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janetbrown711 · 7 months

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Just a Moment Too Soon

Cold Compress | Infection | “I don’t feel so good”

Ao Lie has planned a very special day to spend with his beloved partner Sun Wukong and surely nothing with go awry. Especially not the burning sensation deep within his chest, that would be nonsense...

(Partly inspired by all of the stableboys art @dr-chalk posts so that's fun :P )

Ao3 Link

Ao Lie meditated peacefully in one of his family’s many, many palaces in peace– although this one was above sea level. There was a reason for that though, as he was expecting a visit from his dearest, dearest partner Sun Wukong. Just thinking about his visit made Ao Lie get a little more excited, ruining his meditation. Not that he minded of course; Wukong meant the world to him.

Slowly, the dragon prince rose to his feet, his knees trembling, but he persisted nonetheless, coming to a full stand all by himself– something that was only getting rarer and rarer these days.

Ao Lie shook his head. His dearest partner was going to visit today, he was not going to get washed up in his sorrows.

Not yet anyways…

Despite the prince’s attempts at composing himself, he still scratched at dry and itchy scales on his hands and arms as he paced the grand entrance– which was ridiculous because this was fine. It was a regular visit; Wukong would arrive and he’d get to talk about his wife and children excitedly and Wukong would talk about his ventures with Sha Wujing or Zhu Bajie or how his grand-monkeys were doing and they’d laugh and have tea and reminisce on old times and it’d be perfect and everything he dreamt of…

It would be perfect.

Another deep breath.

Ao Lie looked down at his hands, seeing how many scales he’d peeled off and sighing. Perhaps if he were in his dragon form this could be seen as him just preparing for a usual shed, but no. There was something much more sinister present and burning deep, deep, deep within his very core.

River denizens were never meant to hold fire.

Just then, there was a strong breeze that shook Ao Lie’s curtains and robes, making him laugh as he saw flashes of orange circle his palace. He raced to the window, seeing the orange flash circle the palace twice more before the creature landed on the railing of his balcony. He didn’t stay for long though, doing a backflip off before running up to the prince and embracing him tight.

“Ao Lie! It’s been too long! How’s the old place holding up? Any new nieces or nephews for me? How’s your uncle holding up? Still mad at me, right? Ah– it’s just so great to see you again,” Wukong hugged him tighter before stepping back with a big grin on his face as Ao Lie laughed.

“It’s good to see you too, Wukong, I’ve missed you,” Ao Lie chuckled, kissing the monkey’s forehead.

“R-right! Yes– it– yes, I’ve… missed you too,” Wukong blushed, which made the dragon laugh as he invited Wukong to a room with pillows and a tea tray set up for the two of them, along with assorted snacks for them to enjoy while they enjoyed the view of the gardens.

“So, how has Flower Fruit Mountain been holding up these last one hundred years?” The prince asked, pouring Wukong some tea he’d set out.

“Ah, the monkeys are doing great– lots of adventuring and trying to emulate their king, of course, but it’s also just a good time all around. The peaches have been especially ripe this century, you should really stop by to try them,” Wukong invited with a coy grin.

“Oh, you know I can’t do that, I’ve a family of rambunctious little dragons to care for,” The prince excused himself carefully.

“Oh. Right, yeah, of course– say, how many of them are there now?” Wukong ate a handful of melon seeds.

“Seven– almost eight,” Ao Lie chuckled, pouring tea for himself now. “There’s Jianwen, Zhengde, Feiyan, Zhi, Lun, Lihua, and Fuling.”

“Geez, I’m a little behind on presents aren’t I?” Wukong scratched the back of his neck.

Ao Lie chuckled. “It’s alright, I haven’t been the best at reaching out these past fifty years or so,” he shrugged as he set down the teapot.

“Hey, at least you’ve been doing better than I have since–... Sanzang,” Wukong scratched his neck.

Ao Lie winced. “You’ve been doing better though, right? After all, you actually came these last three times; you used to refuse my invitations at all until I could get Wujing and Bajie to agree to come over too.”

“Right– I have,” Wukong nodded. “Sorry, I– I still miss him sometimes.”

“We all do,” He offered his hand and the monkey took it, smiling softly, before his eyebrows pressed ever-so-slightly.

“Your… hands– is something wrong?” The monkey king looked up.

“Oh– it’s just been a particularly dry season you know; it’s hard on the skin and scales,” Ao Lie lied, taking his hand back.

“I hope it gets better soon,” Wukong finally took a sip of his tea.

“Thank you, Wukong,” He looked down at his own cup, frowning ever so slightly at his reflection before having a sip.

Relax.

“Sooo… that uncle of yours? He still mad at me or…?” Wukong decided to bring up, making the prince laugh.

“Why do you ask?” The prince chuckled, taking another sip.

“Well– call me crazy, but I was kind of missing some of my old clothes and was wondering if he had anything else similar laying around,” Wukong eyed a candied peach.

“‘Laying around?’” Ao Lie laughed. “Wukong, your clothes were one of a kind– hand sewn upon your arrival because Uncle Guang was so scared!”

“Soooo he still hates me?” Wukong put two and two together.

“I think perhaps he’s come around to the idea of you, but I have a feeling if you’d ever want to ‘pop in for a visit’ you’d need me to be there,” The prince chuckled.

“Bah, who needs that old geezer anyways?” He smirked, his tail twitching playfully.

“You know you could just pay him for the staff and clothes–”

“I don’t have the clothes anymore– why would I pay him for something I don't even own?” Wukong scoffed.

Ao Lie laughed. “You still stole them! And they were one of a kind!.”

“Ah, ‘stole’ is such a strong word, Li-Li,” Wukong shook his head and Ao Lie laughed more, having to set his cup down so he wouldn’t spill it everywhere.

“You’ve changed so much and not a bit, Wukong… it’s nice,” The prince smiled at him softly.

“Yeah, I try,” Wukong smiled too before they both looked out to the garden.

As Ao Lie watched the running water of the small stream, listening to the soft rustle of leaves from trees and other such greenery, and the splashing of koi, he felt something in his chest start to ache– to burn– but the feeling was unfortunately familiar. As carefully and quietly as he could, the prince took deep breaths to help soothe the pains.

“So I’ve told you about my family, what about yours? Oh– and what of the other pilgrims? I do wish I could invite them over more often,” The prince fiddled with the sleeves of his robe.

“Ah, well, the monkeys are doing well– generation… fifteen? Eighteen? I lost track, but either way they’re a great bunch– real adventurous, like I said before,” Wukong sat up a bit with a bit of excitement. “Some of the original adventurers returned too, and all of us swap stories and it’s– it’s just fun. And nice.”

Ao Lie tried to imagine it, and nodded with a smile. “What about Wujing and Bajie? Have you seen them at all?”

“Oh, Wujing visits a lot on his boat. I don’t know how on earth he always manages to traverse the Flaming Mountains but Wujing is Wujing,” Wukong eyed a candied peach again, which Ao Lie gestured for him to take so he popped one in his mouth. “He likes talking about his ventures and whatever heavenly parties he gets invited to that I keep ‘losing’ my invitations to,” the monkey joked about.

“Does heaven still not invite you to things?” Ao Lie asked.

“Ah, they invite me to some things, just not the Peach Festival or wine festivals, which–… yeah, fair,” Wukong laughed and grabbed another candy. “It’s basically like if I have a bad track record with a party, they won’t even pretend to invite me– though Wujing and Guanyin advocate for me on the regular, apparently.”

“That’s nice,” The dragon prince sipped his tea again. “What about Bajie?”

“Psh, that big sap,” Wukong smiled and shook his head. “He writes to me talking about his family sometimes– talks about his new wife a lot too and how she’s the most beautiful pig demon anyone could ever see– apparently he has an infant son, if I remember correctly from his last letter which was–… oh heavens, probably twenty years ago,” Wukong ran his fingers through his fur.

“Not so infant like anymore?” Ao Lie guessed.

“Probably? I’m not up to date on the whole ‘pig demon aging rates’ thing,” Wukong shrugged again. “Anyways, he writes, I sometimes write, it’s nice. We’re busy people though, so it’s… hard seeing each other.”

“He writes to me often about his family too– I had just been wondering if you'd had any luck seeing him in person,” Ao Lie confessed.

“Not since we last talked,” Wukong shrugged. “But hey– there’s always time, you know?”

Ao Lie winced, his chest pain growing, but he took a sip of tea so his guest wouldn’t notice.

Wukong sighed happily, his red eyes glowing softly in the daylight in the way Ao Lie had always admired, even when he was more than a little scared of him. It made him want to reach out, and to braid his fur into a bunch of tiny little braids while the monkey would laugh and wait for him to finish so he could do his hair and it’d be… nice.

But Ao Lie’s hands were weak. Even as he held his teacup, it trembled ever so slightly. He was also sweating like the dogs in the fields, but he was sure Wukong couldn’t tell through all the layers of silk he wore.

Wukong couldn’t notice. He was here to have a good time, a nice chat. He was not here to be reminded of a simple mistake from hundreds of years ago because that’s all that was, a mistake and a sacrifice, nothing more and nothing worse.

Wukong looked back at him and smiled. “You feeling alright?”

“Oh, Wukong, you know I’m always in the best of spirits whenever you visit,” He chuckled, scratching at his scales once again, which his partner noticed.

“I could talk to the weather gods about the dryness if you’d like– get them to get their act together for your sake,” Wukong offered, which just about made his heart melt.

“You’re a peach, Wukong,” The prince leaned and kissed his cheek. “But that isn’t necessary.”

Wukong frowned. “You’re more uncomfortable than you’re willing to tell me.”

Ao Lie blinked. “Is it a crime to not want to focus on such things with company over?” he forced a weak smile, but the burning increased with his anxiety.

“No, but you’re not supposed to be uncomfortable, unless you’re hurt– Are you? Did someone hurt you? Who? What was their name? What did they look like? I’ll find them for you, I swear–” Wukong reached for his staff but the prince quickly grabbed his arm.

“Nobody has hurt me, Wukong, I’m alright,” He mustered up the gentlest smile he could.

Wukong sighed. “I wasn’t going to kill them you know, I know better... if they’re mortal,” He mumbled.

Ao Lie stroked the monkey’s arm with his thumb. “It’s alright, Wukong, really, it is.”

Wukong frowned. “Are you sick? Some kind of–... dragon disease?”

“Moderate shedding is… to be expected around this time of year, especially when I’ve been away from the water for so long,” Ao Lie lied once more.

“Oh, why haven’t you been home?” Wukong asked, seeming to relax, which the prince was thankful for.

“Oh, you know those dusty old bureaucrats. My family don’t really fit in with them– especially the children who take after me,” He waved away.

“Look, I don’t like Ao Guang or Run or Qin or Shun as much as the next guy–”

“You just insulted my father,” The prince pointed out and Wukong’s face turned red.

“Right-! Yeah, no, Ao Run’s great! Love that guy!” Wukong quickly corrected and the prince chuckled. “Well– anyways as much as I dislike your uncles, I wouldn’t say it’s worth your health.”

“Maybe, but I’m not going while you’re here, I enjoy our talks too much to spoil it with all… that,” He struggled keeping up excuses.

“Fair enough, bureaucracy is the worst,” Wukong smiled, grabbing more candied peaches and stretching out to eat them, which Ao Lie copied.

“You know, my cousin Ao Bing and I used to love terrorizing heaven every now and then– until the whole Nezha incident, of course,” He laughed weakly.

“Man, and they didn’t banish you over any terrorizing? That’s unfair,” Wukong shook his head.

“Well I did end up destroying my father’s pearl from the Jade Emperor, which almost got me killed until Guanyin intervened, and Ao Bing got his consequences when he killed Nezha’s friend and Nezha killed him back, so I’d say it’s a little fair,” Ao Lie pointed out, playing with his hair a little.

“Ah, Guanyin… I should really visit her more often,” Wukong laughed a little, rolling onto his side and began playing with the prince’s long white hair too.

“It’d be nice to visit her. Maybe she could tell me where my sister is and why she keeps forgetting to write back,” The prince joked.

“We could plan it! You said you should be free again in… twelve years, right?” Wukong got excited.

“A-ah, um– I don’t think I’ll be free then,” Ao Lie struck down.

“What about fifteen?” The monkey offered. Again, the prince shook his head.

“I’ll think about it, Wukong.”

“Why? I thought you adored your sister,” Wukong was getting suspicious again.

“Wukong, please– let’s just enjoy each other’s company… please?” He was forced to beg, which made the monkey’s face go from anger, to confusion, to a soft smile.

“Of course. I can understand how a family like yours is complicated,” Wukong apologized and calmed himself.

“It’s alright,” Ao Lie sighed and rested on his back, which made the heat rise in a way that was hard to ignore. “I just… I hate this busyness we carry, you know? Oftentimes I envy how well and long you lounge about on that mountain of yours.”

“It’s easier when you don’t have kids or a wife,” Wukong laid on his back too.

Ao Lie glanced at him. “Do you wish you had a wife or children?”

Wukong laughed. “A wife? You kidding me? With what we have, I’ll never need a wife.”

“Ah, I’ll have to tell my missus that,” He teased.

“Oh please, what we have is different, you know that,” Wukong went back to his side.

Ao Lie chuckled. “Maybe~”

“Oh, shut up! You are such a tease!” Wukong grabbed a pillow and smacked him with it.

“Hey! This is my palace!” The prince struggled to protect himself from the pillows but also wasn’t trying that hard– laughing way too much.

Wukong hit him three more times, but as he went for a fourth, he moved the pillow last second and kissed Ao Lie on the lips, which the prince quickly returned.

“If I’m a tease, you’re a scoundrel,” The prince cupped the monkey’s cheek with his hand.

“Alright whatever– as long as you admit you’re a tease,” Wukong kissed the prince’s cheek.

Ao Lie laughed as Wukong got off of him and stood before offering a hand to help the prince to his feet, which he accepted.

However, the second the dragon prince was on his own two feet, the burning in his chest went from mild to excruciating, and quickly he fell to his knees– his hand clutching his chest in a flash as he gasped in pain.

“What the– Lie, what’s wrong?!” Wukong’s eyes darted around the room (no doubt searching for an attacker).

“I– I don’t feel so good,” The prince confessed, sweat dripping down his forehead, as the burning feeling continued to grow and grow at rates it never dared to in the past.

“You’re hurting–! What happened–?! Who did this to you??? I’ll bring them to justice, I promise–”

“Wukong, no– I-I can’t– I won’t let you– ngh–” The prince grabbed his partner’s leg and leaned against it best he could.

“Holy– You’re burning up so much I can feel it through my clothes– we need to take you underwater, and fast–”

“NO!” The prince quickly objected as Wukong scooped him up.

“I don’t care if you protest, we’re going to fix this– you’re going to be okay, okay?” Wukong was defiant and didn’t meet his eye, though the prince could see tears threatening to fall.

“N-no, Wukong, th-they’ll imprison you, th-they’ll–” Ao Lie stopped himself, but Wukong picked up what he was implying.

“Li-Li, why would they imprison me? Is it because I’d be the one bringing you? I-if so, I can get Wujing or your wife or someone– I-I can fix this,” Wukong pleaded.

