Tumgik
#but as long as they do it while dressed like cakes i am happy
egophiliac · 10 months
Text
Tumblr media
...okay, one more, because Epel's white rabbit outfit is SENDING me. everyone in this event looks like a decadent little pastry and I want to eat them all.
(credit: lace stock)
3K notes · View notes
kissitbttr · 26 days
Text
pregnancy was never easy. if it was, fathers could do it.
and truly it was something that toji had learned throughout being married to you and seeing your belly swell with your baby girl. the constant mood swings, back pains, cravings and all. but toji is a wonderful husband. for that, he wouldn’t change it for the world.
anything you want, you get even if your midnight cravings hit. toji will still get up and get dressed before drive to the nearest store that has your favorite red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting.
but being pregnant also means that toji has gotten far more protective than usual. more staying by your side, more checking up on you through his phone, more hiring security cameras and guards to keep you safe. despite your protests, he still thinks it’s necessary.
“sweethea—what the heck?” toji grumbles, eyes almost popping out of his sockets to see you’re not beside him. eyes glancing left and right and that’s where the panic begins to seep into him. “fuck” he scrambles out of the bed, seeing the clock hits at two am,
“no, no, no—“ he feels bead of sweats racing on his temples before slipping on his shoes and a shirt over his head. thinking that something might have happened to you.
god, i can’t go through this. not again. not you. please, please, not you.
toji may not have been the most religious man that has ever walked on earth. but he will beg on his knees and plead to the man up above to never take you away from him,
and just as he about to grab a gun off his safe, he hears the refrigerator door shut downstairs. the sounds making him halt as he quick to whip his head to the source of it.
his eyebrows then furrowed, putting the weapon down carefully before stepping out of your shared room. sometimes he curses himself for buying a home far too big because now he feels like it’s an eternity coming down the stairs. but again, he bought it for you.
the living room lights are already turned off, the only dimmed light he could see is from the kitchen. not only that, but he could hear the metals clinking. so slowly, with ever so confusion written across his face, toji approaches slowly
and there you are ever in your glory, body draped in your favorite pink silky robe sitting on the floor with your back against the fridge. a plate of not one but two red velvet cake slice in your hand as the other forks your way through the delicious treat.
toji heaves out a breathe of relief, knowing that nothing had happened to you. and the noise is loud enough for you to stop chewing and look up. eyes widen at your husband’s figure standing only a few feet away,
“hi” your voice sounds small. almost like embarrassed because you feel like a kid who got caught stealing a cookie off the jar,
“sweetheart” the nickname falls from his mouth like he’s happy to see you after being a part for so long. “what are you doing?”
your mouth slowly begin to chew, a cute smile making its way as your eyes glinting with innocence that toji can’t deny but feel like he’s falling in love with you all over again.
“the baby is hungry” is the only thing you can muster to a response, like it’s an obvious thing. “she wants cake” you giggle quietly,
oh yes, he is definitely falling harder for you again
“the baby is—“ he sighs, hands coming up to rub his face up and down. not because he’s upset but rather amused. “she wanted red velvet cake?”
“mhmm!” you nod vigorously, taking another big bite of the dessert. “and cream cheese frosting!”
and for the first time in a while, toji laughs with his head shaking at the sight of his beautiful wife eating cake at two am. “she told you that?”
“yes! i heard her whisper to me before i go to bed ‘mama.. can we eat the cake? but wait until dada goes to sleep’ because she knows how dada doesn’t allow mama to eat cakes” you smile at him, doing your best of baby voice. licking the cream off the utensil,
toji is grinning so hard he feels like his cheeks are hurting, his eyes are full of love when he looks at you and the little girl you’re growing in there,
“well dada is just taking care of mama so she will be healthy. she needs veggies and whole foods” he takes another step closer, sliding next to you. his eyes never leaving yours, looking at you so lovingly by the way you eat. “i thought something happened to you.. i was panicking”
you pout, not wanting to cause anymore distress on him. “i’m sorry i shouldn’t have done that. but i couldn’t wake you up, you looked exhausted”
he frowns, bending his knees close to his chest. “you should’ve. i would gladly grab the cake for you hence you asked, baby” he leans forward and kiss your temple,
a grateful smile places on your lips, humming in a contentment at the feeling of his soft mouth on your skin. “hmm, i know—“ you cradle his cheek with your free palm, thumbing against his cheekbone and down to his scar.
he used to be so insecure about it until you made him not to be. giving so much praises and kisses about the scar that you think look so hot on him.
“want some?” you extend a spoonful of the cake towards his mouth, in which he opens almost immediately, biting onto the sweet goodness. “how lucky i am to have you, mr. y/l/n”
he laughs, wiping the walnut crumbs off the corner of his lips. “i should be the one saying that to you, doll”
maybe second chances do exist. and it’s a privilege for a person to earn one. toji may had done very questionable things in the past that would make a person think twice in befriending him, let alone married to him but change is real.
and the flaws are what makes it him. it’s one of the reason you are drawn to this beautiful man. because despite every negative seed he may have in him, he still tries. trying and trying to be the person you deserve and the father that your baby girl deserve.
it upsets you to no end knowing that everyone can’t see that. they just see him as a cold, reserved, selfish man who keeps himself closed from the world to see. they don’t see the tears he had shed almost every night for failing to be perfect, they don’t see him having a small banter with you because he wanted to take your last name, they don’t see the amount of times he locked himself in his room because of people talkinh, they don’t see him always rushing out of his office on fridays because he wants to get home before you do just so he can cook your favorite dish,
they don’t see all of that but toji doesn’t care. he doesn’t need their validation nor approval. he just needs yours.
because it’s you he always comes home to. you are his salvation. you are his peace. you are his dream came true.
you, you, you, you.
before you could protest, he presses his lips against yours and move his hand down to your bump,
“happy doesn’t even begin to describe how grateful i am to be your husband”
960 notes · View notes
katz-chow · 6 months
Text
deranged!reader & her task force (katz's version)
me & ur mother @moongreenlight are genuinely insane. this is basically us if it even care 😞
a/n: fem!reader all military names fake, processes fake; mostly it'd be classified, not just not done...well we wouldn't know for sure. medical shit also real. i’m in both of those fields irl. no i am not a swifty
clinically insane reader doesn’t rampage kill. art has many mediums; regular people choose acrylics, watercolor, culinary, pottery…reader chooses murder. it’s a meticulous process that depends on the person, it’s slow, drawn out. which makes her a great torturer. thing is, she was part of SEAL team tango-8 but focused more on SARC stuff (search and rescue). she knows her way around a suture kit—and, fortunately, surgical instruments.
laswell knew reader for two reasons: odd separation orders and her confirmed kill count. there was barely anything documented about her medical discharge which was weird because 98% of the military is just paperwork (a fucking pain btw). only thing noted was “medically discharged” and “0% disability”. her confirmed kill count? 43. happy to be back in uniform, she skips around the hallways to price, giving him a giant hug and a kiss on the cheek, whispering threats in his ear. “if you ever discharge me, i’ll dip you in concrete to be my custom statue.” a sickeningly sweet smile follows. as he furrows his brows in confusion and bit of horror.
soap tries really hard to like her and he really does. she's so sweet and always tries to include him in things and bakes him cakes and always somehow includes almonds, joking how it's actually just cyanide. soap laughs until he sees her have actual cyanide in the kitchen, carefully dropping it into the batter with an eyedropper. then a tsp of almond extract. it wasn't enough to hurt or kill anyone, but it scared him
he told ghost and ghost goes and investigates. then he sees reader one night, cleaning her instruments, different mallets, scissors, blades and knife handles etc. and they are pristine...not surgically pristine but definitely floor grade. he continues to watch her at 2100, without fail, and cleans her surgical instruments. until he sees her missing from her barracks from her open curtains. he goes and finds her carefully dressing a man like a buck. she sees him and smiles at him beckoning him closer. after he puts an end to that, with cuts and bruises, he goes and tattles to price. reader crying in the prison about how much she'll "miss her uniform" price and laswell speak about it and they finally know what the fuck us going on. they send her out on the field.
its just gaz, a few recruits, and reader in a safehouse. they've captured one prisoner, a soldier of the pmc against them. he's tied to a chair and after gaz runs over his psychological warfare in him. gaz fails and tiredly beckons for reader to come in. he finds her staring dead straight ahead, looking like she was falling asleep with her eyes wide open. he slowly calls out her name, no response. he calls again, same outcome. he taps her on her shoulder and her eyes fall into a "normal" state and smiles brightly at him, "my turns?!" gaz films it, the blood, the slow agony-per laswell and price's request reader starts to skin the soldier. starting with just a silly little joke about cuticles and then it goes higher and higher, the piece of skin never tearing. it's superficial, it barely draws blood. "does that hurt? don't worry, i'll help!" she blows cold air onto the exposed skin, drying out his flesh slowly while the blood keeps it from fully drying. gaz gulps, the camcorder on a tripod next to him. "it's okay, you're not going to die. and if you do...i'll make use of you, no waste! promise! gaz, can you pass me the kerrison rongeur, please?" gaz scrambles around in her kit, metal and metal clinking together in the heavy duty box. "the fucking hole puncher, gaz." she screams at him, causing him to jump. he finds the long, gun-like instrument, its blade pokes and punches together. he hands it to her, the work end first. she yanks it from him, nails scratching his hand in frustration, but that same smile on her face. she takes small chunks of flesh from the man, blood gushing and pools. she digs dipper until she hits an artery, blood splattering over them all. "the mosquito! give the fucking mosquito." she screams as the man in front of them bleeds out. she launches for it in her box and clamps down. the man half awake. gaz's chest heaves up and down, his face in shock and fearful freeze. reader storms out, face falls flat, no more smile, no brows furrowed, just a dead stare in front of her. "pieces of shit, human bodies are."
laswell pulls out any psych eval documents she can find. she finds exactly one set of documents: your medical discharge. price shows ghost and they stare at the replaying video on his monitor. the image of a wide, blank-eyed reader, hair and face dripping with crimson blood, a small clamp clicked to close an artery. they keep her. soap is the one who finds your bloody kit left in your barracks. chunks of flesh, blood, bone... and other bioburden seemingly never there at all. the shiny chromium finish looking as if they were never used at all. reader who failed out of medical school because of the lack of moral and ethics her professors and physcians saw in her. they banned her from residency.
"can i...have him..? please?" "why would you want an execution order? aren't you an interrogator?" "i want to see the peristalsis!" "the fucking what?" "how his intestines move in his body and squirm around like snakes!!!" she dissects the man in a way only a careful surgeon could. doyen clamps closed off certain sections as she sits and animates the movement on her ipad. the man inhales and exhales evenly, a bandage over his throat, eyes wide and dry from the lack of tears.
soap, as empathetic as he is, sees reader in chow, sitting by herself as she stares dead ahead, mind clouded in thoughts. her arms moves a bit, twiddling her thumbs under the table. he sits down across from her, her gaze staring pass him, face unreadable and almost bored looking. "you alright bonnie?" reader's face smiles, her eyes still dead and still as they lag behind the smile she puts on. her eyes squint. "yeah! why?" "twiddling your thumbs there, anxious about your second mission?" she puts her cupped together hands onto the tabletop. her hands unclasp. she twirls the severed thumbs around. "just a lot on my mind, yeah..."
"can i have it?" reader asks when she sees gaz's shiny teeth.
reader takes interrogations very seriously, taking souvenirs for herself. a finger carefully dried out, teeth, an ear, hair, vital organs in formaldehyde, eyes into earrings, tendons as rings and bracelets.
she gave price a birthday present which included a human heart, dried and shrunk in a glass displayed case. "made it myself", she says. "...on your own time, my love?" "yes, never company time!" his birthday is not public imformation.
ghost was missing a pow. he asks reader. "where is he?" "who?" "the prisoner..." "i let him go." "why the fuck would you do that?" "i'm going hunting, do you want to join? we can dress him in the field!"
"i got you flowers, ghost, for your mother's grave." "how the fuck do you know about that?" "you told me!" "i fucking didn't! now tell me who the fuck told you that shit?!" "you did, don't be silly. you told me over a glass of scotch...or many glasses actually!" she giggles as he slams her against the wall.
price wakes up one night, the spine-chilling feeling of a pair of eyes stalking him. he picks up the gun from his nightstand, clicking off the safety. he blinks a bit, vision clearing and seeing a figure in the shadowy corner. "go back to sle-" her body is slammed against the wall, gun to her head. "go to bed, price." "what...are you doing here?" price breathes out, trying to steady his racing heart, popping the gun back to safety. "wanted a piece of your hair."
gaz finds reader in his room after work one day, reader sweeping his house. he changed the locks within a week, locking all external doors and windows. reader leaves him breakfast every morning still. he trashes it after the cyanide incident. he wakes up to reader with a plate of eggs and toast over his bed. "please eat it and don't waste food :("
the task force lives their day to day lives with the feeling of impending doom, paranoia, and a feeling of dread washing over them all at once whenever they catch a glimpse of you. they beg price to remove you, but price would rather not be covered in cement while still alive.
423 notes · View notes
sirenpearldust · 1 month
Text
Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media
Pearl
Pair: Eris x reader; Lucien x reader (platonic)
Word count: 1.191
Warnings: Lucien is only mentioned, unrequited love, fluff, angst, arranged marriage, mentions of pregnancy and virginity
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Once you two were the closest of friends and now you were his wife.
The marriage wasn't terrible, he was a good husband, but your heart belonged to Lucien.
You had been terribly in love with him for as long as you could remember, your heart would often feel like it was about to burst out of your chest. The similarities between Eris and Lucien didn't make it any easier.
"Have you thought of any names yet?" you asked softly, struggling to zip your dress.
Eris approached, offering his assistance, his upper body bare and sweaty.
Multiple freckles adorned his exercise-hardened body, stretching across his skin.
He looked too good; you shouldn’t be drawn to him. Your heart belongs to his brother. You cursed yourself for thinking about Lucien while drooling over Eris.
Yet, those shoulders, those full lips, and seeing him sometimes in uniform made you feel delirious.
He appeared composed, unlike you, showing no signs of breathlessness after everything you did.
He smirked as if he knew what you'd been thinking.
"What?" you asked.
Eris smiled warmly, remarking, "Considering you're eyeing me, like my brothers do with Mother's strawberry cake, I think I look good."
You laughed.
"You look horrible," you blurted out. "Your ego shouldn't become bigger."
Eris only chuckled finally securing the zipper.
You turned around, looking up at him. His russet eyes were filled with love and a dazzling smile stretched across his face. He seemed happy you noted.
"Stop smiling," you demanded.
"I'm not responsible for what my face does when you talk," Eris replied with a grin.
His hands sought your waist, drawing you close, chest to chest.
"I think we've had enough for today," you interjected, placing your hands between you two, creating a small distance. He merely laughed, nuzzling his head into your neck, inhaling your scent.
"We are now husband and wife, don't be shy now, there is nothing wrong with me hugging you. Hugging my wife," he said. You playfully hit him.
"I've picked some names. I just hope you like them," he said, his voice slightly muffled.
He kept running his nose along your neck, making you shiver and softly laugh.
Running your hands through his soft hair, you felt him shudder in response, a quiet sigh escaping his lips.
He fought the urge to confess.
I am in love with you. I've been in love with you since forever.
Pulling his face from your neck, he gazed into your eyes. His right hand slowly rose to tenderly caress your cheek before he kissed your forehead.
Guilt consumed you, weighing heavily on your conscience for entertaining thoughts of his brother while fully aware of Eris's feelings for you.
He wasn't subtle in his behavior around you, he looked out for you, even as you were foolishly in love with Lucien, who already had a mate and had been courting her.
Perhaps Eris was meant to be your mate, perhaps the bond would snap while being with him. Either way, you couldn't abandon him, you owed him your loyalty, as he deserved it.
"You're cute," he chuckled, watching your face scrunch up in an adorable manner.
"What?" you asked, puzzled.
"I said you look stupid," he snickered mischievously.
"Eris! How dare you!" you exclaimed, mouth agape at his audacity.
He laughed out loud as you attempted to wriggle out of his hug.
While watching you, doubts slowly began to surface. Although you were now officially his wife, he knew you were still in love with Lucien.
He desired to win you over, a goal he'd set since your first meeting.
He remembered it, clear as day.
He was mean to you and despite being the high lord's son, you had fearlessly insulted him, causing Lucien to burst into laughter and your own parents to scold you.
Now years later, you were attempting to conceive a child because Beron desired it.
He believed that your power would be a valuable addition to the blood line, so the marriage was arranged.
You bid farewell to your friends and family, knowing that you couldn't see them as often as before. You had taken on new responsibilities .
Raised in a wealthy and affluent family, you were perceived as family-oriented, educated, and poised in Beron’s eyes, despite the fact that your siblings might beg to differ.
In his eyes, you were a precious pearl, untainted and pure.
The sight of your bloodied sheets on the wedding night confirmed to him that you were a virgin, worthy of his son and as the princess of his court.
To you it was a dumb tradition that needed to disappear, a rule discriminating against females. It held power over them while men faced no such restrictions.
Despite being over 300 years old, you had never been intimate with anyone. Eris was surprised, he had expected the opposite.
Nevertheless, he was deeply in love with you, unable to imagine life without you - he would have taken you regardless. Still the mere thought of someone else being with you filled him with raging jealousy.
You upheld that tradition yourself, not only due to your families pressure but also out of a lack of interest in giving yourself to someone, only to potentially regret it later; at least with a husband, you reasoned, he would be bound to you.
It didn't mean that you were inexperienced or unaware of what needed to be done and how to do it, you weren't naive.
Marrying Eris and having a child with him would secure your family's high status, even though your father strongly opposed the union. Your father had different plans, and a marriage to the heir of the court wasn't part of them.
You and Eris each reassured your father and mother that you would be protected.
He himself promised you, to save you from the same fate as his mothers.
Your wedding was a grand affair, with a significant amount of money spent and all your loved ones in attendance, except for Lucien.
He couldn't risk his life by attending but sent a heartfelt letter wishing you happiness and asking you to inform him if Eris ever wronged you.
As wedding presents he sent you a beautiful blue dress, reminiscent of the night sky, a solar system from the Dawn Court, along with books from the Day Court.
