#Just knocking my head against this wall over and over and hoping this writer's block will dislodge

[eternally6pm]

I think I am going a little mad 

from thinking too long about how Takumi is quite possibly depressed, 

and Mikoto’s death has triggered a very severe exacerbation of it. 

His family love him, but his older sister and brother aren’t the greatest at handling someone quite so sensitive (they were never shown how, and likely subconsciously recognise it from a distance as lack of discipline, impatience, weakness)

and Sakura is his best bet at finding emotional support, but he’s her older brother - he cannot bring himself to burden her with anything. 

Contrary to what some of his dialogue would have you believe, Takumi is profoundly thoughtful - in fact, he may suffer a little from overthinking, and tends to drive himself into mental corners, self-defeating cycles of hope, denial, regret.

Meanwhile Camilla is also more than just some ridiculous armour, a sister complex and a yandere tendency. 

There is a melancholy to her that feels like a deeply embedded sort of mourning for the childhood that she was denied, 

alongside an unhealthy helping of Venting with Violence. 

I find her violent in many ways: violently affectionate, violently sensual, violently physical. 

To an extent, I think this to be a sort of mirror of Takumi’s behaviour. Both of them are brash, but while 

Takumi is deliberately alienating, Camilla is determinedly possessive. 

Takumi lashes out, while Camilla attempts to nurture, 

and both do this in response to the traumas they carry with them, but also as an attempt at absolution, and if you’re still with me somehow I have another 45 minutes of straight up stream of consciousness about how this makes them perfect for one another in their similarities and complementary ways, but also sometimes horribly toxic in their inability to cope with the extreme emotions they are saddled with but have never been given the security to properly

#I need someone to talk to I am going insane #Just knocking my head against this wall over and over and hoping this writer's block will dislodge #It's not going I'm just honestly venting myself #I have words but not the ones I want and not the ones I need to tell any sort of coherent story #both of them need therapy #if this was a modern au it would still be enemies to lovers but they would need couple's counselling #the sex would be so hot tho #actually the sex is always hot in every universe #who wants to talk about takumilla sex #and the tangled ball of contradictions that is Camilla loving Takumi so much it hurts her but also makes her want to hurt him #and Takumi really enjoying being hurt but also subconsciously wishing for the punishment #and losing his fucking mind at praise #if you read all these tags for some reason thank you but also are you okay I'm so sorry

[piratefalls]

welcome back to the latest edition of biweekly fic recs! as always, mind the tags, if you can't leave a nice comment don't leave one at all, and happy reading!

masterlist.

There's No Problem That San Diego Can't Solve by @historicallysam

Alex doesn’t even bother knocking; he simply twists the knob on the door and shoves it open. His eyes narrow as the door bangs against the wall and he sees Henry on the phone. Maybe (definitely) it’s rude but his blood is fucking boiling so he doesn’t really care.

All the Ocean was Sleeping by @sparklepocalypse

The worst part about being a siren in the modern era, Henry ponders as yet another ship flies past his cove at a speed that he knows will disturb the anemone gardens below, is the yacht bros. Between the sound of their vessels’ motors and the dissonant noise the humans call music, Henry’s singing has no chance of attracting anyone’s attention.

cause you're a classic, and i'm reckless by @firenati0n

“I've, actually, uh. I've never done this before.” At this, Henry stops short, takes a second as his gaze moves up and to the left, trying to recall something. “I've seen your films. You most certainly have done intimate scenes.” Alex clears his throat. He hopes his nerves aren't completely obvious, the slight waver in his voice about to give him away. “Yeah, well. Never with a man, so. Not at this scale, anyway.” “Would it help to, er, practice?" Henry winces a little as he says it, which does not inspire confidence. But Alex is shocked nonetheless. What the fuck?

Over Land and Sea by SatinBirds

Alex and Henry come from very different worlds, and still, they manage to find each other.

Clean Slate by smc_27

“Henry.” Pez comes over, puts both hands on Henry’s cheeks and looks him dead in the eye. “You are not a sad man who’s gotten dumped. You’re in the prime of your life, and I quite desperately need you to act like it.” “The prime of my life,” Henry scoffs, more incredulous than questioning. “I’ve just gotten out of a 15 year relationship, endured a divorce, am suffering an almost impressive case of writer’s block, and your hands are like bloody icicles.” Pez grins, doesn’t take his hands away. “Explain to me how this is my prime. Please.” Pez tilts his head, and sounds entirely serious when he says, “Literally anything can happen from here.”

in bloom by stutteringpeach

Yoo, can u hook me up with some flowers?? It's the busiest day of the year for florists. Alex texts Henry with a last minute request.

here is a map (with your name for a capital) by @alasse9

That day at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, Alex comes across the very same Prince Henry who just dismissed him having a panic attack in a bathroom. The choice Alex makes then has ripple effects neither of them could have ever expected. What's the story like, when they actually are friends all along? “So, you’re going back to England tonight, and you’ll spend the next three days pretending you two are the closest and best of friends until we can put this mess behind us.” And there are reasons he hasn’t told anybody this, good reasons, even though he’s sure June and Nora saw through him ages ago. Faced with his mom’s disappointment, though, and with the realization that the entire world apparently thinks he hates Henry and would willingly shove him into a fucking cake, he can’t stay quiet. “But we are friends,” he says, vehement and serious. “We have been for years. He’s—he’s probably my best friend, actually, along with Nora.”

thoughts of you consume by yrsonpurpose

Henry sees Alex appear on the red carpet in a blue suit that screams sex on legs and is ready to throw away all attempts at concealing their secret relationship in the name of dropping to his knees at the first available opportunity.

eyes on me by matherine

Alex’s hips buck back against Henry’s mouth the moment his tongue does more than tease, and Henry squeezes his hip in gentle consternation. But before he can say anything, Alex is already rambling. “Sorry, I’m — I’m sorry, I know you said not to move, and I’m trying, I — I’m trying to be good, I promise,” he blurts, voice shaking ever so slightly from something that certainly doesn’t sound like pleasure, resolutely refusing to turn his head so that he can meet Henry’s gaze from where he’s positioned behind him. Henry’s heart aches. “Alex — love, it’s alright. Where’s your mind?” Or: Sometimes, Alex needs a distraction. Something to take the edge off, to scrub away at the stress of the day. Some days, it works better than others. 

the evolution of intimacy by Poutini

There’s no spontaneity anymore. One might think this boring. That the novelty had worn off. The spark snuffed. Absolutely not

Want Me by OrchidScript

Henry had always been weak for a nice smile, but his was impossible to ignore. Blame it on summer heat and a fresh flush in his cheeks. Blame it on sunset painting the outdoor bar sweltering, romantic colors. Blame it on two healthy glasses of albariño thrumming in his bloodstream, or the good music floating on the air. Henry could blame it on anything liked if he thought long and hard about it, but that didn’t change much at the end. The core remained the same: he had been gone from the jump. -- Henry and Alex hook up on a vacation in Spain. Henry falls a bit deeper.

fill my lungs with sweetness by @priincebutt

Henry George Edward James Fox-Mountchristen-Windsor wakes up at 3 AM on his birthday to an empty bed. What could Alex possibly be getting up to at 3 AM the night before his birthday? The possibilities are endless.

got myself in quite a tangle by coffeecatsme

"It seems I've gotten myself in quite a tangle." "Tangle?" Henry's voice is hoarse, eyes darkened as they travel over Alex's body. They stop at his crotch, and Alex can see it even under the dim lights—Henry's growing hard too, a visible bulge pushing at his sweatpants. Alex's cock gives a desperate twitch. "Y'know, I was trying to put them around the tree," he starts, gesturing at the plain tree at the corner. It's clear he didn't even attempt to touch it. "And somehow I've managed to completely trap myself. Can't even move my hands." Henry makes a desperate noise at the back of his throat as his eyes snap up to Alex's face. Alex flashes him a suggestive grin, teeth biting down on his lip. "Seems I'm completely at your mercy."

The Forces of Chance and Coincidences by @stellarm

Bad weather leads to a late flight that leads to no one being where they wanted to be, but maybe everyone was where they needed to be.

I've never felt safer (than when I'm with you) by viciouslyqueer

Alex takes the bag and opens it slowly, careful not to rip it, and gasps quietly as he sees what’s inside. “H, you didn’t…” Strong arms wrap around his waist from behind, Henry’s chest warm against his back. “Do you like it?” Henry asks in a whisper, resting his chin on Alex’s shoulder. Alex doesn’t know what to say. Gingerly, like he might ruin it with even the smallest touch, he takes out the silky fabric and holds it up in front of them. It’s a gorgeous dress, fancy too, in a deep red color with thin straps and an open back. It’s long, almost touching the floor even as Alex holds it up and has a slit on the left side that would probably end a little above Alex’s knee.

An Amateur's Guide to Professional Gift-Giving by anincompletelist

Alex, a former-law-student-taking-some-time-off turned professional part-time gift giver, is tasked with finding a gift for the most high profile client he's ever worked with, both in and out of the world of law. It turns out finding the perfect gift for the Prince of Wales might be easier than he'd anticipated.

Love At First Bark by everwitch

“I still don’t know your name, do I?” Henry watches Alex where he’s crouched down in front of David and gently scratching David below his chin. David absolutely loves Alex. Henry can relate. “It’s David,” Henry supplies. “Cool,” Alex says. “And what’s the dog’s name?” Henry blinks at him. “... David?” “What?” Alex exclaims. He looks from David to Henry and then back at David again. “Wow, okay, that is a choice.” Henry wants to sink through the earth and never come back up again.

don't let me get drunk again by headabovethewater

Alex had never wanted to cancel plans as much as he had while watching Henry pull a pair of light wash, tight jeans over his stockinged legs and bare ass. Christ, he’s getting hard thinking about it now.

The Beginner's Guide to Floristry by clottedcreamfudge

As if there's anything romantic about it; as if it's not the most humiliating death Alex can imagine. This is why he doesn't do relationships. This is why he never will. The risk, as far as he fucking sees it, is too great. -- Hanahaki Disease is a fictional disease where the victim of unrequited or one-sided love begins to vomit or cough up the petals and flowers of a flowering plant growing in their lungs, which will eventually grow large enough to render breathing impossible.

Everything you take, you make it better. So go on, take forever by @hgejfmw-hgejhsf

It's 2024, and nobody knows they're engaged. But they will, just as soon as Alex can decide what to wear to his birthday dinner. Henry has an idea and a special gift to match.

false pretenses by rizcriz

Henry spins around, glaring at Alex. “For christs sake,” He hisses, holding a hand out between them. “Can we just not? I do not have the capacity to pretend to hate you today.” Alex splutters as Henry turns on his heel and starts to walk away. He stares after him helplessly. “Pretend?” After a beat, he starts to follow after him, “What the fuck do you mean pretend?” Three years of breathing down each others necks, fighting every time they come in contact with each other. And if Henry is saying every single thing on his end has been pretend, Alex Claremont-Diaz is going to have a fucking breakdown. Because he has been harboring this stupid fucking crush and burying it beneath false antagonism, meeting Henry where he’s at, for three years, and if Henry is implying that they’re both faking it— -- or, Alex learns better.

turn the desert to glass (you would be the one) by @taste-thewaste

Henry and Alex's domestic bliss has lead to some changes in Henry's body. Henry doesn't really mind being a little chubby, but he wonders if Alex does. Alex, it turns out, does not. Not one bit. He does not mind one bit, and he is more than eager to prove it.

coming on fast like good dreams do by cricketnationrise

When Henry recovers from his unexpected factory reset, he still can’t really breathe properly and somehow Alex is still standing in front of him with a hopeful and excited expression on his face. “Run that by me again?” he asks faintly. “I need your help.” “Right…” “I need you to edge me. Like a lot,” Alex says with a shrug. Nope, it’s not any clearer a second time around.

as always, let me know if you want to be tagged in future lists, whether you're a reader or writer!

tagging @starkfridays @stilesgivesmefeels @midnightsfp @sarahjswift @enablelove

#rwrb #rwrb fic #rwrb fanfiction #firstprince #firstprince fic #firstprince fanfiction #red white and royal blue #alexhenry #alex claremont diaz #henry fox mountchristen windsor

[wheres-the-fecking-pie]

Blue Part 2/?

Homelander x reader

CW: Again it’s Homelander so...

Notes: not actually sure where I’m going with this lol enjoy

____________

The view from Vought Tower wasn’t what you expected, far too grey for your newly coloured world. You watched the tiny people on the street bellow with your head resting against the window from where you sat.

“You’re not gonna sulk all day are you?”

You turned to glare at your captor wordlessly.

“Come, I have good news” Homelander took a seat on the sofa and patted the spot next to him expectantly. Hesitantly you rose from your seat to join him, making an effort to keep as much space between you as possible. Your jaw clenched as he moved up until your knees were almost touching.

“I got you a present” he pulled a box out from under the sofa and placed it on your lap. Dumbfounded and a little nervous you stared for a moment before pulling the ribbon loose and lifting the lid.

————

“Pick up, pick up, pick up!” Hughie paced y/n’s apartment anxiously, glancing around at the mess strewn about the place, furniture knocked over, the coffee table in splinters... He followed the broken glass with his eyes until they found the two scorch marks burned into the wall about an eyes width apart.

“Hughie-“

“He has them! Homelander, he has y/n!”

“What-“

“I’m at their place. I know I said I wouldn’t but butcher the place is a mess, there’s glass everywhere, a hole burned in the wall he-“ Hughie paused, taking a moment to compose himself “we have to help them”

The line was silent for a moment, “they’re where they belong”

The younger man shook his head, “I know you don’t mean that. Butcher they’re our friend...”

Another silence followed by a sigh, “meet me back at base”

—————

You turned to Homelander quizzically, holding the fabric of the expensive looking outfit between your fingers.

“It’s for the conference tomorrow, the public are going to be delighted! Their hero finally found his soulmate”

“What?!” You stood backing up from the sofa, “no no no, you might have me locked up here but if you think you can just parade me around...”

“I will do whatever I want” he rose from the sofa “I’m the fucking Homelander! You should be grateful to have me as your soulmate!”

Your jaw clenched even tighter as your fists balled at your sides “You might be my soulmate but you mean nothing to me!”

You moved to get past him but were halted by a tight grip on your bicep.

He scoffed, “do I need to remind you who the fuck you’re talking to?” He didn’t raise his voice but the anger was radiating off him, “you might be my soulmate but I’m the fucking Homelander and you will show me some respect”

You tried to pull away but his grip only tightened and you winced in pain.

“What do you say?” He pressed

You frowned for a moment and his grip tightened once more forcing an “I’m sorry!” from your lips as you prayed that that’s what he was looking for.

“I’m sorry, who?”

Your face heated up in a mixture of anger and embarrassment as finally you forced yourself to properly look at him, “Homelander, Sir”

He smiled thinly and released your arm, you were quick to distance yourself rubbing the soreness from your bicep.

It was then the door opened and a red haired lady stood with a clipboard, shifting anxiously from foot to foot.

“Homelander sir, we’ve got a situation, we could really use your help”

Homelander sighed, giving you one last look before turning to join the woman and soon you were alone. Sighing shakily you turned back to the window hoping that maybe Billy still cared enough to come and save you...

————

So I got writers block and this took ages, I hope it’s not too bad ☺️

Tag list: @writteninthestars288 @milleca

#homelander x reader #fanfic #the boys #the boys x reader #the boys amazon #homelander #my work

[crossroadsserpent]

Dangerous Love. (Part one)

Gotham!Salvatore Maroni x GN reader.

(Hello! It's been a while! I had writer's block and a full schedule but I'm back! And hopefully for good! This is sort of a request from

@samantharaevelcher who commented on my last Sal Maroni post "Not A Sugar Baby")

Summary: You went completely against your mother's wishes and joined the mafia. Once she got word she kicked you out on the streets in the pouring rain, but don't worry, someone very important steps in.

Warnings: violence, gang violence, DV (Reader's family toward reader), cursing, blood, weapons, sh**tings and other forms of unaliving.

You were sure your mother wouldn't find out about your joining the mafia, she avoided that stuff like the plague especially after divorcing your dad. Your dad was in the Mafia too, told you stories, showed you how to fight, and taught you to bargain. You loved your dad and the stories he would tell about how they'd get money out of people that owed, you never understood why your mother always yelled at him. She always spoke I'll of him, especially in front of him, so when they got divorced you were happy for the quiet. It doesn't stay quiet for long though, shortly after the divorce your mom starts dating again and the fighting starts once more.

Truthfully you joined the mafia to not only escape your home life but to follow in your dad's footsteps and prove your mother wrong. You started out doing pickups and drop offs, simple shit, but as you gained trust you started getting to do more of the fun jobs. Your favorite was intimidation.

Unfortunately this good feeling couldn't last. Your mom somehow managed to find out that you were in the Mafia and She. Blew. Up.

There was screaming, cursing, crying, things being thrown, and walls being hit.

"HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO US?! I TOLD YOU TO STAY AWAY! HOW DARE YOU DEFY ME! I AM YOUR MOTHER AND YOU OBEY ME! I DON'T CARE IF YOU'RE IN YOUR 20's!" She shrieked as she threw more things at you. You were trying to make it to your room and dodge whatever was flying at you. You didn't even try to plead your case, just try to get to safety or at least grab something to defend yourself.

"YOU LITTLE BITCH! GET THE FUCK OUT OF THIS HOUSE!" Her screams pierced through your eardrums and before you could even reach your door her new boyfriend bodyslams you into the wall, knocking the wind out of your lungs. He held you in place as your mom screamed in your face, repeatedly punching the wall right next to your head. It took you kicking your mother's boyfriend in his manhood to get him to let go of you so you could run. And run you did, right out the front door and down the street, your mother screaming at you from the door way to never come back.

A block away from your house you slowed to a walk, it was then you realized just how bad it was raining. Thunder roared loudly as lightning lit up the sky like a terrifying firework.

Walking through the streets of Gotham alone and in the pouring rain could strike fear in the hearts of even the strongest of people, never knowing if there's someone following you or waiting in an alley for you to pass by. You kept your wits about you and continued walking, hoping to at least make it to the 24/7 gas station that you frequented almost daily.

You wouldn't even make it there.

You were waiting to cross the street when a car pulled up infront of you. The back seat window rolled down and there was your boss, he head of the mob you joined.

Don Maroni.

He looked at you and shook his head with a chuckle "Walkin' in the rain without a coat huh? You tryin' to prove something? Or are you just outta your mind?"

"I'm just enjoying the rain, is that a crime?" You retorted, still keeping up your façade.

"It is when it's 10 pm in one of the most dangerous cities in the world." The Don laughed "Why don't you get in and I'll take you home." He opened the door and moved over so you could get in, which you do gratefully.

"I've gotta be honest here... I can't go home." You admit, your façade dropping slightly.

"Oh? Why not?" The Don asked, giving you an odd look "you don't live by yourself?"

You shook your head "no, the person I was living with lashed out and kicked me out of the house."

The Don gave a nod of acknowledgement "I'm guessing they didn't wanna live with a criminal huh? Well I'll handle the living situation in the morning."

The car started moving again just as The Don got a call. You glance out the window, the rumble from the car engine mixed with sound of the rain hitting the car windows made it easy to slip out of reality, The Don's voice growing muffled.

You weren't sure how much time had passed but the next thing you knew you were pulled back into reality by Don Maroni's hand on your shoulder "Come on, let's get you inside and in some dry clothes."

You looked around trying to figure out where you were, your eyes eventually landing on the large mansion like house that stood towering above the car. "Where...?" Before you could finish you were cut off by Don Maroni

"We are at my home, figured it would be better to just bring you here for the night instead of tryin' to find a hotel room at midnight" He chuckled "don't worry, there's security at all hours, so no one's gunna get to you." He said, holding his hand out to you.

You took his hand, allowing him to help you out of the car. He let you into the house and sent someone off to find some dry clothes.

"So, you wanna explain why you were wandering the streets alone in a thunderstorm? I know you said you were kicked out but... elaborate, who kicked you out? Do I need to have a talk with 'em?" He almost demanded.

"It was my mom and her boyfriend, they found out I joined the mafia and my mom lost her shit." You take a deep breath before continuing "her boyfriend bodyslammed me to the wall and she got in my face, punching the wall beside my head while she screamed. I had to kick her bastard in the family jewels just to get him to let go of me, and once I got outside she told me to never come back." You actually felt some relief getting that off your chest, but can't help but feel like you simultaneously triggered something much worse. You could feel the boss's energy shift as you explained what happened, you knew the mob treated eachother like family, and when someone hurts a family member the whole mob takes it personally. You knew you shouldn't have told Don Maroni what had actually happened, but you also knew that lying was off the table, so what were you supposed to do?

Before anything else could be said a man dressed in black emerged from a hallway carrying some clothes. Don Maroni thanked him before turning back to you "get changed, I'll have Louie here bring you to my office, we need to talk about some stuff."

Shit. Were you about to lose your place because of what your mom did?

Louie took you up to one of the guest rooms and left you to get changed, which you did rather quickly. Once you were done you stepped out of the room and met Louie at the end of the hall. He shot you a soft smile before leading you to Don Maroni's office where the Don sat at his desk looking over some paperwork. He looked up upon hearing the door open and smiled seeing you standing there "good, you changed, sit down, I think there's a few things we need to talk about."

You hesitantly sat down as Louie left the room, closing the door behind himself. Before the Don could speak you spoke up "Sir.. if this is about what my mother did, I am very sorry, I didn't know she was going to react that way, please don't let her actions reflect on me..." you were almost in tears, your voice shaking as you spoke. Don Maroni shook his head "Nah, that's not why you're here, you ain't losing your job, and you definitely aren't gettin' whacked for what she did. What really needs to be talked about is what her boyfriend did to you and what kind of punishment he deserves."

You were shocked to say the least "punishment?" Don Maroni nodded his head "What he did to you is unacceptable, he could have seriously injured you, or even killed you, I can't have a man that almost killed one of my best workers walking free without any punishment." His words brought a light dusting of pink to your cheeks, you were about to speak but he continued "I wanted to ask you what you think his punishment should be, but if you'd like I can leave it up to my men, let them get a little aggression out."

He sat back in his chair "What do you think?" That was a hard question to answer... did you really want him to suffer?

Of course you did. You would love to see him ripped to shreds.

But did you really want to tell the Don that? You knew he'd have it done with no hesitation but you weren't sure you wanted to be the one who ordered your mother's boyfriend's death.

You shook your head "I think your men would have more fun torturing him, let them have fun." He nodded with a smile and picked up the landline phone, dialing a number you couldn't quite see. He spoke with a man for a few minutes before asking you for your mother's address which you gladly gave.

End of part one.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hi this one has been in my drafts for quite a while and I'm sorry! I'm posting it now so please enjoy!

#gotham #don sal maroni #sal maroni #salvatore maroni #don maroni #x reader

[takalzuoom]

Hi saw your requests are open so is it ok to request the first years being jealous of their s/o cuddling grim instead of them?

hello!

…whoops

okay, so, i started this in june and finally finished today. i have horrendous writers block where all my thoughts and ideas are just jumbled around and i just can’t write anything for the life of me. this isn’t my best work, but it is my work none the less and i managed to complete it in a creatively challenging time. so i hope you enjoy it ‼️

i love Deuce i swear, i just got bored with his part…😬

Ace

“Don't do that”

“Do what?”

“Coddle him” 

“Oh, quiet Ace! He went through something very traumatic- leave him alone”

“Yeah! Leave me alone!”

“It was his fault! He knows not to pull anything on Vil! Cause when there's Vil, there's Rook!

“Who ended up chasing him around the school with his bow and arrow for 20 minutes!”

“Yeah! I’m the victim here!”

*Buzzer noise* Wrong-o!

No cause ace was getting pissed off at this point

Cause after a long, long day of school club and hanging out with friends, he deserved some y/n time. Don't you think?🤨

Like he didn't miss class once today! He’s earned it 😐

So like a bull in a china shop, he barged into the ramshackle with a heavy backpack. Complaining about Riddle. About what?

Sevens know what

But he threw you on the couch, soon following as he manhandled you into the corner.

So basically your back was against his chest as you were both playing 'a knock-off version of Mario kart’

Your words again, cause only seven know what a Mario is

Sigh, everything was perfect with Ace being a little shit and your laughter echoing so loud through the ramshackle, that the ghosts just couldn’t help but investigate 

And of course, Ace was being a little shit, kicking you when you would pass him, randomly shouting when you were about to catch - and my personal favorite

Shoving you off the couch, getting on top of your waist and immediately going for your sides when you prevailed through his distractions,

So yeah, everything was almost perfect he says as your screaming for him to stop cause the tickling is starting to hurt

Keyword: almost

Until grim came running in, tears rolling down his fur as he yelled for you, effectively killing ace who got scared shitless. Though you reacted quickly, shoving him off and running to the cat's aid 

Oh sevens you would’ve thought Someone died by loud Grim was wailing… Which was completely unlike the fur all as he was a big baby

(He denies it)

Until he was sniffing about how rook was out to kill him, again

“Mhm, yeah, okay Grim whatever you say. C’mon y/n let's get back to the game”

“Gimme a sec Ace” you mumbled picking up the cat as you started consoling him

And of course, Ace was about to call ‘bull’, but an arrow landed right next to your head, effectively piercing the wall as a small, purple note unfolded 

‘ Je t’aime petit chat <3 ‘

You huffed "How romantic"

Though Grim only yelled louder.

As you looked up at Ace gave you an unimpressed look

“You really believe that?”

“Ace… An arrow just almost pierced my head through the window!” You huffed, scurrying to the kitchen with a tight hold on the squirming cat

Great, just great, ‘the great grim strikes again’ as a cockblock.

Fucking cats

Sighing, he plopped down on the couch with a pout, looking over at the discarded controllers

“I’m here,” you said, voice nasal liner than usual- Oh great scenes what's that awful stench

And there you were, clothespin over your nose as a munching grim laid happily in your arms 

Making room for you as he grumbled about the awful smell, Grim all of a sudden started begging you to sit on the other couch since Rook already struck there and he might do it again

“Lighting doesn’t strike twice Grim, yer fine”

“Well, Rook does! And he wants my head!” 

“Mhm“ he was unimpressed at Grim’s piss poor acting, and how you didn't catch on- was beyond him!

Shrugging at Ace as you sat down, you began petting the distraught cat, as Ace rolled his eyes wider,

So he went back to playing- single player this time as you were too busy with your pet. 

You should be cooing and laughing at him, not that fleabag!

Speaking of the pet, he felt a heavy gaze on him as he sneaked a peek at you both-

Why the fuck was he looking at him like that

Oh my seven. A lightbulb went off in his brain as the cat's tuna smirk got larger.

That little shit did it on purpose 

Ace gasped audibly, brows furrowing as he pointed to the cat, who quickly looked away while feigning innocence

Oh my sevens he was right

If the light bulb lit up before then it practically exploded now as he remembered Grim’s vow of revenge yesterday. All because he didn't give him the answer to Trein’s homework he work so hard to get

Little fucking bitch

“I thought he was gonna kill me” grim dramatically whined, throwing the empty can of tuna to the ground as you squeezed him tighter

“There there, Grim- let's get you all cleaned up”

He sniffled “I can still see him when I close my eyes”

“ I know Grim”

Carrying him like a baby, grim only smirked as ace gasped again, hand flying to his chest in disbelief 

🖕🐱🖕

“That little punk is fool’n ya y/n! Look!”

You brought grim to your face who was already back crying

Calling Ace insensitive while glaring, you put grim back in the crook of you next as you made your way towards the stairs

‘Suck it’ grim mouthed as he did the ‘decapitation’ signal. 

>:0

leaning back into the couch, Ace could only huff in annoyance as he grabbed his controller and went back to button mashing

“I fucking hate this place” Ace slouched into the couch, trying to drown out your cooing

Deuce

“Uhh y/n?”

“Yes, Deuce?”

“what are you doing?”

“Nothing much, why”

“Ah… just asking”

LOOK AT HIM. 

GIVE. HIM. ATTENTION.

STOP SCROLLING THROUGH MAGICAM AND L O O K

Pleaseeee 😩

Though that little brat Grim had no problem giving him attention, smirking at him as he sprawled all over your stomach. 

Oooo someone get Crowley 'cause there’s about to be an overblottt

(or not, cause Crowley is quite literally like a bird, only squawking and shitting and sometimes doing the occasional party trick)

HE DESERVES TO BE CUDDLED- NOT GRIM

He couldn't even say anything as his mouth was gaping like a carp as grim continued to roll all over you while making continued eye contact with him. 

So all he could do was plop on the other sofa, clenching his fist as Grim was now propped on your stomach, elbow holding him up as he waved. 

…That rat bastard (my aunt says this and I find it hilarious)

Deuce could live without your cuddles and reassurance…. But not today. 

Cause after absolutely BOMBING TREIN’S history midterm- the one you both spent all week studying for

sigh 

 He just wanted to be in your arms 😿

He’s just an innocent little boy, won't you take pity upon him?🥺

Apparently not cause Grim is still staring him down. 

“Deuce, you're staring, is everything alright love?”

Ah. Uh. Ehhh

“Bombed Trein’s test” was all he was able to mutter. The taste of his words was like black licorice as put his head in his hands as he had a tight grip on his hair

He heard a sigh, which was shortly followed by Grim’s grumbling and a light pause

Then a small thud, and what sounded like paws walking away. Though when he finally peeked from behind his wrists he saw you sitting on the couch, smiling. Arms outstretched as you beckoned him over

Though looking over to where he heard the diminishing ‘footsteps’ he saw Grim, standing down the hallway just… staring at him. That was until

🖕🐱🖕

“He- he flipped me off” 

“He may be sassy, but he is just a cat, he has no portable thumbs ”

He nestled into you, arms snaking around your waist, legs dangling over the edge as he was still in shock about what just occurred. 

“He just… “

“He’s a cat deuce”

“Yeah- But! He breathes fire! So he could flip me off!”

“You know he doesn’t have the brain capacity for that”

Jack

Jack needed you. 

Let me rephrase that. 

Jack had a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day 

From his morning run being cut short because of a leg cramp, being late to class, someone somehow stepping on his tail, and then missing his favorite lunch!

Just a bunch of small clouds that slowly added up into one big cloud that loomed over his head the entire day. But he could eat with it. 

So, as any level-headed character would, he decided to deal with it at practice. You know? Get his frustrations out while attempting to make up for his morning run. 

Until his luck carried over to that. 

And oh boy there's a list. 

From Jack tripping when the gun went off, Jack tripping on his shoelace when he was about to pass the leader, Jack having no water since another first year tripped over it causing it to spill, Jack getting gel in his eyes, someone stepping on his tail again! And even coach Vargas yelled at him for slacking!

So yeah, he was having a shit day 

He was confident that he was hiding his mood. 

But he forgot he was a beast man and an incredibly domineering kid already. So beastmen and non -beastmen. Beastmen plugged their noses from the aggressive, angry smell, and non-beastmen cleared the hallways once they took a glance at his deepened scowl and clenched fist. And if they’ve learned anything from Trein’s class, it was to never mess with an animal (or beastmen) whose tail had a low, slow wage and pulled back ears 

He had one mission and one mission alone, to get to you- his last resort of claiming down before he goes apeshit

What better way to counter his shit day than to hang out with his partner?

(He would rather die than admit he wanted you to cuddle him. Though couldn't deny the slight tail wag every time he recalled holding you close as you would kiss his cheek. 

(Which was a lot better than punching a wall… or person)

So off he went to the ramshackle, quicker than usual due to the lack of foot traffic 

You told him he could just enter and exit as he pleases, but he knew better than that, not wanting to come at a bad time or to intrude your privacy…

Even though you insisted he did. 

So he knocked

The thought of just walking in and cuddling you was tempting, but he didn't. But as 5 minutes turned to 10, he was growing increasingly annoyed- until a ghost showed up and let him in. 

“Hello Jack! Y/n is in their room resting, please come in” and with that, he entered 

He didn’t know if the ghosts were going to prepare something for him, or wake you up to let you know you had company, but he excused himself and made his way up to your room- already preparing an excuse so he could weasel his way in next to you 

So with a (useless) knock on your door and fighting the hesitation that racked his mind, he entered. And there, like a lump on a log, was you sleeping. Hair sprawled out beside you, as you were wrapped like a pig in a blanket. 

JACK TAIL WAG JACK TAIL WAG

And almost like a cold gust of wind on a summer day, jack felt his shoulders and jaw relax 

And dear sevens, if only he saw himself now. Knowing he’d already wipe the growing smile off his face and still his wagging tail 

Softly making his way towards your bed with a small, microscopic smile, he was about to touch your face- until a paw swatted him away

What in the-

“No touching my henchman” Grim scowled, climbing out of the blankets (and Jack would rather not dwell on where he was resting) as he was now by your face, standing as he put his arms out. Acting like a barrier between you and your boyfriend 

“Huh? What- no. I wasn't going to do anything to them, just wake them up”

“No! “

???? Where- where did this cat get the audacity????

“Fine” Jack huffed, walking to the over vacant side of the bed

“No!” Grim scrambled to the other side, effectively sprawling himself over the bed with a glare. Okay, now Jack was getting annoyed

“You're not allowed to wake my henchman! They told me to shoo away anyone who bothers them!”

“I'm not bothering them, I just want-“

And with that, grim slammed himself on your side, arms and legs wrapped around you tightly as his glare remained. 

???????

At this point, Jack was getting uncomfortable. Seeing grim cozy up to you- quite aggressively with full-on eye contact might add. Was just really pissing him off

“Hey don't do that to them while they're sleeping” going to grab Grim, who then swatted him, jack’s eyebrows were furrowing faster than he ran

And at this point, Jack had enough, so instead, he joined Grim and you in bed, on a new mission to get Grim off you and then actually snuggle with you. 

( i really wanna write that jack pulls him off and grim flies across the room, hits the wall then attacks jack and they get into a huge brawl while you try not to giggle)

But I won't. I can't. 

Cause it's better than that

You, annoyed that your boyfriend wasn't taking  initiative, wake up, pull grim by his scruff, and toss him out

Not even a toss, you full-on chucked him out. Like you were throwing a football

and you thought about pretending you did that in your sleep, but the ‘uhh’ coming from Jack’s throat proved that you weren't going to get away with it.

So you turned to face him as he stared at the door to see a mad Grim slowly walking away from the door just in time for you to miss him

🖕🐱🖕 

But with the awkward eye contact and Jack quite literally weighing down your bed with pure muscle… it was hard to take anything seriously 

“I'm sorry Jack, I couldn’t move ‘cause Mr. snuggle bug was so tired.” You swore you heard Grim argue in the background “And I wanted to see what happened- OW!”

He flicked your forehead! How rude! 

“That’s not very nice of you!” Huffing as he laid down back facing you. Drooping yourself over him, you began playing with his hair and nuzzling his neck to let him know you were sorry about not intervening

You received a grumble, but you know the apology was appreciated when you felt his tail wagging against your thighs

Epel

I've never written for Epel or Sebek before so bare with me 🙇🏻

He was tired. That’s all. 

Tired of school, tired from spell drive, and most importantly- tired of Vil’s ‘special treatment’

(More like hell)

And so what better way than to end the day than with your world-famous cuddles?

“Why is he here?”

You shrugged, letting down Grim who started to wander Epel’s room, face in awe as he compared it to a ‘five-star hotel compared to your 0-star dump motel’ 

“I couldn't find a babysitter”

“I’m a grown cat! I don't need a babysitter!”

“Tell that to Lucious, who is still in recovery!”

“Never” he hissed

You sighed, hugging your boyfriend as he eyed grim who was just- going through his things like he was even there. 

Letting go, Epel stood standing as you lay on the bed

“I'm sorry, what were you saying”

You chuckled “I said” he heard you rustling behind him as Grim started inching closer to his carvings 

“What's up, that made you go into such a poo-poo mood?”

Grim 

“Just been a bad day”

5 feet

“Ah really, like what? Was it ‘he who shall not be named” you joke

3 feet, Epel started inching closer

“Uh huh”

“Was it your mom”

“Yep- I- what?”

Turning around to look at your smirking face, he heard a crash 

“Grim are you kidding me?” You yelled, dashing behind Epel to snatch away Grim. 

