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xxxdreamscapexxx · 23 days

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Sacrifices series: Chapter 3: Face to face with a monster

Pairing: Wanda Maximoff x Fem!Reader

Word count: 8k

Series Summary: After closing the Darkhold, Wanda struggled to find her place in the word. Until she met you that is. And in you, she found hope. But the past has a way of coming back and she’s faced with an impossible choice once again. A choice that’s going to break her heart. Chapter summary: Finding the layer, doesn't mean she's captured the monster, who was terrorizing the city and Wanda needs to see you at least once, before she has to go back to her hunt, but it seems the sorcerer has plans of his own...

Warning: angst!; emotional trauma; Hurt - No Comfort ; Blood, human sacrifice, gory details of a mutilated body, dark magic... violence, possession, manipulation; That should be it, but in case I missed anything, please let me know. Also, Reader will be making a very small appearance in this chapter, but she has a significant role to play in the future. Chapter 1; Chapter 2; Chapter 3

Wanda dropped the piles of books in her trunk, closing it with a loud thud as she looked at the building in the distance. She could see agents coming in and out, carrying objects, while others were escorting people out. Even from afar, she could see those people were scared, worried where they’ll live next, how they’ll afford it. They held their children close, protective, even in their fear. So brave. She knew what it was like to be displaced, to have your whole life ripped from you, to watch it all crumble down in an instant. She knew how much courage it took, to make the next step, and the one after that… She didn’t know how she’ll interview all these people tomorrow. She didn’t know if she’ll be able to carry the burden of their pain and grief as well. Yet, there was no one else to do it. Only she knew what to look for, what to ask… Only she knew how to get the information that even they didn’t know they could have.

The prospect of invading so many minds, of taking on so many lives filled her with pain. All she wanted was to curl in a ball, her head in your lap. She wanted to feel your hands run through her hair, soothing and soft. She wanted to feel you close once more, to have you fully wrapped around her, until she could forget that this ever happened. She wanted peace. She wanted what was stolen from her. But she couldn’t have any of it back, until she defeats this monster first… Even after being in his apartment, after coming so close to him, she had no idea how to find him. He had left no clues as to his next move, or his plans. None that she could see. But the agents will go more thoroughly through his things and have a report for her by tomorrow morning. Perhaps they’ll find something. Until then, she was free to go home and rest. But the compound, with its grey walls felt nothing like the cozy home she had with you. Her room never felt as welcoming as the shared bedroom she had with you. It was all so empty without you. She found no joy in cooking now, since she had no one to share her meals with. She found no joy in walks, since it always reminded her of the days she’d take you and Bella out to different parks to walk and play… Even her sitcoms brought little comfort. Yes, no one got hurt in them, it wasn’t that kind of show. But the real world was nothing like a sitcom. People got hurt every day, they were hungry and poor and lived on streets with nothing but the mercy of strangers to help them face the next day. There were so many in pain. When she remembered that, it was always so hard to fight back the inner voice that told her that she could fix it all. She was the Scarlet Witch after all. She was born to rule the world. It was her birthright. Her destiny. She could make sure that no one got hurt ever again, that no child was ever orphaned, no one ever had to leave their loved ones, no one had to get hurt. She could do that. Wanda could feel the magic rising within her, the raw power of chaos opening up doors for her that were closed to everyone else. She could do anything. She could win this fight with the snap of her fingers. She could erase evil from this world. And they would all thank her for it. Those poor people that she watched get evacuated. They would all be so grateful. They would worship her, just as they were meant to…

Wanda shook her head, blinking a few times, until her eyes focused once more. Red whisps of magic were swirling around her, her blackened fingers moving through the air. She was casting. Not that she knew what. But she knew she needed to get her emotions under control. Keeping the darkness at bay was much harder, when it promised everything she ever wanted. She could have Pietro back. Her boys. And her parents. She could win you back too. If that didn’t work, she could always make you forget she ever left… “No!” She shook her head in defiance. She knew better than to listen to those thoughts. She crawled her way back from an emotional hell, fighting such thoughts. She knew better than to trust them. With a final glance towards the grey building, that seemed to stand like a hungry giant over the people below, she got into her car and drove away. She was done for today. And now she could finally see you. She could finally drive back to your house, she could see you again, hear your voice… She could feel human again for a few minutes. The redhead drove slowly, her windows rolled down, so she could breathe in the fresh air. She needed to get the stench of that place out of her nose, out of her hair and her clothes. She felt dirty. And she almost felt bad for making her way to you, covered in such filth. Then again, it’s not like she was going to knock on your door. Then again… Why shouldn’t she? Why should she deny herself this one thing, this one kindness, when she has sacrificed so much already? What was to stop her from knocking? From walking in… Who could stand in her path, should she choose to pull you in her embrace. Who had the power to stop her? She could kiss you again. Taste you and feel you, like she’s been dreaming of. She could…

“No!” She almost screamed, hitting the breaks. It was just in time too, a pedestrian was crossing the street, standing frozen in fear of her approaching car. She was seconds away from hitting him. She almost didn’t stop. She had barely even seen him. It took the man a moment to get a hold of himself, before he ran the rest of the way to the other end of the street, looking back at her with fearful, yet angry eyes. Wanda couldn’t blame him. But she also couldn’t quite bring herself to care. She could tell that something was wrong. She wasn’t usually like this. Distracted, careless, cold. She didn’t have such dark thoughts either. Not usually. She was much better at controlling them. She studied calming techniques, meditation, she went through every enlightenment course she could find, looking for a way to keep herself in check, but it was especially hard this time. There was just this voice, in the back of her head, a low murmur that had found its way in and just wouldn’t leave her alone. How long has she been hearing it? This voice. Why was it trying to get her to come to you? Except… That’s not quite what it wanted. You were just a suggestion. A means to an end. A way for her to give in. Yes, that’s what it wanted. It wanted her to give in. Wanted her to unleash her powers. Wanted to set the Scarlet Witch free. It wanted her to use that magic inside. It wanted her to let all that chaos loose and never stop.

The honking of cars behind her startled Wanda out of her thoughts and into motion. She sped away from the spot with a heavy heart and she contemplated if she should even come see you tonight. It was dangerous in her state. It was almost reckless, tempting herself like that. Especially with how off she’d been feeling and acting. It would be a mistake… She was once again pulled from her thoughts, when she saw something strange out of the corner of her eye. She was driving past some neighbourhood, all the houses framing the road. But something was wrong. She could feel eyes on her. She could see old ladies in their kitchens, looking out the windows, mothers with strollers, not even looking at where they were going, too busy staring at her… Men, who openly followed her car, as she drove. And then something else. A man with eyes so black, there was no white left in them and a face so sunken in, it looked stolen from a cadaver. A man, who seemed to smile at her, as if seeing an old friend, before he turned away from the road and walked away. Wanda hit the brakes so hard, she almost hit her head on the steering wheel from the force. She felt shaken, like she had witnessed something important, something she should be better at naming. Like she was walking in the dark, her eyes closed, allowing herself to be led. She realized that this place was not her usual route to your house, that she’s never even been here. Just as she realized that whoever this man was, he knew to expect her. He had felt her presence here, known of her arrival, he was watching her, before his eyes ever fell upon her… But how? She pulled the car over and locked it, using her magic to seal the trunk, just to make sure that the books inside wouldn’t “disappear” while she was chasing whatever this was. She had to walk a little, to reach the spot she first saw him, and she looked around nervously to see where he might have went. The eyes of strangers followed every step she took, not even considering to hide their actions, yet none of them approached her. Wanda could almost smell that same sweet, yet repulsive smell she had first felt when she entered the building she was inspecting. The one where He used to live. It was faint, but unmistakable and a strange sense of longing washed over her. A desire to breathe in deeply. To let herself be intoxicated. The voice in her head salivated at the prospect. Hungry.

She decided to ignore it. Pushing back against the low whisper, that told her to give in. Instead she started to walk in the direction she saw him turn. Beyond the first street, the houses started to look poorer, the yards smaller, the windows covered. She could see dogs sometimes, uneasy and nervous, barking in warning, but never really getting close. They were scared. Just like the people who lived here. But scared of whom? The sorcerer? She couldn’t tell. As she walked, the voice in the back of her head, the one she knew to be the witch within, kept warning her. There was danger here. She could feel it. There was darkness too. And the eyes that followed her on the street, seemed to watch her here too. It made her feel surrounded on all sides.

“It’s a trap.” Her inner voice warned. She could feel herself tensing up, readying for a battle, all her senses on high alert. Her magic was just at the tip of her fingers, making her eyes glow that deep scarlet she knew so well, yet there was no one around. At this point she almost hoped someone would try to make a move. Give her an excuse to release all that pent up energy inside, yet no one did. Eventually the street came to a sudden end, a single entrance to a building signifying her only way forward. The door had a padlock and a rusty chain to keep out intruders, runes covering the links in protection. “Pathetic.” Wanda laughed bitterly, the words loud enough to be heard if someone was nearby. That same energy she felt swirling just beneath the surface suddenly came forth, pouring out of her in a burst and shooting forward. It crashed against the building, taking the whole door and parts of the surrounding wall with it, a loud bang ringing in her ears as it fell to the ground. Dust flew everywhere and she waited for it to settle, not wanting to breathe any of it in, before she finally walked forward. The ridiculous chain was still in takt, the runes glowing a dull grey. She laughed humourlessly once more, stepping inside the building and looking around, her steps echoing off the walls. “One chain?” She called out in a challenge. “I can take down the whole building.”

Her voice rang clearly in the large space, that seemed to have been a factory or a storage hanger once, but no response actually came. There was just silence, mixed with that sweet, yet repulsive smell again. “It’s too easy.” Her inner awareness warned, a low hiss in her ear that she felt an almost compulsive need to swat away, even if it was coming entirely from within. Met with no response, Wanda walked further inside, studying the building wearily. In all honesty, she was getting impatient with this whole charade. She didn’t want to be here, playing hide and seek with a psychopath. She wanted to be at the house with you. She wanted you in her arms again, wanted to have you in a tight embrace and breathe you in. Wanted, no craved your warmth against her stiffened, aching muscles. She explored the floor, impatiently walking around, being met with nothing but decay and ruin. There was nothing but old junk, dust and the unmistakable signs of rats and pigeons taking over the building and claiming it as their own. It looked abandoned. But she wouldn’t be here if it really was abandoned, would she? He wouldn’t try to put protective runes, if there wasn’t something important here.

With that in her mind, Wanda summoned her magic, using it to propel herself in the air. From above, Wanda could see that there was nothing special in this room and she moved quietly into the next, passing through a small hallway, only to find a man hunched over a pot, stirring the content inside. He had his back to her and for some reason she felt the need to sneak closer, even though it was impossible for him not to know she was here, considering all the noise she made. “Welcome, Miss Maximoff.” He said, without turning, “I’ve been expecting you.” The greeting startled Wanda for a moment, making her stop mid-flight, before she moved forward, flying over him and the strange liquid he stirred, murky and filled with bits and pieces of something she couldn’t see clearly enough to name. What she could recognize however was that distinct smell that she felt ever since she left his apartment. That repulsive, yet attractive smell that urged her to breathe it in deeply. That is, until she came closer and Wanda realized that the small objects Wanda was observing, were actually eyes.

“Isn’t it poetic? Stolen eyes, to grant you stolen sight!” He said with a small giggle. “That’s what you used that poor man’s eyes for?” Wanda asked, her voice shaking. She tried not to look at the ugly pot, filled with the murky liquid or to picture the man on the wall, with his empty sockets and a gaping hole in his chest. “Poor man?” The Sorcerer laughed. “He was hardly an innocent.” He hinted. “He liked to watch. In fact it’s all he wanted.” The man continued, words slow, as if explaining to a child. “Do you know how many women they forced, just so he could watch?” The Sorcerer asked, raising his hand, so he could make an obscene gesture, that imitated self-pleasure. It made Wanda sick to her stomach. “So you killed him?” She asked. “How noble.” Her voice was mocking and full of disgust. “I thought it was rather poetic in a way. He liked to watch. And thanks to him, I now see everything.” He said in a smooth voice. “Everything?” Wanda scoffed. “Aren’t you a bit full of yourself?” “I saw you coming.” He retorted in that same calm demeanour. “The all-powerful Scarlet Witch.” He said with a purr. “If you wanted to see me, there are far easier ways.” Wanda replied. She wanted to bait him, wanted to know his plans, while she still had him here. She knew that if it came to a battle, he may not survive. Once she unleashed her powers there was no telling what will happen and she needed to know why he did what he did. Needed to know if there was a greater power behind him. Truly, she needed to know why he did all these terrible acts. Needed to know if he was the monster that he was presenting himself to be. “But this one is rather effective.” He smiled at her. “I saw you look into my apartment. Saw you take things that don’t belong to you.” He accused. “How did you see me there? I was alone.” Wanda narrowed her eyes. “All living things need to eat and drink, Miss Maximoff.” The man explained. “And once they do, they’re mine to use.” “That’s disgusting.” She spat, her hands balling into fists. “Oh, don’t play innocent now. You’ve studied magic. I believe one Agatha Harkness had a very impressive collection on the subject. You’ve read her books. You know there is always a price to be paid.” He spoke patiently, as if he could somehow convince her that he was right. “Well, perhaps not for you…” He trailed off. “With control over pure chaos, you don’t need to pay that price, do you? But the rest of us… We still have to follow the rules.” “Trust me, I’ve paid…” Wanda growled, the control over her emotions fraying. “I’ve lost more than you can imagine.” “Ah, yes, of course.” He nodded slowly. “You and I are kindred spirits in that regard.” “Never compare yourself to me.” Wanda spoke through gritted teeth, the urge to hurt him growing stronger. She could hardly hold herself back, desperate to end all this. She felt so tired.

