#Shuri fanfic w/w | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

lyncirenzei · 1 year

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Anya Mmiri - Shuri x Namor Oneshot

Summary: Shuri grapples with the aftermath of the decisions she’s made and those made for her. She thinks she needs to grieve alone. Namor thinks otherwise.

Rating: Teen 13+

Word Count: 6.8k

AN: I can’t believe I wrote fanfic again after this long. But these two grabbed me by the throat and threatened me. So I had no choice.

It seemed, to everyone but Shuri, that Wakanda had its strength back. That they were, by all intents and purposes, on the right track back to their former glory.

Thanos had been defeated and the souls lost for five years, returned.

The loss of their great King and protector T’Challa was mourned and celebrated before a new Black Panther rose in his place.

The heart shaped herb was restored.

And the balance of power after the loss of their Queen Mother, Ramonda, settled.

Yes, for all intents and purposes, to everyone else Wakanda handled its issues with grace and perseverance. They always came out stronger on the other side.

But to Shuri, she felt as lost as if it was all suddenly happening to her again. Like someone had taken a spear and stabbed her through the gut with it.

She sighed at that thought, placing a hand against the spot that had now fully healed, but still felt phantom pain in.

All of her emotions felt like an assault against her body. But during her physical fight with him, she realized how much they actually matched. One didn’t hurt any more than the other. Every punch, slam, scratch, throw, and even stab felt like the same pain of rectifying that she couldn’t save her brother, her mother, or protect Wakanda from an invasion of people who went undetected by their sensors.

It was all the same to Shuri. All of it was overwhelming. So she ran.

She needed time apart from everyone and everything. Nakia was the first to be so kind as to give her that place to rest her head. And to give her something even more precious. Her nephew. The future King of Wakanda, a second T’Challa, a second chance for her to protect him. To be there for him.

But even with a place away from it all, her eyes couldn’t seem to stay dry these days. With so little to occupy her time, she was forced to be with her thoughts and her emotions. And the more she felt them, the more they seemed wild and uncontrolled. They would flare up in her chest at the most inopportune moments and she hated how weak they made her feel. She wanted to scream and shout, to punch something or someone, and that was what scared her the most. With such violence playing right under the surface, she didn’t always feel comfortable being in such close quarters with the last living members of her family. She loved them too much to take her anger and frustration out on them.

So she planned a getaway from her getaway. Somewhere she could go that was isolated, where she could use her new strength to break rocks if she needed to. And scream into the air without judgment or worry from others.

And she found it on that same slab of land that she almost died on.

It was completely isolated, and still held the story of her first visit. The ship she flew in on that first time was still in pieces, scattered in the sand and bits of grass. The rock she was pinned to, still had the broken spear sticking out of it. And though some time had passed, the dents left in the sand from their powerful struggle with each other had still not been completely marred by any wind or rain that may have happened.

This was the perfect place for her to sit with her thoughts. A visual reminder of how damaged things could get when she didn’t remember who she was. When she let the greed of vengeance get in the way of what the mantle of the Black Panther was created for.

She was meant to be a protector.

That’s what she kept telling herself.

But she knew her reasons for recreating a hybrid of the heart-shaped herb was purely selfish. Afterall, she was splicing a plant that gave completely different abilities when mixed with vibranium and ingested by organic matter, with another plant that gave a different set of abilities. She didn’t take the time to study the effects it could have on a person.

She didn’t care if they could be lethal, debilitating, dangerous. At that time, she’d rather die than not get a taste of his blood on her hands like she promised herself. So she took the herb and made herself Black Panther as a means to her own ends. She put elite warriors and tribe leaders in danger for those same goals. And now, though the outcome was favorable, she was ashamed of her actions.

But they had all moved on so quickly. If they thought at all about how she used them, they gave her no idea about it. Instead, they focused on their tentative alliance with him. Namor. And on the dangers of the other world powers that would be knocking at their door. Without their attention, it left her feeling isolated and alone.

As she sat in the sand, gathering the small bits in her hands, she wondered about a many great things. All of them painful in one way or another. The tears she stored in her eyes ran as freely as her thoughts, and she didn’t bother to swipe them away. She left them to run over her smooth brown skin, down her cheeks and drip off her chin right onto her legs folded beneath her.

If she kept up this amount of water loss, she’d have a puddle surrounding her. But that was the point of sitting on this violently disturbed land. To allow herself this reprieve of exposure without being exposed.

In her distracted thoughts, she allowed herself to swim in circles, picturing a past self that she could no longer be again. Because the people who shaped her were no longer here.

She sniffled, the sound mixing in with a splash from the ocean that was a distance from where she sat. As she looked through the blur of tears that filled her eyes, she saw what she hoped was an apparition. But she knew it could only be him with that smooth tan skin, and strong, broad body decked in vibranium gold and jade.

Her breath hitched in her throat, almost causing her to choke as she hopped lightly to her feet and activated her necklace that housed the Black Panther suit.

Her entire body was covered in less than 2 seconds and she was crouched in a fighting stance. Ready.

Her eyes scanned his tight body, all the way down to the once symmetrical wings that adorned his ankles. One was missing, and she loathed herself for feeling bad about something that made her feel so good when she ripped it from him.

“What are you doing here, Namor?” She sneered his name as she called out to him, engaging her claws the more he approached.

He didn’t stop walking until he was completely on land, but he never took his eyes off of her, nor did he open his mouth to answer. They only stared at each other for a minute before his sharp eyebrows began to knit together, “Did we not come to be allies, Panther?”

“Our nations are allies,” she yelled to him. “But you and me? We’re nothing.”

She was shaking as she looked at him—he who looked so cool and unbothered by her anger. He never did hide his feelings since the moment she met him and because of that his face held many expressions. They display in the way his eyebrows moved, the sneer of his mouth, the flare of his nostrils around his jade septum piercing, or the squint of his eyes. Sometimes it was all of those things. Right now, it was just his eyes.

He wished her no harm, she could tell, even if he hadn’t said it. Instead, he raised his hands in a universal gesture of meaning peace before he turned his back to her and sat in the sand closer to the water.

She sucked in a deep breath, neck straining where she held it in as she watched him. She could feel her face twitching underneath the mask before she realized he was going to stay sitting there no matter how long she stared at his back, ready to strike.

A few clouds covered the sun, shifting the light, before she stood straight and sat back down in the sand. She kept her suit engaged, wrapped in the cocoon of a suit that offered no protection from him physically and certainly not mentally. But emotionally, he couldn’t see her face if he tried. And any protection from the one who made her feel so unlike herself, was better than nothing at all.

So she sat, quietly, holding in her anger at his presumptuousness and his silent demand to sit on the same shore that she was sitting on. He had the rule of the ocean and could have ended up anywhere, but he came back here. Why? When this place should offer him nothing but a reminder of how close he came to death?

It didn’t make sense, but then again, it didn’t make sense that with one appearance from him he was now all she could think about.

Nothing about what made sense to him or didn’t, should be her concern. She was here to heal. That was all that mattered.

Except…

When she returned the next day, there he was again.

And again.

Every time she made it to the beach and sat near the boulder she almost lost her life pinned to, he would come out of the water and sit. His back would be facing her, and he wouldn’t say a word. They did the same routine for weeks, everyday. Until, eventually, a month passed of them sitting a distance away from each other, silently.

Nakia reached out to Shuri when she realized the girl hadn’t returned to Wakanda and was, instead, somewhere she didn’t know.

Shuri assured her that she was fine. She was healing, but in her own way.

Nakia told her in times of grieving a person shouldn’t be alone. But that was the catch and she stared at its back everyday. Another person was with her. So was she actually alone?

When the first day of the second month started, she felt safe enough to remove her mask. He never turned around after sitting down and she was tired of having the itchiness of her tears pressed against her cheeks unable to dry.

But as soon as he came out of the water, instead of taking the few steps to his usual seat, he walked further up the sand towards her.

Her breath hitched in her chest the closer he got, and she got to her feet when he was only a few steps away, “Hold it! Why are you approaching me?”

She was blinking rapidly as she processed the sight of him before her.

There was a false level of comfort that eased her, knowing he would come on to the shore, sit in his usual spot, and not speak with her. Being able to expect that allowed her to relax. But now, he was suddenly doing something different, something she didn't expect and therefore could not prepare herself for.

“Why do you come here everyday?” He asked, stopping a few feet away from her. He wasn’t looking at her, she noticed. But his eyes were locked onto the boulder behind her, where the broken vibranium spear was run through.

“Why do you?” She said through clenched teeth, watching as his eyes slowly turned to rest on her frame. He examined her exposed face all the way down to her feet and Shuri rued that the one time she needed the mask, she’d been so caught off guard that she didn’t engage it.

She was sure he could clearly see her watery, pink eyes. And she knew the frown she wore was a bad mixture of anxiety and frustration.

“I come here to remember,” he answered her. “Though, what happened here isn’t something I can forget.”

He nodded towards her after speaking, as if to say it was her turn to share. She scoffed, turning her head from him, “I come here for silence and not to be bothered.”

If he had any intelligence about him, which Shuri knew he had plenty, he’d take the hint and leave her alone like he had been. But she also knew he was persistent, and the way he stepped closer to her before taking a seat highlighted that trait of his.

“What are you doing?” The shock in her voice was apparent and her feet carried her a few steps away from him. “I didn’t invite you to sit with me.”

“Didn’t you?” She heard him mutter. “I will be silently here, not bothering you as you requested.”

Her mouth balled up and her eyes widened as she processed his words, “I don’t want you sitting by me. I really don’t want you here at all, but I tolerate it. This is an affront!”

He didn’t look at her nor did he move which left her with the choice of relocating to another spot or bearing his presence closer to her.

She looked around the land, not wanting to move, not when she chose this spot for a reason. So she swallowed her irritation and took a seat after taking two more steps to the right and away from him. He was sitting slightly in front of her, so she could keep her eye on him just in case. But after a while it became obvious to her that she wasn’t only watching him because she was weary. There was something else she couldn’t place that drew her eyes to him. She didn’t know if it was the dark length of his clustered eyelashes, or the soft frame of his dark hair in general. But he looked like some type of art she was meant to study.

She shook her head, that made no sense no matter how she tried to reframe it. And eventually she snatched her eyes away from him all together with a frustrated huff.

At this point, he shouldn’t have any amount of control over her. But he did.

He’d been manipulating her from the moment he rose out of the river and accosted her and her mother. His honesty in his feelings, and his conviction towards his goals were always expressed very clearly. It was something she appreciated. And therein layed the problem. She appreciated things about him that she didn’t want to acknowledge. She wanted to hate him for what he took from her and for what he gave to her. He was just as culpable for restoring the Black Panther mantle to Wakanda the same way he was culpable for taking away a beloved Queen of the nation. And it was not fair how Shuri had to suffer for both when she wanted neither.

The mantle belonged to her brother or anyone more deserving.

And her mother, her mother belonged by her side, guiding her with her wisdom, grace, and beauty. She was her role model and what she thought was the last living member of her family. It was a sweet reprieve to be introduced to Toussaint, T’Challa son of T’Challa.

She sighed, allowing the sound to leave her mouth with no regard to whether he heard her or not.

He didn’t matter.

After a week of him sitting much closer to her, he began to come ashore with random objects.

At first, when he brought her a rock deposit from a cave near Talokan, she didn’t know what he expected her to do with it. Until he told her, “For your studies.”

She didn’t respond.

When he came with something else the next day, garnering no response from her but her eyes weary on his frame, he simply sat it next to her and then sat next to it.

That had been the closest she’d been to him since they traded blows—but unlike that time, this time she didn’t know what he wanted.

“Where did you get that from?” She looked down at the bent rock that seemed to have some sort of metal deposit within it.

“A cave near the land called India,” he said, voice sounding as warm as the sun shining above. “I gave some to our engineers. But you should have some as well. For your—”

“Studies,” she interrupted. “Right. I get it.”

“It is something else for you to focus on,” he spoke again. “When you are finished here.”

“Finished?” Her right eye twitched. “How will I know when I’ll be finished? If I’ll even finish?”

“If you let your grief consume you, then you won’t finish,” he looked at her, eyes soft. “Coming here everyday for unbothered silence will not help you.”

Her chest felt full, like she might be sick if she listened to another word he said. She’d grown to hate listening to him make sense when she couldn’t agree. Didn’t want to.

“I was here first, Namor,” she said. “And I will be here until I am done. You do not have to be here giving me your judgment and unwanted opinions.”

“I do not judge,” he was quick to say.

“You’re not helping either,” she bit out, raising to her feet. “Go away.”

He rose behind her, following in her steps until she turned around to yell at him, “Go away!”

“No, Panther,” he said in a calm, but firm manner. “I don’t think you should be alone.”

“I don’t think,” she stepped closer to him. “That what you think matters. Not in regards to me anyway. If I want to be alone, you will allow it ‘cause I don’t need your permission!”

He squinted his eyes at her tense frame, “You’re being loud is not going to get me to stop following you.”

“I’m not being loud for the fun of it, Namor,” she said through clenched teeth. “I really want you to leave me alone.”

He held his head high, looking down the slope of his nose at her contorted face filled with despair and anger, “I will not come close. But I will keep you in my sights, Panther.”

Her lips parted, ready to argue a point he would not listen to. This was as good as she was going to get without getting physically violent with him. And she wanted to. So very badly. She wanted to sink her claws into his back again, pull him close,and release all the pain she’d stored up over him. But she remembered the blows he traded with her. She didn’t want to feel those against her, not when he was looking at her the way he was. So she took off, running as quickly as her vibranium infused muscles would take her to put great distance between them. Without his wing fully healed, he’d have a hard time flying to see her and she was counting on it.

When she slowed and looked behind her, she didn’t see him. Not even at a distance. It was like he disappeared.

Without anyone around her for the first time, she felt empty—almost lost.

It was the complete opposite feeling of what she was begging for just a moment ago.

She wanted to be alone, away from him, and now that she was…

She screamed.

The sound came from her core, so deep down it felt as if the ground was shaking. Her suit deactivated, allowing her skin to breathe in the tropical breeze that was blowing. Her knees bent until she eventually fell onto them and reached for the earth below. Water poured from her eyes in the form of salty tears as her voice broke on the pain she was releasing.

This was what she wanted. The opportunity to let out all her pain without watching eyes. Even though she knew he was around, somewhere, she couldn’t see him so she pretended he couldn’t see or hear her either.

Her fingers grabbed at the sand and grass that was beneath her before her wail tempered out to whimpers of lingering grief.

Torture.

That was what she felt like she just let out of her body. A twisted form of torture she both controlled and didn’t.

After some time passed with her crouched to the ground, she fell onto her side, laying on the cool sand and staring blurry eyed out ahead of her.

In her immediate line of sight were two brown feet walking towards her with white wings sticking from the sides. One wing was noticeably missing. And when those feet stopped directly in front of her, she didn’t flinch away. When she felt a large, warm hand press onto her damp cheek, she closed her eyes but she didn’t tense up. When that same hand traced a finger down the length of her jaw to her quivering lips, her eyes opened again.

There was a warning welling up in her, like a siren wailing in her heart, but not because she felt in danger from his touch. She didn’t feel at all like she would have expected. She’d thought she would be ready to fight, to defend herself from his cold, callousness and the heavy blows he brought down upon her during their battle.

But, instead, his touch felt so warm, gentle—and what was worse—soothing.

