#healer didn’t work out too well for him last time so he went back to his roots

[shadowhandss60]

Chaol: This is my wife Yrene, she’s a healer.

Dorian: This is my wife Manon Blackbeak-

Chaol: The White Demon?

Dorian: Actually, she’s Queen of the Witches now.

Manon: I’m a reverse healer.

Chaol:

Yrene:

Manon: You know, because I kill people.

Chaol: I-

Yrene: I like her.

Dorian: I know right?

#canon in my heart #sorry chaol but princeling likes em violent #healer didn’t work out too well for him last time so he went back to his roots #throne of glass #manon blackbeak #manorian #dorian havilliard #celaena sardothien #sjm universe #rowan whitethorn #manon x dorian #rowaelin #acotar #yrene westfall #chaol x yrene #dorian x chaol #Chaolrene #throne of glass memes #Manorian meme #kingdom of ash

[akiira00]

— Jealousy

Requested by: @unohanachi

Pairing: Jealous! Sung Jin-Woo x G/n! Reader

Synopsis: Jin-Woo hasn’t been home lately because of his job as a hunter, so you went out with your friends, which led to a bit of a misunderstanding.

Genre: Slight angst if you squint, fluff ending, maybe suggestive ending.

A/n: Thanks for the request! It’s my first one and I didn’t know if you wanted hcs or a fic, so I went with this idea, feel free to request again if you wanted something else. Hope you like it!

Length: 1.5k words

Extra: Sarang (사랑) means “love”.

It was a warm day at South-Korea, which made you wake up with an energetic smile one your face. It was a Thursday morning, in which you specifically took the day off for a date with your lover, specifically after he canceled the last two because of work. You quickly hopped off the bed as you went to complete your morning routine.

As soon as you finished cleaning yourself, you went downstairs to eat something, as you pulled out your cellphone realizing you had a message in it.

— 💙 Sarang:

Good morning… I’m sorry but I’ll be out of contact for the day, I know we had a date planned and all but the asociation wants me to complete some things. See you later.

— You:

Don’t worry! We can always go out later… Take care, sarang. ❤️

You sighed as you looked at the message, looking up to the roof as you just accepted the fact. Your boyfriend, Sung Jin-Woo was Korea’s tenth S-rank hunter, so it was normal for him to be busy, almost to the point it bothered you. You just wished he at least took a day off… Or even take you to work with him! You were an A-rank healer, so it was only rational he could use your help… Right?

He wasn’t home much time and when he was, he arrived at almost midnight and left at early hours of the morning with you still asleep. You understood that, but you realized you needed to go out a bit and maybe have a bit of fun.

You then finished your breakfast and washed the dishes, but an unexpected message stopped you in your tracks. Apparently a friend group of yours was going out to eat and have a nice day off. Again? It was the fourth time in the last two weeks… Well, you didn’t have anything else to do, so you quickly agreed, sending back a message and going up to your room once again.

After you changed and grabbed whatever you needed, you got out of your house, walking towards a park near your home, in which your friend were waiting for you.

Just as that, a fun day began. You quickly forgot about your date with Jin-Woo’s sudden cancelling as you spent quality time with your friends, a small group of two girls, three guys and you.

You smiled and greeted them, as you guys went out to dinner and later hit a bar, drinking together to wash out some stress.

By your lover’s side, he was clearing some A-Rank gates by himself as always, ocassionally taking a bit of time to peek into the eyes of the soldiers stored in your shadow, looking at how you were laughing alongside your friends, making him frown a bit.

After some hours, almost at 4pm, he found himself in a bit of a problem. He entered the supposedly ‘last gate of the day’, which turned out to be a red gate, so he ended up trapped inside for what he felt like five days, but they were just five hours on the real world, which didn’t tire him, but frustrated him because every time he peeked into his shadows, he saw you alongside one of your friends, laughing together and drinking, which made his blood boil in jealousy.

It was now almost 10pm, Jin-Woo was tiredly walking down the stairs of the association’s main office as he finished having a talk with president Go Gun-Hee after clearing the red portal.

He seemed to be a bit bothered by the day, his clothes a bit torn and a bothered expression. He then thought about you and pulled out his cellphone to text you, feeling too tired to peek into his shadows.

Hey love… I just finished the thing I told you about… See you at home. ❤️

He then walked towards your shared home, as you guys moved in together after a few years of dating. When he arrived, he opened the door, expecting a quick and exaggerate welcome by you as always happened, but he was greeted by silence and off lights.

“Hey… Are you here…?” He said in a high-enough voice, but he didn’t recieve an answer, he then went up to your shared room to still find no trace of you.

He sighed, once again using his power to see where you were at despite how tired he was.

He saw a rather odd sight for him. He noticed a park and you were with your usual friend group. But what startled him a bit was that you were resting your head on one of your friend’s shoulder, exactly the one he trusted the least. But even worse, your face was a bit too red.

He clutched his fist a bit as he stood up again, activating his skill to change places with his shadow soldier, appearing out of thin air in front of you and your friends, leaving most of them stunned as one of the strongest hunters suddenly appeared in front of them.

“I’m sorry but I’ll take her now.” He coldly said as he took a hold of your shoulder angrily, as he walked away from your group without even letting you reply.

“H-hey..! W-what’s up with you..?” You said, as you were walking a bit weirdly, but he didn’t pay attention to that. After some minutes, he stopped walking, holding you by your shoulders in front of him as he looked at your eyes.

“I know I’ve been out of home lately, but really? Cheating on me now?” He coldly asked as you were quickly shocked by his accusation, making you look at him in the eyes in pure confusion.

“What the- Sarang, did you really think that…?” You quickly laughed at his angry and serious expression, getting closer to him and pinning him to the nearest wall with the small amount of strength your dizzy self had left, leaning in enough to reach his lips, but without touching them.

“I was just out with my friends, Jin-Woo! Did you really worry that much about me~?” You teased as your cheeks were still pinkish. “Explain why you were blushing around (f/n).” He said sternly as you laughed again at his remarks.

“I wasn’t blushing, dummy.~ I may have drank a bit too much though… Maybe that made my cheeks heat up a bit.” You explained as you gave him a peck on the lips, as you looked at him.

“You’re still going to compensate me for this. Come on.” He smirked a bit as he activated one of his skills, lifting you up without even touching you as he flipped your positions around, now pinning you down to the wall and kissing you.

“Don’t ever make me worry like that again.” He demanded as you nodded, with him smirking at your currently flustered state, taking you by your wrist as he started walking, dragging you around with him. “We’re going home, and you aren’t complaining.”

You smiled a bit as you followed him around, following him towards you shared home. When you both entered, he shut the door down behind him, walking you up to the bedroom and laying down on the bed by your side.

You being as intoxicated as you were, quickly wrapped your arms around his waist, looking at him with a tiny smile as his cheeks flushed a bit at the current sight of you. “Don’t look at me like that…” He said as he deviated his sight from you, making you think he was mad at you.

“Huh? Nah, I won’t.~ Don’t you want me to at least hold you in the one time we’re home together~?” You asked as he couldn’t deny it, but he had to maintain himself composed to maybe ‘teach you a lesson’.

“Heyy..~ I’m talking to you, Sarang…” You muttered as he pulled out his phone, quickly going through sone texts as he ignored you. Oh, the silent treatment now, huh?

You tried to get him to at least look at you, shaking your hand lazily in front of his eyes to try and catch his attention, but it didn’t work leaving you to try like that for a long time.

“Come on… Don’t give me that now..! I promise I’ll tell you next time I go out… You said you’d be out of contact for the day so I thought it’d be the same if I didn’t text it to you..” You defended yourself, admitting your flaw after almost 20 minutes, which made him sigh, looking down at you with a smirk and tossing his phone out of reach.

“There, you said it. If you ever worry me like this again I’ll be truly mad… I had to see you around that idiot for five whole days in a row… But you’re right. I should use this night together to maybe teach you something…” He said as he pulled you into a kiss, smirking at your flustered sight. “Don’t back down now, Sarang.~ You asked for it.”

#sung jinwoo x reader #solo leveling x reader

[backmuscles21]

The Big Visit

Tonowari X Reader x Ronal

Summary: Tonowari and Ronal go to visit their third mate, who is with the Omaticaya people. However, when they come down to visit they find out you're sick. Coincidently, this is the first time they will see your human body.

Finally, the sky people were gone and the Sullys went home, after thanking the leader of the Metkayina clan for their hospitality. You were sad to leave, you didn’t want to leave these two new souls you’ve bonded so well with. You ended up staying after Kiri had her seizure, you could use your avatar to help around the village and use your psychology PhD to help her. You started to steal glances at Ronal, she was the healer of the tribe and you admired that. Then you started seeing her with her mate, Tonowari, and he caught your eye just as much as she did. Their tattoos were so gorgeously splayed on their bodies and they both looked so strong. You couldn’t help yourself by stealing glances at both of them and eventually, they called you over and you were nervous, were they going to get very mad at you? So far it was just stolen glances, you didn’t think it was that bad, could this be a cultural thing that you couldn’t even look at a mate?

You went into their mauri and looked at them, you could feel how hard your heart was beating against your ribs. That’s when she kissed you, you were shocked at first, and your eyes were wide open. Then your brain caught up and you kissed back, it was heavenly.

That was how you started a relationship with the mated couple, you didn’t want to have to leave, and they didn’t want you to leave either. You had all grown accustomed to being with each other a lot, you didn’t want to be a part. You went up to hug Ronal and Tonowari before you left on your ikrans, and you squeezed them both tightly.

“Come visit sometime.”

“We shall, yawne,” Tonowari said as he kissed your forehead.

So, you left with the Sullys, you were going back to home base, the only refreshing thing was at least when you woke up in the link bed, you could see your body. You were nervous that if they ever came here, they’d see your human form and they may not like that. They knew you were a sky demon, but did they know you were still in and out of that body?

Regardless months passed and then Jake informed you that Tonowari and Ronal planned to visit. You were overjoyed, Jake told you that they’d be here within a couple of days and you couldn’t wait. However, in those couple of days, you got sick, you didn’t know what was happening but you felt awful. At that time, Tonowari and Ronal showed up, they went looking for Jake to announce their arrival and then to have him take them to you.

They went up to Jake and Neytiri, they said their hellos and got a tour around the place and that’s when they asked for you.

“Is she here?” Ronal asked first.

“She is. We can go see her now,” Jake said as he directed them towards the trailer.

That was the last place he knew you were and worst comes to worst, he’d ask Norm. They got to the trailer and Jake opened the airlock and they went inside, of course, it was slightly too short for the four of them. They walked past the scientists working away on their computers or in labs, Tonowari and Ronal shared a glance as they watched the humans.

They knew you were in a false body, but they never really put too much thought into it, they just didn’t want to believe someone they grew to love was a sky demon. They thought you’d greet them in your Na’vi body, this felt so different to see your human body.

Jake went up to Norm, asking him where you were currently at, “have you seen, y/n?”

“Uh, yeah, I think she’s in her bunk. Sleeping more than likely.”

“Thanks.”

“She got blood work done, so she might be quite tired.”

“Good to know.”

Tonowari and Ronal had no idea what those two said to each other, they didn’t know any English. However, they followed Jake as he told them to follow him, he also informed them that you were sleeping. When the three of them got to your bunk, you looked paler than usual.

“She has been sick for the past few days. Norm said she just had some blood tests to figure out what was wrong.”

“I can try and heal her,” Ronal said.

“I don’t know if that will work.”

“It is worth a shot if she is unwell,” Ronal sat down on her calves right next to your bed. Her hand brushed through your hair as you breathed calmly and deeply.

“You can try.”

“Then leave us,” Ronal asks.

Jake smiles at them and leaves, he knows that they are only trying to help, but he really believes that it won’t do much.

“Ronal, do you even know how to heal humans?” Tonowari asks as he places his hand on her shoulder.

“Should be similar to anyone else. Even if it helps a little.”

“What if it makes it worse?”

“The humans are taking too long. She had been sick for days apparently.”

Ronal rolled you softly to your back, she pulled the blanket off your body, and they both noted just how tiny you were. It felt like they towered over you, they were feet taller than you, just even the size of your torso was so teeny tiny.

You wore pajama pants and a long sleeve shirt as you were freezing, Ronal placed a hand on either shoulder and tried to connect with you. She knows she has connected with you, well your avatar, they both have. Being with you for months well the Sully sought refuge, of course, they were going to fall for you, and of course, you were going to get intimate.

She couldn’t feel the normal connection to the people she tried to heal, it had to be because you were human. She felt defeated, she couldn’t help the other love of her life, and she felt almost useless. She let go and moved away from you, Tonowari could see her face fall, he knew what had happened. He held his arms open to cradle her and console her, he knew that it hurt her to not be able to help you.

They both looked over at the door to the bunk when a knock rang out, Tonowari opened the door and it was the man from earlier, Norm. They were surprised to hear his practically perfect Na’vi language skills.

“We got the results back; I have medicine for her.”

“Very well then,” Ronal answered and let Norm in.

Ronal watched Norm very closely as he pulled up the sleeve of your shirt, she saw the white cotton ball taped to your inner arm. She was curious as to what that was, Norm then took the syringe he held in his hand, pulled the cap off and slid the needle into your skin. Ronal and Tonowari were confused as to what was happening and on top of that, he didn’t even wake you up.

“I’ll be back later with antibiotics. I’ll give that some time to settle in.”

“You did not wake her up?”

“She doesn’t like needles, I figured it best to do it that way. Plus, I know she wants to sleep. Although, you could wake her up now. She can’t nap forever.” Ronal nods as Norm walks off.

Ronal goes back to sit next to your bed again, she wanted to wake you up, she wanted to see your eyes. Jake had told them that you couldn’t wait till they showed up, so they felt bad that they were here for you and you were sleeping off some sickness.

Ronal slowly shook you, you stirred and your eyes still flickered, then they slowly opened. You blinked a few times, you stretched for a few seconds. You stared up at them and nuzzled into Ronal’s hand on your cheek, you smiled at them.

“I’ve been waiting for you two to show up.”

“How are you feeling?” Tonowari asked.

“Okay. I don’t really know what happened. I think I’m getting better. We just did some tests to try and figure out what is going on.”

“We have been informed.”

“I wanted to be up and around to show you around and take you for a ride.”

“That is okay, we are here for a while,” Ronal said.

“I just realized; this is the first time you've seen me outside the Na’vi body. Do I look okay? Despite how sick I look.”

“You will always be beautiful,” Tonowari said as he reached a hand down for you to hold.

You smiled brightly, you couldn’t wait to feel better and get out there with the two closest people to you.

I also have this posted on my Ao3 - Backmuscles

#avatar the way of water #tonowari #ronal #tonowari x reader #tonowari x ronal #tonowari x reader x ronal #polyamory #ronal x reader

[profound-imagination]

Tell Me Their Names - Ruhn Danaan - Part 2

A/N: Everyone thank my beloved @thatlosernoonelikes for this chapter existing, and credit to Bri for the idea! This can be continued, we’ll see how it goes.

T/W’s: Mentions of Trauma but nothing specific, mentions of shitty fathers and I think that’s!

W/C: 1.8k

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Velaris was easily the most beautiful place you’d ever seen. Well, from what you could see from your bedroom window and the balconies of the House of Wind as your hosts called it. Feyre had joined you all in the journey to the house, showing each one of you to your bedrooms and playing the perfect hostess. You had eyed Ruhn anxiously, not wanting him to leave you, as she showed you a beautiful room with a huge bed and attached bathroom and continued down the hallway motioning for Ruhn to follow. Ruhn, who she kept eyeing as if trying to work out who he was, he did, after all, bear a striking resemblance to her husband, the High Lord who Feyre would glance at often as well.

They turned when Ruhn didn’t move from his spot at your doorway. Feyre raised a questioning eyebrow. “I don’t want to be rude but we stay together.” Ruhn had said, stepping towards you and wrapping an arm around your shoulder. “We went through a lot and I don’t want to, I can’t, let her out of my sight.” He said quietly, the High Lord, Rhysand hummed, “Trauma bonded.” You nodded, “Something like that.” Feyre smiled kindly, “Of course you can stay together, I should’ve realised you would want to!” You were quick to reassure her that she had done nothing wrong and her kindness was already far too much.

Once the door was closed and Ruhn had assured you they were gone you circled the room, the best you could on your mangled ankle. Feyre had said something about a healer and an hour but you didn’t hold much hope for your ankle being fixed. “Why do you look like him?” You asked Ruhn quietly, following him towards the bathroom where you watched him begin to draw a bath. “I-I don’t know, it’s weird.” He said, shrugging his shoulders, “But it looks like he could be your father.” You mumbled as Ruhn tensed, “He’s already done more for me than my father ever did.” He spat and turned to face you. “Can you get in or do you need my help?” He asked, his gentle tone returned. “It’s for me?” You asked quietly, tears pricking in the corner of your eyes. “Yes, I figured you’d like a bath.” You sniffed, “I can’t remember the last time I had a bath.” He smiled, “Enjoy it, I’ll be right outside.”

He stepped away and headed for the door and you smiled at his back then reprimanded yourself. Whatever you felt for the Fae Prince was dangerous and you only stood to get hurt in the long run. Just as you were struggling to undress two Wraiths appeared in the bathroom. They told you they had been sent by Lady Elain to offer their help should you need it. You smiled gratefully at them and allowed them to help. Ruhn had seen the scars on your face and arms, but he hadn’t seen the damage Lidia had inflicted on your back, nor would you want him too. There was something between the two of them and it wasn’t your place to break it further than it already was.

As you sat in the warm water and allowed the wraiths to bathe you your mind wandered. You felt it when you entered Velaris. That tingle of magic that you hadn’t felt since you were a child. Hadn’t felt it since you’d been ripped from your world and ended up in Crescent City, all magic gone and human ears. It filled you with dread. You absentmindedly wondered if you’d have to come clean. You’d told Ruhn you didn’t remember your family name, that you were an orphan. A lie. You could picture them now, your parents. You missed them so much your heart ached. You’d never see them again. You could still see your mother screaming as she was held back by your uncles. Could still see your father throwing his friends off of him and thundering towards you as you winked out of that world.

You jumped as the wraiths pulled you back to reality. “Are you alright, miss?” One of them asked as she gently wiped the tear that was trailing down your cheek. You hadn’t even noticed it. You nodded at her as you stood and wrapped a towel around yourself as the door banged open. “What’s wrong?” Ruhn’s teeth were bared and the wraiths startled. You pulled yourself together and gave him a watery smile. “I just can’t believe it’s really over.” You told him, another lie to add to the list. His face softened, “It’s over, Tiny.” He opened his arms and you willingly walked into them.

As predicted, the healer, Madja wasn’t convinced she could completely heal your ankle but she was willing to try. It would be done over weeks and it would involve having your ankle broken each time allowing it to heal in a slightly better position each time. Ruhn had been tense through the entire meeting. It was Ithan, the wolf that bought you a ridiculous amount of comfort, who had sat next to you and asked questions that needed to be asked. Ruhn had held your hand and had sat like a statue, his jaw locked in place as she had explained her plan.

After Madja had left, Bryce filled everyone in on what had happened while she’d been here, what help she had found. All from her perch on Hunt’s lap. Apparently, as well as the help she’d brought with her, they had additional backup arriving in a few days. Rhysand had smirked at you as Bryce mentioned their additional back up as if he knew something you didn’t. You raised an eyebrow at him but he simply shook his head.