“But it’s true.” He argued, raising his finger in the air, signalling for her to be patient. “I too lost my parents very young.” He began, taking a step closer to her. “And the world is rarely kind to orphans, Miss Maximoff. Had to go hungry, dressed in the rags others gave away to the orphanage. Had to go to school in them too. Other children are hardly kind to their peers.” He lowered his head for a moment, countless cruelties passing through his memory and flooding Wanda’s thoughts. “But I found an escape.” He continued. “I found that knowledge truly does give you power. I found my first real spell when I was 16. It was just a stupid trick. Turning sugar into salt.” He laughed humourlessly. “It was useless for more than a prank, but it opened my eyes. There was real magic in this world. I knew it now. I had the proof for it. My history teacher was stirring it right into her coffee! So I looked. Researched spells and grimoires, travelled on foot, or hitchhiked to chase down any lead for real magic wielders, looked for amulets and enchanted objects. I built my collection, knowing that one day, I’ll use it to make the world better!” He exclaimed, coming to the culmination of his little speech. “But then I found something better. I found the cult of Salvain. I thought it was nothing more than a cult to a non-existing God, but I went to the forest of perpetual silence, where his followers live. It wasn’t easy, trust me, but I made it there. Have you ever experienced mind-numbing nothingness, Miss Maximoff? Have you ever been in a place so quiet, that every sound is swallowed, to a point you can’t even scream, because nothing actually reaches your ears? It was horrible. I was lost in there for days, walking aimlessly and praying for death to mercifully take me. I was dehydrated, hungry, never met another soul… And just when I thought I would die, I heard him. I heard his voice.” He said with fire in his eyes, his face betraying real emotion for the first time. “He’s been speaking to me ever since. Helping me. Guiding me. I let him inside me and he saved me. He showed me the way to salvation and he’s going to save everyone.” He explained with what appeared to be genuine excitement and appreciation, his words hanging in the air for a long moment. “You’re actually insane…” Wanda finally spoke, her head tilting to the side. “Oh, but I’m not.” The sorcerer said with a grin. “He’s here.” He said, closing his eyes in bliss. “He knows you.” He whispered teasingly, stepping closer still. He was just a few feet away now, giving Wanda a chance to take a closer look.

Underneath the grey skin and sunken eyes, underneath the painfully thin, bony face, he was actually a young man. So young. More a boy, than a sorcerer and a monster. But there was very little of him left. She could see the corruption of dark magic spreading over him like a disease. It was probably what ate away at his mind. “Don’t you want to speak to him, Miss Maximoff?” He asked, his big eyes fixing her in a predatory way. “He’s been waiting to speak to you, you know.” “How about this…” Wanda started. “You surrender yourself quietly, and I’ll talk to him.” She suggested, hoping to be able to contain him without having to hurt him. Despite his seemingly docile appearance, he had managed to kill several people already. She couldn’t be sure what he was actually capable of. “I won’t resist.” He told her gently, hands raising in the air in a gesture of surrender. “You shouldn’t resist either. Can’t you feel him calling you? He’s been talking to you for a while now.” Wanda thought of saying something sassy in return, but the words died down in her throat, before she could utter them. The sorcerer leaped forward, grasping her head on either side, his long, bony fingers digging into her skin. “Just listen!” He hissed, before a blast of red magic pushed him away from her and he fell to the ground. She heard him gasp from the impact, his right hand clutching his side painfully, but when she looked at his face, he looked amused. “He told me you wouldn’t just hear us out.” The sorcerer said bitterly. “But thankfully, Salvain has a solution for everything.” He giggled “What did you do?” Wanda growled, her teeth bared. This was the confession she was waiting for. His next sacrifice, his next victim, his plans. Once he gave those away, she could be done with all this. “You don’t feel it yet?” He asked with a raised brow. “You have a strong mind. Pushing him away all this time. But even you can’t resist him forever.” “What are you talking about?” She asked, feeling a bit dizzy as a wave of that horrible smell hit her nostrils again and she had to put her hand to her mouth and nose just so she wouldn’t gag. Instead of a response, he waited, circling her now, though he kept a safe distance. His watchful eyes seemed to never leave her and she was once again feeling dizzy from the way he circled her. It was almost like vertigo, but it came with the unpleasant return of that nagging voice in her head, that wanted to seduce her. She could stop all this right now. She could just blast him with her magic. He had attacked her once, had he not? She could claim his death on self-defence and leave all of this behind. No one had to know what happened. There were no witnesses, no cameras…

No! She had to shake the thought away. This wasn’t her way. She could easily immobilize him and let S.H.I.E.L.D deal with him. She didn’t need to hurt him. She was not going to become a killer. But the Scarlet Witch is a killer, a thought flashed through Wanda’s mind. And even though it seemed like it came from within, even though it had her voice, she finally realized that it wasn’t. There was a presence in the back of her mind, a voice that whispered in her ear, disrupting her thoughts. “Now you get it.” The sorcerer smiled, smug and self-satisfied. “How are you doing that?” Wanda hissed at him, fighting the urge to slap his smile away. She could easily knock him down. He seemed so weak, so fragile… It would be so easy to just… Wanda shook the thoughts away again, starting to get angry at this stupid game they were playing. “I’m not doing anything.” The man in front of her responded. “I have no power to influence you.” He told her softly. “Ordinary humans are easy, but you…” He shook his head. “You’re strong. I had to find a way to help you hear Him. ” “What did you do?” Wanda asked again, her voice shaking so much it sounded like a growl. She was losing her patience. Each second that passed between them felt like an eternity, fraying her nerves. Why not just be done with him? Whatever he planned would simply be left unfinished if he were to die… No, he could have accomplices, acolytes… She couldn’t afford to leave this unfinished. Not when so much was at stake. “I only helped you open your mind to him. That’s all.” He said with a surprisingly gentle voice. “I’m only helping you see. That’s what he wants as well. For you to see the good he can do in this world.” He said with a look of longing in his eyes. “He can do anything. Give you anything. You just have to let him come through…”

As the sorcerer spoke, Wanda’s vision slowly started to blur. The dizzy feeling she’d been fighting, suddenly overtook her and she felt like she was fainting. Except that wasn’t quite it either. It was more like she was being pulled underwater, supressed so deep within herself that she no longer felt one with her body. She was floating within her subconsciousness, a passenger in her own body. Her clothes were slowly changing, her comfortable pants and soft sweater that she wore suddenly fading and being replaced by her old suit. The boots and tights came first, her magic working its way up, red swirling around her and weaving the tight corset into place, her old cape flowing down her shoulders… Magic weaved itself in the places where the suit had torn, glowing… Then came her crown. It glowed in the same scarlet as her magic, surrounding her in unnatural light that looked both terrifying and regal. She’d never seen herself like that. She always felt like Wanda. But this was the Scarlet Witch. This is the destiny she kept rejecting.

“Why fight it, Wanda? This is who you were meant to be.” A voice creeped up on her, ringing all around her. She turned frantically to look for the source, but there was no one. The sorcerer was still in his spot, staring in awe of her, a deeply unsettling smile on his face. “Show yourself.” She challenged, sounding more scared than she liked, hoping to draw out the voice. “If you want to see me, you’ll have to invite me into your world.” Salvain said in a low voice. “Invite you, huh? So you need someone to let you through.” Wanda retorted, feeling some of her confidence return. Whatever entity this was, he couldn’t move into the world on his own. “Not just anyone, Wanda. I need you. Gorden over there was a good servant. He did as he was told, performed the rituals and cast the spells, but he’s not strong enough. His body is failing. He can’t pierce the veil and let me in.” The voice explained in a monotonous tone, as if talking about the weather and not a life. “But you can.” He said, a trace of a smile in his tone. A trace of urgency. “And what makes you think I will?” Wanda lifted her chin defiantly, her lips trembling in barely-contained anger. “Because I can give you everything you’ve ever wanted, Wanda. I can bring back all your friends. I can bring back Vision… You can have your brother back! Your parents too. Your boys! I can make it so they never, ever died. I can make sure they never do again.” He said seductively, his voice bouncing around her skull with all the weight of his promises.

“I tried that!” Wanda hissed, her fists balling at the memory of Westview. “It doesn’t work. It’s not real.” She shook her head. “As powerful as you are, Scarlet Witch, you’ll always need your magic to sustain them. But I… Once I’m in this world, I can bring them back, make them real… I can make anything you want real… You can have your whole family back. I can give you back Vision. Or Y/N. Or even both?” He chuckled. “Both of them, so willing and loving… You’ll want for nothing, Wanda.” “No!” Wanda growled, but to her surprise, her body moved. Her fingers glowed, whisps of magic swirling around them slowly. “It seems your counterpart disagrees.” Salvain purred. “No! You can’t do that!” Wanda’s eyes widened, filled with panic. “I’m not doing anything.” He chimed in, amused. “You are doing this.” He explained. “It’s ok, Wanda. I understand. Aren’t you tired? Aren’t you so utterly exhausted of having to fight for a modicum of peace? For a place in the world? For even a crumb of love… Aren’t you angry? At all the injustice in this world? At the people who turn a blind eye to suffering, to poverty, to strife? You can make it stop! You’ve always had the power to stop it. You can rule this world… But you don’t want that, do you Wanda? I understand… I can help…” “Stop it!” Wanda screamed, her voice bouncing around in her head. She could see more of her magic seeping out of her, now a hurricane of red that swirled around her, building and waiting to be unleashed. The sorcerer, Gorden, was on his knees, awe-stricken at the feet of the Scarlet Witch. His bony face looked even more sickly in the red glow of her power, yet he seemed so at peace. “It’s too late now, Wanda.” Salvain sounded almost smug. “It has already started. Gorden laid the path, now you will open the door and soon… I will walk in the world…” Wanda listened to his words, the terror inside her building at the prospect of what was coming. She had never heard of this entity, had no idea of his powers and if he could truly influence reality the way that he claimed. She hardly knew if that voice in her head was real or if this was all in her head and she was about to unleash her powers upon the world and destroy it. She only knew that she needed to regain her composure and her control over herself if she wanted to stand a chance against him. She focused her thoughts, ignoring his voice and the endless tirade that served no other purpose than to hurt her further and she tried to gain back some of her control, but every time she did, she felt herself being pushed away, her path blocked by an invisible force.

“It’s useless Wanda. There’s nowhere to go…” He chimed in, making her eyes snap open in annoyance. Her power was building, crackling in the air around her like a storm, the pressure in the room growing. If she unleashed that, she would rupture the veil between worlds, creating a passage for him and God only knows what else and she wouldn’t be able to stop any of it. “You’re not in control anymore.” He reminded gleefully. The words bounced around Wanda’s head, heavy and mocking in their finality. The magic that swirled around her now rose to filling the whole warehouse, thundering and waiting to be unleashed. It was almost time and she wouldn’t be able to stop it. She would once again fail. She would fail to protect you, to protect all the innocent people of this world, she would fail herself and her legacy… She would once again be a monster. With that realization Wanda broke down, falling to her knees and letting the tears that she’d been holding back for days finally fall freely. “I’m sorry…” She sobbed, her head bowing down in defeat. “Don’t be sorry, Wanda. You’re doing exactly what you were meant to.” Salvain said with a surprisingly gentle voice, as if talking to a child. “I wasn’t talking to you!” Wanda shouted suddenly, looking up. The Scarlet Witch was now floating, the magic and particles of dust swirling around her. She was getting ready to unleash it all. “I’m sorry I rejected you. I’m sorry I pushed you down and treated you like a disease to be cured. I’m sorry, that I pretended like you weren’t here all this time…” Her words died down into sobs, as she looked through her own eyes, a prisoner of her body now taken over by another. “I’m sorry I made you feel like this all this time.” She whispered. Wanda shook with sobs, her heart beating wildly in her chest, her thoughts a frantic mess that she could hardly distinguish anymore. She thought this would be the end. And selfishly, she regretted that she’ll spend it away from you, when suddenly a red glow illuminated her face and a gentle hand rested under her chin, urging her to look up.

There she was. The Scarlet Witch, in all her glory, was standing above her, her features unreadable. Salvain’s voice had quieted down, pushed aside by the presence of the witch. “I’m so sorry.” Wanda whispered again, her face wet with tears. She wasn’t sure how this moment was possible, both of them face to face, as her body continued to float into the air, magic crackling and threatening to be unleashed at any second, but as she looked at the face of the Scarlet Witch, she didn’t care. “I should have never neglected you.” She whispered at the witch, her green eyes full of regret. “It’s not just me you were hurting.” The witch said gently, her tone a stark contrast to her stronger, more defined features. “This rift between us, hurts us both. We were never meant to be separate. You and I are one, Wanda. The divide leaves vulnerable.” She explained, her strong hands helping Wanda to her feet. “We can only do this together.” “But…” Wanda looked confused. She was still in the air, or her body was, summoning more magic, the walls of the warehouse groining with the force of it. “We are meant to rule the world, Wanda. It is our destiny.” The witch reminded seriously. “Do you really think I’ll give away our throne?” She tilted her head, a sly smile starting to play on her lips. “So you have a plan.” Wanda questioned, an eyebrow rising. “No… We have a plan.” The witch corrected, her smile growing. She offered Wanda one of her hands, their palms touching. The feeling was electrifying. Wanda felt a surge of power pass through her, making her gasp. Than the Scarlet witch moved closer, their faces so close together, their noses almost touching and a warmth spread over her, a kind of relief that made her muscles relax. She allowed the witch even closer, her counterparts free hand wrapping around her waist in a gentle, confident motion. The softness in the other woman startled Wanda. She always saw the witch as ruthless and merciless… Thought of her rough and unforgiving. She always resented her for it as well. “Those were the traits you needed.” The witch suddenly said, a knowing look in her eyes, when she saw Wanda’s confused expression. “That’s not all that I am.” She said, her eyes softening once more.

She guided Wanda even closer, their bodies making contact and making Wanda shiver. The witch’s presence gave her this inexplicable sense of surety. Then calmness. And with it, a deep sense of belonging. And then a longing for more. Her hands wrapped around the witch’s shoulders, as if they were partners in a dance, strangely close and intimate in the bubble of privacy the Scarlet Witch had made within their mind. Their breathing synched together, their eyes locked and for a moment Wanda had the strangest urge to kiss the other woman, to run her hands through her hair and down her back and she felt that desire reflected in the features so identical to hers. On instinct she closed her eyes, lips parting slowly as she leaned in, their foreheads touching for a brief moment, before she tried leaning in even further, only to find the space empty. Wanda opened her eyes to find herself alone and she blinked a few times, questioning if this wasn’t just a figment of her imagination, before she felt that same sense of surety wash over her, her mind opening up and expanding to accept the witch within herself and allow her to merge, just as they were always meant to. Her mind’s eye suddenly opened to the universe as the knowledge and power of the Scarlet Witch bled into her, connecting them, until they were whole. As they merged, Wanda felt more powerful, more alive, more confident than she ever had been in her life. She could finally sense the real, raw strength of chaos magic and she opened her eyes to find herself back into her body, the center of a hurricane of magic that swirled around her and threatened to tear down the whole building.