She turned her face from him, pressing her forehead and the tip of her nose into the sand for a brief moment before forcing herself to sit up. Carefully, she wiped her face where the sand stuck and her tears dried. As she got to her feet on unsteady legs, she dusted off her body. All of this she did without meeting his gaze that she could feel never left her.

“I still don’t understand why you’re here,” she finally muttered around a throat that felt ripped raw.

She heard him sigh, but she still didn’t look up at him, “I came to remember, like I said. At first, I wanted to be here as a form of closure. I thought maybe you needed to do the same. Eventually, I realized you were not doing that.”

How could he know anything about her? Did he read minds too?

“You have no idea what I’ve been doing here,” she snapped, finally looking at him. But her face didn’t match the tone of her voice. There were tears filling her eyes again and she knew the expression she made right before crying was anything but threatening.

“I didn’t want you to be alone while you were grieving,” he ignored her. “I’ve lost enough people I’ve cared about overtime to know it is not something a person gets used to. But you shouldn’t be alone while doing so. It is not our way.”

“It’s not ours either,” she admitted, voice cracking. “But when I lost my father I had my mother and brother to share my pain. And when I lost my brother,” she sucked in a stuttered breath. “I had my mother,” she shook her head as she shrugged. “Now that she is gone, who do I have?”

She looked up at him, meeting his eyes directly so he could see all the pain and accusation in her face. She didn’t know what she was expecting to see when she met his eyes, but the soft gaze he captured her in was not it.

“I am sorry for all of your loss, Panther,” he said. “To not have one's family is like not having the very organs we need to live. And to lose a mother is like losing your heart.”

“How can you say that?” She whimpered. “If you know how painful this feels then why would you take her from me?”

“If I could have seen past my own desperate rage,” he muttered, reaching out to her. “Things would’ve been different.”

She slapped his hand away, backing up from him, “I told you it could have and you didn’t listen. You had your mind set on your way only. And now we’re here. I’ve sacrificed everything to get to this point and it's a place I don’t even want to be!”

“You can be angry with me,” he looked at the hand she slapped away. “I accept your anger. I understand it. And I deserve it.”

Her eyes closed at his words, forcing more tears down her face, “I won’t be in this place forever. I don’t know when I’ll move past this hurt. But I will. And when that happens, I’ll forgive you. But not for your sake. It’ll be for myself.”

He nodded, eyes following her as she walked past him, “Will you be here tomorrow?”

She thought about lying to him, telling him she wouldn’t ever return, “Yes, I will be.”

During the second week of the second month she spent sitting near the boulder, Namor sat directly next to her everyday. There were more and more things he’d collected for her to give her scientific opinion about. Eventually she asked him what his own scientist thought of the things he brought them.

“Do you wish to speak with them?” He asked, almost sounding eager.

“No,” she was too quick to answer. She didn't know why she said no, but she felt a fear about seeing other Talokani again so soon. “Not, not right now.”

“Of course,” he nodded. “Whenever you are ready.”

Her eyes dropped down his face, noting his sincere expression, “When I go back to Wakanda, I’ll be pretty busy in the labs thanks to you.”

“Well,” he smiled. “You’re welcome.”

She grimaced at his smile, hating the way it changed his face and automatically made him approachable. It was bad enough she never felt truly uncomfortable in his presence, even when she wanted to kill him. And now that he was by her side everyday as she tried to heal her grief, that comfort seemed to be increasing.

She found it a minor problem.

“I have so many questions to ask you about Talokan,” she said, quickly glancing at him but not being able to hold eye contact. “I don’t know where to start.”

He didn’t reply, only looked on at her picking at the grass growing through the sand. It took her more than a minute to realize he hadn’t said anything. So she looked over to him, surprised when her eyes immediately met his. They sparkled some times when he spoke, especially when he was passionate. And right now, they were doing the same thing without him saying a word.

Was it the setting sun, casting a glow and adding shadows that made him look more dazzling? Or was her eyes playing tricks on her from the amount of tears she’d shed? It could be both, or it could be neither.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” Her voice didn’t have the usual strength behind it that it usually did when addressing him. “I don’t like it.”

A lie.

“My apologies,” he dropped his eyes from her. “Sometimes when I look at you, I see something that I’ve not seen in a very long time.”

She didn’t know what he meant and she wanted to ask, but she also didn’t want to know. Her feelings were all bundled up in her mind, making it hard to think and focus. She began to nibble at her lips before her whole face morphed into one of pure worry. It wasn’t until she felt his thumb right below the line of her bottom lip and the rest of his fingers pressing underneath her chin that her thoughts stopped completely.

When he tilted her head up to look at him, she noticed his eyes were sparkling again as he looked at her. They struck her, and she held her breath the longer he held her face. His head tilted to the side, dropping his eyes over the entirety of her face, “You’re impressive, Panther. It is something I cannot deny. You are of the land and no one here truly impresses me. But this is something I cannot take from you.”

She let out the breath she was holding, “I’m so happy to have your approval, Namor. It’s all I ever wanted.

His smile was soft as he dropped her chin, giving her her space back. She relished in it, while wanting to chase him, ask for him to touch her again. Why would she want anything from him, she had no idea. And that alone was part of the torture she was having trouble escaping.

She was drawn to the visage of him the moment he rose from the water and she realized it was a man with wings on his ankles, decked in vibranium, speaking to her. Then when she spent time in his company and got an idea of what kind of person he was, she knew if she could convince him to change his tactic, they could be really good friends.

Friends.

That’s all she would have wanted from him anyway. Not anything else. Well, maybe she did want his opinion on things, and his attention. But that was it.

“Someone like you doesn’t need my approval,” he muttered. “I don’t think you ever did.”

She squinted at his statement, knowing what it sounded like, but not knowing if she was interpreting the meaning correctly.

“Is there something you want from me,” she asked, wanting clarity. “I keep getting this feeling that you are waiting for me to give you something and I don't know what it is.”

“Hm,” he tilted his head towards the sun. “Something I’d want from you?” He glanced at her again, catching her eye, “After everything I have done to you, I’d only request that you are eventually able to be alright.”

“I’m a Wakandan woman,” Shuri said, sitting up straighter. For the first time, she could picture her mother’s face, her elegance and strength even in the face of tragedy. “I’ll be alright.”

In the third week of the second month, Shuri finally felt well enough to go home.

Not to Nakia and Toussaint, but back home to Wakanda.

There was so much she was sure she had missed out on by cutting herself off from the world. She only allowed contact with Nakia to check in and let her know she was still alive.

Her tears had finally dried, though melancholy would probably follow her for a while longer.

When Namor came from the waters that day, dripping wet and positively eye-catching, her decision was made.

She was spending too much time in his company. And the more she did the more liberties she allowed him to take. He had closed the distance between them completely over the month and half that he’d spent daily in her company. She found herself wanting things from him she shouldn’t want from a person who was just a friend. And she knew, even though he wished her to be well, that there might be more he’d take from her if she gave it.

That was something she wasn’t ready for. Not really.

It’d be a glorious distraction from what was going on in their lives, but it would only add so much more to an already heavy situation.

So when he pulled her to her feet instead of sitting next to her, she knew this would have to be the last day she spent here. He walked her to the shore, his large hand almost completely encapsulating her slender one and sending sparks of warmth all the way up her arm.

“Here,” he stopped as soon as their feet touched the warm water. “Would you like to meet someone?”

She immediately looked at him, “Someone from Talokan?”

She looked to where he pointed over the ocean, only to see one large fin come from under the water and make quite the splash when it went back under, “Is that a blue whale?”

“Incantu,” he said. “She swam most of this way with me.”

“How can I meet her?” She was gripping his hand just as tightly as he was holding hers, the excitement running through her was such a nice feeling after nearly drowning in despair.

“Want to go for a swim?” He asked, pulling her deeper into the water before she could say yes. The smile she wore so brightly on her face was enough for him to know exactly what she wanted even though her shirt and shorts were not the appropriate attire.

“Hold onto my shoulders,” he told her once the water became deep enough. “I will take us there.”

She did as he instructed, gripping the firm muscles that were his shoulders and relishing at how warm and soft his skin was. Before she knew it, they were speeding off into deep waters towards a Blue Whale—a majestic creature she never thought she’d actually meet.

As soon as they got close enough, he brought her hand directly to the thick skin of the creature. She was filled with an eagerness as she rubbed her hand over the wet flesh. He had one of his hands pressed onto her back while he was saying some things to the whale in his native tongue, “Incantu, this is Shuri, the great Black Panther.”

She laughed lightly at his introduction of her and startled when the whale made a loud noise, almost as if in greeting. She kept looking over at Namor, wondering what he could be thinking, “The first time I interacted with a blue whale was when I was first taken to Talokan. It was amazing then, but I was far too scared to really appreciate it.”

“Yes,” he nodded. “It was Incantu here that carried you to our home with Attuma and Namora.”

Her eyes widened, “Seriously?” She looked at the sheer largeness of the whale she was floating next to. “Does she remember me?”

“She does,” he smiled. “Come, she must leave now.”

He pulled her close to him, holding her up in the water as Incantu started to swim down deeper into the ocean. His grip was sure and firm around her waist. She didn’t want to make a big deal out of it, but with him that close, she found she couldn’t think of much else.

“Thank you for letting me meet her,” she said to him. “It is an honor really.”

“Anytime,” his voice was like a whisper so close to her ear. She knew if she turned to face him exactly what she would see and when she did turn it still startled her just how close her face was to his. It didn’t help that she was instantly captured in his dark, sparkling eyes.

This was why she had to leave this place and never return. Whatever had started between them when she first visited Talokan had been stamped down by his unwillingness to listen to reason. But now that time had passed and she found herself back in his company, her rage settled. The wall of protection she built was melting as if it were only made of ice and the man holding her now was the sun.

He leaned towards her, just enough to press the flat of his forehead and nose to hers. Every inch of his skin that was touching her was warm with his adorned jewelry being a cooling contrast.

It was intimate. And it felt—necessary. Like a completion to all they had been through, all they had put each other through.

When she opened her eyes again, she felt bold, stronger than she did previously. As if the man in front of her was only that. A man.

A man she wanted a lot of things from.

Who she currently wanted to feel more from.

Slowly, she tilted her head, sliding her forehead to the side until her cheek dragged against the soft hair of his face. He sighed and she could feel his breath fan against her ear and jaw. It tickled, it felt good, it made her hold him tighter.

Just a sigh from him made her feel powerful in his arms.

She ran her hands up from his strong shoulders, against the back of his neck where the nape of his feather light hair started and squeezed. The pressure elicited another sound from his mouth, a sound of pleasure, she was sure, because who didn’t like their heads massaged? She kept the pressure firm and rhythmic as she made her way up his scalp. He buried his face in her neck, where she felt his mouth beginning to gently press into the sensitive skin there. His lips traced up the tattoo she had along her neck that ended behind the fold of her ear. All of this was new, and elicited sensations she’d never thought to imagine let alone actually experience. The warm waves lapped at them as they floated in each other’s arms, tentatively exploring one another.

It sent electric shocks up her spine when she felt his teeth pinch the flesh of her ear with the lightest amount of pressure possible. But that was what she needed to be jolted out of her reverie. She gripped the length of his hair tight between her fingers, and with her power, she tugged his head back enough for him to arch into her. Her eyes were as intense as his while he looked down his nose at her, completely suspended in her grip. She could see it wasn’t because she was stronger, no, that wasn’t it at all. It was only because he allowed it. There was a glint in his eyes that told her she could venture as far to say he might have even liked it.

Slowly, she loosened her grip after staring in his eyes for an intense second. He lowered his head the looser her grip became. His own hands that were firm around her waist stayed steady, fingers flexing into her back and his thumb rubbing circles into the taunt flesh of her abdomen.

“There is a line somewhere between us, Namor,” Shuri finally whispered to him. “And I don’t think it should be crossed. Not now.”

He didn’t say anything at first, instead he ran his hands up her sides and then back down to her slender hips, causing her to shiver in his hold, “Whatever you say, Panther.”

She could tell from his tone of voice and squint of his eyes that he would have preferred to push the issue, but out of respect he did not.

“Come,” he finally released her to grab onto her hands. “Allow me to take you back to land.”

She did, holding onto him as he swam through the warm waves.

There were plenty of thoughts running through her mind about her position in life after everything. And she would be remiss to not consider just where Namor fit in amongst that position. The sun moved along in the sky, denoting the passing of time. And just like the sun, her relationship with Namor rose and fell, but it never failed to rise again. He wasn’t just some foreign King of a magnificent and powerful nation that she only had to see for political reasons. It was apparent that they could at least become friends if they haven’t already over the course of sitting with their emotions for nearly two months.

But there was so much more that could develop. It was innate, the relationship they could have. But that was between them and only them.

Right now, it was not something Shuri could seriously pursue.

As he helped her out of the water and back onto the warm sand, she tugged at him a little so she’d have his attention, “I won’t be here tomorrow. I think it’s time.”

The sparkle in his eyes dimmed some, but it was still there, lingering, “When will I see you again?”

She looked down with a shrug, “I don’t know. But I imagine not too much time will pass between now and then.”

“I hope not,” he said honestly with a playful glint in his eyes.

She looked up at him, a small smile on her lips despite herself, “For now, it’s goodbye.”

He nodded, letting go of her hand and backing up into the water. She watched him go, amazed that so little time had passed since they met, but so much had happened and developed between them.

She wished she had her family to share these new feelings with. For the first time, there was a man scratching for entrance to her heart that wasn’t her baba or brother. But she didn’t have them, and for the first time, she accepted that. She would never be the same as she once was. But she lived on, and with her, the story continued.

