush.”

Daenerys slammed her lips onto Y/N’s. Their last kiss being all those months ago, when she had sailed to fight the whites. Now she was back, in Daenerys’ arms, read to fight them once more.

The pair broke apart at the sound of the hollers of the lords.

Stepping away from the Khaleesi, Y/N turned towards the room, unsheathing her sword as a warning. Her glare piercing through many of them men. The room quietened once more. Turning back to her queen, she put away her sword.

The Stark siblings could not help but smile at the woman’s actions. Whilst Arya and Sansa held resentment towards the Queen, they could not help but admire the ferociousness of her partner. Jon was happy to see the woman alive. For he knew she would be an important asset towards the oncoming battle.

Winking at the Khaleesi, Y/N bowed towards Jon and Sansa, moving to stand by Podrick. He elbowed her side, making the woman laugh.

Daenerys smiled at the interaction. Moving back towards her seat, she sat down. The Khaleesi addressed the room.

“Time to prepare for war.”

A/N- I hope you enjoyed it @path-of-fire If anyone has anymore requests feel free to send. 

#game of thrones #game of thrones imagine #game thrones #jon snow #jon snow imagine #daenerys targaryen #daenerys targaryen imagine #Theon Greyjoy #theon greyjoy imagine #game of thrones x reader #daenerys targaryen x reader

[horrendous-saints]

Salvation || Chapter 1

The Price of Freedom

The rain poured heavily that day, yet dull light still flickers at the end of that long stretch of road...

The rain offered a bittersweet cleansing. Emerald hues watched as the rain washed away the crimson liquid from her shaky hands. She prayed to Gaia, or Aya or to the Six, or whoever would bother listening, that she could finally be free from the life forced upon her but she knew better than to believe her sins could be washed away so easily. 

Soaked black tresses did little to shield her eyes from the worst mistake she could’ve ever made. Now she had to live in constant fear that he would make her pay for what she's done...if he still had a pulse. 

“Rayvenna?” Hearing her name had been the cause of her finally tearing her eyes away from her bloodied hands but only briefly. The rain had washed away most of the crimson essence from her skin but some still remained. 

A familiar male had called out to her. His blond spiky hair dampened by the rain. “Ray, why are you out here?” When she didn't so much as turn to eye him, he reached out and grabbed her arm, his grasp firm but nowhere near threatening or painful, even so it was enough to cause the noirette to flinch and instinctively back away from him. 

She turned to eye him, momentarily forgetting about her bloodied and tattered dress. Her dress had been a pure white and went down to her knees just a few hours ago. Now it remained torn, nearly falling apart from the bottom up and barely reached her thighs. It served as evidence that she’d spent far too much time running.

When the male had taken in her appearance he had been stunned to silence, the rain drenching both of them no longer of importance. 

“What happened?” He asked as he snapped out of the storm raging within his mind, all the swirling thoughts and scenarios of what happened to her had come to an abrupt halt when she spoke. 

“I had to free myself.”

                                                    -------

A shrill ringtone pierced the air of the otherwise silent room, startling the sleeping occupant awake. A slender hand shot out from underneath a cream-colored duvet, blindly searching for the source of the noise. After a few frustrating moments, a tired noirette pulled the covers off herself and finally answered the phone, not bothering to check the caller ID. 

“Someone better be dying for you to be calling me this early.” She groggily answered. 

“Oh c’mon Ray, don't give me that.” A familiar and cheerful voice responded on the phone. 

“Tifa, you better have a good reason for waking me up, otherwise you’ll learn pretty quickly that I-” 

“I know, I know but I do have a good reason for waking you up. I have a job for you.” 

“From who?” Immediately Ray sat up, her interest sparked as her friend stated her purpose for this early morning call. 

“Cloud.” Hearing that odd name momentarily stunned Ray. 

“Why would-” 

“Well it didn't come from him directly but apparently someone he made a delivery for previously, needs to refill their stock of curatives. Before you ask why you have to go as well, one of the clients is wounded and needs help. Cloud will be there to pick you up in an hour. Have fun you two.” With that Tifa hung up. Ray stood, intent on being ready before Cloud arrived. 

Like clockwork, an hour had passed and the roaring of his bike's engine could be heard approaching her home. While the bike nears her home, Ray gently packs some of the curatives she'd made just a few days prior alongside materials she'd need to tend to a wound. It always helped to be prepared, is Rayvenna's mindset. 

She can hear his boots trudge closer to her home as he approaches her door. Before he can knock, her front door swings open allowing for both of them to meet face to face. Not much of a greeting is needed between them other than quickly fleeting smiles. 

"You sure are a master at giving a proper heads up." Rayvenna's tone is tightly laced with sarcasm but not a single hint of annoyance, causing Cloud to snort ever so lightly; so quiet that most would never hear it. 

"I try." He retorts before offering his hand to take the bag containing the package she so neatly put together. Rayvenna shakes her head in response, slinging the bag's strap on her shoulder. 

"Let's go, the customer can't wait forever." With that the duo venture out, Rayvenna riding on the back of Cloud's bike. 

It's a pastime Rayvenna will never get enough of, to feel the wind hit her, the world around her passing by in a blur of colors, drowned out by the sound of the engine purring. To her, this is freedom. 

All too soon, that rush from riding with her friend dies down as they come to a slow stop. It had been approximately an hour of driving and yet that still didn't feel long enough to satisfy her. Ray wouldn't ever say that though, it would make her sound vulnerable and needy. 

They had arrived at the outskirts of Edge, a golden place dry and devoid of much life save for a few rebellious greenery here and there. Sitting up straight, Rayvenna stretches her back to relieve the ache brought on by leaning forward onto Cloud for support during the ride. A moment later and she's stepping off the bike, her boots finding hard solid ground beneath her. The desert is something she's used to given the many times she's traveled with Cloud.

"So who exactly placed this order?" Ray asks after five minutes of waiting for them. 

"The caller didn't leave their name but he did say his two friends were coming to meet us." Cloud answers simply, no suspicion evident despite the fact he didn't seem to recognize the customers. 

"All a part of the job." Rayvenna remarks earning a quirked brow from her blond companion. She didn't need to hear his question to know there is one. 

"Showing up to meet random people in the desert to give them what's requested." Her clarification only receives a curt nod from him. 

Only a few more minutes of idle chit chat pass before the clients arrive. To the surprise of both Ray and Cloud, a third person is in tow. A tall man with glasses helps his much more muscular and shirtless friend walk to them, said muscular man having his arm around the shoulders of the bespectacled man and another blond stranger. 

"I am aware our comrade mentioned there would be only two of us that would show up but I'm afraid our friend here requires more assistance than just myself." Rayvenna takes note of the distinct accent but can't quite place it. 

"Cue me!" The blond speaks whilst straining himself to keep the middle man up. 

"Right." Is the only response Rayvenna gives, accompanied by grunting from the injured man as his comrades help him settle down on a rock only approximately two feet away from all of them. 

"I apologize for the trouble." The middle man speaks as if he's winded. Rayvenna wastes no time in digging in her bag to retrieve the makeshift first aid kit, the clinking of glass bottles can be heard as she does so.

As she approaches him and gains a better look at his face, her eyes widen ever so slightly as a wave of recognition washes over her. The man looks to her confused, just barely catching the look before she forced it away and began the process of cleansing and dressing his wound. She puts gloves on before gently moving his hands from his lower right side, allowing her to see the blood staining his hands. 

"It's not too serious." She remarks loud enough for his friends to hear, earning sighs of relief. Her green hues begin scanning the damaged area, her hands carefully placed around it while her small form leans forward to get a better look at it. The wound is about half the size of a thumb in length and twice that in width. 

"It looks bad but it should heal in a day or two when I'm done." Rayvenna retrieves gauze before placing it over a bottle and spilling the bottle on it, allowing for the gauze to soak up the strangely colored liquid within the bottle. 

"This will make the wound close and the skin fuse back together quickly." She informs him before placing the gauze over the wound. The man hisses in pain when she presses it down. 

"Sorry." Rayvenna murmurs. If I really wanted to...I could use magic to make this easier…Rayvenna quickly wipes that idea out of her mind. Doing so could reveal her identity, and opening that door won't end well…

"What is that?" Her impromptu patient questioned. 

"A concoction I made. Heals quicker than any Elixir but not in a drastic way like a Phoenix would. It does prevent the need for either so you don't dip into the supply you're picking up now. It is strong though so he will need to rest after this" 

He nods in understanding though judging by the way he continues staring at her, Rayvenna wonders what else he may have understood. Does he think I look familiar as well? 

"We appreciate your assistance." His very formal friend spoke, giving her the perfect excuse to stand up and step away from him. 

"Hey...I think it's already healing. The pain is gone." This news brings a quickly fleeting but still prideful smirk to tug at her lips. 

"Whatever that stuff is, it's already working miracles. Thank you." He adds before extending a hand her way. "Gladiolus." His introduction quickly follows. Before she can smother it, her eyes widen in response. It doesn't take much for every man except the other blond who is too busy on his phone to take notice. 

"Something wrong?" Gladiolus asked, taking the words right out of Cloud and the other man's mouths. 

"No." Comes her answer but given the way she hesitates it makes each of them wonder what else lingered. 

"I'm Ray." She finally returns Gladiolus' handshake, faking a brief smile all the while. 

Now it's Gladiolus' turn to be stunned momentarily. This makes Rayvenna's stomach drop. 

"Have we-" 

"I-I have your curatives." Rayvenna is quick to rush over to her bag, retrieving the box for them and handing it over. Once Gladiolus takes it, she retreats to Cloud's bike, putting significant distance between herself and the three comrades. This causes the bespectacled man's brow to raise and the blond's attention to finally move from his phone to the situation happening right before him. 

"Thank you." The accent rings out lowly, though there's a silent question in the man's tone. 

Cloud clears his throat, breaking whatever silent tension is slowly brewing. 

"Right. Ignis, let's pay them for their trouble and get out of here." Something now begins to weigh on Gladiolus but neither of his comrades has the courage to ask what it is right now. 

"Of course." The man, Ignis, agrees before a gloved hand of his reaches into his back pocket. The exchange of Gil to the seller is swift and without further incident. Rayvenna keeps her gaze to the ground, not wishing to allow any of them to get a better look at her. 

"You have our thanks." Ignis announces smoothly before he motions for his comrades to follow. Gladiolus chances one more look towards Rayvenna before he follows behind his friends. 

It's not until they're far out into the distance that Cloud dares speak. Leaning against his bike, he eyes Ray; almost nervously. 

"You wanna tell me what that was about?" It may very well be an idiotic question but it's one he feels the need to ask nonetheless. It would eat at him if he didn't ask. 

"I recognized him." Her initial answer is enough to make Cloud's gaze give away to one of complete seriousness and genuine concern. Before he can ask her to elaborate, she does so. "From when my mom brought me to Insomnia. His family has close ties to the royal Insomnian family." That's all she has to say for Cloud to fully understand. 

"Ray...do you think they-" 

"No. They were and still are loyal. There's no way to know for sure if he recognized me too. Even if he did, the only thing we can do is leave and forget this happened." All Cloud can do in response is nod. It's not his place to object.

With that, they leave, unaware of the conversation begging to be had between the three comrades just a short drive away. Inside the car, they've been gifted for the day. 

"So uh…" Prompto is the first to speak, nervousness easily peaking through. "What happened back there?" Ignis remains silent but his gaze still flickers to Gladio through the rearview mirror every time the cat encounters a red light. 

Gladio appears to be lost in thought, gaze glued to the fast-moving blur that is the world outside the car. It takes him thirty seconds to answer Prompto's question both because it took half that for it register and the other half for him to form the words. 

