#fic: the stubborn grace of being loved regardless

[morningstargirl666]

what are your top ten favorite klaroline fics?

Ooooo let me think... in no particular order:

The Lost Prince & The Eternal Queen by @3tinkgemini /3tingemini

Oh this is a beloved favourite. Caroline's a werewolf alpha and Klaus, fresh from breaking his curse, searches her pack out to turn them into hybrids. Instead of forces them to turn, Caroline makes a deal with him, teaching him what it means to be who they are, offering him a place in her pack and if by a certain amount of time her pack want to become hybrids, he may turn as many as he wishes. It's got some great lore and delves nicely into Klaus' werewolf side. I adore it.

The Stubborn Grace of Being Loved Regardless by @helpless-in-sleep / perfectpro

Also an all-time favourite, this fic is beautiful. Caroline isn't turned into a vampire and when Klaus rolls into town, she's still human. That doesn't deter his affections. AND DID I MENTION YOU GET TO SEE HIM IN WOLF FORM? NO? WELL YOU DO AND I AM STILL NOT OVER IT 😭😭😭

Wisteria by @little-miss-sunny-daisy / sunnydaisy

Caroline meets Klaus before he comes to Mystic Falls, without realising he is in fact, The Klaus, The Original Hybrid. A beautiful love story unfolds that leaves you all soft and gooey inside.

The Howling by @bellemorte180 / BelleMorte180

I LOVE the idea of this two-shot. It's a werewolf mate au - wherein both Klaus and Caroline are werewolves. There's also ✨Damon murder✨ Need I say more?

From The Eastern Mountains by @cupcakemolotov / Cupcakemolotov

Read this not too long ago actually and kicked myself for not finding it sooner. In between grieving her mother, travelling and finding her own place in the world, Caroline keeps bumping into Klaus. The scene at the market haS changed me on a fundamental level, i even don't know why that scene's the most vivid for me but it is. There's just something so mundane about it. AND HELL YES WE GET KLAUS IN WOLF FORM!!! Go forth and read.

Their Nightly Ritual by bellamywinchester

A fic from my ffnet days, this has got to be a contender for my favourite kc fic of all time. Again, there's just something so mundane about it, even with all the supernatural shenanigans - I guess I have a type? I NEED THE DOMESTICITY OKAY? Caroline and Klaus exchange phone calls while she's in college, diverging from season 5 canon.

Blood and A Quick Murder (and isn't that how it always is?) by @ks-caster / KS_Caster

A beautiful character study on how Caroline will always come first in Klaus' books. It explores a really unique idea I've never seen before, and if you like this one-shot you should definitely check out ks-caster's Red Queen series too, which diverges from canon at season 4.

Till I Tasted You by @kirythestitchwitch / KiryTheStitchWitch

GOD this fic is a favourite because never have I ever been ruined so severely by one line of dialogue: “As if I could be jealous of a boy who has no concept of what it is like to touch the sun and then spend a millennium looking for daylight in every strangers’ face.” YOU SEE??? HOW WILL I FIND LOVE NOW THIS IS MY STANDARD???

[muffled screaming]

Wicked Schemes by willowaus

This one is probably on every klaroline rec list, but eh, I don't care. It's a good classic. I love that its set in New Orleans and Caroline gets her own powers. It also has Klaus in wolf form and any fic that has that instantly earns my seal of approval, as you should know by now.

the fate makes for a lousy poet by @stars-and-darkness / for_darkness_shows_the_stars

I binged this in a morning and after I finished it I was left shell shocked, in that high state after a fic has completely changed you on a spiritual level where you don't know how to move on with your life. I just remember lying atop my bed and staring at the ceiling like??? What do I do now??? What was I doing before I read this??? Fuck if I know. It's an amazing fic, canon divergent from season 3, a tattoo soulmate au with brilliant appearances from Kol, Elijah and Rebekah as well. And hey, in my shell shock after reading it I left an essay-length comment on the fic and now I'm best mates with the author. Our tastes literally align so perfectly it's like we share the same brain cell, so I could probably make a top ten klaroline fic list out of Ella's fics alone - every fic of hers takes all my hopes and dreams and weaves them into art. So check her stuff out, and not just the popular ones either (she's also got an amnesia au in the works which has me FERAL so come help me pester her to finish it)

#klaroline #klaus x caroline #fanfiction #klaroline fanfiction #fic recs #fic rec #fanfic recs #caroline forbes #klaus mikaelson #anon ask

[swordsonnet]

the stubborn grace of being loved (regardless, regardless)

Aziraphale/Crowley, 19k words, rated E. read here on ao3!

Summary:

After a failed stint in Heaven, Aziraphale returns to Earth and tries to patch things up with Crowley. Naturally, it doesn't quite go as expected. Or: ducks, Jane Austen, sudden rainstorms, and words (un)spoken.

i've been working on this fic for far longer than i care to admit, but now it's finally ready to see the light of day, so i'm posting it as a birthday gift to myself. hope you enjoy! :3

#this is both my first (published) good omens fic and my first foray into smut which is. uh. terrifying! #i spent way too long editing this but i've gotten to a point where i'm honestly really proud of what i've written! #which is all you can hope for really #kudos and comments would also be nice but we'll see #good omens #good omens fic #good omens fanfic #ineffable husbands #aziraphale #crowley #i learned how to do footnotes in html for this hope y'all appreciate my sacrifice

[frishbi]

Omg another question- the anon with the fic again, hi 🥺. I went through all the posts with your au(ive been squealing at all the little snipets and headcanons) but basically that is what i was about to ask - about the headcanons. From what i saw the au follows along the lines of the main story of atla, which is very very awesome, but i wanted to ask if you would also be ok with the plot being different in the fic? Still inspired by your characters, but a different story line altogether.

Was thinking about writing you a fic more on the lines of:

Yang being the sole target of a very specific, very dangerous group so Raven hires some of the best fighters in the world to protect her stubborn, hot-headed daughter. Thats how Blake and her squad is in charge of protecting the Fire Nation Princess, annoyingly so since the Princess herself says she doesnt need any protection at all.

Also in parallel Ruby’s story of going to the pole north to train in water bending with the North’s prideful and graceful princess, Weiss.

Basically lots of bickering and pining and learning of different cultures and Yang and Ruby complaining to each other about the irritating, gorgeous women they have to deal it on the daily.

OOO that sounds amazing!! I don't mind if you change the plot, I'll love it regardless as long as you're having fun <33

[klarolineauseason]

The FINAL Masterlist

7 Masterlists

25 Recs

23 Fics

22 Edits

45 New pieces of new content!

Thank you to all who participated in this year’s AU Season! I hope you’ve all had a great time. Below you’ll find the final masterlist, or contents if you will, of everything that’s happened this season. Go send the writers and artists some love!

As this was my first time hosting an event, I’ll have to thank you all again for making this season such a wonderful event. I may do it again next year (with less weeks though, now I know which AUs are most popular) so if there’s anything you’d like to see next year, or areas in need of improvement, don’t be afraid to send a DM or ask to the blog. Until I see you next time,

Your host, 

Morningstar ✨❤️✨

RECS

The Starting Line Rec by @galvanizedfriend (Fic by @definedareasofuncertainty)

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/galvanizedfriend/686365074873630720?source=share

The Stubborn Grace of Being Love Regardless Rec by @galvanizedfriend (Fic by @helpless-in-sleep and Edit by @certifiedceraunophile)

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/galvanizedfriend/686431608008572928?source=share

Til I Tasted You Rec by @certifiedceraunophile (Fic by @kirythestitchwitch and Edit by @certifiedceraunophile)

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/certifiedceraunophile/686471027628425216?source=share

Wolf Club Rec by @galvanizedfriend (Fic by Radioactive59)

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/galvanizedfriend/686525815760044032?source=share

light years Rec by @galvanizedfriend (Fic and Edit by @definedareasofuncertainty)

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/galvanizedfriend/686612798088888320?source=share

Into the Wood Rec by @galvanizedfriend (Fic by @jinxedwood

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/galvanizedfriend/686710649912442880?source=share

Week 1 Rec List by @morningstargirl666

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/morningstargirl666/686814649527795712?source=share

the edges of things Rec by @certifiedceraunophile (fic by @little-miss-sunny-daisy)

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/certifiedceraunophile/686925714614812672?source=share

Week 2 Rec List by @supremeuppityone

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/supremeuppityone/686862435167141888?source=share

Quiet Light Fic Rec by @galvanizedfriend (fic by @definedareasofuncertainty)

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/galvanizedfriend/687133635384623104?source=share

Until the Break of Day Rec by @galvanizedfriend (fic by @little-miss-sunny-daisy)

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/galvanizedfriend/687148683918278656?source=share

Lessons in Diplomacy Rec by @galvanizedfriend (fic by @misssophiachase)

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/galvanizedfriend/687224192777764864?source=share

Wanderlust Rec by @galvanizedfriend (fic by @bellemorte180)

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/galvanizedfriend/687314852922933248?source=share

All Those Friendly People Rec by @galvanizedfriend (fic by @highgaarden)

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/galvanizedfriend/687409169373020160?source=share

Week 2 Rec List by @morningstargirl666​

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/morningstargirl666/687437978954498048?source=share

Week 3 Rec List by @supremeuppityone

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/klarolineauseason/687518826366156801?source=share

Lucifer AU Manip Rec by @morningstargirl666 (manip by @certifiedceraunophile)

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/morningstargirl666/687857316199071744?source=share

Week 3 Rec List by @morningstargirl666​

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/morningstargirl666/688117228578701312?source=share

Week 4 Rec List by @supremeuppityone

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/klarolineauseason/688137848291049472?source=share