Without wasting too much time, she focussed her strength, guiding that magic into a single point in the floor, feeling the vail between our world and the next start to bend under her strength. The ground shook and groaned, but gave way to her will, a portal starting to open, rimmed in scarlet. Beneath her Gorden had recovered from his stupor, stopped staring at her in awe and moved closer to the portal that formed, arms open in welcome to the God he had been serving all this time. Wanda sensed the approach of something powerful, something monstrous, as it neared the portal she was holding open and she braced herself for the moment he would pass. He paused some distance from the portal, the world on the other end black and filled with nothingness, before he surged through it. He passed smoothly, landing on the dirty floor of the warehouse, the portal closing shut behind him. Dazed by the strength the journey had taken, he didn’t seem to notice the trap of the Scarlet Witch and started to stand, feeling carried by weak, almost trembling legs. He looked around, winded, breathless, his eyes landing on Wanda, who used her powers to land on the floor softly, her red eyes staring at him. “You made the right choice, Wanda.” He started to say, his voice coming out rough and distorted. It sounded nothing like him, he realized and with a distrustful gaze, started to look down at himself.

That’s when he saw it. The skinny legs, frail frame, bony fingers connected to dry, vainy hands… And a whisper… Except this time it wasn’t the distant voice of a far-away acolyte, but a voice inside his own head. The voice of Gorden Shaw… Salvain felt himself smothered in Gordon’s body, so weak, so frail… A mortal shell too fragile to contain his strength. He had but a fraction of his abilities here and he wanted to free himself from the uncomfortable confines this body provided, but he seemed unable to leave, rattling inside his cage like a wild animal, before his eyes landed once again on Wanda. “How dare you!?” Salvain roared, realization painting Gorden’s bony face. “Release me, at once!” He demanded, his voice a growl. “I’m not holding you.” Wanda smirked. “You cannot exist in this realm without a body and yours didn’t make the trip… I’m afraid you and Gordon will have to share.” “You tricked me!” He exclaimed, enraged. “I did nothing of the sort.” Wanda retorted calmly. “Creating a passage isn’t easy and the veil has many layers. I lifted enough for your consciousness to pass through, but your body… Alas, that was left behind.” Wanda explained, summoning her magic, so she could show Salvain the image of his abandoned body, a mindless heap on the ground where he had passed through the portal. “If you don’t return back to it soon, I’m afraid it would die…” Wanda said with a mocking pout on her lips, the whisps of her magic fading. “You foolish girl!” Salvain growled, low and dangerous, his hands balling into fists. “You should have done this the easy way.” He snarled at her. Before Wanda could realize what he meant, a ball of energy formed into Gorden’s hand, now Salvain’s, and it shot toward her, barely giving her time to block, before it hit her straight in the chest. Another followed, than another, magic raining down on her as he gave her no time to do much more than protect herself from his attack. He groaned and grunted with the effort of it, breathing shallow. “If you would not welcome me, Scarlet Witch, you will fear me!” He exclaimed, sending more balls of energy her way, before he used his abilities to lift her off her feet and fling her across the room. Wanda tried to cushion her landing against a wall, but still groaned when she fell on the floor, feeling several bruises form on her knees, but she pushed herself to stand upright, summoning her own powers and throwing a few energy blasts his way. He blocked them, teeth bared, grunting from the unfamiliar feeling of being inside another’s body. In retaliation he looked around, lifting pieces of metal, wood and brick into the air and sending them flying toward Wanda, who tried to dodge them, but hissed when a sharp nail flew passed her, tearing the flesh in her forearm.

“Aren’t you tired of this charade, Wanda?” He asked with a note of challenge. “Pretending to care about all those ridiculous mortals out there? Pretending to be moral, when I know what’s inside you. You wanted to kill Gorden. You want to kill him still. Be done with all this, so you can walk away and find your little girlfriend. That’s what you really want, isn’t it? Why not just go do that? Or maybe I’ll go find her, once I’m done with you. Show her some real horrors.” He smiled, crooked and ugly. The mention of you and the clear threat he made had Wanda’s blood boiling. Gordon’s features, if sickly before, had now turned wild and monstrous, his eyes bloodshot, his mouth wet, like a rabid animal, cheeks even more hollow now. Salvain’s presence and the energy it took to sustain him, as well as the magic he used to fight Wanda clearly took their toll and the thought of this thing making its way to you made her sick to her stomach. “I would never let that happen!” She spat, gathering her strength and summoning her magic. She levitated in the air, the scarlet whisps of her magic surrounding her once more as she rose higher and higher, her form almost reaching the ceiling, the ground once again trembling, as she made it all crash down.

She watched the rubble start to fall, the ceiling and walls of the warehouse collapsing, chunks of concrete and metal piling over one another, a cloud of dust and a thundering crash sounding around her as she watched Gorden’s body disappear from view. A part of her regretted the unfortunate end of his life. A part of her recognized his suffering and the inner turmoil he must have felt. Another part of her felt glad. Felt relieved he was gone… Or at least she thought he was. Very few could survive the collapse of a building. But S.H.I.E.L.D would have to confirm that. She saw their black cars from the air even now, saw a few helicopters heading in her direction as well, some government, but some of it was the press. Of course, reporters would want to capture this, even if they weren’t sure what they were filming. It would be golden none the less. Even she knew that. After all, the Scarlet Witch was hovering in the air, a collapsed building on the ground… She’d be on the news and the first page of every newspaper and magazine for weeks! Wanda was about to float down, try to give them less of a show, when a sudden rumble sounded from the rubble and a deep feeling of dread settled over her. An unnerving thought crept its way to her, causing a shiver to pass through her body. The confirmation of her fear came in the form of a chunk of concreate that flew towards her head and narrowly missed her. But it wasn’t what scared her most. What she feared came after. In the center of the ruined warehouse stood Salvain, his arms outstretched as more rubble started to float in the air. He seemed to be taking the whole building, forming a hurricane of dust, bricks, metal and wood, as well as anything left inside. And when that was all gone, he started to tear pieces of earth and rock too. “You should have walked away, little witch.” He shouted over the sound of wind, releasing his hold on the flying objects and hurling them in the air. Some were aimed at Wanda, but some flew astray, passing close to the helicopters that now hovered over the scene as well and it took everything in her to try and stop them all, a magical barrier forming in front of her and the nearby helicopters, but she still saw pieces of rubble falling to the ground, scaring curious onlookers, who had gathered to watch the fight, despite S.H.I.E.L.D’s efforts to keep people away.

In the chaos of it, she felt torn. There were so many innocents around. So many people who would get hurt, should she allow him to get the upper hand. The carnage seemed to amuse him, his lips outstretched into a sickly grin. She couldn’t protect everyone. Not like this. She could hear shouting, the cries of women and children as they ran from the falling debris, helicopters whirring around her… It was all too much. * * * With a flick of Wanda’s wrist, a wave of magic surged through the air and although your TV could hardly do it any justice, you could see that it was a powerful blast. A deafening silence came first, the panicked sounds of people fading into utter stillness. Then came a red glow, seemingly bursting from Wanda’s chest and expanding, dipping the whole world into a scarlet hew. You watched with bated breath, your eyes glued to the screen of your TV, your heart hammering in your chest. This was the first time you’d seen Wanda since she left, and the apparent danger she was in did very little to help your anxiety. You could recognize the old warehouse, not too far from where you lived and the thought that she was so close, yet so far, made it feel hard to breathe. Then came a third wave of magic. This one however was a dull grey. It shot through the air in a cluster, like the pellets of a shotgun and everything you saw, was the way they found their target, right in Wanda’s chest, before everything went dark.

#lesbian #writing #wanda maximoff #wanda maximoff fanfiction #wanda maximoff x reader #wanda maximoff x y/n #wanda maximoff x you #scarlet witch #sacrifices #magic

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i-amyou · 21 days

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Hello my beautiful butterfly.you deactivated and I feel sad, not because of the need to read your blog, but because of the lack of your beautiful words, you are kind and sweet, I can feel that even without "knowing you", I know that you are back here temporarily, so before Leaving, I want to clear up my last doubt.

When I imagine, I know that what I imagined happens instantly. But, when I open my eyes, it seems that there is a present feeling of “waiting” to experience what was imagined, even though I realize that I am aware of this “waiting” I get confused, because if I KNOW it is instantaneous , I end up being lost. And I don't know how to reverse this situation, it seems like a cycle. I don't want to live conscious of waiting for myself to have, to be. But it's so confusing and leaves me with doubts.So, I observe and calm down, but that feeling of waiting is always present, as if telling me “Hey, you don't have it yet, just wait and see what you want, it's not here, there's a process for you to have it.” It's like a duality of thoughts and feelings, and I get frustrated at being lost again without knowing how to reverse it.

I want my being so much, I want happiness so much, so completely that I can't explain it, and sometimes I feel vulnerable, human. like the moon that longs to find the sun but always gets lost along the way, the moon glimpses the brightness of the sun appearing at dawn, but that light recedes and is lost to sight with the sunrise and the moon returns to its vast darkness, both know of each other's existence, but are unable to be together.Although both are present in each other, occurring in the same space. (That's how I feel). I've experienced silence, an empty mind, I still remember the first time I felt it, immediate happiness, I want to go home, I want to be at peace, enjoy life and have sweet dreams, but I feel lost and I can 't know how to deal with problems. I just want everything to be okay, I'm tired of the pain, tired of the suffering. We are like children, innocent, just crying and longing to return home, to the arms of our beloved mother (Being). Do you understand me?

Sorry for the text, I promised it would be my last question, I tried to summarize as much as possible. Thank you I love you. 🫂

English is not my language, sorry if the words are confusing.

– 🌙☀️🌌

(I know these words are meaningless and nothing new, I've said this before, over and over again. But for the sake of it, let me share them again. This is the last I'm sharing, going on an indefinite break after this. Sending Love to y'all ❤🌇)

Hello my glistening moon, it's okay. First of all, Breathe. You are always OKAY. I totally understand what you're trying to say. But more reading and seeking would get you Nowhere, I have something in my Notes for this and I'll add it here. Just read it, take it as pointer, and turn within. Only you can free yourself by realising you've always been free, only you can make yourself at Home by realising you never left. Let this be the LAST POST you read 🌙🌃

And with this, I'm logging off. अलविदा, अपना ध्यान रखना❤

#ask #nothingness #consciousness #awareness #beingness #realisation

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blueberrypancakesworld · 5 months

Text

Diabolik Lovers - Christmas with the Sakamakis, Mukamis and Tsukinamis - 1.Door

warning : fluff, no use of Y/n , comfort, kiss

The calendar

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

Sakamaki :

Chaos filled the house of the six half-brothers as their new bride, human though she was, began to decorate the house. At first everyone had ignored it, Shu had tried to sleep through it, Reiji had given her a warning look, Ayato even held out a bowl of takoyaki dough to her and would even have been willing to share it with her.

But even this didn't seem to dissuade her Kanato's candy attack, which he hoped would stop the noise, went wrong and he had to take a small Christmas star out of Teddy's hand. Laitos at least tried to get to her in his own way, but the more often he appeared with a Christmas coat, the more often she covered her body with tinsel.

Subaru also tried to get away - the last thing he wanted was to celebrate. But her partner would not be dissuaded. Over the last few months, she had done everything the vampires had asked her to do, some more brashly and brashly than others. She had improved her schoolwork as Reiji had asked, left Shu alone, made Ayato's takoyaki and played with Kanato.

She had even gotten involved with Laito's attempts and tended to Subaru's roses. ,,I'm going to celebrate Christmas, it's an important holiday... for me," she had announced at dinner, seeing the confused and unhappy looks on the brothers' faces.

But Christmas was approaching and the last time the immortal vampires had even begun to celebrate it, they had been children. They remembered their parents, but just as they remembered their father, this actually wonderful time with the humans was something the vampires hated.

But as the first snowflakes fell and the days went by on the calendar, she saw the six of them less and less. There were moments, and had already been several, when she appreciated each and every one of them.

Be it just a look, a smile or a brief touch. Even when she sank her fangs into her bride's body, there were gentle moments and permissive questions. But now she hadn't seen the boys since it snowed.

They seemed to have retreated into the shadows and whenever she came back from the town where she had bought new things, the villa was empty. "Christmas alone I'm happy" she thought with a sigh as she carried the sweet cake in her bag.

She knew that Kanato actually liked to eat it and yet once again no one seemed to be there when she walked through the big gate. Preparing herself to sit alone in front of a plate of chicken on Christmas Eve, she opened the door and closed it behind her.

But something was different. ,,Vanilla?" she murmured and looked around, surprised to see that lambs were hanging from the railings where she couldn't reach them, mistletoe was hanging from door frames and doorways and someone had baked cookies.

Venturing further, she placed the cake on the table in the living room. Suddenly felt a presence behind her and turned around. ,,You made this?" she asked in disbelief but full of joy and saw the six of them nodding.

Some had Christmas hats on while others had little badges in the shape of snowmen or reindeer. ,,Our blood deserves only the best".

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

Mukami :

Christmas was familiar to the four former humans. They all knew Christmas as the day of the year when love and joy in the family was most important. The community and being together was what mattered. The Mukamis, although not officially a family, had a bond that held them together and always would.

Together through the cruelty as humans that had been done to them, they had endured every day. But Christmas was the one day when all they remembered was the cold. How they could barely move their limbs.

Their clothes were so short that they feared their toes and fingers would freeze off in the morning. They associated Christmas with nothing but pain. In contrast to their Eva, the young human woman associated Christmas with humanity, warmth and devotion to love and family.

The sweetness of cookies and cakes as well as the hearty meat and the candles that lit everything up. The big green Christmas tree in the living room and the baubles that were hung on it together.

