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holllandtrash · 1 year

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blindsided | lance stroll

pairing: lance stroll x ricciardo!reader

getting your hopes up is a dangerous thing, a lesson lance has to learn the hard way. your connection was real, but what was it based on?

word count: 6.7k tags/warnings: some pining, some unrequited feelings, does it have a happy ending? maybe, maybe not thank you cay @oconso for that line you know the line

You were an enigma to Lance.

You were someone that he felt he should have known, but the two of you had never actually taken a minute out of your days to properly introduce yourself, nor did you ever find yourself in a scenario where you could have had a conversation.

As the younger sister of Australia’s golden boy, Daniel Ricciardo, you were in school and then uni while he was in his prime racing days. Your summers were spent with friends, every so often you’d go to a race or two, but your priority was not being one of those family members who attended as many races as you could, Daniel understood that.

By the time you graduated last year, Daniel had told you his future with McLaren looked unstable and he didn’t want you to attend his races, saying he’d much rather wait until he was back with a 'good team'.

So you never had the opportunity to meet a lot of the drivers on the grid, Lance included.

But there was still this strange connection to him.

His sister was dating Scotty, Scotty was Daniel’s best friend, you as well had spent many days and nights at Scotty's family home because he also treated you like a younger sister.

And it was through social media and your name being brought up in passing here and there that Lance felt as though he knew you. He didn’t. He didn’t even know your middle name, didn’t know what you had studied, didn’t know what you were doing currently.

But he knew you had a good circle of friends, you posted pictures with them often. He knew you drank too much coffee for it to be healthy and it was probably an addiction at this point. He knew you were heavily involved in Daniel’s Enchante clothing line, usually being one of the models when a new collection dropped.

He knew you at face value, but god did he want to know more.

When Lance stopped by Chloe’s place with a box of empty envelopes she had asked him to pick up, Lance walked in on her and Scotty going over their guest list for a final time. Lance paid them no attention, he dropped the box of envelopes down on the table and sauntered towards the kitchen as the plate of freshly baked cookies looked mouth watering.

His ears perked up when he heard your name, however.

“...did Danny say that Y/N would be able to make it?” Chloe asked, directing the question to Scotty. “We gave her the dates a while ago, but she never got back to me. Also isn’t she terrified of planes?”

“She is, but she’ll take a pill or two and it’ll knock her out for the flight,” Scotty nodded and Chloe rolled her eyes at his joke.

Play it cool, Lance told himself as he leaned against the kitchen island. “Y/N? As in Daniel’s sister?”

Chloe didn’t even glance up, “Yeah, I’ve only met her once but she’s-”

“She’s like a sister to me. If she missed the wedding I'd disown her,” Scotty joked. He rested his arm over the back of the chair and looked at Lance. “Have you met her?”

Lance pretended to think about it, even pinched his eyebrows together, but he knew damn well the two of you had never met, “I don’t think so.”

“She’s sweet,” Scotty told him, his lips curling into a smirk that Chloe couldn’t see. Always a menace. “You two would get along.”

Lance snorted, “What makes you say that?”

“Because you’re both single.”

Chloe grabbed a sheet of paper and crumpled it up, tossing it into the chest of her soon-to-be husband, muttering something about staying out of other people's love lives. Scotty only sent Lance a wink before turning around again to give his attention back to the guest list.

Lance was single, Scotty wasn’t wrong about that. After just getting out of a relationship, he was, admittedly, lonely.

And it wasn’t that he purposely stayed single those months leading up to the wedding, but no one caught his interest. Or, if someone did, Lance would forget about them the moment you popped up on his Instagram feed.

Your smile was similar to Daniel’s in a sense that it was wide and toothy, easily becoming the most prominent feature on your face as your eyes squinted, but aside from that and the dark features, the similarities stopped.

As a Ricciardo, one might expect you to have the same bubbly and outgoing energy but from what Lance could see in the photos and videos you were tagged in, or ones you had posted yourself, you seemed to stick to the same circle of friends. You visited the same bars and restaurants because it was what you knew and within your comfort zone. You never went out of your way to make an impression on someone, happily letting your brother take on the more talkative role.

Lance wanted to know if your laughter was as loud and more amusing than the joke itself or if that was only a trait reserved for Daniel.

He was tired of trying to piece together who you were through pictures on a phone screen and still, the worst part about this was it felt as though he did know you. Lance had to keep reminding himself that he didn’t, that you never met, that the image he constructed of you in his head might be wrong.

He wouldn't know until Venice.

And you, well you thought you knew who Lance was too.

Danny had mentioned him a handful of times. You followed Lance on social media, even if he did have a tendency to be more secluded than other drivers, he still was pretty active when it came to liking posts, especially your posts.

You didn’t google him, per say, but you were curious. Who was this Canadian driver? Aside from being the son of the team owner, there wasn’t much to learn about Lance besides his driver stats. Again, very private.

But he was cute. He gave off the tall, dark and mysterious sort of vibe, which was never really your type but the more you saw Lance’s photo appear online, the easier it was to forget about those blonde surfer guys that you would usually spend your time with.

Lance seemed sweet, from what you could gather. And similarly, you felt as though you knew him too. It seemed odd that the two of you had never met and all, with your unofficial older brother marrying his sister. It was like you should have the same circle of friends or at least be able to call each other acquaintances but you couldn’t.

Daniel walked into his parents house in Perth, hitting a few envelopes against the palm of his hand and then the wall, basically demanding attention from his family until he flicked one of them towards you.

It narrowly avoided your face and you flipped him off in response, earring a scolding from your mother, but it was easy to move past the sibling banter when you all opened the envelopes to see the wedding invitations from Chloe and Scotty.

“Venice,” you breathed out. “Jesus Christ, that'll be a pricey adventure.”

Danny didn’t have to say anything. His elbow nudging against your side was enough for you to know that he would help pay for the expenses. He was always looking out for you, for his family. You wished you could do the same, but at the moment you were just enjoying your first full year of being done with university.

You grabbed a pen and checked off that you would be in attendance and then you hovered it over the box asking about a plus one.

“You’re not seeing anyone,” Daniel scoffed and then glanced over his shoulder to get his parents opinion on this. “Right? She’s not seeing anyone?”

“No one right now,” you corrected, letting the pen and invite drop to the glass coffee table. You could fill it out later. “Who knows? That might change.”

“Don’t invite someone to a wedding if you’ve been dating them for less than six months, that’s a general rule.”

“Says who?”

“Says everyone,” Your mother interjected.

You just huffed out a breath of annoyance, “Well it’s a good thing the wedding is nine months away. I have time.”

Daniel stood up, but not before pushing you further into the corner of the couch, muttering a joke about how no one would want to date you anyway. Of course that prompted you to throw a pillow at him and your parents were left standing in the kitchen, wondering why they couldn’t just have one nice afternoon.

Daniel, of course, wanted nothing more than for you to be happy, despite the constant teasing and lack of faith that you’d ever actually find someone. He knew you had high standards, he knew you didn’t trust easily and he knew you would never follow someone because you were in love or whatever.

That’s why your last relationship ended. He wanted to move to Melbourne after graduation from university and even that was too far for you. Your whole life was in Perth, your home was on the western coast of Australia, you didn’t want to go anywhere else.

One time, Daniel tried setting you up with one of his athlete friends, someone else who was associated with Red Bull, but he was from Portugal, he travelled for a living and he resided in Los Angeles during his off season. You went on one date and you didn’t need to spend any more time with him to know you could never be in that sort of relationship.

Of course, this wasn’t something you shared publicly. Unless someone took the time to get to know you, your dating preferences would remain unknown.

You were private in that sense too. If you did talk to someone, if you attempted to broaden your circle and add a little romance in your life, you kept it to yourself. You were always paranoid about jinxing whatever fling you had so your friends were often left out of the loop.

Your parents were a similar story. You didn’t live at home, you had your own flat, but you wouldn’t dare bring someone by for dinner or to meet them in fear that they would get their hopes up. It was one thing to date someone, it was an entirely other thing when parents got involved.

The one person you could trust, surprisingly, was Daniel. You weren’t ever seeking out relationship advice, but you knew his relationship with Heidi started out quite secretive for the first few years, only recently they decided to go public. So he knew a thing or two about wanting to keep a private life private.

So Daniel was the one you approached only a month before the wedding, eight months after you had rsvp’d to the event and checked the box reading no plus one. You waited until he was visiting home and you weren’t under the watchful eyes of your parents but rather the comfort of your own flat.

“I have a favour to ask,” you started off, quite hesitant as you weren’t really one to ask your brother for anything.

And Daniel listened to your request, assuring you that, if you were serious, he could probably pull some strings.

Key word being probably. Daniel couldn’t promise anything and by the time you got to Italy, he did what he could, but you still showed up to the Gritti Palace Hotel the weekend of the wedding with low expectations and a bunch of unanswered texts.

There was a private event in the restaurant and you immediately were drawn to the outdoor portion that overlooked the Grand Canal. The actual ceremony wasn’t until tomorrow, today was simply a chance for the guests to mingle and for the bride and groom to celebrate their last few hours with their loved ones before tying the knot.

With an aperol spritz in one hand and the other gripping the wooden railing above the channel, you took in the sights in front of you. The breeze was gentle and the scenery was breathtaking, stunning enough to make you forget that you were still feeling some effects of jet lag.

Your back was to the rest of the party but your light pink dress that stopped just below your knee stood out compared to the white and beige decor the couple had chosen for this event. One could say it was because the colour was eye-catching, but there was no way to deny how well it accentuated your curves and highlighted your tan skin, making you appear as if you were truly glowing under the Italian sun.

You definitely caught Lance’s eye.

You didn’t even need to turn around for him to recognise you. He saw your hair, dark and natural as it flowed down your back and he knew it was you. The girl he thought he already knew, the girl whose life he had been following through a phone screen for god knows how long.

It was just his luck that Daniel was nearby. Lance took a minute before heading towards you, wanting to confirm that yes it was you and yes it was alright if he spoke to you without crossing some weird driver line. He nudged Daniel’s arm and nodded towards the girl in pink.

“That your sister?” Lance asked, clearing his throat.

Daniel nodded, quite happy that someone else here knew who you were. It was always uncomfortable when you attended gatherings and didn’t know many people, it just made you want to leave early.

“Yeah, you guys have met, right?”

Again, Lance played it off as if he wasn’t waiting for this moment, “No, I don’t think so.”

“Oh definitely go introduce yourself then, mate,” Daniel encouraged, which gave Lance even more confidence. “She’s shy, she'd rather drown herself in aperol spritz’ before ever approaching someone.”

Shy? Lance hadn’t pegged you for being shy. Introverted, maybe. But you seemed to have such a good group of friends and you went on adventures with them quite often that shy just didn’t seem like a characteristic of yours.

“It’s not weird if I…” Lance trailed off, unsure how to ask the rest of his question. “It’s okay if I talk to her?”

Daniel laughed, finding the question to be humorous. He wasn’t in charge of you, who was he to have a say over who you could or couldn’t talk to, “I don’t care, just don’t be a cunt or I’ll have to kick your ass.”

“Deal,” Lance chuckled before he shoved his hands into his pockets and made his way towards the balcony you hadn’t moved an inch from.

Lance wasn’t nervous, but he knew he should have been.

But again, it felt like he knew you. So he was comfortable enough to lean against the railing, not entering too much of your personal space, but close enough that you couldn’t ignore him. You turned your head, expecting to see your brother because as far as you knew, he was the only one here who would ever approach you, but you were pleasantly surprised to see Lance.

“Hi,” you said, already a smile on your face. Lance was someone you recognised. This wasn't a stranger approaching you, you could breathe. He was someone whose name you had heard quite a bit recently too, with his sister getting married and his good performances with Aston Martin.

He was your brothers, best friend’s, soon to be brother in law. It was a long string that connected the two of you, but nonetheless, that connection was there.

Which was why you already felt comfortable with Lance, even with this being the first time you’d ever met.

“You’re Y/N right?” Lance asked. He knew damn well who you were. “I’m Lance.”

“Yeah, yeah,” heat rose to your cheeks at the idea of you being recognised. “Hi, it’s so nice to meet you. I feel like I-” you sucked in a breath instead of finishing your thought, not wanting to come across as overwhelming.

“It feels like we already know each other?” Lance guessed, because this was exactly what was going through his head too.

Quiet laughter passed through your lips, Lance felt weak at the knees.

“In a way, yeah,” you agreed, nodding your head.

You had similar mannerisms to Daniel. Strong eye contact, saying ‘yeah’ to fill the gaps in sentences. Lance looked down at your hand and saw a few tattoos like that traced your wrist and a delicate design of a flower along your finger, similar to your brothers. Something that he hadn’t picked out from your Instagram.

The way you curled your fingers around the fragile stem of the glass caught Lance’s eye next. Your touch looked careful, soft even, and Lance wanted to know what it would be like to feel it for himself.

And this wasn’t one sided.

With Lance in front of you for a change instead of hiding behind Aston Martin admin approved photos, you could appreciate him in a whole new light. Social media and tv interviews didn’t do him justice, he was much more handsome in person.

You liked the confidence he carried, even if he did seem a bit on the introverted side as well. You instantly got the impression that Lance was someone who stuck to himself but cared deeply about the people closest to him. He seemed like someone you wanted on your side, someone you could turn to at any time and know you would get a shoulder to cry on or a celebratory hug or even just someone who would really listen, if that’s what you needed.

You already felt connected to him, even though you knew you had no reasoning behind it.

“I’d offer to get you a drink but it’s an open bar and-” he eyed the aperol spritz in your hand. “-well you already have one.”

“I have two hands,” you teased, but your roguish smiles mirrored one another's and it was only a few seconds later when you and Lance were walking back inside towards the bar.

He thought about dropping his hand to your back, but didn’t want to overstep. Contrary to what he might have wished, you had just met.

But when someone stepped past him and Lance was forced to move closer to you, you didn’t inch away. In fact you looked at the point of contact at your arms and then glanced up at him, still sporting a natural pinky colour in your cheeks.

You didn’t really need another drink just yet but Lance ordered one for himself and when the bartender asked if you wanted a second, you just shrugged and said why not. It was an open bar, who were you to say no?

Lance and you stayed at the bar, getting as comfortable as you could on the stools as you fell into a good conversation. He was easy to talk to, like he was a friend from college that you bumped into by chance.

But even with the natural flow of the back and forth, you had to remind yourself that you were still just getting to know each other.

Within the hour you learned that his favourite colour was dark blue, that when he wasn’t focused on racing he tried going to as many hockey games as he could. The Habs, as he called them, was his favourite team and it took a few minutes and a bit of a history lesson for you to understand how the Montreal Canadiens got the shortened nickname.

You learned he was not a morning person, whereas you thrived in the early hours of the day. He didn’t read as much as he liked to because of his demanding schedule, but you were quick to give him a list of recommendations based on what you thought he might enjoy if he ever did find time.

In return, Lance learned you studied hospitality and had a degree in Hospitality Management, with the goal of one day managing a hotel. When Lance questioned you more on that field you admitted that you actually wanted to take a lodge or a resort that was a bit of a fixer-upper and turn it into something great. You liked a challenge. Lance liked that.

Lance learned that you really enjoyed surfing and right now was actually the prime time for you to be getting ready for the season. While Perth wasn’t the best place in the world for surfers, it was perfect for you because it was never something you wanted to pursue professionally.

When it came to the topic of travelling, Lance was surprised to hear that you didn’t do it as often as he assumed. You explained that everything you needed was on the west coast of Australia and you weren’t an easy person to travel with. You struggled with anxiety in airports, horrible jetlag, you overthought every plan, even if you weren’t the one in charge of the itinerary.

Travelling was a no, to sum it up.

“But Daniel-”

“Travels all the time, yeah,” you finished Lance’s thought with a laugh. “Yeah we’re not alike in that sense. Even coming here was tough, but he told me there was no option to attend virtually.”

“Not a fan of planes?”

“Not in the slightest.”

Lance nodded, already thinking about how to approach the topic of trying to stay in contact long distance without coming off too strong. Sure he could ask for your number, but what if he wanted to see you again? Which he did. If a plane ride from Perth to Venice was a lot to handle, he could imagine a trip to Montreal was even lower on your list.

But Lance really liked talking to you, it was easy. It was natural. He didn’t have to try too hard, he didn’t feel the need to impress you. You laughed at his jokes, you understood each other's humour. The two of you clicked, it was impossible to deny that.

Which is what Lance hoped would happen.

You were everything he had imagined and more and he was asking himself why he never tried to meet you sooner.

That same question flashed through your mind too. Why couldn’t you have met sooner? After months of being forced to try and imagine what sort of person Lance was, it was heartwarming to know that the image you painted of him wasn’t entirely wrong. He was sweet, he was charming, he liked making you laugh, he knew how to keep a conversation going and it was obvious he cared to get to know you.

These were traits you looked for in people, in a partner.

But this chance encounter came a few months too late.

The conversation took a pause when Scotty appeared behind Lance, his soon-to-be ringed hand going to his shoulder as he gave both of you one of his signature smiles.

“Y/N! Happy to see your plane didn’t crash!” Scotty teased, knowing your distaste for air travel.

“If my drink was full I’d throw it on you,” you shot back.

“Ah that’s just a waste of an open bar,” Scotty waved your meaningless threat off. “Honestly, though, thank you for coming. Chloe’s around here somewhere-”

“Lost your wife already?” Lance joked.

“Maybe she’s a runaway bride,” you added. “She can still back out, you know?”

“Ha ha,” Scotty rolled his eyes. “Lovely to see that you two are getting along at my disposal.” He patted Lance’s shoulder and then turned to you, snapping his finger before pointing. “Did Danny talk to you?”

“Um-” you shook your head. Daniel and you hadn’t had a second to catch up since you arrived, despite the dozens of texts you had sent him. “No, why?”

“It’s all sorted out,” Scotty assured you. “It really wasn’t that hard to swing an extra chair, you gave us enough notice. The more the merrier, right?”

“Oh, Scotty thank you,” you breathed out. You reached forward and squeezed his arm in appreciation, but your smile was enough gratitude. It was the type of smile Lance had been waiting for. The grin that overshadowed the rest of your stunning features, the thing that had drawn Lance to your photos in the first place.

Only Lance wasn’t the reason for it.

“Is he down here?” Scotty asked and this was about the time Lance realised he was missing something. There was a layer to this conversation that would tie everything together.

“Jet lag’s still getting to him.” you laughed, nodding your head towards the doors of the restaurant. “He set an alarm to get up, I’m sure he’ll be down here soon.”

“Can’t wait to meet him,” Scotty said with a nod, but there wasn’t much room for you to say anything else before he found a new guest he had yet to interact with.

You looked towards Lance, but he was pretty good at hiding the confusion he was currently experiencing. In fact he played off needing to excuse himself pretty easily, you didn’t think anything of it when he said he needed to speak to Scotty about something quickly.

Lance pulled the snowboarder aside, not at all mirroring his elated expression, “She has a boyfriend?”

Scotty tried to glance in your direction but Lance tugged on his sleeve to get him to stop in his tracks, not wanting to make it obvious they were talking about you.

“She has a boyfriend,” Lance repeated, no longer a question. “You told me she was single.”

Scotty racked his memory for a second and scoffed, “Yeah nine months ago. Not my fault you waited too long to make a move.”

“How was I supposed to make a move when I hadn’t even met her?” Lance was clearly annoyed but he kept his tone to a sort of angry-whisper. “I was waiting for this wedding because I knew she’d be here.”

“Sorry mate,” Scotty sighed, slowly piecing together that this wasn’t something Lance could casually blow off. “But I mean, you couldn’t have liked her that much. You don’t even know her.”

But in a way he did. And god he knew you felt the same. There was no way to explain the connection you two shared, but it was there.

Lance inhaled a sharp breath, doing his best to keep from looking at you across the room, “I feel like I should say something.”

“Don’t,” Scotty immediately rejected the idea. “From what I hear from Danny, she’s happy. She doesn’t need you coming in and mucking it up.”

“But what if she’s-”

Scotty cut him off with a harsh laugh, “What if she’s what? The one? Lance, you just met her!”

“Then why does it feel like I’ve been waiting for her my entire life?”

Scotty let out a deep exhale, lifting his hand to Lance’s shoulder. He gave him a sympathetic squeeze, “Because she’s pretty and you’re lonely. Now let her be. Don’t ruin a relationship during my wedding weekend.”

He walked off shortly after, leaving Lance to, hopefully, make the right choices.

Lance should have listened to Scotty. He should have rejoined the party and leave you be, knowing that his chance with you was either non-existent or just extremely slim. How serious were you and this boyfriend anyway?

As if the universe wanted his question answered, the boyfriend himself walked into the restaurant.

The only reason Lance knew it was the boyfriend was because he saw the way you stood up from the bar and practically ran to him, your pink dress was impossible to mistake even as you hurried to work your way through the party.

Lance watched as your hands went to his tie to adjust it before he leaned forward and greeted you with a kiss. You played with a few strands of his dirty blonde hair, probably making some comment about how it looked like he just woke up. He laughed at whatever you said and Lance hated that you looked happier now than you had all throughout the last hour.

He was now trying to figure out if he had misread the signs. Did you even give him any signs? You sat and talked to him but it was Lance’s own fault if he misread that as being interested.

How did he not know you had a boyfriend?

Why didn’t you mention it?

Why wasn’t that one of the first things you said to Lance when he offered to get you a drink from the bar?

Why did Lance still feel that spark with you when it should have been reserved for your boyfriend?

Lance wasn’t sure how much time had passed as he stood off to the side, questioning everything he ever knew about you, or what he thought he knew. But he came to and snapped out of his thoughts when he saw that familiar shade of pink headed towards him.

“Hey,” you said, your hand was connected to your boyfriend’s as you led him towards Lance.

Lance smiled, how could he not when you approached him? “Hey, sorry, I went back to the bar earlier but you were gone.” Did he feel a little bad about lying? Yes, but it was easier to say that than to say, I stopped talking to Scotty a while ago. I just didn’t know how to interrupt you and your boyfriend.

“Oh, yeah, um-” You pulled the tall blond closer to your side. His hand went to your waist. “Lance, this is Matty. Matty, Lance.”

Matty held out his other hand to connect it with Lance’s. It was a firm handshake, maybe a little too firm on Lance’s part.

“Hey, mate, huge fan,” Matty said, similar accent to yours and Daniel’s.

“Oh thank you,” Lance cleared his throat. “Hope you don’t mind, I’ve been keeping Y/N company.”

“I should be thanking you for that,” Matty laughed, the bitter tone from Lance going right over his head. “I needed a quick nap before this party. I don’t know how you drivers are able to just hop on planes so easily, I think I’d rather sail back to Australia.”

You guys were compatible, at least. Same fear of planes, same dislike for travelling.

Lance didn’t like that. He knew he was the last person who should have an opinion, but he always thought it was opposites that attracted. Shouldn’t you be with someone that encouraged you to step outside your comfort zone?

“Oh there’s Danny and Scotty, I’m going to thank them for letting me come so last minute,” Matty looked towards the opposite end of the room to where your brother and friend were. He ran his fingers over your back and assured you he’d be quick before he headed off to talk to them.

“Last minute?” Lance asked. “So he wasn’t originally supposed to come?”

You laughed, “No, we’ve only been together for about six months. When I RSVP’d to the wedding last year I hadn’t met him yet,” you glanced towards Matty, “And then about a month ago I realised I kind of wanted him to accompany me here. Danny said it would be fine, probably, so he got a ticket to Venice but we actually didn’t get a confirmation until-” you chuckled again. “Well you overheard Scotty. I found out thirty minutes ago that Matty would have a seat at the table tomorrow.”

When you spoke about Matty, your face lit up. Lance couldn’t deny that. He could see how happy this surfer type from Perth made you.

And in return, you saw how Lance was no longer acting himself. He was tense, avoiding your eyes. You called him out on it, “Is everything okay?”

Lance should have taken Scotty’s advice. He should have said everything was fine and walked in the other direction, letting you go back to Matty.

But Lance was a hopeless idiot. He nodded his head towards the doors of the restaurant that lead towards a secluded hallway, “Can we talk?”

You weren’t sure exactly what Lance wanted to talk about but you followed him out into the hall. The music faded behind you when you walked far enough and Lance wasted no time in saying what was on his mind.

“Do you ever meet someone and it just feels right?” He asked.

You hesitated, “What do you mean?”

Lance glanced back towards the party, “Like you see them and you just know there’s a connection. That they’re supposed to be in your life.”

“I mean-” your eyebrows pinched together, “Yeah. I’ve experienced that a few times I guess.”

That clearly wasn’t the answer Lance wanted to hear and his defeated expression told you that. He nodded, coming to his own understanding, one that you were having a bit of trouble following.

“Is it wrong if I say that’s how I felt when I looked at you?”

You stared up at lance, lips parted slightly as you did your best to ignore the devastating feeling of your heart sinking to your stomach. You didn’t have an answer, what could you even say to that?

Lance was practically admitting to believing in love at first sight and you, well, you didn’t see what he saw. You couldn’t.

“Look I didn’t know you had a boyfriend,” Lance continued. “And I don’t mean to blindside you like this, really. I think, well I think I was blindsided when I realised you were already taken.”

This was a lot to wrap your head around.

You never intended to lead Lance on. You chatted with him for a while, yes but you tried to stay behind the line. You didn’t flirt, or at least you didn’t flirt on purpose. You could have said you had a boyfriend, but the truth was, it didn’t cross your mind when you talked to Lance.

Blindsided, he said. It seemed like a harsh word for the situation you found yourselves in.

“Were you blindsided or were you just blind?” You asked, dropping your shoulders to lean against the wall. You watched as Lance really took in your question and he rubbed the back of his neck, unable to come up with a good answer.

You felt for him, really, because you did like him. You liked talking to him, you liked his presence, he was someone that you knew you would get along great with.

You also knew that if this situation were any different, if you showed up to this wedding single, you’d have probably, definitely, given Lance a chance. And this wasn’t something you should have been thinking about because you had a boyfriend. You were happy. Imagining an alternate timeline without Matty seemed wrong.

There was a connection with Lance, but it was one you couldn’t act on.

“Lance, I think we both had an idea of who the other was before we came here, but we had very different ideas as to how this weekend would go,” you continued, a certain gentleness in your tone that Lance appreciated. “I was looking forward to meeting you. And we both agree that it feels as though we already knew each other...but the truth is, we don’t.”

That was a stab right to the chest for Lance, but he nodded in agreement.

“I guess I just thought this weekend would be the start of something,” he admitted, trying to play off the thought with a chuckle.

You wanted to apologise, it was human nature to want to sympathise with other people, but you had nothing to apologise for.

Lance had constructed his own image of you and in it, you were single, you were compatible, you were willing to see this connection through and make something of it.

And that’s what blinded him.