When Bryce had finally finished her story, Rhysand took over. “You are all welcome and safe here.” He said, “Those of you who are willing and able can join us when we go back to Crescent City and take it back for the people. Those who aren’t can stay here. We will all be training every morning on the roof for those of us who want to join and master their gifts.” His eyes lingered on you for a second before flickering to Ruhn. Azriel spoke up then, “I can help you.” He said to Ruhn, “With the shadows.” Ruhn nodded, “They don’t do much, just enough so I can hide in them when I need to.” Azriel raised an eyebrow, “They can do much more than that.” His own shadows skittering around the room as if to prove his point.

Ruhn had spent the following days training with Azriel. Returning to your rooms late and exhausted. Feyre had chosen to train you, she was patient and kind and worked with you to figure out a way for you to fight with your mangled ankle. You were more than aware that Rhysand had been watching you but you had no idea why and the bigger problem you were facing was the magic thrumming in your veins getting stronger and stronger, as if it was trying to escape. You were sure your ears looked longer each day.

They had taken you to the field you’d first arrived in to train. Ruhn worked with Azriel as usual. Cassian and Nesta worked with Valkyries she commanded. As usual you were working with Feyre when Rhysand strolled over. “Let me take over for a while, Feyre Darling.” He purred at his wife. Some kind of silent conversation passed between them and she stepped away. Then Rhysand, without any warning, threw everything he had at you, darkness, his sword and he went for your mind as well. Your magic answered in response and he smiled. “Let it out.” He said into your mind. You gritted your teeth and shoved it back down. He doubled his efforts. Then something in the atmosphere changed and you watched over Rhys’ shoulder as Cassian left the others and charged at Ruhn, the same time Azriel turned on him. A look of betrayal and confusion crossed Ruhn’s face as he tried to defend himself against both assailants. You vaguely heard Feyre greet someone as your magic snapped. “NO!” You threw your hands out an ice wrapped wind ripped across the field, knocking Rhysand, Azriel and Cassian off of their feet and away from Ruhn.

You weren’t sure how long you held them there, using the wind you possessed to choke the air out of them. “Stop.” You knew that voice. “Y/N, you need to stop.” It couldn’t be, it was impossible. “Baby girl, you need to let them go.” Your vision cleared and you took in who held your face, who was standing in front of you. “Daddy?” You whimpered and your magic dropped. Rhys and his brothers gasped for air and Ruhn was there, just behind your father. “Daddy?” He questioned but you didn’t hear him, you just continued to stare at your father. “Well, she always was a daddy’s girl, I’m not surprised she has his magic.” You span and there she stood, your mother, the Queen of Terrasen. Your legs gave out and you collapsed into your father as you sobbed, your mother joining the two of you in a hug on the floor. “We found you.” Aelin sobbed into your hair.

“I’d say she’s her uncles girl rather than a daddy’s girl.” A familiar voice drawled. Your eyes shot to the person who had spoken and you choked out a sob, “Uncle Fen?” He grinned from ear to ear, “Hi kiddo.” Tears lined his eyes as well as you got to your feet and threw yourself at your favourite uncle, the reason you found so much comfort in Ithan. “What about us?” You took in the others who were in the clearing with you, your aunts and uncles, they had all come for you.

You turned to Ruhn, scanning his face. “Are you hurt?” You asked him, he ignored the question, “Your Fae?” He asked instead. “Yes, this is my mother and father, King & Queen of Terrasen, Rowan & Aelin Whitethorne Galathynius.” Ruhn gawked as his mind worked through the information you’d just given him, your parents coming to stand behind you, taking the prince in. “In a land long since burned to ash.” He mumbled to himself. “You’re a Fae Princess?” You shrugged at him, “You’re a Fae Prince, does it matter? I’m still me.” Panic began to crawl up your throat that Ruhn was going to pull away from you but despite Rowan staring him down, despite Fenrys, Lorcan and Aedion backing him up Ruhn pulled you into his chest, “Of course it doesn’t matter.”

When you pulled away, you turned to your family, “This is Ruhn Danaan, he’s Crown Prince of the Valbaran Fae. He’s…” you trailed off, trying to find the words, “He’s kept me safe and alive.” You told them. Rowan took his hand and shook it, the words that came out of your fathers mouth next could’ve split worlds and started wars if the wrong people heard them, “Ruhn, the Shadowsingers son. Nephew to the High Lord of this place. Thank you for protecting our daughter.” Silence fell as all eyes turned to Azriel and Ruhn’s face drained of all colour.

#crescent city #house of earth and blood #house of sky and breath #ruhn x reader #ruhn danaan x reader #ruhn danaan

[of-dragonss]

i care for you

☽ ༚  ༵ ۰ ✧ ۰  ༵ ༚ ༵ ۰ ✧ ۰  ༵ 

ramattra x talon!support!gn reader

no use of “y/n”.

☽ ༚  ༵ ۰ ✧ ۰  ༵ ༚ ༵ ۰ ✧ ۰  ༵ 

the smooth metallic surface of ramattras thumb gently traced your lips as you stared up at him from where you sat on his lap, your eyes memorizing his face plate from every dent to the smallest scratch. right hand wrapped gently around his wrist as he continued to gently caress your face.

“you’re growing soft.” you spoke up, eyes looking through the slits that hid his optics. “for a human no less.” you smirked, tightening your hold on his wrist.

“you’re a hypocrite.” he scoffed, pinching your cheek, but not hard enough to hurt you. “three months ago you hated omnics. now look at you, curled up in the lap of one.”

“i guess we’re both hypocrites.” you chuckled, gently grabbing his hand, intertwining your fingers with his as you pressed a kiss to the back oh his larger one. “first time we met you told me i was the dirt you walked on.” you nuzzled your cheek against your intertwined hands, closing your eyes. “just yesterday you told me you worshipped the ground i walked on.” a giggle escaped your lips.

ramattra removed his hand from yours, knocking it against your head on purpose in a silent way to tell you to keep quiet. it was true, neither of you liked each other from the moment he walked in the talon base in egypt, towering over doomfist behind him. he was hard to work with, you hated going on missions with him when it was only the two of you. he wanted all the action when he went into his ridiculous nemesis form. but he protected you well, being his healer.

in fact that was why you started to like him. a mission gone wrong in budapest. a missile missed you by only several feet, still flying back by the impact, hitting your abdomen hard on rubble, sharp metal pipes protruding from the concrete slab. you thought you were left behind by your squad, vision getting blurry as you tried to seal the wounds with the abilities granted by your gauntlets on your arms, but of course they were damaged, you could only heal the smaller cuts before the gauntlets finally malfunctioned.

you thought you were going to die, bleed out amongst the rubble of fallen buildings around you. you couldn’t see where your team went. your ear piece slipped off your ear so you couldn’t voice your situation. it was getting harder to stay awake, you were trying to stay awake. the adrenaline wasn’t enough to stop feeling dizzy and faint from the blood loss. you thought this was it.

until the blurry outline of ramattras giant form was the last thing you saw before slipping into unconsciousness. he picked up your body gently, and cradled you against his chest. he didn’t understand why he cared about you, a human of all things. you worked well together despite despising the other for being human and omnic. ramattra thought this was just a colleague doing something honorable. saving one of talons top agents. for selfish reasons? he wouldn’t be entirely lying.

he wanted you around. he wanted to know why he wanted you around. so he carried you to the ship ready for evacuation, where moira was stationed, and he demanded her to help. and she did with slight annoyance at your poor performance today.

he was the last person you saw before blacking out, and he was the first person you saw when you woke up. you were confused as you gained awareness of where you were. you were certain you died out on the field. ramattra was looking straight at you when you turned your head to look at the figure sitting by your bed.

“good, you’re awake.” he stated bluntly. you could tell he was annoyed by the tone of his voice.

“and you’re here because..?” you rolled your eyes. he scoffed. just woken up after three days and you already had enough energy for your snarky replies.

“making sure you actually woke up. you humans are too fragile. too soft.” he barked back, standing from his chair. “i’ll notify doctor o’deorian.” before he opened the door to the hospital room, he stopped, looked back slightly over his shoulder, and muttered; “do that again and i won’t come to save you.” you smiled knowingly as he left.

the next few months went as usual after your recovery. mission after mission. but with a slight change to the omnics behavior. ramattra wanted you at his side at all times.

“so you can do your job and heal more efficiently.” he would scoff every time you said anything. but you knew why. he would shield you more. cover you as you helped talon agents on the ground as you healed their wounds to get back into the fight. he was more mindful of you. still obnoxious with his quips but a little toned down.

you also changed your views on him. you appreciated his help on the field. only one agent ever helped you, and that was sigma but he was always with moira so she can keep track of her more than intrusive experiments on him. poor bastard.

you no longer grew annoyed with him. in fact you found him enduring, much to his displeasure. he still wanted to keep his image, but around you he grew softer.

these interactions on the field developed more in talon headquarters. he would help you reach something you couldn’t get without the help of a ladder or step stool, and you would fix any damages done to his body. which he sat still throughout, surprisingly.

as the months went by he expressed his emotions one night. intertwining his fingers with yours for the first time. in private of course. you’ve never heard him talk to softly before that night. confessing his attraction towards you. you let him know you felt the same with a kiss on his face plate where his mouth would be, smiling up at the null sector omnic before you.

after that you two kept sharing intimate moments out of sight of the eyes on your colleagues. expressing your infatuation to each other. such as what you two were doing right now. you on his lap, hands intertwined, your other softly caressing the wires that could be passed off as “hair”.

“i care about you. ramattra.” the word ‘love’ has never passed through your lips, and he has never spoken the word either to you. but the both of you know you do love each other.

“and i you.” his voice was soft, low. the version of a whisper for an omnic. “you are the only human i want to be around. for however long we have.” he tilted his head down, his forehead touching yours. “my love.”

your breath hitched, eyes darting around his face plate. a smile bloomed on your face as you craned your neck to plant a kiss on the metal of his face. “i love you.” you whispered, bringing your intertwined hands to your chest.

“i love you too.”

#ramattra x reader #ramattra x you #ramattra x y/n #overwatch x reader

[maximwtf]

“listlessness.”

 Elrond x Reader

words: 2170

google docs pages: 4

warnings: Hurt with no comfort, death, griefing

opening: After your passing, Elrond tries to shake off the memories of you in every room of his house. Though, this task proves to be harder than he could have ever imagined. 

AN// Reader can be any gender. I haven’t written a good old angst in a while, and I feel like this had to be done because of that. Went full on out with this, angst with absolutely no comfort :”D I used lyrics from this beautiful -> song

           “listlessness.”

You’d fallen ill one day, and as much as you kept telling Elrond that you’d be fine, he kept fussing over you. Neither of you could figure out what was wrong, and your condition kept getting worse by the time wasted with no answers on how to help. Even when you had become bedridden, you kept telling the Lord of Rivendell that you’d bounce back up eventually, that if he just calmed down for a moment, things would get better. That of course never changed anything, his care for you combined with the mind of a healer didn’t allow him to get almost any rest at all as he fussed over you. It hurt to watch him be so worried, ignoring some of his duties while trying his best to find answers, to find a cure. 

At some point guests and other elves had started to notice the way he had changed. You told him this, told him that people would find out about the secret the two of you had kept so well hidden for so long. You’d been courting him, silently and out of the picture since neither of you wanted to reveal it so suddenly, but took your time with it instead. Elrond’s children had their suspicions, but they kept it to themselves, having respect for their father and his relationships. But it was the guests and Elrond’s assistants and such that worried you, even when the mystery illness was bringing you down along with it. He heard your concerns, and as much as he worried about others finding out before it was the right time for it, he did not care. No secret he could have thought of was so important, as to surpass your wellbeing. That was of the utmost importance to him, had always been. 

Time had started to pass in a weird pattern for you, sleeping had become such an important part of your day that it had begun to feel like it was the only thing you were able to do. Sometimes when you woke up, Elrond was there. He’d talk to you for as long as you were able to talk. Sometimes you tried to stay awake past your limits, but in those cases Elrond would stop the conversations. He was not stupid, and as much as he loved spending time with you, he was not going to allow you to harm yourself by talking to him. He would assure you that he’d be right back whenever you woke up again, leaving you to sleep. 

This lasted for some time, Elrond visiting you while working and trying to find a cure. But internally the both of you knew that you didn’t have much time left. And if the cure didn’t magically appear, you wouldn’t make it for much longer. Either way it hurt Elrond to watch you suffer through every day, fighting with the small amounts of energy that you still had within you. You’d always been so strong. So in a way, he was glad. Glad, when he had entered the all too familiar room from the past months where he found you unresponsive. He silenced the spikes of grief in that moment with the thought of it being selfish. Selfish to miss you so, when he knew it was better this way if it had been him who had failed to find the cure. You could now rest at ease.

Maybe it was the whole of Rivendell, or perhaps it was just him. But everything felt silent, a colourless silence that had overtook the whole building, a feeling that followed the Lord of Rivendell wherever he went. Elrond continued to complete his duties as he had before, with the same care. But out of all the burdens that he had been through within his whole long life, this one’s weight was heavy. Heavier than he could have ever imagined. He had told himself in the past that he understood that you were a human, that you’d live a life that would pass fastly in his eyes. That if he was going to go further, to court you, he’d have to come to terms with that. And that was something you had asked for him to understand as well, knowing how important he was to Rivendell. But you had not lived the long life he had wished for you to have, the life that you had deserved to live. It’d been cut short, way too short. 

There is still an empty shelf in the closet for your belongings

Time passed, just as it had when you’d still been there with him. And time would keep passing by, no matter how much he wished for it to stop. Stop, just for a moment to give him time to think. To give him a moment to sit down and process. That was what his inner mind craved for, but what he did instead was continue life. He tried to block off the feeling, keeping himself busy and keeping the thought in his mind that it would have been selfish for him to feel the way he wished he could. Would have you wanted for him to cry after you, to seem clingy for something that wasn’t there anymore?

But his attempts at that were most of the time useless. Every time he was left alone, with no duties to go complete, the thoughts and memories came back. You’d been with him every day, in the same house with him for so long. He hadn’t had the heart to throw away your belongings yet, he did not wish to touch them. They felt pure in a way as they were, the last person who had been in contact with them being you. Though he knew he should put them away. If not throw away then perhaps store them somewhere close to him. Maybe that seemed silly, foolish of him even. 

He should have by now been used to loss. He’d seen many failed attempts with healing others, and this should have been just like that. But that was again what he kept telling himself. 

One day he took it upon himself to empty the shelves in your shared quarters. He did end up saving the items, storing them away for he did not have the heart to get rid of them. The grief he hadn’t let wash over him was making him do it, whether he liked it or not. And Elrond let it. He had thought of asking for someone else to do it for him, but that felt wrong as well. He wanted to heal himself in a way, but that was not something he was used to. So he believed that doing this may have been the help he needed.

and space for you on the bed, still waiting

But that was not the only thing he wasn’t used to. With the countless memories he had with you in the house, in all of the rooms there was one that reminded him of you the most. Mornings and nights that used to be a comfort for him before entering another hectic day had now turned into something he wished he could avoid. The now half empty bed he had shared with you, the place that had taken you ages to get used to sharing even when Elrond had told you countless times that it was okay. That place was now strange without you there. Even giving it a look, not daring to lay down brought a nowadays familiar feeling to him. The burn that started from the back of his throat and then moved up to the back of his eyes and soon brought up tears, which he shook off every time. 

waiting for you to silently press your head on my chest, when you can’t sleep

As many times as he tried, the tears always welled back up. Shaking them away never helped, and Elrond knew that. He had tried it multiple times, at the start- and at the end of every day since you had left and never did it work. But nevertheless he needed sleep. He could work as much as he wanted and try to ignore his emotions, but at some point he needed to stop and get some rest. It humoured Elrond to hear himself tell the patients he took care of to get some rest. That they’d feel better after that when he himself hadn’t slept in an unforgivable time. Elrond wasn’t one to self neglect, but the loss he was feeling was too much to bear in his sleep. He could go for a good long while before he felt the need to get any rest, but alas it still caught up to him. 

So he still laid down, still tried to take care of himself. He did it because he knew that’s something you would have wanted him to do even if you weren’t there anymore. That was one of the rare thoughts that gave him peace of mind. Everything that used to be familiar and comforting on the bed was now gone.

Due to him not having to sleep as much as a human, he had never been a heavy sleeper. He woke up easily, which had never bothered him. Most of the time he’d simply been there for you, and enjoyed stirring awake to you cuddling up closer. It gave him a reason to not get up until you’d wake up again, a reason for his mind to stop thinking about all the duties he had to fulfil. He was occupied. 

I’m missing you here, every day so much

Elrond knew people eventually started to notice his change, and if someone dared to ask him if he was alright, he insisted. Insisted that he would be fine, and that this was going to pass so there was no need to worry. At some point he even believed it himself. In his long lifetime he had seen and experienced so much, and he had learned to put his trust on time. As it passed, he had always begun to feel better as he moved on. Though, this sadness felt different, still just as heavy as before. 

Elrond still kept on doing the routines he had followed before all this. He dined with his family, sometimes even had guests over to eat with him. Of course, word got around and at some point the people he had over also knew of what had happened. Not only did they know of your passing, but they had started to wonder why he cared so deeply about one mortal from all of the people Elrond had taken care of in his life. Of course at some point it started to be clear to them that he must have been courting you, but since neither of you hadn’t had the time to reveal it officially, none of his guests asked him about it. In this way, showing their respect for the man.

I’ll keep putting out a plate for you, even if you never came again

The chefs had stopped putting out a plate for you soon after your passing had been announced, though Elrond had not come to that realisation for a long time after. He used to have supper with you, alone. He’d made time for that every day, because he enjoyed the company you provided when there was no one else around. Sometimes the shared dinners became a little hectic, and as much as he did not mind it at all, he held it close to his heart whenever he saw you arrive at the shared table for supper. 

So each time for supper he had found himself at that same table, putting out a plate for you. The first time he felt his heart ache, pull in different directions as he took a deep breath and collected the utensils away. By now, whenever he found himself repeating the same action he didn’t remove the plates. Maybe somewhere in his mind he was wishing you’d arrive back at some point, as foolish as that thought may have been. 

I’m missing you here, every day so much

After all this time, after all his duties, he always found himself leaving his study and making his way outside. The house and all the rooms within it felt less homely than they ever had before. So his mind made him wander back into the gardens, where he sometimes sat for hours. A place where he could be alone, where he didn’t used to be alone. But even without your physical presence there, it somehow didn't feel as pressuring as the air in the house. The usually calm sigh he used to calm himself was shaky today. From stress and piled up grief. When the first tear rolled down his cheek, the warmth within him in that moment felt like it started to return the colours around him. Slowly, but they started to come back. 

AN// I felt like I made this a little longer than necessary, but hopefully no one minds. Either way I feel like we need some more Elrond content here !

#lord of the rings #lotr #the hobbit #elrond #elrond lotr #x reader #lord of the rings x reader #the hobbit x reader #lotr x reader #elrond x reader #lotr elrond #the hobbit elrond #fanfic #fanfiction #elrond peredhel #elrond peredhel x reader

[teyammybeloved]

my girls - neteyam sully

genre - fluff, little angst

summary - reader is scared to tell neteyam the true reason behind why she is sick, because of a previous conversation she overheard

characters- y/n, fem!navi reader, aged up neteyam

word count - 5.4k

warnings - miss communication, use of she/ her, and y/n, pregnancy, dad neteyam.

