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nanaminokanojo · 3 years

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BLOOM | Sukuna X You | Part 2/3

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You got up really early despite staying up late and only getting five hours of sleep max, but once you woke up, you knew you wouldn’t be able to get back to bed so you prepared for the day, waiting for Sukuna’s call. You went to the patio which faced the backyard, carried a small blanket and brought your battered copy of Edgar Allan Poe’s prose collection with you.

A few hour later, you heard stirring in the house and it wasn’t long before Satoru found you. He sat on the lounge chair opposite yours and just stared at you through sleepy eyes. He looked all disheveled, eyes bloodshot and yawning several times. He really couldn’t handle his alcohol and when he wakes up after drinking more than he could take, he always ends up befuddled and unable to make sense of his surroundings, not to mention irritable.

When he just sat there without saying anything and staring at you, you snapped your book close. “What is it?”

He snapped out of a seeming trance. “Oh. You have a guest.”

“Huh?”

“Ieiri said it’s Howard.” He yawned again, stretching his arms.

“Sukuna?”

“Yes, him.”

You scrambled off the lounge chair, nearly knocking it to the side with your weight as you half crawled, half-ran towards the door, suddenly remembering your agreement the previous night. You were mentally slapping yourself as you made your way into the hallway, planning to go up to your room to have a change of clothes. You weren’t sure what he wanted to do because he did not exactly specify that bit.

However, your plans did not come into fruition when you passed by the lattice wood and glass partition between the kitchen and the hallway and saw him.

“Y/N!” Ieiri pretty much yelled your name out, calling your attention and making you jump, startled. “Howard’s here.”

Sukuna glanced at her momentarily, probably catching the name she referred to him with.

The protest died in your throat when you saw Sukuna standing by the counter, looking so out of place in such a domestic setting although he was dressed casually in a black tee with a wide collar that exposed his collarbones for the world to see and faded jeans, similar to the one he wore that time he came to your school.

You grimaced at the realization that you were just standing there like an oaf, checking him out. It was evident in the way his smile morphed into a shy one as he bit his lower lip while Ieiri and Suguru grinned evilly at you. Feigning ignorance to their reactions, you entered the kitchen, brows knit together, shooting Ieiri an inquisitorial look after nodding at Sukuna’s direction. It was a dumb way of greeting people, but that was about what you could manage with the way your brain was being fried at the mere sight of him.

“I didn’t know we received guests in the kitchen now,” you commented, noticing the number of grocery bags on the counter. “You did the shopping?”

“I did,” Sukuna answered you. “I told you I was going to do something for you.”

“'You' being the technical term,” you said with a smirk when you realized what he was planning. “So you’re gonna cook for me?”

“Yes.”

You eyed your two friends who were eyeing Sukuna in anticipation. “Just me?”

“Stingy,” Ieiri commented, pouting.

Woman, you thought, eyeing her sternly in case she had plans to say something embarrassing. You spoke before she could say more, approaching Sukuna who was suddenly just looking at you, your eyes in particular. Out of a sudden, he reached out and touched the spot just under your left eye, making you step back at the sudden contact. He was touchy, you knew that, but you weren’t expecting him to be so candid in front of your friends on such a setting.

“Your eyes are swollen. Is something the matter?”

You smiled at him then, shaking your head. “I didn’t sleep enough last night.” You busied yourself by checking the things he bought. “So…” You looked at his pretty hands then at him. “The Spring God can cook?”

He gave you a funny look at the nickname you gave him. “Watch the Kitchen God work!” He chuckled then turned his attention to Ieiri. “I was just asking Ieiri if I could borrow the kitchen.”

“It’s more Suguru’s kitchen than hers,” you sniped at her who was now sitting on the counter, chin on the heel of her palm as she looked at the pair of you as if she was watching a really cheesy romance drama.

“Then it’s settled. I have to cook for them, too.” He ruffled your hair then. “Mind helping me?”

“I’ll leave you kids then,” she said sounding like a mom, leaving the kitchen and blocking Satoru’s progress when he was about to enter, leading him out into the living room much to the latter’s annoyance.

You shook your head, snickering. You really couldn’t wrap yourself around the fact that Sukuna could cook. “Should I get you an apron, chef?” you asked, meaning to taunt him, but then he took out a rolled-out piece of black cloth from a black case he brought along with the groceries and said, “I brought my own.”

Knowing that you can’t say anything else to annoy him about cooking, you started sorting out the things he brought, taking them out of the bags and fixing them in an organized way on the counter while he proceeded to take the foodstuff to the sink. All the while, you were watching him as he cleaned everything, his dexterous hands moving with precision and unmistakable expertise.

After fixing everything and putting away the bags, you stood beside him on the sink. “You do this a lot?”

“Pretty much.”

It was fascinating to watch him work so you didn’t say anything else until he took the case again and produced a professional-looking set of knives with customized handles. “Okay, now I’m scared.” You arched a brow at him. “Why the hell do you have a knife set?”

“I love to cook,” he answered, laughing slightly without taking his eyes from what he was doing.

“I figured, but I thought, you know just cooking at home, following online recipes and stuff like that.”

At that, he laughed. “Those recipes don’t work half the time.”

“Oh, okay,” you said sarcastically, rolling your eyes at his sentiment but then you saw how he was cutting the ingredients on the chopping board like a pro. “I’ll be damned.”

“What?”

“Now I mind assisting you. I refuse.” You felt a bit miffed about his mad skills in the kitchen, and you knew it would be foolish to even question how his dish, or dishes rather, was going to turn out. It got you thinking about every other thing he can possibly do, and you found yourself falling deeper. “I’m shit in the kitchen. You can have Suguru to help you.”

“But I already asked him for help yesterday to plan all this.”

“Did you now?” Your eyes flicked over to the counter that divided the kitchen and the living room and glared at your friend, remembering your conversation with him. He threw you a rueful smile.

Sukuna pouted. “You can’t take it back. Surely, you can chop onions.”

“I guess.” You took out a knife from the rack and grabbed an onion. “How do you like it?”

“Minced.”

“Okay.” You started chopping the thing rather slowly, trying to be precise, but since you were taking too long, your eyes started watering before you could even get it halfway done. “Ah, shit!” you grumbled, putting the knife down rather harshly.

Sukuna laughed, turning you around so you were facing him. “Are you okay?” he asked in between laughter, wiping your tears away with some paper towels. “You were too slow.”

You screwed your eyes shut, still feeling the sting behind your eyelids. “Well, I don’t cook.” When you opened your eyes, you almost stopped breathing when you saw those dark orbs of his directly in front of you.

“Oh no, sweetheart, you’re crying,” he cooed.

“Onion…” You took the paper towel from him and started wiping your eyes yourself, turning away from him when you saw the teasing beam on his face. “Shut up.”

“You’re cute.”

You rolled your eyes at him. “You’re so annoying.”

“I’m cooking for you, and I’m annoying? Let’s see how that opinion changes once you taste this masterpiece.”

You did not say anything about the matter anymore and instead watched him work, handing him this and that and doing as he tells you. Sukuna was kinda scary to work with since he obviously had a fixed process about how things should be done, but at the same time, you found yourself mesmerized by his fluidity as he moved around as if he had been in the kitchen his whole life.

“What are you making anyway?” you asked as you were putting away the things he didn’t need anymore.

He looked over his shoulder as he stirred whatever he was making. “That’s a secret.”

You shrugged, looking into the pot. “Just tell me already.”

He placed his free arm around your waist, pulling you to his side, seemingly oblivious to the three pairs of eyes which looked towards the direction of the kitchen every so often, spying on the two of you. “Patience, sweetheart. You’re gonna spoil the surprise.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” you whined.

He planted a quick kiss on your forehead. “You’ll see.”

By the time Sukuna was done, your dining room looked more like a five-star restaurant than that of one owned by four university students. Well, the table did. You weren’t really familiar with the dishes he prepared since he won’t tell you what they were. You only recognized the lobster thermidor, but all the others were a mystery.

Your friends were thrilled when they saw the table and you were just stunned. You pretty much just watched Sukuna, but he didn’t let you see what he was doing in the dining room, making you promise to sit down in the pantry while he prepared. He went overboard, but you loved it, too.

“I feel like I’m going to pay with all the contents of my bank account after this meal,” Suguru said as he sat down at the edge of the table, making Sukuna laugh.

You sat to his left while the chef sat beside you, explaining the dishes to you and the three other people with you with such technical terms, half of which you didn’t really understand. Suguru did though. Sukuna plated the first dish and offered it to them.

“I hope you would find them to your liking,” he said.

“Y/N’s grandpa would be super impressed if he was here to see this,” Ieiri asked.

You snorted. “Oh my god, Ieri, what are you being such a pain for?” You turned to Sukuna then who looked at you questioningly, but you pretended not to notice. “And you, chill and eat. They can get their own food.” He grinned at you but instead of serving food for himself, he started putting food on your plate. You watched him pointedly. “I can do that myself. Eat!”

“In a bit.” He finished by placing sauce on the lobster then smiled your way before getting food for himself.

“This is phenomenal cooking, man,” Satoru commented delightedly at the first bite, seemingly forgetting about his headache, and Suguru made a sound of approval, eating with gusto. “Will you cook for us every day?”

“Suguru!” you protested.

Sukuna laughed at that. “Maybe not every day.”

You shot him an annoyed look but ate as well. They were right. His cooking was beyond good. “On second thoughts, I don’t mind you cooking for us every day, too. This is totally great!”