The sweetness of his gestures moved you to tears, deepening your love for him and making you feel ugly as you were now married to Eris.
Eris, always protective of you, became even more obsessed and vigilant after the wedding. He was somewhat relieved that Lucien couldn't attend, despite missing his brother dearly. Eris feared that your love for Lucien might grow stronger, causing you to lose any affection for him.
But that’s not the only thing he had been worrying about.
Unbeknownst to you, he secretly has been using a forbidden tonic to reduce his fertility.
You having a child would jeopardize his plans, it would put you in harms way if anything were to go wrong.
And he wanted to win your heart over before burdening you with a child.
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Notes: I hate University 😭
Also sorry for the mistakes was to tired might correct them someday🫠
Main Taglist: @bubybubsters
235 notes · View notes
generalkenobee · 10 months
Note
Hey, I'd like to request a R2 Leon x Reader fluff where they're starting out their relationship, and reader is trying to be more assertive, even though she is just always so flustered and nervous about initiating kisses or just touch in general with him, and Leon's usually the one that does it. Thank you 🥺
"feeling bold are we?"
Ok so this is my first time ever writing for leon-
Ok so idk if this is what you were asking for and honestly it's not my best work so if you have another request just ask bc I love Leon sm
I literally love this ask sm so thank you:)
Tumblr media
You tried your best to cut the onions for you and Leon's dinner but you just couldn't, you had to look away almost every five minutes because your eyes kept stinging and at this rate it would never get done.
"here" your boyfriend said from behind you grabbing the knife from your hand "let me"
Leon was sweet like that. He had remembered you physically couldn't cut onions, even though you'd never said anything to him it was almost like he could sense it, and he got the food done in what felt like minutes while you sat on the counter picking songs.
Leon would occasionally stop to place either hand on the counter, trapping you beneath him and giving you sweet kisses.
"you taste like vanilla icing" Leon said into the kiss
"really?- I haven't had any cake today" you giggled back and pulled away for air. You never initiated kisses or hugs or anything in fear you would do it wrong
It was fine as long as Leon started it..
However recently you began to worry that he didn't like that you never started anything. Maybe he thought you didn't like him..so you made a promise to yourself to swoon him.
---
The next day you were and Leon were on the couch, you in his lap while you played with your hair
"you're so pretty baby" he said leaning down and placing a soft kiss on your cheek
"so are you" you responded turning around so you were now facing him. You gave him a kiss and he smiled into your mouth and pulled away "feeling bold are we?"
"maybe I am" your arms wrapped around his neck and rested your head on his shoulder
"well that's alright" you could feel his heart beat quicken because your chests were prested together so tightly.
And you never wanted to let go. Your boyfriend had such a soft glow to him, it was like his presence could make anyone happy
He could bring anyone to peace.
And his aura was always so calming "I love you so much Leon, I don't ever want to let go" at that you heard his breath hitch and he squeezed you tighter.
"I love you too"
---
Leon and you were both getting dressed to go on your date you had earlier planned, it was said you were going to go to roosters and eat chicken wings.
Leon's phone started to ring from across the room
"hold on baby, I gotta take this" your boyfriend walked away, picking up his phone and leaning against the wall
Just as he was about to answer it you snatched it from out of his hands and put both your hand on either side of his head pinning him against the wall.
Now this was a sight the be hold-
You only reached up to his shoulders and was trying to pin him against the wall, as if you could do anything to stop him...
He started laughing and looked down at you. Leon took your chin in between his pointer finger and thumb and tilted your head up so you were forced to look at him.
"what's this all about? Am I neglecting my sweet girl?" He asked spinning you around so you were now facing the wall.
You shook your head in response "then what's going on?"
"I- I just wanted to show you that I can be assertive and that-" Leon cut you off with a kiss
"I don't mind pretty, you can let me take care of that"
528 notes · View notes
theblue6ook · 1 month
Text
"Other Lovers" PT 3
Summary: Y/N is realizing the end of her relationship with Russ is near. Bruce is realizing he might like Y/N more than he leads on.
Pairing: Bruce Wayne x fem!reader
a/n: Hello lovelies. There will be a part four to this. There will be some flirting happening here with Bruce and Y/N so stay tuned.  [B (23) Y/N (22)] [Eventual slow burn with Bruce] [Y/N/N is your nickname] Apart of my Out of My League series btw.
Bruce did not regard himself as a touchy, feely person. In fact, many people called him detached. Even as Bachelor Bruce, he wasn’t a big toucher, but he could not keep his hands off of Y/N. He knew Rachel noticed. He knew his staff noticed. He knew he shouldn’t, but he was just so comfortable with her.
It honestly had happened out of nowhere. She hadn’t even been his assistant long, maybe a few months? But they spent almost every single day together; it was hard not to get comfortable. Everything in him, especially The Bat, was telling him to knock it off, but he couldn’t. His hands traced her shoulder, walking her into the green room. He was excited to show her the present that awaited them. Her shoulder tensed with surprise when she noticed the large cake towards the center of the room. His hand slid down the curve of her spine toward her waist. Fingertips playing with her silk dress. 
Y/N couldn’t help but feel guilty, her heart speeding up as she felt his fingertips press into the flesh at her waist. She giggled, slightly overwhelmed. She wasn’t sure whether to focus on the singing, the cake illuminating the center of the room, or Bruce’s body heat against her back. 
He had leaned down to whisper in her ear, “I hope this makes up for earlier. Happy Birthday.” 
His lips almost grazed the shell of her ear. Firmly, she held onto his arm against her waist to steady her. Clapping erupted, interrupting her fogged mind and bringing her back to the cruel reality. I am engaged. I am engaged, and I don’t want to be. Despite her initial attitude with Bruce Wayne, he was him. She was glad he wasn't necessarily the bachelor everyone made him out to be. He was smart and funny and so stubborn. He was gorgeous. That's one thing the papers didn't lie about; they almost didn't even do him justice. She could feel every hard curve of his skin against her back.
She turned to smile at him, speaking over the clapping, “What is this cake?!” 
“It’s huge!” Carrie interjected, taking her hand off Bruce’s arm to clap as well. 
"You didn't think I'd get you a cake on your birthday?" he grinned teasingly. "Are you surprised?"
“I’m surprised,” she hugged him tightly, and he returned it just as tight. 
The birthday activities had resumed in various ways. Bruce had to sneak off and entertain his vast amount of guests. Carrie and Y/N feasted on birthday cake, then dinner, then cake again. It was a magical affair. She felt pleasantly drunk off cocktails, and Carrie giggled at Y/N’s lightheadedness. They decided to do a lap around the restaurant; it was like nothing they had ever seen before. Each room had a different color scheme; every table was set to the high heavens. It was like what she had imagined while reading The Great Gatsby. Once they had explored enough, they came back to the green room only to notice a crowd was gathering.
Bruce had to work fast. As stupid as this seemed, he desperately needed a distraction. One of Bane’s followers was here. Bruce caught him parading around as a waiter when he took him out, discretely, of course. They had been looking for their target, the CEO of Ace Chemicals, and though he had handled the waiter, there was no telling if there was another one of Bane’s goons in the area. So, Bruce needed a distraction while his staff politely escorted the CEO out, and he needed one fast. He needed a crowd. He needed people.
Y/N turned to her left, and there he was, in the view past her vast birthday cake, swimming in the tiger fountain with the half-naked ballerinas. It was his restaurant. What could the staff do but watch? She was his assistant. What could the staff do but watch? 
Feeling almost embarrassed, there was a tightness in her chest. Y/N glanced to her left to look away from the scene, and she noticed Rachel in a similar position. There she was, looking over at him, disappointed and discouraged. It’s like they were at two opposite ends of the same spectrum. The old lover. The new crush.
The cruel reality came back to her once more. He is him. He is Bruce Wayne, and I am his assistant. He is Gotham’s finest bachelor, and I’m engaged. 
“We should go,” she mumbled to Carrie. 
After messaging Alfred, he was there in no time, and they had plopped into the back of the Rolls Royce silently. Alfred could tell the night had not gone exactly as planned, but he opted to ask Y/N about it later. Y/N’s mind wandered as she stared out towards the passing buildings until she noticed they were coming up on East Merchant Street. That’s the street near the bar Russ works at.
“You can pull over here,” she suddenly stated. 
Carrie grabbed Y/N’s arm and turned to her, looking concerned, “Where do you think you’re going?”
Y/N ignored the question, “Alfred, will you take Carrie home?”
“Y/N,” she said firmly. “Where do you think you’re going?”
Finally, sighing, Y/N turned to Carrie, “I need to have a conversation with my fiance.” She raised her eyebrow and gave Carrie a look that said this is serious. Hesitantly, Carrie let go of Y/N’s arm, but before she could get out of the car, Carrie snatched her once again.
“You call Alfred the minute you need to come home,” her gaze was serious. “I’m waiting up for you, and I’m not kidding. The minute you need to come back.”
Y/N heard Alfred repeat a similar phrase, and she looked toward Carrie, nodding. She gave her a quick hug before stepping back from the vehicle and watching them drive off, taillights reflecting in the puddles on the street. Inhaling, she started her trek down the sidewalk.
Y/N was at a crossroads. She knew she should have expected some wildly Bruce Wayne scene tonight, but she was disappointed. For a moment, she got to pretend like all of her problems had drifted. Like her engagement wasn’t falling apart. Like she was just a single twenty-two-year-old woman with her best friend out in society, flirting with the idea of men. When Bruce jumped into that fountain, it reminded her that the man she had thought about so much tonight was her boss. He was the most notorious bachelor in Gotham. Her fiance was drifting away. She was drifting away, and after all the shitty things Russ had done, she still cared for him. So, tonight, she was giving them one more chance. To talk, to laugh, to make love. She just needed one night to see if there was still something there for them.
She walked down the steps into Pipers. It was a sleazier bar, like an off-brand Hooters, with more alcohol. The men down here were different in a weird way, always looking at the waitress' assets. Originally, she had protested Russ working here, but he said the people like to drink a lot, and more drinks means more money. She heard a low whistle coming from behind the bar. Y/N turned, expecting it to be Russ, but instead, it was just Tony, the GM.
“What are you up to, honey?” Tony smiled softly at her. Tony was notorious for being an asshole, but he had always had a soft spot for Y/N ever since she spent her last summer tutoring his daughter.
“Hey Tony, I’m actually looking for Russ.”
He raised his eyebrow, “Russ? He told me he was taking a half-day.”
All the blood drained from her face. Was he hiding something?
“Did he?” she said breathlessly.
He inhaled and rose from his seat at the back of the bar, almost knocking his beer belly against the counter. He wiggled his finger for her to come closer as he leaned over the bartop like he had to tell her something in secret. “One of our servers here said she was going to drive him to meet you.”
“Do you think he’s at my apartment?” she questioned. After rubbing his gelled hair, he threw his arms out in a questioning manner, but he didn’t look as hopeful as she was. She whispered once more, “I mean, it’s Russ, right? It’s not like it could… be anything.”
Nodding, he cleared his throat, “Why don’t you uh check in with our server first? See where she drove him.” He pulled out a thick binder from the back of the counter and started flipping the pages. “I’m not allowed to share personal information about my employees, but I’m just gonna leave this right here and go do a lap around the bar.”
Winking at her, he moved away from the bartop and started doing his rounds. Y/N pulled the large binder over to her, looking at the page he had turned to. Her mouth dropped. Mary Fucking Anne. Y/N had met her years ago, and she had been nice enough. She was the type of woman who couldn’t be alone. Not because she didn’t know how but because the men at the bar kept her so busy. Y/N had praised her before for being so adventurous, but she didn’t realize she’d be adventurous with engaged men.
Snapping a picture of the book and scanning for an address, she quickly slid the binder back behind the counter and stepped out of the bar. 
Walking down the cold street in her thin red dress, she thought to herself it’s not like that. It can’t be like that. We’ve been engaged since we were eighteen. It’s been years. It’s not like that. In her head, she was hoping she knew the way it would play out. She’d get to Mary Anne’s and ask her where Russ was. Mary Anne would turn to her and say oh, I dropped him at your apartment because Russ has terrible common sense and probably didn’t realize The Ocelot takes more time than Chuck’s Chili. Then, she’d get home and Russ would be there, and they’d laugh about it. Yes, that has to be what happens. It can’t not be what happens because if she gets to Mary Anne’s and that’s not what happens, that is more than four years of her life wasted. That is not only her fiance but one of her best friends betraying her. Someone who was with her through everything and would amount to nothing. 
Looking at the address on her phone and back up at the building, here it was, Mary Anne's. It was a small dingy building about two blocks away from Pipers. Y/N looked up the steps toward the common door. It wasn’t likely the common door would be open, but she decided to try it anyway. Stepping up the stairs, she pulled, and there was nothing. Pulling again, it was like some divine intervention. The building lights flickered, and the magnetic lock holding the door closed let go. Y/N was too worried about the task at hand to even question it. Taking steps two at a time, she almost tripped on her red grown, but here she was. Apartment 24.
The noise already betrayed them. Trying the door, it happened to be unlocked. They had clearly been in a rush to get inside. Unapologetic, she threw the door open, and there they were against the countertop, a mesh of limbs and lipstick. But after taking in the state of the apartment, that wasn't even the worst part. His things were here.
Mary Anne squealed, trying to cover herself with a dishtowel, and Russ tried squeezing back into his pants, abandoning Mary Anne to rush over to Y/N, apologizing. “What are you doing here, baby? It’s - I’m sorry-”
The way she looked at him had him stopping in his tracks. Not another word came out of his mouth. Mary Anne still shrunk in the corner, trying to cover herself, shivering with shame. She slowly started to wander around the apartment. “You told me you didn’t want me over until your landlord renovated your apartment.” 
“Baby, I just-”
“-You’re moving in with her,” she said disgusted, turning to him. She grabbed at the records on the wall. She had gotten him each one for his birthday. With clenched teeth, she said, “These are our things, Russ.”
“They’re still our things,” he tried to reason, tears in his eyes, realizing his actions were finally catching up to him. 
Mary Anne had since forgotten her towel and modesty, pushing at Russ’s shoulder angrily, “They’re our things. You’re living with me-”
The sound of cracking had her silent. Crushed records lay at the bottom of Y/N’s red dress. Russ had looked like he’d been shot. 
“Four years,” Y/N mumbled, dropping the last record and crushing it into her heel. She stepped around the room once again. No one wanted to say a thing; it was like waiting for a bomb to go off. On the coffee table was the vase she made him in pottery class in high school. It was her first gift to him, and now it was holding the flowers he brought home to another woman. She picked it up, dumping the flowers and water onto the uneven wooden floor. She held the vase by the tip of her pointer finger.
“Y/N,” he started bawling, “I don’t have an excuse for it, but I love you. Please-” Mary Anne gasped at his statement, running toward her bedroom sobbing, leaving the pair alone. “I can’t live without you. Even if we’re not together, you’re one of my best friends-”
The vase landed with a shatter, and she started to walk towards the door. He dropped to his knees and wailed, “You’re just going to throw everything we have away!”
Turning to him, red with anger, she noticed the guitar mounted to the wall. It was something she had gotten him with her first Wayne Enterprises paycheck. With a scream and a cry, she swept the guitar off the wall and smashed it next to him. After taking a breath and looking at her surroundings, she finally stormed out of the apartment. Wet, hot tears finally smeared down her face as she approached the exit and screamed into the open air. Russ was not far behind. His sadness turned to anger, and he quickly gripped the front of her arms despite her protests.
“You think you can just throw me away!?”
“We’re done, Russ!” she struggled in his grip but continued. “I’m disgusted by you. I wish I never met you!” He raised his hand to her, but there was a sudden crack against Russ’s hand, and blood started to drip down his arm. There, lying on the concrete, was a sharp piece of metal in the outline of a bat. Thunder rolled, and there was a flash of lightning. Russ looked up, turning white like he'd seen a ghost, but by the time Y/N had turned around, there was nothing.
Now alone, she stared down at the little metal bat, and then her focus changed to the cracked engagement ring on her left ring finger. Slowly sliding it off her finger, she let it fall out of her palm and toward the gutter. Somehow, she felt lighter without it. She wasn't sure what came over her next, but she decided to pick up the little metal bat and pocket it into her clutch. 
Lurking in the shadows, Bruce watched Russ rush inside. He watched Y/N slide her engagement ring off, letting the Gotham sewer take it. He watched Y/N's red silk dress pool around her as she leaned down, picking up the piece of metal and dropping it into her bag.
Bruce had said it before that he missed Rachel. He missed their late-night conversations. He missed having someone down to Earth. He missed having a friend, and the fact that Rachel was his friend made him love her, but he hadn’t realized until tonight how much Y/N filled that void for him. They may not have late-night conversations. She may not know about his double life, but they had their afternoon talks over lunch. She brings flowers into the office, just because. She bantered with him. She wasn’t intimidated by him, and he would be damned if he let a man raise his hand to her. 
@pank0w @moejoeflow @padsfirewhisky @maxinehufflepuffprincess
125 notes · View notes
youunravelme · 8 months
Note
hiiii congrats 🥳 so amazing!! you’re amazing!! love seeing you on my dash/notifs and especially your fics!! they’re amazing
only if you have time, but could you do “I saved a piece for you.” with mat <3
i know we don't really talk, BUT ILYSM! your writing always brings a smile to my face!!
this got out of hand, but here ya go!
mat knew you were a hopeless romantic, it was one of the reasons he fell in love with you. the way you sobbed when watching the end of 27 dresses despite it being a very upbeat and happy ending or the way you squealed and thanked him a million times every time he so much as came home with a bouquet of flowers.
you made it easy for him to be a good boyfriend, your very reactions to his love made him only want to love you even more.
"babe?" he walked through the front door, ready to be accosted by your warm hug.
but it never came.
mat furrowed his brows and walked further into your apartment. he found you standing in your bedroom, throwing the clothes you packed across the room while you cried.
"baby, what's wrong?" mat hurried across the room to pull you into his arms but you shrieked and pulled away.
"stay away!" you cried. "i'm sick."
mat stopped, even though he wanted nothing more than to hold you, but not at the risk of upsetting you even further. "talk to me, how can i help you? what's going on?"
you collapsed face first into bed and sobbed. "stupid martha came to work when she was sick and got me sick. so i can't go to the wedding with you, mat. i'm sorry."
mat was quick to sit down next to you and start rubbing your back. "it's okay, i'll just tell ethan we can't make it and--"
you sat up immediately. "no! you're going mathew barzal."
