#excuse the coloring someone please teach me how to color

[netherfeildren]

How to Endure Ardor:

Pairing: Joel Miller x F!Reader

Summary: Joel teaches you how to love him.

Rating: Explicit 18+

Content Warnings: Post outbreak; QZ Joel Miller; I'm saying this, but the setting is sort of ambiguous anyways, Stream of consciousness, Character Study, Alternating POVs; PIV sex; The troubles and toils of breaking up and then making up with a fucked up old man; Uncaring Joel; Mentions of painful sex; Toxic relationships or situationships or whatever you want to call it; I think I'm addicted to the idea of a Joel who'll never love you and I should probably see a doctor about it

A/N: she remembers how to write, who'd of thought!

Word Count: 1.3K

Read on AO3

This is a lesson:

“Tell me again,” she says, and it’s a begging.

A begging like what? Something that carries shame and smallness in the shape of it. Stay a little longer. It humiliates him for the wretchedness it pulls from him. Joel, please. Seeping blood the color of her supplication. Please, she says, please. And who else says please to him anymore? Who asks him for anything anymore but her? The only ones who ever had are long past and gone, and he can’t even barely remember they were ever really there to ask anything of him to begin with—can’t remember what it feels like to owe someone something and want to give it to them in a way that will actually make him. 

Tell me what again? That I want you? That I’ll stay? That I love you? I’ll come back, he says instead, the only thing he can promise and keep. And he wonders if it humiliates her too, the way he lies, the way he runs, the way he swears, the way he always comes back and comes back but never returns with the things she needs. A humiliation just like it is a begging. 

The thing they have: it’s strange, fickle, honest in its lies, very, very ugly. An ugliness that is shocking in a world gone to rot already. The sky doesn’t shine anymore and they bask in it. 

But also, and, the thing they have: it’s physical, saving.

This is obvious too, even if only to them.

He slides inside and you’re what? Hot and wet and slick, and—yes, a thing like a dream, but still only a thing. Something to have, something close to desire, but not quite, more like biological want. Woman turned possession. In his mind this is an excuse, a reason, a begetting. Like, what—like what? Like when you want a thing very badly but it is very bad for you, and you need to make up any excuse to have it, lie and lie and lie—to your mother, your best friend, the mirror—a begetting like that. Easy to understand only if you’ve been there. 

It started simple, it started like nothing, it started like the first time you meet someone and you know they’ll matter, you know they’ll mean something. So it started like what? Like a lie. 

Shifts at the QZ, long and toiling and reminders of the sort of life that died in an outbreak of monsters, only if for how unlike that past it was. Humans or fungus or—

—men who hurt—you, men who refuse your love, Joel Miller.

The crutch of your age, of you being weaker or smaller or in need, him being easily felled, wooed, easily conquered by something young and given without a try because there was never the opportunity for trying before. 

Now, it is like this: you take my cock and you take my come and you take my nothing, and I give so little and yet you still find a way to take and take and take, leech of a girl, dream of a girl, hungry. And with the excuse that it’s only in a way you contrive for your own self. But in the end, what does that make you? What do I make you into? 

These are the things he asks himself. 

Perhaps she goes away for a time, tries the route of escape, of variety. But when she inevitably comes back because addiction is riddled always in the same sorts of ways: did you try different bodies? Did you try different flavors and sounds? Did you look for me in all of them? 

The answer is usually yes.

At reunion’s turn: he rolls her over to face her, Joel, damp and panting and trying to be something—perhaps better, more honest—after a season of variety and honest attempts and shut eyes. He’s so hard for her, always is. 

Again: he slides inside and you’re what? His, undeniably. Not yours. Something to want but not desire because it’s too romantic a notion, and yes, there’s a difference even if he can’t put into words what that difference specifically is. Body and heart, perhaps, definitions that differ between disparate anatomical parts or levels of deniability. 

Nothing either of you have ever been able to put into words when lust and love aren’t things you can even say out loud for the shame of them, even if they exist within said same anatomy. 

You come together, the season passed, the separation passed but still kept at hand for the next time the closeness becomes too much. 

“Tell me again,” she says, and this time he remembers what she’s asking for.

“I fucking missed you, baby. Missed this pussy.” Because he can’t say it’s her heart he missed. Because Joel Miller does not have honesty in his arsenal. 

He spreads you wide, knee to shoulder so it hurts and pulls, so it’ll be sore and reminding tomorrow. The slap of his pelvis against the back of your thighs is obscene, wet and lewd, a string of girl cum keeping you connected, such togetherness, curve of your ass to the root of his cock—the two of you are together again. 

You know what I thought, when I tried to go away, you say. He doesn’t want to know, but he doesn't tell you so either, only slides in again, the mouth of your womb right there, threatening. I’m never going to feel like this again, and I hate how certainly I know that. He wonders if the unsaid part is that he’s the recipient of that feeling, the hate. 

He wonders if the pinch inside him is hurt. He wonders if the throb is love. 

All he says because he can’t say the rest is, I missed you, I missed you, and if he could look himself in the mirror—something that’s twenty years past lost—he’d ask: are you alright? Just tell me you’re okay. And it sounds in your own voice and with your own care and the feel of your own warmth. Is there anything I can do?

Other times, he sees himself through your own eyes, and then he knows for certain that the throb is love 

So he makes up for lost time, hard—and if it was a thing he knew how to be— loving. Mouth to cunt first, primed and soft and begging, making you come again and then another once more, then inside of you. Slow, splitting you open, red cunt like a wound, balls slapping wet, pulling out to watch the gape of the space he’s carved for himself. His cock is so hard and missing you something desperate. And he’s reminded of what it is to really miss something in a way he hadn’t been in twenty years of apocalypse, he’s forced to realized that it’s been so long since he’d had something to love that he’d not realized the feeling of missing that long past someone had gone away, only faint memory remained. 

Violent, is what this makes him after that realization—thrusts turning hard and punishing. How dare you give yourself to me? How dare you then take yourself away? You come around him again, the gift of your orgasm. How dare you not be able to accept the little I’m able to give when I’m trying so desperately fucking hard to give you even just this? 

He fucks you mean, he fucks you in the way of a man who doesnt know how to say the things he needs to say, in a way that’s confusing, that could make a less discerning woman feel only the hurt. 

But then again, you know him.

Fucks you in a way that is a little bit like love.

And so, amidst all of it, there is an honesty amongst the lies. A truth unspoken that they both know—I’ll come back because I need you, because you’re the only one who can give me the things I'm not strong enough to ask for out loud. 

You’re not sure which of the two of you is the one saying it.

Netherfeildren's Masterlist

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#vic fic #joel miller #joel miller fic #joel miller x you #joel miller x reader

[oiveyzmir]

Living with Eddie is… well, it’s an experience.

It’s not a bad thing, not in the slightest. There’s nothing Steve loves more than the fact he gets to fall asleep next to the love of his life, wake up to his soft little snores, and go about their lives together. There’s a soft kind of domesticity to it Steve wouldn’t give for the world.

He loves their routine so much he’s even willing to move past the little things Eddie does that make him lose his mind, like the way he never washes the sink properly after doing the dishes or how he constantly leaves the cabinet doors open. He can even move past how Eddie will come home from a late night shift at the bar when it’s raining and forget to take his shoes off, leaving a muddy trail of footsteps anywhere he goes. Hell, Steve’s even willing to excuse Eddie’s phases.

Wayne had warned him about those when they first moved in together three years ago. “It’s just that he gets easily excited about things,” he reasoned then. “Which doesn’t make it any less annoying.”

Steve didn’t get what it meant then.

He surely gets what it means now.

He found something- a bout of inspiration- and hyperfixated on it until moving on to the next. There was this one time Eddie got really into gardening and bought 11 different herb seedlings, only for them to wilt and die three weeks later when he got into water coloring, then moved on to filmography, then to operas.

He had that month once where he’d developed a sudden interest in learning to play the violin (It’s for a song, Stevie, did you ever listen to Skyclad?), so he stayed up until 5 AM to play something that resembled music (but was closer to being nothing but) with the instrument he burrowed from Robin’s then girlfriend. That month was so close to being a breaking point for Steve, but he loves Eddie too much to do anything about it. He honestly believes that if he managed to live through Eddie’s Violin Month he can live through anything.

He lived through Eddie’s sewing phase, his novel-writing phase and his (honest-to-god awful) baking phase, and survived to tell the tale.

Nothing had prepared him for Eddie’s current phase, though.

It seemed harmless at first. It was even kind of adorable, really; the way Eddie’s eyes glinted with excitement when he sat Steve down to watch him do a cute little card trick, the way he laughed triumphantly when it was, in fact, Steve’s card.

It got less cute when Eddie got himself cuffed to their bedpost for hours in the most unsexy way Steve could imagine, refused Steve’s offer to let him out and making him feed him since his hands were, well, preoccupied.

It also wasn’t cute when Eddie stabbed himself with a pencil in attempt to make it disappear.

But it’s plain rude now, when Steve’s trying to get a little nap after a terrible day at the school where he’s started teaching. Eddie knows he’s sleeping, Steve made sure to call him on his way home and let him know he had a bad day and that he’ll be spending as much of it as he can sleeping it off. He trusted Eddie enough to keep it down that he didn’t bother to close their bedroom door properly, and he had also kinda hoped Eddie would see it as the invitation it was for him to cuddle up to Steve and make his awful day just a bit better.

Yet here Eddie is, an hour or so after he got back home, seemingly running into every single piece of furniture they own.

“Shit, shit, shit,” he mumbles, and Steve has to give him credit for at least trying to be quiet. “Come back here.”

Steve sleepily opens one eye at that. There shouldn’t be anyone out there but Eddie, right? He listens intently to hear someone else speaking, but he can’t hear anything but the quiet thump of someone hitting their kitchen table and Eddie’s frustrated grunting.

“Please, babydoll. Come back to me.”

And now Steve’s interest is really piqued.

Steve opens his other eye and sits up. He debates heading out there and seeing whatever happens out there himself, but decides to let it all play out just a little bit longer. It’s not like he believes Eddie is capable of cheating on him; he knows Eddie loves him too much to make him go through something like that, and he also isn’t dumb enough to do so when he knows Steve is sleeping in the other room.

He listens as Eddie makes some quiet tsk noises with the tip of his tongue. “C’mon, princess,” he whispers, not loud enough to wake Steve up, but definitely loud enough that Steve hears now that he’s really listening. “No, no, don’t go there, Steve’s sleeping, fuck.”

Steve lies back down quickly when he hears the door creak a bit wider to pretend being asleep, covering himself up to his eyes with their blanket. He can hear something’s small feet tapping on their bedroom tiles before hearing Eddie’s steps, and is he tiptoeing?

Even when he’s almost panicked about whatever it is Eddie had brought home, Steve can’t help but have a fond smile spread across his face. There is love in this, so immense and great, and Steve can be nothing but grateful and madly in love as well.

The tiny feet keep running around and Steve can vaguely imagine what it is- a kitten, or maybe a puppy, but relatively tiny ones at that. The tapping sound comes to a short stop then starts off again.

Eddie sighs, relieved, and it sounds like he crouches down. “Come on, come on,” he whispers. “There you go, good girl.”

The sound of tapping feet stops and Eddie gives the thing a kiss. “Don’t ever make me go through this again, babylove.” He mutters accusingly. “How can I trust you in battle if you pull this kind of shit on me?”

Eddie turns to go. Steve can imagine the kitten cuddling itself in Eddie’s arms. Knowing Eddie, the kitten’s probably black, maybe missing an eye or an ear, whichever makes it harder to adopt for regular people. Eddie’s not a regular person, though. The mental image he created is so endearing to him that he can’t help but loudly yawn. “Baby?” He says, trying to make his voice sound as sleepy as he can, even though he’s been wide awake for a while now. Eddie stops and turns around.

The room is dark, but even in the darkness Steve can see that whatever it is Eddie’s holding is both white and obviously not a cat.

“Hey, Stevie, did I wake you up?” He whispers, his tone apologetic, like a kid found out with his hand in the near-empty cookie jar.

“What’s that?” Steve asks back instead of answering.

Steve turns his bedside light on, and after the initial shock of light momentarily blinding him he can clearly see it; a white bunny being cradled in Eddie’s arms.

“She’s my assistant,” Eddie explains, as if it explains anything, “her name is Jessica. Get it? Jessica Rabbit?”

“Your assistant.”

“Yeah,” he says sheepishly.

“For the…”

“Magic tricks?”

“Oh.”

“I’ll take care of her, though,” Eddie sits down on the edge of the bed, Jessica sitting in his lap, “take her out on walks and feed her and everything. You wouldn’t even notice she’s here.”

Steve sits up and motions for Eddie to hand him the bunny, which he dutifully does. Her fur is so soft, probably the softest thing Steve had ever felt. “That’s not how you take care of a bunny,” Steve says as he rubs his hands gently through her fur, “she isn’t a dog.”

“How do you take care of a bunny then? ‘Cause I bought, like, a bunch of carrots.”

Steve laughs. “Oh god, I love you.”

“That means we’re keeping her, right?” Eddie takes his shoes off- Steve pointedly does not think about how their living room might look like- and cuddles up in bed next to Steve. He looks up at him so hopefully Steve is flooded with warmth and love, so flooded he can’t even remember what annoyed him so much at work today.

Steve kisses his forehead, then his nose, then softly his lips. “Sure. One condition, though.”

“What is it?”

“Can you teach me the pulling her out of a hat trick?”

Eddie grins wide. “Of-fucking-course.”

#steddie #steddie fic #steddie ficlet #the kind of shit I write to avoid my bb fic #speaking of thank you bb author chat for indulging my bullshit #tal writes

[piratecaptainscaptainpirates]

Right, so, I've been seeing some persistent misconceptions in fanfiction where a character has ADHD. I'm a man of color with ADHD and I want to clear some things up. This is specifically about how people tend to write Ed Teach, but it can apply to other characters you're writing with ADHD. And I'd love if other people with ADHD, especially other people of color with ADHD, have any additions to tack on!

These things are NOT what ADHD is.

ADHD does not make you "stupid." This whole thing was inspired because I just read a fic where Ed cites his ADHD as evidence he's "dumber" than the other characters (and this was supported by the writing in the story). There is no correlation between ADHD and intelligence, and we know that Ed is a genius!

ADHD does not automatically mean that someone can't finish school or can't succeed in demanding academic fields. I'm working on my PhD. It just means your character needs coping skills.

ADHD does not mean that someone will "hyperfixate" on or suddenly lose interest in relationships, whether romantic or platonic.

ADHD doesn't mean your character struggles with personal hygeine or keeping their home clean. Please stop making me read fics that characterize a man of color as dirty or incapable of keeping his home clean and excusing it because "he has ADHD!"

ADHD doesn't mean that your character will need someone to look after or supervise everything they do. Ed does not need a White man to take care of him or make sure his work gets done.

ADHD doesn't mean a character will be unable to sit still, focus, stay on-task, or sit in silence 100% of the time. We all have different tolerance levels and those can change depending on current circumstances.

Here are some more realistic, interesting ways ADHD can impact successful, smart characters of color, like Ed.

He might feel the need to be hypercompetent, all the time.

He might get frustrated with himself. ADHD can be frustrating! You can be on top of things 99% of the time at work and school, and have people look up to you, and then you'll realize that you've been forgetting to book that doctor's appointment for six months straight now and you'll feel like a failure.

He might overcorrect symptoms. For example, he might have trouble keeping a neat, organized space and know that messes stress him out, so he overcorrects by being a bit of a neat freak and avoiding mess wherever possible so his space never becomes unmanageable.

He might struggle with The Evil Boredom. That's when you feel super understimulated and nothing is enough to help.

He might have trouble sitting still or saying quiet when he's nervous, feeling strong emotions, or in a boring environment or trying to do a boring task (the scene where Ed struggled with being still and quiet while fishing, while also feeling strong emotions of guilt, was super relatable).

I like to write AuDHD characters (with both autism and ADHD), and it can add a fun new dimension! I personally headcanon Ed as AuDHD. When you have both, symptoms can be frustrating because they can feel contradictory (for example, my autism demands I keep a neat, tidy space and I like routines, but my ADHD means I have trouble keeping things tidy to my standards and routines are super boring).

And finally but crucially: it's obviously okay to headcanon a character as ADHD or with any other neurodivergence when you're White. However, it's important to remember that the experience of neurodivergence looks different for people of color. Boys of color with ADHD, for example, are often overdiagnosed with ODD and labelled as "defiant" or "uncooperative." I often avoid telling White friends and coworkers that I'm AuDHD because it tends to make them infantalize me, as if I haven't already proven to them I'm a capable adult. People of color often have to go undiagnosed or without appropriate medications (if needed) and/or are misdiagnosed. If you're writing about a chracter of color with ADHD, I really recommend finding a sensitivity reader.

#ofmd #our flag means death #ofmd ed teach

[kalims]

— LEONA KINGSCHOLAR | 나를 소중히

or, a morning with leona.

나를 소중히 (cherish me)

as someone who didn't stay in places with searing, hot weather you can say that the environment of savanaclaw is pretty warm compared to the average ramshackle cold.

if you had told your past self that you were spending the night in savanaclaw they probably would've laughed at you and cursed out the gods—promising you that they would never, ever do it.

well you do understand them. the way you were treated when you arrived is pretty extreme. you did forgive but you never forgot, was it childish of you to hold a grudge? probably. did they deserve it? absolutely. can you blame yourself though? out of all the dorms they were the one you had the most rough impression of.

you were absolutely sure they were gonna 'teach you a lesson' the first time you arrived and they thought you were too puny for them.

besides the past that was kind of horrifying first time you dealt with it. you do agree that you would've never spent another second in here if it weren't for your lover: leona.

albeit a little rough around the edges he's pretty sweet though your friends think otherwise. they think you're both insane and patient for 'dealing' with a person like him and just like any good partner you got offended on his behalf.

I mean how could they judge so fast when they didn't even know him?

well to be fair you doubt everyone else would be lucky enough to leona opening up like you.

day by day you end up spending an awful lot of time around savanaclaw— around leona to be exact. during your time together he taught you the beauty around the savanah, although not verbally he did.

it made you dislike the dorm a little less. (but of course that's progress! atleast you're talking with the residents that threatened you before with less,, vigor,)

you did see the resolve of the students, admirable really but it was no excuse to torment the weak. using their strength as an excuse to bully those they deem inferior might as well land them a punch from you.

even though they were practically his own. you doubt leona would stop you, and if he thought the same thing like them you wouldn't landed the same punhc at him.

you once joked about it and leona said he'll really take that tooth if you dared.

while you were laughing your ass off at the thought of him doing that for no reason at all leona found your laugh contagious, as he can't help closing his eyes and smiling at the sound of laughter in his room. he'd never thought it would be filled with anything other than silence.

in a way he looked forward to simply chatting in his room together, even though you were usually the one talking.

the mornings in savanaclaw were of course—hot.

by the casual demeanor the students display you can tell they're used to this kind of weather, literally no wonder there's a lot of big and muscled guys here. you, are by no means pleased at all. honestly kind of irritated by the amount of sweat you,, sweat in the morning. when the sun is just starting to heat up.

honestly nothing woke you up but the warmth.

blearily and half conscious your eyes adjust to the surroundings, taking in the mellow color of sunlight. it's a little earlier than usual so it's a little cold—given how the sun hasn't come up yet.

you take a few moments of silence. staring at nothing in particular, you could practically hear the gears in your head start as you register your consciousness.

you shift. yeah the light was nice and all but it's not letting you sleep with it practically in your face.

so you roll to the right, groaning at the fact that you had to disrupt your sleep and knowing yourself? now that you moved you'd be having a hard time falling asleep again. then again it's monday and class starts in a few hours.

ugh.. fuck I hate mondays, you swear you blinked and the weekend was over already. whoever thought two days of rest was enough you would pluck their eyes out.

you were all about hating the world till you rolled around and was met in sight of leona's peacefully slumbering place. you were right, whenever he wasn't frowning he was really handsome. then you thought; how could you hate the world when it's right here? right next to you?

engrossed with your sappy thoughts you release a long, fond sigh. even asleep leona seeks out to comfort you, evident in the way an arm snakes around your lower torso and snuggling into you.

you swear you hear a pleased hum from him.

weirdly you think about how lucky you are.

"do you know how hard it is to sleep when someone's staring at you?"

leona drawls out. startling you when his eyelids peel open, staring at you casually but you can still see the sleep in his eyes. he takes his other arm and pushes back his hair with a groan. most likely iffed that you had interrupted his sleep.

despite his sour look you grin at him.

leona never hated that face more, cause it looks like you'd follow him to the ends of the world, that grin is the determination that keeps you going and don't get him started about your eyes. he hates the fondness in it because it makes his heart race.

and he hates you for staying, and loving him.

