#Within Our Inner Demons | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

chiqelatasblog · 3 months

Text

CHAPTER FOUR : Some of us are looking at the stars…

-> Ao3 link is here.

-> Chapter Three link is here.

Pairing : Sub-Zero / Bi-Han x Reader

Summary : After the assassination attempt failed on you, Bi-Han takes charge, surrounding you with guards at all times. While keeping a watchful eye, he discovers new aspects about you, stirring unfamiliar feelings within him. This discomfort, mingled with growing curiosity, shapes the evolving connection between you and him. In the midst of these shifts, a fragile yet meaningful bond emerges as you both share conversations about the past.

Author’s Note: Here’s the first bonding moments!

“Her condition is stable, her life is no longer in danger,” assured the clan doctor. As Bi-Han listened, he tried to keep his strength, powered by his emotions, under control.

He couldn’t recall how he brought you here, but when he took you in his arms, it seemed like your last breath was imminent. The metallic smell of blood stains from coughing filled his nostrils, and the adrenaline-fueled pulse rang in his ears.

“But there is a situation that I think you should see, grandmaster,” the doctor added.

Bi-Han gave an angry breath and signaled for the doctor to open the door. The sliding door revealed you lying directly on the bed. Under the white cover pulled up to your neck, you looked pale, and it’s very evident that you had returned from the brink of death. The harsh reality of the danger you faced hit Bi-Han like a sledgehammer.

His hands clenched into fists on both sides. The fact that such a thing had happened in his own house, right under his nose, filled him with anger. He hadn’t felt this angry in a long time. This assassination attempt was also an insult to him and to his clan. When Tomas brought the one responsible, they’d better beg the gods for mercy because Bi-Han wouldn’t show any. The room seemed to vibrate with the intensity of his rage.

The doctor knelt down next to you, pulling down the cover a little to expose your neck. Bi-Han’s brows furrowed at the sight, and he approached as if to make sure he saw it right.

There was a long, thin, transverse scar on your neck, lighter than your skin color. Obviously an old scar, and although one hand was raised as if to touch the wound, he stopped himself at the last moment and retreated. Did you do this to yourself? You didn’t look like someone suicidal; he didn’t know anything about you or your past, but he recognized the confidence of a warrior in you.

Then someone tried to assassinate you. With this new knowledge, Bi-Han’s chest rose and fell with rage. Who, and why did they try this? Although he never knew you, the options could stretch to infinity. But one thing was sure, he was extrajudicial execution against you.

As Bi-Han silently observed the scar, the condescending question he had directed at you about a week ago echoed in his mind.

“You come from a noble family, how terrible can your nightmare be?’’

He took a deep breath and signaled the doctor to cover the scar. A strange feeling, like a heavy weight in his chest, overwhelmed him. Bi-Han didn’t know how to handle this emotion; his anger grew even stronger. As he walked away from the room, the words you spoke days ago echoed in his mind again, adding a new layer of complexity to his inner turmoil.

“Look, grandmaster, we all have our own demons. The fact that I come from a noble family does not change this fact.”

Bi-Han turned down the corridor without paying attention to the ice marks he left behind. Tomas appeared in front of him.

“Did you find them?’’ Bi-Han growled. Tomas nodded quickly in approval.

“Yes, this way.”

“Have you made inquiries?”

While Bi-Han was chasing after Tomas, he tried to ignore the pain sitting on his chest. Fortunately, the anger he felt was stronger and more dominant than the pain he couldn’t make sense of. It made it easier for him to ignore.

“No, I left that part to you.”

“Don’t tell me you left them alone,” Bi-Han said in an icy voice. Tomas kept his calm against the deadly intonation in his voice.

“Sektor is with her.”

When Tomas brought him to an empty room at the end of several corridors, which was small and had a sliding door like every other room, Bi-Han opened the door as if he had dismantled it and entered without waiting for him to open it.

With his sudden plunge inside, a middle-aged woman who had been on her knees jumped up on the spot with a start. Bi-Han remembered who the woman was, a woman named Xiao, medium height, short black hair, who had been working for the clan’s daily affairs since her mother was alive.

“Grandmaster,” the woman bowed her head with respect and a little fear. “I’m so sorry that something like this would happen—”

“Don’t you dare,” said Bi-Han. Throwing up all his anger and rage, he took a step towards the woman. “Don’t you dare try to make that plea to me. You almost killed her.”

“I swear to the elder gods, I didn’t know!” Although the woman did not raise her head from where she was bowing, Bi-Han could tell that she was crying from the trembling of her voice. “I just wanted to offer your wife some tea. She’s been sitting alone in the garden for a long time, it’s been pretty cold for these past few days, I thought it would do her good, that’s all.”

“Because of this, you’ve deconstructed the alliance between the two clans forever!”

“Grandmaster, please. Listen to me, I don’t know how I can convince myself to you, but as the elder gods are my witnesses, I never had any intention of poisoning your wife.”

Xiao lifted her head from where she was bowing and looked up with tears flowing softly. Although her gaze was filled with pure desperation, Bi-Han had already made up his mind. His will was immutable once he had made a decision, he was as tough as steel about it. Xiao must have caught the determination in his gaze, so her expression dissolved a little more, and accelerated the tears flowing from her eyes.

“I’ve known you since you were a little boy. Please, I have done nothing but serve the clan with respect for a very long time.”

“Until you poisoned (y/n).”

His tone held a firmness that rejected further explanation. It was cold and impenetrable. Sektor, sensing the escalating situation, retreated behind the woman and whispered in Bi-Han’s ear, audible only to him.

“If you kill her, we won’t find out who is behind this. She didn’t put the poison in the tea.”

“I know.” Bi-Han’s voice, unlike Sektor’s hushed tone, resonated for all to hear. “But you must have noticed, too, that she won’t tell us any more than that.”

“Bi-Han!” Kuai Liang entered with a booming voice, agitated eyes scanning between him, Sektor, Tomas, and the woman crying on her knees. “Is it true? (Y/n) was poisoned?”

Bi-Han’s eyes met Kuai Liang’s, showing how serious things were. His expression, usually composed, now held a hint of turmoil. The tension in the room thickened as the unspoken truth hung in the air. The woman cried quietly, and Tomas, standing back, looked worried and confused. It felt like a storm was about to hit, making the room full of tension.

“It remains a slight to say that she was poisoned,” Bi-Han asserted aggressively. “If I had intervened a little later, she would have died.”

“What?! And one of us did it, so is that it?” Kuai Liang’s gaze fixed on the woman. “Xiao? Is it true what I heard?”

“I just—I just wanted to offer tea. I had no other ulterior motives.”

Before Kuai Liang spoke again, his gaze locked on the bloodstains on him for a while. His eyes, mirroring the same icy intensity as Bi-Han’s, seemed to pierce through the room’s tension.

“Just last week, I promised (y/n) that she was safe here. Our word is an oath.” The disbelieving reproach in Kuai Liang’s voice intensified the atmosphere. Tomas observed the woman silently, his jaw slightly contracted, and his fists clenched. Your desperate flutterings would not leave his mind.

The cold air emanating from Bi-Han filled the room, causing the woman to cringe in fear where she was.

“(Y/n) is my wife. I consider everything that has been done to her as done to me. Whether you added the poison to the tea or not, you were part of this assassination attempt. You have dishonored our clan.”

“Grandmaster—”

Bi-Han silenced her by raising his hand.

“There’s only one way to clean this up,” Bi-Han’s gaze turned to Sektor. “Do what is necessary.”

Sektor nodded approval, and before she could say another word, he grabbed her by the arm and dragged her out of the room. Despite removing the woman, Bi-Han’s anger lingered. While this decision should have satisfied him, an inner voice whispered that he had done something wrong.

It felt absurd that he regretted the words he said to you. Why should he care about your feelings? After all, everything was just a formality.

“How is she?” Kuai Liang asked anxiously. His brother’s calm expression was clouded with worry, and a frown marked his forehead.

“She will live,” Bi-Han said simply. “The medics intervened, she needs to rest for a while to recover.”

“How will we find the real person or people behind this? They can use someone else like Xiao as a tool and harm (y/n) again.”

Tomas’s sensible words prompted Bi-Han to take a deep breath. Flexing his muscles to dispel the pain and stress climbing from his shoulders to his neck, he moved to leave the room, his brothers following.

“If this news reaches the Tengu—”

“It won’t reach,” Bi-Han harshly interrupted Tomas. “Today’s events were a message. There will be no news from here, even if a bird flies, it will be my news first. Arrange for someone to be by (y/n)’s side at all times; from now on, she won’t be walking around alone unprotected.”

“Frost is the best option I think,” Kuai Liang suggested. “She is one of the most talented ninjas in the clan. Moreover, because she is the same gender as (y/n), she may feel more comfortable around her.”

“Good. Besides, I want someone to taste the food from now on. I can’t afford to make the same mistake again. As for the assassin, they will not stop until they achieves their goal. We will wait for the moment when they reveals themselves, keep an eye on (y/n) during this time.”

***

You slept without a break for three days.

Bi-Han found himself in your room the other day, checking on you from time to time. The first time he did this, he was angry with himself and questioned what the hell he was doing, leaving the room as quickly as he entered, like a storm. Later, when he came to the door of the room unconsciously again, this time he said to himself that he had come just to see if you had regained consciousness, and instead of returning from the threshold, he had entered the room.

After a while, this became a routine in itself; he clashed with himself every time he came to you, but in the end, his curiosity to see how you were got the upper hand.

His visits were usually late at night, when no one was standing. During the daytime, sometimes one or both of his brothers came to visit to check on your condition. Frost, on the other hand, did not leave the entrance of the door to keep watch from early in the day until midnight.

During the three days he visited, each time he found you on your bed mumbling incomprehensible words and quietly fluttering. At first, he expected you to handle this situation on your own. After all, a nightmare couldn’t last forever, and a few words you could slip out might also make it easier for him to learn about your clan.

But as he didn’t understand what you were saying, it bothered him that you were struggling with your nightmares even when you should have been resting. What kind of place did you grow up in? What kind of childhood did you have? How did the scar on your throat come about? The unanswered questions lingered, deepening the mystery of your past and forming a connection that Bi-Han found himself unexpectedly invested in understanding.

As all the questions that he shouldn’t have thought about started to fill his mind, Bi-Han didn’t feel any discomfort about it for the first time. Also, realizing that he could calm you down with his voice was a detail he hadn’t expected. Normally, his voice was found deep and intimidating by everyone, and it could not be said that he was speaking kindly to you—only stating the facts. Despite all this, you were somehow finding solace in his presence.

You’re having one of your damn nightmares again,” Bi-Han remarked, his voice as quiet and calm as the night itself. Seated at a little distance, he observed the rapid rise and fall of your chest, the beads of sweat accumulating on your forehead like glistening dew, and the soft moans escaping as you turned your head from side to side. The moonlight cast a faint glow, outlining the contours of your troubled expression in the dimly lit room.

While your hands were tightly gripping the duvet above you, and the incomprehensible murmurs that were pouring out of your lips started to turn into small sobs, Bi-Han once again tried to calm you down by sighing.

“You’re having a nightmare, (y/n). Whatever you’re seeing or experiencing, you’re not there anymore. You’re here at Lin Kuei.”

As Bi-Han muttered the words, his eyes were turned to the exposed neck. Although it wasn’t very bright inside, his eyes had already memorized the location and shape of the scar. As his gaze narrowed, his voice hardened a little.

‘’You are safe, do you hear me? I know you can. It won’t happen again. So calm down now, there’s nothing to be afraid of.” His words, though firm, held a gentle promise, as if he were guarding you against the shadows that haunted your dreams. “(Y/n), you’re not alone.” It was unexpected for him to offer such reassurance, yet his instincts guided him in ways he hadn’t anticipated.

Even though he’s been doing this for days, he couldn’t help but be surprised that you had the same reaction again. While your sobs subsided, your breathing slowly adjusted, and your face softened. When you finally calmed down completely, your eyelids slowly opened, doing something that Bi-Han didn’t expect.

The room suddenly became quiet, and while you were trying to decipher what was going on, Bi-Han stood still, silently watching you like a hunter among the shadows. After looking at the ceiling for a while with a frown, your gaze directly found Bi-Han, as if you knew he was there all along.

As confusion painted your face, you gradually straightened up, supported by your arms, and gazed at him with wide-open eyes. The duvet fell to your lap as you shifted, and the cool air inside made you shiver slightly. Instinctively, one hand reached to touch your exposed neck, causing your eyes to widen even more, as if that were possible.

“There’s no need to hide it. I saw the scar.”

After swallowing loudly, as if you weren’t sure about what you had seen, you spoke in a voice as light as a feather, ’’Bi-Han?’’. Maybe it was the first time you called him by his name. Bi-Han felt a chill running down his neck, hearing his name uttered in such a naive tone for the first time.

When Bi-Han let out a little grunt that showed he heard you, you blinked your eyes once or twice and averted your gaze from him.

“How long have I been asleep?”

“For three days.”

“Three days?” You rubbed your shoulders, taking a deep breath. Your whole body must have been aching because you’ve been lying down for so long. “It’s been quite a lot.” When your gaze was turned on him again, Bi-Han involuntarily let his guard up. For some reason, he felt the need to defend himself against the next thing you were going to say.

“Why are you in my room?”

“How do you feel?” Bi-Han said, fudging the question instead of answering. It didn’t escape your attention that he didn’t answer, but you didn’t comment on it either.

“It’s like I’ve come back from the dead.”

“It should not be a situation that you have just experienced.”

Against the words pouring from his lips, an expression appeared on your tired face that he could not read. You looked almost dull, your gaze was hard and distant. As an uncomfortable silence fell over the room, Bi-Han couldn’t understand why he felt the need to say these words.

“If your visit is over, please leave my room.”