Y/N FELT her mate’s presence as he entered the small hut, where she had been previously resting. she knew he was there but made no effort to move.

neteyam looked over at his mate, who he first assumed was asleep, but the soft sway of her tail gave her away, he frowned. something was wrong. normally she would rush to meet the war party, rushing to check if everyone was okay — especially neteyam.

so when he got off his ikran, to find his girl no where to be seen, he was instantly filled with worry. he placed his bow down next to the entrance, before taking off his other required equipment.

“yawne?” neteyam said, walking slowly towards where she was resting on the mat, her ears perked up, sitting softly as she was filled with an overflow of nausea again. “you’re back” she said softly, leaning forward to wrap her arms around his next as he kneeled next to her.

“you’re burning up yawne, are you sick?” he asked.

she shook her head, before shrugging softly. “how was it?” she asked, disregarding his question as she wiped the tired from his eyes. normally the two would walk around the village, y/n listening to every detail about what had happened, but right now neteyam was more worried about his mate.

“baby, what is the matter?” he said, placing the back of his hand to her forehead, “should we go see grandmother?” he asked, wanting to know if there was an illness going around, or if something serious was wrong.

“no i am fine, its just very warm today. i missed you this morning” y/n said, changing the topic once more, neteyam smiled at the soft confession, y/n moved over so he could join her on the mat.

“i missed you too, you looked so peaceful i didn’t want to wake you” he said, kissing her forehead softly. she sighed, “have you been sleeping well, yawne?” he asked, noticing the soft bags beneath her eyes.

she just hummed, curling herself into his chest. he placed his hand softly on her back, placing another kiss on the top of her head.

“you falling asleep on me?” he asked, looking down to see her droopy eyes, deep in thought. she looked so beautiful, he thought. she shook her head. “no no, sorry. i should probably go help mo’at with the injured” she said, moving to get up.

he grabbed her waist tightly, pulling her back into him, “im sure her and kiri can handle it” he said, whispering softly into her ear as he wrapped his arms around her.

“i dont know nete, its been pretty rough the last few times” she said, once again trying to get up. neteyam groaned, “can’t you stay here just this once?”

“nete, we have all tomorrow, together. remember?” she said, rubbing his bicep softly, neteyam looked away, his eyes filled with guilt.

“oh- we don’t?” y/n asked, neteyam sighed, “dad asked me to help train some young warriors, you know what he is like..” neteyam said, guilt dripping from his tone.

y/n just nodded, pulling away from his grasp to get up, off of the mat, “well, we will find time, but i really do have to go” she said, pushing a few braids behind her ears. fixing the cloth covering her chest. neteyam sighed as he watched her.

“what time will you be back?” he asked, standing up to join her, standing behind her as she fixed the fabric.

she hummed, leaning softly into his touch, “sometime after eclipse?” she shrugged. “i must go, yawne.” she said, turning around to place a soft kiss on his lips, before slipping out of the entrance before he could respond.

she did as she said she was, she went to the healing tent, seeing it packed with warriors and men, covered in injuries. mo’at, neytiri and kiri were all happy to see more help, y/n was truely a wonderful healer

she quickly got to work, ignoring the nausea and fatigue that came over her, after over two and a half hours, the tent was basically cleared. only one more warrior, who had a nasty gash on his back.

“you need to be more careful.” y/n warned softly, placing the medicine on the boys back. the warrior looked up at the na’vi fixing up his cuts.

“you are neteyam’s mate” he said, y/n nodded, a soft laugh leaving his mouth. “he was talking about you all day” the warrior said, words coming out as a soft groan as she pressed a little too roughly on the gash, “sorry-“ she muttered.

he nodded, she quickly wrapped him up, he thanked her before walking out. a loud sigh left her mouth. rubbing a hand over her face. “im exhausted” she said, kiri smiled softly as she finished mixing a new medicine.

“are you sick, child?” mo’at asked, y/n shook her head, why did everyone keep asking. neytiri and mo’at looked at each other. kiri looked at y/n who gave her a look, almost as if she was asking if kiri knew what the two were thinking, kiri only shrugged.

“y/n, do you mind if i examine you, just really quickly” neytiri asked, y/n paused, wondering if she looked sick, was her nausea obvious?

“uh- sure” she said, shrugging softly, both neytiri and mo’at approached her.

they did a few exams, checking a lot of different things before stopping to look at each other, they shared a look, kiri was beaming from the other side of the room as she noticed what was going on.

“what is it?” y/n asked.

mo’at took the lead, “y/n, eywa has blessed you with a gift” she said, neytiri placed a hand on y/n’s stomach, y/n looked up in confusion, worry filling her eyes.

“y/n- you are with child” neytiri said, y/n paused, her whole body freezing up. “wh- what? are you sure”

“baby is strong, strong heart, strong mind” mo’at said, “you must tell neteyam!! he will be so happy” kiri said, y/n only frantically shook her head.

“no - no he does not want this!” y/n said, tears pooling her eyes, the three of them frowned, neytiri grabbed onto the girls hand as a sob left her mouth.

“you don’t know that” kiri said, walking towards her brothers mate, a soft smile on her face, but y/n just sobbed.

“yes i do, i know he doesn’t want this. i heard him tell lo’ak he doesn’t want children yet — he wants to focus on training, he will hate me” she sobbed

neytiri hugged the girl as kiri frowned, “oh y/n”

“you must not worry, stress can harm the child” mo’at warned, y/n sobbed harder. “you must tell neteyam, but when you are ready.” neytiri said, rubbing the girls back softly.

“are you alright?” kiri asked, as she started to calm down, y/n nodded. “yes- i think im going to take a walk..” she said, needing a minute alone before returning home to neteyam. she couldn’t tell him yet, he would leave her.

“are you sure y/n? its passed eclipse, be careful” neytiri said, “i will tell jake, so if anything happens, he knows where you’re going”

y/n thanked her mother inlaw before leaving the healing pod, taking a deep breath. she knew it wouldn’t be long until neteyam was asleep, maybe, thats if he didn’t stay up worrying about his mate.

she was walking for a little over an hour, finding herself at the tree of souls. she sat down and all of a sudden it was like everything came crashing down. “please ewya, give me the strength to tell neteyam, please help me, i can’t lose him.”

y/n returned home an hour after, officially it had been nearly three hours since she left for her walk and neteyam was going out of his mind, jake had said that she was safe and okay, but that only irritated him more, howcome his father knew where his wife was when he didn’t? it drove him insane.

when she walked through the entrance of their shared hut. her face was calm, almost stone, but there was a slight bloachyness on her face, she had been crying. “y/n?” neteyam said softly, standing up from the chair he had been sitting on.

“sorry im late” she said, rubbing her eyes as a small yawn left her mouth. “have you eaten yawne?” neteyam asked, he couldn’t find it in himself to be upset at her.

she hadn’t, but she wasn’t really hungry either, so she just nodded. he frowned, missing the nights they got to eat together, sleep together, do everything together.

they barely had any time one on one anymore. and it drove him insane. he was always busy with his father, and hunting, and tasks, and she was always busy with healing, teaching, learning. he missed his wife.

she was always tired and it broke his heart, he just wanted to give her the world and it felt as if he was failing.

“yawne, do you want to get ready for bed? i was thinking tomorrow once i get back we could go for a fly together?” he offered, she frowned, wanting nothing more then to do that.

“im sorry, i thought you were going to be busy all day so i told mo’at id help in the hut.” she confessed guilty, it wasn’t a lie, mo’at had asked, and since she had a free day, no longer dedicated to neteyam, she accepted.

“fuck” he groaned. it seemed like no matter what they never had time anymore. “nete?” she cooed softly, wondering what was going through his mind.

“im sorry yawne, i just miss you” he said, walking over to her to wrap his arms around her waist as she changed into a more comfortable covering.

“i can see if kiri can do it?” she said, feeling bad. guilt flooding her stomach as his hands pressed right against her stomach, where there was a child, a baby. his baby.

a baby he didn’t want.

she knew she would have to tell him, but there was a sense of selfishness inside her, if she told him, it would be over right? he said he wanted to focus on training, and he wasn’t ready. yet here she was carrying his child he had no idea about.

it broke her heart, he had no idea.

how would he react, would he ignore her and shut her out, get angry and yell, blame her? kick her out? would he hate her and tell her he never wants to see her again?

right now she couldn’t lose him, but what if all the stress eventually builds up and then she loses the baby, should she end things with him before he can? does he have to know about the baby at all.

of course he does, that is his child, he has a right to know even if he wants nothing to do with it.

“whats going through your pretty little head?” he cooed, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. she smiled, shaking her head. “nothing important. bed?” she asked, tiredness overcoming her.

he hummed, grabbing her hands to lead her to the hammock outside.

the next week was the worse, y/n kept looking for a time to tell him, but they were both overly busy with work and tasks.

today, they were hanging out with lo’ak and tsireya, who had moved from the metakayna clan to be with lo’ak. “we have something to tell you both” lo’ak said.

neteyam was sitting with his arm slung around y/n, holding her close to him, her head rested on his shoulder. y/n instantly perked up at the mention, she had been getting more and more sick, the morning sickness was eating her alive, thankfully, neteyam had yet to catch on, he always left before y/n woke up to get an early start on his tasks so he had more time for her during the evening.

she however, had been having more check ups with mo’at finding out she is roughly just over a month along, and soon she would have a bump forming.

tsireya smiled softly, as lo’ak looked at her, giving her the go ahead to tell them. “we are with child” she said, a massive smile forming across her face.

neteyam instantly stood up to congratulate the both, as did y/n a massive smile forming across neteyam’s face, it almost broke her heart. y/n instantly wrapped her arms tsireya, congratulating her.

“hey- be careful, thats my wife and child!” lo’ak said, y/n and tsireya laughed, neteyam chuckled along before speaking, “calm down daddy lo’ak.” he said, although over the moon for his brother.

lo’ak shook his head softly, “as if you wouldn’t be protective of y/n if she was pregnant” lo’ak joked, but it hit y/n hard, she just went quiet, tensing slightly.

neteyam smiled, wrapping his arms around his mate, “of course i would.” he said, y/n didn’t expect his words, moreso him expecting to shut it down as soon as possible.

“how far along are you?” y/n asked, slowly moving out of neteyam’s grasp, to talk to tsireya, trying to not let how uncomfortable she was show. “just over a month!”

that also his y/n hard. they were roughly around the same way along, that means there kids would be the same age, and probably best friends — if neteyam didn’t leave her and ban her from the clan.

she knew he wasn’t low enough to do that, but the two of them never really spoke about kids, not since they were teenagers, neteyam had said he wanted kids but he wanted to focus on being a leader first — although that was before the two had mated and got married.

but even then, more recently, only a month ago he had said he wasn’t ready yet, and so she just assumed he would leave her.

tsireya noticed her quiet aroma, different to how it usually was, looking towards lo’ak and neteyam who were deep in a conversation, she looked at y/n who forced a smile at her.

“me and y/n are going to go to the river, have a girls chat. meet you back in… an hour?” tsireya said, neteyam frowned, not liking that the one free time he had with his wife was being taken up by someone else, but the two were walking off before he could protest.

“women” lo’ak joked, neteyam smiled softly. “hey does y/n seem off to you?” neteyam asked, watching as his mate walked out of the village. “i mean, i haven’t really noticed, shes a little quieter but shes been working a lot no? tsireya said shes been in the healing hut a lot.” lo’ak shrugged,

neteyam sighed, “its more then that, shes not telling me something, but i have no idea what”

lo’ak shrugged, neteyam only shook it off, “so daddy lo’ak huh?” he said, lo’ak pushed his brother away, playfully.

“whats going on” tsireya asked as the two of them approached the river, y/n shook her head, “nothing, what do you mean?” she asked, lying obviously.

“y/n… are you with child?” tsireya asked straight up, causing y/n to snap her head towards the other, “wh- what?”

tsireya smiled, getting her answer just by the girl’s reaction. “you immediately went quiet when lo’ak mentioned you being pregnant and youre being kind of distant from neteyam, i was the same when i found out, i didn’t tell lo’ak until a few days ago”

y/n immediately broke down crying, tsireya sighed, wrapping her arms around the girl. “was it that obvious?” she asked, tsireya shook her head, “no- no. i just know you, and its the same way i was acting- why haven’t you told neteyam, im sure he would love to be a dad”

“i overheard him saying he wasn’t ready and wanted to focus on hunting for a bit” y/n confessed, feeling even more guilty, it felt like everyone knew but neteyam.

“y/n- lo’ak said the same thing. but when i told him he was over the moon, i think they’re just boys, and the way they grew up was to put training and hunting first. but you know your neteyam’s number one priority right?”

y/n only stayed quiet, tsireya frowned at her best friend, she hated seeing the girl beside herself. she knew from experience its hard keeping something so serious and deep from your mate, and with the fear that they will hate you for it, even worse.

they didn’t realise how much time had passed, y/n was rushing to wipe away her tears and make herself presentable as she heard a stick snap and familiar laughter belonging to her mate.

tsireya and y/n both ended up rushing into the water, just so it seemed like they were doing something other then talking about what they were, tsireya swore not to tell, yet very excited that her child would have a best friend the same age, and that they were going through this together.

they shared stories about how the pregnancy was going, how they found out, how bad their morning sickness was, and overall just comforted each other, it was nice.

“babe?” she heard lo’aks voice, as he peered through the forest, finding the two girls in the water, “they’re over here” he called to neteyam.

lo’ak instantly approached, “how are you? how is the baby” tsireya couldn’t even answer before he asked more questions, “are you hurt? is baby hurt?”

“lo’ak, i am fine, and so is the baby” tsireya smiled softly, neteyam appeared a second after smiling as he saw his wife floating on her back, with her eyes closed.

“y/n” she heard neteyam’s voice, instantly opening her eyes, she returned to standing in the water. “do you want to go on a fly later?” he asked.

y/n felt a whole other load of guilt unpoor, she had agreed to go see mo’at with tsireya and have a checkup together. neteyam seemed to see it on her face, the guilt, the rejection.

“tsireya asked me to go with her to her appointment, they’re finding out the gender.. she wants me to know before them to help set up like — a gender reveal thing, apparently your dad mentioned it”

neteyam frowned, first work was stealing his wife away, now tsireya and a baby?

lo’ak got carried away explaining to neteyam what a baby shower was, instantly taking the heat off of y/n, who looked at tsireya, who just smiled softly,

it wasn’t a lie, the both of them were finding out the others gender. so they could have a shared baby shower, which was tsireya’s idea, but y/n was warry, was it okay for her to be getting this ahead of herself when neteyam still had no idea that this baby even existed.

“talking about that, we should start heading back” tsireya said, grabbing onto y/n’s hand for the two of them to walk out of the lake together.

“y/n can i speak to you before you go?” neteyam asked, y/n nodded, tsireya muttered something about meeting her there before she walked off with lo’ak.

he smiled as she approached him. “whats up?” she asked, he just leaned down to place a kiss on her lips. he groaned into the kiss, missing the way her lips felt on his, he deepened the kiss, grabbing her hips.

she laughed, pulling away, wrapping her arms around his neck. “what’s brought this on?” she asked, as he leaned down to kiss her jaw and down her neck.

“ ‘jus miss you” he said, kissing her collar bone before reconnecting their lips. she smiled into the kiss, before the guilt came back. “neteyam-“ she said pulling away, he attempted to chase the kiss but didn’t get anywhere. “i really have to go, i promised her.”

“fuck the appointment y/n” he said, tone rough as he reconnected their lips, pulling her closer to him. “teyam, this is important.” she said as she pulled away, placing her hands on his chest.

“everything seems to be more important” he said, y/n felt hurt, it wasn’t one sided, he was busy too. “are you blaming me?” she asked softly, eyes furrowed.

“no- i’m just saying— we don’t spend any time together anymore.

y/n didn’t know if she could handle this conversation right now, she also did really need to go. “can we talk about this later please- i really have to go” she said. silently begging.

he frowned, sighing, before releasing her, she frowned at his annoyed expression — not even bothering to spare her a glance or say goodbye.

tears pooled her eyes before she started walking away. her mind clouded as he turned back around, his back was to her. “neteyam” she said softly, voice cracking.

“we aren’t going just for tsireya” she said, before leaving, leaving her mate alone with his thoughts, alone to ponder about what she meant by her words.

“you’re child is strong, but stressed, tell neteyam” mo’at said, placing her hand softly on y/n’s belly, they had just finished tsireya’s and y/n was now the one who was being checked, mo’at had written the gender of tsireya’s baby on a piece of paper and given it to y/n, and had just done the same for y/n.

the appointment didn’t go for very long, the two left about twenty minute after it had started. “tsi” y/n said, looking at her friend. “do you think i could stay with you tonight?” she asked.

tsireya immediately softened, nodding softly. “of course, what happened?” y/n explained the small argument and how she was slightly nervous to go back home to see him. tsireya understood, feeling for her friend.

“ill tell lo’ak, do you want me to get him to tell neteyam so he isn’t worried?” tsireya asked her friend who hadn’t stopped looking at the paper in tsireya’s hands, which was folded shut.

“yeah- yes please” y/n answered, tearing her gaze from the paper. she followed tsireya back to the hut tsireya and lo’ak shared.

“lo’ak, can you do me a favour?” lo’ak immediately perked up, staring at his pregnant wife, willing to do anything she asked. “could you please let him know y/n is staying with us tonight”

“she is? why”

“yes she is, don’t ask and just do” tsireya said, annoyed, not really at the boy, moreso at the fact she didn’t know how much y/n wanted him to know.

lo’ak nodded, heading out to talk to his brother. “im scared.” y/n confessed, tsireya just gave her a half hearted smile, wrapping her arms around the girl.

“hey neteyam” lo’ak said, looking at his brother who looked.. frantic, in his hut, eyes wide when he noticed his little brother standing at the entrance. “fuck - lo’ak have you seen y/n?” he asked.

lo’ak instantly started to panic as well, neteyam had no idea where she was he calmed himself down when he remembered why he was here. “yeah yeah, i do, shes at mine with tsireya.” lo’ak said, neteyam instantly sighed with relief.

“they wanted me to come tell you that y/n is gonna stay with us tonight, they didn’t tell me why - actually yelled at me not to ask. and im scared of those women together so i just didn’t”

“fuck!” neteyam cursed, griping his hair tightly as panic overflowed. lo’ak began to worry, “whats wrong? what happened?” lo’ak asked.

“we argued- kind of, but then she said she wasn’t going to mo’at just for tsireya?? i dont know what she meant, it could be anything right? do you think she is really sick?” neteyam ranted.

lo’ak put the pieces together in his head, the reason y/n was so quiet, the reason she went with tsireya, the reason his mate was bubbling with excitement when she was walking back with him. “neteyam, bro? have you noticed y/n being sick?” lo’ak asked.

neteyam furrowed his eyebrows, “no? she is just sleeping a lot? what is going on.” he asked.

“fuck, tomorrow, talk to y/n. be understanding.” he said.