“Told you.”

The meal was rather pleasant with your pals engaging Sukuna, obviously taken by him. The deal was sealed where he was concerned. You knew it had nothing to do with the food. They just liked him. He mostly conversed with them while you just pitched in once in a while, too busy eating. Besides, you wanted them to get to know him, too, and you were more than glad that Sukuna was making the effort to be acquainted to them.

After lunch, Suguru and Satoru volunteered to do the dishes, in a very good mood after the magical meal while Ieiri tidied up, leaving you and Sukuna alone. You decided to tour him around the house although there was nothing much to see, leading him into the upstairs hallways. Your house was quite big for only the four of you, but not stately or anything. It was just a normal house with too few inhabitants and too many rooms.

You walked towards the west hall. “Those are all guest rooms and those at the end of the hallway are Satoru and Suguru’s rooms.”

“Where’s yours?” he asked.

You cocked your head towards the east hallway, beckoning him to follow you as you led the way to said room, pointing out the other rooms you passed by, just three of them until you reached the last door. You pushed the door open and gestured for him to enter.

“Huge space,” he commented as he looked appraisingly around, his feet leading him to the large, framed posters of your favorite book-based films and games. “You are a nerd.”

You just watched him, leaning against one of your bookshelves as he ran a finger over your "Harry Potter" movie poster. “Guilty.”

Sukuna then went look at your book collection. “It’s not bad.”

“I’m a literature major. I think it makes sense.”

“Books and more books. How many of these have you actually read?” he asked, taking your volume of "Twelfth Night."

“All of them.”

He eyed you, evidently impressed. “Shakespeare?”

“Yeah. That’s basic in my field.”

“You’re amazing, Y/N.” He reached over and tucked a lock of hair behind your ear. “Beautiful, cultured and smart. I like it.”

You snorted, shaking your head. “Shut up.”

“It’s true.” He returned the book on its place. “So, apart from literature, what else are you interested in?” He glanced at the glass case at the opposite end of the room where your scale-model figures and rows upon rows of console games were. “Well, apart from action figures and video games.”

“Hmm.” You pretended to be brooding over it. “Well, recently, I’ve just been interested in one thing.”

“And what is that?”

“You.”

He chuckled, pulling you towards him, the warmth of his hands burning through the fabric of your shirt, making you all giddy. “Alright, sweetheart. Your brutal frankness is really scaring me.”

“Door’s wide open. You can run.”

“You won’t chase after me?” he asked.

“You’re gonna wanna see me after anyway, so no.”

“Hey, that’s mean!” But then, he seemed to have thought of something. “Why does Ieiri call me ‘Howard’?”

You retreated from him and slumped down one of the beanbags while he sat on your swivel chair, turning it a hundred and eighty degrees repeatedly. “You caught that, huh?” You couldn’t suppress the laughter that bubbled from your throat at his question. “I didn’t know your name the night we met but Satoru told them about you and I kinda just used the name to refer to you. You know, from the book I was reading at Maki’s.”

“The architect.”

“That one.”

“I see. I don’t mind then since you told me you’re in love with the character.” He winked at you. “But yeah, I was wondering if you enjoyed the meal at all. You haven’t said anything.”

“That speaks volumes of how much I enjoyed it.”

“I’m not really good at this whole impressing anybody thing, but I wanted to make the effort for you and your friends.” Sukuna sighed in relief. “I’ve only ever had one girlfriend after all, and I didn’t really do much in the relationship. And I never really went out with other women after that either save for some casual dates.” He smiled sheepishly at you, but he was confused at your reaction.

You just stared at him quizzically and in disbelief. There was no way you will ever believe that he only dated steadily once and didn’t go out that much to paint the town red. It was inconceivable for the obvious fact that he was so beautiful it was inhuman along with that great personality he has. Women will be lining up for him for sure.

“I don’t believe you.”

“It’s true.”

You shook your head, looking dubiously at him. “You’re pulling my leg.”

“Nope.” He shook his head as if to punctuate his statement.

“Everywhere we go, girls look at you and you expect me to believe that crap?” Hell, you wanted to pounce on him more often than not.

His expressions turned smug. “You care enough to notice, I see.”

It was unbelievable but you had to take his word for it. “You don’t sleep around either?”

“No. It just isn’t my thing.”

You just stared at him, your lower lip jutting out, not in disbelief anymore but in wonder. He’s a sensitive soul, you’ve figured that out, but you didn’t know it ran deeper than what you’ve seen so far.

“Don’t look so sad there.”

“I’m not. I really just don’t see it happening.”

“Should I be flattered?” he asked, but before you could answer, he said, “How about you?”

You swallowed hard, suddenly thinking hard about what you’re going to say to him. You didn’t really have a good track record where dating seriously was concerned. It was just not your cup of tea. “I’ve never had an exclusive relationship...” you began, eyeing him cautiously, “…ever.”

“Never?” He seemed to be having difficulty processing that.

You shook your head, your gaze guarded as you tried to gauge his reaction to your revelation. Somehow, you did not expect him to ask about the matter, and when he did, you didn’t really have a clue as to how you would address it. You realized just how different you were from him on that department. He seemed to value the emotions that come with engaging in physical intimacy while you just didn’t care enough for anyone to notice it.

“Now you’re shitting me.”

“I’m telling you the truth.” You frowned. “I think I mentioned this to you in passing the second time we met. I don’t date, at least not steadily.”

Sukuna obviously couldn’t wrap his head around the thought. “So you haven’t had a steady commitment with anyone?”

Again with the negative response. “Uh-uh.”

“Is it a matter of choice or is it a matter incapability, this I-don’t-date thing?”

“Both?” You shrugged, trying to think of a way to explain it to him. “I don’t for the reason that I don’t want to make a steady commitment. I just don’t see myself being invested with such intensity in anyone in a romantic way.”

“And why can’t you?”

“I get sick of people I’m involved with. In that manner, at least.” You chuckled humorlessly. “So…yeah.”

“But you’ve dated, right?”

You nodded. “Openly, yes, but I don’t stay long enough to really get into the whole relationship thing.” Talking about it was excruciating. It wasn’t something you discussed even with your friends. Suguru thought of it as you playing the field, but really, you had issues with the prospect of staying in an established bond with one person for a long period of time. You didn’t really know what to do with the information although you understood the mechanics.

He frowned then, looking deeply troubled. “So, you don’t date?”

“I did not date.” You made sure to emphasize on the past tense, knowing well what he would be assuming. “'Did not' being the operative term.”

“And now?” he asked, standing up when you did, too.

You stepped towards him. “What do you want it to be? It doesn’t just depend on me.”

“That doesn’t answer my question,” he said patiently, coming to meet you halfway and cupping your face as he tilted his head down to look at you squarely in the eyes. “But I do want you for the long run.”

“For now, it’s just that you’re slowly changing my views about it,” you returned. “But I like you, Sukuna. And I care about you. A hell lot. Does that answer your question?”

He nodded.

You reached up, touching his face, running your finger over his jawline. “Can we work with that?”

He pressed his lips onto your forehead, wrapping his arms around you. “Count on it.”

***

"How do I look?" you asked as you walked into the living room in the black, long-sleeved, backless, lace mini cocktail dress that Ieiri chose for you, your pencil heels of the same color clacking on the tiled flooring. You found your three friends lined up on the couch like expectant parents who were sending off their daughter to her first dance, making you laugh.

"Stunning!" Satoru complimented without hesitation, jumping up the couch to make his way to you. "Our daughter's grown up, Suguru."

"Last time I checked, I'm the only one who was raising her," the other male replied.

"You did a good job."

"I did a good job," Ieiri chimed in.

You shook your head, checking the contents of your clutch. It was hopeless trying to get a proper answer from them, but you needed their output since you were new to the whole dressing-up for dinner thing because you never really allowed anyone to wine-and-dine you; never wasted time and resources on anybody you knew you weren’t exactly interested in for the long run. Still, you were more than happy to say yes to Sukuna when he said he'll be taking you to dinner after your exams.

He's been hanging around you almost every day since he cooked lunch at your place, making good on his words to you where the status of your relationship was involved. He would either come see you in the morning before he went to work or meet you at night for a quick drink at Maki's pub. At times, he'd be dropping by at your school during his breaks. And on the previous weekend, he came over, satisfying himself by sitting quietly on the couch with you leaning against his chest while you studied, even going through lengths of helping you out. At some point, you gave up cause he was distracting you, telling you about his plans while playing with your hair.

"You're gonna cook for me," you assumed.

"No. I'm taking you to that fancy restaurant in town."

You agreed without protests even when he refused after you suggested to split the bill knowing how expensive the place could be. You didn’t want him to think you were mooching off him just because he was older and you’re a broke university student. He seemed excited about the whole thing, so you didn't argue further.

Just then, you heard the sound of a car stopping in front of the house, and you made your way to the door despite Ieiri's tirade about you supposedly making the man walk to your door and ringing the bell, probably make him wait, too. Knowing Sukuna, he'll do just that but you didn't want them to pull their antics while that cliché scene by the doorstep unfolded. But she beat you to it, running a lot faster than you to open the door when you were halfway through the short hallway. Just as you were afraid of, Satoru and Suguru were also standing at the other end of the hallway.

"Guys!" you growled.

"We just wanna see you off," Suguru whined just as Ieiri said, "Hi, Howard."

