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#brains n brawn
mariusroyale · 6 months
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‘dee, really, it ain’t that deep,,’
‘im too busy threatening them to listen right now-’
u can’t just call raph’s plushie collection cringe and think you can get away unscathed,, u absolute fool. u moron, u
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icepopcider · 27 days
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yeah, MAYBE i drew another duo in a day, SO WHAT
brains n' brawn >:)
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bucketofbugz · 8 months
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they're literally the brothers ever I am not okay
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sorrelpaws · 1 year
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SLIGHTLY OLDER DESIGNS FOR MORTY AND SUMMER!!!
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angelpuns · 2 months
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I do have a couple of comics just chilling in my back [pocket btw the only problem is that 1 - the sketches aren't finsihed 2 -i do not wanna line/color/finish them ;-;
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avacynthia · 26 days
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(ooc. finally done with a pretty severe work crunch--whew!--and gearing back up to write here again. 😊 for the inspo, I rewatched ash's battle vs. cynthia in journeys and wow. I forgot how awesome that entire fight was, so I'm gonna ramble a bit--
some highlights for me...
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cynthia leading with spiritomb, who tanks a billion damage as a stall wall before taking out half of ash's team. highlight of the fight is easily when cynthia has spiritomb use destiny bond to take out ash's pikachu with its last breath. just like that, the ace is down. the plot armor is a bit chipped. strategic. devious. spiritomb mvp.
cynthia NOT mega-evolving garchomp and dynamaxing togekiss instead. I love this. an unexpected curveball, and it almost works...
...because cynthia is determined to go full sweat with togekiss, and it is amazing. spamming the serene grace + air slash combo for flinches galore, and then spamming max airstream once dynamaxed to turn togekiss into a speedy monster? how tilting. we love to see it.
garchomp stays the final boss in this fight, though. she doesn't need to mega evolve to be an absolute threat, and she uses stealth rock (love that) and hyper-offense to wreck the field...until she goes down to the wire with ash's mega-lucario. (why does ash have a mega-lucario...?) I guess cynthia's one weakness is trainers who have lucarios, huh...
even though cynthia falls just short at the end, make no mistake. the queen stays queen. 😤)
(also, catch diantha hyping cynthia up in the pregame tunnel...hm. they're just friends, probably. 😏)
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lexicorp · 1 year
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Found the ref from a yt short so screenshot-
But I rlly wanted to do somethin for it and my bro suggested Roy and Ludwig, which is perfect lol
Was a bit too lazy to full color but it's just goofy anyhow
(Turt koopa kid designs are my own flavor 👍)
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sereina-archive · 2 years
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“You only think we’re a good team because you read my mind and know what I’m going to do.“
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“Honestly Joyeuse, can you blame me? You’re so impulsive - even when we set a plan, I know you won’t follow it. It’s why Hyperion is another good battle partner with you since they can read your mind as well.” Merlin taps his staff on the floor. “And quite frankly, I’m a bit offended you think we’re only a good team for that reason! I think we have great chemistry. You are the brawns, and I am also the brawns... and the brain as well.”
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“Alright, alright I get it- sorry I hurt your feelings, okay?” Joyeuse pauses, her cloths moving to fold over her shield. “We should see if Serena wants to take us to do some double battles in the Battle Maison.”
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“Agreed.”
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mariusroyale · 1 year
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donnie used deflect! he’s a terrible liar it is not effective!
anyway those robot versions of his brothers have me thinking
i also wanted to make this goofy bc it is these dum dums cmon
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spaghettiposts · 1 month
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Window Crashin’
WandaNat x Spidey!Reader
Summery: Crashing into the wrong window at night proves to be the best mistake you’ve ever made.
Warnings: Very OBLIVIOUS reader, straight up stupid I can’t lie. Gay panics all around. Fluff
Word count: 1.6k
A/n: my first time officially writing for Nat and I think I’d like to continue so expect separate fics of her sometime soon.
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Kraven had become an incessant thorn in your side, his relentless rampage ever since he announced “The Grand Hunt” in the heart of Central Park felt like a never-ending nightmare. One that persistently dragged on as the weeks floated by, each day a new form of tinnitus growing in your eardrums at the echoings of his horn. Falling once again into his endless game of cat and mouse.
Or in your case Kraven and Spider–with Kraven playing predator and you, the elusive Spider, trying to lure him away from innocent civilians roaming the streets of New York. 
Which wasn’t as easy as one would imagine, but you made do with what you had, brains over brawns. Clinging onto the hope that eventually, Kraven would grow tired of chasing and resign for the night, with the promise that he’d return. And so the cycle goes on. 
There were other options you could resort to, but those were last resorts, ones you only used if you were certain you couldn’t handle Kraven or in case of an emergency. In all honesty, you’re avoiding involving the Avengers, it’s really the last thing you want this to come to. A couple of broken ribs wasn’t an Avengers level threat.
You could handle Kraven by yourself perfectly fine, and nobody got hurt at the end of the day—except mainly your sleep schedule.
And now, as you swung through the thick chilling air on route to the compound; you were struggling to stay awake, the bruises littered across your body only making it harder to keep swinging. It wasn’t that sleep had ever been your strong suit, but now, it seemed like a distant luxury. The sacrifice of a hero came in many forms, and sleep deprivation was yours. 
Tony had sacrificed half his company in pursuit of a heroic lifestyle, hell, even Steve froze himself to save humanity. If humanity needed you to suffer from fewer hours in bed, then so be it. 
You fought relentlessly to keep your eyes from drooping and it only took the honking of a truck for you to jolt awake, merely missing out on the experience of being rammed by one. 
Shaking your head, you muttered words of encouragement to yourself, living on a prayer of making it back to the compound - in one piece. 
As the familiar building came into view, you let out a breath of relief you didn’t know you were holding. Taking a moment to gather yourself, you swung around towards the left block and homed in on your window, only to face-plant straight into it with a resounding thud.
You groaned against the pavement, pressing your hands on the wall to steady yourself before you could slide off. Silently thanking that radioactive spider for granting you the ability to stick to surfaces as you adjusted yourself, what the fuck?
A miscalculation on your part—or at least you pictured. Pushing yourself back from the wall, your eyebrows crinkled. Huh.
You always left your window open–had one of your teammates closed it off?
Assuming one of the guys must’ve closed it off, you didn’t question much, missing your bed and running on pure exhaustion to really assess the situation seriously. Gripping the sides of the window, you tried to pry from the outside, and after a couple of difficulties; you managed to unlock it, budging it open with a click. 
Finally, home sweet home. 
Your body toppled into the room first before the rest of your body crashed onto the floor, reaching an arm to shut the window behind you. With a sigh of relief, you picked yourself up, stretching your arms above your head, eliciting a satisfying ‘pop’ from your back, feeling all the pent-up tensions of the day leave your body. 