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roseamongroses · 1 year

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SHURIRI! AMNESIA AU

it's about 5am and i havent slept so lemme write this rq before i pass out. shuriri! amnesia au. i barely know anything legitament about amnesia and i will not be researching it at this time because it is 5 am

queen ramonda dies ( IM SORRY OKAY) before shuri and them try to find the scientist

and in the midst of grief while fighting the fish people, shuri is severely injured at the bridge

she is saved by riri(who was nearby testing her latest gadgets) and is brought to the local hospital.

when she wakes she remembers nothing at all and due to the growing tensions/ potential for war back at wakanda they agree to let her stay in America to recover and laylow

(they also agree because amnesia! shuri doesn't really believe their story about the fish people and only really trusts riri at this point cause she was the last person shuri remembers

(angst because OUCH but theyll survive)

anyway shuri immediately sneaks out of the hospital and basically squats in riri's single room(ignore reality we're going off of fanfic reason ok)

(riri has accommodations since she started college so young + sensory issues among other things)

FEATURING:

shuri helping riri exploit the rich and lazy college students with their thriving homework business

shuri and riri pissing each other off cause being codependent and attached at the hip isn't always fun but they work through it

shuri gradually gains independence she starts working on some unresolved, internalized abelism as she's recovering physically and mentally from the attack. she starts sitting in some classes (she is excitable and the TAs lowkey hate her)

and there was only one bed

shuri decides one day in class that riri is just as interesting as science. she does not simply pine, she becomes a shameless flirt

riri not really believing shuri's advances/ shying away because of shuri's condition and how her view of riri has a savior may influence her opinions (she's had a crush on the princess since wakanda was first revealed to the world and she can't let her heart be crushed like that)

shuri discovering riri's exploits as ironheart

while all of this is going on imagine the fish people despretly trying to murk the two while the wakanda people protect them w/o shuriri noticing. looney toons type of activity in the background.

huh when is shuri getting her memories back??well funny story. shuri's actually been gradually regaining her memories back this entire time but she has been pretending that she has hasn't recovered them

why?well not only is she remembering the deaths of her father and brother (X2) all over again, her mama just died, her country is on the verge of war, and for the life of her shuri cannot figure out who made the device that detected the vibranium. she wasn't excatly running away from the issue, but she still hadn't accepted that this is her reality. DENIAL IS A

one day she encounters namor again. he confronts her, tries to make the same deal again and shes like "idk even know who the fuck made that". so he gives her a clue and shuri goes looking in riri's lab her next visit. and yeah she finds out. not a good day tbh

so does shuri turn her almost girlfriend into the fish cops? no. does she do something absolutely fucking stupid, yeah. so she leaves and makes the same deal with the fish people and gets yoinked underwater.funnily enough they end up yoinking riri too

ok in the cave jail riri and shuri fight about her marytrdom behavior. shuri accidentally reveals remembers everything and riri is flabergasted. absolutely befuddled. and insists that she shouldve left to go back to wakanda/ contact them sooner while shuri insists that she just couldn't. but wont explain why

yes they go to sleep mad.

shuri at somepoint is taken out so namor can do his weird friendship bracelet "become my queen" thing and shuri ALMOST considers it because riri is trapped, injured, and she wants to save her from being killed off.

but instead of outright agreeing she just plays along. until they can get medical care, more privilege's, etc.

this highkey looks like shuri getting courted and since riri and her are not excatly talking she cant explain the full situation yet (also guards be listening)

anyway riri is def jelly (broken arm and miss ma'am worried bout the fish man) and this leads to another arguement with shuri that somehow someway leads back to them flirting like how they did before the kidnapping

yes they kiss among other things. do they care that the guards are being nosy the entire time???a little bit

they agree to shuri continuing the game with namor to get them both out

except shuri realizes mid date that namor personally killed her mom and yeah its a wrap

from here use ur imagination and the wakanda forever movei tbh to end this BUT shuriri flirting. all throughout. they are disgusting and in love.

it is now 5:52am goodnight

#shuriri #shuri udaku #wakanda forever #riri williams #riri x shuri #headcanons #i hope this is legible god im sleepy #me paying my shuriri bills before passing out

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mickimomo · 1 year

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How RiRi’s Car Was Fixed (a tiny fanfic) - ending

When Shuri’s eyes opened, she was in an empty lab wrapped in a Talokanil shawl on her bean bag.

Her brows furrowed as she recalled seeing the god king wearing it when he talked to her calmly under the blue glow of bioluminescent cave worms in his grotto.

She didn’t recall seeing him wearing it last night and it was warm and dry.

She pressed her nose to the patterned fabric before tossing it off of her.

It smelled exactly like him.

Like sea salt and a distinct cologne, she could not pin.

It would have been heavenly if she didn’t have so many bad memories attached to him.

How had she slept so peacefully wrapped up in it?

How did she even get wrapped up in it?

“What is the meaning of this?!”

Her panic was assuaged by Griot’s voice.

“The King of Talokan gifted that to you while you were sleeping.”

“Why?”

“You were restless. He had a warrior with a hammerhead skull headdress bring it.”

“Where is Namor now?”

“He went home.”

“What about helping me with the car?”

“The car is finished.”

“F-Finished?” She blinked before hurrying across the lab. “Holy shit-” She stared at RiRi’s car. “-how? When- W-Why didn’t anyone wake me up!?! I didn’t want him to build the entire thing by himself. When did he even finish-”

“-please allow me to answer these few questions before you ask anymore.” Griot hummed. “Yes. The car was finished a little after sunrise. Namor did not feel like disturbing you from your slumber and felt that finishing the car would help remove at least one burden from your plate.” Shuri examined the car in disbelief as the AI continued to speak. “As for how…K’uk’ulkan is a fast learner and once he sets his mind on something, he can finish things pretty quickly. It took him only a few hours to figure everything out. He said that it seemed like an abstract puzzle. It was truly something to watch him piece it all together.”

“He’s a genius.” She breathed out as she inspected his handiwork before pressing her fingers to her lips in shock. “Griot. as much as I hate to say it…” She whispered. “…I have to thank him.”

“Perhaps you should thank him later? He looked very exhausted upon his departure.”

Shuri nodded quickly. “O-Of course.” She clasped her hands together. “I should go get dressed and cleaned up. RiRi will be leaving soon.”

“In two hours to be exact.”

“Thank you.” She whispered before doing a tiny happy dance and heading towards the exit.

“Don’t forget your gifted shawl.”

Shuri walked towards the abandoned garment and plucked it off the floor. “Thanks.”

**-**

After gifting RiRi her fixed car the queen saw her friend off and retreated to her room.

She dug in a drawer until she found the shell her Mother had used to summon the god king.

As much as she hated him for what he did, she knew that a small thank you was due.

Shuri waited until sunset before she made her way to a quiet secluded part of the river, dawning his shawl as the evening breeze attempted to nip at her.

The Queen blew into the shell and placed it in the water before standing up.

She stayed ankle deep in the water as she waited patiently for the any signs of the god king.

Ten minutes passed before Namor’s head popped above the water.

“You called?” He huffed as he made his way towards her.

“Yes. I wanted to say thanks.” She hesitated as she looked up at him as he stood before her. “For helping with the car.”

“Griot did it.”

“Don’t lie. Griot told me everything.”

“You don’t have to thank me.”

“Yeah, well you didn’t have to gift me this shawl.”

He looked her over. “You were restless.”

“So you had a warrior bring it?”

“I didn’t think alerting your paranoid general would end well.”

“Right.”

“Besides, he was already in Wakanda.”

“For what?”

“There is a warrior that piques his interest.”

“The one he was fighting yesterday?”

“Yes.”

“Okoye is going to give him hell.” Shuri snorted as she began to retreat to the pebbled shore.

He chuckled as he followed after her. “He will be fine.”

They sat down on the ground and stared out at the water in silence.

“You know… when I was about to kill you…” She paused. “…it was my mother who told me not to do it.”

K’uk’ulkan remained silent.

“I was so close, but she told me to show you who I am.”

“And you are?” He murmured as he continued to look at the water.

“Angry.” She took a deep breath before exhaling. “I am not my brother, but I am also not like my cousin.” She looked down at her feet. “Sometimes I think of ways I could have done things differently to save my brother… my mother… my home…my people.” Tears fell down her face and she quickly wiped them away. “You told me I was Queen now, but I never wished to be queen.”

“I left you to speak with your mother and came home to a dead warrior and a dying handmaid.”

Shuri closed her eyes as she recalled Nakia’s actions. “I didn’t want that to happen.”

“But it happened and so you were punished.”

“Punished to get even or punished because you didn’t know how to work through your grief?”

“Both.” He clenched his jaw. “I could not save that handmaid when she asked.” He clenched his hands into fists. “You understand what it feels like to be useless when someone is dying.”

Shuri stared at him with wet eyes. “I would never do what you did.”

“What if someone killed your brother?”

She opened her mouth before closing it.

“If someone demanded to come to Wakanda and then killed your brother while you were away, on their way out, you would understand.” His dark eyes held hers. “You would do what I did without hesitation.” He whispered.

“Then I am not ready to be queen.”

“So you’re throwing away your title?”

“Until I’ve earned it.”

“Then what will you do?”

“Leave.” She exhaled softly.

“Leave?”

“I am heading to Haiti tomorrow to grieve my brother and mother.”

“For how long?”

“However long it takes to heal the wounds on my heart.”

He took a deep breath before exhaling. “Why are you telling me?”

“Maybe you can work on healing your own wounds in my absence.” She tilted her head. “Maybe things will be different between us once we’ve healed and worked through our loses.” She hesitated. “Maybe we could try being friends.”

“Like we originally intended?”

“Like we originally intended.”

He offered a tired smile. “I will not get my hopes up.”

“Nor will I.” She smiled back at him before getting up. “You should go get some sleep.”

He got up and nodded. “I appreciated talking to you.” She watched him step in the water and pick up the shell before turning back towards her. “If you ever need help building something while in Haiti, you know how to reach me.”

Shuri gently grabbed the wet shell before holding it to her chest. “Thank you.”

He nodded. “Take care of yourself.”

“Only if you do.”

He laughed softly before turning back to the water. “Goodbye, Shuri.”

“Goodbye, K’uk’ulkan.”

He dived into the water and with that he was gone.

Shuri stared at the water before turning around and walking away.

#namshuri #namshuri fanfic #namor of talokan #shuri

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loverdrew · 3 years

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Do It For Me | b.b

Synopsis: Y/N may never be able to forgive Bucky if he goes through with his decision. (pre-endgame with a twist, very inaccurate storyline and writing I know but it’s all fiction)

Warnings: a few cuss words here and there

Based off of Greys Anatomy (between Izzie and Denny)

My first ever Bucky Barnes fanfic! I’m getting more into writing for Marvel characters.

I had been sat up in my room at the Avengers compounds for the whole day at his point; harnessing my magic, drawing/reading to calm me down, and just enjoying a nice day off. Everything seemed quiet, a little too quiet for my taste. No one had come knocking on my door to talk or check up on me. After a few minutes I started to hear talking through my headphones and it was coming from outside my door. I slowly let my earbuds drop from my ears, silently opening up my door and creeping downstairs. It had seemed to more I got down the steps, I saw more people come into view. All backs were turned, some arms crossed, but voices were definitely raised. It felt like more than one person kept trying to speak and once at the bottom step, I saw the one person who was the center of it all.

Wanda was the first one to see me, cutting her sentence short, and soon everyone followed. Steve’s face dropped, biting his lower lip and looking at the floor. Bucky stood up, eyes almost bulging out of his head. I looked around stunned at everyones faces as they all made a collective sigh.

“W-what’s...what’s going on guys.” Wasn’t so much of a question, but more of a ‘tell me now or I’ll crush you guys with just a thought’. My powers were growing, everyone knew this. With one scream, a whole city could go deaf. With no swipe of my hand, I can send more than 10 men flying 100 feet. Most of the time they wouldn’t dare bother me in fear of my emotions becoming heightened and possibly destroying something. But something tells me right now might be the first time that happens.

“I said, what’s going on.” My hands glowed purple, the color of my powers. Wanda immediately rushed in front of me and looked me in the eyes, rubbing her hands over mine. When she found out I also harnessed powers from an infinity stone, Tony made it a point to have her help me maintain my magic. Her touch softened the glow, instantly calming down my heart rate. She repeated the same phrase to me; ‘don’t let it take control of you, take control of it’. The purple glow went away, as she guided me towards the group.

“Thanos is coming, Y/N.” Tony spoke up.

“And we’re trying to figure out how to stop him once and for all but...there was an idea brought up.” Bruce chimed in, and I followed his gaze right to Bucky. His head laying low. My mind went to the darkest of places. Bucky had never looked so ashamed. All I wanted to do was hug him and rub up and down his back, he always liked that. The last time I did that for him was a few nights ago when he had yet another nightmare and I found him downstairs watching TV even though I knew he was exhausted. He was too afraid to fall asleep. I remember that night, thinking about how badly I wanted to tell him how I felt. He had been my rock since coming into the compound, even if nobody else saw it. Our friendship consisted of late night snacks and conversations, training together making each other stronger, and always communicating and tell each other the truth no matter what. But oh, how I wanted that friendship to mean more to him as it does to me. But I would panic, thinking I wasn’t ever going to be good enough for one of the best people I’d ever met. He deserved a woman who was just as great as he was.

“Tell her.” Natasha spoke, anger laced in her voice.

“Bucky...” I whispered.

“My greatest wish in life is to take back every bad thing I did in this world. Every person I had killed, hurt, ruined their life.” He looks at Tony with deep regret. “And I can’t ever do that physically, but maybe in another way, I can.” He was rubbing his hands together avoiding my gaze.

“Okay? Bucky that’s great that you’ve figured out how you want to do that-”

“You didn’t let him finish.” Sam said with a monotone voice.

“We need to be ready whenever Thanos decides to come. And the only way for me to get my wish is to...be the one that’s sacrificed during the battle.” My heart stopped and the ringing in my ears began to pick up. Wanda could see my hands glowing much brighter and more rapidly this time. I could feel her hands come up to the sides of my arms but within a flash my whole body shook the entire room like an earthquake.

“What!!” I walked over to him and slammed down on the table. “Are you out of your god damn mind Barnes!”

He tried to reach out but I raised my hand, stopped his movement and moving his arm to stay at his side, unable to move it.

“No, no, no you’re not doing this. You guys please tell him he is NOT sacrificing himself! You have no idea how much power those stones are! Just look at me! I have the same powers as a stone yet I can’t control shit Bucky! It’s out of control you’ll be dead before you can even use one stone to fight off Thanos!”

“I’ve been working with Tony and Shuri on a way to help me harness the power. They’ve been working on a suit for me that is stronger than Tony’s. Y/N you have to understand that this is my way of righting my wrongs, if I die then I die a hero who saved the whole world, not someone who use to kill hundreds of people with no remorse.” I turned towards Tony, his eyes becoming scared as he held his breath.

“You...” I throw my hands up and thrashed Tony into the wall, shattering it. He couldn’t move, paralyzed by fear at what I could do to him. Wanda yelled out to stop, but I couldn’t hear anything over my own boiling anger. “You knew about this. You knew he wanted to die and didn’t try to stop him!”

“I-I was just doing what I thought was the only option.” I slammed him again into the wall.

“There’s other options Tony!” I began to cry out, tears instantly springing from my eyes so quick it took me a second to realize I was even crying. With each puff of my chest my powers weakened as I wasn’t paying as much attention anymore, my brain becoming overstimulated with dark thoughts.

Bucky came up behind me and brought his arms around mine, his cheek pressed up against the back of my head.

“You’re not doing this Buck, we’ll find another way.” I said in between cries. I looked around seeing everyone else become emotional at my breakdown. Natasha was like a mother figure to me, this was the first time I was seeing her tear up. Wanda was my protector, but she didn’t know how to protect me from my own feelings. And everyone who surrounded me, who watched me grow from a 20 something year old uncontrollable witch to a grounded and a fantastic Avenger, wore heavy hearts and hooded eyes. I turned around quickly wiping my eyes of any tears and stood tall. My breathing coming back to normal. “It’s okay we’ll-we’ll find another way. There’s gotta be another way right?”

“Y/N...” He said sadly, clutching my hair. I pushed him off and walked away giving some distance between us, actually, between the whole crew. I stood on one side of the room while the rest remained where they were.

“Don’t do that. Don’t try to make me okay with this. Alright, you did some shit in your past Bucky, so what we all don’t have the best track records as angels. And I’m sure you don’t feel like you deserve to live with all of the trauma you’ve endured but guess what? You do! You know how you get the fix things? You become a better person, a fighter and protector of the world! People change Bucky and I’ve seen it first hand in you! You deserve to live just as much as anyone else!” Everyone remained silent, so I assumed they agreed with me. “And if you tell me one more time about sacrificing yourself because that’ll right your wrongs in this world, so help me God, I will kill you myself right now!” And without thinking, my hand shot out a purple beam of light, latching onto a glass vase and chucking it around the room, creating a whole in the wall and the glass shattering everywhere.