Week 4 Rec List by @morningstargirl666​

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/morningstargirl666/688753517034389504?source=share

Week 5 Rec List by @supremeuppityone

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/klarolineauseason/688771983880683520?source=share

Week 5 Rec List by @morningstargirl666​

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/morningstargirl666/689384317319839744?source=share

Week 6 Rec List by @supremeuppityone

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/klarolineauseason/689473770373709824?source=share

Week 6 Rec List by @morningstargirl666

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/morningstargirl666/689971935037259776?source=share

Hollowed Sun Fic Rec by @morningstargirl666​

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/morningstargirl666/690490089003958272?source=share

FICS

meraki by @kirythestitchwitch

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/kirythestitchwitch/686240345175080960?source=share

Chapter 8 of The Other Side of Sacrifice by @queencarolinemikaelson

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/queencarolinemikaelson/686537187517448192?source=share

Chapter 2 of Into Eternity by @morningstargirl666

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/morningstargirl666/686683189380530176?source=share

Bad Moon Rising by @kiaraalexisklay​

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/kiaraalexisklay/686818715447312384?source=share

The Price of Dignity by @supremeuppityone

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/supremeuppityone/686861761533607936?source=share

Urban Legend Drabble by @galvanizedfriend

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/galvanizedfriend/687177708031131648?source=share

Coincidence…?(I Think Not) Drabble by @kiaraalexisklay

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/kiaraalexisklay/687178212080566272?source=share

Centerfold by  @heatherstyles

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/heatherstyles/687367135023005696?source=share

Echoes of Sorrow Chapter Update by @bellemorte180

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/bellemorte180/687390498417262592?source=share

flightless birds by @helpless-in-sleep

https://archiveofourown.org/works/39722655

The Main Course by @supremeuppityone

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/supremeuppityone/687495012087365632?source=share

Stellar Flare by @kirythestitchwitch

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/kirythestitchwitch/687532886119841792?source=share

A Lupine Sky by @cupcakemolotov

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/cupcakemolotov/687806149602443264?source=share

Songs of the Sea by @morningstargirl666

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/morningstargirl666/687978483739164673?source=share

The Tart With Bite by @supremeuppityone

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/klarolineauseason/688141525004238848?source=share

When The Lone Wolf Howls by @bellemorte180

Prologue: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/klarolineauseason/688133963445862400?source=share

Chapter One: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/klarolineauseason/688207472788406272?source=share

Chapter Two: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/klarolineauseason/688434647312498688?source=share

Chapter Three: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/klarolineauseason/688677585808490496?source=share

A Good Bet Chapter 14 by @supremeuppityone

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/klarolineauseason/688768160337477632?source=share

The Machiavellian Chapter 3 by @bellemorte180

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/klarolineauseason/689119208894840832?source=share

Captive by @recklessnesspersonified​

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/recklessnesspersonified/690122161341530112?source=share

The Lies We Need by @supremeuppityone

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/klarolineauseason/689485396069040128?source=share

The Dark Descent by @lynyrdwrites

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/lynyrdwrites/690044585243705344?source=share

My Unofficial Lover and Edit by @popqxeen

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/popqxeen/690179796886519808?source=share

Slaughterhouse Sneak Peak by @morningstargirl666

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/morningstargirl666/690413002430775296?source=share

EDITS

Caroline Travels The World by @bellemorte180

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/bellemorte180/686233613869662208?source=share

✨Damon Murder✨ by @bellemorte180

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/bellemorte180/686413723164983296?source=share

Edit and Drabble by @itsmeimcathy

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/itsmeimcathy/686506949614911489?source=share

Edit by @heatherstyles

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/heatherstyles/686595255301275648?source=share

Into Eternity by @morningstargirl666

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/morningstargirl666/686683196496150528?source=share

no easy love could ever make me the same by @davinasrebekah

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/davinasrebekah/686710215426621440?source=share

Edit by @itsmeimcathy

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/itsmeimcathy/687141957602050048?source=share

Edits & Lyrics for Centerfold by @heatherstyles

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/heatherstyles/687417557395881984?source=share

Edit by @davinasrebekah

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/davinasrebekah/687433132981551105?source=share

Edit by @kiaraalexisklay

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/kiaraalexisklay/687805369620234240?source=share

Edit & Drabble by @itsmeimcathy

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/itsmeimcathy/687687085792067584?source=share

Siren x Pirate AU Manip by @certifiedceraunophile

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/klarolineauseason/688058172207923200?source=share

Beauty & the Beast AU Edit by @rebekahmikelsons

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/klarolineauseason/688062629114200064?source=share

Ancient Rome AU Manip by @certifiedceraunophile

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/certifiedceraunophile/688708208344301568?source=share

Married Thieves Manip by @certifiedceraunophile

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/certifiedceraunophile/688984421142020096?source=share

Mafia Edit by @oliviaspencers

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/oliviaspencers/688982044612624384?source=share

klaroline + the folk of the air by @oliviaspencers

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/bakerolivias-archived/689520708226793472?source=share

klaroline + marvel au by @popqxeen

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/popqxeen/689634626809053184?source=share

The Good Place AU by @itsmeimcathy

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/itsmeimcathy/689756282480164864?source=share

Mr & Mrs Smith AU by @heatherstyles

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/heatherstyles/689943655552892928?source=share

seasons: i. summer by @definedareasofuncertainty​

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/definedareasofuncertainty/689993202066948096?source=share

Edit and Drabble by @itsmeimcathy​

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/itsmeimcathy/690046718105075712?source=share

WEEK MASTERLISTS

Week 1

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/klarolineauseason/686852814919663616?source=share

Week 2

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/klarolineauseason/687507372520964096?source=share

Week 3

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/klarolineauseason/688129923496476672?source=share

Week 4

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/klarolineauseason/688754242941517824?source=share

Week 5

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/klarolineauseason/689387229456596992?source=share

Week 6

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/klarolineauseason/690018925356924928?source=share

Week 7

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/klarolineauseason/690663860131299328?source=share

#klaroline #klaroline events #klaroline fandom #klarolineauseason #auseason2022 #masterlist #auweeks #klaroline fanfiction #klaroline edits #fics #fic recs #kc edits #klaus x caroline #end of the season #thank you to all who participated!

[queerregulusablack]

3 + 25!

3. favorite line/scene you wrote this year

UHHHHH hang on let me Peruse.

OKAY, so I know everyone likes 'It was a heady thing, James Potter’s undivided attention' from Only You Have Shown Me (How To Love Being Alive) but my personal favourite is;

“He’s not my boyfriend, Regulus, we’re just betrothed. I’ve not decided if I like him yet.”

From a secret side project ;)

25. a fic you read this year you would recommend everyone read

I'm going to break expectations and recommend something non-Marauders, and that is The Stubborn Grace Of Being Loved Regardless by perfectpro.

It's Vampire Diaries, Klaus/Caroline, and it is...everything. I love Caroline, and this fic gives her everything I wish that stupid show had done after it had the audacity to sink its claws into my soul the way it did.

Send me a number and I'll answer the corresponding question!

#owl post #thank you for these!!!!!

[certifiedceraunophile]

The Stubborn Grace of Being Loved Regardless by @helpless-in-sleep

or @YesYouMakeMeCryTearsOfHope

“Did you mean what you told me at the ball?” she asks, checking the spray setting on the garden hose before she waters the sunflowers. Klaus is a few feet away, a clawed hand breaking through the earth and loosening the topsoil, curls sticking to his sweaty forehead, and he looks startled. Blushing, Caroline says, “You said I was strong, and beautiful–”

“And full of light,” Klaus finishes, his eyes soft as gold slips into the blue and then out again in a moment.

She tries to tell herself that she’s flushed from the heat of the Virginia sun, but it’s a half-hearted thought at best even if they are in a weird hot flash. The mist from the hose only helps so much.

He goes silent, so she looks over to him again, only he’s standing next to her in a moment, the sunflower stalks swaying slightly. For a second, she thinks that he’s going to kiss her, and her heart launches into her throat because she has no idea whether she wants that or not, which is terrifying.

Instead of leaning over to brush their lips together, Klaus tilts his head until their foreheads are barely touching. Caroline looks down to avoid seeing his expression and then shuts her eyes entirely when he whispers, “I did. I still do.”

#srishti's endless list of obssessions #fic: the stubborn grace of being loved regardless #helpless-in-sleep #klarolineedits #kcedits #klaroline fanfiction #klaroline shippers club #klaus x caroline #Hi jenn #you know how much i adore Hope fic #with all my heart and all my scars #the peace the catharsis the oneness and mainly the hope i feel #reading this #I s t g it's definitely god looking down upon me and wanting me to be healed #I love you for this fic and will always cherish it and protect in my heart #I dont think I'll ever be able to forget this fic like ever even if i tried my best to #it will stubbornly stick w me every day as i grow and heal #thank you for this #truly 💖💓 #also my pitch for this fic: #asdfghjkl this story by jenn is very very very special to me #I call it my hope fic #bc honestly this fic is literally as close I will get to believeing in things like healing crystals #bc that is exactly what it is #it's comfort and healing and solidarity and love and kindness all perfectly heart achingly wrapped into poetic lines that #reach into your heart and either twist it or caress it #it's a story of strength and survival #and then of thriving and snatching back what was taken from you #this fic is simply put; hope and light #and please do yourself a favour and read it

[terezis]

anyways i wanted to do a little  ✨ favorite fics of 2021 ✨ round-up!!! i tried to keep it to “fics that were published (or updated) in 2021″ rather than just “fic i read this year” to keep things fun and fresh so this is not a comprehensive list. but that said! fanned fiction!!!