Pressing the button on your chest, making quick work of discarding your suit. You struggled more than you’d like to admit, having to hop on one foot to wiggle your feet out of the padding. 
Amidst your squirming, you failed to notice the crimson warps seeping from your bed, freezing mid-movement as the lights flickered on by themselves, looking like a deer caught in headlights. 
“Jesus fucking Christ!” You screeched, scrambling up to your feet, firmly clutching your uniform in a poor attempt to cover yourself from the two women on your bed, equally startled.
“Y/n…? What are you doing here?” Natasha says after a beat of silence, her eyes furrowing as she lowers her gun and the arm protectively wrapped around her girlfriend. Wanda mirrored her actions and let the red wisps fall before she turned to you disconcertingly.
You shrunk under their gaze, feeling your heart pick up. It was too late to salvage any attempts at running for it, so you turned away, ignoring how affected you felt by their disheveled appearances.
Instead, you focused on why they were inside your room in the first place. Not that you minded having two beautiful women in your bed but at this hour? 
“What are you doing in my room? I just got back, what’s…” Your voice trailed off, slipping on your suit, as you looked towards your dresser…was it always that color? And why was there a photo of Wanda and Natasha on your nightstand? Sure, you were hopelessly in love with the two but never to this extent.
Barely bordering on those lines. 
“Detka…this is our room,” Wanda said slowly, as to not startle you. 
You cursed under your breath, realizing your mistake. “Aw fuck, I must’ve crashed into the wrong—wall-side thing,” you explained messily, picking yourself up for what felt like the hundredth time tonight. 
“Crashed?” Both of the girls shouted and you winced, scooting off awkwardly to the side, feeling even more like an intrusion. 
“Yeah but it’s okay though, that’s nothing compared to Kraven's fists, trust me.” You meant to reassure them, but judging by the worried looks they exchanged, it had the opposite effect. Taking their silence as an opportunity to leave, you stepped back.
“Anyways, sorry for interrupting your night.” You mumbled apologetically, reaching for the window handle. “I’ll see y'all tomorrow— son of a bitch.” You grunted, banging your head against the glass for the second time this night. You were really starting to resent these things.  
And Wanda bit her bottom lip, “Malysh, it’s late and you’re…not doing well, why don’t you stay here tonight?” She suggested softly, her voice coming out as sweet as honey and you almost dropped dead there.
“Here?” You blurted out, feeling a mixture of surprise and uncertainty. “Like, with you and Nat?”
Natasha and Wanda shared an amused look, before nodding in unison. 
Your face crinkled, not really understanding what the looks were for but you assumed it was all in your head. Sparing one last glance at the two, you confirmed this was okay, searching for even the smallest bits of hesitancy or discomfort only to find nothing but welcoming smiles. 
With a small nod, barely audible, you murmured a hesitant “alright,” as you settled into the chair beside their bed, placing your feet on the small wooly ottoman.
Had your eyes been open, you might’ve noticed the way their faces dropped in disappointment. After months of obvious pining, not-so-subtle flirting thrown your way, you were choosing to sleep…not with them but on a chair.
A brief silence lingered, and you shifted in your seat. Even with your eyes closed, you could feel their eyes piercing and you were starting to sweat.
“Sorry,” You mumble, heat rising up your neck in embarrassment as you removed your feet off the ottoman, fearing you had overstepped. Still, their gazes remained unwavering and you rubbed your arm unsurely, “Is the chair off–limits too? I can take the floor if that’s better.”
“Dorogoy, we’re inviting you into our bed,” Natasha chuckles disbelievingly, fingers tracing the covers as to tempt you with the invitation. 
“Mhmm, yeah no. I’m not sure that’s a good idea.” You shook your head, stumbling over your words. “I don’t do well in confined spaces with pretty women, I mean— no wait you are, both are super pretty but that’s not—“ 
Thankfully, Wanda interjected before you could embarrass yourself further with a giggle. You swore your stomach flipped. “Cute, but won’t you get cold?” She suggested, Natasha nodding and lifting the covers, adding, “It’s much warmer over here.”
Again, you waved them off and they were starting to get fed up with your excuses. “Oh nah! My suit has thermal heating installed, pretty cool right? Tony helped me insulate it–”
“Y/n, just get in the bed.”
Before you could protest further, you felt those warm red tendrils wrap around you, coaxing you into their bed, and you couldn’t even remember why you were fighting this in the first place when their arms wrapped around you. Not when their sheets were so warm, and their bodies warmer. 
Resistance be damned, as Natasha's hand ran gently through your hair, you relaxed into it, and both girls smiled. This was how things needed to be, always. 
Still, your heart was beyond nervous to even enjoy the moment but they were pushing at your shoulders to tuck you in further, getting settled themselves. They tangled their limbs with your own and it was official; there was definitely no escaping this. 
Pressing a kiss to the corner of your mouth, Wanda murmured a couple of words and you felt more comfortable clothes encase you. Natasha pressed a tender kiss to the shell of your ear before bidding you a good night.
You repeat her words back and they tighten their grip, closing their eyes. 
With exhaustion finally catching up to you, your eyes drooped helplessly again, fluttering shut, bones begging for sleep, and you finally surrendered to its embrace. Allowing yourself a moment of rest with the two people you treasure most in the world. 
And suddenly, crashing into windows didn’t seem so bad after all.
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bucketofbugz · 9 months
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they're the silliest guys ever
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nordidia · 7 months
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brains n brawn doodle of a conversation with a friend <3
raph: if u need reassurance u can just ask and i'll give u some its okay!<3 donnie: no bc i dont want to put more onto ur shoulders and force u to be my therapist. raphj: im gooing to fucking kill you
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darklordofthesimp · 11 months
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Anything VI (König x Reader)
The 6th instalment in the Anything-Verse
Main Masterlist
Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3 - Part 4 - Part 5 - Part 7
Like the characters? Read their fics below!
Sunshine Masterlist || Saint Masterlist
Series Summary:  A lack of information from the chain of command results in König mistaking you for an enemy sniper.
A/N: It’s been a while
Category: Angst || Hurt/Comfort || Unrequited Pining || Tension
Warning: Graphic Language
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The sunrise had become a welcomed sight, it was always something that you craved after a night of fitful sleep. You were never well rested when you opened your eyes but, by God, were you relieved.
However, unlike the hundreds of mornings before, this time you woke up with a pit in your stomach. There was no relief and only a sense of dread as you lay staring at the ceiling. You took in a deep breath. 
The sun crept through the window, reminding you that it was the weekend and that you should be out and about. You'd done plenty of contemplation, wondering about your circumstances every day and every night for over a year. 