He walked up to me peacefully with his hands held in the air.

“Y/N, please. I’m going to be alright, you don’t have to worry this much. You should be more concerned about protecting yourself. I definitely wouldn’t be able to forgive myself if I didn’t do this and something worse happens to you.”

I laughed in sadness.

“What about me? What about me when you die!” I saw multiple people begin to shed the same tears I was. We had all grown fond of Bucky when he joined us. He really proved and showed deep down, behind the trauma HYDRA had left him, he was a great man. That’s why I fell so deeply in love with him. “That’s the worst thing that could ever happen to me Bucky! I will die inside if you don’t exist in this world!”

“Y/N-” more tears sprang from his eyes. His voice cracked and got lower. It’s like he couldn’t find the words to describe the pain in his heart at the thought of leaving you behind. Without having told you that he loved you too.

“No I get it! You’ll be okay, you’ll be fine with it but what about me? Please, don’t do it for yourself, do it for me please!” I hunched over, the grief and pain overtaking my body. I felt too weak to even stand and continue yelling at him. “Please Bucky, please do this for me! Don’t leave me please don’t do this, I can’t take it please! You have to do this for me, because if you don’t I will never be able to forgive you!”

He stepped closer at a slower pace.

“For dying? For saving the world?”

“No for making me love you!” I began to cry out harder, the ring in my voice shaking the room once again, making everyone’s hands fly up to their ears as I got louder and louder. Natasha at this point was full on bawling, along with most people in the room. I think it was safe to say everyone knew of my affection towards the man at the center of attention, and maybe that’s why everyone had left me alone today. Afraid of this exact situation. The one person, the one thing in this world that can bring me to tears at my feet.

Bucky’s eyes filled with adoration as he ran up to me and held me on the floor in between his legs. I clutched at his arm crying into his shoulder. He looked back at Tony, who only gave him a nod. They had agreed together that one of them was bound to be the sacrifice when it came to defeating Thanos. Bucky of course still wanted it to be him, he felt it was the most right option. But when he looked back at Tony, clutching the love of his life in his arms, Tony took that as a final answer. Tony was okay with the decision he had come to long ago. He was ready to die for the good of everyone else, but nobody knew that yet. Bucky wasn’t giving up the fight, but now it only became that much harder to leave her behind. It was easier not knowing her feelings, but it had come to the light. Bucky wanted a life like Tony, the kids, the wife, everything. But at what cost? He was still going to fight to the death if he had to, but the decision to be the one to end it all was fading away.

“It’s okay Y/N, I promise we’ll talk more about it and find another way if we have to.”

“We have to Bucky, we have to.” My cries didn’t stop, but my voice lowered. My eyes caught everyone else’s, almost embarrassed at my sudden outburst of devoted love to Bucky, but everyone knew, they just never heard it from me. “Just hold onto me please.” I pleaded.

“I’m here Doll, I promise I’ll stay right here.”

#marvel #marvel imagine #bucky barnes imagine #bucky x you #bucky barnes #bucky fanfic #the avengers #avengers imagine #sebastian stan imagine #sebastian stan #sebastian stan x reader #sebastian stan x you #bucky barnes x reader

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thran-duils · 3 years

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Use All of Me (P.13)

Title: Use All Of Me (Part Thirteen) Summary: Fem!Reader x Dark Mob!Steve Rogers. The Avengers are heroes saving the world but in this AU, they are also permitted by the powers in charge to have less than favorable business underneath their guise of mere superheroes. Steve and Tony are at the helm, keeping their empire’s wealth in check, both devious and perilous if crossed. Steve takes a liking to the reader at a party and it may be her undoing to her autonomy choosing to go home with him. Words: 3,575 Warnings: Dark AF, angst, emotional/mental abuse, smut, breeding, death

Part Twelve || Part Fourteen || Masterpost (mobile) || Fanfic masterpost

A branch snapped out in the woods and you turned quickly towards the noise. It was dark outside still, the sun just starting to rise. You had been unable to sleep since 3:30am and instead of tossing and turning that could wake Yua up, you had come out onto the upper balcony with a book and a blanket.

The only sound you heard now was your heart pounding in your ears, worried that you were going to see a shadow step out from behind the trees in the shape of Steve’s broad shoulders.

But the woods were quiet, no looming figures. Slowly, you relaxed, the tension leaving your muscles. You could not see anything, so you nestled back down, opening the book again. After a few minutes, the sound was forgotten, and you were immersed in your book.

When you finally came back inside, Yua was up by then. You walked quietly by Natalie’s still sleeping form and made your way down the stairs carefully. Yua was already at the sink making herself some coffee. She eyed you as you walked into the kitchen.

“God, look how big you are,” Yua said groggily, eyeing your stomach.

“Good morning to you too. And yes, I can feel it,” you jested. “26 weeks.”

She laughed, “I mean honestly. Since this all started out… it’s like you swallowed a volleyball. It just hits me sometimes, still catches me off guard.”

“Soon to be a basketball, I’m sure.”

“Or bigger.”

“Probably bigger,” you admitted, grabbing a glass to get yourself some water.

“Well, you’re not that size yet. So, where is my breakfast? Cause you look like you’ve been up for a while. Why isn’t it ready?” Yua joked.

Yawning, you said, “Well, ma’am, I was actually going to go back to bed after I got something to drink. I’ve been up since 3:30. I couldn’t sleep. And now it’s catching all up to me. But if you would like, I could make you eggs.”

She waved you off, “I was just kidding. Go back to sleep. It’s still early enough! Do you want me to put a plate of food in the fridge for you for whenever you do wake up?”

“That would be nice,” you said before taking a large gulp of the water. You placed the half empty water glass back on the counter and said, “I’ll have that later too. Don’t want to drink too much at one time. The babies have declared a competition on who can kick my bladder the hardest.”

<><><>

Back in New York, Clint looked way too proud of himself as he strode into the room, but it caught Steve’s attention because that could mean only one thing. And that thing was going to bode well for him.

He was halfway out of his seat as Clint approached, a wide grin tearing at the sides of his mouth.

“I think I got it,” he said, throwing the few pictures he had printed out upstairs on the desk in front of Steve. Steve sat back down, pulling the photos towards him eagerly. “I saw that one of Natalie’s cousins had some photos up in the woods. I couldn’t get a location on them because I wasn’t friends with him. So, I got Shuri to make up a hack for me to gain access to an account. I chose one of the aunts, disguising it as a money scheme – she fell for it, clicked on the link. I was able to gain access to her account and was able to access more of the photos on his page. He’s got a cabin in New Hampshire.”

Steve was looking at the photos of the family outside their cabin.

“If she isn’t on the trains,” Clint said, excitedly. “Where are we now with the cameras? The west coast? We should have seen her by now if she was on the Amtrak.” He pointed eagerly at the pictures and said, “This might be it. It wouldn’t cost them anything to stay in and it’s probably secluded. It’s not too far but it’s far enough out of state.”

<><><>

Wanda was leaning back on the couch, flipping through a magazine. She had been watching the cameras for most of the early morning, but Tony had arrived around 6:30am, wanting to try different locations so she got up and left, giving him the space he needed.

The phone on the desk rang nearby, drawing her attention instantly, and she sat up, craning her neck to look at it. The phone was the number they had given out on the ads to call if anyone had any information on Y/N’s whereabouts. Tony’s gaze was locked on it too and before he could react, she was there, picking it up.

“Hello?”

“Hi, I’m calling about the missing persons ad.”

Wanda’s breath caught for a moment before she breathed, “Yes?”

“For Y/N Y/L/N.”

“Yes,” Wanda said more impatiently.

“Saw a woman like the photo at one of the cabins up here as I was on a walk real early this morning, right as the sun was coming up. She was sitting on the porch, very pregnant. I didn’t get a great look at her, didn’t want to gawk, you know. Plus, I think I was on their property, so I was probably trespassing, but I was following a doe—”

“Where was it at?” Wanda asked, cutting him off in the politest voice she could muster.

<><><>

“Steve!” Wanda called, taking the stairs by two. Steve called from the community room and she walked briskly, practically breaking into a jog. When she entered the room, she saw Clint, Sam, and him were looking at some photos on the table. Tearing her attention away from that, she said in a rush, “We maybe got something. A man named Will called about it, saying he thinks he saw Y/N.”

“In New Hampshire?”

“Y-Yes?” Wanda said completely confused at how he knew that.

Clint looked beside himself and Steve demanded, “Where at? Did you get a location?”

Wanda told him the address and Steve pulled his phone out, typing it into the maps app. He slammed his hand down on the desk in triumph, standing quickly. He thrust the phone into Clint’s hands. Sam was trying to peer over Clint’s shoulders to get a look too.

“That’s the same damn cabin,” Steve exclaimed, hardly able to contain his excitement. Wanda took notice of the pictures now, leaning over the table to look at them herself.

“Are we going now?” Sam asked just as Steve breezed past him. His eyes swept to Clint and said, “I guess so then.”

“Ha, teamwork,” Clint smiled, squeezing Wanda on the shoulder encouragingly as he walked by, rushing to follow Steve.

<><><>

The team was quick in their assemble upon arrival, Bucky and Natasha having to travel to get there which set Steve on edge because he had been ready immediately in his black suit, anxiousness coursing through him. He was pacing in front of the facility, having a hard time containing the hope blooming. His eyes were set on the tree line, wanting to just get into the car and drive to the address, scoop Y/N up and bring her back home.

He was not going to make the same mistakes he had that had let her slip through his fingers. If he could help it, she would never step foot off that property without him again. He would make sure she learned that lesson as soon as he got her home.

Tony met him at the edge of the entrance patio, not suited up. He was staying behind to monitor from there and he surprised Steve with a small drone, holding it out to him.

“You should not go in there guns blazing before you get sights on her or something to be absolutely sure. Use this. You don’t need to be barging into some random pregnant person’s cabin. Not a good look, not good press. Especially since you’ve got it out there now that you are looking for her. This drone is quiet, but it’s not silent so don’t fly too close or they’ll hear it and it’ll blow your whole covert cover.”

“You mean hovering above the place in a plane isn’t going to do that?”

“You’re not taking a plane, jackass,” Tony retorted, and Steve smirked in response. “Park down the road. You can go in on foot.” Steve thanked him, taking the drone. Tony ran his eyes up and down Steve and asked, “Was it really necessary to get up in the suit?”

“Can’t exactly show up in slacks. Just in case things get squirrelly,” Steve responded.

“’Squirrelly’,” Tony chortled. “Y/N will hardly be able to run.” Steve’s only response to that with a slight smile of acknowledgement. Tony stepped closer and said, “I got something else too. Of course, they say it doesn’t exist because the general public already has an issue with frothing at the mouth with conspiracy theories of the government tracking them. People honestly suffer from grandiosity in this country.” He noticed the impatient look on Steve’s face and apologized, “Sorry. Soap box. How do you feel about a GPS chip?” Steve’s eyes widened in surprise and Tony back tracked quickly. “Right. We can talk about that when she gets back home, safe and sound. I’ve just wanted to try out the new model and she seems like the perfect candidate, perfect circumstance. We’ll chat when you’re back. Don’t forget.”

Tony clapped Steve on the shoulder before walking back towards the door to the elevator.

<><><>

The trip up north was taking longer than Steve wanted it to, his fingers drumming impatiently on his thigh as he watched the trees go by. The thought that Y/N would somehow get tipped off and bolt before he got there was eating away at him. He was watching his phone anxiously, seeing them get closer and closer to where the cabin should be.

When Clint pulled off on the highway at what should be the end of the road that would lead to the cabin, Steve threw the door open and stepped outside. He was ready to let the drone go, flying it towards the direction of where the cabin was in a matter of a few moments, the only pause in the effort being from the drone having to start up. Steve was watching the viewing screen of the drone with intensity as it hovered over the trees, keeping an eye peeled as he followed the gravel road. The rest of the team was waiting around the SUV. Bucky leaned against the side, tapping his foot, trying to expel some of the pent-up adrenaline that everyone was garnering, knowing this needed to be executed without injury or incident.

The cabin was there at the end and Steve leaned forward in anticipation seeing the car.

“That looks like the car model,” Tony said over his earpiece. He was able to access the drone’s camera was well back at the facility. “Zoom in a bit to the license plate.” Steve did as he asked and Tony breathed, “Bingo.”

“Alright,” Steve said far more calmly than he felt. “That’s good enough for me.” He walked back towards the open back door of the SUV, walking up and placing the screen just inside. “The cabin is about half a mile away. Clint, stay here with the car and be ready to come up when we are ready to go. I don’t want Y/N to have to walk back down the driveway. Nat, Sam… you’re with me at the front. Buck, take the back of the cabin. Don’t shoot anyone unless I tell you to.”

“Taking the fun out of things,” Bucky halfheartedly joked.

<><><>

Stretching out on the bed, your toes curled. A sigh of contentment left your lips as your eyes opened, blinking away your sleep. When your vision focused, you saw the clock said it was almost 11:00am. You had managed to fall back asleep around 7:00am and you felt better now that you had gotten some more sleep. You could barely detect Yua and Natalie speaking in low tones, more than likely trying to avoid waking you up.

The serenity was shattered at the loud bang from on the first floor and you heard Yua scream in alarm. You sat up with difficulty just as the door from the balcony burst open. You jolted to the side, holding your stomach protectively.

Your heart rate slowed only for a moment upon recognizing the man who burst in was Bucky. When his cerulean eyes landed on you, gun pointed in your direction, your heart rate blew past normal, your breath quick.

“Bucky?” you got out in a gasp.

He relaxed ever so slightly, his eyes softening at the sight of you. His gun was no longer pointed at you, hanging at his side now. You did not miss the uptick of his lips, satisfaction flooding his face. But he still stayed on alert, ready to raise his weapon again if needed.

You sat up straight slowly, despite the commotion downstairs, keeping eye contact with him. Getting to your feet you tried to drown out the sounds of shouting downstairs, focusing only on him. His eyes flicked to your stomach, causing your hands to clench tighter around it and he made eye contact with you again.

“You can let me leave,” you said to him, your voice shaking.

Bucky’s laugh was humorless. “Y/N. Sweetheart, c’mon.” He was chastising you for even suggesting it with that tone.

“Buck?”

The sound of his voice rolling up the stairs made you freeze to the spot.

“I’ve got your doll in my scope. She looks good, Steve,” Bucky called back down towards the ground floor.

The sound of his foot on the bottom stair made you flinch. His footfalls were heavy, each step putting another nail in the coffin of your freedom. Your eyes flicked towards the open door and Bucky gave you a disappointed look, taking a step back towards it. He shook his head and you tore your eyes away from him, eyes fixated on the stairs.

He came into view quick, his height surpassing the staircase railing long before Yua or Natalie’s would. The same time elation flew through his features upon seeing you, you felt dread course through your veins. He was geared up, like he was going into a fight. Apparently, he did not underestimate the three of you.

Steve was a foot from you now, his gaze piercing and you were too afraid to take your eyes off him. There were a few moments of silence before he said quietly, “I admit, you have some loyal friends down there. They remind me of Buck.” You said nothing and he asked harshly now, “What did you think this was going to accomplish though, really, Y/N?”

You sucked in your bottom lip, unable to form a sentence in your frightened state about what he was there to do besides take you back.

“Answer me.”