A shiver ran up Epel’s spine and he could feel his eye twitch as he whipped around at the scene

Though it all went in slow motion for a second, each apple- carving and work in progress hitting the floor. Their screams in agony as they bounced on the rug, and ricocheted off each other. 

Though the one his eyes never left was the butterfly apple he carved for you- just for you. He could see a single tear roll down its skinny body before it completely shattered on the floor. 

It was quiet. There were no more screams, no more cries, no more nothin’

“Epel…”

He couldn't even hear you as he slowly turned towards you, eyes no longer sparkling like the chandler in Vil’s room as you beckoned him to his bed 

“Epel, sweetie, are you alright?”

He couldn't even speak as he nuzzled into your neck as his mind played catch up

Nodding his head solemnly, he closed his eyes as his head started to throb-

“Oh shit lol, sorry about that”

A twig snapped

“You sonava bitch! ‘M gon’ whoop yer ass harder ‘den molasses!”

“Epel- Epel wait no!”

Holding him down as he began to squirm in your hold as he reached for grim, who was now using you as a human shield. 

“Get out ‘ere ‘n fight me like uh real man!” 

“Y/n hold me, I'm scared!” Grim cried as you pushed Epel away causing him to hit the floor. But thanks to his adrenaline pumping, he was quick to recover and pounce again- until he saw grim smirking from behind you as you acted like a barrier, clearly frowning

“You really gon’ help dat thing?”

“It was an accident, plus you were scaring him”

“I’ve met mice with more ba-“

“Epel!” You gasped. With lighting speed you picked Grim up, hugging him tightly as his sight-eating smirk only grew larger. Backing up to his headboard, you shot him a glare

You've gotta be kidding me right? Like- this is all one big joke, right?

Why were you cuddling him? The one who broke the present he spent weeks on! You should be consoling him! Not grim 😾

Oooo he was so mad. His mind already running through different revenge scenarios

But no, he was better than that- better than him. He won't drag himself down to Grim’s level just because he got him upset. No. That’s not very manly of him

Think. What would Leona do? What would Vil do? What would anyone else in this scenario do-

“Oh, y/n..” 

“Yes, Epel?”

“I’ll be right back, okay?”

He heard you hum in acknowledgment as he made his way towards the door, checking behind his shoulder to see grim snuggle closer to your lying form, eyes earthing him like a startled deer

What felt like a few hours ended up being a few seconds as your mind already started to drift when Grim’s startled gasp echoed. 

“Y/n he’s here! He knows I’m here! Help me !” Groaning groggily as Grim started trampling all over the sheets,

“Huh? What, what are you talking about?”

Though he had already leaped off the bed and made a break towards the door, inaudible cries left his fear-stricken face as you just stared at him owlishly

He abruptly paused before he left the open door.

“No!” Diving under the bed and weaseling his way through the crates of apples that made a labyrinth under this bed

The only evidence of his presence was a slowly rolling apple and a few muffled whimpers 

“Ah, trickster!”

“Rook”

“You wouldn't have happened to see that certain feline companion of yours around, have you?

“Hmm,” You thought aloud, hand on your chin “Well, I’m not sure. One minute he was here, the next minute he wasn't though he may be close by…”

He smiled, spewing some kind of French bullshit as he left with a skip in his step, your boyfriend emerging from behind the huntsman

“Anytime Rook”

“Epel…” you warned

“What?” He gaped, making his way towards the bed as he kicked a crate more under the bed, a muffled yelp was barely audible as Epel yawned, saying some bullshit about how ‘beat he was’

You snorted “Is that so Mr. man?”

“You bet”

Cuddling closer to you, he discreetly looked over the edge of the bed to see a pair of paws flipping him off ???

“Little shit”

Sebek 

What was one way to get Sebek quiet? Well, quieter than usual 

Cuddle him. 

You've tried flustering him, but he would only get louder and cause your ears to ring. You tried kissing him, but he’d only shove you off then lecture you about germs??? (Bruh idk, he's using anything at this point)

So the best next thing to do is cuddle him. Don't get me wrong- he adores cuddling. 

Only if it’s Diasomnia though, and sevens forbid you to ask him to relax 

“I can not! What if there is a sudden call from waka-sama? Or someone comes into harm's way! I would not be a strong, super knight if I could not protect those dear to me!”

Does this man have any shame? 

As previously shown, he loves being there to keep you safe and sound as he imagines all these different scenarios of rescuing you if there was a burglar or some heinous creature  

Like Grim who decided to intrude on you….

Yep, just you, your obnoxious boyfriend and even more obnoxious 2” menace of a house pet in bed…

it was going great!...

Yeah, this wasn't going to work.

Especially when Sebek had just given you hair privileges (2 months into dating) and he was excited. Seeing you brush through Grim’s fur made him wonder what it’d feel like if it was your hand in his hair 

“Do not shy away hu- y- perfect! You finally see how fae are superior in every way of hyenine! Espcially grooming!” .... .... “Did konw that waka-sama grooms-

”Anyways

It was exactly how he imagined, warm, comforting, and powerful. 

But as fast as it started, it stopped. The warmth of your hands was suddenly gone- and when he was about to complain he was met with electric blue, cocky eyes. 

Though of course, you couldn't see since Grim was staring right at his soul

Jolting up from your thighs (which he had insisted upon ‘resting’ on since he could be able to spring into action at any time -not some other reason-

What the waka-sama??

“Hu- y/n, why must this…” He gave him a once over “pest be here? Last time I checked I hadn’t invited him”

“He was lonely” you shrugged, never once stopping your nails from trailing his back. The cat let out a content sigh

“My henchman said they weren't doing anything today, so we were planning on catching up on our show until you kidnapped them. So this is technically your fault”

Sebek gaped, eye twitching and fist clenching as he felt his heart rate start to pick up 

What. The. Fuck.

“How dare you insinuate that this is my fault! There is not one but to blame but yourself you scheming mongrel! I ought to have your head for that blasphemy!”

Sebek sprung out of bed, taking the covers with him as his foot hit the floor with a thundering step. 

Groaning his name, you rolled over with Grim “You wanna fight huh? I can take ya with my eyes closed!”

“That is what I like to hear, pest. On your feet!”

“Sebek! Where the fuck did you get that!"

"One must be prepared for everything perfect!"

"Oh yeah, uh huh right. Well, you mind putting it down!"

There in his pajama pants no shirt glory, was Sebek, hand on hip as he pointed his sword at you. The point of the blade was so close it  almost disappeared from view

“Oi! Watch where you’re pointing that thing!”

“You wanted a fight” he got into a ready position “You will get a fight”

Scrambling back as you left grim by itself, Sebek began swinging, actually trying to hit grim as he kept yelling about ‘paying for his sins?’ Whatever that means

“ Calm your manservant henchman!”

Uh oh

The swooshing stopped, and so did Sebek as you peeked from over the bed at his disgusted face 

“Manservant/ Manservant!” He gasped “You dare insinuate that I, a knight in training of the benevolent, astounding, all-powerful wake-sama, would be a ‘servant’ to a lowly human?” He snipped

... What

“I was going easy as you are y/n’s familiar. But now, you shall feel my retribution!”

Grim gulped 

“Sebek stop! He’s only trying to get under your skin.” You scowled

Though he ignored you, per usual

“That’s it I’m out” hands in the air, you walked behind a panicking grim with a sigh 

“Human stay!”

“Stay?” You gasped, pointing towards him, his stance never wavering “ I’m not your dog Sebek! And you!” You turned your hand to Grim “ We can always watch our show before we go to bed! So you didn’t have to ruin our date!”

You swore they were made of stone as they didn’t move an inch, Sebek’s piercing eyes never stopping as he was mid-strike, and Grim’s running position as he at least dared to look a little guilty

“I’ll call you when you’re down with your temper tantrum Sebek”

Going going gone! You left the room with a lick of the door, both male's eyes following your figure until they were left to stare at the door. 

there was a pregnant silence

“Tiny cat… You, are the one to blame for this”

“Wha- Me?”

“Indeed! If it wasn't for you none of this would have happened! It is your fault that they walked out!”

“Well if you weren't such a selfish jerk we would have all gotten along just fine!”

“How dare you call me a selfish jerk you- you-“

Grim came back to Ramshackle with a haircut

looking sharp Grim

🖕🐱🖕

I’m actually really proud of Sebek’s part ng. and yes- he is racist... sorry babes

I love how you can see the shift in quality with each part lololol

ALSO- HALLWOEEN EVENT????? aHhhhHHHHAH

tumblr on the computer is a scam, i spent 20 minutes spacing everything out perfectly only for it to fuck it out and bullet point it… smh😐

also hate how long and wordy this is but oh well🤷🏻

#twst #twisted wonderland #twisted wonderland x reader #twst x reader #takalzuoom #anime x reader #takalzuoom 🌊 #jack howl x reader #jack howl #twst epel #epel felmier #epel felmier x reader #epel x reader #jack x reader #ace x reader #twst ace x reader #ace trapolla x reader #ace trapolla #twst deuce x reader #twst deuce #deuce x reader #deuce spade x reader #sebek zigbolt #twst sebek x reader #sebek zigvolt x reader #sebek x reader

[simpcityy]

Haunting Past PT.1 (Astarion X Fem!Reader)

Disclaimer: I know I was supposed to finish the last chapter of I'm Not Her but...I have terrible writers block trying to find a good ending for the series so it's still being written but I do hope you enjoy this little idea I have for ...Ahem...a Vampire Spawn. I wonder if you want it to become a Series too. Just to get it out of my head so I can fully concentrate to finish I'm Not Her Finale. Also please read the Author notes. I don't want to make the disclaimer longer. I DO NOT OWN BALDUR'S GATE OR ANY OF IT'S CHARACTER.

Word Count: 1.1k

Warning: Female Pronouns, mentions of blood, a hot vampire spawn, idk if spoilers count since this is act one but why not, for those who didn't get far in the game.

Summary: A gur was tasked to hunt down a certain spawn but they end up working together for their own benefit.

Chaos, that was the scene in front of you. There was a small war inside the Nautiloid ship; Which you were taken against your own will. While being on a hunt after a vampire spawn which soon turned this situation with a tadpole invading your mind. Hitting your fist up against the window of the pod as hard as you could until you broke free. Slipping out and falling down on your knees, you took this chance to curse out in the open of the ship “Hell with it all!” your eyes analyzed your surroundings either for your prey or any signs of freedom from this Nautiloid ship. “How do I get myself into these kinds of situations…I should’ve just taken the commission of hunting down a couple of Imps or even Kobold looters” you mutter slowly, rising up and looking for an exit or any opening to leave this ship. “Okay, let’s focus (Y/N), find a way out…I doubt that spawn even lived so I can call this mission accomplished.” You smiles trying your cheer yourself up before losing your balance as the ship jerks violently. ‘Better move it along or I won't make it either.’ You thought to yourself and quickly got up only for the ship to jerk roughly to the side, causing you to lose balance and hit the back of your head roughly against the wall. Knocked out right away. 

The feeling of the sun hits your face, causing you to stir. Slowly (E/C) eyes blink constantly till your eyes were used to the bright sky. You then heard whispers by your side, your body reacted instantly and stood up quickly “Back off and you won’t get hurt” You reached for a hidden dagger you always have strapped on you. “Let’s not resort to this, I wouldn’t want a blood bath especially after this situation, So I beg of you to change your thoughts Miss.” Looking over, you see a man speaking a rather pompous style and wearing a pompous style. “Judging the way, you speak and ...dress…” You sigh rubbing your head, feeling it throb. “You are no danger to me.” You conclude putting the dagger down. “Wonderful! Tav! Do you feel it?” He asked which you hypothesis is their little leader. You look at the odd group, their leader, that pompous man and a young woman which you can tell obviously has an Acolyte background. “Feel what exactly?” You questioned at Tav before grunting out in pain, feeling your head throb worse. It felt like someone was trying to probe into your memories before it stopped. “What the hell was that?! What did you do!” You back up looking at them. “It’s that tadpole, it connected us in a way.” The Tav responded. “Just my day.” You mutter looking at the crashed ship. “I suppose you …have information regarding this tadpole.” You slowly asked before putting your hand up “ On second thought…I rather be…unaware of its…dangers…” You look at them before putting a hand out to them “I’m (Y/N), I was…hunting...when I was taken. I suppose you all have a similar story regarding being a victim of the mind flayers.” 

You were helping them set up camp, joining their group for now. “so You say you have one more companion in the group?” You asked while setting down your bedroll by the fire looking at Shadowheart. After walking around and finding a place to call camp, you were able to get to know the group. There was the wizard Gale, the cleric Shadowheart and the Tav. “Yes, He went off, saying something about needing to recollect his thoughts.” Shadowheart sets her bedroll next to yours while Gale was cooking up a meal for the group with whatever was found near the crash site. “I see, well if he’s in the group then he’s deemed to be okay. I...just like to be careful around new people…sorry If I come out as rude.” You smile explaining to the three of them. Slowly opening yourself to them. “I come from a camp where we like to exclude ourselves from others.” You try your best to not offend them. Gale walks over handing you and Shadowheart a bowl with soup “It’s quite alright, I mean we all just met but we will get to know each other over time while we look for a healer.” He sits down on his bedroll, eating his soup. Tav nods, “We need to work together to find this healer and who knows, we will meet others like us.” You look down at your bowl, before slowly sipping the broth to warm yourself as the weather was getting colder. “Correct, we need a healer fast…hopefully one that is skilled enough to remove it, it’s not like every day…they get people with a tadpole parasite infected as a client.” you mutter to them before hearing rustling behind you. 

“There you are, we thought you were dead.” Gale calls out, waving over. You paid no mind, knowing it was their other companion of their group. You only continue drinking the broth before your eyes slightly widen hearing a familiar smooth voice. “What’s this, who’s this beauty with such gorgeous hair.” You quickly get up putting the bowl on the ground and turn around “ You!....but…how!?” You look at your target who caused you to get into this mess from the beginning, who was walking out in the sun. It was only dawn; he shouldn't be alive. ‘The bastard is alive and walking in the sun’ You thought seeing Astarion who also had a shocked look seeing you. “ I thought you were dead as well darling.” Astarion mutters as you decide against grabbing your dagger. Knowing if you did, there are more cons than pros. One, you were outnumbered and knowing this group, they would defend him. “Glad to know we share the same thoughts.” you cross your arms walking past him before stopping next to him. “Nothing has been said yet.” You then add, “As much as I want to kill you now and then, I weigh my options and I hate the choice I have to accept…letting you live and unfortunately working and traveling along with the likes of you.” You whisper out to him only as the group stares at you two with a worried look, wondering what might happen based on yours and Astarion's reaction. “Oh, please I was also weighing my options and unfortunately, I agree with you. You have no idea how badly I want to see how red your blood is.” He hums. “Oh, but do clarify why you didn’t just tell them, I’m quite curious. You know I love drama.” He smirks. You only roll your eyes, “It’s not my parade to ruin...Spawn” You whispered frowning before walking off to the river to cool yourself down. Astarion only frowns hearing your little nickname for him before looking over to the group. “I take it you two know each other?” Shadowheart asked. 

“Unfortunately, yes” He gasped dramatically.

During your sleep, you tossed and turn, screams echo in your mind, you were having another nightmare. The only thing that comes to your mind is flashes of images, blood, glowing red eyes and fangs. Opening your eyes quickly, you sat up and quickly took deep breaths to calm yourself. Sighing, you grabbed a rag and wiped off the sweat that accumulated on your forehead. 

“Nightmare Darling?” Astarion stood by the entrance of your tent, keeping himself occupied by looking at a book. “None of your concern, what do you want, I suppose you want to talk while others are asleep.” You glared at him “Try anything funny and you’ll face the consequences.” You slowly stood up from your bedroll reaching down to your thigh pulling out a wooden stake “I am always armed around your kind” You stretched your limbs, your nightmare is still lingering in your thoughts. “ As expected for someone of your kind…wandering cut-throats.” He mutters “But yes, I did come to talk.” He closes the book “Who sent you after me, by the looks of it, you didn’t have the intention to lose my tracks while I was running.” He sits down on the ground, keeping a good distance from you. You only think back to the chase you were having with him before being taken into the mind flayer ship. “Honestly” you began to think “I wasn’t given a name, I was just handed this task by my leader and off I was, on the hunt for you…odd…they wanted you alive.” You hummed thinking back how Ulma stressed out the importance of needing Astarion alive. “Now my turn, you really think this information is free, how the hell are you able to walk in the sun.” You glance at him, watching him feel the smooth cover of the book. “I have no clue either but I suspect it’s this little thing in our minds.” He places the book on the floor. “I don’t mind it…if it gives me this power, I am happy to give this little tadpole a home” He smirks while you only roll your eyes “I think you hit your head somewhere, we don’t want this. If I remember correctly…Ulma said something like it’s their way for Mind flayers to populate…meaning we have a certain amount of time before we become one of them” You look at the ground, using your finger to draw figures in the dirt.

 “Who knows how long we have left, god I am going to turn so ugly, we better find a healer fast.” Astarion groans “Why must everything be so complicated.” He sighs dramatically before looking over to you, “Right one more question, how do you know so much knowledge about vampire spawns, you knew where to find me right away. Only spawns know about our hideout.” His red ruby eyes look at you. You only stood up, walking to exit your tent, “I knew someone…who told me their secrets…shared their knowledge…he was different from any other spawn I have met and killed in my life. Even if your immortal…death creeps up…it creeped up on him…” You whisper, keeping your back on him before leaving your tent, needing some fresh air.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Author Notes: I am so sorry I haven't finished the last chapter of I'm Not Her, I really am stuck trying to finish that. I promise I am not abandoning it, just trying to motivate myself to get ideas. So...I got myself hooked on to this...side of the fandom and I fucking love it! I hope you all had a wonderful New Years. I hope you guys like this, I don't know if I want to make this as a series too but depends how well it does. I also am writing a little one-shot of Rapheal having a devil daughter and how Haarlep looks after her in a very mutual! and friend way! Guys, if it's not obvious...I got...dad issues. That explains all the Miguel O'Hara dad writings. If you guys want to read that, I'll happily write it and maybe if you liked this one, I could write more on it, a series. Oh! Since I put a Tav there in the story, you guys are welcome to build them for me. Like comment the physical appearance, hair length, color, eyes color, male or female etc. I'll write them under the category and role a die to make our beloved Tav in this story. If you want. Remember to stay hydrated and to keep on simping. (Simp City Population: 465 THANK YOU ALL FOR THE FOLLOWS, REBLOGS, LIKES)

#baldur's gate 3 #baldur's gate iii #baldurs gate astarion #astarion #astarion fanfic #astarion x reader #astarion x you #bg3 astarion #bg3 x reader #bg3 fanfiction #baldurs gate

[kayfabebabe]

Homeward Bound

Kane X Female Reader - After avoiding you for an entire month, you’re brought face-to-face with the Big Red Machine. (The title comes from the song by Simon and Garfunkel.) 

WARNINGS - Slightly sad times ahead. Fluff. I swear, it gets happy. 

(Ps. MAJOR APOLOGIES - It’s been over 2 months since the last installment of the Kane X Reader series. Please blame my easily distractible brain as well as a stubborn case of writer’s block.) 

All you wanted to do was sleep. Even standing in the elevator was too much of a task for your tired body. You slump heavily against the wall with your arms hanging limply at your sides and your duffel bag falling to the floor. Just a few more minutes and you’ll be able to crawl into bed. Thank God. This month had been exhausting to say the least; too much travelling between shows and not enough time resting from the road. There’s nothing that you’d rather be doing than wrestling, but you’d be lying if you said that you didn’t sometimes wish for a small break. Hell, you couldn’t recall your last day off. 

The lack of a certain friendship weighed on your shoulders too. 

Since your disastrously failed attempt to kiss Kane, he has been purposefully avoiding you. He would turn up for his matches then mysteriously disappear without a trace. It’s incredible how lonely you could feel with the loss of one person. In the relatively short time of knowing each other, you had grown so attached to Kane that you felt empty without him close by. You found yourself wandering the hallways of the venues in hope of catching a mere glimpse of Kane, but you never did. If anyone suspected a rift between you then they didn’t show it. The rest of the roster, mostly, left you alone. Possibly in fear of Kane’s reaction if they did try anything, untoward or not. 

The very last thing that you expected to see after coming out of the elevator was Kane sitting outside your hotel room. You freeze to take in the sight of your friend. His head hangs low with long hair falling over his face and acting as a shield from the outside world. Long legs stretched out in front of him whilst his back rested against the door. Kane looks… lost. Completely lacking the usual hellfire and brimstone. 

“H-Hey there, Big Guy.” 

You tried to hold yourself steady as Kane’s head snapped up and the giant of a man scrambled to his feet. How long had he been waiting there for you? That same tiny voice in the back of your head that wanted to kiss Kane weeks ago now wanted you to jump into his arms and hold him. No. The last thing that you wanted to do was terrify Kane more by throwing yourself at him.  

Would Kane even welcome your embrace anymore? 

Neither of you say anything as you unlock the door and allow Kane to follow you into the room. The air instantly grows warmer by his presence. What were you meant to do? It was difficult to pretend that you hadn’t been desperate to see Kane over the past month. To act as if you didn’t potentially drive away one of your closest friends by kissing him. Sleep will have to wait until after you’ve had a talk with Kane. 

“Kane, I’m...” 

Whatever words were going to come out of your mouth are lost by Kane pulling you into a tight hug. The suddenness of it nearly knocks you completely off your feet. This… isn’t what you expected. Part of you had hoped for quick forgiveness, but you had convinced yourself that you’d have to beg for it. For a second, you’re still in his arms before the shock melts away and you relax into the embrace. Your arms find a natural place around Kane’s neck as you stand on your toes and allow your eyes to close. Words go unsaid between you. 

I’m sorry. I missed you. I missed you too. 

Kane was sure that he’d be met with ire for running from you, but you’ve only welcomed him. In the fragmented pieces of his mind, Kane tried to understand how anyone could look upon him and see something worthy of treating with such kindness. Even now, you held onto him without fear. All those weeks ago, Kane ran from you as the prospect of being wanted and, even, loved was overwhelming. It was a foolish and cowardly decision. 

Maybe it was time for Kane to be brave. 

“Do you... trust me?” 

Peace is broken by the deep rumble of Kane’s voice muffled by his mask and you have to pull back enough to gaze up at him in surprise. Why would he ask such a thing? There has yet to be an instant that has brought your trust in Kane into question. He has done nothing intentionally to hurt you. You nod your head in lieu of answering out-loud. Whatever Kane was thinking of doing or saying, it made your heart thud painfully against the inside of your ribs. 

Slowly, Kane brings one of his large hands up to cover your eyes and, for a moment, you panic. What is he doing? You clutch his forearm as you’re temporarily blinded and the world grows too still. The lightest brush of something soft over your bottom lip causes you to flinch with your grip tightening on Kane’s arm. For a second, whatever it was is gone before it returns with the slightest pressure behind it. Your brain takes a second to recognise the sensation. 

Someone is kissing you. Kane is kissing you. 

Every emotion that you’ve kept hidden away since meeting and befriending Kane slams into you like a tidal wave. The mere knowledge that your feelings were reciprocated on some level brought a blush to your cheeks. The kiss itself is off-centre, hesitant and you can hear Kane’s shakily breathing through his nose. It’s perfectly imperfect. Once your brain has caught up, you tilt your head slightly and return the soft kiss. There’s no real fanfare to it. No huge declaration of undying love for each other or standing in the rain until you’re both drenched to the bone. 

You move without thinking; arms draping themselves over Kane’s shoulders as the first kiss melts into another then another and another. They remain gentle and slow. In the few moments that you allowed yourself to imagine kissing Kane, you always suspected that his lips would taste of nothing, but stale smoke and ash. Instead, Kane tastes of s'mores from an Autumn bonfire and something else. Something that buzzes on your lips like sherbet. You wanted to chase it with your tongue until you could put a name to it and had it memorised perfectly. 

#Kane X Reader #Writing #Fanfiction #Kane #Female Reader #WWF #WWE #Kane X Female Reader #Fluff #Angst #Comfort #I'm back on my bullshit #The Big Red Machine #(I should come up with a tag #just for this series) #<3 #Enjoy!

[asktheghosthost]

As Fragile as Card Castles

Dealt with a bad writer’s block for about a month and I’ve been exhausted from an intense work schedule, and then was suddenly inspired by @catinabag ‘s character Jai. I love the dynamic between the three Ghast siblings. He and Beau have a fight and this is basically the aftermath. Under a read more for length. Jai belongs to @catinabag and Eulalie is my OC. I really enjoy doing these sort of slice of life type stories, and haven’t done one in a long time. I hope you enjoy it!

Eulalie’s hands were unflinching as she raised the last two cards up to the top of the tower. Top edges touching, creating a final point for the card castle, she slowly let the ace of spades and ace of diamonds go. Then she pulled her arms away, and stood back to look at her work. It was a grand design, towering up to her forehead with her standing. Made up of five packs of cards, it was almost less a castle, and more a paper fortress. She allowed herself a small smile at her handiwork. Pointless? Sure. But she always felt good after creating something, and she hadn’t put together a good card tower since she’d been alive.  

Glancing down at a ghostly borzoi resting by the table, Eulalie said, “So what do you think of my handiwork, Alix?”

The dog lifted her head, and her long muzzle parted just slightly in an approving pant. Her silky, flared tail thumped a couple of times against the floor in polite applause.  

“Thank you.” Eulalie bowed her head. “I’ll have to borrow Dorian’s camera to capture this for posterity.” Her lips twisted into a frown. “Provided I can keep it together long enough.” Smiling once more at her dog, she added, “But I’m sure you’ll keep it protected, won’t you, my dear?” Alix thumped her tail once more in agreement.

Then came the frantic knock at her bedroom door.

The card towers wobbled and shimmied, dancing to the vibrations, threatening to come tumbling down. Eulalie flung out her arms, hugging the air around the cards protectively. A long, silent second went by, and the castle settled. Turning back to the door, she snapped, “Come in! But for God’s sake, do not--”

The door handle yanked right, and the door was flung open, slamming into the wall. “Eulie!” Jai howled. “Sis, I--”

The cards collapsed into a heap on the table.  

Eulalie stood there for a moment, arms hovering around the space the castle had once occupied. Her right eyelid twitched. Then she sucked in a breath through her nose, and slowly, very slowly, exhaled, relaxing her arms as she did so. “Hours...” she hissed.

Jai cautiously approached the table. “Are you playing a really messy game of solitaire?”

Her head snapped to the left to glare at him, but then her expression softened when she saw his face. His right cheek was bruised and swollen, as was his left eye. More bruises dotted his knuckles. He wasn’t standing up straight, bending slightly, an arm around his stomach.  

She didn’t fawn over him, instead raising an eyebrow and pursing her lips as she looked him up and down questioningly. “What happened to you?”

Alix got up from her rug to sniff Jai. After a few moments, she let out a slightly disapproving, but not aggressive “wuff” and went to lay back down.

“I don’t think your little horse likes me,” said Jai.

Eulalie rolled her eyes. “This is my dog, Alix.” She lovingly rubbed behind Alix’s ear. “Leota found her wandering the road nearby, so I volunteered to take her in. She’s been excellent company, more so than most of the people here.” Going back to her table, she began picking up cards to put them back into proper stacks. “You haven’t answered my question, though.”

Jai’s eyes darted over to a heavily cushioned chair, and he licked his lips nervously.  

“Sit,” Eulalie commanded, not watching as he quickly dropped into the seat. She was separating the cards now, trying to sort them into their own sets. The designs were subtly different, so that made it easier, but then she realized the backs had company names in tiny font printed on them.  She felt foolish for not noticing it sooner. “You got into a fight, that much is obvious... and in no way surprising.”

Jai picked at a tassel on a small pillow. “Yeah,” he mumbled. “With Beau.” He winced, waiting for a scoff or a laugh. He still couldn’t believe he’d been so resoundingly beaten by that scrawny, pun-spouting, half-blind pushover.  

Rather than mock him, his sister clicked her tongue in mild disapproval and kept at her card sorting. “Whatever you boys were arguing about, you could have simply asked me to come in as arbitrator, and we could have talked it out, instead of swinging your fists at one another.”

That was worse than her making fun of him for being a weakling. He couldn’t insult her in retaliation now, not without looking like a jerk. “No,” he grumbled. “This was between me and him. It was a long time coming.”

“Oh?” Here she finally did look back at him. “Well, I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised. After all, you two do have your... differences.” At that, she walked over to a shadowy corner of her room where a tall cabinet stood and opened it.  There was the clinking of glass, but the door was blocking his view of what she was doing.

“Yeah,” Jai called over his shoulder. “He’s a sanctimonious shithead!” Shifting in his seat, he quietly admitted, “I challenged him. Was my fault.”

Eulalie didn’t say anything as she walked back, a stout glass of whisky in each hand. She gestured for him to take one. “Sip it slowly, or it will go right through you. Literally. Let yourself absorb it.”  

He stared down at his glass, but did as he was told. The tiny bit of liquor didn’t offer much by way of flavor. After all, nothing did anymore. There was a pleasant burn, however, as it left his throat and seemed to disperse through his form. “I just got... Got so tired of him telling me what to do! Like he knows what’s best for me all the time, just because he’s my big brother.” It took a lot of willpower not to swig back the rest of the shot right then and there. “Trying to give me life lessons when he killed himself. Hypocrite.”

She sat across from him in another equally fluffy chair. All of the furniture in Eulalie’s room was over-stuffed and adorned with small pillows and scraps of fabric from half-finished craft projects. Maybe that was why she always kept her door closed and the lights dim—she didn’t want others to notice how soft she allowed her personal space to be. She thought about this as she swirled her whiskey before taking a drink. As the eldest of the Ghast siblings—not to mention the matriarch of Gracey Manor--she had to be strict and sharp. Beau was regarded as the eerie Ghost Host, yes, but also as a warm, friendly figure to just about all of the other 998 spirits that called the house home. Even the mortals who wandered in tended to learn that his frightful displays were a playful show. Jai, who had returned to the family fairly recently, was seen as short-tempered and unpredictable, but also immature and very little of a threat, (especially to people already dead). Even though no one said it out loud, she knew she was the one expected to keep the others in line. That’s the way it had always been as the Big Sister.  

She waited for him to finish his drink, then she took a brush from her boudoir, got behind him, and began brushing his hair.

“Hey!” He twisted himself around to glare at her. “What are you doing?!”

She glared back. “Taking care of these rats’ nests, dumkoff!” She lightly bonked him on the head with the brush. “If I’m going to get a good look at your injuries, I need to get the hair away from your face.” She continued with the task, and he turned around without further complaint.  

He relaxed, even laying back his head to make it easier for her. “Thanks. I haven’t really, y’know, been regular with the personal upkeep thing.”

“I can tell,” she replied sarcastically, tugging at a particularly bad tangle. She worked through it and went on to the next one. It wasn’t a quick task. His hair was thick, dark, and laced with curls, just like their mother’s. She was jealous, although she would never admit it out loud. She and Beau had inherited the thin, blond locks of their father. She’d always found her mother’s darker features exceptionally beautiful.  

Done with the tangles, she stepped away to grab a ribbon, and tied back his hair into a ponytail. “There, like a true gentleman.”

He scoffed. “Like a putz.”  

She rolled her eyes. “So much whining. I guess I won’t help you, then...”

“No!” He reached out. “Please... Eulie...” He grabbed her hand.

Shaking her head, she sighed and once more sat across from him. “Since you asked so nicely.” Gingerly, she started examining his cuts and bruises, pausing to clean spots, or giving his hands a gentle massage.  

After some time spent at this, she explained, “You’ll heal quickly, especially if you use as little energy as possible for the next few days. It takes a lot to truly harm a ghost, and it’s usually only your fellow spirits who can do it.”  

He nodded, understanding most of it. The whole “undead thing” was weird, and he doubted he’d ever fully grasp it. “I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to face Beau again, though. I bet he hates me.”

“Oh, please” she scoffed. “He’s probably wallowing in guilt, thinking of how he can apologize and make it up to you. Don’t worry. You’ll both be fine.” Pushing herself up, she urged him to follow. “I, however, know how you can re-pay me.”

Skeptically, he eyed the table she was standing at. “How?”

“By helping me rebuild my card castle that you so rudely destroyed. Here...” She slid over two full decks. “We need a sturdy base first. Watch how I do it...”  

For the first time in what felt like ages, he smiled. “Okay.” And together, with an occasional helpful “wuff” from Alix, they rebuilt the castle.  

#fan fic #story #short story #fanfic #Eulalie #Jai #catinabag

[christowhore]

Redeeming Myself

pairing: chris evans x professor!fem!reader

summary: after breaking your heart and losing your trust, chris makes it his mission to prove to you how much you mean to him.

word count: 6.3k

warnings: age gap (reader is 29, chris is 40), angst, reminiscing on past actions, fluff, talks with therapist, chris makes up for bad behavior, slight alcohol consumption, smut, happy endings, rpf !!! 18+ MINORS DNI !!!

notes: the final installment of Pining for Professor. it was only supposed to be a one shot, but i got inspired and expanded it. it took a while cause writers block, but it’s here. for anyone who has read the series, thank you and hope you enjoy ! 💓🥰

i do not allow the reposting, rewriting or translating of my fics. these are works of my own and i do not give permission for any of the acts stated above.

join my taglist !

SERIES MASTERLIST • MAIN MASTERLIST

For a month and a half following that afternoon, Chris began to go above and beyond to mend his mistakes in an effort to regain your trust.

He knew that he shouldn’t have been forgiven for the hurtful words he hurled at you, the voice he raised, and his cold demeanor through it all. But you forgave him nonetheless, which he was eternally grateful for.

Chris suspected that his venom-laced words still took a toll on your overall being. He sensed it in the way your usual humming was kept to a minimum, as did your soft caresses to his body. The fun facts that you would randomly blurt out had basically become nonexistent.

You hadn’t tried initiating sex with Chris due to still being affected by his actions, which was understandable to the brunette.

He could tell you were being cautious around him, which broke his heart more than he could’ve imagined.

The two of you never really talked in depth about what happened, deciding to push it under the rug and move past it. But ignoring the elephant in the room could only last for so long.

That morning was no different. He had spent the night at your place and decided to wake up and make you breakfast in an effort to mend the faltering relationship.

You woke up to an empty bed, something that you were used to since Chris had always been an early riser. Getting your morning routine out the way, you made your descent downstairs with the smell of pesto guiding you down the steps.

Walking into the kitchen, you saw the sight of your topless boyfriend, donning only a pair of boxers and an apron. You watched as he studiously focused on the skillet in front of him. His intense focus and the sounds of eggs frying in the pan made him oblivious to your arrival.

It wasn’t until you made your way towards the fridge next to him, that he registered your presence. “Morning princess, you sleep well.”

“Yeah, I slept fine,” your voice still a bit gravely from your slumber. You poured yourself a glass of orange juice, ignoring the intense gaze from Chris in your peripheral vision.

He was so used to having you touch him in the mornings. Not so much in a sexual way, but more intimately. The way your lips would ghost against his shoulder blade, your palms would hold his sides and pull him against you so that way you could bask in his warmth. Your arms would wrap around his front until your fingers absentmindedly toyed with his lower abdomen, playing with the wisps of hair on his happy trail.

He missed when you would move your lips until they met the space behind his ears, giving light open mouth kisses. The sound of you whispering ‘Morning daddy’ would leave him awestruck. Even though the words were a regular occurrence for him to hear, it was the way you would say it in your morning voice that made it ten times more special.

Though those actions might seem minuscule to others, they meant the world to him and it was killing him that he hadn’t been able to experience such tender moments with you in a while.

“I’m making breakfast- pesto eggs and some bacon for you. It’ll be done in a minute.”

You nodded along before heading to the table, phone in hand while catching up on your morning news.

It didn’t take long before a steaming plate was placed in front of you, the scent of garlic and basil already making you salivate.

Chris sat besides you and watched as you dug a fork into your meal, a smile reaching his face as he heard your content moans.

The two of you ate in silence, only the sound of soft chewing and utensils hitting your respective plates could be heard.