If he had taken a second to actually pay attention to what you shared on social media, he would have recognised the same blonde haired guy showing up in a few photos dating back to almost six months ago. All Lance paid attention to was you, your smile, you having a good time, your adventures. You were private about your relationship, yes, but you weren’t keeping it a secret either.

Lance just didn’t put it together until it was too late.

It hurt you, really. You didn’t like knowing you were the reason for someone’s sorrow. In fact you almost went as far as to say, if things were different…

But things weren’t different. You were with Matty.

Was Matty the right person for you? Lance wanted to ask that but he knew he’d be crossing a line if he did. That was something you had to figure out on your own.

After six months of dating, you liked to think he was. The timing was perfect, he treated you well, he made you undeniably happy.

And yes, you could have looked at Lance and told yourself he had the same qualities. That he was also perfect, that he also could have treated you well. There was no doubt in your mind he could have made you happy if he was given the option.

But timing was not on your side.

Lance licked his lips, taking a step away from you and closer to the crowded restaurant where he knew your boyfriend was waiting, where his family was waiting. You would both go your separate ways and return to how it used to be, following each other's lives through a phone screen.

“Right person, wrong time, huh?” Lance tried to joke, but the soft smile you gave him in return told him that there was some truth to his words, truth that even you didn’t want to admit to.

In an attempt to fix this, you spoke from the heart. Telling Lance what he needed to hear, even if you weren't fully convinced by your own words. As long as you sounded believable, you both could move on from this moment.

“If it’s the wrong time, then it’s probably the wrong person.”

Lance nodded, noticing the way you struggled to keep eye contact, something you hadn’t had issues with all night. He took that as a sign that it was time to walk away. From you, from this, from what could have been if they met only a few months earlier.

He turned and rejoined the party, plastering a painful smile on his face as he carefully made his way through the crowd to order another drink from the bar.

He avoided you and your pink dress for the rest of the night, not because he wanted to, but because it was the right thing to do. And it wasn’t easy because to Lance, you were still the girl that he thought he had been waiting for this entire time. That would take time to get over. He had spent less than a few hours with you and it was the easiest, most carefree evening he’s had in a while, and he knew moving on from you would only be the opposite.

It was his own fault too. Lance was the one who got his hopes up. He was the one who was waiting for the right moment that never came. Or worse, it came and went without him knowing. There was probably a sliver of an opportunity months ago where he could have done something, could have asked Danny to introduce you, could have asked Scotty for your number. By waiting until the wedding, Lance had only set himself up for failure.

If it’s the wrong time, then it’s probably the wrong person.

He didn’t want to think about the way you said ‘probably’. He wasn’t going to. Lance knew you weren’t leaving any sort of hint, you were just letting him down gently, which only further proved how good of a heart you had.

You were so kind, so caring, you were perfect, and you weren’t his.

You never would be.

#lance stroll x reader #ls18 #lance stroll #lance stroll imagine #this is a lance stroll fanpage #f1 one shot #f1 requests #lance stroll x you #lance stroll x y/n #lance stroll one shot

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twotangledsisters · 24 days

Note

"Cass dies in the Great Tree" Is the title literal? Or does it mean something else?

Do you have a piece of history made? Anything you could share? That title and that "Shot" made me curious

Funnily enough... it's not literal but because Cass actually dies AFTER leaving the tree XD so not in the Great Tree.

But yeah, it's not a title to keep. If I don't have a title I just put down the concept until I figure one out!

It's an AU where Cass touching Rapunzel has a much bigger consequence and the gang tries to get her help before it's too late but can't. And Rapunzel and company have to deal with both the guilt of not listening to Cass about the tree being dangerous, but also the consequences, things like, writing home to Corona to let Captain know...

It's only meant to be short but it's another case of... how in the world do I end this little bit of angst?

Here's a few snippets of what's already written :D

In the sunlight the extent of Cassandra’s injury became clear, an almost burnt like black texture covered her arm, her fingernails were gone, her fingers didn’t look like fingers. “Cassandra…” Rapunzel stared. Cassandra took a few deep breaths. “Is everybody alive?” Eugene looked around, leaning heavily on Lance, the decay incantation has taken a lot out of him but he could count. “Yeah… Yeah, for now,” he tried to joke. “Does your hand hurt, Cass?” Cassandra looked up at Rapunzel, tears were in her eyes, something Rapunzel had never seen from her usually strong friend. “That’s a yes…” Eugene answered. “I think I need help…” She whispered. Rapunzel nodded. “Don’t worry, Cass, we’re going to get you to the closest town with a doctor! Right, guys?” Nods and the gang got into action, packing what belongings they had left, Fidella knelt down next to Cassandra and Eugene moved to look at the injury, but it was like nothing he’d ever seen before and he didn’t know how to help.

Cassandra rested on Fidella’s back. Her breathing was shallow, and she lacked all of her usual stability. She was so shaky that Lance and Eugene were standing on either side of Fidella, ready to catch the woman if she fell. Her right arm was completely limp at this point, the blackness which had started with her hand had spread upwards, now reaching past her elbow and towards her shoulder. It wouldn’t be long until it reached a more crucial part of her body. Rapunzel was walking way up ahead, her eyes on the horizon, she hurried as much as she could hoping the next town would come into view already so they could locate a doctor’s office and get Cassandra the help she needed. Rapunzel didn’t know what she’d do if things got worse.

Cassandra lay in the bed with the white sheets, her arm resting atop the sheets. Her arm didn’t even look like an arm at this point and the fact her breathing was so painful told her the blackness had reached her lungs. The past few days were a blur of pain and tears. Rapunzel was inconsolable, not even Eugene could calm her down. Right now Rapunzel was asleep in the chair to the left and Eugene was sitting to Cassandra’s right. He’d been annoyingly quiet these past few days, no bad jokes or stupid comments. Cassandra hated it, but she also understood. “Eugene,” she whispered. His eyes moved to meet hers. “Yes?” “If I don’t—” “Don’t.” Eugene’s eyes went wide, and he shook his head. Cassandra smiled. “Scared?” Eugene didn’t know what to respond. “Just… In case,” she whispered. “If I don’t make it, tell my father I love him, alright?” Eugene nodded.

The sun was rising and neither Eugene nor Rapunzel had managed a word more than ‘To the Captain of Corona’s Royal Guard’. How do you tell a man his daughter’s dead? Sending a letter felt wrong. But waiting for them to get home rather than tell him immediately felt worse. “How could this happen?” Rapunzel didn’t have an answer. “Two days ago she was fighting our enemies and now she’s gone.” “Magic…” Rapunzel whispered, her fingers going through her hair. “I guess… I guess it doesn’t just bring stuff back… Sometimes it takes stuff away.” She took a deep breath as tears ran down her face. “Eugene… This is all my fault.” “No, no, I agreed with you, we all did except Cassandra.” “But she was right.” “But it’s not all your fault. I could have sided with her. But I… I didn’t. I never sided with Cass.”

#ask answered

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sariahsue · 2 years

Text

The Gift of Her Name

Chapter Two The Magazine

Ch 1

There were many things Chat Noir loved about patrol: helping the city, the freedom, hanging out with his best friend (to name a few). It was a chance to be free of his cold, sterile house and its cold, sterile occupants and be out in the late afternoon sunshine. But today, it was also an opportunity to think about something other than soulmates and the heartaches they caused. It was just him and Ladybug and the millions of Parisians who needed them.

His friendship with Ladybug was especially precious to him. It had always been easy and comfortable. They fit together perfectly. But he started to suspect something was wrong when she failed to laugh at one of his jokes for the third time in a row. Her eyes seemed far away. She hooked her yoyo on the nearest, safest anchors, instead of wildly throwing it as far as she could and laughing as she was pulled into the distance.

Most suspicious of all: she refused to look him in the eye when she insisted she was fine.

He'd stopped her on a gray roof, hoping for answers. Cars rushed on the street below them while Ladybug fiddled with the string of her yoyo and avoided his questions.

From the corner, someone wolf whistled. Three men looked up at them, waving and laughing. Well, waving at her.

"Hey, Ladybug!" the shortest one yelled. "Haven't you heard? You're my soulmate! Come down here and give me a kiss." The other two hooted their approval of this idea.

On a good day, Ladybug would roll her eyes at comments like these. On bad days, the offenders would find themselves upside down, strung up by their ankles with their fingers brushing the pavement. Today, Ladybug collapsed in on herself, her shoulders hunching and her face crumpling.

A lance of pain shot through him to see her so defeated, and he found himself leaping off the roof toward the idiots below before completely deciding it was the right thing to do.

"You're not the one I want," the short one said. "Tell my soulmate to come down here and give me a friendly hello."

Chat Noir was thankful he was so tall. It made looming over him so much easier. Their laughter trailed off. A flicker of fear passed behind the man's eyes as Chat Noir stepped into his space, channeling his inner Batman. "You're not her soulmate." He pitched his voice lower and softer, hoping it sounded like an intimidating growl. "Because I am."

The man stepped back, spooked, and Chat Noir took off before any of them could collect themselves enough to come up with a "witty" comeback.

By the time he made it back to the roof, Ladybug was only a red spot three streets over, but she turned right, making sure he was following before she ducked out of sight behind a chimney.

He followed her slowly. What he'd said would only fuel the rumors about them, and there were quite a few already. That they were dating. That they were soulmates. That they were secretly married. But given the circumstances, the men might keep what he'd said to themselves and it wouldn't matter.

Ladybug was a beacon of red in an otherwise lackluster city. She'd settled on a small outcropping, barely wide enough for two. In one of the cracks in the cement, tiny flowers grew, with thread-like stems and petals no bigger than his fingernail. He picked the biggest one for her.

As he sat down, she pretended she wasn't wiping her eyes, and he pretended he didn't notice and set the flower on her knee. The breeze almost carried it off immediately, but it only quivered in place and then fell still.

"Thank you for doing that," she said. "I'm not really in the mood to deal with people like that right now."

"I could tell. I got your back."

She shifted, scooting closer to him. The flower did fall off then, but he picked it off the small strip of roof between them and tucked it behind her ear.

Ladybug closed the gap between them, leaning into his warmth, and sighed heavily. The sun warmed their backs as they sat in silence. There was so much they couldn't say to each other, so he didn't know how to ask, but he didn't need to.

"I've hit a wall with my soulmate."

She'd mentioned him before, vaguely and in passing. Identities were so important to her that she hadn't allowed anything more than that.

"I thought you weren't in contact with him at all." That was an understatement. From the hints she'd given in the past, Chat Noir was left with the impression that he lived overseas or something.

"Everyone says he's a jerk and I should give up on him," she said quietly. "But I can't."

"I can't imagine anyone as nice as you would be the other half of someone super horrible." There were lines he knew he shouldn't cross with her. Some things, like their families and names and future plans, they had never talked about for safety reasons. And some things had always felt too personal to share. He weighed his decision carefully. He'd never pried like this before, but the defeat in the curve of her back and her downcast eyes made him think she needed this. "What's going on?"

"His-" she started, then seemed to reconsider her words and started over. "I don't really know what's happening."

"So," Chat Noir said, confused. "What did he say the last time you saw him?"

"That's just it, isn't it? I haven't met him yet."

She hadn't? But she'd hired a Savant months ago. She'd told him all about it.

"I've tried introducing myself a couple times since I found out, and he knows that I have, but…"

That one word hung heavy around her.

"But he doesn't want anything to do with me."

"Oh." It was such a small word, but anything larger wouldn't have covered the magnitude of her feeling either, and he wasn't sure he should try. "How do you know, if you haven't talked to him? Who told you that?"

Ladybug's mouth twitched and she turned away from him, the memory too raw to talk about, so he kept talking to fill in the space.

"You know what I bet?"

Ladybug didn't turn back to him, but she tilted her head to let him know she was listening.

"I think he's just intimidated by your awesomeness. He's been watching you from afar and is totally head over heels for you but is paralyzed by the magnitude of your… presence or something."

She scoffed. "Civilian me isn't very impressive."

"That is a scandalous falsehood, I'm sure. But how about this: You will run into each other, like on the subway or something. Your eyes will meet, he'll be struck by love at first sight, and anything bad he ever thought about you will instantly melt away. He'll take your hand, and bluebirds will sing in the background–"

Ladybug turned back to him, eyebrow arched. "In the subway?"

He shut his mouth so fast his teeth clicked. "Uh. Right. The subway bluebirds." He'd gotten so caught up in the emotions of his own story that he'd forgotten the setting. "You know, sometimes they get lost down there and then make nests because people feed them. Those birds will be singing in celebration just for you."

"How else might we meet?" Her smile was faint.

It was faint, but he chased it. "Maybe he doesn't want to be with any civilian because he's pining after Ladybug. You ever think of that?"

Finally, the smile bubbled into a laugh. "Right. And the next time an akuma attacks, I'll scoop him into my arms and out of harm's way."

"And then he'll declare his undying love for you! Exactly!"

She still smiled, but her eyes turned sad and distant. "And then I'll tell him my secret identity?"

"Oh." They hadn't ever talked about how the rules applied in that scenario before. There had never been a good time to discuss it. Of course identities were secret for a reason, but… "Maybe we should bend the rules for soulmates."

"Maybe," she agreed, stretching the silence out like she wanted to delay that particular decision. "It sounds like you spend a lot of time fantasizing about soulmates and romantic meetings."

"Uh." Chat Noir felt the heat creep into his cheeks and was grateful the mask covered so much.

All traces of her heartbreak finally evaporated in her excitement. "I want to hear them!"

"So, uh." He coughed to buy himself some time, but she didn't offer him any escape route, just sat and waited patiently for him. "I haven't been allowed to find out who my soulmate is…"

She leaned forward, propping her head up in her hands, listening raptly.

Chat Noir finally was forced to admit defeat. "I've got two fantasies that kind of play over and over in my mind." He scratched the back of his neck. Her undivided attention was embarrassing, but he found himself smiling anyway. "So the first one is that as my 18th birthday gift to myself, I go get her name, track her down, and get her to fall in love with me, all in one day. By the end of the night, we're engaged."

"And you have the whole day planned out, I'm assuming?"

"Mmmmmaybe…"

"Mmhmm," Ladybug said, one eyebrow raised. "What activities are on the agenda?"

"The other idea–" He wanted to interrupt that line of thought. There was no reason for her to know exactly how sappy her partner really was. "–is that she comes and finds me before then. A wonderful woman who bursts into my life and never leaves." He shrugged. "She hasn't yet, so I guess she's doing okay without me. I hope she is, anyway."

He didn't tell her that the second fantasy was more real and tantalizing than the first. She was out there right now. She could come and rescue him, at any moment. They might be able to be together without waiting for his 18th birthday or his father's approval.

"Who knew that Chat Noir, pun connoisseur extraordinaire and hero of Paris, was such a sap."

"You're one to talk, M'lady!"

She pulled the flower out of her hair, rolling the stem between her fingers so the petals twirled. He wondered what she was thinking about, and then realized it was obvious: her soulmate. He loved the vulnerable moments with her, where he got to know his best friend better. They were too rare. He hoped there would come a day where they could be friends outside the masks as well.

"How come you haven't been allowed to find out your soulmate's name?" she asked. "Your parents say you're not old enough yet?"

"No," he said, his tone souring as his thoughts turned back to his own problems. That would have been easier to fix. Day by day, he would always get older. Father's stubbornness didn't have such a simple solution.

"He says it's to keep me focused on my work and keep me safe, but I'm pretty sure it's just an image thing. But it's more distracting not knowing, you know?"

"Oh? What do you do for work?"

He bumped her shoulder. "Are you trying to figure out my secret identity?"

"Right. Sorry."

"I've been asking to meet her for years," he continued. "I can't help wondering about her. What's her name? What will it be like to be together? What is she doing right now?"

"Probably hoping her soulmate that she can't wait to meet someday is disgustingly mushy. Lucky her, because you definitely are."

"Lucky you gets to benefit from my presence in the meantime," he said. He ran a hand through his hair to emphasize his fabulousness, but from the way she was smiling, either the message had already gotten across or there was no hope for him. (Probably the first one. Definitely the first one.)

Ladybug gazed down at the flower again. "Thank you for cheering me up."

He wrapped one arm around her. He couldn't have his soulmate now, but it was nice to have a partner while they both waited for their other half.

---

A few weeks later found a fuming Adrien storming into his father's office, a rolled up magazine clenched in one hand.

He pushed open the door without knocking. Father would see it as a breach of etiquette. As an invasion. As an insult.

Good.

"Better for the company image if I were single? What is this?"

He threw the magazine onto the table. It unfurled to reveal a glossy photo of him. Soft light illuminated his touched-up hair and photoshopped features. The title read "Adrien Agreste's Secret Romance REVEALED."

Gabriel adjusted his glasses. "It appears to be a magazine."

A magazine with an exclusive interview with Gabriel, all about Adrien's new girlfriend who made him "incredibly happy" and was "everything he ever wanted." Adrien wanted to throw up.

"Did you think I wasn't going to hear about this?"

Gabriel was a man of quiet anger.

He adjusted his glasses.

"It would be much better for the company to have you single, but I am trying to take your safety into account. As you said, these "fangirls" will leave us alone if you are no longer available."

"My safety?" Adrien scoffed. "Someone's going to get akumatized over this!"

Gabriel covered his mouth, and his eyes said he was covering a small smile. Adrien didn't get the joke.

"I have already thought of that," Gabriel finally said. "In the short term, that might be the case, but in the long term, it is in your best interest. I have increased the security on the mansion. Your homeschooling will continue as normal, but your extracurriculars will be put on hold for the time being."

His heartbeat pounded in his ears. "If the company image suddenly doesn't matter, why can't I just be with my soulmate? Why do we have to lie about it? Why didn't you at least tell me you were going to do this before you did it?"

Adrien stormed out without hearing the answer. Because he already knew what it was.

His father didn't care what he wanted.

Read chapter three here

---

Author's note: This chapter has fanart! @ladyofthenoodle and I were partnered in the @mlbigbang together, and she created two beautiful pieces of art for this story. One for chapter two and one for chapter three.

And because a lot of people asked about Gabriel's motivation, and because I'm not showing his point of view anywhere in this story, here's a little bonus detail for anyone who's interested. Adrien's accusation in chapter one was partially right. Gabriel's wife/soulmate is "missing" and it hurts, so he's kind of soured against the whole soulmate idea. But he's also the same overbearing, control freak, terrible super villain that he is in the show. A soulmate would give a reason for Adrien to want to leave the house, and encourage him to disagree with his father on things, and just generally be an unknown variable, and Gabriel just wants Adrien to stay home and model and be a good little boy. And so to keep him under control, there needs to be no outside influences. It all adds up to him kind of resenting Marinette's existence.

Tag list: @tbehartoo

#ladynoir #ml #mlb #miraculous ladybug #adrinette

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mylifeisactuallyamess · 3 years

Text

Poe Dameron x Reader

A/N: I don’t know what possessed me. It’s pure sadness don’t read it.

Warnings: Sadness.

Word Count: 2292

You rolled over in bed seeing his side was already made. You stretched out a hand hating how cold it was, his scent fading. Your heart fluttered a heaviness weighed on your chest but with a firm swallow and some deep breaths you were able to stop it from building.

He was in the kitchen already dressed in his suit, his dark curls flopping over his forehead as he gazed at the folded paper on the counter, a cup of coffee in one hand.

“I didn’t hear you get up,” you commented. He looked down at you with a grin on his face as he wrapped an arm over your shoulders.

“You were dead to the world, baby. I didn’t wanna wake you.” He planted a firm kiss on the top of your head. “I have got to get to work, I’ll see you later!” You nodded, hating the way his body heat left you instantly. You moved over to the coffee machine tutting when you saw he’d left his briefcase, that man was always forgetting something. You went over to the window hoping to see him in the car park but he’d already gone and you shrugged. He’d come back if he needed it, he’d come back.

———————————————

You walked into work with your face buried in your phone as you went through some emails, your boss had requested a meeting and you tried to think of what it could be about. Your performance was up to standard, you never missed a deadline, he’d never given you any reason to doubt yourself until now. You rapped smartly on his door and he called you in.

“Please take a seat,” he said softly.

“I’m sorry Armitage, I have to ask, have I done something wrong?” You blurted out as you sat down, nerves getting the better of you.

“No, why?” He asked, frowning slightly.

“Well this meeting…” his green eyes roamed over you a second as though deciding what to say next.

“I just wanted to check in with you and offer my help or some time off should you need it.”

“Oh,” you didn’t know how to respond. A weight was pressing down on your mind, a black cloud you refused to acknowledge. “Why would I need time off? You think I should take a holiday?”

“Hmmm, you haven’t taken any time off since…” you stood up cutting him off.

“I can assure you I am perfectly capable of working,” why was your voice slightly higher than normal? Were your hands shaking? The pressure got worse, crowding your thoughts threatening to consume you. “I need to work now.” You couldn’t look at him, because if you did you’d have to see the pity in his eyes.

“If you need anything…”

“I don’t, but thank you.” And you left without a word.

———————————————

“The girls asked me to go out tonight.”

“Then you should go!” Poe replied from the bathroom. You made a face.

“I don’t know if I want to, I just want to be here with you.” He came up behind you, his hair damp from the shower, his skin cool against your as he planted a kiss on your cheek.

“I’m not going anywhere baby, I’ll be here when you get back.” You sighed.

“Alright, I’ll go. But you need to help me choose an outfit.” He groaned loudly, falling to his knees, his face already scrunched you in mock pain and you giggled.

“No god please no!! I always say the first dress looks amazing and then we go through 20 more before circling back to the first dress!” He whined loudly.

“So much drama with you Poe Dameron,” you snorted, getting up and opening the closet.

“Baby you are slowly driving me mad…” you ignored him, pulling out dresses and placing them on the bed. “That one!” He shouted, pointing randomly and you slapped his hand away.

“No.” He groaned again and you tried not to smile, you loved tormenting him like this. “Look on the bright side Dameron, you get to see me put on a little fashion show. Sit through it,” you picked up a dress, casting a suggestive glance in his direction. “I might reward your good behaviour.” He sat down on the stool you’d vacated and crossed his legs.

“I’m ready.”

———————————————

The restaurant was loud and bright. The smells were fantastic and you’d forgotten what good company your friends were. It had been too long since you had braved coming out with them. You went to the bar ordering some drinks with Rose.

“Hey,” she slid slightly closer to you, her elbow brushing yours as she leaned into your space. “You holding up ok?” She whispered her brown eyes soft with worry.

“Yeah I’m ok.” You sipped your drink nodding, hoping she wouldn’t ask you again. It was there just on the fringes of your mind, a fuzziness you couldn’t put a name to. A monster waiting outside of your invisible fence, prowling in the darkness getting ready to pounce and make you feel something you didn’t want to.

“It’s just that after the….well you seem to be coping….”

“I’m fine! Honestly.” You gave her a wide smile and went back to the table joining in with the laughter but all the while wishing you were back home with Poe.

———————————————

“Did you have fun?” He was standing in the kitchen when you got home, making you jump slightly as he came into focus when you put the light on.

“Yes it was good to get out, I felt like they tiptoed around me a bit though. I don’t know why.” You put your bag on the counter accepting his strong arms around you, burying into his embrace and breathing in his scent deeply.

“I miss you,” he whispered, his lips brushing your ear.

“I missed you too, but I’m home now,” tilting your head up you gently gave him a lingering kiss. “Let’s go to bed.”

“Ok baby.”

———————————————

Your eyes opened and instantly looked over to his side of the bed, impeccably made already. He never used to be this tidy. You washed and got dressed making your way to the kitchen, Poe was standing there in his suit holding a coffee and looking down at the paper on the side, a slight frown pulling on his brow.

“You ok?” You asked. The coffee machine was cold as you changed the pod, replacing it with a fresh one and grabbing your favourite mug.

“Yeah, just this headline…” he murmured. “You need to look at it.”

“I don’t want to,” you replied quickly, hearing his heavy sigh.

“But you need to!” He demanded.

“No!” Silence descended on you both, your hand raised to cut him off. Your entire body trembled, a rage was unfurling in your chest and you tried to keep it buried. Because after the rage came the pain and you weren’t ready for that. “I just want to drink my coffee with you.”

“I’m going to work.” Your gaze drifted to his briefcase.

“Poe, your case….” But he’d already gone.

———————————————

You closed your eyes, your friends had arrived unexpectedly with pizza and gin. Their noise filled your apartment, grating on you, setting your teeth on edge with their jokes and banter. You were tired, just wanting to curl up on the sofa and snuggle…

“Hey what’s this?” Jess asked, pointing to the newspaper on the side.

“Leave it.”

“It’s out of date, shouldn’t it be in recycling?”

“Just leave it.” You slammed some glasses down drawing her attention off Poe’s paper. You put a smile on your face, but even you could feel the cracks widening with every fake smile these days. “Take these over,” you slid her the glasses and she took them without a word.

“They’re just trying to help.” You relaxed. Poe’s voice was rich and calming, his hand rested on the counter and you grabbed it, needing to feel his skin, his warmth, the strength of his grip. “They are worried about you,” he whispered. You looked up into those deep brown eyes feeling all your emotions trickling away the longer you looked at him.

“I know, but I have you.” He smiled that lopsided smile you had fallen in love with the first time you saw it. His fingers toyed with yours for a moment.

“Yeah baby. You do…always.” Rose called your name making you look up.

“We need the other glasses!” She called.

“They’re coming!” You turned to Poe but he’d gone and you clenched your empty fist on the kitchen counter. “No….no no,” the sound of smashing glass pulled everyone’s attention to you. The glass, it just slipped from your other hand smashing and scattering like the pieces of your heart. Rose and Jess were beside you in a moment, Finn was there saying he’d clean it up and you weren’t to worry. They had you.

———————————————

You barely slept that night, staring at the empty side of your bed choosing to get up with the sun only to find Poe already in the kitchen. You paused by the door, his eyes searching yours, a sad look on his face.

“You shouldn’t be here,” you whispered. He shook his head, tears forming in those perfect eyes and he grimaced.

“You really should read this headline,” he mumbled, pointing to the paper.

“I’ve read it,” you lied, feeling your own tears clinging stubbornly to your lashes.

“You’re such a liar,” he sobbed with a smile.

“I can’t….I don’t want to do this,” you whispered. The beast was creeping up on you, the invisible gate had been opened and you could already feel it’s claws sinking into your splintered heart. A sob beat your chest as he gathered you into his arms.

“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry! But it’s time.” You clung to him, digging your fingers into his arms refusing to acknowledge anything about the situation.

“I don’t want to let you go! I’m not ready!” You cried out loudly.

“You need to. I can’t stay here….” His voice was thick with emotion, his breath warm against your neck.

“But you are here!” You whispered through the tears. “I feel you, I can taste you when I do this,” you grabbed his face giving him a hurried kiss as you both shed tears on each other. “I can smell you, Poe, you’re here!”