,,Please, you seem to mean it well, but this is just a torment for us," Ruki said and looked up from his book. Azusa seemed to want to hide behind his bandages, Kou looked deeper into his magazine and Yuma ate lots of pieces of sugar. None of them wanted to know anything about it.

A fact that she initially accepted, knowing only fragments of the pain the four of them had suffered and had to suffer to become what they were today. But in the end she didn't give up, they had to overcome their memories and her Eva would help the four of them.

With a lot of persuasion and overcoming, she finally got the four of them into the kitchen for a little rehearsal. Try making cookies as a team," she suggested and they all saw nothing but love and devotion in her smile.

Kou, with his ability, also checked this out and nodded slightly. What almost ended in an argument at first was a laugh between the four of them by the end of the day. Azusa had managed to make his cookies look like black coal.

Ruki's cookies looked perfect on the outside only to crumble on the inside, Kou had used too much sugar and Yuma's cookies had a hard inside but seemed to crumble on the outside. ,,This...isn't...necessarily...Christmas," Azusa mumbled and she put a hand on his shoulder, giving him an encouraging look before touching the other's hands.

She saw the realization in the others' eyes that behind all the laughter was understanding that it didn't have to be painful. ,,It's Christmas now," she said and the others agreed. Instead, they did a Christmas thing together every other day until in the end it was truly a Christmas full of joy and love for all of them at the Mukami house.

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

Tsukinami :

The two brothers knew a lot, they actually knew everything there was to know. They knew the importance of their destiny and the destiny of their wife.

They had learned a lot about the world of vampires and the bloodline during the time she was with them. In return, the three of them had developed a relationship based on love, not hate.

A love that could withstand a lot, be it Shin's temperament and feelings or Carla's illness Endzeit. They had endured a lot until one day their love told them about a human holiday.

,,Christmas Eve is a day of family and joy, forgiveness and coming together," she tried to explain and saw that Shin was already yawning and Carla seemed to be thinking. She even doubted that the two of them knew anything about Christmas.

When it came to similarities, they were a lot more different. ,,A holiday then," Carla murmured and she could see behind his bright eyes that he seemed to be thinking while Shin was probably thinking about it in his head.

She had no idea what else they would find out about this special day. Without her realizing it, the two of them tried to find out more and more as the future wife of the two of them, she deserved to experience this day in a special way.

Leaving everything they could find about it in books, it was Carla who made plans, Shin who gathered things together while keeping their mutual love happy to keep her away from the surprise.

A fraternal fall until the snow fell, the temperature seemed to drop even in the other world, and everything went according to the law of nature.

She was called out of her room by the two of them and she was worried that it was something bad. She had seen less and less of Carla and Shin always seemed to want to dissuade her from doing something. Before she stepped into the great hall, she was met by warmth coming from the fires in the fireplaces.

The crown lit up and from somewhere she heard classical music that seemed to dance around her and through the room like a light dance. ,,Welcome to your Christmas," Carla greeted his beloved and gave her a kiss on the back of the hand while Shin hugged his love and gave her a kiss on the cheek. ,,Can we get started?" the redhead asked, grinning at her before they both took her hands gently and began to move around the hall to the beat of the music.

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

Happy first day of December

#advent calendar #diabolik lovers #sakamaki brothers #mukami brothers #tsukinami brothers #shu sakamaki #reiji sakamaki #ayato sakamaki #laito sakamaki #kanato sakamaki #subaru sakamaki #ruki mukami #azusa mukami #kou mukami #yuma mukami #carla tsukinami #shin tsukinami #diabolik lovers x reader

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aastarions · 1 year

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It's quiet when Zhongli first awakens, though silence no longer holds its once tranquil meaning.

No longer does he find comfort in the calm of the morning, taking in the sounds of birds chirping outside his bedroom window or the chatter of nearby passerbys.

He's quick on his feet, shuffling through his home with haste until he reaches the only door cracked ajar. With bated breath he eases it open, eyes immediately darting for the small crib that holds his entire universe within it.

Zhongli can't quite quell the grin that spreads along his lips at the sight of his baby girl sound asleep; it happens to be a rare sight.

More often than not the two of you are awoken like clockwork to the harsh cries of your little one, taking turns throughout the night and early morning to tend to her needs.

This is the first morning since she's arrived home - three and a half months ago - that she's slept through the entire night.

"How you seem to be growing up right before my very eyes, little dove," Zhongli hums over the infant, allowing the back of his finger to caress her soft, chubby cheeks, "I fear I am not quite ready to handle the ache in my chest that accompanies one's child aging."

"She's only going to be four months old soon, dear," Your voice drags his attention away from the baby, a power only you hold.

Zhongli watches as you wander over to the crib, curling your gentle fingers around his bicep once you're at his side as you further reassure him, "You don't have to worry about her leaving us any time soon."

"I know," He removes his arm from your hold, but only so that he can curl it around your back and press you close to his frame. "You're right, but I have been alive for thousands upon thousands of years. I fear that a mere few will pass far too quickly for my liking."

Before you can respond, disgruntled noises from the crib bring the both of your gazes to the now awake infant. She appears displeased at first glance, more than likely upset at being woken up by you and your husband's conversation. It's not until her eyes fully open that she sees the two of you and the biggest toothless grin stretches across her tiny lips. A squeak of sorts escapes her throat, chubby fingers curling up as through she's asking to be lifted from the confines of her bed.

Leaning over, you lift her into your embrace and tuck her underneath your chin, pressing a delicate kiss to the top of her head while murmuring a quiet good morning.

The way she rests her head on your chest has her facing Zhongli, babbling nonsensicals to her father who gazes at her with an infinite amount of love and adoration.

He reaches over and places a kiss on her head where you had only moments prior, following it up with a second to your cheek, murmuring out a, "thank you."

"For what?" You ask, puzzled at the sudden gratitude.

"It is only with you that I have ever felt so...human, with you that I am able to understand the love a man holds for his beloved, a father holds for his children. I once believed that the love I hold for Liyue could compare, but I have quickly learned my mistake- dear, are you crying?"

Shaking your head slowly as to not disturb the baby, you will the tears that accumulated in your lower lash line away and let out a quiet laugh, "No, no, it's okay. I'm okay. Let's go spend the morning in bed with this little one, hm?"

Zhongli grins once more as he follows you back through the narrow hallway, saying, "I would love nothing more."

#cw babies #c.etc #zhongli fluff #i thought about putting a read more but its like 600 words i checked on my phone too and it doesnt take that long to scroll #so #ANYWAYS I WANNA GIVE THIS MAN A BABY SO BAD U DO NOT UNDERSTAND #zhongli x reader

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anarchy-and-piglins · 10 months

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Eret glanced up as their door opened, Philza stepped into their office, someone following closing behind him.

"Hey Philza, what do you need?"

The Alien gently tugged the hidden figure out from behind him.

"I need a translator for this one."

Eret's eyes widened in shock. Standing there was a human child, his white skin and red eyes gave away the child was an albino, despite his hair not being white, but a very pale pink instead. He appeared to be about 8 or so, but no older then 10.

"Phil? Where did you get him?"

"Earth Raiders. Trying to snag more of you before the Confederation could blockade the place."

Sucking in a shaky breath, Eret forced himself to stay away from the horrible memories of being abducted from Earth and then denied passage to return. Earth was uncontacted. The Confederation had decided humanity had to establish one off world colony before they would make contact, even if that means kidnapped humans could never go back home. They knelt down near the child, and held out their hand.

"Hi, I'm Eret, what's your name?"

A small, shy voice answered him.

"Technoblade."

"I bet you want to go home don't you?"

Even as they asked, Eret's mind was racing. The rules were different for children, an abducted child was always returned unless it wasn't safe for the child.

"I can't. Auntie said if she sees my ugly face again she'll kill me."

"What about your parents?"

"They died. It was my fault, Auntie said so."

Philza was almost hovering, Eret knew he was slowly learning english because his translator was an old one and could only communicate with other translators. He couldn't understand what he and Techno were talking about.

"So are they like an Avian?"

Eret almost startled at Philza's voice.

"An Avian?"

"Yeah, he's smaller than you. Is he like an Avian?"

And then Eret knew, if Philza knew Techno was a child, there would be no returning him. And that would be a good thing. Auntie did not sound like a pleasent person.

"No. He's a child. A human chick. And he's an orphan."

At the word "chick," Philza's pupils seemed to swallow his eyes. All Elytrans adored chicks. Eret quickly inserted the Translator implant behind Techno's ear and bid the two farewell. Techno would be in good hands.

(My idea for this is Techno is an 8 year old human. Save for a very few, all the others are Aliens. Phil originally thought Techno was like an Avian, a race that shares the same homeworld as Elytrans but are much smaller. But nope! Child! Wilbur's going to come back to the ship to find Philza making a PROPER nest for a child and be very confused.

Techno's parents died and he was taken in by a relative that insisted on being called Auntie. She is not a good person to put it politely. And Techno is an albino. Philza's going to bath that kid in Alien Sunscreen.)

Ohohoho, a delightful little set up. Love me a good alien AU with human Techno hehe. I also really like the idea of using somebody's instincts against them. Maybe not in a super malicious fashion here (and also I have a feeling Phil wouldn't really mind since it's for Techno's betterment and all) but there's still something pretty messed up about Eret knowing that establishing Techno as a child will make Phil project on him. That's fun!

#asks #technoblade #dark sbi #eret #thoughts

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carlyraejepsans · 8 months

Text

> Inspect the library. Maybe the books here have useful information.

You've already gone through most of the books in the castle. If there's anything you might have missed, it has to be here. Besides, when will you ever get a second chance at this?

You inspect the library. With a figertip, you draw a sharp line through its grey mantle. The dust on the shelves is thick enough for skiing. The only sign of cleaning being a small dimple through its surface, presumably from someone performing the same kind of assessment you just did, but enough time ago that their own clean line had raced to catch up with the median dust level.

There is no way for you to proceed with your investigations without leaving traces here. You just hope that the kind of occupant that doesn't pay notice to this level of dust wouldn't notice if it suddenly went away, either.

You start pulling books out of the shelves. They're... logs, it seems. Both in the sense that they're heavy as bricks, as in the sense that they're registers. Law changes, regulations, Royal mandates. The years, too, keep varying wildly: 1898, 1967, 2018.

"That can't be right," you mumble to yourself, "That's half a millennia ago. How are they still in these conditions?"

Halfway through a shorthand discussion on "Magical energy distribution in the farther regions", you find what appears to be a rough map of the entire underground world. Seems like the cave does expand westward, just like the King mentioned.

You hesitate—then carefully tear the page out of the book and shove it in your bag. Could be useful.

You pull out another book. You stare at the cover. Your eyes are beginning to sting after straining so hard to read at firelight, but you're pretty sure you read the title right.

"Practical Techniques In Home Cooking". Author name illegible. It feels well loved, even as you hold it. The spine is cracked where it isn't downright ripped, and a few loose pages threaten to escape and rustle to the floor as you carefully open it.

The inside of the book is as consumed with use as its outside. Thousands of hand annotations in firm, neat pencil writing frame what, to the book's credit, indeed seem to be cooking techniques for home use. Occasionally, the author proposes a recipe. It's in these pages that the amateur co-author's corrections thicken, webbing through the original text like a spider, correcting proportions and specifying cooking times.

The co-author seems to have very strong opinions about "the dangers of non-magical fires in the kitchen".

Despite your situation, you can't put the book down. This isn't useful, per se, but it is... different. Different from anything you've seen so far, from the moment you stumbled into this cave. It feels genuine, domestic. It feels, well...

Human. Something in your heart stirs.

To your surprise, a series of crayon drawings render the next recipe almost unreadable. They're goofy, colorful, and rudimentary in the way that only young children's art can be. You smile as you turn another page. And that's when you see it. Tucked neatly into the book.

It's a photograph. A thumb half covers the lenses, but the rest is clear. Two figures smile toothily at the camera, covered in cocoa powder and flour: one is a monster, small and white furred like powdered sugar, and it points at the photographer, maybe warning them about the camera.

The other is human.

You stop breathing. You squint at the photograph, looking closer for control panels or screws, or antennae—anything that would tell you the person in the picture is actually some kind of monster—but find nothing. It's just... a kid. Perhaps a few years younger than you, all puffy cheeks and scraggly hair, their index finger dipped in chocolate batter. Their smile is missing a tooth.

You turn the photograph over. In the back, you once again recognize the neat handwriting of the co-author: "My little helpers, 2019"

You exhale, somewhat unsteadily, as something glows brighter in your chest.

Other humans. There were other humans in the underground. And maybe, if other humans came here, other humans made it out, too. Maybe—you let yourself hope—maybe there is a way out.

You look down at the photograph once again, just to marvel at your discovery.

"How did you even get here," you whisper, tracing the borders with a finger.

A chill runs down your spine.

"pretty sure that's my line, buddy."

You drop the book and turn, clutching your bag. Its broken-off pages spill onto the floor like an avalanche.

The skeleton leans his back against the door, smiling placidly at you. He's in his shirtsleeves, the sleeves themselves rolled up to the elbow, and he seems to have changed his dress pants for a pair of loose gym shorts. He tips a mug at you.

You didn't hear him unlock the door. You didn't hear anything.

Staring at the pinpricks of light in his eyesockets, you realize this is the first time you've seen him without sunglasses.

You also realize he's wearing pink slippers.

"heya," he says.

-->

#undertale #mywriting #sans #there he is. the man the myth the legend

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starogeorgina · 7 months

Text

Violent delights

Warnings: Swearing, character death

Pairings: Jacaerys Velaryon x oc

1.10

Notes: For the sake of fanfiction, let's pretend it only takes a few days to travel north 🤣

“Men like Aegon never change. They will always be monsters.”

“Precisely, that is why this plan will work.”

You twiddle with the ring that sits on your middle finger, a gift from your husband not long after you got married. The only time you’d taken it off was when your fingers swelled so much during your pregnancy with Rhaenys; they had become so puffy that the ring had begun to cut into your finger. You remember how happy you were when it finally fit on again because of how sentimental it was. Now, looking at it, you feel nothing but guilt.