“is she in love with someone else?” neteyam asked, worry filling his chest, he hadn’t spent a night alone in his hut since the two had gotten it, despite going on a few hunting trips, he still spoke to y/n through coms every single night he was away.

and now he was alone in his hut, no way to communicate with her as he noticed her com sitting on the desk, it annoyed him slightly, what if she had gotten hurt and he had no idea cause she wasn’t wearing her com.

his mind was spiralling, he felt insane without her. it had been building up but he couldn’t help it.

and he was worried, why did she need an appointment with mo’at? why would she go with tsireya if it was completely different.

oh.

y/n was basically asleep, despite the goosebumps that fell along her skin, she was use to the warmth of neteyam’s body when going to sleep, she hated the cold, and he was never cold.

she missed him, feeling bad, she couldn’t help but wonder how he was doing, maybe he liked it better when she wasn’t there, not asking for his attention every two seconds. she was just thinking about him, she was worried, what if he hated her for what he said.

did he catch on? did he understand what she meant. she wondered if he was mad, it drove her to the brink of insanity.

she felt a groan from the room next to her where neteyam and tsireya were sleeping, or so she thought, it was a groan of annoyance, before she could ignore it, lo’ak walked in.

“this is for you” he said, handing her his com, she looked up in confusion, furrowing her eyebrows. “he hasn’t left me alone since i left, says he wont stop till he speaks to you” lo’ak explained, almost begging her to put him out of his misery, “i just want to sleep” he said, before walking out, back to his room.

“hello?” she said, pressing the button, she knew how to use it since neteyam had given her one, saying to wear it everywhere she went, however today, she didn’t.

“yawne?” she heard neteyam’s voice, her confused expression fell into a frown, she was tempted to turn it off and stop replying, but the softness in his voice made her worry.

“neteyam? what is the problem?” she asked, looking up at the roof of the hut, he groaned, almost as if he was in pain. “the fact i am talking to you through my brothers fucking com, and not in person with you in my arms” he said.

she smiled, her heart warmed, even after she had said what she said, he still missed her, which mustve meant he didn’t catch on to her slight confession.

she then frowned, “neteyam.” she muttered, not understanding what he wanted her to do. “come home, yawne.” he said, almost begging. he needed her home, “please, you don’t have to talk to me but i need you to come home, i will come get you, please”

she sighed, feeling guilty, “okay neteyam” she gave in, shaking her head softly, “fuck- yes, ill be there in a minute. thank you yawne”

y/n sighed as she moved the com from her mouth, walking into the other room she placed the com next to lo’ak, tsireya sat awake, while lo’ak was dead asleep.

“where are you going?” she asked, y/n smiled softly, “neteyam asked me to go home — i don’t think he knows. must of missed my comment” she said, believing there was no other reason.

“he is coming to pick me up, don’t worry.” she said, as tsireya smiled, leaning back. “good luck, let me know how you go, yeah?”

“thank you, for everything”

the cold air nipped at y/n’s skin, as she stood outside waiting for neteyam, when she saw him, she immediately felt warmer.

his hair was a mess, his daily loincloth and been replaced with one he had worn for sleep, the idea of someone else seeing him like that couldn’t help but make y/n a bit jealous.

he didn’t even wait for her to say anything, instantly wrapping his arms around her, taking a long deep breath, inhaling her scent like he had gone years without her.

“god i missed you” he said, she didn’t respond. just hugged him back, she missed him as well.

“come, lets go home, yawne” he said. pulling on her hand, bringing her in front of him, he held her hips as he stood tall behind her, leading her home.

“neteyam.” she said as they reached their hut, he turned to her, it was the first time she had spoken, he hated her use of his full name, she always called him the shortened version. “yawne?”

“i need to tell you something, and i think i should do it before we go in” she said, inhaling deeply, nerves biting her as the urge to tell him not to worry came up. “what’s wrong yawne?” he asked, pulling her close to him.

“tey- im pregnant.” she finally said the words, and the tears came flowing, she couldn’t help it, nothing she did, she wanted to be strong and tell him she understood he wasn’t ready and that she understood that he was going to end things.

but none of that happened, she just cried, too scared to look at his reaction, but she felt his hands on her, pulling her closer to rub her back.

“im sorry- i know you don’t want it and you’re going to leave me, im sorry tey” she sobbed into his chest, he was shocked, he already knew she was pregnant, he caught on after he comment, maybe that played a part in why he missed her so much. but leave her?

“baby- what.. what are you talking about. leave you? why would i leave you.” he said, pulling her face away to look at her, fear covering her entire face. “i know you told lo’ak you didn’t want kids yet, and you want to focus on hunting and training, im sorry i ruined it for you, please dont hate me” she sobbed.

he was shocked with every word that left her mouth.

“what are you even- no baby- oh god. i was telling lo’ak i wasn’t ready to train kids. dad has been trying to make us start with 7 year olds, neither of us are ready to train a whole group of little kids, that- i didn’t say i wasn’t ready yawne. god im so ready, i’ve been ready, i just didn’t want to pressure you into anything, gosh im so sorry, i can’t believe you were so scared, i could never leave you”

he was now crying as well, the two of them besides themselves, you were crying because it was a lot of information to take in, and neteyam crying because he was going to be a dad.

“ewya, im so happy, so so happy- i love you so much baby, so so so much” he said, connecting his lips with yours.

“and you too, little one, i love you so much”

“its a girl” y/n sobbed, she hated that she could see what mo’at was writing, and the fact that her and tsireya were very bad at keeping secrets, they ended up just telling the other the gender.

tsireya was having a boy, and y/n a girl.

“you found out?” he said, looking up from where he was kneeling before her stomach. y/n immediately felt guilty. “im sorry.” she said, wiping her teary eyes.

“don’t be baby. my two girls. gosh i cant wait to meet you” he said speaking to your belly, as if it was gonna respond.

his two girls

#avatar #avatarthewayofwater #neteyam sully x reader #neteyamfics #neteyamsully #neteyamxreader #writing #wattpad

[witchysquirrel]

Epiphany

Chapter Three

Cassian slept for four days. Madja and Ravenna worked in shifts, one of the healers at his bedside at all times. Wound care was done twice daily; they gave him fluids, kept his pain at bay. Ravenna spent a lot of time at his bedside, just watching him breathe. 

That first day when he’d finally been stable enough, she’d bathed him. It had been difficult to cut the torn leathers from his body, and she was sure she looked like an idiot trying to move his dead weight by herself. Nonetheless, Ravenna tossed the ruined leathers aside and went to work. It took her two hours and several buckets of soapy water to fully scrub away all of the blood and dirt and sludge that coated every inch of Cassian’s body, chipping away at it until she could see his skin again. And then a second scrub to actually clean. When she was done, she washed his hair, separating dried blood and mud from the dark strands until she could comb it smooth.

Ravenna put a fresh pair of sweatpants on him, deciding her work was done, as she was entirely sweating by the time she had finished this endeavor. Ravenna looked down at him, resting so peacefully beneath battered wings, the angles of his face illuminated in the lamp light. Ravenna thought Cassian was objectively beautiful, she knew everyone thought he was. He was an infamous ladies man that had had a handful of great loves, but even more sex with strangers. 

Cassian had been known to flirt with Ravenna if he got a little too drunk, only when he wasn’t taking a lover, but Ravenna knew that was just his personality. She made sure she never confused his flirting for something more, or the way she adored him for anything more than friendship. Ravenna tucked a piece of hair behind his ear, admiring his sleeping form once more, before deciding to head in for the night. Madja would be here in an hour and he would still be sleeping by then.

She covered him gently with the blanket, and took herself back to her room. As she turned the corner, ready to collapse into bed, she collided with something black and solid. 

“Oh, my bad,” Ravenna muttered, taking a step back.

“It’s okay, I was walking too fast,” Azriel replied, hardly meeting her eyes. He paused for a moment, but still didn’t look at her when he said, “Do you think he will fly again?”

Ravenna let out a small breath. “I can’t make promises,” she said, pausing. “Mostly because I don’t know.”

The silence threatened to eat her alive.  “But you’ll be here the whole time?” Azriel looked at her finally, their brown eyes meeting. She nodded. He dipped his chin, in acknowledgement and goodbye, and then he was gone. She exhaled through her nose, considering what Azriel had said - that he was glad she would be here with Cassian - and decided it was a very high compliment. 

-

Ravenna awoke early on the fifth day that Cassian had been asleep. She’d fallen asleep early the night before, still wrapped in a bath towel on top of the comforter — too tired to tuck herself into bed. She rose, putting on the plain black ankle length dress and hooded cloak that hung neatly in the wardrobe waiting for her. Although she hadn’t come here with any clothes, the wardrobe always had what she needed. Ravenna tied the tan corset from an adjacent drawer around her waist, tied her still-damp hair into a loose low ponytail, and pulled on her boots. Remnants of the blood and gore she’d trudged through last week remained, and she waved her hand, the dirt disappearing on a draft of wind. 

She stopped in the dining room for a quick breakfast, stopping for a slice of toast and a banana. It was still dark out, the sun only just considering rising from beyond the mountains. Ravenna barely heard Azriel as he entered the room, grabbing a banana of his own from the fruit bowl on the counter. 

“I spent the night watching him,” Azriel started. “He slept well.” 

She gave him a small smile. “I’m glad. I’m hoping to wake him up today, I’m sure he’ll want to see you once that happens.” Azriel nodded once, then stalked out of the room in silence. 

Ravenna made her way to the makeshift infirmary, opening the door and shutting it quietly behind her. She did her assessments, surveying the wounds, listening to the thud of Cassian’s heart in his chest and the heave of his lungs as he slept. Although he was still a huge mass of muscle lying there, he looked fragile, which was not a word she’d ever used to describe him. When she finished with her first tasks, she began removing the dressings from Cassian’s wings, revealing the wounds beneath. They had all healed considerably since Ravenna had first laid eyes on them, she noted as she cleansed the wound beds. She paused, laying a magical hand over them in the hopes of further healing, then began to redress them. 

When she was finished with Cassian’s wound care, Ravenna made for the head of his bed. He looked so peaceful, resting with his eyes shut gently. She almost didn’t want to disturb him at all, let him sleep for another day. She puttered for a few minutes, and then returned, pressing a hand to his forehead once again. The healer closed her eyes, reaching again for that tether to his consciousness in her mind. She tugged at the line when she saw it, pulling Cassian to the surface.

-

Epiphany Masterlist

#acotar angst #acotar oc #acotar fic #cassian acotar #cassian x oc #acotar #acotar fanfiction

[dominimoonbeam]

Hi, first I wanted to say that I really love your writing and thank you so much for sharing it.

You're amazing and so talented and you made me addicted to your writing. The way you write characters is so real and your way of writing scenerios in general makes me so Invested in the story.

Another thing, I don't know if you accept requests and if you don't feel free to ignore it:

Can I please ask for Sam comforting darlin after a long week when they basically shut down from stress? (Can you tell I'm projecting?😅)

Please don't feel pressured to do it, I know you're working on a lot of stuff now too so maybe just keep the idea for the future?

Anyway I wish you a happy rest of your week, take care of yourself and rest if you need to!

Anon! Thank you so much for all the kind words! You're not the only one needing some comfort and care lately! I think something about this season has been rough for people for a bunch of different reasons, myself included. I've got you! Or at least, I tried. Hope you like it! And I hope things turn up and go smoother for you soon!

Sam/Darlin comfort fic below the cut. Will probably reread and post it on ao3 later on.

<3

They were tired.

Dead tired. Like they wished they were dead. No, no, that was bad. They didn’t wish that. They just… It had just been such a long fucking week and it felt like everything was going wrong. Nothing big enough that they could point it out or complain. Just, off. And they hadn’t been able to sleep. And it seemed like the longer it went, the longer they hid it well enough that no one pressed for an explanation they couldn’t begin to come up with, it got heavier rather than lighter.

When they got home that night from a job, they were actually relieved Sam wasn’t back yet. The last thing they wanted to do was to drag him down with them. God, he deserved so much better than them. They tossed their keys on the side table, toed off their boots, and hung up their jacket. The side of their face throbbed. They’d gotten hit with a fucking bat. David thought their cheekbone was broken and had only finally allowed them to go home because he knew Sam would take care of it.

Darlin sat down in the big chair, their favorite chair, and told themself they’d just sit for a minute. And then they’d shower, see if their face was really that much of a mess, and if it was, maybe they’d drag their ass over to the clinic and get a healer there to fix it. They felt bad making Sam patch them up all the time, but they also hated the idea of anyone else touching them let alone mending them.

They could put an ice pack on it. Maybe the swelling would go down on its own.

They sank back in the chair and closed their eyes. Just a minute.

-

Sam was still at the Solaire house when he got a call from David.

His heart always lurched high in his chest when he got a call from David, his first thought always that frantic fear that something had happened to Darlin. Why else would David call him instead of Darlin or instead of using the group chat?

Sam stepped away from the big table of squabbling younger vampires and a very amused William.

“David?”

“Hey Sam,” David said, voice gruff but easy, instantly relieving that tension in Sam’s chest. “I just wanted to check in and see how they’re doing.”

The tension was back. “What?” Darlin had been off for almost a week, barely talking but not willing or ready to tell him why. He wasn’t sure they knew themself, not yet. But somehow he didn’t think that was what David was talking about.

The pause stretched. “Are they not home yet?”

Sam was already grabbing his jacket and waving heading for the front door. “They might be, but I ain’t. Why?”

David sighed. “Sorry. It’s not an emergency, Sam. The job got rough and they took a bat to the face… I would have taken them to a healer but they insisted—”

“Yeah,” Sam said, nodding. Of course, they would. “I’m heading home now. I’ll let ya know when they’re patched up.”

He called Darlin in the truck but they didn’t answer, which conjured a mess of panicked thoughts. What if they’d passed out behind the wheel? The thought of his Darlin in a twisted wreck was hard to push away and almost immediately replaced by other tragic imaginings.

He exhaled small relief when he saw their car in front of the house.

The front door wasn’t locked. Darlin never locked it when they were home. And there they were, asleep in the big chair. He sighed and put his keys down with theirs. Another step inside and their eyes opened. Well, one opened, the other was swollen shut.

“Damn…” Darlin winced as he closed the door. They sat up with some effort. “Sorry, I think I fell asleep… What time is—”

“Don’t you dare stand up,” he warned when they were starting to tip forward. He was already in front of them, gently catching their shoulder to ease them back. He kept his voice in a low hush, thinking their head had to be hurting inside and out. “You shoulda called me, Darlin.” He knelt beside their leg, carefully fingering hair out of their face. The bruising was new, like it had only just begun, and the swelling was bad. It looked like their cheekbone was broken. “David said you got hit with a bat?”

Darlin sighed, shoulders slumping. “I wasn’t paying attention and this guy… Yeah.”

Sam clicked his teeth to keep from snarling at the idea of ‘this guy’ whoever the hell he was. He reached toward their face but they caught his wrist and pulled it gently down to their heart instead. “I’ll be gentle,” he promised, surprised.

Darlin smiled weakly, eyes already closed again. “I know. You always are, cowboy. But I don’t…” They sighed, their smile gone. “I don’t want to cost you anything right now, you know?” Their voice had gotten small, like they were far away inside themself.

Sam kept his hand to their chest, feeling their heartbeat through his palm. He leaned against their thigh, so they’d feel him right there next to them, practically leaning into the chair with them. “You never cost me anything,” he whispered back. “Healing you is a privilege. It makes me feel like there’s something I can do for you. I love you, Darlin.”

Their face pinched, not a wince but close, and he thought if they opened those eyes, they’d be teary. His other hand stroked up the side of their thigh, squeezing them gently. “Tell me what it is,” he said gently. “Tell me what’s going on in your head.” He said it quietly, like it could be just between them.

Darlin sighed and he heard all the exhaustion and strain in that breath. “I don’t know. I just… It’s been a bad week. It’s everything. I just feel… Everything. And I’m tired and I hate myself and I can’t… I can’t take things from you when I feel like I’ve got nothing to give.”

Sam watched them the whole time they choked out that barely audible confession. They’d never told him these things, but they didn’t shock him either. They hurt, because he never wanted them to feel like that, but they didn’t shock him. “Do you trust me, Darlin?”

That good eye opened enough to look at him, surprised. “Of course. I love you.”

He stroked his thumb against their collar, above their heart. “I’m going to heal you and then we’re going to take a bath. You can talk or you can relax. We’re going to get some well needed sleep and I’m going to order your favorite food. And every step of the way, I’m going to remind you that you’re incredible and all the reasons I love you, all the reasons your pack loves you, and all the reasons my clan loves you. You get to feel however you feel, Darlin, but that voice in your heart telling you bad shit, that’s asshole is lying.”

A tear rolled off Darlin’s lashes, even though their mouth was set in a stubborn line, like they refused to acknowledge it.

He reached up slowly, so they could stop him again if they needed to argue about this more, but he also couldn’t leave their face like that. His fingertips brushed the edge of the bruising and Darlin’s eye closed as that warm magic slid through their skin, spreading out. The delicate bone in their cheek healed and the swelling went down.

They exhaled relief when they opened both eyes and blinked at him.

He could see an apology building in their eyes, trying to form on their tongue. He took their face in both hands and leaned in, touching his forehead to theirs the way he’d seen the pack do. “Trust me,” he pleaded. “I ain’t ever going to lie to you, Darlin, and we’ll get through bad weeks together.”

Darlin stayed tense for another few seconds, like they might push this comfort away, but finally they sagged. Too tired maybe?

Sam smiled when they tipped their face into his, brushing a soft kiss against his lips. He kissed back and then pulled them to their feet to lead them to the bathroom. He had to make a dash back to his jacket to send a text off to David, telling him Darlin was fine but they were taking tomorrow off.

#thank you anon! #sam/darlin #redactedverse #comfort fic #dark feelings #angst #hurt/comfort #<3 #dominimoonbeam

[sev-on-kamino]

✨WIP Wednesday✨

thank you for the tag @wolffegirlsunite @deejadabbles @anxiouspineapple99 @dystopicjumpsuit @wings-and-beskar 💙💙

It’s coming along well, so here’s a lil sneak peak at the rough draft of:

In Pieces Ch. 2 - (Never Had A) Friend Like Me

pairings: Rex x fem!reader, Cody x fem!reader, Fox x fem!reader, Wolffe x fem!reader

warnings: suggestive af, MINORS DNI

They kept you in a haze of pleasure the rest of the night. Soft touches, lingering kisses, their lips against your ears, whispering to you, as they took you higher and higher.

“Don’t think I could ever get enough of you.”

“It’s so tempting to keep you, mesh’la.”

“You belong in my arms, just like this.”

“We fit together too well. Must have been made for me, cyare.”

Rex watched, fascinated, as you came down from your high.

“So good for us, aren’t you?” He asked softly.

You hummed affirmatively, pressing your face against his neck, while he listened to you working to catch your breath. He noticed your fingers were loosely tangled with Fox’s, while your free hand drew aimless little shapes against his skin. They’d made your body sing for them, and what a beautiful song it was. One Rex could listen to over and over again.

The spell that had bound the four of you was broken as Fox’s alarm went off. The real world was calling.

“Damn!” Fox swore, moving out of your reach, so he could get dressed.

He’d meant to leave a couple of hours ago, but you’d buried your fingers in his curls and pulled him in for another kiss. Instead of leaving he’d given in to your unspoken request, and coaxed another slow, sweet orgasm out of your blissed out body.