Your voice matched his in its icy tone. He could understand your reaction; he had touched on a sensitive topic he shouldn’t discuss. Nevertheless, despite being aware of his misstep, he offered no apology, nor did he dwell on the matter. Having just returned from the brink of death, your nightmares denied you proper rest, so gathering strength was your priority. Rising from his seat, just before exiting the room, he glanced over his shoulder at you and made the statement he should have uttered the moment you woke up.

“I took care of the person who poisoned you.”

Interrupting between his words, you asked, “Did you kill her?” When Bi-Han continued his speech instead of providing a direct answer, the response lingered in the air, shrouded in ambiguity.

“From now on, nothing like this will ever happen to you again. I have assigned one of my most talented ninjas to be your bodyguard, accompanying you at all times. Moreover, there will always be someone checking your food before you eat.”

“I don’t need protection,” you asserted, the stubborn lift of your chin becoming a detail that simultaneously intrigued and irked Bi-Han. “I can take care of myself.”

“The real person behind this has not been caught yet. Therefore, until we find the traitor who plotted this, you will be under protection.”

“Do you think someone from your clan did this?”

“Very likely,” Bi-Han said in an honest voice. “But you can be sure that this situation will not happen again.”

***

A few more days have passed since the events that happened. You were slowly starting to regain your strength and come to your senses. Bi-Han never visited you again after you opened your eyes, but his eyes found you easily, regardless of where you were and the time.

It seemed to have become a habit for him. Involuntarily glancing around wherever he was, his eyes were checking to see if you were nearby, and he couldn’t stop himself from doing so. It must have been due to the fact that he was constantly on guard so that such an event would not happen again; he could not find another plausible explanation for this situation.

On the other hand, he actually didn’t even need to do this. Since he spoke to Kuai Liang, Frost had become a second shadow for you, following you everywhere. He could easily see from your body language that both of you were uncomfortable with this situation, but you had no choice but to put up with it. During meals and training sessions, Frost’s absence was filled by his brothers, sometimes even Cyrax or Sektor.

Quickening his steps, he walked out of the indoor training field. It was already past midnight, and after everyone had dispersed, he liked to work with training dummies until he was drenched in sweat on his own.

Taking a deep breath in the cold night air, he briskly traversed the stony road, adorned with a delicate layer of snow. Typically cold, his body now radiated warmth and sweat from hours of tireless work; carefully gathered hair loosened, nearly freeing itself from its bun. As it cascaded over his forehead, revealing the nape of his neck, Bi-Han, displeased with the unruly locks, swept them back with one hand.

Feeling the urgency for a cleansing, he hastened towards the hot springs, the need to relieve his strained body after a day of intense labor. Nearing the heart of the garden, a figure caught his attention, standing a little distance away from the winter garden enclosed by full-length glass windows.

You had a cover on you, likely a blanket, and were sitting on one of the benches in the garden, knees drawn up to your stomach, looking up at the sky. Under the blanket pulled up to your face, you looked like a little girl, completely unaware of his presence and vulnerable.

Approaching, Bi-Han wondered how you came out alone at this time of night. As he came close, you looked at him curiously over your shoulder, wide-eyed with surprise at his unexpected presence. A silence hung between you for a few heartbeats before Bi-Han broke it.

‘’How did you get here by yourself? Where are the guards?’’

“They are where you ordered them to stand, in front of my door.’’ You said simply. Your voice remained clear and calm. ‘’The answer to the other question is, I left from the balcony. The floors were quite close to each other.’’

Bi-Han’s eyebrows furrowed, displeased with what he heard. Although he intended to speak, you explained before him.

‘’Let me explain myself before you begin to get angry. I’ve never had a chance to be on my own since I woke up. To be honest, I felt lonely when I came here at first, but now I feel like I’m almost drowning under the attention. I needed some space to breathe, that’s all.’’

‘’There is no way you could have left without announcing yourself to them; they are master ninjas.’’ Said Bi-Han, less harsh than he had intended. You turned to face him, a side of your lips curling into a small smile.

‘’I trained with my brothers for a while. There are a few moves I know too, grandmaster. Don’t look down on me.’’

Bi-Han raised an eyebrow in disbelief. Crossing his arms, he asked, giving in to curiosity.

‘’What were you doing until I came?’’

‘‘I’ was looking at the stars.’’ You said it, as if expressing the simplest truth in the world. ‘’Since there is a lot of lighting around the temple, it doesn’t look clear from the balcony, so I went down to the garden.’’

A mocking smile appeared on Bi-Han’s lips.

‘‘How old are you? You should have left such childish behavior behind by now.’’

Your expression showed offense for a moment. Bi-Han, not knowing how long you had been sitting in the garden, noticed the flush on your nose and cheeks. He couldn’t understand why you were sitting in this cold to look at the sky. Although he couldn’t feel the cold like others, he knew you wouldn’t sit outside in thin clothes and a piece of blanket for long. In his logic, there was no explanation for this.

Quickly recovering, you rested your chin on your knees and turned your gaze to the sky rather than him.

‘’There is a saying that my mother told me before she passed away, I remember it every time I look at the stars. It gives me strength to remember her in this way.’’

Bi-Han looked at the sky with his head slightly tilted back. Except for a few clusters of clouds, the weather was clear enough for him to pick out the stars in the black sky.

‘‘What is that saying?’’ he asked after a while.

“The people who should be alive are always with us, their presence enduring. For those who have left, there is nothing left for us to do.” You spoke these words with a soft, emotional timbre, each syllable carrying a weight of experience. ‘’When you feel unhappy, lonely, and hopeless, remember this saying: we are all living in the gutter, but some of us looking at the stars.”

Bi-Han’s heart stirred with a sweet pain he hadn’t expected. His gaze shifted from the stars back to you. His eyes, now wide with a mix of emotions, struggled to define the unnamed feeling within him.

‘’Oscar Wilde.’’ He said in one breath. ‘‘My mother liked to read his books too.’’

When you turned to look at Bi-Han, an expression of pure astonishment on your face, he saw you as a little girl with flushed skin, sparkling eyes, and messy hair. Almost cute, he couldn’t help but think.

‘’Really?’’ you asked. Your breath came out in smoke due to the cold air.

“Yes. When my mother was pregnant with me and later with Kuai Liang, she couldn’t move much. Pregnancy processes were usually difficult for her, so she spent most of her time reading books. She liked to tell her favorite stories and sayings from the books she read. If I’m not mistaken, she must still have books in her library. I can give you some of them to read if you want.’’

You blinked your eyes a few times, trying to process his offer of sharing books. As minutes passed, Bi-Han grew uncomfortable with the prolonged silence. Without waiting for you to answer, he turned, indicating the end of the conversation. As he started to walk back to the temple, you called out after him.

‘‘Bi-Han, wait! Thank you!’’

The rustling of a blanket indicated that you had hurriedly stood up. Pausing, Bi-Han slightly turned around, looking at you.

‘’I’m so sorry for your loss, I know how it feels.’’

As you shared sympathy, Bi-Han’s jaw subtly tightened, silently acknowledging the emotions your sincere words stirred. Your approach, different from his brothers’ usual company, felt a bit strange but not unwelcome.

Bi-Han waved a hand, signaling that the matter was closed. He didn’t wish to discuss it further; he was tired and sweaty, yearning to clean up and end the night.

‘’Come inside before you’ll catch any more cold. I don’t want you to fall into bed one more time.’’

157 notes · View notes

lightwise · 18 days

Text

Hidden Monsters

For some reason this has been a bear (dragon, Vrathean, pick your Star Wars creature) to write, but I realized after this last episode of TBB that there was more to the “monster of the week” trope that we all love to get tired of in Star Wars, and specifically for our beloved Batch members. I believe that some of the main “monsters” each member of the Batch has faced and could face represent inner turmoil and the storms/dark things within that each of them has had to wrestle with. The choices each of them have made to tame or calm or live with the creatures they have encountered, instead of automatically killing them or choosing violence against them, is a powerful metaphor. Something that looks like a monster on the outside may not necessarily be a monster on the inside, when cared for and acknowledged properly.

Echo and the Rishi Eel

Echo’s very first mission on Rishi station involved a giant monster, a droid army invasion, watching his superior officer die in front of him, and losing most of his squad along with the entire outpost he had been assigned to help defend. After the Rishi station is overrun by battle droids, Echo, Fives, Hevy, and Cutup escape through an air vent only to land in the middle of what turns out to be the Rishi eel’s nest. Echo is second to last in line and has to watch as Cutup is snatched up by the eel right behind him and swallowed whole. Echo is the only one to look back and commemorate Cutup with his name and a sigh before they have to keep moving. He does the same at the end of the episode when they lose Hevy, thanking him for his self sacrifice. Echo’s mind—strategic, careful, hesitant, wanting to do the right thing—is always on his brothers and their safety, and his own fears and questioning give way to courage and determination as he watches his brothers do what needs to be done.

This formative experience is literally emblazoned on Echo’s chest and becomes part of his identity when Rex shoots the eel in the eye, wipes some of its blood on his hand, and presses it against Echo’s armor as he encourages him to keep going. This combination of bravery, looking death in the eye, and holding compassion for each of his brothers as they fall continues to be a running theme throughout Echo’s character arc—from holding 99 in his arms as he dies, to hanging in the Techno Union chamber where his mind and body were used to hunt down the brothers he loved, to overcoming the changes and loss he’s experienced and finding a new family with the Batch and Omega, to coming full circle and joining Rex to help free his brothers from the Empire’s grip. He has had to watch as brother after brother is taken away from him, but he has learned how to keep going in the face of loss. These experiences bring out who he is—caring, loyal, brave, resolute, and a symbol of endurance—and trace back to the very first monster he had to face.

Hunter, Omega, and the Ordo Moon Dragon

In season 1 the Batch is newly on the run from Kamino after Order 66, finding Omega, and losing Crosshair. They crash onto an uninhabited planet and while trying to repair their ship, an Ordo Moon Dragon makes off with their capacitor, leaving them stranded. Like the Zillo beast seen in season 2, it feeds on energy but is actually peaceful when not provoked. Hunter wants to track it down, by himself, but Omega insists on accompanying him. While tracking the creature, Omega brings up Crosshair’s absence, and Hunter is unwilling to even say Crosshair’s name, and he is very uncomfortable with the conversation. He is unwilling and unable to face his demons right now, and instead is wallowing in self-blame. Hunter won’t be able to fully face his inner turmoil until Crosshair returns and they encounter the Wyrm on Barton IV, another dragon-like creature which also burrows underground (although it is much, much larger, and more harmful than the Ordo Moon Dragon, signifying how much Hunter’s avoidance and resentment grows over time as it is not dealt with). It’s also interesting that this episode cuts back and forth to Crosshair fully under the influence of the chip and wiping out Saw Gurerra’s insurgents in a very violent manner.

Hunter ends up being knocked out by the creature and Omega takes her flashlight and his blaster to complete the mission, going alone into the tunnels where the dragon lives. What Omega learns is that she doesn’t need the blaster to deal with the situation. As scary as it is, she doesn’t have to kill the dragon or use violence against it, as it’s simply hungry and looking for food. The terrifying creature becomes a thing of beauty, green electric shocks running over its rainbow colored body, illuminating the tunnel and Omega’s face as it feeds on the flashlight she throws to it in exchange for their capacitor. The visuals mimic the teal and green rippling over the Vrathean that Omega and Ventress encounter and have to calm down in season 3 (more on that further on).

However, this wasn’t Omega’s mission. It was Hunter’s, but she ends up completing it for him. Omega learns a valuable lesson here, which fits in with her natural tendencies of drawing both people and animals to her caring, compassionate nature instead of judging them based on appearance, but I’m not sure that this was her ultimate trial in facing her own inner demons. (See my thoughts on why this is important at the end of this essay in the Ventress section.) This also was a failed attempt for Hunter, and he would end up facing his trial again in The Return in season 3.

Wrecker and the Rancor (Muchi)

Wrecker was introduced as a character whose expertise is in explosives and making things blow up. He lives for making a ruckus and having a good time, but his strengths are engineered to be used for destruction.

Much of Wrecker’s character arc in season 1 is learning how to become more of an adult/parental figure for Omega, and how to put his own desires and needs aside in order to help take care of hers (letting her eat first, making a room for her in the gunners nest, watching out for her). In Rampage, the Batch is charged with rescuing a “child,” who they eventually find out is a young, ornery, and decidedly huge Rancor. Wrecker is the only one of them strong enough to sedate the creature after a lengthy bout of essentially hand to hand “combat.” They needed to bring Muchi back alive and Wrecker ends up gaining mutual affection and respect with her. Muchi is now calm and tamed enough that Omega can ride on her back with no fear or worry of danger.

Rancors adhere to a strict social and familial hierarchy, and have to challenge the alpha for authority. Wrecker starts out brash and boastful, and even though he is always caring, he becomes much more aware of his surroundings and his standing in their family unit as he grows in his responsibilities toward Omega. Rampage is shortly before his chip goes off, where he almost kills his entire squad. While his brute strength is an asset when used in the right ways, it is lethal if used for the wrong ones, and through his family bonds (especially with Omega) Wrecker is ultimately able to overcome the worst, chipped version of who he had been made to be, and instead be a source of safety and strength for Omega and his family.

Tech and the Zillo Beast

The Zillo beast is a marvel amongst Star Wars creatures. Its armor is impenetrable and highly valuable, and it feeds almost exclusively on energy, which allows it to become larger and morph into an even more powerful creature. When the Batch encounters it in season 2 in Metamorphasis, it tries to attack all of them, but Tech is the only one who is “fascinated” by the creature rather than scared of it. Similar to the Zillo beast feeding on energy, Tech’s mind was what he was known for, and he “fed” it by constantly consuming and integrating data about the world around him (which is transmitted by energy currents). During this episode Tech is confident in his own capabilities and extremely interested in learning more about the cloning technologies they were uncovering on this crashed ship. Tech’s research on the Zillo beast, while helpful, unfortunately comes too late and the Batch are unable to either put down or recapture the creature before it grows too strong for them to deal with. In the process, the Zillo beast escapes and is eventually recaptured by the Empire.