You weren't going to solve the mystery in one day. 
Wrong place, wrong time. 
König's words resonated in your ears like nails on a chalkboard. A shiver stroked the length of your spine and the heaviness in your stomach deepened. Since when has that monster been the point of clarity? How is it that he was the one to begin unravelling the string of tragedies you’d been subjected to? 
You sat up sharply, lobbing the blanket away from your body. 
You needed answers and you weren’t going to find them in your bedroom. 
It pained you to leave the safety of your room and it didn’t help that the hallways were colder than usual. The thin hoodie that you’d swaddled yourself in wasn’t doing much against the chill. You grimaced, pulling the fabric closer against your body. Somehow, it always felt like you were making the wrong choices, even with just clothes. 
As you approached the common room you could hear low murmuring. The voices sounded like a buzz, both familiar but one of them entirely unmistakable. His accent gripped you by the throat and you felt your stomach flutter. 
The physical effects of König lingered long after your injuries had healed. 
You stepped into the doorway with a dry throat and shaking hands. Warm light illuminated the room, a singular globe perched above the cheap dining table where two figures sat. 
The low talking came to a halt and your eyes were instantly on König. You took in the way his spine straightened, the way his fingers clenched- it was as if his body was electrified by your presence. You knew too well how it felt, bumps raised along the lengths of your arms and a chill stroked your spine. 
“Birdy,” König’s voice was barely a whisper. You said nothing, only offering a small nod of acknowledgement. 
There’d been a shift between the both of you, tangible and tense. Since your late-night escapade, things had changed- everything was different. There was something different lingering between the two of you, maybe a craving for closure or maybe misguided resentment. You were drawn to him. You needed something from König, something that would fix everything. 
You just couldn't figure out what. 
Perhaps, untangling the web of coincidences and conspiracies would tell you. 
The man took a deep breath and you watched as he forcefully relaxed his body. Those swift and deadly hands unfurled as he leaned back gently into his seat. The picture of nonchalance. 
Liar. 
“Speak of the devil.” 
You dragged your sights to König’s companion and immediately rolled your eyes. 
“Sunshine,” you ground out through clenched teeth. “Never a pleasure.” 
The sniper in question only offered you a wolfish grin, leaning back into their chair arrogantly. They were dressed in sweatpants and a hoodie that clung to their wide shoulders- accenting every inch of mass that they’d carefully built. 
You wished you could say that they were all brawn and no brain, but the irritating creature was as cunning as they were strong. 
“Oh,” Sunshine pouted mockingly, “I haven’t even begun to give you shit yet, you can’t be mad already.”
You glared at them, raising a shaking finger to point. “It’s not even 8 in the morning. Are you capable of shutting up long enough for me to get a coffee?” 
“Uh,” Sunshine pretended to think, “no. But I appreciate the gentle diplomacy. Your character development is astounding.” 
You growled harshly, storming past the snickering cretin and making your way towards the coffee machine. 
“Better buckle up, bitchy buttercup,” Sunshine tossed over their shoulder as they got up from their seat. “Apparently we got company today.” 
You didn’t get a chance to reply before they sauntered out of the room. Unfortunately, the lingering stench of their arrogance didn’t disappear with them. You huffed, smacking the button frustratedly. 
“Company?” You asked. 
“Rank from some elite company. Not sure.” Was the cautious reply. 
You angled yourself so that you had eyes on König, leaning against the bench warily. The sniper remained in his chair, he’d made no move to leave with Sunshine. It seemed he didn’t want to run from you this time and you weren’t planning your great escape just yet. The machine whirred as it dispensed your coffee and you tried to calm your heart rate. The balaclava was still on, leaving only his eyes to decipher his thoughts. 
You hated it.
“We have training this afternoon,” König murmured, dipping his gaze to his hands. 
Take it off. 
You hated when you couldn’t see his face.
“I know,” you rasped. 
Get it off. 
“Do you think you’re up to do some groundwork?” The question was tentative but you couldn’t hear it from the blood rushing in your ears. 
You hated that you were forced to look at nothing but his eyes. 
“I- Uh…” 
Just like that night. 
Get it off.
“I’m not…”
Get off.
The foam cup in your hand crunched as it fell to pieces. The sharp pain of the boiling coffee ripped you from your spiralling thoughts and had you gasping for air instead.
“Birdy!” 
König was on his feet before your name had finished leaving his mouth. Your hand pulsed from the burn, your skin red and raw. He loomed over you, his gaze running up and down your body. A horrid sound pulled from your throat. The man’s fingers were around your wrist, gentle but firm. Unyielding. 
You tugged against him lightly, your chest heaving. The bench pushed into your spine reminding you of your position, trapped between König and a dead end. 
“I’m okay,” you rasped. 
“No,” he said hoarsely, “no, I shouldn’t have pushed it-” 
You couldn’t breathe. His presence was overwhelming, it was staggering- it was all-consuming. 
“Please,” you whispered, lowering your head. Your forehead brushed the hard contour of his chest lightly and you tried to ignore the way he took in a sharp breath. You didn’t mean to touch him, you just didn’t want to look at him- not with that mask. 
You were so sick of being afraid. 
“Please, what?” König murmured, his hands hovering by your shoulders but never touching.  “What do you need, Birdy?” 
“Let me see you,” the words fell from your lips shakily, almost desperate. “The mask, take it off. Please.” 
There was a moment of silence as he processed your request then he swore under his breath. 
“I forgot,” he shook his head, “I’m so sorry. We had an agreement-” 
The words died on his tongue when you tilted your head up to look at him. You were inches apart, the staggering height difference acted like a thin barrier between the two of you. You could taste his stuttered words, you could see the blue flecks within the jade of his eyes. 
Your heart squeezed when they widened. You could hear his breathing pick up and your heart thrummed between your ribs.
You reached upward with shaky hands, the bench pressing harder than ever into your back. 
“Can I-...” Your tongue was heavy and dry like sandpaper. You swallowed thickly. 
“Of course,” König said, voice steady and eyes fixed on yours. 
Your fingers brushed the skin of his neck as you felt for the fabric. He was hot, as though his blood simmered just beneath your touch. You prayed he wouldn’t notice how you shook- you tried to pretend you couldn’t feel him trembling either. 
He was holding his breath, suspended in time like an intricate statue, carved from marble and timeless throughout the ages. A picture of sorrow and angst and stories you weren’t sure you wanted to hear. 
Your journey together had played out like a Greek tragedy. 
But, as the herculean man let you unveil him, you wondered if there could be redemption. 
You wondered if you could both be saved. 
“Well, isn’t this adorable.” 