“W-Wukong, this isn’t your fault– please–” The prince gripped Wukong’s shirt with trembling hands.

“Your temperature is only rising, Lie, what the fuck is going on?” Wukong pleaded with him, but the prince looked away as he curled in agony.

With a frustrated huff, Wukong set the prince down on the pillows they’d used for fighting just a happy second ago, then vanished on his cloud before returning with a bag full of chunks of ice he pressed against the prince’s forehead, though it was useless as it began to melt in seconds.

“W-Wukong please, i-it’ll pass, I promise,” he tried forcing a smile again.

“You know what this is, don’t you?!” Wukong looked angry. “Why won’t you tell me what it is? Why won’t you let me fix this?!”

“B-because you don’t need to fix anything, qin qin,” He weakly lifted his arm to tuck Wukong’s fur back.

“Don’t ‘qin qin’ me, this is serious!” Wukong protested.

Ao Lie winced, every muscle in his body beginning to feel like a flaming, aching inferno as he sweated through all of his five layers of silk.

“I-it’s not your fault, Wukong, i-it’s just mine, okay?” He gave a weak smile as droplets of sweat began to roll nonstop down his forehead.

“What are you talking about?!” Wukong shouted. “What could possibly be my–”

The monkey king froze.

“Wukong… Wukong, please–” The prince whispered, desperately trying to grab his arm, but his partner stood and began to pace the room.

“I– It– No– You’re immortal– Th-that– A-and master– A-and– it was centuries ago– i-it can't–” The monkey king’s voice cracked as his tears were finally allowed to fall.

“Wukong, stay with me, please–!”

“How long has this been going on? Since we left the Mystic Mountain??? Have you been hiding this from me for– for centuries???” Wukong turned around, furious.

“W-Wukong, please– I-I’d never–”

“You won’t even give me the chance to help you– is it because I did this? Is this your– your punishment for me?!” Wukong could barely look at him.

“Wukong, I love you–” The prince reached up again.

“W-well you shouldn’t! This is all so– so fucked up– I-I–” The monkey sobbed, falling to his knees and covering his eyes with his hands.

“Wukong, it’s not your fault! I-I chose to jump in front of master, I-I took on the burden– ngh– willingly,” He managed to grab his hand, and Wukong held it up to his cheek.

“There wouldn’t have been anything to jump in front of if it weren’t for me, it’s my fault you’re suffering– that you’re–”

Wukong’s eyes widened.

“Y…you’re–... you’re dying, Li-Li,” he gave into his sobs once more, pressing the scorching hands even closer to him.

Ao Lie weakly stroked his partner’s cheek with his thumb. “I-I… I think so too… I dreamt of this for… for a long time, but… but never was it so… so sudden… I’m so sorry, qin qin…” he apologized and explained but Wukong wasn’t listening.

“I can’t be alone, Lie– I need you– I love you so, so, so much– I can’t– I can’t lose another person because of my stupid, stupid mistakes,” he shook his head furiously.

“We don’t have a choice, my love,” Ao Lie forced a weak smile, a chill shaking his whole body so Wukong brought him into his arms, making the prince sit half up so it was easier to see and embrace his lover. “I didn’t think it’d be tonight. I-I’ve known the flame’s presence for so long, but the pain– it only grew with time a-and this past decade it’s– it’s been almost unbearable,” Ao Lie laughed through tears that sizzled and turned to steam.

“I can imagine,” Wukong laughed and cried too.

“I didn’t want it to be like this, Qin-qin– I wanted to have a nice day with the person I love. I-I’m so sorry. it isn’t your fault,” Ao Lie grabbed the monkey’s robes tight.

“It should’ve been me– it was my fault– I don’t know why I didn’t even try– I–”

“You could’ve disrupted the spell entirely, and that poor, poor baby would’ve died, don’t be foolish, my love,” The prince pointed out.

“N-no– no, you know what? I’m going to get the others! I-I’m gonna get Nezha and DBK a-and Wujing and Bajie too– w-we can fix this together! You’ll be better in no time!” Wukong smiled at Ao Lie, who just shook his head weakly– the prince finally taking notice of the crimson flames that were starting to leak from his scales.

“Master is gone, Wukong, and I’m going to have to join him,” The prince hated saying it as much as Wukong hated to hear it.

“NO! I-I don’t care what you say– I’m not losing you too,” Wukong stood in protest once again.

“W-Wukong, I’m not mad, really– I forgive you,” The prince smiled, the arm grabbing his robe beginning to shake and tremble violently as a painfully numb feeling spread through his limbs as he noticed the flames growing bigger, and parts of himtransforming to ash.

Wukong fell back to his knees, sobbing as he held Ao Lie closer. “I-I love you, Lie– please don’t go,” He could barely get words out.

“W-Wukong, I need you to promise me– promise me you’ll forgive yourself?” Ao Lie urged, watching his feet start to disappear in terror.

Wukong shook his head. “I can’t… so please– stay so I don’t have to,” He tried wiping away some of Ao Lie’s sweat, but the heat was getting intense even for him.

“T-the fire– i-it won’t die with me– It’ll be passed down– Wukong– Wukong please protect them– my baby– th-they’ll carry the fourth ring– make sure no one knows, o-okay? Protect my kin, don’t let anything bad happen to them, okay?” Ao Lie attempted a second promise.

“Wh-what? A fourth–? There wasn’t supposed to be– oh Lie, I’m so sorry,” Wukong apologized again for the millionth time and held Ao Lie in a way that he could bury his head into his shoulder.

“I-it’s okay, Wukong, i-it’s okay, I forgive you, o-okay? So don’t hate yourself– it’s okay,” His voice cracked weakly.

Wukong sniffled, shaking his head a bit. “I… I can’t–”

“Wukong… I’m dying. I’m sorry, but I-I am,” He smiled weakly again. “I love you so much– but I’m going… promise me you’ll be okay, okay? And that you’ll take care, a-and– and you won’t forget me, okay?” The prince chuckled weakly, trying to lift his arm again, but his fingers were fading too.

“I could never forget you, Li-Li, y-you’re my everything,” it was Wukong’s turn to stroke his cheek, and the prince kissed his hand.

“I’m sorry it had to end like this, my love– but that’s– that’s just how it goes sometimes, isn’t it?” He let out a weak laugh as numbness spread through his legs.

“I-it’s okay– I f-forgive you too,” Wukong struggled repeating his words back to him, but the prince smiled.

“Good,” The dying dragon smiled and Wukong suddenly kissed him, which the prince quickly returned twice as passionately and desperately, feeling the numbness complete take over, despite his desperation to stay in that moment forever.

But he didn’t get a choice, and in a matter of moments Ao Lie, Third Son of the Dragon King of the West Sea, was dead and gone.

#lego monkie kid #lmk #stableboys shipping #ao lie lmk #sun wukong lmk #my fics #major character death #fluff and angst #i'm addicted to emotional whiplash send help #everyone thank doctor chalk for inspiring me #their shit is amazingggggggggggggggg #anyways bone apple tea #whumptober #whumptober 2023

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radioconstructed · 1 month

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⌖ Having a man OFFER to cook for you SOUNDS endearing until he SHIRKS ALL FOOD SAFETY GUIDELINES! The WHIPLASH at watching a GENTLEMAN who's otherwise CHARMING decide to CUT RAW FISH and put the knife BACK IN THE CHOPPING BLOCK!

⌖ My good man, you don't like your gals TALL, you like them SEPTIC! This fellow CHEAT-CODE'D every COVERT DEATH-FEEDERISM FETISHIST'S game plan! This fellow said I WANT TO FEED YOU DEAD. HERE'S SOME SAM OR NELLA

#⌖ online #// al recounting her terrible dates LMAO... people with no food safety are terrifying. you KNOW she left promptly.#absolutely insane post. thank you al radiodemon. death-feederism is a feeder kink where you want to feed someone to death #(presumably over a long period of time. not like. immediate death by food.) apparently irl secret feeder fetishes are a thing. which is a #Problem because you shouldn't involve people in your kink without telling them!! communication & consent!! anyway by virtue of Existing #as a femoid with a Great Depression Broke Bitch build she's had her fair share of them. Mr. No Food Safety speedran the Feeding #To Death thing tho and just is over here committing culinary manslaugher.#oh right 'sam or nella' is a 'bone apple tea' way of spelling salmonella

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ob4yme · 6 months

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it was only them. wasn't that what he kept saying? gallifrey burned, reduced to atoms and ash under the doctor's practiced hands. it was unfathomable, and it made perfect sense. the master wished more than anything that he could have been there to see it but he would be dead if he'd tried, so they played it out here; a personal simulacrum with the earth for its stage. [ it wasn't the most idyllic of reunions, but then, theirs never were. it was the moments like these that always seemed to bring out facets of their relationship that had lain dormant for centuries. the battles, the threats, the impending doom, it all had a way of making the doctor explosive, and that thrilled. ]

" you’re a fucking nightmare, " said @timedten. " kiss me. "

if he strained, it almost sounded fond. lounging atop glossy boardroom table, he idly passed a two-pound coin back and forth between his hands, watching the doctor in a version of the same stand-off they'd had a hundred times or more. he could shoot, now, if he wanted to, but that would be unbearably boring. this dance of theirs, it almost never involved such outright desire. they worked in moves and countermoves - a curated sense of flirtation and antagonism. [ it boiled over on occasion, one way or the other, and often to their detriment; what they didn't do was give voice to it, not like this, not so sincerely. ] the master's eyes widened for a moment of stunned silence, and he leaned forward into the doctor's space - coin held between two fingers, a wretched smile flickering at his lips.

" why, doctor, " he leered, " that's very forward of you. aren't you going to buy me dinner first? "

his free hand shot out to take hold of the doctor's tie, tugging him even slightly closer. " oh, i'm flattered - really, i am, but we have other things to be getting on with, don't we? the end of the world waits for no man ... much as i'm sure you would like to distract me. " he dropped his gaze, coquettish; just the briefest glance given to the doctor's lips, as if to say that this was indeed a method that might work, if given the proper attention. hope was good; hope was fun. all the better to snuff it out later. [ not that he expected this delightful line of thinking to go anywhere else. oh, no: it would be all moralising and appeals to his humanity from the doctor now, and what a dreadful shame that was. ]

#* ic answered.#* verse: hail to the king.#* closed.#timedten #i feel like i remember u saying something ab timelords having adhd in essence and i COULD NOT AGREE MORE #anyway idk why this got so long but yknow what bone apple tea #first day of work survival present or whatev

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averysmolkirbo · 4 months

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its been like 3ish weeks anyway new year new memes, one fresh batch of (permanently borrowed) meme soup.

bone apple tea!!

#ace attorney #ace attorney textposts #theres not really a theme here i just picked ones that looked good #i have a lot of tgaa memes (mostly sholmes) for someone who hasnt even played them yet #im gonna be completely honest i havent even finished the end of JFA i got bored lol #permanantly borrowed memes #new year new memes #bone apple tea!!!

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festivalsofmargot · 10 months

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Illicit Affairs {Dad!Garreth Weasley x F!Professor!Reader}

AGED UP CHARACTERS, 18+ SCENARIOS (Characters are adults, graduated from Hogwarts, and are 18+)

Introduction: Garreth thinks back on his life with you, and it was far from perfect. But he’d relive every second if he had the chance.

Word Count: ~ 13,100 (I think I’m gonna puke)

Warnings: Smut, Angst without a happy ending, Cheating, Loss

Author’s Note: Want to say right now that cheating is disgusting. This is purely a fantasy scenario. So if you get triggered by cheating I highly recommend you skip out on this fanfic. This romanticizes it and I didn’t really write the person getting cheated on as a realistic human being. More than anything, this is smut with a plot. I watched Cyberpunk: Edgerunners and I’ve never felt so empty inside. So writing this, I just felt like being sad, ya know? Like literally ruining my entire month.😃 Anyways, it’s 10 pm my time so still Wednesday for me. Bone Apple Tea Weasley Wednesday-ers! I’m going to hyperventilate and cry in bed. (Like wtf did I write this...?)

Songs (if interested):

Illicit Affairs - Taylor Swift

Little Stranger - Dawid Podsiadło

I Really Want to Stay at Your House - Rosa Walton, Hallie Coggins

Baby Teeth - Bunny Lowe

It’s My Fault - End Credits - Roque Baños

Whether the warmth in Garreth Weasley’s cheeks was coming from the multiple glasses of whiskey he had or the fireplace he sat across, he wasn’t sure. But it was welcome all the same. As he looked into the flames and slouched in his chair, lightly rubbing at his chin, he thought back on his life with you.

The two of you had been the best of friends while you attended Hogwarts. The moment he asked you to sneak a fwooper feather out of Professor Sharp’s office, he had felt in his gut that you were going to be someone special.

He had always been upset he only had three years with you at Hogwarts, and you had been too. Both of you had said “If only we met in first year.” too many times to count, but meant it every single time.

He knew it now that you had felt the same way about him. But during school, it was a constant struggle not to kiss you, especially after every dangerous outing the two of you had gone on. He had fallen hard and fast for you during his fifth year, and that infatuation never seemed to dissipate, even to this day.

Everything about you was perfect to him, you had fit together just right. But he was afraid if he ever confessed and it turned out you hadn’t seen him in that way, he’d lose you forever.

Thankfully, you had made the first move a few years after the two of you graduated. Merlin knows his cowardly ass never would have. That following month in Hogsmeade had easily been the best month of his life.

“If you’re sweet, maybe I’ll get you that discount.” Garreth said coolly to the woman with fox eyes before him, restocking some potion ingredients on the shelves.

“Are you sure sweet is what you want, Gar?” The woman flirted back, and Garreth’s body tensed at the shortened version of his name coming off her lips. He was able to keep an easy smile on his face and continue restocking, but he still didn’t like anyone else calling him that except for you.

“Fine, play coy.” She sighed playfully when he kept quiet and she made her way out. She gave him a little wave and as soon as she was out of sight, he let the smile vanish from his face. He didn’t even remember this woman’s name truth be told, thank Merlin she left before he had a chance to let that slip.

Garreth had been a little more reckless than usual these past few months. He hadn’t received a letter back from you in ages. As soon as you graduated from Hogwarts, you pursued the magizoology field while he went to work for Parry Pippin.

Garreth knew your main focus would be going after any poacher you came across rather than studying magical beasts. Try as you might to talk down what you did in your letters, he wasn’t stupid, he knew you.

Your silence had filled him with so much dread, he was wishing more than anything you had just decided you wanted nothing to do with him anymore. He didn’t care, as long as you weren’t dead. Please Merlin, don’t be dead.

To distract himself, he dove head first into the bachelor lifestyle. Drinking and women were his main hobbies outside of J. Pippin’s Potions. Being young and handsome, living on his own, and having plenty of his own money now, he was making himself enjoy it.

Garreth was manning the store by himself that day, looking over stock and crossing items off his parchment when he heard the doorbell ring. He absently greeted whoever had just entered the shop, not taking his eyes off his list.

“Welcome to J. Pippin’s, let me know if you need help with anything.”