I’ve always been fascinated by the point in this episode where Tech is downloading the rest of the information from the terminal onto his data pad, and Hunter warns Omega that Imperials are inbound. She immediately tells Tech they need to go, and he refuses for a moment, saying he needs to finish capturing the data. If Omega did not pressure him to leave (and the electricity go out), he very well could have been standing there when ships bomb their location a few moments later, and gotten both himself and Omega killed for no good reason. At this moment his love of knowledge is overpowering his common sense and his love for his family, and it almost costs him everything.

Contrast this to a few moments later when he pulls Omega out of danger as they leave the ship, and Plan 99 when he chooses to sacrifice himself not for his own gain, but solely so his family has a chance to live. He had to face his greatest asset where it could also be his greatest failure, and learn how to prioritize and wield his strengths.

Crosshair and the Vulture

In The Outpost in season 2, Crosshair has spent almost two seasons engulfed in poor choices made both against his will (the chip), and of his own volition (staying with the Empire no matter what in pursuit of a sense of purpose and loyalty). His decisions are starting to grate on him and have led him down a dark path, but he hasn’t been fully ready to find a way to change them. When he lands on the icy planet of Barton IV, he encounters fearsome ice vultures shrieking overhead. He is told by the outpost’s commanding clone officer, Mayday, that the creatures are vicious, but admirable, because they find a way to survive.

Vultures signify both death and cleansing and are often feared and viewed with disgust, yet are an integral part of nature. Crosshair’s isolation and status as a clone soldier have put him in a precarious and often misjudged position, in ways he doesn’t even fully realize until this episode. His very life is in danger due to the Empire’s stance toward the clones, but so far Crosshair has believed that he is valuable to the Empire in ways that the regular clones are not. This attitude and perspective are severely challenged by Lieutenant Nolan, who speaks contemptuously both about and to every clone he encounters. Nolan’s lack of respect for them as soldiers, as officers, and even as people, is an extreme look at what Crosshair’s callousness and misplaced loyalty could lead him to if he is not careful. His fate is hanging in the balance.

After being sent on an inhumane mission to retrieve two crates of armor in a blinding snowstorm, Crosshair and Mayday are caught in an avalanche. After coming up out of the snow gasping for air, Crosshair could choose to get himself back to base and leave Mayday behind. Find a way to survive in the cold on his own, but kill the last of his compassion and personal values in the process. Instead, he chooses to put his life even more at risk to bring Mayday along with him.

Unfortunately for both of them, when they get back to base, Nolan has zero sympathy for their self-sacrifice, and allows Mayday to die unceremoniously on the platform from his wounds. Once again, a vulture is circling overhead, waiting to partake of its next meal. It signifies the threat of death but also Crosshair’s struggle and desire to survive. Crosshair is now staring his own lack of value and expendability in the face, and where he finds himself is now fully intolerable. He cannot continue on the way he has been without the very essence of who he is breaking irreparably in the process. Does he reclaim who he is, a compassionate and forceful individual who protects those he cares about? Or does he fall in line with what the Empire wants from him, knowing he will be discarded regardless?

Crosshair integrates his lesson in a visceral manner, his own personal traits mimicking the very essence of the ice vulture as he finally reorients his moral compass, takes a stand for himself and for his clone brothers, and takes vengeance on Lieutenant Nolan. His caution and inner turmoil are channeled into one desperate act as he becomes an agent/angel of death, the framing of the scene creating vulture-like wings spread on either side of him. He doesn’t expect to survive this encounter, choosing a path that looks like death on the outside but is cleansing and redeeming for him on the inside. He can now face the future as his whole, integrated self.

Hunter, Crosshair, the Vulture, and the Wyrm

The vulture and its meaning for Crosshair, as well as Hunter’s cut-short encounter with the Ordo Moon Dragon, both have their bookends in season 3’s episode The Return. Crosshair has seen immense character growth after his choices in The Outpost, and has not only redeemed himself but has been given the chance to start reconciling with everyone he has hurt. This episode has two creatures that serve two important purposes: the vulture returns as a metaphor for Crosshair’s need to reconcile with and forgive himself, and a new creature, a giant wyrm (nice Dune reference there, Star Wars) highlights the fractured rift between him and Hunter, and the anger, distrust, and resentment that Hunter has been running from since Aftermath.

The Batch has returned to Barton IV, and Crosshair is greeted by the ice vulture as they land. The weather is calm and clear this time, and the creature is observing him but not in a threatening way. At the same time, tensions rise to a breaking point between Hunter and Crosshair and a long-awaited argument starts between them. Before it can be resolved, the wyrm erupts out of the ground and puts all of their lives in danger. It had been kept at bay previously by high-pitched noises, (oddly similar to Hunter’s enhanced senses, which he has been so distracted from that he wasn’t aware of the danger ahead of time) and lived underneath the same snow that had buried Crosshair and Mayday.

In their efforts to draw the creature away from the outpost so they can turn the sensors back on, Hunter falls through the snow into the wyrm’s tunnels. Crosshair has already had his inner journey underneath the snow on Barton IV. This time, Hunter has to finally face his own struggles. Every step of the way he has been running and hiding, trying to keep his family and Omega safe by keeping them away from the Empire, away from Crosshair, away from danger, but failing miserably. This time, Hunter could simply let Crosshair haul him back up to the surface when he reaches the spot where Crosshair and Batcher have dug a hole in the ice to pull him out. But he hasn’t confirmed that the wyrm is actually past the boundary and that it is safe to turn the perimeter sensors back on. This time, Hunter stays below the surface, and keeps himself in harms way until he is absolutely sure that his family is safe and that his own emotions have been worked through. He is starting to take responsibility for his journey. His senses start to kick in again and he refuses to leave the tunnel until the wyrm is barreling down his neck, and then he finally accepts Crosshair’s help. Both of them run to safety, the perimeter beacons turn on, and the wyrm is now on the other side of an invisible barrier of sound, harmless and chastened until it finally slinks away.

The boys exchange glances and nods. Their rift has been bridged and they are both willing to move forward, together. This is proven by the end of the episode, where Crosshair, who has remained closed off and unwilling to discuss what he’s been through, opens up slightly to Hunter before they leave, and Hunter responds with forgiveness, acknowledgement, and hope for the future. And for now, it’s enough. Crosshair looks into the sky and watches the ice vulture flying overhead once again. Except this time, it flies off into the sunset, signifying that his lessons from this planet have been fully learned, that the spirit of survival in the face of death that he has been carrying with him can now be put towards living and thriving again. Both Hunter and Crosshair are leaving slightly more whole than when they first arrived, both as individuals and in their restored relationship with each other.

Ventress, Omega, and the Vrathean

Omega gets a second chance at taming a terrifying creature in The Harbinger in season 3. After Asajj Ventress shows up on Pabu to help the Batch figure out the m-count conundrum that makes Omega’s blood so valuable to the Empire, (and after Omega has begged her to stay and test her capabilities), she and Omega go out onto the ocean to test Omega’s potential Force sensitivity. (Also after Ventress had to whoop the boys’ backsides to get them to slightly trust her, but we won’t go into that here).

Throughout this season, (and really for most of her life), Omega has…not been doing well. Her time on Tantiss, leaving the rest of the clones imprisoned there behind when she and Crosshair escaped, and the relentless pursuit of her by the Empire has truly traumatized her and made her single-mindedly want to know why she is always in danger and putting everyone else around her in danger as well. Her mental health has been spiraling a bit and her inner turmoil is starting to rival Crosshair’s in season 2. She knows that m-count is important and is also thrilled at Ventress mentioning the Jedi, while the rest of the Batch and Ventress herself are very somber about the prospect that Omega might have Force capabilities. However, in her desire to have answers, she ends up being very impatient and frustrated and doesn’t even show her typical level of optimism and concentration in working through Ventress’ tests for her. It’s almost like her goal (finding answers) is at odds with what her idea of finding those answers looks like.

After having tried and failed to “reach out” to the Force to summon anything, Omega pouts and sits back down in the boat, seemingly defeated. Ventress has asked her to try to connect to nature, probably because she has seen Omega’s connection to Batcher and assumes that might be more in line with whatever her gifting might be. Two of Omega’s main traits and strengths are her optimism in the face of defeat, and her compassion toward literally every living thing she encounters. She is always curious, generous, caring, and wanting to connect with others. Which makes it even more curious that she is so easily stumped and disconnected by this exercise. She challenges Ventress to prove why *she* is the best person to be teaching Omega this lesson, and Ventress sighs but gently and carefully shows her powers by calling up a school of glowing green fish from the water. “I’m not the one holding back,” she tells Omega.

After a peaceful moment, however, another creature, this time a giant and tentacled Vrathean, emerges from the water as well and starts hunting Ventress and Omega down. It’s unclear if Ventress actually called the creature up herself or not, but if she did it was not intentional. She helps rescue Omega from the creature’s clutches and then chooses to put herself in more danger by letting it grab her, and communing with it through the Force as it tries to eat her. The deadly creature becomes a thing of astonishing beauty as the color of the sea ripples over its body and its eyes soften and recognize Ventress as a sentient being.

This is where it gets interesting, because this peacefulness, calm, and compassion is not something we would have associated with prior versions of Ventress. Her experiences and growth throughout the Clone Wars, her associations with Ahsoka and Quinlan, and her choices have turned her into a much softer and stronger version of herself. This has now become her trial by allowing her to showcase just how much she has changed, and how much her own worldview has flipped.

This is an incredible example for Omega, but similar to how she took Hunter’s trial for him in Replacement, Ventress has now filled what was supposed to be hers. This begs the question, what is Omega actually holding back on? Is she really Force sensitive? Or is just her compassion and tenderness toward everyone around her overtaking her in unhealthy ways? She has always had a tendency to put herself in harms way in an attempt to make up for the complications her presence brings her brothers.

Omega will have to face these implied monsters at some point. I’m not actually certain that she will end up facing a creature like everyone else has—there’s the possibility that because she naturally has more affinity with creatures and beings that look monstrous but really aren’t, she may end up facing her inner demons in another manner. Will it be a person instead? Or a choice? Even, might I say, an identity crisis? It remains to be seen, but the fact that she must face it in order to overcome and integrate it is unquestionable.

111 notes · View notes

signedeclipse · 10 months

Note

Hii!! Can you do like a hantengu clones (NOT separate) x fem reader nsfw one shot? Reader is a complete virgin and she’s in a poly relationship with the clones ♡︎♡︎

All For You | Part 2 [Hantengu X Reader]

Reader is Human Female | NSFW | Part 1 HERE Final HERE

Recomended Song - Killshot by Magdelena Bay

A whirlwind of emotions crept through you, acting on both fight and flight, leaving you paralyzed, basically limp.

The oldest of the four had you lifted into his arms. They were so hard you'd almost believe he was made of lead, had it not been for the comfortable warmth of the flesh.

He was holding your torso up with one arm, the other under your knees and holding you as close as he possibly could, as if afraid you'd be taken by the others that were tripping over one another to catch a glimpse at you.

"Are...are you going to kill me?" You had been gazing up at his face, though his kanji eyes only glanced down every once in a while, only meeting your gaze as he knelt down, laying you in the spread of your futon that you'd not yet put away from previous use. Despite the pounding of your heart, no matter how much adrenaline you held, you lay paralyzed under the strength of Sekido's gaze.

"Hmm... should we?" Two claws hands had grabbed your ankles, pushing them up so your knees buckled and pushed into the air, allowing for the green-eyes demon to be visible between your legs.

You shook your head, even if you could hear the teasing tone dripping from his tone.

When you thought back to the shivering mess you had saved a week ago, it made no sense that within him these four prospered. Clearly, it was him, if he were younger and more courageous, but there were four of him.

The thumbs of the hands firmly squeezing your ankles rubbed slow circles, and eventually teased their way up and down your calves, curiously eating up the warmth of your skin.

"You've all scared our poor girl so badly, when you should be thanking her for saving us..." the whispering tone came from above you, the quietest of the bunch having stealthed his way to sit seiza.

His blue eyes were a calm abyss, the kind that pulled you from the feeling of the sassy one tracing his nails into your skin.

"I assure you, there's no thanking needed...!" As embarrassing as it was, your cheeks were beginning to burn with the heat of the demeaning nature of the position they had put you in.

Before you could push yourself up, Urogi had landed his bird's feet onto the arm attempting to move, though his talons sunk only into the floor, avoiding your skin and effectively trapping you.

"Then consider it a token of gratitude! We won't be leaving until we are certain you know how much you mean to us." Crouching so he could be an easier distance from your face, he used a claws finger to press into your bottom lip, puncturing it enough for a bead of blood to form, which he leaned in and licked straight from your mouth, shuddering in pleasure at your delectible taste.

"And now that we know just how sweet you are, it'd be impossible to back away!" The look of shock on your face from Urogi's affection only drew him in more, dusting his feathers along your stomach, separated only by cloth. "You deserve this, for being so good to us."

"Awe, no fair! I wanted to taste her!" Karaku chuckled out, his hands having slowly made their way up to your thighs, pushing into the squishy flesh with ease.

You seemed to understand that behind his words was another yearning, one which was confirmed as he kept attempting to inch closer to your inner thighs.

When you tensed your legs, trying to push him away, Aizetsu's hands pushed into your hair, carefully weaving through as to not force any knots so he could brush through it, massaging into your scalp in a way you'd never had before, melting all your tension away.

As each clone closed in on you, Sekido seemed to merely watch the other three, making sure none went too far with you, though in between each check the red glow of his eyes was back on your face, watching each emotion twist into reality, studying your precious features before his look-alikes ruined it.

Each sensation from each clone became overwhelming, making any changes harder to notice as they each inches closer, pushed deeper, cooed louder- but though the feeling of your top slipping up your stomach was unmistakable, you found yourself unable to focus on it, or care when the same happened to your bottoms, eventually lost to the dark corners of the room.