"I think I know who she is." Ignis has a nerve stricken by this news. His own vague recognition settling back in. 

"What do you-" 

"We'll finish this discussion once we arrive back at the hotel." Ignis intervenes, earning a nod from both Prompto and Gladio. Thirty minutes of driving later and they return to the hotel as planned, just outside of Hammerhead. 

They're greeted by a curious and well-rested black-haired male, their fourth and final companion. He stares at each of them, searching for signs that they've in fact done as he was told they were intending to do when they left. Seeing Gladio no longer needing both Prompto and Ignis to walk or stand, he assumes they had. 

"I was about to lead a search party for you three." Comes his greeting. 

"Aw, Noctis, you were worried about us? It's okay bud, we're all fine." Prompto teases, having momentarily forgotten about his concern for Gladio, unlike Ignis. 

"Sure. That and if you three needed me to come save you, I wanted to make sure I would be there." This response earns an exasperated sigh from Prompto. While the younger members of their party engaged in playful banter, Ignis and Gladio made their way up to the hotel room. 

"Ignis...Tell me, did that girl seem familiar to you?" Such a question is to be expected, even so, Ignis needs a moment of deliberation. He's searching for any explanation, any way that he can explain this that follows the story he was told. Then again, such an explanation only proves there is really no other way as he was told a story. 

"Yes, she did." Ignis answers, his tone giving away that there's far more to say on the matter than just those two words. 

"Do you think Ray...stood for Rayvenna?" The very mention of that name is enough to fill both with a sorrowful nostalgia. 

"I think there may be a chance. Amarynthian officials declared her dead after that raid of Kalm." Ignis adds the last part as a reminder to both of them. 

"Yes but…What if how they say it ended had been a lie?" Gladio has the words but barely the courage to say them. 

"It is true that the timeline they gave had been odd and the things they've left out are even more suspicious but there's been no sign of her." Ignis tries to reason. 

"Yeah, no sign, until now." Gladio had a point, Ignis is sure of that but is he sure this girl they met could truly be who they're wanting her to be? 

"There's no way for us to know the truth without a shadow of a doubt if we don't properly investigate. So, I propose that we do just that, investigate." Ignis' idea brings a smile to Gladio's face. 

"Then that's what we'll do. In the meantime, what will we tell Noct?" Gladio posed a good question one Ignis had been dreading. 

"Nothing. There's no sense in getting his hopes up for it to only be a dead end." 

"What won't you tell me and get my hopes up about?" Both Ignis and Gladio quickly turn to see the Prince himself standing there with a worried Prompto standing behind him, both thoroughly confused.  

"It's noth-"

"Oh c'mon, Gladio. Don't tell me it's nothing when you two are clearly up to something you don't want me to know about. Judging by your tones it's fairly serious, so out with it." 

"Noctis…" Ignis start but then needs to take a beat before continuing. What would he do if they told him? 

"We think we may have found a lead on...Rayvenna." Gladio is ultimately the one that breaks it to him. The look that overtakes the young royal is enough to make both of them regret ever considering this. First utter confusion overtakes Noctis' blue hues, then sorrow and finally raw pain. They had ripped open an old wound, and this time it couldn't heal without answers. 

"W-What?" The question isn't one demanding an answer, rather it's the only thing he could think to say initially. 

"It's true. When we went to retrieve the curatives and have Gladio's wound tended to, there was a girl there. She had a striking resemblance to Rayvenna and even the name she called herself, Ray while not uncommon had been the same as Rayvenna. Those are the only clues we have to go off of though so we must not jump to conclusions." 

"Where was she?" Noctis' tone had taken a far more serious edge to it, one portraying the hurt he felt but also the desperation and hope coursing through him. 

"Noctis we don't know-" 

"Where is she?" He barks, not willing to listen to the reasoning his friends had on the subject. 

"We don't know. We met her and her comrade not far from the ruins of Midgar just outside of Hammerhead. She's long gone by now." This news does nothing to quell his desire to see who they were talking about. Prompto only grows more concerned but doesn't have the courage to interject. 

"Noctis…" Ignis is the first to break the tense silence that fell upon them. "I understand what this means for you but you must not lose sight of what's important. Even so, I know you won't let this go so...I suggest we utilize two days to gather as much info as we can and figure out if this is indeed a lead we should pursue." This news births a new flicker of hope within Noctis. 

"Thank you." With that he offers a small, fleeting smile before heading towards the room, leaving his comrades on their own once more. 

"Consider me completely lost." Prompto finally chimes in. "Who is Rayvenna?" 

"An old friend of Noctis, one that was declared dead a few years ago." Ignis explains, searching for a good way to explain this to their clueless friend. 

"Wait...that name does strike a chord. Why?" 

"She was Amarynthia's Princess and only true heir to the throne. She was kidnapped and supposedly killed as a means of forcing the Amarynthian government to surrender to a mysterious enemy." Ignis continues but realizes a little too late that Prompto now had even more questions. 

"The entire situation had been odd but it was the only information given to both the citizens of Amarynthia and other nations. The Amarynthian royal family were allies to Lucis but King Regis had never been allowed to aid them in finding her. A few years after her kidnapping, a raid of the town Kalm, not far from where we went today had been raided in an attempt to find her." Gladio chimed in now, trying to piece the story together as best he can despite his own doubts. 

"The operation hadn't gone as planned and Rayvenna had supposedly been killed in the process. That's the story the king of Amarynthia told but reports state her body had never been recovered. When anyone asked about those reports they were silenced one way or another." Gladio continued. 

"And you guys think that Ray girl we saw in the desert could be her?" 

"Yes. We didn't want to tell Noctis until we were certain. You see, Rayvenna and Noctis were very close as children. He had known her before Lunafreya and her death devastated him. He's never believed the story told about anything that happened to her." Ignis' follow up explanation earns him a nod from Prompto. 

"And if it turns out she's still alive, then she and Noctis can reunite and we can figure out what really happened to her." This excites Prompto, in turn earning smiles and nods from his friends. 

"Then what are we waiting for?!" He cheerfully runs after Noctis wanting to keep that hope alive. 

"Ignis...You realize, if this turns out to be her, there's gonna be much more than a happy reunion, right?" 

"Yes. We'll help her get back home and reclaim the throne her father currently sits on. There may be a coronation for her and a wedding for Noctis in such a short span of one another."

"It'd be nice to know she's safe though I wonder if it will cause issues for Noctis' and Lunafreya's relationship." Even though that may be a serious issue later, Gladio can't wipe the smile off of his face. 

"I suppose only time will tell." 

Just a few miles away from the motel Prince Noctis and friends currently inhabited, Rayvenna could be found pacing in her home. 

"What if they tell that bastard they found me? What if they're in their way here now?!" 

"They wouldn't do that. You said it yourself that they were allies to your family. And you were close with the Prince so there's nothing you need to worry about." Cloud watches patiently from against the closest wall. 

"A lot can change, Cloud." 

"What happened to you reassuring me that everything would be alright?" 

"That went out the window when we turned on the news and saw that Lucis is signing a treaty with Niflheim in four days. If they realize it's me, they might be forced to hand me over right to Nikal." 

"Then we make sure that doesn't happen." Cloud's tone leaves no room for debate. He's serious and has no doubt about his words. This is enough to ease Ray's concerns, her shoulders falling slump and short-form collapsing onto the couch in relief. 

"You're right." It's all she can say and all there is to hope for. 

A day would pass before the four comrades would have any substantial leads. 

"Noctis!" Ignis exclaims, bursting into the tent the four of them shared, effectively waking the Prince from his slumber. 

"What is it Ignis?" The sleepy Prince grumbled, still lost in the space between consciousness and slumber. 

"We may have found something about Rayvenna." This is enough to make Noctis sit upright, at full attention and fully awake. 

"What is it?" He's already shuffling to get up. 

"I just got off the phone with the Marshal. He informed me that Rayvenna's aunt, Lady Anya, used to reside in Midgar before the Meteorfall, after some shuffling around she began living in Lestallum but made frequent trips to Kalm right after moving there and eventually a town known as Edge just outside of Midgar. It isn't much but it's a starting point." Ignis speaks while they exit the tent, joining their other two comrades outside. 

"So that means-"

"We're taking going to the Edge!" Prompto finishes his sentence excitedly, earning groans from his three friends because of the pun. 

"Essentially, yes. Now we best head out, the earlier we get there the better." Ignis' friends agree with him and quickly busy themselves with cleaning up the campgrounds and heading towards their now fixed vehicle. 

"On our way to save a Princess!" Prompto seems to be his usual, excited self. 

"Potentially, we must not forget that nothing is set in stone." Ignis reminds him and in turn Noctis of this fact. 

"Right…but how cool would that be?!" 

"Very." Noctis agrees, still hopeful. He doesn't catch the concerned look Ignis shoots him. It's clear the bespectacled man is worried this might all be for nothing and would crush the Prince's hope. 

As they each get situated into the car and head out towards Edge.

#ffvii fanfic #ffxv fanfic #cloud strife fanfic #final fantasy crossover #final fantasy 7 #final fantasy 15 #final fantasy vii #final fantasy xv #final fantasy #final fantasy fanfic #fanfiction #fanfic #noctis fanfic #noctis fanfiction #noctis caelum #cloud strife

[starswornoaths]

A Promise Made, A Promise Kept (1/3)

With Nidhogg slain, all that stands between Aymeric and fulfilling his promise is to finally, at long last, have a treaty firmly in place between Ishgard and Dravania, to officially end the Dragonsong War.

So naturally, this is the worst part of their slow burn and I’m sorry.

Word Count: 3,381

While the conclusion of the Dragonsong War was a great relief — to Aymeric, and to his people — the Lord Commander still found himself fighting a seemingly endless battle. Though the horde that yet besieged him had now taken the form of a mountain of documents to sign until his hand went numb rather than Dravanians raining fire upon him, though whether it was an improvement for him personally was still...debatable. 

So many were of little consequence that a small, petty part of him wanted to just toss them in the fire and be done with it all. He refrained, though only just. Until the treaty between Dravania and Ishgard was signed and officiated, every document that crossed his desk demanded his full attention, more than ever; one slip up, and the whole thing could come crashing down around them, and every drop of blood, sweat, and tears that he and his had poured into this effort would be wasted. 

Perhaps it was because of that need for precision for so many things at once, all mundane and dull after such an explosive conclusion to the war itself, but his nerves felt singed at the edges, and he found his concentration slipping by the time he’d signed off on what must have been the hundredth document to pass his desk that day alone. Forcing his hand to remember how to let go of the pen he’d been holding practically since his feet hit the ground that morning, he tried to stretch his hand out, wincing at the creaking and popping in his knuckles. 

Aymeric took a moment to study his hand, shaking and sore. His mind began to wander— and just for a moment, he was inclined to let it. Unsurprisingly, it made a mad dash for the Steps of Faith, to watching Serella march toward the dread wyrm, march toward the chaos his own men had been made to retreat from. He felt guilt begin to gnaw at his gut anew. Regardless of his own want for otherwise, once more Serella was forced to champion the fight for his nation without him. 

While she had certainly not done it alone — her brother, as well as a select few close companions of hers had been by her side — she had still fought on behalf of a nation that, at the eleventh hour, had ultimately left their fate — and their burdens — in her care. And she had shouldered it gracefully, not saying a word of complaint for the onslaught they endured, not even to him in the stillness after the fighting, not even when he had gone to check on her as she was being treated for her wounds, grievous as some of them had been.

Not even when he could not fully surrender to her kiss. Not even when she had fallen asleep in his bed. Not even when she had asked him to stay.

All it took was the memory of her dedication for him to pick up his pen again. He ignored the protests of his fingers, aching and uncooperative as they were; Ishgard’s new republic had to be worthy of such selflessness — he had to be worthy of it. And of her.