Every so often, you would feel Chris peek at you, hoping for you to start up a conversation with him like you always did. It’s not like you didn’t want to, it was just that you were still hurting due to his words. You know from a psychological standpoint that there was something going on inside of him that caused him to lash out, which you understood. But it didn’t aid in diminishing your apprehensiveness towards opening up to him, afraid that another fight would break out and hurtful words would again be hurled.

He could sense the internal struggle battling within you so he spoke up, breaking you out from your subconscious.

“I know I’ve been saying this repeatedly over the past few weeks, but I want you to know how sorry I am,” Chris sympathetically stated, “You didn’t deserve what I put you through, the things I said. I just hope that we're able to someday go back to how we were.”

You sat there staring at the man in front of you. Was there a way that the two of you can revert to what once was? Could you actually forgive him?

Not knowing how to properly respond, you simply nodded. A tight lipped smile was evidence that Chris had a lot of making up to do.

Finishing up breakfast, you excused yourself to your office to go and work on your dissertation, leaving the brunette alone with his thoughts.

He knew that he needed to do something big to make up for his actions. He also knew that he needed to figure out why he lashed out on you.

Taking out his phone, he clicked on a saved contact and listened to the dial tone ring in his ear.

“Morning, I’d like to make an appointment as soon as possible. It’s an emergency.”

Chris sat on the plush maroon couch, his eyes getting reacquainted with the familiar setting. The office had a few knick knacks littered around the space. A potted plant here and there. Motivational, yet cheesy posters on the wall. An assortment of magazines on the coffee table.

He hadn’t been here in a while, his usual talks were about his anxiety and dealing with fame. But for this appointment it was about you- specifically how he treated you.

The new topic was foreign to him, resulting in the brunette not knowing how to address it. So he silently sat there as his therapist, Dr. Reynolds, held her pen in her hand and studied his behavior.

“So,” she cautiously started, “What brings you in today?”

Chris sat there twiddling his fingers at her question. There could’ve been a few reasons that brought him in, but the main one was why he said the things he hurled at you.

He proceeded to spend the next 10 minutes recapping the events that had transpired, making sure to not spare any detail. After his spiel, Dr. Reynolds skimmed through her notes that she jotted down during his explanation.

Looking up from her notebook, she locked eyes with the brunette. “Do you think that some of your actions correlate with self-sabotaging behaviors? How, when you opened yourself up to her so suddenly it made you feel scared? Scared that you might need to face those fears that are plaguing you.”

Chris sat there incredulously, “Well- I mean no. I don’t think so.”

The pair talked for over an hour, going over the usual allotted time as they broke down why Chris had acted a certain way.

He realized the anger he felt was a coping mechanism to avoid feeling what he truly felt: fear. Mainly his fear of commitment. Part of him was scared that any future marriage would end up like his parents, in divorce. He feared that you would stop loving him. He feared that he would stop loving you.

And that fear was ultimately pushing you away from him. Which uncovered the biggest fear of all, losing you.

Dr. Reynolds eventually received a knock on her door, indicating a waiting patient, causing their therapy session to be cut and saved for another day.

“Thanks doc, I think I know what I need to do now.”

After some much needed self-reflection made in the meeting with his therapist, Chris knew what he had to do. Leaving the office, he pulled out his phone and dialed his publicist, Megyn.

A few rings later, he went into detail to the blonde about his plan. Not caring about what the press might say, or how his fans might react, he needed to get it done.

She wasn’t too keen on dealing with the impending press that would come from it, but she was happy that he was able to find someone that he truly loved.

He went back to your place that evening with a refreshed mind. The rest of the day went by as usual, you both did your own respective things, the tension still heavy in the air.

As you both started on your own night routine, his main focus was on you. He didn’t even know he stopped brushing and was staring until you snapped your fingers in front of his eyes.

“Earth to Chris, everything alright?” your tone was light and airy, hinted with a bit of joy.

Chris looked at the slight smile on your face and was reminded all over again as to why he fell for you. That smile was something that was so ingrained in his mind that not even old age could make him forget it. It warmed his entire being whenever he was sad and it made him realize he could never take it off your face for the rest of his days.

“Yeah princess,” he whispered, still lost in you, “I’m alright.”

You nodded along to him, though your eyes squinted a bit due to being curious of his change in demeanor. Before he was overly cautious around you, now it seemed as if he couldn’t get enough of you.

Before you could set your toothbrush down and set out for bed, he stopped you with a hand on your elbow, pulling you into him. Not caring that there were still dribbles of toothpaste in his mouth, he leant down and attached his lips to yours.

The kiss was soft, he was desperate to feel your softness against him though wasn’t trying to rush the act in any way. Moving his hand up, he held onto your cheek in an effort to pull you even closer than you already are.

The smell of your lavender night cream instantly calmed him, making him feel safe in your embrace and absentmindedly smiling into the kiss.

Chris finally pulled away, only slightly, to look down on you with a dopey grin. “God I’m in love with you.”

For the first time in weeks, a genuine smile reached your face to match the man across from you.

“I love you too love bug,” you sighed against his lips, “You probably should’ve rinsed your mouth though, I can taste your toothpaste.”

A deep chuckle rumbled from his chest, “Sorry, just got caught up in the moment.”

Chris kept you secured in his arms as he continued to stare down at you. There was something different about him, specifically the way his gaze was directed at you. Though you were not complaining.

“How about we bring back date night? I can cook and we can finally sit and talk to one another like we used to.”

Your heart fluttered in your chest at his pleas. It had been a while since you two sat down and basked in each other’s presence. The thought had you hopeful that things could go back to normal.

“I would love that,” you began, “How about Friday? I have a test for a few of my classes this week so we can do it once I’m all free.”

Chris smiled down at you with eyes evident of his admiration for you, “Friday is perfect.”

The rest of the week went on rather differently than previous ones. Your touches came back to his body, fingertips grazing alongside him whenever he was close. Chris would regularly kiss your cheek or top of your shoulder anytime he had the chance.

You did take notice of him on his phone a lot, part of it filled you with uneasiness but the rational part of your brain told you it wasn’t something to ponder too much over, so you let it go.

Chris had been spending the entire week making sure that his plan was rolling smoothly. He had the entire date night planned to a T. He informed his family about it, who were ecstatic for him, making his own mother tear up due to how happy she was. He made sure to have everything ready at the house so that everything would be successful.

The day of the planned affair, you were stuck in your home office grading the last set of tests before being able to officially clock out for the evening. Inputting the grades into Blackboard, you were brought out of focus due to the sounds of buzzing from your phone. Picking up the device, you unlocked it and saw the incoming text from your boyfriend.

Chris: Baby, I know you’re still probably finishing up, but dinner will be ready at my place at around 7. I put something on your bed for you to wear. See you soon!

The endearing message made you smile and also feel a bit elated. You missed the intimate moments shared between you and Chris. The loving looks sent your way, the delicious food and engaging conversations. But most importantly, you missed the sex. Before, the two of you were like jackrabbits, the longest you both went without getting hot and heavy was about 2 days. Now going on over two months, you were becoming insatiable.

Quickly inputting the final test scores in your online grade book, you got ready for your night in with Chris. Heading up the stairs, you walked into your room to be hit with a bit of nostalgia. Laying on the bed was the same black dress that you wore on your first date with him.

With the amount of dresses you had in your wardrobe, it was a shock that he was able to find the specific one you wore that night. The sentiment warmed your heart and filled you with hope.

Rushing to get ready, you went and got dressed, making sure that you appeared your best before heading out.

It was only a quick drive to his home, before you were sat in his driveway.

Your mind was plagued with worry. You feared that if this night didn’t go well, then it would ultimately mean the end of your relationship with the man. Taking in a deep breath, you calmed your nerves before exiting the vehicle and made the trek towards his front door.

Using the house key you still had attached to your own ring set, you unlocked the door and walked in though you didn’t get far when the sight before you made you stop and gasp.

Starting from the front door laid a trail of rose petals leading you through the house. The thoughtful effort made tears begin to form in your eyes and your breath unsteady.

Following the trail, the same smells of vegetables sautéing brought you back to that time over a year ago.

Once you made it inside the kitchen, you saw Chris with an apron adorning his massive frame on top of his suit. Once he took notice of your arrival he turned around and smiled at you. “There you are sweetheart. I was waiting for you to show.”

He turned down the fire before gliding towards you, about to reach down and kiss you when you beat him to it.

Grabbing a hold of either side of his face, you slammed your lips to his; the action surprising you both. You delivered him repeated pecks which caused the brunette to laugh between every one of your kisses.

Getting enough of your intimate fill, you pulled away from him and looked up. “What’s the special occasion? I mean I know it’s date night, but still.”

Chris brought his hands down to rest on the dip of your back before pulling you in closer to him. The action caused your neck to crane up to look directly into his eyes.

“I wanted to make things right with my best girl.”

You playfully rolled your eyes at the slight Captain America reference before delivering another kiss, “Thank you, I love it.”

The meal went according to plan, the two of you enjoying the same shrimp scampi dish he made on your first date together.

You were sipping on your glass of wine when you heard Chris speak up.

“Though I’ve said it more times than either of us can count, I need you to know how regretful I am of how I acted.”

You sighed at his words, “Chris, I said it’s-”

“No, it’s not okay (Y/N),” he interrupted you, “It wasn’t okay for me to lash out at you. It wasn’t okay for me to hurt your feelings.”

“Tonight, I tried to recreate our first date together to show you just how much you mean to me.”

Chris had rehearsed what he was planning on saying for the past few days, but here now in this moment he couldn’t remember a single prepared line. So he just decided to follow his heart.

“(Y/N). The day I met you, it was one of the greatest days of my life. It wasn’t supposed to happen, but fate brought us together- well I guess I should say Ma did with her insisting.”

His words caused you to chuckle, “I can see where you got your determination. She really didn’t quit until she finally got us in the same room.”

The memory of Lisa bringing you two together that afternoon warmed both of your hearts.

“That day we met was the day I knew that there was no one else in the world that would matter to me as much as you would. Every single day that I get the pleasure of seeing that look on your face will forever make me the luckiest man on the Earth. So when I hurled those words at you and took that smile away, it made me feel horrendous.”

You didn’t even realize you had started crying until you felt the warmth of your tears sliding down your cheeks.

Chris reached across the table and curled his fingers around your hand, slightly stroking the back of it with his thumb.

“I know I haven’t been the best boyfriend that I could be. I realized that my own fears of commitment caused me to take out my frustrations out on you, and absentmindedly pushed you away. But I realized that pushing you away was the last thing I ever wanted to happen.”

He felt his heart rate race and his organ beat heavily in his chest, his anxiety slowly rising.

“You are the greatest thing to happen to me. You make the worst days seem minuscule whenever you’re around. I love the way you’re able to always help push me through any obstacle I face, no matter how big or small it may be. The way you easily get along with my crazy family. And I love how you make me feel like I am floating on cloud nine anytime I kiss you.”

Chris felt his hands begin to sweat. One of his hands clasped onto yours, while the other held onto the small box in his left pocket of his slacks.

“A few days ago I had a session with my therapist about you. And during it I realized how much I care about you, and how losing you, even though it was brief, was the worst thing I had ever experienced.”

Slowly standing up on shaky legs, he brought you up with him.

“I had to secretly figure out the right size while you were sleeping the other night,” he began to joke, “You don’t know how hard it was to get the measurement done considering how light of a sleeper you are.”

You felt your heart pound in your chest. You suspected that something was different about his behavior and this evening, and your suspicions were slowly coming to light.

“I can’t ever experience the feeling of not having you by my side again. Waking up to a cold bed and not seeing the way your nose would sometimes crunch up while you're deep in a dream is something I never want to go through again.”

Chris reached into his pocket of his pants and pulled out a cherry red box. The sight of the gold inscription labeling 'Cartier' made your breath catch in your throat and tears fall freely down your face.

The height difference was changed when he steadily dropped down on his left knee, his tear filled blue eyes looking up at you.

“(Y/N), you make me the happiest man in the world. And I know it’s a stereotypical line for me to say, but it’s true. I love how you’re able to bring the best out of me and everyone around you. I love how you love everyone unconditionally. God, I love how fucking breathtaking you are. I am in love with everything about you.”

Letting go of your hand, he held the box in his grasp before cracking it open. The action caused your hands to cover your mouth and you to bend at the knees. With the aid of the lights around the room, it unveiled to you a marquise cut diamond. One either side were two stones. On the left was a pearl, indicating his June birthstone. The other side showed your gemstone, the rocks pairing perfectly with one another.

“So,” Chris began with a shaky breath, “(Y/N) (Y/L/N), will you do me the honor and make me the luckiest person in the world. Will you marry me?”

Your body shook with sobs as you nodded along to his question.

“Wait, are you saying yes?” Chris asked, excitement evident in his tone. “I don’t know if that’s you nodding yes or no.”

Removing your hands from your face you grasped on to your now fiancé’s, “Yes, I would love to marry you.”

Chris didn’t even get the chance to put the ring on you before raising up and slamming his lips against yours. Both of you tasting the salty tears that expelled from the other.

It was his turn to lay a continuous stream of kisses to your lips. Soft chants of ‘thank you’ leaving his mouth between every one.

Pulling away, he retrieved the ring from its box as you held up your left hand. You watched as he slid the band down your finger until it situated perfectly against the base. A content sigh left the both of you.

Chris brought your hand up and kissed the back of it and then your ring finger before locking eyes with you.

You two stayed like that for a while, your gaze flicking back and forth between each other’s lips until finally you two connected them.

This time, the embrace was intimate, more passion filled. Your hands folded against the nape of his neck, the coolness of the gold band making him smile with contentment.

With his hands holding onto your hips, he guided you back until you were met with resistance from the wall behind you; the sudden force causing you to lightly grunt into his mouth.

Lowering his hands until his palms rested on the back of your thighs, he tapped on your skin, an unspoken request for you to jump. While securing your hold on his neck, you jumped up and rested in his palms. With you in his hands, Chris began to walk the two of you towards his bedroom. Since Dodger was staying at his mom's house, he didn’t bother closing the door, not worrying about any sudden intrusion.

Your mouth was still attached to Chris when he laid you down, you head against the soft pillow on the plush bed. His frame towering over you as he shook off the suit jacket from his body, kicked off his shoes and toed his socks away.

“I love you so much (Y/N),” he swooned through kisses.

“I love you too Chris.”

Untying the front of your wrap dress, the silk material fell to the sides of your body, revealing your figure which was only covered by a thin, lace pair of underwear. The sight of your half naked self made him growl down at you in desire.

Removing his lips from yours, he descended down your body, leaving kisses in his wake.

“You’re all mine.”

His lips kissed around your taut nipple, his tongue poking out to flick at your pert bud.

“Forever and always.”

You felt him leaving traces of wetness from open-mouth kisses on your abdomen.

“The love of my life.”

His fingers dug into the sides of your thong before dragging it down your legs.

“My beautiful fiancé.”

You breathing hitched as you felt his warm breath fan across your exposed cunt. The hot air was a stark contrast to the cool slick of your dripping wetness.

“The future Mrs. Evans.”

And with that, Chris flattened out his tongue before running a long stripe up your pussy, lapping up your wetness until he curled it around your clit. “Oh fuck, Chris.”

How exhausting the sexual hiatus that you experienced with the brunette was evident due to how you were squirming on the bed. Your hands spread throughout the sheets, gripping and tugging in an effort to gain some form of steadiness. Over two months without having him on you had you mewling into the air. “Please baby, don’t stop.”

With his tongue occupied, Chris continued to devour you. His tongue alternated between long drags and quick flicks between your folds. You felt the tip of his tongue prod at your opening in a desperate attempt to taste more of you- to feel more of you.

Removing his mouth, he heard you begin to groan in disappointment before it turned into a moan when he spat on your cunt then suctioned his lips around your clit. With one hand holding your stomach down, he used the other to enter your soaking hole with his index and middle fingers.

Chris was gentle with his digits inside of you, dragging his pads alongside your ways, stroking your contracting walls and feeling every ridge. Once he was knuckle deep, he scissored your cunt, basking in the sounds of your squelching around his fingers paired with your content moans of relief.

He replaced his mouth with his thumb, using the limb to draw slow, tortuous circles on your mound as he watched you fall into the deep recesses of ecstasy.

He observed your neck stretch back, exposing a slightly bulging vein running up the expanse. The way your lips quivered as your moans flew freely out. Your legs began to shake when he hit the spot he was all too familiar with deep in your core.

“Look at me,” Chris demanded, his Boston accent evident in his request, “Need’a watch my pretty girl cum all over my fingers.”

The eye contact with the brunette was intense, more fierce than ever experienced before, but you reveled in every second of it. You noticed how his pupils had become blown out, only showing a small ring of blue surrounding the black.

You tried to keep the gaze locked until you felt your orgasm come full force through your body like a tidal wave. “Christopher!”

Upon hearing your screech of desire and feeling your essence begin to soak his digits, he replaced his thumb back with his mouth, longing to taste every single drop of your sweetness. His fingers continued to pump inside of you, prolonging your release and causing more of your juices to flow into and around his mouth.

Chris finally removed his fingers to drink more of you until you attempted to feebly push his head away, the orgasm causing you to lose most of your strength.

“Sorry princess, you know Daddy just can't get enough of you,” Chris moaned as he licked your essence off his lips.

He rose up your lower half and hovered over you staring down at your exhausted self. You mustered the power to raise your arms and grasp his face in your hands before bringing him down to connect lips once more.

The kisses were lecherous, the both of you yearning to taste every single part of the other. Your tongue was firm against his as he massaged yours while you swallowed each other's moans.

Your body felt on fire with the way his large hands were massaging and caressing every inch of your exposed skin. His fingers digging into your softness and pulling you flush against his frame.

Taking your hands away from his face, you began to unbutton his dress shirt, peeling away the material until it unveiled his tattooed chest. Your fingers tracing the large design on his chest before making its way down to his belt, unbuckling it in the process.

Dragging the leather through the loops and away from his body, you unzipped his trousers before reaching in to palm his obvious erection. The action made the man above you keen against your tongue. “I wanna taste you Chris.”

With your thighs around his hips, you nudged him until your positions were switched. His head against the same pillow, he watched as you tugged down the material on his lower half, leaving the two of you completely bare for one another.

You laid down on your stomach between his legs before grabbing hold onto the base of his cock, drawing a hiss from Chris.

His head craned back at the feel of your wet mouth tonguing his length, the wet muscle licking a stripe from the base to his tip. “Ohh- that's it baby.”

You collected your spit before it dripped from your mouth and on his head, the liquid cascading down the massive length. Using it for your advantage, you began to stroke him while attaching your lips around his tip. Your tongue flicked his slit while drinking up his precum.

“God, I love you so much (Y/N).”

Removing one of your hands, you began to swallow his length, stroking off what you couldn’t take down. His moans and groans only stir you on as you bask in the feel of him throbbing in your mouth. With your free hand, you began to palm at his balls; the action making him grip the sheets as well as tenderly holding the side of your head.

His mouth was parted, showing only his tongue, as he panted out. “That’s it baby, such a good girl for me.”

Chris felt his peak slowly approaching, the buildup steadily growing with every swipe of your tongue, suction from your lips and tug at his balls. Though he would’ve loved to release down your throat and watch your mouth milk his balls, he wanted- needed to feel your warmth surrounding him as he coated your walls.

He went to unlatch you from his cock and raise you towards him. “I need to feel you,” he breathed out, “I miss the feel of you around me (Y/N).”

You crawled up his body til you were straddling his hips. Reaching down, you pumped his length a few times before positioning it for entry. The second you began the descent and his head met the resistance from your cunt, you both groaned out.

Chris couldn’t wait any longer so he brought his hands to your hips and fully sank you down on him, sheathing his entire cock inside of you. The action made you lurch forward with your hands planting themselves on his chest in search of stability.

“Oh that’s it princess,” professed Chris, “Missed this tight fucking cunt choking my cock. Missed you so goddamn much.”

With the help of his hands on your hips, you began to slowly work yourself on his dick. Every rise and fall of your hips made you experience the delectable feel of his veined shaft drag against your channel.

“Oh Christopher,” you cooed as you felt him throb inside of you.

“That’s it princess, I’m right here.”

You brought your hands from off of him and covered his large ones. Removing them from your body, you intertwined digits. The new position of your hands allowed the newly added engagement ring to gleam under the light.

If he had a camera, he would’ve wanted to capture the beauty of you in that moment. Every buck of your hips caused your breasts to bounce, the action enticing him even more than already. The sweat that began to form on your body caused your body to shine from the bedroom lights, making your body appear as if it were glowing.

He wanted to frame the glorious sight of you, but he decided to settle with the fact of knowing he would be able to recreate this exact moment for the rest of his life. Recreate with you as husband and wife.

He rose up from the mattress and maneuvered your legs to wrap around his waist before sitting on his haunches. The new position of your naked chest pressed up against his own while he fucked you on his cock was a sort of intimacy that couldn’t be explained.

The closeness of your faces allowed you to feel each other’s breaths warm your features. You could see pupils being blown, feel the sweat dripping off one another, and hear every single sound that escaped the other's mouth.

Attaching his lips to yours, Chris moaned into your mouth. “That’s it baby, cream all around my cock. Milk me til I fill you up with my cum.”

The heels of your feet dug into his lower back and your fingertips gripped onto his neck, leaving scratches in its wake.

You knew for certain that you would have bruises on your waist with the way he had latched onto you, raising you up and down his length.

With every thrust, your sweaty skin slapped together as his balls spanked up against your ass.

“Ahh baby, I- fuck Chris I’m almost there.”

“I know (Y/N), I’m right behind you.”

A few more harsh thrusts as his tip slammed against your g-spot and you were suddenly slammed into the blissful abyss of your orgasm. The tightness of your contracting walls caused Chris to achieve his own release. The shouting sounds of you two reaching your respective peaks echoed throughout the room.

Warmth flooded your body and your cunt as you felt Chris’s cock shoot ribbons of his seed deep into you. He continued to drag you along his length, hoping to prolong the glorious feeling of your pussy throbbing around him.

After the sensation of your peak began to wane, he fell back against the mattress, bringing you down with him.

The two of you laid there in each other’s arms, basking in the warmth radiating off the other.

Chris strokes your back, long traces of his thumb running along your spine as you both regain your breath.

“I’m in love with you (Y/N). So goddamn much.”

Still a little too spent, you nodded while your hands toyed around with his chest.

While you two sat there, a realization popped into the brunette's head, making him begin to stand up. “I’ll be right back.”

You watched his ass jiggle with every step out of the room, the sight making you chuckle. When he returned, he held his phone in his hand.

“Seriously Christopher, you wanna make a sex tape right now?”

A boisterous laughter left him at your assumption, “No sweetheart, not that.”

Chris sat back next to you on the bed as he scrolled through his phone gallery. After a few flicks on his thumb, he finally found the photo that you two took on your first date. You were as beautiful as ever, smiling at the camera as he looked in awe at you.

You watched as he loaded up Instagram and clicked on the plus sign to create a new post. “Chris, what are you doing?”

“Something I should’ve done a long time ago.”

Choosing the desired photo, he went to begin typing out his caption that would unveil you to the world.

chrisevans: A little over a year ago this photo was taken on our first date. I knew from that moment that I wanted to be with you for the rest of my life, that’s why I eagerly asked you to be mine. (Y/N) you make me the happiest man that I could be. I know this past year and a half has been a tough one, especially with everyone in the world claiming that they were dating me while I kept you in the shadows, but enough is enough. There’s no one else that I would rather be with. There’s no one in this entire world that holds a candle to you. To your beauty, your kindness, your everything. You are the love of my life. As of tonight, my fiancé. And soon to be my wife. I love you more than words can describe princess. (Y/@/N)

Chris finished typing out his message before looking down at you, silently asking for approval. He watched as your index finger raised up and clicked on the share button, indicating the end of your secrecy.

A dopey smile made his face before he looked at you, phone in hand, “Now, about that sex tape.”

You laughed at his joke as he made his way to kiss you once more. The embrace was full of contentment due to knowing that things were back to normal with a growing relationship full of unwavering love, reinstated trust, and pure happiness.

A/N: and that's a wrap folks. thank you to everyone who read this series.

also i would like to say that this is in no way an indication of chris evans personality or character. this is just fiction.

if you enjoyed this, please make sure to reblog and comment. feedback is much appreciated !

* divider credits : @firefly-graphics *

#chris evans #chris evans series #chris evans fanfiction #chris evans smut #chris evans one shot #chris evans fluff #chris evans x fem!reader #chris evans rpf #chris evans x reader #chris evans angst #chris evans fic #steve rogers smut #andy barber smut #ransom drysdale smut #pining for professor

[koqabear]

hit me with your killshot, baby (C.YJ)

Summary:

It was a small, quiet town you had decided to move into. One that you could help with any healing or magical needs. What you didn’t expect, however, was to face a demon too powerful for your own good. The worst part? Seems like he’s gotten attached.

Yeonjun x reader/ demon!yeonjun x witch!reader

Genre: fantasy, enemies to ?? thriller(?), angst if you squint me thinks

Word count: 3.0K

Warnings: general physical fighting/violence, mentions of scars, burns, bones breaking, knives, blood, fire, descriptions of pain (let me know if I should add anything!)

a/n: This might get another part if it gets a good response <3 Writing fantasy is rlly fun for me as well, I’m so glad that this is the story that got me out of my writers block lmao

comments and reblogs are always welcome and much appreciated, hope you guys enjoy! <3

Disclaimer!! Absolutely nothing about this story is accurate or real, anything and everything that mc the witch does is made up!

It was about three in the morning when you got the call.

“Hello?” You said, eyes squinted as you had just been woken up from your sleep. The line remained silent for a moment, leaving you to wonder if this was a scam caller. You spoke again, only to hear hasty footsteps becoming louder, presumably running towards the phone.

“Hello?!” The voice called out, the loud exclamation causing you to jolt awake. “Oh my god, oh my god!” Their exasperated voice rang through your line, and you stood to get properly dressed, already anticipating their request.

“Where do you live?” You asked sharply, grabbing the keys to your car and waiting for their answer. They stuttered out their address, the sounds of the rain coming into your ear. They were now outside.

“Please come quick, this spirit has been bothering me for weeks now, I could have sworn they were harmless-“ they cried into the phone, only to get cut off by your stern command.

“Leave your home. I’ll be there in about ten minutes.”

They agreed, their voice quiet and shaky, and you hung up, beginning to drive to your new task.

It was no secret your town had a problem with the supernatural. That was the whole reason you lived here.

‘The town witch’ was what they called you. You remember moving to this small town the moment you turned eighteen, the rumors of the paranormal town beckoning you to help. With potions and incantations by your side, you were the best damn thing this place had ever gotten. But that was six years ago, and you were young and naive. The scars and burns that riddled your body only served to prove your progress, marking your place in this town permanently.

You sighed, your grip on your steering wheel weak. You were, after all, the only help these people had. Late night calls like this were beginning to become much too common recently, leading you to wonder if something, or someone, new was beginning to pester this poor town.

You arrived at the house, the thunderstorm only helping to provide a stereotypical atmosphere for you to work in. You got out your car, pulling your coat tightly against your body, the wind around you strong enough to hinder your footsteps.

The two story home before you rattled in protest, the front door swinging open the moment you got close enough. You felt your heart begin to race, beginning to question if this was truly worth it. It seems that whatever had been pestering the homeowner was no small ghost. Walking inside, you were met with the dark and empty home, the hardwood floor beneath you creaking in protest as you carefully walked around, the house seemingly calming the moment you entered.

You breathed in slowly, attempting to steady your mind as you surveyed the house, recalling what the homeowner told you before hanging up. This had been going on for a while, but it seems that it only recently became too much for them. Whatever was in this home really liked the attention.

Before you were able to take another step forward, you were thrown off your feet, slamming into the wall to your left, the many picture frames and decorations falling before you with a loud crash. The door slammed shut, and you covered your head, bracing yourself as you felt the glass shards begin to be directed towards you.

It’s here, and it’s angry.

Just as the chaos around you finally dulled down, you were met with the sight of the trophy shelf in front of you beginning to shake, your eyes widening as you began to run. You muttered a quick incantation to help shield you, the dull sounds of impact that began to pound against your shield only serving to make you run faster.

The hallway in front of you suddenly seemed never-ending, it’s violet wallpaper becoming harder to see the more you ran. Was the house layout always like this? The hallway suddenly ended, leading you to an open room, quickly recognizing it as the living room. The lights suddenly flickered on, disturbing your concentration as you noticed a shadow walk past one of the doorways.

Seemingly knowing you perfectly, the spirit took this small wavering to throw a book in your direction, narrowly missing your face as you ducked to the side, only to get knocked to your knees as you felt a kick to your back, your disturbed concentration causing your spell to be broken.

You turned around in a haste, summoning your shield once more as you unsheathed the knife you had in your coat pockets.

“Show yourself!” You barked out, standing up as you surveyed the room. “I know you’re here.”

Silence.

The howling wind outside stopped, the flickering lights suddenly still at the sound of your voice. You gripped the handle of the knife harder, trying to not let the exhaustion seep into you. The lights began to slowly dim, a lit ember flickering in front of you, only to be followed by many more, swirling into a raging fire directly in front of you. You jumped back at the heat, the familiar sight making you frown in anticipation.

“You look tired,” the voice said, as smooth and elegant as you first remembered it, “Maybe I could fix that.”

Standing in front of you was no other than Yeonjun. Clad in black, his dark eyes stared into yours as he towered over you, his platform boots shining underneath the dull lights, his hair slicked back and pushed away from his face save for a few strands that hung to frame his face.

“Yeonjun.” You said, a feeling of anger stirring inside you the longer you stared at him

“It’s so nice to hear my name come from you again,” he sighed, taking a step toward you, only for you to step back in retaliation.

Yeonjun was none other than the first demon you tried to expel when you first came here. You had fought with every single potion and spell you spent years perfecting, only to leave hospitalized and unsure that he would return. However, as the years passed and no sign of him appeared, you had assumed that you had succeeded in your battle against him, any signs of hauntings or poltergeists disappearing after that day.

“You,” you snapped, everything finally piecing everything together. “You’re behind everything that’s been happening recently, aren’t you?” You took another step back as he began to laugh, throwing his head back as if you had just told him the funniest thing in the world. Slowly, he calmed himself down, his eyes playful as he took his sweet time responding to you.

“Maybe, why?” He said, beginning to walk towards you slowly. You held your ground, concentrating on keeping your shield steady, they grip on your knife tightening. He stopped centimeters away from it, the aura of the shield humming as his clothes grazed the perimeter, shocks emitting on impact.

“I missed you, you know,” He muttered, head leaning towards you teasingly as he stood just far enough to not be blasted away from your shield. “It wasn’t fun hopping from town to town, trying to mess with other witches that resided there. They were just too…”

“Weak.”

You were barely given a moment before the sight of Yeonjun’s bright eyes filled your vision, the feeling of a scorching heat overtaking your senses.

Yeonjun had trapped you in a ring of fire.

A pretty small one, too.

Slightly panicked, you looked around for any place you could escape, the memories of the last time you got so close to Yeonjun warning you to get as far from him as you could, only to find that it was just you and him, trapped in a space that wouldn’t even allow you to shift backwards.

“What’s wrong?” He asked, his voice taunting as he waited for your next move, “Claustrophobic?”

The weapon in your hand began to heat up, your mind working its hardest to form a plan that would work and let you come out alive. You already knew what this fire around you would do; It wasn’t a simple flame, and the scar on your chest that throbbed painfully in this demonic presence was enough proof of that.

The moment you had healed from your first encounter with Yeonjun, you had put all of the knowledge you had acquired from experience and older, more experienced witches into putting a weapon that would help you with violent demonic problems like him. It had taken you weeks of pure isolation and meditation to engrave the correct energy into the weapon, afraid to make any mistake that could lead to something drastic. By the time you were finished putting the last few touches on the weapon, (a protective incation; the words engraving themselves in fine print letter by letter as you poured the last of your energy into it,) you could barely stand, landing yourself at the house of a medic that specialized with witches.

“You’re lucky that you managed to come out of this with just drained energy,” He had told you one day, standing next to your cot and handing you a homemade medicine; its taste was horrendous, but it did the job.

“I’ve dealt with witches, succeeding or not, that had come out in a much worse condition. You’re very powerful, that much I can tell.” He confessed, his face sobering as he remembered why it was that you were there, “Whatever it is that you’re dealing with, I wish you luck.”

And now here you stand, the results of all your hard work and patience vibrating the more you concentrate on defeating the demon in front of you.

“Don’t tell me you’re going to try and hurt me with that,” Yeonjun laughed, watching the way your grip tightened the moment he landed his eyes on it, your knuckles turning white with the force, “You know your little knife can’t hurt me, right?”

While it was true that regular knives were nothing more but toys to him, you knew that what you were holding was not a regular knife.

But he didn’t.

You remained silent as you stared at him, quirking a brow to silently challenge him. He scoffed, rolling his eyes at your demeanor.

“Giving me the silent treatment now?” He said, pausing for a moment before looking back at you, “Fine. You think you can hurt me with that little kitchen knife?” With a single movement of his hands, the fire dwindled, going down until it was no more,

“Go ahead. Give it your best shot.”

You suppressed a smile.

Yeonjun was a lot of things. Strong, powerful, smart, hell, he was a bit attractive too.

But above all, he was cocky.

Slowly, and as subtly as you could, you adjusted your stance, your eyes never leaving his, ready to let your shield down to attack him.

“No games?”

His lips quirked up, his hands coming up to his sides to show you his full vulnerability.

“Fair and square. Here, I’ll even let you make the first move.” His pitch black eyes twinkled with his signature playfulness, his thoughts displaying to you loud and clear;

I thought you were smarter than this.

You fought the urge to scoff, and instead surveyed him for a moment, stepping back to give yourself a bit more room. He watched intently, his body language open and relaxed, clearly not threatened by you.

You lunged forward.

Before Yeonjun could move away, you swung your knife towards him, your stomach sinking as you missed your target, his neck, and sliced at his face instead. His head turned to the side, a hiss emitting from him as he turned back to you, the slash on his cheek burning into his skin, going deeper into his face as he began to bleed.

Except that wasn’t blood that came out of his face.

A thin liquid, pure black and mixed with the poison of your blade, trickled down his face. Slowly, he brought up a hand to his cheek, touching tentatively at his wound, observing the black substance that poured out of him, before turning back to you.

“Come on, you little vixen,” he groaned, the nickname that he called you from your first meeting rolling off his tongue smoothly, “Not the face!”

Cocky bastard.

But now that your first move was over, Yeonjun took a minute to crack his neck, the black liquid trailing down to his neck as he slowly rolled his head back, pausing for a second before straightening up, smiling at you sweetly.

“My turn.”

Right as you were going to activate your shield once more, Yeonjun ran to you, landing a solid punch to your stomach, sending you flying to the wall behind you, the wind being knocked out of you on impact as you crumbled to the floor. Looking up, you saw him lunge at you once more, mumbling your incantation for your shield, successfully knocking him back at the last second. Tumbling backward, Yeonjun layed on the floor as you slowly got back up, using the wall behind you as support, the wild and unhinged sound of Yeonjun’s laugh echoing off the walls.

“Oh, my little vixen,” he began, sitting up as he watched you regain your composure. “I missed this. I must admit, you have gotten stronger.” Standing back up slowly, you felt the room slowly heat up. You shifted, knowing what it was that he was about to do next.

“It’s exciting.”

Running towards him, you did your best to avoid the trail of fire that was now after you, ready to swing your knife at him as you got closer. Just as you were close enough to him, you swung towards his neck once more, the predictable movement allowing Yeonjun to step aside, only to get a kick to his chest, successfully knocking him down and allowing you to dive down, the fire that was about to pierce the center of your back flying instead to the wall in front of you, the loud boom barely covering Yeonjun’s scream as you dug your knife into his shoulder.

“Fuck!”

You towered over him, straddling his waist and putting as much weight as you could to keep him down. His hands immediately reached up to clasp over yours, attempting to pull the weapon out, only to have you retaliate by digging it into his skin more, his cursing filling up your ears as he struggled against you.

Your jaw clenched and you felt yourself begin to sweat, the same ring of fire from before beginning to enclose around you slowly with no signs of stopping. Your hands began to burn underneath Yeonjun’s touch, obviously his doing as he seemed to concentrate on attempting to scare you off with the same fire that landed you on the brink of death from your first encounter.