Despite the room being well lit, it was hard to look anywhere but their eyes, which had a distinct glow from the rest of the darkened world, you noticed Karakus face was so close to your thighs that the green luminescence reflected onto your skin, dipping lower, until it was below your line of sight.

Aizetsu seemed to realise you were at a disadvantage laying so flat, and shuffled his hips closer so your head was propped up on his lap.

It allowed you to see the mess of your shirt tangled in one of Urogi's claws, among other things.

Karaku was carelessly dragging his tongue up the fabric of your underwear, the saliva dripping down only further wetting the thin layer between his mouth and your most precious gift, which was enough to send electricity through your spine.

No later where you arch your back into the touch of Urogi's claws that dragged up your sternum, slicing straight through the attaching fabric of your bra. He happily dragged his tongue flat along one, swiping at the nipple before gently blowing cool air onto it, interested in how you shivered and squirmed at his attempts of arousing you.

"I- I-"

"Shhh, there's no reason to speak, just let us take care of you now." Aizetsu's voice was akin to a lullaby, erasing the words from your tongue.

Karaku chuckled into your skin, amused at the exchange, before copying his feathered clone and tearing his claws through the last of your coverings, hovering above your pussy with a desire he held more than that for blood and bone.

He'd been trying to pursue this urge for so long, and now, with his own body, you were laid out in front of him like a five star buffet.

The grip on your thighs tightened, holding despite any attempt you made to either pull them away or push them together. He was unmovable unless he wanted to be, and right now his desire outweighed yours.

Impatient, as always, he pushed his tongue up between your folds, eagerly lapping at your heat like nothing but a hungry mutt, again, and again, and again, careless of the way your back arched, or how your breath hitched.

In fact, Sekido could practically smell the euphoria coming off of you once Karaku began, enticed by the way your pretty moans twirled in the air when he'd pause to suck at your clit, god, the roughness of his hand was palming at his crotch through his clothes, getting off just by watching the other clones toy with you.

Your sounds were delicious, but Aizetsu couldn't help but worry someone might pass by and hear your struggles to catch your lost breath.

To ease his own anxiety, the sorrowed demon allowed one hand to caress your cheek, pushing his thumb up against your lips when you sealed your mouth at the touch.

Sensing Aizetsu's struggle, Urogi grinned against the flesh of the other nipple he had begun to attack, leaning in and gently nibbling with his teeth.

One gasp was all it took, and thanks to Urogi, Aizetsu could firmly press his thumb into your tongue, which instinctively had your mouth close around his finger.

It was embarrassing, but he seemed to find it terribly cute, cooing down at you.

"You love it so much, don't you? I knew we could help you, just let us finish up."

Rather than waiting for a reply, Aizetsu helped you nod by using his thumb to push down, and the hand in your hair to tug your head back up.

Grunting, Sekido ignored Aizetsu and Urogi's childish play to glare down at the way Karaku feasted upon your squirming hips, enticed by the lapping sounds created by his saliva mixed with your dripping desperation, distinctive for its whitish colour.

It seems he had turned his attention at the right time, because Karaku seemed to be getting antsy with you, pulling your hips closer to his face to the point all Sekido saw was the demon's hair curling over and sticking to your thighs, along with his distinctive horns.

Of course he was correct, because as Karaku forced his tongue in and out of your drenched pussy, pulling you closer and closer to your high, he pulled away, licking up the very string that attached you to enjoy the remainder of your sweetness.

"I think our doll is perfectly ready~" Despite Karaku's tug at you, Anyone could tell he was just aching to feel the same ecstasy he had gifted you, and claim more of that glorious body to himself.

Aizetsu glanced down, wanting to make sure you were okay with going forward, and was easily persuaded by the hazy look in your eyes, followed by a muffled whine.

Slowly, he shuffled back, leaving you flat on your back once more, though the movement of his hand carefully tilted your head as far back as it could go, looking straight at his crotch as he fumbled his only free hand to unto his pants, pushing them down lazily.

Surprisingly, he let go and pulled his thumb from your mouth, letting you pant once, twice, before being silenced once more by placing the head of his cock against your lips.

Who were you to deny him? Of course, you let your jaw come loose, allowing the blue eyed boy to slowly push his length into your mouth, stopping about halfway when you seemed to struggle.

"Hnn, that's a good girl, please, I know you can do more for me..." As always, his soothing voice was more than welcomed to your ears.

It was with a surprising ease he was able to push the remainder in, watching the bulge from in your throat. He pulled back, listening to the sweet noise of your throat closing behind him, and pushed all the way back a little faster, infatuated with watching his length stretch through your neck.

Perfectly distracted handling Aizetsu's weak thrusts, Karaku took a moment to admire his work, pushing the his hand up through your folds and teasing the clit between two fingers just to feel the slick that was left behind, and dragging it back down so he could squeeze a finger or two into your used hole, chuckling to himself at the way you sucked his fingers right in.

"How about another, doll?" Reaching a clawed hand into the depth of his sweatpants, Karaku spent a fraction of a moment stroking the leftover juices on his hand all over his cock. He wanted to make sure he'd do what he did best; give and receive pleasure.

Lining up the tip, he only pushed in an inch or two for you to drink up, giving him to lift your hips up and set your ankles on his shoulders, giving him the perfect position to continue pushing, holding one hand down on your abdomen to keep you from moving too much.

Fuck, did that feel good, his length pulled right in by your needy hole. He couldn't deny how much he wanted to take you right then and there, but he knew to be gentle with something so fragile.

Carefully, he worked his way to match Aizetsu's pace, each pumping in at opposite times, so you weren't too overwhelmed.

Sekido had managed to slip a hand under his kimono, sucking in air as he pumped his own cock to the rhythm of the other two. As much as he would have loved to be in any of their places, he was well off just watching you take them so utterly greedily.

There wasn't a single moment that went by without one of them pushing into you, sloppy noises filling the room and mixing everyone's small gasps, grunts and moans together.

Urogi continued to abuse your bouncing tits, happily abusing them as they moved with his look-alikes movements. It was only natural that he had eventually allowed your hand to let go, though he quickly caught it.

"Me too, doll!" Although far less considerate, Urogi was kind enough to guide your hand to his rather smooth cock, which felt far different than the others.

It was smooth, and as you wrapped your hand around the pointed tip to drag down, you felt a considerable bulge near its base, nearly making you choke on Aizetsu as he fastened his pace, which distracted you enough to mindlessly pump the length of Urogi's strange size.

As easy as it was, the feathered one seemed very pleased, letting his head fall back with a delighted groan, keeping his hand wrapped around yours to help guide you up and down, squeezing when he wanted you to tighten your grip.

"Just like that babe, what a natural~" His cocky words were probably lost, but it seemed he still enjoyed teasing you for being such a slut.

Even as you felt yourself getting sloppy, none of them relented, seemingly content with even the bare minimum from you, pushing into your holes like they were godsend, or just watching you as if you were a muse.

It left you on cloud nine, the hypnotic pounding, the sounds they made, the belittling, the compliments, the obsessive eyes pouring onto your frame.

They didn't just love you, no, they were fucking obsessed with you.

After that, time meant nothing, all that mattered was that eventually things hit a peak, and everything snapped at once.

Karaku’s thrusts became inhuman, slapping his hips into your ass continuously, until his hands dug deep enough to bruise, the tip of his cock kissing your cervix before releasing the thick, heavy fluid belonging to something beyond human.

It wasn’t much longer before Aizetsu introduced you to the liquid’s taste, pulling back enough so just his tip was left between your puckered lips, pouring it down your throat without a care, though not removing himself until he was certain you had swallowed it down.

But you managed, and with a satisfying pop from both ends, you were inhaling the freshest air you had ever inhaled, and shuddering out a weak exhale as the cum from your pussy ebbed out along your sheets, likely staining the white colour with something much, much different.

Urogi and Sekido came last, though Urogi made a show of splashing his across your stomach and tits, letting the fluid pour its way through every crevasse, and down every edge.

No one dared move, merely letting each other's breaths mix in the cool air, basking in the feeling of it all. It was so silent, no one noticed you had fallen over the edge of a deep slumber until Aizetsu bent down to ask if you were alright.

“Ah… sleep well then, dolly.”

Author Note - Since this request is very inline with my previous story and I got so many requests for a part two, I decided to use this request for it!

Word Count - 2,542

Art Credit - 葵鬼 (Pixiv)

Tags - @somefancybb @fabimaou @trickvinder @sleepypotoo @hahahaha120 @swagaliciousguichibaka

#hantengu #hantengu x reader #demon slayer #demon slayer x reader #demon slayer oneshots #kny #kny x reader #kny oneshots #kimetsu no yaiba #kimetsu no yaiba x reader #x reader #reader insert #oneshot

420 notes · View notes

chaos-company · 1 year

Text

Angstpril 2023

Hi everyone!

It’s that time of year again! We are excited to announce that we are hosting the event again this year!

All prompts, FAQs and rules can be found in the graphics and below the cut!

1. Liar

2. Invisible Wounds

3. No Escape

4. "Why Did You Leave?”

5. Crisis

6. Abandoned

7. Sleepless Nights

8. Mind Games

9. Devastation

10. Sacrifice

11. Self-Sabotage

12. Confessions

13. Recovery

14. Cruelty

15. Lost In My Mind

16. "You Have To Let Me Go”

17. Running Away

18. Exhausted

19. Breaking Down

20. "I Can’t Go Back”

21. “You’re On Your Own, Kid”

22. Shadow Of Former Self

23. Failure

24. "I Was Wrong About You”

25. Nothing Lasts Forever

26. Storm

27. Heated Argument

28. Loss

29. Cast Away

30. Lost Hope

ALTERNATIVE PROMPTS

1. Til Death Do Us Part

2. “I Can’t”

3. Inner Demons

4. No Good Dead Goes Unpunished

5. Serious Injury

6. Trust Issues

7. Loss of Control

8. Trauma

9. Memories Feel Like Weapons

10. Mistake

FAQs

“Do I have to create for all thirty days?”

- Not at all! Feel free to jump in whenever you’d like. This is a creation event, so create as much or as little as you want! However, if you want to be entered in the shout out post, you must participate in all 30 days.

“Can I post a creation after the day has already passed?”

- Yes! You’re welcome to post for a prompt day even after the date, just be sure to tag with which day and prompt you’ve created for! You will only be eligibile for the shoutout post if you complete all 30 days within the month of April.

“What if I don’t understand/like a prompt?”

- We have a list of 10 alt prompts for you to choose from if you don’t like the main 30. Feel free to use our alternate prompts for any day, and if there’s any confusion send us an ask!

#angstpril2023 #rules #master post #star wars #marvel #mcu #dcu #star trek #game of thrones #house of the dragon #harry potter #avatar the last airbender #the legend of korra #supernatural #writing prompts

725 notes · View notes

astrolocherry · 8 months

Text

Scorpio rising

She's an old charm that cannot be broken; a projection of our inner demon Eyeshadow mixed with Underworld snow, a beautifully confidential old horror show. She entangles men in the thick vines of her hydra hair, Medusa's snakes in tangled snares Ancient vibratory echoes hang in the air, Too many people seem to attach to her, without explanation why; though only a rare few are granted a glimpse at who is Really pulling the strings from within" Cherry

#scorpio #scorpio rising #scorpio ascending

239 notes · View notes

pupshasketches · 2 months

Text

Daughter 🐇💜

Usagi with his newborn daughter and late wife 👨‍👩‍👧

Usagi, Tsubasa and Kira are (c) Pupsha

#cute #my art #art #artists on tumblr #digital art #oc #oc art #sketch #sketch art #furry #furry art #furry anthro #anthro #anthro art #bunny #rabbit #within our inner demons #pupsha

22 notes · View notes

plvuii · 10 months

Note

I'm so excited you started writing! I can't believe how amazing all your writings have been so far!

Could I ask for Muichiro getting jealous when he sees the reader getting a letter from another Hashira? It could be whoever, but I also really love Obanai so maybe him hehehe.

Please do not rush or burn yourself out ok! Take breaks when you need them!

A Green-Eyed Hashira: Muichiro Tokito. Muichiro confronts his inner turmoil of jealousy, mustering the courage to express a drop of his true feelings as he watches you receive a letter from the snakey Obanai.

The morning sun bathed the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters in a warm glow, casting a serene ambiance over the bustling courtyard. As you made your way through the familiar paths, a small smile played on your lips. Today, you were expecting a letter from Obanai, a fellow Hashira whose stoic demeanor had intrigued you from the moment you joined the Corps.

Unbeknownst to you, Muichiro had caught a glimpse of the letter as you received it, his keen eyes not missing the familiar handwriting. A pang of jealousy struck his heart, an unfamiliar and unsettling sensation. He had never experienced such emotions before, but the sight of you receiving a letter from another Hashira stirred something deep within him.

As you opened the letter, a soft blush dusted your cheeks, your eyes scanning the words with a mix of curiosity and anticipation. Muichiro couldn't help but steal glances at your reaction from a distance, his gaze clouded with a mixture of worry and jealousy.

Unable to bear the unease any longer, Muichiro approached you, his usual calm demeanor slightly faltering. "___," he called out, his voice tinged with a hint of uncertainty.

You turned towards him, the letter still clutched in your hand. "Oh, Muichiro! Good morning," you greeted him with a warm smile. "Did you need something?"

Muichiro hesitated for a moment, his gaze flickering to the letter before meeting your eyes. "I couldn't help but notice that you received a letter from Obanai," he confessed, his voice barely above a whisper.

A flicker of surprise crossed your face, followed by understanding. "Oh, this?" you said, holding up the letter. "It's just a friendly correspondence. Obanai and I have been exchanging letters about our experiences as Hashiras."