"i can't just leave you here."
you set him with a hard look. "you can and will. i'll get a friend to help me, but you need to be with ethan on his big day." you cried a little more. "just promise me you'll eat some cake, diet be damned."
mat rolled his eyes but a smile was playing on his lips. "it's just cake, babe."
you scoffed. "no, wedding cake is the best cake because it tastes like love and promises and commitment and cherishing the one you adore." if you didn't look so serious, mat would've laughed at how stopped up you sounded.
"okay, if you say so," he conceded.
"i'm glad you see it my way." you paused. "you know what this means, right? me being sick?" mat shook his head. "you can't sleep in here tonight."
he scoffed and pulled you into his chest before placing kisses up and down your neck. "like hell i am, i'm sleeping in our bed with you."
you eventually acquiesced that night, but not without establishing a pillow wall between the two of you (which mat discarded quickly after you fell asleep.
the next morning, he let you sleep while he gathered his things and headed for the airport, leaving his entire heart back in new york.
ethan was the one who picked him up from the airport, and he immediately asked where you were. when mat explained the situation, his friend seemed a bit bummed, more so for mat than anyone else.
"god, i couldn't imagine leaving my fiance at home while i was in another country."
mat blinked. "you do that literally all season long."
but ethan shrugged him off.
when the day of the wedding came, mat's hands felt empty. usually, at the other weddings you'd attended together, you were attached at the hip. mat had a hand on you at all times. though, if he was being fair, his physical touch was not exclusive to weddings and parties.
he couldn't help but think of you in every decoration, every song that was played. he could picture you now wearing the dress you picked out for that very occasion. he could see you walking down the aisle towards him wearing the ring that was currently sitting in his bedside table drawer.
after his speech, mat stepped outside and dialed your number. it rang three times before you picked up.
"mat?" god he loved the sound of your voice.
"hey baby, how're you feeling?"
"i'm fine, have you eaten the cake? how did lenasia look? was she gorgeous? i bet she was beautiful."
he laughed into the phone. "you sound like you're feeling better."
"a little, i miss you though."
"i'll be home tomorrow, i promise. and then we can enjoy the rest of the off season together. how does that sound?"
"sounds like heaven."
the wedding continued on, with mat sneaking a slice of cake to take home to you. he partied, but hated you weren't there to dance to some cheesy ed sheeran love song. he laughed at jokes, but wondered what you would've found funny. he watched ethan and his wife dance together and couldn't help himself from messing with his ring finger on his left hand, wondering what it would feel like to feel cold metal there.
"you okay, barzy?" ethan must've stepped away from the dance floor while mat was zoning out.
he smiled. "never better."
"but you miss her," ethan supplied.
"but i miss her." mat shrugged. "i'll see her tomorrow though."
"is she feeling any better?"
mat nodded. "she's fine now, hates that she missed it."
"it happens," ethan said. "besides, i'm sure we'll see her when you two get married." mat flushed. "that's still the plan right? next month?"
"next month."
ethan smiled and slapped his friend in the shoulder. "best decision you'll ever make."
mat flew home the next day. he politely took a few photos with fans, but for the most part sprinted out of the airport just to get home to you.
he couldn't drive fast enough. couldn't get enough green lights. the elevator up to your penthouse felt too slow.
but it was worth it when he opened the door and saw you wearing his sweatshirt (that had mysteriously gone missing two weeks ago) watching yet another rom com.
he didn't even say hello. didn't greet you. he just sat his bag down and pulled out some tupperware and held it out to you.
"i saved a piece for you," he said.
your eyes watered until you jumped off the couch and into his arms. "i love you i love you i love you!" you exclaimed before taking the cake from him and diving into it. you moaned at the rich flavors before smiling at him. "this is so fucking good. isn't wedding cake the best?"
mat shrugged. "their cake was decent, but i bet ours will be better."
285 notes · View notes
zzoguri · 3 months
Text
safe haven (how much longer do we have?) ➵ jacob bae
Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media
jacob bae x reader, slight lee hyunjae x reader
you can only hope for more tomorrows with jacob.
genre/warnings ➵ strangers to lovers, heavy angst with a happy ending, touch of fluff, afab reader (no-gendered terms), lowercase intended, apocalypse au, hurt/comfort (both physical and emotional), depictions of grief, descriptions of gore/blood, use of guns, allusions and discussions of suicide, minor character deaths, hyunjae is your ex, changmin and kevin appearance :'), elements of the last of us (don't support neil druckmann!), mostly written in past tense (because u're remembering!)
word count ➵ 6.2k words
inspired by ➵ “anaheim” by niki, “are you happy?” by @wavesmp3, “love wins all” by iu, episode three of hbo's the last of us, and “you’re gonna carry that weight” quote from cowboy bebop
a/n ➵ my life changed forever reading shawna's piece. thank you for letting me write a piece based on your work (if you haven't read it, go check it out!) just like you, i am a sucker for apocalypse aus :')) hope i did justice to your beautiful work. anyway, love wins all coming out yesterday was a miracle because it's definitely made for this fic </3 thank you to @heemingyu and @deobienthusiast for betareading a bit of this! if you enjoyed reading, please do reblog and leave feedback!
want to be part of my taglist? send me an ask! masterlist
Tumblr media
time was the one thing that occupied everyone’s minds. it held value, something that shouldn’t be wasted, and people revolved their lives around it.
questions flew around with every tick and tock—what day is it today? when’s your next doctor’s appointment? how long has it been since you’ve last seen your friends from high school? until when does this meeting last? 
as the hands of the clock continue to rotate, the calendar pages would flip along. birthdays were celebrated with every revolution as candles on cakes were lit up, awaiting the puff of celebrants as they wished for their desires. holidays were ones to look forward to; people dressed up to celebrate periods of the year that mattered to them while others slept in until noon. and days were spent counting down until graduations, where caps with tassels would fly to the expanse of blue and orange as cheers and sobs sound throughout.
but now, no one keeps track of time. clocks stopped moving and calendars weren’t produced annually. once the surge of the infected took over, grabbing on humans, taking them away from the lives they’ve lived, everyone ran like they were running out of time. with every second that passes, people are ridden with possibilities of how they might bid farewell to life itself—would it be through the hands of the infected or their own?
now, only one question echoes within their minds: how long do we have?
yet, the clock continues—tick, tock, tick, tock. it keeps going, and going, and going, like how everyone expects it. while everyone seemed to let time go, you still kept track of it all: birthdays, holidays, a graduation you never had.
the outbreak hit two years ago on the day of hyunjae’s graduation. cheers turned into screams. white togas and diplomas were splattered with red. the lively became lifeless.
you remember hyunjae’s hand in yours, fingers gripping you as if you were his life, as you charged out of the gymnasium, legs keeping up with the speed of his. you darted off to nowhere as images of the infected tearing people apart took up every block, all the way from skin to bone.
and while it was a rush of tragedies, hyunjae was the only hope you had.
“keep your eyes on me,” he glanced at you, eyes off the path as he met your gaze. “don’t look at them. only look at me.”
it was impossible to ignore the wails that filled your ears, but you would repeat his words—his soft-spoken voice—to drown them out.
by nightfall, you and hyunjae found yourselves in a motel room, skin cleaned from blood splatters and dressed in clothes that engulfed your figures, and in each other’s arms on a twin-sized bed. the duvet that wrapped around you two is thin, not at all keeping you warm for the night, but the warmth of hyunjae was enough to provide you a sense of security—stability amidst the ever-changing world.
he whispered into the crown of your head, words meant to dispel your fears, all while you sobbed into his shirt. there was nothing that he could do but stay strong for you.
and for a few days, that room acted as your safe haven. the time spent within those four walls is the life you imagined your future with hyunjae. it would’ve been in a two-story house with a garden where a singular orange tree stands, lounging on the couch as you played movies to fall asleep to, but all you had was an old room with a carpeted floor with unrecognizable stains and a bathroom unable to fit two.
yet, you would choose this over anything. even if it meant eating instant noodles for every meal or sleeping on a mattress that ruins your backs, you would choose this if it meant hyunjae would be with you.
still, time continues to move. hyunjae knew that you both couldn’t stay in that room or else the infected may reach you. so when you both went to bed on that last night, you outlined his features from the space between his eyebrows all the way to his lips, and you spent that time memorizing his warmth to carry with you for the rest of your life. you could only hope that he stays with you until the end.
after a month passed, you and hyunjae met changmin, an injured boy who only wanted to live. at first, hyunjae was hesitant to take the stranger in, but you wouldn’t allow yourself to live with the idea of abandoning someone in need. in a world where the infected have taken over, it only seemed right to help out others, save them from a fate they’re not ready to meet.
what started off as a pair turned into a trio. you’ve learned more about what it takes to survive in this life. long gone is the need for money to buy necessities; you need to scavenge if you want to live in an infected-ridden world. thanks to changmin, you and hyunjae got to learn about how to find supplies in every building that you pass on the journey.
but it’s not enough to know where to find food and bullets. hyunjae decided that it was only right to teach you how to use a gun. with every morning that came, you two spent hours learning how to hold, reload, and fire.
“don’t worry,” he told you as his chin hovered over your shoulder. you both stared at the tin can situated on a stack of boxes only a few meters away. “you won’t have to worry about fighting alone. i’ll be here with you.” as you exhaled, your eyes zeroed in on the target. “now, shoot.”
six months have passed, and you were happy that you were still a trio. changmin became your best friend over that time. his laughs were enough to shine glimmers of hope onto you. you were glad that you decided to help him off the ground and tend his bullet wound that day.
until you found yourselves retreating from the horde of infected.
time moves at a constant speed but it can become swift if it decides to. when you and changmin reached the doors leading to safety, you remember seeing hyunjae fighting off those who were once like you, bullets firing at their heads. you remember your screams, telling him to run to you—go to where it’s safe—so that you can keep having tomorrows with him.
yet, hyunjae glanced at changmin, nodding at him before his eyes met yours. you watched how his mouth moves, a soundless three-word phrase leaving him before the doors shut before you. you would’ve pried them open but changmin kept his arms around you, holding you back from letting the infected reach you, from letting hyunjae come back to you.
the wails that left you are enough to attract the infected. if only the infected were to burst through the doors, grab onto you and bring you to hyunjae, then maybe you would stop crying. yet, changmin dragged you away. you never saw him as your best friend after that.
a month passed, and you still refused to talk to him. the boy tried to strike up a conversation with you, trying to earn your laugh like he used to, but he was only met with a cold shoulder. with every brick he put, you smashed your sledgehammer against it, dispelling any hope he had in rekindling his friendship with you.
the two of you learned to live in silence, fighting for survival while dealing with the loss of the one who would always bring you both to safety.
until you came across another boy who pointed his gun toward you. his defensive demeanor reminded you of hyunjae, and you wondered if this was his doing—his reincarnation. but before he could pull the trigger, changmin saved you from meeting your fate.
somehow, the duo had turned into a trio once more. you still refused to talk to changmin, but would eavesdrop on the conversations he shared with the stranger. you learned that the new addition is named jacob.
but even the stranger wasn’t enough to fill the void that hyunjae left. with every nightfall, when the soft snores of the two boys filled your ears, tears streamed down your face as sobs threatened to spill out of your mouth. the palm of your hand wasn’t enough to muffle your weeps. behind your eyelids, hyunjae’s last words to you play on repeat—the ones he failed to say, the ones you’ll never hear again.
maybe if you didn’t leave that motel room then he would’ve still been with you, arms finding their place around your waist as he trails kisses all over you. if the outbreak didn’t happen, then maybe you would be living in that two-story house with him. maybe you would wake up to a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice by the bedside table and the warmth of his lips on your forehead. and maybe you could finally tell him yes before he slips the silver band on your finger—you could’ve grown with him until your hair turns grey.
the weight you carry never got lighter with time. the void continued to consume you whole with the goal of ripping you apart. as another month passed, another life was lost—not to the infected but to the raiders.
“changmin, you have to stay with me.” those were the first words you told him since hyunjae’s death. crimson continued to spill out of his abdomen through the gaps between your fingertips in the same way tears flow out. “jacob! find gauze, betadine, anything!” you never glanced at the stranger, keeping your gaze on your best friend whose eyes continued to droop.
still, changmin caressed your face, thumb wiping teardrops. as he slowly entered territories that you both knew he would never escape, he grinned at you one last time. “i missed hearing you. i’m glad you’ll be the last thing i hear.”
but you tried to tell him that you couldn’t be the last voice he heard. it should’ve been with someone he can imagine his future with, maybe in a two-story house or a cramped flat in an apartment complex. he deserves more tomorrows in the same way hyunjae did.
but time continues to move. it took him away from you in a matter of minutes, slithering away without a second thought and no regard for the value of life, and all you were left with was his temple—still, lifeless. as you sobbed into his shirt, still holding the wound, the warmth of jacob’s hand stayed on your back, moving along with your wails. 
now, you carry the loss of two. it never got easier with time.
jacob still sticks with you. it only seemed right. stay strong in numbers as you wander off to nowhere, grasping at the loose ends of survival.
two weeks have passed. you and jacob got used to the new dynamic; while he goes hunting and you’re tasked with scavenging, you both played your roles in combat, ready for any raid or horde. when night would come, you both took shifts, keeping watch while the other got some shut-eye.
until that one evening.
you recall the sounds of wood crackling from the fire. it stood strong against the breeze—burning, shining—surrounded by greens that latch on browns. hues of amber cascaded over your skin, painting you with warmth—it’ll never compare to the one you craved. your eyes drifted to jacob who sat across from you, his eyes trained on the fire as he rubbed his palms together. perhaps he craved the same type of warmth you longed for.
“we used to be three.” his eyes snapped towards yours. “before you came, we used to be three—changmin, me, and—” it rose in you like bile, wanting to escape but never leaving. “we were three then.”
you glanced at the fire that continued to burn. “we met changmin a month after the outbreak, spent six months together until—” the claws of the void struck against your throat, holding you back from sharing with the stranger what your life was before he came. while you never found the right words to say, jacob never pushed, letting you say what you wanted to share while filling in the blanks on his own. 
“i resented changmin after what happened.” you moved your gaze to jacob whose eyes never left you. “refused to talk to him. refused to forgive.” and you remember how you hesitated, taking a deep breath in before sputtering out the next sentence. “refused to accept.”
nine months ago, the outbreak didn’t happen. nine months ago, you were attending hyunjae’s graduation. nine months ago, you two were imagining your tomorrows—together, for eternity.
and those nine months fractured all hopes and dreams; the glass is now littered with cracks, ready to burst into shards.
“but i think about the last time we saw changmin,” the image of him sitting in front of you all frail, treading the line between life and death, flashed in front of you; it’s quick but strong to remind you of what’s lost. “and i wish i could’ve learned how to forgive during those two months.”
but it was an impossible request. how could you ever forgive a boy you’ve known for only six months for taking your future away? how could you forgive a world that took him away? how could you forgive and live?
and still, you did.
you left it at that. they were enough. so when you told jacob that you’ll take over tonight’s shift, he never asked to hear more. instead, he laid near the campfire as you keep an eye out.
and once enough hours have passed, you allowed yourself to sob like other nights. the breeze that passed through branches reminded you of changmin; rustling leaves imitated the giggles of the boy you’ve only known during the apocalypse.
the wind that grazed against your skin should’ve been a nuisance, but the warmth of the fire wrapped you up like the duvet in that motel room. and you don’t complain—it’s the only part of hyunjae you have left.
the heat was enough to last you the night, but the chill of reality sent you back to the void.
that night, jacob listened to your sobs. not one of you got enough rest for the journey.
another two weeks went by. you two got into a better groove of the routine; instead of hunting and scavenging in silence, you and jacob found yourselves talking more about your lives before the outbreak. you learned that he was born the same year as hyunjae, and he shared that he had plans to pursue music.
“if the world finds a cure to this mess, you have to promise me that you’ll get me front-row tickets to your first show.” it was a joke. in what world could there be a cure for the infected? but the wishful thinking of what could be—what could’ve been—is all you had left.
still, jacob promised you that.
that night, you two stayed in the living room of an abandoned house. instead of lighting the fireplace, candles were placed on the coffee table. they shined in the middle of you two, you who stayed on the couch and jacob who sat on the mattress lying on the floor.
“where were you?” his eyes met yours. “on the day of the outbreak, i mean.”
he leaned back, hands resting on the mattress before he looked once more at the wax that continued to melt. “it was my graduation.” it hit you like a sudden downpour on a sunny day. “i was next in line to go up on the stage until the infected came.”
and when you said the name of the university, his gaze met yours as his shoulders stiffened. “m—my hyunjae.” it’s the first time you spoke of his name, and the sight of jacob’s eyes widening over it was enough to speak for himself.