Else his promise would mean nothing.

When he leaned forward to write he felt Serella’s hairpin shift in its box, safely tucked into the front of his jacket. He had been meaning to give to her since its restoration, but had simply not had the opportunity. Unsurprising, truly; between his administrative duties and her running between Ishgard and Dravania besides, it was little wonder they had seen neither hide nor hair of one another since the night she had fallen asleep in his bed.

A sharp knock came at the door, and Aymeric could not stop himself feeling dismayed — surely there could not be more things to attend do already? But he straightened just in time to see the door swing slightly open, just enough for a comfortingly familiar figure to slip in and shut the door behind her. What trepidation he might have felt vanished.

With a smile, he set his pen down again and met her gaze, though only barely managed to stop from flinching at the ache in his bones. Words with which to greet her seemed empty—  they were well beyond them.

“Figured I’d check in, see how you’re getting on.” The Paladin explained, as if she ever needed to, and glanced down at his desk. “And...evidently you’re rather busy.”

“Please,” he waved the hand still capable of feeling and smiled. “I am merely signing documents— though admittedly, I have yet to see an end to them.”

“And I have yet to see an ilm of your desk.” Serella said, finally looking up from the piles of parchment surrounding him. She asked in a quieter voice, “Have you had even a moment to breathe?” 

“I will breathe— and breathe easier, once the treaty has been signed and chronicled within the Vault. There has been much work to do.” Aymeric instead replied. “And there is much more yet to be done. I am fine.”

Serella hummed, unconvinced.

He ignored the way she studied him thoughtfully in favor of rallying his attention back to the numerous papers strewn about his desk— though whether he could recall where he had left off at that point was, at best, debatable. A twinge in his hand made him wince, and he fought the urge to huff. Perhaps he did need a moment. Only ever one, if he allowed himself at all.

“May I see your hand?” She asked softly, holding her own out. "You’re holding it strangely."

“I am fine—” he repeated, even as he looked up and placed his hand in her palm, though the moment she used her other hand to gently flex his fingers to fully stretch and straighten them, he could not bite back the undignified “argh,” that sprang up from the sharp, tingling of his muscles protesting at her attentions.

“Oh, aye.” Serella said flatly. “Sounds ‘fine,’ alright.”

She did not stop him from taking his hand back, though he barely stopped himself from grumbling.

“I will be fine, then.” Aymeric groused, though only barely hid a wince at the ache in his fingers returning with a vengeance.

Though she said nothing long enough for him to look over another draft of another variation of the creed of the House of Lords, he felt her concerned stare burning the top of his head.

“I think you should step away from your desk, Ser Aymeric.” Serella finally said liltingly.

When he looked up at her again, she had a playful smile tugging at her lips. The way her eyes glittered in mirth almost made him simply take her hand and go wherever she led him, but he reminded himself that such a flight of fancy was unbecoming with all that was left to do. Such thoughts did little to quell his want, however.

“Would that I could—“ He began to protest glumly.

“You must!” She reached over again and threaded her fingers with his with a laugh. “There’s still a very important part of the ceremony you've been neglecting!”

“Have I?” Aymeric asked, his voice only just level enough to hide the panic now spearing sharply through his chest.

“You have.” Serella said with a firm nod. “‘Tis precisely what I’m here for, my lord!”

He rose from his seat at her gentle prodding— though fear bade he stand abruptly enough for his chair to skitter away from him loudly across the stone.

“And what is it that I have forgotten?” He asked her, hoping it came across as playful rather than petrified.

“Nothing that can’t be easily remedied,” she reassured him, leading him by the hand from around his desk and to the lift.

He only hoped it was something as easily fixed as she claimed it to be. Because if he ruined this…he ruined everything. For Ishgard, for Dravania, for everyone.

The anxiousness that had begun to tear at his stomach eased into curious confusion when she led him outside of the Congregation, up the steps through the Pillars, past the Arc of the Venerable, and to the airship landing—where a familiar dragon had perched himself just beyond the gate, idly dozing.

“Midgardsormr?” Aymeric addressed him with no small amount of surprise.

The Father of Dragons lazily lifted his head and let out a snort. 

“At least one child of man deigns address me by name.” He turned his head just enough to shoot a withering look at the Warrior of Light. “Mine true name.”

“I’m still not sorry for calling you ‘Midadsormr,’ if that’s what you’re getting at.” Serella said flatly.

“I have endured such outrage from thee for only a brief while.” He complained with a toss of his head. “But it hath felt an eternity.”

She scrunched her nose at him.

Aymeric faintly wondered whether the Dragonsong War would resume if he started laughing, so he covered his chuckle with a cough behind his hand.

“Forgive me, Midgardsormr,” he said diplomatically, and smoothed the front of his coat. “Serella has brought me to you but I confess, I am at a loss as to why.”

Though he did notice that the saddle that he had been wearing, along with an extra traveling pack, were nowhere to be seen, he remained silent, unsure of what Dravanian etiquette dictated was appropriate to speak of in regards to one’s state of undress, as it were.

“That is of no surprise,” the wyrm said blithely. His wings flexed outward as if to stretch out for a moment before letting them fall back to rest. “Ever hath she had a proclivity for such enthused prodding whilst milling about in her mystery.”

“I learned from the best.” Serella said, unaffected as she stepped toward Midgardsormr and gave him an affectionate pat at the base of his neck. “Anyroad,” she turned to Aymeric with a broad smile. “Come on, then. Time we practiced your balance on dragon back.”

“Now?” Aymeric asked, unable to hide his surprise. “But I—“

“You’re in the middle of preparing for the treaty ceremony, right?” She asked patiently. He nodded. “Then this is still a part of that, isn’t it?”

“‘Tis true, I suppose.” He conceded slowly, his gaze drifting over to the platform of the airship landing, out to the sweeping skyline beyond.

The rush of liberating adrenaline when he rode on dragon back in Sohr Kai had punctuated a newly awakened wanderlust that had stirred in him while in the Churning Mists— a feeling he had done his level best to tamp down upon. Now that he to take wing again, as it were, he felt its ache all the more keenly in his heart. He shuffled his weight between his feet, unaccustomed to the feeling. 

Despite his best efforts, he could feel his resolve waver.

“I know you’re reluctant to step away,” Serella spoke up softly when he had not replied. “But this is just as important as that mountain of paperwork back at your desk.” She paused, lowering her gaze to his collar, to the silver wyrm that coiled loosely around his shoulders. “More than, in my opinion. We have to make sure you’re safe to fly with Vidofnir at the ceremony." She peered up at him through her lashes. "Your safety is more important to me.”

“Than the ceremony?”

“Than most things, to be frank.” She quietly admitted with a wry twist of her lips. “But for the sake of argument: more important than all that paperwork you can get back to in a little while. So!” She paused for a moment before holding out her open palm with a grin. “Up for an adventure, Lord Commander?”

“With you, Mistress Arcbane?” He asked with a playful lilt, robbed of his stoicism by the crook of her smile. He felt his face warm, but he smiled as he stepped forward and took her outstretched hand in his. “I would go anywhere.” When their hands aligned, he turned them that he might lay his other atop hers, beseeching her in all but words for the things he dare not ask of her just yet. “Always.”

Though it was only a moment— only the one, as ever— where she seemed surprised by his declaration. Her smile bloomed as vibrant as any flower he had ever seen, and looked twice as soft and warm. That it was one of the more frigid days in recent memory did not matter in that moment: when he was with her, he remembered how spring used to feel.

She smiled as she gave his hand a squeeze. With a bright laugh, she showed him where it was safe to step in order to mount the dragon without causing pain or discomfort, how to sit so he would be balanced without impeding the movement of himself or Midgardsormr. Though he stumbled from inexperience he was a swift study, and mounted behind Serella in a motion that almost passed as fluid.

“Good, good,” Serella said with a thoughtful hum. “We’ll go back to that a bit later. Now, then.” She swept an arm toward Midgardsormr’s head. “You’ll notice there are neither reigns nor riding seat.”

“I did.” He replied. “I had wondered why.”

“Vidofnir won’t have them— and really, you’re not meant to steer her anywhere—it’s just the symbolism of the thing.” Serella must have realized he was about to ask her the necessity for training, were that the case, because she added, “but it’s symbolism a few hundred fulms above ground, so it’s better you know how to hold on without those to guide you.”

Somehow the height of it all never quite occurred to him.

“So for now, just follow my lead.” Serella said, already turning back to face forward. “You’ll have to lean against me for the next bit, but place your hands against Midgardsormr’s neck.”

“Against…?” He hoped she did not catch the way his voice broke.

“You know.” She gestured with a hand and a shrug of her shoulder. “Just reach past me— or put your arms through my arms, makes no difference to me. All I care about is you not falling.”

“A-ah.” He cleared his throat and sucked in a breath. Unsure of what to do with himself, he settled for placing his hands on the wyrm’s neck, leaning just close enough to Serella’s back to properly reach without touching. The second Midgardsormr moved, however, he let out a startled noise as he was pushed flush against the Paladin’s back. “—Right. Pardon me, then.” He said in her ear. 

He breathed a nervous laugh and settled his arms on either side of her.

Being pressed as he was against her back, he was reminded once more of the slim box in the front of his coat. Perhaps today would provide him with the opportunity to give it to her properly. He tried not to dwell on it— and what he meant to ask when he did present it to her. He subtly adjusted himself that the box would not press so hard against his chest from their position.

“Now, then. Launch is the second most nerve wracking part.”

“Second most? What is the worst part?” Aymeric asked.

“Landing!” Serella laughed. Midgardsormr walked toward the launching platform’s edge. She leaned forward, her hands framing the dragon’s spine. “Right then, Midgardsormr! No need to be fancy—just an easy takeoff from the ground!”

“As opposed to…?” Aymeric asked her hesitantly.

“Oh, I usually just let him leap first.” She commented idly. “Then he opens his wings. Eventually.”

“You wha—” He choked on his incredulity as Midgardsormr opened his wings and lifted off the ground.

As they took off from the airship landing, Aymeric decided that the delightful, swooping feeling of his stomach flying into his throat was a sensation that he was not familiar enough with. 

As he pressed his hands tighter against the base of the great wyrm’s neck he fought against the urge to look behind him at the rapidly disappearing streets and spires of the Pillars, knowing that this was meant to be educational. He lost all the same, and as he watched his home fade into the mists, shimmering and splendid, he decided it was a defeat he could certainly live with. 

Though the view in front of him, just over Serella’s shoulder, was even more splendid. With the howling aether below them and the crystal sky stretched beyond them, it looked as though there was no horizon for them to fly toward, save for the mountaintops and the trees he could spy through the thick mists that shrouded them. The wind lashed against his face and he could not help but grin broadly at the sense of freedom that came from being so far from reach. A freedom that he had not ever felt— and never wanted to stop feeling.

With the winds caught fully beneath Midgardsormr's wings, his speed slowed to a soft glide, slow enough that Aymeric could hear more than the wind howling in his ears.

“Will we be practicing the same path that I will take with Vidofnir?” Aymeric asked, leaning in to speak into Serella’s ear that he might be heard without shouting.

“Not quite,” Serella answered with a shake of her head. She turned her head to better speak to him. He felt his face flush for how close they were for the movement but he did not extricate himself. Seemingly unfazed by their nearness, she continued, “we’ll just circle the Holy See a few times, get you used to it— though...this isn’t the best way to train you, now that I’m thinking on it.”

“Is it not?” He asked in her ear.

“You’re not really learning on your own,” she answered, angling her torso to better face him. His flush deepened. “Not with me like this, anyroad.”

“Should we land again?” He offered— while he was unsure of what she meant, if she needed things to change, he would be happy to comply. 