You jumped back, stabbing pain shooting up the length of your spine like a rocket. You corked yourself against the bench, a jilted gasp ripping from your chest. König’s hand gripped your bicep, holding you upright as the other readjusted his mask.
Your body throbbed as you peered at the entrance through squinted eyes. 
Phillip Graves. 
The man offered a smarmy grin, arms crossed and leaning on the doorframe like he owned the place. 
Bile rose from your stomach to your throat, leaving your fingers scrambling for purchase on the countertop. You steadied yourself as best you could. Nothing was going to prepare you for Phillip Graves but if you could stay upright you’d have a fighting chance of getting through unscathed. 
“It’s been a while.” The Shadow Company commander raised a brow. “Heard you been havin’ a tough time, Birdy.” 
You forced yourself to stay still. König shifted beside you, his body angled in front of yours. Your mouth dried at the protectiveness in his stance, though, it also didn’t go unnoticed by the unwelcome guest. 
Graves raised a brow as he examined you both, pushing off from the door. 
“Now, who’d have thought that you’d both be so…” he pretended to deliberate on a word, “close.” 
Your eyes widened. “We’re not!” 
The urge to slap your hand over your mouth was overwhelming and red-hot shame licked your cheeks. A slow smile spread across his mouth at your desperation. You felt cornered, you felt vulnerable- Graves was the fox making his way through the coop and you were the stupid chicken standing still.
“Oh,” he chuckled, taking slow strides towards the table. “I’m sure, sweetheart.” 
You grit your teeth. 
“And you are?” König growled, his back straightening as he glared down at the smaller man. “I’m afraid I don’t recognise you.” 
You’d almost forgotten he was there. 
For the first time ever, König wasn’t the biggest threat in the room. 
Phillip sighed, unfazed by the clear hostility souring his tone. “I’m here on a task, just thought I’d check in on our injured soldiers.” He paused, deliberating. “Well, that really just leaves us with you.” 
Anger flooded your system as Graves turned on his heel, stretching his arms over his head. He sauntered towards the exit, snickering beneath his breath. “How lovely to see you’re on the mend. Adios.” 
“Yeah, not so broken anymore,” you snapped, unable to stop the words from spilling out. You didn’t want to antagonize him but you also were fully aware that you sounded like an angry high schooler.
“No!” Phillip laughed, offering you a sidelong glance as he paused. “Big boy really did a number on you though. I gotta be honest, I’m surprised you pulled through.” 
You wanted to throw the coffee machine at his head and, judging by the way König’s fists clenched, he did too. 
“It’ll take more than that to kill me,” you ground out through your teeth.
The smile wavered on Grave’s lips and he watched you closely for a long moment. “Noted.” 
Your stomach dropped. 
When he turned around again, you planned to let him leave with the last word. He could take the small win and you’d leave with nothing but churning nausea and anxiety. Graves wasn’t worth the stress, in the grand scheme of things he was insignificant.
Though, the parting words thrown over his shoulder made you question that statement. 
“On that note, General Shephard sends his regards.” 
Graves disappeared into the corridor, taking the last tether to your sanity with him. 
____
“I think something is wrong,” you huffed as you smacked the door open. 
Saint raised a brow, throwing their hands up flippantly. “Oh no,” they rolled their eyes, “please just barge into my office unannounced with vaguely ominous statements.” 
They chucked their phone onto their notebook, crossing their arms when you closed the door behind you. They were irritated and unsettled, it was an unusual mood for the Doctor but you couldn’t find it in you to care.
“This is literally your job,” you sniped, dropping into your designated chair. 
Saint’s jaw dropped. “No, it fucking isn’t!” 
“Listen!” You exclaimed with pleading eyes.  The doctor's mouth closed, resigning to form a displeased scowl instead of words. You knew that Saint hated surprises, that’s where appointments and bookings kept them in control and prepared for the incoming onslaught of issues. 
But this was too urgent to wait for your next meeting. 
“I’m spiralling,” you gasped, running your hand over your face.
“Birdy, I’m sure-“ 
“I think the accident was a set-up.” 
Any words that Saint conjured had guttered out and died. Your hands shook on your face, palms pressed into your cheeks. 
Their eyes flit around the room as if scanning for spyware. You held your breath as the Doctor took a deep one in. 
“Birdy,” they said slowly, leaning their elbows onto their knees. “Are you sure?” 
“Something is wrong, Saint,” you whispered. 
“But,” they raised a brow, “are you sure?”
Your lips trembled and your eyes burned. 
“Yes,” you shuddered. Saint leaned back with a rush of air slipping from their lips. You could see the cogs and gears in their head working to make sense of it, you could see their hesitance to believe you. 
You wouldn’t believe you either, you supposed. Not with your… history. The scars on your face burned at the thought. But, for the first time in a long time, you were confident that you were right.
If you were right it meant that König and yourself were pawns in somebody else’s games. 
It meant that your own people had done this to you. 
It meant that somebody wanted you dead. 
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the-fluff-piece · 7 months
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Invisible part 2
- a change of perspectives
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Part 1
Part 3 coming soon...
This time, Sanji is incognito in a new body - hanging out with you!
He's getting to know you, and sees you in a new light.
This is leading up to part 3, where there is a happy end.
"...and that's why we should switch bodies!" Usopp ended his lengthy explanation and Sanji just stared at him.
A very grumpy Law sat in a shady corner, clearly uncomfortable with the whole situation.
"You need my body? For a heist? Why can't I just go with Nami-san?" he felt betrayed.
"Because you're bad at lying. This has to work. We need the lying mouth and the brawn" Nami said, and added with a pout:"please! For me!"
"Yes of course my Nami-swaaan! Anything you want!" Sanji heard his own mouth say before his brain even had a clear thought.
So, he ended up in Usopp's scrawny body. But he was proud that the sweet Nami-swan needed him. His body. Whatever happened to it would be fine.
They went on a super secret mission on a super secret island while the Sunny waited in a calm archipelago with a few villages.
Usopp's body felt so weak, Sanji tried a few Kicks but it didn't feel right- and everything in Usopp's many pockets clinked and clonked mysteriously. He just hoped they would not get attacked while his body was away, he wouldn't be able to protect the ship like that.
"Uuusoppp!" Someone called.
"Hey, Usopp?" Someone punched Sanji in the side, reminding him that for the day, he was Usopp.
"Oh, hey y/n! Uhm..what's up?" He said and tried to remember Usopp's mannerisms and speech patterns.
"What's up? You wanted to help me today, remember?" Y/n told him, beaming.
"Of course! I didn't forget," he lied, "But I've got so much to do today here..." he tried to think of excuses. He wasn't exactly in the mood to hang with her.
"You promised!" Y/n looked a bit cross at him, "and it's so important to me" she told him.