“i—i didn’t know,” he whispered, but his words were loud enough to shatter glass. “i only spoke to him a few times. he spoke of you with so much love.”
your heart skipped beats; it should’ve been enough to send you off into the same territories where hyunjae and changmin now stay. your mouth turned dry as jacob’s voice morphed into radio silence.
before you knew it, the two of you left the information to hang in the air as you tried to drift into slumber. the clock continues to tick. minutes turned into hours; time moves like it usually does once more.
yet, you were stuck in the same gymnasium, fixing hyunjae’s toga as you scolded him about how wrinkled it’s become—hey! you’ll go up on stage soon. we can’t take pictures of you like this. despite your words, he smiled at you before grazing his lips on your temple—his silent way of telling you the three-word phrase.
in a split second, you were off the couch. you barged out of the house, clutching your chest as the knot constricted your throat, and your feet dragged you off to nowhere. every sound has turned into a buzz—only the voice of hyunjae being the one clear thing amidst the hysteria.
before you knew it, you stood before a horizon of green. it takes only one step into the woods, alone with no protection, for you to meet your demise. you would’ve charged into it in the same way you would’ve charged out to save hyunjae that day.
all it takes is one step, and—
“what are you doing?!” a pair of hands gripped your shoulders, spinning you around until you were face-to-face with the last form of life that you know of. his breaths were short as his fingers dug into your arms. “you can’t just rush out in the middle of the night! i woke up worried sick.” his eyebrows knitted in frustration. confusion. distress. 
the voice was caught in your throat. how does one begin to unpack the baggage they’ve learned to carry? when the items they bring are revolting, rotten, repugnant, how does someone not feel shame about showing all the tattered-up objects? how do you learn to open up to someone you’ve only known for three months?
your hands trembled; you’ve carried the weight of it all for too long.
in that split second, your nose met the juncture between his chin and shoulder. the material of his shirt against your cheek allowed you to bathe in what you miss—the hand of changmin that once caressed your face, the lips of hyunjae that lingered with every kiss. all the moments that you hoped time would freeze just for you lives in the boy you stick with for survival.
all it took were jacob’s hands to rest on the lower side of your back for the tears to begin their stream. the sobs spill out. for once, they weren’t muffled like those other nights. they sounded throughout the space that surrounded you two. you allowed yourself to drop the baggage only for a few minutes.
jacob took you back to the house that night, allowing you to sob about all that you’ve kept under the wraps. when sunrise came, you found your legs mixed with his as his arms remained wrapped around you, and your ear pressed against his chest. the sound of his breathing is the one reminder of what a safe haven is. 
half a year went by. jacob still stays by your side. the baggage got lighter.
it should’ve been the same routine; jacob goes off to hunt while you scavenge, and you’ll take turns on the night shifts. but that night shifted something between you two—stolen glances, quiet giggles, linked fingers.
two months have gone by. the moon shined through the trees, their shadows cascading on an abandoned cabin that you and jacob decided to stay in for that night.
it should’ve been the same set-up as other nights spent in abandoned houses; you’ll sleep on the couch while he sleeps on a dragged-out mattress. instead, he sat with you on the couch, your back resting on his chest along with his hand staying on your arm. 
a lit candle rested on the table; its amber tones painted the jacob’s skin—close to the fruit tree that stands in your lost future.
“what would you do if there is a cure to this?” you watched how his fingers danced across your skin, calloused from plucking guitar strings or wielding a gun. 
jacob’s chest rumbled against your back as he hummed. “what would you do?”
a giggle left you as you looked at the boy. “i was the one who asked you first!”
he shot you a grin as his hand slipped into yours. the candle continued to burn; it did a poor job of giving you light and warmth that night. but he did it all—one smile. one exhale. one indication to show that he lives.
“travel, maybe? or i’ll go back to writing music.” you nodded at his plans before looking back at the light source. “what about you?”
“i don’t know.”
there was no point in going back to university after such a catastrophe. if anything, the year spent surrounded by the infected, fighting for survival, has shown you that there’s more to life than the perpetual cycle of working a nine-to-five.
so…
“i would settle down if i could.” the wax continued to melt. “i think i’ve seen enough of the world. for once, i just want to stay home, indulge in my hobbies, live the life that i want.”
his breath grazed the top of your head. “with someone?” and suddenly, you became aware of it all—the heat that emitted from his palm, the movement of his chest against your back, the gravity of his question.
the words get caught in your throat. your heartbeat rang in your ears. for the first time since hyunjae’s death, you considered it. 
“with someone.”
before you knew it, his hand caressed your cheek. you were forced to meet his eyes—they glistened with devotion. he leaned forward, his breath grazing your skin while you held in yours. you didn’t miss how his gaze flickered to your lips before he met your eyes once more.
then, he held back. it’s a choice, one only you can make. but when your eyes shut, it’s a quiet plea—a silent yes.
his lips met yours. 
the warmth that blossomed in your chest wasn’t like the one in that motel room. not like the embrace of the one you’ve lost. it was one of all seasons—changing with the weather, bringing comfort throughout the everchanging times.
it’s a perpetual cycle of fighting for survival. you’ll endure through it all.
a month passed by, and you came across another boy on the journey. he’s named kevin, and he told you of a safe haven located in the town that you and jacob grew up in.
for a moment, it was an internal debate—should you go back to where the downfall started? can you go to where the memory of hyunjae still lives?
but one glance at jacob was enough to settle it. the three of you embarked on your journey.
you remember that day. it was a walk with the goal of finding a car to make the journey back an easy one. the heat of the sun prickled against your skin, but you still kept your arms crossed.
“are you two together?” kevin asked, causing you to whip your head towards him. your eyes met jacob’s for a split second—confusion, dejection—before they landed back at the stranger who kept his eyes on the path you took.
“no, we aren’t.”
for the rest of the journey, it was quiet.
sundown came, and you found yourselves in a convenience store for that night’s shelter. jacob was in charge of taking the night shift, allowing you and kevin to rest up. when the stranger went off to sleep on the makeshift bed, you were left alone with jacob.
you watched how he cleaned his gun with a rag stained with dark splotches. the moon gleamed through the window—it cannot compare to how jacob shines.
you needed to get some sleep is what you tell yourself. with one spin, you were about to make your way to where you’d sleep for that night.
“are we really not?” you halted in your tracks. you couldn’t look at him. “did it mean nothing?”
not a single answer left your mouth. your eyes remained straightforward, refusing to meet his gaze.
the warmth vanished with a lack of an answer. instead, it was replaced once more with the cold—the void—that attempted to consume you whole.
and when a scornful chuckle left jacob, you knew that you’d burnt the bridge. you walked away, leaving him to do his job, bidding farewell to the closest form of a safe haven.
two weeks went by, and another goodbye had to be done. kevin stood in front of you two, a grin on his lips while tears streamed down his face. his arm was out, revealing a bite mark. the veins near the wound had already turned black. he would’ve turned in a few hours.
“go out.” those were jacob’s first words to you since that night in the convenience store.
you remember the last thing you told kevin before you left the room—you’ll get to your safe haven. the sobs that spilled out of him are ones you’ll never forget. and when you shut the door behind you, it took 20 seconds until you heard a gunshot. 
the weight got heavier once more.
another two weeks went by, and you and jacob found yourselves standing in front of the remains of a safe haven. the fences were torn down. streaks of dark red littered over pavements. not a single sight of a soul lived.
still, you two trudged your way through the town, all the way until you reached jacob’s house. like others, his was abandoned. the cream walls were littered with red strokes and vines. when you both entered, you didn’t miss how jacob’s eyes lingered on a photo hung on the wall—a picture of him, his brother, and his parents.
you gave him all the time he needed to explore, to sit with the mess, while you stayed in the living room. as you sat on the couch that had gathered dust, you caught sight of a bowl of plastic produce that rested on the coffee table. it held a variety of fruits whose paint had chipped: watermelon, chestnut, and fig.
but amidst the crowd of old, torn-down, plastic fruits, a pear and an orange leaned against each other as grime collected on them. once your hands reached out to the fruits, you pulled them apart—a mess of green and orange stained the two.
he came back to you in 30 minutes, eyes glistening with tears. yet, he only gave you a nod, and you two went to another house. 
you then stood in front of your old house with jacob by your side. weeds grew in the front yard, and the wooden exterior has turned a few shades darker. silence settled between you two. 
to be back in a place you grew up in, where all your memories live, is a process—a grieving one. being face-to-face with the damage brought by the infected can only remind you of what you had and could’ve had.
and once you made your way to your childhood room, you were reminded of all your hopes and dreams before the outbreak. dust rested on top of books. the laptop on your desk had no charge. potted plants have withered.
when you approached the picture frames found on your table, your hand darted out to a photograph of you and hyunjae. there was no occasion when that picture was taken—the fact that you two were together was enough for it to be remembered. memorialized.
as you made your way back down the stairs, you saw jacob crouched in front of the console table with eyes. trained on photographs. “was this your high school graduation?” you approached him and saw the picture he was referring to, you who stood beside hyunjae with a big grin as his lips were on your temple.
“yeah,” you said as you crouched beside jacob. “we knew each other back when i was a freshman.” your fingers trailed on the wooden frame, gathering the dust before flicking it away. despite your efforts, it was still covered in grime, but you didn’t mind. 
“and you stayed together since?” all you did was hum. “did you find anything up there?”
for the first time since you entered your old house, you looked at jacob and he met your gaze. your eyes trailed his features. the eyes that speak of a thousand words. the lips that once kissed yours.
and it hit you like the gunshot that filled your ears, the breeze that rustled the leaves that one night, the doors that shut close. it was 20 months since the outbreak happened, 13 months since you lost hyunjae, and 11 months since changmin told you his last words—but it was also 13 months spent with jacob, choosing to survive with him. 
“yeah.”
you found a lot of things within those four walls. there were books you once read growing up, stuffed toys you slept with, and the one picture of you and hyunjae; they’re the remaining pieces you have left of a life that was good.
you would’ve kept it all, rebuilt the life that was ripped away by the hands of the infected—
“but nothing to hold on to.”
they’re memories, ones you’ll carry with you, but ones worth moving on from. 
“oh,” he said as his eyes still held your gaze. “okay.”
and with one exhale, you said, “let’s rebuild it, just a place for us two.”
it was a whirlwind of emotions in jacob’s eyes, ones you can’t identify. for a moment, you thought he’d say no. maybe he decided that 13 months was enough. one more day with you would be too much, and—
“okay.” when his hand reached out for yours, linking fingers with you like all other times, you gave him a small smile.
when you and jacob stood up, you made your way out of the house, off to find a place just for you two—a safe haven to last you many tomorrows with him.
a month passed. the safe haven was rebuilt; the fences stood strong with electrical wires and barbed wires, and the town was cleaned of all remnants of grime and blood. the two of you took up different tasks ranging from cleaning, cooking, building, and maintaining the haven.
but while you were okay with a knife, accidents did happen. “fuck!”
“what happened?” you remember how jacob came rushing in, only to see you pressing on the skin around the cut on your finger.
before you knew it, you were sitting down with him as he wrapped gauze around the wound. “jacob, it’s just a cut. i’ll be fine.”
“still, i don’t want you getting hurt.” you watched how his eyes were focused on treating your finger. “i’ll be in charge of cooking now.”
you shook your head. “no, i like to cook. i want to cook for us.” his gaze then met yours, his filled with worry while yours filled with determination. they flickered back to your finger, and his hands busied themselves with covering it up.
once he was done, his hand continued to hold yours. you remember the heat of his thumb as it drew patterns on your hand. he’s etched himself onto you.
his eyes met yours once more, and he said, “okay, just let me help out.” all you gave him was a nod.
another month went by, and you woke up to the sound of gunshots. you remember how hazy your vision was that night, fresh from sleep but panic coursing through your veins. and when you looked beside you to only see an empty spot, you didn’t think twice about rushing out of bed.
when you exited the house, you saw jacob holding his gun, firing at the people who attempted to tear down the haven’s fences. “jacob!” when he looked back at you, you caught sight of the crimson that poured out of his abdomen.
another gunshot was fired, grazing jacob’s leg, and he fell to his knees. you ran to him, reaching out to rest your hand on the wound as you began to sob. “fuck! you have to stay with me.” with his arm resting around your shoulders, you dragged him back to the house.
you set him on the table and moved his hand to hold where he was shot. “hold it.” you rushed to where the medical supplies were stored and gathered whatever you could hold. when you got back, you saw how blood continued to spill out.
you got to work, focused on trying to patch him up—making sure he stays. “you can’t go. i won’t let it happen.” and while your hands busied themselves with treating the injury, you remember how jacob’s hand caressed your cheek, thumb wiping away the spilled tears. 
“in the basement, there’s a piece of paper that has all the codes. if you ever—”
“no, you’ll be okay.”
still, he continued to talk. “if you ever forget the codes, you can always look at the paper. don’t forget that you need to always check the water system every two days, and—”
“jacob!” you croaked out his name in between sobs. “you’ll be okay. you have to, okay?” the more he went on about what to keep in mind, the baggage got heavier. “i can’t do this without you. i won’t allow it.”
because 15 months ago, you would’ve bid farewell to the mayhem. 13 months ago, you hoped for time to drag you away. 12 months ago, you would’ve walked into the forest. but it’s been 22 months, and you were still walking on this earth, choosing to live amidst the chaos—so long as jacob was with you. 
and when you leaned your forehead on his, eyes closed, you felt his breath graze against your lips. “i need you.”
all it took were three words from you. “okay.”
it’s been two months since that happened. the safe haven was rebuilt once more. you and jacob fortified the defense system, hoping they’ll be enough to keep any infected and raiders out. all that matters is that you two were protected—safe—from the chaos.
now, you sit on a couch as you flip through the pages of a book you didn’t have time to read before the outbreak. when all responsibilities vanished, you were able to find enough time to do things you couldn’t do then.
you were ready to get yourself sucked into the world of the novel, but jacob came into the living room with his hands behind his back and a small smile on his lips. “do you remember what you made me promise you before?”
you frown at him, confused, until he shows you an acoustic guitar. “oh my god, you found one?” you put the book on the coffee table.
he takes a seat beside you, body facing towards you as he rests the instrument on his lap. “here, first-row tickets to my first show.” you almost laughed because this is no stadium or club, but a home—one you built with him.
it takes only one smile from him for you to hold it back.
“any song requests?” he strums on the guitar strings, perfectly in tune. it’s almost as if he tuned it before coming to you.
a hum leaves you as you rest your head on your hand propped on the couch. “whatever you want to show me.”
it takes him a few seconds, fingers fiddling with the strings, until he figures out what to play. when he sings out the words—dearest, darling, my universe—you melt like the candles you lit up those nights. as he continues to play a song of a world in hysteria but a love that endures, that’s when you realize what you’ve had all this time.
time is the one thing that occupies your mind. it holds value, something that shouldn’t be wasted, and you learned to revolve your life around it.
it takes you two years to figure out that life doesn’t end after the outbreak—and 17 months to realize that your safe haven is not a two-story house with an orange tree in the garden but the boy in front of you.
when you lean closer to him, his fingers falter, messing up the chords. your hand reaches out to caress his face as your eyes flicker to his lips. you don’t miss how jacob holds his breath, how he stops playing the guitar, how his eyes look back at yours—it’s a slurry of warmth, tenderness.
“i love you.”
all it took was a three-word phrase from you for him to close the distance.
the warmth that spreads within you is like the one you experience in the abandoned cabin. but now, you’re full of hope—a reason to stay—in an infected-ridden world.
now, only one question echoes within your mind: how much longer do we have?
an eternity is what you hope.
Tumblr media
perma taglist ➵ @deoboyznet @kflixnet @blankjournal @winterchimez @miusgirl @jenoscafe @sweet-unicorn-world @vernyangel @mosviqu @stealanity @deobi0412 @blue-rainydays @maessseongs
91 notes · View notes
rendy-a · 1 month
Note
amh if possible could hoy make hdcns for the dorm leaders ( separately ) reacting to their mc fem explaining the marvel universe and then puts them to watch the movies hehe ( ..also mc's fav hero is dead-pool ;) bc it gives me laugh imagine their reactions about this xd) , thanks in advance and take care<33
This certainly ended up being a little bit of a crack fic but it ended up amusing. Hope you enjoy it.
Tumblr media
At first, he scoffs as such a time-wasting thing as wanting to watch dozens of movies.  Where is the educational value in this?
He is just too polite to refuse to listen, so he’ll end up letting you describe all your favorite scenes to him.
You are better off if he doesn’t take an interest because, if he does, he is going to turn into the worst sort of comic book geek.  Be ready to have him quote lore from issues of source material at you during any discussion on this from now on.
What do you mean who would win?  In Volume 3 #3, Thor clearly defeated Iron Man.  Don’t get upset Prefect, I don’t write the lore, I just recite it.
Tumblr media
Doesn’t appear to be interested but, if you pause long enough, he’ll prompt you to go on.  It’s important to you, so he’ll try to care at least a little.
You’d never tell him this, but you love to banter with him because it reminds you of your favorite character.  Sometimes you wonder if he’d be pleased or offended to know who you remind him of.
Movie marathons?  Not only is he willing to do them with you, but he is also often the one who suggests them.  Don’t be deceived though, it’s not for the movie but for the quality nap time on the couch with you. 
Don’t turn that off, Herbivore, I’m watching it.  What do you mean I don’t know what’s going on?  This is the part where we learn her mom isn’t dead after all.  So quiet down and keep the lights off.
Tumblr media
Please, he is in Board Game Club with Idia. You think this is the first time he has hmmm’d himself through a conversation about fictional characters?
Wait, you say that this makes a ton of money?  Tell him more about this merchandising and licensing.  Especially that, what do you call it…ah, Happy Meal.
You can eventually talk him into watching the movies with you for ‘research purposes.’  When you do, you can’t help but notice how teary-eyed he gets at the sad scenes.  He’s just so sensitive!
Deadpool is also his favorite character.  He feels a sort of connection to certain parts of his story.
So, she chooses to stay with him even though he looks like that?  No, I’m not blubbering.  No, I don’t need you to cuddle with me.  Ok, fine.  Just for a little while. 
Tumblr media
He doesn’t get it, but he still loves it.  Sure, you have to explain everything to him three times, but he gets excited over your excitement.  Call him any time to talk about your theories on how things would have gone if Thanos had made a different wish on the infinity gauntlet.  He doesn’t mind if it’s 3 AM (just don’t let Jamil find out).
Movie marathons turn into parties.  Why just watch the movies when you can have themed snacks and dress up too?  Hulk smash cakes and Black Widow berry cobbler?  Yes, please.
His favorite part of any film is the soundtrack.  If he hears a song he likes, he gets up to dance along.  It’s pretty disruptive when you are watching the movie but when you see how much fun he is having, you find you don’t really mind after all.
Sorry Prefect, Jamil says we can’t have dance battles in Scarabia anymore.  Ooh!  But come by the Pop Music Club later.  I’m going to play all my favorite songs for Cater and Lilia. Ahaha!
Tumblr media
You were worried Vil would dismiss your favorite Marvel films as inferior art, but he is actually rather generous about it.  He believes the film should suit the audience and, as so, there is nothing wrong with films like this that serve to entertain the masses.
Still, he can’t help but be critical of everything while you watch.  He doesn’t criticize the things you’d talk about with your friends but topics you’d hardly even notice while you watched like the set design and lighting.
You notice Vil seems secretly fond of Loki.  You think the idea of the Villain that survives the main movies to get his own spotlight series appeals to him.