taz balance

where you land (is where i’d like to be) by k_tron

in the pleasure of your company by desiree_harding

what doesn't kill me only makes me want you more by piecesofsunlight

elegy of a broken expanse by halcyonhowl

fantasy mortgage or marriage by kellysaur

come hell or high water by nillial

your hand and my heart by marywhale

careful displacement by bobtheacorn

into the dad-verse by sgrumby

of blood and bones by the_fanfic_train

atla

towards the sun by muffinlance

salvage by muffinlance

mountains and badgermole hills by glass_onion

worship the ashes by meregalaxiesandgods, patentpending

where mighty oaks do fall by witchofendo r

not to be joo lee by grumpyhedgehogs

critical role

proof by contradiction by chrome

the stubborn grace of being loved regardless by chrome

the worlds between us by nellaplanet

if everything’s sacred then nothing’s profane by grayintogreen

and that’s that! happy new year :0

[theoreticslut]

「 holiday season joys 」

luke alvez x reader

summary: hosting thanksgiving is a bit more demanding than you thought, especially with your perfectionism. thank god luke is there. 

requested: no

word count: 1.8k

warnings: swearing, talks of marriage, food & alcohol mentions

a/n: hello friends! I started writing this the day or two before thanksgiving, & just never got the time to finish it until a few days ago bc i had gone back to campus & got busy again. it’s finished though, & I’m hoping you all like it!! reminder that i am not doing a taglist anymore, so if you’d like to be notified when i post a fic, pls go follow @libraryoftheslut & follow the tag #theoreticslut’s writing

“Fuck.”

“God dammit.”

“Fine. Whatever.”

You huff as you throw the poorly sliced apples into the bowl. You may be a decent baker, but apple pies are certainly not your specialty. In all actuality, most pies aren’t your specialty.

You’re honestly starting to wonder why you offered to host Thanksgiving this year when you have always said you’d be the worst person to do so. You can’t stand the thought of prepping a turkey, and you are most definitely not the pie-maker of the family - your mother makes them 10x better.

“You alright in here, baby?” You hear Luke ask.

“Mhm.”

“You sure? It sounds like you’re losing to a bunch of apples.” He chuckles, smile evident on his face.

“Thanks for the vote of confidence, Alvez.” You huff, setting the knife down. 

“Come on, love. I’m just teasing you.” He laughs, walking over and pulling you into his chest.

You sigh, a pout settling on your face as you relax into his arms. You just want to have a nice thanksgiving dinner and dessert for everyone, but by the way things are looking you’re not sure they’ll want to eat any of it. Not a single thing is looking pretty yet.

“Why did I offer to do this again, Luke?” 

“Because you’re too good of a person. You wanted to treat everyone this holiday. Must I remind you how you argued with Rossi about hosting it?”

“No, I remember. He was adamant that he’d take part.” You sigh, smiling lightly.

“He always is when it comes to cooking, baby. Don’t you know that by now?”

“You’d think I would, huh?” You chuckle as Luke does, shaking his head at you with a smile on his face.

While he’s got your attention on him, he can’t help but lean down and press a kiss to your lips. Even though he can tell you don’t think you’re doing the meal justice, he can’t help his amazement for you.

How did he meet such a woman? Someone who’s so kindhearted yet strong-willed and stubborn. Someone who loves her friends like family, regardless of how long you’ve known them. Someone who is perfectly imperfect in all the right ways.

He’s never been happier for anything in his life. He swears that everyday loving and being loved by you is heaven, not wanting to trade it in for anything. You make his world go round, and he wouldn’t want it any other way.

“You’re amazing, you know that?” He murmurs, placing a kiss to your forehead as he watches you bask in his love - eyes closed with a soft smile gracing your lips.

“I highly doubt that, but thank you.” You giggle, leaning up to press another kiss to his lips.

“It’s true. I know you’re worried the food won’t look nice, but I can promise you that everyone coming won’t care. They’re just happy to be spending the holiday with people they care about.”

“Yeah?”

“Mhm. Penelope’s been going on and on about how excited she is that you’re doing this. Matt and Kristy are thrilled to have adults to talk with. Tara and Spencer are glad to not be alone. I promise you not a single one of them will care what the food looks like.”

You can’t help but smile, especially when your boyfriend is looking at you with such love in his eyes. 

“Alright, Alvez. You’ve broken down my resolve.” You joke, heart inflating as a smile takes over his face.

“Thank you for knowing just what to say to calm me down.” 

“That’s my job, baby. I’d be a shit boyfriend if I didn’t take it seriously.”

You shake your head but can’t help but mumble out an ‘I love you’ to the man who returns it with a kiss.

~.~

“Happy thanksgiving!” Penelope, Spencer, and Tara greet as you open the door.

“Happy thanksgiving guys! I’m so glad you could make it.” You smile, greeting each of them with a hug as Luke joins you by the door.

“You’re kidding right?” Penelope deadpans. 

“We wouldn’t have missed this for anything, lovey.” 

You can’t help but giggle, a smile fixing itself on your face as you welcome them in and tell them to get comfortable, offering drinks and snacks.

While you lead them to the kitchen to get refreshments, you send Luke to get the door as the bell rings again.

“Aunt y/n!!” Two little girls shriek excitedly before you feel bodies wrap around your legs.

Chuckling, you hand Spencer his glass before bending down to your nieces’ heights. They squeal in laughter as you pull them both into a tight hug and give them each a sloppy kiss.

“Ah I’ve missed you two little troublemakers! I hope you’ve been good for your dad?” You question as your brother and his wife walk into the room with Luke.

“As good as they can be. It’s nice to see you.” 

“It’s nice to see you too. I’m glad you guys were able to make it.” You smile, hugging your brother and sister-in-law.

You feel Luke wrap his arms around you before pressing a kiss to your hairline, immediately causing you to relax. It’s been a while since you’ve had so many people over at once, and you’re praying that everything goes smoothly.

~.~

Before long all your guests have arrived - Matt, Kristy, and all their little ones; JJ, Will, and their two boys; Rossi, who couldn’t resist bringing you a few expensive bottles of wine for the night;  and Emily and her boyfriend. Put simply, the house was currently bursting with life yet you didn’t mind at all. In fact, the entire lively atmosphere brought a large smile to your face. 

You absolutely adored having people over, whether it was for a holiday like today or just a laid-back game night with some takeout pizza and drinks. Something about a warm, happy, familial atmosphere made you feel like life was okay. Perhaps it’s because you didn’t have much of one growing up, so having it now made it seem like you’ve made it in life. Either way, these gatherings made you beyond happy, meaning you tried to host them as often as you could.

“I think it's about time we eat, what do you guys say?” Luke offers, looking to you for confirmation.

“Sounds good to me. You’re all welcome to get comfortable at the table. Can I get anyone a drink?” 

“Yeah, I’ll join you in getting them. I’m sure you could use the hands.” Kristy smiles, double checking with Matt and their kids what they want. 

Smiling, you nod in thanks as you make a mental list of what everyone else wants as they tell you.

~.~

“Here you are, hon.” You smile, setting a drink in front of Luke after handing out everyone else’s.

“Thank you, baby. You’re too good to me.” He smiles, pulling you in for a kiss before Rossi starts Grace, everyone’s chatter quieting down.

“Thank you for the abundance of food that y/n so graciously offered to cook for all of us. Thank you for providing all of us with good health and good friends.” He states, raising his glass as he calls amen.

“Thank you for keeping everyone safe on cases.” Kristy adds and you can’t help but laugh in understanding.

“Amen.” You agree, raising your glass to her.

“Thank you for allowing us all to spend the holiday with our closest friends and loved ones.” Luke smiles, squeezing your hand under the table as a few of you around the table agree with your own amens.

“Thank you for giving us the best aunt ever!” Your eldest niece calls out, drawing a chuckle from everyone.

“Amen.” Luke chuckles, clinking his glass with hers.

“Thank you all for being here. It wouldn’t be the same without any of you. With that, let’s eat, yeah?” You smile.

“Amen!” Everyone agrees, clinking glasses as you all start eating.

~.~

“Y/n, that was amazing. Thank you so much for cooking.” JJ thanks as everyone begins to finish their meals.

“Oh, thank you. I’m glad you liked it.” You smile.

“It was pretty good, kid. Maybe next year we can cook it together? I’ll give you a few pointers to make it even better?” Rossi offers, sitting back in his chair.

“I think we could do that, Dave.”

You can’t help but smile, as everyone seems pleased with their meal. Luke nudges your shoulder, and upon looking at him you can only roll your eyes as he gives you that look - the one that reads ‘I told you so.’

“Didn’t I say it’d all turn out well, baby? You’ve got to give yourself more credit.”

“Yeah, yeah. Personally, I think my worrying is what made it so good though, Alvez.”

Chuckling at you, all he can do is shake his head before leaning in and capturing your lips with his.

“I love you, you know that?” 

“Mm, you may have told me a few times.” You tease, giggling as he rolls his eyes with a smile.

“I love you too, luke. So much.” 

Smiling, he leans in and presses a soft kiss to your lips again before your nieces are interrupting.

“Aweee! Are you and uncle Luke going to get married, auntie y/n?” The older one asks, catching everyone’s attention.

“Yeah, Newbie. When are you going to make it official with y/n? Seems to me you're taking an awfully long time.” Penelope teases.

Luke just rolls his eyes at Penelope as he turns his attention to your niece.

“Someday we will, munchkin. You’re going to be our flower girl won’t you?” He asks, picking her up and settling her in his lap.

“Oh yeah! Can I? Please?”

“Wait, I wanna be flower girl too!” Your younger niece cries.

“Both of you can be flower girls. How’s that?” Luke asks, scooping up your other niece.

“We can do that.” They both say, looking at Luke excitedly at the prospect of having a role.