Stammering, you said, “I… I just…” You were embarrassed he was shaking you up so bad. You had been in such a haze, hoping beyond reason that the three of you would eventually be able to settle down and it would blow over. The longer you had stayed away, the more the doubt it could work had been overshadowed by that terrible misleading feeling of hope.

Steve’s expression softened seeing you tripping over your words. He stepped closer and you instinctively stepped back. His lips formed into a thin line, stopping his advancement. “Y/N, doll, please. I want what is best for you. All I want is to take care of you. You worried me, doll. You worried me a lot. Do you know what it felt like to not know where you were? If you were safe? If the children were safe? Can you imagine how utterly upset you made me? How betrayed I felt when I realized you were gone? I leave to let you have a party with your friends, to give you space with them.” You almost flinched at the phrasing, like he had taken the words right out of your mouth. If he noticed, he did not show it. He continued on, “I leave a gift behind for you to find, something I built for you and the babies, and how do you repay me? You left. Without a word. Like I didn’t matter. Did you even see the gift?”

“No,” you whispered.

“Of course you didn’t. You didn’t care enough to look. You were only concerned with yourself. Out of everyone in the world, I didn’t think it would be you that would betray me like this. You told me you loved me.”

Heat rose to your cheeks as your eyes glistened with tears. He sounded deeply hurt, wounded. You could see it in his eyes.

“I can forgive you, Y/N. Trusting you is something else entirely. I don’t think that’s an option right now. But… I can forgive you. You just have to come back and be good.”

You averted your gaze, your chest tightening at his order.

Steve closed the space between you, and you did not move away this time. He hooked his fingers underneath your chin, tipping your head up. “It’s me…” Steve told you as his eyes hardened, and he warned gravely, “Or nobody.”

You did not have to imagine all the guns pointed at your friends downstairs. You either left with them both dead and back with Steve. Or left with them both alive and with Steve. Either way, he had you enveloped back to him. The degree of guilt is what you were choosing, that’s what he was giving you.

You were taking too long to answer.

Steve looked over his shoulder, making eye contact with Bucky. Bucky started walking towards the staircase where he could look down on the living room.

“Steve, don’t—” you choked out.

“I want to hear you say it.”

“You’re scaring me.”

“Good.”

You let out a strangled noise before you got out in between tears, “I won’t ever try to leave you again, I swear. I’ll stay home for you. I’ll take care of the twins. I’ll do what you ask, I’ll listen, like I promised. I’ll be happy.”

“Were you ever?” He asked coldly.

“I w-was,” you said shakily, nodding. Nodding to convince yourself, remind yourself that you had been. “I was, really.”

“And what changed that, hmm?”

“You… you locked me away in the house.”

His lips twitched at the accusation and you feared you had made a misstep, fearing for Yua and Natalie. He did not make a move though except to say, “And why did I do that?”

He wanted you to say what he believed. He wanted you to believe it too. The tears were fat rolling down your cheeks as you whispered, “Because… you wanted to keep me safe.”

“That’s right, doll,” Steve breathed easier, smiling. His fingers caressed your face. “That’s exactly what I was doing. And you pulling this little stunt proved my gut instinct was right, didn’t it? You need protection, especially from yourself. You are impulsive and don’t think about the long-term repercussions of your actions.” His hand came to rest on your abdomen, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “I don’t want you to be afraid of me, doll. I want you to just come home and let me take care of you. That’s what’s going to happen. Right?”

“Yes,” a voice that sounded like yours said; it was like you were outside your body. “Yes, I want that.”

“That’s what I thought,” Steve said, leaning forward and giving you a long kiss on your forehead.

“My friends?” you choked out.

Steve pulled away from you and smirked at you. “Hmm, maybe you can be concerned with more than yourself. Maybe I was too harsh there for a moment… what about your friends?”

“Please don’t hurt them. Please let them leave and go back home unharmed.”

He exhaled heavily and asked seriously, “And why should I do that?”

“Bucky would help you if you asked.” Bucky turned his head towards the pair of you and you tried to pretend like you did not notice his gaze. “It’s not their fault. I asked for help. It’s my fault. They shouldn’t be punished for my mistake. Please don’t make them pay for my behavior.”

Steve looked contemplative and you waited with bated breath, hoping he would react positively to your display of holding yourself liable. He wanted you to beg and you were giving it to him.

Over his shoulder, he finally ordered, “Let the ladies grab their things and get out of here. They’re safe… as long as Y/N continues to behave.” You opened your mouth to protest but he cut you off by pressing a button on his earpiece. “Barton, we’re ready. Come on up.”