“I’m not, baby, and you know it.” Pain lanced through your body, the intensity of it bringing you to your knees. Poe kneeled in front of you, letting you run your hands all over him watching you with sorrow filled eyes.

“But I feel you,” the words choked out of you as your throat closed up with grief. A low keening noise erupted from your chest, your head thrown back as you fought the waves of sadness that threatened to sweep you away. “You can’t l-leave me!” You sobbed heavily.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t want to, I love you.” You looked up at him, his hand smudging the tears into your skin as he gazed lovingly at you. “I will always be with you, wherever you look I’ll be there laughing with you, crying with you…” his hands were softer than you remembered, the heat of him mingling with your own and you placed a hand over his. He pulled you in for a lingering kiss, the tears still rolling from your eyes as the sobs shook your body. You didn’t reopen your eyes as he pulled away, not wanting to see the sadness that dwelled inside him. You didn’t want to remember him this way, crying and breaking apart at the seams. “Don't grieve for what we didn’t have or didn’t do. We had a happy, love filled life and I want you to remember that.”

“Poe…” you whispered. Your palm brushed your cheek feeling the wetness of your pain as it painted your face. “Poe?” Now you opened your eyes, seeing your empty flat properly for the first time. The early morning sun fractured through your tears, splintering your vision as you mourned loudly. Deep cries of pain rolled from the depths of your despair, things you’d kept buried for the last few months finally surfaced making you feel raw and exposed. “You come back right now!” You snarled into the empty room. “Poe Dameron I swear to god….if you leave me….”

But he was never coming back. You’d been hiding from that fact all this time, imagining him here at home with you like nothing had changed. But it had, everything had changed.

You made it to the kitchen, your body vibrating with grief, your teeth grinding loudly in the stillness, your fingers brushed the edge of the paper. With a shaking hand you flattened it, closing your eyes before finding the strength to look at the headline.

MAN DIES IN HIT AND RUN

Poe Dameron, 34, died in a tragic accident on the high street…

Poe Dameron died in a tragic accident….

Poe Dameron died…..

Poe died….

The voice in your mind was screaming, a loud high pitched whine as everything filtered away except the words on the out of date paper but eventually they became a blur. You had been denying yourself the grief, the heartache but now it had caught up with you. It ripped through you without mercy, leaving you tattered and broken on the kitchen floor.

He was dead, gone, you’d never hold his hand or kiss his lips. You’d never again share a bed or a shower, hear his laughter or have a conversation about everyday life. He was gone, and he was never coming back.

Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal.

#poe dameron #poe dameron au #poe dameron x you #poe dameron x reader #poe x reader #poe dameron imagine #poe imagine #poe x you #my writing #mylifeisactuallyamess #not my usual style #one shot #poe dameron one shot #don’t at me #I don’t know why I wrote it #it’s not even good #it was just eating at me #and I had to expell it

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creativeashproductions · 3 years

Text

What If...? IV // Alive!Luke Patterson

Summary: 1997 and 1998 are big years for Luke Patterson and his fiancée with their engagement and wedding planning. If you thought wedding planning and the wedding itself was the big things well, you’d be wrong. I mean this is the couple that almost ended with a car accident. Join the year long adventure.

Warnings: Swearing, pregnancy, minor angst, sweet groom!Luke, and fluff

Words: 3.3k

Requested: By @beautifulblogsblog. There is one more part after this. 🥺😭

A/N: It’s finally here! The Patterson-Y/L/N wedding makes its appearance here and a little cameo of a future character. The next part is the last part in the miniseries as well. Enjoy.

TO BE TAGGED SEND AN INBOX PLEASE!

Masterlist

Hollywood 1997

An entire year had flown by from the day of your engagement to Luke filled with frustration, elation and greatness. Sunset Curve toured around California, leaving the Y/L/N-Patterson women to plan the wedding. Nineteen years old now in the modestly sized apartment, Luke sat beside you in the bathroom.

Two nervous teenagers a mere month away from their wedding day they cuddled each other eyes pinned at the floor. Apprehensive of the stick that held power to change everything in their lives. For the last week, you hadn’t felt very well with being tired and nausea laying you out in bed.

“It’s been long enough.” Luke murmured reaching for the test, “No matter what. I love you.”

Kissing his cheek, the two of you slumped at the negative with surprising emotion. The negative greatly disappointed you.

“I’m sorry,” Luke mumbled to his fiancée equally torn up because while the timing wasn’t perfect, he had pictured what life would be like.

A tiny baby growing in his fiancée womb, growing into bump made flutters in his belly. Of love, he already felt for your future unborn children and snuggling his kids. Introducing them to his loved ones and bonding over music. Teaching his son or daughter how to play the guitar.

He’d love to see his parents cradle a new addition to the family freshly born with the tiny knit hat Emily couldn’t resist making. Sharing a celebratory beer with his father and wisdom for the coming years. To learn the parental reason of why they had been against his career choice.

“I really wanted it to be positive.” You admitted playing with your fingers disappointed at being wrong about your body. Luke smiled as your words as he grabbed your hand in his calloused grip.

“Do you…do you want to try for a baby?” Luke trailed off flushing at how beautiful you would look growing his child. The bathroom was quiet as you thought the idea over, “With the tour just finishing the band will be writing music and recording. I could be here for the whole pregnancy and birth.”

“If we get pregnant in the next month. But we’re also getting married in a few months.” You sighed leaning to rest about his bare arm staring at the pregnancy test.

“If it happens then it happens.” Luke spoke, “If you want, we can try.”

Raising your eyes to meet Luke’s you hesitantly nodded at his words as it settled that is there ever a perfect time to get pregnant? So many people struggle with conception like your parents did with you; your mother’s labour was so complicated that you’d never have siblings.

“Okay.” Luke breathed, standing up to scoop you into his arms, “Best get on with it.”

The laughter filled the simple bedroom as Luke crawled over your body to hover with a matching smile. There was no one else in the world that could get his heart fluttering and focus on something other than music. It was terrific, and he couldn’t be mad about.

“So, Rockstar…are you gonna help?” You whispered tugging on the chain of his necklace to drag his face closer. Closing the distance, Luke’s lips brushed yours before time stopped in a collision of senses.

The callouses of his fingers trailing a fire under the flowing shirt chosen for the lunch date earlier. The warmth of his hands nowhere close enough to match the heat your body burnt with. The taste of the cherry chapstick he shamelessly stole from you, but it was the heady scent of Luke that got you.

Luke heavily breathed as he pulled back with a hazy gaze with the green almost overtaken by the black pupils. No hesitation as your lips sucked on his neck, bringing a gravelly moan from the man over you, a sound that caused your lower half to clench. Legs unable to fully close as his fingers drew symbols on your inner thigh.

Symbols that spelt out his full name. Now that was really hot.

A gasp pulled from your throat you arched as a hand came up to cup your breast in his hand; Luke could argue all he wanted, but he was boob man when it came to you.

Thoughts disappearing the ecstasy with the love of your life overtook your senses.

July 1998

The white dress was a little snugger than the previous month, but you had a good reason for it. A tiny little blob had taken up residence in your womb with a sickness that lasts all day from day one until the start of trimester two. Getting pregnant had to be easy with Luke from the number of times.

Didn’t matter where you were when Luke tugged you away. The small bathroom in the studio? Three times.

Luke’s couch? Yeah, Alex refuses to sit there now.

At this point, you had been everywhere, trying for a baby was incredibly fun, but the hormones sucked. Luke’s deft fingers creating the chords of a song? Bobby banned you from rehearsals, and you had an emergency bag of clothes as well.

“You look gorgeous.” Nancy Y/L/N told her daughter with tears glittering in her eyes as she took in the sight of her daughter. The wedding dress the bridesmaids, mother’s and Alex had hunted for; the boy had tagged along as he was like a brother. Reggie, Bobby and Luke had spent the day with Mitch and Lance.

A sob broke from the lips of Lance; his baby girl no longer needed him with her soon to be husband. There was no one in the world he trusted more with his daughter than Luke Patterson. The boy never placed the band ahead of his fiancée, and it was quickly noticed how much Luke adored the Y/L/N girl.

“Dad.” You spoke, rushing to hug the man in your arms, “Stop crying. You’ll make me cry.”

Lance was able to hold his tears until the music started and the doors opened to the venue that Luke’s parents married in. Luke stood at the altar with Bobby, Alex, and Reggie. On the opposite side stood your best friend, a childhood friend and your close cousin.

“You look beautiful,” Dad told you slowly making their way to the man cupping his hands over his face. Overtaken by your beauty and the glow, Luke thanked Lance.

“Baby, you look like an Angel,” Luke whispered, squeezing your hands tightly in his as the ceremony began.

“It’s rare that one can find their soulmate, the other half of themselves on such a large plant. Luke and Y/N orbited each other as young children and fell in love in a perfect place. For those of you who don’t know, these two met as a concert. The first step to falling in love. Music is important to this couple.” The officiant spoke, “Luke’s mother told me once that music tethered their souls together, they truly met at a concert, and every important moment had a song.”

Luke’s eyes watered meeting the brown of his mother’s love-filled eyes holding hands with her husband. Luke had no clue how much his mother came to accept, and he felt the relationship fully fix itself as it settled that his Mom had personally made the ceremony better.

“These two souls came together and became one. Luke and Y/N’s love is rare and beautiful. Today these two had decided to make their own vows.” The officiant finished, “Luke if you could start.”

“There has always music in my heart and soul since childhood. I adored listening and begging my parents for new music. My parents, one year, gave me a guitar as a gift, and it started a deep passion in my soul. I made a band with my best friends, and the band brought me to a person that would become more important. Y/N, I had had a crush on you for a long time before you first spoke to me. I had hit Reggie in the calf with my father’s car, and you made a joke about my height. It wouldn’t be until years later than I somehow convinced you to take a chance.” Luke squeezed your hands, “I love music because it brought me to you.”

“Luke. I am absolutely positive that I have loved you for more than this lifetime as my love is so vast and deep. I believe we have been destined since the dawn of time to find each other together by music. I can’t compete with your vows because you have a way with words with the songwriting you’ve done. You’ve been there through the hard times and best times holding my hand ready to catch me if I fell. I can’t wait to spend the rest of our lives catching each other when we need it.”

“May the rings be presented?” The officiant asked with a smile as your best friend and Alex gave the rings.

“With this ring, I thee wed,” Luke whispered as he slid the band to rest against your engagement ring. You repeated the words as you slid the band on his finger as well.

“I now pronounce you as man and wife. Mr. Patterson, you may kiss your wife.” The officiant spoke, sending the room into applause.

You and Luke ran down the aisle still holding hands with the biggest smiles of your entire life to the limo that would deliver you to the reception. Luke couldn’t help himself as he pressed kisses all over. This was a glorious day for the musician, his career was going really well, and he married the most beautiful girl.

“God, I love you.” Luke murmured to the girl in the white dress. Leaning closer for another kiss, Luke froze.

Digging into his ankle was a heavy object. Your nervous eyes glittered under the dimmed lighting in the limo. Never-ending eye contact Luke lifted a moderately heavy wooden chalkboard. Written on the sign was: ‘Unofficial flower girl or ring bearer’.

“Are you serious?” Luke asked gobsmacked at the news that heightened the greatness of his wedding day. Eyes flickering to meet yours he watched as your hand unzipped a hidden pocket on your dress.

Flat on your hand was a pregnancy test similar to the one you took months back. The only difference being this one had two lines.

“AS serious as a heart attack. There will be a baby Patterson in six months.” The laugh was joyful as your lips parted.

Luke wasted absolutely no time in setting his hand on the slight bump the dress had covered, “This is why you mentioned your dress being snugger?”

“Mhm.” You replied, stroking the softness of his cheekbone in pure love with him and the life you carried, “We’re in for a wild ride Patterson.”

“Bring it on.” Luke finished kissing your cheek as the limo came to a stop in front of a large venue. The duo you ran inside where your wedding guests threw paper airplanes that Reggie had suggested.

Each airplane had a personal note from your friends and family along that would be gathered into a binder. Reggie had found out that rice wasn’t good for birds and while the reception was inside, he couldn’t do it. So, he brought the idea of paper airplanes; in class, the boys would throw airplanes at each other. It was a nod to their adolescence.

“I present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Patterson,” Alex announced into the microphone set on the stage with Sunset Curve’s instruments. It didn’t surprise anyone that the band would play at the wedding.

On the stage, a beautiful Hispanic woman played a soft piano ballad, if you could recall that maybe the bartender from the Orpheum. Her name was on the tip of your tongue as Luke twirled you into his arms with a big grin.

“Mrs. Patterson.” You hummed tugging him to the head table with where your wedding party would join as well. The second Luke helped you sit he knelt down to reach the box covertly placed.

Your eyebrows came together as he opened it, revealing two matching pairs of personalized vans; following the wedding theme one pair was white and another black. On the right shoe, it had ‘just married’ with the wedding date while the left shoe had a picture from your engagement pictures. Of course, Luke made them have Mr. and Mrs. above the image as well.

“How?” You breathed as Luke gently removed your heels to replace them with a thin pair of no-show socks. Over the socks went the white vans that gave your feet a break from the four-inch heels.

“We’re supposed to party now.” Luke beamed squeezing your hands in his only bending to kiss the back of each. His hazel eyes had shifted to a rich green as he stared up at yours with such a tender look, you could feel the heat building in your cheeks.

As your wedding party took their seats, Luke had already changed his shoes and pushed the box back under the table. His left hand refused to leave your right one as you both took in the magical room that had once only been a concept on paper.

“This is amazing.” You breathed leaning into Luke’s arm, sending a smile to the table near the front with both your parents, “Also thank you for the shoe surprise.”

“I am so happy they got done on time.” Luke sighed slouching in his seat, waving at the photographer you had hired.

If you can recall correctly, Luke had met him at a band photoshoot, and he was the assistant to the head photographer. You believe his name was Ray and incredibly talented and under-appreciated by his former boss.

“Did you let the photographer know we have an open bar?” You leaned over to your new husband with a flutter in your belly at his new title. The question turned the corners of Luke’s mouth for the first time that day.

“I find it unfair that we have an open bar and we can’t drink anything.” Luke snorted nudging Reggie in his side.

“Oh, I think we both know you’ll sneak some for the guys and you.” You chuckled leaning back in the chair. One hand resting on your stomach to caress the material with your thumb, unaware, “I’ll stick to the sparkling juice.”

Luke’s one eyebrow raised at the sudden change in your drink choice as in the past you wouldn’t turn down your favourite. His eyes shifted down to your hand with raised eyebrows.

“Wait…are you…?” Luke drawled out slowly in your ear taken aback when your head in a surreptitious manner. His jaw unhinged mind opened as he took in the tiny bump; in the years together, he was very acquainted with your body.

“We are. How cliché are we?” You laughed as Luke lunged to press a kiss to the supple skin lightly painted with foundation.

Your makeup was natural and straightforward to last longer for photos and make it through the dances for later. It was also Luke’s favourite look.

Dinner, the dances and speeches had sped by ending with both the bouquet toss and the garter toss. The guests mingled with the newlyweds as some danced, Emily had managed to drag Luke back on the floor.

“I’m proud of you, Luke.” Emily smiled up at her son, “And you said those dance lessons were a waste of time.”

A light pink flush took over the nineteen-year old’s full cheeks reminiscing the lessons he had taken with his mother. He had been eleven or twelve at the time when his father pulled a muscle at the worst time. The coupons nearly expiration Emily took Luke to the lessons that initially had been for date night.

“I think it helped with singing-“Luke instinctively cut himself off as he had done years before when music was a no go subject, “Sorry you don-“

“Luke, I can never explain how sorry I am about what happened. I was wrong to push you into a box you didn’t fit. Music is a part of you, and I understand now.” Emily squeezed the bicep of the guitarist, “Besides you’ll understand where we were coming from in a couple months.”

Luke’s jaw dropped at her announcement, “What.”

“Luke, I am a mother. I know the signs such as your wife turning down the wine.” Emily admitted stepping back from the boy that had so suddenly become a man before her very eyes.

No longer was he the chubby-cheeked boy running naked from his bath after splattering spaghetti sauce on himself. He had outgrown his interest in soccer and baseball with his little friends. He had matured into a man that lived up to Emily’s teachings. Luke, in her eyes, was now a man of honour, integrity, kindness and stood up for himself.

Emily and Mitch Patterson had done a fantastic job raising their son, but now they could step back. They would get to watch Luke find his way as a husband and a father.

“Hey, man,” Reggie spoke as Luke walked off the dance floor finding you among family congratulating the couple.

“Hey, Reg.” Luke beamed tugging the bassist into his arms for a tight hug. As the two boys leaned back, they looked over at their friend.

Alex discarded the pink suit jacket at the table in favour of leaning against the wall talking with the bartender. A smile blossomed on the two men’s faces as they took in that Alex was utterly relaxed in the conversation.

“They were hardcore flirting.” Reggie piped up, referencing the male bartender, “His name is Billy, I think.”

The bartender had shoulder-length dark hair pulled back in a bun with glittering brown eyes drowning in the shy blonde. He wore a dark shirt opened a few buttons with white detailing on it. A white necklace as well, but it was the lovesick smile Luke loved; Alex deserved happiness the most in Sunset Curve.

“He’s totally a skater.” Reggie spoke, “It’s a love story. He’s a skater boy, and he’d like to do ballet.”

“That would be a sick song. He was a punk, she did ballet.” Luke hummed to a melody created on the spot, “Not really our sound.”

“Someone will figure out a way to use it.” Reggie waved off, and he was right. A singer would use the exact lyric in her song ‘Sk8er Boi’ in 2002 when Sunset Curve would bump into her.

Slowly the boys of Sunset Curve found their way to the stage to perform a few songs directed towards you. At your urging, you had demanded they give a live performance of Unsaid Emily for your now mother-in-law. As they sang, you wrapped an arm, Emily, as she cried.

“This is his best work.” You mumbled to the older woman cupping her wet cheek leaning into the touch of her husband’s touch.

As soon as the song was over, Emily yanked her son into her arms both parties of the hug emotionally moved. It seemed the performance had shifted something in their relationship for the better. Luke didn’t need to explain as he pulled you into his side once more.

“Alex isn’t the only one that found someone.” You whispered, finding Alex and the bartender on break dancing on the edge of the dance floor. At your husband’s puzzlement, your finger pointed in the direction of the stage.

In a conversation photographer, Ray captivated the lead singer of the band you had hired when Sunset Curve didn’t play. Even Reggie seemed to have the attention of your twin showgirl cousins from Las Vegas.

“Love attracts love.” Luke simply spoke, wrapping his built arms around his wife, thinking back on the changes that had happened.

Luke hitting Reggie’s leg with the car at thirteen, finding each other at the concert a few years later, the accident that threatened the relationship. Proposing twice and finally marrying over a year later on the same day you confessed the pregnancy. So much had happened in such a fraction of time.

“I love you.” Luke murmured at the shell of your ear watching his friends have the time of their lives on a beautiful day in the summer of 1998.

Above are the example of the shoes that Luke got.

Tag List (PLEASE SEND AN INBOX TO BE ADDED! I CANNOT GUARANTEE YOU WILL BE ON THE LIST VIA POST COMMENTS!)

@safehavenmuse @siennanoelle01 @whiterose291 @mell-bell @blackhood5sos @ficrecsideblog @ifilwtmfc @deadpoolgirl23 @crappy-unicorn @sunsetcurve-h @elioelioeli0 @lovesanimals @popcrone818 @lolychu @deepsleepnat @tenaciousperfectionunknown @aunicornmademedoit @just-a-writer-here @simp4reggie @parkeret @faithiebrock01 @overlyhypedup @differentsoulrascalsalad @aesthetic-lyss @versaceapa @carleywhittaker @lostgirl219 @itsalexx21 @elllaoo4 @merxxleighann @mediocremunge @fantomlovesjuke4ever @dpaccione @oswin05 @kaylinfayezink @aberette13 @faithie-brock-gillespie01 @eharvey0218 @overlyhypedup @benstormy @auriandthepussicats @sarcasticsagittarius1998 @whothefuckstolemykeds @kcd15 @siriuswvrld @princessvader15 @xoxbloodreinaxox @heimdoodle @joshy-obx @lovesanimals @oopsiedoopsie23 @am3l1a-24 @flying-solo-without-you @jaskiers-sweetkiss @lostrandomfangirln @must-be-a-weasley-92 @jatp-holland @ilikealotofpeople-younotsomuch @dxlanhxlland @dasexydevitt13 @ifilwtmfc @arianagrandes-things @kinda-really-lost @marinettepotterandplagg @ssprayberrythings @morgandamrose @thedarkqueenofavalon @zukoshonourr @crybabyddl @spooky-season-bitch @kcd15 @morganayennefertyrell @magnet-girl @all-in-fangirl @kinda-really-lost @tenaciousperfectionunknown

#luke patterson imagines #julie and the phantoms imagines #jatp luke #luke patterson x reader #alive!luke patterson #charlie gillespie #caitsy and ash productions

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kingreywrites · 3 years

Text

Beyond Those Trees

Fandom: Tangled

Word Count: 2263

Eugene Appreciation Week Day One: Childhood

Summary: When he was five, Eugene climbed a tree.

Note: i am very very weak for orphanage stories so here is a self-indulgent one asfhdghj also i generally hc that lance grew up for a few years with his parents before losing them (around the time he was six or seven) and then going to the orphanage and meeting eugene, which is why he won't really be there because they haven’t met yet ;;

Read on ao3

When he was five, Eugene climbed a tree.

He shouldn't have climbed that tree. He knew the matrons at the orphanage would be mad at him, and tell him that he was causing trouble again, that he should stop making it more difficult on them by being up to no good all the time. Something like that, at least; he heard the sermon often enough.

But, for all that they hated when he did stupid stuff, it wasn't like the matrons paid much attention to him in the first place. Not enough to stop him, in any case. As long as they didn't know, it would be fine, and Eugene knew they wouldn't notice anything if he did it before they checked where he was. So he left the orphanage right after lunch, went to the big old tree not too far at the edge of the village, and decided to climb it. He saw the older boys do it a few days before - they weren't his friends, and so he had been too shy to join them, but now he knew how to do it, and he wasn't gonna wait anymore.

He wanted to do the same thing as Flynnigan Rider on the cover of his favourite book, the one he was painstakingly learning to read with. On it, the adventurer stood tall on the branch of a tree, looking towards the sun rising on the horizon. The rays of sunlight were the same colour as his treasure, and the golden accents were in relief - Eugene had traced them with his finger time and time again, yearning for a life like this one.

So Eugene climbed a tree. It wasn't too hard, and he was very proud of himself, because he knew the older boys had needed each other to get up there, but he had done it all alone. He reached the thickest branch he could see, stood up tall, and... well, Vardaros was not as pretty as the city drawn on his book, and the sun wasn't exactly rising, but it still looked wicked cool, in his own words.

If you had asked him then, he would have said that this was the best moment of his life.

He was bored after exactly four minutes. To be fair, there wasn't much to do on a tree, and he really wanted to go tell everyone about what he did - except the matrons, of course. Anyway, he reasoned, Flynnigan probably didn't stay there long either, instead running off to go on new adventures, which was exactly what Eugene was going to do.

Eugene looked down.

Climbing had taken him mere minutes. He had been so focused on his goal that he did not even stop to think about the height, or anything, really. But he looked down, and suddenly the distance to the ground was nauseating, and the closest branch seemed miles away. Leaning on the trunk, feeling small, Eugene shakily tried to extend his foot towards it, before immediately giving up.

He... He was scared.

As he remembers it today, the tree was the tallest thing he had ever seen, reaching towards the sky, nearly on par with the clouds. When he came back during his teenage years - when Eugene wasn't his name anymore and his dreams had drastically changed - he saw the tree again, and realised that it was simply a sad, old tree, who wasn't even that tall compared to those in Corona's luxurious forests.

But he had been five. He had been five, and little, and scared, so he had decided to stay on the tree, and wait for someone to notice his absence. Wait for someone to come help him.

And he waited. And he waited.

The sunset had been prettier, bathing the entire town in red and golden light, just like on his book. He hadn't really appreciated it.

(When he tells this story, he always acts as if he had tried to distract himself, and that was it. He doesn't talk about the tears, and the heart wrenching loneliness he had felt, certain in that way kids were that this was permanent.)

Exhaustion and fear got the best of him, and he fell asleep. When he woke up, he was still here, and no one had come.

The sun was rising this time. Eugene got up, looked down, and something clicked for him. No one would come. He was cold, and scared, and hungry too, but no one would come, and so there was only one person who could save him. Only one daring adventurer, ready to brave his fear and save the day.

He tried to convince himself that this hero was him. Despite how terrified he felt, he was an adventurer, he was just like Flynnigan Rider, and Flynnigan never backed down when faced with a challenge.

"If it's not possible, it's not worth doing," he muttered, before jumping to the nearest branch.

Miraculously, he reached it. The same couldn't be said for the next branch, and he fell heavily to the ground.

He remembers pain exploding in his arm, staying on the ground for a long, long time, and then making his way back painfully, stomach growling loudly.

"Eugene?"

Rapunzel's voice breaks him out of his narration, and he looks at her, squeezing her hand lightly. They're both sitting in the special spot he found on the roof, an easily accessible ledge giving one of the best views on Corona.

"Yeah?"

"You said… You said this was a funny story," she remarks, tone hesitant, uselessly tucking a strand of her short hair behind her ear.

"It is!" he exclaims. "After spending all day and night away, I was so sure I would find the orphanage in absolute chaos that the whole way back I prepared a lie about going to fight off bandits or something. Imagine my surprise when not only no one had noticed I was gone, but the adults were even mad at me because I was late for my chores!"

He chuckles, and stops when he sees the lack of amusement in Rapunzel's eyes.

"It's funny because… I was being overdramatic?" he tries. Her frown deepens. "Guess you had to be there…"

"You were five," she protests. She's the one who takes his hand this time, an intensity he hadn't expected in her eyes. "You were five, and alone, and- no one cared you were gone?"

He opens his mouth, and closes it, unsure how to proceed. That wasn't the reaction he had expected. And, in all honesty, the way she said it did make the story sound sad, but it wasn't! He… They cared, he thinks, they would have if they had noticed because, at the very least, they would be in trouble with the law if they had lost a kid. They cared… They simply didn't know he had left.

"I got up to a lot of mischief at the time," he finally answers. "They were busy, and probably assumed I was out causing trouble."

Rapunzel stays silent after that. She holds his hand on her lap, and gently rests her head on his shoulder, while they both look at the view. The sun is setting on the horizon, bright and burning, the entire town glowing orange because of it.

Eugene sighs, and finally rests his head on top of hers, enjoying the soft brush of her hair against his cheek. Maybe this story isn't as funny as he remembers it. He's good at turning every little anecdote into something grandiose, entertaining whoever is willing to listen with his lively retelling, but… It's different, with Rapunzel. Everything is.