"Ok, what are we doing?" Sanji sighed. She may not be his type at all, but at that moment she was still a girl in need.
"We're finishing the book, silly" She said like Usopp had to know.
"Of course, the book" he said and followed her to the girl's room - a holy place on the ship that was usually forbidden to him.
He took in the sweet scent of female perfume and was delighted to see sexy clothes laid out on the beds. Meanwhile, y/n trotted over to a table and took out a big book, a small Box full of papers and arts and crafts materials.
The book looked like an album but much more intricate. The pages y/n had opened where full of pictures of the crew, handwritten comments and small memorandums of the places they had visited: dried leaves and flowers, tickets, maps.
"Remind me what we're doing again?" He casually asked.
"I'm making a scrapbook for Sanji, remember? Did you hit your head?" She raised her eyebrows.
"For me- uhm for Sanji? His birthday is months away!" Sanji said, wondering why she would do that.
"It's just to show him how much the crew loves and cherishes him. After I saw how cruel his family was to him, I wanted to do something nice for him" she answered, laying out her materials.
The mention of his family still stung a bit, but her sentiment was sweet. He didn't know she cared so much.
"You will help me with folding some decorative origami." She pushed a pile of small, pink sheets towards him.
"Uhm..." Sanji stuttered. His fingers were very dextrous, but he didn't know anything about origami folding, and these sheets were tiny.
"I'll show you again..." She said and sat next to him. She showed him how to make small, folded cherry blossoms. She taught him step by step how to do it.
He was not used to it and made many mistakes, but she was patient and gentle. He finally made a small, slightly crooked blossom he was not proud of, but she praised him like he just did something great. Smiling, she placed her hand on his arm and he couldn't help but feel good about his small accomplishment.
He never really noticed her, when she was not in danger or hungry she barely registered to him. Which he kind of regretted now - she was exceptionally kind and caring. Maybe he should try and talk to her more often.
When he sat beside her to fold the blossoms, he watched her artfully place the photos and memories on the pages.
He began to feel very cozy. Y/n hummed softly as she worked on a gift for him, smiling in the golden light that filled the room. He noticed how her eyes would light up with excitement, and he couldn't deny the charm in her enthusiasm.
He watched her as she lovingly filled page after page of their adventures and he couldn't help but wonder how much effort she had already put in - for him.
"Can I see?" Sanji was now curious for the rest, he couldn't wait for the finished book. He skipped through, pages and pages filled with carefully preserved memories. All the people theu met and helped. Y/n's commentary was emphasising the crew's friendship and his good qualities.
There was a photo from punk hazard. It showed Sanji, smiling, handing out food to marines and pirates alike. He couldn't help but notice the abundance of pictures she had of him. Could it be that she had a thing for him...?
Above she wrote: "Your great cooking brings everyone together. What would we do without you?" In small, precise letters. There were more pictures of laughing marines and happy giant kids. He knew that she liked to take fotos, but he never really noticed how much. Her message made him smile, he was indeed proud of his skills and the joy it brought. And he liked that she saw that.
"You did great!" His eyes got a little wet and he handed it back to her.
As he bathed in her attention, he couldn't help but ask her: "Do you like Sanji?"
He already got his answer by seeing her blush violently.
"As a fellow crewmember, of course!" She tried to gloss over the fact that she was red as a poppy by hiding behind the book.
"Of course" He chuckled. It felt strange to know that he had at least one secret admirer on the ship, even if she wasn't his type at all.
"There is absolutely nothing, I'm just being nice!"
It was kind of cute to see her so shy, but Sanji feared by making her reveal her secret, he had upset her.
"You know what would be nice now? Cup of tea and some cookies!" Sanji felt like it would cheer her up.
"Yes, that would be nice" y/n seemed relieved.
He was happy to take care of her. When he brought her tea and cookies, they ended up talking about everything, forgetting the time. It felt like he already knew her.
As the sun began to set, they finally finished the album. Y/n closed the book with a satisfied sigh.
"Thank you so much, Usopp! I wouldn't have been able to finish it without you" she said, giving him a warm smile.
Sanji felt a strange warmth in his chest at her words. He realized that he had genuinely enjoyed spending time with her, even if she wasn't Nami.
"It was my pleasure" he replied sincerely.
Y/n looked at him curiously. "You seem different today, Usopp. More... thoughtful."
Sanji scratched the back of his head nervously. "Well, sometimes you just need a change of perspective, you know?"
Sanji couldn't help but reflect on the day. He had expected it to be a tiresome chore, but it had turned out to be a surprisingly enjoyable experience. And he couldn't deny that y/n's company had something special about it.
You
When Sanji and Nami returned, victorious, there was a small celebration for everyone, including Trafalgar Law, he seemed to randomly visit more and more, much to Luffy's delight. The captain of the heart pirates sat next to you and since he was both creepy and frightening, you left him alone, instead talking to Usopp.
He had been unusually calm and polite these past days, but was back to his usual, loud self now. You made jokes and watched him shoot peas at Luffy across the table.
"You strawhats really are a piece of work" Law said next to you, looking unnerved and tired.
"Is it too loud for you, Tra?" You turned to him, trying to include him.
"Not exactly" He answered.
"I just hope that the constant body switching in this crew stops now" He pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Constant? " you asked.
"Yes, a few weeks ago, now once again." He leaned back, looking exhausted, "I should never have used that power on punk hazard." He crossed his arms.
"What do you mean - now? Who changed?" You couldn't believe they wouldn't tell you. But than again, you didn't tell anyone, either.
"Well, before it was you and Nami-ya, now Sanji-ya and Usopp-ya. I hope her scheming ends now " As he leaned back, you saw that Sanji was standing at the table with a tablet full of drinks, brows drawn.
Slowly, you processed what you just heard. Sanji and Usopp switched bodies. That meant...Usopp's strange behavior was because it was really Sanji.
Your heart beat frantically as you realized the reality: Sanji had been in Usopp's body. He knew that you had a crush on him.
A quick glance at Sanji revealed that he must have heard everything clearly. He looked confused and thoughtful, even though Robin was trying to get his attention.
"EXCUSE ME" you almost choked on your own voice, working hard to keep it together and get past Sanji to the exit. He let you pass, but gave you a strange look.
Trying to act as innocent and normal as possible, you walked out, closed the door to the dining room and ran to the girl's room to have a small breakdown.
Sanji
Y/n had left in a hurry.
"Hey Law, what did you just say about Nami switching bodies?" Sanji asked, a bit in shock.
"Just what I said. A few weeks ago I already helped Nami-ya by making a switch" He said dryly.
"When exactly?" Sanji asked.
"Three weeks if you have to know. In that town with the casinos." He answered.
Now he couldn't deny it anymore.