He grasped your arm and you tried to yank your arm away from him. He was far too strong and jolted you to him. “Don’t go messing this up now, Y/N. You were doing so well. Don’t make this harder for me than it has to be to get you in the damn car. You got what you wanted with your friends; you just need to uphold your side of the bargain.”

~~~

Tags: @imsonick , @alexakeyloveloki, @kvzctam, @ironlady1993, @taintedgenre, @inlovewiththefictionalcharacters @roxyfan14-blog @mrsnegan25 @coconutqueen21

#steve rogers x reader #dark!steve rogers x reader #dark!steve rogers #dark steve rogers #dark marvel #dark marvel fic #marvel fic #my shit

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ziezie13 · 4 years

Text

Fics of the Week

I am doing something a little different this time in honor of Juneteenth. For those of you who don’t know Juneteenth is celebrated at the day of emancipation here in Texas. On this day, two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation, it was proclaimed that all enslaved persons in the state of Texas were to be free. Normally we would celebrate with some live music, fun, and food but the public festivities have been postponed due to COVID. So I thought I might give a shout-out to all the amazing writers of color out there! These writers span dozens of fandoms and include all kinds of pairings so hopefully you find something you love as much as I did. Without further ado, check out these amazing fics!

Boostle Family by mikeymagee (@mikeymagee)

Coming back from a quick sightseeing trip through time with Booster, Jaime has somehow been de-aged. Now it's up to everyone's two favorite superheroes to keep him out of trouble...if only they could do the same for themselves.

Words: 6804; Chapters: 9/?; Fandoms: Justice League International (Comics), Booster Gold (Comics), Blue Beetle (Comics), DCU, DCU (Animated), Batman: The Brave and the Bold, Young Justice (Cartoon); Rating: General Audiences; Last Update: 14 Sep 2014

Relationship(s): Family Relationships, Friendship - Relationship

Characters: Booster Gold, Ted Kord, Jaime Reyes, Blue Beetle - Character, Michael Carter, Boostle - Character

Additional Tags: AU, Family, Age Regression/De-Aging, Bromance

Lucky for you by Daiako (Achrya) (@achryadaiako)

Katsuki is a summoner, a damn good one. Which makes accidently calling forth a timid Incubus and ending up bonded to him all the more infuriating. It only gets worse when he realizes he can feel the demons emotions and that it's is very very hungry. The only way to quiet the bond is satisfy the demon’s needs and complete the spell.

For Kinktober, prompts are incubus and bonds

Words: 3603; Chapters: 1/1; Series: Part 7 of Kinktober 2017; Fandoms: 僕のヒーローアカデミア | Boku no Hero Academia | My Hero Academia; Rating: Explicit; Last Update: 08 Oct 2017

Relationship(s): Bakugou Katsuki/Midoriya Izuku

Characters: Bakugou Katsuki, Midoriya Izuku, Aizawa Shouta | Eraserhead

Additional Tags: Incubus Deku, Demon Sex, Witch Katsuki, Demon Summoning, Empathetic bonds, Magic Gone Wrong, Shapeshifting, Genderfluid Character

Goodnight my Loves, says the Bat by AmarieMelody (@amariemelody)

The various reasons Bruce's children choose to sleep in the bed with their father.

Over the years, over the ages the reasons vary with each child...and Bruce has accommodated each & every one.

Hurt/comfort, fluff, with dashes of humor.

Words: 8594; Chapters: 1/?; Fandoms: Batman - All Media Types, Batman (Comics); Rating: Teen And Up Audiences; Last Update: 25 Mar 2019

Characters: Bruce Wayne, Dick Grayson, Jason Todd, Cassandra Cain, Tim Drake, Damian Wayne, Alfred Pennyworth, Talia al Ghul, Leslie Thompkins

Additional Tags: Hurt/Comfort, Fluff and Angst, Humor, SO MUCH HUMOR, Daddy!Bruce, daddy!Bats, Mentions of child abuse & neglect (mostly w/Cass and Jason), Batfamily fanfic

Tactile by Bircjosta (@bircjosta)

In low and soft light, Taako and Kravitz learn more about each other.

Or,

Taako and Kravitz touch a whole lot and have a great and informative time.

Words: 2300; Chapters: 1/1; Fandoms: The Adventure Zone (Podcast); Rating: Teen And Up Audiences; Last Update: 01 Aug 2018

Relationship(s): Kravitz/Taako (The Adventure Zone)

Characters: Kravitz (The Adventure Zone), Taako (The Adventure Zone)

Additional Tags: Romance, Non-Sexual Intimacy, Touching, Enthusiastic Consent

sweet as can be by captainafroelf (@captainafroelf, @afro-elf) for JazzyTee

bucky finds love in the supermarket and it gets cuter from there

Words: 5483; Chapters: 2/2; Fandoms: Captain America (Movies); Rating: Not Rated; Last Update: 18 Dec 2019

Relationship(s): James "Bucky" Barnes/Original Female Character(s)

Characters: Original Female Character(s), James "Bucky" Barnes, Shuri (Marvel), Sam Wilson (Marvel)

Additional Tags: Fluff, Cooking, Baking, it's not rated because i don't know How Sexy this is gonna get yet, so it got pretty sexy

Inexperience by HoneyBee95

Experiences are part of what makes us human. No matter who we are, or where we’ve been, every experience defines us. Poe Dameron had realized early on that Finn had very little understanding in most things, and tries to help him as best he can in every way possible.

Words: 2028; Chapters: 1/1; Fandoms: Star Wars - All Media Types, Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens (2015); Rating: Teen And Up Audiences; Last Update: 02 Jan 2016

Relationship(s): Poe Dameron & Finn & Rey, Poe Dameron & Finn, Finn/FN-2003 | Slip, Poe Dameron/Finn, Stormpilot - Relationship, Finnpoe

Characters: Finn (Star Wars), Poe Dameron, BB-8, Rey (Star Wars), FN-2003 | Slip

Additional Tags: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - PTSD, ptsd finn, Loss of Virginity, Virginity, Urination, Sexuality, Implied Poe Dameron/Finn, Star Wars: The Force Awakens Spoilers, Stormpilot, fn-2003 - Freeform, Male Homosexuality, Desire

The gorgeous gif comes from @handeleugene! It was designed by Danni Fisher-Shin and Animated by Antoinie Eugene and Handel Eugene (original post here).

Want more? @captainafroelf (aka @afro-elf) has some great posts with links to black writers and blogs! You can find her posts here and here. Also check out the blackinfanfiction tag on AO3 for fics featuring black characters.

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whitherliliesbloom · 4 years

Text

what a queen must be ♔

Like leaves on the boughs, are her subjects to the queen. And like roots to a tree, a queen must be... Words: 6,521 words. This is a long read, grab a drink ;w;

[[ So quick note before starting.. This is obviously a fairy au fanfic, and it has quite a few cameos of other people’s characters who are involved in the fairy kingdom au ;w; I couldn’t quite find a way to fit everyone in though, so please don’t be upset if your oc isn’t included. It’s kind of hard to find ways to squeeze everyone into this. It also contains a lot of lore both from my own fanfics, as well as bits and pieces from other people’s fairy headcanons to make one big story..

The fairy au masterlist is here! It’s highly recommended that you at least read my fanfic about illya’s backstory here first to get the context of this whole fanfic. Other highly recommended reads is @windupnamazu‘s headcanons for Lunya for section 2, @ofthesilverlining‘s heaadcanons for Laurelis, @firstblesssed‘s fanfic for section 3 and sort of @earthlystar‘s headcanons for Yume regarding the impending war between humans and fae referenced in section 4. Though in general I tried to keep the story and lore here consistent with everyone’s headcanons.. no guarantees, because there may be some contradictions ;w; ]]

➤ A queen must always be smiling

“’Tis a rare sight to see the palace so crowded.”

A guard in a fiery red robe paces about the room, eyes scanning the many other dress and suit clad fairies as they made merry conversation with one another. Ambrosia was served - a delicacy even by royalty standards.. and a rare sight especially after the catastrophic age of mortals. And yet she dared not partake in the drink herself - such was Yume’s tendency to take her job overly seriously.

A hand placed upon her shoulder causes her to flinch for but a moment, but she relaxes upon seeing the smiling face of a forest nymph, her usual brown leather suit traded for a much more fitting leafy green dress.

“You needn’t pace about so much, Yume! Here, eat!”

A neon pink mini cake covered in sprinkle was thrust forward towards the fire fairy’s lips, who could do naught but sigh and take a bite out of the sweet treat, much to Laurelis’ delight.

She turns to her side, where the snow fairies were huddled close by, a certain scale covered one in particular with her arms folded over her chest in uncertainty.

“You too, Shuri, Mint! Eat something before you return to the mountains!”

The shorter of the pair was far more eager to accept the cake Laurelis had offered her, her companion merely furrowing her brows and shaking her head.

“I come only at the behest of my new queen.”

“And the queen wouldn’t like for one to mope about during a party now, would she?” With arms crossed, the forest nymph pouts, and the snow mother casts a frown downwards on the floor.

“I suppose not.”

Delighted to have gotten her way, Laurelis hands the fairy of ice yet another palm sized pastry.

She wasn’t lying when she said that the queen wouldn’t want for her subjects to be moping or upset during such a celebratory event - a celebration of her coronation, no less.

Many a fae invited to the palace were more than delighted at the news of the previous Titania’s dismissal - a foolish king who allowed for the desecration of their once thriving kingdom. And while there was no one else but the king’s very own daughter to take up the throne in his stead, the fae were always of the belief that everyone was more than their ancestor’s blood.

They lived in the here and the now - and in the present they were ready to welcome the newly crowned Titania who shall deliver them from the mistakes of the previous.

It was nothing if not a joyous occasion.

And yet the smile Laurelis’ wore upon her face was in itself a huge hypocrisy.

“Look, there’s Illya!” Mint announces, shortly before the advisor of Titania even does, and all who were present in the room knew to bow upon one knee, looking towards the large pair of doors that opened for the queen’s grand entrance.

The room is silent, save for the telltale fluttering of large translucent purple wings. Small in stature though she was, the glowing staff that she held in her hand, the crown upon her head and the very glittering, flowing dress she wore was more than enough for all fae folk to set her apart as royalty.

While most looked in awe upon the queen’s visage as she hovered over the room, Laurelis could not help but feel the corners of her lips threaten to tug downwards into a frown.

“Welcome, one and all!” Her soft voice calls out, shaking in tone. The bright smile upon her face glows, and she continues to speak against the restraints of her timid vocal cords, natural to all but those who knew the girl beneath the crown well enough. “I bid you welcome, and thank you kindly for your attendance to this banquet. I hope you enjoy the food and beverages we have served here tonight!”

With a wave of a hand, the queen gestures for all to rise to their feet, smile never once wavering.

Chatter returns to the room once more, accompanied by Mint’s enthusiastic claps.

“I would have thought she’d be more nervous about speaking in public, but she’s holding herself well!”

There weren’t too many fae in the kingdom who knew Titania by name, let alone the person who was but a mere princess before her coronation. All who did nodded in agreement, save for the forest nymph whose gaze had not once left the queen.

She held herself too well, Laurelis thought. Mismatched eyes narrowing through the crowd of fluttering wings to gaze at her friend, who has settled on her own lonesome in the corner of the room, neither cake nor ambrosia in hand.

Laurelis excuses herself, pushing past the giggling and twirling bodies of fairies in the midst of an ambrosia intoxicated dance towards her dearest friend.

Her hand settles upon the queen’s shoulder, and violet eyes shift upwards to look at Laurelis. Anybody else who would dare approach Titania would have long been stopped by Urianger, who stood guard over the girl a mere few fulms away. And yet their friendship has reached back far enough that the man knew the forest nymph meant the queen no harm.

Perhaps, Urianger even believed.. that she would be able to help the queen in ways which he cannot.

“Illya-” Laurelis blurts out, but she catches herself and flashes a sheepish smile down at her smaller friend, “Ah.. I guess I’m supposed to call you ‘your majesty’ now..”

“Oh...” a soft murmur and a nervous chuckle later, and the queen responds with a widened smile. “Right.. but you needn’t call me so in private..”

“Illya it is then.”

You will always be Illya to me.

Laurelis wished to say. She wished to speak - as she always does in their friendship. She was always the more talkative of the pair after all.. the chatter box who talked so much she’s surprised her friend’s pointed ears hadn’t fallen off.

And yet Illya would listen - she always does. For a princess who sneaked out of the safety of the palace, she was attentive of others - of even the forest that bordered up the kingdom and its tall grand walls.

Laurelis swears that she’d listen too - if Illya would give her a chance to. It’s the least she could do.. and may perhaps even be the only thing she can do.

Something inside Laurelis’ heart aches as she watches Illya’s unwavering facade of happiness shine brighter before her, and as if in desperation the forest nymph drops her very own trademark glowing grin to lower her voice.

“Are you okay..?”

A crack forms in Illya’s defenses - a glistening in her eyes that she rapidly blinks away. Her chapped lips tremble, complexion paling and the knuckle that held her staff turns white. It is all Laurelis needed to know the answer.

What hypocrisy is it for her to convince the others to make merry and joy, to smile in ignorance and celebrate to their heart’s content, when she herself would attempt to tear down the walls of her friend’s barricaded feelings?

The queen is several decades too young for this burden, a fairy who had just barely blossomed past her peak physical maturity. The fae cares not for age, and certainly not for the concept of time.

But surely there was something so oddly cruel about this - so tragic that a fae so young would be forced to see the disappearance of her parents, and to bear the weight of their sins upon her own two shoulders.

Illya was no fool, and is far from power hungry. She, of all people, must know her own plight better than anybody else.. and it must be tearing her up inside.

Please frown. Please cry. Please tell me again about how much you love your parents. Anything, anything but pretend.

And yet Illya never stops smiling, a far more pitiful, lonely cry for help that almost sends Laurelis herself bursting into tears on the spot.

“I’ve never been better.”

Laurelis forces a wide smile past the burning of her eyes as she gazes down at her most cherished friend. The hand upon her shoulder rubs gently in a comforting manner, and her other hand has to clench into a fist to keep herself from doing what she wishes.

“Just remember that you can talk to me about whatever you like.” Despite the smile on her visage, her voice is hushed and choked, her own throat threatening to close on her. She has never been as good at masking her feelings as Illya. “After this is over, we should go to your room. I — I...”

Her voice now is a little stronger as the grin grows less forced. “I found a new hairstyle I think you’ll look beautiful in.”

-----------------------------------------------------------

➤ A queen must be forgiving

“By order of Titania, you are all to leave at once!”

The clouds gather in the night sky, and the voice of the royal guards come to chase the remaining mortals away echo throughout Lydha Lran.

It had been decreed even before the coronation of the new Titania that the ban upon mortal entrance be enacted once more - an order that came from none other than the mother of the current Titania.

A law in which mortals are not allowed entry to the rainbow kingdom, and yet the crime of trespassing shall not be met with the punishment of death - but a mere trial in the presence of Titania and her royal guards.

Mortals present - ill intent or not are to be sent away without exception.. and while the Titania of the present had been lenient in giving those remaining enough time to pack and leave, now came an age for some rapid and drastic changes - as adviced by Urianger himself. Unfortunate, the few who had not left yet are in fact among the most vile of those who had set foot upon their home in the first place.

Plunderers, come to leech off the prosperity of the fae for their own greed.

The pixies still remembered how vast and wide their forests had been, how tall their glaciers and mountains spanned, and even the vividness of the very flowers that bloomed upon their land.. All tarnished within less than a decade of mortal interference.

But that wasn’t enough for them. It wasn’t enough to pluck them of their resources. They would burn their very home to the ground if they must, a final act of defiance against the law of the haughty ruler who hid in the safety of her shiny castle.

“Screw these stupid new laws! And screw the dumb ass new queen of yours! We have a right to stay!”

The queen had anticipated the plunderers to not want to leave quietly, and so it was perhaps a wise choice to order a small platoon of guards to usher the mortals out of Lydha Lran, the village closest to the gates where mortal world met with the kingdom of fairies.

With axes once brandished to cut down their enchanted trees, and lances to spear the backs of their porxies they were now turned against the innocent citizens of the village and the royal guards who fought to stop them.

The sea of blooming pink flowers were trampled on, as if they hadn’t been enough already, with the blood of both mortal and fae alike spilling upon the stone pathway that led through the quaint little village.

Amongst the clashing of steel, the pitter patter of frantic feet carried a girl through the chaos to the center of the village. Her pants grow louder, pleas to stop going unheard.

At the very front Lyhe Mheg, a burly woman stood, weathered sword raised against a pixie folk who had none save their tiny trembling arms to defend themselves.

“Stop!” crying out, the dwarf puts herself in between the mortal and pixie, furrowed glare however pointed towards one of her own kind - the very one who had ferried her here in the first place.

“Step outta the way, Lunya.. or I won’t hesitate to cut you down too.”

In the midst of her pounding heart, and every voice in her head yelling, begging for her to obey, her legs stood firm with arms outstretched to either sides of her, a physical shield for the innocent fae behind her.

“This is lunacy! Have you not taken enough from them?!”

You too, Lunya. You’ve taken from them too. You’ve taken from her.

“Last warning. I’m telling you to get out of the way or die with them.”

The gathered clouds grow darker and block all view of the stars and the moon from view, as if a storm of rain was about to fall upon them. The sky is weeping this needless bloodshed.

Lunya glares, hands tightened into a fist.

“Over my dead body.”

...

“The queen! She comes!”

Voices sound muffled, and what little light she can see past half-lidded teary eyes feel like they are a far distance away. Her body feels heavy and light all at the same time, as if she was drifting underwater further and further from view of the surface. It feels cold and so very dark.

She does not register the blood that stained her shirt a bright scarlet red, or the dark grey of the clouds that hung above her head. She does however note a flash of violet and the voice of someone familiar.

It’s a voice she associates with quiet conversations by the lake under the starry night sky after sneaking away from her bunk, of the one glimmer of happiness in the midst of a sea of guilt and regret. She, who was but a petty thief from the outside, who would spend the night alongside a girl so alike yet so different from herself, counting the stars and drawing constellations with the tip of their fingers.

The princess wondered about all sorts of things - from the stars above them to the flowers that took bloom beneath their feet.. and the world of the mortals that stretches beyond the gates of Il Mheg.

And she would tell her, about the world she was born from.. about the world fae cannot experience. While the princess gave her the company she so desperately needed to keep waking up to tomorrow, company she knew she didn’t deserve.

Lunya is numb from head to toe, consciousness drifting away in the wind.

But a bright light glows from her torso, a warmth spreading from where the blade of that woman’s sword had cut her body open. She feels something beginning to protrude from her back, and the roots of her hair bleaching a pale white to match the queen’s.

Lunya doesn’t quite understand right away what had just transpired - but she knows that she owes her friend a debt yet again, this time one that was the very weight of her life.

By Illya’s healing touch, she was given the unfortunate gift of remembering her sins, and the tears that had pooled in her eyes begin trickling down her face.

“I’m......sorry.”

But her friend merely shakes her head, hand cradling the back of Lunya’s head gently, petting her hair as it changes their hues - as if in forgiveness for what she had done.

--------------------------------------------