“Gar?”

At the sound of your voice, Garreth nearly broke his neck turning to look at you. His eyes were wide, breath hitching in his throat.

The moment he locked eyes with you, you lost every word you had planned on saying to him. “I um… It’s good to see you again.”

Garreth dropped everything he was holding, closing the distance between you two in only a few steps, pulling you into a tight embrace. You didn’t hesitate to hold him back, letting his warmth envelope you.

“I was worried you were dead.” He whispered into your hair as the relief washed over him.

“I nearly was.” You admitted.

Keeping his hold on you, he pulled back just enough to look at your face. He noticed then that there was a small bandage on your cheek, and some other areas looked recently healed.

“That’s why I’m here. I needed to see you. Needed to tell you I -”

Garreth looked into your eyes and listened close, silently urging you to continue.

“I’m in love with you, Gar.” You breathed, as if a huge weight lifted off your shoulders finally telling him. “I always have been. It was close during my last outing and - When I thought I wasn’t going to make it, my biggest regret was never telling you. It’s alright if you don’t feel the same. I - I just needed you to -”

Garreth silenced you by crashing his lips onto yours. Keeping one arm around your waist, he brought up one hand to cup your jaw. He had caught you by surprise, but it didn’t take long to register what was happening and kiss him back.

This. This right here was exactly what you two always dreamed of doing ever since your fifth year at Hogwarts.

The sound of voices approaching the shop from outside made him tear his lips away from yours. He took a step back and you couldn't help the bashful smile that tugged at your lips.

"Sorry. Parry Pippin will have my head if he caught word of me snogging in the shop while he was away."

"No need to apologize." You chuckled and turned to leave. "I can leave you to it."

Garreth's eyes widened. "Where are you going?" He asked in a panic and took a step towards you.

"I was going to run a few errands around Hogsmeade. Get a room."

Garreth opened his mouth to protest, but some customers came in. "Welcome." He called, dismissing his usual greeting line and looking back at you. "Don't get a room." Garreth said loud enough for only you to hear.

You gave him a smile and nod, then took your leave. He made his way back behind the counter, watching your form out the window until you were out of sight. How was he supposed to carry on working as normal now that you were back and he had free reign to kiss you?

By the time you finished up what you needed to do and headed back to J. Pippin's Potions, Garreth was hurriedly closing up the shop.

He looked up with a beaming smile when you walked through the door again. Setting down some empty vials, he strode up and pulled you into another deep kiss. He was learning fast that he wasn't going to be able to help himself around you.

Pulling away, he went straight back to his closing routine, aiming to finish as fast as possible so he could leave with you. "Get everything you need?"

"I did." You got a bit shifty, wondering if you should tell him what you had done or it would seem like too much too soon. It hadn't seemed that way to you, having known Garreth for so long. But you hoped he would be happy to hear the news.

"You know you’re staying with me, right?" He said as he put away some ingredients.

You smiled. "I was hoping that was what you meant earlier."

He shot you a smirk over his shoulder. "I think you'll be very proud to see how tidy I keep the place."

"Oh will I?" You quipped, nervously glancing down to your feet and shoving your hands in your pockets.

Garreth took a double take at you, his brows furrowing in concern. “What’s got you so quiet?” A worrying feeling began to set in that he may have been too bold to assume you would be alright with staying with him.

You raised your brows and looked back up at him. “Nothing.” You assured. “Sorry, I uh -” You let out an amused huff at having gotten yourself so worked up. “I got something I want to tell you when we get to your place.”

The ease came back to him as he locked up some cabinets. “You know you already told me you’re madly in love with me, right?”

“I don’t remember saying ‘madly’.”

“Oh, silly me. ‘Devastatingly’ was the word.”

“That could have been it.” You shrugged, biting back your amused smirk. “Wouldn’t hurt to say it a few more times.”

A cheeky grin pulled at his lips. You love me.

“And you haven’t said it back by the way.” You teased.

Garreth’s movements slowed to a stop and he looked back at you, quirking a brow. “I haven’t? Yes, I have. Haven’t I?” Fuck, I haven’t. He had said it in his head so many times, were you certain he hadn’t even slipped up and said it aloud once?

“Well, then…” Turning out the lights and grabbing his coat, he shrugged it on and strode up to you. He cupped your face in his hands and planted another kiss on your lips. “I love you too.”

“That was corny.”

“It was.” He took your hand in his and led you out. “I’ll work on it.”

“After you.” Garreth said as he opened the door to his home.

“Wow.” Your eyes widened as they roamed his place. “You weren’t joking when you said you kept it tidy. I thought you were, or at least had a different definition of tidy.” You turned back towards him and looked him up and down suspiciously. “This isn’t the Gar I knew back at Hogwarts.”

“I’m a changed man.” He said coming up and pulling you against him, capturing your lips. How could you expect him to keep his hands off of you at this point? If you asked him, he’d say the two of you had some lost time to make up for.

On one hand, it was wonderful knowing you pined for him all these years just as he had for you. But on the other, it was a bit frustrating knowing he could have been with you all this time, could have pulled you off to secret corners and kissed you senseless.

“Wait wait,” You slowed his kisses to a halt and took glances around his home. “Is there a room I can change in? I’ve been traveling all day and want to get out of these clothes.”

“Bedroom’s just there.” He gestured with his head towards it, not taking his eyes off of you. You gave him a grateful nod, slipping from his embrace.

“Won’t be a moment.” You called over your shoulder.

While he waited for you, he decided to grab some glasses from his cupboard. Maybe you’d be up for a stiff drink or two with him to celebrate. But truth be told, he needed something to help with his nerves. He was beyond elated to have you back, he didn’t want to mess this up.

His hands were shaky as he poured, and he cursed under his breath. The nerves were really hitting him. Easy now, Weasley. It’s you. We’ve been friends for years. He tried to inwardly calm himself.

But you weren’t quite friends anymore were you? Your confessions meant you were seeing each other now, right? So he was heading into uncharted territory with you. Merlin, of all the times for him to overthink in his life, why did it have to be then?!

He heard his door open and he turned back towards you with drinks in hand. “How would you feel about -” Garreth’s jaw went slack and he dropped the glasses, shattering them along the floor. You were standing at his bedroom doorway, completely naked.

“Oh fuck.” He croaked.

“Come here, Gar.”

“Yep, coming.” Though his mind was a mess, he was thankful to every higher power he could think of that his body kicked into gear to get to you.

His hands went for your hips first, gripping the soft skin there as his mouth went for your neck like a starved man, leaving open mouthed kisses and bites everywhere he could. So this is what it’s like to taste every bit of you, I always wondered.

You let out the most delicious sounds as he walked the two of you towards his bed. You fell back and he fell on top of you. You instantly wrapped your arms and legs around him, holding him close. You had dreamed of having him like this for so long, it was hard to keep a loose grip.

“Mmh. Wait. Let me -” He sat up, and with hurried fingers began undoing his vest, you sat up as well and helped him, the both of you smiling like ecstatic idiots. If there was a feeling to describe looking down at you looking back up at him as you went for his clothes, it would be euphoria.

Shrugging off his vest and then going for his shirt, he couldn’t believe how many layers he had on. Was this really what he dressed himself in every day? How did he ever find the time?

Slipping off his shirt and unable to keep his lips away a moment more, he bent down to capture yours again. He stayed locked with you as he went for his pants. Thankfully there weren’t as many buttons as the shirt, and he shoved them down with your help. But the pants caught on his legs. He stood to his feet to get them off but tripped over himself, hitting the ground with a loud thunk.

“Ow!” He cackled, finally kicking them off and you went into hysterics.

Climbing back onto the bed with a groan, he smiled down at you as he crawled over and laid on top of you. The nerves completely gone as you continued to howl with laughter.

Sighing, he buried his face in the crook of your neck, and you held him lovingly against you as you tried to calm down.

“Satisfied already, are you?” He said with a feigned annoyance, but the grin was still on his face, hidden against your neck.

“Yes, very much so.” Your laughter dissipated into little giggles as you wiped away the amused tears from your eyes.

The two of you laid there like that for a moment, just holding each other. And he thought back to when you had cuddled and napped together in the Room of Requirement frequently during your Hogwarts days. How in Merlin’s name did he think that was just something friends did? He certainly wasn’t cuddling with Leander Prewett.

He didn’t let himself dwell on his missed opportunities anymore. Here was his opportunity now, right under him, holding him close.

He began kissing at your neck, and that seemed to get rid of your amusement entirely, something carnal beginning to take over. His mouth went up from your neck to your jaw, finding his way to your lips again.

He slid his tongue in when he felt your mouth part slightly, and you met him with yours. As your tongues tasted and entwined, he realized it was the closest he had gotten to being inside you, and he wanted more.

Breaking the kiss, he adjusted himself between your legs, teasing his tip at your entrance. He glanced down at you two about to join, then up at your face. Breathless with anticipation, you gave him a nod of your head, and he pushed himself in, ever so slowly.

You kept your eyes on one another as he thrusted into you with a slow rhythm, a rhythm that would help him savor being in you for the first time.

“I’ve wanted this for so long.” He breathed, relishing the feel of your slick heat enveloping him.

The noises that escaped you were maddening, and he was beginning to lose himself. But he didn’t want to lose himself, he wanted to be attentive to everything you did as you clung to him, naked in his arms. But when you arched your back and your breasts pressed hard against his bare chest, the control was fraying at the seams.

His thrusts into you came harder and faster, and your hold on him tightened, nails digging into his back. It felt as if you two were more alive than you ever had been. Being intimate with someone was one thing, but being intimate with someone you were in love with brought you to a whole other level.

Multiple times that night, you had gone over the edge together. Tasting, touching, gasping, and sighing.

Both of you sweaty, sore, and satisfied, Garreth had you tucked under his arm, looking up at the ceiling, completely serene. “Back at J. Pippin’s,” He began, his voice raspy. “You said you wanted to tell me something.”

You sat up a bit to look at him, he kept a hand on your back. “When I went around Hogsmeade, I stopped at Brood & Peck.”

You sat up a bit more and Garreth sat up with you, beyond curious at what you were going to tell him.

“I got a job there.”

Garreth’s eyes widened. “You did?” He had been too swept up in your confession and being with you, he hadn’t even thought about where you two would take things from there. But it seemed you were already a few steps ahead anyway, just like you always had been.

He shifted closer and pulled you onto his lap so you were straddling him. “But what about your magizoology career? Don’t get me wrong, I’m thrilled but… are you sure this is what you want?” He asked looking up at you, tucking a strand of hair behind your ear.

“I don’t want to fight anymore.” You sighed. “I don’t want to live on the road for years to come. I just want to stay in one place and live my life.”

Garreth loved the sound of that. Even if you hadn’t decided to do this to be with him, he would have been ecstatic just to know you were leaving your dangerous lifestyle. He didn’t have to worry constantly about you getting killed anymore.

“Give me a few days and I’ll find my own place. Promise.”

“About that.” His hand went up through your hair and he pulled your head back towards his. “I wasn’t really planning on you leaving.”

Garreth was a nervous wreck. When the third potion that day had slipped through his fingers and shattered on the floor, he knew he needed to step out and take a breath of fresh air.

He went out back and reached for the ring that was burning a hole in his pocket. When he had bought it, he had been more sure than anything you would say yes. But now that the time was approaching when he would ask you, doubts began to swirl.

Would it be too soon? Sure you had known each other and been close for years, but you had only been seeing each other for a few weeks. Granted, those past few weeks had been some of the best of his life. What if he proposed and you weren’t ready like he was? What if his eagerness to marry you would scare you off and you’d want to leave him and…

Garreth shook his head, taking another deep breath. His overthinking caused him to miss out on so much with you already, he couldn’t let it stop him again.

He took his time closing up the shop that day, he was still fidgety and wanted to get it together at least somewhat for when he went to meet you. Closing had always felt like it dragged on and on, but that night it seemed to speed by.

He went down to Brood & Peck and stepped through the door. You were looking over a map with Ellie Peck and discussing who knows what, probably another home relocation area for the beasts. Garreth couldn’t seem to pay attention, too in his own head still.

You glanced up at him and smiled, mouthing one moment. He smiled back and gave a little nod of his head, praying you would take your time. Merlin knew he needed every second you’d give him.

Finishing up, you grabbed your coat and waved goodnight to Ellie. You met Garreth and took his arm as you walked up the path to your home. You shot each other little smirks as you trekked along.

You sighed in exhaustion and rested your head against his shoulder. “Long day for you too?”

“Hmm? Oh er - yes. Long day.”

“More than anything I want to fall asleep, but I need to bathe first. The stables were a mess today.”

“That’s good to hear.”

You huffed an amused breath through your nose and looked up at his face. He was staring ahead, seemingly off in his own world. “I think it was so bad I might quit and go back to my old job. Hope you don’t mind, I’ll be sure to write you.”

“Mmhm.”

“Sebastian Sallow showed up today and confessed his love for me again.”

“Mmhm - Wait what?!” He snapped his head to face you with wide eyes, but then relaxed when you started to cackle. “Not funny.” He grumbled.

“It was a little funny.” You gave his arm a loving squeeze. “What’s got you so distracted?”

He swallowed thickly and stopped walking. You stopped walking with him and raised a brow at him. “Should I be worried?” You teased.

He decided he just needed to get this over with or he was going to be a nauseated mess for the time being. He took a step back from you and went down on one knee.

At first, you thought he dropped something on the ground, then it hit you when he reached into his back pocket and took out a ring.

He said your name and looked up at you with tortured eyes, your lips parted slightly in shock. “I - I was going to make a special dinner tonight and ask you then but I think I’d burn the house down cooking I’m so nervous.” He swallowed thickly, glancing down at the ring and then back up at you. “I can’t remember exactly what I planned to say. But it was along the lines of me having been mad for you since we were kids, and how I want to be mad for you the rest of my life.”

Tears pricked at your eyes and your chest was nothing but a fluttery mess. “Yes.” You breathed, getting on your knees with him.

An elated smile tugged at the corner of Garreth’s lips. “Yes? I - I had more I was going to say though - but… Yes?”

You nodded your head vigorously and the two of you couldn’t help but laugh. He put the ring on your finger and you grabbed for each other, kissing one another wherever you could get your lips on.

It had already been a month now that you and Garreth were together. He couldn’t believe how the days flew by being with you. But he shouldn’t be surprised. Every day consisted of him waking up to you in the morning, getting up and going to a job where he was surrounded by potions, walking down to meet you at Brood & Peck when he was done, then finishing it off by being buried deep inside you throughout the night.

Sure, you two may have lost out on some hours of sleep. But one could argue that you two taking the time to wear yourselves out could get you a deeper, more effective sleep. It was a running joke between the two of you, and neither of you were sure it was true. But you were both happy, and that was all that mattered.

With a smile on his face he couldn’t seem to shake, Garreth took the time to restock shelves at work. The doorbell rang when someone came in, he recited his usual line with the peppiness that had a hold on him this past month.