Muichiro's tense expression softened slightly, his jealousy giving way to a mix of relief and curiosity. "I see... So, it's nothing more than that?"

You shook your head, a reassuring smile playing on your lips. "No, Muichiro. I value our friendship, and I value you. The letters are simply a way for us to share knowledge and support each other as comrades."

Muichiro's shoulders relaxed, a weight lifting off his chest. "I'm glad to hear that," he admitted, his voice tinged with a hint of vulnerability. "I… was worried that I might lose you to someone like Obanai."

You stepped closer to him, your hand reaching out to gently touch his arm. "Muichiro, you mean a lot to me. Our bond goes beyond letters or friendships with other Hashiras. You're special to me, and no one else can replace that."

A soft blush crept onto Muichiro's cheeks, his gaze meeting yours with a mix of gratitude and affection. "Thank you, ___," he murmured, his voice filled with sincerity. "I care about you too—more than I can express."

At that moment, the tension between you dissolved, replaced by a shared understanding and a newfound closeness. Muichiro's jealousy had brought forth his true feelings, and you were grateful for the opportunity to reassure him and strengthen your connection.

With a gentle smile, you reached out and took his hand, intertwining your fingers.

323 notes · View notes

franki-lew-yo · 2 months

Text

An alt-universe's version of The Owl House's final season

"Thanks to Them" - Luz, Amity, Willow, Gus, Hunter and the Palismans get stuck in the human realm after King's heroic sacrifice. Luz properly meets Vee and reconciles with her mother.

"HalfWay House Noceda" - The Demon Realm kids attempt to make themselves 'useful' to Luz and Camilla by doing chores around the house even though their magic/skills are a bit more of a detriment. Meanwhile Luz shows Camilla some videos she took of Eda to prepare her for meeting the Owllady and King and Camilla is unnerved but also thrilled.

"Abduction of the Innocents" - Vee and Hunter have a heart to heart while everyone else pretends to like Camilla's and Luz’s favorite movies, except of course for Gus, who is inspired by the images on screen to really explore his illusion powers for Camilla.

"Next to Nowhere" - Luz begins school again and ruminates over accidentally helping Philip, but her friend's determination help's her to keep going. Also Amity and Luz bond over Azura with Amity being able to tell Luz that she doesn’t like the Azura movies.

"Kids of Gravesfield" - The other Palisman have been noticing Flapjack pacing around and both hiding something from the kids while also looking for someone. Luz and Hunter investigate a certain feeling they have around town while the rest of the gang heads to the Gravesfield Historical Society to get answers. Unbeknownst to everyone, Belos is amassing power and does something to Jacob Hopkins.

"Season's Feedings" - On Halloween Night the kids learn the story of brothers’ Wittebane. Through this Luz regains some of her glyph magic by finding the portal Evelyn and Caleb originally used. Hunter gets possessed by Belos who kills Flapjack, but Hunter gets unpossessed. With just enough Titanblood to take them to the Demon Realm, Camilla joins the kids after Belos while Vee stays home to cover for them being missing.

"For the Future" - A look as to what our Demon Realm friends have been doing all this time; King keeps the Collector entertained, Lilith and Eda try and reach the immobilized citizens, and Hexside becomes a safe haven for the unconverted kids of the Boiling Isles.

"Outside, Over Here" - The Collector, King and the Clawthorne sisters begin actually knowing Collector and bonding over his past - but things get interrupted by the Owl Beast and further interrupted by Lilith being puppet-ized for 'bad behavior'. Or, is it? Lilith, Hooty and the Owl Beast begin their own psyche-plotting within their inner mind and find a way to communicate with Eda and King despite still being puppets.

"Revenge of the Bad Girl Coven" - Just as it looks like Matholomule is coming into his own, Boscha decides she's taking over the remains of Hexside after her Grugby Team are turned into Puppets and two new students appear on campus.

"Watching and Dreaming" - Luz, Camilla and the crew return to the Boiling Isles and discover what's left of the Owl House and Hexside. They aren't alone, however, as Belos has also returned.

"After All" - Amidst Boscha's reign of terror, Luz heads to the basement to recount her memories of Philip's shortcut to the head of the titan. The kids ultimately thwart Kikimora's takeover with the help of the Bat Queen though not before Willow finally looses her cool. Luz on the other hand finally meets her palisman, Stringbean.

"The Brothers Wittebane" - Flashback episode that shows the complicated life of farmhand-turned Witch-husband Caleb Clawthorne and the brother he didn't mean to leave behind."

"Collector Says" - In an attempt to get more information on the archivists and what happened to the Titans, King and the Collector travel once again to the Titan Trappers, who listen to whatever the Collector says. Luz and Stringbean get separated from Camilla.

"How it shouldn't have Ended" - Luz, King and Eda all get reunited in an unconventional way while befriending Collector, while Belos makes a break for the Heart of the Titan to amas his final body.

"Inbetweens" - Belos' uses various hosts to get to the Titan's body which he takes over and starts destroying the Boiling Isles in his wake, but also leaving behind the now-mobilized hosts (Covenheads, Raine, harpy-Lilith) who each help Eda, Luz, King and Collector get to Belos from the inside out. Luz jumps in the way of the Collector being killed and appears to die herself, setting off Eda and King.

"Now Eat this SUCKAAH" - The puppet-ized kids regain their consciousness and begin fighting back and freeing the others under the Collector's spell. Luz wakes up in the in between realm and is helped out by King's dad in finding a way to get out and defeat Belos using the magic of the Titan. In the end Belos melts in the boiling rain and the Collector thanks everyone and goes to confront his family.

"Gone Bygones" - Peek into a bright, Belos-less future for all the characters.

Upside of this alt reality = proper Gus and Willow development, resolution to the Batqueen, actually seeing Caleb and Evelyn andbeebybaby Belos, an answer as to who really made the original portal door, more Stringbean, Lilith having her moment of bonding/actualization with the Owl Beast, resolution on the Titan Trappers, and just a final season overall to really close out the series and send off the characters we all love.

Downside to this alt reality = because Disney's no longer funding it the animation had to be finished by Dingo Pictures and all the voice acting is done by Chris Pratt. Also a nuke went off and we're in the middle of WWIII officially.

75 notes · View notes

pufflehuffing · 2 months

Text

Teacher's Pet (Professor!Sebastian Sallow X F!Student!Reader) 🔞

pairing: Professor!Sebastian Sallow x F!Student!Reader genre: smut, mdni (everyone is 18+) summary: A forbidden muse caged within an ivory darkness wanted Professor Sallow deeply, and he was only a mere man happy to show her self-worth. word count: 7.5k A/N: Y’all professor!Seb has me in a chokehold! I have so many scenarios in my head My masterlist. (Part 2 is up!)

Professor Sallow stood up from his chair, towering over the petite girl standing before him. His deep brown eyes scan her form appreciatively before settling on her flushed face. A small smirk played at the corner of his lips as he spoke. "Ah, dear, come in and make yourself comfortable. Please, have a seat." He gestured towards the empty chair across from his desk. Once she sat down, he leaned back into his own chair, crossing one booted leg over the other as he regarded her with a calculating look. "Now, dear, what is it that has you looking so troubled?" The girl nervously shifted in her seat as she looked at him. She was feeling embarrassed that he had called her to his office, as it showed a sign of weakness in her normal façade of the perfect student. "I'm sorry, sir?"

"Your studies, dear," he clarified, leaning forward slightly and resting his elbows on the desk between them. His voice lowered an octave, becoming more serious. "You have always been a bright student, yet lately... well, it worries a man like me to see such potential going to waste." He paused dramatically, allowing the weight of his words to settle before adding: "Tell me, is there anything troubling you? Anything at all that could be causing this change in your usual brilliant performance?"

Not fully expecting an answer, Professor Sallow continued speaking while keeping his eyes locked on hers. "I know how much you care about your studies, how passionate you used to be about learning. Do you miss something? Do you need help solving a problem or are you being teased by any of the boys in your classes?" His tone softened slightly, conveying genuine concern for her wellbeing. Most professors would have made it clear from the start that their interest was professionally motivated, but not him. Many said it was because of his upbringing, believing that everyone deserved help, regardless of social status or school hierarchy.

“I don't know. I think... maybe I'm just stressed. It's just.. all a bit overwhelming. I feel like I'm not good enough, you know? I always wanted to be perfect, to make my family proud. But sometimes... I feel like I'm failing.”

Silence filled the room as he took in her words, the weight of them clinging onto the air between them. He leaned back in his chair again, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. There was a silence for a while, an eerie calm that only served to underline the gravity of the situation. Slowly, Sallow uncrossed his legs and leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. "Ah," he said, a soft touch of sympathy in his voice. "Being a perfect student, an ideal pupil, it's a heavy weight to carry. I've been there. It took me years to realise that even stars can falter in darkness." He paused briefly, giving her a chance to understand his metaphor. "You're not alone in your struggle, sweetheart. We all have our mountains to climb. Just remember to breathe, you hear?" His eyes bore into hers, the confidence in them an attempt to transfer his strength onto her face. Despite his exterior show of bravado and outstanding academic reputation, he too had battled inner demons. He understood the fear of failing.

"I used to think about climbing mountains, you know," he confided in a softer tone, looking away from her for a moment. The fire crackled in the corner of his office, casting dancing shadows on the walls. When he looked back at her, his eyes held a distant sadness as if remembering past events. "Every peak I reached only seemed to reveal another peak beyond it. It seemed like no matter how hard I tried, there would always be something more to conquer. But now?" He paused, letting out a sigh before focusing on her once more. His eyes bore deeper into hers, a determined sense of understanding sparking in their depths. "I understand now that it's not about reaching the top, but about the journey itself. The climb, my dear... that's where the true beauty lies."

Professor Sallow leaned forward, offering her a sympathetic smile, eyes twinkling with unsaid secrets and quiet strength. His index finger traced circular patterns on the polished surface of his desk, contemplating his own journey before speaking again. "You just need to learn to accept yourself, flaws and all...and love the journey." Despite the commonplace advice, her heart swelled with gratitude for the man's kind words, words that echoed authenticity due to their source. He reached across the table, carefully placing his large hand over hers. It wasn't platitude but years of experiences he shared. There was wisdom in those words, gentle yet profound.

"Yes, you're... right," she stutteringly admitted, her voice breaking as tears threatened to spill forth. Clearing her throat, she attempted a shaky smile before looking away. "Thank you, Professor Sallow. I... I appreciate your understanding." Her gaze drifted around the room, fixating on the old portraits lining the walls. Many of them were faculty members she hadn't even heard of, their eyes following her movement, observing her vulnerability. She felt exposed, as if everyone in the room now knew how much she needed his guidance right now. Her breaths were sad, quiet; and she felt willing to disappear into the shadows cast by the fire.

His hand was still on hers— big, strong, and comforting. It gave a sense of safety and sanctuary, a stark contrast to the storm of emotions bubbling within her. "Ah remember," his soft voice echoed in her ears. "You're not alone. No one climbs Mount Everest by themselves. You don't have to bear this burden by yourself." He lifted his hand, his thumb gently wiping a tear from her cheek before sliding his fingers through her tresses. That simple gesture sent ripples of warmth shuddering through her body, undoing some of the ice in her heart. The tender touch, while unexpected, was comforting in a way she couldn't describe. His words echoed in her mind, a beacon piercing through the dark clouds obscuring her thoughts. Suddenly, she found herself grasping onto his arm with both hands, tears falling freely now. "I didn't... I never realised I needed help. Thank you, Professor Sallow." He simply squeezed her hand reassuringly and then pulled back his own slightly, gently wiping another stray tear from her face. The exchange felt almost intimate, as if they were sharing a secret kept from the world outside these walls.

"Always remember, dear," he told her gently, his eyes crinkling at the corners like warm summer sun rays after a stormy day. "You never have to do this alone. Not if you don't want to." His gaze was filled with understanding and kindness. Despite the serious nature of their meeting, there was an undercurrent of attraction that threatened to make her heart stutter. But at the same time, that stirring sensation anchored her feelings, reinforcing the sense of safety he provided.

His brown eyes met hers, burning with a warmth she couldn't resist, making her heart flutter in a way that had nothing to do with fear or admiration for her professor. In that moment, the air between them thickened, thick with unspoken words and longing looks. A realisation slowly settled within her, not just as a student in need of guidance from an esteemed teacher, but as a young woman attracted to a man only a few years her senior. Professor Sallow's lips softly curved into a knowing smile, probably sensing the direction their conversation had taken. "Now then, enough tears for now," he drawled lightly, leaning back in the chair. "You're brave for sharing your feelings with me, sweetheart," he began casually, his eyes never leaving the tear-streaked face he attempted to soothe with his voice. "Brave, beautiful and courageous. Always remember, darling, your strength is a rare treasure, even if you don't always see it. And, sharing your burdens lessens their weight."

His eyes swept over her, lingering particularly on her flushed cheeks and the tousled strands of hair falling across her forehead. Male approval was something she rarely sought but definitely enjoyed when given. A blush dusted her cheeks at his compliments, the heat spreading from her collarbone to the tips of her ears. In that moment, she couldn't remember ever feeling as exposed or vulnerable as she did right now. Professor Sallow's gaze dropped to her swollen lips before lifting back to meet her eyes, those bright orbs of hers that filled him with a silent promise of vulnerability and potential discovery. The unspoken tension between them segued into a new dynamic, one that blurred lines between teacher and student. "Keep using that courage," he whispered huskily, ignoring the sudden, undeniable pull towards her, feeling it almost physically.

"I... I'll try," she whispered, looking away briefly before looking up into his eyes again. Her gaze was hazy with unshed tears and unmet desires, turbulent thoughts playing on her face. She hesitated but ultimately offered a timid smile, probably borne from courage alone. "Thank you for everything, Professor Sallow."