➤ A queen must be hardworking

Juggling his responsibility of helping with the fae’s errands as well as investigating the cause of the dreaded curse that afflicted his kind certainly wasn’t easy, but the boy did begrudgingly admit that the work was..fulfilling.

Restoring the damage his people had caused to the land of the fae gave him a sense of accomplishment that not even his speedy graduation from the studium had given him - nor the many years he spent pouring over tome after tome in the lonesome of his study.

Interacting with fae folk was refreshing, as was their culture and their very beliefs.

He thus has no complaints when he is summoned yet again by the pixies of Lydha Lran, though he’d be lying if he said he were not nervous of what possible pranks they could pull on him yet again.

“Not a moment too late like last time!” a pixie twirls in the air in delight, tiny wings fluttering behind them as Alphinaud greets them with a sincere smile.

“I wouldn’t dare, Beq Thon. Your call made it seem like you urgently needed help.”

“Yes, well..” turning to gaze out onto the field that sat right outside the village, the pixie’s shoulders slump. “I need all the help I can get.”

With a curious tilt of his head, Alphinaud’s eyes turn upwards to look at the field, an almost unending landscape of flowers both withered and newly bloomed, crystals of light embedded along the path that led towards Pla Enni, their glow and hues a tad more dull than they had once been before the era of mortals - as he had been told multiple times.

“What seems to be the problem?”

“The weeds! Oh the dreaded weeds! They seem to keep coming back no matter what I do!”

The very idea of weeds causes Alphinaud’s heart to sink to the pit of his stomach. Weeds? In Il Mheg? From the sheer size of the kingdom, one would expect such a pest to be nonexistent.. He shudders thus to think of the amount of time one would take to have to rid the ground of them before their flower beds would be infested.

“Forgive me for asking but.. has this always been a problem? If it is, there certainly must be a better way to take care of them rather than pulling them by hand.”

“Always so bright you are, Alphinaud! But so very dim too!” Beq Thon plants their hands upon their hips with a frown, and Alphinaud merely shrugs.

“Long, long ago, we had dew mosses aplenty. Sure, they weren’t the prettiest flowers around.. a bit stinky, even! But they helped to keep the weeds at bay, and even had some medicinal effects when used in potions!”

A frown graces upon Alphinaud’s expression. He needn’t hear the rest of Beq Thon’s explanation to know what had happened to those fabled helpful flowers. It was always the same tale, the same story... recollections of how mortals came upon their land. They plundered, they stole.. all at the expanse of the fae who had prospered in their isolation for so long.

If there was anything of significance worth even a fraction of a gil, they’d take it for themselves. Such was the nature of some of the more cruel of heart among his kind.

“Is there no way to grow more of these dew mosses?”

“Oh, we’re not dim like you are, silly! Of course we’ve started growing more of them, courtesy of those Fuath, unfortunately. But it will be another year or two before enough of them blooms to cover the land. So! For now, what say we... and by that, I mean you, get your hands working and pull at those weeds!”

There wasn’t much Alphinaud could do to protest, not against the earnest urges of Beq Thon and the symbol of loyalty to the queen he wore upon his finger.

The pixie wasn’t kidding when they said that the entire plot of land had to be weeded.. and while they had been kind enough to offer their own hands to pull one or two stray weeds out, Alphinaud could swear his hands were growing callous from all the pulling he’s doing.

He worked his way through the field, from the terrains of Timh Gyeus up until the edge of longmirror lake, where he caught a glimpse of a water nymph who poked her head out of the water for but a brief moment before diving back beneath the surface - no doubt curious, but perhaps also uncertain of the motives of his stay.

And who could blame her - or any fae who has doubts about him? The bright blue wings that fluttered behind his back, still clumsy in their movements.. are but a temporary gift given by Titania to allow him to serve under her.

He isn’t truly fae.. and perhaps will never fully be welcomed as one either.

“Alphinaud?”

In his listless and wandering thoughts, blank stare broken at the calling of his name, Alphinaud snaps his head up to look at the fairy who hovered just ilms from the ground in front of him. He can see Urianger standing a little away behind her, eyes locked upon the piece of parchment he held in his hand, but otherwise darting up momentarily to check on the queen.

“Your majesty!” Alphinaud is quick to straighten himself up, the weeds he’d tugged from the soil dropped to his feet, much to the dismay of Beq Thon who flutters to pick them up.

“S-sorry! I-I didn’t startle you, did I?” As ever, the queen stutters, expression twisting into one of horror as she glances down at the fallen weeds.

“Not at all, your majesty! Forgive me for not noting your approach sooner.”

It takes a moment for Titania to settle down, violet eyes darting back and forth from the pixie to the boy before her hand moves to the front of her heart.

“Full glad I am to hear that.. And I see that you’re helping Beq Thon again.”

“As he is, your majesty! Our Alphinaud here has been hard at work, pulling and pulling away at those nasty weeds!”

“O-Oh dear.. Are they back again? Don’t tell me you’ve been pulling weeds out all morning-”

There was no reason to lie.. no reason at all why he’d have to be dishonest. After all, he’d not too long among planned to retell the ordeal of his backbreaking labor to his sister earlier.. And yet at the sight of her look of guilt, Alphinaud could not help but to wave away her concerns and flash a smile.

“Pray don’t worry yourself over me, your majesty. It isn’t difficult at all. In fact, I should perhaps ask yourself if you had any need of my assistance.”

The fairy’s eyes widen, and she shakes her head frantically.

“Me? Oh, oh no.. I’m just here for inspections.. And to see if anybody needed my help.”

“Help, you say?!”

If Alphinaud was unwilling to accept the queen’s oh so benevolent offer of help, Beq Thon certainly had no qualms too. With an excited waving of their arms and a twirling of their body, they flew in front of Alphinaud’s rapidly scowling face.

“Y-yes.. I’ll help in whatever way I can. It’s only natural.”

“Well then.. Your majesty.. If I may-”

“Your majesty! Alphi!”

A voice interrupts, and Beq Thon curses under their breath, sending sharp piercing glares upon the approaching fairy who seemed utterly oblivious to their scorn.

A woman much taller in stature than they, clad in a purple robe smiled warmly at the pair.. and had she not had her hands full carrying bottles of a certain green potion in her hands, she’d certainly have waved in greeting to them.

“Fancy seeing you two here together! I was just looking for you both!”

“Both of us? Whatever for?” Alphinaud tilts his head.

“Well, different reasons, actually. So first!” Hovering closer, the head of the infirmary pushes the bottles into the boy’s hands, his navy blue eyes staring down at them in confusion until the fairy deigns to explain with a grin. “Potions for energy. You, my dear boy.. work yourself far too much to the bone.”

A panicked glance over to the queen, and Alphinaud gulps as he watches Illya’s eyes widen in shock.

“You really shouldn’t be doing so much physical labor too when you just recovered from that bruised arm of yours! I shall have to ban you from the infirmary if you come back in asking for-”

“Yes- Thank you, Elletha!”

His arms raised, a feeble attempt to silence her. But the damage has already been done. He can see the queen’s head bow, long white bangs just barely obscuring the saddened glimmer in her glistening violet eyes.

“I... I didn’t know you were getting injured so much while helping us..”

“I- No- That was when you were teaching me to fly, your majesty.”

“I-I.. I made you injured?!” Titania gasps, eliciting a panicked shake of his head and a chuckle from Elletha.

“I jest, your majesty. Alphi is hale and healthy, as much as a mortal with fae blood can be.”

Elletha was anything but cruel - a woman far too eager to tease him..and to his dismay intuitive enough to catch his growing interest in the queen.. but not cruel.

“I-If you say so..” Titania’s unwillingness to drop the subject shows in her pause, but the girl is quick to shake her head to look back up at the other fairy. “You had business with me too, Elletha?”

The fairy in question grew quiet, her once jovial, almost motherly smile down turned into a seriousness Alphinaud hadn’t quite seen from her before - not even after his multiple trips to the infirmary.

“Ah.. yes. It regards our shortage of calendulas.”

“...Already..?” As if the frown upon Illya’s face hadn’t been deepened enough, Alphinaud could swear his heart was about to shatter from the utterly look of helplessness upon her face.

“I’m afraid we’ll require your magicks again, your majesty.. And even then, I hope you don’t burden yourself with the idea that it’d last us very long.”

His lack of knowledge about calendulas doesn’t keep him from feeling the gravity of the situation, nor does the lack of protests from Beq Thon as Titania finally nods, and with a forced smile turns to look at the pixie.

“I’m sorry.. I’m afraid my assistance is needed elsewhere.”

“Oh, no no, your majesty! No apologies needed! Do what you have to! Alphinaud and I will be fine!”

Beq Thon bows, and Alphinaud is quick to mirror the gesture. It was all that he could do as he watched the queen fly away with Elletha, with but a mere apologetic glance back towards him.

Silence was quite uncharacteristic of Beq Thon, and it wasn’t long until they’d let out a yelp and pull on Alphinaud’s ear.

“Chop, chop! We don’t have all day, and the weed won’t pull themselves, you know!”

He’s left with no complaints now, not even as he bend down on one knee once more, and his hands grasp tightly onto a weed wrapped around a flower. The aching of his body is nothing compared to the aching of his heart, mind fixated upon the image of the queen just as hard at work as he is.

--------------------------------------------

➤ A queen must be selfless

“Forgive mine rude interruption, your majesty.. but this is of great import.”

“I don’t doubt you have reason to call me so suddenly, Urianger.. But why is Alphinaud needed too?” The fairy glances to her side, boy with glowing blue wings hovering beside her looking as equally perplexed.

The throne room is dark, save for the several few lanterns that hung upon the stone white pillars surrounding the interior. The royal guards that would once normally take station around the castle now absent, rallied near the entrance of Timh Gyeus in response to the growing presence of mortal troops around the forest.

Word has spread about the curse - and of the nature of said very curse. Enough studies and investigations both on the part of the few mortals who have entered Il Mheg, and of the scholars outside their walls have proven that the dreadful ailment was indeed of fae origin.

The humans have not invaded - not yet.. but their growing protests and demands by the gates have worried Titania and her advisor alike enough to deem added security near their borders a necessity.

Illya’s mine briefly slips away to wonder about her friends - particularly the forest nymph whom she has ordered to retreat into the kingdom.. but such distracted thoughts was unbecoming of a queen.

“I thought it best to inform him, as the spokesperson of the mortals.”

Urianger’s tone is serious, and though one could argue that the man was always so uptight, there was no denying the urgency in his step, and the raising of his voice as he pulls a trinket out of his bag and holds it out for the pair to behold.

A hand-sized mirror, bordered with what was once unmistakably shining gold, now tainted and rusted beyond reparation.

“This was found, your majesty.. upon one of the mortal intruders who had been caught by Angelique. The pixies found this upon his persons as they were scavenging his unconscious form and thought it best to deliver it to me personally after seeing the carvings upon its back.”

Urianger turns the mirror to reveal the carvings - letters of the fae spelling out in their tongue the nature of its power.

“The mirror of lost visions- It disappeared so many years ago during my father’s reign.. That a mortal would have it means that-”

“Indeed.. T’was this mortal, or at least a mortal who has had contact with the one we caught that stole this from us..”

By the blessing of fae blood that Titania had so graciously granted onto him, Alphinaud had been given the benefit of a myriad of things. Of the wings upon his back, protection against the mischief of pixies and Fuath alike, and more than anything else, the ability to read and understand ancient fae writing. It would do his investigation no good after all, if he could not at least read their tomes.

And yet the description provided by the supposedly enchanted mirror was in itself vague at best.

“By one who seeketh their deepest desires, thou shalt behold the answers?”

“It’s a mirror that allows one to see whatever it is they ask of it. Be it the past or the present.. but not the future.” Titania explains, hands reaching out to take the mirror from Urianger’s grasp gently. Her fingers trail upon the lining of the rusted gold, lips frowning as she notes just how worn out and poorly maintained the metal rim itself is. The mortals certainly did nothing to care for its appearance.. she’d hate to know just how they have abused its powers.

“An ancient mirror of Voeburtite descent, gifted to Titania of millenias ago. A treasure the fae hath kept locked away, ordered by Titanias of all generations to never be used unless in dire circumstances.. for its magicks are limited with the passing of the last Voeburtite emperor. Although.. T’would seem the mortals hath not the fraction of fae’s restraint in their use of it.”

With a raising of his hand to hold his temple, Urianger scowls.

“By mine own estimation.. It would seem that the mirror has but only enough energy for one more vision to be projected.”

Silence fills the room, and the bubbling anger from the crimes of his own kind wells up within him again, only restrained by the unreadable expression upon Titania’s face as she stares down at the mirror, taking in Urianger’s words.

“Then... It’s not worth keeping as a treasure anymore..?”

“I’m afraid so, your majesty.. And thus I call for your judgement. Whatever it is that you decide shall be done with it, I shall stand by your decision, my lady.”

Perhaps it was the glance Urianger gave him, perhaps it was the pitifully sad glimmer in her eyes.. but Alphinaud’s memories are jogged, and he suddenly remembers..

Titania was not anything if not a kind, hardworking ruler.. who did all she could to shoulder the burdens of the kingdom that would be left in the wake of the previous King’s dismissal.

But beneath the bright sparkle of her wide fluttering wings, to the almost magical way her face glows as she smiles upon her subjects was a sorrow that few knew about, and fewer still who cared enough to stay by her side through it all.

Alphinaud had given it much thought - about what the queen could possibly want. Aside from her responsibilities as the queen, aside from the benevolence she showed her people, there must almost certainly hidden wishes and desires.

And yet no matter how many nights he’d spend tossing and turning in bed, his conclusion only fell to one possibility.. a wish so impossible that he hated to admit he could not grant her. Until now.

“Your majesty.. if I may..” Alphinaud’s hand raises to place in front of his chest, a gentle smile gracing his expression. “You could use the mirror to see where you parents are.”

Violet eyes widen in shock, and the queen glances towards Urianger, who does nothing but bow silently as apology.

“I... My.. parents...?”

“As I was informed.. the previous king and queen disappeared without a trace from Il Mheg.. and you were their only daughter left to inherit the throne.” despite his best efforts at a gentle, comforting smile, he could see the queen’s hands tremble, head sinking down to cover her eyes with the length of her bangs. “If you wished to see where they were now.. you could find them. You can see them again.”

Her deepest, darkest desires revealed, Titania could only bow her head in shame. She could not even bring her eyes to glance into the mirror, for fear of setting sights upon the selfish, naive girl who the kingdom had the misfortune of being crowned.

But there was something within her that raced.. the beating of her foolish heart that jumped as she heard his words, the proof of his concern for her.

That he would care this much for her.. to learn not just of the fae, but of herself, even if it would do nothing to aid in his pursuit of a cure.

There was nothing left to hide between them, now that he knows the little girl behind Titania’s title.

“I appreciate your thoughtfulness, Alphinaud..”

But there was more to this kingdom than her own selfish desires - more to the world outside and the mortals.

She remembers his words to her, as they sat side by side and read a tome about the history of Lyhe Ghiah’s architecture.. and the conversation drifted towards the fae curse that was rapidly spreading throughout his people.

“I feel partly responsible.. That this horrible curse would indeed be of fae origin.. It would make me responsible, as queen of my people.. that one of my own would so horribly doom the lives of many.” she had said to him, her fingers trailing circles around the pages of the book she held, only for the boy to shake his head in response.

“I recall a saying, your majesty.. A saying of the fae.. that one is more than the blood of their ancestors.” Like a light in the dark, like a warmth to her ice cold sorrow, he’d stood by her side and given her words of strength. “Does that not then extend to the blood of our own kind?”

What did she do to deserve such kindness from a man whose people were afflicted by her own..? A kindness from a mortal, people that fae folk had banished from their homeland more than once - punished for the sins of the few minority of thieves.

She had not the power to decide the actions of the fae who aided in the affliction of mortals.. in the same way Alphinaud, and the many kind mortals she has met had no say in the selfishness of their own kin.

A queen is nothing if not benevolent.

“I believe.. Wishing for the source of the curse.. would be a much better use of the mirror’s powers, would it not?”

Blue eyes widen up at her, his lips agape for a moment.

“But.. your majesty..”

“You could wish to see who cursed your people.. you could finally find the source and work out the antidote you’ve been working so hard to find.. Perhaps.. perhaps that mortal who came to us with the mirror had taken this to us for that very purpose.”

“Even after... everything we’ve done to you?”

They’ve robbed their kingdom of everything, they’ve robbed the queen of her beloved parents. As polluted as the lands of Il Mheg, were the hearts of those who would misuse the very kindness showed to them by the fae. How could she sacrifice her one chance to meet her parents for a kind that has done nothing but stolen from her?

“We’re more than the blood of our own kind.”

Her voice trembles, yet echoes loudly in his ears, glistening violet eyes gazing into his own. Her hands extend out the mirror for him to take, and Alphinaud has naught the words nor the heart to refuse as she slowly takes it from her.

“Illya.. I...”

Illya’s eyes widen for a moment, before she finally smiles past her tears, a smile that is sincere and true.

“Please, don’t thank me.. If anyone, it should be me who is thanking you. For.. coming into my life.”

The drumming of his heart sends blood rushing up to his face, and he finally finds the strength in him to flash a bright smile.

A knock on the door of the throne room, and before the guard was even invited in, they grant themselves entrance to rush towards the group.

“Your majesty! Please forgive my intrusion!! But the mortals have begun to invade the gates of Timh Gyeus!”

Their heads lift up to look upon the kneeling guard in armor in horror, and Urianger is quick to turn back to the queen.

“Your majesty, thy-”

“Don’t stop me from going out there, Urianger.” Illya’s stern warning causes the man to reel back, and despite much of his wish to protest, she offers a singular bow of obedience.

Illya’s grip on her staff tightens, and Alphinaud notes the girl stretching her wings, which seemed to begin growing in size behind her back.

“Hurry, Alphinaud.. You have to save your people.”

With one last gentle smile, Illya nods towards the mirror Alphinaud held in his hands, hovering closer to him to lean her forehead against his chest. Her head’s lowered by habit, hiding the burning of her glowing red cheeks beneath bangs that he has long learned to see through. Sensing her hesitation, his arms wrap around her form, pulling the girl close in a tight embrace for a single fleeting moment.

“Be careful, Illya.”

“I will.”

Titania is many things... to the many people of this kingdom and beyond. But as Alphinaud clutches the mirror close to his chest, and rushes out the throne room after making his wish, he comes to the startling realization that the queen, more than anything, was the woman who has stolen his very heart.