“No,” Serella said with a shake of her head. “Last thing I want is you sneaking off.” 

“I would not—” he started to argue.

“I know the moment your feet touch Ishgardian stone, you’ll be back in your office diligently working your hand toward resembling a gnarled tree root before your fortieth summer.” She said wryly. “And barring that, someone will find some excuse or other to throw you in the nearest conference room for the next day and a half. Again.”

Though he pursed his lips, he found he could not contest the point.

“What needs adjusting, may I ask?” 

“You need to practice riding alone— but I’m just going to get in the way of that.” She said with a frown. “Even if we swapped places, you wouldn't be able to practice balancing on your own.” She clucked her tongue in self admonishment. “Wish I’d thought of it sooner, but it’s an easy enough fix.”

Aymeric watched, curious, and then enraptured at the way Serella pressed more firmly against him to swing her leg over to sit sideways. She wriggled in the space between his arms, though the mischievous glitter in her eyes made him wary of what she planned.

“What,” he asked, flustering as she scooted closer to him, “would you suggest we do to correct that?”

“Us? Nothing.” She paused a moment and frowned. “Well— not nothing. Move your arm a moment?” When she lightly tapped the arm directly in front of her, he did as she asked. “And, err...don’t panic?”

“Why would I panic?” Aymeric asked warily, watching with curiosity when she brought her fingers to her lips and whistled sharply. It rang in his ears and echoed in the vast nothing surrounding them.

“Because I’m going to jump.” Serella said as casually as she would discussing the weather. “And my bird will catch me.”

Something uncomfortable and dense and cold settled in the pit of his stomach. His shoulders tensed as he tried to call her bluff— for it had to be a bluff, “You jest—”

She was not bluffing, he realized a few seconds too late, as she leapt.

Part 2

#ffxiv #Aymeric de Borel #Serella Arcbane #I am as ever your shield #hi yes hello I swear this isn't as bad as it might look #also the next part should be up shortly so as to not keep you all in suspense #please look forward to it

[xathia-89]

‘You’re finally here’

A commission from @mineko811 with the prompt of ‘You’re finally here’ with Nobunaga. Please feel free to ask me about prompts and characters for commissions. It does turn smutty at the end as a warning. 

Mai was racing through the streets of modern Kyoto. Her skin was soaked from the pouring rain as the old fashioned clothing was attracting all of the stares of passersby, but that was the least of her worries at that moment in time. She was freezing, but she was in danger of missing the wormhole. It had taken her memories at first when she’d arrived back in the modern era, but then she’d seen all of the marks that he’d left over her neck and shoulders and it had just been an overwhelming flood of emotions and memories. Nothing could fill the void that had been left by the man.

She had tried so hard to move forward with her life. She’d been on dates, but all she found herself doing was comparing them. No one would even come close to him. Mai was grabbing and lifting her kimono skirt to urge herself faster to the monument. She didn’t care what she looked like to anyone else, she couldn’t miss her chance.

The falling was awful before she hit the ground. The same stench of burning around her, the wood building crackling as she forced herself to look up and around. She had to get out, but this time there was no one to rescue as she fought against the flames and the smoke.

“You’re finally here,” it was the voice that she’d been missing.

Mai didn’t know where her energy had come from as she dashed to him. She threw her arms around his neck as his lips possessively claimed hers. Her fingers trailed upwards and tangled in his hair, pulling on the dark locks as he nipped at her lips and tongue. She was trembling in his arms as they finally parted for air in time for the rest of the forces to arrive.

“Mai!” Relief was flooding throughout all of the warlords, and everyone was soon scrambling to make sure it really was her. Not that Nobunaga would let her go anywhere of course.

The commotion was soon draining the female, though she was always still smiling politely to all of their concerns and well wishes.

“Hideyoshi, where is my horse?” Nobunaga’s question plunged them all into silence before the dark mare was brought forward.

He was reluctant to let her leave his arms, but he was swift to mount his horse before offering her his outstretched hand. It was as though she had never left, her arm around his torso as Mai nestled into the crook of his arm with her head against his shoulder. He would spend his nights awake. Trying to sleep in the tenshu only brought back all of the memories associated with Mai, and the things they had done. All of the bedtime stories, the times they would play Go, how she looked in the moonlight whilst on her back and spread for him and the noises that he was the source of as he buried his head into her hair.

It had been chaos just before she left. The storms had been predicted were chasing to ‘place her back where she belonged’, the wormholes were literally chasing them down. No matter how hard they had run, they always came after them. She had been ripped from his arms on horseback, she had been fighting against what could be called fate with every ounce of spirit she had. A soft snore startled the warlord out of his trance, and he glanced down to see that Mai had already fallen asleep. He chuckled deeply, adjusting his arms slightly to make sure that she wouldn’t drop before they arrived back at Azuchi.

It had been a grey hell without her at the castle. Everyone and everything had simply lost its colour, to see how the others had perked up instantly at the sight of the slight female was warming to the Devil King’s heart. It had felt like an eternity without her. Not that the other daimyos had tried making things any easier, either pushing their daughters onto him to try and entice a marriage or to push his buttons to cause a war. He felt like the missing piece of his life was back now. Mai had turned him upside down and inside out, she never hesitated to challenge him, and had never let him have his own way just because of who he was. She wasn’t above threatening to tickle him either if he had kept pushing. She was the fire he had been craving and the light in his life that had been previously extinguished.

“Mm, Nobunaga?” Mai’s voice was thick with sleep as he gently shifted her body to dismount from the horse.

“Sleep, I am simply taking you to the tenshu,” his voice was soft, determined not to wake her fully as she was resting back against him now in his arms. She snuggled into his chest, a sigh of contentment escaping with her eyes shut again.

“Lord Nobunaga!” Hideyoshi’s voice was screeching as the battlefield was nothing but blood and bodies before them. The stench of fire and the roar of the flames was stopping their retreat. “We can’t save her!”

His body froze before he rounded on his devoted vassal with a level of loathing that even the Devil King wasn’t aware he could possess. “We stop at nothing to get Mai back!” He ordered, his arm thrust out towards the middle of the opponents. The princess was screaming and begging for her capturers to stop the senseless violence, imploring that they saw reason. Her tear streaked cheeks were burning into his retinas. He wanted nothing more than to slaughter those around her for daring to touch her, to cradle her to him and protect her like he was meant to.

They pushed forward, but nothing stopped the onslaughter. It was death and destruction, and the fire was starting to encroach on him, forcing him to move forward against his strategy. The Devil King was going to die here.

He woke with a start, and Mai was rubbing at her eyes whilst shaking him. He took her in his arms and buried his head in the crook of her neck, rubbing her back to make sure she was really there.

“Are you just my imagination?” He croaked. “You feel so real, I can touch you but are you just the demons tormenting me again?”

“How do I feel?” Mai’s voice was soft, barely awake as one hand took to stroking his hair, whilst the other was resting on his arm, her thumb flicking over his skin.

“You feel real,” he mumbled, practically trying to crawl into her as Mai lowered them back to the futon. The warlord’s body was framing her own, letting him feel all of her. “You smell like Mai,” he was starting to fidget against her hips before his fingers started to trail up her thighs after loosening her sleeping kimono. “You feel just like she did,” he whispered, her whimpering moans proving too much for the man to resist. “Are you real?” He was propping himself up on his forearm as he plunged a single digit into her core.

Mai cried out at the sudden invasion, her walls clamping down on his digit as her mind began to haze over. Only Nobunaga could do this to her, it was as though she had been made specifically for him.

She sounded just like Mai. Her throat open for his attack as he began to bite and taste at her pale skin, she was perfect. Her reactions were just as his memory played out for him, even down to her noises of complaint as he pulled his finger out.

Nobunaga sat upright, shrugging his clothing off whilst tearing Mai’s off her body. It was an offensive barrier to him at this moment in time. Then he caught sight of the beauty before him, lit only by the moonlight. Her chest heaving with desire, looking at him through heavily lidded eyes whilst her legs were spread either side of his hips. Her lips were parted, and her breathing was heavy.

“Please,” she begged.

“You’re finally here,” the spell was broken. This was his Mai, his precious fireball as he thrust his cock into her. The way her back arched, those sweet cries and moans, there was never going to be a being in existence that could come close to comparing to her as his teeth sank into her collarbone. Her nails were tearing his back up whilst the heels of her feet were pushing against his lower back.

“I’m home,” Mai’s voice was a thread in the air as Nobunaga immediately began to work on ensuring that she was going nowhere. Pregnancy would always be a good start.

#nobunaga oda #mai #ikesen #ikemen sengoku #ikémen sengoku #commisionwork #commission

[keyboardpunk]

Where the Ocean Meets the Sky [part 2/?]

Chapter 2: You’re My Greatest Journey { Sora x Kairi }

A continuation of my retelling of the KH3 ending, where Sora goes looking for the pieces of Kairi’s shattered heart. I hope you like it and thanks for reading!

Chapter Rating: T(13+) Chapter 1 ► Chapter 2 ► (more coming soon)

…

… …

…

Throughout his youth, Sora always saw the ocean as a friend. It was an object of much affection: a place where he played for hours on end, that cared not if he was alone or in the company of great friends. It was refreshing in the summer and forgiving in the winter. The ocean was vast and beautiful. It smelt like home and caressed like a lover.

Yet, tonight, it felt like more of an enemy.

Sora might not have expected his return to this world to be easy, but he never imagined it would be quite like this. He landed on an abandoned ship mere moments before a storm violently crashed into them. She was a worn down ship, but sturdy enough to endure the intense waves and fierce winds. Sora, however, quickly began to doubt that he was sturdy enough to endure.

The wind aggressively pummeled at his body, whipping sharp blows against his face. He tried to tuck his head into his arm to provide some protection, but had no choice but to look back up and face the water with the hopes he could maneuver the weather, with nothing but the occasional zaps of lightning to give him light.

The rain poured down cruelly, unwavering in its assault. Droplets fell heavy over the edge of his hat, which did little to protect his eyes from the rains descending attacks. The waves lapped against the ship in disorder, sometimes coming in from the right, sometimes from the left, sometimes aggressively shoving at the underbelly and bringing the ship high into the air, other times tossing heavy over the edge and dislodging Sora from the wheel. Not trusting his feet, he always used airsteps to bring him back. No matter how tight he held on, the waves were always stronger, knocking him around with ease.

For the first few hours, Sora clung to the wheel and did his best to navigate the waves, holding on so tight his fingers ached painfully until numbness set in. He could almost hear the words of the more seasoned pirates: "the sea is an unforgiving mistress", or something to that extent, and now he understood what they meant. On his last adventure, she was kind to him, and allowed him to easily journey about her waters. This time, Sora felt like an unwelcomed guest.

He could taste the salt water heavy on his tongue. He could also taste the metallic sting he recognized as blood. Had he bit his tongue during one of the collisions with a wave? Had he unconsciously chewed a hole through his lip whilst trying to concentrate on navigating the violent waters?

"What's the point of this?" he thought to himself. His heart had brought him here, to this turmoil. Was Kairi lost out there on the open ocean? Was there a piece of her heart being tormented in his storm? Desperation pushed Sora to seek an answer, even if it seemed bleak in that moment. He tried to ignore the aches in his body, the pain of bruised flesh and torn skin, spit out the salt water and blood, and stepped away from the wheel.

His body cleared the distance between where he once stood and the main mast in the blink of an eye. He stood at the base, his feet still firmly planted on the deck, and his hands gripped the cylinder for dear life. The ship violently jolted as a wave crashed against it. Sora barely caught sight of the approaching water as lightning flashed around him. He smacked his mouth shut and squeezed his eyelids together tightly. He pressed his body against the mast, cheek flush with the wood, just in time as the wave knocked against his body.