“Good, now why don’t you go play with the other kids for a bit while we clean up out here okay?” He offers, hugging both of them before setting them back on the floor.

“Okay!”

You chuckle as they both run off, more than happy to go play.

You’re not sure you could ask for a better holiday than the one you’re currently having. Not only did all the food turn out decently, but you’ve got everyone that you could ever need right here with you. You’re all happy and healthy, with only good things seeming to be coming in the near future. 

Maybe you didn’t need to worry so much about the pies you were making the night prior. Like Luke said, no one truly cares what the food looks like - they’re just happy to be here with you, and honestly you couldn’t agree more.

#criminal minds #cm fanfic #cm fluff #slice of life #luke alvez #luke alvez x reader #luke alvez fluff

[aelingalathyniusrailme]

Power recognizes power

A little power training gwynriel fic that came from me writing “if you find me at the edge, we’ll jump together.” and I was like this sentence deserves to be the title of something. plus throw everything (and by everything I mean that one sentence in the book) that you know about lightsingers away I’m just using the cute name. and yk there may or may not be some smut at the end. 

She was glowing.

She was glowing and Azriel did not mean she looked radiant or that she was overcome with joy, although she did and she was. Gwyneth Berdara was a living, breathing star. As if the spring equinox had come early this year.

Her skin lit up against the blackness of the sky and her hair burned bright with the ferocity of the hearth.

Gwyneth Berdara had stopped singing, the crowd was silent.  All eyes were on her but she was looking at him, her light, a beacon to his darkness.

His shadows yearned to go to her, he yearned to go to her. Instead, they both stayed stagnant, watching, waiting.

Azriel was had had enough, he dissolved from view and reappeared on the stage. Startled, Gwyn, took a step back and he stayed right with her, matching her step for step.

He gently tucked a stray piece of lit-up auburn hair behind her here, whispering, “It appears you glow, my love.”  

Gwyn, ultimately getting over her initial shock lightly pushed him on the shoulder, “Don’t do that.” She scowled.

Chuckling, he pressed his mouth to hers, in a soft, soothing kiss, forgetful of the audience behind them. As she relaxed beneath his touch, the glow became dimmer and dimmer until it ceased to be. Darkness returned and he stepped back. Gwyn took a breath and stilled. The nervous, passionate energy, that arouse when she sang, calmed for now.

Azriel turned to the crowd, “Due to the events that occurred here tonight, the performance will have to be cut short.” A soft boo drew his attention and immediately he isolated the noise. “Do you want to boo my mate again?” Azriel threatened coolly, his eyes narrowing.

Annoyed, she sighed and spoke to the crowd, “Oh ignore him, I truly am sorry for this interruption but I want to give nothing more than my best and right now I feel as if I can’t do that. the show will be rescheduled sometime next month, letters will be sent out with more information.”

He watched as the stunned and irritated faces slowly began disappearing. Some winnowing away, others taking the slightly more traditional door. Gwyn held her hand out to him. He took it, “So you’re a living lamp?”

“An astute observation.”  

“Is there any way I can convince you to rest now and figure this out later?”

She sighed, “It has been an especially long night.”

Azriel stared at her in disbelief, “did you just agree that you should rest?”

“Oh close your mouth, you’ll swallow a fly.” He responded by grinning at her and winnowing them away to their shared home.

Taking off his shirt he yawned not realizing how tired he actually was. It was still strange to him, being able to sleep so freely, without the looming fear of the past and what he couldn’t control. He stopped, realizing Gwyn had not moved from the door.

Gently he asked, “Are you coming?”

She looked at him blankly, lost in thought for a moment before she responded, “Um-yeah-later.” He was unconvinced so she tried again. “I think I’m going to stay out here and make some tea, maybe read a book.”

Azriel gave her a knowing look but did not push, “Goodnight.”

“Goodnight Az.” He tenderly kissed her cheek and walked to their room, immediately passing out on the bed.

—————————————————–

Azriel awoke at dawn and turned, unsurprisingly, to find the left side of the bed cold and empty. He sighed as he got out of bed, pulling on a pair of pants, mumbling. “Gwyneth berdara, you are going to be the death of me.”

Knowing there was no way she would be in the house but believing he probably should, he checked regardless and when he determined that she was in fact not in the house, he closed his eyes. When he opened them once again he found himself at the house of wind.

He nodded in acknowledgment, “Clotho,”

Shadowsinger. “The one and only.”

Is there something you require? “Just looking for that mate of mine. Any chance she’s here”

You know she is, and you know precisely where to find her. Ask what you truly want to ask. Through gritted teeth, he asked, “How long has she been here?”

Since 11 pm. Exhaling, he muttered, “Why can’t that damn woman ever rest.”

Over excursion out of only stubborn will seems to be a similarity between the two of you. Azriel frowned slightly before smiling pleasantly, “It’s been a pleasure as always, thank you for your help.”

Clotho only nodded and Azriel began the stairs to the 7th floor.

It took a moment for him to find her, the shadowsinger was a trained spy, forced to observe and retain even the smallest of details, yet he couldn’t find a bubbly redhead in a room full of texts and stories.

Ah, no wonder he hadn’t seen her. Gwyn was surrounded by hundreds upon hundreds of books. She was drowning in literature, her hair was tied loosely in a braid with quite a few pieces falling out, there were dark circles beneath her eyes, and she was sporting the slightly insane look that came from a lack of sleep.

“Gwyn.” Her head jerked up in surprise to see him.

“Oh Az, Ok Ok, I promise I will go to sleep soon I just need 5 more minutes. I’m so so so close. I think I’m going to skip training today. Ok how about 2 minutes. 10. No that’s more. 10 sets of 1 minute. I just need 10 sets of 1 minute. I’m fine how are you?”

“Gwyn, my love, you’re delirious.”

She brushed him off, “What no I’m fine. I’m fine. Did I already say that? I can’t remember.”

Logic was never the way to deal with her insane stubbornness, so he tried a different approach. He pushed down his worry for her, and curled his mouth into a smirk, “I bet,” She perked up like a dog about to be fed, “that you can’t summarize everything you learned last night into,” he checked the clock. “15 minutes.”

“I could do it in 10.”

“Prove it.”

“And when I win?”

“I leave you to research. But if you can’t you have to go to bed.”

“Time starts now.”

Gwyn took a deep breath and began. “First I looked into where light magic is supposed to originate: the day court. Their magic is described as warm and comforting. Every single text I read described the magic the same way, as a sort of yellowish-brown light, like the sun. But the magic that came from me was more of an icy blinding light, like the lights from the stars rather than the sun. Also, as far as I know, I don’t have family from the day court so I looked into the family I do have. My family from the autumn court. However, we know that autumn court magic is fire, and what manifested in me was light not heat. My grandmother was a nymph so I thought well what type of magic do nymphs have. And the answer was severely disappointing, with basic plant magic being the most a nymph was able to do. I was stumped for a few hours before I realized. I’m basing my research on what I believe to be true not what I know to be true. I was told that I am a quarter nymph and because that heritage would explain my non-high fae-like features I believed that, for there was no reason for me not to. But what if my nymph grandmother was not a nymph at all. I flipped through dozens of books on faeries that have similar features, light magic, and/or can live on land and water. For the most part, I could not find anything, but then out of the corner of my eye I found a small tome on the history of light magic, the majority being all things I’d seen a million times before on the day court, but a passage no more than a page long, referenced ‘the lightsinger.’ Now what is a Lightsinger, you may ask? Honestly, I had no idea what or who they were so I found every book and story I could on them. The lightsinger’s, instead of being a title for a way to manipulate magic, like shadowsingers or daemati, were a race. A long-lost fae race said to be able to bend and create light with their voices and song. It’s said that they died out due to a conflict with the shadowsingers but every so often there are sightings of unknown nymph-like creatures in you’ll never believe where. The autumn court. Now I would only have 25% of lightsinger blood but magic is a fickle thing and some sources believe that when bred with high fae blood the magic intensifies.” Gwyn exhaled.

Azriel grinned victoriously, “It’s been 20 minutes.”

“Goddamn it, I didn’t even get to the interactions between shadowsingers and lightsingers.”

Now he was intrigued. “Well if you want to continue I certainly won’t stop you.”

“No no,” she yawned, “I lost which means I will be going to bed. But I do want to alter our deal slightly.”

“Oh?”

“I sleep now, you train me tomorrow.” The set of her chin and the look in her eye were enough to assure him of how serious she was.

“You want a male who specializes in darkness to help you master your light?”

“Certain theories believe that the mother gifted the light and shadowsingers their gifts to balance each other out and to remain harmonious.” She reasoned. “So yes there is no one I would want more to teach me.”

“I will not take it easy on you.”

“Wouldn’t want you to.”

“Alright Berdara, we meet Sunday at dawn, do not be late.”

“I’ll be there.”

——————————————————————————————————–

Sunday arrived and Azriel watched as Gwyn came down to the training ring in her leathers, with a white ribbon tied in her hair.

“Good morning Gwyneth.”

“So formal.” He shot her a look. “Oh alright ok my turn. Good morning Azriel, shadowsinger, spymaster of the night court, mate of the most amazing female to grace this planet.”

“Training is serious.”

“Of course it is. Shall we begin?”

“I want you to light up the room.”

“What? is it not already lit?”

He smirked and let his shadows paint the room black. Azriel himself became smoke, nothing more than a voice in the darkness.

“Az, az come on this is not funny.”

“Good, because it’s not a joke.” His voice came from every direction and every way Gwyn turned she was surrounded by endless nothing. “You must learn to sing the song of light the way I learned the language of shadow.”

“Speaking in vague melodrama feels like it’s not going to be that effective.”