"sorry," you say but your face says anything but an apology.

"stop looking at me like that,"

"sorry," you say again. wearing a similar face, definitely less sincere than the last.

you continue to look at him like that.

grumpily leona turns the opposite of you and no matter how many times you whined out a, "hey!" he merely shakes you off and continues to ignore you.

he went even as far as to peel off the arm you stuck to him.

you sigh. "ugh.. you're so mean," and deflate. perhaps making it seem like you're actually upset is a decent strategy?

you were no stranger to leona. you knew him, and he knew you. his favorite time of the day to nap, the spot he goes to hide away, the things people don’t bother to know. in a way you feel like he is your soulmate, in this life you’ve known him for less than two years but it feels like you’ve known him since forever.

rolling your eyes you throw your body over his,, and the startled grunt he releases is the highlight of your day. leona stares at you ‘venemously’, it it were any other person he would’ve started strangling them but it’s you.

it’s always you, leona thinks.

“i said i’m sorry,” you say, pecking him on the lips. leona ignores the volts it spreads in his body, tingling but all the more addicting. it sends a jolt to his heart that can never seem to stop after.

for once leona thinks that it’s not too early for this. in fact, there’s never a time where he doesn’t want this affection you’re showering him in, nor the casual teasing and joking around the two of you. because it’s like your mind and hearts are connected.

that’s right. you’re his soulmate and he is yours.

"whatever. you're annoying," leona spat and you nudge him with a laugh.

laughter echoes around the room.

as he said, your laughs are contagious. it's like a plague. something he'd wanna get away from but it's like singing in his ears, a melody that takes away his breath and relives him the joy. he hears it and he's already struggling to hold a smile at your own.

which is uncharacteristic and he hates it.

it's not that he's stuck with you, you're stuck with him.

note. I read this one story in quotev and idk why but it really inspired me, the writing was so good. it was realistic on a degree 😭 and addresses the problem of growing up

yeah never thought I'd enjoy a haikyuu fanfic cause I've left the fandom for years

#ㅤ◜◡◝ . . signed ! #twst #twst x reader #twisted wonderland #twisted wonderland x reader #twisted wonderland headcanons #twisted wonderland scenarios #twisted wonderland imagines #leona #leona kingscholar #leona kingscholar x reader #leona x reader #x gn reader

[creative-heart]

"In the heat of the night"|| Enzo Vogrincic x fem Reader.

A/N: Ok, as promised, here is the Enzo One Shot, please read at your own discretion. As always, narrated in 3POV usage of Y/N

+18 ONLY Heavy smut: If you DO NOT wish to read the smut part, please stop reading after "She considered his proposal for a bit before nodding softly “let me grab my things” she said before going back inside."

T.W: Reference to domestic Violence, Heavy smut, light smoking and drinking reference.

If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, please reach out to the authorities.

Word Count: 2.9k

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

When her Ex husband Luke had laid the first hand on her, Y/N ran away as fast and as far as she possibly could, only the clothes on her bag and a small backpack as what tied her to her past. That’s how she had gotten to New York where the neon lights and the sea of people not only welcomed her but helped her disguise, afraid he would have followed her there, even tho she knew he wouldn’t, he didn’t care enough. 

Now, without any money, or anywhere to turn to, she walked aimlessly around the big apple’s streets until she saw that small disguised red lettered neon sign that read “Velvet Lounge” and she walked in, the cold night air being the last push she needed to let herself through the door. Y/N looked around  and walked over to the bar to talk to the man behind it, after seeing the women dancing on stage and waiting tables and the men lost in a trance looking at the ones moving seductively up there. “Excuse me, hi, I urm…I’m in need of some work and a place to stay, could you maybe help me out?” He nodded and held his hand out.

“Andrew, nice to meet you, come with me, this works on tips by the clients and a percentage of the nights revenues that gets divided between all the girls working each night, it’s just dancing, so should any pervert try anything else on you for money, or not, you let us kow and we’ll ban him, the girls are dancers, not prostitutes” Y/N nodded, still a bit numbed out from all that had been going on around her. He turned around to face her, “you said you had no place to stay, right? you can stay here, there’s a couple of rooms in the back, Cady one of the girls lives here as well, you can start working as soon as you want, but by the looks you got, you’ve been shaken by something, so I would recommend you take a few days, the girls will teach you the works of the place”. 

She nodded again “Tha-thank you Andrew, by the way, my name is Y/N” she placed her backpack down and smiled softly at the ladies backstage. Andrew smiled and nodded “girls, listen up, Y/N here will be staying in the club with Cady, and she’ll start working whenever she’s ready, treat her well, and teach her the works of it, yeah?” he walked back out.

~~~

Almost a month had gone by, and Y/N was slowly letting the fear of coming across Luke go, as she settled into working at Velvet Lounge, she was mostly working the bar for now, her chosen stage name being Blue Diamond, she was getting ready and looked at the girls “I honestly, can’t quite believe it’s been a month since I got here” she smiled softly. Cady smiled as they had grown quite close sharing their every day life.

“Diamond baby, you’ve come out of your shell so beautifully I’m so proud of being your showgirl godmother” she grinned kissing the younger girl’s head “Are you ready for your stage debut tonight? I can sense a full house” Y/N felt the color drain from her face at the last words Cady said and smiled softly.

“I’ll have to be I guess, it’s only just one quick dance before hiding away behind the bar tho, I like it there” she chuckled.

When it was time, the club’s lights turned into a deep blue and Andrew announced through the speaker “And now… making her stage debut, please give a warm welcome to Blue Diamond”. Enzo sat at a table in the back, not really interested in the exotic dancing part, just really seeking the quiet of a place where he wouldn’t be followed by fans and paps. He had been filming in New York for a month now, he had at least two more to go and everywhere he went, there was a sea of people waiting for him, so that night he had decided to go off through the back alleys and walked in the first place he found. As he drank his beer, his eyes darted towards the stage as “Do I wanna know” by the Artic Monkeys started playing and a petite brunette walked onto the stage moving to the music in a way so enchanting and seductive that he couldn’t take his eyes away. 

As Y/N danced to her favorite song, which she had found easier for her first time, she looked around the far end of the room trying not to make eye contact to any of the guys at the front, their gazes too overwhelming for her, just as she scanned the room, her eyes fell on a pair of deep brown eyes that felt like melted chocolate. The man, even though looking straight at her like he wanted to take a look at her soul, didn’t intimidate her, it felt entrancing and mysterious and she liked that. She kept her eyes locked on his for the reminder of the song before getting off stage walking around the room to collect the tips, when she made it to him she winked at the man as she walked by.

 Enzo was lost, that woman had taken the last of his sanity with her, but he didn’t know if it would be appropriate for him to talk to her. He stayed a bit longer and decided against it, going back to his hotel after a few more drinks. Blue Diamond, her name, even is if it was a fake one, and he knew it, keep resonating through his head, the way she moved her hips, the manner in which she looked at him, as if she could see and read each and every though cruising through his mind drove him insane.

Days went by, weeks even, and Enzo couldn’t help but go back to that Wednesday night at the Velvet Lounge, and the way Blue Diamond danced and moved around like she knew she owned the room. As if that weren’t enough, it seemed like everywhere he went, the song she used, “Do I wanna know?” came in through the speakers, he could feel himself growning restless, he needed to talk to her, he needed to see her again, just one look at those dark coffee colored eyes could make him feel better. And so that Friday night, after taking a shower to wash off a whole day of shooting, he made his way back to the bar, he sat down at the same table he had weeks ago, waiting, hoping really, that the woman who had dominated his every thought, asleep or awake would come on the stage. Much to his surprise, she walked over. “Can I get you anything to drink handsome?” Y/N said after she had all but fought Andrew to go wait the table where she saw the same cinnamon skinned man from a few weeks ago sit down.

The Uruguayan looked up and smiled a much sultrier smile he knew himself capable of “a Heineken, and your name…your real name, Blue Diamond” she looked at him eyebrows quirked in confusion. 

“I’m afraid my real name is not possible, I’m working, the beer’s coming right up” she said walking back to the bar, feeling guarded even if she did feel flirtatious and intrigued. The night went on, and Enzo stayed until they all but kicked him out due to the bar closing. As Y/N walked out the side door to have a smoke she ran into the mysterious man’s broad shoulders “Oh…sorry, I didn’t mean to..” she cut off seeing who it was she had ran into “Oh, it’s you…Enzo isn’t it?” she smiled softly as she had seen his name on the receipt.

“That’s me….though it’s not fair, I’m afraid I’m at a disadvantage” he continued as the woman gave him a confused look taking a drag of her cigarette “you know my name and I still do not know yours” he could swear he saw electricity running in the air between them. He wanted to pin that alluring brunette against the wall and kiss her until his lungs gave out to start with, much darker thoughts running through his mind as he took in every single of her features under the dim light of the alleyway.

She bit her lip and smiled softly looking up at the much taller man towering over her “I suppose you’re right….I’m Y/N, nice to officially meet you”. She had been taking him in all night, every chance she got, his chiseled features drawing her in, only to find her mind going back to that unfateful night at her Rocheport Missouri house, where her ex had lost his temper in a way she had never seen before and pulling her away, she couldn’t let herself get caught up with another man. She finished her smoke and put it out before tossing it into the bin “I guess I better go back in, it was nice meeting you…Enzo” his name rolled off her tongue way too easy. She turned around to walk back in, but found herself being stopped by his words.

“Wait….do you have anything to do right now? I’d like to invite you a drink” he said, his voice deep and enticing. He could sense her being guarded off, and he knew she must have some bagage on her shoulders, but he was way too trapped in the moment to let that get in the way. She considered his proposal for a bit before nodding softly “let me grab my things” she said before going back inside.

~~~

Many a few drinks later at a nearby bar left them both looking at eachothers mouths as they spoke, neither of them could, nor wanted to disguise the tension and want filling the air between them, maybe the alcohol could be blamed, maybe it was just what they had been sensing since the very first night, either way, Enzo leaned in, softly grabbing Y/N’s chin between his index and thumb to tilt it up towards him and kissed her, slow at first, but letting all the want he had for her since the first time he saw her on stage seep through his kiss as she slowly parted her lips to allow his tongue the oh so desired entryway. The kiss slowly becoming all consuming, fogging their minds with want and desire, Enzo’s hands found their way to Y/N’s waist at the time hers racked through his dark silky hair pulling him closer, a small moan leaving her lips only to die in his mouth. When they needed to catch their breath the broke apart only slightly as she whispered “let’s get out of here”. He chuckled, the deep sultry sound sending shivers down the girl’s spine as he nodded and walked out wrapping his big hand around her waist, wanting to touch and feel every inch of her.

As soon as they stepped into the hotel’s elevator, he trapped her body against the wall kissing her again, his hands quickly to find her hips to pull her small body to his. She returned the kiss with the same fervor, wrapping her arms around his neck pulling herself as close to the man’s body as humanly possible and then some. When the elevator dinged at his floor, Enzo stumbled out still kissing and holding Y/N, he couldn’t care less to not break the kiss, he never wanted to. He held her tightly so she wouldn’t fall and after a couple steps she placed his hands on the back of her thighs whisking her up so she would wrap her legs around him. 

He fumbled for his room key before letting themselves into the dark room pressing her against the wall once more another quiet sigh leaving her lips as he did. Enzo found his way to her neck placing slow kisses and soft nibbles on her sensitive skin, Y/N’s eyes fluttered closed as she bit her lip to stop her moans and whispered quietly under her breath “oh fuck”, the older man smirked hearing that intoxicating sound come from her lips, tugging at her top until he took it off stumbling over to the bed letting her down quick to take his clothes off.

Y/N’s eyes darkened seeing his tall well worked body in the dim light that came in through the window, copying his actions and stripping down to her underwear. Enzo took a minute to look the gorgeous woman in front of her up and down before laying her down kissing down her body, leaving a trail of hot wet burning sensations, as he moved to the little black lace number that left little to the imagination, not that he minded that it did. He placed a kiss on the inner part of Y/N’s knee before moving up making his way to her already wet center as he looked up at her taking in her expressions to each and every kiss he placed on her sensitive skin.

Her eyes fluttered closed as she let out a shaky breath when she felt the tall man’s lips making contact with her already needy clit, still through the lace of her underwear, trembling fingers finding their way to his hair again tugging gently to let him know she needed more, so much more. She could feel his smirk against her hot sensitive skin as he murmured without breaking too much contact with her “use your words babygirl” the words flowing out of him low, silky and dark sending an electric shock through her entire body.

She couldn’t help the moan that came out of her in such a pathetic way when she heard him say that and whispered “I need more..please” he placed a short kiss on her skin before taking her underwear off going back to the task at hand taking the opportunity to slide a finger in her slowly, groaning at how good her insides felt around his finger, pumping it in and out as he suckled and licked at her throbbing nub. Y/N’s knees fell open more when she felt his finger, moaning again keeping her eyes closed “Eyes on me baby girl” he muttered “I want to see how good I make you feel” she moaned again as she obliged opening her eyes locking her gaze on his. He kept going being absolutely drunk on how good it felt making her feel this way picking up his pace he slid a second finger in and kept going. Soon enough Y/N through her head back letting her orgasm wash away through her as it came. He looked up at her riding her high out before slowly pulling away.  Without even missing a bit, he grabbed a condom from his night stand rolling it onto his already hard dick after taking his underwear off and looked at her. 