As he snapped on his armor, he realized you were a problem. The soft look on your face, as you watched him held so much affection. He hated that he couldn’t be the man you looked at like that every day. It would require time he didn’t have, and you deserved more than he could give.

You whined softly in protest, and Fox’s lips twitched toward a smile before he pulled on his helmet.

“Duty calls, mesh’la. I know you understand,” he explained, his voice firm, yet gentle like your hands had been against his skin.

He knew the brat in you would love nothing more than making him late, and part of him would enjoy it too. He knew the healer in you would relish in sending him off relaxed, and fully satisfied, but he couldn’t follow that train of thought. He couldn’t let himself linger in fantasies, no matter how sweet. He consoled himself with the fact it was a one-time thing, and he’d never be in this position with you again.

You nodded sleepily, before resting your face against Rex’s chest.

“You di’kut, why didn’t you tell us you were on duty today?” Wolffe asked, frowning at his brother.

“It wasn’t relevant,” Fox replied easily. “I’ve got enough caf to give a rancor a coronary. I’ll be fine. Make sure she gets some sleep.”

“Wasn’t relevant my ass,” Wolffe grumbled, rolling his eyes. He was completely unsurprised that Fox easily placed your well-being over his own despite the fact that you couldn’t have been in better hands. “We’ll make sure she gets rest. You worry about yourself.”

Fox opened his mouth to deliver a snarky reply, but he was cut off by your soft voice, “Bye, Fox. Thank you…”

Cody chuckled and gave your thigh a playful tap.

“Bye, Commander Fox. Thank you, sir,” you corrected with a giggle.

“Good girl,” Cody said, smiling at you.

“Bye, Stitches, thank you,” Fox said, saluting his brothers before he left Rex’s quarters.

“I think our gorgeous girl has had all she can take,” Cody said, catching your chin, pulling you close to press a kiss to your temple.

“Maybe,” you admitted, looking up at him.

“You took all of us so well last night. Let us enjoy you like we wanted,” Cody said, rubbing your back.

“And I’d do it again, Commander. Any time,” you yawned, covering your mouth like you could hide your exhaustion.

“I’m going to hold you to that, mesh’la,” Cody replied, leaning down to kiss your shoulder before he followed Fox’s lead and got dressed to head out.

“You know I will,” Wolffe said, drawing you close to kiss your face before getting dressed as well.

You beamed up at him, before relaxing once more. Warm and safe in Rex’s arms, you slipped into a peaceful sleep, your body finally reaching its limit.

taglist: @secondaryrealm @iamburdened @sunshinesdaydream @dukeoftheblackstar @rexxdjarin @808tsuika @sleepingsun501 @starrylothcat @ladyzirkonia @pb-jellybeans @clio3kantarella @staycalmandhugaclone @stardusthuntress @idontgetanysleep

please also consider this my no pressure invite to share for WIP Wednesday, if you’re so inclined 🥰😌

#series: in pieces #wip wednesday #tcw commander fox #tcw captain rex #tcw commander wolffe #tcw commander cody #tcw commander fox x reader #tcw rex x reader #commander wolffe x reader #commander cody x reader #reader insert #seven writes

[dragons-bones]

FFXIV Write Entry #17: Knifesong

Prompt: refocillation (free write!) || Master Post || On AO3

A/N: Minor warnings for a brief discussion of catastrophic injury. Yes, once again this is one of many sequels to "The Long Road Home" from last year's FFXIV Write.

--

Alakhai grunted as she finished a set of pushups, carefully sliding back to rest on her knees and stretching out her upper body, arms straight. Hold, hold, hold, and then she relaxed, slowly.

Every muscle from her neck to her hips spasmed and twitched and pulsed, the godsawful echo of it radiating up her neck and down her thighs, but they didn’t burn, didn’t pull. Progress from even a sennight ago. She’d take it.

Getting one’s chest caved in sucked.

Her ribs were healed, carefully pieced back together and her lungs, too, though one had been so badly shredded by her shattering ribs that the loporrit and Sharlayan healers had run an Allagan organ growth machine into the ground to make her a new one. She hadn’t had lung capacity this good since she was a teenager, but her stamina was gone from moons of recovery. Not just her lungs, but every damn muscle in her upper body that either had to be sewn back together or force-repaired by conjury, even her damn stomach because her ribs had been in so many pieces, they had decided to rupture whichever organs were in the way.

A part of her was beyond frustrated with this slow recovery, snarling angrily, but the greater part of her, the smarter part, was just grateful that she could recover at all. That getting back to her old peak of fitness wasn’t out of reach.

Alakhai sighed, and made to get up to head back inside the Rising Stones, when a pair of knives plunged into the ground next to her. Thrown, with perfect accuracy, though these weren’t throwing knives, but the long blades she favored for combat.

Blinking, she looked up, and saw Thancred leaning against the fence of the training yard. Stripped down to plain linen and leathers, his ubiquitous gunblade was missing, but his old knives hung in their sheathes from his hips.

Thancred cocked an eyebrow. Alakhai grinned, yanked the blades from the ground, and settled into a fighting stance as the hyur strolled out to meet her in the middle of the yard, drawing his knives.

The first bright ring of steel against steel made her grin even wider.

They went slow; it would be a while long before Alakhai reclaimed her old levin-quick strikes and dodges. But for all the ragging she had given him over the years, Thancred was an excellent combat teacher, as Ryne’s knifework showed, and he kept his movements fluid and controlled as they worked through their spar. Probably they should be using blunted training knives or sticks, but there was nothing like live steel to narrow one’s attention into a razor focus.

No fancy footwork or acrobatic flips or even the filthy tactics that both Alakhai and Thancred preferred to utilize in combat, just strikes and parries. Alakhai’s fighting style was a hodgepodge: knifework from Yanxia and Kugane and Limsa Lominsa, twists and thrusts shared by Heron or bullied out of Estinien. Thancred had grown up on the streets of Limsa Lominsa, then been trained in shadow-work in Sharlayan. Their first times sparring had been a chaotic delight of movement and flashing blades; now, they move together easily, well-used to one another’s movements.

Alakhai’s stamina might be shite, but her muscles still remember all the right movements, thank whatever gods are listening. Thancred wasn’t trying to surprise her, either: his feints and thrusts and swipes were openly telegraphed. Strike here, parry there, step that way, leading her in a dance that had her stretching and twisting in ways her healer-approved exercises hadn’t.

She was getting winded, panting as her lungs struggled to find breath and her muscles fought to relearn old habits. Some of that familiar frustrating was rising, too: Alakhai and Thancred used to be able to go all out for half a bell or longer, knives moving in a blur and leaping around one another to the shouts and awe of the Toll’s residents. She missed that speed, how effortless it was to slip under Thancred’s guard and smack his ribs with the flat of her blade before whirling out of his reach.

But right now, she realized she was also exhilarated. Thancred wasn’t coddling her or telling her not to push herself, just showing her that she hadn’t lost all of her skills. The instinct was there; she only needed to allow her body the time to catch back up.

When they finally came to a halt, Alakhai was panting, but she was smiling. She’d done that today more than she had in a long time. “Thanks, Waters.”

Thancred saluted her with one his knives, his own roguish grin firmly in place. “Any time, Noykin.”

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#ffxivwrite2023 #final fantasy xiv #ffxiv #oc: alakhai noykin #thancred waters #dt's writing

[trickstarbrave]

concubine au part 8.... part 7 you can find here

uhhhh honestly this chapter is just filth. rly dirty smut ngl. im also still sick so i hope it's coherent but i had fun writing it. and nerevar at least has fun LOL

warning for like. pregnancy talk/kink i guess. but uhhhh thats been happening the last few chapters. not where i expected this to go as a story but okay

--

Voryn was gone for a while, both for the dinner which was as awkward as intended, and for the after dinner mingling and drinks as was custom when you were hosting guests. 

A few hours flew right by, Nerevar napping for most of it. When he awoke, there was food waiting for him that he quickly scarfed down. He had been eating regular meals for a few weeks now with no issues, but part of his mind always savored the food. Too many times Anaryl would punish him with no food for the day, taunting him while he was hungry the whole while. 

Still, the longer he was awake, the more anxious he got. Voryn was gone a while--had he not slept that long? Or had something gone wrong. It wasn’t long until his restless energy had him pacing and frustrated. He wished he was there right now, making sure everything was going to plan and listening in. He’d often attend dinner parties and such, listening carefully to all the gossip and formulating plans. Not doing that left him nervous, nearly shaking with pent up energy and worry.

When Voryn finally came in, Nerevar was more than relieved, even as Voryn immediately sat him down and began fussing over him.

“I told you to rest.” Voryn scolded him, his voice still gentle. 

“I did.” Nerevar replied. “I napped, then I ate…” He sighed. “But I just couldn’t relax after that. You were out there, and I didn’t know what was going on, I couldn’t plan…” 

“Shhh,” Voryn hushed him, “Everything went very well, Neht.” Voryn stroked his cheek, the affectionate and gentle touch helping relax Nerevar. “I can tell you all about it and we can think of a plan together, alright?” 

“I’d… Appreciate that.” Now he just felt stupid getting so worked up over nothing. He knew Voryn could take care of himself, he just didn’t like not knowing what was going on, especially in such a difficult situation they were in.

“Here,” Voryn sat beside him, wrapping an arm around Nerevar. “Just relax for a moment, alright?” Voryn stroked his back through the comfortable sleeping robes he was wearing. “I won’t leave you here if it makes you this anxious, alright?” 

“No, if you need to--”

“If I need to.” Voryn stressed. “I just had you stay here to rest, but I don’t want you to be nervous, alright?” Voryn then gave him a soft kiss on the cheek. “In the future I’ll try not to mingle with them without you.”

“What happened then?” Nerevar asked, after the shaking in his hands subsided. Voryn said it went well--maybe there was something Nerevar could use. 

“Not much, but I think I sold our little act well.” Voryn explained. “Dres Galar thought he had something to use against me: the knowledge of the birth control you were taking.” Nerevar made a sour face. “He was hoping to use the fact the drug can cause infertility to either make my act slip, or persuade me to ship you back.”

“And what did you say?” 

Voryn glanced away sheepishly. “I… Leaned into the role.” He began. “I figured the best way to approach it would be to give a very… Uncomfortable response.” He then coughed awkwardly. “Make myself seem to be quite the monster absolutely sick with want.” 

“Come on, spit it out.” Nerevar prodded him, smiling slightly from how flustered he was getting. 

“I told him I already knew about the drug and its effects.” That much was the actual truth. “And that I had the healers lie to you and say you were infertile.” Nerevar raised an eyebrow. “I then continued saying I… Intended to use it against you. You wouldn’t know to use protection if you thought you couldn’t conceive, and after you were lulled into a false sense of security…” 

“Oh…” Nerevar’s cheeks were slightly flushed. Certainly, that would be a pretty unhinged thing to say that he didn’t think even Dres Galar saw coming. Still though, it would help further their act. 

If only he could stop thinking about how weirdly arousing it was. 

“Does that sort of talk bother you?” Voryn asked, no doubt concerned given the last time the subject of infertility was brought up Nerevar burst into tears for no reason. 

“Not really,” Nerevar shook his head. “I know this is for our act, and you did really well playing it off like that. It does sell the whole dynamic we’ve made.” He hummed softly. “I think I can even come up with a few ways to play with that little idea you’ve thrown around.” 

“Oh?” Voryn asked. “Already thinking of a new plan?”

Nerevar looked back at him with a sly grin.

“You’ll probably be working in your study again tomorrow right?” Voryn nodded, also grinning slightly back. “And you’ll want your concubine in there, at your side, to admire while you work until you take a break…”

“Go on.” Voryn replied, still rubbing circles on his back. 

“A spy will at least be listening in, no doubt…” Nerevar climbed up on Voryn’s lap now, straddling him as Voryn’s hand trailed lower down his spine. “Wouldn’t it be fitting for a cruel man such as yourself to be fantasizing about it, whispering to your poor concubine how badly you wished I could have your baby… Taking delight in how I had no idea you were going to knock me up eventually?” He was practically purring in Voryn’s ear now, before Voryn’s hand dipped down to Nerevar’s ass now, groping him and earning a low groan from Nerevar’s lips. 

“Naughty little thing…” Voryn whispered back. “That is an excellent idea, isn’t it?” 

--

Nerevar was seated on the lounge in Voryn’s office, eagerly waiting. He was almost giddy with excitement, watching Voryn look over various reports, make notes, write in code, and sign documents. Occasionally they’d make eyes at each other, from friendly smiles to flirty glances, while Nerevar tried to keep himself entertained. But by this point he was barely reading the words, his eyes simply glazing over at the pages of his book, instead fantasizing. He even chastised himself for fantasizing too enthusiastically on multiple occasions, before that too faded as he instead could only think about what was to come.

Then finally—finally—Voryn set all of his papers aside, motioning for Nerevar to come closer. With a feigned sigh of annoyance he got up, moving to climb up onto Voryn’s lap and straddle him once more.

“My my,” Voryn remarked with a smirk, “You’re certainly well behaved today~”

“Just get it over with…” Nerevar groaned, though his hips were already squirming as Voryn’s hand began to slide up his thigh.

“You should know me better by now, Neht.” Voryn kissed gently at his neck. “I love indulging in you far too much to simply get it over with.” Nerevar shuddered as Voryn’s lips trailed down his sensitive neck in hot, wet kisses. He was already excited and trying desperately to keep his reactions under control, but fuck did Voryn make that a difficult task.

Then, Voryn’s hand slid up further, completely missing his arousal and instead rubbing gently at his lower stomach. Nerevar could have whined just from that, instead suppressing it by biting his lip. A spy from House Dres couldn’t see them in the privacy of the office, but they could hear so acting it out mostly would help make the sounds convincing. 

“Mm… Gods,” Voryn nipped at his ear now, making Nerevar hiss sharply. “I wish you were pregnant with my child.” A full shiver ran down Nerevar’s spine hearing that. Voryn sounded so convincing, his voice trembling slightly.

“I can’t--” Nerevar hissed, still squirming, “Remember?”

“I’m so disappointed in you for using that damn drug…” Voryn gave an annoyed sigh. “You could have seriously hurt yourself.”

Nerevar was trying desperately to play along now, wishing more than anything that Voryn was touching him so much more than he already was. The gentle strokes on his skin weren’t enough--they were more teasing than anything.

“Ah…” Nerevar gasped softly as Voryn opened his robes to expose his chest, beginning to kiss down from his throat. “Would you prefer I’d have been forced to have that bastard’s child…?” He was trying his hardest to sound disgusted and annoyed, but that was so hard to manage when it felt so good.

“You know I would have loved any child you had.” Nerevar shivered again at that. “I’m certain any child you could have would be perfect.” His words were honey sweet, like someone talking to a lover, whispering sweet nothings and beautiful little promises. 

“Stop it--” Nerevar groaned louder, before Voryn’s tongue flicked against a nipple. 

“I’d have raised them as my own,” Voryn continued, “So long as I could have you…” One of his hands now slid up the back of Nerevar’s thigh, massaging the muscles. The words were honestly kind of touching, if he thought Voryn actually meant them. Certainly Voryn would ensure the kid had everything he needed, but he’d never go so far as to say Nerevar should have had a child he didn’t want. To keep the act up, Nerevar instead grit his teeth, pushing the warm, fuzzy feelings down. 

“I don’t want a fucking child!” He growled, putting as much venom as he could into his words. “Especially not from that House Dres bastard--!” He channeled all the rage he felt when Anaryl would hold him down, mocking him. However, at his outburst, Voryn’s sharp nails pricked his thighs, digging in just enough that it started to hurt. At the small pricks of pain on his inner thighs he was groaning loudly, somewhere between pain and pleasure. 

“Behave yourself…” Voryn scolded, before his hand instead moved up, slipping past Nerevar’s undergarments to his arousal. His lips then close around a nipple, swirling his tongue around it and the nice, gold studs Voryn had put on him. Nerevar was whimpering now as his lips pulled away, now gently nibbling on the sensitive bud, his fingers only teasingly stroking him. “Gods… You really do get off on me punishing you, don’t you?”

“I don’t--” Nerevar tried to argue, but was cut off with another nip to his chest, a pathetic sound falling out of his lips somewhere between a sharp cry and a choked whimper. 

“Mm… Once again your body is honest…” Voryn purred. “You’re so wet for me…” Two fingers slid inside him, making him gasp and pant with desire, trying to rock his hips back against the sensation. “You were just as wet the first night I took you too… Laid out on my bed in chains, whipped until you could barely struggle, taking every inch of me into this perfect body of yours…”

“Stop it…” Nerevar groaned again. The mental image wasn’t unwelcomed though, all things considered. Maybe it was because he was already incredibly turned on, but the idea of being tied or chained up just for Voryn was also arousing. 

“If I could,” Voryn began, his fingers moving faster, “I’d find a way to cure you. If you don’t want a child from that man, I’m certain you’d love one from me…” Nerevar gripped Voryn’s shoulders tighter as Voryn thrusted against the perfect spot, making his legs tremble. The noises spilling from his mouth were quickly turning to pleasure, as he felt his orgasm coming on. “Oh Neht…” Voryn's voice took on a new tone, this time desperate and sick with want. “You’d look so perfect, heavy with my child…” He moaned softly against Nerevar’s skin, before leaving another mark on his collarbone. “I’d finally have made your body all mine~” 

Fuck, Nerevar was close. So damn close--he just needed a bit more, just a bit more--

Voryn suddenly slipped his fingers out, just as Nerevar reached the edge, earning a loud, angry cry. Still, he had no time to protest as Voryn quickly shoved his back to the desk, pulling his legs open. 

Well, Nerevar hadn’t expected Voryn to actually fuck him on his desk. He thought it would be Voryn taking him on the lounge, or Nerevar riding him on the chair. However this was very welcomed, Nerevar more than eager to part his legs and lick his lips as Voryn quickly began tugging his own robes open and Nerevar’s underwear off. Still, Nerevar wanted to use the freedom he had knowing they weren’t being watched, and slid two fingers down to roll them around his dick as Voryn stripped down to nothing but his inner robes barely clinging to him. He made eye contact with Voryn as he did so, smirking the whole while, before Voryn pulled his hand away and pressed his cock inside. 

“I want every part of you, Neht.” Voryn moaned, giving a few gentle thrusts at first. “I want to have you in a way no one else ever will…” The possessive tone of his voice was only exciting Nerevar more as Nerevar looped a leg around Voryn, clinging to him. “I love your anger, your tears, and every little moan of pleasure that spills from your lips…” 

“Fuck~!” Nerevar groaned. It sounded like a hell of a love confession, one Nerevar desperately wanted to be true. 

“No one else can love you like I can,” Voryn groaned, laying out over his body and pressing messy kisses to his jaw. “No one else deserves you--you perfect, dangerous, intoxicating thing…” 

“Stop talking like that~” Nerevar moaned loudly, despite loving every second of it. “Stop talking like a lover while you--while you do this~” 

“Oh? But I am your lover, aren’t I?” Voryn pressed a quick, messy kiss to Nerevar’s lips. “Mmm~ If I could marry you, I would… I’d make you my husband, Neht~” Nerevar shuddered and whined at the idea. House Dagoth would never allow it; Nerevar was legally a slave in the eyes of the public, barely good enough to warm Voryn’s bed. But gods he’d love to be clothed in House Dagoth’s robes, golden marriage mask on his face, and wedded to Voryn. “I only ever want children from you too…” Voryn nipped and sucked along his neck, as Nerevar felt his orgasm coming on once again. “I’ll pray to the three every damn day in hopes of a miracle--I’d even name your child my heir~” 

He finally came, gasping and moaning under Voryn as Voryn continued to fuck him hard and fast, chasing his own completion. He continued to talk, moaning and whispering the sweetest things in Nerevar’s ears, but he was too far gone in his own pleasure to hear it. Every nerve in his body felt so wonderful, tingling and alight with pleasure. 