“Welcome to J. Pippin’s.” He turned towards the customer. “Let me know if -” He stopped cold in his greeting seeing it was Victoria Willowsmith, an ingredients delivery girl he had been seeing off and on before you came back. “Afternoon, Victoria.” He began as casually as he could, inwardly praying she just wanted to drop off ingredients and leave. “Got ingredients for me?” He put on a polite smile.

She looked uneasy as she walked towards him, and he couldn’t help but feel a sense of dread. “Um… not today.”

He absently took out a rag and began polishing a nearby potion vial. “Then what can I do for you?” Something was off, he could feel it.

“I need to speak with you.”

When Garreth arrived to meet you outside of Brood & Peck, you threw yourself into his arms as you always did. “Mmm, I’m ready to head home.”

He kept quiet as he wrapped his arms back around you, but you noticed his hold wasn’t nearly as tight on you as it normally was. You stepped back slightly, looking over his features and noticing he wasn’t meeting your gaze.

“What’s wrong?” You asked in concern, placing a hand on his cheek.

He took a deep breath and took your hand down from his face, stroking his thumb over your skin as the anxiety built up sickeningly at what he was about to tell you. “Walk with me.”

You remained silent as he guided you away from Hogsmeade, down the stone path to a place more isolated.

Garreth sat the two of you on a nearby bench as the sun began to set. He held your left hand in both of his, looking at the ring on your finger. He couldn’t stand the thought of it ever coming off.

The way he was acting brought on a sense of trouble. But you willed yourself to keep quiet, and let him say what he needed to say. As he held your hand, you looked out into the sunset, hoping the sight would help keep you calm.

“You’re everything to me. I hope you know that.” Garreth began, but it only made all of this more eerie. When you didn’t say anything in response, he knew he had to just tell you, not drag this on any longer. “Before you came back, I was seeing this girl off and on. Nothing serious. But she’s come back and told me that she’s -” He ran a shaky hand through his hair and he felt you tense up. “- told me she’s pregnant with my child.”

Your stomach went into agonizing knots as you continued looking out into the sunset. You wanted to throw up, you wanted to scream, you wanted to cry. But after a moment, all those intense feelings turned into something numb.

“Please say something.” Garreth pleaded, finally looking at you then, unable to read your expression. “Shout at me. Anything. I just need you to say something.”

You met his gaze and gave him the smallest of smiles. “You’re going to be a dad.”

Something in him broke. He had wanted you to say those words to him one day, but not under circumstances like this. He sighed your name as you stood up and slipped your hand from his.

He stood with you and tried to search your eyes, but you gave him nothing.

“I uh -” You cleared your throat, trying to hide the sadness that constricted it. “I need to be alone at the house for a bit if you don’t mind.”

“Of course. Whatever you need.” He took a step towards you, but you took a step back, and he wanted to die.

Without another word, he watched your form walk away.

He slumped back down on the bench until the sun had completely set. Then he headed over to Hog’s Head. Three Broomsticks felt a little too upbeat for such a night.

After a few drinks he decided it was time to face you again at home. Taking one last sip of liquid courage, he made his way out.

The first thing he noticed approaching the house was that none of the lights were on.

“No…”

He burst through the door and called your name in a panic, striding through the house and searching every room for you. “No no no.” But you were gone, and so were your things. There wasn’t a trace of you anywhere, not even a note.

Garreth fell to his knees, the pain hitting him all at once. He had never felt such an ache in his chest, as if a piece of him was gone, ripped right from him.

“Let’s see your list, bug.” Garreth said to his little one as he stepped out the door with her. The ecstatic, freckled, redheaded girl handed him the parchment that listed everything she needed for her first year at Hogwarts and he looked it over.

“Merlin’s beard! I don’t think I had this many books when I attended.” He teased, ruffling her hair.

“Dad.” Matilda grumbled, swatting him away and fixing her curly locks before they got into town. He and Victoria had agreed to name her after his aunt after she passed. She may have been tough on him growing up, but she had done so much for him, it only felt right.

The two of them went up and down Hogsmeade, getting everything she needed. Thankfully, they could save a bit on everything related to potions class. Ever since he took over for Parry Pippin, they had more potion equipment and ingredients to last a lifetime, even for him. Too bad Matilda didn’t seem to share the same passion for it as him. Her attention always seemed to lie in magical beasts, of course. Try as he might to shift her interests all these years, it was no use.

He saved the most exciting part for last, getting Matilda her wand. As they walked on to Ollivanders, he caught sight of that day’s Daily Prophet on the news stand they passed. His jaw tensed when he saw you were on the cover yet again. Seems he saw you there several times a year.

The first time he ever saw you on the cover, he had to do a double take. His legs turned to jelly and he immediately bought the first copy he laid eyes on. He would sneak off to stare at your portrait on the paper for months, maybe even over the course of a year truth be told. But the more he saw you grace the cover over the years, he’d eventually grown indifferent to it. It did start to get old after more than a decade of it happening.

What could you have accomplished this time? Perhaps you took down another magical beast fighting ring, discovered another abandoned dragon’s nest still full of eggs, or maybe even became the first ever human leader of a mongrel pack! Garreth didn’t care. All he needed was that little reassurance you were still alive and well and he could move on with his day.

He hoped Matilda didn’t catch it. Much to his chagrin, she was one of your biggest fans. He always… always had to buy the paper for her when you were on it. When he heard her gasp, he squeezed his eyes shut briefly in defeat. Of course she caught it.

“Dad! Can I have some galleons for -”

“Here, love.” He was already reaching into his pocket and handing her some money. He had never been one to say no to her. She gratefully (he liked to think) swiped it from him and took off towards the news stand.

“Come right back to Ollivanders.” He called, waiting back and not wanting to chance reading over the headline.

You stepped out to greet your students for your first beasts class. Who would have thought, even after the career you’ve had, you’d still get nervous?

As you looked out to all the little first years, you were surprised to see them all silent, attentively waiting to hear what you said next. “Well… Hello, everyone. Today, I say we jump into things and start with basic caretaking for each beast here we have in the stables. All we’ll need is a brush and some feed. But before we begin, any questions?”

Hands shot up, way too many hands. “Oh! Ah - yes you?”

“Is it true you took down Bartley Barrin’s graphorn fighting ring?!” A curly haired student that reminded you all too well of Lucan Brattleby asked in amazement.

You raised your brows, not sure if it would be appropriate to answer such questions, especially to your first year class. “Ah, right. We can discuss such things later, I suppose. Outside of class hours. Now, any questions on basic caretaking?”

All the hands slowly went down except for one, enthusiastic, redheaded girl’s. She was reaching her hand up in the air so high you were worried she’d pull a muscle if you didn’t call on her.

“Yes?”

“Should we grab extra feed for the nifflers so they can stow it away for later?”

A smile tugged at your lips. “No need. They’ll get fed multiple times a day just like the other beasts.”

The girl gave a firm nod of her head as if saying got it. Then her eyes widened and she shot her hand up again.

“Go on.” You were trying to bite back your delighted smile. You’ve only had an enthusiastic student for a few minutes and it was already making you giddy. Please let there be more like her.

“Can we use the same brush on all the beasts? Or do we need to grab different sizes?”

“You can certainly use the same brush on all of them, er - What’s your name, dear?”

“Matilda Weasley.” She answered with a gap toothed smile.

You kept a straight face as your insides constricted a bit and you nodded your head. This wasn’t the first Weasley you had encountered since you arrived back at Hogwarts, it was probably the seventh truth be told. Yet you couldn’t stop your mind from reeling.

“Well, it’s nice to meet you, Miss Weasley. I hope you keep this enthusiasm even after you see how grumpy kneazles can be.” You clapped your hands together. “All right then! Everyone grab a brush and some feed and we’ll head over to the stables.”

“Dad!” Matilda burst through the door of J. Pippin’s Potions and ran up to Garreth.

He met her with open arms. “There’s my girl. Sporting the Gryffindor robes too, I see.” He looked at her proudly. But then he furrowed his brows and checked his pocket watch. “What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be at dinner?”

“I ate fast.” She said dismissively. “I wanted to ask if I could have some money to go to Brood & Peck to get my own beasts brush!”

Garreth sighed. “Don’t they have brushes you can use for class, bug?”

“They do, but they lock them away when class isn’t in session. Professor Y/N said I could visit the beasts whenever I wanted in my spare time to -”

“Professor who?”

“Y/N, the beasts professor. Didn’t you read the paper?! Now, as long as I have my own brush, I can stop by even when no one’s able to take out the class brushes from storage so…”

Garreth let Matilda go on as the room started to spin. Shakily, he reached into his back pocket and grabbed some galleons for her. Probably giving her too much for what she wanted at Brood & Peck. But he couldn’t seem to think straight at the moment, and he didn’t need Matilda around to see her dad possibly faint.

“Thank you!” She sang, sprinting out the door.

Garreth leaned himself back against the counter, trying to stay steady. He rubbed at his chest in hopes it would help his heart rate go down. The last he saw you was 12 years ago, when you walked away from him. Not a letter, not a glimpse of you outside the Daily Prophet since.

The Daily Prophet.

Garreth grabbed his coat and keys. Switching the open sign to closed, he locked up and made his way home.

He was greeted by Victoria when he stepped through the door. "What are you doing home so early?" She called from the kitchen.

"Matilda needed something from her room." He threw out as he headed there.

Throwing open her door, his eyes roamed the room quickly in search of the Daily Prophet he had gotten her. He spotted it on her dresser and made a beeline for it.

"Famed Magizoologist Takes Up Teaching…"

He looked over the article explaining your move to becoming the next beasts professor for Hogwarts and the bustling nerves within him wouldn’t let him stay still. You’re here… you’re just down the road.

His body seemed to be moving without thinking. He dropped the paper to the ground and made his way out, headed down the road to Hogwarts.

“All right, that's enough questions for today I think.” You chuckled awkwardly, and the several students that had been asking you endless questions about your poacher hunter days whined.

“I know I know. Now I think it’s best you all be off before curfew anyway. I won’t be so interesting when I have to give you detentions, will I?” You guided the students out of your office.

Once you shut the door behind them and were finally alone, you let out an exhausted sigh. Sure, you were grateful you didn’t have difficulty getting students to listen to you, but you couldn’t have predicted how exhausting their questions would become.

Your “career” wasn’t something you looked back on fondly. You had done a lot of things you couldn’t take back, things you lost sleep over. But pursuing it was all you had.

As you turned to get ready for bed, a knock sounded at your door, tensing you up. You took a deep breath to relax and prepped yourself up a bit. No need to get a reputation as a scowling, moody professor quite yet.

Turning on your heel, you went back to the door. “It’s almost curfew.” You called as you opened the door. “You should -”

Words seemed to escape you, which probably didn’t matter much since your voice did as well. Locking eyes with the green ones before you seemed to have the same effect as petrificus totalus.

Garreth was just as frozen in place as you. He didn’t have a plan for when he faced you again, all he had been set on doing was seeing you in person before him. He had walked up and down the road from Hogwarts to Hogsmeade until the sky went dark. Even after all that time, even after 12 years, he still had no idea what he’d say to you.

After a few moments of silence and the both of you trying to regain composure, you swallowed thickly. “Mr. Weasley.” You nodded your head in some sort of greeting, at least that’s what you thought your head did.

“Professor.” He attempted to greet back. “May I… May I come in?”

Nodding your head, you moved to the side to let him through. He shoved his hands in his pockets as he stepped inside. He needed to or else he’d be a fidgety, thumb twiddling mess.

You closed the door and the both of you stood there in silence for a moment, not sure where to begin in starting a conversation with a history such as yours. “Would you like a drink?” You offered.

“Yes. Thank you.” He answered, looking around your office and living quarters. Any minute now, he’d be able to look your way again. Any minute now…

You went to grab the bottle given to you as a welcome gift when you first arrived to teach at Hogwarts. You were planning on saving it for a special occasion, and you couldn’t think of anything that could top what was happening then.

Pouring for the both of you, you grabbed the glasses and walked over to hand one to him. He gave a polite, if not awkward, smile as he took it from you. Both of you downed it a bit fast. Your frantic nerves helping you push passed the dreadful taste.

“Another?” You asked.

“Please.” You gladly took the glass from him again and he ran a shaky hand through his hair.

You returned with your refilled glasses, and he took his from you, just as appreciative as the first time.

“What brings you here?” You managed to begin.

He looked down at his glass, twirling the liquid around in his hand. “I needed to see you.” He decided to confess.

Your breath hitched and your heart rate picked up. The only response you could manage was a nod of your head and an absent sip of your drink.

He looked up and met your gaze. “Was this stupid of me?”

You shook your head. “No.”

He gave the smallest smile and looked back down at his glass.

“I think I met about ten different Weasleys today.” You casually began with a chuckle, the warmth in your cheeks putting you a bit at ease. “By chance were any of them yours?”

He let out an amused breath through his nose. “My little Matilda just started.”

“Ah, so it was Matilda. I had a suspicion. She’s delightful to have as a student just so you know.”

Garreth began to feel a bit more at ease now too. “I bet you it’s only because you have her for beasts class. Any other subject, you might have struggled to keep her attention.”

You nodded your head. “I may have gotten the sense she loved magical beasts. Just a little though.” You quipped.

Garreth shook his head. “Already asked me for her own beasts brush. I tried to remind her the school had some she could use, but she’s a silver tongue that one.”

You laughed at him then. The thought of Garreth Weasley being such a sucker for his little girl was too sweet not to smile at.

“What?” He asked, an amused smile of his own plastered on his face.

“Look at you, Gar. A proper dad.”

His chest fluttered at you calling him that again, but he shoved it back. “In all its glory.” He took another sip of his drink when his emotions began to swirl. In a perfect world, he would have had children with you. You would have been Matilda’s mother. But he shouldn’t dwell on impossible things like that, he had done enough of that already.

“What are you up to these days?” You asked.

Garreth gave a shrug. “A lot of the same really. Parry Pippin gave me his shop.”

Your eyes widened. “He did? That’s wonderful, Gar!”

There you went, calling him Gar again so effortlessly, blissfully unaware of what it did to him. He took another sip. “Not too bad, yeah? Never felt the need to change the name, thought it worked fine as is.”

“Outgrew ‘Garreth’s Subterranean Concoctions’, did you?”

He grunted and rolled his eyes in response, taking another sip of his drink. But he had to admit, at least to himself, he was a little impressed you remembered. “I decided it was, in fact, too obtuse. But I’d rather talk about you and your adventures. Think I’ve seen you in the Daily Prophet once or twice.”

It was your turn to roll your eyes. “Merlin, don’t remind me. Those journalists are pests. Won’t leave me alone.”

“Can’t really blame them. You’re probably the most interesting magizoologist they’ve encountered. You’re famous now.”

You rubbed at the back of your neck. “I wasn’t trying to be. I think the only plus side is my students seem to be very keen on what I have to say in class.”

“My Matilda’s going to talk your ear off. I hope you’re prepared.”

You smiled again, a warm feeling coming over you. You always knew Garreth would be a doting father. As much as you wanted him to have been the father of your children once upon a time, you couldn’t be mad with where things ended up. He clearly adored his little girl.

“I think you’re underestimating how much I’ll appreciate her enthusiasm.”