"Hi," Sukuna returned the greeting, even waving at the boys behind you, looking debonair in a smart-casual charcoal grey ensemble over black, collarless button-downs.

Your annoyance died down at the sight of him and you felt yourself melting when your eyes finally met and he beamed brightly as he took in your appearance, looking like he was seeing color for the first time.

"Ready?" he asked and you nodded, stepping around Ieiri. "We're going" you told your friends, shooting them all warning looks before breaking into a nervous smile anyway as Sukuna led you away.

He opened the door to the passenger side of his... "Where's your Jeep?" you asked him, noticing the matte black sports car for the first time.

"At home," he told you. "I thought I'd switch it up for the occasion."

You shook your head as you climbed in, not really expecting him to go to that extent. You appreciated it but you weren't really high maintenance nor did you want the finer things. "So you just happened to have a Porsche 911 lying around?" you asked him when he finally made it to the driver's seat.

He nodded innocently. "I got it on a whim last year, but I decided it's too flashy so I had it stored at an exclusive garage and only took it out whenever I felt like it. I think this is a good time to take it for a spin."

"You didn't have to."

"I wanted to." He reached out to caress your cheek. "You're a vision, by the way."

You felt heat suffuse your cheeks at his gentle touch, but you held his hand in place as you faced him. "I could say the same for you."

"I always wear suits though," he said.

"Well, you're much too impatient with your blazers and you get rid of them when we meet," you began, "And you don't wear those for me."

He flashed you a cheeky grin. "Oh, so you want your men to dress for you?"

"Man, Sukuna. Singular."

It was his turn to blush. "I'm the only one, huh?"

You tilted your head to the side, smirking. "You wanna add someone else into the mix? I didn’t know you were into that."

He was flustered. "No?"

"If you have an exact replica, I wouldn't mind."

Sukuna burst out laughing. "You're crazy."

"It's your fault for hijacking my brain all the time."

Dinner had been great with the both of you pretty much making fun of the numerous silverware before you and making up stories of the haughty guests who came into the same fancy restaurant, some of whom were looking towards your direction.

"That one's a trophy wife," you told him, furtively glancing at the couple that entered. "She's all iced up but look at how her husband is interacting with the waitress."

"You can tell just by that?" he asked.

"I'm guessing they're regulars here and the waitress is one of those he is having an extramarital affair with just judging by the way she looked at him and how she's being all cozy with him." You chuckled. "Ah, now Mrs. X is unhappy. Pretty and bejeweled but very unhappy."

"What about that man there?" He mimicked the way you looked at the couple earlier, this time referring to that one by the glass walls at the corner.

"Oh that one? He's that demanding type who only wants to sit on his usual spot. He's hypochondriac. He's been wiping all the silverware."

Sukuna was obviously amused. "You observe people like this all the time?"

"I aspire to be a novelist if not a literature professor. I watch people to come up with stories, so it doesn't always mean what I'm saying about them is true. I just make it up as I go." You laughed. "But Suguru is a better writer than I am."

"Is he now?"

You nodded, eyes scanning the area. "That old lady is a rich widow who is keeping tradition alive."

He followed your line of vision. "Because she's wearing traditional garb?"

You shook your head. "Because she is alone with that sorrowful look on her face, and she has an extra serving of a meal across her which had been untouched since she ordered in. She's on a date with her dead husband. The empty seat is for him. It's their anniversary." You cocked your head towards the empty chair. "She placed that blazer on the backrest which is obviously not hers, and she just opened a wrapped-up present and made a show of presenting it to whoever should be seated there. Looked like men’s watch to me."

That same old woman stood by your table later in the evening to say, "You are a lovely couple. Cherish each other." And she also paid for a bottle of expensive wine which Sukuna asked to be wrapped for the two of you to take home.

"Looks like you're right about that one," he said as he drove you back to his place.

You nodded, smiling to yourself. "She was right, too," you murmured.

He blinked then looked at you. "Did you say something?"

"Nope."

If you were impressed with the Porsche, his place was even more amazing. The whole place was in scales of black, white and gray but nothing was monotonous about the space. He toured you around the house and it looked uninhabited if it weren't for the signs of life around. But what caught your eye was the shelf full of music, all in vinyl with his gramophone plugged in to a modern sound system. He liked old stuff, his collection ranging from 1903s music to more modern ones here and there.

His living room was strategically placed by the glass walls, providing a view of the cityscape where you found yourself standing, in awe of the sights before you. Just then, the familiar bars of Ben E. King's "Stand by Me" started playing in the background.

You were about to whirl around, but you felt him behind you, wrapping his arm around you as he made you face him. He extended a hand towards you then. You took it without hesitation although you didn't know what he was up to, surprised when he placed your arms on his shoulder while he held onto your waist.

"Dance with me," he said in a low tone as he pulled you closer.

You giggled at that, letting him slowly sway you to the beat while you just looked up at him, drowning in his eyes, his warmth and everything that was him. "I love this song."

He arched a brow at you. "You know Ben E. King?"

"I grew up listening to old music," you told him, nodding as you smiled fondly. "The perks of being a grandpa's girl. You get exposed to great music."

"The movie is my favorite, too."

Your eyes widened. "Really?"

He threw his head back in mock annoyance. "Let me guess. It's your favorite, too?"

"Yes!" you squealed excitedly.

Sukuna clucked his tongue. "You make it hard for me to resist you when you have great music and movie tastes, too."

You looked away, swearing you were beet red now. You playfully smacked him on the chest. "Don't say things like that with a straight face."

His laughter reverberated on his chest when you leaned your forehead against it, hiding your face from him. "Now, you're getting all shy around me?" he teased.

"Shut up," you mumbled, pouting at him but having a hard time as you fought the smile that played at the corners of your mouth.

"Seriously though, Y/N, you don't run out of surprises for me." He leaned his forehead against yours. "Every time, you put something new on the list of things I like about you."

"You have a list?"

He nodded. "It's getting hard to keep up with how long it has become."

"Where does it begin?" you asked out of curiosity.

He raised a hand, his finger tracing the point between your eyebrows. "Your brows furrow just around here when you're concentrating. Just like that time I met you at Maki's."

"Yeah?"

He nodded. "It's impressive how you're caught in a world of your own even in such a busy, crowded place."

"I’m just good at ignoring people. But stopped reading the moment you sat beside me." You snickered. "You make it hard to focus, it's an insult to the author when her characters are all beyond just interesting."

"How was I even distracting you? You weren’t even looking at me."

"That's what you thought." You shrugged, feigning nonchalance. "It's your hair at first, but then you also smelled too good to be true. That did it for me. And before I knew it, every word on the page I was reading became Cyrillic or something."

You didn't even realize that you've both come to a standstill, chuckling as you met his gaze again, only to feel his hand sliding behind your head, his fingers tangling with your hair as he dipped down and seized your lips, tilting his head slightly. It was a gentle kiss, his skilled lips light on yours, introducing his rhythm and flavor of mint mixed with the faint flavor of the wine you've both been drinking as you moved in sync with him.

It drove you crazy how his scent and taste filled every crevice of your being, desensitizing you while also pushing your senses on overdrive at the same time. The feel of his large hands as they secured you to him while his mouth did all the magic made your blood grow hot, the rush you felt inside consuming you. You visibly wobbled when he let go of you, making him look at you in amusement.

"Stay the night?" he asked, breaking into a grin. "I have a copy of our favorite movie. We can finish the wine that kind old lady gave us, and I'll make you pizza."

"You had me at our favorite movie," you said, still a bit dazed and drunk from the taste of him. "I'll stay."

Sukuna stood at the foot of his bed as he neatly placed everything you might need on it, running out of his unit to get stuff for you at the nearby convenience store. He glanced over at the door of the adjoining shower, smiling when he heard you humming. Well, he couldn't stop smiling all night seeing how beautiful you were in that black dress. He marveled at how you managed to be even more gorgeous when you were already driving him insane even when you wore sweats to school.

He found beauty in every little thing you did, feeling himself being overwhelmed with amazement even when you were just sitting there reading to how you spoke eloquently about things you were passionate about, the way you told the stories you made up despite how they leaned towards sad things. He found it attractive how you lacked complications and always gave him your honest opinions, how you tell him what was going on inside your mind without bars held.

He loved how kind and loving you are to your friends. It wasn't outward affection but he did notice the small things you did. How one word – "breathe" – would calm Satoru down, how one reassuring squeeze of the hand would pacify Ieiri and how a single look would convey your thoughts to Suguru. He would be jealous of it given any other circumstances, but you did so much more for him by just smiling and cheering him up when you sensed how tired he was from work which was often.

You were sensitive like that, appeared stronger and more resilient than you looked, but he and your friends couldn't help it but dote on you. It was kinda funny how they all referred to you as their daughter at first but when he found out they were doing that because they're the only family you had, he understood why. He understood why you tended to look at things the way you did. It only strengthened his urge to take care of you and protect you at all costs.

“Don’t give me that look,” you’ve told him then when he found out your grandfather, your only guardian and family, passed away three years ago, and you’ve only been living on the small fortune he bequeathed to you upon his death. Your parents were long dead, too, and you were basically alone in life.

He found it amazing that you could talk about the matter without being uncomfortable when he couldn’t even imagine how his life would be if he lost his mother at his age. He understood your independent nature, how you would give him funny looks whenever he volunteered to do something for you and why you were always so insistent on splitting the bill when you went out.