Y/N smiled lazily and sat up kissing him before laying him down on his back straddling his lap slowly guiding him to her entrance as she slow and steady let him in, Enzo’s hands flew to her hips groaning “fuck, you feel good babygirl” he let out in a musky tone. Y/N smirked humming softly as she started rocking her hips back and forth eyes locked on his. She moaned softly when a particular movement grazed that oh so sweet spot inside her, she kept moving taking in every single sound and movement that came from the dark haired man beneath her.

~~~

As Y/N played with the sleeping man’s hair resting on her chest, she kept going back to what her life used to be, and what it was now, she remembered Enzo had told her at the bar that he was an actor, and a famous one at that, and she was just an escapee exotic dancer, she couldn’t fool herself into thinking this was anything more than what it had been that night, a really hipnotizing one night stand that shook her entire being. She knew tho, that there could be nothing more, her story was way too complicated to explain to anyone, let alone someone like Enzo, it wasn’t like he was thinking about little house in the prairie and kids with her when he made a move, of course he wasn’t. That’s when she made her head up she placed a kiss on his head softly, gently getting up from the bed as to not wake him up and got dressed placing one last long soft kiss to his temple leaving a note for him that read “This was good, far too good for our own benefit, but it was just in the heat of the night, you’re better off without me, believe me, I know it. Take care, have a great life, xoxo Y/N (your blue diamond)” and walked out of that room to never return.

As she made her way back to the bar she wrapped her arms around her own body, trying to keep the heat and the feeling of his touch from escaping her. She would replay that night countless times in her head, she knew that, if only life were less complicated, if only she were someone better. But sometimes life just is what it is in the heat of the night.

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

@creative-heart @cyliarys-starlight @espinasrubi @candycanes19 @luceracastro @lastflowrr

P.S: If you wanna be tagged in my upcoming work, please just let me know in the comments 🤗💗

#enzo vogrincic x reader #enzo x reader #enzo vogrincic fic #enzo vogrincic smut fic #heavy smut #+18 content #lucia <33 #creative-heart #lsdln cast #creative writing #fanfiction #sexy content #smut #lsdln smut

[muiitoloko]

JEALOUS HARRY HART - KINGSMAN

Author's notes: Hey, guys! Just letting you know that in this one shot your character, you, uses the code name Bedivere. Any spelling errors please let me know as English is not my first language.

Summary: Harry Hart, the epitome of composure and chivalry, finds himself consumed by jealousy as he observes you gracefully dancing with Agent Tequila.

Pairing: Harry Hart ( Kingsman ) × Fem!Reader

Warnings: Jealousy, Possessiveness, and Bad Language (maybe?)

The grand hall of the Kingsman headquarters was elegantly adorned, transformed into a setting befitting a formal dinner. High-level agents from Kingsman and Statesman mingled, their conversations blending with the melodic tunes that filled the air. Among the guests, Harry Hart, the newly appointed head of Kingsman, codenamed Arthur, exuded an air of authority, his eyes surveying the room.

Unbeknownst to the rest of the attendees, Harry held a secret—a clandestine relationship with a fellow agent known as Bedivere. Their connection had quietly blossomed behind closed doors, fueled by stolen moments and shared passions. The age difference between them whispered constantly in their hearts, but their love transcended those trivial boundaries.

As the doors swung open, softly announcing the arrival of someone, a few eyes turned to the captivating figure that commanded attention wherever she went. Her entrance was elegantly late, her form exuding confidence, with mischief dancing in her eyes. Bedivere had just returned from a demanding mission, her weariness concealed beneath her seductive charm.

Searching the room for Harry, Bedivere's gaze fell upon Eggsy, known as Galahad, who was engaged in conversation at the bar with a Statesman agent, recognizable by his cowboy hat. A mischievous smile played on her lips as you approached, her steps graceful and magnetic.

"Eggsy," you greeted, your voice carrying a hint of playfulness. "You seem to be enjoying yourself tonight."

Eggsy turned, his eyes widening in surprise as he registered Bedivere's presence. "Well, well, look who's here, Bedivere. Allow me to introduce you to Agent Tequila," he said, gesturing to the Statesman agent.

Tequila's gaze fixed on Bedivere, his lips curving into a mischievous smile. He leaned forward, pressing a gentle kiss to the back of her hand, attempting to mimic an English gentleman. Tequila couldn't help but tease, "Is that how the English do it?"

You chuckled, your eyes sparkling with amusement. "Oh, Tequila, you have much to learn about our customs," you replied, your tone laced with playful banter. Eggsy inclined his head slightly at the call through the earpiece of his glasses.

Seizing the opportunity, Eggsy excused himself, leaving Bedivere and Tequila alone. You turned to the bartender, ordering a glass of whiskey. Tequila's curiosity got the better of him, and he remarked, "I didn't know you were a whiskey girl."

Bedivere's smile grew, a touch of mystery coloring her gaze. "Well, there's more to me than meets the eye, Agent Tequila," you said, your voice filled with a mix of amusement and secrecy. Taking a sip, you savored the familiar warmth of the amber liquid.

The playful banter continued, a dance of humor and charm between Bedivere and Tequila. As the music filled the air, Tequila pointed to the dance floor, a mischievous glimmer in his eyes. "Care to teach me how to dance like a true English gentleman?"

You hesitated for a moment, your thoughts briefly lingering on the fact that you hadn't spoken to Harry yet. But you pushed those concerns aside, assuming he was busy with his duties as Arthur and entertaining Agent Champ, the head of Statesman. With a nod and a smile, you placed your hand in Tequila's, allowing him to lead you to the dance floor.

Near the dance floor, Harry's eyes followed Bedivere with a mix of admiration and unease. Alongside Eggsy and Champ, his attention was divided between their conversation and the captivating sight of Bedivere gracefully swaying on the dance floor with Tequila. There was a twinge of jealousy in Harry's heart, a possessiveness he struggled to suppress.

His grip tightened around his martini glass, the cool glass offering a brief respite from the heat coursing through his veins. Harry took a deep breath, steadying himself, determined to maintain a facade of composure. He couldn't let his emotions get the best of him, not when the future alliance between Kingsman and Statesman was at stake.

Unaware of the internal battle Harry was waging, Champ continued their conversation, discussing the intricacies of their joint operations. Harry nodded and smiled, his responses automatic, his mind elsewhere. He discreetly activated his glasses, sending a private message to Bedivere, urging her to meet him in the serene gardens just beyond the corridor.

With a renewed determination, Harry excused himself from Champ's company, offering polite pleasantries before making his way towards the exit. The air outside was crisp and refreshing, a stark contrast to the bustling energy of the party. The moon cast a gentle glow upon the meticulously manicured gardens, providing a serene backdrop for their clandestine rendezvous.

Bedivere's heart raced as she received Harry's message through the glasses. Confusion momentarily took hold of her. What had you done this time to justify such urgency? You had been behaving impeccably, or so you believed. Nevertheless, duty called, and you knew shouldn't keep Harry waiting.

Stopping the dance, Bedivere turned to Tequila, a apologetic smile on her lips. "I'm sorry, duty is calling, and I must go," you explained, your tone sincere. Tequila nodded, lifting his cowboy hat in farewell, understanding the demands of your profession. "Until next time, Bedivere," he said with a tinge of regret.

With a sense of purpose, Bedivere quickly made her way through the crowd, her eyes scanning the room for Harry. The dimly lit corridor that led to the serene gardens beckoned, and you followed the path, hoping to locate him there.

Suddenly, you felt a firm grip on your wrist, and before you could react, you were pulled into a secluded corner. You collided with a solid chest and looked up, meeting Harry's annoyed gaze. Confusion swirled in your mind as he spun you around and pressed you against the wall, his hands on either side of your head, effectively trapping you between his body and the hard surface.

"What are you doing, Harry?" Bedivere questioned, her voice filled with surprise and anticipation. Her heart raced, intrigued by the unknown intensity in his eyes. This was a side of Harry you hadn't witnessed before, and it both thrilled and intrigued her.

Harry's tone was laced with a touch of jealousy as he asked, "Were you enjoying yourself with Agent Tequila?" Bedivere couldn't help but smile mischievously, realizing the source of his agitation. Harry's composed demeanor was slipping, and it was thrilling for you to witness him crumble in your presence.

Toying with the button of his suit jacket, you provocatively replied while undoing his jacket, "Oh, Harry, I must admit, I was having a splendid time." Your words elicited a low growl from him, his hand finding the back of your neck, guiding your gaze to meet his. The intensity in his eyes softened his resolve, and you found yourself melting under his touch.

You reassured him, your voice filled with warmth, "Tequila is just a colleague, nothing more." But Harry retorted, his voice husky with desire, "He wasn't looking at you like he wanted to be just a colleague. He was looking at you like he wanted to eat you alive." Bedivere couldn't resist teasing him further. With a playful smile, you said, "And isn't that how you look at me too, Harry?"

Harry's grip tightened around your waist, pulling you closer to him. His touch sent shivers down your spine as he whispered, "The difference is, I can look at you like that because you belong to me." Bedivere nodded, acknowledging his claim, feeling a sense of belonging and security in his possessiveness.

Their lips crashed together in a passionate kiss, the culmination of their hidden desires and the release of pent-up tension. When they pulled apart, Harry whispered in your ear, his voice filled with desire, "Go home and wait for me in my bed, Bedivere." You played with his tie, your voice teasing as you asked, "What? Are you planning to eat me tonight, Arthur?"

A smile graced Harry's lips as he took a step back, buttoning his jacket. "Count on it," he replied, his eyes filled with promises. With a final glance, he turned and walked away, leaving Bedivere yearning for more.

Watching him disappear back into the Kingsman mansion, Bedivere adjusted his attire, a sense of anticipation coursing through his veins. You walked confidently to where you had parked the car, ready to obey Harry's command and go home, knowing that your passion would ignite again behind closed doors. The night held promises of love, desire and a future intertwined with secrecy and adventure.

As you walked away from the garden, Bedivere couldn't help but smile. No matter what challenges they faced, their love remained unyielding, stronger than ever. And you looked forward to the moment when you would find yourself in Harry's arms, ready to explore the depths of their connection once more.

#kingsman #harry hart x reader #colin firth #colin firth x reader #harry hart #gary unwin #agent tequila #kingsman secret service #galahad x reader #kingsman fanfiction

[turiluvr]

butterflies

featherlight kisses that feel like butterflies.

tighnari x gn!reader

Tighnari wasn't someone who was fond of trapping insects into small jars for experimentation – some part of him thinks it's inhumane, that there was something severely wrong with the concept of using life for the sake of research. But down to the very core, he was a promising scholar who was dominated by curiosity. And the deliberation about whether or not it was morally correct to use small insects for the sake of research was right or wrong was thrown into the furthest part of his mind as he took some glass jars and stashed them into his knapsack.

"Master Tighnari, wait up!" You made your way into his abode without another warning as you panted, out of breath after running all the way from the forest to his quarters as he stared at you curiously. Though he continued shoving items into his bag – a notepad, a pen, some samples of herbs and plants, and a plethora of tools that could help him with his next experiment. You continued, hand on your chest as you still tried to catch your breath. "You could've told me beforehand that you were going to take a trip to the forest to catch samples! Take me with you, please, I need to collect some samples as well."

He stared at you from the corner of his eye as he closed his bag and readied himself to go outside. He pondered for a moment if he should allow you to accompany him or not, though you probably wouldn't appreciate a little teasing given your serious expression. So he responded with the same level of seriousness: "Alright. Though, you'll have to stick next to me since we're going pretty far this time. If you manage to find yourself lost because you didn't listen to a word I said, don't come looking for me – got it?"

You nodded your head as you grabbed your bag and trailed behind him as both of you set out on your journey to go deep into the forest. The familiar green was as captivating as ever as the sun shone directly above the leaves that provided you with shade, you couldn't help but gawk in awe every time you saw the lush leaves and the colorful plants that you come across during your patrols. Tighnari caught you slowing down from the corner of his eye, and his ear twitched ever so slightly as he asked you: "what's wrong?"

You shook your head and waved your hands violently, embarrassed that he caught you doing something as stupid as staring at the trees you see everyday. "Oh, no! Nothing's wrong! I… I was just thinking about how beautiful the flowers are."

"...? Do you not see this sight every day?" Tighnari couldn't help but grow curious as he knitted his brows together. He knew that you were lying through your teeth, and he just wasn't the type to let that kind of thing go – especially when the excuse you gave him was so lame and full of holes. He thought that maybe he could teach you a thing or two about coming up with better excuses but that was another lesson saved for another day.

You laughed nervously, you knew Tighnari well and you could immediately make out the sarcasm dripping from his voice as you made your way through the thick bushes. "Well, yes, I do. But is it not possible that the flowers are more radiant today?"

"Hmm, it's not entirely impossible." Tighnari chuckled. At this point, this friendly banter became something both played along with. "Though I'm sure you know full well that I can tell whether or not you're trying to hide something. Our time together has not been entirely in vain."

"Master Tighnari…" you grimaced. "Observing people so closely like that can ward people away from you, you know?"

Tighnari stopped in his tracks, a mischievous look gracing his features as he turned to look at you for a moment and muttered, "and yet you continue to follow me around. I wonder why – could you be inexplicably attracted to me?"

You fell silent, and a satisfied look took over Tighnari's face as he continued marching on. You felt your face flush in embarrassment as you chased after him – how humiliating was that!? You regretted not being able to come up with a better retort to his words but there was an invisible force that made you want to blurt out your true feelings. The rest of the journey was silent as both of you finally arrived at your final destination, it was a grassy field with butterflies and flowers scattered all over as it painted an ethereal sight to behold.

The first thing Tighnari did was sit down on the grassy field and whipped out his pencil and notepad, quickly scribbling down his findings before turning back to you: “Well, what are you waiting for? If you’re gonna catch some samples, you better hurry up – we don’t have all day, and I won’t be waiting for you past sunset.”

His tone was a little mean, perhaps a little cruel at best but you knew that those were nothing but empty threats meant to push you a little and to tease you. It was Tighnari’s sick way of thinking, but you were too used to it to argue with him about it. So you quickly got to work as you scooped up some samples from the barks of the trees and stashed them into small vials inside your bag. A few strange mushrooms were lying around here and there but you didn’t know if they were an invasive species so you left it alone and made sure to notify Tighnari about them.

By the time you were done, Tighnari was finalizing his notes as you sat down next to him and stretched your limbs as you let out a small groan. “Argh… I can’t believe I have to work on this some more after we come back home, there’s really no rest for us, is there?”

“Well, you get what you signed up for.” Tighnari nudged you, poking on the fact that you took up this job entirely out of your own volition. There was no one that forced you to join and no one forced you to stay – but there was one problem, Tighnari. It was hysterical to think that he was the reason why you would endure the harsh jobs. It was to stay with him and continue seeing him, though you didn’t know if he knew about your little crush and you hoped that this little outing wasn’t enough for him to figure out that you were hopelessly crushing on him.

“Haha… you’re right.” But it would be a waste to let this opportunity come by without doing anything. Both of you were alone, after all. It wasn’t strange for you to want to get closer to him especially in this kind of situation and in this beautiful place. You gathered the courage, taking in a sharp breath, “Hey… Master Tighnari, are you seeing someone? Or… do you perhaps like someone?”

It was a straightforward question. And Tighnari was no idiot.

A butterfly passed by. One with white wings along with green features that made it seem like it was shining underneath the light like jewels – your eyes trailed its movements, desperate to not look at Tighnari out of embarrassment. There was little you could do when you impulsively tried to look toward him and felt a brief and light presence on your lips for a split second before feeling the cold warmth take over once more.

That was…?

By the time you had your thoughts together, Tighnari was already standing up and dusting the dirt from his clothes. But he didn’t face you. You touched your lips gently with your fingertips, you wondered if that was just a figment of your imagination or if it was real – a featherlight kiss that felt like a butterfly landing on your lips.

“That should suffice as an answer to your question.” Tighnari finally faced you, face a little red and his eyebrows furrowed as if mildly embarrassed. “Now, let’s go. The sun is about to set.”

You couldn’t believe it – did he really…? You felt like you were being driven mad.

#genshin impact #genshin #tighnari x reader #genshin tighnari #genshin imagine #genshin x reader #genshin tighnari x reader #my writing

[demonichikikomori]

Detention

Floyd Leech x GN!Reader Word Count: 1.2k+ Tags: Stick n' Poke/Fluff(?)/Enemies -> Lovers (Kinda)

Art by cloa132 on Twitter!

Another fic for 13 Lovely Hauntings is here! I like the idea of being stuck in detention with Floyd hehe. Think of how horrible he would be... Stuck in a room with him a little too long... Get your mind out of the gutter. Oh, but, please don't do stick n' poke tattoos! They're actually very unsafe! If you want a tattoo, go to a shop!

SUMMARY:

You and Floyd are stuck in detention together. You learn how creative the eel can be when he's bored enough and someone teaches him something cool.

This could be what you considered: the shittiest outcome possible.

You were left alone in an empty classroom with Floyd Leech, your cheek throbbing as you held a goofy ice pack against it, and your blank homework in front of you with the teachers desk ahead of you devoid of life. The whole reason you were even here was because of Floyd. He always needed an excuse to push your buttons. To poke and prod at you until you either gave in or snapped back in retaliation. Today? You chose the latter.

It was another boring day in Professor Trein’s class with you nearly falling asleep as he droned on about the history of magic. Before you could peacefully drift away behind a taller student in front of you, there was a spine chilling giggle beside you. Floyd poked you in the temple once, twice, three times while demanding you wake up and suffer through class with him. You immediately threatened to punch him in the face if he did it again. It was his own fault for not taking your warning seriously. 

The two of you ended up brawling among the sea of desks the moment your knuckles connected with the left side of his face as Floyd drove his finger into the side of your head. Hair was pulled, punches exchanged, you were sure at one point Floyd had indeed bit you somewhere; and here you are. Sitting only a desk away from him in discomforting silence as you tried to distract yourself with something productive. 

The two of you refused to speak to one another until you were finally free from the after school punishment. Only three hours left. You lowered the ice pack as the chill began to sting your bruise and tapped your pencil against the paper as you began to work. “You’re too noisy. Shut up so I can focus.” Floyd growled as you glared at him with a scowl. “You can’t be deadass right now.” You refused to take any rude comments from him considering it's his fault the two of you were here. You wanted to say something else, but the sight on Floyd’s desk distracted you. 

A broken pencil, a bottle of original flavored ramune, papers scattered across the surface with scratchy pen drawings in colored ink, an opened water bottle with the plastic cap lying face up, a small pile of cream colored thread, a blue lighter, and a needle. Floyd’s little science project was much more intriguing  than your homework and you swiveled in your seat to face him. The eel did annoy you, but you couldn’t deny that he was creative when he wanted to be. He had created some sort of wet paste out of dark gray pencil lead, smearing the black mush into the divet of the plastic water bottle lid. He had taken the loose thread and the needle to create some sort of… Weapon? A drawing tool? You hadn’t realized you were staring until Floyd turned to you with a snicker. 

“Kinda cool riiiight? Devilfish taught me. That's why you needed to be quiet. I needed to focus.” He sang softly with a wide toothy smile. As you studied his face, you could see a purpling bruise forming over his left eye. Your eyes quickly darted down to the one man science fair out of guilt. Devilfish… That would be Lilia. “He taught you to… Do what exactly?” You couldn’t tell what exactly Floyd was making. “Huh? I thought it was a human thing. Devilfish said humans do it all the time.” Floyd was displeased with your lack of knowledge as he dabbed the needle wrapped in thread into the wet mixture of graphite, water, and whatever else Floyd tossed in. “Izah’ stick n’ poke.” A snicker followed as he held a hand out to you with his toothy grin growing. “Lemme give you one.” He offered and you quickly scooted away in your seat with a frown. “No! What?! I’m not letting you give me a tattoo!” You scoffed at the idea of letting someone you couldn’t stand give you something permanent on your skin. 

Floyd rolled his eyes and turned away before placing his hand on the table, and he began to draw on his hand with the makeshift tattoo tool. “Whatever.” He hummed as he continued in silence, uninterested in arguing with you further. Usually he would pursue things like this. His lack of energy left you with an uncomfortable pit in your chest. It’s not like you wanted him to argue or mess with you. But when he didn’t, it felt strange. Maybe you were just conditioned to be used to him provoking you. Yeah, that’s got to be it. “Just give me one next.” You crossed your arms over your chest as you looked back down at your paper. You could hear him giggling softly as he continued to etch the graphite paste into his skin. “Kayyyyyy!~”

The process didn’t take long as he lifted his hand to admire his work with sparkling eyes. “All done, your turn Shrimpy.” He cheered and held out the freshly tattooed hand to you palm up. You couldn’t see the design he did, or if he did a good job or not. “Don’t fuck it up.” You sighed away your anxiety as you gave him your least dominant hand to work on. “And don’t make it too big.” You pleaded as you nervously shifted in your seat. You were starting to regret your decision, but the moment the needle pressed into your skin, you knew there was no chance to back out now.

You flinched and tensed up from a prick of pain. But you were hypnotized by the sight of him working. Watching him poke and scratch at your skin with the makeshift tool was oddly mesmerizing. The longer he remained focused on etching the design into the side of your hand, the more his features softened. In the blink of an eye and a gentle tilt of his head, you feared that you may have been in the presence of Jade Leech instead. The much calmer between the two was the one giving you a stick and poke tattoo, not Floyd. 