“Oh.” He guffawed with a shake of his head. “I don’t think I am.” Another sip. When he realized he finished the last of his drink, he took out his pocket watch and cursed under his breath. “I apologize, I shouldn’t have come to see you so late.”

You waved him off and chugged the last of your drink, going up and taking his glass from him. “You, Mr. Weasley, are welcome any time.” You said as you went to put away the glasses in your kitchen.

He rubbed a hand down his face as you walked him to the door. “Thank you… for tonight. Really.”

You met his serious stare and smiled at him. “Of course, Garreth.”

He smiled back, but it had a hint of sadness to it. Call me Gar one more time. Just once more.

“Goodnight.” He opened the door and went into the night air, giving you a small wave over his shoulder.

“Goodnight.” You called and waved back, then shut the door. You took a deep breath and released it, relieved that your reunion had gone as well as it had. Maybe you could do this. Maybe you could be friends with him again.

Another knock at the door tore you from your hopeful thoughts. You didn’t hesitate to open it back up. “Forget somethi -”

“What’s on your neck?”

You stilled, you had completely forgotten you had it on. You had worn it for over a decade, it basically felt like a part of you now. If you had known he was coming you would have hidden it for the time being, but it hadn’t even crossed your mind until he asked you about it just then.

You were too flustered to answer, and Garreth walked up until he was toe to toe with you. Not taking his eyes off yours, he reached a delicate finger up to tug at the necklace you were wearing. He pulled it up just enough so that it wasn't covered by your shirt anymore. His eyes dropped to what was on it, and he lost all sense of reason. It was the engagement ring he got you. He thought he was seeing things when he caught the briefest glimpse earlier, but he had to be sure. He had to. And now that he was, he knew he was about to do something really stupid.

He looked back up to your eyes, his hand shifted from holding the necklace to cupping your neck, and he slowly leaned down towards you. “You need to tell me to stop.”

You shook your head, your breathing growing heavy. You didn’t want him to stop. You wanted him to close the distance between you so badly, but not like this, not when he had a wife at home. “Go home, Garreth.” You somehow got yourself to whisper, his lips just a breath away from yours.

He stopped. “Alright.” He whispered back and nodded, forcing himself to come to his senses. He kept his eyes on yours as he released you and walked backwards. Once he was far enough, he turned on his heel and strode up the path back to Hogsmeade.

The next day, Garreth headed down to Hogwarts with a crate of overstocked potion ingredients. He remembered how you always asked him for potions back in your school days, surely giving the excess stock to you would be better than tossing it out. Of course, that was, without question, the only reason he was heading to Hogwarts.

He walked along the path towards the beasts class stables, carrying the crate over one shoulder, and he spotted you talking to a student. He walked a bit slower so he could watch you.

You knelt down to the young student’s level and explained something to him. The child was cradling a puffskein in his arms, and you were gesturing to different points on the creature while you spoke. Seeing you interact so well with kids did something to Garreth’s insides.

You glanced in his direction and his throat went dry. You turned back to the student and stood, finishing up your lesson. The student handed you the puffskein and you waved goodbye as he ran off.

You turned towards him, squinting slightly with the sun in your eyes, a smirk tugging at the corner of your lips. “Can I help you, Mr. Weasley?”

He pointed up at the crate on his shoulder. “Was wondering if you wanted some spare ingredients.” He called back.

“I’ll take whatever you can give me. One moment.” You turned to put the puffskein back in the stable.

Garreth shifted on his feet as he waited for you. He tried to keep his gaze on you subtle as you bent over to put down the puffskein and lock up the gate. But once you faced him fully and walked towards him, he eyed you with undivided attention. Merlin, you’re stunning.

“Let me get the door.” You said as you passed him.

He followed close, doing everything he could to not look at your backside in those pants. With a click of your key in the slot, you pushed open the door.

He stepped in and glanced back at you. “Anywhere?”

“Anywhere.”

Garreth went and placed the crate on your desk, taking glances around your hut, getting a scope of the place. Then he went back up to you, bringing himself toe to toe again, just as close as the night before. “I’m off then.”

You took in his freckles for a moment. Surely it was harmless to admire from afar, right? “You’re welcome any time, Mr. Weasley.” You decided to remind him.

He took the briefest glance at your neck, catching you still wearing the necklace with your ring. “Then I’ll be back tomorrow, Professor.” With that, he took his leave.

It had become a daily occurrence for Garreth, walking down to Hogwarts with spare ingredients from the shop. It was the highlight of his day every time. Just getting to be near you and feel that thick as honey tension between you, it was intoxicating.

It had gone on for weeks, and the excitement hadn’t dissipated in the slightest. If anything, it only grew by the day.

His newfound routine had been thrown off when there was a shortage of wiggenweld potions across the valley. He had been the only shop to have stock and he wasn’t able to leave until every last customer was helped.

As soon as everyone had cleared out, he rushed to close up. Throwing the crate with ingredients over his shoulder, he picked up the pace to make it down to you before Hogwarts’ curfew.

He didn’t expect to walk down and see you waiting on the steps of your hut.

His footsteps slowed to a stop as you stood and eyed him. “You're late.” You stated as you went to get the door.

“Busy day.” He replied as he came up behind you and stepped inside. Walking past you, he went to your desk as he usually did, but stopped and turned when he heard you close the door and lock it.

He met your gaze as you took determined steps towards him. “Put it down.”

Garreth recognized that look in your eye, even if it had been over a decade since he’d seen it. He dropped the crate to the ground, the wood breaking and the ingredients scattering across the floor. He closed the distance between you two, grabbing the back of your neck and pulling your lips to his.

Your hands reached up and gripped the fabric of his shirt, holding him against you just as you had dreamed to these past 12 years.

The two of you licked and bit and sucked at each other's lips in an attempt to fill this insatiable need between you, gasps and sighs escaping. Garreth gripped at your thighs, picking you up and hoisting your legs around him. He carried you to your desk, the two of you urgently shoving off everything that covered it as he sat you on top of it.

With hurried hands, you went for each others’ pants, unbuttoning and pulling down the fabric that separated you both. As soon as he had access, his tip was at your entrance. You shifted so he could enter you, moans coming from both of you as he did.

His thrusts were hard and spaced out as soon as he was in you again. He couldn’t let himself go fast. No, he needed to savor every second of this. The two of you kept your eyes locked on one another as he pounded into you.

When your head began to fall back, he cupped your face, keeping you upright. “Keep looking at me.”

Your hands shot to the back of his head and held tight to his locks as he thrusted into you. He crashed his lips back onto yours, your tongues battling for dominance, and his release was coming fast.

He reached up for the top of your shirt, tearing the top few buttons open, breaking them off and sending them flying. He broke your kiss and looked down at your necklace, the ring in full view before him. Grunts escaped him as his thrusts came faster and he plunged into you until completion.

Both of you breathing hard, you remained holding one another. He rested his head on your shoulder as he caught his breath. You seemed to come out of the blissful haze before he did, but when you shifted to get up he held you in place.

“No.” He said. “No, please. Can we stay like this a little longer?”

The desperation in his voice matched the desperation you felt. But this was a mistake, you shouldn’t have initiated as you had. You should have let him drop off the ingredients and go. But you shut the door and locked the both of you in, selfishly taking him as if he were still yours.

“I’m sorry.” You breathed as you shifted away from him and off the desk. “I shouldn’t have… Forgive me, this is all my fault.” Your voice was strained as you went to grab your discarded pants.

Garreth pulled up his own pants as well, numbly looking at the wall before him. He wanted your warmth against him again, he didn’t think he’d ever be able to get his fill of it. “I’m just as much to blame.”

“I think -” You took a shaky breath and went for the door when you were both clothed again. “I think I’m fine on ingredients. Thank you for everything.”

Garreth’s face went stoic, and he took his leave without looking at you. “You’re welcome.”

You and Garreth kept your distance from each other throughout the following months. But he still kept an eye out for you throughout Hogsmeade. He allowed himself to look, but the temptation to touch never faded.

After a rather taxing day at the shop he decided to pop into Three Broomsticks, he tensed when he saw you at a table in the back talking with Brood & Peck’s new worker. He had seen the fellow around and heard some things about him. He had quite the adventurous background, just like you.

Garreth tried to keep the scowl off his face as he enjoyed a drink or two… or three.

Throughout the night, Garreth spoke amicably with everyone seated next to him at the bar. He’d sip at his drink as he took casual glances your way. You had been talking with that blockhead all night, smiling at him, acting smitten. He hid it well, but it was sending him up the wall.

He caught that you finally said goodbye to the man and took your leave. He downed the last of his drink and left after you. He could probably blame it on the alcohol in his system, but in truth, it was just how crazy you made him.

Coming up behind you, he grabbed your arm and pulled you into a dark, nearby alleyway.

“Hey! Garreth, what in Merlin’s name are you doing?" You took rapid glances around to make sure no one could see you two.

Pinning you between him and the wall, he pressed himself against you. You were taken aback, but immediately compliant. You looked up at him as he put a firm hold on your neck, feeling the chain of your necklace under his fingers.

A thrilling sensation coursed through you and you were eager to see what he would do next, ignoring all the screaming voices in your head to not let it go any further.

He leaned down and bit at your bottom lip, then placed his forehead against yours. “Trying to replace me?”

You didn’t respond, only looked into his darkened eyes with yours as your breathing picked up. Keeping his hand on your throat, he slid his free hand down the front of your pants, immediately going for your folds.

“Go ahead. Just try.” He moved his fingers against your slit and greedily took your lips with his.

You kissed him back with just as much hunger, but you got yourself to turn away and push feebly at his chest. “Garreth… We can’t -” A whimper escaped you at his touch, and he plunged his first finger into you.

“I had to watch you with him all night.” He spoke in a low tone next to your ear.

You bit your lip and your hands slid up from his chest to grip his shoulders. He took that as his chance to slip another finger in.

“Does he know what’s around your neck?” His fingers moved faster. “Hm?”

You narrowed your eyes at him, wanting to slap him, but also wanting him to continue taking you as he was.

“Fuck, I like the way you’re looking at me.” He breathed. He had never taken control like this before, and it was a power trip he never knew he wanted to experience.

Your breathing was becoming shallow as he kept up his movements. “Don’t stop.” You panted in his ear as you threw your arms around him, holding him even closer.

“I’ll stop when I want to stop.”

The combination of his rough fingers and the way he was speaking had you delirious, the fire in your abdomen now an inferno. You were a furnace completely at his mercy and it was everything.

When your heavy breathing melted into moans, Garreth shifted back a bit, moving the hand that was on your throat and placing it over your mouth. “Keep fucking quiet.” He commanded in a hushed tone. But his fingers moved faster within you, almost challenging himself to get you to scream out.

He glanced down at his hand in your pants then back up to your face, and caught your half-lidded, pleasure filled eyes. His knees nearly buckled at the sight, but he stood strong. He could tell you were close, and more than anything he wanted to get you there, be the only person who ever did for the rest of your lives.

Your eyes began to roll into the back of your head and he removed his hand from your mouth, capturing your lips with his. He was going to swallow every cry and mewl he got out of you.

When your walls stopped contracting over his fingers, he slowly slid them out of you. His hands went to your hips and he rested his forehead against yours. As you caught your breath, the two of you had left your hate-fuck filled state and somehow shifted to something else.

“Tell me you still love me.” He exhaled, trying to stay steady. “Tell me you still love me like I love you.”

You took in his freckles with him being this close, just like you had always done. “Of course I still love you. You’re all I have left.”

His throat constricted. “Then why did you leave?”

Your arms snaked around his shoulders. “Garreth…”

“You didn’t even leave a note.” He shook his head slightly, the tears began to sting at his eyes. “You left me with nothing. We could have figured something out. We could have -”

You pulled his head down to your shoulder, cradling him there. He wrapped his arms around your waist, holding you tight to him.

“Please just… tell me why you left without giving me a chance. I know I didn’t deserve it. I know that. But I have to know what was going through your head.”

You let out a shaky breath, keeping your own tears at bay. “There wasn’t a place for me there.”

He tightened his hold on you and buried his face into the crook of your neck.

“It didn’t feel like my home anymore. That house was for you and your family.”

“You were my family.” He argued against your neck. “We were going to get married.”

“But we weren’t yet. And you had a baby on the way, Garreth.” You sighed. “I thought about coming back so many times. I did once.”

Garreth pulled back slightly, furrowing his brows and meeting your eyes. “When?”

“About a year after I left.” You admitted. “Your aunt had passed and I wanted to visit her grave. Told myself I was going to let you go and give you back the ring while I was at it. Then I saw you sitting outside your house holding little Matilda.” You smiled a bit thinking back on it. “You looked tired, but so happy. I felt like I’d only intrude, so I left.”

Garreth thought about it, and he didn’t know what he’d do if you decided to meet with him. He had come to terms with it all by then, marrying Victoria, having Matilda, losing you. He might have been able to stand tall. But then again, he went mad just seeing your picture in the Daily Prophet for the first time.

“And the ring? After all this time?”

You shook your head. “I can’t seem to let you go.”

You held each other in the alley like lovesick teenagers who snuck out in the night. He kissed you then, but without the aggression or urgency. For the first time since he’d had you in his arms again, his lips were tender on yours.

Just like it had when you were seeing each other over a decade ago, time seemed to fly by. Months had passed since he began sneaking away to see you, taking a quick floo to your hut and locking yourselves away for a few stolen moments. Moments where you two would be entwined. He’d be on top of you, under you, any position he could manage while he was inside you. Sometimes you’d make love, sometimes you’d fuck. It was all perfect to him.

That potions shop keeper is having an affair with the beasts professor at Hogwarts. Garreth imagined people around Hogsmeade would say. But your meetups were the best kept secret he had ever had. No one ever suspected a thing.

Sure it was a bit thrilling to have secrets, but all that mattered was that he had you again. He couldn’t ask for anything more.

Except for maybe a divorce. He felt awful running around on Victoria as he was. She was a fine wife, a fine mother. But he hadn’t felt that spark of life he always had with you. The moment he saw you standing in person before him again, he knew his marriage was over. He had nothing more to offer her.

It had weighed heavily on Garreth. Separating wouldn’t exactly be easy to do legally, or cheap. But he’d push through, whatever it took to get the life he had been aching for since the moment you left.

He hadn’t touched Victoria since you came back. She had tried, and he’d been dismissive. Even spending a good amount of his nights sleeping at the shop. She had sensed his distance easily, and eventually gave up on trying. He hoped she found a lover too.

He’d go easy on Matilda and break the news to her when the time came. He reasoned her being away at Hogwarts a majority of the year now would give her enough space from it all. There was never a good time for parents to separate, only the sooner the better at this point.

Matilda hadn’t attended beasts class that day. You would assume she was out sick, but something felt off. Every time she was sick she would still make her way to beasts class, and you’d always have to tell her she could catch up after hours and to go get some rest. But she hadn’t even shown up that day, and it set all your alarm bells off.

“You’re not in trouble, I promise you.” You assured the student you overheard mentioning her name. “Just tell me where she said she’d be.”

“W - Well, she mentioned a place called Henrietta’s Hideout? Hideaway? Said she needed to find a runaway niffler.”