“That’s it…” Voryn whispered as he too found release, listening to Nerevar moan once again. “So good for me, taking everything…” He then rubbed back and forth against Nerevar’s cock, making him gasp and tremble. 

“S-stop…” He whined. “I can’t--”

“Yes you can,” Voryn cooed. “Cum for me, Neht.”

“I-I can’t~!” He was trembling, pleasure overwhelming him. 

“I want to make sure my seed takes.” Voryn purred in his ear, earning a long, sharp whine. It was an old wives tale that an orgasm made you more likely to conceive. It was like he was actually trying to knock Nerevar up right now, holding him down, whispering and praising him the whole while, all while Nerevar could feel Voryn’s cum inside him. 

“I can’t--get pregnant…” Nerevar groaned, his eyes rolling back slightly. 

“It’s just a little fantasy, Neht…” Voryn whispered. “Just give me this…” Fuck, it was just like the little lie Voryn told to the noblemen from House Dres. That he intended to lie to Nerevar, lulling him into a false sense of security… 

Nerevar covered his mouth with his hand as he came, muffling all the words spilling from his mouth. No doubt it would be incoherent babbling for the most part, but he didn’t want a spy hearing anything they shouldn’t. 

“Good boy…” Voryn whispered in his ear. “Such a good boy for me…” Voryn peppered more kisses on his cheeks as he came down from the high of his orgasm for a second time. “Now, let’s get you all cleaned up for dinner…”

#nerevoryn #nerevar #voryn dagoth #concubine au #my writing #legit sitting here like...... hello #ngl i just writing and let the little blorbos guide my hand #i havent rly planned out shit for this so its just. going where it goes.

[theresthesnitch]

What we do to get by, Part 13

Read the rest here. 

***

Going out with Remus became a regular thing, and Sirius loved it. He’d had to convince Remus a few times, but several nights over the next few weeks, they ended up going. In the beginning, he found more reasons to celebrate. 

“Remus! We have to go out again. My patient is improving!" 

Remus looked at him with furrowed brows. "Didn't we already celebrate that?" 

Sirius couldn't dim his smile. "You don't understand. He might get to go home soon!"

Remus rolled his eyes. "Alright. Fine. Let's go again." 

Sirius started looking for reasons to celebrate, anything to get Remus to let him take him to a pub. 

Healer Donohue told me I did well! You don't understand Moony, it's like a huge deal. He hates everyone. 

I solved a new case today! Everyone else was stumped!

I didn't punch an arsehole today! 

One day, he managed to convince Remus to celebrate after he received some good news of his own. It all started when James stopped by, with a clever smile and bouncing on his toes like he had a secret he couldn’t wait to share. 

“So, Moony dear. I have some good news for you, if you’re interested.” James wagged his eyebrows at Remus. “A job.” 

Remus’s brows furrowed, a deep crease between them. “Alright. Who is the party for?”

James waved a hand in front of his face. “Not that kind of job. My dad knows this guy, Mr. Scamander, who is doing research on magical creatures, the kind of stuff you talked about doing one day. He’s looking for an assistant, and he’s hoping to find someone who can take over for him when he retires in a few years.” 

Sirius watched Remus as James talked, and watched his face fall as James talked. When he finished, Remus shook his head. “I can’t, James. I don’t have the N.E.W.T.s for that. I don’t even have any O.W.L. results.” 

“Dad worked it out. He got some friend of his at the Ministry to pull your canceled results.” James pulled a folded piece of paper out of his pocket and handed it to Remus. “You did really well, actually. Better than we did. Five Os and three Es. Dad shared them with Mr. Scamander, and he’s willing to take you on with these results.”

“James, I can’t.” Remus looked honestly disappointed, glancing up from his results. “It would only last until the first full moon, or the second, and then your dad will be on the outs with him because of me. I appreciate it, but I can’t–” 

“He already knows, Remus. He doesn’t care.” 

“How is that possible?” Remus asked, incredulously. “There’s no way he actually doesn’t care.” 

James folded his hands in front of him. “You see, Mr. Scamander’s wife had lycanthropy. She was bitten shortly after they were married, and he spent his whole life watching her change. So, no. He’s not going to fire you after a few moons. More than anyone, he understands.” 

Remus went quiet for a long time, and they waited. Remus chewed on his bottom lip, thinking over the offer. “He’s not–” Remus sighed, running a hand over his face. “He doesn’t just want to study me? I mean– I’m not one of the creatures he wants to study.” 

James shook his head, a smile on his face. “He’s actually in contact with one of the local wolf packs, and regularly works with the pack leader. It’s just a job, Remus. If you want it.” 

Remus pursed his lips together, and it almost looked like he was angry. Except, Sirius noticed the way his breaths were slightly shaky, and he knew that Remus was trying to hold back tears.

Sirius wasn’t sure when he’d learned to read Remus again, but he wasn’t surprised at all when Remus accepted a moment later. 

Sirius clapped his hands together. “Let’s celebrate!” 

Remus didn’t protest at all. 

*** 

It was easier to get Remus to agree when James and Peter came too. He suspected that Remus wanted to go too, as much as he fought the offer, especially when Sirius’s excuses became more and more flimsy. Sirius’s personal favorite was I found trousers that I thought didn’t fit, and they look great on me. Surely Remus wanted to go out if that was an excuse he would accept found my trousers as a reason to go out and celebrate. 

Eventually, he stopped offering a reason, and merely asked Remus if he fancied a trip to the pub. Remus shrugged and accepted, and Sirius was thrilled. 

*** 

They lingered at the pub one day, and Sirius let Remus buy him a round out of his first paycheck. Sirius didn't mind, and Remus was so happy to finally be able to do it. 

They sipped their drinks, bellies full of greasy chips, and the conversation stayed light. Or at least it did until Remus's brow furrowed. "Padfoot, can I ask you something?" 

"Absolutely. Anything, Moony." Sirius didn't even have to think about it. He'd give Remus anything he needed. 

Remus spun his glass on the table, leaving a wet ring when he picked it up and drank deeply. He set it down again with a sigh. "Would you tell me the list?" 

"The list?" 

Remus tucked a strand of hair behind his ear, and he seemed incapable of looking at Sirius now. "You said you could write a whole list of things about me that weren't bad. Maybe you were just being hyperbolic, because I don't think there are actually that many things about me that are okay, but I think, if you were serious, I'd really like to hear them." Remus looked up at him, still not quite meeting his eyes. "I think maybe I need to hear it." 

Sirius didn't answer immediately. He picked up his glass and took a long sip to buy himself time. He set it back down with a clank, and Remus flinched. "Can I have some time to think about it, or do you need it now?" 

Remus looked surprised, then looked away again. "Oh, um. Yeah. You can have some time. 'Course." 

They drank quietly for a while, and Sirius was already trying to make a list in his head. He wanted to put thought into this, to do it right, so that maybe Remus would believe him. His eyes caught on Remus, after a bit, who was chewing on his lip and looking concerned. 

Sirius couldn’t help but smile. “Wonderful, by the way.” 

Remus’s eyes shot to him. “What?”

“The list?” Sirius leaned forward on his hand, elbow on the table. “It was a list of all the wonderful things about you. Not ‘okay’ or ‘good.’” Sirius shrugged. “I could make that list too, but this is going to be a list of all the most wonderful things about you.”

Remus looked down, a small smile teasing his lips, but Sirius could tell he didn’t believe it. “Alright, if you say so.” 

“I do.” Sirius took another drink. “You’ll see.” 

*** 

Sirius scratched out another item on his list and banged his head against the wall. It wasn’t that all the things he came up with weren’t true. He just didn’t think Remus would believe him. He could tell him that he was kind and smart and funny, but Remus would never be able to see it if he wrote it that way. 

“Whatcha doing?”

Sirius jumped, nearly falling off the step he was sitting on in the St. Mungo’s stairwell. “Merlin’s pubic lice, Evans! I’m going to put a fucking warning charm on you. You’re quiet as a mouse.” 

“It’s Potter now. And How do you think I make sure my husband stays out of trouble?” Lily sat down on the step below him, stretching her legs out over the riser. “Gotta sneak up on him.” 

Sirius snorted. “I’m sure it also helps that he tells you everything as soon as he does it, too.” 

Lily smiled. “Yes, well, must keep him on his toes anyway.” Lily nodded at the parchment in his hand. “What are you doing?”

Sirius sighed, and handed it to her. “I told Remus that I would have to make a list of all the wonderful things about him if he kept insulting himself. He called my bluff and asked for the list. Turns out, it’s a lot harder to write that list than I expected.” 

Lily hummed and folded the paper. “So don’t write a list.”

“I can’t just not write it, Evans. He told me he needs it.” 

She pinched his arm. “It’s Potter, you berk, but Remus doesn’t need a list.” 

Sirius snatched it back from her. “That’s what he said.” 

“Yes, well, he may have said it, but you and I both know that’s not what he’s looking for.” Lily pulled her knees up and rested her forearms on her legs. “He needs to hear there’s something in him worth loving. That’s not going to be found on some list.” 

Sirius sighed. “You’re probably right, but how do I tell him that?”

Lily shrugged. “I’m sure you’ll figure it out.” 

“So helpful. Thank you.” Sirius rolled his eyes.

Lily laughed, nudging his arm. “I could tell you, but you and I both know that you know him better. I think that whatever you come up with will be far better than any suggestion I have.” 

“You assume I’m going to come up with something.” 

“I know you will.” Lily laid her head back against the wall. “Just think about Remus. How would Remus best hear it?”

Sirius hummed as he looked back down at his parchment. How would Remus best hear it?

*** 

“Did you know that old wizarding family houses have blood purity traps?” Sirius sat cross-legged in the chair next to the bed. “I knew this one house that would drop anyone with less than pure blood eight generations back through a trapdoor under the welcome mat into the basement.” 

“No way.” Colin leaned forward on his hands, elbows on his knees. “What if you had guests come over? Or a party?”

“Oh, for shame if you invite someone with dirty blood.” Sirius let out a faux shudder. “Of course, you might get in particular trouble if the Minister of Magic pays a visit to your house and gets stuck in the basement.” 

“Oh no, did that really happen?”

“It did.” Sirius laughed. “I swear, I’ve never seen the Minister so angry. It doesn’t help that he was trapped in a room with several illegal dark artifacts. He ended up arresting my uncle rather than staying for tea.” 

“Your uncle!” Colin fell back laughing. “That’s terrible.” 

“Honestly, he deserved worse. He got out the same day.” 

Colin smiled wickedly. “The Minister or your uncle?”

Sirius laughed. “Both, actually.” Sirius reached forward and clapped a hand on Colin’s knee. “So let me see your curse. I hear it’s nearly gone!” 

Colin smiled so widely that Sirius couldn’t help but smile too. He pulled his shirt back, revealing a nearly faded mark. “See? It’s barely there. I think it might actually go away this time.” 

Sirius reached out, running his fingers along the curse trails. “I hope you’re right. It looks much better.” 

“I know I’m right.” Colin pulled his shirt down when Sirius removed his hand. “It’s going to go away, and mum says I might be able to go to Hogwarts for my last years. Can you imagine, Sirius?” 

“Well, let’s not get ourselves too excited. You’ve still got a long way to go.” 

Colin shook his head, infectious smile on his face. “Nah, I’m going to get out of here, and I’m going to get to go to Hogwarts, and it’s all thanks to you, Sirius.” 

Sirius leaned forward on his hands. “I’m really glad we found something, Colin.” 

“Me too.” Colin sighed, laying back in his bed dramatically. “I am disappointed about one thing, though.” 

“What’s that?”

“I’m not going to get to hear the end of the roommate story.” Colin clicked his tongue disappointedly. “You’re going to have to write to me and tell me how you got together with him. I want the whole thing written out in detail, for posterity sake.” 

Sirius scoffed. “I don’t think you should hold your breath on that one, buddy. We’re just friends. There’s no story to te–” Sirius sat up a little straighter. “Colin, you’re a bloody genius.” 

“I know, I’m told all the time.” Colin shrugged. “What did I do this time?”

Sirius laughed. “You just gave me the answer to a problem.” 

“Are you being cryptic on purpose?” Colin grasped his chest and fell back. “I’m a dying boy. You can’t tease me like that.” 

“Hey, I thought you weren’t dying anymore?” Sirius laughed. 

Colin shrugged. “I hafta use all the tools in my toolbox.” 

“Well, you’re just going to have to see.” Sirius uncurled his legs and stood up from the chair. “Right now, I’ve got important business to tend to."

Sirius held the thick envelope in his hands, running his thumbs over the smooth paper. The parchment had weight to it–metaphorically as well as physically. Sirius had poured himself entirely into the letter, letting every feeling he’d never been able to say flow out of him and imbue itself into the words on the page. It had taken several pages and several drafts, but the final pages were sealed into this envelope in his hands. Sirius carried it in front of him, looking at it as though it carried his entire world in it. 

It felt like it carried his entire world. 

He found Remus sitting in the living room, curled up in the corner of the couch with a book propped up on his knees. Sirius smiled at the way his eyebrows were furrowed, concentrating on his book. He looked up when Sirius sat down by his feet. 

Sirius ran his finger along the edge of the letter, then handed it to Remus. “This is for you.”

Remus looked at it in confusion as he took it. “It is? Did I get a letter?”

“Uh, sort of.” Sirius gathered his hair up in a bun behind his head and let it go. “I wrote you a letter.” 

Remus looked up from the parchment, hands now completely still. “You wrote it?”

“You asked for a list.” Sirius looked away. “It’s not exactly a list, but I think–Well, I hope you like it.” 

“Oh.” Remus looked down at the envelope for a moment, then began to pull it open. 

Sirius made a choked noise. “Are you going to read it now?”

Remus froze, the flap of the envelope half up. “Is that alright?”

“No, yeah. That’s fine. That’s great.” Sirius ran his fingers through his hair. “You can read it whenever you want.” 

“I don’t have to read it now if you don’t want.” Remus pushed the flap closed again. “I can give it back if you’d rather I didn’t read it at all.” 

“No, go ahead.” Sirius stood up, feeling suddenly like he couldn’t breathe in the small room. “I think–I’m going to go. See James. I’ll be back later, but you–you read that.” 

Sirius walked out the door without a backwards look and apparated straight to Godric’s Hollow. He walked in without knocking, finding James sitting with Lily’s legs draped over his on their couch. They looked up when he walked in. 

“I need to run. Can we run?” 

James set Lily’s legs on the floor, pressing a kiss to her cheek as he stood up. “Are we running, or are we running?” 

“Padfoot and Prongs.” Sirius could feel himself bouncing with nervous energy. “I need to run.” 

James walked to the door. “Let’s go, then.” 

The nice thing about Godric's Hollow is that it butted right against a small wooded area, and James and Sirius could transform right at the edge of the yard. 

They ran. 

They ran until Sirius couldn't feel anything, wasn't thinking about anything except for the way the forest floor felt under his paws and the wind felt in his fur. All the questions and uncertainty fell away in Padfoot’s mind. He didn’t have the capacity to worry about Remus. All Padfoot could think was run fast. 

The nice thing about going with James is that he didn’t press Sirius to talk about it. He could feel James's eyes on him as they shifted back, waiting for Sirius to bring it up, but he didn't press when Sirius wished him good night at the back door. 

Unfortunately, all the calm he found in Padfoot fell away as he apparated home. Sirius stood in front of his flat door, staring at it and unable to open it. Remus had the letter. Remus had the letter that laid out every good thing that Sirius had ever felt about him. 

It was fine. So Remus knew, now. Really knew. It was fine, and Sirius would go in there, and he would deal with whatever Remus’s reaction was. Probably, he wouldn’t believe it. 

Sirius pushed the door open, and Remus looked up from where he was sitting on the couch. He looked like he hadn’t moved since Sirius left, with the pages of his letter strewn across his legs. Remus looked up, catching his eyes, and Sirius couldn’t begin to explain the churning of emotions that he saw in Remus’s eyes. 

Sirius closed the door and leaned against it. “You read it.” 

“A few times.” Remus begins sorting the pages. “Did you mean it?”

“Every word.” Answering feels like it is pulling something out of Sirius, like he’s giving some part of himself up, but he can’t deny Remus this answer.

“I don’t understand. I’m not all of these things.” He looks down at the pages again, like maybe the answer to his confusion is somewhere within between the lines of black ink. 

“You are, though.” Sirius doesn’t move closer, because he doesn’t trust himself to stay away. “To me, you are all of that.” 

Remus stacked the papers together and set them in his lap, crossing an arm over his chest and chewing on his thumbnail. Sirius waited, wondering what reaction Remus would have. When he looked up again, his expression was blank, and Sirius got nothing from him.

“Thank you.” 

Sirius looked at him with a raised eyebrow. “Thank me?”

“For writing it. I didn’t honestly think you would.” Remus tucked a stray curl behind his ear.

“Of course I did.” Sirius finally took a few more steps into the apartment, taking off his shoes by the door. “I told you I would.” 

Remus spoke from somewhere behind him. “No, you said you’d think about it. I thought you had just wanted to drop it.” 

“Oh, I meant I wanted to think over the list. Like what to include.” He placed his shoes on the mat. 

“Oh.” He could hear the blush in Remus’s cheeks before he turned around to see it. Remus wasn’t looking at him, and he was caught up in the way the blush decorated his cheeks. “Well, thank you. I, um. I think I’m going to go to bed. Unless you wanted to…” 

Remus let his voice trail off, and Sirius feels like there was something more in that question than what he was prepared to answer. “Goodnight, Remus.” 

“Right. Goodnight.” 

*** 

Sirius was bouncing on his feet as Healer Donohue, the head healer, looked through Colin’s tests and records. It was good. It looked really good–far better than they had ever expected Colin to look again. The plant that Sirius had found–the potion that he had brewed with it–seem to have worked. Colin was healed, or close enough to it that he could finish the treatment at home until the last lingering touch of the curse in his body was gone. He just needed Healer Donohue to sign off on it. 

“Everything looks in order.” He closed the file, running his fingers across Colin’s curse marks once more. “The potion has worked far better than we expected it to, and I think it’s time for you to go home. Congratulations.” He handed the file to Sirius. “Good work, Black. Finish the discharge?”

“Yes, sir.” Sirius nodded as Donohue headed out. When the door closed behind him, Colin and his mum erupted in cheers that put a wide smile on Sirius’s face. “Well, what do you think of that, Colin?”

“I get to go home!” He jumped on top of his bed and launched himself at Sirius, who barely managed to catch him without falling. Sirius laughed and set him back on the bed. “I get to go home, and it’s all thanks to you.” 

“It was my pleasure, Colin.” 

His mum grabbed Sirius’s arms and pulled him into a hug. “Thank you. Thank you for giving me my child back. I never thought it was possible.” 