Your heart began to pick up speed as you found yourself no longer watching his hands, but his face as he focused and worked. When he wasn’t messing with you… You could understand the attraction other students expressed. His personality was extremely hard to deal with. But when Floyd was still? You felt like you understood. “What’re you starin’ at?” He asked as his eyes suddenly met yours and you had tensed up even more. “Your stupid eyes. They don’t match.” You couldn’t help but to say something rude. Floyd was quiet, and smirked at your response before his eyes returned to the tattoo. “I’m done.” He hummed as the hand holding the needle retracted, but the one he was holding remained.

A cartoon shrimp was scrawled into your skin, it was a fitting choice from Floyd who had gifted you the nickname. “You gotta let it dry, so don’t wash your hands for a while.” He instructed as he admired his work with eyes half lidded. It was as if the sight of his handiwork was truly breathtaking. In your opinion, it wasn’t too bad either. “What did you give yourself?” You asked as he finally let go to slip his hand beside yours. As your skin met, a drawing of a moray eel, and a drawing of a small shrimp, pressed their round little mouths together. 

You almost wanted to punch him. But you chose to yank your hand away with embarrassment as his laugh filled the empty classroom.

Tagged Accounts: @candlewitch-cryptic

#13 Lovely Hauntings #floyd leech #floyd leech x mc #floyd x reader #floyd twst #floyd leech x reader #floyd leech x yuu

[milkywaydrabbles]

He who was found in chains, set free. | VI.

A/N: This is where I'll probably start changing the timeline a bit for the sake of the fic. Canon compliant, for the most part. But you will notice instances of change.

TW: mention of self harm, mention of abuse.

I hope you're all still enjoying the fic as much as I'm enjoying writing it! mwuah xoxo

(Also if anyone would like to be part of a tag list for this fic hmu I will start tagging y'all!)

Can be found on AO3, here!

The days would pass as they normally did, except now you had a safe haven, with food and shelter and a bath, along with the company that wanted you there. It was an absolute dream in your eyes. This was probably the most normal you had felt since being sold. Instances were still difficult for you, like going out to the market. Alucard...Adrian, had asked you if you would like to accompany him to a nearby village, to gather more spices and vegetables he hadn’t grown himself yet. Dread filled your existence with the mere thought of going back out to a public space. You feared you would see someone you knew, somehow, and tell him where you had gone. Hell, you didn’t even know if the man was still alive with all the attacks happening every night. He could have been dead for all you knew. Still, the chance that he could have possibly caught wind of your current settlement was enough to have all the color drain from your face. You politely declined, with a forced smile, stating you’d rather ‘stay here and finish up the housework.’ (He knew you were just making an excuse, he saw how terrified you were. His heart broke for you.)

To make it up to you, he bought you a few journals, he figured you wanted them with how many marked pages there were in your books. You beamed at him like the sun. 

Most nights would be the same also: you and Adrian reading more on magic, him teaching you more of the basic elemental skills witches can learn easily. You also asked him questions on the book of the human body, how to say certain words and to explain certain excerpts better. He happily obliged, giving you time to write down in your fresh journal a few notes. You studied something more akin to druidic magic as you came to learn. More restorative, healing magic abilities. Combining the forces of nature. These studies were mostly on your own, with Adrian reading up on his own studies. He wasn’t able to help you much in that regard, his own magical abilities stopping at the basics or transfiguration, simply there to help with incantations you couldn’t say. But you enjoyed his company. Other nights, well, other nights were...difficult. On more than one occasion Adrian had woken up to the sounds of you screaming, crying hysterically in your sleep. Usually you would wake up before it got too bad, or calmed yourself before Adrian ever opened your door.

Tonight wasn’t one of those nights.

It was always difficult for Adrian to sleep, nightmares coming to him regularly as well. But tonight he was glad he had still been awake, as he heard faint sounds of you crying from down the hall. He was instantly on his feet, making his way down to your room, trying his best to stay calm as he approached you. You were balled up, hands and jaw clenched, tears staining your face. You hyperventilated, nearly choking when oxygen couldn’t come fast enough. He called out to you, trying to coax you awake, but it was so difficult when you jerked away even in slumber. Calling your name once more, he slowly went to reach a hand onto your shoulder and you jostled awake, screaming out.

“Don’t touch me!” you screeched, arms covering your head as you sat up, nails clawing at your own scalp. Adrian took a step back, kneeling down next to the bed and tried your name again. “Please, look at me, it’s Alucard..” He paused, correcting himself. “It’s just me, Adrian. Come on, look at me.” You heard him, muffled and so distant, but you heard him. Your screams dulled down, able to concentrate a bit more on the sound of his voice. All you saw was him. Filling your senses and your mind, was only him. And it was so hard to drown it all out and focus on Adrian. Your eyes were looking at him, but still so unfocused, scanning the room out of fear. “He’s, he was here, he was here!” You sobbed, clawing at your marred arms. Alucard shushed you as best he could, reaching out for you again, stopping you from puncturing skin with how harshly you were scratching at yourself.

“He wasn’t, he was never here, it was a nightmare that’s all.” He whispered, taking your face into his hands once he deemed you calm enough to let go of your hands. Finally, finally you focused on Adrian, silently weeping into his hands. He whispered your name, brushing away the tears from your face. “It’s okay, you’re safe.” 

Even after fleeing from that hell you’ve endured all your life, you couldn’t escape it. You closed your eyes tight and cried, softly, hands grasping at the sleeves of Alucard’s pajamas. You didn’t know what to say, feeling too scared to even feel embarrassment over what had happened. Alucard dipped in closer, pressing his forehead to yours and continued reassuring you that no one would touch you. 

The two of you stayed like this for some time.

--

You danced awkwardly around each other for the first few hours of the day. You didn’t know how to address what had happened the night before, and Alucard had been feeling entirely too many emotions after being so close to you. You both thought the same thing however: the entire situation was much more intimate than the circumstance allowed. It felt like too much, Alucard hadn’t touched someone since Sumi and Taka arrived at his door, and you had never had a man touch you without taking advantage of you. This was unchartered territory, and neither of you were ready to explore that.

So you didn’t.

And you ignored it.

Today was a bit different, after breakfast and washing up you accompanied him outside to the small homestead he had begun behind the castle. You had helped with the weeding, tending to the vegetables and herbs, and even picked some that were ready to be consumed. You already had some ideas for the next few dinners seeing all the fresh goods you had just gathered. Unknown to you, Adrian had looked over while your back was turned and he couldn’t help but smile. And then looked at your exposed arms and legs, remembering all the lacerations he had seen when you first got there. And his smile dropped. 

He supposed today was as good a day as any to ask about them.

--

Alucard made dinner tonight- spatchcocked chicken with carrots and potatoes- you had grown more accustomed to being able to eat delicious meals freely (though some days you still stuttered through a meal, constantly reminding yourself you didn’t have to wait for him to finish his food before beginning). And then he spoke your name.

“What of..what of the lacerations on your arms? And legs? Did he...did he--” Did he make them? Or did you?

You swallowed, and looked anywhere else rather than his direction. Shame filled you, and you tightened your grip on the silverware. “I, uhm, well...--most of them came from him.” Most. Adrian held his breath, and tongue. “I told him the first ones were an accident, but he didn’t like that. So he....he, ah,” your breath quickened, reminded of the terrors.

“So you think it’s cute to fuck with my property, huh? You think it’s fun to damage what’s mine?!” He screamed, towering over you with a knife in one hand, makeshift gag in another. “No one gets to do that but me, you hear me you witch whore?!” You opened your mouth to apologize, instead a wad of fabric was shoved into your mouth and tied behind your head, muffling any sound. You eyes wide, frantically looking at your master trying to scoot away from him from the floor. 

“If you want cuts so bad, then that’s what I’ll give you.” He smirked, before getting to work.

 “I don’t, uhm, I don’t want to talk about it anymore.” You choked out, drinking some water to calm yourself. 

“I’m sorry,” Adrian started “It wasn’t my intention to harm you, I shouldn’t have pried.” 

You shook your head. “No, it’s okay, I understand. I am still a stranger to you.” Not really he wanted to rebuttal, but let you continue. “I would be curious too.”

“Well, are you?” You blinked, looking at Adrian with confusion.

“Curious, I mean. Are you curious about me? We are still strangers.” You could hear a hint of teasing in his tone, the small smirk showing a fang. You smiled.

“I’m curious to learn whatever you will share with me, Adrian.”

-

You and Alucard spoke for hours, well after dinner and cleaning up. Well after it was time for bed. He shared with you his childhood, stories of his mother, looking fondly at the portraits painted of her and his father. He shared tales of Dracula’s travels, how he was a man of science with knowledge to save the world if he really wanted to. And then he told you about Sumi and Taka. And what they had done to him, and what he had done to them. That answered the question of the corpses hanging in front of the castle.

 You, in turn, shared with him any fond memories you can remember. Memories in Gresit with villagers that treated you kindly. You were never sure if they knew the horrors your master had inflicted upon you. And if they did, they never spoke a word of it. All you could be sure was that they never found out you were a witch, something he always hung over your head as a threat. You told him stories of the children you had babysat a few times, stories of their parents.

You told him a story of someone you could have loved, maybe, if times were different.

His chest tightened as you spoke that one. 

You noticed a shift.

“Have you..have you ever been in love, Adrian?” You whispered, almost embarrassed to ask. 

“Hm...no, I don’t think I have.” He looked towards the fire that had been burning in the study. “I don’t think I’ve ever had the opportunity to. It’s been...quite the journey since Dracula.” 

You frowned, thinking aloud to yourself, “I wonder what it feels like, being in love...” you sighed, scribbling nothing in particular in the corner of a journal. 

“I don’t think it’d feel any different.” Adrian answered. “I think...I think you’ll just..know, when you’re in love. And the world will look a bit brighter.” Even if the world’s on fire, it might be bearable with someone you love. 

 The two of you ended up staring at each other, and your breath hitched. Alucard spoke first. “I think it’s time for bed.” Barely above a whisper, and you nodded, bidding him a good night. 

-

It had been a month since you first arrived, and there had been a drastic shift in the air since. What started off tense, volatile, and overwhelming had turned comforting, safe. You felt, dare you say it, almost at home. Sure, there had been times were the line between friend and something else was blurred, but the two of you managed to live together without issues.

A month of studying, slowly learning magic. Apparently you were a natural, according to Adrian. You had been able to catch on much quicker than he had thought possible in the beginning. You were so willing to learn, and absorb as much knowledge that you could that in all honesty it shouldn’t have been a shock to him. But it was a shock to you, how quickly you were able to use regenerative properties to heal, learn how to grow vegetation around you, even shift some soil around you. You had been doing so well, you were learning how to breathe again.

And then it felt a little harder to breathe, when they returned.

You were in the library when you heard a man you’ve never heard before boom his voice throughout the castle. Followed by a more demure voice, a woman perhaps. And then footsteps. And then the footsteps got closer, until they were outside the door that had just swung open. 

“Uh...who the hell are you?”

“Belmont! Be nice” 

You shrunk into yourself. It’d been too long since you’ve had to learn how to interact with people. Trusting Adrian as much as you did now had been an arduous process, and now there are strangers in front of you, asking who you are, bickering with each other. And it was getting harder to breathe, and harder to focus, and your chest felt tight. “Ah, I’m--I’ve been here, living--I uhm,” you couldn’t get any real sentence out, backing yourself towards the towering shelf and gripping onto the sleeves of another blouse gifted to you.

“I’m sorry, my brain damaged partner here is a brute and doesn’t know how to address women properly.” The woman scowled at the man she was with. “Although, I am curious to know what you’re doing here, Alucard normally doesn’t allow...guests. Who are you?” She questioned you again, and you couldn’t find your voice. Everything was suddenly too loud, heart beating in your ears. Your breaths were shallow, going into a state of shock. You wanted to shrink, you wanted to disappear, you wanted to--

“I would appreciate it if you didn’t crowd my guest.” Alucard spoke from behind the pair. Except he was smiling. He was smiling at these strangers, and welcomed them into his home with open arms. You tasted bitterness on your tongue. “Sypha,” he regarded the woman with a smile. Your heart clenched. “Belmont.” He sounded annoyed speaking to the other, but there was still a smile on his face. “She’s a friend.” He introduced you to the two still in front of you, and you forced a smile and a small bow, hands now gripping the front of your blouse by your chest. It was still difficult to breathe. “It’s nice to meet you both. I’m sorry, but I just remembered I have to do something, excuse me.” You scurried away without further explanation, and without shooting a glance at Alucard who seemed lost. 

Belmont, as you knew him, snorted out a laugh. “Finally brought home a woman, huh Alucard? What, only one you could find is as skittish as a mouse?” He really thought he was so funny. And in any other case Alucard would retort with something witty or taunting. Instead, he was cold in response.

“Do not speak about her like that.” 

The man in question furrowed his brows and sighed, dropping it. Sypha chimed in. “Oookay, we came here to catch up! And...ask for help. There’s trouble.”

-

While you were initially going to make the two of you dinner, you feigned suddenly ill, and stayed in your room for the rest of the evening. Alucard, worried, had made dinner with you in mind anyways and fed the two strangers, who had left an hour later to the Belmont hold beneath the Castle. Alucard went to your door, then. 

He knocked. No response. He knocked again, and waited. Maybe you were ill, or perhaps sleeping. Maybe in the bath? He called out your name, and he heard a squeak of a chair. Then patters of your feet. And then the click of the latch.

“Yes?” You spoke, watching him between the crack of the door you had opened. 

“Will you eat dinner with me?” He asked, hopeful. You shook your head. “I’m sorry Adrian I don’t feel well, I wouldn’t want to get you sick--”

“They went to the hold outside. They won’t be back for at least an hour, I assume.” He interrupted. “Please...have dinner with me.”

It was hard to say no to him when he asked so kindly.

You ate in silence, silverware scraping across the plates. You didn’t know how to express how or what  you had been feeling. So you didn’t. And stayed quiet. But Adrian wouldn’t have it.

“Those are my friends. Trevor, and Sypha. They’re good people.” He started, feeling your apprehension. “They helped me defeat Dracula. They have...saved my life on some occasions. I’m very grateful to them.” He’ll never tell Trevor that though. “I do hope you can give them some grace, they don’t know about your, ah, past. But I understand you needing time for that also.”

You could have cried right then and there. Adrian always knows when you need to hear something.

“I’m sorry.” You choked. “I’m sorry for being rude to your friends.”

“Don’t misunderstand, I don’t want nor need your apologies. You’ve done nothing wrong. I only wish for you to know who they are...that’s all.” He reached over the table, extending a hand, open palm, towards you. You don’t know why you felt so inclined to, but your hand met his. Fingers barely touching, but touching nonetheless. You smiled, looking down towards the table. 

The doors swung open, startled you retracted your hand back to your lap. 

It looked like Trevor was going to speak up, but Sypha beat him to it. 

“We need to go, Alucard.” 

“Adrian, where are you going?”

The pair looked on, almost shocked at the name that came out of your mouth. Don’t they know his name is Adrian and not Alucard? 

“There’s...There’s trouble. And they need me to be Alucard. I..I have to go.” It almost pained him to say those words to you. 

You said nothing, tears pooling at the corners of your eyes. But you knew better than to be selfish. You had grown so accustomed to being here, it never occurred to you that you might have to leave. “I’ll pack my things, I’ll just be a minute--”

“You’re staying here.”

You paused for a moment. “But you’re leaving, why would you let me stay in your home unattended?”

“Because it’s your home now, too.” Alucard forgot he had an audience. Trevor cleared his throat, and then grunted with Sypha elbowing him in the side. His neck burned, embarrassed anyone else was here to witness this. He sighed, taking strides towards you and squatting down to your level at the table.

“Stay here. Take care of the castle. I’ll be back soon, alright?”

You nodded.

He left.

And the castle felt just as lonely and cold as the day you left Gresit.

#adrian tepes #alucard x reader #castlevania #adrian tepes x reader #alucard tepes x reader #castlevania (2017) #alucard #alucard (castlevania) #alucard tepes #castlevania netflix #he who was found in chains set free #hwwficsf #milk writes

[junkratsjunkertown]

Junkrat with a reader who has a missing eye? And reader tends to bump into walls, trip on nothing, and get lost really easily? (Oh and also they don't have the best vision lol. Reader can't really read signs on buildings/billboards/ect cuz it's too blurry for them)

I love this so much. Sorry for taking so long I’ve been stressed for months.

Keeping a Close Eye

Junkrat x Missing Eye! Reader

You used to be a field agent for Overwatch. That was until you got debris in your eyes. Mercy got all of the debris out of one eye, but had to remove the other eye. She had to remove it because the cornea had such a deep wound and couldn’t be saved. She did give you a prosthetic eye.

You asked Reinhardt and Ana if they could teach you how to navigate through the base. No matter how hard you try you still bump into walls, trip over nothing, and get lost.

~2 weeks after the incident~

You were trying to get to Winston’s lab when you accidentally bumped into a tall figure. You dropped the papers and immediately crouched down to pick them up.

“You should watch where you’re going, mate.”

Great the last people you wanted to run into accidentally. You finally grab the last paper, stand up, and look the men in the face. Or at least where you think their faces should be because they’re on your bad side.

“I can’t see where I’m going on my bad side. Now if you’ll excuse me I have to get to Winston’s lab.”

Junkrat frowned and looked at Roadhog.

“You should go apologize, Rat. They aren’t having the best time right now. They lost their eye.”

“Oh alright, Roadie.”

Junkrat goes off in the direction you went. Once he caught up to you he saw that you were staring at a sign that had arrows pointing in different directions. He walked up next to your good side.

“I’m sorry about what I said. I didn’t know. Honestly. Can I make it up to you by helping you get to Winston?”

You groan then sigh. You look at his face. You couldn’t tell if he actually felt bad.

“You can help. But please walk slowly.”

He grins, takes your hand, and you two head to Winston. You get to the lab and give Winston the papers. You apologize for them out of order. Junkrat says that it was his fault. You sit on the closest seat which was a couple of inches away from where you thought it was. You started to fall, but you didn’t hit the ground. You looked up to see that Junkrat had caught you.

“I guess I should keep a closer eye on you.”

He laughs at his joke.

“I guess you should.”

~2 months after the incident~

You were in Mercy’s office. She had said that she was working on a functional prosthetic eye for you. One that had vision, but the vision would be a little blurry. You had Junkrat with you for support and to make sure you didn’t trip or get lost and miss the appointment.

“So I did try to get the color as close to the eye as possible.”

Mercy informs you. She hands you the new prosthetic after you took your old one out. You took a deep breath and put in the new one. You blinked a few times and looked around the room. It was a little blurry, but it was better than seeing nothing. You looked at where Junkrat was sitting. You could see his form better than before. Mercy had you do some eye tests before you left.

You did trip a couple of times while you and Junkrat were going to meet up with Roadhog. You ended up falling asleep in Roadhog’s room while the two Junkers were working on stuff. No matter how bad you felt about your situation you knew that you had someone keeping a close eye on you.

#junkrat fluff #junkrat x reader fluff #overwatch fluff #overwatch junkrat x reader #overwatch x reader #overwatch x reader fluff

[ominous-inscription]

butterfly

featherlight kisses that feel like butterflies.

tighnari x gn!reader

Tighnari wasn't someone who was fond of trapping insects into small jars for experimentation – some part of him thinks it's inhumane, that there was something severely wrong with the concept of using life for the sake of research. But down to the very core, he was a promising scholar who was dominated by curiosity. And the deliberation about whether or not it was morally correct to use small insects for the sake of research was right or wrong was thrown into the furthest part of his mind as he took some glass jars and stashed them into his knapsack. 

"Master Tighnari, wait up!" You made your way into his abode without another warning as you panted, out of breath after running all the way from the forest to his quarters as he stared at you curiously. Though he continued shoving items into his bag – a notepad, a pen, some samples of herbs and plants, and a plethora of tools that could help him with his next experiment. You continued, hand on your chest as you still tried to catch your breath. "You could've told me beforehand that you were going to take a trip to the forest to catch samples! Take me with you, please, I need to collect some samples as well."

He stared at you from the corner of his eye as he closed his bag and readied himself to go outside. He pondered for a moment if he should allow you to accompany him or not, though you probably wouldn't appreciate a little teasing given your serious expression. So he responded with the same level of seriousness: "Alright. Though, you'll have to stick next to me since we're going pretty far this time. If you manage to find yourself lost because you didn't listen to a word I said, don't come looking for me – got it?" 

You nodded your head as you grabbed your bag and trailed behind him as both of you set out on your journey to go deep into the forest. The familiar green was as captivating as ever as the sun shone directly above the leaves that provided you with shade, you couldn't help but gawk in awe every time you saw the lush leaves and the colorful plants that you come across during your patrols. Tighnari caught you slowing down from the corner of his eye, and his ear twitched ever so slightly as he asked you: "what's wrong?" 

You shook your head and waved your hands violently, embarrassed that he caught you doing something as stupid as staring at the trees you see everyday. "Oh, no! Nothing's wrong! I… I was just thinking about how beautiful the flowers are." 

"...? Do you not see this sight every day?" Tighnari couldn't help but grow curious as he knitted his brows together. He knew that you were lying through your teeth, and he just wasn't the type to let that kind of thing go – especially when the excuse you gave him was so lame and full of holes. He thought that maybe he could teach you a thing or two about coming up with better excuses but that was another lesson saved for another day.