Teary-eyed, you look at your stepfather and ask, “What if it goes wrong? What if I don’t ever get to see my children, mother, or Jace again?”

Daemon pinches the bridge of his nose. Lucery's death has affected him just as much as the rest of you. He loved Luke as if he were his own, but you feared his thirst for revenge was preventing him from thinking clearly. “I love Jacaerys too much to risk leaving him to raise our five children alone. I will help you seek justice any other way I can, but I cannot do what you are asking. I’m not strong enough to do what you are asking on my own. I’m sorry.”

Daemon places both hands on your shoulders and gives them a comforting squeeze. “My sweet Lyarra, don’t ever apologize for putting your family first.”

Although they aren’t unkind, his words upset you further. It was hard for you to process that, Lucerys was your family.

You awaken to the sound of your son's soft voice. You open your eyes to see him pointing out the carriage window excitedly, “Muña look, it’s Vermax.”

Groggily, you lean forward and see your husband’s dragon, Vermax, curled up into a ball on top of a small hill. A knot forms in your stomach. In different circumstances, seeing Jacery after spending time apart would have set your heart ablaze, but you felt dread. Lucerys wasn’t only his brother but Jace’s best friend, and telling him what happened would break his heart.

“Do you think we will be well received, princess?” Clara asks. “It’s known that northerners are suspicious of outsiders.”

It had crossed your mind how the north would accept a Targaryen when Jacaerys first left, given your very different customs, but the Starks were known for their loyalty, and since they had already sworn to your mother, you didn’t think they would break faith. However, you also didn't think they would understand siblings marrying each other.

“Our banners the right colours,” you say. Trying to lighten the tension, you add, “Cregan Stark isn’t much older than Prince Jacaerys, so I imagine they will have bonded already.”

Vermax suddenly lets out a loud screech while looking up at the sky; perhaps the dragon had spotted Viserion. It seems as if Viserion could sense your worry about being spotted, so he flew so high up into the sky that no human could see him from the ground. You had remained in disguise throughout your journey, which hadn’t been easy given that you had five children with you. There had been many stops and carriage changes along the way, and only when Winterfell came into sight did you allow for your house banners to be lowered to one side of the carriages.

Under different circumstances, you would have loved to travel to Winterfell and experience seeing your children walk in the snow for the first time. Or flying on your dragon and seeing how beautiful it looked from above, but that wasn’t how things worked out. For the only thing that mattered was finding jacery, then somewhere safe for your children to stay while you went back and fought for your mother's birth right.

—

Soon as you arrived within the gates of Winterfell, you were greeted by many lords and ladies who were fascinated by your appearances, mainly because the dye in your hair was wearing off, giving the illusion that you and your children had multi-coloured hair along with your unusual eye colour. Lady Gilliane, Cregan’s mother, escorted you inside immediately and had hot meals brought for you all while you waited for rooms to be ready for you as Jacery's belongings were being moved. The good lady had informed you that most hunts lasted a few days.

You sit across from Lady Gilliane, with Clara beside you, while the children sit at the table behind you. The three of you make small talk; you were intrigued by the stories of the north, mainly the one including direwolves. During mid-conversation, Clara whispers into your ear, “Princess, your milk is coming through.”

You glance down at your chest and see dark spots. Mortified, you hand Clara Daemon and put the thick, large cloak back on before taking him back into your arms.

“Would you like for me to send for a wet nurse?” Lady Gillian asks quietly. “You must be tired after all that traveling, and the nights are long here.”

At first, you were hesitant to accept, but given how kind she has been, you accepted. “Thank you, Lady Gilliane; you have been most kind to us.”

—

The quarters you were staying in had connecting rooms, which was quite pleasant. It meant you could keep an eye on your children without disturbing their sleep. All of your sons and Rhaenys were exhausted and had fallen asleep not long after they lay down. Rhaenys was currently snuggling into the middle of the bed you’d be sleeping in peacefully.

Your eldest daughter remains awake. You sit on the floor, feeling the soft fur beneath you as you braid Aemma’s hair. “You’ve been awfully quiet; is something wrong? Do you feel well?”

Slowly, she nods.

The last few days had been hard on your children; they weren’t used to being crammed together in such a small space, and it was difficult trying to explain why you had to go. You told them their Kepa had missed them so much that they were going to surprise him, which seemed to please them, but Aemma had hardly spoken since you left Dragonstone. Something else was going on with her; you knew she was deeply troubled by something but was too afraid to say what it was.

Perhaps she had learned of Lucery's death, which you had chosen not to tell them. You couldn’t bring yourself to tell them they had lost their beloved uncle and then drag them around while trying to find safety for them. “My sweet,” you say, finishing the braid. “There’s nothing you can’t tell me; you know that I’ll always love you, no matter what.”

Not answering you, she toys with threads of fur.

“Aemma, I cannot fix things if I don’t know what’s wrong,” you say softly.

Sighing, Aemma shuffles around so she’s facing you. Her eyes are wide and full of worry. “I don’t want to live in the red keep.”

You let out a loud gasp. “What?”

“I heard you and grandsire talking. You were crying, and he said Aegon would come to claim me. I'm a bastard, and people would say Aegon is my father.”

You watch as tears build in her eyes. You feel absolutely awful that she has overheard you and Daemon talking. She must have snuck out of her bedchambers and into yours and only picked up part of the conversation. You needed to now have a conversation that she was far too young for, but your daughter needed to know the truth, at least some of it.

“I don’t want to go with him,” she cries. “I want to stay with you on Dragonstone. Please don’t give me away, muña.”

You struggle to hold your own tears back. “Do you remember I told you that I lived in the red keep when you were born?”

“Yes,” she answers, cuddling by your side.

“When I was younger, it was arranged that I’d marry Aegon for political purposes. I lived in the red keep at the time, and then I fell pregnant with you.”

“And Rhaegar.”

“And Rhaegar,” you say, smiling before kissing the side of her head. Thinking about your son always hurt, but even more so now seeing how big his twin was. “I was very unhappy living in the keep and didn’t want you to feel the same way, so not long after you were born, I returned home to Dragonstone. But that meant I had to divorce Aegon.”

“So Aegon is my father?”

“Biologically, yes, but Jacaerys has loved you from the moment he held you in his arms and always considered you his daughter. And I promise he would never ever let anyone take you from us.”

“Would he frighten them away on Vermax?”

“He would burn the whole world to the ground if it meant you were safe.”

“So he won’t ever let Aegon take me?”

“No, sweet girl, he wouldn’t. You and your siblings are our whole being. Me and Jacaerys both share the blood of the dragon with our Velaryon and Targaryen heritage, which we share with you. You are our daughter, and you are so loved and that’s the only thing that truly matters.”

She wraps her arms around your neck and hugs you. You stay like that until the door slowly opens and your husband walks into the bedchamber. Aemma remains still in your arms for a moment before letting go of you and running to him and loudly yelling , “Kepa.”

You feel a wave of relief hearing her call him that. “Jace,” you wince, feeling pain in your stomach as you stand again. You suddenly notice the person standing behind him and assume it’s Cregan. “Lord Stark. I didn’t think you would be back for a few days.”

“When a dragon landed on our campsite, we decided it was time to head back,” Cregan chuckles.

Since Vermax was already at Winterfell when you arrived, you knew it was your own dragon who had ruined their hunt. Viserion definitely knew how to make an entrance.

“It’s an honor to meet you, princess. Prince Jacaerys has talked about you nonstop.”

“It’s an honor to be here. The stories I’ve heard don’t do Winterfell justice; your home is beautiful.”

“Thank you, princess.” He smiles watching as Jace picks your daughter up for a hug. “I shall leave you to rest; I only came to show the prince how to find his new quarters.”

As soon as Cregan is out of the room, Jace asks. “Lyarra, why is Aemma’s hair dark?”

You can see the fury in Jace’s eyes. He knew something was seriously wrong. You clear your threats. “Aemma, can you please go through to your bed?”

Aemma kisses Jace on the cheek before going through to the room she would be sharing with her brothers.

Jacaerys stares at you, waiting for you to answer; his eyes are wide and wild-like. You are glad your other daughter's snores alert him to her presence, so he lowers his voice. You lead him into another part of the quarts, where you begin to tell him but struggle to get the words out. “We dyed our hair so it was safer for us to travel without being spotted. The war has gotten worse and—”

“I knew from the moment I saw Viserion something was wrong. Is it our mother?”

You step closer to him and place your hand on his chest. Struggling to hold back tears, you say, “I’m so sorry, Jace, but Lucerys is gone. Aemond killed him.”

He steps back and begins frantically shaking his head. “No, no, he can’t be dead.”

“When Luke arrived at Storm’s end, Aemond was already there. Aemond threatened Luke, and Lord Borros did nothing to protect our brother—Luke fled and tried to come home,” you sob. “He tried to come home, but Aemond caught up to him on Vhagar.”

Jace stumbles back against the wall, as if the air had been sucked from his lungs. He remains silent for some time, then eventually says, “That doesn’t explain why you came here.”

Seeing the pain in his face, you try to spare him from it anymore. “It can wait till morning, my love.”

“Tell me why you came here.”

“It won’t—”

“Just tell me!” Tears stream from his bloodshot eyes. Jacaerys sinks further to the floor, crying and mourning in a way you’ve never seen from him before. “Please, just tell me.”

“The greens are coming for Aemma.”

In a blink of an eye, Jacaerys is out of the room, and you’re left on your own.

—

You are still sobbing into the pillow you’re holding close to your chest to muffle your tears when Jacaerys returns. The candles have burned out, so it’s difficult for you to see him, but you can hear him undressing before feeling the dip in the bed beside you.

“I’m so sorry; I shouldn’t have raised my voice at you,” he whispers. He feels for the bed to make sure he doesn’t crush your daughter before crawling in beside you. “And I’m sorry for leaving; I just needed a moment to get my head around...” You feel his wet cheek press against your shoulder. “I can’t believe he is gone.”

You understood Jace’s anger wasn’t directed at you; he was just torn up over Luke’s death. “Where did you go?”

“I went and spoke to Cregan. He has agreed to send an army south to fight for our mother.”

At least something had gone right.

“He had also agreed for our children to stay in Winterfell while we returned home to deal with the usurper. And in returning; I have betrothed Rhaenys to his son Rickon.”

You swallow thickly and say, “Oh.”

“I know you wanted to wait until they were older, but this could not wait. I needed to secure their safety.”

“I understand, my prince,” you say, kissing the back of his hand. “I’m just surprised; usually it’s the firstborn's hand that’s asked for.”

“I told him Aemma was already betrothed.”

Being careful not to wake your sleeping daughter; you spin around so you can face your husband. Even though it was dark, you were still trying to study his facial expression. “She is?”

“She will be betrothed to Aethan, our firstborn son. That way, nobody will ever try to usurp her for being a woman or question that she’s my rightful heir.”

You kiss him on the forehead. “When are we returning home?”

“I think we should wait a couple of days; make sure the children have settled and you have rested well.”

Jacaerys voice cracks as he talks; he rests his head against your chest, and you can feel him shaking. You stroke his hair as tears fall from his eyes. “Whatever happens, we’ll get through this.”

#house of the dragon #jacaerys velaryon x you #house of the dragon fanfiction #house of the dragon fanfic #violent delights #Jacaerys Velaryon #jacaerys velaryon fanfic #jacaerys velaryon fanfiction #jacaerys velaryon/you #Jace Velaryon #jace velaryon fanfic #Jace Velaryon/you #Jace Velaryon x you #Jacaerys Velaryon x oc #Jacaerys Velaryon/oc #Jacaerys Velaryon x fem oc #jace velaryon fanfiction #Jace Velaryon x oc #Jace Velaryon/oc

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mcverse · 1 year

Text

✧ Paring: Lo’ak x Human! F! Reader

✧ Requested: Yes/No

✧ Type: One Shot

✧ Word count: 2.8K

✧ Warnings: It’s flufff, & slight angst obvi, anxious reader is relatable

✧ Side Bar: I stayed up all night because this couldn’t leave my head

please keep in mind that all characters in my stories are always 18+, and although I can't monitor who reads my work, if you are not 18+ I advise that you do not engage in my page or stories.

Pandora was the only place you'd ever called home, but it was a complex relationship. Despite being born on the planet, you didn't belong to its native people.

Instead, you were technically aligned with the Sky People—a group with a history of destroying hope and leaving chaos in their wake. For years, they'd traveled across space to set foot on this lush, alien world and decimate its resources.

You knew deep down that you didn't share their values or their vision for the future. You couldn't claim them as your own, not when you felt such a strong connection to the vibrant, interconnected ecosystem of Pandora.

But that didn't mean you were exempt from the judgement of others. In the eyes of many Na’vi, you were just another outsider—a demon, no less—who was profiting off the exploitation of their world.

As much as they may believe it, they couldn't be more mistaken. You may not possess the same physical form as the Na'vi, nor the ability to connect with the planet through Tsaheylu, but your heart beats in harmony with Pandora, and you feel a deep connection to its magnificent beauty and delicate balance like it was a part of you.

You understood why the Na'vi were hesitant to accept you. They had been betrayed by the sky people before, and their distrust of outsiders was understandable. It didn't make it any less difficult, however, to feel like you were constantly on the outside looking in.

You suspected that Spider shared your yearning for acceptance. He had changed his appearance, donning the blue paint and attire of the Na'vi, to look more like a native. But beneath the surface, he was still a human like you, with all the limitations and flaws that came with it.

It was difficult to keep up with him, your mind burdened by the fear of being scrutinized and evaluated by others. The weight of that anxiety was suffocating, making it hard for you to venture out and visit Hometree, the heart of the Omaticaya clan.

As a result, you only made the trip twice during your childhood, opting instead to spend most of your time with the Sully children and Spider in the surrounding forest.

Perhaps it was wrong of you to feel content with your current situation, quietly existing without the formal acceptance of the Na'vi. You didn't want to pressure them into welcoming you with open arms, but at the same time, you longed to be acknowledged and appreciated for who you are.

Spider's approach of hovering in between acceptance and rejection seemed tempting, but you knew it trying to follow in his pattern wouldn't be true to yourself. You wanted to be seen as you truly are, not as an imitation of someone else.