Sirius couldn’t help the fact that he was a little misty-eyed for the rest of the discharge. 

*** 

Sirius couldn’t sit when he got home. Colin was home and well, and that called for a celebration. He drug Remus, James, Lily, and Peter to a new pub, one that had drink specials and a dance floor, and he let himself enjoy it. He was out with his best friends, his patient was recovering, Remus was home. 

Remus was home, and when he pulled Remus onto the dance floor, despite his protest, he let himself feel at home, finally, with Remus. 

Peter left first, claiming he had an early work meeting the next day. Lily led James off the dance floor with the whispered promise of something he could find at home that he couldn’t find in the beat of a song. Remus stayed, and Sirius couldn’t find it in him to end the night early. 

“Another drink?” Sirius asked. 

Remus smiled. “Absolutely.” 

Sirius ordered them shots with beer chasers, and after downing them quickly, he pulled Remus back to the dance floor. He made no protest this time, and let Sirius wrap his arms around his waist. They danced, pressed close together, and the air was hot between them. Remus’s lips were inches away from his. He could tilt his head down just a bit, or Remus could look up at him again, and their lips would touch. Sirius couldn’t bring himself to do it. 

After a few songs, they broke apart and headed for the bar again. One shot each, and then they stumbled back to the dance floor. Remus pulled him closer this time, and they moved in perfect rhythm to the song. For a moment, in the middle of a song, their eyes met, and Sirius thought that Remus might kiss him. 

He didn't. 

"Let's get another drink." Remus didn't let go of his hand as they made their way to the bar. This is a bad idea, Sirius thought, but he swallowed the shot Remus passed him and followed him back to the dance floor. 

Sirius could feel the alcohol running through his blood, pushing him toward Remus. There was no longer air between them, and instead they were pressed flush together. Sirius could see the way Remus flushed in the dim lights, and he wanted to taste his freckles. 

Sirius should stop; he knew he should. He just didn't want to.

Eventually, they stumbled out of the pub, and too drunk to apparate, decided to walk home. (It was several minutes before Sirius remembered Remus couldn't apparate and that might have explained his request to walk home.) 

Sirius shivered, and found Remus's arm around his shoulder. Remus stumbled, and Sirius grabbed his hand to steady him. They made it home and up the stairs, laughing over how difficult they were to navigate in their current state. 

Sirius went to unlock the door, and Remus stumbled into him just as it opened. They nearly fell into a pile on the floor, but caught themselves just in time. When they righted themselves again, they were kissing. 

Sirius honestly wasn't sure who started it, but it didn't matter. Remus's lips slotted against his, tasting like tequila and lime and something so inherently Remus, and Sirius couldn't be arsed to care who started it. Remus found the hem of Sirius's shirt, and the cold tips of his fingers against Sirius's skin shocked Sirius back into what they were doing. 

“Remus–” 

“No, Sirius.” Remus pulled Sirius closer by the collar of his shirt, pressing their foreheads together. “I want this.” 

“I can’t– Remus.” 

“Please, Sirius.” Remus kissed him again, and Sirius didn’t stop him. “I’ve never been with someone just because I wanted to. Please? If you still want me too.” 

“I’ll always want you, Remus. Until the day I die.”

Sirius pushed him into the wall and kissed him, fiercely. Perhaps it was a mistake, but Sirius pushed every thought and every feeling he’d felt for Remus for the last several years through the kiss. By the way Remus gasped, Sirius thought he might have understood. 

Sirius broke the kiss and sank to his knees, pushing Remus against the wall. Sirius popped the button and slid his trousers and pants down to his knees as Remus threaded his fingers into Sirius’s hair. Sirius wrapped his hand around Remus, feeling the weight of him in his hand and then on his tongue as he swallowed him down. 

It was everything and nothing like what Sirius had imagined in all of those years he’d pictured finally getting to taste Remus. Remus kept a firm but passive hand in his hair, and Sirius lost himself in the feeling of it. 

When Remus came, it was with Sirius’s name on his lips, and Sirius swallowed down every drop. Remus pulled him to stand again, pulling him into a kiss that tasted of come and tequila. 

“Your turn.” Remus gripped his bulge through the front of his trousers. 

Sirius took a step back. “No.” 

Remus leaned against the wall, flushed cheeks and softening cock, and looked at Sirius with a million emotions in his eyes. “What?” 

“No, Remus. It’s not my turn.” Sirius took another step away, and it felt like he was leaving himself on the floor at Remus’s feet. 

“It’s alright, Sirius. I want to make you feel good too.”

Sirius shook his head. “I can’t, Remus. Not while– you don’t owe me anything, Remus.” 

“But you just– I want to return the favor.” Remus licked his lips, and Sirius nearly closed the distance. “I know it’s not an obligation, Sirius.” 

“It still feels like it.” Using all the remaining willpower he had, Sirius turned and walked back to his bedroom. “Good night, Remus.” Without looking back, he shut his bedroom door.

#what we do to get by #wwdtgb #wolfstar #sirius black #remus lupin #what if the prank ended differently? #snitchwrites

[delicatenightfury]

I'm Here

Month of Writing: Day 10

Pairing: Thranduil x reader

Prompt:

Word Count: 1,100

Warnings: character death

Author's Note: please don't steal my work! you can choose to respond to the prompt as well, but don't steal my work

Thranduil has not yet married Legolas's mother - this fic occurs before they ever meet.

I don't know why most days have been angst so far, but I promise some fluff is on the way!

Thranduil’s body ached. It was an unfamiliar feeling, something he was not at all accustomed to. Elves did not tire easily and it took a lot to truly wear them out. That was not to say that the battle had not been tiring.

It was exhausting. 

A fire-drake of the north had descended upon a neighboring town, as well as a small army of orcs. They were allies of Mirkwood. As king, Thranduil felt a responsibility to help them. So he gathered his armies and went to offer their help. When they arrived, the fight was already underway. The town had a suitable army to defend themselves, but not against orcs and a dragon.

Thranduil got to his feet, having been knocked down not long ago. His silver armor was covered in blood. He wasn’t entirely sure what was orc blood, what was elven blood, or what was human blood. It was a nervous thought. 

Now, the battle was nearly over. The dragon had been driven back and the orcs were being finished off. At first glance, he saw too many bodies lying on the ground. It was hard to tell what was an orc and what wasn’t, simply because of all the blood and the burnt bodies. Thranduil looked around. There was one person in particular that he was trying to find.

y/n was a human from the town. She was a kind yet fierce soul. She cared deeply for so many. And while she seemed soft on the outside, she was an excellent warrior and fiercely protective of her people.

That’s how he knew she was somewhere on the battlefield. He had seen glimpses of her but was never able to get close. He recognized her armor and sword, which were both gifts that he had given her.

“My lord!” Thranduil turned around, and watched as one of his men hurried toward him. Hebrion was one of his closest soldiers, who also served as a personal guard. He bowed his head briefly then looked at Thranduil with worry on his face. “Are you all right?”

“I will be fine, my friend.” A vague answer that didn’t necessarily answer the question. “I am glad to see you are well. I’m sorry to jump topics, but have you seen y/n?”

Hebrion nodded his head, but his expression became very somber.

“That was partly why I sought you out, my lord.”

Thranduil felt his blood run cold at his tone.

“What has happened to her?”

“She was gravely injured. She still lives, but she won’t last much longer.”

“Have the healers attended to her?”

“There is no time. Come, I will take you to her.”

Thranduil quickly followed after Hebrion. His thoughts raced with questions. What had happened? Had it been orcs? Had it been the dragon? Where was she injured? How long ago? How hadn’t he seen? Why didn’t he fight harder to be by her side?

Hebrion slowed down. He motioned ahead where another guard and a healer knelt. Thranduil stepped forward, catching their attention. They bowed their heads to him and stood. Thranduil looked at the healer, hoping for some kind of alternate news than he had already been told.

“I’m sorry, my king,” the woman said. “I cannot do anything more for her than I already have. She will not last much longer.”

Thranduil’s shoulders fell. He nodded. The three elves stepped away from him, giving him the privacy he needed. Many of the elves closest to him knew about his affection for the human woman.

Thranduil knelt down next to y/n and took her hand. She managed to turn her head and smiled a little.

“Thranduil?” she said.

“I’m here,” he replied.

“Are you… all right?” Her voice was breathy and weak.

Her free hand slowly came up to gently touch his cheek. Thranduil tried not to flinch. He had been caught in the drake’s line of fire, quite literally. His clothes were singed and his face now carried severe burns. The pain had been horrible, but he had managed to push through. He was still pushing through as she lightly skimmed the burned skin. He gently pulled her hand away and pressed a small kiss to it.

“Do not worry about me,” he said. “You must save your strength.”

She choked on a laugh, but nodded.

Thranduil looked down to finally take in her injury. A large, deep gash ran across her stomach and side. He could almost see inside of her body. Blood soaked her clothes and armor. Thranduil knew the healer was right. Even with elven healing magic, there would be no coming back from a wound like this.

“You should have been more careful,” Thranduil softly chastised.

“I had to protect my people.” He hated how slow and staggered her speech was, how shallow her breath sounded to his sensitive ears. 

He nodded.

“I know, astalder. No force on Middle Earth could have stopped you from doing so.”

He listened to her breathe. It was labored and shaky, progressively getting worse. He squeezed her hand, trying to fight the tears that wanted to fall.

“Thranduil,” she said. “Look at me. Please, melamin.” He turned his gaze to her. Her eyes were glassy and beginning to lose focus, but he could tell she was doing her best to keep her attention on him. “Do not be sad. Please. We knew something like this would happen, that I would pass on before you because I am mortal. But I want you to promise me something.” She inhaled deeply and her chest shook. “Promise me that you will remain the kind man that I know. That you will move on, and marry someone. Don’t be alone. Please, promise me.”

Thranduil bent down and kissed her hand. He only shifted his head to look back into her eyes.

Why did the world have to be so cruel? Why did it have to take her away from him? They had only just found one another.

“I will.”

Tears freely fell. y/n smiled at him.

“Amin mela lle,” she said.

“Amin mela lle.”

Thranduil watched as her eyes shut. He watched the rise and fall of her chest slow. He listened to her breathing stutter and slow. He felt her hand go limp in his grip. He heard one last breath escape her mouth.

Tears fell from his eyes, but he didn’t care who saw them. He leaned forward and pressed a kiss onto her forehead.

“Vanya sulie, astalder. Aa’i’sul nora lanne’lle ar’hiro hyn hîdh ab ‘wanath. Quel esta. Tenna’ ento lye omenta, a’maelamin.”

Translations

Astalder = valiant one

Melamin = I love you

Amin mela lle = I love you

Vanya sulie, astalder. Aa’i’sul nora lanne’lle ar’hiro hyn hîdh ab ‘wanath. Quel esta. Tenna’ ento lye omenta, a’maelamin. = Fair winds, valiant one. May the wind fill your sails and may you find peace after death. Rest well. Until next we meet, my beloved.

#month of writing #writing prompt #Thranduil #Thranduil x reader #Thranduil oropherion #king thranduil #Thranduil's scars #tolkien #pre hobbit #angst

[the-lonelybarricade]

A Court of Faded Dreams: Chapter 50

Chapter title: Always Changing, Always Flowing

Fic summary: In her grief after Rhys sacrifices himself to restore the Cauldron, Feyre accidentally sends herself back in time. Back in her human body, in her early days in the Spring Court, Feyre must be careful how she alters the timeline as she tries to save Rhys and Prythian from Under the Mountain.

Surprise!!! All my love and gratitutde to @noirshadow for being my beta and staying so patient and supportive <33 Thank you for all of your help!

Read on AO3 ⟡ A Court of Faded Dreams Masterlist

Her sisters did not come up.

Feyre stared at the flat surface of that black, inky water, willing their heads to surface. Searching for even a bubble to rise over the too still waterline, if only to let her know that they were still under there. That the Cauldron hadn’t swallowed them whole and left nothing to mourn.

She surged towards the Cauldron, prepared to wade through the liquid herself if it meant finding her sisters. But a strong hand caught Feyre around the wrist and tugged, reversing her momentum with little effort. Feyre stumbled into a warm, broad chest, and her knees finally collapsed, buckling beneath the weight of everything she had carried. Everything she had worked so hard to avoid, crumbling to pieces before her eyes.

Rhysand held her close, half-carrying Feyre as she sobbed into his chest.

“What’s going to happen to them?” His cold, hard question was directed towards Jurian.

“I don’t know,” the human general answered, sounding shell-shocked himself. “I don’t…”

“Get away from her,” Mor hissed. Feyre raised her head from Rhysand’s chest to see that Jurian had stepped towards Miryam, dark eyes fixed on the blood that still trickled from her nose. Alive, at least for now.

Rage twisted his otherwise handsome face. “Are you planning to leave her on the floor, then?”

“If you let us go, we can take her to a healer,” Mor said, sword raised as she stood protectively between Miryam and Jurian.

“He’s already worked his spell,” Jurian spat. “You can’t leave this castle unless the King wills it.”

Azriel crouched into a fighting stance, prepared to slaughter the human—ally or not—if he made so much as a move against Mor.

“And even if I could let you leave,” Jurian went on, that rage turning sharper. He tipped his chin towards the Cauldron, where Nesta and Elain had been under far longer than any human could hold their breath. “Would you choose to leave them behind?”

Those footsteps were louder, now, nearly to the chamber. Jurian bared his teeth. “Think quickly, Morrigan. He’ll be here any minute.”

“Feyre darling.” Rhys tucked his lips against her temple in a gesture that mimicked soothing, so that no one would notice as he whispered, “The second your sisters come out of the Cauldron, you’re going to cleave the wards, and we’re going to winnow everyone out. Just like you told me you did last time. Okay?”

If they came out of the Cauldron, she wanted to say. But she didn’t let herself give merit to that voice.

They had to come out. They had to.

So instead she nodded, stifling another sob against her mate’s chest, pulling strength from him as she began to thrash against the ancient chains that coiled around her magic.

“The tides have certainly changed for you, Rhysand,” Jurian called. “A mated male. Last I saw you, Amar—”

“Finish that sentence, and you’ll lose your tongue,” Azriel warned, voice whetted with quiet, lethal rage.

Jurian gave a hollow laugh. “Just as perky as I remember, Azriel.”

Heavy, strolling steps echoed down the chamber. Feyre didn’t dare turn her face towards the entrance, already knowing who those steps belonged to from the way Rhysand tensed. The cruel, hateful face of the King of Hybern was one already etched into her nightmares.

“Treating our guests well, Jurian?” The King asked in place of announcing his arrival. “And—oh? What’s this?”

The stone beneath them began to tremble. Rhys tugged Feyre closer, prepared to use his own physical body as a shield to protect her. That thought made her push harder against the spell that bound their magic, desperately clawing her way towards its source.

Then—it was as though the entire room erupted.

If not for Rhys holding her steady, Feyre would have stumbled from the burst of wind that fled the chamber, the accompanying boom so deafening that she could not discern when it had faded. Was it still reverberating off the walls, or was that just the trembling of her bones? Was it still echoing off the stone, or was that ringing a silent song only for her ears?

Numbly, she whipped her head to see that the Cauldron had been tipped over by some invisible force. Water came pouring out in a cascade, spilling over the chamber floor. Black, smoke-coated water.

Elain and Nesta, as though they’d been thrown by a wave, washed onto the stones facedown. They were soaking wet, what little of their skin revealed by the Illyrian leathers they bore had turned a deathly pale color. But Elain sucked in a breath, and Nesta began coughing up air and water as she pushed onto her elbows. Alive, alive, alive—and… as they raised their faces, the faelight caught on their soft glowing skin and their delicately pointed ears. Fae.

“Incredible,” the King of Hybern murmured.

Knowing they were alive—that was all Feyre needed for her power to finally explode. She pushed past those hands that were clamped down on her power, unleashing it into the room in a flash of pure white light, all that could escape with the damper from the King’s spell.

It burst into the chamber, sending the King and Jurian hissing as they shielded their faces away. And Rhysand was instantly moving, darting towards her sisters as Feyre reached deep within Day’s light until she found that purifying, clear power. She used that light to wipe through every physical trapping, let it show her the snarls of spells and glamorous, guiding her through the King’s spell as she burned brighter, looking, looking—

And there, buried deep inside the bone-walls of the castle, were the tightly woven wards. Feyre sent that blinding light flaring once more, blinding the room as she severed the wards at their ancient arteries.

She shouted, and as the light died she could see Rhysand and her sisters had disappeared. The King began snapping orders, and Feyre could feel his magic already scrambling to reseal the wards. There was a blur of movement in the corner of her eye, and Feyre turned to see Azriel moving protectively in front of Mor as she gathered Miryam into her arms. With a flick of his wrist, a knife sliced through the air, headed straight towards the King as Mor and Miryam vanished into smoke. Feyre willed the world to fold around herself, trusting Azriel to use his momentary distraction to do the same.

Those hazel eyes found hers. Go, they screamed, his lips curled back into a snarl. Feyre knew he wouldn’t leave until she was safe. On the vow that he had made to Rhysand this morning, but also on the vow that he had made to Feyre on the night she had been sworn in as High Lady. I will serve and protect.

Shadows closed around her, and just as the world had nearly slipped away entirely, Jurian fired an ashbolt straight through Azriel’s chest.

-

Wind and shadow carried Feyre only as far as her magic could withstand. She estimated she must have covered half the distance between Hybern and Velaris before she stumbled out of the sky somewhere in the middle of the Western sea. Too drained to summon anything that could slow her descent, she hurdled through the air and crashed into the dark, awaiting ocean.

Deep, deep below the surface, the world was quieter. She could still hear the ringing in her ears, but it was subdued beneath layers of ocean water and the rush of air bubbles surfacing around her. Feyre drifted, unconvinced she would even have the strength to kick herself up let alone swim to land. This was how it would end, she thought miserably. Not by Hybern, not by War, or Fate, or Time. But by slowly sinking into the quiet abyss that grew deeper and darker beneath her.

Feyre, Rhys called desperately through the bond. Feyre, where are you? Did you make it out?

Those mental talons brushed against her mental walls, begging to be let in. As she continued to sink down, she felt Rhysand tug at the bond, gently at first and then with increasing vigor. Feyre, he whispered, yanking so hard that more air bubbles fled her lips. Feyre, please.

She opened her eyes and angled her head up towards that dying, ever distant light. It was like being back Under the Mountain, she thought distantly. Feeling that tug toward the light, knowing if she let herself drift towards that darkness there would be peace at last.

But not for Rhysand. Not for her mate, who would have lost Feyre and Azriel in the same failed mission. Not for her sisters, who would have traded their humanity in vain. Not for Azriel, who sacrificed himself so she could escape.

Sometimes it’s just about having resilience after you’ve been beaten down.

For them, Feyre willed her feet to kick. Again and again, even as her lungs blistered with need, even as her vision went spotty and every motion in her body became agonizing, Feyre kept clawing towards that light.

Just as she was about to break the surface, something heavy slammed into her. Whatever precious air she was conserving punched out of her lungs, replaced instead with a flood of seawater that had her choking. The last thing she registered was a hand wrapping around her shoulders before everything went dark.

-

She awoke to a burning heat on her face. Feyre blinked against the too-bright light, raising a stiff arm over her face in an attempt to spare herself from its intensity. She was laying on top of sun-bathed wooden boards, below a cloudless blue sky. She was on a ship—if the sound of the crashing ocean waves and cawing seabirds were anything to go by.