There's no hesitation to have when he says she cares, for one. Maybe she shouldn't, but she does, more than anyone ever did. She's also the first person in his life he doesn't want to lie to. The first person he doesn't feel like he has to lie to. She saw the worst of him already, saw how much of a selfish, useless jerk he could be, and she… she still loves him, for some reason. It's difficult to phantom, sometimes, and in the last month since their first meeting, Eugene kept worrying that he would wake up someday, and this dream would have ended as quickly as it started.

He's used to being forgotten, after all.

"I think we'd have been friends," Rapunzel whispers, interrupting his thoughts. "If we met, as kids. I think we'd have been friends."

"I was a troublemaker," he breathes out softly, still resting on her, "Sometimes, I acted out some scenes from my books, and it often ended with broken windows. You probably would have found me annoying."

"Oh I don't know, I think I would have enjoyed acting out those scenes with you, Mr Troublemaker," Rapunzel teased. "Though… Maybe you wouldn't have liked me. I was a bit of a crybaby when I was a kid, and not a great adventurer."

For a second, Eugene is glad she can't see him, because he knows his sadness for her must show. His heart tightens each time she mentions her childhood, and he remembers how lonely she had been, all alone in her tower.

"I would have loved you," is all he answers, and it's not even a lie. There's no universe in which he doesn't like Rapunzel, he's pretty sure of that, and even then… He had loved the younger kids, at the time. When he grew up a little, got over his tree adventure, and decided that he wasn't gonna be like the older kids he had known - he had read them stories, and had helped the new kids adapt, and had felt both happy and sad when they got adopted, and he inevitably wasn't.

And then… Then he started stealing, and it all went downhill from there.

"I would have loved you too," Rapunzel echoes, a bit too intensely. "We would have played together all the time, and- And I would have noticed that you were gone. I would have helped you come down from that tree."

They're still hugging. Still looking at the view, though Eugene is not seeing much of it, too focused on her words. He wants to joke that she couldn't have been more than one year old at the time, that she would have had trouble doing anything, but the deflection doesn't feel right. She's squeezing his hand tight, and he understands what she's trying to say, understands what she's trying to make him see.

"I know," he whispers, because he does. He knows she cares about him. He knows- He knows she wouldn't forget him. As much as he worries, deep down he knows she loves him, because she tells him and shows him in every little moment.

Rapunzel shifts, and they finally meet each other's eyes again.

"Do you know how I found you here?" she asks.

"Uh…" Eugene hesitates, thrown off by the subject change.

To be perfectly honest, he had come here because he was bored out of his mind, since Rapunzel was taken by her princess lessons, and no one really cared where he went as long as he didn't cause trouble. And then, all alone here with the sun shining warmly on his face, and the ledge offering more than enough space to stretch, Eugene had simply… fallen asleep.

Before waking up to Rapunzel curiously peering down at him, which surprised him so much it nearly made him fall off the roof. Thankfully, she had quick reflexes, and caught him, but she had looked spooked and he had wanted to make her feel better, thus the tree story he had been reminded of with this adventure.

"Usually, when my lessons are over, you always manage to find me and let me talk to you about my day, or try to take me on a date even when Cassandra says we can't, or… Well," Rapunzel chuckles softly, "what I mean is that you're always there. And today… Today you weren't."

"Oh," he breathes out.

"Cass said there was no reason to worry, and I knew she was right, but- but what if, you know? What if you were in trouble, or what if you had gotten hurt somewhere and couldn't come, or- or… I was worried," she sighs, looking down.

Gently, he put his hand on her chin, and made her raise her head again. The thing is, he does know what she was talking about. That worry gnawing at his insides every time he can't find her, and doesn't know where she is, he understands that all too well.

"I'm sorry."

"No, it's okay," she immediately corrects. "I simply… I notice your absence. Always, all the time, I notice when you are there or not, and I care about that. If… If you ever were in trouble, if you ever disappeared, I would find you, I promise."

When he sees the honesty in her eyes, Eugene thinks back to that little kid crying all alone on the branch of a too big tree. He thinks about him, growing up, meeting people he loved, finding a best friend in Lance, and yet continuing to ruin all of that little by little, because he was so sure the only way to carve his place in this world was by doing it alone.

He had been an idiot, he knows.

"I know you would, Sunshine," Eugene says. "I would too." Because now that they have each other, he knows that, no matter what, they will never let the other feel lonely ever again.

#tangled #tangled the series #Eugene Fitzherbert #Rapunzel #EAW

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writers-worst-nightmare · 3 years

Text

Till new flowers bloom (Lance x reader):

Ask: Hey! :D Just saw that your requests are open, so I thought I could tell you one of my favorite fanfic ideas: How about a Lance (from VLD) x Reader fanfic in which he and the reader eventually start dating post-canon. Everything is absolutely perfect, but he’s a unsure about saying the words ‘I love you’ for the first time. Not because he’s unsure about his feelings, but because he doesn’t want to lose another person that he loves. But, with the help of his friends, he eventually finds the courage, arranges an amazing date, and tells the reader how much they mean to him, and promises to protect them with anything he can.

A/N: this was fun to do! I love the idea of a sensitive Lance (almost as much as a sensitive Keith)

Warning(s): the fluff to angst might kill some readers

Pairing(s): Lance x reader

Word Count: 2,579

Request are always open!

Lance and you had been together since the eighth grade in middle school. You guys fit perfectly together, you where more in the calm side of things while Lance was always up and about. You still remember the day that he said he loved you…it was very…well…Lance to say the least…

***

“Y/NNNNNNNNN!!!!!” Lance yelled, phone gripped tightly in his hands, you perked up and cocked your left brow slightly upwards. The brown-haired male rarely talked to you, but you didn’t take it as a offense. You didn’t talk unless it was required to by a teacher or you where in trouble for something you didn’t do (that happened more often then you would think, the shy and quiet kids always get blamed for the things the loud kids do. Always.

“What?” You inquired, leaning back in your chair as Lance propped his phone up on your water bottle and gave you a sly smirk. Your eyes clouded with even more confusion as Lance went on tiktok and started to playing Electric Love.

”Do you know this trend?” Lance asked, you shook your head ‘no’ before lightly humming to yourself.

”No, but the song sounds nice,” you commented slowly. Picking out your words as carefully as a old lady picking out beautiful blooming flowers for her husbands funeral.

“I know it does…” Lance smoothed talked, doing the classic bisexual finger guns as you. You giggled at the boys attempt to get your attention. But just as the song picked up to the chorus Lance pulled you in by the collar of your shirt and kissed you roughly. You tensed up, muscles bunching up in the toughness that held in the kiss. But, soon, you found it to be comforting and relaxed slightly. Lance pulled away from you and smiled brightly.

”I am guessing this means that you like me?” You giggled, staring at Lance as he curled into you and hide his face in the crook of your neck. You felt your body temperature go up slightly as you hugged Lance back and laid your chin on his back.

***

It was short and sweet, anything that somebody could dream of in Middle School. The tiktok bad blown up to massive number and got both you and Lance a following (your followers demanding more Lance x you content, and you happily gave them it). The relationship through half of high school and training pilot school was so sweet. Even when Voltron was formed you guys stuck together likes two peas and a pod.

But one thing differed

One thing stuck out to you

It was always the same thing…

You would sat the words ‘I love you’ and wait for a response

But it never happened. He never responded with ‘I love you too’ or anything. He would just seem happy that you said you loved him and carried on with the day as if nothing happened. The crew started to pick up on slight hints but nobody got it! They would just say that Lance was being nice and shy but you knew the Cuban boy more then anybody. If you had to describe him personality wise ‘shy’ and ‘quiet’ are some words that too wouldn’t use. Lance's personality is very complex, as he has shown several different, often conflicting sides throughout the course of your relationship with him (even in the classmate side of things way back when). He can be very egotistical, cocky, confrontational, and arrogant at times. At other times, he is friendly, kind, reflective, and shows great intelligence. He is usually the first to make light of a delicate situation, either by joking around or flirting. Lance is noted for his poor-timed or vulgar humor at times, noted by him ripping a fart as a joke. Lance's friendly and outgoing personality allows him to connect with mostly everyone (maybe not as much with Keith) despite their many differences. Around girls, however, Lance tends to focus on flirting, sometimes neglecting his teammates. Lance is brave, adventurous, friendly, and free-spirited, often howling like a wild man during his fights and adventures, showcasing his unrestrained love for what he does. However the moments he is able to let go of those feelings are the times he is able to do the most for his team. He can be quite sensitive, reflective, and distant at times when his teammates are not around or when his guard is lowered. Lance is shown to be quite homesick, deeply missing the Earth and desiring to return to his family, reminiscing on the beach near his home, splashing in puddles, and experiencing rainfall. This is one of the few times he appears sad and he is unwilling to let his friends witness it.

He is often impulsive, not very in control of his emotions and often loses the gravity of the team's mission to dreams of glory, praise, and being the center of attention. Lance reacts angrily when Keith doesn't prioritize the shows Voltron is putting on to gain support, and he is easily the most enthusiastic of the Paladins about performing in front of a crowd. Lance tends to get caught up in the way that he sees the world rather than the way things actually are. Because of this, he is noted to be the least perceptive of his team. Lance was the only one fooled by Pidge's disguise as a boy. He also sees many of Keith's comments as insulting or aggressive when Keith does not appear to mean them that way because Lance believes Keith is his rival, and the "rivalry" between them is entirely Lance's own creation. Lance is insecure about his own abilities and placement on the team, and so often acts as though he has something to prove. Lance admits that he doesn't see himself as one of Voltron's best warriors and suggests that he may not be the best choice for a Paladin of Voltron. Contrastingly, Lance often shows a high degree of situational awareness and tactical skill while on missions, as shown when he corrected Keith's errors twice to protect the Balmera from harm from Keith's reckless attacks. When meeting the Blade of Marmora for the first time, Lance pointed out to Shiro that Keith would become angry and attack someone if taken on the mission. While this was most likely said because of his rivalry with Keith, Lance was correct in his assessment of Keith's character, as Keith's antagonistic nature created tension with the Blade when they discovered the knife in his possession.

Following Shiro's disappearance after the temporary defeat of Zarkon, Lance matured rapidly. He became far more serious in his missions and coordinating battles with his allies. During this time, he also lost much of his animosity towards Keith. Although initially desiring to be leader himself, Lance accepted the Black Lion's choice of Keith as Paladin. He becomes a much more supportive member of the team and steps up to take more of a tactical advisor's role, not sugar-coating his criticism of Keith's leadership tactics but supporting him to move forward all the same. Lance's acceptance by the Red Lion as its new pilot echoes King Alfor: acting as a right hand, trusting the Black Paladin to be a better leader than himself in battle, giving assistance when needed, and supporting his friends.

So he would often be the side character that got only a small amount of screen time and often bullies by other characters and the fandom. Although you loved him and all of his moments. Whether he is sad, cocky, sensitive, or doesn’t say the three words ‘I love you’ back whenever you say it.

It was the complete opposite for you

If someone where to describe you they would say that you where sometimes flirty but not as level headed as Lance. You used to be shy but you think that phase has left your body now (as least you hope with dating the one and only Lance McClain). Usually you flirted a lot with Pidge friendship wise and Pidge would always joke about killing Lance and getting together with you. You woud laugh and laugh as Lance fears for his own life in the corner. But other then the teasing with your best friend Pidge a lot of people labeled you as kind and understanding. You where the one to talk Keith out of leaving the moment he knew who is Mother is. Instead he stayed for a little longer. And when Keith left you defended him with your life. Sometimes arguments would burst out in Shiro saying that you cared more about Keith then you any other teammates. And maybe he was right, but you admired Keith in some way. He was the person that did what you didn’t want to do. The one thing that every half-breed thought of doing but never did in the end. When the days where off and you could relax a playful pillow fight would often kick off or you could be seen watching some anime (usually the gore stuff but sometimes you couldn’t help but watch Ouran High School Host Club souly based on the fact that Haruhi was there and it is Haruhi).

Maybe you where the toxic one in the relationship, maybe you needed to fix something and do something right.

“Y/n?” Pidge asked, snapping you out of your daydream and into reality. Sighing heavily you let down your guard and turned back on your mic to reach out to your non-binary teammate.

“Yes Pidge?” You called through the mic of your helmet. The slight grief that you felt for Lance handing thickly in your throat. You might have gotten use to if. Used to the feeling that Lance was never going to say ‘I love you’ in your relationship but it still felt worse then getting knocked down by Zarkon when you had a tom of weapons and he had none.

“Something happened to Lance I need you to—“ Pidge was cut off by the sound of you racing to get the rest of your uniform on. You where at the spaceship of backup was needed, although they rarely ever needed you. So you just wore your helmet (you thought it looked pretty cool). You pulled the purple uniform over your head and rushed into your lion.

“OPEN UP PURPLE!!” You called, clearly in a hurry. You grabbed your purple taser that Shiro had given everyone at the start of the mission and went in the mouth of Purple.

You where the purple Paladin, usually the person who has the purple Paladin is connected to royalty somehow. Everyone wanted to talk about it but you always ignored them when it came up in discussion.

The truth is that you are Zarkon’s child, being raised on the planets and then brought down to Earth when a war happened. You where raised by a old lady who found you left alone in the cold and brought you in. She fed you and kept you safe although she didn’t know what you truly where (she just guessed you where a human like everyone else on Earth). You covered up the marks on your face unlike Keith. You didn’t want to leave yet. You couldn’t leave…if you left then what would Lance do? No, you won’t be like Keith and leave your friends and boyfriend to rot in the spaceship while war goes plundering on like a lighting storm all around you. You may be Zarkon’s kid but you weren’t like him at all. You weren’t like Keith. You were y/n. And if you had to die to prove it, then so be it. Purple halted in front of Red. Your eyes widened as you saw Lance, he looks beaten up to the point of near death. Your breath hitched in your throat as you jumped out of your seat, making sure to grab the first-aid kit and then bang on Purple’s door to open faster.

“LANCE!!!” You screeched when Purple finally opened the door to let you out. Blue was beat up badly also, parts of Blue’s body was falling off and their usually clear crystal blue eyes where now dusty and clouded with thought. You found a gap in Blue and rushed in to save Lance’s life. “LANCE!!!” You exclaimed, going to Lance’s side and shaking him rapidly. Thick tears starting to prick at the corners of your eyes.

“HAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHA SJSNEURKNR AHAHHAHAHA!!!!” Keith howled in laughter. You whipped your head around and stared at the black-haired male. You fumbled with your pocket and pulled out the taser. Soon Lance joined in on the laughing as well. Both of them howling like maned wolves on a full moon.

“What are you two laughing at?!” You huffed, arms crossed and staring at the two boys. Soon the rest of the Paladin‘s arrived. All of them laughing together.

“Come in love…let’s get away from them…” Lance suggested, standing up on his own and taking you away. You didn’t have time to notice it before but now you looked around where you stood and there was a bunch of blooming flowers around the place. A small park where some kids sat at the dark navy blue coated bench and watched in awe at the lions and the two of you like you where some superhero’s flying through the sky.

“Where are we going?” You asked, leaning against Lance’s arm and intertwining fingers with him.

“You will see.” Lance chuckled, you rolled your eyes and started following Lance. Totally embraced in the fact that he was still alive. His scent smelled like the fresh clean breeze and coconut mixed together in the most perfect way.

Soon, the two of you went to a small opening in the park, kids where gathered around and staring at you with excitement filling their eyes. “Y/n! Can you read me a story?” One of the kids begged, the kids had curly blonde hair and round blue eyes. You nodded your head and sat down to pick up the book. You opened your mouth to start resting it to the blonde-haired girl before Lance coughed. You turned around and couldn’t believe the sight in front of your eyes. It was Lance on one knee, a dark purple case in his hands and a warm smile on his face. You looked for any sign of joking or a prank but all you could see was admirable and love for you in his tired dark blue eyes.

“I know this is kind of out of plan, but you know what? I am like that…so…” Lance trailed off, looking into your eyes. You stared at each other in silence before Lance spoke again. “I love you…and I am sorry that I hadn’t said it to you in all these years of us being together…but I hope I will make it up you…so y/n, will you make me the luckiest man on Earth and take this ring…?” Lance asked, pulling out the ring from the box. The ring had a small diamond but in it was a lavender flower inside. On the inner ring it had the lyrics for Electric Love in Lance’s handwriting.

“I guess McClain isn’t that bad of a last name…” You teased. Lance laughed softly before he took the ring into his hands and slipped it on your ring finger as a final say that you two where going to get married soon.

#voltron #vld #lance mcclain #voltron defender of the universe #voltron fanfic #voltron lance #voltron legendary disaster #lance x reader #writing inspiration #writing #fanfiction #writeblr #reference #answered asks #How did I write two thousand words in less then a hour #Idk #I had to do this TWICE because the font messed up #So I chose to be lazy instead #I might edit this later if I feel up to it

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0idril0 · 3 years

Note

May I request based on the reblog about ‘new normal’ you just did a much later Nico & Clint, maybe Nico trying to do art again or school or cook or something and struggling ??

Nico’s head was pounding as he laid the last lines on the paper in front of him, teeth grinding as he forced his eyes to focus. For just a few more minutes.

Please.

“F-Fuckin’ finally...” he slammed the color pencil down, scrubbing his aching hand against his eyes until colors swirled behind the lids. The drawing was already imprinted in his head, a wolf head that he hoped resembled Clint’s, surrounded by a multitude of wild flowers. It was more frilly than what he usually did, he tended to gravitate towards reds and blacks and more forgiving mediums, working around the continued seizures and poor eyesight. But it felt important for what he was trying to portray.

His mate surrounded by softness and love in the form that Clint said looked beastly and terrifying.

He didn’t know when Clint had started to think of his wolf form that way, but he hoped it was before they had ever met. Clint had let slip more than a month before that he was scared of being around Sorina and Evans new baby, worried he might slip a little and scar the baby for life.

Nico had immediately told him that it was a ridiculous thought, but the doubt and hesitancy that colored his face when he’d turned back towards the the group of people gathered around the new bundle was enough to send a lance through Nico’s heart.

And the worst part was he didn’t know what to say. He’d never been good with words, and now with the brain damage, he was even worse. And there was only so many ways to kiss sense into a stubborn werewolf.

But maybe he could show him. Clint’s wolf had always been a source of comfort for him, his beautiful russet fur the softest pillow, the warmth he emitted a constant comfort when he’d been too emaciated to regulate his own body heat. A gentle crutch when Nico needed help but couldn’t tolerate human touch.

And the man himself had the biggest and kindest heart of anyone he’d ever met. The fact that Clint thought any part of him could be a danger to his niece was horrifying.

“Uuuuugh....” Nico scrubbed at his eyes again before scratching at his short beard, an attempt at hiding the scars that still spotted his cheeks from deep ulcers that had had difficulty healing. “It’s g-gonna have to do...”

Pinching the bridge of his nose, like it was going to help him focus at all, he scrutinized his work. Before Martin he would have said it was still a work in progress..... but now? It was one of the better things he’d done in a while. He’d moved away from realism when he’d been able to pick up a pencil again, the migraines hadn’t been worth the fight, and paint was more forgiving.

The color pencil was smudged at the corners, the lines shaky in areas where a crisp finish would have made the piece stand out, but the wolfs face was Clint’s, highlighted with yellows like he was basking in the sun, a delicate blue butterfly contrasting with his red fur and half lidded green eyes beautifully.

It was his mate. A giant, gentle, protector of a man that hadn’t moved for 20 minutes when that stupid butterfly had landed on him at last years Fourth of July party.

He felt his mouth twitch at the memory, pulling at some of the scars on his mouth and cheek. His Mate was ridiculous.

Nico could hear Clint’s rumbling snore from his drafting table, the wolf had been running in the woods for hours today and had returned a few hours ago soaking wet and panting. When he’d returned he’d stuck his head into the sunroom where Nico was, lupine grin smug as he’d tried to sneak around to see the drawing Nico had kept from him for over a month now.

Nico hadn’t been able to help his snicker when he’d shoved at his over sized head, scratching in the spot Clint loved as he did so, “Go dry-dry off, I’ll s-show you when I’m done.” Clint’s tail has wagged so hard Nico had been able to hear the thump through the cabin walls, but his wine was truly pitiful when he’d slunked out and flopped onto the porch to bask in the sunlight. The sunny happiness Nico could feel through their bond betrayed Clint’s attempt to guilt him into a sneak peak, and Nico hoped it would be worth it now.

Daniel’s cane was propped up against his desk and Nico rubbed a thumb over the silver handle as he picked it up, using the object just like Daniel had for years before he’d died. Nico had found it tucked in the back of the shop when he’d finally been able to return and had swapped for the heirloom as soon as he was able to ditch the walker.

The initial thunk against the hardwood has Clint’s ears twitching as he comes out, a high pitched yawn following it as Nico shuffled further onto the porch.

“H-h-hey Honeyb-b-bear....”

Clint rolled onto his back at Nico’s greeting, legs and paws stretching to full effect as Clint yawned loudly and rumbled his own wolfy greeting back, squinted eyes finding Nico as his tail swished against the hard wood. “Sugar..” Nico heard the echo in his head, and snickered around a grin at the nearly 300 lbs wolf at his feet. Clint’s tongue rolled out of his mouth in a lupine laugh and Nico couldn’t keep his own smile down, even as broken and ugly as he thought it was now.

“Come-onnn, y—ou goof, you wannned to see -this right?” Nico shook the paper in his hand, backing up like he was going to go inside.

Clint’s jaw snapped shut as his head whipped towards Nico, eyes wide in question now. Really??? Nico could read the question clear as day on his face and grinned. “I c-could change my mind...”

He made to take a step back and Clint whined, stretching, this time muscles and bones popping as he morphed back into his human form. Where there’d been a ridiculously large wolf now lay an extremely large, naked man, toned muscles stretched to full effect as he reached for Nico, making grabby hands as he whined again with his human throat.

“Babbbbbyyyyy.... come back??? Show me here??”

Clint’s teasing grin and wink did nothing to help the burning blush that was creeping across his face and neck, headache forgotten as he swallowed heavily at the sight in front of him.

“Fine-“ His voice came out a squeak, and he cleared his throat, scowling at Clint’s snort of laughter. “-Fine, you’ll have—help me s-stand up...”

Clint’s grumbling turned deeper as he turned towards Nico, grin mischievous, “Like I would pass up the opportunity to get my hands on you...”

Nico grinned at Clint’s joke, knowing the wolf wouldn’t touch him without his permission, skin heating at the thought of Clint’s hands against him today. He loved Clints hands, long solid fingers and thick padded palms that had sooth so much and given him so much pleasure in the past few years.

He groaned as he slid down to the porch, using the bannister and accepting Clint’s hand against the small of his back as support, knowing the werewolf’s strength would be more than enough to catch him even from the awkward angle. His hip protested bending and Clint’s thumb rubbed small circles into his back when he settled heavily on the porch.

“Fuuuuck....” he groaned loudly, careful to keep the drawing turned away from Clint’s prying eyes as he flopped dramatically onto Clint’s bare chest.

Clint grunted around a laugh as Nico landed, sun warmed arms wrapping around him as he maneuvered Nico closer. “Hi Sugar....” Clint nibbled on Nico’s neck and snuggled closer. “You finished that drawin’ you’ve been teasin’ me with??”

Nico smiled as he felt the nerves that had been fluttering in his stomach settle in Clint’s calm presence, and he brought his scarred hand up to tangle in Clint’s hair.

“T-told you, surprise.....” He leaned into the kiss in his cheek, grinning. “Hardly- surprise-you get to s-see it...”

Clint chuffed, and Nico could feel the grin spread across his mates face. “I know but I’m about to explode over here, lemme seeeeee-“ he squeezed Nico and rocked him, the fingers pressed into Nico’s skin vibrating with excitement.

Nico took a deep breath, turning to press a gentle kiss to Clint’s curved mouth. The wolf melted, kissing Nico back gently until he pulled away, his green, dilated eyes following Nico’s as he backed up.

“Love you.” Nico turned more, scratching at Clint’s scalp until the low rumble vibrated the chest he leaned on. “Wa-wha-wanted you to see, h-how....” Nico growled, words stuck in his throat, and Clint kissed against his jaw, mimicking a deep breath, and Nico followed suit, unclenching his jaw to continue. “S-so, I-I drew it.”

Nico flipped back, holding the drawing above them, against the blue sky, puffy clouds the perfect backdrop to the tranquil drawing. He heard Clint’s breath catch; rumble stilling as the wolf froze.

Slowly Clint lifted one of his hands from Nico’s stomach, the other keeping Nico pressed firmly against him. “Darlin’, what... what is this??”

Nico could hear the wetness in Clint’s voice, the thin wobble that meant the wolf was getting emotional.

“You-been strugglinn-since Elena was born, scared you’ll hurt her...” Nico swallowed, “but this.... Love, you wouldn’t budge... you’re gentle, an kind..... hate for y-you,-for fear to keep—y-you, from holding her, only t-thing I’ve gotten from being held—by you is love.”

Clint was trembling behind him and Nico bit his lip, doubt working its way back into his mind until Clint started to sit up, Clint’s body doing the work so Nico stayed glued to his chest, arm pulling Nico’s hips flush against his as he re maneuvered their legs. Clint had reburied his face into Nico’s hair, and he heard the wet snuffle as Clint took in his scent, his mates thick arms holding him close. “Darlin’.... I don’t..... I love you...thank you....”

Nico leaned back against Clint, setting the drawing aside so he could catch hold of one of Clint’s hands, the other tangled in the blonde hair as he rubbed a thumb along a delicate ear. “Love you t-too, Honeybear....”

Nico brought Clint’s hand up and kissed along the long digits, heart full as Clint wrapped him further into his arms. Knowing his mate had understood him.

#clinco #nico series #recovery #art #brain damage #stuttering #I’m sorry #it’s not really whump #but Nico is trying so hard #and Clint is his flirtatious self #nudity mention #no touch aversion #Nico’s getting better slowly #probably 4 years after #and I forgot how to do read more #oops

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artiewiles · 3 years

Text

You Just Think You Love Me (7/7), Fact: Pidgeons are a flock animal

The city basked in orange light. The sun was rising, and Lance was heading home. Today he slept on the church tower. Beneath him, Washington was lazily waking up. In the park, cherry trees have been already losing their petals. Too bad he couldn't take Walter there. He would love them.

He flew into the bedroom through the window and turned back. Walked naked into the kitchen. Turned on the coffeemaker. Put gluten-free bread in the toaster. Stretched and listen to his joints cracking. Prepared a cup with the printed inscription "Team Weird".

Then he headed for the bathroom. A quick shower and then a new day begins. He will pretend that Walter is not missing at work. That he was not waiting for his voice in the receiver, advising him on how and whom to best dispose of safely or how to proceed with his technical task. He was somewhere on a secret educational mission with Eyes and Ears. He told Lance about the departure at the last minute and only because Lance asked him about the plans for the weekend.