This makes you feel incredibly grateful for the Sully kids, as they have become like family to you. Though you don't believe that Eywa sees you, you know that the Sully kids see you for who you are and accept you as a part of their group. You feel a sense of belonging and comfort that you seek out in the world, and you know that they will always be by your side.

Spider, what’s not to love about him? Growing up, you came to know him as your brother not by blood. There were moments he was annoying, as brothers do but he can also be fiercely protective of you, sweet, and comforting when you need it most. You know that he always has your best interests at heart and will do anything for you.

Your sister from another species, Kiri, was literally your best friend. You did everything together, told each other everything. It was a little worrisome or scare to those from the outside, with how in sync you’re feelings are and the ability to when the others down and need some cheering to do. They just didn’t understand neither of you.

Little Tuk wasn’t so little anymore but she was still your very your own personal cheerleader. You remember learning the term after finding an old yearbook from someone left behind, and it seemed to fit her perfectly. She always roots for you at your accomplishments, and loves making things for you just because she felt like it. To you, she is the sweetest thing on the planet.

The mighty warrior, Neteyam, was a strict and protective man even with you. Though you may not be blood, he never gave you a reason to consider otherwise. You were extended family, who deserved just as much watchfulness and guidance as his own siblings and Spider.

But Lo’ak was a different case altogether. When growing up alongside him, you saw him like you did Spider and Neteyam, just a friendly face who you could count on to be there when you needed him. However, things changed once you hit puberty. Your feelings towards him began to shift, and you couldn't help but think of him constantly, wondering what he was up to and if he ever thought of you in the same way.

Your feelings for him were string, but you were always hesitant to act on them. You knew that the idea of two different species being together was frowned upon, and you feared the backlash that might come from confessing your love to him. Kiri may have found your feelings for Lo’ak cute, but you found them repulsive and frustrating, as they consumed your every thought.

Through your fears and doubts, you longed to tell Lo’ak how much he meant to you. You wanted him to know that you saw his hard work and effort when nobody else did, and that you loved everything about him, even his five fingers and eyebrow hair. Sometimes you couldn't help but wonder if he saw you in the same way, but you never dared to find out, fearing the worst.

When Lo’ak completed his final rite of passage, you realized that your chance to confess your feelings had come and gone. He was now old enough to find a mate, and even though he hadn't done so yet, you knew that it was only a matter of time.

You pushed your feelings aside, burying them deep within you in an attempt to move on and forget about what could have been—if only you weren’t so scared, filled to the brim with anxiety and self consciousness.

Nervously you fiddle with your fingers, trying to compose yourself as you watch Lo’ak playfully wrestle with Spider. Did he ever notice the way you looked at him, how your skin would heat up every time he touches you or how you couldn't stop smiling when he was next to you? You had been trying to move on from these feelings for months, but he had a hold on you that you couldn't shake off.

It felt like you were hooked, reeled in, and trapped by your feelings for him. The phrase "sink, line, and hooker" had become all too familiar to describe the pull he had on you. You had fallen for him hard, and it was frustrating because the only other human around your age was Spider. Moving on to him would just feel wrong, for so many reasons.

You’re so lost in thought when you feel a tap on your shoulder and turn to see Kiri kneeling there with a smile on her face. She rubs your shoulder gently and says, "Stay out of your head, everything will be okay." Her words provide a small comfort, but deep down, you know that this love for Lo'ak will continue to consume you until you find a way to move on.

You thank Kiri for her kind words, returning her smile before stealing another glance at the two boys. But you are caught off guard when you notice that they are already looking at you, and quickly avert their eyes when they realize you noticed.

You feel a pang of discomfort in your chest as you wonder what they found so amusing. Spider is snickering and pushing Lo'ak away from him, but their behavior only makes you feel worse.

You can't help but wonder if there is something on your face, or if they are laughing at something you said or did. Kiri doesn't say anything, leaving you to feel vulnerable and self-conscious.

You quickly turn away, blinking away a tear that has formed in your eye. You know that you are being overly sensitive, but the feeling of being laughed at and excluded by the two people closest to you hurts deeply. You feel like an outsider, like there is some secret joke about you that you are not in on. The feeling is overwhelming, and you can't shake it off.

You excuse yourself from Kiri and walk off deeper into the forest, heart pounding harder in your chest as you continue. The lush green surroundings no longer holds the calming effect they usually do.

Instead, your mind is consumed with thoughts of Lo’ak and how he must see you. Do you disgust him? Is he aware of the way you feel about him? The thought of being the laughing stock of your closest friends makes your stomach churn.

You try to shake the thought off, reminding yourself that Lo'ak has always been kind to you, and he's never given you any indication that he thinks less of you. Then the memory of Spider and Lo’ak’s laughter at your expense replay in your mind, making you feel even more self-conscious. The thought of being the subject of their amusement fills you with shame.

You hate that every time he glances your way or speaks to you, you overanalyze every word and gesture, trying to decipher if there's any hidden meaning behind them. Why couldn’t you be born in a normal world with people like you? Maybe then the heartbreak wouldn’t be so severe.

Your chest tightens and tears swell up in your eyes when you come to a stop and lean against a tree. You try closing your eyes and taking deep breaths in an effort to calm down. You try to remind yourself that these thoughts are just your insecurities talking, but it’s hard to shake the feeling of being inadequate and unlovable in a world where people can’t come to do the opposite of that.

You were so involved in your own thoughts that you failed to notice someone come up behind you until the sun no longer shined down on you, and instead, it was a shadow. Ironically, it was how you felt at the moment - overshadowed by your own emotions. You sniffled a few times, trying to gather your bearings before turning to see who it was. You were shocked to see that it was Lo’ak standing there.

You quickly composed yourself, trying to wipe your tears away, only to realize that your ecopack mask made that impossible. You turn away, feeling embarrassed and more self-conscious about being caught in such a vulnerable state.

“Are you okay?” Lo’ak asks softly, stepping closer to you.

You can feel his warmth radiating off of him, and the proximity makes your heart race. You try to push those thoughts aside, knowing that they only lead to more heartache. “I’m fine,” you say, your voice coming out weaker than you intended. You look away in cringe.

Lo'ak doesn’t seem convinced and reaches his hand out to gently grab your chin. His warm touch on your skin sends shivers down your spine, and you feel your heart rate pick up as he guides your gaze up to meet his. It's impossible to avoid the intensity of his gaze, and for a moment, you're lost in his eyes.

But the weight of your emotions is too much to bear, and you break eye contact, feeling a fresh wave of tears welling up behind your ecopack mask. You can't bring yourself to admit the truth to him, to lay bare your innermost thoughts and fears.

As if sensing your hesitation, Lo'ak's thumb begins to move in small, soothing circles on your skin. It's a small gesture, but it feels like a lifeline, a grounding force in the midst of your swirling emotions.

"It's nothing," you lie, your voice shaking slightly as you force the words out. You can't bear the thought of burdening Lo'ak with your problems, not when he has so much else to deal with.

But Lo'ak is persistent, and his eyes never leave yours as he speaks, his voice gentle and reassuring. "It doesn't look like nothing," he says, and you feel a pang of guilt at the concern etched on his face.

You take a deep breath, trying to calm your racing heart as you gather your thoughts. It feels like an eternity before you finally find the courage to speak up, your voice barely above a whisper.

"I... I don't know, Lo'ak," you say, feeling the tears spilling down your cheeks despite your best efforts to hold them back. "I feel so conflicted. I don't know what to do with these feelings."

Lo'ak's expression softens even more, and he takes your hand, leading you to a nearby log where he sits down beside you. You feel the warmth of his body beside you, and it's both comforting and unnerving at the same time.

"Tell me," he says, his voice still gentle, but now with a note of urgency, "Whatever it is, you can always tell me."

You look up at Lo'ak, you can feel the tears pooling in your eyes, threatening to spill over at any moment. You see the concern etched on his face and can't help but feel a surge of emotion at the intensity of the moment. You feel like you're standing on the edge of a cliff, ready to jump into the unknown, and you take a deep breath, trying to steady yourself.

You know you need to tell him what's been weighing on your mind, but you're afraid of how he'll react. Will he judge you? Will he think you're silly or overreacting? You push those doubts aside, knowing that you need to be honest with him.

"I feel like I’ve had to fight all my life," you say, gesturing with your hands to emphasize your point, "For a spot that will never be filled. The Na’vi," you pause, placing a hand over your heart as you feel the tears welling up again, "they will not accept me, they will never see me. I'm tired," you say, shaking your head in frustration, "Lo'ak, I'm tired."

As you speak, Lo'ak listens intently, never taking his eyes off of you. He doesn't interrupt you or try to make light of your feelings, but simply allows you to express yourself fully. It's a rare and beautiful thing, and in that moment, you feel seen and heard in a way that you never have before.

When you finish, Lo'ak doesn't say anything at first. He simply looks at you with a mixture of sadness and understanding, his eyes full of empathy. Finally, he scoots closer to you until your shoulders touch, and he speaks in a soft voice,

"They are too blind to see, and that is their loss," he says, his gaze shifting away briefly before returning to meet your own, "But you, [Name], you are gifted, smart, and kind," he says, his voice full of sincerity, "And beautiful," he adds, his words causing a flutter in your chest, "So what if they don't see you? I see you."

You feel your heart skip a beat at his words. You can hardly believe what you're hearing. The man you've been in love with for so long has feelings for you too. You're overjoyed, overstimulated, and disoriented all in one. You manage to gather your thoughts and respond with a shaky voice, "I see you, Lo'ak." You reach out and take his hand, giving it a gentle squeeze.

A look of relief washes over his face, and a smile slowly stretches across his features. He leans down until your foreheads are touching, "That makes me really happy, more than you know," he says, chuckling softly as he closes his eyes, savoring the feeling of your warmth and presence next to him.

Despite the intensity of the moment, a part of you couldn't help but wonder about the future. "What about..." you start to say, but he interrupts you, opening his eyes and flickering them over your face, trying to memorize every detail,

“I don't know what the future holds, but I like you enough to explore this...what this is. I want to see where we go, together," he says, his voice serious and intent.

You stare at him, your mouth slightly open in surprise at the side of him he was showing. He sounds more mature, more sensual, and more goal-oriented than you had ever known him to be. It was a side of him that you found yourself instantly drawn to, a side that you hadn't fully appreciated yet.

Feeling your cheeks flush, you lean in and peck the inner corner of his lips, letting them lingering for a moment before pulling back, "I can't wait to find out," you whisper, your eyes locked onto his, feeling as though you were seeing him in a whole new light.

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allyheart707 · 1 month

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So my sona hasn't really made an appearance due to me not being much of an artist or posting my own stuff very often, but the pfp on my writing blog is kind of an early version of her. She's a humanoid Gold Cross variation nine-tailed fox, (because Gold Cross foxes are gorgeous and I love them), and she has the ability to turn into a human when she needs to. This is the human:

Because of course it is I use her image for almost all my main characters because she resembles me so it's just easy. I'm also goth so of course she is too. When in human form her eyes are blue but in her fox form they're red-orange. She also usually only has one tail out unless she needs to use a lot of power for something and they all come out, and her eyes glow blue when she's using her magic in human form and red in fox form. And she can shrink down to a normal four-legged fox as well if she wants to. And she has mental powers because I love giving characters mental powers so at points where it seems like she knows what other characters are thinking it's because she actually does know. But she doesn't intentionally read minds unless given permission or prompted by a dire need. She just knows surface level thoughts because she can't control seeing those most of the time.

Anyway sorry for the info dump I just really love my girl and sorry this took me a bit I've had an interesting day. Here's my girl trying to rescue some turtle babies! Starting out in her human form because how else can she infiltrate a top-secret high-security government building?

"Well, I do love kids. And I have been told I'm good with them."

I turn away from the scientist to look in the window. The four mutant turtle children I was told about are bouncing around what looks like an interrogation room, climbing over the table and running around it. One of them is even making faces through the window.

"So, hopefully that'll work in my favor...." I'm suddenly concerned with the fact that these are actual children thrown into an interrogation room like crime suspects.

"Hopefully," the man rolls his eyes, moving past me to open the door. "We're running out of options here."

"Can I ask a quick question though?" This is a bad idea. I shouldn't do this.

He turns to me, glaring, obviously just wanting to get this "interview" over with.

"What?"

Just do your job, May.

"Is there possibly somewhere else I could take them? To make them feel more comfortable?"

Dammit.

He squints at me, not understanding why their comfort would even be a thought on my mind.

"This is an interrogation, not a playdate."

"They're children. What if a playdate is what it takes to get them talking?"

He thinks for a moment, glancing towards the kids in the window.

"Well, there's their bedroom, I suppose. They're not allowed many places. For obvious reasons."

Don't you dare ask.

"What if I took them around the facility?"

Stop it!

This earns me another glare as he whips his head back towards me.

"Why would you do that?"

"Well, they've gotta be curious, right? Don't worry! I won't be taking them anywhere they absolutely shouldn't go! Just, like, the hallways in the main area and places other agents don't frequent. And places they can't mess with or break anything important. They don't know what they're missing, right? Since they've never seen it before? So they won't know I'm not actually showing them anything important."

He ponders for a moment, turning the idea over in his head and going through all the pros and cons. He seems to be leaning towards a negative response when he suddenly sighs and shakes his head, clearing all the thoughts away.

"Fine. But remember, there are cameras everywhere. If you do anything against protocol or allow them to do anything damaging to the building or the project, you're fired."

"Of course! I would never."

He studies me again for a long moment before opening the door and motioning for me to enter the room.

"Hi boys!" I greet cheerily once I can see all of them. "How are you all doing today?"

"Great!" The little box turtle exclaims, jumping up onto the table. "I've never seen this room before!"

"You haven't?" I ask, patting his head, much to his delight. "What do you think it's for?"

"Games?" He asks hopefully.

"It's an interrogation room," the softshell states, sitting in a chair next to the table. "Like I told you. It's where they ask people questions."

The slider leans against the wall and crosses his arms with attitude.

"I'm not telling you people anything."

"Oh, I'm not here to ask those types of questions," I explain.

"What are you here for, then?" The softshell asks, skeptical.