But you refused.

You refused to allow the demon to live any longer, to continue to terrorize innocent and defenseless people in your town, or in this world at all. And now that you had him under your grip, your hands struggling to successfully behead him, you weren’t going to let a little bit of pain scare you away.

Your hands began to numb under the heat of his skin, popping noises emitting from under his iron grip. He was attempting to break your hands, to render them useless, but with the adrenaline coursing through your veins, you pushed on, biting back your own groans of pain and trying to concentrate on your current task, and nothing else.

“Come on my vixen, give it up,” he said, his voice laced with pain and false confidence that he attempted to use in order to make you believe that he remained unaffected. But as your knife inched towards his neck, piercing through his skin and emitting a loud sizzling sound, you knew that it was all a bluff by the way he winced, a low grunt of pain escaping him.

“I really don’t want to hurt you, you know,” he confessed, the ring of fire snapping angrily at your legs, the heat making you want to faint from overexertion. But you continued to push on, much to Yeonjun’s annoyance. “Fine, you asked for it.”

He screwed his eyes shut, the ring of fire slightly calming down, along with his iron grip on your hands. Just as you were about to take this chance and behead him, you felt something coming.

You turned around.

A ball of pitch black fire, resembling a pure void, flew towards you.

It all happened so fast. Throwing you off of him, Yeonjun staggered away from you, watching silently as the void of black washed over you, your screams of agony causing him to look away, the slightest bit of pity washing over him.

This was it, wasn’t it?

You couldn’t move as this void of fire washed over you, a feeling as though every bone in your body was being broken and you were being turned inside out coarsed through your system, your screams ripping through your throat, the wish for death appearing in your heart.

But right as you felt as though you were going to black out, it stopped.

And Yeonjun stood over you.

He watched as you lay there, completely paralyzed with pain. It took a bit before you began to breathe again, your chest barely rising, the air flowing into you causing you pain. Slowly, you opened your eyes, Yeonjun’s face inches from yours, the dark liquid from his wounds dripping onto you.

“I almost feel sorry,” he whispered, his lips grazing yours. You tried to hold on, to finish your job, but the very effort of having to breathe exhausted you beyond belief. Slowly, he pressed his lips to yours, the kiss more of a half hearted apology as he lingered there for a second, his lips still against yours. His mind reeled at the feeling, and he pulled away, a soft smile on his face as he slowly brought his hand down, hesitating before caressing your exhausted face slowly, spreading his own blood on your face.

He grinned.

“I look forward to our next battle.”

And he was gone.

Tears pricked at your eyes, and you collapsed.

#txt fanfic #txt imagines #txt ff #txt fanfiction #tomorrow x together #yeonjun fanfic #yeonjun imagines #txt reader #txt x reader #txt x you #txt x y/n #yeonjun ff #yeonjun x you #yeonjun x reader #yeonjun x y/n #fanfic #reader insert #txt oneshots #yeonjun oneshot

[mrsalwayswrite]

To Call Forth Love - Chapter 13

Happy holidays to everyone! 

I’ve been struggling with my writing lately (stupid writers block), but I really wanted to get a chapter out for you guys before Christmas. So ta da! I hope you guys enjoy it and I can’t wait to hear your thoughts!

Few things to note:

-This picks up immediately after the last chapter....*wink wink*

-The Norwegian in here is translated from Google and it means “little one”. 

-Lastly, when i mention ‘football’ in here....i mean soccer (for all the Americans to not be confused). 

Words: 8400

Warnings: Lothbrok family mayhem, swearing, some Ivar violence, sexual innuendos/references 

Series Masterlist

  Standing in front of the wooden door to the Lothbrok home, Kari could not help but wonder where her prior courage had vanished. Sometime between jumping off the bus, walking down the winding street and up the long driveway, her previous courage and determination had jumped ship and was now hiding, leaving her a nervous wreck. She smoothed down her purple skater dress with her hands, cursing herself for her spontaneity. What had she been thinking? She had already knocked once but no one came to the door; either due to her pathetically timid knock or the loud noises inside she could hear, even from where she stood. 

 Mustering up what miniscule courage remained, she knocked on the door again. 

 And waited. 

 And waited. 

 Suddenly the door opened, making her squeak in surprise. She was just mentally preparing herself to turn around and walk away. It was stupid for her to come unannounced anyway. Really, what had she been thinking?

 She figured it would be one of the brothers answering the door, since it was their house. So when she looked up to greet them shyly and apologize for bothering them, the words died a spectacular death on her tongue. 

 Instead, standing before her, was a man that appeared middle-aged or just past that. Yet even dressed in a simple black shirt and jeans, it did nothing to diminish the aura of authority and intelligence around him. What startled her the most was the bright, blue eyes that stared down at her, like she was a puzzle piece found under the rug and needing to be put back in its box. Slowly, a side-smirk tilted one side of his mouth up as he casually leaned against the door with one arm above his head. 

 That's when she realized she had been staring at him for far too long without saying anything. 

 "Oh, um, hi." 

 Never in her life had she wanted to bash her head against a wall until she was unconscious until now. Really? That was the only intelligent thing she could say in the face of the man she was awkwardly beginning to think might possibly be the infamous Ragnar Lothbrok. 

 That smirk never moved on his face as he tilted his head, still staring at her. "You don't look like the stripper we ordered."

 Kari gulped, eyes widening to the size of saucers. Her gaze darted around as if looking for this elusive stripper he was waiting for. "Um, sorry, no. No, I'm not?"

 The man hummed thoughtfully, running a hand over his beard, then peered back into the house over his shoulder. "Bjorn!" 

 Kari's mind seemed to both whirl wildly while also seeming frozen and unable to make a decision. Should she apologize and leave? Should she ask for Ivar? Did she look like a stripper? She ran her hands over her dress anxiously. Someone would have told her if she did, right? Surely, Alana would have. Even as thoughts swarmed her mind, her feet remained rooted to the ground as if stuck in cement.  

 The sound of footsteps on the hard floor alerted her to someone else approaching. Her eyes darted back up from staring at her dress to find the older man still lazily leaning against the door, his gaze seemingly never having moved from her.

 A few seconds later, Bjorn appeared just behind the older man. He was wearing a football jersey and jeans, long hair pulled back in its braid and ponytail. 

 "This doesn't look like the stripper we ordered. What do you think?" The man leaning against the door said, bright eyes assessing her. 

 Bjorn crossed his arms over his broad chest, his own blue eyes scanning her before seeming to come to a decision. He shook his head. "No, looks too damn scared. She does seem familiar though."

 If Kari had any doubts about the identity of the man before her, it died when Bjorn appeared. Ragnar was clearly where Bjorn got his stocky build, even if the son exceeded the father, and the shared, brilliant, blue eyes that must be a Lothbrok trait. Her mind was not given much opportunity to compare the father to his sons as the two continued speaking. 

 "Familiar? Should I know her?" Ragnar thoughtfully ran a hand over his beard again. 

 "I think she's friends with Gyda."

 "Our Gyda?" Ragnar asked in mock-surprise. "She has actual friends? Not just friends to fuck?"

 "Hell, surprised me too." Bjorn said with a shrug, a smile teasing the corners of his lips. 

 "That explains why we don't know her."

 "Hmmm." Bjorn suddenly snapped his finger. "Oh! I think this is the girl that Ivar has a crush on."

 Ragnar widened his eyes. "No….this one?" He looked Kari over once again as if reassessing her before glancing back at his son. "She seems too nice. And beautiful. Hopefully she knows better than to get tangled up with him."

 "I bet Ivar wants to do more than just get tangled up with her."

 Kari was certain her face was flushed an astonishing shade of red by now. Her gaze had been jumping back and forth between Ragnar and Bjorn, like a volleyball during a match. At this last comment and a wink from Bjorn, her gaze dropped to the flats on her feet, unsure what to say or do next. One of her hands drifted up to tug on the diamond earring she wore. 

 "I think you embarrassed her." Ragnar whispered loudly. 

 "Pretty sure Hvitserk has done worse….hey, Ubbe, come here!" 

 The sound of more footsteps approaching accompanied by a gruff 'what?' was the only indication of Ubbe's arrival. 

 "Father wants to know if this is the stripper we ordered."

 Kari peered up as she heard Ubbe begin speaking. 

 "Stripper? We didn't order one…." At that moment, Ubbe moved around his older brother to get a look at her. Immediately, she could tell he recognized her, much to her relief. He huffed, shoving an elbow into Bjorn's side and making him take a step back. "Ignore them, Kari. They're just teasing you. What are you doing here? Come in!" 

 She hesitantly accepted his outstretched hand, letting him guide her inside while Ragnar shut the door behind her. "I'm so sorry to just barge in. I was hoping to talk to Ivar for a moment. I promise I'll be quick and let you get back to your guys' night." She rambled, twisting her fingers around the handle of her small purse in her hands. 

 Ubbe waved a hand dismissively. "Kari, it's fine. You aren't bothering us."

 "But….weren't you guys waiting for a….um…." Her voice trailed off awkwardly, a flush rising to her cheeks again.  

 Ubbe narrowed his eyes at his father and older brother, both standing back and watching on with matching mischievous smiles, as he answered her. "No. We aren't."

 "Oh, okay."

 "C'mon, Ivar is watching TV." Ubbe prompted her to follow him. 

 Cautiously, she took a step forward, clutching her small purse in her hands. She glanced over her shoulder at the two men still standing near the door. 

 Bjorn spoke up when he caught her gaze. "Good seeing you again, Kari. Gyda is back in town from her trip to Cyprus on Sunday. I'm certain you'll get a text from her after that."

 "Perfect. I know she was excited for this trip." Kari smiled back with honesty for the first time since her arrival. She peeked at Ragnar, who just met her gaze with a wink, that smirk never having left his face the whole time. The action sent a shot of warmth through her and she wondered if that meant she had passed whatever test had just happened….or Ragnar just liked to humiliate his children's friends. 

 With that thought in mind, she followed Ubbe to the living room she remembered seeing last time she was here but never stepped foot in. An absolutely massive TV was directly across from the door, a football game on but she did not recognize the teams. Not that she had ever really been professional sports inclined. The dark, leather couch that took up the majority of the floor was a massive sectional with three sides and faced the TV. A glass coffee table was in front of it, littered with beer bottles, paper plates and other various trash. There were a few pictures on the cream-colored walls and a shelving unit cluttered with movies, video games and controllers. It certainly felt like a place for the Lothbrok brothers to crash and relax, which made Kari smile. 

 "That's my baby mama!" 

 The loud shout was the only heads-up the brunette received before she witnessed Hvitserk leap over the back of the couch. With a broad grin covering his face, he swept her up into his arms and spun her around, making them both almost fall as he stumbled. She giggled, holding onto him and amused by his reaction to seeing her. 

 When he finally set her down, his gaze slowly scanned over her. "Look at you. Looking fucking fine. Did you dress up to come see me?"

 She could smell the beer on his breath and the hazy look in his eyes let her know he was not completely sober, but not drunk yet. She patted his cheek as she answered. "Sorry, Hvitserk, not this time."

 "Why?" He whined, laying his head on her shoulder, keeping his arms wrapped around her waist. "You didn't dress up to see Ivar, right? He's being mean to me…."

 She had to bite back a laugh at his childish tone. "I'll tell him to be nice to you."

 "That's why you're the best. He threw a remote at me earlier. A damn TV remote! All I said was I'd happily fuck you if you…."

 Without a second thought, she shoved him away, making him stumble and almost fall back over the couch. 

 "For fuck's sake, Hvits." Ubbe muttered, leaning against the back of the couch, watching them. 

 "What?" Hvitserk stared between the two, eyebrows furrowed in confusion. 

 "Ivar!" Ubbe called loudly. "Come get your girlfriend before Hvits propositions her again!"

 "THE FUCK?!" 

 Kari would have laughed at Ivar's response if the sudden butterflies had not turned into fighter jets and were proceeding to have a dogfight in her stomach. Subconsciously, a hand drifted over her stomach to try and settle the rising nauseous all to no avail. This was why she had come, right? To talk to Ivar. To tell him how she felt. Now that the opportunity was before her, her mouth felt full of cotton and her heart pounded in her chest. 

 Over the background noise of commercials, she could clearly hear Ivar's measured, hard gait on the hardwood floor. Her head turned to a side opening of the TV room, leading directly into the vast kitchen where he was coming from. 

 A moment later, Ivar appeared dressed in sweatpants under his leg braces, a football jersey that she vaguely thought was Norway's, and with his hair unbound and loosely touching his shoulders. He stopped at the open archway leading into the TV room. His brilliant, blue eyes surveyed her as if she was a mirage, trailing over every inch of her. A low curl of warmth bloomed in her core in response. 

 "Kari?"

 "Ah, hi." She did an awkward little wave. After she thought she heard a snort come from behind her but she did not turn around to confirm, too focused on the man she had come to see. To confess to. To tell him that she was ready. To claim him and to be claimed by him. That he made her happy. 

 Slowly, he moved closer and her world seemed to narrow down to him in the moment, swallowed up by blue eyes that made her feel safe and wanted. "What are you doing here?" His eyes scanned her body again, licking his bottom lip. "The fuck you dressed up for?"

 Internally, she shook her head. Of course, he noticed her attire since it was more than her typical work-out clothes. "I, um, needed- no, um, wanted to talk to you. But it's not a big deal. I, um, I didn't mean to interrupt. I'm so sorry, I forgot about your guys' night. I just got excited and wanted to see you." She rushed out, feeling her cheeks flame as the words spilled forth like a broken dam. How had she managed to blush so many times in such a short period? It must be a new record for her. 

 "You just wanted to see me, kitten?" 

 With a smug grin on his face and his hand cupping her cheek, his thumb rubbed her cheekbone delicately. It all sent a pleasurable shiver down her spine, which she desperately ignored. "Maybe?"

 "I told you, you could come over." 

 "I know….I just….didn't want to be a bother."

 "You'll never be a bother." He whispered, his lips ghosting over hers as he spoke, caught up in the spell of the moment as much as she was. 

 Her hands automatically went to his chest as he kissed her, just a simple pressing of lips but it was enough to make her eyes close and a sigh fall from her mouth in response when he pulled back. Her eyes snapped open as he quietly chuckled at her, ready to defend herself. But the humor and affection in his eyes as he beheld her, silenced the retort on her tongue. His thumb stroked her cheek again and all she wanted to do was melt into him. 

 "Why are you kissing that asshole? You're here to see me." Hvitserk whined, breaking the spell surrounding the couple. 

 As if electrocuted, she jumped with an undignified squeak and whipped her head to the side; now remembering the rest of Ivar's family was in the same room and watching the little show they were putting on. 

 Ivar wrapped an arm around her waist possessively as he snarled at his brother. "You fucking touch her and I'll cut off your hands. Then shove one down your throat and one up your ass and keep going until they meet in the fucking middle."

 Hvitserk giggled. "That sounds painful."

 Luckily at this point, Ubbe intervened. He took a step closer and shoved Hvitserk over the back of the couch, earning a giggling squawk from the slightly drunk blond, all the while muttering something under his breath. 

 "Should have cut him off earlier." Ubbe said. 

 Ivar shrugged. "Didn't know he was such a goddamn lightweight."

 "I won!" The cry came from Hvitserk as he lay sprawled on the couch with his head and one leg hanging over the edge. 

 "No, you didn't." Both Ubbe and Ivar replied. 

 "Huh?"

 Ivar glanced down at Kari. "Hvits and Floki were doing shots earlier. Not sure why that fucking idiot thought it was a good idea."

 "Why wasn't it a good idea?"

 "I'm certain Floki actually died from alcohol poisoning years ago and now is a zombie so that's why he's able to drink so much without ever seeming like he's drunk." Ivar said with a shit-eating grin.

 "I HEARD THAT, YOU CRIPPLED BASTARD!" The shout came from the kitchen. 

 "YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO, UGLY OLD MAN!" 

 Kari laughed along with the others, leaning into Ivar's hold on her. "Between Hvits and then your dad thinking I was a stripper, I think--"

 "The fuck?" Ivar interrupted; his eyes boring into hers for a moment before looking up to glare over her head. "You thought she was a fucking stripper? The fuck is wrong with you?"

 Kari turned to look behind her. Bjorn had moved back to the couch, sitting on the far side. Ragnar leaned against a table shoved against the wall, that smirk still on his face and arms crossed over his chest. 

 "I knew who she was." He casually replied. 

 Now Kari was even more confused but before she could explore that dilemma, Ivar rolled his eyes and tugged her towards the couch. "This is why we hang out at your townhouse. Damn it. Fucking getting under my skin on fucking purpose."

 She followed Ivar as he led her around the couch to a spot along the side of the sectional where he clearly had been sitting before, if the beer bottles and his cell phone were any indication on the glass table before them. 

 "Grab that." 

 She reached under and grabbed a woven, throw blanket from a basket under the table as Ivar directed. He took it from her, draping it over their legs, then tugged her into his side like they had done this a million times. All the while, she could feel the eyes of everyone else in the room, even if she was too embarrassed to confirm. 

 "We'll talk after the game, alright?"

 "Sure." She whispered back. 

 When she left the pub, intent on telling Ivar her newfound revelation, she had arrived without a plan. The whole bus ride and walk to their house, her mind had been unable to even attempt to formulate something vaguely resembling a plan. Her thoughts circled and swarmed like an overturned beehive, all fixated on the source of their predicament. 

 Her revelation was no major life altering thing. It did not affect the fate of the world. Hell, most people probably would call her naive or dimwitted for taking so long to realize this. But to her, this revelation - that Ivar was her boyfriend, that she wanted Ivar as her boyfriend, that being with him made her happier and feel safer than she ever had been - it was life altering for her. 

 And that was enough. 

 So, she leaned back against him, loving how he kissed the side of her head as she threaded their fingers together. Her revelation could wait. Most likely he would just roll his eyes at her and say something along the lines of 'fucking finally'. For this moment, she chose to bask in the joy and serenity lighting up her nerves like Christmas lights. Almost giddy in Ivar's embrace. Overwhelmingly happy with her revelation. Ready to see what comes next for them. It was impossible to keep the silly smile off her face. 

 The second half of the football game on the TV started up, and so did the cheering or heckling from the men around. Ragnar had meandered over to the couch, sitting next to Bjorn. Ubbe also had taken a seat, surprisingly being the loudest at voicing his complaints. Even Ivar called out his opinions, but all the while, kept his hand entwined with hers. The brunette sat back amused and just enjoying listening to these men that were supposed to be these ruthless businessmen, yell and threaten the players and refs on the TV like little boys not getting their way. 

 At the next commercial break, she suddenly felt as if a spotlight had been thrust onto her. Tensing, she turned her head to catch a pair of dark eyes staring at her from Ivar's other side. Having "met" Floki months ago, she immediately knew who he was….which did nothing to make her feel less unnerved underneath his penetrating gaze. 

 He leaned slightly closer, eyes holding hers as if looking past whatever walls she had up to peel back their flimsy form of protection and pierce her soul with his gaze that seemed to just know things that were beyond mortal knowledge. 

 Although Ivar kept his blue eyes on the TV, she felt his fingers tighten marginally against hers. 

 "Let me see your hand, liten en."

 Her blue-green eyes blinked rapidly for a moment as her brain absorbed Floki's words. Her eyes darted to Ivar's, who just gave a minimal shrug, but stared back as if curious himself. Shifting, she held out her other hand, unwilling to release her hold on Ivar as their entwined fingers felt like a security blanket. 

 Carefully, Floki cupped his hand under hers, the hard calluses evident under her soft skin. She recalled Ivar mentioned that Floki built Viking ships in his free time, spending months and years on them. His hands certainly were different from what she was used to. They were tough like leather, no part of his hand feeling soft. A hand that was used to hard, physical labor. 

 Floki's other hand rose, tracing the lines on her palm. His dark eyes studied them as if they were stars he sought answers from. She noticed he paid particular attention to the half ring near the fleshy part at the base of her thumb, his own pointer finger following the line several times before moving on. 

 The whole encounter could not have taken longer than a minute, but sitting there, watching this man that Ivar considered a second father, that he clearly trusted and loved, gaze down at her hand….it felt like a lifetime passed in that minute. 

 Slowly, Floki curled her fingers into her palm, forming a fist, then rested it on Ivar's thigh. He withdrew his own hand, only then to peer up and meet her eyes with his own dark ones that just seemed to know too much. 

 Floki hummed, one corner of his lips turning up. "You'll do, little valkyrie, you'll do."

 The tension eased from her body after his statement. Even Ivar seemed to take a deep breath and squeeze her hand that he still held.

 Floki leaned forward slightly, his voice dropping conspiringly. "Good luck with this one though. Ungrateful asshole that he is." 

 Karo covered her mouth with her free hand to smother the smile. 

 Ivar roughly shoved Floki's shoulder, making the older man rock back. "Shut up, you deranged fucker."

 "See?" Floki giggled. "All I've done for this bastard and this is the thanks I get?"

 "Yeah, yeah. Fuck you." Ivar grumbled but was unable to completely hide the amusement in his crystal, blue eyes. 

 Kari tipped forward, nerves dancing in her belly even as the smile graced her lips. "Do you really build boats?"

 Floki cocked his head to the side. "When I'm not babysitting this one."

 "Ah, fuck off."

 "Ivar, be nice." Kari swatted at him.  

 Floki pointed a finger at her, dark eyes alight. "I like her."

 "Both of you, shut up." Ivar said as he tried to watch the game that was back on.  

 Kari could not help herself. She lowered her voice, still looking at Floki. "So, that means you don't get to build often I'm guessing?"

 Ivar swore up a blue streak as he covered her mouth with his hand. The brunette laughed, even as she half-heartedly tried to wriggle away from Ivar. Floki leaned back, giggling like a fiend. Even short bursts of laughter came from the others in the room that had overheard. 

 The end of the game finally came with Ubbe and Bjorn both complaining angrily as they each pulled a wad of bills from their wallets and slapped them into Ivar's upturned hand. A sinfully smug smile resided on the youngest Lothbrok's face. Floki just shook his head and muttered something under his breath about a 'lucky bastard'. 

 Instead of drifting away, everyone seemed inclined to just relax where they were. The volume on the TV was turned down as some sports news program came on that no one really paid attention to. A conversation sprung up between the brothers about the next games and who would win those. 

 Hvitserk was semi-conscious on the couch, his eyes drifting shut frequently, even as he subtly tossed candies at Ubbe near him then feigned ignorance. Until Ubbe walloped him over the head with a throw pillow. Ragnar had moved to sit on Floki's other side, both commenting quietly on something they were looking at on Ragnar's phone. 

 Kari just sat back and listened, content to wait for Ivar. This was a side of him she barely got to see and she wanted to soak in the moment for as long as possible. Absent-mindedly, she toyed with his Thor's hammer necklace, running her thumb along the familiar grooves, as she laid her head on his shoulder. His own arm was behind her, lazily tracing circles on her hip.

 The faint sounds of a door opening and closing from the direction of the kitchen could be heard. Footfalls on the hardwood floor followed as a quick tempo. 

 "Ah, fuck, he's back." Ivar muttered sullenly. 

 Ubbe called out, tapping his beer bottle with his fingers. "Hey, Sigurd." 

 "You're back late." Ragnar said, looking towards the entryway leading to the kitchen. 

 "We went to her place after." The disembodied voice of Sigurd answered. 

 A few chuckled knowingly. 

 "Was the fuck worth going to her show? Last time you said it was boring as hell." Bjorn asked, leaning back on the couch. 

 "If she didn't fuck so good, I'd never go to her show again." Sigurd came around the corner, his braids looking a bit frazzled and his clothes rumpled like he picked them up off the floor. "She's got a good voice but the --" his voice trailed off for a moment as his eyes landed on Kari, cuddled up under Ivar's arm. A cruel grin split his face, eyes never leaving her as he started talking again. "-- the others suck. Right, Kari?"

 At his direct question, her eyebrows furrowed in confusion. She desperately tried to figure out what Sigurd was talking to her about. Who had a good voice? And why would she know? Plus with the look he was giving her, like the cat that caught the canary, anxiety bubbled up inside of her. 

 His grin widened, as he moved closer to the couch. "Don't remember? That's fine. How was your date though? Have a good time?"

 At his words, her blood turned to ice in her veins. Her heart stopped beating. The very air in her lungs transformed into frost, making it difficult to breathe. It could not be….no….

 "What the fuck are you talking about, Sig?" Ivar drawled. 

 "Oh? She didn't tell you? Huh. Interesting." Sigurd leaned his forearms on the back of the couch, his gaze still narrowed on the couple across from him. "She was at the pub too. I saw her there on a double date."

 Please, no….No, no, no. Please. Not this. Not like this. Please! The pleading stampeded through her mind. How had Sigurd been there and she had not noticed? How much did he see? Why was he bringing it up? But as she stared, eyes wide and breath stuck in her throat, she could see the wicked joy in Sigurd's eyes and knew why he was doing this. 

 And there was nothing she could do to stop it. 

 "You're fucking lying." Ivar hissed; jaw clenched. He leaned forward slightly as if ready to leap off the couch and attack his brother. 

 "Oh, I'm lying? Fucking ask her. I dare you." Sigurd chuckled darkly. "She's got herself a man on the side now. Unless you're the side man. Either way, you aren't the only option she has for a fuck."

 Ivar turned his icy, cold gaze onto her. "Kari….what's he talking about?"

 "This…." She swallowed thickly, clutching his hand tighter. "This is what I was going to tell you about earlier."

 "Then you better start fucking talking."

 She nodded, feeling like a mouse who accidently pissed off a lion with no way to escape. Coming from someone else, she knew how bad it sounded. She knew it would piss him off. That was why she wanted to tell him first, so he would know she was not cheating on him in any way. But now Sigurd ruined that opportunity for her. Now she was having to do damage control instead of easily explaining what happened. "Um, well, should we go…."

 "Start. Talking."

 She tugged on her earring, barely able to meet the piercing eyes boring into her. "Um, Alana dragged me to some pub. I thought we're going to hang out and reconnect or something. Um, but turns out it was a double date that her other friend bailed on last minute, so I was the substitute. I swear, I didn't know it until we got there. That's it. I didn't even want to be there. I promise, Ivar."

 Sigurd snickered. "Didn't look that way. Both you and that guy seemed pretty cozy talking and laughing at the table."

 "What?" Ivar snarled, sounding more animalistic than human. 

 Every cell in Kari's body was tense, even as she tried to explain, to reassure the man beside her. His hand now held hers with a death-like grip, further restraining her, almost more than his unrelenting gaze "No, Ivar, it wasn't like that. I promise. We were just having a conversation. I didn't want to be rude."

 "What about…." Sigurd started. 

 "Sigurd, shut up!" Ubbe stated loudly but the younger brother ignored him. 

 "....when the two of you were dancing? Out there on the damn floor for anyone to see? His hands were all over you….and I'm not the only one that saw the two of you leave the pub together after the quick fuck in the bathroom."

 Immediately, Ivar's hand latched onto Kari's jaw with a bruising grip. 

 A shout of his name echoed in the room but all Kari could focus on was the raging fire in his icy eyes and the grip on her jawline that felt more restraining than chains. Never before had he turned his wrath on her. Never before had she truly felt a need to fear him. 

 Now terror slide along her skin, paralyzing her like a toxin, unable to escape the fury about to be unleashed. 

 "Tell me he's lying." Ivar whispered, rage dripping off every word. His body hovered over her, face inches just away, pinning her to the couch. He appeared a vengeful angel with both fire and ice in his eyes. 

 "It wasn't like --"

 He gave her a single, harsh shake, silencing her explanation. "Don't you fucking lie to me."

 "Ivar, please." She gasped out, one hand clasped over his wrist, the other still in his death-grip. Terror rose like the tide within her. Her vision narrowed, only able to see his face, those eyes that simultaneously held fury and agony. And she was unsure which emotion cut her to the quick most. 

 "After everything I've done for you?" He hissed, yet unable to completely overshadow the begging in his tone. "You'd betrayed me like this? Why?"

 "IVAR!"

 But neither Ivar nor Kari could hear the shout. Caught up in their tangled web. Absorbed in each other's tormented gaze. Prisoners to one another and the pain shackling them both. Betrayal on both accounts colored the lines between them. 

 Suddenly, Ivar was yanked away from her at the same time someone pulled her further back on the couch. Physical distance grew between them but Kari could still feel his hands on her. Gripping her. Pinning her down. A touch that had brought her comfort and peace….until now. 

 She blinked slowly, as if awakening from a terrible nightmare, her mind trying to decide which reality it was in. Daring to peek behind her, she was met with Ubbe's concerned face, his hands wrapped around her upper arms. 

 Turning back, she saw Floki holding Ivar against his own chest, his wiry arms around Ivar in a constricting embrace. Those dark eyes watched her, even as he clung to the youngest Lothbrok, with something akin to pity and regret. 

 Ragnar stood in the newly formed gap, hands outspread as if ready to intervene at a moment's notice. His sharp gaze drifted back and forth between Kari and Ivar. 

 Yet it was the caged animal across from near her that monopolized her attention. For how could one look away when knowing, waiting, for a predator to pounce? 

 His chest rose and fell like waves during a storm, rapid and dangerous. Those hands that had touched her so gently, so tenderly, were now in fists. His eyes, so expressive, now for once she wished she could not read. Those icy eyes bleed in misery and treachery. He licked his lip as if tasting her deception, a snarl still tainting his face. 

 It was then she could feel the shakes begin, starting with her bottom lip then sweeping throughout her body with the ferocity of a wildfire. 

 "Let's go, Kari." Ubbe's gentle voice came from behind her, his hands coaxing her off the couch. "Can you walk?"

 But his words were like a ripple amongst a tempest. Her gaze was still locked on the one person she had trusted the most. Who she had shared more of herself with than anyone before. Who had infiltrated her heart and wrapped himself around the organ like a vine, only now for the thorns to pierce through. Who had spoken honeyed words into her ear, and she foolishly believed. Someone she thought she may one day even love….

 "You promised…." She whispered brokenly. "You said you'd never hurt me." 

 As her quiet words echoed in the air, the red haze over his vibrant eyes began to dissipate. The clench of his jaw softened. Fists curled at his side loosened. What tension in his body drained rapidly as reality sunk in. But it was too late. 

 "I trusted you."

 His Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed thickly, his voice coming out like molasses. "Kari…."

 Wobbling, she stood to her feet, barely paying attention to the presence behind her or his steadying hands on her shoulders. All she could see was Ivar. All she could see was the terrifying hurricane of emotions playing across his face, in his eyes. She could see when the realization of what he had just done hit him. The trust he had broken, shattered, annihilated in a single moment. 

 "Kitten." He slowly reached a hand out, a silent pleading in that one word, an apology wrapped up in horror and regret.

 But still she flinched. 

 A large, warm hand gently held her elbow. "I'll take her home."

 She barely paid attention to the figure directing her out of the living room. Barely noted the hand on her shoulder guiding her and steadying her. Barely saw the faces of the brothers as she passed them. Barely paid attention as her feet moved. A watery mist covered her eyes, yet tears refused to fall. She moved on autopilot. The only thing she was aware of was Ivar's voice calling out to her, begging her to come back. A shout. A cry. A lament to the heavens. It tore at her heart. Ripped at her sanity. 

 Yet her feet took her further away. 

 The hand on her shoulder guided her to the front door. Each step felt as if someone else was taking it and she was just watching. For her mind rang with his voice. His cries resounded in her thoughts until it was all she could hear. 

 "Kari! Fuck! I'm sorry. LET ME FUCKING GO! KARI! PLEASE, KITTEN! FUCK! PLEASE, COME BACK!" 

 Her feet moved. Her hands trembled. Tears filled her eyes. Snakes slithered in her belly, threatening to choke her. Or was that because of the ice still in her lungs? Nothing felt real. Only his voice in her mind. 

 A hand tipping her face up brought her back to her senses. She pulled away, instinctual fear coursing through her, making the snakes writhe in her belly. Blue eyes stared down at her, vibrant blue, but like the ocean….not like the sky….not Ivar's eyes. 

 She blinked several times, only for the face of Ragnar to clear before her like a silhouette from amidst a fog, finally taking shape. 

 "….just wanted to see if we needed to stop by a hospital." He was saying. 

 She just shook her head. 

 Those eyes, familiar but different, scanned over her once more before he grunted and opened a car door. 

 She paid no attention to the car as she slid in. She hardly noticed the expensive leather under her hands or the faint scent of cigarette smoke. Her mind scarcely registered when Ragnar asked her where to go. Somehow she was able to give directions back to the townhouse, even as her mind refused to acknowledge the twists and turns as they traveled back through the city. 

 Occasionally, she could feel Ragnar's gaze on her but she continued to stare at her hands, her fingers twisted together. 

 All her mind could focus on was how everything had gone so wrong. She had been so excited, so hopeful, when she arrived at the Lothbrok home. At the pub with Peter, it felt like her world had been turned upside down, but in a way that it was corrected. Like she had been looking through a lens that was just out of focus. Then with the revelation that Ivar was her boyfriend, that she wanted Ivar to be her boyfriend….she could finally see clearly. She understood. 

 And just as suddenly, her world shifted off its axis and tumbled away to crash and burn. 

 "Kari."

 She lifted her eyes to Ragnar then looked around, recognizing they were parked in front of her townhouse. 

 "Thank you." She whispered robotically, unbuckling and getting out of the car. 

 To her surprise, Ragnar stepped out, walking around the car to stand in front of her. Silently, he held out her purse, something she had forgotten during the mayhem. With a nearly silent 'thank you', she took it, expecting him to leave now. Instead, he vaguely gestured towards the townhouse with a shrug and muttered, "I'll walk you up."

 Wordlessly, they walked up like two shadows in the night. She unlocked the door, only fumbling with her keys once. After stepping in, she kept her hand on the door and turned around to thank Ragnar for the escort. Once alone, with only her bed and heartache to comfort her, she planned to uncork the bottle of emotions inside of her. To let them explode freely in waves of tears, anger and self-pity. For now, she greedily clutched onto the numbness around her mind. 

 Aiming for a small smile, but most likely looked like a painful grimace, she met the vivid, blue eyes of Ragnar. She opened her mouth to thank him, the words on her tongue….

 ….until a muffled scream filled the air. 

 Kari froze along with Ragnar, both staring in the vague direction of the scream. It only took a second before another sound drifted from upstairs of a pleasured 'yes!' for Kari to recognize it. 

 Unable to help herself, the wearied brunette placed her forehead against the door and allowed a few, stray tears to slip down her cheeks. Apparently Alana had come back with her date….and they were loudly enjoying themselves. 

 "Your roommate?"  

 A single nod was all she could give to answer Ragnar's question, unable to speak with the sob stuck in her throat. She did not have the mental or emotional energy to deal with Alana right now. It was taking all she had to suppress the pain, despair and anguish that threatened to choke her. Until she was alone, she dared to fight the emotions, wrapped in numbness. Yet somehow, she had managed to forget about what happened at the pub while coming back with Ragnar. Too consumed in how everything went wrong. The feeling of Ivar's hand on her, gripping her painfully. The betrayal in his gaze. Knowing her roommate and date were here, that she would be forced to listen to them, unable to truly be alone….she just wanted to collapse into a heap and cry at the cruelty of the past several hours. There had been so much hope only to be dashed against the unbreakable boulders of reality.

 Ragnar grunted, gaze directed towards the ceiling after another loud feminine shout filled the air. "Go sit down. I'll take care of it."

 "It's not --" 

 "Go sit." He placed a large hand on her shoulder, directing her further inside, closing the door behind them. "It'll only take a damn minute."

 Without Ragnar's hand on her shoulder, she knew she would have been stumbling towards the couch in the small living room. She felt utterly drained, like she had nothing left to give. If anyone else tried to ask her to do something, she might melt into a pile of human goo. Hastily, she wiped away the few tears that had spilt over but knew there was more to come. 

 Once she was sitting down, she gave Ragnar an uneasy smile as he hovered near her. He nodded then turned and headed up the stairs, taking two at a time. She closed her eyes and leaned her head back on the couch. A throbbing pain was growing in her jaw. The skin was sensitive to the touch. She wondered if there would be bruises already, tainting her skin, mapping out where Ivar had touched her. But she was not brave enough to look. 