He's been gone for eighteen days.

(links to ao3 and wattpad)

He was coming out of the living room when someone landed on his shoulder.

"Lovey?"

She pecked his ear and cooed.

He turned around. Walter slept on the sofa. Snoring lightly.

Lance froze. What's he doing here?

What is he supposed to do?

Lovey flew over to the back of the couch and cooed again.

He figured it out. Disappeared into the bathroom as fast as he could. After a short shower, he shaved and went out in a bathrobe. Walter was still asleep.

He went to the kitchen. He put on a kettle to make Walter's favorite tea and had other toasts made.

Took a deep breath. Laid the breakfast o the tray, left it on a conference table, and went to get dressed in his work clothes.

When he returned, Walter was sitting on the sofa with knees under his chin and gaze fixed on his mug. He had bed hair. Lance resisted the urge to comb through it with his hand.

He sat down in a chair and reached for the coffee.

"I'm sorry I fell asleep. I can’t keep my eyes open after those new meds for motion sickness. You weren't here, and I wanted to wait for you.“

"It’s okay," Lance said, sipping his coffee. "Why… Did you need anything?"

"Yeah." He set the mug down and hugged his legs.

Lance was silent. Waiting.

"I have to tell you something."

He gulped. That didn’t sound good.

"I received an offer from the International Intelligence. Basically, the bosses of our bosses. They are based in Korea.“

"South or North?"

Walter laughed dryly. "South, Lance. The South."

"Ah, I see.” He concentrated on putting down the cup with just a soft cling. To seem calm. He reached for the toast. Maybe he tore off the corner a little too harshly.

"I don't know if I should accept it."

He smiled and sprawled in his chair. "Why shouldn't you?"

"I like working with you."

"We haven't spent much time together lately."

"I know, sorry."

"It’s okay.”

It wasn't okay.

"I have to tell you something," Walter said again, shrinking on the couch.

He waited. He ripped another piece of toast.

"You know, the accident… So, it wasn't entirely an accident.“

"Which accident? The one that turned me into a pigeon?” he joked.

Walter shook his head in all seriousness. "No. The one when I made you fall in love with me.“

He swallowed all the protests. He waved. "It’s all water under the bridge. Don't worry about it.“

"No! I have to tell you before I leave.“

His stomach twisted. "So you've already made up your mind."

"Yeah. No. I don’t know. Lance, listen. Please. I did not do it on purpose, but subconsciously. And I can’t forgive myself.“

"Subconsciously?"

He nodded and hugged himself even tighter. "Yeah. Subconsciously. I liked you, you know? And I guess I subconsciously wanted it to be reciprocal. I'm sorry. I'm really sorry. I tried to fix it as quickly as possible. Don't abuse the situation. Don't abuse… you.” Before Lance could react, he continued,“ I wanted to confess to you before I left.”

He didn't believe it. "Don't abuse… Walter, you fool of a Weird."

"I am really sorry. And I tried to make everything as it was before. Behave like before, but it didn't work. I was head over heels with you.“

"Was?"

"I was. I tried to fall out of love. I took what I gave you, even stronger. But it didn't work. Unfortunately, it was not artificial.“

"Walter…"

"But I'm leaving, don't worry. I just wanted to ask if you would be willing to do something like in the winter? Something like a farewell? Before I leave. It doesn't have to be a date. We will just go out. Or would it be too weird? But if you’re seeing someone or you don’t want to go, you don't have to.“

He sighed. "Walter, we are weird. That's why we work so well together. And no, I’m not seeing anyone.“

Walter looked at him in surprise. "Really? But where were…?” He looked around the apartment and fell silent.

Lance let it go. "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure, whatever."

"When did it start?"

"Alaska," Walter said immediately. "You're almost… We almost didn't get back from there. When I… I realized it soon after that.”

Lance nodded. “Halloween. Two years ago. It was the best party I've ever had. You lit up every room you entered.“

"It was the glitter.

Serotonin -"

"No," Lance shook his head. "Your smile. Your joy. Every weird activity you've come up with for the intelligence. Your gestures. You."

"But… what are you saying?"

"Walter, I've been crazy about you for two years. No scents or potions changed that.“

And this time he had a feeling that Walter could finally hear him.

"You are… crazy about me?"

He was sometimes a little slower for a genius. "Yes, Walter, I am."

"But it means… that you… and I…"

He raised an eyebrow, and though he tried to look serious, his cheeks widened into a big smile.

"… but I gave you… you said you didn't love me anym—"

"I lied. You can't make something that's not artificial disappeared.“

"But, but, but…"

He gathered all his courage and rose from his chair. Sat down on the sofa next to him. Took his hand.

Walter fell silent and swallowed.

"Walter, will you out on a date with me? On a real, real date?”

"Yes," he said. "Gladly."

Lance leaned slowly toward him. Slow enough for Walter to make up his mind.

Walter made up his mind. Their lips met.

He grabbed Walter and pulled him close.

And either Lance was hit by a glitter bomb, or it was the best moment of his life.

Walter’s tongue ran over his lip, and Lance hungrily deepened the kiss.

He climbed on Lance's lap without stopping.

Lance tasted him. Stroked him. Kneaded his small tight ass. And Walter reacted so enthusiastically and wonderfully to everything.

Finally.

God, he loved him so much.

Finally, Walter pulled away, breathing heavily. Flushed. Eyes glowing. "Shall we stay in Washington or go to Korea?"

Lance squeezed his cheeks and pulled him even closer. He smiled lazily at him. "I don't care. Wherever you go, I go."

Walter bit his swollen lips with a smile. "Team Weird?"

"Team Weird."

#fanfiction #fanfic #romance #slash #spies in disguise #walter beckett #lance sterling #love #pinning #drama #wallance #walance #translation #love potion #kiss #slash fanfiction #Slash

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teknicianwrites · 3 years

Note

Kissing a scar that they got from something traumatic for f!Hawke and Merrill?

Thank you for the lovely prompt! This definitely got away from me, but I think I like it anyway.

@dadrunkwriting

Meredith gave Marinda a last long look before nodding. "I trust we understand each other, Champion." She turned away, calling out to gather the mages and Templars she'd brought and headed back to the Gallows.

Carver glanced back at her and she gave him a sheepish shrug. He rolled his eyes and fell in line with the rest of his Order.

She took a moment to breathe in the cool night air of Hightown, but the normal comforting scent of night-blooming flowers was covered by blood and smoke.

Andraste give me strength.

Cheering erupted as Marinda gingerly walked back into the main hall of the Viscount's keep. Nobles rushed to her side to express their gratitude, touching her, crowding her, blocking her view as she tried to find her lovers in the crowd.

She forced a smile to her face and nodded at whatever Lady de Cerrac said. "If that's the best the Qunari have it's a wonder they're still causing trouble in the north," she replied, with no idea whether it was relevant to the topic. It probably was. If not to de Cerrac then to someone talking at her. The Arishok's body still lay on the ground where he'd fallen, and even the aristocracy of Hightown didn't have that short of an attention span.

Tittering laughter followed her words so it must have been the right thing to say, except it quickly became the wrong thing to say as a strong hand gave her an approving slap on the back. It took every ounce of willpower she had to grin through the fire that lanced through her abdomen for it. The owner of the offending hand grinned back at her underneath a disheveled mustache. "Too right, Champion, too right you are!"

Maker, she had to get out of here. She couldn't pass out in front of everyone, not after the Knight-Commander had given her that title.

She could have cried with relief when Aveline pushed her way through the throng, Merrill trailing close behind and Varric's voice ringing out, "Alright everyone, I know she's impressive but I do believe our Champion has earned her beauty sleep."

Despite the murmurs of disappointment, the crowd parted for the Guard Captain as she led Marinda out into the night. Merrill came to her side, and Marinda clutched at her hand for support.

"Where's Bela?" she asked softly, still forcing herself to walk with an event gait while within sight of the dispersing nobility.

"She skulked away in the commotion," Aveline said, voice hard with disapproval.

Merrill tucked herself closer, pulling Marinda's hand to drape her arm over her shoulder, and Marinda leaned into it gratefully. Her warm body shared much-needed heat after Marinda's recent blood loss."I think the crowd made her nervous. She'll be back. She always comes back."

Aveline shot her a skeptical look, but upon looking over Marinda's increasingly failing attempts to hide her pain, kept her thoughts to herself.

"What did the Knight-Commander want, Chuckles?" Varric asked as they walked through an empty side-street on the way back to her home.

"Oh, you know, the normal things." Marinda attempted a half shrug and choked back a whimper for how it made agony shoot down her side. "The duties of a Champion, my responsibility to the city, she'll throw me in the Gallows if I don't toe the line. All the standard formalities."

Merrill's eyes widened as she turned to her, and Marinda stumbled. "She wouldn't. You saved the city! You can't lock someone up after they saved the city!"

In the privacy of the alley she allowed herself a small groan from the sudden change in angle. Merrill bit her lip apologetically and returned her position at Marinda's side. "She didn't say those exact words, but it was heavily implied."

Aveline frowned. "It may have been bravado, Hawke. She named you Champion herself. Hauling you in now would be a tough sell."

"Red's right," Varric agreed, then hummed thoughtfully. "Still, it wouldn't hurt to ingratiate yourself with the hoity-toity in the coming months." Marinda groaned at the thought and Varric shrugged. "I'm just saying. You get into some weird shit with some weird people. Hightown having your back would be a good position to be in."

"I just saved all their lives! Isn't that enough?" Marinda whined, because if she was whining in annoyance then she wasn't whining in pain.

"With these people? Start going to the dinner parties, Chuckles. Trust me on this."

They reached the front door of her estate and she slumped in defeat. Merrill unlocked it for her and helped her through the threshold. She was immediately greeted by a cold mabari nose against her palm..

"Hey, Cal. It's fine. I'm fine." She gave him a reassuring scratch behind the ear.

Cal whined his disagreement and licked blood from her hand.

"Meserre!" Bodhan peeked his head out from the basement. "You're alright! Is the trouble over?"

"Yes, Bodhan. Everything's fine." Her gut was screaming at her to lie down and she was cold and lightheaded from blood loss, but she was breathing and the house was still standing. That counted as fine, right? "Do we have any elfroot?"

His eyes darted over her bloody and battered form. "I believe so, meserre. Is there anything else you need? Food? A hot bath?"

A hot bath sounded lovely, but she was afraid she would black out and drown in it. Not a very Championly way to die. "Maybe some broth? And water?" She knew she desperately needed fluids.

"Of course, meserre. Orana's down the stairs keeping the boy calm. I'll have her whip something up for you right and proper."

"Thank you."

Merrill scurried off after him, saying she was going to get some bandages, and Marinda was suddenly faced with the prospect of getting to her room.

All she wanted to do was pass out in her bed, but the stairs down from the Viscount's Keep had been bad enough. Stairs going up? She stared at the climb in despair.

Aveline must have seen her face. She held out her hand and, when Marinda moved to take it, gently scooped her up into her arms. Marinda hissed as her middle was jostled, and Maker, if she had the blood for it she would be blushing in humiliation at finding herself in a bridal carry.

"Aveline-" she tried to protest, and Aveline cut her off with a stern glare.

"No, Hawke. Hush. I've got you."

Varric's amused face quickly fell when she didn't put up any more fight. "I'm going to see if I can find Blondie for you."

Marinda shook her head. "He's probably healing people the Qunari hurt. Don't pull him away from that, I'll be fine."

He gave her a dubious look. "All the same. I'll let him know you're hurt and ask him to check on you when he gets a chance."

She was too tired to keep arguing and let herself slump into Aveline's hold.

Aveline carefully carried her upstairs and carefully deposited her on her bed. Cal immediately hopped up to her side, snuffling his concern at her neck.

"No, buddy," she murmured. He whined, but she knew he would get in the way of getting her armor off. "Foot of the bed," she offered in compromise, and he whined again but obeyed.

Merrill came through the door, balancing bandages, rags, a bowl, a cup, and a pitcher in her arms. She must have had Bodahn pile it onto her; there was no way she could have stacked it herself. "I've got everything. Well, not everything, Orana's working on the broth, but everything else. There's elfroot under here somewhere, if I can… oh…" She seemed to realize her predicament. Her arms were so full she had no way to put anything down without dropping it all, and the sloshing from the pitcher told Marinda it was already full.

Aveline came to her rescue, setting the pitcher on the nightstand and helping her unload the rest onto the bed.

"Thank you Aveline! I didn't think that through. I should have let Bodhan help me but poor Sandal was so scared I couldn't bear to pull him away with Orana needing to cook," she rambled anxiously.

"It's fine, Merrill." Aveline gave Marinda a long look. "You'll really be alright? You're not trying to joke away internal bleeding?"

Marinda huffed a soft laugh she immediately regretted. "Everything hurts, but I'm not going to die. I may not have my own ride-along passenger like Anders, but I'm still a healer. I'm not losing any blood. Just need time to make some more."

"I'm trusting you on this, Hawke. You'd better be alive tomorrow," was the stern reply.

Marinda gave a weak smile. "Champion's honor." She gave a weak salute. Did Champions salute? She didn't know. She should have asked Meredith for a handbook. "Go. I know you need to check on your men and get the city to stop being on fire." Marinda watched Aveline's face meander between exasperation and amusement, before finally making the unexpected journey to sincere.

"Thank you. You saved a lot of lives tonight. Even if Hightown forgets that in a month, I won't." Aveline gave her hand a squeeze and looked to Merrill. "Take care of her."

"I will," she promised.

Aveline gave them both a nod and left, pulling the door closed behind her.

Merrill hovered at her side. "Ma vhenan, what do you need?"

"Water. Please."

Merrill helped her drink, then gave her some elfroot to help with the pain. Marinda chewed on it, ignoring the bitter taste as Merrill carefully helped her out of her ruined armor. Her lover was gentle, but everything hurt and Merrill apologized for every wince and gasp.

"Creators…" Merrill stared at the fresh scar on her stomach.

"Fuck," Marinda agreed, looking down at herself.

She'd known it was bad. The Arishok had run her completely through and pinned her to the wall of the Keep. But even with dried blood obscuring it, Marinda felt light-headed to see just how much of her torso had been rent apart.

Merrill took an unsteady breath and dipped a clean rag into the bowl of water, gently washing the blood away to reveal the full extent of the scar. Her hand shook as she wet the rag again, moving to clean a smaller wound at Marinda's shoulder.

Marinda tore her gaze from the scar and looked at Merrill's face to find her eyes welling with tears. Marinda gently caught her wrist and pulled the cloth away, setting it aside and entwining their fingers with her other hand.

"I'm ok, Merrill. I'll be ok."

Merrill tightened her grip like her hand was a lifeline. "You almost died."

The Arishok whirled on her, and she ducked away from his axe and stumbled against the wall.

She should have been watching the sword.

"I'm alive. I'm here."

"You almost died. You were on the ground and you weren't moving and there was so much blood… Creators, there was so much blood."

Agony liked fire burned in her gut, clear through her back. She heard metal scrape against stone as she looked down at the weapon piercing her torso.

"I'm here."

"You were already so hurt and then-"

Her vision blurred as she looked up at his snear.

"Your role is realized."

"Shhhh."

"You shouldn't have done it. I didn't teach you just to watch it kill you. You almost died-"

This was how she was going to die. She stared into his eyes and distantly heard someone scream her name. She turned toward the sound and saw Bela, restrained by two Qunari, frantically trying to break free.

Bela….

"I couldn't let him take her."

She was dying, but she wasn't dead yet. And she wouldn't let him have her.

"I know. I know, ma vhenan. But I thought I lost you. I thought I killed you."

With a cry of rage and pain, she ripped the power of her own lifeblood from her wound, and boiled his blood in his veins.

"You saved me."

"Merrill no, there's too many people-"

Marinda turned Merrill's hands over and pushed back her sleeves, and traced the fresh scars from where she had used her own blood to keep Marinda's in her body.

"I can only slow the bleeding, I can't close the wound. Heal yourself, vhenan."

"That was so dangerous, love. All of the nobility could have seen."

"Merrill…"

Merrill laughed through her sobs. "You started it. You lost so much blood they would have thought it was yours."

"I can't lose you. Heal yourself or I'll bleed myself dry, I won't watch you die-"

Marinda kissed her left wrist, then her right, feeling each scar beneath her lips that had saved her life.

"I can't."

"You can."

She kissed them again, and a third time for good measure, and it wasn't until she tasted saltwater that she realized she was crying.

Merrill's gaze was resolute. Marinda had no mana left, and she couldn't use her own blood to stop the bleeding. Merrill was offering her own.

Her throat was closing up, but she made herself speak. "I can't lose you either, love. You're my heart too. You and Bela."

As Varric and Bela distracted the crowd and Aveline used her own body to shield them from sight, Marinda tentatively reached for the pull of Merrill's heart. It wasn't Marinda's blood and she couldn't call on Joy this way, but she was still a healer. Ignoring the pains that weren't threatening her life, she mended back arteries and organs and flesh. She was used to the warmth of Joy, or the soothing cool of creationism, or even the steady burn of Justice, but this felt raw. Primal.

Merrill took a hand back to cup Marinda's cheek. "We're quite the pair, aren't we?"

With careful attention to Merrill's pulse, she healed as much and as quickly as she dared, increasingly aware she was twice a maleficar in the Viscount's throne room. She didn't think she'd have the strength to run.

Marinda smiled and pulled her close. "Absolute disasters."

Confident that if she died tonight it wouldn't be from this wound, she made a last small pull on Merrill and sealed the bleeding at her wrists.

They both cried, delayed terror finally safe to be expressed, and then they kept crying, in relief and disbelief that they had survived and were free.

When they finally calmed, Marinda kissed her, tasting salt and lyrium and blood.

"I love you, Merrill."

"I love you too."

Merrill finished cleaning her and carefully wrapped the cuts and scrapes that hadn't been healed. Orana came by with the broth, and Merrill helped her drink it. She gave her more elfroot to chew as she changed out of her own bloodied clothes, and poured her some more water to wash away the taste.

She helped Marinda lie down and kissed her brow. "Sleep, vhenan. I'm sure Anders will be by tomorrow, and you'll want to be rested for that. If Varric told him what happened we're probably in for a scolding."

Marinda chuckled and closed her eyes. Merrill put out the lights and snuggled into her shoulder, and Cal crawled along the bed to curl up at her other side.

She was alive. Kirkwall was still standing. She was its Champion, whatever that meant. Merrill was with her, and though she didn't know where Isabela had gone, she knew she was free.

Marinda slept.

#Teknicianfic #Dadwc #Hawke/merrill #dragon age fanfiction #Potatowitch #Thank you for the lovely prompt!#It didn't at all go where I was expecting but I'm ok with it

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flamingo-writes · 4 years

Text

Don’t Tell Dimitri — Claude x Reader

Summary: It was after one of the monthly missions that Byleth had asked you to assist with the Golden Deer. Your lance skills were remarkable enough to have Claude manipulating Byleth into asking for your help. However, Claude’s reasons to do so were others rather than just your strength and skill.

A/N: I went for F!Byleth instead of Gender Neutral Byleth, as I originally intended. I’ve been playing far too long with F!Byleth, I sometimes forgt M!Byleth is a thing too XD forgive me. Also, I’ve been loving the Golden Deer route, although I’ve got to admit, I miss my Blue Lions :c Anyways, I hope you enjoy this.

Also! I headcannon Byleth to be a cheeky little shit. Everytime I have the opportunity to answer with any sarcastic/smartass answer, I go for that one. So, my perception of Byleth is heavily influenced by it. I apologize if you eadcanon Byleth to be more of a composed/serious character.

Posted: 04.21.2020

Word Count: 1.7K

Warnings: curse words.

How bad things would go if someone ever found out Claude's teeny tiny crush on Dimitri's younger sister? The princess of Faerghus. Being roughly a year younger than both Claude and Dimitri, skill wise, you weren't in any way behind them.

In fact, from a young age, you showed great skill with a lance, despite your lack of Crest. You waved your lance with such precision as if it were both a third arm and your dominant hand. With such grace and skill you waved any lance, making it hard to believe you lacked a Crest.

That skill was what first caught Claude's attention. However, your laid back personality and sharp tongue amused him like very few things in life did. However, he could see through the cheerful mask you wore to cope with the horrible past you and Dimitri had been through.

"Say, Teach" Claude said walking up to Byleth who was attentively watching you train with Felix. "Don't you think we'll need a little help for our mission at the end of the month?"

"I can't believe you are admitting our lack of skill, Claude. It pains me, really" Byleth snapped sarcastically at once "I'm sorry I can't be the Professor you deserve" She continued, knowing it would either annoy Claude or amuse him.

"Oi, no one said anything about you as a professor" Claude chuckled corresponding to Byleth's sarcasm "I was just merely stating a possibility…"

"Why are you here, Claude? I know its not because you want to train. I rarely see you doing anything productive at all on a Sunday" The professor remarked as Claude laughed softly.

"Alright, you got me, I'll cut the bullshit"

"Language, kid" Byleth chuckled rather amused by hearing kids use curse words.

"Those two are very tough on the battlefield. That first mock battle we had, I swear to the goddess, for a second I thought we were done for when I fought against her…" Claude recalled as Byleth nodded, remembering how Claude barely could dodge your fierce moves.

"You're suggesting that I should ask for their help for our next mission, is that right?"

"To be honest, Felix kinda scares me a bit" Claude admitted "He's so short fused, I'm afraid he ends up stabbing me instead if I do something to upset him. [Name] however...she's cool, funny, she laughs at my jokes. She's much more laid back than her brother. And at the same time, she's a killing machine with a lance"

"Is it just me or do I smell your hormones all over me?" Byleth chuckled, looking at Claude, trying to see his reaction, however, the young man simply shrugged. “You could either genuinly care for this girl, or you just want to get on Dimitri’s nerve, which one is it? Or is it both?” Byleth teased.

"Say what you want, Teach. Tease me to your heart's contempt. But rest assure, you'll remain my favorite lady in this monastery…"

"Good, I was worried that you might replace me for her" Byleth replied sarcastically.

"Me? Never! Who do you think I am?" Claude giggled mischievously.

"The Claudster" Byleth smiled back at her student before looking back at Felix swinging his sword swiftly as you effortlessly stopped each and every one of his attacks "Alright, I'll ask for her help after she's done training"

♤

By the end of the month, on your way to the battlefield, Claude and you didn't stop giggling and whispering things to one another. The two of you looked like elementary kids plotting something. But that same behavior helped camouflage Claude's feelings for you, as people thought you two were just friends. Some believed you were close to you just to piss Dimitri off. Either way worked to mask the secret Claude so desperately wanted to hide.

The mission wasn't particularly hard. But maybe it was because you were there giving a helping hand. A very helpful one. However, things of course wouldn't be as good after the Golden Deer had won the war.

While saving Claude's back while he was busy shooting an arrow, you'd twisted your ankle throwing your lance at a thief running towards Claude, ready to slash his back with a sword.

Claude helped you walk, holding one of your arms around his shoulders and one of his arms around your waist.

"I definitely owe you big time" Claude said, grateful that you'd saved his life.

"Oh, normally I wouldn't ask you to return favours, but I will ask for this one back" you joked, laughing, trying to mask the unbearable pain on your ankle.

"You better don't tell Dimitri about this" Claude laughed, knowing your brother would be particularly amused with Claude getting his sister injured.

"I don't know, it'd be a good way to blackmail you" You joked.

Once back at the camp, Marianne took a look at your ankle. Working a little bit of magic, it soon stopped aching and it no longer was swollen.

"I-I'm so sorry, [Name]. I can't completely cure you ankle. It'll no longer hurt, but you'll still need to rest" The shy girl mumbled too fast and too low, it was hard for you to properly listen to her.

"It's cool. You already did a lot" You tried reassuring her "The pain was the worst part. Thank you Marianne" You smiled.

"Teach, what now?" Claude asked Byleth as she sat next to you, looking at your ankle "It's almost sunset. We won't be able to be back at the monastery before nightfall"

"We leave tomorrow morning. It is dangerous to wander at night" Byleth answered standing up and walking to her tent. "Especially considering one of us isn't in the best condition to fight if we run into something"

♤

The moon was almost at its highest point in the night sky. The campsite, dark and silent, as only the echoes of Raphael's loud snoring. And Claude was unable to fall asleep. Not because of Raphael, it wasn't the first time they camped, the snoring had never been a problem.

His mind was restless with the thought of you being asleep a couple of tents away from his. In an in impulsive thought he could not ignore, he left his tent and walked across the camp stealthily until he reached your tent.

"[Name]" He whispered. She's asleep, you jerk...He told himself after whispering your name a second time. "[Name]"

The fabric shook gently as you popped your head out of the tent.

"Why the hell are you still up?" You whispered a scream.

"I'm sorry, did I wake you?" The boy asked.

"Not at all"

"What?" Claude raised an eyebrow as a smirk spread through his face "Why the hell are you still up?"

"Don't use my lines against me, smartass" You giggled "Wanna come in?"

Claude tried not to answer right away and instead waited a couple of seconds as if he was considering it.

"Sure" he shrugged.

You sat on your sleeping bag as Claude kneeled inside your tent and sat next to you.

"So? What brings you here?" You said leaning back, resting your weight on one of your arms.

"Couldn't sleep. And I heard noises coming from your tent" he lied, since you hadn't been making any noise whatsoever, but didn't question his words. "Wanna hang out while either of us gets sleepy?"

"Sounds good to me" You shrugged.

"Thank you for saving me today. Or...yesterday. whatever" He said frowning softly. "Thank you"

"Don't thank me Claude. I was merely doing my part, thats it" you said as your fingers reached his earring. "I like it, it suits you"

"Thank you, darling" he smirked leaning into your touch and shrugging softly "You're tickling me"

"I didn't know you were ticklish" You giggled, smiling mischievously.

"[Name], no!" Claude chuckled holding your wrist tightly as you tried to sneak it to his neck. "If we wake anyone up we'll be in trouble"

"Since when do you care about getting in trouble?" You snapped as Claude looked at you with a stare you knew it only meant trouble.

"True" He hissed as he moved closer to you.

"No" You said once you noticed his menacingly stare as his hands quickly found their way to your neck and sides "Stop! Claude!" you tried to keep your giggles under control as Claude was the one tickling you now. "We'll get in trouble" You whispered a scream.

"Sorry, don't care" He whispered back at you as his fingers kept roaming, tickling you, trapping you in a torturous laugh.

"Claude!" You cried.

"Alright, fine" He was giggling as he stopped "Whatever Her Highness commands" He chuckled as you caught your breath.

"Claude?" You whispered, still panting softly.

"Yes, [Name]?" With a pleased cheeky smirk, he looked at you, his gorgeous green eyes meeting yours.