"I'm your new teacher!"

The little turtle lights up at this, eyes growing as wide as possible as he leans forward in the chair. The others seem confused.

"What's that?" The snapper asks.

"A teacher is someone who helps you learn things you don't know," I explain. "We're in this room because they didn't have any other rooms prepared, but hopefully one day we can have an actual classroom!"

"Yes!" The softshell jumps up and down in excitement, waving his hands around. "And we can learn things properly, just like the people in my books!"

I have to smother a laugh at that. I wasn't expecting them to be this cute.

"Pft," the slider scoffs. "What can you learn from books? Can you teach us how to fight? That would be useful."

"I can," I lean down to his level and whisper in his ear. "I happen to be a very strong ninja who trained under the greatest ninja master of all time."

His eyes widen, and I see a glimmer of his own excitement shine in his eyes as he looks to me with a new sense of awe and admiration.

Straightening back up, I look around to all of them.

"Now! My name is May. Before we get started, I would like to know all of your names as well."

The box turtle and softshell give each other a strange look, but the snapper jumps forward excitedly.

"I'm Raph!" He answers me with his tail wagging happily behind him.

"Hi Raph," I pat his head, and he squeaks in delight.

"Heishi..." The slider says quietly.

"Nice to meet you, Heishi," I hold my hand out to him. After a quiet moment of staring, he tentatively takes it, shaking it slowly.

"We don't have names," the softshell tells me.

"Yeah we do!" The box turtle jumps back up from having sat down on the table. "Raph told us!"

"Shh!" The softshell scolds his brother, pulling his arm to have him sit again. The box turtle does so, pouting.

"If you don't want to tell me your names, how about I just call you Orange and Purple? Because of the colors of your markings."

The box turtle looks down at his arms as if he's never seen the spots before while the softshell scrunches up his nose.

"It's just for now, anyway," I reassure them. "Just until you're comfortable with telling me your names or you come up with your own."

The orange one turns to his brother with a questioning look, and receives a shrug in response. He then turns back to beam at me and nods.

"Alright then!" I clap my hands together. "Let's get started. Today, we're going on a tour of the facility!"

Why must I always try to rescue animals I find? I mean, I know these are kids, but they belong to the government and are kept in a high-security building.

The plan I have is a good one, but it could end up putting the boys in danger if it goes wrong.

Heishi lights up at the prospect of seeing the rest of the building. He turns towards the door and looks back to us over his shoulder.

"Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go!"

Donnie was fairly certain that something was up, though he didn't have enough of the pieces to figure it out just yet. Why would they take them to a brand new room just to take them out again? And especially when they knew how much of a flight risk Heishi was.... was she trying to give them a chance to escape?

Well, he wasn't going to jinx it, so he simply followed behind her quietly as she led them out of the interrogation room classroom?

In the map he had studied during their first failed escape, he had learned that there were six halls- all with different purposes. Hall C, however, was reserved entirely for them. It was the only hall they had ever been in and it was so alluring to know that there were six whole halls that they had never seen.

And then, outside of those halls...?

Not that it really mattered, because unless their new escape plan worked out better, Hall C was all he would ever see.

"This room is-" "The testing room. We know." He mumbled, rolling his eyes- The only reason they were having the tour was for their new subjects. Him and Mikey new everything on this hall by heart, and there was no way this stranger would be approved to take them out of it. "Yeah, but please, bare with me on this. I promise this tour will be a lot more interesting soon." She asked kindly as her face scanned the hall, looking for... something? What was she looking for?

Her eyes seemed to light up as one of the scientists in the hallway walked by Dr. Meanie-pants, striking up a conversation.

It wasn't going to keep him distracted for long, but it seemed a few seconds was all she needed for... whatever her plan was.

"Okay, follow me. Oh, and uuuuh, be prepared to run." She winked at them as she pulled Mikey with her, speed walking down the hall, past the testing room, then the meeting room, and Hall C's storage-

wait

Were they leaving hall C?!

#ally asks #rottmnt #tmnt #rise of the tmnt #little subjects au #turtle tots #rottmnt seperated au #little subjects 1000

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bnhaoptr · 1 year

Text

He recognizes me | Kakucho HittoXFem!ReaderPregnant

∆ Hope like it

∆ Kakucho Hitto X Fem! Pregnant Reader

∆ Request Are Open

∆ Warnings: Spoilers, Alcohol, Heterosexuality, Insinuation of Sex, Bad Language

∆ synopsis: Kakucho Hitto is one of the executives of the biggest gang in Tokyo, Bonten, however there is something else that Kakucho loves and cares about more than his duties to Mikey and the gang, it was S/o. Now it had an even greater importance, since she is expecting the couple's first child.

∆ +800 words

It was almost one o'clock in the morning. The meeting with all of Bonten's high ranking members had taken longer than expected to decide what they would do with a group of traitors located in one of the gang's sheds. Kakucho Hitto, Mikey's new right-hand man, was tired and wished only for a hot bath and to eat the food that s/o had left prepared for him and then to sleep beside him.

As usual, the house was tidy and the food was ready to heat up in the oven. On the table was an ultrasound of the baby that his beloved bride was expecting, showing that everything was fine and that he was growing in a healthy way. Moved by the image in his hands, Kakucho could not even eat his dinner; he just ate some fruit from the refrigerator and went to take a shower.

After taking a shower, Kakucho entered the room and saw s/o sleeping soundly, her hair tangled on the pillow, the covers pulled up, and her pajama top rolled up over her five-month pregnant belly. This scene somehow seemed cozy and nostalgic to the young man who was to be a first-time father.

Kakucho loved s/o intensely, a feeling reciprocated by the young woman who was now fast asleep, enough to not feel the thin stream of saliva running from the corners of her lips. Bonten's number three bent down and placed a kiss on his fiancée's forehead. Her bulging belly was even more exposed. He whispered a "goodnight" and knelt in the middle of the bed, facing s/o's belly.

The days and months went by too fast, as it didn't seem like a week had passed since the discovery of her pregnancy. Her commitments with Bonten were always getting in the way of company to the ultrasounds and some shopping. But he never left her alone. She would ask the most trusted men to accompany her. Sometimes Ran Haitani and Takeomi Akashi would stop by to see how they were doing and accompany s/o to the trousseau shopping so she wouldn't carry any weight.

The calloused hands that had struggled so hard without any instruments to protect them, the same ones that had caressed his delicate bride zealously, now slowly caressed her belly while whispering sweet nothings to the child that lay there. Hitto could not control his curiosity and anxiety to meet the new human being that would be between them in four months. The boy they were expecting seemed to be quite healthy and would be a little faster than the other children. From the reports of his classmates, I knew that he was always moving and stirring. But Kakucho had never had the chance to feel his movements.

- Big boy, are you taking good care of mommy? - Kakucho asked laughing.

The stretch marks that had appeared on S/o's belly seemed smaller from the moment she had decided to start using almond oil and other homemade means to avoid them. She had also put on a little weight, making her look cuter. Kakucho was smiling and grateful to be able to have a family that she had always dreamed of having.

- Daddy is looking forward to meeting you.

Then a strong kick landed in Kakucho's hand, surprising him. He couldn't help but remain static from the surprise and let a few tears stream down his face.

- Do you recognize my voice now?

Then one more kick.

- Your daddy is here - Kakucho placed a kiss on his belly, wishing the child could feel the affection.

While the young Bonten executive was thrilled, feeling his son's movements for the first time, he didn't even notice that s/he had woken up by the movements in her womb and witnessing the pleasant scene in front of her. The young woman reached out and stroked his medium length hair and smiled.

Kakucho turned and smiled at his beloved.

- He recognized me.

The young woman sat up, placing her fiancé's head on her lap, letting him feel the baby while she caressed her own belly.

- Of course he did. He knows that his father is the strongest man in the Bonten and works hard to protect the family.

He then started kissing his belly and whispering how much he loved that child and was not waiting for the moment when he would be able to pick him up. Then he stood up and distributed several kisses over the young girl's face. Then he sealed his lips on hers, hugging her tightly.

- I love you both so much. You have no idea.

S/o hugged him back and then placed a kiss on the scar that cut his face and had blinded him.

- And we both love you, baby.

That night, Kakucho could barely of excitement as he lay there feeling the baby that refused to settle down. He could already imagine arriving and telling Ran and Takeomi that the child already recognized him and that he had been able to feel him kick for the first time. Maybe Kakucho would stay closer to Mikey because of his childish tastes for food and would take even more care of Sanzu, since when he was out of his mind he looked like a child with his tantrums.

But all that mattered to him was now wrapped in her strong arms and sleeping sweetly.

#kakucho hitto #kakucho hitto x reader #TokyoRev #tokyo revengers headcanons #tokyo revengers x reader #Tokyo Revengers #Bonten #bonten x reader #tokyo revengers imagines #tokyo rev headcanons #tokyorev x reader #tokyo rev fluff #tokyo revengers fluff #pregnant #pregnant reader

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poisonous-lemonade · 1 year

Text

Obey Me but With a Child!MC

How would the Younger Obey me brothers act if the MC was a human child (4-8 years of age)?

Older Brother Ver. Datable Ver.

The 5 demons sat inside the assembly hall of RAD. Awaiting the next arrival of the newest human exchange student. Beelzebub, grumpily muttering to himself. Asmodeus, looking at their nails idly. Satan, waiting patiently. And Lucifer and Diavolo gave each other worried looks when it was taking the student longer than they expected.

Suddenly, someone appeared on the floor in front of them, looking down. Diavolo stood to speak but then he saw how...small the human was. Lucifer seemed to notice too but only offered a reassuring smile towards Diavolo. That was before the human looked up. With tears in their eyes, trying to hold back their sobs. Grabbing the attention of the other 3 demons.

"Lucifer, is that a child?"

Satan

Has he read about human children? Yes

Does he think they're annoying? Yes

Does he think that a child's tantrum is worse than his? Sometimes

He's a lot more aware than the rest of his brothers and although he's not as bad as Leviathan, he doesn't want to take care of you not out of fear...but fear

Not of you, of course, he would never go so low...

"MC! Do not touch that!" Satan said, snatching one of his books out of your hands. He took a deep breath in, trying to keep himself calm before trying to make sure you didn't cry. "But, Satan..." You whine, crossing your little arms across your chest in a huff. Satan keeps his back turned to you, his hands closed tightly around the book. But the second he hears you stifle a laugh, he feels the hairs on the back of his neck stand. Oh, Lord Diavolo.

When Satan warms up to you, he takes it upon himself to be your sole bedtime reader

He'll read you whatever you want

And I mean whatever you want

Even if Lucifer disagrees, but that's just a plus

and if mammon is there, he'll make sure to annoy him as well

He'll like you more if you're a quiet kid but still have a mischievous side

He'll pull you out to prank Lucifer, pull you out to hang out at a cat cafe, maybe get Lucifer to let you keep a cat

He'll also tutor you whenever you need help

He, surprisingly, encourages you to call him you're older brother because that's how he sees himself

You end up calling your uncle and he gets so mad and you know, that's why you do it

You really are a demon-child

°。°。°。°。°。°。°。°。°。°。°。°。°。°。°。°。°。°。°。°。°。°。°。°。°。°。

Asmodeus

When he first saw you, he ran to you and pinched your cheeks

He thought you were so adorable

Such a cute little human

He insisted he takes care of you, at least once a week

He'll go all out, he'll even get you a candy makeup kit, not for you to eat but for you to practice makeup

"Okay, sweetheart, this is eyeshadow okay?" You nod along, staring up at him with wide, bright eyes. "You want to put it on your eyelids." He smiles. "Pick a colour." You hum to yourself and point to a light yellow. Asmodeus looks down at you, confused, yellow was never in his colour palette and yet he shrugs it off. You'll learn eventually.

You really like Asmo, he's really comforting and was always nice to you

He opened up to you and he trust you because he thought you could keep a secret and you could

Sometimes when he has people over, he pushes you away because again, you're a child

But he makes it up to you if you get upset with him

He teaches you to be confident, to be tough

He even cuddles you to sleep sometimes when Mammon is out gambling

He is your older brother, and he loves that

And you love him

Even if he acts like a bit of a bitch (his words, not yours)

°。°。°。°。°。°。°。°。°。°。°。°。°。°。°。°。°。°。°。°。°。°。°。°。°。°。

Beelzebub

He's as stoic as ever

He was also very suspicious of you

Like, a human exchange student, sure

A child?! Ha, yeah, no way

But when he saw the way you interacted with his brothers he was more comfortable with you

You pulled away from Asmo as he pinched your cheeks with a playful scowl. Beel watched from his seat with blank eyes, holding his stomach. His shoulders were tense as you looked up at Lucifer. His fist tightens when you play with Mammon's rings. But he's not mad, nor is he angry, he's just on edge. He'll learn to open up to you, he just needs time.

Once he's warmed up to you, he'll be a major parental figure in your life (after Lucifer, Mammon and Satan)

He's definitely more of a protector than anything

He doesn't follow you around like Mommon does, nor does he tuck you in and help you in your studies like Lucifer or Satan

No, he feeds you, he takes you out places, he brings you back food, he takes you to parks and his workouts, he sneaks you out of your room to eat food with him

He's the fun older cousin who acts more parental than your actual parents

He also lets you ride on his shoulders so you can feel taller and he'll carry you around if you fall asleep with him

All that platonic, domestic stuff

He'll also beat the shit outta anyone if you ask, no questions asked

°。°。°。°。°。°。°。°。°。°。°。°。°。°。°。°。°。°。°。°。°。°。°。°。°。°。

Belphgor

Man do I have things to say about this man

If Mc was a child Belphie would give up all hope

You want him to think that a child, let alone a human child, is gonna be able to help him

Yeah, no fucking way

He did try however to convince you to help him

And it worked

The convincing part

He still had no hope

"Bel, Bel, Bel!" You gleamed excitedly as you ran up the stairs. Belphie jolted up from his slumber, rather quickly. Startled, he fell off his bed with a loud thud, the attic walls shaking silently. You appear in front of his door like you had just teleported there. You suck in a breath playfully, like you were mocking him. He groaned, his back sore and in pain. Fuck this child.