Your blood had gone cold. Henrietta’s Hideaway was beyond dangerous for anyone, let alone a child. It had been riddled with traps and dark wizards when you and Garreth went exploring there, when you were particularly young and stupid. “Are you sure?”

The student nodded his head, clearly nervous.

You turned on your heel, immediately heading to the nearest floo.

Matilda felt in her gut coming to Henrietta’s Hideaway would be dangerous, but she ignored that feeling and ventured forth anyway. The thought of leaving Agnes Coffey’s pet niffler to roam here and get killed made her sick to her stomach. She couldn’t sit by and let it be. She couldn’t.

She had managed to find the niffler, Rococo, but getting back out alive was starting to feel impossible. There were traps everywhere, and she didn’t know how to cast disillusionment on anything else other than herself. Rococo would give her away to the surrounding dark wizards for certain.

As she stood there, hiding herself and cradling the niffler in her arms, her hope slipped away every time she peeked around the corner. Each time it seemed like the amount of dark wizards lurking around went up. She let herself panic, but she didn’t let herself cry.

She startled when she started to hear spell blasts. Hearing the alarm in the dark wizards’ voices as they started casting spells back, Matilda held tight to the niffler and slid down the wall she was leaning against. She was finally starting to feel like the child she was.

She needed to get out of there, she needed her father. He could save her, he always had. She squeezed her eyes shut and closed out the world around her, the tears started to come then.

Because her fear had taken over, she didn’t even notice when everything went quiet. She continued to hold tight to the whining niffler and keep her eyes closed when you approached.

“Matilda? Matilda, it’s me. Everything’s alright now. Come with me, dear.” You knelt to her level and spoke in a hushed tone.

She slowly looked up hearing your voice, her eyes widening. Letting herself sob then, she threw an arm around you while still holding tight to the niffler.

She threw you off balance slightly but you kept upright and held her back. “I got you.” You soothed and slowly brought both of you to your feet. “Let’s get going.” You pulled back, keeping a hold on her shoulders. You looked into her eyes, trying to get her steady again. “I need that Gryffindor bravery, alright?” You gave her a reassuring smile.

She wiped at her eyes quickly and gave you a firm nod. “A - Alright.”

The two of you moved forward out of Henrietta’s Hideaway. You tried to remember what the trap mechanisms looked like when you were there back in your school days. Dark Wizards you could handle. Nearly invisible traps? Those could sneak up on anyone.

You and Matilda caught sight of the entrance and she was immediately filled with optimism and relief. “There!” She shouted and began sprinting.

“Matilda, slow down!” You called, keeping up with her as best you could.

You caught it at the last second. The tile Matilda stepped on made a clicking sound, and sank just slightly under the pressure of her foot.

“Matilda!” You shouted and shoved her out of the way. You weren’t sure what the trap being set off would do, but something moved into your abdomen, a strong pressure hitting you immediately. It didn’t hurt at first, but it had a solid hold on you. You couldn’t move. Then whatever was in your abdomen slipped out, the blood and the pain started to come. It was a spike, triggered by the plate Matilda had stepped on.

The realization started to kick in then. You did your best to keep your breathing even and not scare Matilda. This was it. This was the misstep that got you, wasn’t it? You could feel it. You weren’t going to be alive after today.

“Matilda.” You began as calmly as you could. “Go… Go get your father. He can help me, he’ll know what to do.” You sat down on the ground, clutching your stomach, slowing the bleeding to buy yourself time. “Watch your step as you go.”

Matilda was scared seeing your wound bleeding as harshly as it was, but she was able to stand strong at your handling of it. You were her hero after all. Of course you could handle something like this, no problem. She nodded her head vigorously and ran out.

You tried to keep your breathing even, last long enough to see Garreth one last time.

“Dad!” Matilda burst through the shop door. Garreth caught her panic in an instant and didn’t hesitate to run up to her. Grabbing her by the shoulders, he looked her over quickly, ignoring the niffler in her arms.

“What is it?! What’s wrong?!” He cupped her cheek when he noticed some of the scrapes on her face. “Let me get a wiggenweld.” He turned to get it but she grabbed his wrist.

“No time! It’s Professor Y/N. I - I was at Henrietta’s Hideaway and she helped get me out of there. She saved me from a trap but she’s hurt, dad. She - She said to get you. Said you’d be able to help.”

Garreth’s eyes widened, nostrils flaring. Henrietta’s Hideaway? “What in Merlin’s name were you doing all the way out there?!” Not waiting for her answer, he ran for the door. “Wiggenweld! Now!” He snapped before he was out of sight and at the nearest floo flame. As soon as he returned with you, he’d give Matilda an earful.

Garreth called your name as he carefully stepped into the hideaway. It had been so long since the two of you had explored there. He had no doubt it was still as dangerous as it was back then, the both of you had barely made it out in one piece even with how capable the two of you were.

He heard you cough. He turned your direction and his heart dropped at the sight.

You were sitting on the ground in a pool of blood, back up against a rock, hand clutched over your abdomen attempting to stop the bleeding. Garreth strode up and knelt before you. “We have to get you out of here.” He swallowed thickly once he got a closer look at the wound and noticed the loss of color in your skin. A sickening thought took hold of him.

Are you dying?

“No, I -” You hissed in pain. “I’m not going to make it out of here, Gar.”

He had never heard your voice so weak, dread started to set in. No, you’re not dying. You survive everything. You can’t die. “We’ve got to try. I can carry you.”

He wanted to scream when you only shook your head at him. “Be with me.” You reached for his hand.

His nostrils flared, his breathing starting to come out uneven as he tried to shove the panic down. “I’m getting you to St. Mungo’s.” As carefully as he could, he attempted to lift you. But your cries of pain stopped him. He shifted just enough so he was on the ground with you, holding you in his arms, your blood coating his clothes. The helplessness he felt was crippling.

“Tell me what to do.” He pleaded. “You always have a plan. Tell me what I need to do.” Garreth was crumbling, the pieces of him falling too quickly to catch.

You rested your head against his chest and looked up at him as he looked around the cave frantically. “Be with me. Please, Gar.”

He shook his head. “I just got you back.” His voice cracked, his throat constricting. “Please… Please don’t leave me. I can’t do it. I can’t lose you again.”

You weakly reached up and tugged at your necklace. “You never lost me.”

Garreth looked down at the ring he gave you and the tears stung at his eyes, ready to fall. You let go of the necklace and cupped his cheek, looking at him with so much love, he didn’t feel worthy of any of it.

He reached up and held your hand against his cheek. “You saved my girl.” He whispered, more grateful than you’d ever know.

“You know me. Always have to be the hero.” You quipped, your voice so weak it nearly came out as a wheeze. “I wish we met in first year.”

He squeezed his eyes shut, nodding his head, tears falling.

“It was always you, Gar.”

He shifted you in his arms, holding you tighter. “And it was always you.”

“You and me.” You smiled, your voice getting quieter.

“You and me.”

As you looked up at him and he looked back down at you, you seemed to stop breathing, seemed to go perfectly still. He said your name, but no response. He said it one more time, waiting for something, anything at all. But nothing.

He pulled you up more against him, resting his cheek against the top of your head, and let the rest of the tears come.

Come back to me.

The day of your funeral, he’d barely been able to speak, his voice would betray him each time. Nobody expected him to speak much anyway. After all, who was he to you? He wasn’t blood, he wasn’t your husband. At most he was an old friend, as far as everyone knew. No one would ever know what he truly was to you, would they? If he thought he felt loss when you left him all those years ago, it was nothing compared to what he felt then.

You were gone, for good this time. The permanence of it made his chest ache with an unbearable emptiness. It seemed every breath he took, he needed to guide himself through it. In, out. In, out. In, out.

Even after everyone left, he remained with your grave. As he stood there, looking down at your tombstone, he realized this was all he could have with you for the rest of his life.

He tried to think about your smile, your laugh, picture you there still with him. But as soon as he’d fall into the memory, a little voice in the back of his head reminded him it wasn’t real. Then your laugh in his head went silent, and he’d be brought back to reality in front of your tombstone.

Someone had walked up and looked down at your grave with him. “Seems I’m late.”

Garreth glanced up briefly and saw Sebastian Sallow beside him, looking down uneasily. “Afraid so.”

He had never liked Sallow. The lad would be fine in Garreth’s eyes if he hadn’t been so hopelessly in love with you back at Hogwarts. He had been sane before you showed up, but as soon as you arrived, something about you drove the poor fool mad. He had to stop him from following you around and begging you to reconsider your rejection too many times to count.

“Merlin, this can’t be real. She was supposed to outlive us all.” He whispered in disbelief. “When was the last time you spoke to her?”

Garreth blinked away the memory, trying to get the image of your bloody, lifeless form in his arms out of his head. “Not long before she passed. You?”

“I’d say about five years ago. Last I saw her, she was walking out my door, breaking my heart once again.”

Garreth wasn’t sure if he wanted to know the answer, but he asked anyway. “You two…?”

Sebastian glanced up at him, then looked back down with a shake of his head. “Not really. I mean we tried for a while. But she was never able to love me like I loved her.” Sebastian let out a shaky sigh. “Untameable that one.”

Garreth could only nod his head. That you were.

“I really thought I had a chance after you.” Sebastian huffed humorlessly. “But if it wasn’t going to be you, I don’t think it was going to be anybody.”

Garreth swallowed the lump in his throat and knew it was time to be alone. He gave Sebastian’s shoulder a cordial pat as he passed. “Good seeing you again, Sallow.”

Garreth sat before the fire, and let himself wallow in his own whiskey fueled pity. How many times had he let you down throughout knowing each other? How many times had he failed you when you two were right on track to live happily ever after?

There was nothing he could do now, was there? The only thing left to do was mourn. So he thought back on his life with you again. Maybe, if he was lucky, he could see you again in his dreams tonight.

#garreth weasley #garreth weasley smut #garreth weasley x reader #garreth weasley x you #garreth weasley imagine #garreth weasley angst #weasley wednesday

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artistsfuneral · 10 months

Text

(this contains graphic description of violence and is absolutely skippable if that's not your thing!)

the VOTE and FANART are UNDER the cut because of this

✨🌿🌼✨

The Road to Kaer Morhen - p.6

“Gentlemen,” he greeted the soldiers with a face-splitting grin and a courtly bow of his head. “It appears, there has been a misunderstanding.” The men stared at him, unmoving, tense. Behind them Aiden was still caught in his rage, not able to recognize Jaskier by his scent or sound anymore. “Why don't we all just sit down and talk about this like civilized people? I'm sure we can find some common ground.”

The bard's smile never wavering, he took a step forward only for the five soldiers to draw their swords at him. Steel for humans, Geralt's voice echoed in his thoughts as if any of that mattered. Silver had never stopped Jaskier before. Holding his hands up in what he knew was commonly understood as a surrendering gesture, he cocked his head to the side, watching as the archer reached behind his back for his bow. “How about some tea? I have this lovely mixture of zerrikanian spices that goes great with the apples you can buy around here. Oh, that reminds me! I wanted to keep some for apple cakes! Which would mean we can't use all of the tea, but surely some of you would prefer chamomile anyways, there's always one person that-”

“Shut the fuck up!”

Jaskier's mouth snapped shut with an audible click of his teeth. His initial smile had fallen off his lips as he stared at the man that had interrupted him with pure bewilderment. “Well that was incredibly rude. You are not getting any tea from me now.”

“I told you to shut the fuck up!” The same soldier as before yelled at him, spitting towards Jaskier's boots as he did so. The bard pulled a face in disgust.

“In the name of the crown of Redania, you are under arrest to be executed in the capitol!”

The forest was quiet around them, silent except for the wind in the trees and the metallic sound of the redanian soldiers readying themselves to arrest him.

The bard stared at them unblinking.

“Drop to your knees, this instance!” another soldier ordered harshly.

Jaskier's head fell back as he started to cackle loudly. The sound coming from deep inside his chest and forcing way through his throat like creature of its own.

“I don't think so, darling.”

Jaskier took a deep breath and exhaled it as the world slowed down around him.

They had hurt Aiden. Five soldiers in front of him, despicable creatures, faceless and worthless. Throats easily accessible from above. Exposed ankles. An unprotected back.

The Archer; almost too easy to kill.

A sixth trying to sneak up on him from behind. Useless.

His pack and lute slipped from his shoulders. The dull thumb cushioned by the forest floor. Aiden cried out in pain.

Jaskier inhaled and spun his body around, faster than any witcher ever could. His short sword was off his belt and in the man's eye socked before the soldier could even react. It popped with a horrible squelching sound that turned into the cracking of bones as the blade dove deeper and deeper into his skull. He was dead before his scream could form in his chest. Jaskier took hold of the man's throat and pulled his sword out, blood and chunky bits of soft tissue being forced out of his skull. He had been the one that made fun of the scar in Aiden's beautiful face. Now his body dropped to the ground lifelessly. Jaskier released his breath.

An arrow seared past his head and struck the bark of a tree not an arms length behind Jaskier. The archer's face lost all color as he watched the body of his fellow soldier hit the dirt floor. Freezing blue eyes fixated on their new target. Pulling a knife out of his blood splattered sleeves, Jaskier mourned the death of his favorite teal doublet and threw the barbed knife at the archer. He dropped to his knees like a puppet who's strings had been cut, cradling his stomach as a fearful scream broke from his lips. They always screamed in the end.

Running towards the next soldier, Jaskier couldn't help but to roll his eyes when the archer pulled the knife out, gutting himself in the progress.

The horses whinnied in panic, fighting against the reigns. Aiden snarled.

The soldier closest to him raised his arm high above his head, ready to strike down at the bard. Jaskier scoffed. Angling his own short sword upwards he closed the distance between himself and the other man and stabbed him right into the pit of his raised arm. The tip of his blade tore through flesh and bone until it hit the underside of the soldier's shoulder guard. Jaskier's opponent let out a primal howl as he dropped his sword to the slowly reddening forest floor. The bard ignored him, jerking his blade back out with brute force and kicking him to the side, eyes already focused on the next one.

Their swords met, loudly crashing against each other. The screeching sound of steel carving into steel seemed dull to Jaskier's ears. He inhaled and the world slowed down once more. He easily parried the next attack, taking hold of the man's elbow and twisting both of their bodies around, so they were chest to chest. As a result the redanian soldier that had tried to surprise Jaskier from behind found his sword stuck in his comrade's back. Jaskier slit the wounded's throat without hesitating and shoved his dying body towards the other soldier who easily crumbled under the unexpected weight. Mercilessly, the bard jumped on top of the fallen man's chest, breaking his rips and crushing his organs within seconds. This one had dislocated both of Aiden's shoulders for fun. Now he was choking on his own blood. He deserved worse.

Jaskier snarled and took hold of a stray sword, ramming it into a whimpering mess of human flesh on the ground. Two left. His face-splitting smile was back.

Aiden woke to the familiar taste of swallow in his mouth and a pounding headache. His first attempt to open his eyes failed miserably, the midday sun so bright it hurt enough to make him hiss out loud. It still hurt like a bitch the second time, but Aiden was now prepared for it and could work through the awful sensation, thinning his pupils through sheer will.