His heart stopped for a second once he realized what kind of look you were giving him. Your eyes were beginning to look sleepy, and yet, they scanned his face slowly. He noticed the particular way your stare would stop on his eyes and his lips.

Taking the hint, he leaned closer, slowly, giving you time to decide what happened next. At first, you didn't move, and the tip.of your.noses brushed softly, as he kept looking at you.

In a barely audible voice, you whispered his voice before closing your eyes. Once Claude saw his cue, he leaned in, closing in the space between the both of you. His lips met yours.

It started as a shy simple kiss that quickly heated up after you locked your lips with him. At first, the both of you awkwardly trying to adjust to each other's rhythm. But once you managed, the both of you lost yourselves in it.

With your heart on your throat, you clung to Claude, wrapping your arms around his neck and gripping his hair. At the same time, Claude wrapped one of his arms around your back and squeezed you against his, while he rested his weight on his free hand.

Finally, you broke the kiss, the both of you breathless, panting lowly. Claude bumped his forehead against yours as the both of you remained motionless.

"Let's not tell Dimitri about this" You panted as Claude nodded.

"Agreed" He whispered, looking into your eyes for a brief second before leaning closer to steal another kiss from you.

#fire emblem imagines #fire emblem claude #claude von riegan #claude x reader #claude von riegan x reader #fire emblem three houses

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hanaasbananas · 3 years

Text

and in that moment i became yours

AO3

Inspired by the song Lut Gaye (watch the video omg it's crazy dramatic)

As the eyes arose, love endeavoured to shake off drowsiness and an exchange of hearts was made in the moonlit night

As streets went, this one was fairly unremarkable. Quiet, respectable, and lined with uniform houses. If streets could talk, this one would have nothing to say.

That wasn’t to last, though.

The sky was shot through with streaks of pink, orange and even purple, colours rapidly smothered by the velvety blue-black of the night sky until the only source of light came from the lights decorating the exterior of a hotel at the end of the street.

Faint music drifted out from within, along with the muffled conversations and laughter of all those who had gathered for the wedding. No other sound could be heard, but the silence was thick with anticipation, almost as heavy as the warm summer air, waiting for something- anything to happen.

pop-pop-pop!

Gunfire sounded in the distance, followed by squealing tyres. A young man veered suddenly into the street, his rapid footsteps echoing in the silence. Glancing over his shoulder as he ran, he ducked, narrowly avoiding the bullet that whizzed over his head.

“Shit,” he swore, looking around wildly for a place to hide. Eyes alighting on the large cars parked by the side of the hotel, he grinned, leaping up onto the roof and grabbing hold of a string of lights, shimmying his way up and through an open window.

And not a moment too soon, for just as he dropped down from the window ledge—pain lancing up his side from the rough landing— he heard shouts ringing out below him, his pursuers splitting up to find him.

Sitting back against the wall with a groan, Adrien finally dropped his transformation, catching a woozy Plagg in cupped palms. “That was a close one, huh?”

Plagg only opened one eye to glare at him and he chuckled, stroking his kwami softly between his ears before rummaging in his pocket for a well wrapped packet of Camembert. “Here,” he handed it over, “you deserve it.”

While Plagg devoured his cheese, Adrien fired off a quick text:

Told you I wouldn’t be late. What’s my room number again?

Standing, Adrien hissed, hand flying to his abdomen and coming away wet with blood. “Dammit—” he pulled away his shirt from his skin, peering down to assess the damage and swore again.

“What? What is it?” Plagg asked, flying up to hover in front of his face and Adrien smiled grimly.

“Let’s just say it’s a good thing the suit stopped the bullet from going through me.” He checked his phone for a reply, but there was none. “Great,” he muttered under his breath, setting off down the hallway “the one time I need him to text me…”

It was easy work to snag a room key off a bell cart, even easier to find the corresponding room and slip in. Unfortunately, it wasn’t so easy to find an empty room.

Seriously? He groaned internally. I know the black cat has bad luck but really? The fucking bride’s room?

Moving carefully so that she wouldn’t notice him, Adrien stepped backwards, keeping his eyes trained on the bride—who was sat in a high backed chair, her head in her arms—he curled his hand around the doorknob behind him, preparing to turn it quickly and make his escape.

And then, because the universe really wanted to see how much bad luck it could throw at him, there was a knock on the door.

The bride looked up sharply, her eyes widening when she caught sight of him and Adrien found himself momentarily struck by her delicate beauty. Twin spots of pink bloomed across her pale cheeks, and her brow furrowed, taking him in.

Unconsciously, Adrien stood straighter under her examination—a movement he immediately regretted when it tugged at his wound—and he realised with a start that her large bluebell eyes were wet, tears trailing down her cheeks.

Before he could say anything, the knock came again, more insistent this time. Adrien spun around, staring at the door and then at the bride who had risen, making her way tentatively to the door. Panicking, he grabbed her wrist, halting her in her tracks.

“I’m not here, got it?” He hissed, letting go only when she nodded shakily. On impulse, he plucked the veil that she had clutched in her other hand and wiped away her tears, holding onto it when he released her.

Hiding behind the open door, he leaned heavily against a side table, only half listening as the bride got rid of his pursuers. While she talked circles around them, he let his eyes rove over the room, eyebrows rising up on his forehead as he took in the upturned furniture, the torn invitation on the dressing table, the broken glass and spilled wine on the floor.

The door slammed shut, breaking him from his thoughts. “You’re injured.” The bride stated, eyes trained on his shirt where blood had begun to seep through the fabric.

“Nah it’s nothing,” Adrien waved her off, trying to seem nonchalant. From the unimpressed look on her face, he’d failed.

“There’s a first aid kit in the bathroom. Sit down.” Her tone brooked no argument and he nodded quickly as she disappeared into the bathroom.

He’d only just managed to lower himself into a chair when the bride emerged, brandishing a damp washcloth, unaware—or more likely uncaring—of it dripping onto her dress. Mouth set in a hard line, she set the first aid kit on the floor and knelt in front of him. “Open your shirt,” she ordered.

“Well now,” the corner of Adrien’s mouth ticked up in a smirk. “You’re being very forward for a bride to be.”

“Do you want that treated or not?”

“Alright, jeez …”

She bowed her head, inky hair falling over her face in a curtain as she worked carefully to clean the blood from around the wound. “So, who were those guys?” she asked after a long silence. “Better you don’t know,” Adrien shook his head. “It’s none of your business.”

She peered up at him, one eyebrow raised. “I dunno, you kind of made it my business when you broke into my room .”

“Didn’t break in though, did I?” Adrien nodded at the door. “I used the key, same as anyone else.”

“Okay, and how did you acquire this key?”

“Does it matter?”

“You know I don’t have to be this gentle with the first aid,” to prove her point, she pressed a little harder against his wound “so are you gonna give me a straight answer or not?”

Adrien held his hands up in mock surrender, lips twitching as he fought to keep a straight face.

“Alright! You got me! I’m actually the stripper your friends hired to get you to chill out before the wedding.”

The bride snorted. “Yeah because I’d definitely hook up with a stripper an hour before I’m supposed to get married.”

“Well…” Adrien drawled, glancing down at his open shirt. “I mean you’ve already got me half naked.” He hissed when she swiped at his skin with an antiseptic wipe, but any protest died on his tongue when her eyes flicked up to meet his, her eyebrow cocked challengingly.

She’s getting married , he had to remind himself nothing is going to happen. His own eyes drifted down to look at her lips, and his heart stuttered in his chest. Even if I kind of want it to.

Holding his breath, Adrien sat silently, tracing the bride's features and committing them to memory as she continued bandaging him, dipping her head low, her brow furrowed in concentration.

Licking his lips, he searched for a different subject, tilting his head up to stare at the ceiling. Remembering her earlier tears, he couldn’t help but ask “so uh...you wanna talk about why you were so upset earlier?”

“Nope.”

Adrien clicked his tongue. “Fair enough. I just thought-y’know, a bride is usually pretty happy...” he trailed off, lapsing into silence once more.

“It’s a business merger,” she said quietly after a moment. “The wedding is just a way to really solidify it I guess. Join the families, build an empire, that sort of thing.”

“And you aren’t too happy about it,” Adrien guessed. At her glare he shrugged defensively “what? It’s not everyday you see a bride crying the way you were before her wedding. Not in this century, anyway.”

She didn’t respond at first, and then— “I just thought I’d marry for love, you know? Or at least find my soulmate.”

“You don’t think you could love this guy?” he couldn’t hide the amusement from his voice, and she glanced at him suspiciously before shrugging.

“Maybe. He’s a bit of a cold fish though—” Adrien choked on a laugh, tuning it into a wholly unconvincing cough at the last minute.

“What’s so funny?” She demanded hotly, but he shook his head, pressing his lips together to muffle his laughter, and waved his hand for her to continue.

Changing the subject, she huffed quietly. “And you can stop calling me ‘a bride’. It might be hard to believe, but I do actually have a name. It’s Marinette.”

“Cute—” Adrien froze when her cold fingers brushed his skin, a shock running through his entire body at her touch. The bride— Marinette,he corrected himself—had drawn back so quickly he was surprised she hadn’t fallen, her eyes trained on his chest.

Following her gaze, he saw that his skin was glowing at the point of contact. A quick glance confirmed that her own fingertips were shining just as brightly in the unmistakable sign of...sign of…

Soulmates

Swallowing roughly, Adrien met her wide eyed stare with his own. The universe had to be playing a joke on him at this point.

“I—” Marinette began, her expression stricken. “I can’t—”

Adrien’s heart sank in his chest, and he nodded.

There were stories of course. Stories of soulmates who met when it was too late for them to be together; of those who rejected their soulmate in favour of someone they’d chosen themselves. Numerous studies had been done on the subject, examining the various socio-economic factors that influenced a person's decision to accept or reject, but that didn’t make it hurt any less in the moment.

They said you were often drawn to your soulmate even before you’d discovered that’s who they were, but Adrien had never thought the connection would be so immediate. Already, he knew that he would never choose anyone else. Not now. Now when he’d seen Marinette, spoken with her, laughed with her, been entranced by everything that she was.

And all of this only in an hour! How much deeper might he fall, if they had a lifetime together?

But she was about to build a life with someone else.

Adrien’s phone buzzed in his pocket—a reply to the text he’d sent an hour ago,

You’re in room 503 dipshit

He swore, realising just who Marinette would be spending that life with, and clenched his fist around his phone, resisting the urge to throw it across the room. Clearing his throat, he stood abruptly, the chair scraping back roughly. “Uh-th-thanks for...you know,” he gestured to his bandaged chest “for this but I should go. Need to get changed before the wedding and I finally know where my actual room is.”

Instead of looking relieved, Marinette looked even more distressed. “You’re a guest?”

Adrien laughed quietly, “yeah, something like that.”

She didn’t respond, surging up to her feet, an unreadable expression crossing her face, and then—

And then—

And then she was kissing him.

Tugging at the collar of his shirt, she pulled him down, her mouth moving desperately against his, and then he was kissing her back, his hands gripping her waist and holding her flush against him. Their kiss was a hurried clash of lips and tongues and teeth, Adrien chasing the sweet taste of her lips, committing it to memory, his hands tightening before letting go.

Breathing heavily, they pulled away and he rested his forehead against hers. “Why?” he asked. Why would you leave me with this? Why would you show me what I won’t have?

“I always wanted to kiss my soulmate,” she whispered, her voice hoarse. Disentangling herself from his embrace she slumped down in the nearest chair, her head in her hands.

Marinette didn’t look up when he left, but as the door clicked shut behind him, he heard her muffled scream, and found himself cursing the cruelty of the fates.

***

In his room, Adrien dressed slowly, washing the grime from his face, wishing he could just as easily erase the events of the last hour from his mind.

Once he’d deemed himself presentable enough, Adrien resisted the urge to go check on Marinette, and instead made his way downstairs to wait with the rest of the bridal party.

“What the hell happened to you?” Félix groused as soon as he arrived. “You look like shit.”

Adrien rolled his eyes “is that any way to greet your brother?”

“I’m allowed to be snappish,” Félix retorted. “I’m the groom. And you’re late .”

“It’s not my fault you couldn’t text me faster. I couldn’t find my room.”

“I was busy!”

“Look, I’m here now aren’t I?” Adrien snapped “so get over it. When is this thing starting anyway?”

The sooner the wedding was over, the sooner he could make his escape. In his pocket, Plagg pressed against him, trying to comfort him in his own way and Adrien took a deep breath, turning to his scowling brother.

“Sorry,” clapping Félix on the back, he led him to the front “I’m being an asshole.”

“Yeah, you are,” Félix muttered darkly, but there was no heat behind his words. Internally, Adrien sighed. It wasn’t his brother’s fault that he was marrying his soulmate. With Félix set to inherit the company, of course he would be the one roped into the business merger, and Adrien refused to blame him for something that wasn’t his fault.

Well. He could blame him a little. No-one said his feelings had to be rational.

***

As the ceremony began, Adrien forced himself not to look directly at Marinette as she walked down the aisle, led by a man who was easily twice his size. A quick glance at Félix showed that his brother was unaffected, seeming almost bored as he watched Marinette, and Adrien felt a burst of anger at his indifference. How could he care so little, when he was about to marry such an exquisite woman?

Quickly schooling his expression, he made the mistake of letting his eyes skim over the crowd, briefly locking eyes with Marinette, who faltered slightly, hand tightening on her bouquet. He could practically see her mind working, eyes flicking between him and Félix, noting their resemblance. She blanched, eyes never leaving his as she continued down the aisle, though with the veil covering her face, he doubted anyone else noticed.

Struggling to remain calm, Adrien shoved a hand in his pocket, making a tight fist, his nails digging painfully into his palm. It would be over soon, he just had to hold out a little longer, just a little longer...

He’d always dreamt of the great love stories, imagined recreating them all with his soulmate. Turned out all he was gonna get was a tragedy. Already he could feel his heart fracturing in his chest. It really shouldn’t have surprised him as much as it did.

Adrien blinked, focusing his attention on the ceremony again.

The officiant was droning on, Marinette was still staring at him over Félix’s shoulder, he heard someone yawn in the audience. The groomsman beside him shifted restlessly, Marinette was widening her eyes at him, one of the bridesmaids adjusted her glasses. The officiant fell silent, Marinette finally looked away from him, glancing over the audience instead, a furrow appearing between her brows that Adrien felt a sudden urge to smooth away.

He realised what she was about to do in the split second before she moved, and he took a half step forward, just as Marinette ripped the veil from her head and threw it.

“I object to this union!” her voice rang out in the sudden silence, before alarmed murmurs began, and she stared at the guests defiantly, daring them to stop her. Adrien had to swallow a laugh when he saw that she stared the longest at his father, who was already half out of his seat, his expression thunderous.

“Sorry, Félix,” Marinette shot him an apologetic smile, reaching around him to grab Adrien’s hand, pulling him forward and dragging him behind her.

Where their skin touched, their hands began to glow again, intensifying with every second that their hands remained clasped until the light was almost blinding, and still she didn’t let go. Adrien barely heard the ensuing pandemonium, transfixed as he was by the light emanating from their joined hands.

The soulmate identifying glow did not last forever. It usually only occured for the first few hours after a pair found each other, but the intensity of it often depended on the pair's feelings. His heart swelled in his chest and he felt dizzy with excitement at the confirmation that it was real-that he wasn’t the only one affected. That somehow, some way, Marinette had the same feelings.

“So that’s why you were being such a baby,” Félix’s unruffled voice cut through the chaos that surrounded them, his expression bemused, and any other time Adrien would have rolled his eyes. Before he could say anything though, Félix had darted forward, pressing his car keys into his hand. “Jesus, will you two go already?! I’ll handle things here.”

They didn’t need to be told twice.

Marinette hitched up her skirts in one hand, never once letting go of him and they weaved through the crowd, pushing against those who tried to stop them until finally, they made it out onto the street. The wedding car was parked out front and they scrambled in, slamming the doors shut behind them.

For a long moment, they simply sat slumped in the seats, breathing heavily and relishing in the sudden silence, Behind his closed eyelids, Adrien could still see the glow from their touch, and he cracked open one eye, peering down to see that while Marinette had loosened her hold on him, she had yet to release his hand. Not that he minded.

Turning to face her, Adrien bought her hand up to his mouth. Brushing his lips across her knuckles, he peered up at her through his eyelashes. “Where to?” he asked, a grin pulling at his lips.

Marinette’s eyes were sparkling, her cheeks flushed. “Anywhere.” She said “Everywhere. I don’t care. As long as you come with me.”

He leaned forward then, letting go of her hand to cup her face instead, one hand sliding behind her neck to draw her closer, the other tangling in her silken hair as he captured her lips in a kiss.

This time, their kiss was unhurried, Marinette’s mouth pliant underneath his as she melted against him. She bought her hands up to clutch at his shoulders, pulling him forward, her fingers burying in his hair, scratching lightly at his scalp until he groaned into her mouth, a fire igniting in his blood. Between them, the gear stick dug into his stomach, but he hardly noticed. Eventually, they pulled away, breathing heavily, and Adrien smiled, dipping his head to peck her on the lips once, twice more.

“Always.”

To God in heaven, I have only one prayer to see the moon with you every night

#this fic is so strange? idk how to categorise it #love it tho #miraculous ladybug #adrien agreste #marinette dupain cheng #hanaas bollywood playlist

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crimson-mage-02 · 3 years

Text

Looking Through Her Eyes

Summary: Two best friends, Prince Keith of Egypt and his most loyal friend Lance, both ran away from Egypt to escape the cruel world they had lived their entire lives. They both stumbled across the Midian people as they welcomed them with open arms for a new path.

A/N: Hello everyone!! Merry Christmas!!This Kallura and Plance fic is based heavily on the movie The Prince of Egypt. This gift is for @magiesheartlove I hope you like it!!!

Enjoy reading, feel free to comment and give feedback! Just press keep reading to see the rest of it! Merry Christmas @magiesheartlove and everyone!!

@idyllchatter-plance-and-kallura

Keith and Lance both walked into the hallway, sewing a little bag while whistling a tune and leaned on the railings of the balcony. “Well, that went well.” Keith commented, leaning on a statue.

“Just go away.” Lotor groaned in annoyance not wanting to deal with his brother and his best friend as well as joking around.

“Could have been worse.” Lance said, looking up at him with a grin.

“’The weak link in the chain.’ That’s what he called me.” Lotor said with distain in his voice as Keith and his servant friend Lance looked each other trying to find a better way to cheer him up.

Keith sighed and continued to sew. “Well, you are rather pathetic.”

“Irresponsible, ignorant of the traditions. He practically accused me of bringing down the dynasty!” Lotor exclaimed, looking down at Keith and Lance.

“Yeah, I can see it now. There goes the pyramids!” Keith chuckled, shaking his head while Lance snickered softly.

“You two can laugh about it!” Lotor jumped down from the statue, walking towards his brother and friend.

“Statues, cracking and topping over. The Nile drying up. Single-handedly, you will manage to bring the greatest kingdom on Earth to ruin.” Lance smirked with Keith laughing with amusement while filling up the bag with some liquid from a bowl.

“Tell me this, Keith and Lance. Tell me this. Why is it that every time you start something, I’m the one who ends up in trouble?” Lotor asked, watching him smirked evilly as he dropped the bag down and hide away.

Lotor looked over down below seeing the bag had hit their parents advisors. They looked furious and he looked back to look for Keith and Lance. He turned to the other side, seeing Lance was holding a bowl. “You might as well.” Keith smirked.

Lotor smiled and dumped the wine on their parents advisors, hearing more angry exclaims. “Hey, I figured it out. You know what your problem is, Lotor?”

“What?” Lotor asked as they walked along happily with the two following him from behind.

“You care too much.” Lance pointed out with Keith nudging Lotor on the arm.

“And your problem is, you don’t care at all.” Lotor chuckled, spin his little brother’s wig, and walked along happily all cheered up.

“Oh, in that case…” Lance grinned and winked at Keith who nodded.

“I suppose you care a lot more than I do that we’re late for the banquet, for example.” Keith said as he adjusts his wig and smirked seeing his older brother froze in fear with Lance snickering quietly.

They all immediately got themselves in their formal garments with Lance running after them in such a big hurry. Fearing for their father’s wrath. With Lance fixing Keith’s wig, he made sure it is in a perfect form. He heard Lotor was breathing heavily with Keith pushing him towards the banquet.

“I’m done for! Father will kill me.” Lotor said as he was being pushed by his brother.

“Don’t worry. Nobody will even notice coming in.” Keith assured him as all three men entered into the banquet with the crowd cheering as well as their parents. Lance walked away presuming his duties.

Lotor glared at his younger brother. “’Nobody will even notice’” He stood taller with Keith chuckling nervously and rubbed his arm.

“Ah, the young princes!” Queen Honerva gleefully greeted her sons with a tight embrace. And then whispered to her eldest. “Lotor, you were just named Prince Regent. You are now responsible for overseeing all of the temples. I suggest you get over there and thank your father.”

She urged Lotor to thank his father, Zarkon and she turned to her youngest son while clapping for his new title along with Keith. “Apparently, Keith, someone thought he just needed the opportunity.”

Keith smiled brightly and ran up to his father and brother. “My Lord Pharaoh! I propose that the high priests off their tribute to their new regent.”

Pharaoh Zarkon beamed with a smile turning to his most trusted royal advisors. “An excellent idea! Zethrid, Ezor!”

Zethrid grumbled seeing her food was all over the table. “Zethrid.”

“Hmm?” She turned to Ezor, seeing her grinning from ear to ear.

“The Midian girls.” Ezor said with a smirk on her face.

Zethrid mirrored her smirk. “Go get them!” She walked to the centre with the spotlight on her. “By the power of Ra, we present for your delegation and delight, an exotic apparition stolen from a faraway land.” Spoke appeared around her as it exploded with covers appearing and revealed two Midian girls sitting on top of the camel. Keith gasped seeing such rarest hair colour and her eyes sparkled like a thousands of diamonds in his eyes. She had white and red clothing with her hair tied up braided past her waist. She had purple crystal earrings with a golden tiara with a blue gem.

Meanwhile Lance was starstruck by the younger girl dressed in green and blue clothing with purple accents. Her honey brown hair was pulled in a ponytail with green earrings. He stood there completely in utter shock to see her stunning beauty. Both girls were struggling in their restraints as the two Princes gasped in amazement.

“We offer you with these two desert flowers.” Zethrid pulled the rope that tied up one of the girls towards to the princes.

“Allura!” The second young girl cried out to her.

Allura stumbled and fell on the ground, but still had a scowl on her face. She growled softly, seeing the two princes were smiling at her. Lotor stood up with a smile, grabbing her face in his hand. “Let us inspect this delicate desert flower.”

She looked at his hand and attempted to bit him, scaring him away and scurried to Keith’s side. “More like a desert cobra.”

Keith chuckled and crossed his arms. “Not much of a snake charmer, are you?”

“That’s why I give her to you.” Lotor grinned, pushing Keith towards Allura.

Keith’s eyes widened as he was being pushed by his brother towards Allura who was glaring and growling at the two princes. “No, that’s generous but….”

“I won’t be given to anyone. Especially an arrogant, pampered palace brat!” Allura exclaimed angrily while trying to get out of the ropes. Then heard her friend was being pulled onto the floor with the crowd laughing. “Katherine!”

“Oh another desert flower.” Lotor smirked, lifting her chin up but she headbutted him and everyone exclaimed in shock. Lotor groaned holding his chin and tried to soothe the pain. “Another…. Desert snake.” In that moment, Lance cannot be any more in love with the younger woman. So fierce and beautiful.

“And are you going to let her talk to you like that, Keith?” Lotor asked his brother who turned to Allura.

“You two will show the proper respect for a Prince of Egypt.” Keith declared pointing his finger at Allura.

“But we are showing the respect you deserve. None!” Allura exclaimed while pulling the rope away and swung it around with Keith stopping the guards with her and grabbed the rope.

“Untie this rope! I demand to set us free!” Allura demanded angrily, pulled the rope.

“Be still!” Keith grunted, still holding onto the rope.

“Let go!” Allura growled with Katherine getting up and trying to help her friend but was pushed away by the guards and was in Lance’s arms, just in the nick of timing to save her from falling down on the floor.

Keith looked to the side, seeing there is a little pond and smiled. “As you wish.”

Allura yelped and fell down in the water with everyone in the banquet laughed. She tried to get up from the water but slipped. Keith stood up, laughing, and looked back at his mother who hung her head as she didn’t approve what he had done.

Keith immediately frowned seeing his faults with Lotor laughing in amusement whole holding onto his shoulder and glanced at Lance. “Lance my good friend! Have them dried off and sent to Prince Keith’s chambers. If it pleases you, Father, my first act as regent, to appoint Keith, as royal architect.” Lotor placed his purple ring into Keith’s finger. Everyone applauded and cheered for Prince Keith.

While they were celebrating, Keith admired his new ring then looked at Allura in the crowd, seeing her walking away from the crowd and all soaked. She was being aided by Lance and her friend towards the hall to get dried up. He winced seeing her glare and walked away with Lance to get dried up.

On the way to his room, Lance had a bowl of dried towels in his hands. “Well, that went well.” Keith groaned in annoyance and rubbed his face tiredly while hearing the guests were cheering loudly in the banquet.

“Tell me about it. How is she?” Keith asked his friend.

“Hmm, well the girls are all dried and are resting your quarters as we speak.” Lance replied. “Oh! And they are mad about what happened at the banquet.”

“No kidding.” Keith sighed bitterly as he walked towards his room until they heard muffled sounds from inside his room. Both men ran inside seeing a servant was tied up and gagged. Lance tapped him on the shoulder looking at the window where ripped curtain was being tied up on a pillar as a rope. They both went to the balcony seeing Allura and Kathrine both walking with their camel, trying to escape. Keith climbed down the rope and jumped on the ground with Lance falling down but quickly got up and got some dirt off of his robes.

Keith saw the guards was walking towards to the exist. They were going to get caught. “Guards.”

“Prince Keith.” Both of the guards stood up straight looking at him in the eye with Lance glancing at them and at the who froze, thinking they were going be captured again.

“Uh, there’s a…. a man tied up in my room. Well, look into it.” Keith ordered as the two guards complied and scurried away with Lance sighing in relief. They both turned to see the girls, but they ran off ahead with their camel.

Both men followed the girls into the slaves’ houses and found them getting water and begged for water from a young woman and young man. They were given water for their long journey to escape Egypt.

Then that night he didn’t know it would’ve changed his life as he had seemingly met his true family, his older sister and brother, named Acxa and Shiro. His older sister had claimed he is their younger brother. Keith did not understand and thought they were lying.

Acxa looked at him in disbelief. “They never told you?”

“Who never told me what?” Keith asked in confusion.

“But you’re here. You must know.” Acxa trying to reach out to him but he took a step back.