You laughed nervously, you knew Tighnari well and you could immediately make out the sarcasm dripping from his voice as you made your way through the thick bushes. "Well, yes, I do. But is it not possible that the flowers are more radiant today?" 

"Hmm, it's not entirely impossible." Tighnari chuckled. At this point, this friendly banter became something both played along with. "Though I'm sure you know full well that I can tell whether or not you're trying to hide something. Our time together has not been entirely in vain."

"Master Tighnari…" you grimaced. "Observing people so closely like that can ward people away from you, you know?" 

Tighnari stopped in his tracks, a mischievous look gracing his features as he turned to look at you for a moment and muttered, "and yet you continue to follow me around. I wonder why – could you be inexplicably attracted to me?" 

You fell silent, and a satisfied look took over Tighnari's face as he continued marching on. You felt your face flush in embarrassment as you chased after him – how humiliating was that!? You regretted not being able to come up with a better retort to his words but there was an invisible force that made you want to blurt out your true feelings. The rest of the journey was silent as both of you finally arrived at your final destination, it was a grassy field with butterflies and flowers scattered all over as it painted an ethereal sight to behold. 

The first thing Tighnari did was sit down on the grassy field and whipped out his pencil and notepad, quickly scribbling down his findings before turning back to you: “Well, what are you waiting for? If you’re gonna catch some samples, you better hurry up – we don’t have all day, and I won’t be waiting for you past sunset.” 

His tone was a little mean, perhaps a little cruel at best but you knew that those were nothing but empty threats meant to push you a little and to tease you. It was Tighnari’s sick way of thinking, but you were too used to it to argue with him about it. So you quickly got to work as you scooped up some samples from the barks of the trees and stashed them into small vials inside your bag. A few strange mushrooms were lying around here and there but you didn’t know if they were an invasive species so you left it alone and made sure to notify Tighnari about them. 

By the time you were done, Tighnari was finalizing his notes as you sat down next to him and stretched your limbs as you let out a small groan. “Argh… I can’t believe I have to work on this some more after we come back home, there’s really no rest for us, is there?” 

“Well, you get what you signed up for.” Tighnari nudged you, poking on the fact that you took up this job entirely out of your own volition. There was no one that forced you to join and no one forced you to stay – but there was one problem, Tighnari. It was hysterical to think that he was the reason why you would endure the harsh jobs. It was to stay with him and continue seeing him, though you didn’t know if he knew about your little crush and you hoped that this little outing wasn’t enough for him to figure out that you were hopelessly crushing on him. 

“Haha… you’re right.” But it would be a waste to let this opportunity come by without doing anything. Both of you were alone, after all. It wasn’t strange for you to want to get closer to him especially in this kind of situation and in this beautiful place. You gathered the courage, taking in a sharp breath, “Hey… Master Tighnari, are you seeing someone? Or… do you perhaps like someone?” 

It was a straightforward question. And Tighnari was no idiot. 

A butterfly passed by. One with white wings along with green features that made it seem like it was shining underneath the light like jewels – your eyes trailed its movements, desperate to not look at Tighnari out of embarrassment. There was little you could do when you impulsively tried to look toward him and felt a brief and light presence on your lips for a split second before feeling the cold warmth take over once more. 

That was…? 

By the time you had your thoughts together, Tighnari was already standing up and dusting the dirt from his clothes. But he didn’t face you. You touched your lips gently with your fingertips, you wondered if that was just a figment of your imagination or if it was real – a featherlight kiss that felt like a butterfly landing on your lips. 

“That should suffice as an answer to your question.” Tighnari finally faced you, face a little red and his eyebrows furrowed as if mildly embarrassed. “Now, let’s go. The sun is about to set.” 

You couldn’t believe it – did he really…? You felt like you were being driven mad. 

#genshin impact #genshin impact writing #my writing #tighnari #tighnari x reader #genshin tighnari x reader #genshin tighnari #genshin impact tighnari #genshin x reader #genshin impact fanfic

[shai-manahan]

hello!!! how are you? :) i was wondering if maybe you could teach me how to make diverse characters? like fr i try so hard to make characters from diverse background but always end up with the same old american or british character when there are so many nationalities to be covered!! if i could learn even a fraction of your greatness i'd be grateful to you for life 😗👉👈

p.s. the last time i attempted to make a nepali character i was almost stoned to death so im terrified of creating new characters incase i offend someone accidentally... ehe

It’s not really something I can teach. I can only offer my opinions, and I am certain that other writers of color will not feel the same way in some regards, so please understand that while I made a long post about this, you shouldn’t use this as the only guide you’ll use for writing. This is not a list of everything you need to know. I can see you’re being genuine about it, but there’s a whole lot of extensive research you’ll have to do based on what you’ve said in this ask.

First of all, I think it would be a better idea for you to take a moment and assess why your readers hated the way your Nepali character has been portrayed. Because I’m going to be honest with you; even minority authors are terrified of writing characters that have a similar heritage with them -- perhaps on an even larger extent compared to when white authors write characters of color -- and that fear never really goes away. We also make mistakes. We sometimes make writing decisions that are seen as bad by the people belonging to our communities. But we do try to learn from them, and that’s what matters the most.

So your first step should be to look back, trace your logic, figure out what went wrong and what you can do to prevent it from happening again, and only when that happens can you attempt to write characters that come from varying origins. 

I know it’s easier to avoid all that effort and make it so that every character in your story comes from one or two backgrounds only, but using that reason, wherein an author refuses to write characters of color because they can’t be bothered to research other people’s experiences... it’s honestly a lazy decision that will make your readers of color to feel excluded. 

But of course, writing a harmful representation of minorities is just as bad, if not worse. I am by no means an expert, but I do have some general tips you can perhaps start with. 

1. Research

I know this is already a given, but I cannot tell you how many writers tend to skip this stage. Make sure that your sources are reliable, preferably written or made by people who come from that culture themself, and gather every single bit of information you can while keeping in mind that not everything you see in a single google search would be accurate. Look at the associated stereotypes, study their culture, read memoirs, articles, studies, etc., and start building a backstory for your characters.

2. Get sensitivity readers

This is very important. If you know people who would be willing to give their feedback for free, then good for you. But take note that whether or not you paid for their services, there is a possibility that there could be some bias existing, so please, if you can, get multiple sensitivity readers. One person’s opinion should not be your sole source of information. People who belong to minorities are not a monolith, after all. 

Also! Please, please never accuse anyone of racefaking. There is no excuse to this. Just because a person doesn’t agree with you, no one has the right to accuse anyone of that. I have seen some authors do this... and it’s highly disturbing. (and no, it doesn’t matter if you’re getting the rudest anons on your blog. it’s blatantly racist)

Just keep an open mind about everything you might hear, because some of them will be uncomfortable to your ears and might even seem harsh through your perspective. It won’t even be surprising if some of your testers simply walk away after an argument or two, as it can seriously be tiring to have to explain to an author what they have done wrong -- much more if the author never took an effort to listen -- but like with everything else, you can learn from your mistakes.

3. Writing characters of color should not be a mere part of a checklist

Look, this needs to be said. A mere mention of your character’s nationality is never enough for a representation. I’m including this because I am seeing countless stories where the supposedly ethnically diverse characters aren’t really... diverse. Regardless of their viewpoints towards their heritage, people’s ethnicities do affect the way they live in some ways (as well as their gender, education, sexuality, religion, and social status) and some authors seem to forget that. 

I hate seeing writing advice being phrased like -- “it doesn’t matter where they’re from! just write them as you would any other character!” -- because while there are some points to consider there, people coming from vastly different cultures would be shaped by those cultures no matter what, albeit in different ways.

As such, even things like answering asks on your blog and describing their favorite things aren’t enough to say that you're properly representing them. If you as an author can't manage to include how the character's identity affects them within the narrative of the game, then what is it all for?

Be careful about distancing your character from their culture too much as well. Unless you have another character with the same heritage that balances that out, this is almost like you’re erasing the identity they had to live with. You are not being diverse by doing this; you are simply stripping away the very thing that has molded your character’s life; and it is such a huge disrespect to the people who have been wanting so long to finally see their identities be represented properly for once. You’re refusing to do the work that should have come with using that background. You are stealing it.

If you want to show that you respect the ethnicities from which your characters come, then make efforts to represent who they really are, not just the portions of their habits that you find interesting enough to parade around.

And I will be brutally honest here. If you can replace a minority character's ethnicity in your head while reading the story and everything remains the same, then I have to say the author has failed. Of course, this will only be assessed when the story’s over, because character developments happen. But they do have to happen.

4. Keep reading works made by people from those backgrounds (and support them if you can)

I don’t think I need to elaborate too much on that. Most of the time, it’s a great way to see the relevant issues the writer themself faces daily within their community, and reading their works might provide you some understanding. And yes, my work does reflect mine to some extent.

Some more points to consider:

Avoid tokenizing your characters.  

Don’t expect praise for the diversity you’ll be including, no matter how detailed they will be.

There are simply some cultures you absolutely cannot touch -- those wherein research and even getting help from others would not be enough. When that happens, back off respectfully. I have an Agta background (some call it Aeta) and I am seriously scared of seeing our heritage in a white author’s work, because there’s too many misconceptions even in actual published books to the point that it’s improbable to represent it well unless you have someone who directly comes from that ethnicity.

Research more into cultural appropriation and fetishization, then learn how to avoid them.

Consider your character’s interactions with those who are not part of the minority. There are huge stereotypes here that might be difficult for some to avoid.

If you have to, you can use tropes and stereotypes for the sole purpose of deconstructing them. But I do not advise you to do this unless you have a good grasp of the implications behind them. I use this with some of the ROs in Hollowed Minds, and I can attest that you have to be very careful.

Be mindful of the privilege and prejudices you have as you write.

There is no one perfect way of representing minorities, and characters should also be portrayed as individuals.

Things you might want to avoid when writing BIPOC unless you are one:

Racism

Slavery/Human trafficking 

Colonization

Excessive violence towards that particular group

Segregation systems

Tragedy exploitation in general

I hope this helps a little. I can share some insights as to how I prepared creating my characters in Hollowed Minds, especially with Alonzo and Jade, but you would have to ask more specific questions. I’ve spent a lot of time on figuring out their identities, and there’s so much I want to share that I can’t include here (the post is long enough).

For some parting words, let me just say this. Be prepared to do a lot of revisions. There will be inaccuracies in your writing, and there will be mistakes. No one expects you as an author to be 100% accurate on your first attempt, but do your part, learn to accept valid criticism, and your readers will be a lot more forgiving. After all, while you have the right to include what you want to write, it would be wise to remember some of these have responsibilities attached. Good luck on your writing!

#I might add more on this tomorrow or some other time #I just. want to publish this post now because it's been on my mind for several days now #writing

[cirilla-fiona-riannon]

Ikemen Sengoku (JP)

Kicho's Main Story Chapter 1 Part 2

Kicho's subordinate: "Lord Kicho, excuse me."

Kicho: "Yeah?"

The man who called him straightened his back as Kicho looked up from the document in his hand.

Kicho: "What do you want?"

Kicho's subordinate: "A new servant is coming to work at the trading post."

Kicho's subordinate: "She's from the countryside. I have all the information here."

Kicho: "I see. Put it there."

Kicho's subordinate: "Yes, sir."

The man bowed and placed the papers on the table in front of Kicho.

Kicho's subordinate: "Lord Kicho. The other day, the two spies seemed to have disappeared."

Kicho: "Yeah. I already received the report."

Kicho's subordinate: "Is this woman all right?"

Kicho: "Even if she's a spy, she won't pose much of a threat."

Kicho: "Those two guys couldn't even prevent the attack on Azuchi Castle the other day."

Kicho: "No matter how hard they try, they can't screw up my plans."

Kicho's subordinate: "Yes, sir."

The man bowed deeply and left the room.

Alone in the room again, Kicho looked at the papers in front of him.

Kicho: "Mai, huh?"

Kicho: "There won't be any problems. If you get in my way, I'll just have to dispose of you."

Mai: "The water is clear and beautiful, and there are lots of fish."

(If we catch some, maybe we can have it for dinner tonight and maybe do some camping.)

Mitsuhide: "Mai."

(But how can I start a fire? There's no such thing as lighters in this era.)

(I used to take it for granted, but that thing was really useful.)

Mitsuhide: "Oh? Are these ears of yours just for decoration?"

Mai: "Waaah!"

Suddenly, someone lightly tugged my ears, making my heart jump.

Mai: "Mitsuhide! What the heck are you doing all of a sudden!?"

Mitsuhide: "You were looking at the river and didn't seem to hear what I was saying."

Mitsuhide: "I just wanted to make sure these ears weren't fake."

Mai: "They're real, you know!"

Mitsuhide: "Good. Come on, let's continue our morning study."

Mai: "What? I thought we were taking a break at the river?"

Mitsuhide: "We're taking a break from the horseback riding lesson. You need to use your head while your body rests."

Mai: "Ugh!"

It was only a few days ago that I told them that I was going to visit Kicho as a spy.

Reactions were mixed: some were concerned, while others burst out laughing.

They also raised some concerns about whether I would really be of any use, but surprisingly, Mitsuhide said in front of everyone that he would accompany me and teach me along the way.

(I was also worried because I said I would go on a spur-of-the-moment decision, that's why I was relieved to hear Mitsuhide's words.)

Mitsuhide: "Maybe I should check if that head of yours is fake, too."

Mai: "S-Sorry! Please continue!"

(I didn't expect this kind of Spartan lesson.)

Mitsuhide gave me lectures in the morning, horseback riding while traveling, and self-defense in the evening and at night.

And what we are about to start was a continuation of the morning's lecture.

(That's how little time I have.)

(I can't be weak since I'm the one who brought this up.)

As I straightened my posture, Mitsuhide began to arrange the colored stones he had found on the riverbank on a large rock nearby.

(Let's see, this is Kenshin Uesugi, Shingen Takeda, and Kennyo.)

As I watched his hand move swiftly, I recalled the names of the people mentioned in the lecture.

Kenshin Uesugi and Shingen Takeda, rumored to be dead, were said to be alive and working together.

(I think Sasuke is working with those guys.)

(He told me on the night of the Honnoji Incident that they were alive, but I didn't tell anyone because it would look suspicious that a woman who suddenly appeared out of nowhere had all kinds of information.)

It was also discovered that the culprit behind the Honnoji incident was a man named Kennyo.

(I think that guy is a monk. We met in the forest that night, so I talked to Mitsuhide about him.)

(I had my suspicions that he looked like the person who attacked Nobunaga, but I had no idea he was the mastermind.)

It looked like they were not making any major moves at this point. However, if they clashed with each other, it would turn into a big war.

Mitsuhide also told me a lot about the situation here, saying I should remember a few things.

Mitsuhide: "And this is where you're headed."

Finally, he put down the stone with a thump.

Mitsuhide: "Sakai. It's a port town facing the sea where foreign merchant ships come."

Mitsuhide: "He's in a foreign trading post in Sakai."

Mai: "So, Kicho is there."

The sound of the stream faded away as I stared at the shiny white stone.

Mai: "Um, is there anything else?"

Mitsuhide: "Anything else?"

Mai: "About Kicho. Something that could tell me about his personality."

Mai: "You guys were originally friends, right?"

Mitsuhide: "Let's see."

Mitsuhide ran his fingertips over his lips thoughtfully.

Mitsuhide: "That man is my cousin."

Mai: "What!? So you knew him before he came to the Oda army?"

Mitsuhide: "Well, I wonder about that."

Mitsuhide: "Seeing is believing, as they say. Why don't you see it for yourself?"

Mai: "But一!"

Mitsuhide: "Let's move on now. Break's over."

He left a gentle smile and quickly walked away.

(Yeah, I'm curious, but it can't be helped. I'll put that aside for now.)

(If I think about anything else, I'll get knocked off that horse again.)

And after a few days of building a trusting relationship with the horse while undergoing his Spartan training一

(I'm finally here!)

As I felt every muscle in my body tremble, I hugged my bag and wandered through the town of Sakai.

We didn't know where Kicho's men were, so Mitsuhide and I decided to part ways shortly before entering the town.

(Now that I'm here, it means I'm already in hostile territory.)

(Anyway, I need to get to the trading post. Let's see. I think this is the way to get there.)

Mai: "Hmm?"

Suddenly, I noticed there was a commotion around me. The next thing I knew, lively music was playing, making me turn my head in the sound's direction.

(Are those people in flashy outfits dancers? It looks like a parade.)

Mai: "Whoa!"

Perhaps trying to clear a path for the group, everyone suddenly moved backward.

My legs, still screaming from exhaustion, wobbled, causing me to fall like a domino straight into someone else.

???: "............."

Mai: "Crap. S-Sorry!"

I quickly moved away and bowed my head, but he didn't respond, making me anxious, so I quietly peeked at his expression.

(-----!)

His face was emotionless, like a Noh mask.

Only his hazel-green eyes, framed by dark circles, shone brightly.

(He's so pretty.)

(Wait, this is not the time to gawk!)

Realizing that it was rude to stare at him, I decided to speak up.

Mai: “Are you hurt!?”

???: “I’m fine. Are you all right?”

Mai: “Yes, I just tripped a little.”

Mai: “You actually saved me.”

(If it weren’t for this guy, I would’ve faceplanted on the ground.)

???: “I see. That group always passed by in the afternoon. You should remember that.”

(So, around 12 o’clock in the afternoon.)

Mai: “Got it. Thank you very much.”

Mai: “Um, are you familiar with this town?”

???: “Yeah. I do business here.”

(Good to know!)

Mai: “Actually, I’m looking for a trading post around here.”

Mai: “Do you know anything about it? Any rumors spreading around town?”

???: “Oh? What exactly do you want to know?”

Mai: “Well, let’s see...”

Mai: “What kind of guy is the head of that trading post?”

???: “What kind of guy? Are you interested in his personality? Do you have a business meeting scheduled later?”

???: “You don’t look like a merchant. Or do you have some other purpose?”

(Damn it, am I being suspicious already?)

I felt his gaze sharpen slightly, and I hurriedly shook my head.

Mai: "No, I'm not a merchant. I'm just a simple country girl!"

Mai: "I'm supposed to start my apprenticeship there today, but I'm a little nervous because I don't know what to expect."

???: "I see."

He listened to me and squinted his beautiful eyes.

???: "What's your name?"

Mai: "My name is Mai."

???: "I see. Then Mai, let's go."

Mai: "Excuse me?"

???: "I couldn't give you information, but I can guide you to the trading post."

Mai: "Are you sure?"

???: "Yes. I was just on my way there."

(Maybe he's a business partner or something.)

(At any rate, I'm glad I met this guy.)

My heart was still beating fast from nervousness, but I thought I got off to a pretty good start.

Feeling a little positive, I followed his back as his white cloak fluttered through the crowd.

He showed me around the Japanese-Western-style trading post and led me to the entrance lined with equally maintained shrubs.

Opening the wooden door, he beckoned me inside.

???: "This way."

Mai: "Okay, thanks."

(Ugh, I'm so nervous.)

I sat down on the sofa, feeling restless.

(Is this a guest room?)

The luxurious interior of the room, just like the outside, was in Japanese-Western style, with unique-looking furniture.

(This guy is amazing. He's totally at home in this room.)

(He didn't get lost at all. He looks like he's used to this place.)

The way he leaned back on the sofa with his legs lightly crossed was very graceful and elegant.

It was not surprising that he had connections with this trading post.

Mai: "Thank you for showing me the way here."

Mai: "I think I'll stay outside since I don't think it's a good idea for a servant to wait in here."

???: "No problem. You're here for the manager, right?"

Mai: "Yes, but don't you have a business meeting with him first?"

???: "I don't remember ever saying that. And I don't recall ever telling you my name."

(Oh.my.god.)

Kicho: "My name is Kicho. I'm the head of this trading post."

Mai: "-----!"

My whole body tensed up.

(This is the guy.)

(The mastermind behind the attack and our enemy!)

I was unable to say anything as Kicho quietly observed me with his purplish black hair slightly swaying.

He was looking at me with eyes that were trying to uncover everything.

(I have to say something. If he gets suspicious, I'm done for.)

(In the first place, I didn't reveal anything.)

With my head still in a mess, I desperately breathed in and一

Mai: "I'm so sorry!"

I bowed my head as best I could while I stood up from the sofa.

Mai: "I didn't know you were the boss."

Mai: "I'm really sorry if I said something that might have offended you and for treating you so casually."

Mai: "Please don't fire me!"

Kicho: "Raise your head. I will do no such thing."

Kicho: "You told me yourself you were a servant here, but I was the one who didn't give you my name."

I was relieved to hear Kicho's words back.

(He's very discreet with people he's never met before.)

(It's probably a good thing I didn't know him. Otherwise, I might have unintentionally said something stupid.)

Kicho: "Is all your stuff in that one bundle you're carrying?"

Mai: "Yes."

Kicho: "Then wait here for a moment. I'll call someone else to guide you."

Kicho: "You don't have to do anything today, just go to your room and rest."

As he said this, he stood up.

Kicho's subordinate: "Excuse me."

A man entered the guest room.

Kicho: "Have they arrived?"

Kicho's subordinate: "Yes. Should I escort them here?"

Kicho: "No, I'll go there myself. To thank them for their hospitality the other day, I've prepared some souvenirs for them."

Kicho's subordinate: "Yes, I'll bring it now."

His subordinate thanked him and quickly left the room.

Mai: "Um, where are you going?"