He never went on a date with Nami, no wonder she didn't seem to remember anything they talked about. It had been Y/n. They almost kissed.
He needed a smoke, fast. He headed outside.
Lighting his cigarette in the cool night air cleared his head. What a mess, he thought, So I was on a date with Y/n in Nami's body, and she hung out with me in Usopp's body. How stupid. And on top of all that, she likes me.
He breathed out smoke. Actually, he had felt really comfortable with her. His time with her was enjoyable. It was effortless to talk to her, she was kind and gentle with him. Made him feel safe.
She also liked him. He kind of liked her, too. She wasn't his usual type, but still cute, in her own way. But she's not the kind of lady he always dreamed of.
He rolled the thoughts around in his head. But first things first, he needed to clear the air between them. Be a man.
He knocked at her door, no one answered.
"Hey y/n, open up!" He said.
"Go away!" She sobbed.
Now he's made her cry, great.
"Don't cry! I am not mad! In fact, I'm flattered. Let's stay friends, though!" He put his ear against the door and heard another loud sob.
"Just don't cry anymore!" He couldn't bear it, it made his chest clench and his stomach turn to hear a girl cry.
"Please, leave me alone now!" Her voice was barely audible throught the wood. It felt wrong to leave her alone now, he had to do something. He sat down and leaned against the door.
"I am sorry I never really noticed you, that wasn't fair. But I'm here now." He listened for an answer.
You
"Sanji, you're not helping!" You cried through the door.
"Let's talk about it. I know you've been in Nami's body for the day we went shopping. You know I hung out with you these past days as Usopp. I can't return your feelings, but I learned that we can be good friends. I want to spend more time with you! And I'm not mad or weirded out. I swear from this day forth, I'll be the best friend you ever had!"
It wasn't the best idea to get comforted by the guy who broke your heart, but in this second he was so sincere, you couldn't help but feel a little better.
You opened the door - he almost fell on top of you. Both of you chuckled nervously.
"Yeah, let's be friends" you agreed, doubting that your feelings for him would vanish anytime soon.
-----
So since all of you have had so many great ideas I chose to write ALL THE ENDINGS!
Chose between
- Sanji or Zoro
- Law or Sanji
- no one (coming soon)
Taglist
@sophsgloom @nim-rose @iloveartofcartoons-blog
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icepopcider · 25 days
Text
Rottmnt Art!
A collection to easily find my rise fanart :)
Tumblr media
- - -
Mikey in a Forest
Brains n' Brawn Duo
Portal Duo
Bug-Hunting Rise :)
Mikey Gaming
Rise Enjoying the View
Hero Poses YOOO
Smarts n' Crafts Duo
Nature Trip :]
Mikey Aquarium Trip
Origin of Donnie's Eyebrows
Princess Peach Raph
Rise DND Session
Mikey Walk Cycle!
Leo 4/4
Donnie 3/4
Raph 2/4
Mikey 1/4
Rise Hugs :(
Dr. Delicate Touch
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cno-inbminor · 1 year
Text
repertum
plot: no matter how much you want alhaitham, you don’t think you can ever have him. he may or may not try to prove otherwise // ft. lumine and nahida 
warnings: afab!reader, 3.4 spoilers, smut but reader and alhaitham get blue balled, angst, fluff and comfort later. probably some incorrect game lore and timing/mechanics.
a/n: :)))))
EDIT: Part 2 (FINAL) | AO3 Link
-
“I don’t–” You rush out before your breath hitches. “-- think this is a good idea, ah–”
Alhaitham keeps you pinned to the wall of your apartment, pelvis undulating against yours in an erratic beat. He drinks in every gasp that leaves your pretty little mouth, the same lips that have haunted his passing thoughts for the past month. His fingers dig into your waist and he leaves subcutaneous blooming sore spots on your shoulder and collarbone, relishing in your hisses of pain and pleasure, if the grip you have around his neck is any indicator.
Your words send a spike of adrenaline – he vehemently denies the possibility it may be fear instead – through his veins, to do anything to keep you right where he wants you, and he gives into the primal urge to dig his teeth into the very shoulder he’s been nibbling and sucking onto for the last ten minutes. The resulting yelp from you keeps him sated, and he places a soft kiss where he’d bitten you; a stark contrast.
Alhaitham lifts his head to look into your eyes, pupils swallowing over your irises and your eyelids half-open. He takes pride in having been able to push you towards such a state of inhibitions. “And what would make you think such a thing?” His lips ask against yours, tone dark with an alarming amount of clarity that you find absolutely unfair and unjust.
Despite his protests, there are several reasons why this isn’t a good idea. To be a scholar and also involved with the Akademiya’s former scribe? You’re practically begging to be academically slaughtered by the masses, as everyone knows Alhaitham has the ears of the General Mahamatra and, at times, Lord Kusanali herself. It goes both ways – having always been regarded as the level-headed, purely rational individual, most would agree that his current actions are the complete opposite. Those traits themselves are a recipe for disaster – sure, you could be witty and hold your own, but it was clear to you that you could not give him what he needs, he neither for you.
The sexual tension between you two is palpable. You briefly remember the day you first exchanged words with the man right before his new promotion. Both of you had reached for the same textbook one early, early morning, and being that it was the only copy in the entire library, you were determined to get your hands on it.
“I believe my hand was here first,” you said in a matter-of-fact tone. Part of you was screaming at yourself for even thinking about going against Alhaitham in any way, but this research paper is due next week and you will not let anyone hinder your progress. “I can give it to you when I’m done with it.”
Annoyance with a hint of amusement had crossed his features as he crossed his arms in front of his chest, the action drawing your gaze. The man had always been a great distance from you, but now seeing him up close, you can understand why some of the other scholars made it a point to mention just how attractive this man was. The brains, brawn, and looks all in a single individual? The archons were quite unfair, if you had anything to say about it.
“I believe the scholars understand they should not hinder any work of mine. It would be best for me to take it, and I will return it once I no longer need it.”
You wanted to wipe the smugness of his face. With a kiss or with a book thrown at him, you don’t care to differentiate – but the confidence he exuded was starting to irritate you, and you ignore the beginnings of an unwanted heat swirling in your core. “Well if the Scribe would so kindly lend it to me, I only need it for the next 36 hours and it will be all yours afterward. Surely your work can wait for that long?”
He took a step towards you to level with your impertinent gaze. Part of you thought you had had the higher ground, granted you were standing on a step ladder so you could reach the book, but you then saw that even with the extra centimeters, you were simply at about the same height as the man. Again, unfair.
“What is your name?” He interrogated.
“What is it to you?” You snapped back. If he really wanted to, he could demand to see your student identification credentials. But part of him wanted to hold back, to watch you bend to his will.
“I may consider granting you your wish if I can learn of your identity.”