Gwyn tried to back up only to find what was once the training ring now bled together with the depth of the sky.

“Let the light speak to you. Coax it, nurture it. Burn through the darkness and find the light.”

“How am I supposed to do that.”

Gwyn thought of the way Nesta harnessed her silver fire, the way her eyes became the flame itself. She concentrated and searched deep within herself, searching and looking for the light she knew she possessed.

All she saw was a hallowed chamber.

“No.” The word echoed throughout the room. “Our magic is not like others, we do not create out of nothing, we manipulate what is already there.”

“How am I supposed to manipulate if I’m in a room with no light?” Gwyn huffed frustrated.

“Just because the shadows are masking it, does not mean it is not there.”

He was so damn infuriating. She tried calling the light to her, she flexed her hands, she even tried speaking to it, all to no avail.

“As you said, magic is fickle and our elements especially. Light and darkness do not want to be bound or controlled, let the light be a friend, a companion, let it want to help, let it want to be influenced by your will.”

But how the fuck was she supposed to do that.

“Think of the first time it came to your call.” He whispered ominously. “What were you thinking. What were you feeling? Power often manifests through emotion.”

Singing. She had been singing. Was it really so easy that all she had to do was sing?

Turns out it wasn’t.

For hours she sang hundreds of songs. From songs in the old fae language that she sang at the priestess services to ones she had written herself. Nothing worked. Azriel had let her have a singular break when she desperately needed to pee and even then he was skeptical.  

He had left her to her own devices leaving his shadows to watch over her progress. When he returned he found Gwyn clutching her knees, rocking in the shadows. Her gaze was unfocused and she was humming to herself.

“You have officially broken me. I’m done.” She wanted nothing more than to sit in the library with her sisters and a book.

“No.”

Gwyn’s eyes snapped into focus, her breathing steadied, and she went predatorily still. “Excuse me.”

“You heard me. No.” Azriel laughed, a cold vicious laugh. “You asked me to train you. Gwyneth Berdara has never quit before and she certainly won’t start now.”

Gwyn was seething, but she remained quiet. “What?” He was toying with her. “A little darkness too much for you. Light up the room and we won’t have a problem.”

“Oh that’s right you can’t. 10 hours in and no light in sight. You’re pathetic.”

Her anger cleared her mind and in that moment of clarity a memory, buried deep within her, resurfaced as if it was resting, snoozing until its moment of need.

Gwyn was in her mother's lap, a black-haired girl sat across from her. Her voice pulled her attention. “My girls, Catrin,” She tickled her, resulting in a giggle from her lost sister, before she turned her head, “Gwyneth.” And also tickled her. Gwyn's small hands clutched at their mother, desperately trying to hold on. “My two beautiful daughters.” She sighed. “Your lives will be filled with so much darkness, darkness that you do not deserve. But I need you two to be strong, to stay with each other, and to find strength in the other.” ‘I don’t get it,” Gwyn whined.

“We are a part of a glorious and lost people, a people of light and song. But they fear us because they do not understand us.”

Gwyn and Catrin looked up at her, confused and innocent.

“It’s ok, you will. You know the song I sing to you every night before you go to sleep?” Gwyn and Catrin cheered, “Yeah.”  

“I want you to sing it with me, and I don’t want you to ever forget it. Can you do that for me?”

Their voices came together in a melodic lullaby. It was captivating and cold, those who heard could not look away. The song demanded to be heard, to be sung.

The words came tumbling out of Gwyn, they twisted around her tongue and lips as if finally home. Lost but not forgotten. Lost but born anew. Through the shadow and darkness, her eyes found the light, it heard her call and from every direction it found her. She pulled the brilliance of the stars to her and let the light paint the dark white.

The shadows retreated to Azriel who stood just two feet in front of her. Their eyes locked and he smiled, “there she is.”

The light flowed and flowed, and the room lit up in a blaze of pearlescent radiance. Her pale skin lit and she had once again become one with the stars.

But while the call came from her, there was another that drew her light forward. His shadows and her light curiously answered the pull. Finding each other between Azriel and Gwyn. One did not dissolve into the other like it should but instead mingled, swirling around each other in an almost playful manner. They became one from two opposites that never should have met.

As they blended together she felt a pounding in her chest and a throbbing somewhere lower. Her toes curled and she craved more. Their power was its own entity and yet connected to them. A push and pull, a desire to be close.

Azriel bridged the gap between them breathing heavily, pulling her against him as he’d never felt her before. “Az.” she gasped.

His eyes were on her lips as he licked his own, smiling, “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you so alive.”

“You’re the worst,” She said between breaths.

“I know.” And their lips met in a furious burst of passion.

He kissed her with a fiery hunger, a male starving. Her hands weaved through his hair, her fingers getting lost in the darkness. Gwyn wanted nothing more then to be lost in his darkness, as he wanted to drown in her light. Azriel gripped her waist, grinding his hardness into her causing her to moan.

“You make such pretty sounds for me.” He chuckled, ripping her shirt off.

“Fuck me.” It was an order, not a request.

“Gladly.” Their clothes were gone moments later. His kisses moved down her neck as he sucked and his fingers dipped to her cunt as he felt her. “Always so wet and ready for me.”

She wrapped her hand around his cock, “Always so hard for me.”

“Can’t help it.”

“Wouldn’t want you to.” He laid her down in the middle of the training ring and stroked his cock up and down her folds, pressing against her clit. “oh my god-fuck.”

With that, his control snapped and he buried himself to the hilt in her. Stroking once, twice.

He smirked, crooning, “look how perfectly we fit.”

His thrusts were slow and shallow, edging her on, basking in the feel of him in her, of her around him.

He then went harder, hitting her in the right spot every time, but Gwyn needed more.

“Faster.”  

“Your wish is my command.” Azriel fucked her hard and fast, and with every thrust she moaned in ecstasy, driving her hips forward, meeting him step for step.

“Oh my god fuck me.”

“Such a good girl, taking it so well.” He captured a moan on her lips, devouring her.

“yes, yes fuck.”

Where the light met the dark, was where Gwyn met Azriel. They were cocooned in a shell of power flowing between and all around them. They were a storm of blinding light and depthless shadow, the lines of what were and were not, blurred to just the other.

“Gwyn.” He groaned, nothing existed but them.

“Az I’m gonna cum.”

“Yes, my love, cum for me.”

Every thrust became sporadic and uncontrolled as if his pleasure had taken a mind of its own. He swirled his tongue around her nipple and ground her clit with his fingers.

It was all too much, Gwyn cried out as she came, her back arching, toes curling. Her cunt tightened around his cock as he fucked her past completion. She was everything and watching her cum was enough to send him over the edge as he emptied himself in her, collapsing on the ground next to her.

For a moment they were silent before Gwyn spoke, “would you like to hear what I learned about the interactions between Lightsinger’s and Shadowsinger’s” She smirked, “Apparently the sex is unlike even mate sex.”

“I can vouch for that.”

Gwyn laughed, and if it wasn’t the most beautiful sound he’d ever heard.

#gwynriel #gwyn berdara #azriel #gwyn x azriel #one shot #gwynriel one shot #smut #Gwynriel fanfiction

[cant-think-of-anything]

All my energy was used on the fic, you don't get a title

Basically I took the scenes of lord of shadows and replaced the characters

( @littlx-songbxrd helped me develop the plot a lot so thank you Zia)

TW: descriptions of blood and injury, mentions of homophobia and ableism

Thomas had quickly come to the conclusion that he hated the land of Fae. Not because the location itself harboured ill experiences, but rather because of his travel companions.

He glanced at said travel companions. Alastair and Christopher were attempting to assemble a fire, struggling greatly because London wasn't exactly a place of forests. Alastair's face was stern with concentration, eyebrows drawn together as they always were, a permanent appearance of disapproval. His lips were turned down slightly, frustration causing him to scrunch up his face.

It wasn't adorable, Thomas scolded himself, it was intolerable. And entirely unenjoyable. He breathed a sigh, turning away from them and back at the rushing waters of a river. They'd been sent to be audience to the Seelie court and request their assistance to defeat Belial. It was a useless excursion, the Faerie wouldn't intervene unless their own land was being threatened. But the Clave had sent them regardless.

Christopher called his name, his voice a whispered yell as to not draw attention from whatever lurked in the forests. He picked his way back, settling on his sleeping mat and looking up. Without a fire, only moonlight made anything visible. Christopher had curled up already, but Alastair was awake. He was staring up at the stars his eyes wide with something like wonder.

The sight was disarming, but Thomas turned away, before Alastair caught his stare. Nothing good could result from that. The Sanctuary was a few weeks past, and what had started as longing glances and tortured pining turned into short tempers and quick annoyance. They hadn't talked, not the way Thomas desperately wanted to, but they had argued and bickered nearly every time they crossed paths. And he despised it.

Curling his hand into a fist, he turned onto his side and willed himself to sleep.

____

Alastair was fairly certain they were lost. It was as if Faerie shifted everytime they were on the correct path, and it accomplished nothing but adding to his frustration. And apparently, Thomas's.

"We should go north." He said, his eyes glinting with annoyance.

"Are you stupid? Do you want us to get killed? We'll end up there either way."

"Your method would take longer and time is something I don't fancy to waste."

"And your brilliant solution is to- what? Traverse through an entirely unmapped territory? It's far too dangerous, and I would like to keep my head adjoined to my body."

"Maybe sometimes it would do you some good to do something dangerous."

"Oh?" Alastair whirled towards him, their faces inches away from the other, each sparked with anger. "Do something dangerous? Like you? To my memory, it got you imprisoned!"

"Perhaps it would suit you to travel in solitude! Since you always seem to prefer that anyway!"