It wasn't explicit, but it was enough for him. Her thanks left the door slightly ajar for what could be. The flickering flame from the fireplace bathed his office in a pool of golden light, bathing everything in an intimate aura. Professor Sallow studied her under the shadows cast by the fire, taking note of her vulnerability and quiet strength. He deeply appreciated how she trusted him enough to share her fears and admit her shortcomings. In his mind, real courage wasn't about hiding insecurity but facing it. "You are most welcome, dear," he responded, his voice low and smooth. "You know you're always welcome here anytime you need advice... or company." There were certain connections he never intended to formalise, boundaries he never planned to cross. However, as he looked at her frail form bathed in radiant light, his willpower was stretched thin. Her unexpected admission seemed to jolt him out of his reverie. He pulled back his hands from the desk, steepling his fingers in his growing lap and exhaling deeply.

"Are you sure you're alright?" he asked, his voice filled with concern. Despite their close interactions and shared emotions, they remained at opposite sides of the desk, a barrier between them symbolic of their unspoken bounds. "I could set up an extra tutoring session or help you with your reading... Whatever you feel comfortable with?"

He stared into her eyes, vulnerable and weak moments ago, now filled with determination emulated from his words. His heart pounded like a thunderstorm within his chest, a sensation he rarely experienced. He recognized his own struggle for restraint now, knowing that if anything were to happen between them it would likely cost him everything. Through the thin veil masking her sobs earlier and her present composure, their mutual attraction boiled under the surface. And yet it was clear this girl needed more than just a professor's guidance; she needed someone whom she could rely heavily upon. Professor Sallow knew what she required. Time. Patience. Understanding. More than anything though, he thought fleetingly, she needed intimacy.

The suggestion of helping her academically brought back some semblance of order to her chaotic thoughts. With a nod, she managed a shaky smile. "Uh-huh, maybe just some extra help." Inside, though, the need for closeness practically radiated from her, almost palpable. "Thank you, Professor Sallow." Part of her wished he would cross that invisible line, sweep her up in his arms and whisk her away from everything that hurt. But she knew better. They were teachers and students – it was wrong. Yet, the temptation was there, a burning ember begging for fuel to ignite into a blazing inferno. A small part of her couldn't believe she was considering kissing him, crossing that line. It felt wrong, but so damn right.

The room was heavy with tension, their eyes locked in a silent dance of longing and hesitation. Her breathing became rapid, matching the pounding of her heart echoing off the walls. A piece of her knew she shouldn't entertain such forbidden thoughts; she was his student, after all. Yet an irresistible pull gnawed at her insides. Professor Sallow broke their gaze first, scouring the room frantically for escape routes or an answer to this unprecedented conundrum. The fire crackled away benignly behind him, unaffected by the storm brewing inside them.

His breath hitched, heart rate quickening in sync with hers. This was far from what he'd planned when inviting her into his office. The freckled brunet swallowed hard, fighting his sudden desire to close the gap between them. He stared at her; every uncontrollable emotion etched on his face indicated the struggle within. Her shy beauty smouldered just metres away, looking into his eyes like a moonlight's reflection in water— enchanting, hypnotic, and terribly dangerous. "It's getting late," he murmured hoarsely, forcing himself to look away, only for his eyes to dip to her lips. His knuckles whitened around the desk's edge as if grappling the collar of an unseen foe. It was all too clear now for both of them: his desire for her matched her own.

His gesture stirred something primal inside her, sending shivers down her spine as sanity retreated further. In response, she stood up slowly, the sound of her heartbeat echoing in her ears. She approached him slowly, biting her lip nervously, fingers trailing lightly across the top of the desk, stopping inches away from him. "I... I still need help, Professor," she spoke quietly, taking another step closer, bringing the gap between them down to almost a step. The air around them became noticeably charged, practically vibrating with expectation. "Please..."

His features tightened at the sight of her nervously biting her lip, those rosy petals just a whisper away from his mouth. He could see the desperation in her eyes, not only for academic help, but also undeniably personal contact. Professor Sallow knew he should've backed away then and there. Yet for some reason, he just sat rooted to the spot. His hand hovered over the edge of his desk instinctively, but it was a desire more powerful than his better judgement that guided it forward. With an unsteady breath, he reached out, his fingers brushing hers. Both their eyes locked on their entwined fingers, hearts pounding in precise rhythm, matching their desperate pulses. At that moment, everything else ceased to exist. Her quiet sigh echoed through his office, a testament to their shared need reaching its peak. It felt wrong, yet right, forbidden yet comforting. Professor Sallow felt like he was going up in flames while gaining salvation all at once. "You don't have to ask for help, love," he murmured thickly, his thumb absently tracing circles on her soft skin. "You deserve more than I can give."

She looked into those eyes, usually filled with wisdom but now burning with desire, and felt her world shifting under her feet. Her lips parted slightly as his thumb caressed her skin, the touch sending shivers down her spine. Those eyes, usually so full of wisdom, now blazed with an unspoken desire. Dangerous, daring, and undeniably appealing. For a moment, all sound had deserted the room. Even the fire seemed to crackle less fervently, playing second fiddle to the stuttered rhythm of their hearts. His admission caught her off-guard. "More? What do you mean?" Her voice trembled, laced with curiosity tinged with longing. She yearned for something he perhaps permitted to provide, but she couldn't back away, trapped by the dark pull between them. His eyes darkened further, but his vice-like grip on her fingers softened. "What I mean is," he said softly, drawing her attention back to him with his mournful blue gaze, "I can give you advice, or a shoulder to cry on... But the things you're asking for aren't within my capabilities as a professor, dear." The corner of his mouth lifted in a ghostly smile when she quizzically looked at him, an expression befitting a practised lover. "But as a man?" Pausing for effect, emotion choked through his throat before continuing. "As a man, perhaps I can deliver much more than that."

A spark rose through the air stuffed with tension. Her heart pounded faster with hope from every word he spoke. The gulf between them churned with currents of conflicting thoughts. If only for a moment, she wanted to be a woman, not a student. Unable to resist the magnetic pull between them, she slowly stepped closer, their bodies inches apart now. Her eyes locked on his hazel ones, her heartbeat pounded relentlessly against her chest. His words had unravelled the thin veil of control she still held onto, a fragment of her longing taking her over. "Then how about," she whispered, lacing her fingers through his, "I ask you as a man, and we act as the two people standing here?"

Professor Sallow's breath stumbled, feeling her fingers locking with his. She asked him, desired him, as more than just her teacher. A reprieve from all the societal norms and professional boundaries seemed to wash over them then, liberating as whispers carried by the fall winds. His heart pounded heavily in his ears, his body humming with energy. Arose a sense of forbidden excitement, daring him to explore this uncharted terrain. However, he was a teacher, and she was diverse. An unforeseen stream of reluctance threatened to snuff out their budding intimacy. "Sweetheart, it's... wrong," he replied breathlessly, gazing into her beautiful fiery gaze. Despite the words, there was clear temptation in his tone. "I'm older than you... more experienced..." His hands shook subtly, unwilling to release the frail bond they shared. For perhaps the first time in years, he wavered, pulled by a magnet so strong it reshaped the gravity around them.

Her eyes danced with resolve, each speck twinkling under his gaze, while she weighed heavily on those words. The impact weighed heavily upon them both; one person was entrusting their dreams upon another. The sound of her voice filled the void, light yet firm. A palpable shiver went down his spine when she spoke. "Experience isn't everything, is it?" She questioned, her tone wavering only slightly as she looked into his eyes, unwavering despite the vulnerability etched into her voice. "Age? A mere number." Her fingers interlaced with his tighter, her heart pounding against her chest like a thousand independent drums insisting they act on their desires. Their world, comprised by these four walls filled with his mahogany furnishing and ancient books. Time seemed to falter outside, ceasing to exist. "We both know," she couldn't resist adding softly, elicited by courage's intoxicating nectar. "Breaking rules is sometimes necessary."

Professor Sallow chuckled softly at her reckless statement, gut instincts screaming against her words. Yet there was truth to it, their connection was undeniable. However, his laugh faded quickly, giving way to serious apprehension. He needed to squash these growing, and showing, urges. "Sweetheart," he started slowly as he pulled her down to his level, inching closer till his lips nearly grazed her ear. "We're treading dangerous waters here." A sense of unease crawled up his spine as he inhaled deeply. "You could lose everything, and so could I." With great effort, he pulled away again, leaning back in his chair.

The heavy pause between them felt like eternity, their hearts hammering in sync. Each minute hit harder than the last, both waiting for the other's choice. Their breaths tangled in the dry air as anticipation mounted high. Her heart clawed at her ribcage, demanding something pacifying in return. "Why me?" He finally managed to croak out, desperate to redirect his train of thought. To hold onto the shreds of sanity still left. "There are others... more suitable for your tastes." He knew it sounded hollow and shallow, but he made a feeble attempt at dignity anyway.

Surprise flashed in her eyes, quickly replaced by determination. "Because I choose you," she said firmly, stepping closer still. Her tone held an edge of defiance mixed with assertiveness. Her heart hammered in her chest, a pulsing drumbeat against her ribcage. "And you chose me," she added softly, taking his hand in hers and placing it gently over her cleavage. Her breast pressed against his palm, a combustible mix of cotton and lace. Underneath the fabric of her uniform, her nipples hardened in response to his touch, hungrily seeking contact. Her body danced to a sensual sonnet penned by desire. Professor Sallow froze. His eyes dropped down to where they were connected. He very much wanted this, desperate desire dancing in those brown orbs. Like most mortals, he succumbed easily to raw need.

Professor Sallow's heart shuddered at the mere thought of her body beneath his gaze, hidden by an innocent school uniform. He hesitated, control slipping away with each passing moment. His eyes locked on their entwined hands on her breast, heavy breaths stirring the silent room while he felt her clothed flesh squish beneath his fingers. It was distant echoes of reason battling raw wants that controlled his speech. "Love..." He started hesitantly, reaching out for her face with his free hand, hesitant yet inevitable across. She leaned down into his touch, eyes meeting his own. "We'll both lose if we give in," he said firmly, attempting to be rational. But there was no escaping the yearning behind them. He cupped her cheek, that raw need hitting him like a thunderbolt. A warm flush tainted his own as his erection strained against his slacks.

With a tired sigh, she shook her head. "Then keep thinking that way," she whispered, reaching up to remove his hand from her face. "But there's no denying what happens between us." Her own thirst grew palpable as she noticed the subtle rise of his pants, indicating his rapidly hardening member. The forbidden became even more enthralling under these circumstances. She could almost taste him in the air between them.

His heart raced, pounding out an ode only she could hear. But he didn't let go of her hand, her soft breaths mingling with his ragged ones. "You don't know anything about this man you choose," he protested weakly, despite his body's protest. Yet despite his struggle against temptation, longing shone prominently through his defence.

"I might not know everything, but am I not enough?" She looked into his deep-set eyes, tracking the vulnerability and desire revealed there. Her fingers traced around his while he cupped her breast, urging him on despite her nervousness.

Breathing raggedly, he looked away from her hand. His body screamed in protest but found necessary refuge within him, rarely leaving such control into the hands of others. He felt exposed. Fatigued yet energised by desire that defied words or thoughts. "Sweetheart," he breathed out desperately, releasing her hand and inching towards her again until their lips were within an agonising inch away. "You're a student..."

Her breath hitched, her eyes begging for something more than his hesitant words. He was fighting a losing battle, and they both knew it. But her words had inched them closer to their moving boundary— or shattered it entirely. "I am a woman," she said softly, beckoning him closer with barely there movements until they were an inch apart again, laced in passion that was largely unexplored. Grasping his tensed shoulders, she closed the small gap between them in a slow, unhurried kiss. It started with tender ease yet quickly morphed into reckless abandon.

His protest quickly dissipated, giving way to need and want fueling his actions. In one swift move he pulled her onto his lap, uttering an involuntary hiss when he felt the warmth of her snug against his throbbing member. His lips claimed hers with hunger inherited from years-long restraint. An atrocious act of disobedience worthy of expulsion from both his job and society? Yes. A desperate need for a scorching embrace? Absolutely. Their lips parted momentarily as he unbuttoned her skirt, exposing her stockings and cotton panties. Rapturous sighs escaped her throat as he trailed hot open-mouthed kisses down her neck. He motored his hand towards her arousal, brushing lightly against it before pausing. "Oh, Professor..." Her words were filled with mixed disbelief and anticipation, eager for more contact.

"Professor nothing," He growled low, gripping tightly onto her hips, holding her in the sinful position. "You're mine now." In a sudden bout of bravery– or perhaps self-destruction, his fingers slipped under her panties and between her damp, heated folds; finding her intricate curves with experienced ease. She clutched onto his shoulders tightly as he continued his feverish exploration of her sensitive areas, unable to contain the groan that escaped her lips. Desire roared through them both, matching each touch, each moan and gasp echoing around them. His own need became a tangible pain, anticipation peaking at each gasp leaking from the woman on his knee. But somehow that drove him further; like fueling a flame between them both. "Sir... I want..."

As if sensing her desperation, he plunged two fingers inside of her wetness, rubbing her clitoris eagerly with his thumb. Her thighs trembled, involuntarily clenching around his hips for support. His breath was hot against her skin. "Shhhh... So fucking tight," he moaned into her ear, enjoying the sounds she made as his fingers worked her into a feverous state of need. His own arousal grew more strident, pressing against both of their uniforms screamingly obvious now. The room was filled with the world only they could hear: heartbeats pounding breathlessly; soft slurpy sounds of him touching her most intimate parts.

"Please..." she pleaded with a hormonally-driven beg as he continued to tease and torment her into a state of desperation.