The force was enough to nearly drag him away; but, he held on long enough for the wave to pass by. He could feel the sting of the rain into a new wound on his cheek, as the wood likely sliced a cut into his skin.

Sora tilted his head back and looked up the mast. He let go to airstep his way to the top, clearing the distance in less than a second. He stood at the very top of the mast, struggling to maintain his balance. Water droplets fell heavy onto his face and the wind blew at the strands of hair that stuck out of his hat. They slapped against his cheeks like sharp wires.

He took a deep inhale, accidentally sucking some of the raindrops into his mouth, before shouting into the night, "KAIRI!" There was no clarity in his calling. The storm remained just as violent, the a sea an angry tempest, black as an endless abyss and unruly in its wake. For a moment, lightning flashed and illuminated the surface of the endless darkness, where the night sky and the dark waters were merged into one.

For the first time in his life, Sora feared the sea.

"KAI-" he tried again. The ship jolted again, struck by another wave. One of the masts gave into the pressure and snapped with a loud crack that was not very different from the whip of a lightning strike. The ship trembled violently and the resulting shudder compromised Sora’s balance.

He fell silent and heavy as a brick from the mast. Failing to break his fall quickly enough, Sora slammed against the edge of the ship as she twisted and turned with the sea. The pain subdued him immediately and he lifelessly fell into the dark waters. He felt the sting on his body when he hit the surface and felt the tightening sensation in his chest as he slowly descended. His right hand reached up and he touched nothing but the empty water.

…

… …

…

Sora woke when the current whipped him from one direction to another and his body dragged along the sandy bottom. He found his footing and burst out of the water gasping and choking, limbs flailing, yet limping and hunched over like a zombie.

He coughed aggressively, and water spewed from his mouth. The sea’s salty water also dripped in heavy buckets off his clothes. Through stinging eyes and blurry vision, he whipped his head around rapidly, searching for dry land. He immediately spotted the shore and dragged himself the rest of the way that the current didn’t.

With his clothes soaking wet, lungs brought to the brink, limbs exhausted and aching, skin sore and flesh stinging, Sora felt heavy as he took long footsteps through the water, dragging his legs with all the strength he could muster. It felt like a very long few feet until he was on dry land and collapsed on the soft sand with an uncharacteristically guttural moan.

He landed flat on his back, limbs stretching out like a beached starfish. He felt the warmth of the sun pounding on his skin and it felt amazing. The heat scorched through him, drying his wet clothes and heating flesh that had been chilled to the bone. Sora panted like he hadn’t breathed in hours, which was likely true all things considered. His chest dramatically rose and fell in swift swoops.

In his moment of exhaustion, sprawled out on the shoreline, Sora drifted into something comparable to sleep. It wasn’t a typical type of sleep, but more in the sense that he floated away. He lost focus of what was going on around him and could feel little beyond that bubble. He could feel the waves gently smacking against his right shoe, felt the welcomed heat of the sun, felt the cool sand beneath him. All thoughts for a moment ceased beyond that.

But, then, he was woken, almost violently. He jolted up and gasped as if someone had nudged at him. However, often placing a hand in the sand so he could balance and rotate his body, scanning around real quick, Sora confirmed he was alone.

All alone... on an island... without a boat...

... in the middle of nowhere.

“Great,” he grimaced, his posture slouching and his eyes moving down to his lap. He ran his right hand through his hair, feeling the soft strands poke at cuts and gashes that had been formed from his encounter with the storm. Some particles of sand fell out of his hair and landed on his lap. He grimaced as he felt the collection of sand and sea sediment his hair had collected during his adventure in the water. It was only then that it occurred to him that something was missing.

He probably should have been a little angry, but he was too exhausted to really care in that moment. At least, he wasn’t particularly concerned over his missing accessory, but more concerned over the fact that he had accomplished nothing since his arrival. Sora pushed back his bangs and used his fingers to rough up his hair, digging into his scalp and pushing out particles of sand and other tiny things from the ocean that found their way into his spiky locks, which included moss and a tiny seashell.

He exhaled once, a brief puff of air through his nose, fast and sharp to express his frustration. His heart had brought him here and the ocean chewed him up and spit him out. He pouted at the ocean as if she had scolded him. He stared at the endless waters and mumbled to himself, “now what?”

…

… …

…

Sora wandered the island he had found himself on, in a stupor almost as though he was drunk on salt water: maybe, he was. He felt dehydrated, maybe even a little sick, on the brink of exhaustion, pushing himself on with willpower and what little strength he had left. Determined to see this through, he seemed unperturbed by the state of his body, unwilling to recognize his weaknesses and completely oblivious to his fatigue.

There was a large rock formation on the center of the island that towered into something like a small mountain. No trees or brush grew here, however. Any existing plant life seemed like it belonged to the ocean. The island’s outer rim was sandy in some places, rocky in others and swallowed up by shallow waters.

Sora walked the shoreline, airstepped his way to the top of the rocky hills, and even swam around some of the shallow, rocky areas of the island. To his dismay, there was nothing here: not a mysterious, conveniently placed ship, or even a piece of wood that could float with him on it. Even something small and simple would make due.

There was no hint of Kairi, no hint of what direction he needed to go, leaving him to fear that this was nothing but another misstep.

In his time on the island, Sora didn’t immediately realize that the tide was closing in fast. With the sun beating down on him, his feet busy making tracks in the sand, he lost track of time, of how quickly time was passing him by. He was focused on finding something of value here - something to give him hope that he was on the right track. It all felt wasted, especially when he returned to the shore he washed up on, and realized it was gone. The water was now lapping against the rocks and all the sand was buried by the ocean.

“Huh!?” Sora gasped. He squinted as the sun beamed down at him, shining bright and yellow melting into orange. It was then that he realized that sunset was a measly few hours away. Had the day truly passed by that quickly? How long had he laid on his back on the shoreline? How long had he wandered the island asking the universe for guidance?

Sora paced the island, asking himself - or whatever entity would bother listening - what to do next. He could retreat to the gummy ship; but, then what? Point the keyblade at the wall and ask for an easier set path? Tch. No way. But, what if... what if his heart had led him astray?

“I miss Donald and Goofy,” he thought, staring down at his feet as he walked. Donald almost always had the answer, or at least an idea to lead them on the right path. He pushed Sora to be wiser, to make better decisions. Goofy was always the voice of reason when times got tough. He encouraged Sora and Donald to never give up, no matter what.

Nothing-

Without-

Them-

Sora shook his head rapidly, so much so that it made him dizzy. His hands smacked against the sides of his face and he roughly patted his own cheeks. He dragged his fingers across his face, digging into the creases around his nose and eyes and pulled rough on the skin before letting go with a harsh exhale. “That’s not true,” he reminded himself. “I can do this... I can do this..”

As the sun drew closer to setting, the water also closed in on the island, threatening to swallow it up. At one point, Sora plopped down on the edge of an elevated piece of the rock formation. His legs dangled over the edge and he watched the sunset, taking a moment to relax. “Kairi, are you out there somewhere?” he thought as he soaked in the basking glow of the gold and pink sky.

He closed his eyes for a moment, and felt the warmth of the sun heat up his face. “Let’s take the raft and go - just the two of us.” Sora opened his eyes at the sound of that distant voice. It was spoken clearly, yet quiet, like it was coming from far away. It sounded familiar to him, yet almost unlike anything he had ever heard before. “I just can’t wait... Once we set sail... It’ll be great.”

For a moment, he was convinced he was hallucinating, simply reliving a moment from his childhood. But then, he felt something move next to him. He turned to his right in time to see a pink form stand up. Little black boots rested at the end of the rock, facing out towards the setting sun. His eyes moved up: long legs, a hooded, pink dress, and red hair. She was staring forward, bangs covering her eyes, hands clasped behind her back.

Sora almost choked on his own spit.

“Kairi-!?” Immediately, Sora bolted upright, nearly stumbling in the process. She turned away from him and started a steady paced walk. “W-wait!” he hollered, immediately on her tail. He charged into a jog and almost tripped in an attempt to catch himself so he wouldn’t run into her full force. “Kairi, how - what-” he sputtered. She continued walking, ignoring him entirely. She seemed almost ethereal, walking gracefully, dead silent, and unnervingly distant. He reached out to try and touch her. “Kai-” He froze when his eyes caught what it was she was walking towards.

Imperfectly cut logs were lined up and secured with a combination of nails and thick ropes. Some boards ran horizontally across the top, a pathetic attempt to make the makeshift ship more secure. There was a single mast in the center, adorned with a large, thick, white sheet to act as the sail. He was wise enough now to know it wasn’t even close to being tall enough to actually catch the wind. The bottom was too light and would likely roll over before they even made it a mile out.

Yet, something nostalgic swelled inside him. He’d recognize Highwind anywhere. They had slaved over that ship for over a year: snuck out power tools in the dead of night, spent countless hours gathering wood and supplies, found all sorts of odd jobs to do around town so they could gather munny to buy supplies for her. She was their pride and glory.

She was going to be their vessel to another world...

She was floating in the water, rocking gently with the waves, and Kairi was walking towards her. “Wait, Kairi,” Sora called out to her, breaking into a jog to catch up with her. Kairi continued to ignore him and kept her gaze directed away from him. She hopped onto the raft with a light “hmph” and picked up one of the oars and moved to push off against the shore and dislodge. Sora hopped onto Highwind before she could leave the shore.

“Kairi... are you mad at me?” Sora asked, almost hesitantly, staring at Kairi’s back as she maneuvered the ship away from the island. Sora was met with nothing but silence. She wouldn’t even look at him. He stared sadly at her as Highwind slowly moved away from the ever fading island and gently coursed through the ocean’s graceful waves.

Kairi remained standing, at first, and so did Sora. When she walked to one corner of the boat, he maneuvered around to the opposite, almost as if he was avoiding her. This continued on for some time, like a dance as they balanced out the raft. It gently rocked with each footstep, moving whatever the direction the wind decided to carry it.

The sun continued to dip lower and cast sharp rays of light over them. Kairi’s hair was glowing in the glare of the sun, bright red with hues of magenta. Sora swallowed roughly, his throat dry and aching. He lifted his arm before immediately bringing it back down to his side, resisting the desire to reach out to her. The breeze gently blew, fluttering Sora’s clothes and making Kairi’s hair dance.

Once the raft was on a steady path without the need of assistance, Kairi set down the oar and walked over to the mast, continuing to keep her eyes distant from Sora. Kairi sat down and leaned her back against the oar, staring out into the vast ocean, where it touched the horizon line and carried on seemingly endlessly. Sora sat down, as well, mimicking Kairi’s positioning, but on the other side of the mast. He leaned against the wood and silently winced, as though pained by the barrier between them. He had one leg outstretched, slightly bent, and the other curved in towards his opposite knee. He kept his hands occupied by twiddling his fingers, tugging at the hem of his pants, or dragging his palms over his knees.

For some time, the silence continued, and Sora felt like was drowning in his thoughts. He could hear himself thinking loudly, thinking about Kairi, about what to say to Kairi. His thoughts ran wild and a memory crept up on him unexpectedly.

Suddenly, Sora let out a boyish giggle. “Remember that time I got a splinter in my thumb?” He barked out, leaning his head back until it thumped against the mast. He stared up into the sail that was being dragged by the breeze. “It really hurt and I was too chicken to pull it out. So, you got it for me... I was being real dramatic about it, huh? I remember you said that...” Sora trailed off and resisted the urge to turn around and look at Kairi. She was dead silent and it stung him.