Still, when you said you didn't date steadily, it got him worried. Apart from the possibility that you might not stay with him for as long as he imagined – which made him afraid to breathe at times – he thought you might have issues from being alone too much; that maybe, the reason why you didn’t want to commit was because you didn’t want to open up only to be left alone again when things don’t work out. The way you spoke about the old woman at the restaurant and the way sadness crossed your features as you told him the story you’ve just made up sort of solidified his notions.

That’s exactly the reason why he was happy you weren’t pushing him away or refusing to stay with him. When you said you’ll stay the night, although he found joy in all the times you’ve been around him, he still felt unbelievably happy. Perhaps you were giving him a chance, giving whatever it is that’s between you the opportunity to blossom and just going with wherever and whatever it brings you. He liked that thought.

You came out of his room just as he was taking out the pizza he made, dressed in that oversized, white shirt he brought out for you, the collar askew on your shoulders. You walked into the kitchen running a towel on your hair, leaning on the counter. He almost dropped the pizza when he saw that you’ve forgone the sweats he’d given you, your legs bare from halfway down your thighs.

“I gave you pants, you know.”

You laughed at his words. “They’re too big for me. I returned them in your closet.”

He rolled his eyes playfully. “Go wait in the living room. I’ll be finished here in a bit.”

You did as you were told, much to his relief but still went to the extent of getting you a blanket in case you wanted to cover up, not that he minded looking at your legs. Nevertheless, he preferred not to with all the thoughts running amok in his head. He wanted to take things slow with you even if you were proving to be his kryptonite. You thanked him for it, happily munching on the pizza he made as the movie started.

“I can’t believe that woman gave us this expensive wine,” you said as you took a sip from your glass.

“I can’t believe we’re having pizza with it,” he said as he sat at the other end of the couch. The two of you laughed at that, but then he stopped when you did, noticing how you were looking at him with a confused look on your face. “What is it?”

“Why are sitting so far away from me?” you demanded, but instead of him moving towards you, you crawled on the sofa closer to him.

Sukuna reveled in how naturally you took his arm and placed it on your shoulder, leaning against him before adjusting your position and covering the two of you with the blanket. He was glad your guard was down where he was concerned, the fact that you smelled like his shampoo and were wearing his clothes making him all warm and fuzzy inside. He pulled you closer to him, eyes trained on his massive flat screen.

“Sukuna…” you said a few moments later.

“Yes, sweetheart?”

“You’re too stiff.” You looked up at him, snickering. “I won’t steal your virtue if that’s what you’re scared of.”

He just laughed but it was taking everything he had in him not to do anything when you were tempting him in the most sinful ways, but he forgot all about that when your head lolled against his chest and found you sound asleep. You looked so serene that instead of taking you to bed, he sat there, cradling your form until the movie finished, his fingers playing with your hair.

Sukuna looked down at you, feeling like his chest was about to explode as he breathed in, realizing the depth of how much he felt for you, and although you couldn’t hear it, he said, “I’m in love with you, Y/N.”

***

The crisp morning air blew past the open balcony doors, into the bedroom, rustling the white sheets on his bed that momentarily served as the sanctuary of a tangle of limbs and blankets, cradled by the softness of the mattress and feather-filled pillows. Even breaths rose and fell in sync, filling the wide room. Languid fingers twined with the silkiness of long locks of hair and smooth, bare skin. The bed creaks and Sukuna’s eyes open to the brightness of daylight.

He took in his surroundings, and the first thing he noticed was the pressure on his leg, his left arm just by his shoulder and his chest along with the warmth that was coming from his side. His eyes wandered down to his body to the sheets barely reaching his waist, until finally he found the source of it all.

On his left side was none other than you, pressed to his side with no quantifiable distance separating your bodies but the measly fabric of the shirt you wore. Your hair fell on the pillows and his shoulder which was cushioning your head, your leg crooked across his thighs while your hand lay on his chest in a stagnant caress that suddenly made his whole body burn from the inside. Peering down, he noticed how your brows knit together in an unconscious frown while your thick lashes cast shadows below your closed eyes. Your long, lean legs were exposed to him up to your milky thighs as his shirt which you were wearing rode up, and he could only pray that you won’t move that limb any further or else…

Cursing at himself, he diverted his gaze and realized how his left hand had been running up and down your back. The feel of your warmth against the pads of his fingers sent him to the edge while your scent intoxicated him until he felt sweat beading on his forehead. He knew he was being shallow, but he couldn’t help it either. He was still human. Still, a smile made its way across his mouth. He was only able to think of the moment and how he wished to wake up to it every single morning of his existence. He decided to stay still and hold onto it while it lasted.

“Why are you so pretty?” he whispered, then pulled you closer while he closed his eyes, meaning to go back to sleep, but it wasn’t long before he felt you stir against him, your leg moving upwards. In the process, said limb swept higher, touching that particular spot between his legs. The weight of your leg didn’t help with the carnal thoughts that were already running amok in his mind.

You suddenly moved, groaning as you shifted, the drawn-out sound doing things to him.

Sukuna’s eyes remained shut, fearing what might come next after you discover the compromising position you were in, but it didn’t come. Instead, you just very slightly distanced yourself from him, remaining within reach, but he was startled when he suddenly felt cold fingers brush across the skin just below his lower lip.

“If I were an artists, I would have painted you,” you said quietly while your fingers travelled lower. “Just look at that jaw line.”

Sukuna felt himself shiver when your other hand began working its way from his collarbones, going all the way down to where his chiseled stomach was. The titillating sensation filled his brain and before he knew it, his eyes were half open while his hand had already grabbed you by the wrist. His other arm worked to topple you over, back to the comfort of the pillows, while he rolled on top of you, staying still while completely rendering you motionless by pinning your arm down.

The reverberation of your chest against his whilst you chuckled albeit his weight sent him to the edge, almost falling off, but he held still and stopped himself from doing anything.

“Ryomen Sukuna,” you whispered, tapping his back slightly.

He wondered whether you liked being there with him, too, or what. “L/N Y/N…What’s with the formality?” What, indeed? The two of you were in a very intimate position and yet he addressed you that way, sounding agonized even to himself. “Don’t do that.”

You scoffed good-naturedly. “Am I giving you strange feelings?” you questioned, ridiculing him early in the morning. “I knew you were pretending to be asleep. Men just can’t say no to a woman’s touch, huh?”

He supported his weight with his arm and drew himself up, the rest of his weight pushing down lower against you. He smirked then. “So you were also awake.”

“Yeah.”

“And you let me hold you anyway?” he murmured, his face almost closing in on yours.

You ignored the tone in which he spoke and its implications. “I was just too lazy to move. Besides, I thought you were a pillow. You’re so warm.”

“That sounds fishy, Y/N.”

“And what’s fishy about that?”

He broke into that crooked grin, feeling his evil streak resurfacing. “Hmm. The fact that you’re liking this as much as I am.”

You removed your hand from his grip and lightly slid it down his inked rib, going lower as you traced the patterns of his tattoo, your eyes remaining on him, a sultry smile swathed across your lips.

A moan nearly escaped his parted mouth, but he wasn’t able to hold back the sudden closing of his eyes and slight parting of his mouth as your hand reached halfway down. “S-stop…”

Your hand stopped where his pelvis was, but your fingers continued to draw circles on his skin. “Are you sure you want me to stop?”

Sukuna panted and nodded at you feeling his hot blood rushing southward.

“Yeah?” You laughed softly, your eyes widening a bit in amusement while your leg kicked faintly underneath him, feeling something stiffen against your thigh. “Something else tells me you don’t,” you purred into his ear.

Sukuna bit his lower lip, peeking at you through half-lidded eyes. He knew you felt that and he was getting embarrassed with every second he stayed there. He knew your effect on him and you were more than just aware of it. You were even going to the extent of toying with him, making him feel like a goddamn teenager with raging hormones.

“You’re baiting me,” he played along, brushing your hair off of your neck and twirling the strands with his finger.

You smirked. “Am I?” you said slowly, hand sliding on the garter of his sweats. You withdrew your hand and rolled the two of you over despite his weight, turning tables on him. You touched the tip of his nose, taking in the disappointed look on his face all to your amusement before getting off.

“You’re funny, Sukuna.”

Your leg wasn’t even halfway off of him from where you were sitting astride his torso when Sukuna decided he was going to take his chances with making you succumb to him somehow and he finalized that by stopping you. Grabbing your waist, he rolled you over once more and without second thoughts, dipped his mouth against your, just pecking you on the mouth at first to see what you would do.

Too stunned to react, you were only able to stare at him, but Sukuna didn’t just stop there. He pressed his mouth against your sensuous lips in numerous fleeting touches until he felt you respond to it in the same gentle manner. Those small gestures, along with the closing of your eyes, ignited the fire that had been coursing through him until he thought he would explode if he didn’t comfort himself with the feel of you against him.

Unable to hold back anymore, he crashed your lips together in an urgent, scorching and passionate kiss, nibbling on your lower lip. You responded in kind, possessively holding onto his taut shoulders as he lifted you both in a sitting position so you were kneeling astride his lap. Sukuna pushed his fingers into your hair, holding you against him while his mouth moved downwards to your neck, seductively biting on your collarbone, marking his trail of fire up the columns of your throat before returning to your mouth.

Opposite to his aim to escalate the heat and passion, you placed both of your hands on either side of his head, cupping his cheeks with gentle hands and pulled away slightly, still with your foreheads against each other, hands intact on his shoulders and your waist, both panting for air.