 Within seconds, loud, angry shouting came down the stairs. 

 Kari recognized the sound of Alana arguing, but was unable to make out most of the words. Desperately, she wished she could tune everything out, but the shouting seemed akin to a jackhammer in her mind, unwilling to be ignored, no matter what she tried to do. 

 A minute later, harsh footfalls echoed down the stairs. 

 Kari blearily opened her eyes. Alana's date came down the stairs first with his dark-wash jeans on but unbuttoned and pulling his shirt over his head once he stepped off the stairs. Never once did he glance her way as he headed towards the front door, muttering under his breath the whole time. 

 Alana was on his heels with a pair of sleep shorts and wrinkled t-shirt on, a far different look from her glamorous appearance earlier. Her eyes locked on Kari as she descended the final few steps, with a small overnight bag thrown over her shoulder and a pair of sneakers in her other hand. None of it distracted from the waves of rage pouring off of her and the sneer morphing her pretty face into something hideous. 

 "You must be sucking their cocks all day to have the Lothbroks wrapped around your little fucking finger." She spat. 

 Kari blinked owlishly. 

 "Can't even deny it? I always knew you're a goddamn slut, even if you pretend to be fucking perfect."

 A deep rumble came from halfway up the stairs, but Kari could easily see Ragnar staring down at her roommate like a hawk seeing a wounded mouse and wanting to watch it squirm for just a bit longer. 

 "I recommend you vacate the premises….unless you prefer the alternative?" Ragnar smiled with a sharp edge.

 Even with him not even looking at her, knowing he was on HER side….a chill swept down Kari's spine and made her visibly shiver at the malicious look in his eyes. He looked like the wolf finally shedding the sheep's clothing and enjoying watching his prey realize their mistake to trust him. 

 Alana tightened her grip on her bag and shoes, glaring up at Ragnar. With one last hateful glare and a quietly murmured "fucking bitch", Alana stormed out, slamming the front door behind her. 

 Eyes closing on their own accord, Kari took a deep breath. She heard Ragnar finish descending the stairs. At this point, she guessed he would leave since there was no reason to stay. Surprising her again, she felt the couch dip as a weight settled on the other side.

 The two sat in silence for perhaps a couple of minutes before the brunette softly spoke.

 "So you're where he gets it from?" 

 "Who?"

 She smiled despite herself. "Ivar….with threatening people….except you're much scarier."

 Ragnar snorted. 

 Silence slipped back in, weaving itself around the two like a comforting blanket. Such an odd sensation since Kari barely knew the man an arm's length away from here. Yet he had driven her home, which was more than expected of him. More than that, he made sure she was safe and comfortable in her home, going to the length of removing her roommate so she could hopefully have some resemblance of peace tonight. 

 Maybe another time she should question her judgment in trusting him as she was but right now….she was exhausted and struggling against the painful waves of emotions that slammed against her viciously.  

 "Are you certain you want to stay here tonight?" Ragnar's voice broke the serenity around them. 

 "I don't have anywhere else to go." She answered with a hitch in her voice and far more candor than she probably should have.

 He hummed quietly in acknowledgement. 

 After a long second, she felt two fingers gently lift her chin. Her eyes snapped open to see Ragnar leaning slightly closer, vibrant eyes scanning her face. With a resigned sigh, he pulled back, throwing an arm across the back of the couch but kept his sharp gaze on her. 

 "If you choose to go to the hospital later, I'll pay for everything."

 She waved a hand feebly. "It's fine. I don't….It's not that bad."

 "What will you do now?"

 She knew what he was referring to. Not just about her physical situation, but about his son and what would become of them. "I don't know. I can't…." She shook her head. "That wasn't okay. I'll tolerate a lot of shit from Ivar but this…."

 Several long seconds passed as she stared, without truly seeing, at her hands in her lap. Silence clawed its way back up, but this time carried an edge of tension with it. Something Kari was unsure what to do with. 

 "Good."

 His delayed response surprised her. Her blue-green snapped up to meet his own, wondering what he meant. 

 He leaned forward again, putting his elbows on his knees. "My sons speak highly of you. Hell, from what I heard Hvitserk would love to steal you from Ivar. Possibly Ubbe too, finally get rid of his dumb, fucking girlfriend. Gyda talks about you frequently. Even Torvi seems to like you." He narrowed his eyes, that edge of danger creeping back in and making her spine straighten subconsciously. "But you are soft. In our world, that is a dangerous quality to have."

 "I'm sorry?"

 He chuckled, his voice low as if talking to himself just as much as her. "Perhaps that's why Ivar likes you. You're good for him. Damn good. Everyone has noticed a difference in him since you entered his life. But the question is….is he good for you?"

 And if that was not the question Kari found herself asking too. 

 "I thought so." She wiped away a stray tear. "That's why I came to the house tonight. Ugh, it seems so stupid now. I just….I realized I wanted Ivar to be my boyfriend. Officially. That's what I wanted to tell him. I realized with him, I've been happier now than I have been for years before. I was so excited to tell him that--" her voice broke with a sob. She covered her mouth but she could not stop the tears that still flowed. It took a long moment for her to regain her composure, to be able to speak past the suppressed sobs clinging to her throat with their talons. "I'm sorry. You don't have to stay. I'm….I'll be fine."

 "You have the space to yourself tonight. Your roommate will not be coming back until morning."

 "Oh….thank you. Thank you for everything. Really."

 "Where's your phone?"

 She gestured towards her small purse that she'd dropped onto the coffee table. Ragnar easily found her phone, messing with it for a few seconds, then carefully set it back on the table. 

 "I added my personal contact. If you need anything, do not hesitate." His gaze bored into hers as he continued. "I'll help keep Ivar away from you, for as long as you need."

 "Wha--"

 "Unless you wish to speak with him now?"

 She slowly shook her head. Even if the notion of talking to him cut her as deep as not talking to him, she knew she needed the space and time to think. Tonight had brought about a devastating revelation and she was unsure what to do next. 

 A sad smile graced his lips as if he already knew what was to come. "I thought as much. I'll do what I can to give you space but Ivar is a persistent bastard. If it becomes too much or he shows up here, you call me. Night or day."

 "Why? You don't know me."

 "You're a good girl, Kari."

 That did not answer her question at all but her follow-up question never reached her tongue as she watched him stand. 

 "Think about what I said. You're good for him, but he might not be good for you. Think about that. If you can figure it out now, it'll save you heartache later on. Trust me on this."

 She nodded. "Thank you, Mr. Lothbrok."

 He smirked, shaking his head faintly. "Call me Ragnar." 

 With a parting smile, he walked away and out of the townhouse leaving a deafening silence in his wake. 

 Kari sat on the couch for several long seconds, her mind and body at war what to do. With a heavy sigh, she finally pushed herself off the couch and went to lock the front door. Even if Alana did show back up, at least for the moment she could pretend she was shutting out the world. 

 Next, she snatched her purse off the table and checked her phone - only to see 18 missed calls, 11 voicemails and 23 texts from Ivar. She swiped the notifications away without even checking them. Not ready to see what he had to say, to question if his apologies were real. She was just too exhausted to care. Barely paying attention to her surroundings, she trudged up the stairs and to her bedroom. Shutting the door behind her, she shimmied out of her dress and ungracefully collapsed onto her bed. 

 Finally alone, the floodgates broke and the tsunami of pain and regret escaped. She curled into herself as sobs wracked her body. The sound of her distress played like music in the air, drowning out everything else, leaving her feeling even more alone than ever before. 

 She did not know how she would feel come morning, but right now, in this moment, she wished she had never met Ivar Lothbrok. 

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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[twiceinadream]

“Make me yours.”

Requested: Yup

Request: shy! Alphas dahyun and tzuyu mating reader for the first time. Like there shy until she just begs them to take her and something jus flips?

a/u: Hey, y’all, I’m back! I’m so sorry I was gone for so long, writer’s block and life haven’t really been my friends for the past seven weeks, but I finally managed to finish a fic! I hope you enjoy it and my slow return back to posting. Also thank you so much for 3,000k+ followers, I love you guys!

Category: NSFW and Fluff

Word Count: 2.8k

Clouds began to crowd the sky as the morning light was blocked by the downpour that had seemed to manifest out of thin air, the streets made slick with rain as early commuters combated with the elements. But it also created a peaceful atmosphere for you and your girlfriends as the light tapping of the rain against the floor-to-ceiling windows gradually roused you from the depths of sleep, a loud yawn erupted from your lips as your eyes fluttered open.

The scent of the two Alphas snuggled on either side of you filling your senses as you reveled in the moment, enjoying the feel of their bodies against yours until it seemed like you began to burn up. Your skin felt clammy as sweat began to bead along your hairline, the feel of fire felt like it was beginning to claim the pit of your stomach when an overwhelming sense of urgency coursed through your veins, ‘You were in heat.’

The comforter covering your bodies felt suffocating as you pressed your thighs together in an effort to stop the wetness from sleeping out on the bed, while you did your best to weasel away from the women clinging to you. Holding your breath as you snaked your way to the edge of the mattress so you could make a bolt to the en-suite, locking the door behind you as your legs finally gave out from under you and helplessly slid onto the floor.

Your underwear was completely soaked in your slick as you barely had enough strength to peel them off you before discarding them on the bathroom floor. The feel of the tile under your heated skin did wonders to relieve the burn you felt as one of your hands began sliding it’s way down to the burning between your legs. You shyly toyed with your slit as your fingertips dipped shallowly into your center, running your fingers through the wetness but stopping before you could properly pay attention to your clit as more of your essence began spilling out. Drenching your hand in wetness as you finally gave in and plunged into your depths. Your walls immediately tightened around the sudden intrusion as a guttural moan released itself from deep within your chest, your hand pistoned itself in and out of your entrance as you could feel your first release building up inside of you. The cool in your stomach growing taught as you pulled your fingers out from inside and moved up to attack your clit.

Your fingers frantically flicking, rubbing, and circling the straining bundle of nerves as your eyes remain squeezed shut, your breathing beyond labored as you balled your fist against the tile. Your body bracing itself as it froze for a fraction of a second before releasing all the tension it had stored within itself.

Streams of pent up arousal came shooting out of you as you continued to focus all your energy onto your clit as your peak took you to heights you never thought imaginable. You were becoming acutely aware of the screams echoing off the bathroom walls that you finally recognized as your own as your orgasm finally died down. Slight jerks wracked your body as your hand fell to the side, a content smile forming on your lips as the aftershocks of your orgasm thrummed throughout your body. A contented sigh falling from your lips as you rested peacefully against the bathroom door, until a knock sounded cr behind it.

“Y..Y/N? Are you okay?” Your blood ran cold as Dahyun’s voice sounded from behind the door.

“Mm hmm.” You hummed, “Everything’s fine!” You tried to sound more put together than you felt to mask the fact you were in heat and surrounded by your two, unmated girlfriends.

“No you’re not.” It was Tzuyu this time. “We can smell you from underneath the door.”

‘Well, shit.’ You mused to yourself as you slowly began to stand up, ‘That didn’t work.’ You sighed, knowing it was impossible to put off the inevitable, “Okay, fine. I’m coming out.”

To say you were nervous would be a gigantic understatement as you braced yourself to face your girlfriends. Exhaling slowly as you pushed the door open to find the two Alphas you had left in bed this morning staring at you, “Morning.”

Dahyun and Tzuyu deadpanned as they stood up straighter, your scent finally hitting them in full force as they took in your appearance. From the flush of your cheeks to the clenching of your thighs, “You’re in heat.”

It was your turn to deadpan as you looked at Tzuyu, “No shit, Sherlock.”

Dahyun suppressed a laugh as she tried not to look at the stunned disbelief on the taller Alpha’s face, “What Tzumong meant to say was, ‘Would you like some help with it?’.”

You giggled slightly, “Depends.” A coy smile grew on your face as you palmed the Alpha’s bulges through their boxers, enjoying the way their alpha-hoods swelled under your touch. Their scents combined into a dominant musk that made your mind spin and your core clench. “What do you have to offer?”

-

Tzuyu huffed a laugh and sat on the bed beside you, reaching her hand between your legs to rub at your swollen, slick clit to ease the need that your heat would be bringing without someone inside you. Dahyun quickly pulled her shirt and bra over her head, tossing them both to the floor and eased her boxers the rest of the way down her legs. She watched with a smile on her face as Tzuyu teased you and pressed her own erection up against you, grinding to work you up even more.

Dahyun climbed back onto the bed, laying down beside you as her cock strained against the cold air of the room, slipping her hand down to press two fingers inside of you. Tzuyu pulled her own hand away, drawing out a desperate groan from you as she did so. She undressed quickly, her clothes ending up on a pile on the floor next to Dahyun’s. Her hand found your clit again as she laid down beside you like Dahyun had done.

“What do you want us to do to you, baby? You’re already so wet for us.”

You struggled to find the words to answer that question, your mind torn between how good both of their hands felt on you but also the desire and the need for more. Tzuyu chuckled when she didn’t get a response to her question, her eyes flicking up to meet Dahyun’s.

“Then I guess it’s up to us. Isn’t it, Y/N-ah?” Tzuyu ran her tongue over your lips eliciting a groan at all the possibilities of what was to come at the hands of your Alphas.

Dahyun couldn’t suppress her smile as she felt her length pulse, “Sounds good to me, Tzu.” Both of the girls took their time to feel you up as they each made their way to some part of you. Dahyun moved in front of you to place lingering kisses along your chest making you squirm against her wandering lips while Tzuyu busied herself with placing open mouthed kisses on the base of your neck and up to your jaw as you continued to pant under their ministrations.

The slick between your legs was practically smeared along your thighs and probably soaking into the bed sheets by now with how turned on you were. The fire of your heat burned so hot in your lower belly that you felt like it was going to consume you from the inside out if the Alphas surrounding you didn’t do something quick.

A desperate whine left your throat as you rocked your hips backwards to grind against Tzuyu, her hardness digging into your ass when you finally decided that now was finally the time.

You were finally going to ask them to be your mates.

A shuddering breath fell from your lips as sweat dripped down your face, a look of determination in your eyes as you called both of your girlfriend’s attentions. Causing them to momentarily stop what they were doing to face you, “I’m ready.”

The sudden confession surprised them both as Dahyun looked at you with concern, “Are you sure?”

You appreciated her worry but you could barely think of anything other than the two of them plowing you into the mattress as you nodded, “Make me yours.”

A wide smile broke out onto both of their faces as they placed a kiss on opposite sides of your cheeks, Tzuyu nuzzling into your hair as she wrapped her arms around your waist, “And we’ll make you ours.”

The both of them helped you roll onto your side, having you face Dahyun. Tzuyu’s hands helped to support your thighs to keep them spread for Dahyun as she brought the head of her cock to your already dripping cunt. She chose to tease you at first, not pressing inside but instead rubbing slow, steady circles with it, enjoying the way your entrance fluttered the more you got worked up. Sliding her alpha-hood between your folds to lube up her length a little more before she got ready to push into you for the first time, not bothering to add any additional lubrication other than your guy’s combined wetness as you were practically soaking.

Tzuyu snaked one hand up to palm at your breasts, tugging and pinching a nipple between her fingers, causing your hips to jerk forward towards Dahyun. When she finally pushed forward, sliding the tip of her cock inside of you after she felt you had enough teasing. Your breath catching in your throat as she slowly began pushing into you, your walls squeezing down on her at the unfamiliar stretch as you gritted your teeth a little at the pain. Your eyes squeezed shut as Tzuyu whispered words of encouragement into your ear as she continued to toy with your breasts, doing her best to make the small amount of pain you were experiencing turn to pleasure as soon as possible.

Your body relaxed when Dahyun had finally bottomed out inside of you, she waited patiently for you to adjust to her size when you nodded, “You can move.”

She grunted in response as she pulled out so that only the head of her cock remained inside of you, before carefully thrusting back inside of you causing you to cry out in relief as you were filled up again, the stretch of Dahyun’s length starting to finally feel pleasant. You tilted your head back to rest against Tzuyu’s chest, panting loudly as Dahyun began thrusting.

She took over Tzuyu’s hand that had been supporting your thigh, as she brought your leg to hook around her hip instead. Tzuyu continued to palm at your breast with one hand, moving her now free hand to your ass, using her finger to tease at your other hole. A needy and desperate whimper escaped your lips as Tzuyu’s finger prodded and threatened to press inside.

“So eager.” The taller Alpha teased with a chuckle before standing up, heading to their bedside table.

You let out a whine, Dahyun’s cock was inside you just like you wanted - needed - but her hips stopped moving. You needed more and you needed it now. Dahyun shushed your whines, pressing gentle kisses to your shoulder before switching to nipping at the skin, enjoying the breathy moans you gave in response.

The bed dipped as Tzuyu found her spot behind you again except this time with a bottle of lube in hand. Tzuyu popped the cap, squeezing it into the palm of her hand with a wet noise before tossing the bottle aside. With one hand she began to ease her fingers inside your hole, starting with just one digit but quickly moving to two with the desperate noises she was making.

Dahyun waited patiently, wanting so much to just begin thrusting with how amazing it felt to be inside of you, your walls clenching tightly around her but she knew she had to wait for Tzuyu and it would be worth it. Tzuyu worked her way up to three fingers, enjoying the way you stretched for her before finally pulling away, earning yet another desperate whimper from deep within your chest. She used the rest of the lube to slick up her own cock as she pressed the head of it against your hole, pausing for just a moment before pressing inside.

You clung to Dahyun’s shoulders, fingernails digging in harshly as you wailed with pleasure, feeling both of your holes be filled up just like you’d been impatiently waiting for. There was a pause when Tzuyu bottomed out, the two alphas giving you a moment to adjust before Dahyun gave the first thrust. Your fingernails dragging down Dahyun’s back with a loud moan as Tzuyu thrusted in as soon as Dahyun was drawing back, the two of them alternating their thrusts into you.

“More! Please, please more!” You gasped, your heart racing and mind dizzy as your heat fully took hold and demanded even more from them.

Both Dahyun and Tzuyu were more than willing to oblige. Dahyun moved one hand up to pinch at one of your nipples, while Tzuyu busied her mouth with sucking dark hickeys into the muscle of your shoulders. They both began to thrust into you harder, enjoying the loud moans that you were letting out. You squirmed between them, not to get away from the pleasure but seeking out anything else they could give you.

“How does it feel, Jagi?” Dahyun asked breathlessly, punctuating her words with a teasing press of her newly formed knot against your aching entrance, “I bet you’ve been dreaming of this moment. Tzumong and me filling you to the brim as you lose control”

Tzuyu leaned in, murmuring against your ear as she joined in on the teasing, “You’re so spoiled, Y/N-ah. Having two Alphas taking care of your heat.”

“Fuck! Just…knot me.” You groaned, squeezing your eyes shut as their teasing made the coil in your belly tighten.

Dahyun used one hand to grip your hip to push her knot inside first, doing so with a rough snap of her own hips followed by a delighted sigh. It had entered with a loud, slick pop. Your inner walls instantly clenched tightly around it. By the noises you were making, both Dahyun and Tzuyu could tell that you were so close to your peak, so Tzuyu followed Dahyun’s lead, pushing her knot inside your ass with a forceful thrust.

Causing you to cry out as you clenched hard on the two cocks inside you, viciously dragging your fingernails down Dahyun’s back as you felt both of your girlfriends release inside of you. Filling you up with their cum as they grunted and groaned against you, both of them sharing the same thought as they simultaneously sank their teeth into both sides of your neck.

Mating you.

Claiming you.

Their bites were the final straw as you were thrown over the edge, a high pitched scream escaped from your throat as you felt all the tension building inside of your body finally find its release. White filled your vision as every part of you spasmed, helpless to the onslaught of pure pleasure that made every nerve in your body stand on end. Before your high began to taper off as you fell bonelessly against Tzuyu.

The Alpha snaked her arm around your waist, pulling you as close as possible to her, palm rubbing and pressing against your stomach. A weak groan escaped from you at how full you felt before Tzuyu stopped, pressing a kiss to your shoulder. Before propping herself up on one elbow, watching as Dahyun began to card her fingers through your hair, a goofy smile on her face as she trailed a finger down to the fresh bite on the right side of your neck. Her mark.

Both of their knots had shrunk enough inside of you for them to pull out but they continued to lie there, not moving.

That was until Tzuyu began to laugh from behind you, jostling you and Dahyun slightly as she calmed with a sigh, “I can’t believe we did it. We’re mates.”

The word felt strange but familiar all at the same time as you pushed the Alphas back slightly so that they were no longer inside of you, allowing you to lie on your back so that you could see the both of them properly, “Took us long enough.”

A chuckle also came from Dahyun as she linked her fingers with Tzuyu’s as their hands rested against your stomach, “At least we did. I guess that finally makes you our Omega now, doesn’t it Y/N.”

You couldn’t suppress the smile growing on your face as you took their interlocked hands that were resting on your belly and brought them to your lips, kissing them both. “And I guess that makes you two my Alphas.”

The two smiled as they cuddled into either side of you, “Yes, yes it does.”

#fortwice #twice #twice imagines #twice prompts #twice scenarios #twice one shot #twice omegaverse #twice smut #twice fluff #kim dahyun #chou tzuyu #twice dahyun #twice tzuyu #alpha!dahyun #alpha!tzuyu #omega!reader #alpha!dahyun x alpha!tzuyu x omega!reader #datzu #i love you guys #anonymous #twiceinadream

[mrs-gucci]

Mr. Handsy {Clyde Logan x wife!Reader}

@icarusinthesea :

Okay, okay. I think I've thought of something. Eh, it's a mediocre idea, but it does it for me. Fighting with Clyde followed by sweet, hot, nasty make up sex. I can not think of anything else. But whatever you write I'll love. 🥰

author’s notes: hello, hello! writers block has been hitting HARDCORE as of late, which is kind of a bummer, but luckily I’m feeling a bit better now! @icarusinthesea​ thank you for this request!! I hope it was worth the (very long) wait, and I send love to you, friend <3 <3

warnings: fluff. smut. club brawls. violence against an asshole. protectiveness. dom!Clyde. oral sex (m receiving). rough sex. unprotected sex/creampie.

(possible) tw’s: non-con touching (not by Clyde). physical conflict. sex in a public restroom.

word count: 1.9k

my general taglist peeps! @safarigirlsp @babbushka @mrs-zimmerman @dirtytissuebox @thepalaceofmelanie @einmal-im-traum @charliesahottie​ @gotham-city-uber-driver​ @gildedstarlight​ @slytheriin2002 clyde’s taglist peeps! @goddessofsprings​ @icarusinthesea​ @lumdelacour​ @readingreaver​ @eagerforhoney​ @trubluepensfan​ @beachwoodmonet​ if you’d like to be added to any of my taglists, the sign up is linked here and can also be found in my description :)

You had a bad feeling about this place from the very beginning, from the moment you stepped into this stupid sleazy club for your co-worker’s birthday.

Clyde decided to tag along, mainly to hang out with the other poor guys whose wives dragged them along tonight.

The bass pulses your eardrums as you make your way over to the booth that they’d claimed, saying some very loud ‘hi’s’ and ‘hello’s’ to everyone before taking a seat on Clyde’s lap.

Your outfit certainly matches the locale of tonight’s party, sexy and risqué while maintaining at least some coverage and dignity for your larger areas. Clyde’s been having some trouble keeping his eyes, and now that he can, his hands, off you.

His calloused flesh hand runs over your thigh and hip in a soothing manner, mindless in its movements over your exposed skin.

Soon, a good dancing song comes on and no matter how much you try to beg Clyde to join you on the crowded floor, he refuses, insisting that you go have some fun with your friends.

His eyes keep a close watch on you, knowing that unfortunately, it’s highly likely that some bonehead Joe will come along and think he can touch without permission.

He finds himself in a sort of entranced state, watching the way your hips move when you dance, watches your skin bounce and jiggle with each motion, sees the way the multicolored lights bounce off the sequins on your dress…

Sure enough, said bonehead Joe dances his way over to you, not-so-subtly checking you out from a bit of a distance before making his approach.

Clyde almost instantly leaps into action when his hand touches your hip and he slides in behind you. Thinking that the man behind you is Clyde, you start grinding against him a bit more, smirking.

But, only after a second or two, his motions and touch begin to feel awfully foreign. You’ve just truly begun to doubt your dancing partner’s identity when he leans down to whisper in your ear.

“Keep dancing like this and I’ll just have to take you home, babygirl.”

Goosebumps form on your skin in disgust the moment you hear an unfamiliar voice, yanking away from his grubby grip.

“How dar—“

“Hey, you!”

Your eyes widen and you look around the man to see a very angry-looking Clyde storming his way over to where you’re standing.

He turns the handsy man around with a hand on his shoulder, then gives him a shove. “Can’t ya see she’s married, asshole? Don’t you ever think ya can just go ‘round here, touchin’ what ain’t yours.”

“Cly—“

“Don’t ya even start with me right now, Y/N. I can’t believe ya didn’t stop ‘im, can’t believe ye kept grindin’ against ‘im.”

Your eyes widen. “Clyde, p-please, it’s not like tha—“

“I thought I told ya t’ can it, Y/N.”

You shudder at his commanding and harsh tone, immediately backing down and biting your lip as the tears swell in your eyes.

The man wears a small smirk, giving Clyde an equally rough shove backwards. “And what, you’re telling me she’s yours? Bullshit she is. Who’d ever wanna marry a one-armed redneck like you?”

Big mistake. Clyde used to just stand down and shut off whenever someone made fun of his disability, but usually now, he just gets fucking pissed.

Sure enough, his jaw clenches and he quickly lunges at Mr. Handsy, forcefully knocking him to the scuffed dance floor. Often times, mostly due to his kind and gentle demeanor, you forget that Clyde’s a veteran. A special ops veteran, at that.

You can’t deny that bearing witness to his unbridled anger and dominance isn’t at least a little bit sexy, even if you do feel incredibly guilty about not realizing sooner that it wasn’t Clyde.

Like the coward he truly is, and that many men like him are, he flees the scene quickly when he looks up and sees the anger in Clyde’s eyes.

Meanwhile, you instantly rush up to him, apologizing repeatedly. “Clyde, I’m so sorry, I thought it was you and I didn’t mean to—“

He snatches your wrist, bending down so that his hot, slightly strained breath wafts across your face. “You’d better yer slutty ass into the restroom right fuckin’ now.” He growls, letting you go.

You nod, whimpering under your breath as you scurry off into the bathroom.

He follows after you, pushing you into the single stall before reaching around to lock the door.

“Clyde, please, I’m so sorry. I promise that I didn’t know it wasn’t you until he spoke and I pulled away right after that. I would never…”

He holds a hand up and you trail off, then crosses it back over his chest along with the other. When you look up at him, ready to apologize further, he gives you a subtle head shake and a faint smile.

“Get m’ cock out.”

You know, then, that he’s not mad, and you know exactly what he wants from you. You step up to him with a small smirk and pop the button on his Levi’s, pulling the zipper down before reaching in to fish out his half-hard length.

“Now stroke it. You know how I like it.”

Your hand holds a steady grip around the protrusion, starting off slow but quickening randomly, just as he likes it.

His head tilts back onto the cheap tiled wall, nostrils flaring as he exhales shakily. “Thaaaaat’s m’ girl, just like that.”

You speed up just a bit, focusing your pressure and ministrations on the upper half of his shaft, moving the little bit of excess skin up and down his shiny pink head.

“Mmmmffhhh.” He groans through pursed lips, hips rutting forward into your touch.

Suddenly, he pushes your hand away, squeezing his eyes shut for a moment to cope with the sudden loss of stimulation on his pulsing arousal.

“Knees.”

You get onto your knees, using his shoes as cushioning.

“Mouth open.”

Your jaw falls open and he wastes no time in moving himself into proper position, sheathing himself fully in your mouth.

“Ghhhohhh, s-shit.”

You’re choking right off the bat, shoulders shaking with each violent cough.

“Yeah, take it. Gon’ make ye choke on me, shove m’ cock down yer lil throat ‘till ya can’t breathe no more.”

You somehow manage to moan around him in between your gags and coughs, lungs panicked for the rough cutoff of airflow by Clyde’s length. Tears begin to swell in your eyes, soon running down your cheeks.

His eyebrows are tightly knitted in the center of his forehead, skin glistening with the beginnings of sweat as his hips rut into your cavern even quicker and rougher now.

Clyde has to physically pull himself away from your mouth, shuddering as his cock bobs and throbs angrily at the loss of friction. His hand splays out on the wall, chest heaving as he takes a moment to re-gain composure.

Then, he looks down at you, gaze sizzling your very skin.

“Up. Turn yerself ‘round n’ bend over, ass out n’ legs spread nicely.”

You put yourself into the position, wiggling your ass just a bit for play after pushing your jean shorts down, earning you a harsh smack across your newly-exposed skin. He smirks when you squeal softly, giving himself a few lazy strokes as he steps up behind you, lips instantly attacking your neck.

“Yer gon’ walk outta ‘ere with all o’ my marks on your neck, hickeys n’ bite marks. Maybe then everyone’ll understand who it is ya belong t’."

His chin digs into your shoulder, then he’s thrusting forward, filling you up and stretching you out to the max. You gasp, eyelids fluttering as your eyes roll into the back of your skull.

“Ohhhhh.”

He groans into your ear, chin digging into your shoulder as he begins fucking you fast and hard. There’s nothing gentle or romantic about this union; it’s hunger and wanting, it’s pure carnal lust.

Tears quickly swell up in your eyes at the sweet pleasure currently surging through your body, tickling every nerve ending and igniting every pleasure center. 

It’s humid in the club, the bathroom no exception and already, a sheen of sweat has formed on the surface of your skin. Clyde’s good hand takes an even firmer hold on the meat of your hips, hips thrusting at an impossibly fast pace.

“G’damnit, wrapped ‘round m-me so tight, fffuck Y/N. Such a lil’ cccunt, love shovin’ m’ b-big cock in ya, ssssplittin’ ya right in half--christ.”

You love how his accent gets thicker and thicker at times like this, so much so that sometimes you can’t even make sense of what he’s saying. It’s adorable.

“Mmm, C-Clyde! Please baby, please mmmake me cum!”

His lips latch onto the side of your neck, sucking as hard as they possibly can while he reaches around to rub your clit with the cool metal digits of his prosthetic. 

Your hips instantly grind down on him, a shaky gasp leaving your lips. “Ohh god, mmmmmfffuck--right there! Yes, yes, Clyde!”

“Say y-yer mine.” He growls into your ear, panting. “Tell everyone who ya bbbelong to. Scream ma name w-when ya cum.”

“Y-Yours, all yours, Clyde. I’m yours!” You whimper. 

Clyde fucks you with everything he’s got, biting into your skin and sucking more of the flesh until you’re littered with marks. It’s not long before you’re tumbling over the edge, body trembling as you release all over his shaft with a shout of his name.

“Clyde! C-Clyde, fuck!”

Not long after you, Clyde falls over the edge, desperately rutting and fucking each drop of his hot load deep into your spasming cunt.

“Y/N, g’damnit...fuuuckin’ s-shit!”

Both of you are rendered breathless as you come down from your respective highs. His lips and tongue gently soothe the harsh bites and bruises that have been left behind in his wake. 

He sighs softly when he pulls out, helping you pull your shorts back up before tucking himself back into his pants. When you turn around, he crashes his lips into yours, hands resting gently on your hips. 

“‘m real sorry fer that, Y/N; dunno what got int’ me. I didn’t hurt ya, did I?”

You smile, cradling his face in your hands. “Clyde, there is no need to apologize or feel bad for that. You know if I was uncomfortable, I would’ve stopped you or said something. I loved it, more than I probably should have, and I love you.”

His lips tug up into a soft, lopsided smile, relief flooding across his expression.

“I love ya too, Y/N, so, so much. Thank ya fer puttin’ up with me n’ bein’ mine.”

“No ‘thank you’ necessary, baby. I’m yours, always yours.”

Clyde grins, pulling you in for a hug as he repeats your words out loud.

“All mine.”

#mrs-gucci #mrs-gucci requests #logan lucky #logan lucky (2017) #adcu #adcu fanfiction #adcu community #adcu writer #clyde logan #clyde logan fanfiction #clyde logan x reader #clyde logan x you #clyde logan x y/n #clyde logan smut #clyde logan fluff #clyde logan x reader smut #clyde logan x reader fluff #clyde logan reader insert #adam driver #adam driver character #adam driver smut #adam driver fluff #adam driver fanfiction #adam driver fandom #adam driver fanfic #tw public sex

[spideymarvelws]

 had so much fun writing the first scene dude... i feel like as a fanfic writer its a sin i haven’t written anything like it yet lmfaoo (to be fair i probably have but I just dont rem💀) anyways i hope you enjoy!

REPOST BECAUSE OF TAGS!!!

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Prompt : 9. “Then what are you waiting for?”

Warnings : just some cute floof, some cursing here and there

Word Count : 2.2k

Hesitation

Technoblade x GN!Reader

It was always peaceful in the tundra right before the sun set. Not only did the orange and red colours that reflected off the shiny snow send a wave of tranquility through the lands. It was a specific time where all the animals would go back into their homes before the mobs spawned at night fall, leaving the lands in complete silence.

Phil loved working at this time, getting small tasks done around the house that he wasn’t able to do throughout the day. Whether it was washing the dishes or dusting out the book shelves. Maybe even lounged around near the fireplace, planning out what he had to do the next day. It was always quiet, void of distractions to keep him from doing them.

But of course, with peace always came chaos.

“YOU CHEATED!”

“NO I DIDN’T!”

“YES YOU DID!”

The door cracked open, slamming against the wall behind it making the blonde jump from the sudden noise. He was ready to pick up his sword by his side until he recognised the voices of his house mates, shouting like little children.

Phil sighed, continuing to wash the dishes in front of him. While the bickering tended to amuse him at times, right then he just wanted to stay in the silence. He was quick to grab a pear of earplugs from his chest, pushing them snugly into his ear, blocking out the noise you both brought into the house while humming a small tune.

“There’s no way that your horse is faster that Carl! That’s just not possible!” Techno shook his head, his entire body still except for his left foot tapping consistently on the floor, “It’s just not possible.”

“Okay-” you pointed your finger in his face, “First off, her name is Raven and secondly, you just can’t admit that she’s better than Carl.” you crossed your arms on your chest, looking up at the piglin with teasing eyes.

Tech threw his head back with a groan, turning around gruffly and taking off his cape along with the skull mask covering his face.

“I won’t admit it because it isn't true!” he turned back to face you, mimicking your stance and tilting his head slightly to the side.

You raised your eyebrows at his response, nodding slowly, “Alright, alright,” you slowly took of your cloak, bunching it up and throwing it at him, his reflexes catching it before the fabric hit his chest, “Maybe it’s just the ridder and not the horse.”

Techno gasped, “You take that back.” he threw your cloak to the side.

You hummed, looking up and faking a thinking face, “Nah... I don’t think I will, I said what I said.” you stepped closer to the hybrid, sizing up his figure, “And what are you going to do about it?”

Techno squinted his eyes, a small smirk making its way to his face before he grabbed you by the waist, throwing you over his shoulder and walking away from the entrance into the living room.

“Hey!” You pounded at his back, wiggling in his tight grip, “Put me down you loaf!”

He laughed at your words but obliged, throwing you on the couch near the fireplace. Before you could sit up, he crawled over your form, knee besides one side of your waist with his other foot planted on the floor, keeping him steady hovering over you.

“Techno-” you chuckled nervously, trying your best not to stray away from his intense gaze, fighting the heat starting to rise to your face. Your hands pushed at his chest, weakening when he brought his face closer to yours, making you feel smaller than you already were.

He didn’t say anything, instead his fingers dug into your stomach, wiggling them across the fabric of your shirt. Your laugher filled the air, high pitched and bouncing off the walls of the cottage. You tried your best to control them, not wanting to give in to the blood god’s actions so quickly. But your hands on your stomach did nothing to stop his.

“Oh. My. God! Techno! Stop you fucking- oh god!”

“Take it back Y/n!” he laughed along with you, continuing his assault on your stomach, “Take it back or I swear to god you’re going to loose a canon life from being too ticklish.”