Sora looked down sadly at his hands, placed delicately in his lap. He tangled his fingers and twiddled his thumbs, briefly chewing his lip as he thought about what to say to her. Then, another memory floated by. “Oh! Remember when you fell and twisted your ankle? And I carried you home? I-... I lied when I said Riku couldn’t do it. It’s cuz I-... I wanted to. But, you already knew that, huh?”

A second or so passed, and Kairi still said nothing. “Nothing ever gets past you,” Sora added on with a brief laugh that unintentionally sounded nervous. How old were they back then? Maybe twelve or thirteen. It really wasn’t that long ago, but it felt like it. They had both changed so much since Xehanort dragged destiny islands into darkness. A few years had gone by like decades.

“You fell when we were working on this...” Sora added on, playing the memory through his thoughts like an old recording. “You were always trying so hard. I guess I-... I sometimes forget that it wasn’t just me and Riku’s dream: it was your dream, too...” As Sora trailed off, he finally realized why Kairi was ignoring him. He blinked rapidly, clarity striking him almost like a slap to the face.

“Kairi... I’m sorry,” he began, pausing to take a deep breath. Sora stared down at his lap, lips chapped, the skin on his hands blistering, and eyes peering sadly into the emptiness in his palms. “Me and Riku - we’ve been to many worlds. We’ve met so many different people and seen so many different places. But, you... you were forced to stay behind.” Sora paused and licked his lips. “-waiting for us to come back for you...”

“I tell myself that-... -that I did all this because these worlds needed saving, and that was true, but... But, it wasn’t always just that. It was the adventure I always wanted... All this time, I’ve learned so much... experienced so much - and it wasn’t always bad things. I’ve met people who changed my life - I made friends I will never forget...”

Suddenly, Sora dragged the knuckles on his right hand across his eyes, quickly catching the tears that threatened to fall. “I forgot that this was your dream, too. I’m so sorry, Kairi - for leaving you behind and not realizing it...” Sora lowered his head apologetically and squeezed his eyes shut. She was safe at home, and that was all that mattered to him back then. Had she been lonely all this time? She walked to the shoreline every single evening and stood there for hours, waiting for them to come home. But, he never-

“Sora.” He snapped his head up and saw Kairi standing before him. With the sunset directly behind her, she was glowing in the gleaming light of dusk. She reached for him and Sora reached back, entwining their fingers. She felt like nothing. She wasn’t warm or cold. Her touch felt nonexistent, and it left a pained ache in his stomach.

Hands clasped together, Kairi slowly descended onto her knees in front of him. Still, she was a little taller than him with him seated and her somewhat upright. “You’re my greatest journey,” she whispered, so quiet he almost didn’t hear her.

Now kneeling, Kairi had moved out of the way of the sunlight, and it blasted Sora in the face. He squinted, blinking rapidly to try and avoid its harsh rays. Yet, he didn’t want to close his eyes and look away from her. “Kairi?” Through his rapid blinking, trying to avoid the sun’s glare, trying to see her through the blaring light, Sora thought she smiled for a second. “You always promised... you’d come back... I know you will.”

Before he could reply, before he could utter another word, she was gone. The sun dipped over the edge of the ocean and disappeared behind the waves. The sun left behind an orange hue in the sky, but the light was dim and distant, ever escaping.

Just as it did so, Kairi’s form also disappeared and Sora’s hands grasped at emptiness. For a moment, Sora panicked. He jumped to his feet, shaking the raft in the process. He felt dizzy as he stood there, staring at nothing as though there was something he could reach for and capture. As he stood there in a stupor, he felt something barely solid pass through him. It felt almost the same as the sensation of a wave rocking against his body. He knew, somehow, that fragment was now safe inside his heart.

Sora pressed his dominant hand against his chest, right over his rapidly thumping heart, and bunched up the fabric of his shirt in his fist, so tight he almost ripped it. He was another step closer. Just a little closer. Standing there, alone in the open ocean, Sora wondered if he should have felt some relief. Instead, all he felt was crippling loneliness.

It hurts.

…

… …

…

“S-...”

“...-RA.”

“SORA!”

Cold water splashed on his face, stinging a cut on his cheek, and Sora finally woke up, flailing and coughing dramatically, though it was hardly all that much water. His right hand unconsciously came up to hurriedly wipe the water away and dig it out of his eyes. He blinked rapidly, trying to restore his blurry vision. He could see people looking down at him; but, he didn’t immediately recognize them.

The sun-... The sun was up already? He could it’s glaring light beaming down on him, burning bright and warm. The sky was bright and blue with hardly a cloud to be seen. Sora blinked slowly, confused. But-... But, he was just-... Had he fallen asleep again?

“-the hell are you doing here?” a familiar voice asked. Sora felt a large hand press against his back to hold him upright. “Huh?” he exhaled, his gaze following the extended arm to whoever was kneeling beside him. A few blinks later and he finally realized who that person was. Sora’s mouth hung open for a second before morphing into a grin.

“Leon!” he proclaimed loudly, his voice briefly raising in pitch for a second. It seemed that the magic that allowed him to blend in with distant worlds was also in Leon’s possession. He was dressed quite unlike himself, done up like a rather reputable pirate, aside from the fact that he still had three heavy belts hanging around his hips. His hair was tied back, with a few loose strands heavy and greasy around his eyes, and a single dangling braid that hung by his left cheek.

“What are you doing out here?” Sora asked, completely forgetting the question Leon just asked him. The taller man rose to his feet and backed up to give Sora the chance to stand. The spiky haired pirate climbed to his feet, wobbling for a quick second before grounding himself.

“Me? What the hell are you doing out here?” Leon questioned, his rough voice a bit accusing, aggressive, even; but, Sora recognized it as worry. He rubbed the back of his neck nervously, unsure of how to answer Leon, who crossed his arms and stared back with the expectation of an answer.

“Passed out a raft - we thought you were dead,” another voice chipped in. Sora’s eyes moved away from Leon, and he realized that he wasn’t the only familiar face. “Huh?” Sora gasped. “Yuffie!?” She smiled brightly at him, showing off a row of very crooked and chipped teeth.

“I spotted this raft and thought, maybe it drifted off somehow and then saw a body on it - talk about giving us a scare when we realized it was you!” she babbled on. Even she blended in flawlessly, wearing a rugged outfit that looked like it had been spit out by the ocean itself. Her short hair was pushed back by a faded green bandana. A few braided strands of hair hung over the front at her right temple.

“We’re glad you’re okay. You really seemed out of it,” Yuffie said, placing a supportive hand on Sora’s shoulder. “Oh. Sorry to worry you,” he replied, sincerely. “It’s - I - uhm...” Sora trailed off, looking back and forth between the two of them with an apologetic look. “I’m looking for Kairi... She’s-...” Sora trailed off, wondering where to even begin. Yuffie carefully retracted her hand, looking sadly at him.

“We heard,” Leon explained. Sora looked up at him with an almost startled expression. Leon remained unmoved at Sora’s expression, suppressing his urge to wince as those blue bright eyes beamed up at him. He could see it written all over Sora’s face: confusion, fear... how bad it hurt.

“Mickey and Riku filled us in,” he clarified. A moment of silence took them over. Sora looked down at his feet and tightened his lips, silently grueling over what Leon might say to him. He could almost feel it coming. His fists clenched at the mere thought. He wouldn’t have it. No one could stop him from-

“I understand what you’re going through,” Leon suddenly stated, almost quiet, voice like a rough whisper. “Huh?” Sora blurted, whipping his head up to look at Leon. He stared at him, wide eyed and almost in disbelief. Leon wasn’t looking back at Sora, but rather had his eyes directed elsewhere, staring off into the abyss of his own mind.

Oh.

A crease formed on Sora’s forehead and his expression grayed. That part of him - the part that never gave up, that always saw the good in others, that was warm and soft - wanted to comfort him, then. But, it was obvious that Leon didn’t need it. Whatever happened, it was ancient history, now.

“With the help of Merlin-” Yuffie suddenly chimed in, slicing through the tension. “-we were able to split up the Heartless Resistance - cover more ground, y’know? We’ve been clearing them out since kingdom hearts was opened. Lucky we found you - haven’t been stationary for weeks.” Sora directed his gaze at her and smiled.

“Thanks, guys,” Sora said, glancing between the two of them. “We’re gonna port soon to stock up. Are you coming or what?” Leon asked, his tone right back to the casual gruff Sora was familiar with. Sora’s heart swelled and he knew, even if he wanted to, he couldn’t say no.

#kingdom hearts #kingdom hearts 3 #kingdom hearts fanfic #sokai #sora x kairi #fanfiction #kh #fanfic #kh fanfic #sokai fanfic #sora x kairi fanfic

[tranqueenila]

Fated.

She quickened her pace of running when she saw the large clouds started to gather in the sky, leaving nothing but a tar-black view for her to gaze up at. The rain was coming for sure, she thought. The sound of the wind moaning against the trees occupied her heavy breathing: both getting uneven as time went by, her hands fisting into tight balls as she sprinted her way back home. Getting rained on, soaked and cold throughout the rest of the journey was literally the last thing she would ever want to happen to herself at the moment. However, nature seemed to have a better, or mayhaps, worse plan for this petite girl. In about a block-away distance from her apartment, she felt the first drop on top of her head. One drop. Two drop. It kicked off as a short tapping, then it became a pitter-patter and soon enough, the rain began pouring down heavily. The clouds squeezed their beads of water onto the ground and at that very moment, she knew it was not a good day and will never ever be a good day for her.

By the time she reached home, she was completely drenched from head to toe. To tell that she was completely annoyed and displeased was.. literally an understatement. Sighing, she ran the pad of her thumb across the glass of her watch and squinted her eyes to take a closer look of the time. “09:00 AM,” she breathed before heaving another lingering sigh to discard the wet fabrics and rewarded herself a warm bath. It was not actually a reward, not even close to one. But, let’s just say she was just trying to ease herself down, making herself feel better after the unexpected downpour earlier.

Jennie. That was her name. It was never her hobby to run and jog around as she had always been occupied with works and stuffs. Back then, she always spent her time getting engrossed in myriads of documents piling up on her table in the middle of her dad’s office. But now, that ended. Momentarily, at least. This all happened because her dad decided that it was time for her family to migrate back to her birthplace, and for that to happen, they had to leave South Korea. She had to leave South Korea. For the family though, it was no big deal. They were just leaving a country. But not for Jennie. She had to leave the country and someone that she loved so dearly.

Maybe, just maybe, that explained why she had gotten herself into this new haste habit, chaos lifestyle. She noticed how she’d jolt awake at 4 in the morning, unable to coax herself back to sleep and end up staying awake until the sun came in the view. It left her exhausted, but she felt as if her hands were tied. There was absolutely nothing she could do to make herself feel better, to make things get better, to let herself live better. She couldn’t even find ways to knock herself out in bed because everything was in vail. Every small trials were futile. Therefore, she decided to get herself tired. Like very, very, very tired, so that she could sleep in ease. That was the reason why she left the house at 8 in the morning for a run, just to get herself doused under the rain and now she was back in the bathroom, the entire body except her neck upwards dipped in the warm, foamy water; the same frown drew across her face.

“Great,” she spat bitterly in a quiet whisper. “It supposed to be a part of healing to get over Daniel but I ended up getting myself borderline sick. Very great.”

- - -

“Jennie!”

“Yeah, Dad?”

“Do you perhaps, need a vacation? The last time I visited your apartment and I swear to God, you weren’t in your best state ever.”

Jennie rolled her eyes, tipping her head to one side so that the smart device stay sandwiched in between her ear and her shoulder. It was such a sappy conversation with a sappy topic and a sappy effort to make her feel times better. The last time her dad barged into her apartment, she was holding up a canned vodka in her hand, her macbook on her lap. Her ‘Hi, dad’ was a little different that day, too. Rather than saying it verbally, she flicked her fingers and opened the drink, leaving the hissing sound do the talking. Definitely not in my best state ever, she shrugged.