You flashed him an apologetic smile, swallowing hard as you pulled back and sat down on the bed, looking down at your hands which you were wringing. Silence fell over the room and when you came to your senses again, you met his gaze.

His eyes rounded at the realization of what he just did. “I’m sorry, I don’t what came over me.”

“It’s fine. Don’t apologize.” You shook your head. “Sukuna, I…I shouldn’t have…”

He smiled at you then and pulled you close, giving you a soft peck on the forehead, eventually taking you into his arms, soothing your back as he embraced you. “That’s not it, sweetheart. I can’t keep my hands to myself even when you’re not doing anything.”

“I’m sorry…”

He looked at you at arm’s length. “Don’t be.” You diverted your gaze, but Sukuna lifted your head with a finger, making you look at him, holding you in his gaze “I’m willing to take it slow if that’s what makes you comfortable.”

“Look, I just want to be sure about how I feel. I don’t want to be doing this half-baked because I don’t want to hurt you –”

He placed a finger against your lips, still raw from his kisses. He didn’t want to hear what you had to say just yet but he smiled slowly at you. “I’m willing to give you time, and for now, I just want us to stay like this. Is that okay?”

You nodded, swallowing hard.

You found yourselves lying in bed until the sun was high in the sky and it was just too warm to stay there. Endless talks led to teasing which eventually led to laughter. He was glad that you were back to your carefree self again, even happier that you were considering his feelings.

“Should we get something to eat?” you suggested to him.

“Are you hungry?” Sukuna asked.

“Yeah. Aren’t you?”

Sukuna chuckled. “Starving.” He stood up first and pulled you with him, leading you out of the room with a happy grin on his face. “Let’s make breakfast together?”

“Sure…” You beamed at him. “I’d like that.”

-end of part 2-

Additional notes are available in the masterlist, particularly on the reasons why I wrote some things the way I did.

Thank you so much for reading. Likes, comments and reblogs are deeply appreciated! Hope you enjoyed it.

PHOTO/IMAGE/GIF/FANART SOURCES FULLY CREDITED TO THE RESPECTIVE OWNERS.

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another-rogue-trevelyan · 4 years

Text

An Inquisition Bachelorette Party Because I’m Still Mad We Didn’t Get One in Trespasser So I Made it Myself

Cullen/Trevelyan

“Relax, Josie, everything is wonderful.”

The ladies of the Inquisition were gathered in an extravagant little venue in Val Royeaux. Josie had spared no expense, and Vivienne and Leliana had egged her on in her planning. They had been supplied the finest wine, delicious food, and all the tiny cakes Evelyn could ever wish for. A minstrel supplied entertainment, and the whole affair was altogether luxurious. Evelyn’s specific request for a private affair was the only reason this hadn’t developed into an Aunt Lucille scale party. Being spoiled by finery for an evening, however, she could allow. It was Orlais, after all.

“I’m glad you think so. It’s just such a rush! Are you sure want to marry so soon? It’s wonderful, but Cullen only just proposed two days ago. It’s one thing to put together a bachelorette party, but planning a wedding so quickly, in between planning for the Exalted Council, is just not much time. We could give you the greatest wedding Thedas has ever seen, with more preparation.”

“I’m sure. My life has been far too public for the last three years. It’s a welcome relief to have something for ourselves. Besides, all that really matters is that Cullen and I are getting married. I don’t need a fancy dress or venue, as long as I get to marry him.” When Evelyn glanced over, she saw Cassandra was smiling dreamily at her. “Val Royeaux is lovely, though. We thought we may as well do it while we’re here. We would have eloped yesterday had Josie not stopped us.”

“And rightly so, darling,” said Vivienne, refilling her wine. “You’re the Inquisitor, and a Trevelyan. If you insist on a small, private affair, the least we can do is find you a proper gown and some basic necessities.”

Evelyn knew that whatever Vivienne’s definition of ‘basic necessities’ was, that it was much more extravagant than hers. Evelyn had been ready to elope in her Inquisition uniform, before Josephine had put a stop to it. Though it was still only a few days to plan, Evelyn had to admit she was thankful. Every stolen minute of personal time in the last two years had been rushed. It was nice to plan something for herself, even if it was still only a few days.

“Thank you. All of you. It’s nice to have something for myself for once.”

“You deserve it!” Leliana assured. Though she was Divine now, she had managed to slip away to join them for an evening. Secretly, Evelyn knew she was pleased to be back in regular clothing.

“Here,” Leliana said mischeviously, handing her a colorful box, with a large bow on top. “I got you something.”

“Not shoes?” Evelyn inspected the box. It was much too flat to hold Leliana’s usual gift of choice.

“Not this time,” the Divine smirked.

Evelyn untied the bow and unwrapped the gift. When she removed the lid, she laughed gleefully.

“Leliana!”

“Just don’t tell anyone it’s from me. It’s hardly an appropriate gift for the Divine to give.”

“It’s hardly appropriate for anyone to give! Are you trying to kill our Commander?” Leliana giggled in response.

The box contained a set of white lace lingerie that was sure to be the end of Ser Cullen Rutherford. Leliana had even been so kind as to include the matching stockings. She held it up so the others could see, all laughing as Evelyn blushed. The Inquisitor was not one to get embarrassed so easily, the color rising in her cheeks more from the laughter and the wine than from the implication of the gift.

“I thought you could use it for your wedding night,” Leliana grinned.

“And now I’ve seen everything. Lingerie from the Divine to the Herald of Andraste. Absolute heresy!” Cassandra laughed. From her reading tastes, Evelyn suspected, this was likely tame for her.

“Well, if Ferelden doesn’t ruin us, this will,” Josephine jested, opening another bottle of wine. It seemed she had relaxed a bit.

“Better warn all the desks in Orlais. None of them are safe.”

“Sera!”

“Well it’s true, innit?”

“Have you been scandalizing desks, Evelyn?” Vivienne asked playfully.

“I have scandalized precisely one desk, and since it was in Skyhold I feel I was entitled to it.” The ladies howled with laughter. The alcohol had gotten to them, heightening the hilarity. “Oh shut it, as if you all have been chaste for the last three years.”

“No desks were harmed by me,” Sera said. “Well, not that way, anyway.”

“You’re all terrible.”

“It’s alright, Ev, you know we love you,” Leliana said, wrapping herself around Evelyn in a clumsy hug and planting a kiss on her cheek.

“More wine?” Josie asked.

“Please,” Evelyn answered.

***

Cullen heard her enter their temporary quarters in the early hours of the morning. He turned in the bed, observing his soon to be wife as she stumbled in the door. She tripped on her way to him, and giggled as she barely recovered her balance.

“I see you had fun.”

“You know, my fiancé will not like it when he finds you here,” she teased.

“Then you’d better not let him find me,” he chuckled.

Evelyn was thoroughly drunk, perhaps more so than he had ever seen her. Though he was sure she wouldn’t be in such a good mood in a few hours, he was glad she had been able to have fun for a night. The last three years had been constant work and responsibility, and she deserved a night of fun.

Then he noticed the blood.

He looked her over thoroughly, Evelyn making quite a few lewd jokes at him as he ran his hands over her, checking for wounds. It seemed she was unharmed.

“Love, where did all this blood come from?”

“Blood?” Evelyn looked at herself, confused. “Oh, it is blood. I thought it was jam. Sera threw cake at me. You know the little Orlesian cakes? With the icing. They make them look like flowers! How do you think they do that?”

“I don’t know how they do it. But what about the blood?”

“Oh that!” Evelyn laughed, crawling onto his lap until she straddled him. Cullen was both worried and amused by the situation.

“Well, we ran out of wine.”

“I can see that.”

“So we left to get more.”

“A most wise decision.”

“I know! But we found something else instead. I can’t remember what it was. I think Bull said he liked it, though, so we wanted to try it.”

“And then?”

“You’re handsome.” Evelyn ran her hand through his hair. Cullen took the offending hand and kissed it.

“What happened next, love?”

“We...Sera brought the cakes. And...shit. Wait, yeah! We got lost. Cassandra started dropping the cakes behind us. Said she was making a trail. I told her that was a bloody waste of cake. But then Sera started throwing it. She even hit Vivienne! Oh, she was so mad! So then we all started throwing cake at each other. And we kept running, but then we got more lost. Ended up in some weird alley. Then these men came up to us, and I told them they couldn’t have any cake. The big one said he could just lick it off us, since we were covered in it already.”

Cullen’s jaw clenched. If the bastards weren’t dead already, they would be tomorrow.

“So I told ‘em, I said ‘the only one licking cake off me is my fiancé!’ They didn’t like that. Well, my friends liked it, but these arseholes didn’t. So I told ‘em to shove off, and they really didn’t like that. Then they pulled knives on us. Guess they didn’t know who we were. I threw one of my daggers and killed one, and Vivienne started freezing shit. Leliana grabbed a bow off one of ‘em. I even saw Josie fight! She was good!”

Cullen sighed. Only Evelyn Trevelyan could throw a dagger, drunk off her ass, and hit her target. He was honestly impressed, but keeping down the rage that was consuming him took too much of his focus to address anything else.

“So anyway, we killed the bastards, but we were still lost, and one of the Jennys found us. Sent us back the right way. So we came back, and I came to see you!” Evelyn giggled again, poking him on the nose.