He found himself lying on the floor, free of chains and rope and with his wounds slowly mending themselves together thanks to the potion. The bard was kneeling right next to him and when he noticed that the Cat had woken up, his cornflower blue eyes softened with relief. During the last month Aiden had been in this exact same situation often enough that he could call it familiar. And yet something in the back of his mind was gnawing at him like a feral dog. “Thank goodness, you're awake again. You honestly had me worried there for a moment! Didn't I explicitly told you not to get caught?” Jaskier scolded him lightheartedly as he helped him to sit up. Nothing about the bard's gentle scent or the typically playful behavior warned the witcher about what he was moments away from seeing.

Aiden's breath caught in his throat as he took in the fucking massacre around them.

The corpses of the redanian soldiers that had overpowered him a few hours earlier littered the floor, broken and mangled as if they'd been mauled by a full pack of werewolves. The stench of blood and death was overwhelming and yet, Jaskier was completely unharmed.

His hands and face were covered in drying blood, as well as his boots and the rest of his clothes, but the bard himself had not a single scratch on him as far as Aiden could tell. “I thought about searching through the camp, see if I can find anything worthwhile, but I wanted to be here for you when you wake up. I hate waking up alone, but the troop leader had a sword that could possibly replace your broken one and hopefully we can find some spare clothes and other useful stuff. If we take their horses with us we can carry a bit more,” Jaskier babbled happily on, completely oblivious to the witcher's inner turmoil. “Not like they need the horses anymore,” he laughed.

Aiden grabbed him by the wrist, finger nails digging into Jaskier's blood-caked skin.

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echo-goes-mmm · 9 months

Text

Ambrose and Elliot #3

Masterpost

Warnings: self-deprecation

The morning came too soon. Sunlight streamed through the window, casting its beams over the smooth wood floor. He rolled over, pressing his face into the pillow. But last night’s promise of breakfast kept him from falling back asleep. Instead, he slowly sat up. His eyes fell onto a water pump and a large basin across the room.

Clearly for bathing, but it was odd to see it inside. Especially on the second floor. Maybe the keeper was wealthy?

There was a simple shelf on the wall above the bath. On it sat a small jar, probably traveler’s soap, and a faded towel.

A wash sounded nice, but it was out of the question. He couldn’t risk getting his hair wet and removing the dye he’d painstakingly rubbed into his hair. Blackberries were out of season now, and he’d have to come up with something else on the road soon enough.

His stomach growled. Clearly it had not forgotten about eating breakfast. “If I feed you too much, you might get used to it,” Master had once said. He was right.

He couldn't risk getting spoiled, and he didn't deserve it anyway.

No use putting off any longer. The keeper wanted to see him and hopefully wouldn't punish him for his laziness.

With some effort, he swung his legs over the side of the bed. Exhaustion was already seeping back into his bones. Hair brushed against the back of his neck. He cringed. It was so long now. He wished for a knife to cut it short. Master had liked it shoulder-length. Easy to grab and yank and-

He pulled his hood back up. Breakfast. Right. No more thinking. He wasn’t very good at it anyway.

The stairs were at the end of the hall. Open doors lined the walkway. He wasn’t surprised to see all the other rooms empty and unused. The tavern was out of the way, even for him. The village looked small through the dim light of evening. It looked even smaller through the stairwell window.

The tavern was well kept. A cheery green plant sat on the windowsill. Maybe sage? He headed downstairs and rounded the corner. His heart beat against his ribs. His lungs refused to take proper breaths.

“Good morning,” called the keeper from the bar, “please, sit down. Anywhere you like.” The keeper walked off to presumably the kitchen.

He sat at the closest table, thankfully against another window. There wasn’t any dust on the sill. Breathe, he reminded himself.

A tray laden with dishes clattered in front of him. He jumped.

“I apologize. I didn’t mean to startle you,” said the keeper, taking the place across from him. “Do you like biscuits?” the keeper smiled sheepishly.

“Um. Yes. Yes, sir.” He looked up at the innkeeper, and down at the tray. There was just so much. There was a cup of warm tea, a plate of biscuits, a saucer of jam and another of butter, a plate of sausages, and even an apple. It was green, his favorite kind.

The keeper had his hands wrapped around his own cup of tea, but that was all.

“You don’t need to call me Sir.” softly spoke the keeper.

“S- sorry.” he said, because “I can’t really control it” would raise too many questions.

“It’s all right. You can call me Ambrose. Go ahead and have as much as you’d like. I’ve already eaten.”

Ambrose was a pretty strange name for a commoner. But there were more important things to worry about.

The biscuits were still warm, fluffy and amazing. The jam was a tart blackberry and the tea (chamomile) was perfectly steeped. The sausages were slightly spiced but ultimately delicious. He managed not to scarf it all down, but barely. He slipped the apple into his pocket.

The kee- Ambrose- watched him eat and occasionally sipped at his tea. It felt different than when Master watched him so closely. Soon enough the plates were clear. He felt the urge to lick the remaining butter out of its dish. His stomach had never been so happy. But now came the hard part.

He glanced up at his host. Ambrose was clearly taller than him by at least a head. His hair was blonde and cut clean and short. His eyes were green like summer leaves. He looked away. Ambrose’s certainly looked nice, but he knew that didn’t mean anything. No matter how kind somebody was, it never extended to him.

“Might I ask your name?” gently probed Ambrose. Shit. How did he not think of a name? Gods he was dumb. What name would Ambrose want?

“Uh, I- I- don't. Um-” he stumbled.

Ambrose frowned a little, the corner of his mouth twitching downwards.

“Sorry! I’m sorry Sir, I- please don’t” as Ambrose moved, surely to hit him- but Ambrose’s hands only set his cup to the side.

“It’s all right. I shouldn’t have asked. You’re-” Ambrose paused. “You’re hiding from someone, aren’t you?”

His face burned, and he ducked his head. An admission of guilt. But didn’t Ambrose already know that?

“I’m truly sorry about last night,” Ambrose continued, “I shouldn’t have said something so vague. There’s a mail system all large inns and taverns have access to. For weather and dangers along the road, mostly. We use messenger birds, you see. The larger establishments send flocks out at a time, a bird for each middle sized place along the road. Those pass the news to smaller inns, and so on. I’m sure you can imagine how late I get news,” he grinned.

“Cleary at Riverstone Lodge likes to send me gossip when she can spare a bird. She sent me a note about some mudslides in the mountain passes, and mentioned ‘a traveler who traded me some sweeping for a night’s stay’. When you, well, asked for a ‘deal’, I knew it was you.”

He stared at Ambrose. He didn’t quite understand the apology part, but another question tugged at his brain.

“Did she, um. Say anything else about me?”

Ambrose shook his head.

He sighed in relief, his shoulders slumping.

“Whoever you’re hiding from,” said Ambrose carefully, “I doubt they know where you are. I assume they live far from here?”

“Yes, Sir.”

“And how long have you been traveling? If you don’t mind me asking.”

“Um. Four months? I’m not sure..” he trailed off, staring into space. It felt like years.

Ambrose nodded, seemingly to himself.

“You should stay a while. The room is yours for as long as you like.” His head jerked to look at Ambrose.

“Really?” he whispered.

“Certainly. No one has to know why you’re here.”

“But I- I can’t pay for it. I can’t cost you more money, Sir,” he protested.

“It won’t cost me anything,” Ambrose shrugged. He took the tea in hand again and took a sip. “Those rooms are empty nine out of ten nights. Most of my business is from locals looking for a pint and a bite to eat after a long day. The meals will be negligible.”

He took a deep breath. "I.. don't understand."

“Well I can’t let you starve! You’re my guest. I’d be a poor host not to provide something to eat, wouldn’t I?” Ambrose smiled at him.

“Thank you,” his vision began to swim, “thank you, Sir. I’ll be good, I promise, I swear!”

“Is… is there something I can call you? It doesn’t have to be your real name.”

He sniffed and wiped the tears away from his eyes.

“Um. Maybe- maybe Elliot? If you like it, Sir.” He cringed a little. It was the first one he thought of, and probably sounded stupid.

“That sounds lovely. It’s nice to meet you, Elliot.”

Thank the gods.

Taglist: @cupcakes-and-pain @secretwhumplair

#whump #my writing #Ambrose and Elliot #slavery whump

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ashvii · 10 months

Text

“Darling Diamond”

Wc: 1.4K

Pairing: Ellie Williams x Fem!reader

Summary: Ellie Williams was gonna get over it, after all. A princess could never love a thief.

Ash talks: Hi! So this has been in my works folder 4ever and I’m finally happy with it. I’m probs going to write more for this but I might not post it because I think this will be an acquired taste. However I like it and I want more Ellie au’s. FEED ME. Also I can do a gh version if someone doesn’t want to read the fem one! ❤️❤️

Cw/tw: fem!reader, light violence, talk of old politics ig? Death, Language, stealing, touchy reader, use of y/n, angst, pet names, cheeky reader, not proofread

You were the jewel of the realm, beloved by all of your people. Your father said it was because of how beautiful you were. Gazing at you with a proud glint in his eye, straightening your emerald crown. Your mother waited until he left to attend meetings so she could lean to your ear and tell you it was because of your kindness. Everytime she told you such, you would smile and kiss her cheek before gathering your dress and rushing to your room for a tea party with your lady in waiting and maid.

Ellie was an orphan thief, she was sneaky and calculated even as a child. Just trying to make it through life on her own with nobody to take care of her. So she took care of herself however she had to. That was up until she met Dina and Jesse. She saw them enter her small village with a group, their posture attempting to make them look smaller. She watched as they asked for directions to the capitol city before she volunteered to take them herself.

“It's okay we don't want to trouble you-” Dina started to refuse “I'm heading up there to visit a friend anyway,” she had said in rebuttal. They were her ticket to the big leagues, Ellie wanted out of the kingdom, not only that but she wanted to take down the monarchy. She managed to convince them to trust her quite easily. Jesse slipped up several times throughout the long walk, leading to Dina giving up and allowing Ellie to leave with them after several rounds of back and forth.

Dinas parents were smugglers before they died which got her into the business and Jesse's were heads of the biggest rebellion against the king. After that first mission they became a team. Ellie did any jobs involving violence, they were her specialty really (that or intimidation). Dina came up with the plans and arranged things. Whereas Jesse had the connections. It was perfect really, they were making progress towards their goals. Ellie had a roof over her head, friends, food, and she still got the high from taking down such despicable and powerful people.

Ellie had known you before she left, you two met several times throughout your younger years. When your mother would take you around the kingdom to get out of the palace and feel some freedom, (not that you weren't grateful). You had the tendency to run off as a little girl, often getting lost, causing fuss over the missing princess. When you first met her the both of you were 13 and you had wandered off again. You had witnessed her trying to take an apple from a merchant, unfortunately for her the merchant saw it too and gripped her wrist before she could run.

“What just do you think you are doing here missy? Tryin’ to rob me hu’?” The scraggly man grumbled, pulling her closer. “Let me go you old fuck!” Ellie tried to pull herself away and as the man raised his hand to smack her you ran over. “Sir! I'm so sorry for her, i'll pay double. Please don't hurt her.” You placed the money on his stand, placing one hand on Ellie's waist, the other on your concealed dagger. Fully prepared to run or protect this girl if the man was feeling unforgiving.

He released her wrist making you grip her hips tighter and pull her body to the side, but not before squeezing her hip bone to assure her. Grumbling, he picked up the coins and started counting. He made eye contact with you two, narrowing his one good eye “Well? What ya’ waitn’ for? Scram!” he made a shoeing motion as you pushed Ellie forward by her hips, only stopping once you reached the woods outside of her village.

You finally looked at her face and saw her for the first time. You scanned over her freckles, noticing her eyes that looked at you widely, the color of the jewels on the tiara that waited for you at the castle. You gripped her face with both hands, twisting and turning her to check for injuries. “Are you alright? I'm sorry I grabbed you like that. I was quite worried he was going to hurt you.” She snapped back to reality when she determined you had spoken.

Blinking, she hummed before mumbling a small “why would you do that?” Your eyebrows furrowed and she caught herself getting lost in your features. The curve of your jaw, the soft color of your eyes. “What do you mean why would I, he was going to hurt you.” she heard the disbelief in your tone before she saw it in your eyes.

You looked at her with such care it stunned her. All anyone had ever looked at Ellie Williams with was disgust, anger, or pure hatred. She wasn’t sure what that fluttering feeling in her chest meant, but she wasn’t sure she wanted it to stop.

Ellie cleared her throat and looked away from you, “thank you.” She mumbled under her breath. Sensing her discomfort you decided to try to lighten the mood. Smirking, you leaned all your weight onto the hand you had placed on the closest tree trunk. Pushing out your hip, looking her up and down. You open your mouth, “what was that? I couldn’t quite hear you princess.”

Ellie felt the blood rushing to her cheeks at the term ‘Princess’ She didn't move. Her eyes stayed wide and her palms sweaty. Ellie looked at you and saw the smug look on your face.

She huffed and spoke louder “I said thank you.” You smiled at her and held out your hand, “you’re welcome, I’m Y/n.” She looked at your hand and gripped it firmly. “I’m Ellie.”

You two met many times since then, from you gifting her a guitar, to her lying about her living situation and hobbies. She often remembers the times when you two would go for walks in the woods. She would always watch as you would get distracted by every flower or creature you came across. Making her flower crowns or walking into the streams to grab rocks for her.

She kept as many of the gifts as she could with the little space she had at the time. Savoring all the shiny rocks, clothes and books. Her favorite is the necklace you gifted her on her 14th birthday. It Was simple which is why she loved it so much. Your name with a lilac wildflower, Ellies initials hand carved by you into the lettering. She played with it even now when she got anxious, fiddling with the metal. Every Time she saw a gift of yours she would recall how she had left you.

She left with Dina when you two were merely 15. You were all that she had, the only thing that made her want to stay. Ellie would remind herself that she couldn’t keep up the lies forever. She couldn't act like you wouldn’t be married off by your father to some lord, prince, king or duke. You would never go for her, it was just a crush and she would find someone else.

So she left. She stuck with them even when the plan went sideways. Even when Jesse panicked and stabbed the rich old bloke they were stealing from.

She was too focused to remember it was the 10th, one of the days you came to visit her. She was too focused on the pained yells of the man. “Thieves! Thieves!”

Ellie ran as the guards stumbled to catch up due to her head start. She tipped over the stands and tugged Jesse along. Navigating him through the unfamiliar surroundings of her village. Weaving her body through the crowds and alleyways. The two hurled themselves onto the back cart of a horse Dina had taken. “Fucking drive Dina!” Ellie shouted as the other girl swished the reigns.

“I’m trying! I’m not trying to get us killed Ellie!” Dina kept her eyes on the road through the forest, rushing them forward as Jeese exhaled. Ellie couldn’t believe that they had gotten away, in fact she didn’t believe it. She looked back and saw you telling the Guards chasing their wagon to stop. You furrowed your beautiful face at her. Closing your eyes you commanded the guards to help the injured man.