“Nah, I’m fine. Just give me a few more days off and I’ll get back to the office.”

“No, not really.” Jennie could hear his heavy sigh. There was a long pause in between, in which Jennie didn’t even bother to interrupt while taking a platter filled with her sandwich to the couch. “I need you in the office but.. just, not like this, okay. You ain’t gonna work that out.” He began again, earning a hum from her daughter as a hint for him to carry on. Whatever there was in his mind, she couldn’t care less. It wouldn’t make any difference, so why bother, right? There was another silence bestowing the phone call, and it could even stay like that forever for all she cared. Chewing on the sandwich still, she gave her dad a chance to spill it.

“If I let you go to Korea, would you love that?”

Those words made Jennie choke on the sandwich almost immediately and instantly that the platter almost slipped out of her palm, leaving her dad on hold whilst her other hand was busy patting her chest to get rid of the food stuck inside. After a split moment or two, she reached her hand forward to mug down the water, regaining her composure before getting back on the call with her dad.

“Sorry dad, I was, uh, too shocked. What were you saying? I mean, yes! I want to go back to Korea. Yes, thank you! Bye!”

Frankly, she didn’t even wait for his reply or whatsoever but hung it up right after. Jennie knew that her dad knew going back to Korea would make her happy. Hell, her reaction was too palpable, there was nowhere in the godly heaven he couldn’t grasp that. It was probably his instinct that she was not enjoying any of her time here in her own birthplace. It was a beautiful city, a great one to reside. But she missed Korea. She missed everything about that country.

And she was not gonna decline such offer when it was right before herself.

- - -

“Damn, I almost forgot how cold Korea is.” Jennie breathed, wisps of frosty air escaping her lips as she made her way through the pavement. It was mostly covered with snow, sometimes mounted a little at some parts that had Jennie getting [this] close to trip. It was white everywhere, painted a little red and brown here and there, now and then. It felt like home. Not exactly, but close.

She arrived in Seoul three days ago, and it was honestly a mistake of agreeing without consulting her dad about it. Jennie forgot how the seasons ran differently at some countries, and it was winter in Korea. And there she was, clad in white thick knitted sweater with a black Chanel trench coat on top. Definitely not a winter choice. Since ever her arrival, she had met a few of her friends. Rosie just happened to come back on random occasions with her family before flying back to Australia, so they got to spend a little time together until the departure took place. She was enjoying her stay, so far. And guess what would make her feel even better?

Hot chocolate. Exactly.

It was freezing cold outside. Jennie decided to give her favourite café a visit too. Unplanned, but it was one of the must-go places in her short journey here. Pushing the door with her gloved hand, she stepped in and the warmth quickly enveloped her body, granting herself in such a great sensation. The smell of the hotly brewed coffee and freshly baked cookies filling her nostrils immediately, invading her mind next that left her exhaling out loud. Now, that felt a little more like home.

“Hot chocolate, please,” she ordered, paying for it right after so that she can secure herself a seat for a longer time. This café served one of the best pastries too. It was pretty close to her apartment when she lived in Korea back then, hence giving herself the full permit to be the permanent customer here. She always dropped by to get herself a bag of bagels on her way to her workplace, and never missed a day not getting her daily dosage of hot chocolate on her way back home. It was her routine, and she was not even complaining because damn, she just loved every little inch of the café. It varied from the way the hanging little lamps shimmer under the reflection of the glasses to the way the frames decorated the wall, the white cabinet with black linings that blended so well with the white painted walls. These seemed to be.. aesthetically pleasing. Something that she couldn’t find elsewhere. Not even in New Zealand.

“I’m sorry, uh, Miss.” A voice interrupted Jennie’s calm thoughts, earning a soft hum from the latter as she sipped on her sugary drink. “May I sit here? It’s too cold outside but it’s too packed inside. I couldn’t find any other seat except this one in front of you. May I?”

“Of course. Please have a seat, Mister— Oh my God.”

A hand flew to her mouth as she lifted up her gaze to lock it with the stranger. It seemed like the other person— a man, experienced the same feeling too as his eyes went so wide, probably mirroring her expression right now. They shared looks after looks, words bubbling in their throats but none of them got to utter even a single syllable, not until they broke it at the same time.

“Jennie.”

“Daniel.”

The next thing Jennie remember was seeing the addressed man pulling out the chair and settled himself in front of her. This entire encounter was just.. farcical. They broke up right before Jennie moved back to New Zealand because “We ain’t gonna work this out” reason. It was not her choice too, really. She just couldn’t afford to keep it going, knowing that she was gonna be miles and miles away from him but still keeping a tight hold on his whereabouts. She was afraid that he might feel restricted. She was afraid if he decided to end it himself.

“So, back in Korea, huh?” Daniel quipped, taking a short sip of his black, hot liquid while keeping the eye contact going. The question caused the woman before him to chuckle and nod.

“Yes. Just arrived, actually. A couple of days ago.” Jennie said. She showed a great effort trying to explain things, and she noticed how Daniel’s expression had gotten softer and softer as times went by. The longer they kept their eyes locked, they deeper they got back into the puddle of mixed feelings. Those feelings that they once shared before together.

“So... how are you doing? So far?” Her voice rang again after she cleared her throat, obviously trying to converse as she shifted a little due to the discomfort of the awkward silence. Daniel settled down his cup and interlocked his fingers together. Silently, he replied, “Nah. Been working. Working on stuffs and working out” that ended with a smug grin in a teasing manner. Geez, he didn’t lie for sure. Jennie noticed how his buildup had gotten a little firmer, a little stronger and slightly broader. “You, Jane?”

The nickname rolled off the tip of his tongue oh so beautifully that it got Jennie’s heart doing frantic backflips, heat creeping up her pale neck. For once she was thankful that she had a turtleneck to cover it up. She was trying to play it cool but this goddamn guy in front of her was smiling so widely, she barely made a single word out. “I’ve been well.” Oh, that was a lie. “Just like you, I work but with my dad. It just the same old problems, you know. Unable to sleep at night,” she paused.

“And being awake by 4am.” Both of them said at the same time.

Jennie shot him a what-the-heck look, just to be reminded that Daniel had always been an observant and laughed it off softly, at the same time getting herself blushed. No doubt, she probably was like that before too. But she was too caught up with the affections he was showering her with that she didn’t realise she had the problem. It was back in New Zealand when she knew she had one. But now, she literally had another problem. Their eyes met again, this time filled with adoration and love as the entire scene seemed to freeze for them to capture the moment.

Let’s be real over here. None of them wanted the break-up. Really, Jennie did not come back to Korea for him. Hell, she didn’t even think of their lives to cross path ever again. They were different in every possible ways, from the way they were raised, the people they were engaging themselves with, etc. But now it happened, and she wouldn’t want to leave him ever again. Looking at him this close, she wanted to be even closer. Her eyes got a tad higher, trying to reminisce how soft the locks felt in between her dainty fingers then raked her gaze down to scan his facial features and mom, how she missed kissing his forehead, his cheeks, his pointy nose, his chin and those pink plump lips. She was probably being obvious with her action but for once, just for this once, she didn’t care. Plus, she could bet herself that Daniel was doing to the same to her face. His beauty was something that she will never be able to impart, the words seemed to get less meanings compared to him. And that moment itself, she knew that she was falling for him all over again.

“Hot chocolate as usual?” His voice shook her from her intense staring, causing her to lean back slightly with her scarlet cheeks. The corner of Daniel’s lips tugged upwards into a cheeky and amused smile, his words were laced with tease and joke as per usual. He loved how Jennie was too careless at things like this that it made her look like a little kitten scurrying away in hopes she’d given an amnesty. Darn cute.

“Yeah. And you, black coffee, less sugar as usual?” Jennie shot back, batting her eyelashes at him just to earn a guffaw as a reply. It made Jennie smile immediately, as if they were meant to be in this scene. Her heart skipped a beat again when Daniel leaned forward on his elbows. “Yes. You remember my favourite.” He said, before pushing himself off the chair to stand on his feet. Jennie was fast enough to stop him though, her fingers holding on his wrist to stone his movement. She didn’t even tell herself about it but she just did it off her own bat.

“Do.. you, perhaps, want to come over to my place? We can talk. It’s uh..” Think of excuses, Jennie, think, think, think, think. “.. cold outside! Way too cold.”

Idiot.

It took Daniel a few seconds to process what she was saying, and his ears got slightly reddened at the same time. He nodded, and he slipped her grasp off his wrist just to drag his palm across hers. Her hand felt so small, so delicate, so fragile and so cold. He shifted his gaze, grabbing the glove on her side to ease her fingers into the thick cloth. “Come on, Jane” came his reply, the smile widened that left Jennie speechless.

Jennie guided the way towards her apartment, hand-in-hand with Daniel. They began to get louder and louder, sometimes Jennie jumped on the balls of her feet while she explained stuffs and Daniel, with his usual instincts, instantly wrapped an arm around her waist to make sure she didn’t trip on the snowy road. He laughed along, their laughter rang the bells that Jennie hang on the white-painted door.

“Come in, Daniel.” Jennie pushed the door open, revealing the same apartment as she left but slightly fancier now that she brought some things from New Zealand. The rest was the same though. The same gray couch with a glassed table in front, the same TV, the same wallpaper and the same frames that filled up one side of the wall. They were all their pictures and she didn’t even bother to take them down.

“You know, I felt like it was really unfair for us to break up before.” Daniel started off, shrugging his thick jacket off his shoulder and draped it on the countertop. He ambled his way to the living room but turned out right before his knees hit the couch. “I miss you a lot, Jane. I waited for you.”

Screw the butterflies, Jennie felt the entire zoo in the pit of her stomach right now. This man right here knew how to get the softest of her and she was not going to blame him. In fact, she was about to make a use of this opportunity to the very bits. Immediately, Jennie ran into Daniel and caused both of them to fall backwards; her small palm covering the back of his head in case they might land inaccurately on the couch with another laughter filling the atmosphere of the apartment. She quickly slithered her arms around his neck, hugging him tight while Daniel did the same to her waist. They stayed like that for a couple of moments, saying nothing but indulging into each other’s warmth that they missed. It was as if their bodies yearned for each other, and now they finally reunited and it felt so good. Daniel’s scent filled Jennie’s nostrils, patting her in ease as she nuzzled her nose against his neck. “I miss you too. I miss you a lot.” She said in staccatos, a kiss in between each words that made the man chuckle.

Daniel thumbed Jennie’s cheek inwardly, feeling how the soft, mushy cheek began to warm under his touch. She was blushing. He then took the initiative to lift her face by pinching her chin softly, allowing their eyes to meet and it was true. She was blushing, madly. In what seemed to be a matter of seconds, his lips found her. It was quick, and heartfelt. The kiss was chaste, soft, loving, nothing so hard and harsh but love and love only. Jennie smiled in the kiss, began to respond by moving her lips along to work on the lip-lock while expressing her longing towards the man. Their lips melded so perfectly, their breathing pace synchronised and their hands remained planted on each other’s cheek.

Jennie missed every second of this. The feeling of his arm tightening around her waist that pinned her closer on top of him enhanced the sense of security, the feeling of his lips dampening hers in multiple kisses blinded her about everything else but love, the feeling of his ‘I love you’ being mouthed against her lips just caught her heart quenching so hard. They parted, just to rejoin their lips again. It went on again and again, until one time they really needed the time to catch their breaths with a broad smile.

“Did you hear what I was saying?” Daniel questioned, eyes falling back on her lips as he tried to fight back the urge to peck them. He failed miserably though, when he leaned in and captured them for several quick pecks.