“Be careful, slave!” Keith exclaimed, taking his hand away from Acxa, somewhat confused about the situation with the sibling he and Lance had met.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” Lance stepped in for his friend.

Shiro grabbed Acxa by the arms and looked at the two with an apologetic look. “Oh, my good prince. Um, she’s—she’s exhausted from the day’s work. Uh, not that it was too much. We…We quite enjoyed it. But-But she’s confused and knows not to whom she speaks.”

Acxa grew irritated and shoved his arm away. “I know whom I speak, Shiro. I know who you are. And you are not a prince of Egypt.”

“What did you say?” Keith asked with anger and felt offended.

“Your highness, pay her no heed. C-Come, Acxa. May I discuss something with you?” Shiro asked nervously seeing his sister won’t give up.

“No, Shiro. No!” Acxa exclaimed. “Please, Keith, you must believe!”

“That’s enough.” Shiro said softly, dragging her away from Keith and Lance.

Lance frowned seeing Keith was getting more angry by these slaves who claimed that they are siblings. “You were born of our mother, Krolia!” Acxa exclaimed trying to get out of her brother’s arms despite his protests. “You are our brother!”

“Now you go too far. You shall be punished!” Keith pointed his finger at her with Shiro kneeling down before him.

“No! Please, uh, Your highness. She’s ill. She’s very ill. We beg your forgiveness. Please, Miriam, let us go.” Shiro pleaded, dragging her away from him.

“No, Shiro. Our mother set you adrift in a basket to save your life!” Acxa exclaimed.

“Save my life? From who?” Keith asked with a frown.

“As the man that you call ‘Father’.” Acxa replied with Lance gasped softly and saw Keith had enough of this.

“How dare you?” Keith growled at her.

“God saved you to be our deliver. And you are, Keith. You are the deliver.” Acxa said, clenching her hands, pleading to her younger brother.

Keith grabbed her wrist tightly with Lance calling out to him. “I said, enough!” He threw her on the ground, and he glared at her one last time. “You will regret this night. Let’s go, Lance.”

He reluctantly followed Keith back to the palace until he saw him stopping hearing Acxa singing a lullaby that he had heard from before. He turned to see Acxa smiling with tears falling down. Lance saw how shock and confusion in his face.

Then he ran away from the two with Lance trying to catch up to him. Accidentally knocking a man down along the way. He got up quickly with lance helping him as they arrived at the palace with Lance panting heavily. “Let me catch my breath!”

Keith huffed and panted heavily. He looked up at the statue of his family in the temple. This is where he belongs, not as a slave. He found himself questioning his whole life, wondering, and thinking it was all a lie. He never thought himself as a slave and a Hebrew.

A few days after that encounter, he walked into a slavery work place, seeing his older brother Lotor had granted a vision from the Gods to rebuild the temple. He looked around at the tired looking slaves around him. All worn out, starved for food, and are parched. Pulling the ropes, carrying heavy loads, and had whip marks on their backs a sign of punishment.

Keith saw an elder man was being whipped as a punishment while hearing his sister’s pleas to attempt to stop the guard from torturing the man. He looked away for a moment while seeing Lance was looking at the slave nervously but still stayed by their side. Until he heard a loud cry, the poor older man was getting more hurt by the guard. He cannot believe what he had done. He… he needed to get away from here. He ran away from the crowd while Acxa had grabbed him, but he didn’t have enough courage to face her, Lance or Lotor.

He needed to get out of Egypt. He doesn’t belong there. He ran and ran away as he was almost to the gate way out of Egypt. He heard horses footsteps from behind him, hearing Lotor and Lance calling out to him on the chariot.

Lotor made a turn to stop him from running and try to talk to him. “Keith.”

“Keith… it wasn’t your fault.” Lance said to him, trying to comfort him while Lotor tried to convince him to stay back with him and all of his problems will be solved now that he is Pharaoh. Ruler of Egypt.

“Let me go!”

“No, wait.” Lotor cried out to his brother.

Keith gritted his teeth in anger and turned to them. “You saw what happened. I just killed a man.”

“We can take care of that. I will make it, so it never happened.” Lotor promised, holding his shoulder but he shrugged it off.

“Nothing you say can change what I’ve done.” Keith pointed as he continued on walking away from him.

“I am Egypt!” Lotor exclaimed and he went in front of him trying to convince him to stay and walked backwards while speaking to him. “The Morning and the Evening Star! If I say, ‘Day is Night’, it will be written, and you will be what I say you are! I say you are innocent.”

Keith swat his arms off his shoulders with Lance trying to calm him down. “Keith, your brother is right, he can help you. Just listen to him.”

“What you say does not matter. You don’t understand. I can’t stay here any longer.” Keith said softly as he was prepared to leave.

“Keith!”

“No! All I’ve ever known to be true is a lie. I’m not who you think I am.” Keith said, not looking at him in the eye.

“What are you talking about?” Lotor asked in confusion.

“Go ask the man I once called ‘Father’.” Keith replied as he walked away from his brother with Lance following him.

Lotor had called out to him once more and he turned to him seeing a sadden and broken expression, pleading him to stay. He had said his goodbyes to him and ran away from Egypt with Lance running behind him into the warm and hot desert, while hearing Prince Lotor’s cries.

Keith and Lance both ran into the hot desert with no plan or what direction they are going in whatsoever. They both went into the canyons, experienced extreme winds, and walked down field of rocks. Until Keith fell down with one of the rocks ripping the sandals, groaning in pain.

“Keith!”

“I’m fine.” Keith said softly in frustration seeing his sandal was ruined. He took off his necklace, his golden accessories and was about to toss the ring away. He looked at it as it was his last connection to Egypt. To his brother, Lotor. Lance took off his robes and ripped the bottom bit of the robe to have more room to walk in.

“Oh, that’s so much better.” Lance sighed contently.

“Why did you come along? You could’ve stayed by my brother’s side.” Keith said.

“Well, you and I have been friends for a very long time before I become friends with Lotor…. So I did promise I stay by your side. Even though we argue a lot.” Lance chuckled dryly with Keith joining in as he took off his wig. “Wow, when was the last time I saw you with your mullet?”

“Come on, what is with you and my hair?” Keith asked quietly with the wind coming by. They closed their eyes until they were buried underneath the sand. Then moments after Lance got out of the sand coughing, getting the sand out of his mouth and spit it out. Then a camel came by and tried to eat their hair.

“Ugh! Ow!” Lance exclaimed in pain as Keith grunted in annoyance until he saw water coming out from a bag that was on the camel. “Hey, wait. Please!”

“Water!” Lance exclaimed as the two went after the bag and was being dragged by the camel. Lance was holding on to the tail while Keith was holding onto the bag filled with water. Both were exhausted from walking in the hot scorching desert.

Continued to being dragged by the camel, Keith hit his head on a well with Lance falling down on top of him. “Lance!”

“Sorry.”

“No, look, water!” Keith exclaimed as he smacked his lips together before drinking the water. They both put their faces in the water. At long last, they drank the nice and cold water. Both sighed in relief and saw a sheep looking at them and dropped the water out of its mouth.

Lance shook Keith’s shoulder and pointed at some man fighting against three young girls. “What are you doing? Help! let our sheep drink! Leave us alone! Get away!”

“Stop it! My father’s the high priest of Midian. You’re going to be in big trouble.” Exclaimed the eldest sister.

Keith looked to the side and saw the men’s camel. He stood up and walked towards them. he held onto the railings with Lance standing by his side.

“Hey, you! Aren’t these your camels?” Keith called out to them.

The two men looked with shocked expressions as Lance beckoned them to run. “Hut-Hut!” They all watched the two men running off after their camels with the girls looking at Keith and Lance in shock.

Keith groaned and leaned down the well but fell down as the bricks broken down. “Keith!” Lance tried to grab his leg, but it was too late. The girls looked over the well and decided to help Lance get him out of the well. “Pull!”

“Merla, Romelle and Luka! What are you girls doing?” Allura asked with a smile. “And you!”

“Hahaha, hi! Please don’t hurt me!” Lance exclaimed in fear while hiding behind the well. Allura rolled her eyes and turned to her younger sisters.

“We’re helping this kind man to get his funny and weird friend out of the well.” Luka replied while pulling the rope.

Allura looked at the servant who smiled awkwardly and then turned to the girls with a grin. “Trying to get the funny man out of the well? Well, that’s one I’ve never heard before.” She looked down and gasped seeing there was really a man down there. “Oh, my. Oh, uh, don’t worry down there! Uh, we’ll get you out. Hold on!” Allura exclaimed as she helped her sisters to pull him out of the well. Until she recognized him as the Prince of Egypt. “You.”

“Huh?” Keith gasped seeing the Midian girl in front of him. She grinned and then let go of the rope with Keith falling down into the well again as a little revenge for what he had done to her. “Mm-hmm.”

She walked away with Lance and her sisters watching her leave. “And that’s why papa said she’ll never get married.” Merla said to her younger sisters.

“Hang on, buddy. I-we’ll-Ahh!” Lance cried out as he fell into the well and crashed onto Keith. Allura groaned in annoyance seeing the two morons had fallen in the well and saw her sisters were urging her to help the two men out.

“Please Allura, they must need assistance from us.” Romelle pleaded.

Allura huffed and went to get help and a new rope from their home. “Fine. But the elders will be cleaning them not us.”

After a few moments, they managed to get help to get Keith out of the well and was summoned to a tent to get cleaned by the elder women with Allura, Merla, Romelle and Luka watching in amusement. “Katherine. Come on, you better come and see this.” Allura chuckled while Lance perked up covering himself.

He saw Pidge in her green-blue dress, with her hair tied up in a ponytail. She saw him covering himself up while Keith was being cleaned by her mother. “You don’t have to do this.” Keith said so bashfully.

“Yes. Ladies, please, we’re really…. We’re really quite…” Lance chuckled nervously seeing Katie was washing him. He cleared his throat nervously while she blushed softly.

“No, not there, please.” Keith laughed softly. “That tickles. Ladies, you’ve cleaned every inch of us.” He yelped and then looked behind him. “Whoa, I… was wrong.”

The two young men heard Allura and her sisters were all laughing at him. She saw the shadow of their father coming towards the tent she gestured her sisters to move to let him through. “Let me through. Let me through. I want to see him.” Appeared Allura’s father, beaming with a bright smile, greeting Keith and Lance with a warm smile.

He hugged the two of them tightly. “AH! You are most welcome. You should not be a stranger in this land. You have been sent as a blessing. And, tonight, you two brave young men shall be my honoured guests.” He put his robe around Keith as Lance was already wearing his blue woven jacket.

Allura stood by Keith’s side with a smirk. “My father, Alfor, high priest of Midian.” Keith sighed covered himself from Allura and the other girls just walked of the tent. Lance had his eye on Katie who was holding a little bowl in her hands and walked out of the tent.

(~)

Keith walked out in a black shirt with shorts and a red jacket with gold accents while Lance came out with a blue-long sleeve shirt with cream pants. They both looked at the crowd, sitting in a circle in front of the fire.

They both looked over at Allura’s youngest sister, Luka beckoned them to sit. “Come on, sit with us.”

“Um, all right.” Keith smiled nervously with Lance following him looking around for Katherine in the crowd and then saw she was sitting next to Allura. He fidget nervously and bit his lip. He went over to sit next to her. She seemed to move to make room for him.

“Hi.” Lance shyly greeted her.

“Hello.” Katherine smiled back at him.

Keith sat next to Allura, she may not or have acknowledge him sitting next to her while he took an orange until Romelle stopped. “Psst. Not yet!”

“Oh, sorry.” Keith apologised putting back the orange back in the basket.

“My children, let us give thanks for this bountiful food.” Alfor announced patting a young boy’s head as he made his announcement. “And let us also give our thanks for the presence of these two brave young men who are here tonight.”

Everyone all clapped with Lance nodding his head bashfully with his friend seemed to be ashamed of himself for what he had done. “Please, sir. I wish you wouldn’t. I’ve done nothing in my life worth honouring.” Keith said looking up at Alfor while his daughter looked at him with sympathy.

“We were just trying to do the right thing, sir.” Lance spoke up with Katherine giving him a small smile.

Alfor smiled and then spoke in a soft and clear voice. “First you rescue Allura and her friend Katherine from Egypt, then you defend my daughters from brigands. You think that is nothing? It seems you do not know what is worthy of honour.”

Keith gave him a confused look and glanced at Allura who was grinning and heard the Priest was had started singing with the people around in the circle started to dance. Lance saw Katherine was trying to get him to join. “Oh, no, no. No, no, no! I do not dance!” Lance exclaimed shyly.

“Oh come on!” Katherine giggled, pulling him into the dancing circle with Keith laughing in amusement. He also saw Allura joining in with a tambourine with her sisters. He clapped along to the rhythm as he saw the people were filled with, love, joy and happiness. It was much better than his life in Egypt.

And so Keith and Lance stayed in Midian and helped them around their home. Keith helped putting up the tent with Merla giving him some water, Katherine gave Lance some water as well. Then he dumped all of the water over his head. They both laughed cheerfully, and Keith drank the whole vase of water and then looked where Allura was. Making some fabric in a tent with the other woman. He smiled watching her interacting with the other kids who were running around the field.

Allura smiled brightly as she put her hair back behind her ear and saw Keith was watching her with a smile. Once he noticed her, he tried to walk away but tripped over the rope with Lance and the girls laughing. She chuckled seeing his nervousness and awkwardness. “Oh, are you alright, Keith?” Lance laughed while wiping his tears.

“Yeah, peachy.” Keith chuckled and saw Allura was walking away with her friends. “She did see, right?”

“Yup. She did, my friend.” Lance nodded as they both moved on to get another tent up with Katherine following them. “So, uh, Katherine, right?”

“Call me Katie.” Katie smiled with her honey brown hair blew in the wind gently making Lance blush at her cute and bright smile while Keith nudge him on the arm, seeing him all flustered. He ruffled his hair playfully. Lance laughed and pushed him gently away from him.

Then Lance walked to a herd of sheep and pet one while Keith watched over them with a smile. Allura called out to them as she handed Keith a staff while Katie gave Lance a scarf. They had become shepherds as their job.

Keith was helping a female sheep giving birth with Allura watching closely with a smile. Once the baby sheep was born, he cradled it gently and with care. He watched Allura carrying the baby sheep in her arms, wiping it softly with a blue blanket and gave him a warm smile before shyly walking away.

Keith stood up on his feet and heard Lance was being chased by some sheep with Katie. “Lance, you are scaring them because of your screaming!”

“Is he always like this?” Allura asked, coming to his side, and put down the sheep to be with its mother.

“He is a good friend of mine and I have seen him being this overdramatic all the time.” Keith chuckled as the two sat on a big rock. They both sat and enjoyed the breeze while Lance and Katie were spending time with the sheep. He looked over at Allura and saw her white-silver hair blowing in the wind gently.

He cleared his throat and rubbed his neck nervously. “A-Allura?”

“Yes, your majesty?” Allura chuckled.

“Actually, I-it’s Keith. Just Keith.” He smiled nervously. “I-I want to apologise. F-For letting fall into the water back in Egypt.”

“Oh that, yeah, got what you deserved back there in the well.” Allura chuckled as Keith laughed softly. “But no hard feelings. We are even, your majesty. Now go out there and look after the sheep.” She nudged him and saw him having a grin on his face.

She reached down behind the boulder to grab his staff and saw bouquet of flowers attached to it. Allura smiled looking at Keith who was chatting happily with Lance and Katie. She cannot possibly be falling for the former Prince of Egypt, is she? She doesn’t know what to feel now as the young man continues to confuse her at times.

Keith looked back at her seeing her enjoying the flowers. He smiled seeing she had accepted. Once he turned around, he saw Lance was looking straight at him. “What is it Lance?” Keith asked irritated.

“You are falling in love with her, aren’t you? And hmm, that is a very smart and bold move there. I am trying to impress Katie. But nothing is working.” Lance said worriedly.

“Lance…just be yourself. She really does seem to like you too. I can see it.” Keith smiled at his best friend. “Also, Allura and I are j-just friends.”

“Hmm, denial!” Lance said in a singsong tone with Keith ruffling his hair playfully.

(~)

During their stay Keith and Lance both enjoyed their life with the Midian people especially with Allura and Katie. Lance was getting to know Katie every day in his new life and the rest of her family. He had started living with Katie in their own tent and eventually got married.

Keith also got along with Allura’s sisters, teaching them how to draw and telling them stories from the stars. Later that night, he clapped along with the music and saw Allura dancing with a red cloth in her hands. He smiled seeing Lance and Katie also dancing in the circle.

“Keith, dance with me!” Allura giggled, putting the cloth around his neck.

“No-No! I don’t dance!” Keith tried to get the cloth out of neck but was being pulled into the circle in between Alfor and Lance. He didn’t know the steps until he finally got the hang of it and smiled brightly. Then Keith and Allura danced in front of the fireplace as they held onto the cloth. Allura let her lower her guard to get closer to him as he moved the cloth towards him to get her twirling around.

Lance, Katie and Allura’s sisters all crowded behind a camel, whispering to each other, trying to figure out what Keith and Allura were talking about to Alfor. They saw Keith’s shadow of himself, explaining with gestures with Allura explaining the situation to her father.

“Hmm, must be very serious.” Lance hummed, stroking his chin.

“Oh, oh, Father looks so happy!” Merla exclaimed excitedly. They saw the shadow of Alfor hugging both Keith and Allura tightly as they were trying to escape from his embrace. The group stood in confusion and all shrugged to know what was the reason why Alfor was happy.

The white petals all fell down on a newly wedded couple that stood before Alfor, officiating their marriage. Keith and Allura both looking into each other’s eyes deeply with love. Lance was wiping a tear from his eye while Katie and the sister’s were all crying with tears of joy. Finally seeing their sister is now married.

Keith happily pulled Allura to dance in front of the fireplace with everyone watching them dancing, holding each other. He held her closely to him, had her secure in his arms with her soft touch calms him. He had lived the life he’d never thought he would have. He had looked at his life. He looked through her eyes and had begun a new chapter with her as he promised to love and cherish her with all of his heart.

#voltron kallura #voltron allura #keith kogane #kalluracanonsince1984 #vld kallura #plance #voltron plance #plancekallurawinterevent

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dammitadolfnomorecake · 3 years

Text

Once Bitten, Twice Stupid prt 209

209

The problem with supernatural senses was the ability to hear everything. Lance sympathised with Keith, cringing in second hand embarrassment for how his fiancé tried to talk to Pidge. Keith’s awkwardness was a thing of legend. There were a lot of “ums” in his sentence, and he’d twice assured Pidge “that it was okay if she didn’t want to”, before he finally asked if they could talk. The pair of them heading into the house as Hunk kept his eye on them.

“Catching” Hunk staring, Lance decided to say fuck it to manners. Hunk wasn’t upsetting Pidge on purpose. Shay wasn’t upsetting Pidge on purpose. They just weren’t quite clicking and though it wasn’t his place to say it, he didn’t want Pidge to feel left out because her best friend was dating the woman of his dreams

“Hunk, what’s up?”

“Pidge just went off with Keith... I thought they were going to check on Shiro and Curtis... I’m just... uh, I’m kind of wondering why they left”

Scratching the back of his head, Hunk stumped the other “adults” at the table. Allura and Coran both nursing empty tea cups, with Krolia kicked back and holding her half empty beer near her stomach

“It’s nothing to be worried about. They’ll be fine”

“Yeah, but... Dude, don’t you think she’s been acting weird lately? She doesn’t message me as much as she used to, and she didn’t defend how useful UV light could be to hunting vampires”

Hunk took the bait. Sure, Lance had been leading him

“Keith noticed Pidge isn’t happy and he’s gone to have a chat and make sure she’s okay”

Hunk gaped at him. Lance would have chuckled at his friend’s surprise if he hadn’t squashed his ego down. He didn’t want to hurt Hunk, nor did he particularly enjoy the conversation they needed to have. Shay pressed her lips together for half a moment in thought, before breaking her silence

“I can’t remember anything that would have upset her. Are you sure she’s upset?”

“Pidge is learning how much adulting sucks. We’re all in relationships now. We don’t do the fun things we used to do together. We don’t have games night anymore. We don’t hunt. Her best friend is moving in with his girlfriend and she wants to be involved. You guys haven’t done anything technically wrong, she just misses the old times. She’d decapitate me for the hell of it if she heard me. She’s feeling a little insecure right now, but Keith’ll calm her down”

Hunk immediately teared up. Nooo. Not Hunk tears. Whenever Hunk got teary, he did too

“I didn’t... I didn’t realise”

The first tear rolled down Lance’s cheek, causing him to sigh at himself mentally. He was so weak when it came to Hunk tears

“That’s because you haven’t done anything wrong. I’d be mad if you had and my face wound be all scary. Everyone grows and changes. Keith and I can hardly deny we’re very focused on each other. It’s really easy to do when you’re in love. Maybe at the end of the night you could suggest a games night? Or you could have her look at properties with you? She’d probably be able to blackmail the realestate agent into giving you cheaper rent...”

“I didn’t...”

“Dude, I know. I’m in no position to talk either. I let her down too. I let all of you guys down. I love you, bro. I love her, too. You guys are my family. Pidge just needs a little reassurance your still best friends for life... I kind of hope they’re not inside too long, I need to pee... I can’t wait for this pregnancy to be over... I want to meet them already”

Allura placed her hand on his shoulder

“I’m sure they’ll be here soon. We all can’t wait to meet them. You and Keith shall be amazing parents”

“Yeah. It’s going to be weird not having them inside me anymore...”

Lance loved it when they moved. He loved resting his hands on his belly and feeling them moving. Already so full of life. He loved belly rubs from Keith, and the way Keith cuddled into his stomach, peppering kissed to his stretched skin as if trying to kiss their twins through it. But everything else was getting too much. The joint pain. The fatigue. The constant heavy feeling in his chest. The last week of feeling constantly ill. His stupid yoyoing ego that couldn’t understand how a pregnancy had weakened him so much. The fits of anger. His overly active sense of smell. He was tired... and tired of waiting... but he... he also wanted to wait until he went into labour naturally so he could keep feeling them inside of him. For years he’d wondered how it’d feel to be human again. To fall in love and do all the other amazing things humans did... He’d never felt more human than in the last month of his pregnancy. He wasn’t sure he could mentally cope with his ego if he and Keith did chose to wait much longer. Mums to be were amazing. Movies just didn’t do justice to all the ups and downs of pregnancy. Feeling a tingling in his skin, Lance looked down at his arm, realising he was starting to burn under the lack of cloud cover. He wanted to give Keith and Pidge privacy, but if he stayed outside much longer, he’d go up in flames... Then again, Keith did say he was “smoking hot”.

Lance’s living room had also been transformed. The same bunting that hung outside, hung from everywhere it could inside. Stopping by the bathroom, Lance waddled in on Keith and Pidge mid-hug. Keith probably didn’t know what to do with being hugged so fiercely, still, it was a nice moment between the pair of them

“Hey, guys. Got room for one more?”

Breaking the hug, Pidge moved to make space between her and Keith. Lance waddling over to drop himself down between the pair of them. Yeah. Keith had a point. Maybe it’d be better to deliver early rather than feel cramping when he sat wrong, or sat too fast. He’d recognised that with fatigue came pain sensitivity. Small cramps had been happening more often over the last week, and he’d been reduced to crying over them more than once.

Leaning in, Keith kissed his cheek, Lance smiling at the action because he was so grossly in love with Keith that even a small kiss still managed to make him feel a million times better

“I thought I left you outside?”

Lance moved to show Keith the start of the sunburn on his arm. He’d run it under cold water to ease the burn, but it was still warm and tender to the touch

“You did. Apparently too much sun is bad for vampires... who would have thought?”

“I did wonder if I should find you an umbrella...”

“I’m fine. Plus, I’ve got my two favourite people here, so I thought I’d come stock up on some love”

Excusing himself to the bathroom, Lance knew he’d upset Hunk yet Hunk had to figure out how to make things right with Pidge without his meddling. He probably could have been more tactful about things, and picked a better time to bring the subject up. This was supposed to be party, not a counselling session. Feeling the twins kicking up a storm, he took Pidge’s hand, placing it on his belly. His friends were good about not just touching his belly without asking first, Pidge the one who seemed to hesitate the most when it came to feeling him being bashed up internally

“I think they know that their Aunty Pidge is here”

“Either that or they’ve inherited Keith’s inability to sit still”

Keith pouted, Pidge poking her tongue at him causing the werewolf to huff

“Lance is just as bad as I am”

“Lance has changed a lot since you came into our lives. You both have. You can tell you two are dating. You’ve got that old married couple vibe where you finish each other’s sentences and sound the same”

Lance couldn’t deny it. Keith had picked up so many of the expressions he used. And Lance had definitely picked up Keith’s habit of swearing openly.

“That’s what happens when you fall in love. Actually, Keith and I have something to tell you. We’re madly grossly in love, not just in love”

Pidge rolled her eyes at him

“I already know that. One bite between you and you’ve both turned into idiots”

“You know what they say, “Once bitten, twice stupid””

“Dude, it’s “once bitten, twice shy”. But I like your one better. You bit Keith to save his life and you both turned into love struck morons with a shared brain cell between you”

Keith frowned heavily at Pidge’s joke, Lance snorting due to how true it was

“He really does feel like the other half of me. I’d be happy to share a brain cell with him any day of the week. I know you’re worried about the future, but you’re always going to be a sister to me, and an aunt to the twins. No more sad, Pidge, not when she’s a scary little ankle biting gremlin that we all love”

Pidge pulled her hand back, looking to her lap

“Hey, you know I’m proud of you, Katie. You’ve been through a heck of a lot, like the rest of us. Things might have changed and they might be scary, but you’ll always have a home here with us... provided you don’t bring your work home and destroy my house with your experiments”

Pidge groaned deeply

“You blow up a circuit board once and they never let you forget it. And, if you call me “Katie” again, I’m going to give you a dead arm to go with that dead body of yours”

“Oh no! The gremlin’s getting angry. Quick, babe. You’d better make her a coffee before her wrath descends upon us”

“Fuck you”

“I’m flattered, but I’m in a loving and committed relationship... I mean, if I were two decades younger...”

Pidge punched his arm to shut him up

“You suck”

Lance continued with his shit stirring mood

“Quite well, don’t I, babe?”

“I’m not getting into this, but yes”

“See, my skills have got Keith’s stamp of approval”

“You’re going to have my footprint stamped to your arse if you keep traumatising me like this”

Wrapping his arms around his gremlin, Lance kissed her hair. Pidge trying to shove him off

“I love it when you’re mean. I wouldn’t change a single thing about you”

“Keith, help. Lance is being weird”

Keith hefted him back so Lance was laying awkwardly in his arms looking up at his fiancé. Bopping him on the nose, Lance went cross eyed as Keith let his finger hover

“Babe, leave the bitey creature alone. She’s fine. More importantly, did you put cream on your arm?”