The look of surprise on your face had been the beginning of his downfall. Normally the other scholars would have cowered beneath his presence by now. Yet the little spurts of fight from you had elicited some excitement from within, a feeling he hadn’t felt in quite a bit of time. Such emotions were for the weak for they clouded one’s judgment and logic.
“And if I don’t?”
“Then I will take this and, once again, will return it when I am done with it.”
He outstretched his hand to lay his claim on the book’s spine, fingers pressing gently against yours that were still adamant in your pursuit. Both of you made it a point to ignore how the touch made goosebumps form on your arm, thankfully hidden underneath your clothes. The Akademiya’s Scribe knowing you by name never boded well, but it was 2AM and you were perhaps too desperate.
In a state of unfounded confidence and irrationality, your fingers moved to intertwine with his. Watching his jawline slack the slightest bit fueled you, and you dragged your hands off the shelf and pressed them against his chest. With it, you leaned into the bounds of his personal space, using everything you had left in you to keep his eyes on you. Perhaps his pupils had become dilated, you can’t remember at this point, but it was enough distraction for you to use your other hand to snatch the book from its confines between other hardcovers. Once acquired, you disentangled from his grasp and took hurried steps off the step-ladder, clutching the book to your chest. You backpedaled some decimeters away to create some much needed distance. Alhaitham seemed stunned into silence. Or perhaps he was plotting your murder.
“(Y/N).”
And before you disappeared around the corner, he called out to warn, “I will see you in 36 hours.”
For many weeks afterwards, he made it a point to alert you of his presence whenever you were in the Akademiya’s building. If you were furiously annotating notes from multiple annals spread across your table, he would saunter by and subtly brush his cape against your clothes. If you were simply reading for pleasure, a knee pulled up into your chest because fuck Akademiya propriety, he would make sure to sit at the table across yours and in a chair on the side facing you head on. Did he let himself stare at you too much, finding some enjoyment in watching your facial expressions as you read? Perhaps. If it was late at night and you looked incredibly stressed, he would invite himself to look over your shoulder and observe your information, only to point out some details and offer tidbits of advice. Sometimes you found yourself in deep, research-heavy conversations and got a taste of Alhaitham’s inner workings, which only made you want more.
Tonight after a big project, he invited you to a drink at Lambad’s Tavern, though it was under the guise of needing some help bringing food back for his roommate afterwards, and you were going there anyway. Tucked in the corner, you, aided by alcohol, had let your inhibitions fall. You would need to be passed out to not feel the heat and weight of his gaze on you for the entire night, and you found yourself reveling in it. Yet it didn’t make sense – why would he find an interest in you, out of all the people within Sumeru? Alhaitham could have his pick of anyone, yet he decided to put his eggs in a basket with your name and face on it.
The thoughts stewed inside, even as he made a nonchalant offer to walk you to your apartment. “It is late, and you have no means to defend yourself.” That had been the end of it as he walked towards the path leading to the outskirts of the city, and you had no choice but to follow. At your doorstep, underneath a waning gibbous and cloudy skies, Alhaitham’s body language communicated his hesitancy in leaving you alone for the night, and with a swallow, you had invited him in for a cup of coffee.
He gave a nod. The door clicked shut. And as soon as your eyes with hints of lust met his, he made his move – surging forward to pull you into a kiss, and then spinning to press you against the wall with his thighs slotted between yours. The faint, yet unbridled moan for just mere kisses made his chest swell, and he swiped his tongue against your bottom lip.
“It’s just not – Haitham – a good idea,” you pant, thoughts back in the present moment.
“I disagree,” he retaliates, pulling back to remove your shirt. The rate of his disappearing self-control only increases when he does everything to commit this moment to memory. You’re so beautiful, he laments, torn between wanting to maintain the sanctity of your figure and forcing you to succumb and accept his attempts to claim you. He wants you to feel his kisses and bites for days, so you would never forget and inevitably crave his touch.
You don’t want to argue with him now, not when you finally have him in your hands. Your lips desperately meet his again as you unclip your bra and shrug it off. He follows suit and undoes his cape so he can pull his sleeveless shirt over his head, groaning when he pulls you close and his bare skin takes in the heat emanating from yours. Feeling your hardened nipples slide against his pectorals should not be so alluring, yet he finds himself wishing you two could stay in bed for eternity, naked and entwined and drunk on each others’ touch.
Fingers dig into his silver-gray locks and tugs, to which he answers with a punishing nip on your neck. “Bedroom,” you plead so prettily and he can only let you draw back to lead the way. He wastes little time in pressing forward until the back of your legs hit the bed frame, causing you to fall back. From mere kisses and heavy petting, the look on your face is already so sinful, and Alhaitham can’t help but imagine how you’d look once his cock was inside you.
“You siren and minx,” he sighs in faux displeasure, planting gentle pecks down your chest and abdomen until he hovers over the band of your pants. He tugs them and your underwear down with the aid of your lifted hips – and doesn’t miss the glossy thread of your slick from your vulva to the damp cotton. When it eventually breaks, he feels twinges of regret for not being able to catch it on his tongue and have a taste of you, like a man dying of thirst in the desert.
His hands have a firm grip underneath your thighs and pushes them towards your chest. Alhaitham curses when he has the full view of your pussy, puffy and wet and demanding any attention. “Haitham, please,” and you sound like you’re on the verge of tears.
“Hmm?” His voice teases as his fingers spread and his thumbs are so, so close to where you want them to be. Your pitiful cry is answered with– “Use your words. You surely have never had a problem with that.”
You beat a fist against his chest in retaliation, though there is little to no force behind it. The pathetic attempt at communicating your embarrassment is not lost on you.
Yet despite the heated blood in your veins, the near desperation to climb this high, your heart stills at the smirk sitting devilishly on his lips. You suddenly become hyperaware of every part of your body that he is seeing and touching, and the rational part of your brain returns once more to remind you, again, that this is not going to end well.
In the years that Alhaitham has roamed and trudged through the hierarchy and floors of the Akademiya, everybody knows he is not one for intimate relationships, whether it be deeper friendships or romantic partnerships. So for him to spend his precious free time with an ordinary scholar such as you, no legacy or prestige to your name – it made no sense. You are more than ready to understand that if this night were to run its due course, the end result would be the same if it were to never happen.
The dread that settles into Alhaitham’s body is murky and viscous as he watches sobering clarity fill your system, most noticeably in your eyes. Irises expanding, pupils shrinking, the life and spark from earlier swept away, don’t make much sense to him as you gently remove yourself from his grasp. “Y/N?” He inquires with some of the most uncertainty he’s felt in the last ten or so years. Adrenaline dissolves into veiled panic as he watches you slip on a new pair of underwear and an oversized sleep shirt.