Kicho: "The port. There's a merchant ship coming from England."

Mai: "That's pretty far."

(I'm pretty sure it's the UK.)

Kicho: "You know about it? It's a small country, but I didn't realize the name had made its way to a village in the countryside."

Mai: "Um, that's not where I heard it. I studied a bit after I decided to work here since I'm not that smart."

(I didn't learn about England from Mitsuhide, but I need to lie.)

Mai: "You said I don't have to do anything today, so can I go with you? I promise I won't get in your way."

Mai: "I've never seen a big ship before."

Kicho: ".............."

I tried smiling a little sadly to emphasize my interest in the ship as Kicho stared at me blankly.

Kicho: “All right, you have my permission. The ‘big ship’ you’re referring to is called a galleon.”

Kicho: “If you come with me, stay by my side the whole time.”

Kicho: “If you make any suspicious move around the ships, I'll shoot you.”

Mai: “That’s a bit dangerous.”

Kicho: “I don’t want it to fall into other people’s hands. It’s a pretty rare flintlock gun, after all.”

(Flintlock gun!?)

I stopped thinking for a moment after hearing the weapon’s name.

The next moment, unable to stand still, I stood in front of him.

Mai: “Wait a minute. Are you going to pick some weapons now!?”

Kicho: “Yes. Is there a problem?”

Mai: “Yes! Because those weapons will end up in someone else’s hands again.”

Mai: “If you do that, it’ll make Japan even crazier.”

(Talking back might make me look suspicious, but I can’t just keep my mouth shut.)

Mai: “Right before I came here, I saw a place that was dear to someone get cruelly destroyed.”

Mai: “I think conflicts will happen if more people get their hands on weapons.”

Kicho: “That is my goal.”

Kicho: “I’ll incite the forces of various regions and disturb Japan. This trading post is for that purpose.”

(He said those things without a hint of hesitation.)

Mai: “A lot of people are going to die.”

Kicho: “…………..”

Kicho: “It’s a necessary sacrifice.”

He said it quietly and clearly.

He looked at me as if he was searching for something, making it impossible for me to say anything.

Kicho: "Move. Don't get in my way."

(No. If I push back here, he'll kick me out of the trading post.)

(My goal is not to stop him right now.)

Mai: "Okay."

Making excuses in my head as if they were valid reasons, I gently put my arm down.

He didn't say anything more, either. He just glanced at me coldly and walked out of the room.

Anyway, this was how my life as a spy began.

It started so poorly that I even resented the sunny sky.

Previous╏Next (Mai's POV)╏(Kicho's POV)

#ikemen sengoku #ikesen kicho #ikesen kichou #ikesen mitsuhide #kicho #ikesen jp #ikesen spoilers #ikesen translations #cybird #ikesen

[skyloftian-nutcase]

Breath of the Sky Ch 13 (Skyward Sword meets BotW)

Summary: When Princess Zelda goes to the Spring of Courage to pray, accompanied by her appointed knight, a giant magical cog spitting out a goddess is the last thing she expects, but it is what she gets. Meanwhile, the Spirit Maiden Zelda is trying to figure out what the heck is happening and where her missing chosen hero is.

AO3 link

Chapter 13 - The Failure

They needed to talk. They needed to plan.

Despite the overwhelming despair and uncertainty, despite the fear and pain, Zelda found herself growing motivated the longer she held the princess. She felt the fire returning, the stubborn determination that made a goddess let herself die and be reborn, the steadfastness that pushed her to seal herself away for thousands of years, the protectiveness that had led to the creation of Skyloft.

And so, after wiping the princess’ tears, Zelda had told her they were going to talk to Link. Both of them.

The champion had been easy to locate. He had been hovering outside, trying his best to look calm but easily giving away his concern with the way his eyes lingered too long on the princess, the speed at which he walked to her. Zelda had explained quickly that they needed to find her Link next, and they set about that goal quickly.

The conviction of a goddess mixed with the nervousness of a teenager, though, and Zelda fell into her habit of worrying when it concerned those she cared about… particularly Link.

“Okay,” she said as she marched ahead, nearly dragging the other two with her. “Okay. So. The plan—the plan is to seal him away. We can sort out killing him after. We can do that. We just need to figure out what’s going on with your ability to seal him away. And you—” here she turned to the champion, finger pointing with enough ferocity to be a dagger “You get to kick his ass, but I’m helping do that too because I want to punch his stupid face. I’m sure Link—my Link—uh, Cloud can help with that too, but we need to find him. This is just—this is fine. This is fine. We don’t need the Triforce yet, it’ll be okay. This is fine.”

The look exchanged between the princess and the champion implied that her ramblings were not, in fact, fine, but Zelda ignored it.

Her anxious energy began to grow frustrated as they wandered the castle. Link’s plight of constantly chasing her down was becoming extremely relatable at the moment. As they rounded yet another corner, Zelda felt relief at seeing a familiar colorful uniform with sandy blonde hair peeking out of the navy blue cap.

“Excuse me!” Zelda called, running towards the familiar guard. He genuflected when he turned and saw her. “Have you seen Link? My Link?”

“I know his location, Your Grace,” he answered. “I was actually heading his way. Would you like me to take you to him?”

Given all the information she’d been dealing with, and given all the running around she’d already done, the sheer comfort and happiness at not only hearing that someone could help her locate her husband, but that it was the one person who reminded her of Impa, made Zelda laugh and fall to her knees to be at eye level with the guard. She hugged him tightly. “Thank goodness! Thank you so much, I would love that!”

The guard stiffened under her hold, just as Impa had the first time she’d hugged her, but she didn’t care. Goddesses she needed some kind of stable rock to rely on in this place, and she didn’t have one, but this guard came close. She saw the reflection of the window ahead of her that he was looking at the princess and the champion, the former holding a hand over her mouth to cover a gasp while the latter watched the guard worriedly.

Honestly, these people. How did any society develop to be so emotionally stifled, anyway?

“I need to teach all of you that hugs are a good thing, good grief,” she chuckled as she pulled away. “But anyway, please do show us where Link is.”

The guard took a deep breath, nodding and rising. He guided them in silence, though the sights of the castle kept Zelda preoccupied – they were heading somewhere she hadn’t been yet, and though the stone walls all blended into each other to create a massive maze, she saw light from outside and grew hopeful. It seemed Link, just like her, didn’t care for being cooped up in this stone prison of sorts, as beautiful as it was.

Zelda had to admit that, though she wanted to help her people grow on the Surface, she was a child of the Sky nonetheless.

They wandered a path that seemed vaguely familiar from their expedition into the nearby large town, though the guard guided them down a road that Link and Zelda had pointedly avoided due to the place flooding with people. Eventually, they wound up near a tower farthest from the castle, overlooking a good portion of land and the town below. The sun was high in the sky now, and Zelda turned to the guard as they approached the tower.

“Is there somewhere we can get food in town?” she asked. She was well aware the castle had food too, but she… didn’t want to go back there.

“We can arrange to have lunch brought to you here, if you wish,” the guard replied. “But yes, there are many places in Castle Town where you can get food.”

Upon their arrival to the structure, the guard dismissed the two colorfully clad knights who had been standing post in the entranceway. He turned to face the group. “The Hero is inside, Your Grace. I’ll ensure no one enters.” His gaze moved beyond her, settling on the champion, and he spoke with a softer tone, “When time allows, Link, Princess Mipha wished to speak with you.”

With that, the knight moved aside to let them pass, standing guard. Zelda looked back at the other two, temporarily distracted—was there another princess? Did Princess Zelda have a sister that they hadn’t met yet? She shook her head, returning her focus to the task at hand. She could only gather so many people together at once, after all. It had taken half the day just to get to this point.

Motioning to the two behind her, she walked into the cavernous structure, hearing Link’s footsteps scraping the stone up above. They climbed a ladder to reach the upper level, the bright daylight dazzling Zelda’s eyes for a moment, and she saw the silhouette of her husband pacing back and forth, clearly agitated.

“Link,” she called with a smile, relieved they were all finally together. Her smile fell, however, at the distressed look on her husband’s face.

Link froze, facing away from her, holding himself with trembling hands. She approached him slowly, worry eating away at her already weary heart. When she was close enough to touch him, she wrapped her arms slowly around him from behind, resting her chin on his shoulder. “What’s the matter, Dove?”

Link felt tense under her arms, but then he draped his arms over hers and squeezed her wrists lovingly, stroking her hands with his thumbs. She shifted so she could stand beside him, peeking around his arm with a curious glance. His expression was soft, enchanted by what he saw, but his eyes were dark and stormy. He glanced at her, his heavy brow relaxing a little. “We started all this.”

There was wonder and a quiet timidity to his voice, awe and disbelief and acceptance settling into him. Zelda squeezed him reassuringly, cocking her head to the side and giving him a soft smile. “Yeah. We did.”

Link let out a shaky breath, and then he let her go, looking down. Zelda’s arms fell to her sides, and she grew worried as she watched him ruminate.

His mouth became a thin line. “And I… I screwed it all up. I cursed everything, everyone. I cursed them.”

“Link,” Zelda said, caught off guard. Although the guilt was gnawing at her as well, she wasn’t entirely blaming herself in such a manner. Demise had outplayed them, and it made her angry and scared and mournful, it made her question how they could actually defeat him if she hadn’t been able to as a goddess or with the Triforce, but she’d still placed the majority of the blame on the demon king himself, not her or Link. Her husband’s worries were clearly eating him alive. He hadn’t even noticed that they weren’t alone.

“Don’t,” Link immediately hissed, growing stormy. “Don’t even try it. You did everything right, you did your part, you trusted me to finish things and I didn’t.”

“What are you talking about?” Zelda asked, putting a hand to his cheek. “Link, you defeated him. We had no way of knowing—”

“I did,” Link spat, pulling out of her reach and turning away, his hands shaking as he clenched his fists. His shoulders hunched and his entire body was so tense it was ready to snap. “He said it himself. I thought—I was such an idiot, Zelda, I—I thought—he started speaking about how his hatred would follow my spirit and your bloodline, and it sounded like the dying words of a monster, I—I didn’t realize it was a promise, a curse, that he was—I didn’t—I d-didn’t—”

Link’s body stiffened even further as shuddering gasps and hiccups interrupted his words, and he bowed his head, hugging himself. Zelda immediately rushed around him to face him fully once more, dragging him into the tightest hug she could muster, willing all of her love into it as her mind whirled.

“You had no way of knowing,” she repeated as she processed what he’d said. What promise was he speaking of? Did it even matter? “And who’s to say it was a curse right in that moment? Who’s to say it wouldn’t have happened whether he spoke it or not? Who’s to say there was any stopping it? Link, I was a goddess. I was a goddess and I couldn’t stop him. You did everything you were meant to do – you solved the puzzles, you tempered the Goddess Sword and made it into the Blade of Evil’s Bane, you traveled through time, you got the Triforce and used it to kill him. You beat him. It was Ghirahim who screwed everything up.”

Ghirahim. It was Ghirahim.

Was that truly why they were in this mess? The realization struck her as she spoke the words, because they were true – she’d exited her slumber because Demise had been killed, after all. Ghirahim was the one who sabotaged it, but Link had ensured that…

“What exactly did he say?” she asked, pulling away to look her husband in the eye.

“He said… he said his hatred never dies. That it would be born again and again, that those who share the blood of the goddess and the spirit of the hero would forever be bound to this curse: an incarnation of his hatred would follow our kind forever, dooming them to darkness and bloodshed.” Link said slowly, refusing to look at her.

Zelda stared at him, dumbfounded. Why… why hadn’t he ever mentioned this before?

As if reading her mind, he stepped away from her, shaking his head and saying, “I—I thought—he was defeated, Zel, I stabbed him in the chest, I thought it was over. The amount of times Ghirahim would give some speech or another despite being defeated, the words were meaningless at that point. Just some other enemy spouting hatred while he bleeds to death. The sword… Fi told me to raise the sword, that it would absorb the remaining evil, that she would seal him away as designed. I didn’t—I didn’t realize—what did I do wrong?”

The trembling of his tone tore at her heart, and Zelda tried to walk towards him again. She couldn’t fathom why Link wouldn’t have mentioned this, but at the same time, his words made sense—and brought so many more questions to mind. How many times had he fought Ghirahim, anyway? The more she considered it, the more she realized she hadn’t really asked much about his adventure. Their time after that journey had been spent recovering and then pointedly avoiding the topic altogether.

Goddesses above, this was all a mess.

“Impa was right,” Link said suddenly, his voice no longer trembling, but so, so dark. “You were wrong. Hylia was wrong. I’m no Hero. Even Fi has decided that! She already chose a successor, after all.”

“Link,” Zelda tried to argue, immediately growing agitated. This sort of talk wasn’t going to do them any good, and she hated seeing him like this. “This isn’t—I know—”

Link’s eyes narrowed at her as if she were an enemy. The look stole her voice from her throat and made her blood freeze. She’d never seen Link this upset. “Yes, you know. Your Grace knows everything. You always did, stringing me along without ever telling me everything until it was too late to even stop you from—from—How does it feel to not have all the pieces until it’s too late? You were wrong.”

Zelda took a step back, her breath sucking in like a gasp as if she’d just been smacked. Link sighed, sensing the change in atmosphere, immediate regret flashing across his face before he finally seemed to notice the other two, who at this point were practically trying to disappear into the walls.

Link’s eyes fixed on the champion, and then he shook his head. The fight quickly drained out of him, but so did any desire to continue talking. He moved quickly towards one of the openings and leapt out of it. Zelda didn’t follow.

The champion ran across the way to peer over where Link had jumped. The princess slowly walked towards Zelda, who was still trying to catch her breath.

There was silence for a long time as the princess hovered near her, as she tried to catch her breath, as Link’s words played over and over in her head.

“Your Grace…?” The princess began hesitantly, a tenderness and shyness to her voice.

Zelda burst into tears.

You always did, stringing me along without ever telling me everything until it was too late.

Guilt sprang forth anew, revitalized by her husband’s accusations, having been squished again and again by both her and Link. It reared its ugly head, reminding her that the fact that Link had been dragged into all of this was very much her fault. Despite being the best fighter among the knights of Skyloft, Link was a softhearted young man through and through. She should have never—but—what choice did she—

Zelda continued to cry, bending over and hugging herself and falling to her knees. Her hiccups and sobs echoed in the area, lost to her own whirling mind but very much laying heavily on the other two occupants.

Link, Champion of Hyrule, felt very much out of place. But he also felt very desperate to try and help. He made his way to the goddess, crumpled on the floor, and his heart hurt to see her like that. He knelt carefully, gently resting a hand on her shoulder, desperately looking at the princess for help.

His own mind was whirling as much as everyone else’s likely was. The words that had been spat out by the Hero of Myth and Legend no longer held the same sting to them. Instead, they rang with such a heartbreaking familiarity, all the way down to the misplaced vitriol.

Zelda. He’d sounded like Zelda.

Never in his life had Link considered that if he ever met the Spirit of the Hero, it would act exactly as his dejected princess did.

He wanted nothing more than to reassure the weeping goddess that it wasn’t her fault at all, just as it wasn’t his fault that Zelda struggled to fulfill her destiny while his came easily. He wanted to tell her that the Hero just needed time and help, just as his princess did. But he was in absolutely no position to do so – he didn’t know what words he could say to reassure Hylia herself, nor could he brainstorm such a conversation with the princess as she herself was just as much a culprit of such behavior as the Hero was. Though, to her credit, she was trying to improve that, hence their budding friendship. But…

Desperate, Link looked pleadingly at Zelda, motioning to the goddess with his head. Do something.

The princess held her hands in front of her chest anxiously, one hand playing with the her wrist. “Your Grace… I… I’m sure he didn’t…”

Hylia continued to cry, not acknowledging either of them. At least she wasn’t upset that Link was touching her. He really wished he could do more.

Link thought of suggesting that they get lunch, but he had a feeling his own love for food would not help the matter. Hylia didn’t seem like the thought of a delicious meal would cheer her up.

The champion was quickly running out of ideas, just as his friend seemed equally clueless. However, Zelda finally knelt down as well, ignoring the dirt she was getting on her dress, and placed her hand on Hylia’s other shoulder. “Your Grace, I’m… I’m sorry.”

Hylia glanced up, eyes puffy, tears staining her flushed cheeks. It was… not a look Link would expect from a goddess.

He supposed he had never thought a goddess could get upset like this. He remembered her radiant smile and eagerness to befriend earlier in the day, and his heart ached even more.

He opened his mouth to speak, but still found himself choking on words. He didn’t know what he could say to help her, what would be appropriate, what would be helpful. Hylia’s gaze was fixed on the princess instead, and Link hesitantly pulled away to give the two some space. Zelda’s eyes quickly darted to his, pleading for support, but he didn’t know what to do.

Hylia stole Zelda’s attention anyway as she hiccupped and shook her head, her gaze dropping to the floor again as she squeezed her eyes shut. The princess shuffled a little closer. Link stepped further away, trying to figure out how he could help, what he could do. He could at least maybe get them some food, giving Hylia and her descendant time to regain composure, and then he could help them in that regard.

Sliding down the ladder, Link continued to hesitate as he dragged his feet to the exit of the guard house. His father was surprisingly missing, despite having been standing guard, leaving Link a little disappointed. He doubted his father could give him advice on the matter, but it would have been nice to at least see him. Instead, Link fumbled to follow through on his decision, feeling like it wasn’t helpful but not knowing what else to do.

“Oh, Link! There you are!”

Startled, Link turned to see his friend, Mipha, approaching, looking relieved. She smiled, red scales glowing in the noon sun, and Link felt like he was drowning in the ocean and just finally saw a lighthouse guiding him.

Link strode up to her immediately, hands gesturing frantically with words he couldn’t piece together, and his friend quickly noticed his distress. “Link, what’s wrong?”

“He—she—” Link spat out, his chest about to burst, trying desperately to hold the words in but unable to do so. He wasn’t sure this was appropriate to share, but by the goddesses he needed to say something. “He’s just like Zelda.”

The words flew out of his mouth like an arrow released from a bow, and he nearly collapsed onto the nearest bench, overwhelmed and exhausted at holding it in for so long, at the sheer relief that nearly drowned him and screamed he doesn’t actually hate me. Mipha slowly sat beside him, watching him hesitantly. He shook his head, leaning over until his face was buried in his hands. “I don’t know what to do.”

“Well…” Mipha said slowly. “You… could start by telling me what you mean.”

Oh. He supposed she needed context.

“The Hero,” he started slowly. “He… feels bad about himself. Like… like the princess. But he… and Hylia… he made… she’s crying, and I…”

Mipha jumped a little. “Hylia’s crying?”

“I don’t know what to do,” Link shook his head. “Mipha, what am I supposed to do?”

“Why is she crying?” Mipha asked.

“She—he—” Link stopped himself and took a breath to reorganize his thoughts. “The Hero. He… he got upset. Really upset. Like… remember when I… when I mentioned… I mean, you kind of dragged it out of me, but…”

Mipha, bless her, remained patient, knowing how Link could struggle to express himself. He’d barely spoken to anyone these last few months, but he’d finally started opening back up to his friend, even if it was just a little. She was the only one who knew that Zelda had yelled at Link in their first weeks together, although the other Champions had clearly sensed the tension.

“He got angry at her,” Link explained slowly. “He got angry. He’s… he said he was a failure, that he wasn’t worthy of being the Hero of Legend. Mipha, it’s… he sounded just like Zelda. But he… he got angry at Hylia about it, and now she’s crying.”

“Oh, my,” Mipha said softly, hand over her mouth. “I… didn’t realize a goddess could cry. That’s… awful.”

“It is awful,” Link agreed, the words spilling out of him now as his emotions mixed with them. “Mipha, what do I do? How do you cheer up a goddess?”

His friend was quiet for a long time, ruminating the matter. “Well… I suppose the same way you cheer anyone up. She cries just like the rest of us… perhaps she just needs kindness like the rest of us too.”

Link thought about the words, remembering all the rituals they did for the goddess. But then he remembered once, when he was very little, when he’d offered flowers to the goddess statue in Hateno, to the warmth that had filled his heart and soul when he’d done so, to the smile that always pulled at his lips whenever he saw silent princesses ever since.

Silent Princess. Zelda’s favorite flower. It always put a smile on the princess’ face too.

Link’s eyes lingered on the one garden that had tried to cultivate the flower, the only one that had succeeded so far, though herbalists hardly called it a success as only one or two flowers grew from the entire batch, and one was wilting already.

Filled with relief and hope, Link dragged Mipha into a hug. “Thank you.”

His friend was stiff under his embrace, and he felt her heart fluttering against his chest. Suddenly, the embrace felt too intimate, too personal, too close, and Link felt his own cheeks blush as he quickly pulled away. Before either party could speak, he hastily made his way to the flower bed, fingers reaching for the healthier of the two specimens.

“Link, wait, isn’t that endangered—”

The silent princess yielded easily to his fingers as he pointedly ignored how the tips of his ears burned, but as he reoriented to his original excitement, he stared at the beautiful, delicate blue-and-white petals with determination.

He turned and smiled at Mipha, nodding in gratitude, before rushing back to the guard house. By the time he reached the top, Hylia’s sobs had evened out, though she was still crumped on the ground. Zelda was on the floor beside her, arm halfway across her shoulders in a hesitant but heartfelt hug. Link took a steadying breath and walked towards the pair, kneeling in front of them. When the two looked up at him, he offered the flower quietly, eyes trying to convey everything his mouth refused to speak.

Hylia stared at him a moment before her gaze lingered on the flower. She reached out slowly, carefully taking the plant from his grasp and turning it in her own calloused fingers.

Her eyes watered, but a smile pulled at her trembling lips. The heaviness of the air seemed to dissipate, and Link smiled back at her.

“It’ll be all right,” he finally said softly.

“We’re here for you,” Zelda added on, growing bolder. “Just as you are for us, Your Grace. I… I may not… I may not have my powers, but I…”

The princess sighed shakily and continued, “I will still do my duty, and I will support you just as you’re trying to do for us.”

Hylia let out another sob, brow pulling together, but the way her face glowed, the way her cheeks puffed and lips pulled conveyed it for the emotional, relieved laugh that it was.