He ripped off his cravat in one motion and tossed it aside, focusing on undressing her. The cotton material of her dress shirt resisted his rough actions before finally yielding from her arms. Her breasts were released from their lacy confines, enticing and plump. He groaned low, his eyes darkening with arousal as her breasts swayed free, thrown about with every thrust of his fingers. "Bloody hell, you're so gorgeous," he managed to utter between heavy breaths. He relished each tremulous gasp vibrating under his touch, vexing her every inch to a delightfully tense symphony. Her head tilted back, exposing her neck to his hungry lips as he revelled in satisfaction, leaving a trail of red marks on her tits. The brush of his slight stubble against her sensitive flesh heightened her senses further. "Oh, please..." Her voice cracked, pleading even more urgently now. Her hips rocked against his hips, matching his relentless pace. Still impaled on two fingers inside her, she buckled against him, greedily pursuing her release.

Professor Sallow gazed desperately at her breasts bouncing and her hazy eyes. He pulled out his fingers with a wet 'pop', drenched in her released juices. Unable to resist the temptation anymore, he slid them into his mouth, savouring her flavour. He relished the taste of her, cheeks hollowed from sucking hard enough before swallowing slowly. The taste of her flooded his tongue and soul– rich, sweet, lively and so forbidden. "S-sir, I need you... So badly..." By now, her words were mere pleas for him to continue. His free hand went back to her breasts, squeezing and massaging them vigorously. His strong grip and calloused thumb rubbing over her hardened nipple in circles sent shockwaves of pleasure coursing through her body. His cock throbbed violently against his pants, the fabric stretched thin from its imminent release. Even with every nerve ending screaming for release, he would savour these moments, this taste of forbidden bliss.

Suddenly, his hands dropped from her chest and his mouth, frantically tugging at her underwear. It now strained around her thighs, surely leaving red bruises if he didn't remove them soon. His face tilted down upwards to meet her eyes, burning with desire and hunger. "Cup your tits, sweetheart," he commanded huskily. Her eyes widened before obeying, hands reaching up to do as he asked. His words were oddly arousing; dominance mixed with endearment triggering something raw beneath layers of innocence. She cupped her chest unashamedly now, twisting her hardened tips lovingly. By the look on Professor Sallow's face, he needed this.

"Get those pants off, sir," she whispered hoarsely. Their eyes locked in pure, raw need. She felt his lip marks on her neck, a sweet mix of pain and passion that only fueled their game. Professor Sallow's eyes fell into a heated glance, gaze lazy yet lethally so. With trembling hands, he undid his trousers, freeing himself from the discomfort and need that strangled him from within. His erect member bobbed freely, swaying up against his tweed vest. "Pump me," he groaned.

Her hands covered him hesitantly, wet just like she was, seeking contact they both longed for. He groaned unashamedly as she wrapped her fingers around him but stopped abruptly at her ragged intake of air. "F-fuck... Sir... You're big..." A humid breath hitched out from her lips, tearing her vision away from his manhood long enough to peer at the professor's face to gauge his reaction. "N-not going to fit..."

He groaned, eyes shut tight as she stroked him carefully. Her tentative grip gave way to understandable lust-filled fervour, matching him in a mutual rush. His body shivered with each grip, clutching hold of what was left of control. "It'll fit," he croaked out. "I'll make sure of it." This wasn't mere bravado; he knew if someone could take all of him that it was going to be his student. "Another 'sir' and you're getting fucked in front of the whole school yard," He growled low under his breath, his lips kissing away droplets of sweat from her temple. His words were bordered by darkness: coercive and convincing. She gulped and continued stroking him with more confidence now. Her wet fingers responded perfectly to his silk-smooth shaft with each twist of her wrist, lubed by his own secretion. His oversized manhood felt heavy and enticing in her palm, begging to be consumed.

"Oh...Gods..." He swallowed hard, breaking their gaze from the sight before him for the first time. Her caress sent undulated waves of pleasure through his system. "Panties off, love," he rasped forcefully. She hesitated for the briefest of moments before reluctantly hooking a thumb into her briefs and pulling them down, discarding them unceremoniously onto the ground. It was rapidly escalating beyond anything she thought possible. Yet, there was no turning back now.

He inhaled sharply, eyes fixed on her glistening cunt. Smirking devilishly, he carefully guided her back onto his lap, her pussy rubbing against the head of his erection. A drop of pre-cum leaked out along its width. He scooped her in his arms, positioning her over him. Her cunt, warm and eager against his swollen length, gripped a little of what he offered thus far. Her nails dug into his shirt, aggressively clutching for assurance.

She sucked in air, bracing for the moment. Every sensation was so different than before: him against her skin like warm molten lava breaking apart clouds of clouded inhibition. He grabbed messy strands of her hair, cutting off any potential protest from forming. "Relax," he whispered urgently. She felt a thick part of him slowly invaded her core inch by splayed inch, throbbing and moving into unfamiliar territory. He looked up at her, noting the pained tightness along her brows. He gave her a soft kiss on her cheek reassuringly. "My sweet girl." His voice purred deeply like a lustful lullaby. "You take your time," He continued, stroking strands of hair away from her face. "I'm not going anywhere."

His thrust was painful yet welcome. Professor Sallow took deep breaths and slowed down even more, allowing her body to acclimate around him. His determination was akin to stubbornness; wanting to make the connection undeniably real. He glanced down at where the girl wrapped around him, his cheeks flushed red and pupils dilated. "Fucking beautiful..." he whispered gallantly when he saw his thickness almost fully inside her. "So tight..."

"It hurts..." Her whisper was low and faltering. Her assessment sent a wave of guilt and pleasure crawling down his spine. He panted heavily against her neck, digging his chin into it forcefully. "Hold onto me." He squeezed her hips gently to assure he wouldn't move just yet. Damn it if she didn't make him lose control now. He closed his eyes tight, trying to compose himself to the best of his abilities. "I'll give you a second."

She was frozen against him for a moment, catching her breath with a tremble. But the cock inside her kept throbbing, prodding forward slightly. His words of comfort meant little in her current throbbing haze. Her nails dug into his blazer unconsciously, matching his rhythm of tension and release intensely. Finally, relaxation seeped into those tense muscles surrounding his cock. When he began thrusting again, albeit slower than before, each movement was sheer bliss even through pain. She bit her lip hard not to moan out loud, not wanting to draw attention to their forbidden encounter in his office.

"Oh, you're loosening up, love." Heavily heaving just like her, his voice was muffled by her neck. "Thank God." His grip over her hips blended perfectly with her release; every thrust was so much more pleasurable now and Lord knew he hadn't even gotten started yet. As if reading his thoughts, she pressed into him harder until his cock met her G-spot perfectly. "Good girl..."He let out short pants filled with pent-up desire for the flushed girl exposed before him under the dim light of the fireplace. "That's it, take me faster." A plea between moans, slipping dangerously from every boundary. At every thrust, she responded for him eagerly, arching her torso in anticipation, her channel squeezing tightly around him. "Oh god," she moaned, her voice straining between pleasure and effort. "Y-you're so big." She wrapped her arms around his neck for balance while he continued to ram into her. Her moans grew louder, echoing through the empty office. Her nails scratched at the back of his neck, leaving small grooves in his skin. Sweat trickled down both of their bodies, mixing together, creating their own sickeningly sweet perfume filling the room.

Feeling empowered by her gathering heat and whorish moans, Professor Sallow picked up pace, matching rapid jagged thrusts better suited for animals than humans. He hissed through his teeth, grinding against her sensitive areas mercilessly. His breath became rushed, bordering on animalistic. With each brutal fuck, she struggled to keep up with his pace, yet still tried her hardest. Her moans matched the rhythm perfectly, unbearably sweet. Her body became so hot, almost on fire as his cock pumped into her. "You're mine now,” he whispered hoarsely in her ear. "Ride me, sweetheart."

With his command, his hands grasped at her perfect ass, squeezing harder as if claiming ownership over her entire being. She adjusted herself subconsciously to adjust even in the haze of her arousal. Her clit ground against him every stroke, igniting pre-existing flames further. "I-I can't believe I'm doing this," She grinned wickedly. His cock slammed deeper relentlessly, indicating impending release was near for him too.

"Good girl," He sighed heavily against her ear. "Who said you could think now?" Smooth. The only thing his consciousness focused on was fucking her into ecstasy. "Je-just fuck me..." She mewled against him, her legs clenching around him. Her orgasm was looming closer now. Professor Sallow couldn't resist an extra hard thrust, feeling her clench around him violently, almost as if coaxing for more. "Fuck yes," He moaned deeply inside his own mind. He was losing control. His words were no longer polished but savage, raw expressions of want disguised as dirty talk. He slapped her ass firmly, hearing her gasp but nothing stopped them both from reaching their peak. "This is what you deserve. Taut schoolgirl. Finally feeling me out." Each slap coupled with a deep thrust met with a favourable response from her cunt. As his release approached like a ruthless wave, he told her hoarsely on the edge of insanity, "You're gripping me tight, aren't you?" His length pulsating regularly matched their rhythm.

She froze momentarily but eventually nodded yes. For one evening, rules had to be broken. "Yes," She panted out, unable to deny it. "Please..." She pleaded, her walls contracting tightly around him.

"Good girl..." His voice thickened, pulsating in rhythm to her orgasm. He could feel his release threatening any moment now. "You're gonna feel me fill you up."

Her breath hitched harder, his intention so clear and explicit, leaving little room for doubt. "Please do..." She moaned between clenches. "Fill me..."

"Hold on love," he groaned, his pace quickening even more. "I'm—" With one final hard thrust that nearly knocked the breath out of her, he came inside of her, filling her up to the brim. His seed shot out in hot gushes that splattered against her inner walls, painting her insides with his essence. He groaned heavily against her neck, his body convulsed in post-orgasmic bliss. "That's it, take all of me." His voice was raspy, barely recognizable.

Her own orgasm hit like a storm, seizing up inside her as he emptied himself into her hungrily. It was too much, too fast and wild for words after all these years under his careful guidance. Her eyes rolled back into her head and he could feel every muscle in her body tighten around him while her legs fluttered shut against his hips like a butterfly flapping its wings.

Breathing heavily, Professor Sallow let out a final, satisfied moan, his hands holding onto her slender waist to steady himself. His member slowly began to shrink inside her, the contraceptive potions the school nurse administered all seventh-years ensuring neither one of them would regret this encounter come morning. "That was... extraordinary," he finally spoke softly, his tone marked with wonder even amidst spent euphoria. Wrapped around him, she didn't dare speak or move; their lips met delicately amidst muffled breathing. The tainted tangle of bodies felt heavier than ever. Their kiss lingered longer this time, pure affection creeping in. "Yes," She mumbled against him. Her orgasm subsided only to be replaced by another thrilling wave of emotions. A vulnerable intimacy unbeknownst from him.

He leaned back slightly, catching his breath while she still held him within her core unapologetically. A smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "Now, sweetheart..." He whispered in satisfaction, tracing her hair softly. "Let's fix our clothes and pretend nothing happened." He attempted to restore some order to their dishevelled attire— certainly a challenge for both parties. Carefully, he began to dress her with utmost care and delicacy never seen before. He paused momentarily when he adjusted her blouse, clasping his teeth together. His cock was still nestled within her warmth. "Much better." He added softly upon finishing the process efficiently. Her cheeks reddened from the intimacy. They looked into each other's eyes that were soft and full of unspoken promises. "...Are you okay?" He asked tenderly.

She nodded with a sheepish smile, still catching her breath. "I... feel... funny..." Her voice trembled slightly.

"Maybe you need some water?" He grabbed a nearby cup from his desk and handed it to her. He straightened shirt buttons over her chest slowly, lingering over every movement her breathing caused. Waves of intensity could still be felt emanating from them, now a lustful aura hidden under calming silence.

"Almost done," He glanced at her, gently smiling back as if nothing had transpired in his office chair. The brunet waited patiently letting her drink, his heart pounding wildly in his chest. When she finished he helped himself to a small sip before placing the cup down. His cock continued to twitch inside her, as if pressing against her to keep warm. "Here you go, all buttoned up." He declared almost lovingly, all traces of messiness now hidden under an air of professional dignity they both held dear. "Better?" He asked, his gaze not leaving her flushed face. Her eyes were brighter than ever before, like a sunny morning. Their glances locked again for a brief moment before his hands slowly stopped at his tie, adjusting it properly over trembling digits.

A sigh escaped him with every move beneath her grateful gaze, possessive but loving. Once neatened up, he brushed some imaginary lint off her shoulder calmly. "Almost like no one just fucked passionately here today." His gaze to her softened lightly, a pleasing smirk appearing on his face before vanishing into thin air. "Now let's not let anyone see us looking like this right?" He gave confident affirmation with a prominent tone reflecting back into the instructor persona. "I should give you detention for causing such a ruckus in my office," His half-joking statement did little to obscure fond emotions welling up in him. He helped her off his lap, slipping out from her slick channel slowly.

She chuckled softly, still dazed from their encounter. "Detention?" Her eyes danced with mischief; she moved slightly when he pulled away but steadied herself on her feet quickly, clenching her walls to keep his cum inside. "Well deserved, isn't it?"

A corner of his mouth curved into a teasing grin. "Of course," he agreed. "Do you have any idea how reckless you've been?" His gaze was warmed by her attempt to keep him inside her. "You've made me forget my job entirely." Sallow added almost seriously, examining her. With a thoughtful pause, he continued: "But then again, not many can manage that." His lips twitched at the sight of a sticky trail trickling down her thigh and into her stocking.

"You shouldn't joke about it," She retorted playfully, feeling exposed for more reasons than one. She attempted to fix her skirt and smooth her stockings over the evidence before wiping it away discreetly. "...Apologies, sir." She responded in all seriousness before adjusting herself a bit more confidently after realising what he gave her today. A high level intimacy for both teacher and pupil against the principles carefully cultivated over years between them both. "I enjoyed it though," Her face flushed deeper red when admitting this boldly.

The professor stood up too, pressing his lips against her cheek in a soft yet possessive kiss. "So did I," he murmured against her, his hand sliding down her bare arm to rest on her wrist lightly. "You should probably go now. People will start wondering where you've vanished off to." He straightened his tie one last time before leading her out of his office, holding onto her hand gently.