“I’m sorry, I’m not feeling too well,” you supply in a meek voice, looking around and eventually finding his shirt from earlier. The man appears as dumbfounded as he can behind such a blank and austere face such as his, pulling the material back over his head and looping his arms through in a trance. He doesn’t remember following after you but finds himself back in your living room where his cloak had been haphazardly thrown onto the ground. With the way you slide it over his shoulders and make no mistake in securing it properly, he feels as if ice cold water has been dumped over his head.
And then you’re both at the front door and all he knows in this precise moment is that he really, really doesn’t want to leave.
“Thank you again for the drink,” you say, voice cracking near the end and gaze avoiding his at all costs. “You didn’t have to.”
Alhaitham chooses to say nothing, and despite how much the inner turmoil is wrecking your nervous system, you know this is for the best.
Right?
“Did I do anything wrong?”
Yes. No. Of course. Not at all. Maybe.
“No, I just don’t feel well. Maybe the alcohol isn’t agreeing with me.”
At the same time you twist the doorknob and pull, you stand on your tiptoes to plant a shaky kiss against his cheek.
“Goodnight, Alhaitham.”
It’s clear that he’s being banished now, door wide and a clear signal for him to leave. While he may want to slam the door back closed and demand all the answers he needs to the sudden change in your behavior, he simply nods and steps over the threshold, pausing when he fully steps into the hallway. The man doesn’t have the gall to face you straight on, but he lets you take one last look at his side profile, eyes glancing briefly over his shoulder.
“Have a better lie next time.”
This is for the best, you repeat to yourself minutes later when you’re curled underneath your blankets.Your breath shudders as the tears begin to stain your pillowcase, and before you slip into a fitful slumber, you worry about what dreams will greet you.
-
Alhaitham doesn’t see you for a whole week.
For seven agonizing days, 108 frustration-ridden hours, you are nowhere to be found or seen, as if you decided to hole up in your apartment and never leave your own self-made prison. It’s embarrassing, to a certain degree, just how much he’s been around the library, constantly on the lookout for your figure. Kaveh caught him reading the same page of a history book for at least ten minutes on one of those days, but chose to keep his mouth shut for once and snarky remarks to himself.
On day 8, Alhaitham wonders if he’s begun to hallucinate when he sees you in plain view at the market stand, attempting to barter with the owner to get a better deal on some vegetables. But it’s your voice he hears, your hands he sees, your hair that makes his fingers twitch in a thinly-veiled hidden desire to run them through. He’s left standing in the middle of the street looking like an idiot, yet others perceive his heavy gaze upon your figure to assume that you’re about to get into some trouble and the General Mahamatra was calling in a favor of some sorts.
On day 11, he catches you running up the pathway that leads to the Sanctuary of Surasthana, which is bewildering and confusing in its entirety. What business do you have being anywhere near the residence of Lord Kusanali? Even he as the former Scribe, favored and the most unwilling Acting Grand Sage, and one of the saviors of the Dendro Archon, has not been there since the whole hubbub died down, and it’s been months.
On day 14, you run into the traveler who seems to be making her rounds of saying goodbye to various citizens. Alhaitham had spoken a number of times about her and her travels and you knew her next destination was Fontaine. Not far from home, but far enough away to rid yourself of all these ugly, human emotions and get over this huge crush on the aforementioned man. With unfounded confidence, you call for her attention with shaky breaths.
“Can I help you?” She questions softly, not missing the clear distress in your body.
“My name is Y/N and, um, I’m a scholar at the Akademiya. Though I guess my attire gave that away,” you laugh nervously, gesturing to said clothing. “I’m, uh, an acquaintance, I guess, of Haitham’s? Anyways, that’s not really important, but you’re going to Fontaine, right?”
Lumine nods and stays silent.
Well, here goes nothing. “This might sound really weird but…can I come with you?”
Perfect, golden eyebrows rise in surprise – it’s not everyday a mere stranger so brazenly asks to travel with her, especially to another nation.
“I have some research that is taking me there, but I’d prefer not to travel alone. I was going to leave soon, but just now when I heard you telling people goodbye, I thought I’d try to ask? I’ll pay for your help, and I can even help you find and cook food! Hopefully you don’t find a Vision-less person like me a burden but I promise I won’t get in the way.”
Lumine looks you up and down once more while her thoughts process. You look harmless and it wouldn’t be a bad idea to have another set of hands along the way. Fontaine really wasn’t that far away once they crossed the border. It was becoming clearer to her that you truly did need to get to Fontaine, and not just for research. Perhaps –
“Could it be that you’re running from something?” She asks with curiosity.
“...wow, nothing really gets past you. It’s more like…someone,” you confess, sheepish and embarrassed.
“Are you in danger?”
“Not at all, no!” With hands waving in front of you, you speak with clear denial. “I’m trying to figure some things out and, well, I’d rather do it when I’m not constantly at risk of bumping into him.”
“Clearly I don’t know the details of your situation but…wouldn’t it be better to just be honest with him?”
You take a glance in the direction of the Akademiya and allow a bittersweet smile to grace your lips. “I think my honesty would simply be a burden for him.”
“And you know that because…?”
“Because he is that kind of man. There is no need for him to have a place for me in his heart. But I’m really bringing the mood down – could you please consider my offer? I forgot to mention I can be quite handy with a dagger if need be.”
Lumine and Paimon exchange a look, the fairy shrugging. “We leave tomorrow at first light,” the traveler speaks up. “Is that enough time for you to gather everything you need? If not, as long as we leave by midday, we don’t mind waiting.”
Perfect.
“It’s more than enough time. I pack light anyways.”
“We’ll meet in front of the Sanctuary then. Paimon and I need to meet with Lord Kusanali before we depart.”
You barely get any sleep that night, a ball of nerves and excitement. Your neighbor has been kind enough to hold your spare key to check in on your apartment every once in a while, waving you off when you begin to discuss forms of repayment for their generosity. The last time you ventured out of the main city and its surrounding areas was perhaps a few years ago to get a look at the famed Palace of Alcazarzaray. Alhaitham had briefly spoken of Kaveh a few times, though his tone was an odd amalgamation of genuine respect and scathing admonishment. In fact, you met the architect once when he came to the Akademiya to ask (more like loudly demand) for a copy of their house key. That was one of your first deep dives into how much of a teasing asshole Alhaitham could be, and you had already been spending most of your hours with him.
Fontaine has only ever been presented to you in sketches and paintings, so for a chance to see it in person…you can’t wait.
When your alarm goes off, you practically jump out of bed, throwing on your travel attire that you had set out the night before. With your research materials in a bag and travel essentials in another, you give one last look at your apartment. Who knows when you’ll be back?
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