Once the guards took off running you turned your body to face her in the final moments, your eyes filled with tears before walking away from her.

#ellie williams x reader #x reader royalty au #ellie royal au #ellie williams x reader au #ellie tlou #ellie williams fanfiction #ellie x fem reader #ellie x reader #ellie williams x reader angst #ellie angst #tlou #tlou fanfiction #x reader #x reader angst #ellie williams #ellie williams smut #royalty au #princess reader

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shadowthief78 · 11 months

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Highlands and Heartache

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Part 2 of Blue Lock Royalty AU Headcanons

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(Part 1) (Ao3 link)

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Gender neutral reader, fluff and a bit of angst, mentions of jealousy, gratuitous handwaving the vaguely European worldbuilding, mentions of injury/blood but not in detail, this is my apology to my Naruhaya-loving friend (I’m sorry for doing him so dirty in the last part). Mentions of food, eating meat, and cooking. Again, Ego and Noa aren’t really romantic.

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NOA has convinced Ego to exempt you from his swordplay drills, saying that without previous experience, you’d be more of a burden than a help. You feel guilty lazing around your rooms and watching Reo and all the others slave away in the courtyard, so you wander into the extensive library and begin rummaging around.

After a week or so, you’ve gotten bored enough and decided to explore, where you come across a secret passageway built into a tiny bookshelf crammed into the back wall. It’s covered in dust and cobwebs, untouched by everyone for ages, and although some rationality says to stop, something tantalizing beckons you further. At the end of the winding passage is a tiny room, hardly big enough for you to stand upright. On an altar is a book bound in leather the color of burnished gold, untouched by the layers of time. Touching it feels like the world stutters around you.

You quickly withdraw your hand and leave, making sure there’s no trace of your presence, but when you arrive back in your room that night, the very same book is lying on your pillow. The only way that’s possible is if someone saw you (impossible, you would have gotten asked about it) or… Magic?

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NESS is, after all, the court Magician, so you ask him about spellbooks at breakfast one day. He scowls, in the middle of a bite. “Most of what you’re describing died out with the dragons. No spellbook follows you around, God, what are you talking about? Magic is practical now, not some stupid airy-fairy incantations, because again, dragons. Nobody knows how to do it anymore.” He finishes his tea and shoots you a glance. “Why are you asking?”

You lie and say you just wanted to make conversation, then offer him his handkerchief back. He seems surprised that you still have it, given the collapse of your home kingdom and such, but doesn’t refuse. Wrapping up a piece of apple cake, he carefully tucks it in his pocket and stands. He wouldn’t be completely opposed to teaching you some basic spells, he adds, almost as an afterthought. You might as well have some use if you’re going to be tangled up in all of this anyways.

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REO hardly ever sees you these days. He’s up before dawn, taking long runs around the forests, then practices battle all day long: duels on foot and horseback, archery, endless drills (and gutted training dummies). After dark, he studies maps and discusses strategies and politics long into the night. He’s matured from the carefree prince; now you can see a wise and noble king in his silhouette. Still, you worry about overwork and stress taking their toll on him.

After a midnight astrology session with Ness, you find yourself in the kitchen. How long has it been since you last cooked anything? Before you met Reo, which was… Hardly a month ago. It seems like so much longer. Your hands find themselves tying an apron around your waist, slicing beef and vegetables, wrapping herbs in cheesecloth and boiling broth. When you hear Reo return from his run, you rush to meet him with a steaming bowl of beef stew. He adores fatty steak and while you might not have the know-how to make that, you can at least make sure he’s fed.

He stares at you for a second before giving you a bone-crushing hug and simply holding you for a while. You relax into his chest and let him, even though the bowl is burning your fingertips.

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CHIGIRI seems to pop up more often than usual ever since you’ve taken to cooking more. You’ve just pulled your third attempt at franz buns out of the oven when he sidles up to the window and begins eyeing the sweet, cinnamonny bread. He’s been nonstop riding and carrying all sorts of messages, he explains, mouth full already, that he hasn’t even had time to stop for a hot meal.

You roll your eyes and begin scooping him a bowl of spatzle noodles, telling him to use the door if he’s hungry. He all but collapses at the table, thanks you for the food, and falls asleep with his head balanced on his hands not long after. You sigh–he must be very tired now if he’d do that without a bath, even. You drape your spare cloak over him and quietly leave, not noticing his small smile after. When you return the next day, there’s a present addressed to you: a set of gloves from the next territory over embroidered with protective runes.

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RAICHI bursts into your room the exact day you’ve finally managed to gather the courage and open the spellbook up to try and puzzle out what’s going on. It doesn’t seem to activate any of the runes on Chigiri’s gloves, at least, but you still start guiltily when he barges in. He’s buzzing with excitement, too wound up to notice you shove the book under some papers and shut the drawer.

Ego has declared them ready to ride back and retake the kingdom, he shouts, waving his dagger around and almost gutting the wall. Finally, his years of boring old guard duty have come to an end and he can see some real action. Girls love that sort of thing, don’t they? He’s leaving with the rest of the company in two days’ time, you’re coming, aren’t you? And, uh, sorry about the wall…

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SAE doesn’t seem surprised to see you. It’s an unusually warm spring in the mountains, although it’s far colder than it was in Munchen still, and snow is piled against the walls and on roofs everywhere. He takes a small party of you, Reo, Ego, and Noa to show the cave he’s found and pinpointed as the source of the dragon.

All the earthquakes, although extremely inconvenient for him, have uncovered the den of a young dragon, still sleeping peacefully. You nearly collapse at the strength of the magic in the air and he has to rush you back to the surface before something else happens. Fortunately, the clear air does you some good and gives you a little more time to read the spellbook that’s somehow found itself under your pillow, despite your certainty that you left it in Munchen… Maybe it’s got something about dragons in it?

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KUNIGAMI, escaped from the JFA usurpers, explains to everyone that things are getting dire in the city. With no interests except money and endless parties, infrastructure has fallen to the wayside. In just a few short months, food and wood have become scarce, the guards have become increasingly unsatisfied as wages have been delayed countless weeks, and trade with other kingdoms has slowed to a trickle. Even the workers tending the sacred gardens on the palace grounds, usually so respected, have been harassed. Buratsuta, leader of the insurgents, has openly contemplated chopping the trees down to make room for a new set of rooms.

Kunigami offers you tea for your headache and doesn’t say much else, nor smile; so different from the kind soldier you used to know. Grimly, Reo declares that plans have been moved up: the trees aren’t just symbolic, but one of the last remnants of draconic magic to exist anywhere in the world. The dragon, like it or not, ready or not, will wake tomorrow.

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HIYORI, with assistance from Anri, is the one who descends into the dragon’s lair and coaxes it to wakefulness. It takes them nearly a full day to drag it out, but fortunately it’s docile enough that it settles down in the large cart with little complaints, then goes back to snoozing. It must be a young one, as fully grown, these creatures can reach larger than most buildings.

After covering its black-and-silver scales with strategically arranged blankets, you board another wagon and set off to the capitol. The journey, already difficult enough the first time you made it, is even moreso now, as more criminals patrol the roads. Hiyori, having heard about your dizzy spell the first time you met the dragon, is understandably cautious when taking you to see it again, but something about the fresh air keeps any further fainting at bay, much to his secret disappointment.

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NIKO leads the way back to the capital city under the cover of night. The dragon seems content to mostly doze and devour wild hogs at an alarming rate. In the outskirts of the city, you hole up in an abandoned warehouse on the docks and wait for the day to pass. Niko goes out to scope the situation and comes back later with good news: the citizens seem uneasy and on edge from the unexpected earthquake earlier (that was your fault, whoops) combined with the new government.

You settle down to look over your spellbook again while everyone else sleeps the afternoon away, but Niko settles next to you and asks if you’re alright. Truthfully, all this stress has been far too tiring, but before you can answer, you feel the familiar tug of magic, but not from the dragon this time: from your spellbook. WHen you look at him like that and beg him not to tell anyone else, you’re so close to figuring it all out, they’re under too much stress without worrying about out-of-control magic already… Now he realizes why people are so weak to puppy dog eyes.

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BACHIRA, although he’s not leading the charge, is the one who manages the dragon, running full tilt through the streets and dragging the rope leash behind him. The dragon sleepily stumbles along, belching the occasional puff of smoke, and you hurry closely behind it, trying to keep your book under control.

It’s started glowing now and you swear there’s a faint sound of bells every time you ruffle through the pages… which have just started to fluff themselves with no help from you! You can’t even blame it on the wind because there really isn’t any! One particularly loud chime catches his ear and he turns around. “That sounds like what summoners play before trying to summon things.” His eyes bore into yours. “Can you feel that?”

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ISAGI is the first to realize the magic storm that’s whipped up out of nowhere. His first instinct is to look for you, but the wind (where did that come from?) pushes him back. You’re barely half a city block away from him, but the hot air saturated with power sparks mirages, sending your silhouette rippling and twisting into new things. Inside the hurricane, you struggle to keep control over your book, ancient writing suddenly becoming readable and whipping itself off the page.

Your hands burn hot where the runes on your gloves are, glowing a flickering blue-white and keeping you from being overwhelmed with the magic in the air. You can taste it, too, a thick layer that makes the air heavy with the promise of something more. The dragon perks up away, and then throws its head back and roars. For a second, everything stops, then the road gives way and you’re falling. Faintly, you can hear Isagi screaming for you before something else drowns out your panic.

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BAROU, locked in the prisons on the castle grounds, manages to smash his way out when the guards are distracted by the sandstorm you called. He doesn’t exactly know the details, but what he does know is that anyone who gets you hurt will die, painfully, by his hand. When he does make it, which doesn’t take much time because the storm’s been moving ever-closer to the castle, he can see you struggling to keep upright in the middle of everything, screaming or mouthing (the wind’s too loud to tell) some kind of spell as runes try and tear you apart.

There’s a dragon, for whatever godforsaken reason, watching, and when he’s about to step in, it roars and the buildings surrounding it collapse. He staggers out of what used to be a very nice townhouse as the dust clears, and two very important things are gone. Firstly, what happened to the dragon, but most importantly, where are you?

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TOKIMITSU is under a lot of stress: the new rulers want him to destroy the ancient dragon groves, you’ve disappeared without a trace after the coup, and now there was just a hugely impactful disaster just outside the castle walls. He hurries to the grove to try and calm the trees down and almost drops his (lit) lantern when he gets there.

You stand, submerged up to your elbows in bark, forehead pressed to the tallest tree in the grove. When you pull away, the scent of magic remains. He’s only heard of what just happened: the legends of blessings by dryads in the age of dragons are true, and now you are one who wields the most powerful magic, thought to be extinct for centuries. This time, he really does drop the lantern and bow. You are ethereal and regal and otherworldly.

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KURONA has been laying low this entire time. WIth Niko gone and the rest of the Royal Guards in disarray, he’s been doing just fine pinching food from the larder and using the secret passages to get around. There’s quite a bit of evidence he’s gathered, enough to indict all the JFA members beyond a shadow of a doubt. When he hears screaming, cursing, and the door lock, that’s his cue to step away form the spyglass he’s been using to keep track of everything outside.

He slides the hidden panel open, steps into the JFA headquarters room, and arrests them all for treason under the name of Prince Reo, rightful heir to the throne. None of the JFA seem all that eager to test him, starting over his shoulder at– What? There’s a fully grown dragon outside the window with someone clutching its neck? Please let that be you and please let you be safe.

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YUKIMIYA finds you sprinting out of the castle gate, covered in spell fragments orbiting your hands and head. You grab his hand and run toward the dragon, which is now as tall as the castle itself, pointing and saying something he can hardly hear over the noise. Eventually, he gets the gist about what has happened and rushes to find the others and send backup to the castle. Their small squadron finds the room, courtesy of some subtle yet distinct signs left by Kurona and the JFA (and Niko’s scouting, which included chatting to some of the servants), and completes the arrests, meeting up with Barou along the way.

The whole thing takes less than twenty minutes, after which they all go outside to survey the destruction they left the others to handle. The sun is just beginning to rise when you finally convince the dragon to calm down enough and tuck its wings in so it doesn’t smash any more than it already has. He grabs your hand and points up at the dragon: it looks like there’s someone there?

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NARUHAYA pops up, a tiny figure on the dragon’s neck, and with the sun’s glare, you aren’t sure who it is before he yells your name. He waves so excitedly he nearly falls off, pointing and saying something to the dragon who gently bends down to let him off. You haven’t seen your friend in what feels like ages, and he suddenly appears with a dragon?

He’s so excited he can hardly talk: After you left, he found an apprenticeship in the capitol. Fortunately, he was far enough out that he was safe during the uprising. He worried about you all winter! When you finally did turn up (and who else would it be but you with Prince Reo and a dragon), he rushed to help under the guise of making a delivery but got kinda buried under some rubble. It’s okay though, because the dragon helped him out! His name’s Gagamaru, by the way and- Huh? Yeah, he can understand the dragon, it’s speaking like a regular human being! Naruhaya takes in all your shocked expressions. Oh, is that not the case? Wait, if he can understand the dragon, does that make him magical like you?

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GAGAMARU has been asleep for a long time, so he’s not quite caught up with the customs. Naruhaya shows him (in human form) around, insisting on bringing you along for help navigating. Gagamaru can see why: your magical signature reminds him of past ages and the gentle glow attracts people around you, even if humans can’t see it.

You seem happy to explore with them, endlessly curious about his magic: How does it work? What’s the best thing he’s done? Is there anything that he can’t do? It’s been several hundred years since a truly magic dragon was last spotted, apparently, with most “dragons” being glorified large lizards chargrilling livestock. It’s awfully lonely being the last one, but with you it’s not so bad.

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NAGI is having a hard time finding a quiet place to nap ever since your group has returned. Every single one of his favorite nooks around the castle has been taken by traveling scholars, visiting diplomats, and curious magicians, all bustling with hectic energy. Reo assured him that it would calm down in a few weeks, but he’s still sneezing nonstop at the scent of magic and bumping into frantic scribes at every second bend.

Now more than ever he’s needed: to help load and haul away debris; unload and set up temporary shelters; direct citizenry to and fro. It’s all a huge pain when all he wants to do is lay down for a while, preferably with his head in your lap, and just laze the days away. Promise you’ll find some time to do that while it’s still warm? It’s barely summer, but things aren’t showing any signs of slowing down.

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EGO is more than satisfied with the outcomes of the counter-coup. Perhaps a bit too satisfied–he showed up two days after you, hasn’t stopped grinning for the whole week, and holed up in the castle’s library, dictating long and detailed reports to his newly conscripted secretaries and sending them to all the highest-ranking magicians in the world.

You’ve heard rumors he’s even starting work on a book, although when you ask he snorts and replies that he doesn’t have the effort to waste on something so superfluous, would you be willing to have him experiment a few things instead? For the future of the kingdom, you are the linchpin in reviving and reshaping the magical world.

Pick your allies wisely and your lovers even more so, because jealousy has done many a terrible thing to good and honest men.

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I’m not going to do a Part 3 but if you send characters/questions, I’d be delighted to say how they fit in/what happened to them after/etc :D so please do!

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