XXX

Abel supposed it was time to break protocol.

He ignored the anxious words warding him away from his goal as he walked down the stone path towards the city. He could practically hear the drill sergeants from his youth telling him to listen to superiors at all costs, to respect those in charge, to fulfill his duty and never question those above his station.

He could hear his heart telling him to do otherwise, his mind set in stone in his path, his beloved wife encouraging him to keep walking forward.

The Hero of Myth and Legend sat on the wall dividing the castle from Castle Town. Abel leaned against the stone beside him, staring out as the sun began to descend from its zenith.

The Hero glanced at him, startled, and moved to get up, but Abel ordered immediately, “Stay put.”

Oh, how his decades of training balked at ordering such a figure around. But mostly, it felt familiar, like when he was talking to his son. Perhaps the fact that they shared a name and a destiny helped.

The Hero slowly resumed his previous posture, bolstering Abel’s confidence on the matter. Now the captain of the guard just had to figure out what to say.

He’d honestly tried not to listen to the conversations in the guard tower. It wasn’t his business – his son, the princess, the goddess, and the mythical hero were all far above him in importance. Although he would always cherish Link, he respected the role his boy had to play, and he wasn’t going to interfere or be so immature as to eavesdrop on important discussions.

It was hard not to hear it, though, when the Immortal Hero was shouting.

Words of a curse, of a demon king, of blame and failure and guilt – they’d all spilled down into Abel’s ears as easily as rain. And it was hard to get them out of his head once heard.

Abel once again found himself wondering what the benefit was in having heroes so young. He still had plenty of strength and endurance in him at the ripe age of thirty-seven, and he didn’t have the emotional issues he’d had when hew as a teenager. Experience was as good a weapon as any.

Not to mention it assisted in cutting through drama and getting to the heart of the matter.

Of course, it still didn’t prepare Abel for such a conversation. It hadn’t prepared him for any of the conversations he’d had with his son once Hyrule had noticed a Hero had arisen. The words the Hero had hissed rang in his ears once more, thoughts of demon kings hunting down his son buzzing before he pushed them away. His son had been preparing for years had the support of all of Hyrule, and Abel would double his efforts in protecting the castle. This one, on the other hand, was a soldier in an eternal war, and Abel and even Link were simply another battlefield on which he had to fight. It seemed he was only just realizing that too, which was... odd and... heartbreaking.

He really had no frame of reference for this person, young and ancient, magical and so unbelievably normal. But he could speak to what he’d seen, and… he dearly hoped it was enough. He hoped it was enough and would be taken in the right spirit. The fact that the—the boy had listened was a promising start, after all.

“I don’t understand what it could possibly be like, being created by the goddess Hylia for the sole purpose of fighting off a demon king,” Abel started honestly, bluntly. “You look as Hylian as anyone else.”

The Ancient One glanced at him, tired and hurting and confused all at once. “I… I don’t know what that is.”

He didn’t know what a Hylian was? Abel supposed he wouldn’t. He was created to fight. Yet he was just like any other teenager. It still made no sense to the captain, but… a boy was a boy. Abel motioned towards the boy’s ears, small and curved like leaves, unique and honestly a little cute. It had always been said that Hylians’ ears were the way they were to better help them hear the goddess – perhaps his were shaped so differently so only he could hear her whispers, so only he could be privileged to her song. It… honestly made Abel’s skin crawl a little. He wished the Hero didn’t look so young – the thought of a child being molded to fight and married off to the goddess… it felt…

Abel didn’t dare say the sacrilegious word, but the ill feeling in his stomach lingered nonetheless. He tried to remind himself that this strange figure was ancient and not actually a teenager, even if he seemed to act like one.

“Your ears,” he commented. “They’re as Hylian as anyone else’s.”

The Hero instinctively reached up to touch his own ears, staring at Abel with wide, genuinely curious eyes now. The traces of guilt and sorrow were fading away in wake of his bemusement, and in that moment he really, truly looked like a kid.

Abel swallowed, trying to get to his point. “You’re… different, perhaps, but you still seem pretty Hylian to me, if you’ll pardon my ignorance on the matter. And if that is the case… then it seems such pressure that you’re putting on yourself is unrealistic.”

Hylia’s Chosen stiffened, though he didn’t comment.

“Calamity Ganon is a scourge that has plagued this land for millennia,” Abel said carefully. “And each time it has come, it has taken all of Hyrule to fight it. Though the Spirit of the Hero and the power of the Goddess are required to vanquish it, they have never fought alone. It seems… unreasonable to expect any different of yourself.”

The Hero bit his lip, his hands falling to his lap as he looked down. “But I was supposed to.”

“Did you defeat him?” Abel asked.

The Hero glanced at him, and though he held guilt in his gaze, he nodded.

“So you defeated him alone, which no one has ever accomplished before or since then,” Abel pointed out. “Yet you blame yourself for his return? If you fought him before and won, this should be easy, should it not?”

“But I—”

“But what?” Abel pressed on. “You can’t change that he’s here. Only that you’re here to stop him. Are you going to fight him or not?”

The Hero stared at him for a long while, eyes growing weary. Abel recognized the look, the exhaustion of war, the scars hidden within. He faced the boy fully.

“You won’t be alone this time,” he told him firmly. “Link will fight alongside you, as well as all the Champions, the guardians, and Hyrule’s army.”

“Sounds rather like I’m not needed,” the Hero said softly, a sad smile pulling at his lips.

“I am not one to waste resources,” Abel replied perhaps a bit too curtly, but he was tired of the adolescent’s moping. This was what the ancient child had been created for, after all, was it not? “You defeated Calamity Ganon long before any army ever could be raised against him. If you fight alongside our forces, if you support Link, then it makes the likelihood of actually killing it all the higher.”

Hylia’s Chosen perked up at the idea given to him, though he still looked a bit uncertain.

“Will you fight alongside Link?” Abel prompted. “Will you help him? Or are you going to drown in your sorrows instead while the rest of Hyrule tries to fight?”

“I’m the only one who can,” the Hero muttered, eyes darkening once more, shoulders set in resignation. “That’s what he said. That’s… what they always say. It’s my destiny.”

Abel waited, unsure what to say to such a remark. The ancient one’s words held a pain and exhaustion to them, but also a bite, and the captain of the guard was suddenly reminded that he was a nobody speaking to a legend.

The Hero of Myth and Legend stared out at Hyrule, sitting up straighter. “I won’t let him destroy this place. I won’t let him hurt Link, or Zelda. Or the princess. I promise.”

“I thank you for your protection,” Abel said genuinely with a bow of his head, catching the Hero’s attention.

“But I…” the Hero continued hesitantly. “I shouldn’t have said what I did. She’s… I know I upset her.”

Abel hadn’t heard Hylia’s reply to any of the words the Hero had said, but he supposed accusing her of being wrong would be upsetting. She seemed too kind to get angry, though, and the hurt on the magical boy’s face implied it as well.

Well. This was certainly a topic he could relate to. He was rather short tempered compared to others, after all. “We’re not perfect, Hero. We will say things that hurt those we love. What matters is that we apologize for them.”

Hylia’s Chosen watched him with a look so eerily similar to Link’s own when his son had been younger—so eager for wisdom from his father, so desperate for guidance—that it almost made Abel falter. Then the boy sighed and nodded in agreement.

Abel smiled as best he could. “Now, I believe Her Grace is waiting for you, great Hero. And if I may be so bold as to say… as a married man, I advise you be quick – our wives don’t like to wait for long.”

The smile that broke out on the Hero’s face was unexpectedly soft and sweet, his eyes glittering as if he was coming back to life, and the Immortal One leapt off the wall, much to Abel’s shock. The captain reached out hastily before seeing the Hero deploy some sort of paraglider, and he sighed heavily, realizing that now he had yet another hero who was going to give him heart attacks on a regular basis.

Oh, how he wished he could hold his son in that moment. But duty called, and he had strayed from it for long enough.

XXX

Admittedly, despite how his heart warmed at the thought of being with Zelda again, Link felt guilt crushing him the closer he got back to the structure he’d run from.

He knew what he’d said was hurtful. He’d chosen his words very particularly so that they would sting. He hadn’t wanted Zelda’s reassurances because he’d known they’d be empty, and suddenly hurt and resentment that had been long forgotten and shoved into the dark recesses of his mind had snarled into the light.

Link was ashamed to even get near his beloved. But he’d be damned if he didn’t own up to it.

And he missed her. He missed her smile, he missed her warmth, he missed her embrace. He was drowning and he wanted nothing more than to hold on to her. He supposed after what he’d said earlier it was a selfish thought at this point, but… if there was one constant in his life, no matter the storm, it had always been her.

He wasn’t going to be the one to lose her again. He wasn’t going to be the one to push her away.

The walk felt like it took an eternity, even though it was only a few minutes. Link hesitantly stared at the ladder leading up to the top, and then he climbed it, steeling himself.

When he got to the top, he found only a couple guards.

Link didn’t bother to speak with them, sliding down once more, and nearly jumped out of his skin as he was met with one of the stranger looking people from the festival. Their skin was red and shimmering, eyes nearly the same shade of amber as the crystal that had held Zelda in a trance for millennia. Their fingers were delicate but held sharp claws, and a blue sash was the only clothing they wore, though their body was adorned in glimmering jewelry.

“Hello, Hero,” the person said in a soft, feminine tone.

Wait, he’d seen her before. She had been sparring with the new Hero that morning.

“Do you—do you know where Zelda is?” he asked quickly, nearly laughing at the irony of such a question given his history with it.

“The princess is with Her Grace and Sir Link,” the woman answered. “They decided to head out into Hyrule Field, I believe. They were going to pick up lunch on the way.”

Hyrule Field? “Where’s that?”

The woman pointed back to the direction where he’d just come from. “It’s just beyond Castle Town. If I were them, I would go to the Sacred Grounds. It’s a pleasant place for a picnic. It’s close to the center of Hyrule Field, you can’t miss it. Would you… like me to take you there?”

Out of a nearly gone habit, Link nearly said no, as if he would find it on his map and could dowse for Zelda beyond that. Goddess. He shook his head, and then hastily said, “Yes, please.”

The strange looking woman—girl? Woman??—smiled and asked him to walk with her. Link tried to ignore the people staring at them as they progressed, feeling the number of eyes on them grow as they entered the big town he and Zelda had explored a few nights ago.

The joy of that exploration felt so far away now. He felt so empty, so unbelievably alone. But the guard had promised he wasn’t, and he…

He just wanted to go home. But it was just like his original journey, wasn’t it? He hadn’t wanted the weight of the world on his shoulders then. He’d just wanted to find Zelda. Headmaster Gaepora had said that the destiny of the world was his to bear, and his alone. No one could know.

Just as now, it was his destiny to fight Demise once more. But… the guard had said it himself.

Link wasn’t alone. Even if he deserved to be, after somehow managing to mess this up.

He would be alone if he continued to push everyone away, though, and he knew it. He remembered just after the world had nearly ended, remembered how isolated he was, and how Zelda had been the only one who could reach him in those dark moments.

Link hardly noticed that they’d reached the fields, hardly noticed that the woman he was with kept glancing at him to make sure he was okay. She seemed to understand he didn’t want to talk and was somehow blessedly fine with it, making the occasional remark about the weather or anything else to ensure it didn’t get too awkwardly quiet.

The awkwardness did linger, though, when Link realized he didn’t know her name. When she stopped and pointed straight ahead, he said, “Thank you… I… didn’t get your name.”

The woman’s eyes widened, suddenly embarrassed. “O-oh! I’m—I’m so very sorry, I—my name is Mipha, Princess of the Zora. I beg your pardon for my lack of manners!”

Another princess? Link stared at her, curious, but then smiled. “Thank you, Mipha.”

The woman’s shame faded, and she nodded, heading back towards Castle Town. Link took a fortifying breath and walked towards the Sacred Grounds. The trees hid some of the area and his approach, allowing him to see the new Hero sitting on the ground alongside Zellie and his wife. His successor was eating away cheerily, garnering a chuckle from Zellie, and Zelda… picked at her food quietly. She smiled when acknowledged, but didn’t seem to have much of an appetite.

Link wanted to kick himself. He also kind of wished the other two weren’t there.

Miraculously, Zelda alone seemed to notice his approach. She paused from holding her food, watching him with a little trepidation. Her eyebrows wrinkled together, and the hurt and worry on her face made Link want to melt into the earth. Zellie seemed to notice something was up, but before she could speak, Zelda rose and walked slowly in his direction.

She paused just out of his reach, and the pair watched each other quietly. A wind stirred between them, trying to push Link away, and he nearly gave in to it, shaking like a leaf.

“Link…?” Zelda called quietly, almost timidly.

Link wasn’t sure if it was the stress of everything catching up to him again, or if it was the way his own wife was scared to approach him as if he were shatter or explode on her… all he knew was that he was crying.

“I’m sorry,” he immediately said, shaking his head, taking a frightened step away. “I’m sorry, Zelda, I’m sorry I’m sorry—”

Zelda’s eyes widened, and she immediately covered the ground between them, nearly tackling him in a hug, carrying him with strong but trembling arms, easing him down to the earth as the world spun around him. He couldn’t get anything else out aside from apologies that stumbled over each other, words only stopping when he hiccupped or gasped for air, his tears endlessly staining her shoulder.

“It’s okay,” she soothed, tightening her hug.

“No it’s not!” Link sobbed. “None of it is, I’m so sorry, I’m—”

Again and again the apologies came forth until he’d exhausted himself, until he found himself clinging to her with as much desperation as he had when she’d awoken from her trance months ago.

He heard Zelda take a shaky breath, her exhale tickling his ear. “I am too.”

The words were raw, the sentiment so genuine it ached. Link didn’t have the emotional energy to reply, couldn’t defend her after trying so many times to reassure her and then eating his own words due to his outburst. He had nothing left to offer except himself, broken and worthless and idiotic as he was, and he just held her all the more.

The sun shone brightly on the pair as the other two slowly rose and watched in silence.

#writing #breath of the sky #zel: this is fine this is fine THIS IS FINE #zellie & champion: *concerned side eye* #abel needs a pay raise guys that's all I'm saying #I did not expect him to become this prominent in the story but SOMEBODY had to knock some sense into these teenagers #and Abel and Mipha were perfect for it #Mipha and Link are more fun to write than I thought #she has good gentle energy and a history with him which helps him actually feel more comfortable and talk #RIP to the last silent princess #don't worry there's probably a few out in the wild still #the horticulturist is just gonna have a mile aneurysm that's all #it was for a good cause #Champion automatically thinks eating makes everything better but he wasn't sure offering Zel food was a good idea #I love being able to write these guys when they actually COOPERATE #Y'all can thank Abel for getting this chapter together #He doesn't have time for teenage drama even if it's understandable drama #again this guy needs a raise #Zel and Cloud happily put the stressors from their journey behind them because why address them? :) Especially Cloud #they're fine #at least Champ doesn't think Cloud hates him anymore #I'm rambling way too much in the tags lol #breath of the wild #breath of the wild link #botw link #breath of the wild zelda #botw zelda #mipha #abel #skyward sword link

[abbacchiosbelt]

Oh Love, Pull Me Closer | 2023 Rewrite - Chapter 1: Window to The Soul

THIS IS NOT A NEW FIC. Please read this post on AO3 for more information!

Notes: TL;DR from the link above ^ - I am making a return to my multi-chaptered Yandere!Toshinori Yagi/All Might fic in 2023. Before I begin posting new content, though, I am going to be rewriting and updating previously posted chapters. The story itself won’t be changing, but I will be editing every chapter. I will also be going back to make the reader insert gender and appearance neutral. I’ve learned a lot of important information about those topics since 2019, and I want to make the fic more accessible! If you’ve read this before, I urge you to read my rewrite of Chapter 1 and subsequent updated chapters when I release them.

CW: Yandere behavior (this story will be getting darker with each chapter), nonconsensual use of someone’s photos, self-hate, unhealthy behavior.

WC: 4.9k

It had been a long time since Toshinori had taken any time for himself. During his prime, personal time was a long-forgotten concept. He was slowing down, though. His muscle form was down to 1 hour, which was almost exclusively tied to teaching at U.A. When he had no duties, he often found himself aimlessly wandering the city.

Toshinori felt lonely during those times – yet he couldn’t bring himself to sit alone in his nearly empty and far lonelier apartment. He had never decorated it, hoping one day to live in a home; and to have a family. He was nearly invisible as Toshinori Yagi. People avoided looking at him, scared that whatever sickness he had would infect them. He avoided looking at them too. Still, his walks gave him time to think, or to avoid thinking, depending on how his day went.

Today was particularly bad. His scar was acting up more than usual, and his lesson plan had gone awry. ‘Stupid.’ He chided himself often, justifying it as self-discipline.

He tried to clear his head as he walked down the sidewalk in one of the quieter parts of the city, stopping to window shop at some of the local businesses. One business he looked at sold bright green plants, while another seemed to be showcasing art for sale. He had even seen a store for vintage items, which piqued his interest.

‘Not today.’ He reluctantly pulled himself away from the vintage shop, taking a few steps to the next one. He peeked in the window, surprised to see what appeared to be a coffee shop rather than a business. It had been a while since he had visited this part of the city, he supposed. He considered going in. He looked again, noticing it was mostly empty save for the barista and a young adult on their computer.

The stranger lifts their head up and stretches, shaking their head gently from side to side. He felt flustered. They were cute, so cute that it made his heart skip a beat. He continues to watch as they turn to the barista, their lips curling into a smile before opening to laugh. ‘Stop looking.’ He swallows, his throat feeling tight. He peels his eyes away and fishes his phone out of his pocket.

‘I’ll look up reviews first. If they’re bad, I won’t go in.’ It was an easy enough justification. Surely the cute stranger wouldn’t even talk to him, let alone look at him if he went in. So, he’d find an excuse to leave, to go to the usual corporate coffee shop on his way home.

He looked up at the building in search of a name. A colorful and well-worn sign hung above him, reading “A Coffee or Two”. He typed the name into his phone and hit search, his phone screen quickly filling with positive reviews. There were even several glowing reviews focusing on their tea selection. Oh, he could never refuse a good cup of tea.

‘I’ll just stop in. I won’t sit.’

He resigned himself to his fate, walking a few more steps to open the door to the shop. The door jingles quietly as he opens it. The inside was like the sign – colorful and rustic. Some sort of gentle piano song was playing over the speakers. Plants and various knickknacks decorated the shelves, and a large record player in the corner catches his eye. It reminds him of the one that his family had owned. The warm and familiar atmosphere of the shop helped ease his nerves.

A loud and cheerful voice snaps him out of his thoughts.

“Hi there! Is this your first time?” He looks up, the barista looking hopefully at him. He nods, and they beckon for him to come over. He swallows, taking a quick glance at the stranger sitting at the table again, noticing they have headphones in. They must not have noticed him enter, which made him relieved yet slightly disappointed despite his gloomy outlook. Yagi takes a few steps over, noticing that the entire wall behind the counter was chalk, filled with various things to order written across it. It was a little overwhelming.

“I know we’ve got a lot to choose from,” the barista says, pointing at the sign. “But I can help you pick if you’d like.”

He nods at them, eyes averted. He notices they had tried to make eye contact before he shied away. ‘Probably just customer service.’

“Are you a coffee or tea drinker?” The barista asks.

“Tea.” Yagi replies, clearing his throat. He hadn’t spoken to anyone since he had left U.A. that day.

“Ah, a tea fan! You can find those to the left of our menu,” the barista pauses for a moment, waiting for him to look up. “We also have a special ‘Hero of the Week’ tea. This week, we’re celebrating Kamui Woods!”

He considers a moment before replying. Removing the burden of decision would feel nice. “I’ll take that one.”

“Great!” The barista replies. “I’ll get that for you right away. Just take a seat anywhere and I’ll bring it to you.”

“The uh – what will be the cost today?” His voice was still a little strained. The coffee shop he normally went to wasn’t nearly as friendly as this one - it was in and out, as the store was often so busy that baristas barely had time to shout out customer names before they had to resume making the next order.

“I’ll tell you what, it’ll be on the house today,” the barista says, grinning. “You’re our first customer to try the Kamui Woods tea blend rather than the coffee.”

‘Well. Maybe I’ll just sit for a minute.’

Yagi felt strange about the barista’s kindness. Did he really deserve it? He nods his head at the barista before sitting down at a table close to the stranger. He didn’t want to be the creepy old guy that sat next to the only other person in the coffee shop.

But...

He couldn’t help but position himself in a way that he could see the stranger, their face still buried in the laptop that was in front of them. He lets his stare linger for too long, watching as their eyes flick across the computer’s screen. He feels stupid for being so drawn to them. He didn’t know a single thing about them. He scarcely indulged himself in these thoughts – the thought that he might make a friend as Toshinori instead of All Might, and the thought that he might find a relationship.

“Here’s your tea!”

Toshinori jumps at the barista’s voice, his thoughts interrupted.

“Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you,” the barista says, shooting him an apologetic smile. “Please enjoy!”

He smiles back, small but sincere. He brings the cup to his nose, inhaling the earthy scent. He wondered what the stranger smelled like, immediately grimacing to himself.

‘That... it's too creepy. But... Maybe a floral scent? N-no, don’t think about that.’

Toshinori shook his head, trying to clear the unwanted thought. He didn't mean for it to sound creepy, but there was no other way to describe how the thought made him feel.

His head snaps up when he hears an unfamiliar voice.

“Haruuu, I’m stuck.” He looks at the stranger, noticing that their headphones had been discarded. He catches the inflection in how they pronounce the name ‘Haru’, and wonders if they aren’t a native speaker.

“Hey. No whining when there are customers in here!” The barista scolds, giving them a pat on the head as they walk past.

They look over at him, a sheepish expression on their face.

He looks back, his cheeks heating up. ‘Shit.’

They stood up and walked over to his table (oh god are they actually coming over here), a sheepish smile on their face.