In the midst of their silent walk, she looked up at him nervously. The question lingered between them: "Will we... do this again, Professor?" He chuckled quietly mid-step but stopped, turning back towards her ever so slightly with a furrowed brow. "Not here," He maintained his weight on her wrist reassuringly. "You deserve more than an office chair... much more." She swallowed hard and nodded, barely perceptible. His words resonated deep inside, her heart beat wildly again amidst anticipation for another lovemaking beyond these walls. "J-just don't make me wait long," She suggested gently pulling away from him once they reached the door. Jitters played around his eyes as he fingered absentmindedly at her sleeve. "Rest assured, ah sweet dear." He promised softly then opened the door letting her leave towards her common room. "Go ahead, enjoy your evening. See you in class tomorrow."

She nodded at him softly with grateful eyes and walked out of the room. The mix between his cum pooling into her panties and the overwhelming emotions contributed to her wobbly stead. With a deep breath, she walked through the corridor back towards the common room.

Professor Sallow released a fervent sigh when she disappeared around the corner. Decision lingered in him. An encounter like that wasn't a one-time event. He had waited years for this— an emotional connection beyond class’ walls... in his office.

One thing was clear, after their rendezvous, she didn't feel alone anymore. Even though she still struggled with self-worth issues because of her turbulent past with a deeply flawed family, she found solace in someone who saw beyond her flashy exterior and vulnerable core. As weeks progressed, he slid notes under her table or would subtly adjust her collar; innocent gestures packed with a hidden message of proof that their secretive connection continued. Even in broad daylight in front of students, they would cast sensual glances at each other. During lessons, he praised her work while maintaining a cold exterior, but unapologetic desire glittered in their communications. His eyes danced to her movements more than usual and his taxing lectures needed more breaks than ever before. In corridors when meeting, he adjusted her robes subtly, too innocent for onlookers to get ideas. His lips would often curl into fond smiles hiding excitement, yet a professional surface remained visible.

Small moments of togetherness merely became part of their routine; unspoken promises lingering between their profound connection, just as beautiful and flourishing as the flowers still blooming in the Greenhouse during these cold fall days.

#sebastian sallow #hogwarts legacy #hogwarts legacy fanfiction #bark bark #sebastian sallow fanfic #sebastian sallow fic #sebastian sallow x mc #sebastian sallow fanfiction #sebastian sallow smut #hogwarts legacy smut

126 notes · View notes

darkwolf989 · 1 month

Text

Outside the office Part Four

Hi all! Part Four- hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it! That is to say- quite a bit!

“What do you mean, you can’t make it?” Valentino asked in exasperation. “Neither of you?”

Both Velvette and Vox shook their heads no. I stood next to the couch, feeling both frustrated and embarrassed at my alleged need for a bodyguard. This is something that would have literally never happened back home. I could take care of myself- not that anyone would believe me.

“I have a meeting- I can’t miss it.” Vox explained.

“And I scheduled this fashion show months ago. You two will be fine. Just stick to him like glue, you hear me?” Velvette replied, turning towards me.

“Wouldn’t it be better if she went with one of you? I have work to do too, you know. I don’t go out every night just for fun.” Valentino paced the foyer.

“I could just- stay home.” I said softly, wishing I could sink into the floor. “I can take care of myself, you know.”

“I think the fuck not.” Velvette shooed her hand at me. “Don’t be absurd. No reason to spend the night alone. The issue is safety- you staying here by yourself won’t solve that issue, and I can’t have you next to me during the show.”

“And I don’t trust the demons I’m meeting with.” Vox added, his voice a touch softer. “But that isn’t your fault.”

Valentino sighed. “Fine. Then the safest place is with me tonight. Princessa, I need you to stick by me like glue though, hm?” He reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. “But first, dinner. Since it’s just us, any requests?”

“Alright, so it's settled. I’ll see you back here tonight. I doubt I’ll make it out.” Vox said, turning and hitting the elevator button.

“Same. Just stick by Val and you’ll be fine.” Velvette winked at me.

They stepped into the elevator and the door closed after them. Valentino looked at me expectantly.

“Any thoughts on what you might like to eat?”

I shrugged. “What are my options?”

“It’s hell. Literally anything you can think of. What do you like, princessa?”

“Pasta.” I shrugged. “That’s always a safe bet.”

“Fine. I know just the place.” Valentino pulled out his phone and punched a few numbers in. He spoke quickly and when he hung up, he turned to me. “Come, mi amor. ”

As we rode down the elevator together we chatted lightly about what I had done that day. Between the edits for Vox and the modeling for Velvette, my day had begun early and hadn’t ended until just before the realization that Vox and Velvette had events that night.

“What about you? What did you do all day today?” I asked out of curiosity.

“The usual, nothing interesting princessa.” He replied dismissively.

I wasn’t surprised by his answer. Over the past few months Valentino rarely discussed the inner workings of his day. Unlike Vox or Velvette who vented whenever the opportunity arose, Valentino remained strangely silent when it came to his work.

We arrived quickly and Valentino guided me through the doors, hooking his arm in mine.

“Just stay within my eyesight tonight, and everything will be fine.” He assured me as we took our seats. “Wine?”

I accepted and he poured me a glass. The waiter brought out two full plates and I dug in.

“So tell me, Princessa. You’ve been here a few months now, and I still don’t know what brought you here in the first place.” He reached over and refilled my wine glass. “Care to share?”

I stopped eating. “Lucifer didn’t tell you?”

He shook his head. “No. That’s why I’m asking you, babydoll. It will stay among us, I assure you.”

“It isn’t a secret. Or at least, I didn’t think it was.” I took a deep breath. “You know Lucifer is technically my biological uncle. My mother is- was Lilith, his sister. She married my father, who is- er, was, the head of the extermination unit in heaven.”

I paused and tried to read the expression on his face.

“Go on, love.” He prompted calmly.

I hesitated, a cold, uneasy feeling washing over my insides. I didn’t like to talk about it, but he brought up a good point. I had been there long enough and knew the V’s well enough that sharing my story couldn’t cause any harm.

“I didn’t know Lilith was my mother until right before I came down here.” I began slowly. “Lucifer filled me in on her death my first night here. Shortly after I was born, a band of angels got together and slaughtered her. When I was growing up, I was told she died in childbirth, and beyond that it just wasn’t talked about.” I took a deep breath. “So it was just Dad and I growing up, and he…he was tough. He had to be, to hold his position and raise a kid. So I grew up learning what he taught his soldiers- exercise, movement, fighting. Contrary what Lucifer believes, I can fight- and I can fight pretty well too.”

Valentino nodded and gave me an encouraging smile as he waited for me to gather my thoughts. The pang of sadness struck me and I took a gulp of wine, willing it to wash the sadness away.

“About a year ago, the power structure in heaven began to shift. The exorcist regime as my father ran culled sinners with Lucifer’s input. That is to say Lucifer chose the worst of the sinners down here, and sentenced them to death himself. As the hierarchy shifted, another angel came to the forefront, calling for a new order. An order where angels had the final say.” I paused and drained the rest of my glass.

Valentino wordlessly handed me a glass of water before refilling my cup. I took a sip but set the glass down, drinking down more wine as I prepared to say the next part.

“The night before I came here, my father called me into his office. Lucifer was waiting for me. My Dad told me everything- how my mother was a demon, and as such I was half demon. He told me he kept it hidden for the longest time to keep both himself and me safe. Heaven wouldn’t accept a half angel, and in their eyes, my father committed an egregious sin. The people coming into power had made a connection between the demon they slaughtered twenty five years ago, and my existence. I begged my father to let me stay, begged him to let me fight.” I rubbed my eyes, biting back tears. “He refused. Lucifer dragged me through the portal and that was the last time I saw my father. Later that night, Lucifer dropped the bomb- my father was gone, and a new government had risen to power. And they wanted me dead, alongside my so-called traitor of a father.”

“Princessa.” Valentino said softly.

My glass was empty and I took the bottle from across the table, refilling my cup as I tried to control the trembling that threatened my voice. “And do you want to know what the worst part is? I could have stayed. I could have fought, I could have made a difference. And instead, I left like a coward. I let Lucifer take me instead of standing my ground. And now, my father is dead because of it.”

Valentino reached across the table, taking both my hands in his. “It sounds more to me like your father saved you. Angels cannot live down here for longer than twenty four hours. He knew he couldn’t run- but as a half angel, you could.” He paused. “I’m sorry, princessa, for your loss.”

I squeezed my eyes shut, willing the mental wall I had spent so long trying to build to come up again. To shut out the pain. I exhaled slowly, willing myself to disassociate from the memory. I would have drank more wine, but his hands held both of mine firmly.

“There isn’t anything I can do about it now. But Valentino, that’s why I’m here. That’s why Lucifer left me with you. And it pisses me off that he didn’t make you aware of the danger you’re in. They killed my father, what is to stop them from coming after you next?”

He smiled. “Princessa, they may try. But we have a much, much stronger advantage simply by being in hell. Add in the amount of security around you, and I assure you that we are not the ones you should be worried about. We are here to keep you safe from all dangers- be it angels, or a more immediate threat- the sinners and demons who reside in hell. Tell me, princessa, did you feel safe walking the streets of heaven when you lived there?”

I stared at him. “Of course.”

“Would you help someone if they asked for it?”

“Of course. Why wouldn’t I?” I hoped the offense was evident in my voice.

“Because that attitude in hell would get you killed in a second, princessa. You grew up in a trusting environment. You didn’t have to think twice about helping someone, nor worry about underlying motivations that person may have. Down here, things are not so simple. There is a reason hell exists.” He let go of my hands and gently took the wine glass away from me. “Don’t think we believe you are weak- you have made it very clear to us that you are strong. And the past you shared sheds light on many of the questions that have arisen during our time together.”

“Questions? Questions like what?” I asked.

“Your gym routine, for one. I’ve never met someone so dedicated to a rigorous, daily two hour workout. Your writing and reading skills for another. Some of the documents you edited were mine- and I am impressed by the analytical way you get your point across. Put that together with your personality, and it makes sense that you have a military-like background.”

I felt my cheeks flush- be it from the wine or the embarrassment was beyond me. Valentino stood up and offered me his hand.

“Come princessa. Let us walk away from this discussion and enjoy the night together, shall we?”

I nodded and accepted his hand, the feeling of relief washing over me. We arrived at the club in record time, and made our way through the entrance. Although Valentino had moved past our conversation, the cold feeling of guilt still weighed heavy in my chest. I sat at the table and drank, feeling Valentino’s eyes on me even as he moved throughout the room. I quickly lost count of how many glasses of wine I drank, trying to wash down the sadness that threatened to consume me. I would not cry. My father didn’t tolerate crying. This shouldn’t be any different.

“It’s time to go home, babydoll.” Valentino said, walking up to me.

I stood up and the room spun. I grabbed the table to steady myself and concern washed over his features. He tilted my chin so our eyes met.

“Come, princessa.” He said gently, taking me by the arm. “I’ve got you.”

We somehow ended up back in the limo and I snuggled next to him, the feeling of safeness and stability settling over me. I laid my head on his shoulder. He looked down at me and smiled. Butterflies joined the mixed feelings in my belly and I wriggled myself closer to him. He bent his head down, his lips hovering above mine.

I leaned in and he froze and pulled away, shaking his head.

“No, princessa. Not when you have had too much to drink.” He said gently. He pulled me to his lap and stroked my hair, guiding my head to his chest.

“But Val,” I heard myself whine in protest. “I…you make me feel safe.”

“Princessa. Every part of me would like nothing more than to cover you with kisses and make sure that you never felt unsafe again. But until you are able to consent- sober and able to consent- I will not.” His hand paused on my head. “Close your eyes and go to sleep.”

“But Val.”

I felt his hand slide down to my shoulder and he rubbed my back. “Tomorrow morning, princessa. I promise. We will talk about this.”

Darkness fell over me until I felt the limo stop. I tried to get up, embarrassment and offense flooding my body as I realized he had turned me down. I tried to pull myself out and stumbled. I felt his arms around my waist, steadying me before lifting me up off the ground.

“I can walk.” I mumbled against him.”You don’t have to help me.”

“If you think for one second I’m going to let you fall on your face, you have another thing coming.” He cradled me to his shoulder as he carried me inside. “Just so you know, I’m not leaving you by yourself tonight.”

“I’m sorry.” I mumbled in response as he carried me out of the elevator and onto our floor. “I can walk. My bedroom is that way.”

He ignored me and part of me realized he was carrying me down towards his room. He pushed open the door, holding me with one hand and the next thing I knew, I was sitting on his bed.

“Arms up,” he commanded. “Come on princessa. Help me out here. This is usually Vox’s job.”

I half heartedly lifted my arms up and he yanked a tee shirt over my head, guiding my arms through. I felt a tug around my top and heard the fabric rip. He pulled the remains of my outfit out from underneath the tee shirt. I stood up, the fabric falling to my knees. I tried to pull off my pants, struggling with the too tight buttons. He gently pulled my hands to the side and in a second, my pants were around my ankles. I stumbled as I shook them off.

“Back to bed,” he said sternly, rolling me on my side. “Just like that. Good girl.”

“I’m okay Val.” I protested.

I felt him lay next to me. “You’re not. I’ve been around enough to know the difference between a drinking to forget kind of drunk, and the I’ve had too much fun kind of drunk.” He leaned over and brushed the hair out of my eyes. “Princessa, you are very much the former.”

“I’m sorry.” I whispered.

“You have nothing to be sorry for. You’re safe here. I promise. Now go to sleep.” His voice was soft, almost soothing.

“Yes, Valentino.” I mumbled as I closed my eyes.

I felt him tighten his grip ever so gently before sleep washed over me.

#valentino x reader #vox x reader #hazbin fluff #hazbin hotel #valentino x you #the vees x reader #the vees #valentino x wife #valentino #valentino hazbin hotel #vees

90 notes · View notes