"I do not-"

"I really do not think we should be causing this much of a disturbance," Christopher chimed in, his face twisted in confusion, head swiveling between both of them. "They're simply... directions?"

"Without directions." Alastair said, "you end up lost." His eyes stayed locked with Thomas's, head tilted to meet his infuriating height.

"We won't get lost," he hissed back.

"For someone with a tattoo of a compass you truly have a horrendous sense of direction-"

"We could just," Christopher started, flipping the map over, before looking up with wide eyes. "Go through here." He gestured at the map.

"Absolutely wonderful. Let's leave, I wish to depart as soon as we're able."

A few moments passed before a loud screech like noise emerged from the forests. Because why, Alastair thought drawing out his weapons, would anything ever be simple for him. Christopher and Thomas pressed closer when the creature burst forth from the trees. And really creature was the only world he had for it. It appeared as a demon but not one Alastair had ever studied, and from the looks on the others faces they hadn't either.

"Do we-"

The creature lunged faster than any demon could, a flash of the murky green that colored it's scales. It's claws flashed, charging at Thomas. Alastair briefly registered slipping in between the two, lodging the wooden shaft of his spear between it's jaw. He sought out Christopher sliding under the thing to stab it with his blade, killing it quickly but not quickly enough to prevent when the creatures claws raked against the top of his chest.

Air rushed out of his lungs and he felt familiar arms wrap around him, catching him before he could fall. His eyes fluttered shut on their own record. He fought to regain conciusness, he refused to be unconscious around the likes of his companions, but he felt himself dragged into blackness regardless.

---

Christopher was accustomed to his friends odd relations. He had certainly gained enough practice observing the spats they often had. But whatever anger his cousin held towards Alastair was always a puzzle to him. He was sure it was a puzzle to them too considering their never ending shifts in emotion.

He looked over at Thomas who's face was twisted in something between intense worry and sorrow. His eyes dropped to Alastair who had still not woken up, bandages covered the scratches that stretched from his shoulder to the top of his neck. He winced remembering the injury, bleeding profusely with no runes to stem it. His own worry for Alastair had occupied much of his mind. James and Matthew would be furious at such a thing but Christopher found he didn't care.

"I'll go stand watch," Christopher offered, making his way to the outside of the cave they'd taken shelter in.

Thomas hated being in debt, he remembered. When they were younger he would never accept help unless it was forced upon him, his stubborn nature preventing it. And now after Alastair had risked his life twice to help him, he must feel like he owed something.

Christopher pulled himself onto one of the rocks resting outside of the cave and tipped his head back. He missed his home. Not whatever had overtaken it in the months past, he missed Henry, he missed his parents who he'd barely conversed with since before the killings had happened. He missed Alexander even if the child cried a storm. He glanced up at the sky, noticing the first rays of dawn breaking through the clouds. He pulled himself off of his rock with a sigh. He wished for normalcy more than anything. But he doubted it would grace them anytime soon.

He ducked under the entrance of the cave, opening his mouth to call out for Thomas to get ready to depart. But Thomas wasn't awake.

He was curled onto his side, facing Alastair, both evidently asleep. Their hands stretched out the distance between them and were laced together.

Christopher sucked in a breath. "Oh, Thomas," he breathed.

He'd known of his cousin's vauge feelings for Alastair from the time that Thomas was quite a bit shorter than him. But he hadn't fully understood what the two felt towards each other. He knelt between them, gently attempting to pry their hands apart, but both their grips tightened. As if through the small action they were able to pour every unsaid emotion they'd held.

Christopher wasn't a stranger to the way the Clave treated anyone they viewed as different. The way they shut down every attempt Henry had made to better the Shadowhunter world, the way they would continue to deny any of his own attempts. They claimed to want happiness and order for all but the moment someone proved to differ from their standards they would shut them down and rid of the evidence. They would remain under the pretense of fairness while they claimed credit for any accomplishments him or his uncle managed to force into them.

Thomas never had chosen himself, never his own happiness. Christopher let go of their intertwined hands, then looking at Thomas's face. It was almost drawn up in concentration. He stood, glancing at them once more before returning to the front of the cave and yelling for Thomas to wake up so they could depart to the castle. It wasn't as much as he wanted to do, but it was all he could.

___

Thomas dumped their small pile of belongings near the foot of the bed. The Seelie Queen had apparently chosen graciousness that night and permitted them two rooms. Christopher claimed the first one, leaving Thomas and Alastair to occupy the other. Not that Alastair had woken yet.

Thomas crossed the room, refusing to look where Alastair was laying on the bed, where he would soon need to lay next to him. He made his way to Christopher's room, too tired to truly marvel at the tall marble pillars and regal decor adorning the halls and bedrooms. Christopher was cross-legged on the bed, scrawling something into a notebook under the dim lights that shone through the waterfall close to the wall.

He pulled himself onto the bed next to him, worrying at the material of his nightshirt. Christopher looked up after a moment, fixing his peculiar eyes on Thomas.

"Are you all right Tom?"

The question shouldn't have startled him as much as it did. "I'm okay."

Christopher lips tightened. "You're lying. You usually do when people ask you."

Thomas breathed a soft sigh, pulling his legs up onto the bed. "I know."

Christopher studied him for a few moments, debating something in his mind before saying "You don't have to sacrifice yourself to make us happy Thomas. Anyone who truly cares for you will not love you any less for your decisions."

Thomas startled, looking at him with widened eyes. Something in his heart sped up, as if a weight had lifted from it causing it to beat faster in it's absence. "I don't- I don't understand-"

A hand gripped his forearm. "Go back to your room Thomas. I suspect he'll wake soon."

___

When Alastair woke he wasn't in a forest. He had known the Faerie were images of royalty but the room seemed ridiculously extravagant. He wanted to pull himself up in the bed but a sharp sting on his neck forced him back down.

The door swung open then, Thomas entered with a odd look on his face. It switched to overwhelming relief when he saw Alastair.

Swallowing, Alastair rose a hand his neck. The Faeries must have worked on the wound, it had healed over somewhat but not enough to relieve him of the pain.

He heard Thomas clear his throat. When Alastair looked up again, he'd moved to the other side of his bed. "You had gotten injured in the forest. We're in the Seelie Courts now, you've been indisposed for a few hours."

"Oh." He wasn't sure what else to add.

Thomas stared at him for a few unnerving moments before making a frustrated noise. He slid onto the bed, folding his legs underneath him and giving Alastair an imploring sort of look. "I'm sorry. For everything I've done. And I'm sorry I couldn't give you the right words in the sanctuary. I'll try to give them now."

Alastair inhaled sharply, from surprise rather than pain. "I don't understand. You shouldn't be apologizing-"

Thomas half smiled before cutting him off. "Let someone apologize to you for once. You deserve as much after the way we've treated you."

Biting his lip and looking away, Alastair noticed the pile of clothes and other luggage in the corner of the room. Oh. He turned back.

"Well Mr. Lightwood I find your apology to be satisfactory, despite it still being unnecessary."

Thomas smiled fully then and something in Alastair's chest loosened.

"Does this mean I am permitted to use the bed alongside you?" His voice was teasing.

"As long as you manage to stay on your side of it."

But that rule was quickly broken, Thonas shifted close and carefully curled his body around Alastair, his head resting on in his curls and limb wrapped loosely around him. Alastair breathed a small breath of relief before pressing his face into Thomas's neck and sleeping peacefully for the first time in years.

Happy birthday Zia!! Ilysm and you deserve literally every good thing in the world, you're amazing and very talented and yeah <33

Tagging: @adoravel-fenomeno @thewarthatsavedmylife @eugeniaslongsword @alastair-esfandiyar-carstairs1 @foxglove-airmid @littlx-songbxrd @alice-got-the-blues @writeforjordelia (lmk if you want to be added or removed)

I'll tag @youngreckless for thomastair week

#alastair carstairs #thomas lightwood #christopher lightwood #tlh #thomastair #the last hours #tsc

[theroomofreq]

bemused friendship

Wishing the happiest birthday to the love of my life, @mppmaraudergirl !! I cannot express how grateful I am for your friendship and kindness.

here is a snippet of the fic I am writing for you and will hopefully finish soon. love you dearly xx

Lily slammed her bookbag down onto a desk, the sound reverberated loudly inside her head. She hoped the noise ricocheted purposefully into the chest of her desk mate. Lily Evans wanted the person next to her to know she was hell-bent on living up to a challenge.

What challenge, you ask?

A challenge presented to her by two incredibly frustrating Gryffindors, two Gryffindors who didn’t realize the precarious situation of going against Lily Evans and her intensely stubborn personality.

Did Lily know what class this was? No, and it was completely irrelevant to the task at hand. Did she remember anything from the time it took her to storm into the classroom? Very little, which shouldn’t be of much concern to anyone, thank you very much. Was she here with a very firm mindset on what was to be done? Absolutely.

Rather than setting anything out on the desk, Lily simply grabbed the end of her bag and shook out the contents. Her inkwell, quills, parchment, books, and chapstick clattered along the desk, ringing like the blood in her ears. Lily planted herself unceremoniously in her seat and pushed her bookbag off the edge of the table and onto the floor where it laid in a crumpled heap.

“Always wonderful to have such a happy desk mate.” James quipped, his voice dripped with sarcastic charm.

“Do not start with me, Potter.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it, especially as you are already having such a wonderful morning.”

“I was until very recently, thank you.”

“Evans, might I remind you. You were the one to grace me with your cheery disposition this fine morning.”

Lily turned to face him and rolled her eyes as far back in her head as humanly possible. “I know. But I don’t have much of a choice, do I?”

James furrowed his brows and looked around the room where half the class had yet to show up. He nodded and spoke again, “hmm, yes, slim pickings.”