#ffxiv #final fantasy xiv #illya skawi #alphinaud leveilleur #fairy au #fanfic #mine #too lazy to tag cameos and mentions imsorry #this took me.. 7 hours to write #yes #i took breaks in between but #i didn't get to play at all while writing this ;w;

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thekrazykeke · 6 years

Text

T’Challa Breaks the Internet

Fandom(s): Black Panther, MCU

Rating: Not rated (mainly gen w/hints of smutty goodness with the possibility of future smut, because y’all know me)

Relationship(s): Shuri & T’Challa. T’Challa x reader

Summary: Have you ever wondered what our Lord and savior, the Black Panther, King of Wakanda, T'Challa, would do, how would he react if he found out about the stories we write or the art we make? Now's your chance!

Warning(s): Humor, quirky humor. Basically, this fic gives tribute to the good and the bad fics of the Black Panther fandom, the fics you can tell were written from a black perspective or the non-black population.

WinterPanther, EverPanther (why is Everett Ross/T’Challa a thing, idk), TaserPanther, and more, they all get a time to be razzed and cross examined. If you get offended, well, it’s just more funny for me.

If you enjoy this, like this post. Want more, like this post.

Rebog, share the love!

Original post

Fanart and T’Chucky (WinterPanther)

The sound of your stifled chuckles should have first clued him in.

To be fair to himself, though, he was immersed in paperwork and had only glanced up briefly to see what amused you so. You are sitting cross legged in a chair across the room, fist propped underneath your chin and your right hand carefully balancing a tablet in your hold so that it wouldn’t fall, eyes fastened to the screen.

“What is so funny?”

Shuri’s ‘innocent’ expression all but screams of mischief, her lips pulled down at the corners as she tried to maintain a serious appearance, which is suspicious in and of itself. “Nothing.”

Then it’s definitely something.

Weary but feeling that the paperwork needed to be done today, soon, he glanced back down at his work. Just as he did so, however, the duo were giggling again and whispering now too. T’Challa spent fifteen minutes re-reading the same sentence over and over again before he couldn’t contain his curiosity any longer.

“I want to laugh as well.” he complained. “Tell me!”

T’Challa was not whining, he really isn’t. Kings did not whine.

Looking up from the tablet, you snorted. “Okay, okay, I’ll tell you.”

“No! He won’t see the funny side, Y/N!” Shuri tried to snatch the tablet away but you leaned out of reaching distance.

Face screwing up into a frown, he scoffed at his sister. Sucking on his teeth, he cut his eyes at her and buffed his nails on his silk black shirt. “What are you talking about? I have a sense of humor!”

Shuri muttered something distinctly unflattering underneath her breath and you lightly nudged her, wordlessly telling her to stop. “Right, of course…” Even her words are unenthusiastic.

T’Challa lets her tone roll off his shoulders because you’re soon half sitting in his lap, one arm thrown behind the back of the chair, and offering the tablet. Before the query could pass his lips, wondering what he is to be looking at exactly, you’ve tapped the screen so that it lights up and he’s gazing at a very detailed picture of...himself? In the Black Panther suit.

“Fanart.” Your voice stated overhead. “You became very popular after the...debacle with Tony Stark and the other Avengers.”

Zemo had been a crafty adversary, releasing the footage of the airport battle, the Winter Soldier murdering the Starks, and also the two-on-one fight between Barnes, Rogers, and Stark; the Stark heir spent many months secluded from public eye afterwards, not that T’Challa could blame him. Nonetheless, it had fallen squarely on his shoulders to entertain the U.N. and wrangle Thaddeus Ross into a lower position of authority; not an easy feat, especially because the man was slippery as a snake.

“Mm,” he made a noncommittal noise and clicked on the ‘visit’ button. Google opened a new tab, taking him to the creator’s page on DeviantArt. “This, saifuddindayana, he or she, is very talented.”

“You, you like it?”

He shrugged. “Who doesn’t like being adored by fans?” T’Challa smirked.

Shuri let out a ‘Ha!’ “Y/N is babying you. Google T’Chucky or WinterPanther.” He hesitated and she pounced on it. “Are you scared?”

“I am not scared!”

“T’Challa, you really shouldn’t--”

He Googled the terms and immediately wished he could rewind time.

“Is that Sgt. Barnes and I?” The detail of the art is intricate, beautiful and obscene. T’Challa felt his skin become heated with embarrassment when he saw several pictures of a...sexual nature. He was grateful that his skin tone is dark enough to hide the blush. “Who is, why are they,” his eyes darted around the room, not focusing on any one thing. “We tried to kill each other!”

“Apparently after attempted murder, the only thing is up. Romantic walks at night and candle lit dinners.” You tease. T’Challa’s horrified expression tickles your funny bone and you can’t help but laugh, even as you leaned forward to kiss his brow.

“Most cases, the fanfic authors just jump straight to the sex.” Shuri added, ruining the touching moment.

Fan...fiction? “People are writing stories ?!”

You sighed. “Shuri…”

It took several minutes, with some pleading, bargaining and placating kisses, before T’Challa calmed down. His eyes flicker to yours, to the wall, to Shuri, who’s quietly snickering at more fanart or fanfics, and then back to you.

“I don’t understand.”

“Personally, I don’t understand why anyone ships Draco Malfoy and Harry Potter together,” his brow furrowed in confusion, unsure what you meant about ‘ships’, but also wondering what a children’s series had to do with anything. “But the human mind does like the illicit and forbidden. What’s more steamy and exciting than a romance between the fierce Winter Soldier and the enigmatic Black Panther?”

“My relationship with you.” T’Challa stated simply.

“See!” Pointing her finger at her brother in an ‘Aha!’ manner, she glanced at you. “I told you that he wouldn’t get the funny side.”

“He’s new to this. Give him a chance.” Making a ‘calm down’ motion, you turn your attention back to your lover because that was certainly an ‘Awww!’ moment. “And honey, I know you love me. I love you too, but--”

“No. No, ‘but’. I know that look in your eye, Y/N, and you will not convince me to change my mind.” He crossed his arms and glanced away. That was that, subject closed.

Except that it wasn’t.

“I promise that if you don’t like one fanfic that I read, or at least a chapter, or you don’t laugh at it, we’ll drop this and never speak of it again.” You bargain. He glowered. You raised an eyebrow. He huffed. You smiled and took the tablet back, typing quickly.

Once you found a fic, something less scandalizing and not porn (which would for sure have him run for the hills), you cleared your throat and when you spoke next, you changed your voice so that it mimicked the traumatized super soldier’s drawl. “‘ Alright, I'll say it. I'm sorry for all the....fighting. I feel bad for hurting you.’”.

Shuri seemed to have the same idea, as she participated too, becoming something of a narrator, “He felt his hands get clammy and his heart beat to pick up. It was always nerve-racking for him to apologize in such a quiet setting. Thankfully, T'challa sensed this and put his hand over Bucky's. This slowed Bucky's heartbeat but caused butterflies to flutter in his stomach.”

Switching the pitch of your voice so that it’s more soft, understanding, you continue on reading, "it's okay, Bucky. I'm sorry for fighting you at probably every chance I got. I hope we're okay after this."

Again, Shuri interjected, reading her line. “T'challa gave him a small smile which Bucky returned.”

‘Oh, this is a fun part.’ Lips twitching with amusement, you struggled not to laugh, even as you used your ‘Bucky’ voice again. "‘If I knew you were so cute, I wouldn't have tried anything.’"

Just because you’re in a smarmy mood, you give T’Challa the most outrageous wink and you’re rewarded when he, who’d been so quiet throughout the impromptu ‘play’, snorted, then covered his mouth, as if dismayed he’d been bested by such a cheesy gesture.

Shuri doesn’t even try to stop her laughter, even as she reads the next line. “T'challa starts giggling like a school girl which sets off Bucky's own laughter.”

The real life T’Challa still had his hand covering his mouth so you poked him in a ticklish area, and he flinched, a muffled snort coming from behind his hand, so you poked him again. “You laughed. You laughed , I win.”

Finally, he let his hand down but he was smiling. “I couldn’t NOT laugh at such...I don’t even have the words for it. Clearly this fanfic, what is the title of this story again?”

“‘A Starbucks Afternoon’ by Im__A__Brooklyn__Baby.” You tell him.

“Clearly it’s written by a teenager. Worse, a hipster teenager.” he sniffed. “Let me read this myself, this sounds like a date...” As he took the tablet back from you, he was oblivious to the fact that Shuri and you shared a thumbs up.

Mission accomplished, bullet dodged.

#mcu #t'challa #mcu imagine #t'challa imagine #marvel #black reader #marvel imagine #black panther #t'challa x black reader #black panther imagine #t'challa x reader #thekrazykeke

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fictioninmyblood · 6 years

Text

Protector of Her Heart

Chapter Two

Note: I am new to writing fanfic (this is my first one). I welcome constructive criticism as well as pointers and tips for bettering my blog. Thank you for reading :)

Summary: Elinora is an empath’s version of Professor X, only a lot more powerful. She is an enhanced human with the ability to read the world’s emotions. Nick Fury has welcomed her into the fold, but with a fear of herself she has been quite reserved. A forced bonding night with the newly discovered Wakandan royalty brings her out of the shadows of fear and into the light of lust.

Warning: some language, implied smut, 18+

Previous Chapter

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As everyone grabbed a plate and sat down Elinora could not help but be wary of the giant warrior who succeeded in what she had always assumed was impossible. Not knowing what to do with the emotions swirling around her head she decided it was best to just avoid him. Unfortunately everyone else thought it best that he stayed by her side. She sat in between Tony and Natasha hoping for some time to process, but Tony got up for M’Baku, dashing her silent plea.

M’Baku turned his chair towards hers, getting as close as possible placing his left arm on the back of her chair in a protective manner.

“So, since this is basically the first time everyone at the table has gotten to meet you, why don't you properly introduce yourself?”

Elinora glared at Natasha while trying to muster up the courage to speak to such a large group of intimidating people, well except for Peter, he was too young and adorable to scare her. While staring and picking at her food nervously…

“Um, well, my name is Elinora, but I uh mostly go by Nora or Eli, well Nora. Only my little brother and sister call me Eli. Well, Ewi with a w cause they're still toddlers, but that's not important and I’m babbling.”

M’Baku sensed her distress and started rubbing small circles at the base of her neck. She relaxed into his touch ever so slightly, taking a deep breath, she continued...

“And I'm uh, an empath, um as previously demonstrated, sorry about that. And I’m uh also a keep to myself person so I'm not used to a whole lot of interactions with people I don't know. So um can I be excused from whatever Natasha roped a 4am me into?”

She finally looked up and saw determined looks on most everybody's face. Except for Okoye, because she was still skeptical of this girl who could not even string a full sentence together, but could somehow control how they all acted. And M’Baku whose face was mixed with determination and confusion. He could not understand how such a beauty could be so intimidated by the people around her and life. It would seem they had all decided as one that she needed to get out of the house either way.

Ignoring her request Natasha took control of the situation…

“If everyone is done eating I was thinking that us girls could help Nora with some shopping and her hair. Mostly F.R.I.D.A.Y. for the hair because I haven't the first clue.”

“Who's that? I don't remember a Friday being introduced. Isn’t that a day of the week? You Americans have such weird names.”

T’Challa leaned in and half whispered,“That is Tony's A.I. Shuri.”

“You would leave the beautification of natural hair to an artificial intelligence born from a colonizers mind? I don't know how to respond to that kind of stupidity.”

“Shuri!” The king looked at her with a silent look of please shut up before you get us kicked out or killed.

“What?! I'm just saying, you leave beautiful hair like ours in the hands of white people and bad shit happens, like straightening it in a non natural way. Burnt hair smells man and I'm really not in a gas mask mood.”

“I apologize for her bluntness.”

Natasha laughed the king’s apology away, she understood the young woman’s concern and welcomed the bluntness of her words.

“It’s quite alright T’Challa. I appreciate her concern because it is the same as mine.”

Nora spoke up just a little putting the lot of them out of their misery.

“Um guys, I kinda already have that covered, no pun intended.”

“For bast sake woman! How long were you going to keep this to yourself?”

Nora didn't know how to process Shuri’s question. Was she truly angry? The young woman had a way with words, always so passionate, but Nora could not tell the true emotion behind them.

“I’m sorry, I uh understand why Natasha and the rest of the gang didn't know, but I kinda assumed that you all would be able to deduce that I did something to my hair underneath the scarf. It’s in braids, all I have to do is take them out.”

Nakia jumped in hoping to ease the skittish woman's worry.

“It is quite alright, we understand your silence, right Shuri?”

She looked pointedly at Shuri, but there was no budge until with a cross of M’Baku’s arms and a lift of his eyebrow she produced a shake of her head in agreement.

“So shall we leave? And do you boys want to join us?” Natasha locked eyes with T’Challa and Tony hoping that they could see that M’Baku being nearby would be wise.

M’Baku was too busy watching Nora even though she still refused to look at him, so T’Challa answered for them both.

“We will come, I need to help M’Baku not stand out as much possible as well anyway.”

Okoye laughed picking on M’Baku in a sisterly manner, saying in their native language, “no matter what clothes you put on him, a monkey is still a monkey, just in a suit.”

Shuri giggled and thought to add more fuel to this amusing fire, in Xhosa of course.

“And I'm sure the monkey would surely do some tricks if it pleased his master.” She looked between M’Baku and Nora hoping to get her point across.

T’Challa was amused by this banter but he felt bad for the big guy. He was obviously falling hard and fast for this girl. Switching to English...

“For bast sake, leave the man alone lest you run him back into seclusion.”

“For Hanuman’s sake, I have told you time and again that i will not jeopardize the Jabari’s shift into modern society any further. I will go with you and let you dress me in the suffocating fashions of this place.

Nora inadvertently whispered out loud... “Such a beautiful language, I could listen to them bicker all day.”

Everyone’s head swiveled to her and this became one of the moments that she was grateful for her mocha skin tone because boy was she embarrassed. She shrunk back accidentally making contact with the exposed skin of M’Baku’s arm making her jump up and start clearing the table.

“Is everyone done?”

She moved quickly gathering and putting all of the dishes in the sink and rushing to her room.

“If you give me 10 minutes, I’ll uh go change and meet ya’ll at the front door.”

She scurried away chastising herself for being so careless with her thoughts. It didn’t help that her traitorous body, was protesting with every step she took away from M’Baku. It was like walking up a mountain, every step away from him made it harder for her to breathe. At this rate she was going to have a stupid panic attack whenever he wasn’t next to her.

M’Baku watched her dart towards the elevator and walk in, head down in shame. He wanted to go after her, comfort her, and figure out why the hell his chest was getting tight when she left his sight.

“Do you think you can make me match her clothes T’Challa?”

The Wakandan king looked at the Jabari leader with humor in his eyes. This guy really has it bad. Shaking his head...

“Only if the ladies work together with us, but why do you want to match?”

“I want her to see us as a unit and I want to try and woo her, make her see she is mine.”

Sam crossed his arms and went into big brother mode.

“You just met her, and by the looks of it, you scare her and make her even more jumpy than usual.”

Bucky defended the Wakandan to everyone’s surprise, “But did you see how he calmed her, without even knowing her name, he knew her soul and she knew his. It’s like what Natasha and Bruce have only stronger. I wish I had someone to bring me out of my dark place when I was still....well you know.”

“When did you become so sentimental Buck?” Steve asked.

“I agree with Buck. She may be more jumpy, but it’s obviously just from not knowing how to react to the strangeness of their relationship.” Natasha put her two sense in.

But Sam was still skeptical, “if we can even call it that, but whatever. Just don’t hurt her, I like her happy cooking.”

“Do not worry, I would die for her. I know her deep in my bones and I can’t deny whatever connection we have so I will nurture it instead. Please help me, I don’t want to waste time.”

“No need to beg man, we will help.”

They all nodded in unison.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

“Are they almost ready F.R.I.D.A.Y.?”

“They are still getting ready Mr. Stark, I will notify you when they are coming.”

“Come on Mr. Stark, I wanna go!”

“No Peter you are too young to even get into a club let alone drink. I’m not risking jail time. Vision and Wanda will keep you company.”

“Ms. Natasha will be down shortly”, F.R.I.D.A.Y. interrupted.

“Fucking finally?! Are the rest with her?”

“No sir”

“This is not fair!” Peter wailed, proving to be the child everyone thought.

“What is?”

Natasha walked out of the elevator in a slimming black dress with her black red bottom Louboutin’s.

“Is she ready yet? The big guy is getting more and more antsy.”

Tony looked over at M’Baku bouncing his knee nervously and rubbing his chest every now and again.

“They’ll be down soon. Don’t get your panties in a wad Tony.”

“Well, you'd understand if you had to deal with the antsy giant and the annoying king.”

“They are arriving Mr. Stark.”

T’Challa and M’Baku stood at the sound of the elevator ding. Out walked Okoye, Shuri, Nakia, and finally Nora. M’Baku immediately locked eyes with his beauty.

His eyes traveled from the black and gold platform heels that brought her just under his head to the dark skinny jeans that made her legs look a mile long highlighting every curve up until her waist. He lingered on the peek of skin at her torso and grazed over the black crop top that hung off her shoulders exposing her neck but slightly hid her buxom breasts with ruffles. When he got to her lips and just about passed out. Her lips were a deep red matte lipstick that gave him all manners of sinful ideas like him eating blackberries from her full breasts and feeding her in return, but with...something else. She left her face bare with just enough mascara on for her eyelashes to lightly brush her cheeks every time she blinked. Her hair was styled with a few cornrows on the left pushing her full curly hair to the right brushing her shoulder and covering her eye if she leaned forward slightly.

Licking his lips he realized that he was suddenly very parched. Adjusting himself as discreetly as possible as he walked towards her, he thought to himself...

This night is going to kill me, I have to make her mine.

Nora felt self conscious about what the girls had helped her pick out, she thought it clung too much and showed too much skin. She had always been told, “big girls shouldn’t wear stuff like that” but when she saw the way M’Baku devoured her with his eyes, she couldn't help but feel desired. He looked like a starved man and couldn't help but imagine what it'd be like if she was on his menu. Slowly she realized that they were somehow matching and assumed that their collective group of people set this up. He was clad in an all black outfit like her except his gold was on the lapels of his blazer. Next she noticed how his outfit hugged him in all the right places, and she flushed with sudden heat. She envisioned climbing into his lap and snuggling into his neck, basically acting like a cat and oh how she wanted him to pet her kitty. Taken aback by the thought she shook off the feeling and tried to ignore the pulsing in her panties. The latter was basically impossible to do with him now standing so close so she went back to looking at the floor to avoid her thoughts running out of her mouth again.

Damn this night is going to kill me if he keeps standing this close.

Chapter Three

Tags: @skysynclair19 @biglipsandafropicks

#M'Baku #M'Baku Fanfiction #m'baku fanfic #Avengers #avenger fanfic #Black Panther Fanfiction #Black Panther #black panther fanfic #Protector of Her Heart #avengers fanfic

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