No, Potato, I’m just saying the angle isn’t right for this sort of tone.  A shot from below would be more effective.  Plus…wait, are you having more popcorn?  I don’t think so, it’s past the time you can snack before bed.
Tumblr media
You had expected Idia to be all in on the Marvel Universe but, at first, he is oddly resistant to it.  He’d rather recommend you one of his own favorite hero movies.  If you disagree on which is better, he is more than willing to fight with you over why his is best!
After a heated argument, he puts on some of the movies to watch so he can come up with targeted points about why his own shows are better.  This does not work out for him as he gets sucked in himself.  Next time you meet up, he wants to go over tiny bits of lore and speculate on future plot lines from hints in the past movies.
You might think his favorite would be Iron Man because they both are innovative engineers, but he is a fan of Ant Man.  Shrinking down to a size where you can hide from everyone; it’s an introvert’s dream!
Prefect, this is serious business!  I’ve drawn up plans.  So long as we sleep only 2 hours a day and avoid taking any breaks for food, studying, and showers, we can finish at least three seasons this weekend.  True fans like us need to be ready to sacrifice for the shows we love!
Tumblr media
There are many things Tusnotarou doesn’t understand, and this is one of them.  For starters, he barely knows how to use his smartphone, let alone how to stream movies and shows.  So, before you can even start explaining the plot, you must explain the whole concept of series and interconnecting shows to him.
He doesn’t get it, but he is happy to watch with you.  Your reactions to the show are far more amusing to him than the actual show.  Plus, he feels like he learns so much about the human world from your conversations.  A subway, how intriguing an idea.  Humans are so fascinating.
Even though he watches politely, he isn’t very impressed.  They can fly?  Well so can he.  Magic, lightning, superstrength?  All just part of being a dragon.  Perhaps instead of being interested in these superheroes, you’d rather learn more about him?
 Lilia, do you think I am a superhero?  The Prefect has been explaining this concept to me in great detail lately.  I can’t help but notice the many things I have in common with these so-called heroes.  Why yes, Lilia, now that you mention it, I am wearing a cape.  Another point in my favor. Fu fu fu.    
57 notes · View notes
slowlypalefire · 2 months
Text
Event Story
Elbert vs Ellis
Part 3-Elbert's ending
* The translation are not guaranteed to be entirely accurate, so expected some errors.
Tumblr media
Man walking down the street: "Oh, hey! That carriage ran out of control. Is it okay!?"
Dress women: "Kyaa! Run away quickly!"
(- eh)
An out-of-control carriage was heading towards the small boy who was walking right next to me.
Elbert & Ellis: ".....Huh?"
(I have to help that child, but...)
A carriage approaching towards me. At that moment before I could breath,
Someone hugged me as hard as they could, shock runs through me.
When I reflexively opened my tightly closed eyes, someone was there.
Kate: "Lord Elbert!"
Tumblr media
Elbert: "...Are there any injuries? ... Where does it hurt?"
Kate: "Yes, that kid..."
Elbert: "It's okay. Here."
(Ah...)
Mr. Elbert held me and the child in his arms.
(The carriage...)
When I looked up, I saw Ellis-kun were rein and soothing the horse.
Thanks to the two of them, no one was injured even though the carriage ran out of control.
By the time the rescued child was returned to his parents and the situation was under control, the sun was setting.
Kate: "Elbert-sama, Ellis-kun. Thank you for helping me."
Elbert: "Kate,.. I'm glad you're okay."
Tumblr media Tumblr media
Ellis: "I never thought you would help them all at once."
Elbert: "..."
"...If you only help Kate,What if something happens to the child."
"Kate is the one who will grieving."
(eh?)
Tumblr media Tumblr media
Ellis: "...."
"...Of course, I can't imagine the opposite."/
"...Of course, the opposite is unthinkable."
Lord Elbert gently held my long hair. He raised it and smiled at the color.
Tumblr media
Elbert: "Then, just protect everything."
Kate: "...Lord Elbert"
Tumblr media
Ellis: "...I see."
"Kate-san, this battle is my loss."
"El is always faithful to his desires."
"-but"
"I don’t think that will happen."
For a moment, I felt like a shadow crossed his twilight eyes.However, Ellis-kun smiled kindly as usual.
Ellis: "Then I'll go.Both of you,Happy Valentine's Day"
-Back in Elbert's room-
Kate: "Once again, thank you for protecting me, Lord Elbert."
Elbert: "yeah.."
After returning to the room, I checked to make sure Elbert-sama wasn't hurt anywhere, and I breathed a sigh of relief.
Elbert: "Kate. ... Is that mine?"
In front of your eyes is the “favorite” chocolate cake on the plate.
Kate: "Yes, of course. Um, Elbert-sama"
Tumblr media
Elbert: "...?"
Kate: "I think it’s unwise to say something like this now, but.."
Elbert: "It's fine."
"Everything...I know."
"You've been making it for me from the beginning."
"However, you couldn't refuse the kind Ellis. ...Am I wrong?"
Kate: "...How did you know?"
Tumblr media
Elbert: "Because I like you for being so kind."
I am happy to hear Lord Elbert's unwavering words.I feel sorry for that.
Kate: "But I'm sorry that I made you work so hard because of that."
Elbert: "....? . Why are you apologizing?"
Kate: "eh?"
Elbert: "Doing your best for your lover is... obvious."
"Besides...it might be nice to compete."
Kate: "Why is that?"
Elbert-sama, normally he wouldn't fight like that.
Because he's a very gentle and strong person.
Elbert: ".. That's right"
"As for Kate, I won't give it to anyone after all."
"...Today it was a fight for chocolate, so I didn't get hurt."
His fingertips touch me and he strokes me with the pad of his thumb.
It's like marking it as your own.
Elbert:"If Kate is taken away from me, I will not show mercy."
"..Just remember that."
Kate: "Yes, Lord Elbert"
"But I’m not going anywhere. Furthermore... I can’t go anywhere."
"You, who I love so much, are by my side."
Elbert: "...I see."
I was hugged so tightly, it was painful.
That strength is a little stronger than usual, and Lord Elbert's feelings flow into me.
I know that you are trying to hold back your various emotions and be kind.
I fall in love with this person so deeply that I feel like I'm falling into the bottomless depths again.
Kate: "...Elbert-sama."
While being hugged, Lord Elbert's kiss my white neck,
Kate: "Elbert-sama... Hmm."
Before I could close my eyes, our lips touched.
Elbert: "...I’m in trouble."
Kate: "...hmm,...what…is it...?"
Elbert: "I ate the chocolate that you made. "
"...But I also decided to eat you."
Kate: "Hmm, hm...m."
Lord Elbert is weighing his two desires, He doesn't try to stop kissing me.
His dangerous desires are thrown at me, and my stomach is getting hot.
Elbert: "Hmm...ah...I see."
"Is it okay to eat chocolate with you?"/
"Let's eat chocolate together with you.Is it okay?"
Elbert-sama grabs a piece of chocolate cake with a fork and puts it in his mouth. and…
Kate: "...Ah"
Keeping our lips on each other, he slowly put me on the bed.
There's no chocolate cake in my mouth Then, with a sweet sigh, our lips parted.
Elbert: "...It's delicious. Kate and the chocolate cake too."
"But it's still not enough. I want you...all of you."
57 notes · View notes
danikamariewrites · 7 months
Note
imagine dark reader who is azriels sister x lucien, she is possessive and obssesed with lucien and has plotted her way into his life. From the second she lied her eyes on him when he and feyre came to velaris she knew she had to have him no matter what. reader goes to great lenghts to make sure nothing stands between her and her precious lucien. She pushes elain towards her brother and slides in comments about how they make a great couple and that the mating bond isn’t really a big deal. She cringes while she says it bc she would kill for a mating bond with lucien, and cannot stand how elain is ignoring him. it enrages reader so much but also pleases her bc now she has him all to her self. Now lucien turns to reader for comfort and ofc reader gives him just what he needs. when they share their first night, she almost doesn’t let him leave their bed, she knows how charming he can be and the thought of someone being on the recieving end is nauseating. and anytime she hears the ic says something sbout lucien she defends him to no end, even with him there, she almost lets her mask slip, she calls mor out calmly when mor says something mean about him being there for starfall. still the next day someone broke into mors house and ruined all her dresses. no one knows who did it👀👀👀👀👀👀👀
please you would write this so good, like i’ve read through everything you’ve written. pls i’m so desperate for lucien being protected, i’d pay so much money for s fic. literally like do you take comissions??? i’d pay frrrrr
Fox Hunter
Lucien x Az’s sister!reader
A/n: As soon as I saw this I put my glasses on and opened my laptop. I love evrything about this and loved writing it. And thank you very much for reading all my stuff and liking it anon, that means a lot.
on the topic of commisions (it's been on my brain for a while), I have been thinking about setting something up to do them for a while now. So if that's something you guys are interested in let me know. I'll probably do a poll or something.
Warnings: dark!reader, manipulation, Elain slander, suggestive
Tumblr media
When he stepped through the front door of the Town House for the first time I swear I stopped breathing. Though he was caked in dirt and tired looking, the seventh son of the Autumn High Lord had to be the most beautiful male I had ever seen.
His that tan skin glowed under the Fae lights. The scar over his eye gave him a handsome, rugged look. And that golden eye. Oh how entrancing that golden eye is.
It simply broke my heart when I found out he is mated to the middle Archeron sister. But Elain is a shell of a female now. It would be easy to dissuade her from accepting the bond.
Truthfully, I am jealous of the girl. Jealous and angry. She has one of the most beautiful males in Prythian willing to throw himself at her feet, and she will not give him a second of her time.
I watched as they sat together for the first time. How she reacted when he tugged on the bond. Elain was angry. I couldn't imagine being angry.
I placed my hand over my heart. Hoping against the Mother, the Cauldron, and the Gods that they made a mistake. That I would feel the tug in my chest for him.
I noticed the small glances she and my brother share. Azriel seemed so intent on keeping her from Lucien. Good.
If he kept Elain for himself I could keep Lucien. Another easy task. Azriel is desperate for love. They will not be hard to manipulate.
Lucien broke my heart again when he left for the Continent. I know it is necessary for the coming war, but it didn't hurt any less. I had made sure to say goodbye to him. To wish him well on his journey.
He seemed happy that someone in the court was treating him with kindness. Lucien had kissed my hand, thanking me and asked me to be safe as well. It took all of my power not to lose my composure in front of him.
After the war, after everything with Nesta, life calmed down. It has pained me to wait this long to truly set my plan into action. But good things take time.
I had made sure to spend time with Elain all these months. To gain her trust and show her friendship. "I must admit," She said to me, one afternoon in the garden. "I was afraid of you at first. You and Azriel were so simialr with your silence. Then you opened up to me and I'm so happy to have a friend like you, y/n."
I smiled at her. Although it was fake part of it felt real.
"I'm happy to have you as well, Elain. You can bring anyone out of their shell I'm sure." I smile at her from the stone bench I'm perched on. My wings spread a little to soak up the sunshine. "Well, not everyone." Elain says solemnly, looking back at her tulips.
I gently place a hand on her shoulder, "Keep trying with him Elain. I can tell Azriel is in love with you. You see the way he looks at you, yeah? There's no denying it."
Elain looks back up at me with those hopeful, doe eyes. "You think so?" "I know so." Happiness flashes across her face for a moment. Then she goes back to that somber look.
That look drives me crazy. Elain needs to stop feeling sorry for herself. It's not cute and it is driving me crazy.
"But what about Lucien...and the mating bond?" And there was what I was waiting for. "Your sisters, Rhysand, and Cassian make out to be this glorious thing. For them it may be that way. But you get to decide to do with yours.
"Do you feel connected to Lucien?" She shakes her no. "Do you feel the need to be close to him? To have him hold you?" She shakes her head again.
"Then the mating bond doesn't matter. Reject it of you must, but follow your heart, Elain. Not tradition." The fool smiled up at me again. Standing, she wrapped her arms around my neck tightly. "Thank you, y/n." I hugged her back for the theatrics of it all.
I watched as she scurried off inside. Most likely to fling herself at Azriel. It did hurt a little, telling her to break the bond. If someone had said that to me I'd most likely slit their throat.
The mating bond was something I had longed for since I was a little girl.
I had never had many friends or lovers growing up. It was just me and Azriel in that dungeon for most of our lives. And if we hadn't met Rhys I would be without wings.
When we got older I watched as Azriel had females fling themselves at him. While many of the males in Windhaven showed their intrest in me, I did not return the sentiment. I knew those relationships would never go anywhere.
So, I'd stick around for the fun they'd offer for a week and move on to the next. None of those males ever excited me the way Lucien did. Never made me feel love.
A few weeks later Lucien was back in Velaris. Rhys had sent him to the human lands for emissary duties. I made sure to ask him to lunch before the rest of the Inner Circle tortured him with their questions and scared him off.
We went to a nice restaurant with a view of the Sidra. Lucien pulled my chair out for me like the gentleman he is. Before sitting I gave him a small peck on the cheek. Holding his smooth face in my rough hand.
I could've swore I saw the corners of his lips twitch and his cheeks turn red. I bit my lip, taking my seat.
As Lucien sat across from me we fell into easy conversation. Mother above, he's just so perfect. And charming. Any female would be lucky to have him. And that female would be me.
A lull settles between us and I sip on my water. Lucien clears his throat and I meet his gaze. "Elain has asked to meet with me." His tone changed to serious, leaving the playfulness I love so much behind.
"Do you know why?" I ask, my tone coming out more clipped than I meant. "I have a feeling it's about the bond. I know her and Azriel have been...together." He said that last part like he could feel it. I could sense his discomfort.
I hated that look in his eye. That look of feeling unwanted. I had seen it in my own eyes so many times as I stared at my reflection. I reach across the table to hold his hand with both of mine.
"You deserve love Lucien. If she doesn't see how hard you have been trying for her then she doesn't deserve you. I want to see you happy, fox." He gave me a loving smile at his nickname. "Thank you, little bat. You have always shown me kindness when you family hasn't. I love that about you."
Love. My heart fluttered at the word falling from his lips. It sounds so right. I want him to tell me he loves me. Tell me he'll do anything for me like I would for him.
That night, my fox came to the Town House. I had taken it over since Rhys and Feyre moved to the River House. It was empty and quiet here.
Opening the door I saw the distraught look on Lucien's face. I felt a pang in my chest. I had caused this for him. I have to stop this feeling. Have to make him better. "Lucien," I breathed out, "come in."
I drag him over to the couch and sit next to him. We're so close our thighs are touching. I drape a wing around his back for extra comfort. "What is it, fox?"
Lucien takes a deep, shuddering breath. "We broke the bond." I want to breathe out a sigh of relief, but I have to keep the facade up. "Oh Lucien, I'm so sorry. I can't imagine the pain you're going through."
He looks at me with a pained smile, taking my hand in his, desperately kissing my knuckles. "I am hurting, yes. But Elain made realize something." I held my breath. I could feel my eyes going wide. Could this be it? Could all the work I had planned to do already be done for me by that little fool I call a friend?
"The love I have been searching for has been in front of me all along. I was never meant to be with her." Lucien slide off the couch onto his knees in front of me. My hands still trapped in his. "I love you, y/n. And I curse the Mother and the Cauldron for not putting us together. I need you little bat. I cannot bear another moment without you."
I am frozen in shock by his declaration of love. All this time I thought it would be me on my knees before him. Telling him sweet nothings and saying how we belong together. This is all I needed to hear from him.
Before anything can change I grab Lucien's face, my lips colliding with his in a heated kiss. It's all teeth and tongue. Want and desire. Lucien pulls me to his chest, holding the back of my head.
"Take me upstairs fox. Show me how much you love me." I whisper against his lips. Lucien stands, holding me by my thighs. I wrap my legs around him. I feel his hard cock pressing against my core and grind against him letting out a moan.
Lucien gently places me on the bed, careful of my wings. We undress together. Baring ourselves to each other. Feeling a bond that should've been ours.
The next morning I lay awake staring at Lucien's sleeping form. I trace his scar a few times and play with the ends of his hair that are splayed on the pillow. As his eyes slowly open he sends me a smirk. "Morning my love." Gods I want to keep him like this so I can hear his morning voice forever. It's gravely and deep, sending heat straight to my core.
"Good morning, fox. How are you feeling." Lucien thinks for a moment. "Hurting still. But I feel better with you." My smile widens. It feels genuine this time, it almost brings tears to my eyes.
Lucien moves to get up. My hand flys to grip his bicep, pulling him backdown to the mattress with all my strength. "No," I practically yell. "Stay with me? Let's stay here all day and rest." He lightly kisses my lips and pulls me to lay on his chest. "Ok little bat," he whispers.
We lay in a comfortable silence together. We trace patterns on each others bare skin until I ask, "Lucien, I know things have changed now but I need to know," My heart is pounding so hard. I hate to ask him this but I need him to feel in charge, like he wants me and I need him.
I look up at him as I force tears to line my eyes. "Are we...please say I'm yours now." His lips form a sweet pout I want to kiss. Lucien squeezes me to his body, placing a chaste kiss to my forehead. "There is no one else in this world for me. I love you, y/n. Last night was just the first of many. We have a life time ahead of us together and I don't plan on wasting another moment of it without you."
I cradle his cheek in the palm of my hand. "I love you too, Lucien. And I never want to be without you either."
123 notes · View notes
allmoshnobrain · 4 months
Text
Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media
𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐫
✧・゚: *✧・゚:* *:・゚✧*:・゚✧
part 23 of ? | masterpost
word count: 3319 | ao3 link | fic's playlist
Finally, I spotted him, chilling on a couch in the corner, rocking a beer and a smoke as his serious eyes stared at me. My heart tightened seeing him like that; normally, when he saw me, it meant smiles and a hug. Now, however, he just watched me, his cool blue eyes meeting mine from across the room. I held his gaze for a while, my face turning a bit warm as we looked at each other. Heart skipping a beat, I wondered: was he gonna brush me off? Stand up and bail, pretending I wasn’t even there?
✦ summary: Reuniting with James forces Nore to confront the complicated feelings that arose after their kiss.