The way he smiled sent her stomach rolling. Merlin. She really was running short on patience, wasn’t she? Lily dropped her head down on the table, her face pressing into the objects haphazardly strewn across the desk. As her inkwell crushed into her cheekbone Lily wondered how exactly she got herself into this disaster.

Oh. That’s right. Sirius Black and Remus Lupin.

approximately 10 minutes earlier.

“You know, I will hate myself later for saying this, but - really you’d get along great.”

Lily’s gaped like a pureblood Slytherin who’d just been told his cherished family pedigree was fabricated.

“Are we still talking about the same bloke here?”

“Tall specky git, with his hand permanently stuck in his hair? James Potter, my best mate? Yeah, I think we are.”

“Potter and I would not make good friends, Sirius.”

“Trust me, love. If you only gave the poor boy a chance.”

“A chance? A chance for what exactly?”

Sirius’ lips curled into a charming smile. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”

Lily rolled her eyes at the way Sirius leaned back against the wall, eyes bright with mischief after his little question. The busy halls of Hogwarts before the first morning class were a dull buzz behind her. At the moment all she could be bothered with was her classmates who called her over to chat. Unfortunately, their little discussion had turned into complete nonsense about Potter. And now it seemed her fellow Gryffindor was pleased as punch to kick back against the tall castle walls and press her buttons. Buttons that immediately bristled at any mention of James Potter. Lily let her eyes dance over to the second boy who folded and unfolded a rough piece of parchment in his hands.

“Translate please?”

Remus sighed like an older man who spent most of his days kicking teenagers off his lawn. He pushed the sleeves of his off-white collared shirt up onto his scarred forearms. His eyes connected with Lily’s and his lips twitched, but only barely.

“Why, Lily. If I didn’t know better, I’d think you might be curious about our James.”

Sirius released a bark of laughter before he stepped forward and clapped Remus on the shoulder. “It seems that way, doesn’t it, Moony?”

“The only thing I am curious about is how his neck can support all that ego knocking around his head.”

“You’ll have to get up close and personal to see that, Lils.”

“Think that might be the point, Moony.”

Lily placed her hands on her hips in the way that one commonly does when dealing with 16-year-old boys who refuse to cooperate with any type of logic.

“The point being that Potter and I will not become friends.”

“Perhaps you are right this round,” Sirius said with an air of nonchalance.

“Lily is always right, Sirius.”

“Think of it, Moony. If they spent one day of classes together-”

“Lily would absolutely hex Prongs by the end of it.”

“We’ve all been there of course.”

“The two of you are headed into hexing territory as well.” Lily snapped.

Sirius and Remus smirked wickedly at each other. One smirk was bright and daring, the other was small, subtle, and calculated. Lily couldn’t be sure which one was most dangerous, but she had a feeling that the two combined were far worse than just one.

“Well, Padfoot.” Remus quipped, eyes trained on Lily. “Really, anyone could tough through one day of classes with James. But, who could last a whole week?”

“By my count? Only three.” Sirius said as he propped an elbow on Remus’s shoulder. “Not counting you, Evans.”

“I’m not falling for this. I know what you two are plotting. And stop winking at me, Sirius Black.” Lily said.

“Regardless of whether you know what we are doing, the offer stands.” Sirius retorted quickly.

“A week with Potter? Sounds like less of an offer and more of a death sentence.”

“Would you rather it be a bet? Perhaps a dare?”

“I’d rather you waste someone else’s time with your ‘marauding’ nonsense.” Lily wondered if the quotation marks she made in the air gave off enough sass to show her overall distaste for her situation.

Sirius stepped away from Remus and resumed his original position against the wall, his leg propped up behind him and his arms crossed over his body. His words bounced their way through her brain as his stance created a deeper sense of annoyance in her chest.

“Of course it’s nonsense. But it doesn’t change the fact that you are curious about our James. Or that you desperately want to prove us wrong.”

The glint in Sirius’s eyes paired with Remus’ raised eyebrows sent Lily over the edge. The edge referring to the completely mad way she stormed out of their presence and tearing off to class.

Death sentence, bet, dare, and challenge aside, Lily absolutely could not be friends with James Potter.

#jily #jily fic #6th year jily #my writing #mppmaraudergirl

[morningstargirl666]

Wayfarer by perfectpro a.k.a @helpless-in-sleep

Summary: Caroline thinks Paris isn't for her, but maybe she just needs the right tour guide.

Rating: T

Words: 2041

Why I LOVE it and you will too: I can literally devour anything that flirts with canon, taking the best pieces of it and throwing out the rest. Wayfarer is a short one-shot that fits that criteria, set post-canon, decades since Caroline has even stepped foot in Mystic Falls. The first thing I love about it is it clearly shows her growth as a character - this is no longer the insecure, morally-driven baby vampire we first met, but someone older and wiser, even if physically she’ll never appear so.

And then we come to where this fic is set - Paris.

(which is like my second favourite thing, cause obviously ANYTHING involving Paris, Rome or Tokyo is like finding rare gold when it comes to this ship)

Caroline has developed a sense of wanderlust since we last met her, but - a unique twist that I haven’t seen in fics before and adore more and more every time I reread this - she’s not enjoying her stay in the city of lights. In fact, her favourite place in all of Paris so far, is her hotel room, where her clawfoot bathtub can be found (this is such a small detail ok but I LOVE IT and the best part is it becomes relevant later on, @helpless-in-sleep you are genius the way you deliver the ending I want to KISS YOU OK). 

So, overall, Caroline is lonely, underwhelmed by the city and even planning on leaving early, until a certain someone shows up at the restaurant Bonnie advised her to try out.

And what follows is the sweetest, most satisfying reunion between Caroline and Klaus, thinly-veiled flirting gift-wrapped for us dear readers in the best ways. I swear, by the end of this fic, you will be grinning like a fool, while also cursing Julie Plec for not giving us this ending instead. It’s got all the promise of more, without showing us it, and even though you probably will wish this little one-shot was continued, it doesn’t need to be.

You already have everything you could ever want.

@helpless-in-sleep​ Congratulations Jenn! Hope the wedding is everything you dreamed it to be! I’m a little late delivering my gift cause of being sick, but I hope you enjoy the mood board I made. I think Wayfarer is my favourite fic of yours (The Stubborn Grace of Being Loved Regardless is a close tie), and I assure you it is one of my favourite Klaroline fics overall, despite normally preferring multichaps. Enjoy every second of your big day! You deserve it gal!

#klaroline #fic recs #by moi #wayfarer #helpless-in-sleep #favourite fics #post-canon #paris #caroline x klaus #flirting #there's a lot of flirting #and you may squeal like I did and slam your laptop shut from the sheer fluffiness of it all #cause you can't contain it #honestly I became a little kid all over again when reading this #just #chefs kiss #tis beautiful #if you weren't already getting married jenn I'd boot the husband elect out the door and take his place #love this fic #I LOVE IT #now go read it #or I will never speak to you all ever again #kidding! #[I'm not erica taught me how to bury a body]

[catalists]

Fanfic ask game! 4 5 or 11 for the stubborn grace of being loved, regardless? (🎉 procrastination lol)

For the curious, the fic in question: the stubborn grace of being loved, regardless.

4) What’s your favorite line of dialogue?

Ooh, this is a tough one, since there are a lot of lines I really like in here! But I think I particularly like this line of Essek's from chapter two, when Jester is asking Essek questions about his family and upbringing:

“I do not think my deficiencies as a person can be blamed on not being hugged as a child, Jester.”

I like it both because (I think) it's funny, and because it's a maybe-not-terrifically-subtle commentary on people who try to blame every bad aspect of Essek's personality on his family/upbringing, which is one of my pet peeves.

5) What part was hardest to write?

Err...well, it's the dinner with all of the Mighty Nein that's going to be in chapter 4, hence the long long delay! It's a tricky scene! I think (hope) everything afterwards will come easier, but balancing a lot of information and a LOT of characters has been a challenge.

11) What do you like best about this fic?

I really enjoy making shit up about the Dynasty! Just being able to wholesale invent aspects of culture and traditions to suit my narrative purposes is a ton of fun, and I hope also a lot of fun to read.

#critical role #cr fic #essek thelyss #jester lavorre #jessek #and eventually (shh) #widojessek

[klarolineauseason]

Week 1 Master List

Fic Recs by @suppremeuppityone

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/eliliyah/686802699043356672?source=share

Caroline Travels The World Edit by @bellemorte180

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/bellemorte180/686233613869662208?source=share

meraki by @kirythestitchwitch

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/kirythestitchwitch/686240345175080960?source=share

The Starting Line Fic Rec by @galvanizedfriend (Fic by @definedareasofuncertainty)

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/galvanizedfriend/686365074873630720?source=share

✨Damon Murder✨ Edit by @bellemorte180

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/bellemorte180/686413723164983296?source=share

The Stubborn Grace of Being Love Regardless Fic and Edit Rec by @galvanizedfriend (Fic by @helpless-in-sleep and Edit by @certifiedceraunophile)

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/klarolineauseason/686436236097961984?source=share

Til I Tasted You Fic Rec by @certifiedceraunophile (Fic by @kirythestitchwitch and Edit by @certifiedceraunophile)

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/klarolineauseason/686475091563905024?source=share

Edit and Drabble by @itsmeimcathy

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/itsmeimcathy/686506949614911489?source=share

Wolf Club Fic Rec by @galvanizedfriend (Fic by Radioactive59)

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/galvanizedfriend/686525815760044032?source=share

Chapter 8 of The Other Side of Sacrifice by @queencarolinemikaelson

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/queencarolinemikaelson/686537187517448192?source=share

Edit by @heatherstyles

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/heatherstyles/686595255301275648?source=share

light years Fic Rec by @galvanizedfriend (Fic and Edit by @definedareasofuncertainty)

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/klarolineauseason/686616477348085760?source=share

Into Eternity Edit by @morningstargirl666

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/morningstargirl666/686683196496150528?source=share

Chapter 2 of Into Eternity by @morningstargirl666

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/morningstargirl666/686683189380530176?source=share

Into the Wood Fic Rec by @galvanizedfriend (Fic by @jinxedwood

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/klarolineauseason/686766727215857664?source=share

no easy love could ever make me the same Edit and Drabble by @davinasrebekah

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/davinasrebekah/686710215426621440?source=share

Morningstar’s Rec List by @morningstargirl666

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/klarolineauseason/686814738050646016?source=share

Bad Moon Rising by @kiaraalexisklay​

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/kiaraalexisklay/686818715447312384?source=share

#klaroline #klaroline events #klarolineauseason #auseason2022 #week 1 #canon divergence #klaus x caroline #masterlist

[bellemorte180]

Fic Rec

The Stubborn Grace of Being Loved Regardless by @helpless-in-sleep

Summary:

“Someone fed on you,” Klaus surmises, eyeing the two perfect fang punctures on her neck from where Damon first bit her. Caroline itches with the urge to lift a hand and cover the mark, but she restrains herself. “Is that the only scar you have?”