“NEVER!” you shouted between laugher, screaming when his hands began to move faster, knocking the breath out of your lungs. In the heat of the moment, he took your wrists into his fist, pinning them above your head, keeping your hands from interfering with his plans.

“Say. It.” even with one hand we was doing enough to keep you squirming underneath him, desperate for an escape.

“Okay! Okay! You- You’re a good rider Techno! You’re a good rider!” you finally admitted, your body falling limp against the cushions when he finally raised his fingers from your stomach.

Techno laughed at your state, leaning back with a cocky smirk on his face, “Glad to know we could come to an agreement,”

“I hate you,” you mumbled, your head rolling to the side on your shoulder as you caught your breath. You closed eyes in relief that the past few minutes were over, nearly falling asleep with the amount of energy you spent laughing.

Techno chuckled, taking your chin into his fingers, turning your head to look back at him, “Is that so?”

You nodded, fluttering your eyes open to look up at the pink haired man. Your breath hitched when you noticed how close his face was to yours. His entire presence felt suddenly close, his chest puffed out with long breaths, his legs practically tangled with yours, his face hovering over you, radiating heat you didn’t notice while he was tickling you. You watched as his face lit up red, his piglin ears straightening out of the side of his head, probably taking in the proximity as well.

Techno wasn’t one to get flustered often, but when he did it was always with the people he cared about. He trusted them enough to let that blood god persona he put on fade away leaving behind his shy, nerdy side you always adored. The side of techno who would read by the fireplace with Steve sat snuggly in his lap, the Techno who would spend hours trying to fix his glasses that broke constantly in his strong grip only having to craft a new one. The Techno who would grumble about compliments from you and Phil but the subtle spread of pink across his face told everyone otherwise. The Techno you grew to love the more and more he let you it.

He began to get a lot more playful with you as you friendship grew. When you moved in with him out in the snow it only increased drastically. It wasn’t out of the ordinary for the both of you to end up in this position or something similar to it (like the time he pinned you down during training), but he would always stop before things got too intimate and while it hurt, you’ve grown to accept it. You were glad to be his friend, his companion. You would take his friendship over not knowing him at all any time of the day.

You waited for him to pull back. To stand up and dust off his clothes, offering you his hand to pull you up with him and continue that night like normal. But he stayed, his dark, dull eyes staying down at you with a shine you’ve never seen up close before.

Techno didn’t know what to do either. He didn’t know what was prompted him to stay in this position, the sudden confidence that pushed him to keep his hand on your face, his lips so close to yours.  Maybe it was the voices in his head, annoyed with the constant stares and thoughts of adoration when you rode Raven around in the snow, your cape flowing beautifully behind you, face showing nothing but pure joy. They were relentless, calling him out on every emotion he was feeling because of you.

He wanted to move for your sake, he was the one on top of you in the first place, pinning you down. You were probably being polite not shoving him off of you, even if you’ve never done it before, he just always pulled away before you could. But he couldn’t, his muscles stiff and unable to move.

A small part of his brain told him you wanted this too, but he ignored it for his own sanity.

“Techno-” you whispered but before you could continue, the hybrid immediately took the single word as a protest, finally letting go of your hands but keeping his body close.

“Shit I’m sorry that- that was probably a bit much.”

You giggled softly, “No- uh, it was fine tech, no worries,”

He looked down at your bright smile glowing in his face.

“You’re really beautiful Y/n,” he whispered, letting the rough pads of his fingers trail down the side of your face, blushing when you nudged them with your cheek, accepting the comfort.

“You think so?” you whispered back, looking up at him with doe eyes.

“I-” he started, his breath hot against the tip of your nose as he glanced down to your lips, quickly looking back into your eyes. Why weren’t you moving? Why weren’t you cringing, laughing at the thought of ever kissing him?

“You- Do you want this.” you whispered, letting his thumb pull down at your bottom lip, watching as the plush skin softly bounced back.

He nodded, shivering when you tangled your fingers into his pick curls, pulling his face down and nudging your nose against his. He closed his eyes, a small, cute snort coming from the back of his throat at the affection.

“Then what are you waiting for?”

“FUCK!”

You jumped at the sudden curse, Techno falling off of you and on to the floor besides the couch. Before you could process what just happened, the curse sounded again followed by a crash, both of your senses on high alert when you realised it was Phil’s voice coming from the kitchen. You rushed to grab your weapons from nearby, quickly pulling yourself together on the fact that your friend was in trouble.

You both ran as fast as you could, Techno in front of you with his sword drawn while you were behind loading your cross bow with an arrow. He barged into the kitchen, holding his blade in the air, ready to attack but all he was met with was a pair of wings slapping him in the face.

You dove under the large feathers, bumping the winged man to alert him of your presence.

“Oh... hey guys!” He smiled, taking out something from his ears and resting them on the kitchen counter. He sent a pointed look to the weapons in your hands, crossing his arms over his chest in confusion, “Why the weapons?”

“Are you alright?” Techno said, rubbing his nose from the hit.

“We heard you scream, thought you were in trouble.”

Phil chuckled nervously, “Sorry, my bad,” he turned around to face the both of you, “I just dropped a plate.”

You and Techno let out an audible sigh, dropping your weapons to the floor with a clank. You didn’t know how many times your heart could deal with the sudden bursts of adrenaline. Walking up to Techno, you took his hand away from his face, inspecting the soft red mark across his face from the whip of feathers. No matter how small the attack, you always made sure to check up on him, even when he didn’t need it.

But with your delicate touch came memories of the events that just happened

“Were- were you here the entire time?” Techno said hesitantly, looking up at his father with worried eyes. You took in his words, immediately pulling away from the hybrid, ignoring his small noise of protest.

“Yes, but i put in some ear plugs,” he pointed to them on the counter.

“Oh!” you piped in, “That’s- That’s good.”

“Was there something I missed?” he crossed his arms over his chest, looking at the both of you curiously.

“Nothing!” You both shouted at the same time, chuckling nervously.

“Okay?” Phil dragged out, pointing back to the sink, “Well, I’ll just-”

“Yeah! You- uh, get to that phil,” you began walking backwards, bounced into the edge of the counter. You played off the pain with a quick thumbs up and walking quickly out of the kitchen, mumbling curses under your breath.

“Are they alright mate?” Phil asked his son who seemed to be lost in his own world, staring at the spot you were once in, “Techno?”

“I- what?” He shook his head, “Uh, yeah- they’re,” he let out a small sigh, letting  his hand pass over his face, “Yeah, they’re fine.”

“Are you alright?”

Techno didn’t respond for a while, stuck in his own thought. Phil turned to his son, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder, “Tech?”

“I think-” He let out a shaky breath, “I think I love them.”

...

IM SORRY FOR ENDING IT SO SUDDENLY

it was just getting to long and i didn’t want to loose motivation writing more😭

Permanent Taglist (Dream SMP) : @ossinsworld @lunarinnit @starstruckllamapuppy @shio-yuki @lovelychasbug @alice-blue-skies @chaosofsmarty @imamybubbles

Technoblade Taglist : @hyumiid @whenpugzfly @sammyxn @jackalopedoodles @notmesimpingfortechno @immadatmostthings

Crossed out mean couldn't tag :(

#technoblade x reader #technoblade x y/n #technoblade x you #dream smp x reader #dsmp x reader #serenefreakgeek #mcyt x reader

[p---ink]

What’s On Your Mind?

Author’s Note: Hi :) Remember me? I’ve missed you guys, and Tumblr altogether. I felt absolutely guilty about not writing, but the writer’s block was strong on this one guys. And while I’ve had lots of ideas for stories I couldn't quite put them onto paper...or screen. Anyway, wanted to try something new. So this one is about a Thor! I dedicate this one to you @swaggysposts​ since I know you love Chris Hemsworth. Its pretty short, but still, tell me what you think, my love! 

Summary: Avenger reader has a crush on the god of thunder.

Warnings: some lite language and fluff. 

Word Count: 4.7k

Part Two   Part Three

“I’m sorry? Did I hear that right? You said you can what?” Mr. Stark asked, without a doubt forgetting that there were stranger things in the world. 

Clearing my voice, and speaking a bit louder I say, “I can read minds, sir.”

“That’s what I thought you said.” Stark voiced out loud placing a sleek pair of sunglasses on his face. He was still pretty skeptical of my claims, but another part of him was very anxious. Or would the word be embarrassed? Mortified? Yes that was definitely the perfect description.

Whatever the feeling was, I knew the cause was because he knew that if what I was saying was true, he would have to start groveling because of the dirty thoughts that raced through his mind when we first introduced ourselves.  

‘Forgive me for looking Pepper, but this girl has the ass of a professional volleyball player’ was what he thought as he opened the door for me on the way in.

“I can’t hear what you’re thinking though, because It only works through touch.” I lie, as I watch his worry fade away. I needed this job, and I couldn’t be disqualified because of harmless thoughts that we could all be guilty of sometimes. Besides it wasn’t Tony’s fault: these jeans did do wonders for my bottom. 

Something told me though, that if this Pepper weren’t in the picture, he’d have no problem saying what he thought of me out loud. And he was a handsome man, couldn’t be much older than 40, so maybe in another universe I’d consider him. Not this one though. 

“Hey Kid,” Stark started, interrupting my own inappropriate thoughts, “just saying ‘I can read minds’, wont be enough. You’ll have to prove it.”

“Of course! Sorry—” I was cut short by the sound of the thick glass doors of the conference room being slammed against the walls. 

A brown haired boy with deep chestnut eyes, that looked as frantic as the rest of his face, rushed out apology after apology as he took his seat next to the older man. 

Tony, who hadn’t spared the younger boy a glance, said, “Ah, perfect. Tell me what he’s thinking.”

‘Spiderling’ was the name he had assigned him through thought. As I concentrated on his confused features, he looked from me to Stark.

“What who’s thinking? Is Dad—I mean Mr. Stark, referring to me? How could she possibly do that? Oh God, he hasn’t said a word to me since I got here. He must be really upset because I’m late. Geez, I hope he doesn’t take Karen again. I’d rather he kill me.” I repeated, after relaying all of the boy’s thoughts as fast as he could think them. 

“Is she right?” Tony asked the boy. He felt both amazed and amused. Amazed with me, and amused by Spiderling for thinking of him as a dad. He would never let him live that one down. 

After swallowing his astonishment, and turning his attention from me, Spiderling answered “Yes.”

“Good. And at least we both agree on your punishment. I’d rather kill you, too. Saves me less trouble in the future.” Tony stated. He was punishing him because apparently this was the third time he’s been late to the interviews he was supposed to be in charge of. 

Spiderling let alarm overtake his features, but before he could say anything, Tony continued on with more questions. 

“Do you have any other skills, we should know about?”

“Well just a bit of hand to hand combat. But it still needs a lot of work. Other than that no—”

“How did this happen?” Spiderling interrupted, wonder getting the best of him.

“Kid,” Tony starts, but he goes ignored by Spiderling. 

“Were you bitten by some kind of radioactive insect like me? Or are you super smart like Mr. Stark? Or perhaps it was gamma radiation like Dr. Banner! Or maybe a super serum like Mr. Rogers!—”

“Don’t make me remove your batteries, junior!” Tony interrupted, then he looked to me. “I’m sorry. He’ll keep going if you don’t nip it in the bud early.”

But he didn’t have to tell me that. His own mind, like Spiderling’s, was racing a mile a minute. 

“No its fine really. He’s just curious.” I reply with a chuckle. “And to answer your question Spiderling: maybe I was born with it, or maybe its Maybeline.”

I began to grow embarrassed by their silence at my terrible joke, until Spiderling stifled a chuckle. “I get it!” He said between snickers. “Wait why’d you call me Spiderling?” He asked. ‘Is she picking on me?’ He thought. 

Needing to correct his thoughts to clear up any offense I say, “No! I would never pick on you, I just thought that was your name because Mr.—”

“Y/N, was it?” Tony interrupts, yet again. “I think you’d make an excellent addition to our team! When can you start?” 

“Really?” I ask gleaming, ignoring the fact that he wanted me to shut for outing what he really thought of his younger protégé. “I can start right away! Thank you so much for this opportunity!”

“Yeah, don’t mention it.” He hurried. “F.R.I.DAY, will prepare your room, and Peter here will show you around.”

At that Peter hopped to his feet mind racing with thoughts of excitement on the hopes of a future friendship. “Follow me!” He said, grabbing my hand.

“Not so fast, champ. I need to speak with Ms. L/N alone for a moment.” Tony stated, nodding at Peter as he excused himself from the room. 

Tony cleared his throat, and relayed his thoughts, thoughts that were hard to separate from Peter’s louder ones earlier. “So Y/N,” He started towards me, leaning in close as he chose his words carefully. “I couldn’t help but notice, that you didn’t need to touch Parker nor I to read our thoughts. Care to explain?”

Flustered at being caught I stumble across my words as I try to explain, “Ah yes, well its rare, but sometimes I don’t need to touch the person.”

“Mmm.” Tony hummed, not believing a word I said, and I knew then the gig was up.

Cocking my head, and wearing a semi-sympathetic expression I say, “Don’t worry. I don’t even know who Pepper is.” 

And before Stark could protest, I ran to Peter’s side, so we could begin the tour around my new home. 

That was all a little over eight months ago. And so much had changed now. Peter’s hopes became true. We were the best of friends. His boy-like charm never grew old to me, and nor did my gifts to him.

“Cerulean” I’d say, when he’d think things like ‘What’s your favorite color?’. He always thought questions like that as a sort of game. I never got tired of playing along. 

It seemed to never click in his mind though that he could never scare or surprise me when he hid behind corners or couches, because I could hear his thoughts before he got the chance to. 

But besides the little stunts he’d try to pull by hiding his thoughts in order to frighten me, Peter was as transparent as they were. The boy was an open book, and he rarely kept a secret. It made us perfect friends, because he never seemed to get tired of me knowing every single detail about him. 

Though the other avengers treated me like family, Peter seemed to be the only one welcoming of my “gift”. 

If you asked Steve, he’d think something along the lines of “I’m too old for this shit” when I’d answer questions he hadn’t had the chance to ask. Then he’d immediately curse himself, for thinking a swear word when I’d tease him with one of the team’s inside jokes, like “language.”

Bucky tried his hardest to keep his thoughts in a vault, but it never worked. I knew exactly how many dead bodies he had under his belt, and where he kept his hidden stash of plums. 

Natasha, however, never tried to hide her kill count. She always made it a point to up the number by one as a threat to me, every time I accidentally crept inside her head. I always made it a point to keep my distance whenever she was deep in reflection.

Banner was interesting. His mind had two voices of course, and neither one of them gave a shit about whether I heard them or not. There were the deep thoughts that I struggled to understand most of the time, then others were one-word sentences only. They were louder than the rational side of his brain. 

“La, la, la, la, la”, was literally all that Sam would think whenever there was something he wanted to hide. Sometimes he’d do it just to piss me off, because he knew if I said to ‘knock it off’, he could accuse me of evading his thoughts in the first place. 

In truth, I never tried to read what they were thinking. I found the process invasive, and distracting from my own feelings. I worked hard to shut it all out, doing my best to make truth of that lie I told Stark all those months ago. But it was very draining, and took more energy than my body could exert. One person was easy enough to ignore, but more than ten, proved to be a task.

Most of my entire life I spent working in order to shut out all of the world around me. I avoided crowds whenever I could, blasted my music through my headphones whenever I couldn’t, and made sure to drug my body heavily with painkillers and vitamins whenever the last two weren’t options. 

It was so much work just to go out into the world. So much work until I met him. 

The son of Odin was the only person whose thoughts I would pay to hear. Coincidentally, he was also the only person who’s thoughts I couldn’t read. I could never hear him, I would only ever feel him. He radiated a rare intensity I had never felt before. His thoughts, or should I say feelings, even managed to drown out all of those around him. I had no choice but to focus on him whenever he was around. 

When I was with him, he literally clouded my brain. I didn’t have to work to shut him or the others out. He did it for me. 

I usually thought that was refreshing. But in the time I grew to know him, I found it mostly frustrating at times. 

You could say I liked him, but that would be putting it lightly. 

Liking someone for me, was a rare luxury. My crushes were always narrowed down to celebrities, and other people who didn’t know I existed. 

It was a pain to date people whose thoughts about you were always on display.

And if you thought dating was hard as a telepath, try having sex. Imagine being able to hear all of your partner’s most inner thoughts about the faces you make when you cum, or discovering that you have a small birthmark on your ass that you would otherwise know nothing about. 

Yeah, it wasn’t the greatest experience.  

I had never experienced the actual joys of feelings for someone, and wondering if they liked me back. Thor was my first. And chances are, he would never feel the same way. 

He was a literal god, and he lived up to that fact. I was just an average Midgardian, with a silly school-girl crush. It would never happen. 

Silly thing that Fate was. She had to make the only man I found irresistible, unattainable too. What a bitch. 

“Hey. Are you ready?” Natasha asked referring to our daily training. 

“Yes, what’s on the agenda today?” I ask, a bit confused that she isn’t in her workout attire. 

“Well you’ll h–”

“What? Why?” I squeak, before she can finish her thought…well before she can finish her sentence. According to her thoughts, I’d now be training with Odinson.

“I think you’ve graduated from me, kiddo. You can read my thoughts fast enough to predict as well as react to all of my oncoming moves.” Natasha relayed, a hint of sadness detectable through her words. Though she behaved like an older sister to me, she would miss throwing me around on the mat. “We’ll have to see how you do against someone whose actions you can’t predict, just in case that problem comes up out in the field.” She informed me while walking away, before I could confront her. 

“Can’t it be someone else?” I yell to her, but she doesn’t answer. 

“You wound me, Y/N.” That deep familiar voice bellowed from behind me. “And here I thought you enjoyed my company.”

Oh you have no idea, I thought to myself, as I spun on my feet to face him. I craned my neck to peer up at his eyes. One was a pretty hazel, while the other a deep blue. Cerulean. Funny how he’s the reason I’ve grown so fond of the color after all of these months.

“It’s not that I don’t like you. I just don’t think its fair is all. You know? With you being a god.”

“You’re worried you won’t be able to handle me? Do not fret. I wouldn’t dream of giving you more than you could handle.” He said, wiggling his brows suggestively, while flashing a smile. I suppose I failed to mention that he was a massive flirt that could put even Tony Stark to shame. “I promise to take it easy on you.” He furthered, smirking and winking his hazel orb.

“Why do I feel like your idea of taking it easy is vastly different from mine.” I say, trying to settle the butterflies. 

“Whatever you’ve heard about me is nonsense. I’m a merciful master.” He assured.  “We’ll just do some light work today: of course we’ll start with stretching, then 30 laps around the facility to build your stamina, a few hours of work on the machines to build your muscle—because my lady you are a dainty little thing, and then we’ll end the day with an hour or two of sparring.” 

At the sight of my dumbstruck face, Thor says, “I’m sorry that must be too light. How does 50 laps and three hours of sparring, sound?”

“Are you joking?”

“You’re right. I have some matters to attend to on Asgard, but I think we can squeeze in 75 laps, take it or leave it.”

Realizing how deathly serious he was, I quickly say, “I’ll leave it. Let’s get started.”  Deciding to address the subject of excessive training later, I turn to begin my stretches. 

Quiet. As usual. I was alone with my thoughts, which was something that only happened quite literally when I was alone. I couldn’t help but be immensely aware of his presence.

Moments like these i’d die to know what he was thinking. Especially when I could feel his stare. It burned worse than fire on my skin. 

Fire couldn’t compare to his actual touch, however. The same touch I now felt on my upper back.  For a man who weighed over 600 pounds, he was as stealthy as a cat when he wanted to be. His thick fingers against my spine raised goosebumps to my flesh. I would have jumped out of my body if he wasn’t there to keep me grounded. 

“My apologies. It was not my intention to startle you.” He informed, through a deep hearty chuckle. “I just needed to correct your form. Your time on the field will suffer if you continue with your training like this.” 

“Oh.” I replied, tensing a bit as one of his hands traveled around to my stomach and the other pushed against my spine to straighten my posture. My mind was hazy, and if I had even understood the words he spewed a moment ago, that status now changed.

“It all makes me wonder what the Lady Spider has been teaching you.” He continued, as if he didn’t notice the change in my demeanor. “Better.” 

When he stepped away from me, I released a small shaky breath. “What’s on your mind?” He asked. Maybe he did notice the change.

I mentally decided that I would ask him the months-long question I had always wondered about. “What’s on yours.” I state instead of ask, trying to resume my stretches.

“Pardon?” Thor asked. “Do you wonder about what is I ponder? Or is that your answer?

“Both.” I say without hesitation. “Why can’t I read your mind?”

“I’m afraid that’s by design, my lady.”

I stop stretching and turn around to ask, “How?” He had my full attention now. 

Shortly after he corrected my posture, Thor had propped himself up against one of the machines to properly examine my form while I stretched. I tried to ignore how awkward that made me feel. 

“Since an early age I’ve had to learn to guard my thoughts.” He stated. “My brother is the God of Mischief, and Loki often played games of the mind. Mother took notice of how much it was ailing me, and taught me a few useful tricks on how to keep him out. I guess I’ve always practiced them, even in his absence. I don’t know if I even know how to stop it.”

“Oh.” I breathed out. Trying to make sense of his words. 

While I was doing that, he asked,“May I ask why it is you wish to know? I thought you hated your gift.”

“I do. But I guess it still feels odd to not be able to use it on someone. I have no clue what you’re thinking let alone how you feel about me. It unsettles me.” I immediately regretted saying the last part as soon as it was out. 

His reaction did not aid my embarrassment. A thunderous laugh erupted from his throat. It was the kind of laugh that you could feel in your abs, and I knew this because his whole torso shook as it spread through his vocal cords. He was genuinely amused. 

His amusement prompted me to ask, “What’s so funny?”

“How I feel about you.” I think he mutter softly, before following a little louder to himself, “It’s weakened you.” 

“What did you say?” I never had to ask someone to repeat themselves unironically, until I met him. 

“Your ability I mean. It has impaired you.”

“I don’t understand what you mean.”

“I think the word is ‘spoiled’. Yes that seems to be the perfect descriptor.” He teased.

His words made me feel small and silly. Almost insignificant. “Excuse me?”

Sensing my irritation, he quickly told me, “I meant no disrespect. Its just most of your kind and some of mine are not awarded the same privileges that you have. We rely on body language and hidden meanings behind words to determine how someone feels. Well with the exception of me of course, because who would not adore me?” He joked. “But that’s beside the point. You have not yet learned how to read between the lines. Which is why I unsettle you.”

“I know how to read body language, I’m not an idiot.” I say a bit more sharply than I intended. My sense of inferiority getting the best of me.

“I’m not implying that you are, just that if it were not for your talent you would know have known what was on my mind ages ago.”

“That makes no sense. If I couldn’t read minds, i’d be in the same place I am now: unable to know what it is you think.”

“My dear, even if you could read my mind it would make no difference, for I’ve already made my feelings towards you painfully clear. One need not the aid of your capabilities.”

“Thor, could you stop the riddles—”

He ignored my pleas and kept going. “But just to be explicitly clear this time, since obviousness is lost on you—” 

“Stop insulting—”

“I shall tell you how I feel about you.” He stepped and leaned in closer, as if what he was about to say was a secret meant for only my ears.  “Listen closely because I will say this but once, so be wary not to misunderstand: I desire you.” He explained, words dripping with the utmost sincerity. 

My brain started racing. And I suddenly realized just how close he was. “You desire me?” I repeated to myself.

“Yes. I desire you.” He stated again, anticipating my uncertainty. 

If my heart wasn’t beating fast before, it surely was now. My poor ribcage wasn’t built for this.

“A-A-as a friend right?” I stutter out. “Because we aren’t, we aren’t close, like the rest of the team? Yes,” I breathe out. “That has to be what you mean.” I say that last part more to myself than to him. Clearly I’ve misunderstood his words, even though he warned me not to.

“While I would value a companionship, I’m afraid that is not all I mean when I say I desire you.”

“Eerr” Words are hard to form all of the sudden. Stammering out sounds is all that I can do. 

The air around us stilled, and it was pregnant with silence. He gave me a moment to think before asking, “Would you like further explanation.”

“Yes please.” I rush out quickly. “I think that will clear things up a bit more.”

“Right it would. Well If you wish to know what’s on my brain when you’re near, I shall tell you.” His words are teasingly slow, and he knows this.

"But I doubt,” He continues, “i’ll be able to properly convey just how bad I long to be in your presence when you are gone. Just how much I battle myself when it comes to finding any excuse to touch you. As you know, I lost one of those battles today. I don’t know if you can handle, just how much I imagine your warm embrace to be. How tender I’ve imagined your lips to feel. I just know them to be softer than rose petals and sweeter than nectar.”

“In fact,” He started. I could almost physically see the lightbulb go off over his head. And then, he began ridding us of the rest of our space, extending his long arm to snake around my waist, and pulling me against his chest at a speed faster than lighting. “If it’s okay with you, I’d like to put that theory to test.”

It was like a lucid dream. I was only allowed to watch everything play out before me, without the luxury of making any actions myself. It took great focus on my part to even will my head to move. My nod was so subtle I was unsure if he could even see it. But the God of Thunder had more than enough to go off on.

He joined the hand around my waist with his other, and shortly after I could feel my feet rise from the ground. My hands that were previously glued to his chest, found their place behind his neck to support the rest of my body. His head met me the rest of the way, before he blanketed his lips over mine.  

He released one of the hands around my waist, to bring it up to my face. His fingers, now fastened to my jaw, slightly parted my lips allowing him to further explore my mouth with his. As massaged my tongue with his own, I could feel his eyelashes dance across my cheeks. That’s how close he was.

Most beards are scratchy and rough, but his felt like silk against my skin. His lips were even softer, and were like velvet in comparison. 

I inhaled the scent of rain on freshly cut grass. It reminded me of dewy meadows and Irish springs. His touch was firm, but he managed to hold me with care, like a bull who had trained for years with the sole purpose of entering a china shop. 

He tasted like what summer felt like, if you could make sense of it. The kiss had the same intensity behind severe thunderstorms. Beautiful but deadly. I found myself teetering on the edge of a cliff: desperate to chase this thrill, but also wary of whether or not it was worth dying for. 

I mentally decided that I could expire in his arms, and be perfectly content with that decision.

I got more into it. I thought that if this was a dream I’d take full advantage of it. Surely dream Thor would be fine with me taking over the kiss. It felt only natural. 

I decided it was time for my tongue to do the exploring. My lips needed to memorize the feel of his. My hands wanted to study every strand of hair that lived on the nape of his neck. That was only fair right?

I was enjoying his embrace so much, that I mistook the spinning in my head for shock from kissing a god, instead of the telltale signs of an impending headache. The lack of air in my lungs was because he took my breath away in a figurative sense, instead of the literal physical sense it actually was. The ache that spread throughout my body wasn’t because of the suffocating grip he had to keep me pressed to his chest, but because our bodies were on the brink of fusing into one. 

On second thought, maybe dying in his arms is more painful than I previously thought. 

I tapped out, and he immediately released me, placing me gently on the ground. I struggled for air, but it was like he didn’t miss a beat. Not a drop of sweat in sight on his gorgeous face. Instead, I could see a bright smile forming. 

“Are my thoughts clear enough, now?” He asked, breaking out into smirk.

But I had no time to acknowledge his joke, for I could feel reality setting back in. And reality is, I was a flustered fuck. 

“I’m sorry.” I stammered. “I must be holding you from your business on Asgard!”

“What? No—”

But he had no time to argue, for in a flash I was already gathering my gym bag and heading for the door.

“What about your training?” I heard him yell.

“I’m sorry! Maybe another time!” And after that, I practically sprinted to get out of earshot before he could protest or stop me. 

I raced passed Peter who was on his way into the gym. “Y/N! Are you okay?” I heard him yell. But what was strange is that I couldn’t hear him think it, despite being more than enough distance away from Thor.

“I’m fine.” I yelled back, hoping he wouldn’t follow. Maybe Peter’s mouth was faster than his thoughts.

No. That wasn’t it, because as I raced through the tower, everyone’s minds were silent, even though they were chatting casually with one another. That never happened. 

I burst through the nearest lady’s room, desperate to calm my nerves, when I saw Natasha applying red lipstick.  The action by itself wasn’t disturbing, but the expression she wore was.

“Don’t tell the others.” She voiced, in a threatening tone.

“Don’t tell the others what?” I asked confused. Maybe she’d be able to take my mind off of things. 

She looked at me like I had grown two heads, much like the first day we met when I proved that I could read her thoughts. “I know you read them. But this is different Y/N, the guys will never let me live this one down.”

“Nat, what are you talking about?”

“I’m talking about the date.”

“You’re going on a date?” No wonder she was so panicked. The woman was more comfortable with killing than she was with being vulnerable.

“Yes—What is wrong with you?” She half-yelled, interrupting herself as if she just realized something was wrong.

I had, had enough with trying to not think about him, because the task was damn near impossible so I decided to just say it. “Thor admitted his feelings for me. And then we kissed!” I cried. 

Oh, Nat mouthed, taking a more comfortable position against the bathroom sink. She leaned against its counter, and crossed her arms,“And now you can’t take your mind off of him.”

It was my turn to look at her like she was a lunatic. “How did you know that? Are you a mind-reader too?”

Song for the Chapter: Waiting For You by the Aces:  Pretty Self-explanatory lyrics. Think of the song from Thor’s POV

part II

A/N: If you made it this far, don’t be afraid to tell me what you think :)

#thor #thor imagines #thor x reader #thor fluff #thor x black!reader #avenger reader #mcu imagines #black avenger reader #fluff #chris hemsworth #black!reader #black!writer #thor ragnorak

[scxrlettwxtches]

a throne of roses | hwang hyunjin

genre: royal au, fluff/angst, fem!reader

warnings: blood, violence, a little suggestive (hehe)

word count: 16.7k+

description: when the king that conquered your country, hwang hyunjin, arranged a marriage for the two of you, not once did you expect to feel any emotion except hatred and bitterness to blossom between you. will you stand to hate your enemy until the end, or will you realize that the cold-hearted ruler is not as cruel as he seemed?

a/n: im back!! im so sorry to have been gone so long. i suffered a huge writer’s block, and even now, im really not sure how this fic holds up despite being my longest story by a lonnnngggg shot. i really hope people like it ahhhh >.< i will get back to my kiss prompts now that i got this monster fic out of the way! as always, i love all of you guys and my ask box/dms are always open if anyone wants to be friends!! <3

prologue.

The city was burning. 

Screams and sounds of roaring flame filled the air, the sky clouded from the smoke. You spurred your horse on at breakneck speed with the remnants of your battered army. A horrible deception, a betrayal of the worst kind, sent you to fight on the border while your enemy snuck in, attacking the capitol at its weakest moment.

You burst into the throne room just in time to see a figure standing above your mother and father. Their blood dripped down the marble staircases leading up to the throne, staining the pure white stone into a sickening red. 

“No!” You let out a guttural scream as you flung yourself at the man, your wicked blade aimed at his vulnerable throat, ready to kill. 

The man whirled to face you at the last second, raising his blade and intercepting your blow with a loud clang that echoed in the room, “Princess,” he smiled in greeting, holding you back as you continued to press your blade firmly against his. 

“Hwang Hyunjin, you bastard!” you snarled, twisting out of the sword lock and parrying with his blade skillfully. Staring at the eyes of the wretched king, the ruler that had drove your kingdom into war, your fury was increased tenfold. You wanted nothing more than to slit his throat and throw his dead body out into the streets for what he did to your beloved country. 

Hyunjin let out a noise you vaguely recognized as a laugh, “My apologies. I wasn’t expecting you to return so quickly, Your Highness,” he lashed out with a lethal strike, but you almost predicted it, blocking his attack with your blade. Still, Hyunjin didn’t seem the least bit fazed, and he continued to toy with you, enjoying a fight with someone so skilled, “The attack in the south mountain pass was supposed to delay you for more than two days.” 

Your blood boiled at his mockery, because no matter if you’d controlled the winds to bring you back to the capitol, Hyunjin would’ve still had the advantage with his much stronger army. 

“You know my father was considering your terms of surrender,” you spit out, ducking under his attack and striking at his open left side, but Hyunjin parried it, smirking as your anger grew.

“Well, he was taking a little too long, so I decided to speed up the process,” he replied, a wicked smile on his face as he finally caught an opening, and with a merciless slash of his sword, he nicked your right arm to the bone, cutting through the chainmail and drawing frightening amounts of blood. 

There was no time to wallow in the pain. You dropped your sword, catching it with your left hand and continuing your attack, but you were tiring quickly. Fighting your parents’ war had worn you down, and you didn’t have the strength you had when you first started fighting. 

Keeping a watchful eye, you felt a spark of hope as you caught an opening. You grabbed it without a second to waste, twisting your blade and aiming at his leg when you suddenly felt a blinding pain on your calf. You let out a cry, fallowing to your knees before the king who only smiled as his subordinates pinned you down, holding your arms back and pressing your face onto the marble floor. 

“Do you have any last words, Princess?” Hyunjin cooed as your hair was yanked back, forcing you to look at the cruel man.

“I hope you burn in hell,” you smiled, spitting at the ground before him. 

Hyunjin gripped your chin tightly, the smile on his face icy and controlled, “My, my, what a temper,” he chuckled before letting go of your face and backing away. The sun glinted through the windows, shining behind Hyunjin’s head like a halo. How ironic. The man was no angel, not at all. 

The last thing you could see was the king’s conceited smile before you felt blinding pain on the back of your head, knocking you out instantly. 

i. 

“Unlock the cell.”

Your head raised a fraction, your ears perking up at the mere sound of the familiar voice. After you were knocked out, you were dragged back to Hyunjin’s palace as a prisoner of war, chained in a dungeon cell with your hands hanging over your head, your armor having been stripped of you. 

As you kept your eyes trained to the floor, Hyunjin’s footsteps padded towards you, stopping right in front of your battered form. 

“Princess Y/N. The goddess of victory. A dazzling warrior on the battlefield, feared by her enemies and respected by her subordinates,” Hyunjin’s voice crooned with mock pity, “How does it feel to become the defeated princess, fallen from grace?”

You smirked, finally tilting your head up to glare at him with your cold eyes, “Better than being a coward that’s too scared to finish the job,” you snarled, and the restraints snapped tight as you pulled them with a violent tug. 

“You’re really pushing all the wrong buttons, Princess,” Hyunjin sighed, kicking some of the dirt and gravel that had collected in the dungeon away from his foot, “With all the trouble you gave my army, you deserve the most slow and painful death imaginable.”

“Oh? And what else does the infamously sadistic prince of the north have in store for me? I must say, I’ve been rather bored hanging here,” you sneered, making a deliberate show of licking your lips.

For the first time, Hyunjin looked visibly annoyed, his jaw clenching as he hissed almost to himself, “I should have just killed you.”

“Don’t worry, Your Highness. You still have a chance,” you said pleasantly, smiling at the king as if you weren’t chained up in his prison cell.

“Unfortunately, I need you alive.” 

You couldn’t help but scoff, “How terrible for you. How might I be of service, Your Majesty” Your voice was mocking, your lips curled in a sneer as Hyunjin studied your face. 

The king gave you a halfhearted glare, like he didn’t know whether to punish you for your loose mouth or just let it go because it wasn’t quite worth it. He gazed at you, skeptical intrigue clear in his eyes when he finally muttered, “Release the chains.”

You were not expecting such an order, and frankly, the guard was not expecting it either, “B-but, Your Majesty!”

“I’m not repeating myself a second time,” Hyunjin spoke simply, but his voice had an edge to it, as if daring the man to refuse his command. You could’ve sworn that the guard let out a squeak of fear as he nodded obediently, fumbling through his keys as he began to unlock the chains that cut into the soft skin of your wrist. 

When you finally felt the cuffs free your hands, you lost the only support holding you up, and your weakened legs buckled under the weight of your body. Before you could hit the floor hard, a firm body held you up, intercepting your fall and cushioning you with their chest as an arm wrapped around your waist.

“Oh dear,” Hyunjin sighed, easily picking up your weakened and frail body, carrying you in his arms as he walked out of the cell, “What am I going to do with you?”