Cullen couldn’t help but smile. He was relieved to know that the women had successfully defended themselves, inebriated as they may be, and that the bastards had been slain. Now, he just had to figure out what to do with his very drunk fiancée.

“Come on, love. Let’s get you cleaned up.” He pulled out the basin in the room and set about heating water on the fire.

“Cullen?”

“Yes, love?”

“I can’t wait to be Lady Rutherford.”

Cullen froze for a moment, overjoyed. He took her in his arms and kissed her, hoping it could convey all he felt for her, before placing another, smaller kiss on her forehead.

“Me either.”

#cullenmance #cullen x inquisitor #cullen x trevelyan #dragon age #dragon age inquisition #cullen rutherford #dai #inquisitor #commander cullen #op #mini fic

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korkisobsessions · 4 years

Text

The Oath

XI. Ceremony

Light touch woke him up. For a while he was disoriented. It was long time since he slept with roof above his head. He had deep restful sleep after very long time. It was like he can finally felt safe and calm when he had her next to him.

Nilah was siting above him with furrowed brow. He felt her fingertips lightly touching his skin. He lifted his hand and stroked her cheek. She smiled but her look was still worried. Early sun was coming through the window dancing in her hair.

“I think your wound is infected.” She was examining his wound.

“No, it’s good.” He touched it and hissed when it hurts more than he expected.

“See?” She made a closer look. “there is spoiled blood, I need to get it away.”

“I will make fire and we can burn it off.” He really don’t like idea of cauterizing wound but he had no choice.

“Wait.” She pushed him back to his half laying, half siting position. “I maybe know another way. It’s method from my land. But it’s little...intimate. If you feel pain or something, let me know.”

“I think that everything other than fire is better.”

But he did not knew what he was talking about. Nilah cheeks became lightly crimson when she moved closer to him. She just looked to his eyes before she leaned over him and pressed her lips to his wound.

He didn’t expected it and light moan escaped his lips. Her mouth was warm and soft against his skin. He gripped backside of her shirt to his fist and closed eyes.

She sucked bad blood from his wound and spat it to remains of fire. And then again pressed her lips to his skin.

Yeong shin must covered his bottom half with blanket because it was just too much to handle. Her warm wet lips on his skin and when her tongue flicked over his wound he felt lost. He had hands on her back and felt her heart beating fast and strong like his own.

“it should be enough.” She spoke after while. Single drop of his blood was hanging from corner of her lips. She looked like from dream. Crimson drop on her light skin and eyes wide from excitement. He wiped that drop with pad of his thumb and pull her closer. His lips found hers with need. Like he was drowning and her kiss was like deep inhale.

“Nilah...” he whispered her name between kisses, burying his hands to her hair to held her closer. She was almost laid on his chest, perfectly coping his body with hers. He was completely awake.

There was something dark in kissing woman that taste like his blood, but he didn’t mind. Darkness was his old friend. But that taste slowly disappeared and when she opened her mouth to him to taste her more and deeper, he felt like she was gift from the gods to, redemp him. After while he can taste just her.

She took long breath and tilted her head back when his lips left hers, just to pressed them to her exposed throat. He heard light moan that escaped her lips and it was the most beautiful sound he ever heard.

He had one arm bend around her waist and other find its way to her collar pulling it away. He dreamed about it long time ago and now she was here and he can touch her and kiss her. He exposed her collar bone and found thin light scar. She got it in Mungyeong Saejae when she was protecting him.

When he was in woods with Lee Chang, he realised that he remember her. They were locked in prison with hands tied behind their backs. Lord Ahn was killed and they were waiting for execution. He doesn’t care if he die, he just wanted to take Cho Hak Joo with him. To kill him and revenge his family.

He remember pulling out his hidden knife and cutting ropes of other soldiers. He remembered eyes of different colour watching him.

Too much things happened when he shoot at Cho Hak Joo. He was too shocked that he missed he didn’t noticed soldier who wanted to got him down from cart he was standing on. Nilah caught that enemy attacking him but he waved with his sword, scratching her skin.

It was nameless soldier who just fought for same thing like him. And now It was his beloved Nilah sitting on his lap with her blushing cheeks and beating heart. He made her moan with touch of his lips on her skin. He kissed that scar lovingly feeling her breath hitch.

He had one of his hands buried in her hair when he returned to her swollen lips and the other holding her body tightly against his.

Nilah was gently touching his face, caressing his neck and holding him closer. Her other hand roam down his back stopping at every scar she found. She laid her palm over his chakho mark mapping its shape with tip of her finger. She had her scars too and she loved how he see them as evidence of her bravery not something ugly.

She let out groan when his tongue slipped between her lips touching hers with desperate urge. It was passionate and consuming, she hadn’t know that kiss could be like this. So deep and fiery that she could feel it deep in her stomach.

She was never been kissed like this. Only two men kissed her before and all of them were violent beasts. One of them was her brother, but it was always just like brother kiss sister. And then Sang-Ho, violently pushing his lips to hers. Biting her and holding her chin in rough grip so she can’t move away.

Yeongshin was whole different experience. She never trusted someone so wholly before and it made every single touch or kiss more special and precious.

His hands were holding her with urge and she felt warm sensation between her tights. But with that feeling came a ghost from past.

She really wanted him. She was thinking about it from the beginning, but then Sang-Ho violated her body and she was scared. What if it will be painful every time? Her mind wanted to give it a try, but her body was scared. It was like touch the flames. You know it will hurt you if you touch it again, so you don’t do it again.

“What is it?” he asked her with worries in his eyes when he noticed her sudden hesitation. She bowed her head trying to hide her face with shame. But he gently lifted her chin. In his eyes she saw just calm and caring.

“I’m scared.” She whispered with tears in her eyes. She had her hands laid on his chest, feeling under her palm how his heart getting slower to it’s natural pace.

“I will never hurt you. And no one hurt you anymore, until I’m breathing. I will protect you with my life Nilah.” Yeong shin gently hugged her stroking her backs. He felt bones of her spine and her ribs under her skin. She was too skinny after time in prison. “Let’s get something to eat and back on our way.” He wanted to stood up but his face lightly blush, when he realised his problem.

“Nilah, please, can you give me a moment. I don’t want to embarrassed myself.”

Nilah felt her cheeks turning red. But she felt flattered. It helped her broken soul, that Yeong shin saw her attractive. She genuinely smiled, for the first time after leaving Hanyang. Little sparks returned to her eyes for a while and Yeong shin felt warm feeling in his stomach, even though he was embarrassed.

They paid old man for lodging and care for their donkey and got back on the road. Sun was finally shining, but after yesterday heavy rain all roads were muddy and full of pools of rain water. Nilah’s heart was so heavy with so many feelings. She was in love with man who lead her way. It was so simple. They were just man and woman. He was leading donkey that pulled the cart she was sitting on. Sky was endless beautiful blue with gorgeous white castles of clouds. And all around them emerald fields of grass and forests. This day was day to remember forever. She knew that one day, when death will come for her, no matter where she will be, she will remember this day and she will die with smile on her lips. Yeong shin turned to her and when he saw her facing the sun with gentle smile on her lips, he felt pure happiness. Deep in his heart he thanked Lee Chang for making him leave. He really needed home, and he find it with her.

“Where do we go?” Nilah furrowed her brow when she realised that she don’t know it. They were in forest seeking for place to rest. Yeong shin was silent and looking little tensed.

“We will rest here.” He point to fallen tree. It was clean narrow spot with small mountain stream with fresh water.

Yeong shin made fire, while she was carefully stretching her leg. It wasn’t bad and she choose to walk on her own after they rest.

“I think you will leave me after you find out that I can’t cook.” She laughed. “I was educated in very important things for survival in wilderness.”

“Who was talking about living in wilderness?” he raised eyebrow while little flames started to dancing under his hands. “So what you can do?” He sat up straight and looked at her. But she felt like he was looking over her shoulder.

“I can sing, sew and play the lyre.” She started to count.

“Yes, you can sew.” He nod and touched his fresh wound that she stitched last night. “And what about dancing. Noble ladies didn’t dance?”

Her cheeks turn red wit embarrassment. She bow her head down and her hair fall to her face like curtain. “I can’t dance.” she whispered. “My dance teacher said I’m clumsy.”

Yeong shin stood up from stable fire and reached for her. His face was serious. “I saw you fight. You are not clumsy, trust me. Beom Pal is clumsy. Not you.” They both laughed.

He hold her hand and other laid on the small of her back.

“Sing something.” he said, his face almost touching hers.

Nilah smiled and started to humming her favourite lullaby. Yeong shin lead her, with gentle moves. They were actually standing on one place, just swinging and slowly turning around. She felt his face buried in her hair and hot breath on her ear. His closeness send shiver down her spine. She still can’t used to it and in same time she can’t believe how she can live without it. Without him by her side.

“Don’t stop and listen to me.” He whisper to her ear with urge, his voice serious. “We’ve been followed. Probably thieves. Seven armed man. Just knives and hacks. I had knife in my shirt. Try to be stealthy and get it. Do you understand?”

She felt her heart in her throat, when she lightly nod, holding his shirt in tight grip.

“It’s on my left side. Take it.” He swing with her while she sneaked her hand under his shirt. She almost wasn’t breathing when her palm was touching his firm abdomen. His skin was warm and solid. He caressed her hair over her shoulder, his lips touching shell of her ear. “Don’t worry, I will protect you. I just don’t want to leave you unarmed.”