“Mmhm? Nah.” Jennie said jokingly, pushing herself up slightly so she could see Daniel’s face properly. Her smile was too wide that her eyes turned crescents, cheeks getting pinkish.

Daniel groaned in an obvious playful manner, causing Jennie to hit his chest with a joyful laughter. “Miss, better listen carefully because there will be no repetition after this.” He said, booping her nose. “I said,” he paused and kissed her rosy cheek. “I” with a kiss on the forehead, “love” with a kiss on the chin, and “you” with a final kiss on Jennie’s grinning lips. He bit on her lower one lightly, grumbling teasingly before he joined the laughter. Jennie had her entire face going red, and this time she was the one leaning forward until they got to nuzzle the tips of their noses together.

“And Mister, I’m gonna give my answer. Whatever it may be, it’s nonnegotiable.” She breathed softly, just as playfully while scrunching her nose. She started off by kissing his lips, mumbling her ‘i wuff you’ muffled against those pillowy ones before she ended up showering his entire face with multiple kisses. Daniel was a squirming mess underneath, his guffaw broke the silence of the winter night as Jennie continued printing down kisses everywhere she could reach on his face until she was satisfied. She then slumped forward, falling back into the man’s embrace to be hugged again.

The night was blessing them, literally. The snowflakes fell each at one time while they kissed, sometimes more than necessary when they giggled and silence when they stared at each other. The heater was filling up the spacious apartment with warmth, but none could beat the ones this couple was getting from their lovers. They had this wide smile spread across their visages that they were unable to pull off. Jennie had been cuddling close to him on the couch with a blanket on top of their bodies, eyes on the lit TV but not focusing as she was playing with Daniel’s long fingers idly. She kissed on the knuckles occasionally, too. Him, on the other hand, was using his free hand to twirl and play with Jennie’s hair, sometimes dipping the tip of his nose to inhale the scent of her fresh, fruity shampoo before nestling his face on her neck; he was being damn obvious that he didn’t pay attention on the movie that was playing and Jennie loved that. This whole scene felt like old times, but better. The feelings were much stronger, the love was much deeper, and they were crazily in love with each other.

They stayed like that the entire night, exchanging I love you’s in one another’s arms.

Now it felt like home.

They knew they had found their way back home.

[thelancecosmic-blog]

Hallie & The Lance Cosmic

Kane. . .Kane!

He locked eyes with Edward Asher. They sat across one another in the snow. A small dwindling fire placed in the middle.

I'm gunna get some more sticks. Kane stood up to leave.

Sit down & tell me what bothers you.

You shouldn't be here. I'm alone at last then you show up out of nowhere-

I didn't ask to be here pal. I was sent because it's my duty.

Kane dismissed him & broke the circle.

That's fine. No big deal. Asher hit Kane upside the head with a snowball.

Tho half his stature at best Kane marched right up to Edward. He then leaped into the tree above them and shook loose enough snow to bury him.

You shouldn't play games with a goblin kid. They always win.

The ere sound of a horn blast hit their unsuspecting ears.

It's the winter orcs. His folded back.

Asher noticed the tears in Kanes soul as well as the wounds upon his body. He knew then what they had done & what they would continue to do if they were caught.

She was only seven Edward. You had the chance to grow up. Kane turned back to him. She didn't. . .

I understand now Kane. I understand. You want her memory to live on. I think I can help.

The Dark Scythe appeared within Ashers grip through a tezeract of purple lightning.

I have seen that weapon before. It was hers. She used it to fight of her attackers before-

Are you certain?

There can be no doubt. They sent you here to master the weapon as she did.

It may be our only way out of here. Asher swung and with a ripple tore through the fabric of reality. They could now see the infinite cerebral cortex at the center of the mind. All life was present and visible to them as tho stars in the night sky.

This is the one. Asher pointed out the largest & brightest red dwarf amongst them. Such a strong mind must have the answers we seek. He reached out.

Wait. Maybe we shouldn't touch, that one.

It'll be fine. It's not like it can see us from here-

DIE!

The Dark Scythe shattered before their very eyes. The only thing keeping Edwards mind safe was now gone in an instant & the vision faded.

Kane was the first to regain consciousness. N-no! He staggered towards the unstable weapon.

You were ment to save them!

Kane! Don't-

I was meant to save them!

It was to late, The Blood Energy still present within the blade cut him & corrupted his soul. What stood before Asher was no longer Kane. Only a shadow remained.

The storm ragged on within house Westonbrook as Ricktor lay his daughter to bed. Much consumed his thoughts. . .

He had found Hallie asleep on the couch again. Something her mother never would have allowed, were she here. He simply lacked the strength to tell her the truth. The Omni War had spilled over into their lives.

Hallies mother was dead.

Ricktor kissed his child good night one last time, before exiting the room to find the front door wide open at the base of the stairs.

H-hello? He cautiously aproached the unguarded entrance & quickly bolted it shut. Perhaps Hallie had opened it with the hopes of witnessing her mothers plane touch down.

This was not to be. . .

Ricktor noticed the claw marks upon the floor; The Arkin Wolf was inside their house.

Something switched in Ricktor. A courage that had been previously unknown to him sparked, once he saw the creatures reflection within his wifes portrait.

It was hiding in the rafters.

Watching him.

Upon reaching a nearby desk we swung the heavy object as hard as he could just in time. The edge struck beneath its jaw, knocking the creature to the floor.

Utilizing the opportunity Ricktor bolted up the stairs, narrowly escaping its clutches.

Upon reaching the top of the stairs he noticed the second Arkin Wolf couched patiently beside Hallies room. It curiously glaced within, only to have the rug pulled out from under it.

Ricktor grabbed his daughters hand and ran for the window. With a loud CRASH! They both landed in a nearby tree. He desperately clung to both his child and a nearby branch however failed to hold on, but managed to break Hallies fall.

The Arkin Wolf lurched out of the house only to find Ricktor had already started his old pickup and was attempting to flee in the rusty pile of garbage. . .

It then perused the vehicle taring off the tailgate and sending them all into a tailspin, which resulted in its own grievous injury.

Is there no end to your hatred of us? First my wife now my-

The lone wolf watched helplessly as Ricktor retrieved a shotgun and pointed it at its head.

I know this won't stop you. Remember my face monster. BANG!

Hallie opened her eyes. . .

The first thing she saw once she regained consciousness was Hector. The strange Hawks frantic attempts to resuscitate her weren't helping tho she was happy to see a friendly face.

What happened?

They shot you with a cannon.

A camera?

No, a cannon. Are you even listening?

My ears are* ringing.

That tends to happen to people who charge head first into the Anubite Fortress of Doom.

I'll make a note of that. She stood up and dusted herself off.

We'll don't try it again?!

The glitching anubite guard readied the leaver a secound time. BANG!

Hallie swayed to the side, narrowly avoiding the projectile. She then charged the defenses at high speed as they prepared to fire another round from the super weapon. Hallie jammed The Lance Cosmic within the barrel of the gigantic gun, unleashing a massive energy blast directed in the opposite direction. Needless to say she then made quick work of what few anubites mannaged to survive the carnage.

Hector dove down from above. You flew! You flew! I had no idea you could move so fast!

Neither did I.

The Lance Comic dissipated.

I'm not sure anything can withstand such an overwhelming force.

None but you! It's plain to see why you were chosen to wield such a mighty weapon. You're a great improvisor.

Hallie & Hector reached the tall silver doors at the center of the fortress.

Hallie. I need to tell you something.

Can't it wait? We've almost made it out of here. Isn't that the objective? To reach our destination at any cost?

The price is woven within Hallie.

I don't understand.

When you walk through those doors you'll find who you're meant to be. Nothing more. Nothing less.

You'll be there won't you?

Hector nodded. No.

I'm not gunna leave you here Hector. I swore I wouldn't, and I meant it.

I know. Which is why I can't stay. When you leave this place you'll no longer be Hallie Weston.

Hallie looked to the core for answers.

Who will I be to them?

. . .Pandora.

She opened the doors & entered. Hector would remain alive in her heart far beyond The Veil. Always. . .

Every color whether visibal or not was present and alive upon it's surface. Some saw spinning spirals, others saw feilds filled with every kind of flower. Internal mechanisms spanning on and on for eternity with no end to their intricacy.

The wheels to The Veil, they stopped turning.

The screams of Kanes victims rang out across the chaotic missile sylo. A loud symphony unto his gloriously renewed ears. Blood poured down like rain upon his flawless features that knew not pain or sadness ever again. He had been reborn with the crimson tide.

All movement ceased from the armed personnel throughout the facility as living shadow & razor sharp claws tore them apart. None survived.

The Alpha Sentrys confronted Kane by cornering him within the confined yet volatile space. There was nowhere left to run but through them.

A taste of your own medicine? Adam summoned Tecton through a tesla coil of blue plasma. He then swung the hammer blasting Kane with enough concusive energy to stun the creature.

With a blazing fire Trinity brought forth her battleaxe Devils Tail, swinging it down upon her target with the intention of splitting him in two.

Kane caught the blade mere centimetres from his face & tossed Trinity aside as tho weightless. Having survived the attack & easily incapacitated the two siblings there was only one wielder left.

It was Hallies turn to strike. She attempted to flank Kane only to have her mind invaided & sent into convulsions. The splitting pain was to much to remain standing as she began to loose consciousness.

Remember to see with not just your eyes, but also your heart. A voice said.

Hector? I can see you. I can see - everything. Hallie got back on her feet immune to Kanes trap, success rested upon her shoulders now.

Infuriated by this, Kane turned Trinitys mind against her friend. Hallie pivoted as Devils Tail came crashing down where she once stood. The race to prevent Kanes escape had begun.

Recognizing Tecton as the solution to his predicament Kane then summoned over Adam to begin utilizing the weapon whilst his twin keep Hallie occupied. With a mighty swing the thick cement walls began to crack under the tremendous force generated by the hammer.

The temperature within the sylo began to rise as The Lance Cosmics potential was finaly tested against a worthy opponent. Trinitys fury & grace bested Hallie handily due to her lack of fear. They could have all died but instead Hallie was the one left cornered & running out of options.

The stone split apart & the light of the sun rushed in reaching Kane for the first time. His mind began to clear but for a moment when the sound of slithering & firearms woke him from the trance.

The weak willed & simple minded could do little to resist his influence. Upon invading their minds he had the guards take aim at Adam within his new exit & watch for signs movement. Rather than wait & see what happened next, Kane climbed the defensive barrier & ran into the woods. A shadow set loose upon the world.

Hallie screamed in agony then brutally headbuted Trinity into submission. She simply couldn't allow such a threat to breath free air at last, even at the cost of her own personal safety.

Running straight for the gapping breach she then slid down, kicking Adams legs out from under him just as a hail of bullets was fired in their direction. She spun The Lance Cosmic with such speed as to form a barrier between her & the corrupted guards while she made her way toward the gate. Slashing through it like paper she evaded getting shot in order to peruse Kane in the ultimate hunt for survival.

Time slowed to a crawl as both sides refused to relent to the other in a contest of will that lasted ages to those involved. Had it not been for a single waterfall which mannaged to halt Kanes progress he would have never been caught.

Upon scaling the cliffs side Hallie approached the resolute animal, unwilling to cooperate or consider surrender he blasted her off the edge with all his might before stopping temporarily to gather more energy.

She was gone. Was he free from persecution at last? His sanity began to reform itself in time to witness the last sunset of Apex Eternal.

Hallie spun her weapon near the base of the cliff before impact, tearing open a vortex through the dimension. She then reemerged beyond her nemesis & having used her momentum to great effect she decapitated him.

Kane was dead. His lifes struggle was finally at an end.