✦ on this chapter: dave mustaine x female!oc, james hetfield x female! oc, oc is cliff's cousin, +18, language, slice of life, angst, love triangle, drinking, smoking, recreational drug use
✦ a/n: Hello! I'm finally on Christmas break and have lots of free time, so I'm trying to write as much as I can! I'm really glad I could post this chapter before the end of the year, and I hope it won't take me too long to post the next ones :) We're on the final half of the story, and things will get a bit more intense from now on. So, how do you think James and Nore are gonna deal with their feelings from now on? I'm really excited to write about it! Thank you so much for reading, feedback is welcome and motivates me a lot! ❤
✧ I want to be the girl with the most cake / He only loves those things because he loves to see them break / I fake it so real, I am beyond fake / And someday, you will ache like I ache ✧
It didn't take too long for me to catch up with my friends again. Just a bit over two weeks post-Leanne's birthday bash, Cliff gave me a ring with some exciting news: the band had landed a gig at a renowned venue in Los Angeles, and if the first show drew a good crowd, there was talk of a repeat performance to wrap up the year.
I hadn’t crossed paths with James since he had kissed me; gotta admit, the idea of facing him after all that had happened had me feeling a bit uneasy. But I was hopeful that, when the time came, we could have a conversation about it. I just hoped we could keep our friendship. There were many things I could handle, but losing him for good was not something I was ready for.
The band needed to fill the place, so Cliff asked if I could bring someone along. I ended up inviting Pat, my friend from the record store, to join me at the show. I mean, asking Dave was out of the question; as time went by, he was getting more and more bitter every time Metallica came up. Even though he wasn't thrilled about me going to the show, having a companion seemed to ease his mood a bit. Ever since I came home with a bruised hand from having to defend myself, he seemed to gradually become more protective and concerned every day. I knew he'd rather I not navigate crowded spots alone, especially at a metal show. But, when it came to Metallica, his wounded pride still had the upper hand.
I met up with Pat right outside the record store before the gig, so we could go to the venue together. She greeted me with the biggest smile, her blonde locks and blue eyes all dazzling.
"I'm so stoked!" she exclaimed, practically bouncing with happiness as I handed her the ticket and the backstage pass. "I've never had backstage access before. This is gonna be rad!"
"Yeah, it's cool. But don't expect anything too fancy; we usually just score some drinks and access to the dressing room," I said, throwing out a strained smile. I tried not to let the nerves creep in about seeing James again, but now that showtime was approaching, my anxiety was cranking up by the minute.
"Oh, don't be a buzzkill," she pouted. "You’re in a bad mood today? Aren't you happy to see your friends?"
"Sorry, Pat. I'm just kinda on edge," I replied with a sigh. Despite really liking Pat, I wasn't up for diving into the whole James-kiss situation with anyone. Truth is, I had been mulling over it way more than I'd like. Couldn't wait to clear the air with James once and for all.
We rolled up a bit later to the venue, and there was already a decent line of fans. It always blew my mind how they had just dropped their first album not long ago but were pulling in a hype crowd that was growing by the day. I could sense the West Coast getting too cramped for whatever they were cookin' up. And, like always, no need to wait in line for us; the IDs whisked us straight backstage, where the guys were getting their act together, getting stage-ready, and already a bit toasted.
I couldn't really zone in on the whole scene that kicked off with Lars, Kirk, and Cliff swooping in for the welcome party; drinks were handed out, cigs were fired up, and Lars, as usual, threw in his cheeky comments ('hey, your friend's a total babe!'). But honestly, none of that was grabbing my full attention. My eyes were on a mission, desperately looking for the only person I wanted to see. No matter how much I tried to fool myself, all I cared about was making sure things were cool between James and me.
Finally, I spotted him, chilling on a couch in the corner, rocking a beer and a smoke as his serious eyes stared at me. My heart tightened seeing him like that; normally, when he saw me, it meant smiles and a hug. Now, however, he just watched me, his cool blue eyes meeting mine from across the room. I held his gaze for a while, my face turning a bit warm as we looked at each other. Heart skipping a beat, I wondered: was he gonna brush me off? Stand up and bail, pretending I wasn’t even there?
Instead, he just got up, strolled over, and handed me the beer bottle.
“Want some?” he asked, throwing a faint smile my way. I blinked, kinda surprised. The way he talked, it was like nothing had happened. Like he never had kissed me. Like I never had bolted out of Joe's kitchen, leaving him all alone.
But, hey, wasn’t that exactly what I wanted? For things to be normal again. For us to stick to being friends, no drama.
“Of course. You ever see me turn down a beer?” I replied with a grin. He let out a soft chuckle and handed over the bottle, his cold fingers brushing mine for the briefest fraction of a second before he brought the cig back to his mouth.
Before long, the venue staff gave us the heads up that the show was about to kick off. The guys wrapped up their final checks, and Pat and I joined them, enjoying a beer by the stage. Pat was all hyped about it; even though she didn't know the band, she was really getting into the music, full of the enthusiasm you'd expect from a dedicated fan. As for me, I was a bit more reserved this time. Don't get me wrong, I was always happy to catch up with my friends, but I couldn't ignore how uneasy I felt, especially when I noticed James's glances, splitting his attention between the crowd and shooting looks my way, a silent storm brewing in his blue gaze.
After the concert wrapped up, he handed his guitar over to a puzzled Kirk, not even bothering to look at him. He headed my way, big steps and a bit of annoyance wrinkling his forehead; at that point, I was almost sure he was going to cup my face in his hands and kiss me again. The idea had my face turning hot, my heart racing, and the palms of my hands getting sticky with nervous sweat, recalling the feel of his lips on mine. Instead of that, he just stopped and locked eyes with me for a moment, carefully studying my face before saying:
“So? How was the show?”
“It was awesome! You guys rock, I loved it!” Pat exclaimed, all excited, breaking the momentary electricity that had arisen between us two. James raised an eyebrow, curious, as if just now realizing she was there, and shot me a puzzled look. I just shrugged, wearing a slight smile.
"It was killer, like always," I said with a grin, and he shot one right back at me. There it was — the familiar, genuine smile I'd been missing all night. I couldn’t help but feel relief wash all over me when I saw it.
We wrapped up the night at some random downtown bar. Most of the time, I stuck with Pat since she only knew me there. A couple of beers, a joint, and watching her all hyped up did the trick; I started to unwind, and soon enough, I was enjoying the night with a lightness I hadn't felt in ages. Had a cig between my lips, just chilling and keeping an eye on the guys from a distance. Cliff and Kirk were deep into some serious chat, sharing a joint. Lars and James had found some fans from the show, cracking up and talking loudly while passing around a bottle of vodka.
"Can I ask you something?" Pat threw out. I shifted my gaze from the scene, catching her curious, kinda fuzzy look — probably thanks to a bit of the booze. Before I could even answer, she kept going: "What's the deal with you and James?"
"Me... and James?" I raised my eyebrows, totally caught off guard. She nodded, a little smile playing on her lips. "We're... We're friends."
"And that's it?" She raised an eyebrow, and I furrowed my brow.
"Of course, that's it, Pat! You know I'm dating Dave."
"Yeah, I know. It's just..." She started, letting her eyes wander over to Lars and James before turning back to me with a mischievous grin. "He's quite the looker. Mind if I flirt with him a bit? Just for fun, you know."
I blinked, caught off guard, and then burst into laughter, my face heating up in a mix of surprise and confusion. Out of all the scenarios playing in my head for that night, Pat showing interest in James was definitely not on the list.
“Sure, why not,” I said, and she shot me a smile before strutting in the direction of James and Lars. I watched her go, a little smirk on my face, a tiny pang of envy sneaking into my chest. Maybe life would be more of a breeze if I could summon that kind of confidence in myself so easily.
"So now you're playing matchmaker?" I heard Cliff's familiar voice, and I looked up to meet his brown eyes staring at me. I grinned as he lit a cigarette, handing it to me before popping the top of the beer can he had in his hand. "Are you okay?"
"Never been better. And you?"
"Are you sure?" he raised an eyebrow. "Last time I saw you, you weren't very happy."
"Yeah, felt a bit down after... you know, what happened," I confessed with a sigh. "But I think that's all settled now, isn't it?"
Cliff didn't seem entirely convinced. He took a drag from his cigarette, the smoke billowing out before he reached out to me. I took the cigarette from between his fingers, bringing it to my lips.
"I thought James liked you," he commented, his attentive gaze fixed on my face. I shrugged.
"Maybe he does. But you know I have a boyfriend, Cliff. Maybe it's good for him to be distracted by some other girl for a bit," I said, and Cliff snorted.
"Not even you believe that, Nore."
"What do you mean?"
"What do you think? Are you sure about what you're doing, throwing your friend at him like this? Or will you regret it later?"
"Why would I regret it?" I furrowed my brow, then stared at him defiantly. "I know what I'm doing, okay?"
"If you say so," he shrugged, taking the cigarette back from my hand.
I watched him walk away with a frown, scanning the area for James, my stomach churning uncomfortably when I couldn't find him anywhere.
We bounced out of the bar late at night, still riding high on excitement and energy, a bit too drunk but not giving a damn about it. Lucky for us, the guys were staying at a friend's house nearby, and a quick call to Pat's dad had us sorted for a ride home from their place. I said my goodbyes to the guys and enjoyed the cruise home. Pat, usually a chatterbox, was oddly quiet on the drive. When I nudged her about James, she blushed so hard I couldn't help but crack up.
When I got home, I made a beeline for the shower. The hot water washed away the remnants of the night's boozing, helping me unwind and finally realize how tired I was. I slipped into my PJs, hopping into bed next to a knocked-out Dave.
I let out a soft chuckle when his arms wrapped around me, his lips landing on my neck. It was like he had a sixth sense that woke him up the moment I was back, even from the deepest sleep. Like he just knew I was nearby. How could I think of anyone else when Dave loved me like this?
“Hey,” he mumbled, his voice all sleepy, planting a kiss on my shoulder.
“Hey,” I replied with a smile, turning in bed to face him. I swept his ginger hair away from his face, and he grumbled before pulling me closer, burying his face in my neck.
"Missed you tonight," he murmured, his raspy voice making me shiver in the best way. "Glad you're back."
"Course, I'm back," I whispered, running my fingers through his hair. "We’re not gonna fight tonight, right?"
"Hmm..." he grumbled, his lips making their way up my neck until they met mine. His hands grabbed my waist as he settled on top of me. "No fights... got something else in mind."
I laughed into his kiss, my face warming as he turned up the intensity, making my whole body heat up. In that moment, wrapped up in his arms, I was sure I was loved. I was sure he loved me. And that was, and always would be, enough. 
Or, at least, that's what I told myself.
Tumblr media
✧ if you'd like to be tagged on the next parts, let me know and I'll add you to the tag list! ❤ ✧
45 notes · View notes
changingplumbob · 1 month
Text
York Household: Chapter 9, Part 10
In this part Kelly may be stood down from school for the day but that doesn't mean Aaron won't find them something to do.
Tumblr media
CW: Mentions of body dysmorphic disorder and dysphoria
The Yorks are Italian so if you see them using words that don't look like English it's Italian, or what google assures me is Italian. Caro/Cara: Dear Buongiorno: Good morning Piccolo: Little one Tesoro: Treasure Nonno: Grandfather Nonna: Grandmother Si: Yes Grazie: Thank you Per Favore: Please Buon Compleanno: Happy Birthday
Kelly had asked Joey to speak to their family about her identity and, once Joey assured her it was fine, she joined the family for dinner.
Calista: Cara, I heard you got in a few fights today
Kelly was so used to being called caro, while cara was used for her sisters, that it took her a moment to realise her ma was addressing her.
Kelly: Si ma
Calista: Can we say the second fight may have had something to do with you being a girl?
Kelly: *sighs* Si ma. The dung brain said only girls needed to know about periods and stuff so I got mad and stomped on her foot
Deanna: I think that’s a sensible response even if you were a boy
Aaron: Deanna! Violence is never the answer
Tumblr media
Joey: You say that like you don’t want us to get arrested
Aaron gave Joey a look that could melt steel.
Joey: Sorry pa, bad joke
Calista: I'll call your school and talk to them about separating kids by gender, in this day and age it's stupid. How about the first fight cara
Kelly: What do you mean
Calista: You were having trouble in English. Do you want us to get some help
Kelly: *sighs* That jerk was saying I had dyslexia but he doesn’t know what goes on in my head
Aaron: Still, it’s better to look into help now so you won’t be hindered at university
Deanna: Pa, she’s only just started high school
Aaron: Never too early to start thinking of the future
Tumblr media
Aaron: But if you don’t want to talk about it tonight we can fit it in tomorrow
Kelly: What do you mean fit it in
Aaron: You don’t think I’m going to waste a day you’re not in school do you?
Kelly: I was kind of hoping to crash on the couch and play some games
Aaron steps up and pulls Kelly into a hug despite her protests.
Aaron: Cara, your ma and I love you. Very much. But a shift like the one you’ve started won’t be a simple one. We want you to get all the help available. I'm taking a vacation day and first stop tomorrow is a doctor who specialises in adolescents
Kelly smiles and tries her best not to tear up in front of her siblings, she has a reputation as an evil sim to maintain.
Tumblr media
Calista: Are you okay Kelly
Kelly: Si ma. I just… wasn’t sure how you’d all take… me
Calista: Oh cara, like your pa said, we love you. We’re your family. We’re always going to be on your side
Kelly: Even if I kill someone
Calista: *laughs* Please try not to kill anyone *whispers* although I have a feeling that your pa would absolutely be your lawyer
Aaron: *laughs* Well don’t just go encouraging her to be a killer
After a hug with Calista Kelly lets out a celebratory cheer.
Tumblr media
Deanna does not wake up feeling well. She gets dressed but can’t be bothered putting her contacts in today, glasses it is. She grabs some leftover cake and goes past Kelly and Aaron, barely taking them in.
Aaron: What’s wrong cara
Deanna: I have a horrible headache and feel like poop
Kelly: You mean you feel as bad on the inside as you look on the outside
Deanna: Probably
Kelly: No retaliation? *sighs* Just admit you don’t want me to have fun today
Deanna: You should be at school gremlin but you got in fights. Excuse me if I’m unimpressed
Kelly and Aaron head off while Deanna contemplates a nap rather than homework. What use are good grades if you’re dead?
Tumblr media
Kelly: Why am I seeing him
Aaron: Harvey said his son had a good time
Kelly: Pa no one has a good time at medical appointments
Aaron: *sighs* maybe not but he said it helped him, how’s that?
Kelly: Guess it’ll do. So long as he doesn’t try to un evil me
Aaron: Tell him about the trouble you’ve had in class
Kelly: Si pa
Aaron: And tell him your family support you being trans because he’ll want to know
Kelly: Si pa. Think you can stop telling me what to do now?
Tumblr media
Dr H: Kelly York?
Kelly: Yeah that’s me, this is my pa Aaron
Dr H: Nice to meet you. I’m Doctor Xander Hanks, the psychiatrist here. Will you be joining us Aaron?
Aaron: Kelly wanted to do this by herself if that’s okay
Dr H: Perfectly fine but I’d like to bring you in at the end to discuss next steps if that’s okay with Kelly
Kelly shrugs and walks herself into the office, choosing the couch that most faces the door. Dr Hanks sits down opposite her.
Dr H: Let me tell you a bit about myself. Following medical school I-
Kelly: Don’t care about you
Dr H: We can skip the pleasantries if you prefer
Tumblr media
Kelly: You talk weird
Dr H: Why don’t you tell me why you’re here today
Kelly: *shrugs and kicks foot* They kicked me out of school for a day
Dr H: They? Why did “they” do that?
Kelly: The principal got batpoop mad because I punched one kid and stomped on the foot of another, but they had it coming
Dr H: Do you often have trouble with your temper Kelly
Kelly: I’m a teen. You're a professional, don't you know we have trouble with everything
Dr H: Anything you’d care to share
Tumblr media
Kelly: Well ma and pa wanted me to come because…
Here she pauses. As hard as it was to tell Joey who loves her, telling a stranger is a harder task.
Dr H: Why don’t you tell me about why you got in the fights
Kelly sighs and tells him about Roger, the kid who teased her about her struggles in English class.
Dr H: Why did that upset you so much
Kelly: I don’t know. I can usually take a joke, I’m the first to make a joke after my friend Fergus. I guess… I was a bit worried he might be right. I survived middle school but now the words are longer and smaller and they can jam together sometimes in my head. But I’m not crazy!
Dr H: I wouldn’t call someone crazy Kelly. It is possible you have an undiagnosed learning disorder. I can send you to my colleague after this visit for an assessment if you’d like
Tumblr media
Kelly shrugs noncommittally and Dr Hanks continues.
Dr H: What about the stomped foot incident
Kelly: I was trying to talk to my best friend Anya about what she learned in health because they separate the class boy girl style. I was curious, I mean I’ve only heard a bit, and this other girl took offense at me learning because I was a boy so she complained loudly then I stomped on her foot. That just made her scream more
Dr H: Was she unaware you’re trans
Kelly: *defensively* How’d you know that
Dr H: Forgive me if I’ve overstepped. Your father used the pronoun her when he ushered you in-
Kelly: I know this outfit doesn’t exactly scream natural girl but…
Dr H: And you said you were a boy when the disagreement happened
Kelly: Oh…. Right, I did… Sorry. I’ve only just come out to my family it’s still... difficult
Tumblr media
Dr H: You have nothing to apologise for. I find the term “natural girl” to be unhelpful when talking about gender. If someone is the gender they were assigned at birth, they are cisgender. If they are not the gender they were assigned at birth, they are transgender. Have you heard that language before
Kelly: Here and there. I mean my friend’s older sibling is… oh shoot he did tell me the term…. Non something…
Dr H: Nonbinary?
Kelly: That’s it! So technically he, I mean they, are trans?
Dr H: *nods* You’ve got it. There are many ways to be female, just as there are many ways to be male, or both, or none. Was this why your parents wanted you to see me?
Kelly: Sort of. I mean I know I’m a girl but *sighs* I don’t know what to do about it. Transitioning just seems so big
Dr H: Maybe talking it out can make it a bit smaller huh
Tumblr media
The two discuss the situation a bit more and when Kelly feels ready Dr Hanks retrieves Aaron from reception.