“Leave? No!” she plead silently. And laid palm on side of his neck, other still seeking for knife. Her fingertips tracing patterns of his scars. “You don’t have to fight them alone.” She was whispering with shaking voice.

“Don’t be scared.” He looked her in the eyes and kissed her, gently holding her face in his palms like delicate flower.

“The only thing I’m scared of, is loosing you.” She whispered and held handle of the knife she found. It was just piece of cloth wrapped around sharp metal and tied to his side.

She held it tightly while he gently but with urge pressed his lips to hers. They were not moving anymore, just standing in the middle of strange forest with enemies around.

“Be careful.” She whispered when he moved away and disappeared in shadows between the trees.

Nilah threw dry branch to the flames and sat down on the log. Her lips were still warm and little swollen from his kiss and she touch them like she can’t believe it, he was here just few moments ago. Sometimes he was like ghost. Appeared and disappeared like shadow. And sometimes he was loud and violent, using his body like a weapon, throwing himself in danger without second thought.

Her hands were not shaking anymore. She knew, she had the best guardian. She still forgot who he really was. How other people saw him. Chakho warrior, who can kill anyone. Man who is not afraid to do dirty job. They were always treat him like someone who can put dagger in back.

But she knows him. He was brave man who can do dirty job, but just for others sake. He was the most loyal man she ever met. And he was someone, who always cared for others, even though he hide it.

It was getting late. Sun disappeared and they were in the middle of deep woods. He was cold and tired. They walk almost week and his companion shared just a few words, usually ‘eat’ and ‘sleep’ or his longest sentence ‘It’s getting rain’ spoken in the moment when Yeong shin was wet to the bone.

He missed his family, his brother. He hate to sleep alone far from home. Byung-Chul was scary man who was still watching him with his one eye.

It wasn’t raining anymore but everything was still wet. Mud was slipping under his feat and cold wet shirt was sticking to his skin and making him shiver. Even though everything was wet, he saw huge bonfires between trees. Flames were dancing in the dark, illuminating lot of men around.

“What is it master?” He felt tight knot in his stomach.

“This is ceremony, kid.” Byung-Chul smiled and his face was scarier than normal.

They came to free space between trees where he saw large pits dig in muddy ground, deep enough that if he fall there, he will not get out without help. Fires burned between them and men were standing around getting warm and drying wet clothes. All of them wear same blue canvas shirts and had rifles over shoulder or long knifes. It was Chakho’s meeting and almost everyone of them had young man or boy by his side, who looked scared same as Yeong shin felt. New recruits were different. One had clean quality shirt without holes. Other looked like common villager, then there was a young man, who had hard face with cold eyes and wear silk. It must be son of wealthy man, or maybe someone royal. And between them stood boy from Sumang village, with dirty wet clothes. And they were all equal.

“Hey Byung! Your boy looks good.” One of men approached them. He was small with big belly and merry face. “Maybe too skinny but strong. He is the one of the poor I guess.”

“It doesn’t matter anymore.” Byung-Chul laid hand on Yeong shin’s shoulder. “Soon he will be one of us.”

“Or not.” Other chakho laughed.

“What?” Yeong shin felt heavy pressure on his chest. “What does that mean?”

Byung-Chul took his little bag with belongings and threw it to the ground.

“Now, you must fight for your place, kid.”

Hard blown to the chest throw him out of balance. He stumbled over his foot and he fell to one off pits. Impact got air out of his lungs and for a few moments he cannot breathe.

“Kill or be killed. That’s ours first rule.” Small knife stabbed ground just next to his ear. He didn’t have a chance to blink and other young man slip over muddy edge of the pit down to him.

He was dressed in civilian clothes just like him. Bad thing was, he was bigger and had longer knife. Yeong shin quickly grab knife, realizing this could be his death. He will get out of this pit death or like a Chakho.

And he didn’t want to die.

His opponent was stronger than him, so he knew he must be quicker and surprised him. So he made two quick steps and jump on him, knocking him on the ground. Men just punched him in the face. It was like hit with a hammer. He though he will get blind from it. If that man hit him again, he will loose consciousness. He was covered in mud from head to toe, shaking, sitting on chest of another man, desperate and scared. He never killed anyone.

Chakhos were gathered around edge of the pit shouting at them. They were giving them advice, but all he could hear was ‘kill him!’ They were even making bets. His opponent was struggling underneath him and trying to threw him down. He felt sharp pain when man cut him to thigh. Another hard blown to stomach took his breath away and he fell to mud and pool of rain. To his luck his opponent lost his knife but when he cannot found it he jump on Yeong shins back and pressed his head down to shallow puddle of water. He can´t breath and mud filled his nose and mouth. He was fighting for his life, trying to find something that could help free himself. His hands were desperately seeking for something. he cannot breath, he cannot see and shouting of men were filling his ears.

He calmed down and pushed hard as he could against ground, lifting himself up. Even though his enemy was sitting on his back, he lift himself with him and took deep breath. Shouting was getting stronger.

He wanted to live! He wanted to be chakho! He wanted to make money for his brother, so he don’t have to starve anymore! He don’t want to be weak anymore!

His growl filled air when he threw man on the ground and jumped on him. His fingers found blade of knife that was lost in mud. He held tight grip on it, cutting himself when stumble to grab it properly. And suddenly he pierced his opponent´s throat. Mud become crimson red and the man stopped moving. His eyes were still watching him from underneath half closed eyelids. He stood up from his limp body, breathing heavily. He was tired to death and sick. He killed a man for the first time in his life.

“Come on, brother!” He herd cheering. Lot of hands were reaching for him, to help him out of the pit. “Get out of there, you won!” “come on!” “Let us help you!” “You are first!”

He grab someone’s strong hands and let them get him out. “He looked like he will throw up!” they were laughing and patting his back.

“Come on, kid!” Byung-Chul squeezed back of his neck and lead him away. “Drink it! All of it!” He gave him old bottle. Yeong shin took a sip and cough when strong alcohol burned his insides. “I said, all of it! You killed your first man and night is still young. Trust me.”

Yeong shin closed his eyes and swallow everything on one gulp. It was like liquid fire. He never tasted alcohol and he thought he never will again. They walk around another pit, where two other man were still fighting. He didn’t want to look. Maybe one day, if he will good enough and survive, he will be one of them making bets, but not today. Byung-Chul lead him to one makeshift tent where sat three old Chakhos.

“Mark him!” He shouted cheerfully and pushed him forward. Two of them grab him and ripped of his old shirt and pushed him on little stool.

“You are too dirty!” One of them growl and throw bucket of water on his head. He expected it will be cold, but it wasn’t. They were heating it in big rusty kettledrum.

“Bite this!” They pushed short stick wrapped in leather between his teeth. He felt his heart beating fast like scared bird. He was naked, wet and scared but somewhere deep inside he felt excited. He saw old man taking branding iron from flames. It shine through nigh like fire itself.

“Don´t move, kid!” Byung-Chul held his shoulder with one of the three men. “This will hurt like bitch. But get used to it. Our life is never ending pain!”

And with his words old man pressed iron to his shoulder blade. He bite hard to stick and scream. He never felt such a pain in his life. Darkness was clouding his brain and his vision. It was short moment but he felt like he had iron on his skin for hours.

“You did good. Lets get you warm and dry place to sleep.” Byung-Chul lifted him up and throw his healthy arm over his shoulder. “I almost forget...there is your new clothes.” He gave him small sack with chakho´s blue canvas shirt. “You are chakho now!”

Nilah jerked, when he silently sat on the log next to her. His eyes watching the flames with death rabbit in his bloodied hands. He almost look like he was somewhere else, lost in his dark thoughts.

She wasn’t asking where are the men who were following them. She just hugged him tightly and let him catch a breath. Her lips gently touched his. That kiss were innocent but had deep meaning. She was here for him. In his darkest moments she was there to pull him to light. He was still for a moment, like statue, holding tight grip on dead animal in his hands.

“One of them caught dinner for us.” He spoke after a while, with bitter laughter.

“Who were they?” She was scared that Sang-Ho send someone to kill her and Yeong shin.

“Just common thieves. They thought, that we have money.” He started to skin rabbit.

“They’re dead?” she asked carefully.

He looked her in the eyes and she saw he was scared to answer. That if he said he killed them, she would see him as a cold blooded killer.

“Just two of them. The rest run away.”

Nilah just nod and took skinned and gutted rabbit from him.

“So...time for my cooking skills?” She smile to cheer up the mood. But Yeong shin still looked lost. He was looking on his dirty hands with hard eyes.

“I wanted to killed that bastard for what he did to you. For what he did to us.” Nilah froze, when she realised that he was talking about Sang-Ho. “I saw, how he was watching you in Hanyang. I should have know that he will try to hurt you.” His hands were trembling and voice broke.

“Yeong shin...” she whispered his name and hold his hand. “Don’t...It doesn’t matter anymore. Yes, he dishonour me. It was just one time. He wanted to humiliated me. And...he did. But I don’t care anymore. I’m here with you. And you don’t see me like broken thing he made me, or worthless being like my father saw me, like just property you can beat when you had bad day like my brother. Or like just a bitch worth to breed. You...”

“....I love you” he finished her sentence. Nilah felt her heart missed the beat when she heard those words. He was looking at her like on the most beautiful woman in the land. Even though she had a scars on her body and her soul. He loved her.