“You know you could really just kill me,” you mumble in response as your head lolled against his chest, your hand absently bunching up his clothing to find a crevice to hold onto. 

“I know,” To your surprise, Hyunjin answered, and in your pain muddled state, he almost sounded gentle, “but I’d rather not do that if I can help it.”

Your tired, dazed eyes stared up at the king, only barely processing his words before sleep wrapped its comforting arms around you, lulling you with soothing words as your eyes finally fluttered closed and your head fell against Hyunjin’s chest.

“No one lays a finger on her. I don’t care if she’s an enemy commander, a foreign princess, or whatever other disgusting things you say,” Hyunjin spoke darkly after he’d tucked you in his bed, pulling the covers over your body. Letting go of his restraint for a moment, he allowed his expression to soften as he brushed a strand of your hair away from your face before his eyes turned ice cold once again. 

“Do you hear me? I see one more scratch on her body, and your heads will roll,” Hyunjin’s voice held the undertone of a growl as he stepped away from the bed, “Alert me when she wakes. Immediately.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

ii.

The first thing you noticed about your new surroundings was how soft the mattress was. Your finger twitched as your hand began to feel at the satin bedsheets. The pillow your head rested on felt as fluffy as a cloud, a luxury that you didn’t even have back at your own palace. This wasn’t the dungeon...no...this was--

Your eyes flew open as you sat up, your brain hard-wired for danger as you looked around the room. They were surprisingly lavish lodgings for a prisoner of war, if you could say so yourself. From the red satin curtains on the bed to the intricate designs of the ceilings and the walls, you would even venture and say that this room was fit for a king.

“So, the princess has awoken,” A voice pulled you out of your curious thoughts and immediately replaced them with thoughts of murder and annoyance as Hyunjin strolled into the room, dressed as immaculately as always.

“To what do I owe the pleasure of your company?” you replied, keeping your eyes trained on the blankets that covered you as you began to massage your legs through the covers. After a couple days of hanging in the dungeon, your legs had lost their strength and you were practically aching bring them back to their original state. 

Unbeknownst to you, Hyunjin smiled at your snide comments, rather enjoying the dry banter, “I didn’t know it would be a pleasure to see me.”

“It isn’t. I was just trying to be polite,” you said without missing a beat, maintaining a deadpan expression as you commented, “You’re quite generous to provide such a lavish guest room to a prisoner that threatens your control over your newly claimed country.”

“This isn’t a guest room,” Hyunjin corrected you as he pulled a chair closer to your side of the bed, sitting down even as you distinctively refused to look at him, “It’s my bedroom.”

Your apathetic expression faltered for a moment, a true sign of just how much the revelation had flustered you, “Your bedroom?” you repeated, a tang of disgust in your tone that couldn’t be missed even if one tried to avoid it.

“Yes, Your Highness, I’m afraid it is,” Hyunjin had wanted you to sleep in comfort. He hadn’t wanted to keep you in the dungeon for so long, but he had gotten distracted with business with another neighboring kingdom, and he didn’t trust his men enough to let them deal with you. After all, you’d put up a difficult fight keeping them out of your kingdom, and many soldiers were bitter with the long war that was raged. 

But all of that? He would never tell you. 

Sputtering at his nonchalant expression, you finally looked up at him, a scowl on your face, “Are you truly an idiot? The only people allowed to stay in the king’s chambers are the king and--” you suddenly froze, and Hyunjin could see you putting the pieces together in your head as your eyes narrowed at him, and he had to physically hold back his nervous gulp.

“What are you planning, Your Majesty?” your expression was darker than the shadows of the deepest caves, and your knuckles were white from how hard you were gripping the bedsheets.

“Since I’m sure you’ve figured most of it out already, I won’t beat around the bush,” Hyunjin spoke nonchalantly, glancing at your hands for a split second before turning his gaze to your face.

“I want you to be my Queen.”

The silence that screamed between the two of you was shrill and long until you broke it with a choked voice of disbelief, “That’s not funny, Your Majesty.”

“I assure you, I don’t like to joke around,” Hyunjin replied, “I want to wed you and unite our two kingdoms with marriage instead of blood.”

“Well, you should’ve offered that first, don’t you think?!” you snarled, shifting to lash out at the man when you winced, grabbing at your leg that throbbed from your sudden movements, “How dare you say that to me now, after you burned our cities to the ground? After you killed so many of my people?”

Hyunjin was silent for a moment, and if you didn’t know him any better, you might’ve thought he was genuinely contemplating on how to respond. Finally, he sighed, slumping forward in his seat as he reached down and began to gently massage your legs over the covers.

“H-hey--” The protests died in your mouth as the relaxing sensations drove your body to loosen up even as your brain screamed for you to do something. But what could you do? Especially when the gentle ministrations of his hands felt oh so soothing to your worn out muscles. 

“Princess, I truly do not want to force you into marriage,” your ears perked up at his curiously gentle tone. What was the man playing at? He sounded almost genuine as he appealed to you.

“Then, don’t,” you replied easily, merciless and without hesitation, “You have already taken over the capitol. I am sure the lords surrendered, they were always a spineless bunch,” you couldn’t hide the spite in your tone. The lack of support from the nobles of your kingdom was another reason you had suffered such a crushing defeat. 

Hyunjin let out a chuckle, and his hands squeezed a little softer and with more gentle strokes as if trying to relax you, “Yes, the nobles of your kingdom were quite quick to accept any of my conditions as long as I kept their estates intact,” you scoffed at his words before he continued, “but unfortunately for me, the rest of your people are not as cowardly.”

Your eyes narrowed, “What do you mean?”

“Many riots and small scale rebellions have erupted around the land and in the capitol as well,” Hyunjin admitted, keeping his eyes focused on the blankets around your legs, “We...aren’t familiar with how the country is run, and they are not pleased with the sudden existence of foreign military force.”

“Did you really think they would be overjoyed to see you?” You asked, deadpan.

The king ignored your sarcastic comments, “Small rebellions have begun to emerge, especially in the capitol and in some of the neighboring towns,” he continued, studying your face and gauging your reactions, “They won’t rest until they have their rightful ruler back. Our marriage could solve that and calm the unrest.”

“Marriage can’t be the only option,” you protested, desperate to get out of this, “I can renounce my claim to the throne, and then you’d be the only ruler. You won’t have any need to marry me at all.”

“That can’t happen!” Hyunjin snapped, trying to hide the sudden burst of nervousness that fluttered in his heart, “Your people would never accept that you of all people would renounce your claim. They would just assume I forced you into it.”

“Oh, like the marriage isn’t forced either?” you retorted coldly, crossing your arms. 

Hyunjin’s hands on your legs slowed to a stop, “Princess,” his voice was soft, “My men have not begun to enforce the brunt of the law on those riots, but they are growing anxious. The people who are sick of fighting are being targeted by those who call them traitors. Your people are killing each other--”

“And who’s fault is it?” you bared your teeth in a snarl, and if you had a weapon at that moment, you would’ve plunged it into Hyunjin’s shoulder in a fit of rage, “Who’s fault is it?”

The king’s expression grew a little darker, and his hands fell to his sides as he sensed your anger, “I understand your anger, your hatred. If the spots were switched, I would not be listening to a word you say either. But,” his eyes bore into yours, and in them, you found nothing but honest sincerity as he spoke, “you and I both know that I was not the one who started this war.”

You froze, your jaw going slack as Hyunjin’s words seeped into the depths of your heart. He was right; his kingdom did not start the war, yours did. Your parents, becoming greedy for the jewels that Hyunjin’s mountainous kingdom produced, had continued to aggravate and stir up tensions in the border until your army finally threw the first punch. 

In the end, it was you who reaped what you sow, and you supposed that this was heaven’s way of getting back at you for your foolishness.

“I have conditions.”

Hyunjin perked up immediately at your words and he nodded, “Let’s hear them,” he said, his expression with its normal mask of impassiveness, but you were beginning to see through it, finding the genuine eagerness that he hid from the world. 

“My people will not be treated like second class citizens,” you said, your voice hard. This was something you would never budge on, “They deserve the same rights and the same freedoms as your people.”

“Of course, you have my word,” Hyunjin nodded firmly, “Your people will be treated the same as mine.”

You couldn’t help the flash of approval that shone in your eyes before you cleared your throat, “I will also want to have a say in the new policy reforms you’ll instill on my kingdom.”

Hyunjin was quiet for a moment, but he didn’t seem surprised by your request in the slightest, “That is a given. After all, I don’t want a queen that doesn’t question my orders,” he chuckled as he studied your face, “Although, I am curious. I already gave you my word that I will treat your people well, why do you want to be involved with the policy making?”

“Because you are a conqueror, not a king,” you replied firmly, not ounce of doubt in your words, “at least to my people. You do not understand their temperament and their customs, just as I do not understand yours. If they sense that your new laws do not actively seek out what’s best for them, they will not follow them, marriage or not.”

For a moment, you feared that you had spoken too much, spoken out of turn for a mere prisoner of war, but Hyunjin gave a noise of understanding after considering your words, “I understand. You may be present for every council meeting.”

That surprised you, and you raised a suspicious eyebrow at the king. You had expected him to accept your advice, but you didn’t expect him to give you the permission to give your advice freely in front of his commanders. You didn’t know much about Hyunjin’s laws, but you studied your kingdom’s neighbors enough to know that this was quite unorthodox.

“What?” Hyunjin chuckled as he noticed your suspicious gaze, “You asked for it.”

“I just wasn’t sure your commanders would be very excited to see a woman tell them what to do,” you retorted dryly.

Hyunjin shrugged, looking not the least bit bothered, “If they aren’t, then they lose their post, that’s all,” before you could really acknowledge just how nonchalant he was about giving you power over his council, he looked at you expectantly, “Anything else?”

After pondering for a moment, your fingers fiddling with the sheets absently, you finally decided on the last condition.

“I will be your one and only.”

Hyunjin’s brow furrowed, and at first, you took it to mean discontent with your demand, but it was merely confusion, “What do you mean?”

Your cheeks grew a little hot as you were forced to elaborate on your rather embarrassing request, “You will not take another wife after you are done exploiting me to transition my kingdom into yours,” you spoke simply, not bothering to mince your words any further, “I won’t be arrogant enough to think that I can prevent you from finding a mistress--”

“I don’t want--” The king suddenly interrupted you, and his choked tone of voice was rather unexpected. Hyunjin looked at you as if he had something urgent to tell you, something that was close to bursting out of his mouth if he didn’t decide to say it himself. Yet, when he finally managed to speak, you knew it wasn’t the words he’d originally wanted to say.

“I don’t want a mistress. I have no intention of seeing anyone else romantically after you,” Hyunjin said firmly, his intense brown eyes staring deep into yours to convey his sincerity, “This condition, I can promise you easily.”

You nodded mutely, not wanting to admit how him treating your marriage with steadfast devotion made you feel. It was just purely for political purposes, after all.

“If you agree to uphold those three conditions,” you looked to Hyunjin as you spoke softly, your next words sealing your fate, “then I agree to your proposal.”

For the first time since you’ve met him, Hyunjin let a flash of excitement pass across his face for a moment, “You’ll marry me?” he asked, and if you blinked, you’d missed the eagerness in his tone, “I want you to say it, Princess.”

“Why? Is my word not enough for you, Your Majesty?” Your lips quirked up in a dry smile.

“Are you really so cold as to deny me this one request?” As you gazed at the young king, you noticed the guarded look in his expression, as if he was bracing for you to snap, to lash out at him coldly.

You refused to let it get to you, but you were grateful that he was so receptive to your demands. As a princess of a once flourishing kingdom, you were no stranger to kings, princes, lords, and anyone else of that sort. None of them would ever dream of giving you the courtesy that the man was giving you at the moment. Perhaps you could return the favor at least a little.

“I want to marry you, Hyunjin.”

Hyunjin’s genuinely stunned expression stayed in your brain as you went to sleep that night, comfortably swathed in the king’s lavish silk and satin sheets. 

iii.

“Not that I’m not excited to return, but why exactly are we going back to my kingdom for the wedding?” You asked curiously as you rode your horse through the mountainous roads necessary to cross into your side of the border, “Isn’t it dangerous to send a captured princess back to her own territory?”

“Ah, but you see,” Hyunjin smiled, the sunlight hitting his face in a way that made him look almost ethereal, “you’re not a captured princess. You’re my fiancé, and it’s a long standing tradition to marry at the bride’s hometown, is it not?”

You rolled your eyes discreetly at his shameless words, giving your horse a light bump of your leg to spur it ahead of Hyunjin’s. Damn northerners and their thick blood, you cursed as you shivered again, still not accustomed to the icy temperatures of the mountains even during the spring. 

“Here,” A sudden weight on your shoulders pulled you out of your thoughts, one that was warm and soft. Feeling it with your hands and tilting your head to glance at it, your eyes widened.

“Hyunjin, you absolute idiot, this--”

“Is a royal cape? Yes, I know,” Hyunjin answered nonchalantly, his horse galloping leisurely beside yours.

You sputtered incomprehensibly until you finally managed to put words together, “Only the king can wear this!”

Hyunjin tilted his head towards you inquisitively, “And?”

“It’s basically law!” You exclaimed, wondering if the king truly had some issues like the rumors had stated during your time in the war. Shaking your head, your hand grabbed the edge of the cape, ready to rip it off you when Hyunjin’s hand lashed out, grabbing your hand and stopping your motions.

“Don’t,” his voice was stern as he looked into your eyes, and you felt your blood boil at the light show of concern in his expression, “You’re cold, right? It’ll keep you warm.”

“Did you not hear a word I said?” You scoffed, trying to pull yourself away from Hyunjin, but the road was only so wide, and there wasn’t much room for you to maneuver, “It’s a royal cape. Only the king is allowed to wear it.”

Hyunjin blinked, “Well, I’m the king, so my word is law,” he answered, looking not the least bit bothered, “and I’d rather keep my fiancé healthy than abide by some stuffy tradition.”

You were so flustered by his blunt words that you stopped fighting against his grip. The moment he felt the resistance flow out of your body, Hyunjin flashed you a charming smile before spurring his horse to take a pace just a little faster than yours.

Oh, so that was how he wanted to play. Scowling, you gently kicked the side of your horse, causing them to gallop past Hyunjin as your lips quirked into a pleased smile. 

“You know, if you go any faster, you’ll lose our entourage,” Hyunjin mused as he easily urged his horse forward, matching your pace and riding side my side with you, the procession of knights, maids and servants following behind. 

Glancing back, you noticed that they were a slight distance away and with a huff of air, you tugged at the reigns, slowing your horse to appease him, “Now, is that really such a bad thing?” you asked, blinking innocently. 

Hyunjin gave you a wry smile, one that had grown warmer through the week you’d stayed at his palace. It was a rather strange predicament you had found yourself falling into. Realizing that there was no way for you to avoid the marriage, you had decided to do the only other thing possible to prevent it.

That was to be totally obnoxious to the point where the king would have no choice but to turn his nose up in scorn and leave you to be.

Except, it didn’t quite work that way, and on the contrary, Hyunjin seemed to enjoy bantering with you. In fact, you had a sneaking suspicion that he was trying to pull it out of you, to push your buttons as much as you push his.

It wasn’t what you had hoped for, but it wasn’t there worst possible scenario.

“Hello? Y/N!” Hyunjin reached over, poking your cheek and pulling out a surprised squeak from you.

“What?” you snapped, blushing that you were caught so blatantly with your guard down.

The king gave you a strange glance, also noticing that you were unusually inattentive. His eyes studied your face with something akin to concern in his expression before he dropped the subject, “We’re here, the border.”

You looked around, immediately feeling the wave of nostalgia hit you in full force as you stood at the top of the mountain, gazing at the large expanse of your kingdom, or rather, what was once your kingdom. The lush green fields, the massive trees that looked like specs from where you were, and in the far distance, the capitol city. Your old home.

Suddenly, you felt a gentle nudge on your arm as Hyunjin looked at you, “Let’s scout ahead of the entourage.”

Despite your moment of weakness, you couldn’t help but smirk, sweetness dripping from your words, “Don’t you have scouts in your entourage, Your Majesty?”

“Very funny. You know what I mean,” Hyunjin rolled his eyes, but his expression curled into a sly smile as if daring, goading you towards something, “Don’t you want to race and see who’s really the better rider?”

A predatory smile appeared on your lips, your natural response due to how utterly competitive you were, “Are you sure you want your whole court to witness your loss?”

“Oh, please. You might never want to go out and ride with me again after you experience your crushing defeat.” 

The grin you were showing was wicked, not so different from smile that would flit across your face during the heat of a battle, “Don’t run away crying when you lose.”

“I would never run away from you, Princess.”

You only gave him a saccharine smile in return, and without another word, you flicked your wrist, sending your horse forward with a burst of speed. There was no need to look back; Hyunjin was hot on your heels.

The two of you descended down the mountainous path, going faster than normal but staying mindful of the potential dangers. Once you made it to the flat plains, your smile widened and the two of your tore down the road. 

For the first time since you’d lost your kingdom, you felt truly free, your long hair and the silk of your dress billowing behind you, the wind blowing in your face as you tore past the plains and into the woods. In a moment of consciousness, you could hear Hyunjin’s laugh from behind you, but you could hardly bring yourself to care. Let him chase you. It only made things more exciting.

You finally pulled your horse to a full stop as you reached the edge of the hill. Breathing heavily, you gazed as the winding road that sloped down, lower and lower until it reached the capitol city. You were home. You stared at the falling sun, the quaint little houses below, and you could almost smell the fresh bread at the corner bakery you frequented back when you were young. sneaking out of the palace because you hated the posh, white bread they served.

Hyunjin pulled his horse to wait beside yours, catching the peaceful smile on your face. There was something alluring about you when you fought against him, but seeing what you looked like when you tasted true happiness, it made his heart soften just a little.

“It’s beautiful,” he commented, slowing his horse down beside yours.

“You should see it during the lantern festivals,” you smiled, looking down at the immense city from a distance, “The city lights up at night, and no one sleeps that entire week.”

“Maybe we should come back to experience it one day,” Hyunjin suggested, his voice casual, but his eyes shrouded with slight uncertainty, knowing that he was probing into untapped territory.

To his surprise, the relaxed smile on your face remained, “That’s not a bad idea,” you mused. Rolling your shoulders, you let out a sigh, looking out at the city below.

Then, reality hit you like a club to the gut as your eyes caught sight of the flag that waved at the front of the castle. Distant, barely discernible, but you knew at a glance. It was not your kingdom’s flag, and it was the cruelest reminder of the reason you were allowed to come home in the first place.

The king followed your line of sight, curious as to what caused such a sudden change in mood. When his eyes fell to the flag looming over the city, it clicked, “Y/N,” he started, swallowing as he considered his words carefully, “I have to establish rule at least for a little--”

“Don’t patronize me,” Your voice was colder than ice, and Hyunjin cursed at ill fate of your relationship. Always half a step forward, then three steps back, “I’m no stranger to conquering cities. Let’s get to the palace before dark,” you flicked the reigns, prepping your horse to begin moving.

“Wait--” Hyunjin’s hand reached over to grab your wrist before he was even fully conscious of his own actions. Surprised, your head whipped around to look at his face before looking down at where his large hand completely wrapped around your thin wrist.

“We have quite some time before the sky begins to darken at all,” Hyunjin reasoned with you calmly, and his thumb brushed against the soft skin of your arm in an instinctive attempt to appease your obvious anger, “And the rest of the court has not yet caught up to us.”

“Do you want us to lay down a cloth on the grass and chat over some afternoon tea?” You scoffed, trying to pull your hand away, but his grip tightened, squeezing his hand around your wrist as if he thought you would disappear right in front of him if he wasn’t touching you.

Hyunjin sighed, “I only want you to let me explain myself.”

If your anger had not boiled over before, it certainly did now. You rounded your horse to face him, your eyes burning with controlled fury, “Explain yourself? What exactly do you need to explain? Your kingdom conquered mine, lay siege to the capitol, burned down the cities in your path, and now you’re taking me as your trophy wife--”

“You’re not a trophy wife, Y/N,” Hyunjin finally interrupted you, his voice firm and steadfast. He looked you straight in the eye, his gaze never faltering as he spoke his mind, “I did not ask you to be my wife just to mutely sit by my side. I want your counsel, your advice, your opinion. You will be my Queen in both name and power.”

Taken aback by his words, your anger faltered and turned only into confusion, “Then,” you spoke, so flustered that you didn’t even notice Hyunjin’s hand had trailed down to hold your hand in his, “what was the point in conquering my country so completely, if you were planning to give me power in the first place?”

Hyunjin smiled, one that didn’t quite reach his eyes. You noticed that he smiled like that often; never quite looking fake but never truly happy either, “Your parents.”

Immediately, you stiffened, and just from your reaction, Hyunjin knew his explanation was partially complete, “I needed to remove them from the picture completely, and to do that, I needed a total victory.”

An uncomfortable feeling twisted in your gut. It was your mother and father that he was talking about! You should’ve been furious, spatting at the ground he walked on for his words to both of them, but in the end, you could only protest weakly, “Still, there was no need to--”

“You know they fed off the poor, right?” Hyunjin asked, his voice turning cold, “You know they corrupted the distribution of wealth and crops to fund their own gambling addiction, right?”

Your heart turned to ice as you stared at Hyunjin in absolute horror, “H-how did you--”

“Do you think your kingdom’s secrets stay inside the kingdom forever?” he asked, raising an eyebrow at your naivety, “Envoys talk, rumors spread. The king and queen of your kingdom were not fit to carry the weight of their people on their shoulders.”

Finally having enough of this pain, this scabs of your heart that Hyunjin was cruelly picking at, you snapped, turning your face away, “Then why marry me at all?! If you scorn at my parents’ corruption, why choose me? Is this just a twisted way of shoving their crimes into my face?”

“Because you’re not like them,” Hyunjin answered simply.

A bitter chuckle slipped past your lips, “You sound foolishly certain about that, Your Majesty.”

“I am,” The king did not mince his words. Why should he, when he knew it was true beyond a shadow of a doubt?

“I know you are nothing like them. You were their bandage, desperately trying to make up for their actions,” Hyunjin continued, “You compensated for their depletion of the bank with your own funds, you fed the poor from food storages hidden from the eyes of your parents.”

Unbeknownst to you, his eyes softened and he let warmth into his voice, “You fought me because of a war they started, and they intended you to be the only one who would pay the price for it.”

Your eyes felt uncomfortable tight as if you were about to cry, and under no circumstance were you going to let that happen in front of Hyunjin, “Why tell me all this now?” you asked, your voice uncharacteristically resigned as you kept your eyes trained at the distant palace, “You think I’m not fully aware of their cruelty? You think I haven’t spent my entire life trying to make up for my parents’ actions?” 

Hyunjin didn’t speak for a moment, taking in the weight of your words, “If I may ask,” he started softly, “if you knew about it, why didn’t you overthrow them? You certainly had the resources and the support of your people.”

The question brought a dry smile to your face as you turned to look at Hyunjin, “You’re right,” you answered wryly, “why didn’t I? It would’ve been the most logical course of action, don’t you think?” Hyunjin had no answer, because he knew your question was merely a rhetorical one, and he wasn’t about to fall into another one of your honeytraps and let you dodge the question that has plagued his mind since he first crossed blades with you.

“There isn’t anything complicated to it, really,” you glanced at Hyunjin with a sort of resigned annoyance, “I just couldn’t bring it in me to betray my family.”

“Did they ever even give you anything?” Hyunjin asked incredulously, “Did they ever show you affection at all?”

The almost spiteful questions made you laugh bitterly, “No, not at all,” Turning to Hyunjin, you gave a smile that didn’t reach your eyes, “Foolish me, right?”

Hyunjin stared at you, the sly comeback on the tip of his tongue disappearing as soon as it appeared. Despite your cold expression, your eyes told the truth, and he could see that your heart pained at the notion of having covered for your parents since you were old enough to read, only for them to throw you to the wolves, betraying you for money.

 “It isn’t foolish to love your parents,” Hyunjin answered softly, causing your eyes to widen in surprise, “It might be just an innate instinct to, even if they mistreat us.”

You let out a disbelieving chuckle, “Maybe you’re right.”

“You don’t have to feel guilt about what happened to them, you know,” Hyunjin turned to face the horizon where the sun was setting behind the palace.

“I don’t.”

“Don’t lie, it’s written all over your face,” Hyunjin said, glancing at you from the corner of his eye, “It’s killing you inside that you didn’t save your parents in time, right?”

You looked down at your hands, your heart burning with festering guilt, “How can I not?”

“You shouldn’t,” Hyunjin said bluntly, “They betrayed you to me, hoping that it would save them, when it only sealed their fate. There was nothing you could do about it.”

“I could’ve stopped you if I was only a moment earlier,” you argued, the guilt that had been bottled up inside you finally bursting out due to his prodding, “If I was only a little faster, then I would’ve--”

“Princess,” Hyunjin’s soft voice cut into your thoughts, “They didn’t deserve your kindness.”

You refused to admit how much his words soothed your anxiety, and in the dead of night, how they’d repeat in your head, allowing sleep to finally defeat the trauma your parents had instilled into you.

iv.

“Your Highness, please come sit down so I can do your hair!”

The sound of your exasperated maids filled your bedroom chamber as you huffed, tying your new silk robe in place before plopping down on the chair in front of the vanity, “What’s the rush? We have four hours before the wedding.”

Chaeryeong clicked her tongue in obvious exasperation, “Spending all your time out on the battlefield since birth, do you even know how much time it takes to get ready? Plus, you’re the future Queen, Your Highness! What would your husband think if you didn’t look prim and proper for the biggest event of your lives?”

Ah yes, your current fiancé. 

It wasn’t an exaggeration to say that Hyunjin was doing his utmost to get on your good side. The moment the two of you arrived at your palace, Hyunjin lavished his wealth on you and your upcoming wedding. Every day you spent with him, he’d give you a gift, ranging from a simple rose to silk robes made by the finest tailors on the continent. You’d told him over and over that you didn’t need extravagance like this, but the king paid you no mind, and the boxes continued to be delivered to your bedroom every day.

If you were being honest, your heart had begun to feel a little warmer to him, his gentle actions chipping at your icy walls. It wasn’t just the gifts, it was his unabashed care for you that made you think that he was almost excited to be married to you, a rather outrageous idea in itself.

“Your Highness!” a voice interrupted your thoughts as Yuna scurried over to you, “His Majesty is outside.”

“Outside of this room?” you asked, turning to face her in surprise.

She nodded in confirmation, “He says he has something to give you.”

Hyunjin stood at the other side of your door, already dressed immaculately in his uniform, spotless and practically dripping with charm. He had walked over to your bedroom, eager to present you with his daily gift when Yuna had slipped out and promptly stopped him from going in.

“I just want to give her a gift!” Hyunjin had protested weakly, but with how stern she was being, he felt like a scolded child rather than an all powerful ruler.

“I’m very sorry, Your Majesty, but you cannot see the Princess until the wedding ceremony.”

Hyunjin was practically pouting at that point, fiddling with the velvet black box in his hands, “Can I at least talk to her?” he asked, “I’ll slip it through the door.”

The maid gave him a weary look before relenting, “Fine. Wait here, Your Majesty.”

“Hyunjin?” you called out hesitantly from the other side of the door, his name no longer feeling foreign to your lips.

“How are you feeling?” Hyunjin asked, feeling the waves of anxiety calm just from hearing your voice. You couldn’t help but smile; even in this moment, where a typical king would already be in celebration with his friends, almost always in some sort of brothel, he still came to make sure you were alright.

“Nervous, but who wouldn’t be?” You chuckled, playing with the doorknob, and a part of you yearned to open the door just to get a look at Hyunjin’s face. The two of you have spent practically most hours of the day together for the last couple weeks, either dealing with foreign envoys sending their congratulations or revising the laws for your kingdom; it almost felt strange to not see him at all for the whole day.

You could hear shuffling from the other side before Hyunjin spoke uncertainly, “Oh, I have a gift for you.”

“Again?” A breathless laugh left your lips, “Hyunjin, you’ve already spent an unseemly amount of money on me these last few days!”

“I know, I know, but this one is special!” Hyunjin argued before his hand slipped through the crack, holding a black velvet box. You took it gingerly, still shaking your head in mild amusement as you opened the present, your jaw dropping.

“Hyunjin, this is…” your voice refused to work as you stared at the diamond necklace, individual gems lacing the front part of the chain, worth more than any of the jewelry your mother ever had, and certainly more than the ones in your possession that you’d buy from local jewelers to support their business.

“Do you like it?” Even without seeing him, you could hear the genuine eagerness in Hyunjin’s voice, and it warmed your heart in a way you didn’t know was possible, as if he had wrapped you up in fluffy blankets on a cold winter day.

You smiled, your fingers delicately brushing the silver chain, “It’s beautiful,” you murmured, before speaking a little louder in case Hyunjin didn’t hear you (he did), “It’s really beautiful, Hyunjin. Thank you.”

There was a beat of silence before Hyunjin spoke again, his voice softer than before, which made you lean closer to the door just to hear him. You could guess his purpose, to say something to you before the wedding and to keep it out of the ears of the nosy maids that were currently standing at the corner of your room, giggling and gossiping amongst themselves.

“I-I know that you never wanted this marriage.” Was that a stutter you heard? It couldn’t be.

Hyunjin cleared his throat before continuing, “I know, in some way, I forced you into this, and I apologize. I’ll do my very best to be a husband that is worthy of standing by your side.”

For a moment, you genuinely thought you were dreaming, the king’s words repeating in your head over and over and yet making no sense at all. Him being worthy of standing next to you? Who was the king here? Why was he lowering himself to your status?

“Hyunjin--” your hand was at the door, instinctively moving to push the door open so you could speak to him in person, but his reflex was just as fast, pushing back with his own hand and keeping the door shut.

“Don’t come out! You know it’s bad luck!” Hyunjin scolded you, his voice sounding slightly panicked.

You let out a sigh, wondering why everyone embraced so many of these superstitions, even him, “You’re right, the door stays closed,” you reassured him gently. 

Hyunjin didn’t speak for a moment, and you almost thought he had left without a word when he began softly, “I know you didn’t want this marriage, but if your heart could have some room for me,” he swallowed, “any room at all, wear the necklace when you walk down the aisle.”

When you returned to the vanity, a dazed expression on your face as the maids giggled and continued to apply your makeup, you looked at your own appearance in the mirror, your hand gently brushing over the simple necklace that currently adorned your neck. 

In accordance to the traditions of your kingdom, if your father was not alive to present you to your husband, it was expected of you to wear a gift from them as a symbol of their claim over you. The plain necklace with a single pearl charm in the center of it was the only jewelry you’d ever received from your father, and if you were being blatantly honest with yourself, you despised it.

Unconsciously, your other hand moved to rest atop the black velvet box now sitting on your vanity. Where your father’s jewlery felt like unwanted possession, you thought back to Hyunjin’s words. 

“I’ll do my very best to be a husband that is worthy of standing by your side.”

Why did those words send your heart into rapid beating? Why did those words feel so freeing, hearing your husband-to-be proclaim before his vows with such intimacy, only for your ears?

It didn’t take more than two minutes to come to a decision. You knew the path you had to take, the one that would allow you to break from the past and the constant obligation you’ve always felt.

“Yuna.”

“Yes, Your Highness?” Your maid smiles, immediately standing to attention as you open the black box. The other maids gasped at the sight of such a priceless artifact before them.

“Help me replace my current necklace, please.” 

v.

The wedding went without a hitch and you were officially the bride of the most powerful man on the continent. Even as the feast proceeded, your people utterly ecstatic that their beloved princess had been married off in such style, you found yourself playing with the ring that weighed down your fourth finger. It was just felt...foreign. 

As the night came to a close, and even the most drunken partygoers were politely escorted out of the palace gates, you were ushered into your bedroom by your maids, who looked a little too eager to have anything good planned.

“What are you all giggling about?” you sighed as they gently combed out the flowers in your hair.

“It’s your first night with the king, Your Highness!” Yuna answered, massaging your hands gently, “We have to pretty you up!”

“Oh?” you raised your eyebrows at her in suspicion before lightly jabbing her side, “Are you saying that I’m not pretty already?” 

Yuna fluttered her lashes innocently, “I didn’t say that, Your Highness,” Yeji and Ryujin hid their smiles and you only rolled your eyes, never finding it in you to be hard on any of them. The five maids have been by your side since you were young, and you were more than elated when Hyunjin had agreed to summon them back to the palace despite that they, more often than not, made you want to tear your hair out.

Like right now.

“I am not wearing that,” you shook your head, your voice dropping into a low growl. But one thing that always drove you a little insane, none of the girls were afraid of you.

Lia held up the lace sleepwear, smiling at you, “Hm? Why ever not?” She asked, as if the robe wasn’t practically sheer and leaving almost nothing to imagination.

“I’m dressing to go to bed!”

“Yes, going to bed with him, your new husband!” Chaeryeong laughed ushering you behind the divider, “Come on, you’re wearing that nightgown or we’ll tell His Majesty about the time you tried to climb the tower--”

“Fine! Demons, all of you,” you growled without any bite to it, and the only response were the laughter and giggles of your handmaidens. 

Hyunjin walked towards the bedroom, still wearing his uniform from the ceremony. Every few steps, he’d glance at the ring on his fourth finger. It wasn’t anywhere near the most expensive piece of jewelry he owns, but you had chosen it for him. You, his newly wedded wife. It made him positively giddy just thinking about it, but he contained himself because he was a king, for goodness sakes.

The door to his bedroom opened as the maids excused themselves. He recognized them as your handmaidens, especially because you had personally went up to him to request--no, demand politely--that they be brought back to your side. 

What was curious, though, was the way they were giggling amongst themselves, giggling that only grew when they spotted Hyunjin in the corridor. They gracefully curtsied at him before practically sprinting down the hall.

Hyunjin shook his head with a resigned smile as he opened the door to your now shared bedroom, “Your handmaidens were giggling nonstop as they walked out--”

The king’s voice completely failed to work for a solid minute as he gazed upon your figure, abashedly sitting on the edge of the bed. While he’d always thought you were beautiful, ever since the first, bloody meeting with your swords clashing, this was the first time he realized that you weren’t just beautiful, you were utterly divine. 

Whatever self restraint he had, the secret affection he’d buried for so long, it burst out like a raging fire.

“Hyunjin--” your words were cut short as the man rushed forward, his hand cupping your cheek as his lips smashed against yours, taking the gasp of surprise right out of you. 

It was unreal, the way you were being kissed, the way Hyunjin was kissing you. It was like nothing you’ve ever felt before, like a gust of wind was sweeping you off your feet. His lips were both gentle and insistent, tugging and giving to you in a way that gave you no choice but to let him in.

Your hands gripped at his uniform as Hyunjin hovered over you, his hands ghosting over your bare thighs as he gently guided you to lie down on the bed, never once pulling away from you. Hyunjin’s hands were roaming everywhere, cupping your face to touched the lace fabric on your waist. 

His name fell out of your lips as he squeezed your thighs, his tongue coming to  explore your mouth with a sort of urgency. It felt like the more you gave him, the more he took. 

“You’re so beautiful,” he breathed out as he finally pulled away for a moment to breathe, his lips inches away from yours. Glancing down, his hand trailed to your neck, leaving featherlight touches on the soft skin as he marveled at the way you looked all splayed out on the bed for him, “And that necklace, it looked stunning…” he trailed off as he began to work at your neck, kissing and sucking at the skin. 

He was just so good. His hands knew exactly where to touch, where to be gentle. His lips knew when to be soft and when to be aggressive. As your hands instinctively moved to card through his soft black hair, a small part of you, a tiny speck of doubt in your mind festered. How many times has he done this to be so experienced? How many have been in the receiving end of his ceaseless praises and touches? 

It was only a hint of doubt, and you tried to shove it within the depths of your mind. Hyunjin’s relationships before your marriage shouldn’t matter, and to be brutally honest, you didn’t hold yourself in high enough esteem to think that you’d be able to keep his interest for even more than a few days. As your mother had once said in scorn, you were more soldier than lady. 

When Hyunjin’s lips trailed from your collarbones to just above your breasts, you began to squirm a little, the panic slowly seeking into your body. The king, enraptured by his actions, continued to travel lower and lower, and the anxiety in your chest only grew until it snapped as his hands slipped under your nightgown.