Slowly, Feyre sat up, wincing against her throbbing headache and aching bones to search her surroundings, looking for Rhys. Had he found her? Taken her aboard a ship and…

“Oh, good! You’re awake,” chirped a lovely, lilted voice. A female walked across the deck, holding a canteen that Feyre prayed was full of water. Her throat felt like she had swallowed sandpaper.

But more importantly—Rhys. Feyre couldn’t feel their bond. And if he was on board, he would have been here. Especially after the way he had been reaching for her, begging for her.

“Rhysand,” Feyre rasped, feeling nothing as she reached inside for that familiar golden thread that interwove their souls. “Where is he?”

“Not here,” the faerie said sympathetically.

And it wasn’t just the bond that refused to answer. The well of power, once as deep and vast as the ocean they rocked over, was gone. Sealed behind a pane of glass she couldn’t break, no matter how she banged against its surface. “My magic—Why can’t I feel my magic?”

“We had our healer look at you, but we were limited in supplies. She said the biggest thing you needed was rest, and faebane is an effective sedative in a pinch—we’d just stolen a cache off one of Hybern’s ships.”

All Feyre could think of was Rhysand, feeling their bond go mute and fearing the worst.

“How long have I been asleep?” she rasped.

“Over an entire day,” the female answered. She plopped onto the deck beside Feyre and handed her the canteen. Feyre began drinking greedily as the female continued, “We’re almost to the harbor now. Normally we don’t patrol that far North, but the Captain said he had a ‘feeling’. Then low and behold, as close to Hybern as the High Lord would sanction, we saw Feyre Cursebreaker fall out of the sky.”

With the canteen emptied, Feyre screwed the cap on and handed it back to the female. “Which High Lord?”

“Tarquin,” she answered proudly, and Feyre was instantly flooded with relief. “We’ll be returning to the War Camp on the border of Winter and Summer.”

The one that Cassian was likely stationed at. Did he know what had happened, or would she be the one to deliver the news? Feyre turned, prepared to ask if it was the very same War Camp Cassian was leading, but she looked at the female and, for the first time, properly registered her face.

Warm bronze eyes were staring at her, crinkled with a happiness that made Feyre feel as though she were choking on seawater once more. Her gold-brown hair was braided back off her round face—A face that had once been pale and sallow. Feyre remembered staring into those warm eyes as the light drained from them. And now that faerie was sitting next to her beneath a warm, sun-lit sky, head tipped with gratitude as though Feyre hadn’t once driven a blade through her heart.

“Were you the one that jumped into the water?” Feyre whispered.

The female shrugged. “You fell in pretty deep. We were all trying to find where you had landed. I just happened to be the first one to see you.”

“What’s your name?”

“Oriana,” she said pleasantly.

Feyre swallowed. “Thank you, Oriana.”

Oriana’s eyes turned solemn. “No, Cursebreaker. The debt was mine to pay. In your third task—“

“Don’t.” The word was little more than a garbled syllable in the back of her throat. Feyre tore her eyes away from Oriana’s face, blinking at the crashing waves over the starboard in an attempt to banish her lingering ghost. “I wasn’t motivated by debt, or incurring favor.” Nor goodness, she wanted to add. Instead, she whispered as a confession to the sea, “Who’s to say in different circumstances, I would have chosen the same path?”

“Circumstances inform all our choices,” Oriana said, following Feyre’s gaze toward the open sea—where it stretched for miles and miles in every direction. “The winds and currents of the water are always changing, and the quickest route to shore today may not be the same tomorrow.” Her brown eyes were so wide, the entire horizon reflected in their light. “All we can do is brave the tides as they come, and act accordingly.”

It sounded so similar to the lesson Azriel had been trying to impart. Azriel, who had taken a bolt to his chest… who might still be in that castle in Hybern. Who might be dead.

Feyre’s eyes began to sting, but she told herself it was only the seawater.

“What matters to me, Cursebreaker, is what you chose on this path. Whatever your motivations, because of you I was able to return home to my mate.”

“Your… mate?”

Oriana’s lower lip trembled, but she kept her chin tilted towards the sea. “The grief you spared her… for that alone, I will always feel indebted to you.”

The boat rocked over a wave, jostling Feyre as the nose tipped up then back down, cutting through every opponent that challenged the ship. But even once the deck had righted, Feyre still felt off balance.

In another life, Oriana’s mate had felt that same soul-ripping grief that haunted the High Lord and Lady of the Night. And in this life, in this time… Oriana’s mate had never touched that pain at all.

“Are you… crying, my Lady?”

Feyre quickly wiped at the rogue tears that had escaped. “I’m just relieved that I was able to make a positive difference.”

“More than you could understand, Lady.” Oriana reached for her hand, and Feyre might have been startled at the sudden forwardness if not for the conviction on the female’s face. “Look around the crew. You have not been fae for long, so it may not be obvious to you, but there are sailors from nearly every court stationed on this ship. Prythian hasn’t been united like this in… perhaps since its inception.”

“Prythian would have banded together regardless—”

“Not without its savior,” Oriana interrupted fiercely. “Spring and Night in alliance? Any faerie would be laughed out of the room for suggesting it was possible.”

Oriana stood up, stretching her arms above her head as though this were all casual conversation to her. “I suppose I can understand why the leaders, with their eyes turned towards the carnage, might miss what’s been happening. But I’ve been in the taverns, drinking with the soldiers of every court in the alliance. And hope is so thick in the air you can taste it. Maybe have a drink while you’re in the harbor, see if you can feel it too.”

-

The crew let Feyre be for the short remainder of the journey. Oriana had vanished in the commotion of the ship preparing for land. Feyre felt the strangest mixture of relief and despair tangle in her chest as she watched the Summer Court climb in the horizon. It meant that soon, she would be able to reunite with her mate and assure him that she was safe. Alive. But if Azriel hadn’t made it out… she would have to look Rhys and Cassian in the eyes to tell them that she had left their brother behind.

That thought made it difficult to bask in the glory of the approaching inlet. Feyre had never seen an ocean so bright—under the glistening sun, it was almost turquoise, and so clear she could see through to the sand deep below. The bay was flush with ships, each bearing a proud sail of the six courts in the alliance. Gathered together, in one place. Oriana had told Feyre that more soldiers arrived each day, and by the sheer quantity of battleships, Feyre could believe it.

Tall buildings rose over the docks as the boat came closer. Unlike Adriata, which was marked by Tarquin’s large palace, homes and businesses laid central to the harbor, so colorful in variety it was as though a coral reef had come to life above the water. A small, dormant part of Feyre itched to paint it. She pushed that instinct down, knowing she was not here to sightsee, or drink with soldiers at the tavern. She needed to find Cassian, and get back to the Night Court. Find out how her sisters were coping with the change, and create a plan to get Azriel back.

More than anything, she needed to figure out how to get Azriel back.

That singular purpose propelled her off the ship when it docked. Filing onto land with the rest of the crew, she let the flow of the crowd carry her to the edge of the harbor. A pair of sailors was carrying a large crate between them, headed towards the outskirts of the docks. Feyre started to follow, before a hand found her arm.

“Are you looking for the Illyrians?” It was Oriana, pulling her in the opposite direction of the traffic. “They’re camped away from the city center. The General moved them after a small skirmish.” At Feyre’s expression, she laughed. “Nothing he couldn’t handle. He keeps his troops in line, your General.”

Feyre expected nothing less of Cassian. Pride flickered in her chest, a small candle against the icy dread that gripped her. She followed Oriana up the hills above the city, where a cluster of tents nestled in a small, grassy vale overlooking the harbor. On top of a hill, she could recognize Lord Devlon leading a group of soldiers through a late afternoon training session. Light caught the tips of their talons, gleaming against the sweat coating their faces—and in many cases, their naked chests. It was a sight she may have appreciated on any other occasion, but now Feyre was solemnly scanning through the faces of each of the soldiers, searching for her friend among them.

They continued to the tent that laid in the center of the camp, larger than the others. Feyre was grateful to have Oriana at her side, if only because the female was willing to brush aside the tent flaps with none of her reservations. Gravity felt heavier once they’d stepped inside, met with the makeshift war table fashioned from supply crates in the center of the room. A map laid across it with pieces strategically placed over the uneven surface, and several dark heads of hair whipped up from the map as they entered.

Her eyes immediately went to the male in the center, commanding an easy authority. When he straightened, the other soldiers did too. Despite how they may have loathed his leadership, it was clear they submitted to Cassian’s superior rank—his right by the sweat and blood he’d paid. When he bowed to Feyre, the others did too.

“High Lady,” Cassian greeted, with so much warmth and excitement in his voice that Feyre’s heart shriveled. He didn’t know. Casian flicked his eyes up, a slow smile blooming on his lips. Until he properly glimpsed her expression. He froze, then barked, “Out.”

The Illyrians disappeared with no further prompting. Even Oriana, with a small smile, squeezed Feyre’s hand and wished her farewell.

Cassian waited until the flaps of the tent fluttered shut. He took a breath, the rigidity flowing out of him on the exhale, until he was looking at her with a face full of concern. “Something went wrong on your mission in Hybern,” he said.

Not a question.

Cassian leaned back against the makeshift table, grip so tight the wood threatened to splinter beneath the force of his siphoned hands. “Did Rhys and Azriel…”

He couldn’t finish the sentence, and Feyre couldn’t find it in herself to answer.

“Rhys made it out,” she said, so weak a condolence that it was barely a whisper. “So did Mor. And Nesta.”

Cassian wiped a hand across his jaw. “Nesta was there?”

Feyre winced, then nodded. “She and Mor hatched some plan together. Nesta’s fae now.”

He slumped back against the crates, pushing his hands up, across his face, to shield whatever his expression gave away. It was not the celebration she had wanted for him, or for Nesta. Not when the cost of her becoming fae was…

Cassian was shaking his head. “Just say it, Feyre.”

It was her responsibility. As High Lady. As the one Azriel had risked his life to protect.

“Azriel didn’t make it.” The words were bitter. More than any metal or blood or powdered faebane. Some foreign toxin her tongue rejected. “We were the last to winnow out. The last thing I saw…” she swallowed, forcing strength into her voice. “The last thing I saw was Jurian firing an ashbolt into his chest.”

The silence that answered her was excruciating. Cassian’s face remained buried between his hands, the air between them stagnant for a heartbeat. Then two. Then three.

At last, Cassian raised his head, schooling his features until he was the commanding General she had seen when she first walked into the tent. There was not an ounce of pain in his expression—unless she looked too closely at his eyes.

“Where’s Rhysand?”

“I don’t know. The Night Court, I’m assuming.” Feyre wrapped her arms around herself. “My magic was drained, I ended up falling into the Western sea and getting fished out of the waters by a passing ship. They took me here.”

“Shit, Feyre.” Cassian glanced towards the map, studying the open waters between Hybern and the Night Court. “He’s probably losing his mind.”

She flinched, imagining her mate scouring the oceans. Would he do something rash, if he thought the King of Hybern had both his mate and his brother? A warm hand found her shoulder, drawing Feyre’s attention from the details on the map that had suddenly become so very interesting.

“You got out,” Cassian said. His fingers tightened, and then he pulled her against his chest, banding his large arms around her shoulders in a hug that expelled the air from her lungs. “That’s what matters, Feyre. To me, to Az, to Rhys. You're our High Lady. We swore to protect, and we live and die by that oath.”

“We’re going to get him back,” Feyre swore. She grit her teeth to contain the sob building in her throat. This was not the time for wallowing in her sorrow. She was the High Lady of the Night Court. It was time to regroup. To retaliate. To get back in the ring after being beaten down. She bared her teeth, hugging Cassian back fiercely as she repeated, “We’re going to get him back.”

#A Court of Faded Dreams #ACoFD #Feysand #Feyre x Rhysand #Rhysand x Feyre #Feyre x Rhys #Rhys x Feyre #Feysand fic #Feysand fanfic #Feysand fanfiction

[writingwhimsey]

All's Fair In Love & War- Nobunaga Ch. 35

Chapter 35

After getting ready, Nobunaga and I headed to meet Ieyasu first…Nobunaga insisted. As we walked in, Ieyasu gave us a rather disgruntled look. “It’s about time,” He grumbled.

“And a good morning to you, too Ieyasu.” I replied, causing Nobunaga to chuckle.

“Just sit down already.” Ieyasu said, gesturing to a cot.

I gave him a look. “You need to work on your bedside manner.” But I went and sat down, taking the blanket that was on the cot and pulled it up over my chest as I removed my top. 

Ieyasu made sure to avert his eyes until I was ready. Then he was turning back to me and removing my bandages and examining my wound. “At least you managed to not tear it open again.” He said. “And it’s not red and angry-looking either…no puss or other signs of infection.”

“I’ve always been a quick healer.” I replied.

“Not quick enough.” Nobunaga said as he sat down at my side.

I smiled at him. “I already feel a ton better than I did just a couple of days ago.”

“I would rather you hadn’t been hurt at all.” Nobunaga replied, his fingers coming beneath my chin, bringing my gaze to his.

I could feel myself melting. How did he always do this to me? 

Ieyasu was groaning. “Didn’t you two get enough of this last night?” He was then poking my wound.

I jumped and let out a yelp. I shot a glare at Ieyasu. “You do that again and I’m not going to be the only injured person in the room.”

“You really think you can hurt me in your condition?” Ieyasu countered.

“I know I can.” I replied, glaring at him. He was a prickly one, but I could be too dammit.

Nobunaga was watching us with an amused smile on his face. “I’d be interested to see that fight… but I’d also rather not lose a good doctor.”

Ieyasu blinked. He then rolled his eyes and muttered unintelligibly under his breath before continuing on cleaning and redressing my wound.

Once I put my top back on, Ieyasu was foisting a spoonful of medicine into my face again. “Here, take this.”

“My fever is already gone.” I replied. “Pretty sire the poison is alredy out of my system too.”

“This is to help prevent infection.” Ieyasu replied. “Now take it or do I have to force it down your throat.”

He was such a prickly little porcupine. I took the spoon from him and took the medicine myself, gagging it down. Nobunaga was giving me water once again. “That is even worse than the last medicine.” 

“Yeah, but you’ll be thanking me when you don’t die of an infection.” Ieyasu replied.

Nobunaga’s arm was then coming around my waist. “Come on, let’s get to council before you end up reopening your wound fighting Ieyasu.”

“Fair enough.” I said.

Ieyasu rolled his eyes as we all walked out of the room and headed for the main hall. When we arrived, everyone else was already there in their usual seats. Nobunaga kept his arm around my waist as he made his way to the dias, pretty much indicating that I was to be beside him.

As we sat down, I could feel everyone’s eyes on us. Masamune let out a whistle. Mitsuhide was letting out a chuckle as he looked at us with his cheshire grin. Hideyoshi and JIro were both looking at us with wide eyes.

“Is there something you all wish to say?” Nobunaga asked as we sat down.

“No, no. Not at all my lord.” Hideyoshi responded.

“Of course not.” Jiro echoed.

“I wouldn’t imagine.” Mitsuhide replied.

“I think it’s wonderful that Lord Nobunaga is wanting to look after Lord Ava.” Mitsunari said, smiling so angelically.

“I have to agree with Mitsunari.” Masamune said, grinning.

Ieyasu only rolled his eyes. “Good grief…”

I cleared my throat. “Don’t we have a council to get to?” I pointed out. I mean, everyone was pretty well aware by this point of our relationship…though I have to admit even I was surprised that Nobunaga wanted me beside him. “And this delicious food that Masamune made…” I said, reaching for my chopsticks and taking a bite from the tray in front of me and Nobunaga.

“Mitsuhide, report.” Nobunaga said, looking over at his left hand.

Mitsuhide nodded. “Of course, my lord.” He said. “While I haven’t gotten any information about our assassins, my informants did dig up some other information that I thought pertinent.”

“Well, what is it?” Hideyoshi asked, giving Mitsuhide an exasperated look. “Don’t keep us in suspense.”

“The Dragon of Echigo and the Tiger of Kai have risen from the dead it would seem and are in an alliance.” Mitsuhide replied.

Nobunaga smirked. “I knew those two wouldn’t go down easily, though them allying is rather interesting.”

While I didn’t remember my history all that well, I did know those names. The Dragon of Echigo was Kenshin Uesgi and the Tiger of Kai was Shingen Takeda. I knew them because it was important to know all of the power players in this time and they had been two of the biggest. They were rumored to have died some years ago, but they both must have been feigning death to lay low until the time was right. That was honestly quite interesting…and also quite brilliant.

“This could cause unrest in some of our more recently acquired territories.” Ieyasu said.

“It could, but we shall show that once again we are the stronger force.” Nobunaga replied.

The council went on for a while as we discussed what all this could mean as well as strategies for different scenarios. We had been at it for quite some time when the doors to the audience hall were opening and Sato was coming in. She smiled as she saw me sitting on the dais beside Nobunaga. 

“Forgive me for barging in, but I thought you would like to know my report, my lords.” She declared as she came to kneel before us.

“You work quickly.” Mitsuhide observed.

“You’d be surprised how quickly men start talking when the sake is flowing and they are in the presence of a beautiful woman.” Sato said with a grin.

“One of the quickest ways to loosen their lips.” I agreed. “Report.”

Sato nodded. “The culprit behind the assassination attempt in our territory, the attempt at Hono-ji, and the raid of our camp was all the same man.” She began. “I got a similar description from some locals as I had from the mercenaries. A large man with a deep voice looking for others. The new information came from some of the monks at Hono-ji. They said they had received a visitor not long before we arrived. A traveling monk himself, though he wore the robes of an abbott and carried a prayer staff with a concealed blade…and has a rather nasty scar across his face.”

Nobunaga’s eyes widened momentarily. “The former abbott of Hongan-ji…”

“Kennyo?” Hideyoshi and Mitsuhide asked in unison.

Sato nodded. “Yes, that is the information I got.”

“So, he has decided to seek revenge after all these years.” Nobunaga said, that confident amused smile back on his face. Though I could see his hand clenched into a fist at his side. “It seems I shall have to teach him another lesson.”

“You said he was behind the raid on your camp��the one where they came for Lord Ava right?” Hideyoshi asked.

Sato nodded. “Yes. He hired the mercenaries…and the poisoned daggers were his idea as well from what I have heard.”

Nobunaga seemed especially disturbed by this news. “He would stoop so low…”

“That…that isn’t all that I have, my lords.” Sato said. “I heard some news of Ranmaru.”

“Did you find him?” Hideyoshi asked, concern in his voice.

“Not exactly…he was spotted running from a back exit of the temple and the fiery wreckage.” Sato answered. “And…it appeared he had a shoulder injury.”

“Like…from a sword?” I asked, recalling giving a shoulder wound to the figure that had been standing over Nobunaga’s unconscious body.

Sato nodded. “Yes…there was also a rumor that he had been spotted outside of the city with Kennyo.”

#ikesen nobunaga #ikemen sengoku nobunaga #nobunaga oda #ikemen nobunaga #cybird nobunaga #otome nobunaga #ikesen #ikemen sengoku #ikesen mc #ikesen oc #warlord ava #ikesen au #cybird ikemen #cybird otome #ikemen series #fanfic #cybird #otome boys #fanfiction