Dr H: Your daughter certainly knows her own mind. You must be proud
Aaron: I am. She can be a handful but I am
Kelly: Being stubborn has benefits okay pa
Aaron: I know
Dr H: After this I’m going to send you to my colleague who will do a learning assessment on Kelly. She may benefit from additional academic support. We have discussed possible next steps for her identity as well
Aaron: What are they
Kelly: Basically the government is stupid and science hates me
Aaron: I’m sure that’s not true
Dr H: There are scientific debates about at what age we can start on hormones and other physical interventions. At the moment the youngest age for medical transition is 16
Kelly: But he says I don’t have to do that if I don’t want to, any changes I make will be up to me. I say who I am, I'm in charge
Aaron is glad to see Kelly smile at this.
Tumblr media
Dr H: There are many non-medical changes that can be made while she thinks about it. Kelly has already switched pronouns, she may want to change her name or her wardrobe. I’m going to refer her for therapy-
Kelly: He says I might get this thing called body dysmorphic disorder. Or anxiety, or depression or whatever
Dr H: Body dysmorphia can overlap with gender dysphoria so I like to make sure my trans patients have adequate support. I’ve prescribed some antidepressants which I think will be helpful as support during the transition period but I’d like to order some blood tests to make sure we don’t need to do any medical interventions yet
Aaron: What can me and her ma do
Dr H: Keep supporting her. She has expressed some anxiety about her personality traits. I would urge you and the rest of her family to remember her gender identity is not responsible for her personality or vice versa despite being a big part of who she is
Aaron: We can do that
The two get up to leave and Aaron is surprised when Kelly not only thanks the doctor but gives him a hug as well. Maybe her evil trait will be easier to balance with age.
Tumblr media
Results of today’s medical appointments. Kelly has dyslexia and body dysmorphic disorder. Sorry it was a bit long, I didn't want to cut her off mid session.
Previous ... Next
20 notes · View notes
dracowars · 2 years
Note
Can you please do a Draco×reader... After the war when they are going to get married in a month or two and she tells him that she can't conceive as she's infertile and feels terribly bad and want to call off the marriage... But Draco comforts her and tell that their are many options out their for having a kid and she don't need to think about the society... Do only if your comfortable... Thank you ☺️
strongest | draco malfoy
pairing: draco x reader
word count: 1,3k
summary: where y/n tells draco she can’t conceive
a/n: i hope i could make this justice <3
warnings: angst, mentions of infertility, mentions of pregnancy
universe: harry potter
Tumblr media
Turning in all different directions in front of the large mirror framed with silver ornaments, you contemplate your form. Dressed entirely in white, you meet the eyes of a bride whose sadness is almost unbearable. The white veil fastened in the bride’s hair falls to the ground behind her and combines with the long lace train of wedding dress.
Again and again, your gaze and your hands wander to your abdomen, your palms absently stroking your belly while dark memories make their way into your thoughts.
“Y/N will give birth to an heir to the Malfoy family.”
“Y/N is perfectly suited to continue the Malfoy bloodline.”
“She will make us happy with a boy.”
“She will make us all proud.”
Exhaling heavily, a tear runs down your cheek, which you immediately wipe away with your thumb and take a closer look at the woman in the mirror in front of you. She will never make anyone proud, you tell yourself. She just can’t.
The dull knock on the door startles you and you quickly take a last look in the mirror before you get down from the small platform and walk barefoot towards the door. As soon as you open it a crack, you meet your fiancé’s content eyes.
“Draco! You can’t see me like this yet!”, you cry out indignantly and hide your body behind the door so that only your head is sticking out around the corner.
“I am sorry, I didn’t mean to bother you, but we should choose the wedding cake when you are ready”, he says with a smile at the sight of you, his future wife. The affection he has for you is clearly written all over his face and he does not even try to hide it. Not then, not now.
“Give me a moment and I will come downstairs”, you nod in agreement, lean the door ajar and slip out of the expensive wedding dress as carefully as you can, removing the veil from your hair while doing so. Quickly, you throw on your dark dressing gown, which hugs your body just in the right spots.
Before you can leave the room, however, your inner self pulls you back to the large mirror, in which you look at yourself from the top to the bottom again. You do not notice how Draco, who has now opened the door wider while waiting, is watching you.
“You are so beautiful”, he breathes, completely in love as he sneaks up on you, wrapping his arms around your waist from behind so you now both look at each other through the mirror. He rests his chin on your shoulder and his eyes meet yours in your reflection. His hands slowly slide over your body and finally rest on your stomach, which suddenly puts your entire body on high alert.
All of a sudden, you reflexively push Draco, who has just planted kiss after kiss on your bare neck, away from you with unintentionally much force.
“Don’t”, you say so softly you can barely hear it yourself. Concern then spreads across your fiancé’s face after he sees your devastated form and he cautiously takes another step towards you, this time one level down since you are still standing on the pedestal.
“Are you alright, sweetheart? What’s wrong?”, he asks you concerned, his eyes giving you clear indications that he does not understand what is going on and why you are suddenly reacting like this when he has not actually done anything. And that is what hurts you the most. He immediately looks for the fault in himself, what he might have done wrong that he caused such a reaction in you. What he does not know, however, is that you are the one at fault.
“I don’t think I can do this, Draco”, you admit, slumping down at the end of the huge four-poster bed, your face in your hands. Your heart is pounding in your throat and your hands are shaking as fear washed through your veins. You always wanted to hide this vulnerable side of you from him, but you can no longer even control your body and your thoughts when he touches you, let alone looks at you.
“What do you mean by that?”, Draco asks carefully, and you feel the mattress next to you sag a little as he sits down next to you. You do not even have to see him to know the worry is all over his features. In his voice, however, you can hear fear as well as concern. “Please, Y/N. Talk to me or I can’t help you. Is it about.. the wedding?”
His words make you laugh out a little humorlessly, followed closely by a deep sob as you finally look up and search for his hands, which you then clasp with yours on your lap to reassure the both of you. For him to even consider that you would not want to marry him is completely silly considering that there is nothing you would rather do in this world. But he does not know that and everything he sees at this moment gives him the wrong signals. His fiancée seemingly collapsing for no reason because her future husband touched her.
“.. do you not love me anymore?”, Draco speaks up insecurely and you feel him squeeze your hands a little more to reassure himself that you are still here, even though he is absolutely not sure for how long you will be.
“I love you with all my heart and more than anything else in this world”, you reply immediately, and you can clearly see how his stature relaxes a little. A small, sad smile creeps onto your lips before you look away and, freeing yourself from his clenching grip, you smooth the velvet fabric of your dressing gown with one of your hands.
“Then what is it? What is bothering you, darling?”
“I- So- This wedding-“, you stutter out, not sure how to put it, while simultaneously fighting the urge to fall into his arms and cry. You have already lost far too many tears, which is why you look at the ceiling and quickly blink them away as they threaten to fall. With the tip of your ring finger, emblazoned with your brilliant engagement ring, you gently dab the skin under your eyes before taking in a deep breath, mentally preparing yourself for what lies ahead. If you can even prepare for it.
“I can’t wait to be a part of this family and to call you my husband, Draco. It’s just.. I know there are certain expectations of me, but what if I can’t meet them? What if I just.. can't?”, you breathe softly, seeing Draco frown, not really understanding what you are trying to get at. “You are the heir to the Malfoy family and at some point, you will need an heir as well. Your family wants me to give you a child. But I can’t.”
A sense of relief takes over your body after you finally say those terribly heavy words out loud, lifting some of the load off your shoulders after all these years that you hid this secret. In Draco’s eyes you meet sadness and at first wonderment, which is quickly replaced by acceptance and pure adoration.
“I would never end things with you just because you can’t give me a child, Y/N. I don’t love you for that, but for the person you are. My parents might want an heir so they can rest assured that their empire is in good hands, but never in my life would that affect how I feel about you”, Draco replies earnestly, running his thumb over the soft back of your hand. “I love you and if we actually want a child because we want it, then there are other ways we can. We can make it happen.”
“D-Draco.”
“I am incredibly proud of you for telling me, sweetheart. I can’t even imagine how much you must have suffered under this extreme burden”, he smiles at you encouragingly and gently strokes a strand of your hair behind your ear, resting his warm pam on your cheek. “You are the strongest woman I have ever met, and I can’t wait until you are all mine.”
553 notes · View notes
star-girl69 · 2 years
Note
could you write about the reader being for an importan house, like maybe tyrell and she's haleana's lady in waiting and her best friend and is dating/courting aemond
a/n: ok i hope that this doesn’t stray too far from the ask but i made it so that they were already betrothed because i felt like it just worked better but if it’s totally stupid feel free to tell me also i know the king’s landing being really cold part is unrealistic but idc anyways, i hope you all enjoy!!!
also this is most definitely going to have a part two i just didn’t want it to get too long and i just wanted to get something out for you guys sooner rather than later
and i just want to remind everyone- MY REQUESTS ARE OPEN FOR BOTH DAEMON AND AEMOND thank you so much for all of your requests so far!
Rules Are Not Meant For Us
—-
Being a Lady many rules. Sit right, walk right, stand right. Not to mention what you could and could not wear- it was hard to keep everything straight.
But you had been trained from this since birth. When you were born, the farms at Highgarden had had a particularly rough few years. Ever since then, it had been drilled into you that it was your duty to marry into a high-ranking house, save your house.
Your duty was all you had. So you clung to it, knowing that below was only disgrace.
—-
“Lady Helaena, your mother requested you for tea.” Helaena nodded from her seat, and you sighed, sitting next to her. “Helaena, you cannot keep ignoring her.” You grabbed her hand. “Aegon is… he is a horrible man to be married too. But you have to understand that it was what was best for your family. Let your mother explain, at least. You do not have to believe her, but at least pretend.” She sighed, put her hand over your own.
“I know, Y/N. Gods, I know you are right. I just- I do not want too.”
You smiled softly. “We are women, Helaena. You know the only reason I am here to marry, to men, we have no other reason for living besides that. Our battlefield is the childbed, our war council’s are our marriages. I know you will survive this, Helaena. You are the strongest woman I know.” Tears fell down her face.
“No, you are, Y/N. I am eternally grateful for you. I am happy we are to become sisters.” You smiled, thinking of your betrothal to Prince Aemond. You had made your family proud, secured your house’s future.
You smiled, thinking of Prince Aemond.
Oh, you had admired him for years. Since coming to court, since starting your positon as Helaena’s Lady-In-Waiting, you had lusted after him in the privacy of your own mind. The most valuable lesson your septa had taught you was that while men will take a woman’s body, they can never take her mind.
Lusting after him was the only thing you allowed yourself.
When your Lord Father had proposed the marriage, Helaena told you that Aemond’s lips turned upward, almost as if a smile. You humored her, knowing that with Aegon looming over her, this was the most fun she would have. You did not believe that Aemond’s “smile” meant anything more than surprise, but the thought was still nice for the two of you.
“You like him, I know it.” Helaena’s sweet voice brought you out of your thoughts, and you blushed and looked away.
“He is very handsome, Helaena. You cannot deny this.”
“I suppose. But you, my sweet friend, are in love!”
“I am not, Helaena.” She smiled to herself, in a way that told you she knew something you did not know.
“If you say so, Y/N.”
—-
Since becoming Aemond’s betrothed, you had been stripped of your title and duties as Helaena’s Lady-In-Waiting, now becoming a sort of Princess like her. Of course, your official title was still Lady Tyrell, but you found that you had no duties other than preparing for your wedding.
But you found that those weren’t really duties. Cake-tasting with Queen Alicent and Helaena, dress fittings, flower arrangements, and more. Helaena helped you with almost everything, and you were so grateful for her opinion. Although Alicent was a brash woman, you could tell that even she was excited for the wedding, and enjoyed helping in its preparations.
You sighed, thinking back to Aemond.
Your first “date” as betrothed was a disaster. You were sheltered, and did not know how to converse with him. Your walk in the gardens consisted of him staring at you with some look in his eye, and you talking aimlessly about the weather. Disastrous.
Helaena still insisted he was in love with you as well, and you just humored her to be nice. You could not believe that he would love you. Even after lusting after him all those years, imagining you two together, it was only an indulgence to comfort you in your cold bed. Nothing was to ever happen between the two of you.
But it was Prince Aegon’s nineteenth name day, and a grand feast was to be held. The speeches at the beginning you found to be quite boring, filled with fake flattery. Even Aegon stopped them early, instead having the first course brought out early. You were grateful, sending a silent thank-you.
You ignored Aemond beside you, still embarrassed from your first date. You and Helaena spent most of the dinner gossiping, giggling and subtly pointing at Lord’s and Lady’s in the crowd below.
Then, the dancing started. It opened with a dance from Helaena and Aegon, as was customary, and then the floor opened up for guests. The drums beat steadily in the background like your thundering heart, nervous at being left alone next to Aemond without your best friend.
He cleared his throat, and you were sure he could hear your heart beating.
“Lady Y/N, would you like to dance?” He stood up, holding out an hand. You took it, smiling politely through your nerves. Gods, you were probably going to step on his foot. His hand was cold and bony in yours, and you found that you quite liked the way his hand fit with yours. Almost like puzzle pieces, like two halves of something.
He led you to the dance floor, and you cleared your mind. The dance was not all intricate, simply meant for partners to walk around and converse. The steps were easy, and you subtly danced closer to Aegon and Helaena.
She spotted you, smiled in that knowing way. You silently pleaded for help, but she did not save you in your plight.
“I-” You turned, and he was not looking at you. “I’m sorry that I haven’t spent time with you, since that day in the gardens. To be honest with you, I could not bear it. I utterly humiliated myself in your presence.”
You frowned. “You did nothing of the sort, Prince Aemond. I was- Gods, all I did was talk about the weather. I- I do not know how to talk to men, especially you.”
Something like a blush appeared on his cheeks, and he dipped his head when he spoke, almost bashfully.“I liked listening to your voice. It’s- hypnotizing, almost.”
“Oh.” You weren’t sure what to say. No one besides Helaena had really complimented you before, and you liked it, especially from him. You regained some semblance of yourself, straightening your spine. “Thank you, My Prince.”
Perhaps you had revealed your emotions on your face, because when he looked up at you a fire ignited in his eyes.
“Of course, issa jorrāelagon.”
You smiled, High Valyrian. “What does that mean?”
“It’s a term of affection, endearment.”
You looked down, smiling. He was playing you like a fiddle. “I like it, Aemond. Thank you.”
From that day forward, your relationship changed.
—-
It had been a few weeks since Aegon’s nameday, and you found yourself spending more and more time with Aemond. Once you got comfortable with each other, talking came easier.
You too walks with him in the gardens often. You told him about your day, gossip you had learned from Helaena, anything and everything. He would just walk alongside you, arm looped with yours.
He would visit your rooms at night, and you would scold him on how improper it was. Every night, his answer was the same.
Rules are not meant for us, issa jorrāelagon.
He would bring you jewelry and dresses, books of High Valyrian poems he would translate and read to you. He told you of Vhagar, and promised that he would take you to meet her soon.
Sometimes, when he was too tired to translate, he would just read the poems to you, settling on the small couch by the fire. You would lay with your head closest to him, just listening. You did not need to know what the words said to feel the emotion behind it.
You would often remember how he told you your voice was hypnotizing. But when he read those poems to you, you wanted to crawl into his lap and sleep there.
This night, you were faced with the same problem.
You weren’t even paying attention to the poem, only the sound of his voice.
“-Issa jorrāelagon-” You recognized this word.
“When will you tell me what that means?”
“Soon, issa jorrāelagon.” You groaned playfully, throwing a small decorative pillow at him. He laughed, and continued to read.
You shifted onto your stomach, feet in the air as you faced him. He sat like a king, relaxed, legs crossed underneath him. You could not take it any longer. You needed some semblance of touch, of love from him.
“Aemond?” You asked during a pause. He looked up.
“Yes?”
“Can I- I, um…”
“I cannot grant your wish if I do not know it, issa jorrāelagon.”
You supposed it was better to just say it quickly.
“Can I lay my head in your lap?” You screwed your eyes shut, scared of rejection.
You could not lose him before you even had him.
Instead of rejection, a tender hand reached under your chin, pulling your head up to face him, you opened your eyes to be met with his beautiful face sporting an amused smile.
“This is what was causing so much stress, my beloved?” You nodded, still fearful of his laugh. “You need not ask, issa jorrāelagon.” Something lifted form you, and you let a wide smile cross your face.
You crawled forward, shifting onto your back and you settled into his lap, looking up at him.
“I’m not sure this is proper. This must be against some rules.”
“It is. But rules are not meant for us.”
He smiled brighter. “Yes. They are not meant for us.”
“Will you keep going?” You gestured to the book in his hands.
“Of course, issa jorrāelagon.”
You heard the soft shutting of a book, before arms looped under your arms and legs, carrying you bridal-style. He set you in your bed gently, securing the sheets and silks around you. He placed a hand on yours, and you feel him start to move. You gasp, and reach for him.
“What’s wrong?”
“I don’t want you to leave.”
“I’ll be back in the morning, hm?” You should have protested, but you were tired. You nodded, let yourself drift off.
Feather-light, soft lips against your forehead.
—-
You and Aemond had adjusted your routine. You would lay your head in his lap every night, he would read to you, then carry you to your bed. Stay until he thought you were asleep, and press a kiss to your forehead.
But tonight was different. A cold front had blown through the Keep, and the heavy storm clouds outside did not help. The fire was burning brightly and heavy furs were wrapped around you, but you were still shivering.
Highgarden was always warm, and you had never experienced cold like this before. Your eyes started to close, but you still shook. Aemond carried you back to your bed.
“You’re freezing, my beloved. Shivering.”
“Highgarden was never cold. And even in past years, the Keep was never as cold as this.” He frowned.
“Yes, but you’ll freeze like this. I will not lose you before I have you.”
“Lay with me, please.” You we’re almost begging, mind clouded in your cold and need for him.
“Issa jorrāelagon, that is breaking a lot of rules.”
“Please. I’m so cold, make it better, Aemond.” And he could not ignore you.
He kicked off his boots, climbed in next to you. A hesitant arm lifted the blankets, slotting in beside you, wrapping his arm around your waist. He let out a sharp breath.
You sunk into him, and you were like puzzle pieces, like two halves.