“I love you too but I’m afraid it will be your death, my love. “

#kingdom #kingdom netflix #kingdom2019 #kingdom 2019 #yeongshin #yeong shin #chakho

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momo-de-avis · 6 years

Text

From a very early age, I was interested in languages and books. I sort of had a natural inclination to it. My mom fed it, of course. At the age of six, I had this book I loved that was one of those kiddy books that taught you german. I always had it with me, and by that age I knew how to say all the colours, how to count to twenty-nine (cause I kept forgetting how to say thirty) and a lot of the animals. I wasn't super smart, I was just interested enough that I allowed myself to learn as much as I could while my mom fed it.

So of course, by the time I was 5 I knew how to read. Not just put the letters together to create a word, but what the words meant (kiddy books, naturally). No one really taught me, except those times when someone sat with me teaching me how to write my name. I was just super hungry for understanding things around me. Back in the 90s, the Cartoon Network we got in Portugal was american (and briefly english, and then american again) with no dubbings or subtitles. I learned eanglish super early by binge watching powerpuff girls, Dexter's laboratory, Edd, Ed & Eddy, cow and chicken and overall hanna barbera. I wasn't smarter than everyone else. I just wanted to learn. I was always an average student, still am. I just exceeded in this stuff I loved doing because I really loved learning about it.

My boyfriend has a niece and a nephew, and they're some of the smartest, most well educated kids I've had the chance of meeting. Their mother has taught tem to explore their identity, to nurture their creativity and to reward and experience kindness. She lets them explore all their interests and says it's important that they experiment while they can, which is one of the most validating things you can say to a child. On the other hand, my nephew is spoiled with little regard for others. He gets a shit ton of gifts every year, expensive gifts that he doesn't cherish. If he loses or breaks something, his parents merely scold him for five minutes and then a few weeks later buy him a new thing. He's five and has already had three tablets (his own, not like mom's or dad's that he can use) and four watches. Those four watches, one he lost, the other was a gift from someone outside of the nuclear family, the other was a smart watch for kids (that records and takes pictures) and the latest, gifted this Christmas, was Ferrari watch he was allowed to play with freely (going as far as sticking it in his food and all his parents did was yell at him to not do that).

But you see, my brother is an overachiever. He is a business student, so take that as you will. When the kid was four, he got him into kart racing. According to him (and from what I see) the kid loves it, but at five he already wants the kid to be a pro racer and get into competitions. He proudly announced he is already racing 7 year old karts despite being five (karts that go over 70 km/h). He fed the kid a million shit toys about maths and numbers. Ever since he was born, he has given him little toy cars, yes, even collectible items that those old men keep on a glass stand and polish every month.

And yesterday, he announced: he can read and write.

I told him: no, he can't.

Partly, I meant that he can't because he's five, and he's not supposed to even care about it. Of course, there are words here and there he gets, and he copies his own name and other people's name, but not much different from what I did at his age. But I also meant he doesn't know how to read and write, because I know my nephew and he doesn't. He has incredible photographic short term memory. He can memorize anything by just glancing at it once, which in itself is an incredible talent alone, but one his parents don't care about. I realized that was how he 'learned' how to read and write, because if I mix one letter of his name, he won't notice, and if I mix them all he can't say what's the word supposed to be. If you ask him to write each letter of the alphabet, without visual reference, he can't do it either. But if you show him rhe letters and ask which letters are those, he will say it.

Then again: he's fucking five. It doesn't matter, he should be learning that fully at school. It doesn't mean he shouldn't attempt to learn on his own, if he wants to - which is exactly what my mom did with me. She never taught me how to read, but let me teach myself how to understand. Sometimes, she would sit with me and tell me that those letters put together meant 'apple' and that sort of shit. Even that, if you ask me, is too much,but innocent enough if you deal with it accordingly. But the thing is this is not what my brother and my sister-in-law are doing. (Of course, there are kids who can develop that at an early age, but trust me, no one in my family was that type of kid.)

There's a story on why I insist on this, one I never really gave much relevance to. It was just something that happened to me that I could see as a red flag for this sort of shit, although until today I never really understood the implications of it.

You see, I didn't feel smart, like at all. I just really loved colours and letters, which was what I saw in these books. But when I was five and in kindergarten, my mom told my teacher I knew how to read. Mind you, this was kindergarden. All we did was draw shit, play princes and dragons and sit around while our teacher read us stories. We weren't even allowed to use forks and knives, we were all forced to eat with a spoon, even the kids who knew how to use a fork and a knife (because we were all five year olds eager to destroy shit around us and with a very blurred definition of danger). But after my mom said that to my teacher (who, by all accounts, was a nice lady) she did something I resented my whole life and I never really understood why.

She picked me up in front of every single kid in my class, sat me on her lap, opened a book and said "Ana knows how to read, so today she is going to be the one who reads for us"

And guess what, I didn't say a word.

The moment I told my therapist this, she frowned and said "that's horrible!" I agreed, but still didn't know why. She asked me what did I do, and I said I stood there quiet, refusing to read. I remember vividly the book, it was a book about Snow White. I remember so well not wanting to read that I just know what I did was out of spite. And I said I didn't really know why this was horrible for me, but it was. So my therapist put me through those mind-travelling moments that begin with "let's go back to that day" and made me realize what it was. For a five year old who didn't even feel like she was learning, just having fun, I felt exposed. And by being exposed as "the best at reading among a class of kids who can't even conceive why a person isn't green", I felt terrified of making mistakes.

My then teacher brushed it off as "she's shy", and for the next 10 years, everytime I froze in a situation like this, I was "just being shy". Being shy was the excuse for everything in the 90s, apparently (spoiler alert, I wasn't shy so much as I was I severely anxious and terrified of failure thanks to a domino-effect of stuff like this).

I told my therapist I insisted, as I actually had done on other occasions before, that my nephew didn't know how to read because this is what pretending your child is a genius leads to: a terrible pressure on being the best.

To make matters worst, I went to the same private school my brother did, and he was one of the best students of his year. Me, I was average. My brother excelled at math and sucked at literature, was average at languages. Me, I sucked at math, excelled at literature and languages - but that difference right there labelled me my whole life as "below her brother". My brother was exceptionally good, but me, I was unfortunately less. They tried coming up with lame excused, always disguised as "she needs to try harder": she doesn't pay attention in class, she doesn't try hard enough, she has potential but is lazy. Fast forward twenty years and it turns out it was not only a case of dyscaculia but a shit ton of psychological problems that at least once put me on the brink of anorexia, but I guess until you fucking die, it's just being lazy.

Now here's the kicker: my nephew will be attending the same private school my brother and I attended next year. You think they have forgotten us? They haven't (well, not my brother, anyway). My teachers and my brother's teachers are still teaching at that school.

So this kid is gonna grow up in a closed environment of rich people as the son of one of the greatest students of his class. And trust me, it isn't an isolated incident. I remember one of my friends being one of the best students of her year, and her sisters had a shit ton of pressure on them. The middle one in particular was even the troublemaker, simply because she wasn't as good. That's what happens when you grow up in a closed environment of a private school that functions like a private housing area of rich kids where several generations attend it, and I saw it happen more than once (if I am not living proof of it).

Anyone who meets my nephew immediately perceives he has problems. Several people have made that clear to me (without me even saying a word about it). Part of that is due to the fact that he is ridiculously spoiled (in a way neither me nor my brother were) and doesn't have a clear concept of basic stuff like personal limit (if he sees a cellphone, he will grab it and try to unlock it, despite not being his, and despite being told it's not his so he shouldn't do it), respect (he insults his mother, like calling her a liar) or the importance (or lack of) material things (he got a fucking Ferrari watch and was allowed to play with it like it was a toy, for Christ's sake). He constantly touches and uses things that aren't his and if you try to tell him he shouldn't without permission from the owner, he either throws a tantrum or try to steal it from you. If he does something he shouldn't, even if it's dangerous, like attempting to push the television off its stand (it's happened) or turn on the stove, no matter how severely you act, he will laugh and act as if it's nothing more than a challenge, and sometimes he will even look you in the eye and laugh as he does it again (the only thing that stops him is my brother spanking him, which goes without saying is terrible). He often grabs my sister-in-law's cellphone, or my mother's, and goes on youtube or online, or even text and send messages (more than once he has sent me pictures of himself through my mom's phone without her knowing) and neither of them will stop him, merely scold him briefly (they won't even take it away from him, they will just turn the app off and tell him he shouldn't use it and you can see the kid doesn't understand why, so he does it again). He keeps losing stuff but doesn't even feel remorse because they just buy him another one.

Now top it all with daddy and mommy always saying "he's really smart for his age, he is above average" when literally every single person that has met him says he has a learning delay caused by his parents (he's five and he still speaks like a two year old. Actually, I spoke fully perfect portuguese at two, and so did my mother).

So when my brother looks me in the eye and says, fully certain of himself, that he can read and write, when I say "no, he doesn't" I am trying to avoid the trauma of being put on a pedestal because you're expected to be that which your parents want you to be. I am trying to avoid the kid going through a bunch of situations like that day when I was five and I froze because the teacher put a fucking five year old on the spot without so much as asking me. Because this kid is growing up to be a rich, spoiled little monster with no empathy and no regard for nothing except himself, and the least I can try to do, since all else failed, is to try to warn my brother about the horrible consequences of doing to him what he did to me.

But of course, he doesn't give a shit. After all, his son is a genius.

Sorry for the long post, I'm on mobile and can't put a read more thing.

#long post #personal #dont reblog pls

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