“I am so sorry you had to hear that,” they say, putting their hand behind their head. “I’m just uh… a little stressed. Usually, at this time of the day, it’s just me and Haru.”

‘Their voice is so cute.’

“It’s no problem.” His voice cracks. ‘Calm down. They're just being nice.’ He pauses for a moment. His urge to solve problems - to help others out with anything they needed - was something that he always carried with him. This shouldn’t be any different, he figures. Just a quick talk. “What’s wrong?”

They seem to perk up a little at his comment. Toshinori feels pleased. “I’m a grad student. I’m working on my thesis, but I’ve got a bad case of writer’s block.”

His heart was racing. Should he continue? Would they want to keep talking to him?

“That sounds interesting. If you don’t mind me asking… what’s it about?” He asks, genuinely curious - still, he can’t believe that he’s having an actual conversation with them.

They smile at his question, and Toshinori feels warmth blooming in his chest.

“Well, if you really want, I can tell you about it,” they say. Their eyes looked kind, he thought. “But I don’t want to bore you to death.”

“Oh, you won’t!” He replies, a little too fast. Their smile doesn’t falter, though.

“Um, if this isn’t too weird, you could come join me at my table?” They motion toward their laptop. He should say no, or he should suddenly come up with a reason to leave — but he doesn’t. Instead, he nods at them.

Toshinori follows them back to their table, tea clutched nervously between his large hands. His heart is beating so loud in his chest that he’s worried they’ll be able to hear it.

‘They're just being nice. A beautiful person like them doesn’t want you.’

Toshinori takes a seat across from them, not wanting to push their boundaries. No one usually wanted to be close to him like this anyways, his bony limbs and dark eyes often scaring people off. He watches curiously as they reach down and pull a large backpack up onto the table, shoving their pair of headphones inside before setting it back on the ground. He felt excited, the potential of this stranger overwhelming him. What would they talk about? Did they like American movies? What was their name?

‘You won’t see them again. Don’t get attached.’

“Okay,” they start, clapping their hands together. “So, um, how much do you follow heroes in the media?”

‘I wonder if they're a fan.’

He chews on the inside of his lip. He could say so much - he wants to say so much. But since they were strangers to each other, he reminds himself to hold back. “Hm, some. It’s important to stay informed.”

“Oh, perfect! I’m actually writing my thesis over the media and how they portray heroes.” Toshinori watches how animated they are as they speak, trying to draw himself away from looking at their lips - they looked soft. Inviting. ‘They would never kiss you. Look at yourself.’ He nods at them as they continue speaking, and watches with mirth as their smile grows wider. It had been a long time since a stranger had smiled at him like that.

“Well, actually, it’s a lot more than that. I’m going to be looking at a specific hero. Although he’s a bit secretive with his personal life, so it’s hard to get a feel on how the media has affected him through his career.” They peer down at their laptop, quickly typing something in. He swallows.

“Oh? Who’s that?” He watches as they look back up, eyes meeting his again.

“All Might!” They reply, their tone one of reverence.

Oh. Oh. He coughs, averting their gaze. ‘Oh my. They are a fan.’ He quickly forms a reply. “That’s true. He’s quite private.”

“Right? Well, I can’t say I blame him,” they look back up at Toshinori, eyebrows knitted in concern. He felt like he could burst with excitement. “He’s... incredible. I just wonder if the media ever gets under his skin.”

“Why All Might?” He asked. He didn’t want to hear about himself – not really. He was just curious about them.

“Well. There are a lot of reasons,” they reply, their expression suddenly sheepish. He wants to put his hand on their shoulder and tell them that it’s okay, that he could listen to them talk all day… ‘Stop thinking about that.’

“All Might… he’s been an inspiration to me for a long time. I love how passionate he is. He doesn’t make anyone feel like they’re not important.” They pause for a moment. “As someone that’s quirkless, it means the world.” They avert their gaze, almost certainly embarrassed about revealing their quirkless status to a stranger.

Toshinori felt like a liar for letting them talk about All Might like this. They were revealing such personal things to him - and yet, he wanted to hear more. Something about them captivated him.

“Even though it’s been a little hard, I don’t regret picking the topic,” they say, looking back down at their laptop. “I could never get enough of All Might.”

Toshinori coughs at their words, blood splattering out onto his hand. He felt mortified as he pulled a tissue out, trying to discreetly wipe the blood away.

“O-oh no! Are you okay?” They stand up and hurry over to his side of the table. “Do you need me to get you anything? Water? Haru!”

‘Dammit.’ They were so close - close enough that he could smell the gentle perfume they were wearing. He wanted to melt into the floor.

“N-no, it’s quite fine.” He groans, trying to keep the blood hidden. They don’t look convinced. They were probably disgusted, he thought - they were just being nice. Haru - ‘the barista’s name’ he reminds himself - hurries over with a handful of towels. Toshinori looks between the two of them and sighs, taking the towels.

“If you’re sure.” They reply, looking him up and down as if he was hiding another injury somewhere. He glances at their expression and sees no sign of disgust evident. Were they just hiding it? Haru returns to the back of the store, leaving the two of them alone again. He gets up to throw his mess away, shame coursing through his veins. He sits back down, unable to look at them.

“I’m sorry,” he says. He felt awful. Toshinori knew he shouldn’t have walked in the coffee shop in the first place - he was just a burden.

“There’s nothing to apologize for,” they reply, gently. Silence passes between them for a moment before he wills himself to look up at them. Instead of the grimace he’d come to expect from strangers, they’re smiling. He notes that they smile quite often. ‘They must be like that for everyone’, he thinks.

‘You’re not special.’

He clears his throat. “About your project... It does sound interesting.” He hesitates before he gets the courage to speak again. “I think I would like to read it when you’re finished, if that’s okay.”

Their smile grows even wider - maybe he wasn’t a liar. Just a friendly stranger who wanted to help. ‘You’re lying to yourself.’

“Oh wow, really?” They practically shout, excitement obvious in their tone. “Thank you! I wish I had more to show you now, but I’ve got to do some more digging on All Might.” They wave their hands apologetically before continuing. “Lemme get your contact info so we can stay in touch.”

Toshinori wants to tell them something, anything - about All Might. About himself. But that was an impossibility. 

He simply hums thoughtfully in response and nods. Before they can respond, a quiet jingle interrupts them.

They pull out their phone, and Toshinori’s throat tightens - there’s an All Might keychain dangling from the headphone jack. He feels frozen as he watches their eyes scan the screen before their fingers start tapping against it. He almost wants to run, his nerves eating away at the happiness he was feeling. He could imagine the revulsion they would feel, watching All Might transform into this. A skeletal old man who couldn’t go an hour without coughing up blood. Why was he still here? He regretted saying he wanted to read their paper. Maybe he should just leave, or give them false contact information.

He opens his mouth, preparing to make an excuse to leave before they interrupt him.

“Sorry about that, I actually have to run.” They say, shutting their laptop. He feels his heart drop. He wanted to leave first, to unburden the stranger of any pleasantries they feel like they have to perform out of politeness. They give him another smile, and he feels his resolve to leave fade away. He waves his hands, a signal it was no big deal. Maybe he could enjoy the feeling – if only for a moment.

They start talking again as they pack their backpack, and this time Toshinori notices the University emblem stitched onto the front - Golden Hero University. It was a popular school for exchange students, along with quirkless students. He turns his attention back to them, trying to ignore the fact that their university was close to his residence. “I really enjoyed our conversation. Sorry I talked so much! I just… well, I don’t have many friends here yet, minus Haru.”

“It’s fine. I enjoyed it as well.” Toshinori replies. They were lonely too – in a different way from him, but still lonely. He knew how it felt all too well. He stands up to leave, his heart pounding. He would be bad for this stranger.

‘Leave. You only bring sadness.’

“Wait!” They squeak, quickly walking over to his side. They hold out a small, egg-white card to him. “Um, if you want to read the paper, you can find me on these sites. Well, when it’s done. It’ll be a while. Plus, I’m always in here.” They pause, realizing they’d been talking at a rapid pace. “Er. If you liked the tea.”

They laugh at their own rambling, and Toshinori’s chest was tight. Why did they have to be so charming? He takes the card, giving it a quick read. Their name was… interesting. It fits them well.

“Sure.” He replies, a smile tugging at his lips. They were so enthusiastic. But still. ‘It’s too dangerous.’ He wasn’t oblivious to the obsessive feelings that were already building up in his mind. For their sake, he needed to stay away.

A moment of silence passes between the two before they stick their hand out. “It was really nice to meet you,” they start, eyes suddenly going wide. “Oh! I never got your name.”

Shit.

He thinks for a moment, panicking – he had to use a fake name. There was no other way. Should he pick an American movie star? Something obscure? A student’s name? ‘Shit shit shit just think—’

Toshinori puts his hand in theirs as he thinks, but the euphoria of how pleasant their hand feels against his is almost too distracting. He wonders what their skin would feel like under his.

‘Disgusting. You’re shameful.’

“It’s… S-shima,” he blurts out, nearly stumbling on the fake name. He feels stupid – he had taken the name of his favorite cider, unable to think of anything else. They shake his hand, their grip strong. The combination of their strong grip and the way that his hand dwarfed theirs sent his mind racing with unsavory thoughts. It was almost too much to bear, and then—

“Well, it was great to meet you, Shima!” They release his hand, and he lets out an internal breath of relief. Still, Toshinori wishes he could have held on for just a second longer. 

They sling their backpack over their shoulder and call out a goodbye to Haru before heading towards the door, turning around to wave goodbye. “I hope I see you again!”

Toshinori wanted to see them again too, desperately. There was so much he wanted to know. He looks at the business card in his hand and carefully folds it before putting it in his pocket. 

Maybe this time - even if it was just one more time - he could indulge himself.

-

It had been several hours since Toshinori had arrived home. He had sat in front of his laptop, nervously folding and unfolding the business card they had given to him. He thought about throwing it away and forgetting it all, forgetting how their nose crinkled when they laughed and how soft their lips had looked—

'You should. Fool.’

He felt guilt, too. Guilt that he was looking at them with lecherous thoughts and thinking about such… intimate things with the first stranger to show him real kindness in a while. It was wrong.

‘How pathetic, getting this excited over a stranger.’

It just wasn’t about how they looked or the way they made him feel, though. Toshinori was intrigued by the way they spoke, and the genuine passion for their subject of study. The way they hadn’t looked at him in disgust. The way they hadn’t recoiled when they shook hands, his calloused and bony hand touching theirs. Maybe just once, he could look at the websites the card they gave to him provided... Just to find out more about them, nothing else.

Toshinori fishes the business card out of his pocket and unfolds it with shaky hands, turning the card over to look at their information. They had their full name printed across the top in an ornate font and a link to their website at the bottom of the card. He reaches to the side of his computer and puts on his reading glasses, having trouble making out the tiny font they had used.

Toshinori types in the name of the website and is greeted with a professional-looking website, their name printed in large font across the homepage. The website had splashes of color that correlated with GHU. He clicked around for a bit before he found the contact page. Their email was listed, as well as a Twitter link and an Instagram page. There was no harm in looking, right?

Toshinori clicked on the little blue bird first. Their name popped up, a cute cartoon rendering of themself as the profile picture. He saw that there were a lot of words – he didn’t have enough time to look through all of their posts now, despite how much he would like to. Twitter was a website he had used under All Might’s persona – though almost exclusively through a PR person. He knew how to read a page, though. He felt his heart in his throat when he read their first tweet.

“had a good day for the first time in a while. met a friendly stranger and talked his head off about my thesis!”

Was it… about him? He bit his lip and clicked back, his heart pounding in his chest. It was too much to look at right now. He navigated back to their website, deciding to look at their Instagram instead.

Well.

Their Instagram page was far more overwhelming than their Twitter.

Toshinori had never used Instagram before - the official All Might Instagram was run by someone at his agency. The layout was completely foreign to him, but it couldn’t be that hard to figure out. He tentatively clicks on the first photo, unsure of what would happen. He’s surprised as it opens to a bigger version of the photo, their image plastered across his whole computer screen.

It was a picture of them sitting on a bench, surrounded by flowers. He thought he recognized it as a local park near the area. Maybe their barista friend, Haru, had taken it. He thought their smile looked radiant in the photo. There were no words on the picture, just little icons. Sometimes Midoriya texted him those. He should learn to use them, maybe. He searches for a way to exit the photo, suddenly excited to look at more.

Toshinori clicks through their page, feeling himself smile as he saw each new photo. He saw several pictures they had taken of themself in various places around town. One photo with a cardboard cutout of All Might that they were hanging onto. His eyes widened when he saw the next picture – a photo of them on the beach wearing a swimsuit. He swallows, saliva thick in his throat. Should he…?

He clicks on it. 

The bathing suit wasn’t anything that would be out of place on a public beach, but seeing this much of them… It was almost too much.

Toshinori feels himself grow red as he stares at the photo, looking at their body, every bit of it pleasing to the eye. What would that body feel like pressed against his? He feels himself grow even hotter, cock suddenly straining against his pants.

'Don’t do this.’

But maybe… Just once. Another indulgence, just for today. It would be quick.

Toshinori palms himself through his pants, glancing at the picture again. What if he came back to the coffee shop as All Might? He would charm them easily, sweep them off their feet. He was All Might, after all.

'You can’t abuse your power.’

He grits his teeth. It was true. But no, this was just a fantasy - it would stay in his head. 

‘It’s okay if it’s just once.’

Toshinori thinks about how small their hand had been compared to his as he pulls his cock out of his pants, giving it a languid tug. He imagined it was them touching his cock. It was difficult for him to get hard in this form – he didn’t like to look at himself, let alone allow himself to feel pleasure. He felt too disgusting for it. But with them on his mind, maybe it would work.

Toshinori looks back at the photo, stroking himself slowly. They would go outside, and he would whisk them away, somewhere hidden. He’d feel their soft lips against his, their soft moans filling the air as he used his hands to explore their body. He’d remove their top and run his broad hands over their chest. He strokes his cock faster, imaging his lips on their nipples, sucking and licking. He thought about how loud they would moan, how they would sound calling out ‘All Might.’

He would press himself against their body, letting them feel how hard he was - they would no without a doubt how much he wanted them. How much All Might wanted them. Oh god, he wanted them. He thinks about what their lips would look like wrapped around his thick cock, their mouth straining to fit the whole thing inside.

Toshinori groans as he increases his pace again. He looks at the picture, drawn to their lower body this time. He wanted to bury his head between their thighs, to work them over until their legs were shaking from pleasure - to feel their hands grip his hair and push his head into their center while they cried out his name.

Toshinori felt like he was close, his hand squeezing around his cock even harder, pumping desperately.

‘No one would want you like this.’

No, don’t think about that right now. He closes his eyes, hand still wrapped around his cock. He thinks about tasting them again, about sliding his thick fingers across their center.

‘Look at yourself now. Hideous.’

Please, not now. Just this once, he wanted release. His grip softens as he hopelessly pumps his cock, his member growing softer.

‘That’s right. You don’t deserve this.’

Toshinori releases himself, flaccid cock laying against his pants. He was right – this was a mistake. He couldn’t lie to them. He couldn’t just show up as All Might and abuse their trust just to get into their pants. Even if it was just a fantasy, he couldn’t do it.

It would be unjust, criminal - he would never do that to anyone. 

Besides, no one would want to touch him in this form - sallow complexion, body all skin and bones. Messy hair and dark, unnerving eyes. Toshinori Yagi – not All Might. 

‘Filth. That’s what you are.’

Toshinori slams his laptop shut, feeling disgusted with himself. He thinks of how horrified they would be if they knew what he really thought about them. He was filthy. Worthless. He tosses their business card into the trash, grunting in anger at himself. This would be better for them. 

Toshinori gets up and walks over to his couch, sinking down into it with a groan. He wanted to melt into the couch and forget all about them and what he had done. He had ruined everything.

And yet…

Toshinori still couldn’t stop himself from wanting more. They had been so kind, and so caring to a stranger like himself. He thought they might be a little naïve, to give out so much information about themselves to a total stranger. 

Toshinori bolts up, his mind processing his most recent thought.

What if he could protect them? Even as Toshinori, he could do that. They deserved to be protected - the world was so cruel, and it was the least he could do in return for his terrible thoughts.

‘Coward. You won’t go back.’

Toshinori balls his fists, tight. He wasn’t a coward. He was All Might, for fuck’s sake. He wouldn’t be a coward. His past self was afraid to reach out for fear of being broken, but no longer. 

Toshinori couldn’t be their personal hero as All Might – he had a duty to protect all citizens. His time was limited as All Might.

Toshinori Yagi, however, could make time.

#my writing #fic rewrite #not sfw #my hero academia x reader #bnha.txt #yandere cw #toshinori yagi x reader #yandere toshinori yagi x reader #yandere my hero academia x reader #all might x reader #yandere all might x reader

[lokiforever]

New teachers at School 🏫❤️

A/N : Sorry guys I forgot to mention the reader and her best friend live together in an apartment

Chapter 2

Tom : For the first thing please call me Tom when we're alone and for another......

Knock Knock

Tom : Excuse me

Tom opens the door slightly

Tom :Hello mate, mornin' miss Carter

Jk: Hey!!

Y/B/F/N: Morning, Professor

Tom : What brings you here?

Mr Jungkook : I was going to the library so I thought you would like to join...

Tom : Oh, I'd love to...but I have to discuss the teaching assistant thing with miss Y/L/N

Tom opens the door further so you were now visible

Y/N : Hello, professor

Jk: Hello, Miss Y/L/N

Jk : She can also join, anyways miss Carter would also be joining us.

Tom : Oh, that's great. Let's go!

Jungkook : Mmhmm

In the library

Tom : So girls are you having any issues with any of the topics in History, English or Science?

Y/N : Thank you so much, Professor. But, no, everything is clear. All thanks to you both.

Y/B/F/N:Thank you, professor. Me neither...

Tom : Anytime!

The rest 1 hr passes by, discussing some Shakespeare and reading.

*After I hour *

Mr. Jk : Miss Carter?

Y/B/F/N : Yes, professor?

Jungkook : I think we should go now......we have to discuss tomorrow's timetable, remember?

Y/B/F/N: Oh, yeah... Right. Let's go.

Jk: I gotta go. Bye Hiddles

Tom : Ok, Bye Kook

They give each other a quick nod and a friendly /manly hug.

After a few minutes......

Tom : Uhhh..... Miss Y/L/N?

Y/N : Yes, Mr Hiddleston?

Tom : May we go to my office, if you'd be comfortable there? Otherwise it's fine, we can sit here ...

Y/N : No,no it's fine. We can go to your office.

Tom : Ok then, let's go

God, this man!!!!!! How can someone be so perfect? He is just amazing. Not to mention the fact that he resembles very much to Loki, your mcu crush and comfort character. 'He's your professor y/n for God's sake ' you thought.

In Mr Hiddleston's office

Tom : Miss Y/L/N, tell me about yourself cuz as we will be working together, we should know each other.

Y/N : Firstly please call me Y/N.

Tom : Mmhmm

Y/N : Uhhhhhh..... I like to draw, cook, I recently started writing. I hate it when people put fake allegations against me and my favorite color is not specific.......but I guess we can say black.

Tom : Really?! I'd love to see one of your works someday....

'No you wouldn't cuz they are about you only....and Loki I only write fan fictions!!' . It was only when your professor's soothing voice snapped you out of your thoughts.

Tom : Y/N??

Y/N : Y-Yeah, s-sure why not?

Two more hours pass by, discussing the syllabus and even talking about your and his interests.

*After two hours *

You yawn

Tom : I guess it's enough for today..... Would you like to go to the cafeteria for some tea, coffee or something to eat? It'll be on me.......maybe cuz it's your first day as my teaching assistant

Y/N : Tom you really don't have to -

Tom : Please, I insist!

Y/N : Ok, fine

*At the cafeteria*

Tom and you were standing at the counter.

Tom : Hello, I'd like an Earl gray, please.

Y/N : Hey.A cup of hot chocolate , thank you!

You both took your orders and headed to the tables and couch. There you met someone.....

Y/N : Hey, Mr Jungkook. Hi, Y/B/F/N.

Tom : Hi Kook, Miss Carter *nod*

Both of them greeted you back. They were sitting on the couch, talking, smiling and laughing.

Mr. Jungkook : Miss Carter was a little tired, so I thought a cup of coffee could help.

Tom : It indeed was a long day.

After finishing your drinks you all headed out and said your goodbyes. You and your best friend sat in your car and returned to your shared apartment.

In your apartment

Y/N : So, how was your day, my dear?!

Y/B/F/N: Couldn't be better!! How about yours?!

Y/N : Amazing!! Though I frequently had to remind myself that I can't fawn over my professor 😂😂😂

Y/B/F/N and you start laughing and talking about your days

********* TIME SKIP *********

'November ; time for the annual feast '

You and your best friend were getting ready for the annual feast. It was an amazing event ; dance, food, drinks and dresses.

Your dress 👇🏻

You let your hairs down in waves and wore some plain black heels and a simple makeup ;neither too much nor too less. You were taking your car for going there but your bestie had to go to her mother after the feast, so she'd be taking a cab.

*At the feast *

Tom and Jungkook's jaw dropped after seeing you both and your by seeing Tom. Same was with your best friend except the fact that she was enchanted by Jungkook and you by Tom.

You were standing in the middle of the hall with a drink in your hand. A guy named David was constantly trying to make conversation with you. But oh lord, you could already sense the negative vibes from him. It was when Tom came to the rescue. God bless him!

Tom : Would you mind if I steal miss y/l/n for a minute, Mr. Richard?

David Richard : Of course not, professor. Take your time!

You followed Tom untill that David guy was no longer in veiw.

Tom : You look ravishing today, my dear!

You blush at the compliment

Y/N : You don't look any less either, Professor.

Tom extends his hand for you to take it. From the corner of your eyes you could see that your friend already found someone. You were really happy for her.

Tom : May I have this dance, my lady?

*********************

Taglist:

@holdmytesseract @dishahaldar @jennyggggrrr

Hope you like it! See you guys in the next chapter. Bye. Have a good night /day 👋🏻👋🏻👋🏻💗💗💗💗

#professor hiddleston #hiddlesarmy #Tom hiddleston #Jungkook #Professor hiddleston x reader #Professor x student #Marvel #Loki #Hiddleston