You fell asleep with his breath against the back of your neck, and even in the debilitating cold, slept the best you ever had.
—-
283 notes · View notes
cutelittleriot · 3 months
Text
Return to origin band together
It was time for King Gristle and Bridget's wedding and everyone was so excited and happy for the soon to be married couple.
Poppy especially was happy her best friend was getting married and she was going to help her with her wedding dress! She has so many ideas she wants to share!
Right now she has to go get Branch who said he had something to do. She had let him be for the time being but now she has to go find him it's almost time for the wedding!
When Branch was heading out to go help King Gristle he passed by his Grandma's old pod. He looked at it both fondly and sad. He had alot of good memories there with her and his brothers but also some bad ones. Like her getting eaten,his brothers arguing and well leaving him. He hasn't gone back this entire time but now that he feels better mentally he thinks he is finally ready to take that step.
Slowly he makes his want into her old pod. Instantly he is hit with smells....old smells that he could faintly recognize. He could smell sweat which was gross probably from when Spruce was working out,he could smell books he once caught Clay reading in secret and he promised he wouldn't tell anyone and he never did. He could also just barely make out Grandma's old fluffleberry cake smell. Everything else he couldn't put a name too but he knows 2 of them were Floyd's and John Dory's he just couldn't tell who was who.
Looking around everything was exactly how he left it before the great escape. He made sure to at least clean up her pod before he left just becuase he needed something to do when he wasn't working on his bunker plans. Walking around he spots them,brozone merchandise some posters and records mostly, grandma always did support them even if she wished John wasn't so hard on his younger brothers.
Taking a record he looks at it fondly, maybe one song wouldn't hurt right? Contemplating it he puts in the record player that still worked and soon the song played and it felt like he was there again....back to the night it all went wrong. He thinks about his brothers,would they even recognize him? How would they even react to his new body?
He doesn't know how long he was there staring at that album record but the next thing he knows is Poppy is talking to him. "Uhm Branch?" She asks him curiously quickly he sets the album beside the record player while he stops the record player from playing anymore music,he didn't want to hear anymore.
"Oh um hi Poppy" He says trying to smile but it's forced and it very much hurts his face to do so. "Are you alright? It looks like your smiling and crying at the same time it kind of looks like it's hurting your face" She points out. "Yeah it does hurt my face" Deciding that it's no use he stops smiling,no point in smiling she could easily tell something was bothering him.
"I guess I'm just missing my uhm grandma, I was just listening to some of her old records" He says fondly as he puts up the old record. Poppy takes a look at the album and gasps "Brozone! No way I love Brozone!" She says excited her tail wagging like it loves to do.
"Really?" He asks excited with his own tail wagging a bit before he stops it "I mean really
?" He didn't meant to sound excited but finding out that your girlfriend loves the boyband you were part of does one excited even if he would like to put that behind him.
"I didn't know you liked them too" She tells him as she throws him the old record to which he scrambles to catch but thankfully he does. "I don't I'm actually hate listening it's a new thing. My grandma had very questionable tastes just look at how she decorated this place" He gestures around the old pod. "I'm sorry but there's just some stuff that shouldn't be macramed,am I right?" He asks before he goes to put away the record. He really didn't want to look at it anymore and bring up more memories.
Poppy looks at her Boyfriend she could tell something was bothering him,if his tail flicking back and forth was also an indicator along with the way he was talking. "Uhm kind of seems like there's something your not telling me" She says looking athim curious but also a bit worried. She knows Branch often keeps things to himself but they were a couple and couples share stuff. She won't force him but she can try to coax him into telling her later on.
"What? Don't be silly,no" He says with a fake grin trying to wave her off he really didn't want to talk about his brothers at all. "Hey I need you to be real with me" She tells him gently taking his paws into hers. "It seems more than a macrama issue,if your having feelings you can talk about them" She gently coaxes him.
He looks at her and really thinks about it,she has been there for him throughout so much and he has been there for her for so much from becoming friends with the bergens to the world tour to the transformation he knows Poppy will listen. "Ok....your right" He says he wants to say it he keeps trying but nothing would come out. Mentally he sighs maybe he can tell her after the whole wedding thing was over.
Speaking of weddings "Oh hey look at the time we're gonna be late to the royal wedding! Let's go get married " He redirects the conversation and grabs Poppy's Paw and begins to head out. "Wha Branch!?" Poppy exclaims very confused at what Branch said. "Huh oh I meant let's go get Brudget and Gristle married" Branch says trying to correct his mistake although....he wouldn't mind marrying Poppy but nows not the time to be thinking about that.
"Oh yeah becuase it would be weird if we got married" Poppy jokes and Branch agrees with her though the atmosphere was very awkward. The two transformed trolls head out of the old pod and begin to sing.
*Timeskip past the song cause there's no way in hell I'm writing that*
Soon every bergen and troll are there to celebrate. Bridget who is in a wedding dress covered in balloons floats down happy as she can be as King Gristle watches in awe at his beautiful soon to be wife.
Poppy jumps onto Bridget's shoulder as she looks at Bridget's beautiful dress in awe. "Oh my gosh Bridget you look so adorable!" Poppy gushes. "Thank you so much for being my maid of honor Poppy you really have no idea how much this means to me. I couldnt have done this without you" Bridget says with a smile.
"Oh of course Bridget I love you like a sister,probably. I don't have a sister,so I wouldn't know,which is fine. It's something I'm coming to terms with slowly" Poppy says beginning to ramble. "Uh Poppy can we uhm unpack the sister thing after the vows?" Brudget asks interrupting her rambling.
"Ah yeah no of course,you go get em girl! Before I do!" Poppy says grinning before using one of her claws to pop the balloons on the dress releasing a bunch of glitter. "Like a beautiful angel sent from heaven" King Gristle gushes as he looks at his soon to be wife.
Bridget begins to skate her way up the isle as Poppy and Branch watch together happy as they could be with their tails entertwined. Bridget walks up the stairs to King Gristle and he happily takes her hand as they look into eachother eyes lovingly.
"Hey Bridget you still have time to run for it" A bergen tells her to which King Gristle laughs sarcastically. "Haha very funny Aunt Smead. I'm uh so glad you could make it" He tells his aunt.
"Dear beloved we are gathered here today to celebrate the sweet sweet love of Bridget-Hey girl, and Mr.Yummy-Tummy himself, King Gristle. Now falling in love is easy,we've all done it, I've done it a hundred times,thousands even if you could that semester I spent abroad". They trail off when Branch hears something.
He isn't sure what but his ear twitches it sounds like footsteps small ones so it has to be a troll or something around the same size as a troll. Looking around he tries to pinpoint the noise when Poppy notices him looking around. "What is it Branch?" She whispers to him. "I hear something and I'm trying to find out what it is" He whispers back as he continues to search but isn't having any luck.
"Stop the wedding!" A voice yells out much to the surprise of everyone. Branch knows he has heard that voice before he just can't remember where. Everyone gasps and looks around to where the voice is coming from. They look up only to see what appears to be a troll standing on top of a antenna.
"Uh Brudget do you know this guy" Gristle asks confused. "I can't remember all my suitors Grissy" She says to him. The troll then slides down a clothes line and then jumps and hangs onto a balloon strong and then lands and that's when Branch recognizes just who that is.
"Sorry is this bad timing?" The troll asks their skin was a semi muted teal color along with their hair being a darker teal color. They were wearing a pair of goggles a brown vest with fluff at the top and shorts. Their ears were turned just a bit downward almost seemingly stuck that way. Branch gasps at seeing just who decided to show up after 20 years.
'No no why now? Why him?!' Branch mentally screams as his ears lower and his tail tucks showing how nervous and scared he was. 'Please for the love of sugar don't recognize me' He begs to whatever deity there is out there.
"I'm just trying to find a troll named....Woah Baby Branch!" The troll looks at Branch and Gasps and runs up to him with a grin Branch knows all to well. "Uh your making a mistake stranger that looks similar to me there's no Branch here" He says hoping to fool him but he can tell it doesn't work.
"Look at you, you got so big! Your not a Branch anymore your like a trunk ! Junk in the trunk!" He yells smacking Branch on his butt and ow that hurt his tail did not like that.
"I bet I can still pick you up!" He says happily as he picks up Branch even though it was obvious Branch did not like it at all. "Ooh you got heavy" the troll complains as he throws him up in the air. "Ahh there goes my back!" He complains as Branch tries to climb away only to fall on top of the unknown trolls face. "Ahhh Charly horse! Oh God two Charley horses!" He complains as Branch is still trying to get away.
It was taking everything Branch had to not unsheathe his claws right now. Even if Branch didn't want to see him again he still didn't want to claw at his face even on accident. "Hey! Stop right there, you put my boyfriend down and us who you are and what you want!" Poppy says taking charge and unconsciously begins to slightly bare her fangs to the unknown troll as a warning as her tail flicks back and forth.
The troll sets down Branch who backs away in case he gets anymore ideas of picking him up. "Hey your right totally rude of me. Didn't introduce myself, I'm Branchs brother " He explains holding out a hand with a grin .
Everyone gasps at the new information "WHAT?!" Poppy screams in shock as everyone else gasps. "Oooh drama corn me Dinkles" Tiny Diamond says always eager for some good drama as Mr Dinkles shoots out a small bucket of popcorn to which tiny happily munches on.
"Correction, used to be my brother, not anymore" Branch says turning around and crossing his arms his tail flicking in irritation.
"Hey uhm remember earlier when I said you should open up to me and be real?" Poppy asks as she looks at her boyfriend.
"Well..." Branch starts before Poppy cuts him off. "You could've started by telling me you had a secret brother!" She tells him as said brother takes a good look at his baby brother especially at his differently shaped legs and flicking tail.
"Former brother" He says correcting her. "That's not how DNA works!" She says feeling a bit frustrated at how much he wasn't telling her. "Dad did you know about this?" She asks hoping he can answer her. "Oh what would I know about secret family members" He says and Branch catches in that he knows something but isn't going to share. That's something to talk about later.
"Oh my gosh I was being so rude. I've never met anyone from Branch's family before. I'm Poppy Branch's girlfriend, should we hug,fist-bump smile and wave for now and see where the night takes us?" She says so excited to meet someone from her boyfriends family.
"All of the above" He says with a smile and a shrug. "Wait I know you. Your the guy from Brozone! We were just listening to them!" She says so excited to see a member of her favorite boyband in person! "Yeah brozone!" Cooper yells joining Poppy in on her excitement
"Oh wait wait wait wait, don't tell me. OK um well your not the heartthrob" She says trying to go through the various members. "Well that's your opinion" the troll says awkward. "The fun one? No your kind of uptight" She says. "Uptight?" The troll says surprised at being called uptight. "Hmmm not the sensitive one either" She says quickly rubbing it of band members. "Ok alot of assumptions of someone you just met thirty seconds ago" the troll says awkward.
"Oh oh I got your John Dory! " Poppy says finally figuring it who it was. "The leader" John says with a smirk. "The old one!" Poppy calls him to which Branch almost laughs and John just sighs.
"Uhm sorry to interrupt but we lose the venue at eleven so" King Gristle says to the trolls but ends up shushed by Bridget. "Shhhh I'm trying to listen to very hot gossip" She says with a grin she was always a bergen for gossip.
"So wait if your Branch's bro then that means all the other Brozone bros are Branch's bros, too! Branch! How come you never told me?" She asks him both confused and excited. "Becuase it's complicated" Branch simply states not looking at them his tail giving another irritated flick.
"Oh sweetie,it's cause you weren't in the band" She says trying to placitate him by patting his back. Heh wasn't in the band yeah right. "Oh Branch was in the band alright" John Dory says with a grin. "What?! No way! Which one was he?" Poppy asks dying to know which one her boyfriend was. "Bitty B" John answers smiling. "Bitty B?! No that's impossible Bitty B had glasses!" Poppy says unable to comprehend her boyfriend was Bitty B the litteral baby of Brozone. "Oh and a diaper" John adds.
"Aaaaaaand a falsetto made of gold. Not that anyone cared,but that's all in the past. Because they stopped being my brothers the day they walked out on me and never came back!" He says almost growling out the words as his fangs are showing and his ears are pinned back.
"Whoa whoa whoa,that's not fair Branch I did come back really. I was only gone for a month tops. I needed some time to clear my head and I would come back and I did but the thing is that when I came back nobody was there. The tree was destroyed and well I thought you were dead" John explains to him his ears drooping a little.
That surprised Branch his brother actually came back? It was only 2 weeks after their big fight and breakup that grandma got eaten and a week later they had the great escape "It wasn't until I heard about you saving the world from the rock apocalypse that I even realized you were even still alive" Jd tries to explain.
"Oh,that's so sweet he realized I was still alive 20 years too late!" He exclaims. "Hi I'm sorry he gets hangry if he skips breakfast" Poppy says getting between the two and gently pushing Branch away before something bad happens as she could tell that Branch was getting more irritated by the second as it looks like his claws were about to come out any second now.
"I had breakfast it was avocado toast with two poached eggs some cayenne for a little kick and you know what it was delightful!" Branch says taking what she said litterally. She gently pulls him off to the side "Branch what's going on with you?" She asks wonder just why was he acting this way she hasn't seen him this riled up in a while not since he was grey.
"The question we should be asking is what's going on with him!" He say pointing at Jd. "I bet you he's only here becuase he needs something" he says crossing his arms. Why else would he show up after 20 years unless he needed something. "That's not true Branch he's your brother" She tells him hoping to prove him wrong.
"Branch I'm gonna be straight with you. I need something." John dory says proving Branch correct. "And there it is" He says secretly upset about being right. "Come on man I'm trying here" Poppy tells Jd she really was trying to help him here.
"Wait wait wait hold up Branch. It's about Floyd" He tells him. His ears perk up Floyd? What was going on with Floyd? He subconsciously begins to feel around the same vest he has wore for 20 years. "What do you mean?" He asks a bit worried. "He's in danger. I hadn't heard from him since the Band broke up. Until I got a letter from him. Dear John Dory I'm being held against my will by superstars Velvet and Veneer. Come to Mount Rageous at once and bring our brothers,love Floyd" He explains.
"Wait wait so you got a letter one night from Floyd after 20 years of no contact? Doesn't that sound just a bit suspicious?" Branch asks his eyes narrowed. "I know it sounded suspicious but just in case it was real I went to Mount Rageous alone before I went looking for you guys. Besides it not like I knew where any of you were.
"I found where this Velvet and Veneer were performing that night,and there was Floyd. He was trapped in a diamond prison. And you and I both know the only thing that can shatter Diamond" Jd tells him and Branch nods the perfect family harmony. The very thing that caused them all to break up is now the very thing they need to save Floyd.
"So you came here to get the band back together and sing the perfect family harmony" Poppy says to which Jd nods. "Oh yeah so we can attempt to sing something we've only tried once and failed so miserably at that we broke up and never talked to eachother again" Branch exclaims getting annoyed at all of this.
"We are so in!" Poppy exclaims excited with her tail tumping against the ground. "What?! Uhm could you give us a second" Branch tells Jd and he moves Poppy away from hearing distance.
"Okay what are you doing?" He asks because just what was going through his girlfriends mind right now?! "This is your second chance with your brothers Branch" She explains as if it was that simple. "Its not that easy okay?? You don't get it Poppy you don't have any siblings" He says even though he thinks he might be wrong with the way King Peppy was acting.
"That's my point. Branch you are so lucky to have a brother to fight for. I mean,if I had a sister it would be so perfect. We'd be best friends,and we'd teach each other things,and we'd never fight. And we'd always have each others back and we wouldn't even have to talk cause we'd think all the same thoughts, and everyonewould ask us if we were twins and we'd laugh-" "Poppy!" Branch says stopping his girlfriend as she was getting into one of those phases.
"But...if she were ever in trouble I would do everything I could to help her, I would show up" She says smiling hoping Branch understood where she was coming from. "Okay listen if there was a brother that I might do this for-and I'm not saying there is.....it would be Floyd" He says. While he did lobe all of his brothers Floyd was definately his favorite.
"I'm not hearing no!" Poppy exclaims excited. "Yeah that works for me!" Jd exclaims having heard Poppy. "Yeah! Brozone 2.0,Brozone reunion,Brozone here we bro again,Brozone where'd they bro? I don't know we're gonna find them!" Poppy says excitedly coming up with new names and titles.
Then their ears perk up when they hesr rumbling it was loud and they can feel the ground shaking. "Hey looks like our rides here!" John exclaims as the dirt beneath him moves up like something was coming out of it and soon enough a armadillo bus pops out of the ground. "Here she is!" John explains happily as he jumps off the bus.
"Oh that's coming out of the deposit" Gristle winces at the damage. "Meet Rhonda,yall ain't she a beaut?" John asks happy to show his baby brother and his girlfriend Rhonda. Rhonda happily makes a weird roaring noise at them tail wagging. "She's uh really something" Branch says not really knowing how to react.
His instincts are telling him to run away from the big armadillo bus but he is staying right here he isn't going to run. Rhonda happily licks Poppy covering her in glitter. "I think she likes me?" Poppy questions as her instincts were telling her the same thing.
"Yeah she does,or she's marking you as prey,you can never quite tell with Rhonda" Jd laughs as he heads inside. "Uh guys I'd you don't mind I really cannot wait another minute to marry the gorgeous specimen" Gristle says lovingly holding Bridget's hands and giving them a kiss. "I now pronounce you husband and wife" the bergen says and Bridget happily jumps on Gristle and begins to smother him in kisses as the bergens cheer.
The two trolls watch on happy for the now married couple. "Okay all aboard who's going aboard." John says hopping inside Rhonda. "Bye everybody! We're getting the band back together!"
Poppy tells the snack pack along with Prince D and Peppy who bid them farewells.
"Have an awesome honeymoon!" Poppy tells Bridget with a wave. "Thanks Poppy" Bridget says thanking her troll best friend before resuming kissing her husband.
"I love you guys!" She yells out one last thing before they take off inside the armadillo bus.
For anyone curious here are everyone's ages and my timeline for this series
Brozone break up
Branch:3
Floyd:13
Clay:14
Spruce:15
Jd:17
Great escape
Still the same
Timeskip to the movie
Branch:23
Floyd:33
Clay:34
Bruce:35
Jd:37
22 notes · View notes