Her eyes narrow, trying to figure out what he’s playing at. After letting a few seconds pass, she admits, “I don’t look as good in a bikini as I used to.”

One of his eyebrows twitches up before it moves back into place, like he hadn’t meant to let himself actually react to her remark. “Somehow, I doubt that.”

Caroline is still human when Klaus comes to Mystic Falls.

Rating: Mature

Please note that I work with DV survivors so this story hits close.

Why you should read:

How did this make me feel? It made me feel the way I do when a new case comes across my desk. That hopeless dread with each story told by a domestic violence survivor. Its that feeling that settles into my bones as their broken voice retails the trauma they've endured. That feel I have when I open a bottle of wine and imagining the bruises their abusers left on their bodies and the trauma that linger behind.

It's the feeling when I hear they are going back. The thought in the back of my mind that wonders "is he going to kill her this time?"

Its the crying scream I feel when I learn that they have indeed been killed by their abuser.

This story evokes every emotion I have felt with every survivor that has crossed my path. The bone tired dread, the anger, the sympathy, helplessness, pride and pure anguish- it inspired them all. I have seen a hundred Caroline's and this story portrays them all with melancholy perfection.

You may ask why I would recommend a story that cuts so deep? Because it is beautifully written and pure in what it represents- healing. Jen captures the pain Caroline experiences having survived Damon's rape and abuse. She survives. There are so many things that Jen incorporates that really showcase how a survivor thinks and feels- the journey that they go through in order to be able to move forward.

The pain she feels when she looks at the scars, the nurturing of the vervain, putting the vervain in everything (including her bed sheets), the disregard she feels of those around her, wondering if she should go to Liz (the symbolic authority figure) but then doesn't- as most take so long to do, and Klaus- the symbolic gateway to healing.

Beyond the flawless writing and complete understanding of how it feels to be a DV survivor, this fic is a masterpiece all on its own because we get the justice and vengeance that TVD lacked when it came to Caroline's storyline. I highly recommend reading it when you want something to sit with you and something to make you feel.

How did this make me feel?

It made me feel hope.

It was the feeling I get when I run into a survivor and they are doing well. Its the feeling I get when I seem them start to heal, when they realize that there is a light at the end of a very dark tunnel.

It's the moment when Caroline realizes she has a VERY long life ahead of her and Damon is nothing more than a bad and distant memory.

Its the feeling I get when I know that my dozen's of Caroline's will be okay.

#Klaroline #fic rec #you need to read this #it is beautiful #seriously #it will sit with you #and make you cry #but the pain and hope is worth it

[romeulusroy]

Achilles Heel (Thomas Shelby Oneshot)

Character/s: Thomas

Word Count: 1,068

Inspired By: Liability by Lorde

Tag List: @dontdowhatisayandnobodygetshurt @myriadimagines @lilyswritings @encounterthepast @writerdream22 @death-of-a-mermaid @lotsoffandomrecs @woahitslucyylu @obsessedunicorn24 @thedarkqueenofavalon @fangirlsarah16 @theshelbyclan @captivatedbycillianmurphy @creativemayhems @soleil-dor @thegirlwithoutaname87 @fifty-shadesof-tommyshelby @riana-jannat

A/N: I'm tired of being called "too sensitive" so I wrote about it. I'll get back to the fic requests this weekend, I just needed this to get it all out before I can focus on anything. This sort of got away from me, being a lot longer than I anticipated, and though I know it could be better, I quite like it :) Anyways hope you like it my loves!!! Feedback is always appreciated 💜💖💜

Summary: Where Thomas sees weakness, you see strength 💕

Gif Credit: @nofckingfighting :)

FIC MASTERLIST PART ONE. / PART TWO. / PART THREE.

WANNA BE ADDED TO THE TAG LIST?

From the moment he saw you, he knew. The ways in which God herself sewed you, and him, and the rest of the world, were different. She made you in her image, her divine, and yet the things in the world, her child, the people on it, turned you into who you are. What you are. Mass casualties. Not in the same sense, though. You were enemies at war, not allies. Where he was jaded, jagged, sharp, his body a myriad of tense angles and tight muscles, you were nothing of the sort. Your skin made thin, wanting, begging to be torn apart by the slights look, the harshest word. The sorrows of the world turned your insides black, toxic, poisoned, leaving you a crumbled, coughing up your own tainted heart in your hands. Your eyes an inky pool, tears streaming down your face. The criticisms of others were arrows, puncturing deep within your spinal chord. Every where you went you bruised easily, effortlessly, without a second thought. Pieces of you catching on corners, punctured by nails in the floorboards, shredded by the weight of what was to come.

Behind that desk, Thomas Shelby expected nothing of you: his first mistake.

This life of yours could be a painful one, the difference was he was ready and you were not. Encased, a bullet in his own right, flinching softly, instead of the violent ways you reached for yourself. A show, a ballet, of movements, eyes shut, cries loud, your prayers spoken softly. She would not help though, she couldn't. There was nothing of you to fix. Only the first day. A glass shattering, slipping from its silver platter. The rest only stared. Sometimes it seemed you were the only one to ever understand what had happened, to hear it for what it is and not what they assume. Smashing glass, a glittering, shimmering puddle at your feet, sticky with whiskey. Your face on fire. Determined, nonetheless. Picking yourself up, cleaning it off, steadying the shaking in your hands. A job offer. Word spread quick in a place like this. You, with those scared eyes, those nervous, writhing hands, all the ways in which you held yourself with care, tenderness, too aware of the way they could see right through you, stood in that line among many. Stepping through those doors, heavy against your paper skeleton. It wouldn't take more than a rainy day to ruin you. Something he couldn't help but noting.

It wasn't the gun, or the man behind the gun that got you killed in this business, but feeling too much. Letting your emotions get the best of you. Wearing your heart on your fucking sleeve.

The rest questioned why you were accepted on the spot, the rest turned away before they had the chance to prove themselves. Some thought he was sweet on you, others joked you reminded him of his mother. Fragile. But the war had done something to him, and in return, he would do it to you. A man as arrogant as himself believing there is one way to be. That the spikes under his skin and the bite of his teeth were superior to your kind smiles and soft touches. If you were going to be part of this job, no matter how small a role you played, you had to be resilient. He had no time for tears, especially bit by his assistant. The glass left the pads of your fingers shredded, but the shame you carried from then on out would only grow. He was not an easy man to please, but he picked your every breath apart. It became a living nightmare. The others, in response, were far kinder, standing up for you behind closed doors, their tones pounding on his closed office door. The words were muffled, suffocated, but you understood nothing about you was said with bad intentions.

At least, not by them.

The words he plucked were made of razors, intending to slice you right down the middle. You weren't sure what he liked more. Seeing the pain in your eyes as if you'd been slapped across the face, holding your stinging skin, or the way, after, you straightened your back and held your head high in response, turning the other cheek, daring him to do it again. Those malleable pieces of yourself weren't hardening. The care you felt towards everyone regardless of who they were or what they did couldn't change because of a bully. He wasn't changing anything about you the way he anticipated, you were simply putting on a better act. The way you slumped in your chair didn't go unnoticed. The thought of quitting dug itself into your mind daily. Waking up, getting ready, you fought the impulse to lash out, tell that man to fuck off, and never see him again. But that meant waving your white flag, and one thing you were not was a quitter. Nothing would you make you kneel and kiss his feet.

It was in your nature, to bleed when others did, to mourn the dead of which you did not know, to feel the pain others neglected. He was no different. So no, he did not respect this. He looked down on you, and anyone else alike, because of this. There was no changing his stubborn, small mind. But he turned a blind eye to all the times he take solace in this. A late night, a regular occurrence, Thomas bent over his desk, eyes heavy, head pounding. There was no end in sight. You knocked on the door with hesitation, not wanting to startle him, intending to wish him a goodnight. What you found should not be left alone. Instead, with grace, and care, you slipped his coat over his shoulders, placing the papers just out of reach. Without effort his head fell in his arms, sound asleep in seconds. You locked every door and window, turning the lights low, making your chair a bed for the night. No one should sleep alone. He never mentioned that night, nor was he any less harsh because of it, but you knew it was something he thought about often, appreciating in his own way. . . .

Think what he might, say what he might, assume the worst based on nothing but a characteristic, but there was absolutely fault or flaw in being too sensitive.

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