Now, when he got out of the attic, he probably didn't kill you

I know that's a big part of his character but he still does

Just later on

But before he kills you he acts like a more cuddly younger brother

He's the type to hug everything out with you

He's the type to sleep next to you because he wants too

He's the type to kill a guy if he even mentions your name

But too bad he does kill you, but that's for another time

°。°。°。°。°。°。°。°。°。°。°。°。°。°。°。°。°。°。°。°。°。°。°。°。°。°。

#om! shall we date #obey me satan #obey me asmodeus #obey me beelzebub #obey me belphegor #om! mc #obey me fluff #obey me headcanons #child mc #Toxic_Lemon.original

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petalouda85 · 2 months

Text

Names

Fandom: Blades of Light and Shadow 2

Pairings: Tyril x f!human!MC (Kassandra)

Word count: 2.7k

Concept: Continuation of Tightrope. Tyril and Kassandra have an unexpected visitor in Riverbend and discuss their upcoming parenthood.

Tags: @liviusofpella, @megas-choices, @starlight-starfury, @dutifullynuttywitch, @thosehallowedhalls, @choicesficwriterscreations

AO3 link: x

A/N: I’ve been thoroughly sucked into the world I established in “Tightrope”; I have so many ideas for it that I will likely need to make a separate masterlist for it eventually. Enjoy this little ball of fluff and hint of spice at the end. And of course, I had to include some crocheting in this fic

Riverbend had its charms.

In retrospect, Tyril had had his reservations about settling in the village despite being the one to suggest going there. There had been an underlying fear that the town would still be a hotbed for tourists and the curious, wishing to see the home of the legendary hero of Morella. But with the new world order, it seemed that few were interested in their legends. Furthermore, the inhabitants of the town had seemed keen to keep their own safe from unfriendly eyes, especially once news of the pregnancy began to leak out. Their loyalty and protectiveness had been a soothing balm in these uncertain times.

There was a time in his life where he couldn’t imagine never using magic for the most basic of tasks nor that he would live in such a humble place. But strangely, he found himself quite comfortable in the small village. Sure, he was quite a spectacle to behold – there weren’t any elves in Riverbend after all - and children would gawk at him, the occasionally brave one asking to touch his ears or show off his magic but most never treated him any different from the rest; it surprised him to admit that he preferred their company to those of the highest houses in Undermount. There was none of the needless extravagance, none of the posturing; the people here were honest and straightforward and uncomplicated.

He walked the familiar path from the edge of the forest towards the heart of Riverbend, a square lined with various shops. He made his way to the bakery, the bell tinkling as he opened the door. Soon, the baker appeared, giving the elf a smile as he approached the counter.

“Good to see you again, Tyril. The usual?” The elf placed his basket onto the counter.

“Yes.” The baker nodded and immediately went to retrieve the usual items, packing them carefully into the basket. Soon the order was filled but when Tyril reached to grab it, the baker stopped him, signaling him to wait. He dashed to the back of the shop, soon returning with something wrapped in brown paper.

“Some apple strudels for Kassandra; she was asking about them last time. No extra charge.” He said as he placed the item in with the rest. Tyril smiled a little.

“Thank you.” After laying out the payment, he grabbed the basket and headed out of the bakery. He required only a few items on this errand and before long, he turned towards the path that led out of the market square, ready for a quiet and peaceful night.

“Elf boy.” Tyril turned at the sound of the nickname, blinking twice to ensure he was not imagining the rogue leaning casually against a cart full of hay. The man flashed his signature cocky smile as he approached the elf.

“What are you doing here?” Tyril asked as the two shared an embrace. Once he pulled away, Mal patted him on the shoulder.

“Had some business in Zaradun. Thought I’d come by on my way back to Whitetower, see how you were doing.” Tyril couldn’t help but smile.

“A most welcome surprise. Come on; Kassandra will be happy to see you.”

The two men walked in silence out of the city square, Tyril eventually turning onto a smaller path which led towards a more hidden trail into the woods. Immediately, the din of the village gave away to the peaceful embrace of the forest.

“So, how is the great adventurer Mal Volari? Last I heard, a lovely elf caught your eye.” Tyril smirked when Mal playfully shoved him.

“Not a word to Kassandra; she’ll never stop teasing me.”

“My lips are sealed.” The two exchanged a chuckle.

“So how is Kassandra?” Mal asked after a moment of silence.

“She’s doing wonderful.”

“And the little one?”

“Everything’s going good. A few more months to go. Aderyn has been so helpful.” Tyril stopped walking, looking ahead on the trail, his mind restless for a moment. “I won’t lie. I’m nervous. There’s a part of me that’s uncertain if I’ll be able to handle it all. Fighting monsters I am more than capable of but children and babies…” Tyril turned to look at Mal when the man placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.

“From what I’ve heard, it’s normal to be nervous. But if you can survive two world ending scenarios, you can survive dirty diapers and a screaming baby. The kid will be lucky to have you as their dad and Kass as their mom; it’s more than most kids have.” The scoundrel said, his typical bravado replaced with a genuine and sincere tone.

“Thank you, Mal.” The two exchanged a smile and continued their trek further into the woods, the path soon widening into a small clearing, where a humble cabin stood with a small, fenced garden and a smattering of other small buildings, forming a small homestead. It wasn’t much but it had become home in the months they’d been there; close enough to Riverbend to have all their necessities met but far enough to allow them peace, quiet, and safety from prying eyes. Next to the cabin was Kassandra, busy chopping wood.

“Kassandra.” Tyril called out. The woman lowered her axe, dropping it entirely when she turned and saw the visitor.

“Mal!” She called out joyfully, running to him and giving him a hug. “What are you doing here?”

“Visiting you two, obviously.” He pulled away and briefly glanced at her now-visible belly. “Excuse me, three.” Kassandra laughed and hugged the man again. “It’s good to see you, Kit.”

“It’s good to see you too.”

“You going to invite me in?” He teased, smiling deviously when the woman pulled away and punched his shoulder in good nature.

“If you’ll give me a minute. I have to finish this up.” She walked back to her work area, slowly bending down to pick up the chopped pieces on the ground and adding them to the stockpile by the side of the cabin.

“You know Aderyn said to avoid heavy lifting.” Tyril said as he joined her in the space. The woman held up the piece of chopped wood with a grin.

“This is not heavy lifting.” She then snapped her fingers and a heavy log gently lifted off the ground, floated towards the chopping block, and casually lowered itself onto it. “And magic can lift the rest.” The elf couldn’t help but chuckle a little.

“Stubborn as usual.” Kassandra smirked and reached up give him a quick peck on his cheek.

“And you love me for it.” Taking his hand, she walked back towards the house and entered it, motioning to Mal to follow.

The inside was quaint. It didn’t bear the status of the rooms of Whitetower nor the grandeur of the Starfury estate, but it was comfortable and provided all that was needed for the two and future third inhabitant. Kassandra took the basket from Tyril’s arm and placed it on the table in the kitchen area. He joined her as she pulled out the brown package.

“What’s this?”

“Apple strudel. The baker put some in for you since you were asking for them.” Touched, Kassandra opened the package and pulled out one of the treats, immediately taking a bite from it as Tyril began putting away the items in the basket. When empty, he turned to the counter and began pulling forth the items they would need to cook that night’s dinner: cutting boards, knives, pots, and pans. The elf had it down to a routine, a practiced dance.

“Grocery shopping, cooking? Since when is elf boy the poster-boy of domestic bliss?” Mal asked, lounging on the bench by the dinner table.

“Since he doesn’t live in a fancy elven estate anymore with servants and butlers.” Kassandra answered, her mouth half stuffed with the pastry. “But don’t knock him too hard, Mal. He’s gotten much better over the months.” She quickly finished her treat before joining Tyril, helping him prepare the food.

“I appreciate your confidence in me.” Tyril whispered to her as she began to peel and cut the potatoes.

“Don’t be too hard on yourself. Yes, you absolutely destroyed the pot the first time, but you make quite the stew now.” The elf chuckled a little before returning to the task at hand.

The night passed joyfully, the three catching up and swapping stories from their most recent escapades, Mal weaving his usual colorful tales. He also informed the pair of the happenings around the rest of Morella, all relieved that no dire threat had emerged since the joining of the realms; only minor squabbles and internal conflicts that didn’t require their legendary touch. Morella was rebuilding and, for now, peaceful.

Once the dinner was finished and all the tales had been told, Mal took his leave, making his way back to town as Tyril and Kassandra set to their usual evening routine.

“I’ll clean up this time.” Tyril said as Kassandra began to reach for the used bowls on the table.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. Go relax.”

“Alright.” Kassandra reached up and kissed his cheek before making her way to the open area next to the kitchen, sitting down on the small couch and pulling a basket to her; it wasn’t one he’d seen before.

She reached down and grabbed a small swatch in the shape of a rectangle alongside an attached ball of yarn and another item, a small wooden stick with a hook at the end. She got comfortable and began to use the hook to work the working thread of yarn into the little swatch. He watched her for a time, fascinated by the movement of her hands and the yarn; he’d never seen anything like it before.

“What are you doing?” He asked after a time. Kassandra stopped her work.

“Crocheting. Aderyn’s been teaching me how to do it.” She held up her project. It was a mishmash of color, and the finished swatch was slightly lopsided.

“What will it be?”

“A blanket. For the baby.” She returned to her work, adding a few more stitches. “Seemed like a fitting thing to do. I remember some of the women doing that when they were expecting a baby.” Tyril smiled a little and quickly finished his cleaning before meandering over to the woman, standing, and watching her work at her project for a time.

“Did your mother do that for you?” He asked. Immediately, her hands stopped.

“I-“ the words were lost in her throat, her face falling. She gulped and looked down sadly at the blanket. “I don’t know. I can’t remember.” Tears welled in her eyes, and he knelt before her, placing a comforting hand on top of hers. She grabbed onto it and glanced at the blanket again. “Did your mother ever do something like this for you?” He thought for a moment before shaking his head.

“I was raised by a governess mostly. And by the time Sarenya took over, I was too old for such things.” He ran his hand over the in-progress blanket, seeing and feeling the love imbued into the fabric.

“Seems that we both missed out on typical parent/kid things.” Kassandra mumbled. He squeezed her hand.

“All the more reason to ensure they do have those things. Give them everything we didn’t.” Kassandra only nodded in response, but she had a relieved smile on her face. She lay her hand on her belly and the two sat in silence for a time, basking in the quiet comfort of each other.

“Boy or girl?” He asked. The woman briefly glanced at him before looking back at her belly.

“I don’t know. Though the older women in town think it’s a boy. I don’t really care either way; I just want them to be happy and healthy.” Tyril rose and went to sit next to her.

“As do I.” The moment he was settled, Kassandra put her work away and leaned her head on his shoulder. He quickly wrapped an arm around her, resting his head on top of hers. “We should probably think of some names for them.” He said after a time. He felt her shift under him.

“I’m open to suggestions.”

“Terran.” Tyril said after a moment.

“That was your ancestor’s name, right?”

“Yes. The one we saw in the visions room.”

“Hmm.” Kassandra was silent for a moment. “A name belonging to someone brave and noble and strong. Though I wonder if your father would have a problem with that name; you did say he criticized that ancestor.”

“He did. But there is no denying that Terran was a great warrior and general.” Tyril placed a kiss on her head. “Besides, I don’t think my father would criticize if he knew you liked the name. He’s rather fond of you.” Kassandra shuffled around and looked up at him, her expression happy and slightly relieved. He gave her a smile in return.

“Regardless, we shouldn’t rush in picking a name. There might be something else we’d like.”

“I’m open to suggestions.” They spent the next few minutes discussing a few possible names, debating the pros and cons of each option. Before long, they were just calling out names, sometimes devolving into giggles at the suggestions.

“We need to think of some names for a girl too.” Kassandra laughed after their game had gone on for a time. She moved out from under Tyril’s arm and got comfortable in her new spot.

“Alright.” He also moved into a more comfortable position, facing Kassandra. “Do you remember your mother’s name?” He suggested. Kassandra looked sad for only a moment before shaking her head.

“No. But I have something else in mind for a girl. Something better I think.”

“Oh?” He sat up straighter, his curiosity piqued. Kassandra looked down at her belly once more, a warm and fond smile on her face before she turned her gaze back to the elf.

“Kaya.” Tyril forgot to breathe for a moment, staring into Kassandra’s eyes, her expression genuine.

“Really?” He asked softly. She reached up and cupped his face in her hand, running her thumb gently over his cheek.

“She was someone special to you. And why wouldn’t I want to name our baby after someone intelligent, compassionate, and kind?” Tyril remained silent, tears welling in his eyes but unable to look away from hers. He tried to find words to formulate some response. Unable to find them, he leaned forward and placed a kiss on her lips, the movement slow but the emotion potent and fervent. After some time, he pulled away, never looking away from her.

“You’re amazing, Kassandra.” She smirked and moved closer, straddling his lap. She wrapped her arms around his neck.

“Tell me something I don’t know.” The two laughed before Kassandra leaned in for another kiss. It began chaste and sweet but quickly devolved back to the deep kiss from before, the movement slow but passionate. He held onto her at the hips before slowly moving a hand down her leg, hiking up her skirt to grasp at the bare skin, the woman letting out a light gasp at his warm touch. She, in turn, moved her hands down his neck, opening his shirt and sliding her hand under the fabric, caressing the warm skin.

Suddenly, Kassandra pulled away with a light gasp.

“Kassandra?” She shook her head.

“I’m alright. They’re kicking.” She rubbed her hand over her belly in a calming manner. “Already taking all the attention, aren’t you?” She teased, causing the elf to chuckle as well. After a few minutes, she returned her attention to him, cupping his face in her hands. “Now, where were we?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He teased. Kassandra smirked before placing a quick kiss on his lips.

“I think this is the part where we head to the bedroom and ravish each other in every way possible.” With a smirk, he shuffled forward slightly, making sure that her legs were secure around his hips.

“Then hold on.” He stood up from the couch, lifting her with ease. Kassandra kissed him once more as he moved to their room, clicking the door shut behind them.

#tyril starfury #tyril x mc #blades of light and shadow #choices blades #bolas 2 #my writing #tyril x kassandra

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