“H-Hyunjin—wait—stop, please stop—” you gasped out, frantically beginning to struggle and writhe beneath him. There wasn’t much of a fight, however, because the moment your panicked tone made it to Hyunjin’s ears, he backed away, completely getting off you and kneeling beside your breathless form, his eyes wide with an expression you’ve never seen on his face before. 

Horror. 

“I-I’m so sorry,” he choked out as his hands fluttered anxiously around you, debating whether or not to help you or not to touch you out all. In the end, his hands delicately rested on your shoulder as he helped you sit up. Stupid, why couldn’t he read the signs? 

You shook your head as you began to shiver, the heated atmosphere from before now fading from your bones, “N-no, I’m sorry,” you whimpered, wrapping your arms around your body as if to protect yourself. From him. It made him sick to his stomach. 

“Don’t be sorry. It was my fault,” Hyunjin said firmly, and he grabbed one of his robes that were hanging somewhere in the bedroom, quickly returning to your side and throwing it over your shoulders, wrapping you up in clothing that actually covered you. 

What had happened? Hyunjin knew you were enjoying it at the onset. He could feel you kissing back, getting swept away as your hands lightly tugged at his hair. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have went so far to the point where he lost control of his own desire. When did you start panicking?

“No, not at all, Your Majesty,” you spoke softly, tugging at the robe around your shoulders to wrap it tighter around your frame, and Hyunjin had to physically hold back a flinch as his title fell out of your lips. You were his wife, for god’s sake! You didn’t need to call him that.

“I’m just...I’m merely overreacting,” you continued, hugging your knees to your chest and looking smaller than he’d ever seen you, “I understand that it’s a queen’s duty to...produce an heir,” you dipped your head, avoiding his eyes, “And I know this is a rather outrageous request, but I don’t want this until there’s at least some sort of affection between us.”

Hyunjin took a moment to process your words before his eyes widened. Oh dear, you’ve got this all wrong. You truly didn’t know. You didn’t know how much thought he’d put into the gifts he sent you. You didn’t know the way he’d tossed and turned the night before the wedding, childishly giddy at the very thought of marrying you. You didn’t know and didn’t realize it at all.

But it was alright. He could tell from just one look at you that you weren’t ready. And that was alright. He would wait. He’d wait his whole lifetime for you. 

“You aren’t overreacting,” Hyunjin said, his voice gentle as he moved to stroke your soft hair, “And you aren’t my queen just to produce an heir, you’re much more than that. I won’t ever push you until you’re ready.”

Your eyes widened at his words and your head whipped up to look at Hyunjin, who was now sitting on his legs on the bed in front of you, “B-but, what would people say?” you asked.

“We can pretend if it makes you uncomfortable, and if I hear any malicious rumors, I’ll put a stop to them,” Hyunjin answered, not an ounce of doubt in his words.

Despite your shaken state, you couldn’t help but chuckle softly, “How very terrifying, no wonder they call you the Ice King of the North,” this wasn’t the first time you’ve used that nickname on him, but it no longer held the malice it used to. Rather, there was a small playfulness to it, a gratitude for him being so understanding.

Hyunjin was happy to play along, anything to make you feel more at ease around him, “That’s a total farce,” he grumbled, “I never tortured soldiers for information, I just predicted their moves. I don’t need to stoop that low to win my battles.”

“Oh, you poor little one,” you said with mock pity, reaching up to pet his hair as if soothing a child. 

“Little one?” Hyunjin’s lips curled into a smirk as he rounded on you like a predator stalking its prey, “Are you sure I’m the little one here?”

“Hyunjin,” you warned, although it was hard to fight the smile from appearing on your face as you scooted away from you, “Don’t you--Hyunjin!”

You let out a squeal as Hyunjin pounced on you, attacking mercilessly with tickles as you fought back with the same amount of vigor. It was no use, though; Hyunjin was broader and had more than a head over you in height.

Your hand managed to latch onto a pillow and you took it smacking the side of his face hard with the fluffy object. The tide was turned, and you managed to slither out from under him, hitting him as you laughed. 

When you finally fell back on the bed, breathless and giggling, Hyunjin rolled over to you slowly. Cautiously, his hand wrapped around your waist, and to his utter surprise, you made no moves to push him away. Instead, you looked comfortable with the gesture, letting him pull you to his side gently.

“I’m glad it’s you.”

“What?” You looked up in surprise, feeling yourself snug against his chest as Hyunjin hummed, silently moving the covers up over your shoulders to keep you warm.

“I’m glad I married you,” Hyunjin murmured again, resting his head on yours.

You were silent for a long moment, his words ringing in his head. They were so gentle, so outrageously innocent for a man who you’d hated only a few weeks before. Slowly, your hand shifting, gently resting on his chest as you spoke softly, “I’m...glad it’s you, too.”

Hyunjin’s body tensed in surprise as if he wasn’t quite expecting you to parrot the words to him at all, and especially in that soft voice that only came out when you were showing your most vulnerable sides to him. His arm tightened around your waist as you closed your eyes, happily nestled in the embrace of your new husband.

interlude.

“Your Majesty. Your Majesty!” A servant waved his hand urgently as he rushed down the hallway. 

Hyunjin stopped short in his conversation with one of his commanders, Minho, spinning on his heels to address the man, “Yes, what is it?”

“Here is the invitation list for Her Majesty’s coronation,” he said, handing Hyunjin a long piece of parchment paper. The king unrolls the document, scanning through the guest list quickly before rolling it back in place, “Do away with this list.”

The messenger gawked at his request, utterly dumbfounded, “Your Majesty?” He stammers, puzzled.

“This list only includes the most high ranking officials and lords of the kingdom,” Hyunjin handed the parchment back to the messenger, “I want the throne room opened to all.”

“All?” Hyunjin’s commander sputtered, finally interjecting into the conversation, “Your Majesty, that would be a huge risk to take regarding security! Anyone could potentially sneak in and--”

“My Queen is not the type to only care for the noblemen, but also the rest of our people. We’ve already discussed it in length. She wants the common people present at her coronation as well,” Hyunjin replied.

Minho bristled internally. It had only been a few weeks since the king had brought home his new bride. The fact that he had not consulted with any of his military and economic advisors was already outrageous, and what made it even worse was how obviously besotted with her he was. 

Minho disliked her, along with the rest of the nobles. She was foreign blood and she was a technical prisoner of war. She also seemed to prioritize the commoners more than the people that actually paid for this monarchy. She threw a wrench in their plans, and they all hated her.

“Commander? Do you have anything to say in your defense?” The king’s icy tone broke into the man’s thoughts, Hyunjin’s eyebrow raised expectantly. 

It was only too bad that the king protected the queen almost more than he did his own life. 

“Nothing, Your Majesty. You are right, of course,” The experienced commander knew when to show his white flag, dipping his head in agreement. There was no point in angering his king over something as trivial as this.

Hyunjin obviously didn’t buy his saccharine sweetness, but he wasn’t petty enough to point it out either, “Speaking of the Queen,” he turned to the messenger, “would you happen to know where she is right now? She had wandered off to explore the palace after our military meeting adjourned.”

“Ah,” the poor boy blushed, feeling quite suddenly put on the spot as he answered, “I believe I saw her wandering into the garden, Your Majesty.”

The king could not hide a fond smile from flitting across his face in a brief moment of weakness, “I see, thank you,” he nodded at the boy, and the messenger was more than happy to excuse himself from Hyunjin’s presence. Finally left alone with the commander, Hyunjin turned to him smoothly, “Continuing our previous conversation, I will not enforce a toll between the borders of mine and the Queen’s kingdom. If you don’t have anything else to discuss, you are excused.”

Ah, it’s always the Queen, the Queen, the Queen. Minho thought it was nothing short of repulsive at how only the name of the woman would have his king turning over and showing his belly like an excited kitten. Gritting his teeth, he bowed, “Yes, Your Majesty.”

If this goes on any further, Minho might have to take matters into his own hands. But, for the moment, he didn’t need to get his hands dirty yet. A smile quirked up on his face as he mused about certain...possibilities. Maybe, with the coronation open to all, he wouldn’t even need to lift a finger. 

vii. 

To be honest, when Hyunjin was growing up, he had believed himself incapable of love. When his father had died early on in his life, he was raised by a mother that knew nothing but greed and a thirst for power. She controlled him like a puppet on strings, using her own son as a vessel for her own agendas. It had taken all of Hyunjin’s effort to finally break free from his mother’s clutches, and when he emerged into the world as a young king, he realized that he was well and truly destined to be alone.

But as he walked around the royal gardens, in search of his wife, his heart making a light skip at the mere prospect of seeing her, he wonder if this was what love was supposed to feel like. And as he stopped short, seeing the back of a familiar woman sitting on the bank of a small pond, her simple, yet elegant dress splayed out gracefully on the ground, he knew this was exactly what love was supposed to feel like.

Smiling to himself, the king walked over to you, shedding his uniform jacket and gently draping it over your small form, “Spending time with the bunnies again?”

You barely bat an eyelash as the familiar weight of Hyunjin’s coat fell upon your shoulders, holding onto it to keep warm as you smiled up at him, “Didn’t Commander Lee want to speak with you alone? What are you doing out here?” 

“The conversation was more trivial than I’d expected, so I cut it short,” Hyunjin waved off your worries, sitting down on the grass beside you. Suddenly to his right, two small, cream colored bunnies jump out from the bushes, bounding over to you, already familiar with your presence since you’ve spent much of your free time here. 

“Are you sure you should be making your displeasure so obvious? You know we rely on their military strength,” you spoke as you gently reached out to one of the bunnies, tickling its nose with your finger, a light frown on your face as you looked at Hyunjin. 

“I’ve made it very clear what I expect from them, and yet they keep disobeying me,” Hyunjin muttered, angrily ripping at the grass to vent his obvious frustrations.

As you studied Hyunjin’s face, you couldn’t help but sense that there was more to his anger at his commanders than he was letting on, “There’s something else, isn’t there?” you approached him cautiously. 

Hyunjin looked up at you, surprised, “What do you mean?” One of the bunnies hesitantly bounded over to him, and the king awkwardly pet them, trying his best to be gentle, especially after you’d given him a big scolding about being to aggressive with them a few weeks ago. 

“You’re not just angry because they question your policies,” you explained, your eyebrows furrowed in gentle concern, “I mean, I question you all the time, and we’ve only been married for a few weeks.”

The king couldn’t help but chuckle at that, “But it’s different when it’s you.”

“Why? Because we’re married?” you laughed at the sheer cheesiness of the statement, giggling as Hyunjin nuzzled his face into your shoulder playfully.

“What else could it be, darling?” the name fell out of his lips so naturally, he almost had to do a double take with how close he was to saying it like he genuinely meant it, and not just as a lighthearted joke between the two of you.

Instead of pushing him away, you smiled, reaching to gently ruffle his hair, “Don’t avoid the question,” you murmured softly, “what’s got you all worked up?”

Hyunjin debated for a moment before sighing. He could never refuse you of anything, “I don’t like how they treat you,” he said, his voice flat, “I don’t like the way they glower at you when they think you don’t notice, the way they keep trying to subtly tell me to find another wife.”

There was a moment of silence as you stated at him, almost dumbfounded. Then, to Hyunjin’s utter surprise, your lips curled into an amused smile, “That's it?”

Oh, the utter nerve of you! Hyunjin would feel offended if it weren't for the fact that he was angry for your sake in the first place, “That's it?” He repeated in disbelief, “Aren't you annoyed at all? They dislike you for no reason other than the fact that you're not one of them. Doesn't that make you even a little angry?”

“Why should it?” You merely shrugged your shoulders, smiling down at the bunny that was burrowing into your stomach for warmth, “Their twisted thinking is not my responsibility to change. If they're determined to hate me, no amount of money, fear or kindness will change that.”

It was quite amazing, seeing you so nonchalant. Hyunjin had done his best to help you adjust to the new customs, the colder weather, everything that might potentially pull you out of your comfort zone, but you took everything with such grace, such an aura of indifference. It almost turned him on every time he saw you brush off Minho’s jagged comments about your appearance, your background, your parent's crimes with a simple quip in return that would turn the commander's face a shade of deep red.

“You’re unreal,” The words fell off of Hyunjin’s lips before he could even process them. You're unreal? Hwang Hyunjin, you're supposed to be a notoriously smooth talker, a true diplomat!

The look on your face showed your surprise at his sudden comment as you asked almost worriedly, “What’s going on with you today?”

“What do you mean?” Hyunjin cleared his throat, desperate to salvage this rather awkward conversation. 

“Well, you seem more emotionally charged than normal,” you commented, “Did something happen?” A mischievous sparkle appeared in your eyes, “Someone catch your eye?”

“Of course. You.”

“Flattery won't make me go easy on you during our sparring practice,” you hummed absently, all of your attention devoted to the bunny in your lap as you tickled its nose with your gentle finger, cooing. 

Hyunjin couldn’t help but pout as his advances were all being brushed away, and he felt a little like a shy prince courting a lady for the first time. He glanced at the bunny with an expression akin to mild disdain, “You seem to play favorites, My Queen.”

You chuckled, lifting the small creature into your hands as it curiously sniffed at you, “Well, Sungie enjoys my company, too, more so than the others.” 

“Sungie?” Hyunjin repeated the name. He disliked it, mentally apologizing to whoever he’d meet in the future that had the unfortunate fate of being named Sungie. 

His blood boiled in a way that a petulant child’s would as he watched you giggle, pressing a light kiss to the bunny’s nose. Wonderful. Not only was this Sungie stealing your attention, he was stealing your kisses, too. When was the last time you kissed him?

Far too long ago.

Hyunjin sighed, and he gave up on his attempts to steal your attention, opting to tell you the more important news, “Your coronation is confirmed for next week.”

Your entire body froze, and you placed Sungie back into your lap, “That’s early,” you responded, and Hyunjin didn’t miss the thin layer of tension in your voice, the only sign that becoming the queen of two kingdoms was more daunting to you than you like to show, “I thought you said the nobles would never agree to it.”

“I think they grew tired of opposing you, since it’s so goddamn hard,” Hyunjin said, and your lips quirked into a wry smile, unconsciously driving him to do the same, “The head of staff gave me the normal list of the same, boring rich military men, but I told him to change it according to what we’d discussed.”

You didn’t speak for a long moment, your eyes drifting off into the distance as if thinking very carefully until his name fell out of your lips, “Hyunjin.”

“Yes?” The king tilted his head towards you inquisitively.

“Aren’t you tired of me telling you what to do?” You asked, meeting his gaze with an unreadable expression on your face, “You married me, the princess of a defeated kingdom, and I prance around making my own rules and then now uprooting your traditions. Aren’t you annoyed at least?”

Hyunjin only shrugged, “I didn’t chose you out of all people to be my queen just for you to stay silent,” he answered before letting out a fond chuckle, “And besides, you never tell me what to do. You just come in with a strong suggestion and we either argue about it civilly or we duel it out. That’s called council, and it’s exactly what you’re supposed to be doing.”

For the first time, you stared at Hyunjin in a new light. Was it just because of his words, or was your heart fluttering because of him? Hyunjin didn’t seem to notice how much his words meant to you, beginning to click his tongue sweetly at one of the nearby bunnies, petting their soft fur. Strange, he didn’t seem this attractive the few times he’d done this before. 

“Are you alright?” The man in your thoughts interrupted your daydreaming, “You’ve gone all quiet.”

You could only hope that the warmth on your cheeks didn’t show, “I’m alright,” you replied quickly, diverting your attention to Sungie, who had woken up, trying to burrow himself in your lap, “Just thinking about the coronation.”

“I see. Are you excited?”

“Excited?” You repeated with a chuckle, “I can’t say I’m dreading it, but would anyone be excited to carry the weight of two kingdoms on their shoulders?”

“Not everyone thinks about ruling in that way,” Hyunjin reasoned, reaching for one of the bunnies.

You shrugged, “Maybe, but I don’t want to treat my power like something I can carelessly wield--ah, not that aggressively!” Your eyes widened as you grabbed Hyunjin’s wrist when you noticed him reach for one of the bunnies without letting it come to him.

“Why? I was going slow!” Hyunjin spoke defensively, all of his senses heightened at the feeling of your small yet firm grip around his wrist. Cute, your hand didn’t even completely wrap around his. 

“Wait for him to come to you,” you instructed him, guiding his hand forward in the right movements to beckon some of the bunnies over to him. All your attention was diverted to helping him, and yet, Hyunjin could not take his eyes off your face, your perfect features, the kindness in your eyes, and those perfectly kissable lips.

He couldn’t wait until the day that a golden crown would adorn your hair, and you would sit in the throne beside him, a spot that no one else but you were worthy of. 

viii.

“Are you nervous?”

“Do you want me to lie to you and say that I’m not?” You replied from where you were standing in front of the full length mirror, Yeji and Ryujin putting on the last few accessories of your coronation dress. Per your request, the gown was bold, dark red chiffon falling to the ground with accents of gold plated metal on your shoulder plates. It was a statement, a statement that would tell Hyunjin’s kingdom that you were no prisoner, and a statement that would tell your own kingdom that you were still their princess in heart and soul.

Hyunjin leaned against the doorframe, watching you get ready and conversing with you. For a brief moment, you wondered if he’d sensed your nerves that morning, and had come to bother you only to get your mind off of the main event.

You stared at your own reflection, unwavering. But yet, the woman that stared back at you, the woman who was about to be crowned the queen of two powerful kingdoms, felt unfamiliar. This, this powerful woman, she didn’t feel like you. What good have you ever done with your power? What good will you ever do with your new power?

“Yeji, Ryujin, leave us,” Hyunjin suddenly spoke up, although not unkindly. The two handmaidens slipped their hands away from their work, having only to check the corset straps before they were done with you. 

When they left the room, you watched silently in the mirror as Hyunjin pushed off from the doorframe and made his way towards you. The king didn’t seem to be in a rush to speak either, and he took the corset straps delicately in his hands before securing the corset.

“I’m not ready,” Hyunjin said softly as he concentrated on his task, “That was the only thought running through my head on the day of my coronation.”

You didn’t speak, taking in the weight of his words, “I remember,” you answered softly, and as you watched Hyunjin’s brow furrow in concentration as he checked your corset, you couldn’t help but notice how intimate the moment was. “You were only fifteen when the former king passed away.”

“I was groomed for this role all my life,” Hyunjin hummed, slipping his finger into a few of the corset layers to loosen it just a little so you could breathe easier, “Ever since I was born, every waking moment was spent preparing me to be king, and yet, when I stood up there, I never felt more like an imposter than at that moment.”

It was surprising, hearing that Hyunjin, such a cool, levelheaded monarch even at his young age didn’t feel like he belonged on that throne, even though he of all people deserved to sit in it. You didn’t think that he did before, but after seeing him, spending every day supporting him, you realized that, beneath his disarming smile, his heart was gentle and he cared oh so much.

“My Queen,” your eyes widened as you felt Hyunjin take your hands in his, and you turned to face him, admiring the beautiful features that adorned his face. You could count his eyelashes, gazing into the plethora of hazel brown shades in his soft eyes, his soft, plump lips looking so kissable.

Hyunjin held your hands delicately, rubbing his thumbs against the back of them in an effort to soothe your worries, “You will be the most beloved Queen that the kingdom has ever had,” he murmured, “It might not be immediate, and it might not be in the next week, but there’s no one else that is worthy of the title.”

“When will I feel that way?” You swallowed as you looked into his eyes, letting your vulnerability show, “When will I ever feel that I’m ready?”

The king smiled at the question, squeezing your hands, “You won’t,” he said, an almost bitter taste to his words, “You will never stop second guessing yourself, no matter how long you wear that crown,” Hyunjin didn’t mince his words, knowing that you didn’t need shallow reassurance right now. You needed the truth.

“But, you can’t stop just because you don’t believe you’re ready,” he continued, reaching up to brush a strand of hair behind your ear, “Just know, you’re enough. You will always be enough.” 

Goddamnit, Hyunjin was making it very hard for you not to fall in love with him.

You took a deep breath, grounding yourself as you felt the tension leave your shoulders, “Feel better?” Hyunjin gave you an encouraging smile, seeing you that you looked more like your usual self.

“Much,” you smiled up at him, reaching a gentle hand up to brush a stray strand of hair away from his face. 

An hour later, you knelt before Hyunjin on the velvet carpet your head dipped down as the king recited the vows, the vows in which you were taking as the new queen. The pews were filled to the brim with people of all kinds, merchants, farmers, blacksmiths, maids, everyone eagerly trying to get a glimpse of you, your dress, your appearance. 

You repeated the vows, and with the dumb stroke of luck, your nerves refused to get the best of you, and you managed to go through the three-page long speech without any major slips. The crowd let out gasps of wonder as the crown, a marvelous artifact in itself with its gold base, its red rubies and diamond embellishments, was taken off its safe place on a red cushion. And with the gentlest of touches, Hyunjin slipped the crown atop your head as you looked down at the ground beneath his feet. As you lifted your head, you could’ve sworn Hyunjin had given you the most fleeting of winks, but you felt an ease flood through your jittery bones.

He stretched out his hand to you, gentle and inviting, and you slipped your hand in his, letting him help you up. Subconsciously, you held back the sudden urge to lean forward and press your lips against his. Unbeknownst to you, Hyunjin was restraining himself from doing just that.

As the two of you turned to face the adoring crowd, Hyunjin called out in a booming voice, “Long live the Queen!”

The sentiment carried on and on, echoing in the halls as you held Hyunjin’s hand tightly. You could feel the glower on the faces on the nobles, glaring at you with constrained hatred, but you could care less. The people wanted you, accepted you as their queen, and that was more than enough for you.

Smiling up at Hyunjin, feeling relief flood through your bones, the two of you were filled with glee as the cup bearer came out with the two glasses of wine to complete the ceremony, the unification of the king and queen.

“Want to give them something to remember?” Hyunjin murmured in your ear, taking his own glass.

“And how do we do that?” You smiled, raising the glass of red wine to him gracefully. 

The king’s eyes sparkled with a mischief that only appeared when he was truly happy, when he was utterly content, and one of his arms snaked around your waist, pulling you snug against him. The other, holding the wine glass in hand, looped around yours as the people began to clamor excitedly at the spectacle, “Like this, obviously.”

The close proximity made you blush, and you stared at Hyunjin, your heart pounding.

“What’s wrong?” He teased you, leaning closer, “Too shy?”

No, it wasn’t that, you thought as the two of you linked arms, getting ready to drink the wine together. All the moments your heart had fluttered, all the moments you felt as if time stood still whenever he held your hand, it all pieced together like a puzzle that was meant for only you to solve. 

Ah, you really did love Hwang Hyunjin. 

Tipping the glass upward, you caught sight of a small commotion in the pews behind Hyunjin. It sounded different from the excited squeals and gasps of the rest of the crowd at you and Hyunjin’s show of affection. It sounded almost like…

A man burst out from the seats, jumping over the rows as people screamed in terror and tried their best to get out of harms’ way. In that moment, you assumed he was here to attack you, especially with the manic look in his eyes and the razor sharp knife gripped in his hand. Hyunjin had warned you, after all, that not everyone in his kingdom was pleased that he’d married a princess from a foreign land they were at war with.

But he wasn’t aiming at you. He was aiming at Hyunjin.

Out of pure hatred and craze, he reached the two of you, slipping out of the guards’ grasp and advancing towards Hyunjin, his knife ready to sink into his heart. There wasn’t a moment left for hesitation, and in that split second, you lashed out, standing in front of Hyunjin and intercepted the knife with your hand. 

Time stood still as your own life blood trickled down your arm, the horrified gasps of the crowd became irrelevant, and you finally got a good look of who was trying to kill your husband. Your eyes widened, and from the distant past, you recognized the man. 

“Y/N!” Hyunjin’s voice broke you from your moment of epiphany, and you realized that the guards were already onto him, even as you gripped the knife harder, digging it further into your palm as the attacker struggled to pull it out.

“Wait,” you grit your teeth at the pain, glaring at the guards and tilting your head. Reluctantly, they pulled away from the man, obviously uncomfortable with the idea of watching this random person, this crazed attacker, hurt their newly crowned queen.

“Y/N--”

“I said, wait.”

Even Hyunjin froze at your tone, and the crowd died down, their earlier cries turning into conspiratorial whispers. What was the Queen doing? Has she gone mad? Is she ordering the King around?

Ignoring the commotion, the obvious stain that was now forming in your reputation, you looked the man straight in the eye and asked softly, “You’re...you’re one of my soldiers from the war, aren’t you?”

The man’s jaw went slack, utterly dumbfounded that his commander, and now his new queen had remembered him, a lowly foot soldier that lagged behind in the last regiments, “Your Majesty,” he stuttered over his own words. In his eyes, there was no anger left, only horror at what he had done, what he could’ve done, “I didn’t mean to--I only wanted some form of satisfaction.”

“I know,” you answered softly, loosening your grip on the knife as you noticed that his earlier resolve was crumbling. The man sank to his knees before you, and to the sheer horror of the noblemen in the crowd, you did the same for him, “I know. But this isn’t the way to achieve it.”

“I didn’t mean to hurt you, Y-your Majesty--” At last, the man dropped the knife and you let go, allowing the bloodied weapon to clatter to the floor. You ignored the rest of the world, you ignored the blood flowing freely from your wound, and you leaned forward, murmuring the words that you always uttered to your soldiers before every battle.

“Do you trust me?”

The man hesitated for a moment before answering softly, but without doubt, “Yes, Your Majesty.”

You smiled, “Then I will rebuild our kingdom in a way that will make you proud. I swear it.”

Knowing that your job was done, you backed away, and the man allowed the guards to take him away without any resistance. Then, from your right, you could hear Minho snicker under his breath, covering their mouths with mock politeness, and your face burned.

“Some queen she is.”

Despite the walls that you put up to hide your fears, your anxieties, you were only human, and you avoided the gaze of the crowd, knowing what they must think. A lowly queen that would bow before her own subjects, make promises to them rather than keeping her head high and mighty. 

You didn’t regret what you did for a moment, but you knew how terrible this must look, and how awfully this might impact Hyunjin.

The sound of soft clapping made your ear twitch. Then, it grew louder, it grew into cheers, it grew into clamoring, until by the end, the hall was filled with the excited sounds of the people, drowning out the mocking laughter of the noblemen. You stared out into the crowd in dumbfounded awe as the roaring chant reverberated in your ears.

“Long live the Queen!”

ix.

“Ow!”

You let out a hiss of pain as you sat in your nightgown by the vanity, your injured hand outstretched so it could be treated properly.

Ryujin clicked her tongue in mild annoyance, “Hurts, right? Maybe you should remember that the next time you grab a blade with your bare hands!” She snapped as she dabbed at the cut with a purple salve that the doctor had given you.

Glancing at her, you couldn’t help but chuckle softly, “You get so mad when you’re worried.”

“Who says I’m worried?” Ryujin scoffed, but both of you knew she was playing a bluff. Of course she worried, she worried the most out of all of your handmaidens, only hiding it with her brash attitude.

A soft creak of the door alerted the both of you, and Ryujin was halfway out of her seat already to berate whoever was walking in without knocking when she froze, immediately dipping her head respectfully as Hyunjin stepped into the room. 

You averted your eyes instantly, finding some very intricate patterns on the marbled floor as you refused to look at him. Hyunjin was the only person you haven’t spoken to since the coronation early that day, and there was no way he wouldn’t be angry. 

Hyunjin raised a brow, noting your actions the moment he walked in. If there was one thing you always did, even since the first meeting, it was to look straight into his eyes. You were probably the first to do it with such vigor, staring back at him as if practically daring him to challenge you. It was hard not to notice when you suddenly began to look away.

“Ryujin, please fetch us some tea, if you will,” Hyunjin spoke lightly as he walked over to the vanity, standing beside the two of you. 

Your maid glanced at you, and you gave her a weak smile, lifting your unharmed hand to rest on hers, “It’s alright. I can finish bandaging it, really.”

“Fine,” Ryujin stood up after a moment, brushing off her dress, “you better do it right. Don’t forget that time you refused to clean the cut on your leg after sword practice and the doctor threatened to chop your limb off when it got all gross and infected,” you could only stare at her back, utterly betrayed as she skipped off to do as the king commanded.

As the door shut behind her, you were hyper aware that it was only you and Hyunjin in the room, and the silence was more torturous than anything you’d ever experienced. Keeping your head down, you heard as Hyunjin took Ryujin’s earlier seat.

“Here,” you flinched a little as you saw his hand outstretched, his palm facing upwards.

“I’m...sorry…?”

“Your hand, please,” Hyunjin sighed, wanting more than anything to take your hand himself and bandage it as tightly as possible, but he’d wait. He’d always wait.

Hesitantly, you extended your hand, resting it on his with your palm facing up, giving him a clear view of the rather ghastly cut, which went deeper than he’d assumed earlier. With delicate fingers, he scooped up a dollop of the salve before gently applying it. You immediately recoiled at the sting, but Hyunjin gripped your hand tightly.

“Keep still,” he said firmly, focusing all his attention on treating your cut. You glanced at the way his fingers gently pressed against your palm, the way he handled you with such care, care that you’ve never experienced before, and slowly, the guilt the coiled in your stomach began to crawl up and out of your throat.

“Hyunjin, I’m--”

“Why did you do that?”

His voice was tight as he interrupted you, reaching over to the vanity table and grabbing the roll of gauze while he waited for your answer. You didn’t speak for a long moment because--if you were being completely honest--you weren’t sure what came over you at that moment.

“He was a soldier in my army during the war,” you explained cautiously as Hyunjin began to wrap the bandages around your hand, “He was obviously more desperate than malicious, and–”

“That’s not what I meant,” Hyunjin’s patience finally snapped as he tied the bandage tightly, causing you to let out a wince. You finally looked at his face out of confusion, and he gripped your wrist, holding up your injured hand. 

“Why did you do this?” He clenched his jaw as everything that he'd bottled inside since the coronation spilled out of his lips, and he stared into your eyes with such an intensity, it felt as if you were being consumed by his desperation, “The blade could've been rusted, poisoned, anything! What if you ended up having to amputate your whole hand just because of this? What if you died? Did you even think about yourself for a moment?”

“I didn't,” you said softly, squeezing your eyes shut as you confessed, “I wasn't thinking about myself at all, alright?” 

Hyunjin looked taken aback, “Then what were you thinking?” He asked, his voice still hard as he clutched your hand in his, “What on earth were you thinking about that could possibly make you risk your own life--”

“I was thinking about you!” You finally blurt out, looking down at your lap, too ashamed to even look him in the eye as your voice grew weak, “All I could think about was you, you getting hurt, and I realized that I couldn’t bear to lose you.”

A tense silence filled the room as you waited for Hyunjin to snap, to scoff at your weakness, to realize that you weren’t as strong as he once imagined you to be.

Your eyes widened when you felt gentle fingers tilt up your chin, guiding you to look up at Hyunjin. To your surprise, he looked almost pained as he shifted closer to you, his thumb brushing your cheek as he whispered, “Don’t say that.”

Confused, you let Hyunjin caress your soft cheeks, seeing that he looked almost desperate to touch you, “Say what?” You probed gently, reaching to rest your fingers on the back of his hand.

“That you don’t want to lose me. Don’t say things that m-make me think you love me,” Hyunjin’s voice sounded so utterly weak, and he studied your face as if you were the most previous jewel in the world. Did he always stare at you like that?

You swallowed nervously before asking softly, “What if I do love you?”

The reaction was instantaneous. Hyunjin closed the distance between your lips, smashing his against yours with so much emotion and desire that you were almost dizzy. He rested his hand on the nape of your neck, gently brushing your soft locks off of your shoulder as he deepened the kiss. This time, there wasn’t an ounce of resistance in your body. All you wanted to do was to let him in, let him sweep you off your feet and hold you close.

Hyunjin shifted, slipping an arm around your waist, and he easily lifted you in his arms, carrying you to the bed without once pulling away from the intoxicating feeling of your soft lips. Oh, how he missed them, how he’d dreamed of them for nights on end, not one dream as perfect as the reality. 

“I love you,” he murmured as his lips trailed down from your cheeks to your jaw and all the way to the soft skin of your neck, “I loved you for so long.”

Even in your blissful state, you managed to grasp the meaning of his words and you choked out between his frantic kisses, “H-how long?”

“Since the wedding, I’ve known that you were going to my one and only, my one true love,” Hyunjin said softly before pulling away. He gazed down at your state, both of your hands on either side of your head, your hair fanned out on the pillow beneath you. You looked like a goddess, and he’d spend every night thanking the gods that you were his.

“I never thought--I never even imagined,” Hyunjin rambled on as he dived for your neck, sucking gently as you let out a soft noise at the sensation. It almost drove him mad, “I never even dreamed that you would say yes, much less accept me at all--”

“It’s true,” you murmured, your eyes fluttering shut as your fingers reached up, carding gently through his hair, “It didn’t happen overnight, but now I realize. I love you.”

Hyunjin let out a groan at your words as they resonated in his heart, causing it to pound uncontrollably. He pulled away just for moment, his lips hovering over yours as his hands trailed down your sides cautiously, “I love you too, my Queen. So much,” he said, pecking your lips. 

You couldn’t help but smile, chuckling softly as you looked up at him, “Your Queen,” you repeated the title, finding that you loved it very much.

“Well, you are,” Hyunjin smiled in return, brushing a strand of hair away from your face before leaning down again, pressing his lips again yours as he mumbled, “my beautiful queen. The love of my life.”

Blushing, you threaded your fingers through his hair as he deepened the kiss, sucking and nibbling at your lips, causing you to giggle. Nothing felt rushed, nothing felt like one side was trying quickly to quench their desperation. It was just love, contentment, the purest form of peace.

Eventually, Hyunjin’s hands made it down to your legs, ghosting over your skin as he slipped a hand under your nightgown, freezing as he made it to your upper thigh, “Tell me if you want to stop,” he whispered, pecking your cheek. 

You stared up at him, full of love and adoration as you brushed his long black hair away from his face, “I don’t ever want you to stop,” you replied with a gentle smile, and Hyunjin never denied you of anything. He dipped down, his hands playing with the hem of your gown as the two of you finally surrendered to each other, letting the world slip away until the only thing that mattered to you was Hyunjin, and the only thing that mattered to Hyunjin was you. Always you.

Ryujin never came back with your tea, having decided to leave the two of you alone when she’d first turned into the corridor. A smug smile curled on her face, and she rushed off to tell the other handmaidens that they owe her ten gold coins.

epilogue.

You were awoken with gentle lips caressing your cheek, fingers lightly dancing over your bare waist. Mumbling softly, your eyes fluttered open and your gaze fell upon Hwang Hyunjin, who was resting on his elbow as he looked down at your previously sleeping figure with nothing but pure love in his expression. 

“Morning,” you smiled sleepily, giggling as Hyunjin leaned down, nuzzling his face against your cheek. 

“Sleep well?” He asked, his voice scratchy from just waking up. Even so, he couldn’t seem to get enough of you, running his hand up and down your side as his lips trailed from your own lips to your cheeks to your neck.

You hummed in response, playing lightly with his hair as you looked at the sunlight spilling into the window, signaling a new day, “I don’t think we did a lot of sleep, though,” you commented, smiling when Hyunjin pulled away, pouting at you.

“Can’t you let me be romantic just once?” He whined a little as he kissed down your body, kissing your shoulder, your collarbones, your chest, trailing down until he stopped at the soft skin of your tummy.

You giggled as he paused, squirming as he drew circles with his fingers on the skin before pressing a long, gentle kiss to it, “Mm...I hope you’re pregnant…”

“Hyunjin!”

“What?” Hyunjin laughed as he dodged your light swats of indignance, crawling back up to pull you into his chest, “We’d have our little heir, and it would get those good for nothing nobles off your back,” his voice held more bite as his jaw clenched.

You placed a hand on his chest, drawing soothing circles, “Don’t worry about them,” you murmured softly, looking up into Hyunjin’s eyes, “Just for today, just this once, let’s not worry about them at all.”

Hyunjin smiled, pulling you closer as his lips brushed yours.

“I don’t have a problem with that at all.”

fin.

~

a/n: a sincere thank you to anyone who made it this far ;;_;;

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