Lance didn’t really prescribe to the use of burn cream seeing he healed on his own. Cold water would forever be the best things for burns

“Burn cream isn’t always good for burns, aaaaand the aloe vera is in our bathroom. Which is upstairs, and totally too much effort right now”

“You can’t ignore it. Where else got burnt?”

“I don’t know. Stop picking on me. I thought we were picking on Pidge”

“We’ve done that. I’ll grab the aloe vera, and Pidge can get you some blood. We have the whole day to relax... provided no one’s gone and planned party games”

Pidge burst that bubble. That tiny bubble of maybe fitting an uncaught nap in... This fatigue thing was ridiculous

“Oh, dude. There’s totally party games. We’re going to set up penalty beer pong under lunch”

Keith scrunched his brow. From how he was positioned, Lance kind of wanted to poke his finger right up Keith’s nose. It was like his nose was staring down at him, begging to be poked

“Should I be worried?”

Lance didn’t like to brag, but beer pong was his jam. His first time through college not so much, second time, he was pretty much undefeated. With how long it took to set up, it wasn’t usually one of their party games. Poor Keith had no idea what penalty beer pong had in store for him, Lance would have to defend his fiancé’s honour

“Seeing it’ll be you and Lance facing off, you should definitely be worried. Buuuut I totally didn’t tell you that. If you two are going to keep being gross, I’m going to go back to the party”

Whelp. Keith was on his own then... It was nice knowing him

“It’s okay, Pidgeon. Go forth and abandon us. Leave us... be that way... We’ll be back out as soon as I’ve had some blood and this sunburn starts healing. Maybe I should change into something longer, I don’t want to burst into flames at my own baby shower”

Keith bopped him on the nose again, before helping Lance sit back up

“That’s probably a good idea, babe. You’re smoking hot as it is. That’d make you literally flaming hot”

Pidge was completely right. They really did share one brain cell. The idea leaving a stupidly huge grin on his face that Pidge called “creepy” before leaving the pair of them.

Penalty beer pong... of all the things they could have played, they’d chosen some kind of abomination that belonged in hell. After lunch, Hunk had taken Lance aside, while Matt and Pidge took Keith inside. Both of them forced to wear headphones so they couldn’t hear each others answers to the questions for their friends had prepared. Keith felt very very dumb. 20 questions on Lance should have been easy... but their friends had really wracked their brains being creative and going for the odd, mostly unknowable things that he was supposed to know about his “boyfriend”.

With the living area the only place big enough to fit all of them, the coffee table was covered with a thick piece of plywood where the cups were set up. Keith didn’t like to admit that he’d never played beer pong. He’d never had the kinds of friends that did, nor did he go to college. One of the more popular games at Blade headquarters was darts with knives instead of darts, and vampire faces for targets. You took a shot if you failed to stick the knife in the vampire when it was your throw. He’d never been invited to play with James and the rest of them... He and Shiro used to have shooting target competitions, but that was just the pair of them with the winner getting out of some mundane house chore, that Adam usually scolded them about.

Kneeling across from him, they’d both avoided the penalty cups so far. Keith thought not getting the ball in one meant not having to drink what was it in. No. Instead the penalty was played out for each question they got wrong about each other. Each cup contained some kind of condiment construction Keith really wanted to avoid. It started tame, first with chilli sauce, then soy, then vinegar... slowly progressing in quantity and combination. The last cup was a grotesque mix of what seemed to be a little of everything from Lance’s pantry. Having swapped questionnaires, Hunk and Matt were their quiz masters. They were fifteen questions in, Keith not feeling the effects of the vodka he’d had to chug when Lance got the ping pong ball in his cups. His fiancé, not able to drink, was delegated water. Keith wasn’t sure that Lance actually won anything from playing against him seeing he’d have to pee the moment the game was done.

“Lance. What is Keith’s most annoying habit?”

Throwing the ping pong ball, his fiancé landed it perfectly in the cup. That’s how it went. Question, throw, answer, shot...

“His amazingly lacking self confidence since turning into a werewolf”

His damn fiancé got that one right... like the rest of them.

“Keith. How many years, combined, did Lance spend attending University?”

How the fuck was he supposed to know that? He didn’t know how long it took to be a lawyer... he didn’t know how long it took, or if Lance had any recognition of prior training to drop the amount of time he was required to study, plus his fiancé was a smart little shit... Lance looked sympathies and smug at the same time. Yeah. His questions were far easier than Keith’s had been. Tossing the retrieved ping pong ball, it landed in one of the penalty cups

“Um... I’m going to with... um... 12 years”

Lance groaned, Keith knowing he’d gotten the answer wrong. Matt delighted in telling him

“11 years and six months. Apparently being a lawyer in the early 90’s meant less time in class... Your first penalty shot is chilli sauce. Bottoms up”

If a jalapeño’s had sex with another jalapeño, then their offspring continued in breeding, that would only explain the fire in Keith’s mouth. His eyes running as his throat burned. That wasn’t simple chilli sauce in there

“God... it burns... what the hell is that?”

“Ghost pepper sauce”

Lance shot Matt a glare

“That’s not very nice. You guys are dicks”

Matt shrugged at Keith fanned his burning mouth

“Then he shouldn’t have gotten the question wrong”

“We didn’t really talk about it. Babe, you okay? Rieva, can you get Keith some milk, please. You guys are banned from giving Keith chilli ever again”

“Chill, dude. He’ll survive. Right, it’s your turn”

Lance plucked the ball from what looked to be soy sauce, unamused Keith’s ego wanted to flip the stupid board of cups over. Their friends were slightly laughing at his reaction to the chilli and Rieva hadn’t gone to get him a glass of milk

“Okay, Lance. What’s Keith’s deepest secret that he’s hiding at he moment?”

Keith had answered “He’d always believe in mothman until his dying breath”. Lance hummed at the question

“That he doesn’t hate Lotor as much as he says... it’s either that, something to with me, or something to do with his crush on mothman”

“Correct...”

No. That wasn’t correct at all! The game was rigged

“You two didn’t bother telling us that you’re engaged! Which is a secret to do with Lance, so technically correct!”

Suddenly Keith got the feeling that beer pong was less about what they knew about each other and more about what the group suspected and wanted to confirm

“They’re what?!”

From Pidge’s yelling, she mustn’t have been in on it... So this was all Matt’s idea to get them to confess to their secret engagement?! He could strangle him for putting them both on the spot like this. Right. He could play it cool... yep. No secret here

“What are you talking about?”

“Don’t play dumb, dude. We found the empty ring box in your bedside drawers. Why didn’t you tell us?! Do you know how happy we are for you guys?! This is awesome... Maybe not as awesome as Rieva saying yes to me, but we’re supposed to be your friends! We need to have a party to celebrate this”

Ahhhh. Keith wanted to laugh in relief. They hadn’t been caught yet, and now it seemed like a pretty fun idea to mess with Matt for going through their things

“That’s was from Krolia. There was never any ring in that box”

“You expect us to believe that?”

Keith glanced to his mother, Krolia shrugging as the others also looked to her

“Miriam and I both thought they’d make the cutest grooms. It’s not my fault he hasn’t proposed yet”

“What makes you think I’d be the one asking? Lance could always ask me, right, babe?”

“Yep. I totally could have been the one to ask him”

Sharing a look, Matt and Hunk both chuckled. Their “Sunshine Teddy” shaking his head

“Man, we all know Lance is the romantic one. He’d spend everyday waiting for you to ask, rather than asking you. Then, he’d expect the whole fairytale night. Dinner at a fancy restaurant. A bouquet of red roses as big as him...”

Hunk counted on his fingers, Matt adding as Hunk stalled mid-thought

“Don’t forget the champagne and the hotel room”

Hunk quickly counted those two on his fingers

“Yep. Lance is too much of a romantic”

Matt nodded quickly

“He’d drop hints too... Romcoms. Jewellery brochures... Though you’d probably miss them like you missed Valentine’s Day”

The pair were ganging up on him, Keith depressed about the fact they were right. Lance would have loved all that, but his fiancé didn’t need all that. He’d proposed in a horrible hotel room...

“Keith is romantic. Sure, his idea of good date is a trip to a shooting range, or some other combat related activity, but he’s very romantic. I don’t need all the fuss, I just need him”

Hunk faked feeling faint as he grabbed Matt by the arm, Matt playing it up and acting as if he were concerned

“Hunk?!”

“I’m okay... I never thought I’d live to hear Lance say something so unLance like. Pregnancy has changed you, man. Next thing you’ll give up watching your soap operas... Dude, my heart can’t handle the changes”

Keith mentally thanked Lance for trying to stick up for him. He wasn’t the world’s greatest fiancé, yet he felt better that Lance thought he was good enough for him. His fiancé had more to say on the matter

“You two keep picking on Keith. He’s awkward and he’s a little emo, but he makes me happy. We could get engaged in a room so dingy that Jesus couldn’t save it, and I’d still be happy”

Hunk waved his arm, kind of weirdly and kind of as if he were trying to gesture “how big this was”. Keith felt his lips turn upwards as Lance pretty much told everyone they’d gotten engaged while away, yet none of their friends would put two and two together

“But as long as I’ve known you, you’ve always been a sucker for those big movie engagement scenes”

“Movies aren’t real life. Matt, that box wasn’t any of your business. What were you doing in our room?”

“Helping Shiro and Curtis build your present. We were looking for an adjustable spanner”

Lance leaned back to rest his weight on his hands, bottom lip wobbling

“You know the tools are kept in the laundry, and you know you’re not supposed to be in my room...”

“We were...”

No one messed with Lance’s room, or his bed. Lance washed and changed the sheets alone, swapping the blankets whenever the whim took over

“I don’t care. I’m sorry, but I can’t... I need air”

Keith jumped to his feet before Lance started started struggling to his. As Coran went to help the vampire, Lance slapped his hand away with a sad “sorry”. Moving to Lance’s side, Keith looped his arm around his waist

“You guys can take over playing. No listening in”

#once bitten twice stupid #oncebittentwicestupid #ashratherose

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mommymooze · 3 years

Text

Bob

Bob-Original Character.

Warning: Crack (yes, I found crack!) vulgar, violent, bad humor, toasty cinnamonrolls Hubert abuse

Part 1

He confidently strides around the grounds of the Monastery like he owns the place. Noone dares to tell him he doesn’t. He’s always been curious, his quest for knowledge knows no bounds. That Riegan kid? An amateur next to him. The poisons and potions that boy comes up with? He made those before he was 9. Riegan is always bragging about Lysithia. Youngest girl to graduate from the School of Sorcery, she is such a prodigy, bla, bla, bla. He had graduated before his 10th birthday. His graduating thesis rewrote the book on transmogrification.

He doesn’t care for Claude practically sticking his tongue in Professor Byleth’s ear at every turn. Okay, so the doof hasn’t quite done that, but he can see that the guy really ‘breathily’ speaks in her ear, so he may as well be. Bob is not jealous. Byleth doesn’t interest him. Not in that way. He knows she’s the best choice for Professor for the Blue Lions. Golden Deer are too chaotic and disorganized. The Black Eagles are practically run by the Agarthans, unfortunately those idiots can’t see it. Besides, its easier to ‘fit in’ with the people of his ‘land’. He’s a noble, in the loosest sense of the word.

His fellow Blue Lions will follow Dimitri to hell and back. Little do they know that Dimitri already has one foot in hell. The guy is nuts. The things he talks about in his sleep, well, Bob’s seen people like that before. They have endured some really heavy shit and trauma. Usually it’s a one-way trip. Dimitri’s hanging on by a thin frayed thread and only Dedue is keeping him grounded. Looks like Professor Byleth is picking up on it. Saving Dedue’s life was the best thing that ever happened to Dimitri.

Now Sylvain, he got a rotten deal handed to him. Don’t blame him for his coping mechanism of getting back at the girls that are after him for his goods and not him. A bit self-destructive, but he does kind of enjoy it, until it goes south. Step in Ingrid, to save him. She’s such a knight in shining armor, rescuing princess Sylvain every time. Felix, he needs a complete emotional enema. He’s been blocked up since his brother died. His father’s been blocked up since his wife died. Felix locked down all of his feelings and emotions only letting out anger and hatred. Any time he has a feeling related to kindness or love, he beats it out of himself by training to death. Ashe, there is a sweet young man. A cinnamon roll through and through. He’s been through tough times and better times. You just can’t let harm come to a freaking ray of sunshine like him. Annette is definitely in the cinnamon rolls covered in sunshine category as well, even though her conception sperm donor is a dick. Daddy Gustav, ugh, Duscur screwed him in the head too. ‘I failed as a knight. I couldn’t protect them.’ So you dump your family, stick your thumb in your ass and watch Dimitri fall apart? Really? Yeah he super sucks as a father type thing. Mercedes is a fun girl. She’s seen some shit, yet she is so motherly to all the Lions. She is not one to give up, even on her loser psycho brother.

Bob is a model student. He watches the idiotic pranks that Sylvain pulls. Fart jokes? That is third grade stuff. They have the big mock battle between the classes in a few weeks. Bob catches the redhead getting turned down by Felix when he invites his bff to town to check out some girls. Bob just happens to be near the door when Sylvain exits.

“Hey man, heard you may be heading to town. Need a wingman?” Bob offers.

“Only if you buy the first round.” Sylvain grins.

They head out the front gates to the town on the other side of the woods. Talking about their favorite types of girls, Sylvain is ready to hit up anything in a skirt by the time they hit the closest drinking establishment. Half an ale gone and the redhead has found a couple of prospective tarts ready to take a bite out of. Bob takes a seat next to a young brunette cleric who shyly smiles as he sits. They chatter amicably, before the evening is over, he knows of her family, history, deity (not Sothis, gasp) how long she has done this, life’s dreams, battle experience, her strongest spells, affinities, favorite foods, shoe size and her birthday. Sylvain returns to the tavern a bit disheveled and a grin from ear to ear. Bob bids his little friend good night. Once he is finished suffering through the heavily detailed victorious encounter that the handsome cavalier has just experienced, Bob changes direction of the conversation to the redhead himself.

“Dude, why do you act like such a fuckup? Felix hits it right on the nose every time and you just crumble. You are much smarter than you lead everyone to believe. You hold back on your magic. You can handle a lance like nobody’s business. If you practiced some, get your speed up, you’d be deadly. What’s the deal?” Bob doesn’t exactly hold back.

“Look,” Sylvain whines, “I know I’m a fuckup. My father has my life lined up for me. He’ll pick out who I marry, I’m stuck watching over the Gautier territory, making crestbabies to grow up and wield the Lance of Ruin. My brother was fucked over by my father for not having a crest. I had to go out and kill him. My own brother. My whole life is so messed up, why should I even try?”

Bob leans over and whispers into the redhead’s ear. “Man, the winds of change are coming. This whole godessdamned world is going to be flipped upside down. Just when you think it can’t get any worse it does. It’s gonna be a mess. Then one day, there’s going to be a light in that darkness, and the world is tilted again. All the slates are going to be wiped clean and I intend on being there to rewrite it all. I just want you to come along for the ride, dude.”

Sylvain looks at Bob like he’s got two heads. “How much did you have to drink while I was gone? That is some crazy heavy shit. Whatever it was, you gotta buy me some next time.” He laughs as they get back to the monastery gates.

------------------

Bob quickly becomes bored with the highly censored library in the monastery and decides to find where the one is in Abyss. Besides, he hates the skinwalker librarian. The creep likes to hand out anti church of Seiros paraphernalia to anyone that would take one. Bob knew of Abyss long before he had ever arrived. He found out more information about Garreg Mach on the outside than on the inside. Once you go past the front gate, the church folks zip their lips shut. He sneaks around a few tunnels, keeping his eyes peeled for anyone nearby. Noting some footsteps slowly moving closer, he blends in with the walls. Two girls walk past, he’s just about to let them keep going, but he recognizes one of them.

“Hapi?” Bob softly gasps.

“Dipshit! Long time no see, jerk!” Hapi runs over and hugs him.

The taller blonde girl stands, waiting for a proper introduction.

“Oh, Coco, this is my friend, Dipshit. He helped get me out of the terrible place where, you know, those guys were.” Hapi says.

The noble woman offers her hand, “Constance Von Nuvelle. I am temporarily living here, however I strive to restore House Nuvelle to its finest glory.

Bob takes her hand, kissing the back of it, “I am very honored to make your acquaintance. How fortunate to meet such a beautiful woman as yourself in such an interesting location.”

Constance Nuvelle giggles at his introduction. Bob is all OMG she is so CUTE.

Hapi gives him the stink-eye “Aaanyyway, we should prolly take you to meet Yuribird. He’s the boss around here. “

So they meander over to the class room and meet Yuri. Tall, beautiful, with an air of mystery for kicks, Yuri greets the newcomer. “Any friend of Hapi’s is welcome.”

Bob explains his presence. “I’m not here to get in your business. Just wanted to check out your library. If I find anything useful to you, I know where to go with it. Mostly I am interested in all the crap that is going on topside.”

Yuri walks with him to the place where Seteth’s banished books have been stored. Bob tears into it like a man starved. Feeding on everything he can get his hands on.

Yuri decides to be sociable for a moment. “Whatcha looking for friend?”

Bob “the usual. Nabatheans, Agarthans, saints, Nemesis, relics, bloodlines, histories that may be a little closer to the truth than what they have upstairs. “

Yuri nods. “Sure. Have at it.”

“I’ll let you know if I find anything about the Crest of Aubin or the rest of you guys.” Bob offhandedly remarks looking through a few books.

Yuri starts cleaning under his nails with a particularly sharp dagger. “Funny, no one mentioned Crests, much less if anyone has one.”

“I can smell ‘em.” Bob says indifferently. “One of their experiments gone haywire. Hapi and I did time together. Ask her, she’s where I got my crest.”

“Have fun.” Yuri quips before heading out, stashing his dagger.

Bob is devouring this library. Opens every single book on every single shelf. Divides them into piles. Church, Magic, research, Agarthans, useful, and crap.

Encyclopedia of Fodlan’s Insects. Insects is what the Agarthans call Nabatheans. Winged bugs that need squashing. It also describes items forbidden by the church. These of course are things the Agarthans have used for centuries. Telescopes, viewing lenses, metal printing presses, decent condoms. Bob laughs out loud at the section on autopsies. Wouldn’t want you poking around inside someone’s head or chest. May accidentally find a crest stone or worse rattling around in there. Bob finishes sorting the upper levels of the Shadow Library. He hands a few books to Yuri to peruse, telling him to hang on to them, Bob would like a close look when he is done. Bob shuffles off with armful after armful of books, taking them to a quiet little nook that Yuri has permitted for him. Not much bigger than a closet, but its enough room to keep the books secure. Just as he’s on his last trips, who should happen to arrive at the library but Hubert von Vestra.

“Hey Bro, what the fuck you doin’ down here?” Bob impolitely and arrogantly asks.

“You. Why don’t you crawl back under your rock.” Hubert curses.

“Surprised to see you standing up. Usually you’re on all fours licking her high and mightynesses boots.” Bob shakes his head, getting his black and white bangs out of his eyes.

“Lady Edelgard deserves all of my praise and loyalty for everything she has been through. House Vestra shall always be at her service.” Hubert stiffly replies.

“Yeah, how’s that working out for you. She hasn’t been through half the shit I’ve been through. She’s barely holding it together. What’s fucking hilarious is she’s relying on you to help her keep it together. You still haven’t gotten over killing father. You should’ve let me know. I’d’ve done it in a heartbeat. Can’t wait till I can slit my beautiful mother’s throat and listen to her gurgling as the life flows from her.”

“He denounced you. You are not a Vestra.” The Black Eagle spits out.

Bob puts his hands on his hips. “Gimme a break. You and I are cut from the same mold. Same greasy black hair, at least I take care of mine. Same strong chin, handsome cheek bones, body structure. Hell we have the same color eyes from father. Just because I’m your half bro doesn’t mean I’m not part of your family. We’re both drawn to black and dark magic. We wield spells far above our fellow students. Just think of the things we could do together. “

“No. You are crude, undignified, unprodigious, and disgusting inside as well as out.” Hubert spits.

“We’re twins! I’m just the better looking one. Just ask anyone. You stand around like a starving vulture ready to pounce on everyone. Always looming and leering. That creepy guy intimidation thing only gets you so far. You need to work on your charm.” Bob schmoozes, moving closer to his half brother.

“I’ve had enough of this.” Hubert gives a disgusted frown and warps away.

“I love dicking with him. Fucking dickwad.” Bob laughs a deep and frightening laugh that scares some female out in the hallway who screams and runs away.

----------------------------

When Flayne goes missing, Bob becomes unhappy. She’s a sweet and innocent girl. Yeah, she’s got dragon blood and all that, but really she’s nice. Cinnamon roll nice. Too nice to be caught up in any Agarthan mess. And this kidnapping has Agarthan written all over it.

Bob shows up behind Hubert, smashing his face into a wall and nicking his half bro’s throat as he puts a dagger under his chin. “Tell her to call the Agarthan dogs back. Tell her how wrong it is to work with them. They are not your friends. The enemy of your enemy crap doesn’t work. They are only using you, not the other way around”

Hubert, bloody nosed from having it smashed into a wall mutters, “I will bring it up in our next conversation.”

“Yeah. Talk about it. All talk, no action.” Bob disappears through the wall. He materializes in the library behind Ashe.

“Ashe, take off your baseball cap.” The cool dark mage orders.

The grey haired cinnamon roll takes off his hat and sits very straight in the comfy chair in the library. He can feel the hand patting his head, then stroking his hair from the top of his head down to his neck.

“Good boy, you are a good boy Ashe.” Bob begins his mantra, praising and patting.

“Yes. I am a good boy.” Ashe repeats, closing his eyes.

Thirty minutes later Ashe is happily asleep curled up in the chair and Bob no longer has steam coming out of his ears. Bob looks around the library. Where is that Thomas creep anyway? Bob goes to the upper levels where Thomas’ desk is located. Pinned to the bulletin board is a cartoon of Rhea tied to a stake while they light a huge fire under her. A poster in Medieval script saying “Dragons must Die!!!” A stack of love poems devoted to Catherine, his forbidden love. And a large, oversized rubber stamp that says “DENIED”. But no sign of Thomas. Bob decides to pay the gatekeeper a visit. He floats down the three flights of stairs to the main level. Not only because it is cool if you can float, but he also won’t trip over one of Claude’s 17 pairs of roller-skates he leaves everywhere, especially on stairs.

“Greetings Bob, nothing to report.” The gatekeeper happily greets the black and white haired mage, cheerfully looking up into his piercing citrine eyes.

“Hey Keeps, you ever see the librarian head out of these gates?” Bob asks him in a deep, sultry voice.

“Oh yeah, I guess he left almost a week ago. I bet he’s going out to chase down some overdue books. Had a large empty sack on his shoulder.” Gatekeeper smiles ever so widely, a blush to his cheeks as he stares deeper into Bob’s eyes.

Caspar overhears the conversation, gasps, and runs straight to Linhardt’s room to save his best friend from being sentenced to death for his lack of library returns.

Bob returns to his room for the night to ponder the mysteries of the universe, Flayn’s location, why does Felix do that thing with his hair, and why does Dimitri find Alois’ jokes funny? They suck so bad. Is it the madness?

-----------

Breakfast with the Blue Lions is enlightening. There are rumors of some sort of dude that dresses up like the grim reaper, complete with scythe that is creeping out the people in the village. Just one more thing to add to the list of the weird crap that is going on around this place. As he walks across the courtyard, some guy from the kitchen bumps into him.

“Hey, watch it, bud.” Bob giving the guy the eye.

Kitchen guy stops him. ”Have you seen Manuela?” he asks as blood is dripping down his arm.

Bob holds his hands out like he is holding two invisible watermelons to his chest, “Really big…?”

The guy nods.

Bob smirks, “Never heard of her. What were you doing?” Bob curiously asks.

“Peeling potatoes. Knife slipped.” Kitchen guy says, not looking so good. Bob knows to avoid potatoes for dinner.

“Head for the training grounds, healers are always hanging out there for practice opportunities.” Bob says before heading to the stable area. Just as he walks past the Knights quarters, he hears a shriek in a perfect “C”. Probably Manuela. Just before he goes inside he stops a guy standing out front telling him to get the Blue Lions. You know, the group with the really tall hot blonde guy? Yeah, those Blue Lions.

The mage runs down the hall and finds a door partially open. He pushes it the rest of the way to find Manuela lying on the floor. She’s reaching out for something by the wall, as Bob gets closer he can smell them, Agarthans. He feels around and there’s a secret passage that opens wide to show a path down to the stink. The dark mage heads straight down the hole, lighting every torch on the way to guide the rest of his house. The Professor arrives at the bottom of the stairs to find all of the enemies in the immediate area are on fire. Bob is currently hurling fire spells through the gate at the enemies in the next room. “Die motherfuckers!! MUahahahahahahaha! Eat this!” Bob screams as he throws another fireball at one of the guys in the next room who tries to hide as far in a corner as possible, but still winds up having his robes catch fire and he screams in agony.

Byleth places her hand on Bob’s shoulder, whispering in his ear. “Calm down dude, you’re frightening the kids. Don’t scar our cinnamonrolls.”

Bob pulls a fist in front of his mouth. “Oopsie. Sorry. Was over excited. ::cough cough::”

The Blue Lions take over from here. Ashe unlocks the door as Felix and Sylvain rush in followed by Dedue and Ingrid. The professor heads to the left to unlock another gate.

Bob reaches over to pat Ashe on the head. “Good boy, you are such a good boy.”

Ashe smiles as his eyes glaze the slightest bit.

They move forward quickly wiping out the soldiers that are nearby. Felix and Sylvain take some warp tiles that send them to various places in the area where they can deactivate trap tiles. They all are joined together at the door in front of the death knight. Ashe opens the door. Bob’s already materialized in the room and hitting the big masked dude on the horsie with Dark Spikes T when the Flame Emperor shows up to send horsie boy off.

Flame Emperor “Go home Creepy McCreepface, you done good. I am the Flame Emperor. I will reforge the world.” And with that they both warp off.

Professor “We need to get these kids out of here.”

Bob, “I’ll grab Flayne, leave that other one, it smells bad.” He tosses Flayne over his shoulder in a fireman’s carry. Bob carries her all the way to the infirmary. When putting her on a cot, he notices that her shirt sleeves were sliced open to her armpits and there are multiple holes in her arms where the evil bloodsuckers have taken her blood multiple times. He whispers to Manuela that the girl is a few quarts low, then he leaves.

Bob heads straight to Hubert’s room. His half brother isn’t there, so he waits for him to show up. So he’s not too bored, he goes into his brothers notes on spells and adds a few extra lines here and there to Sigils and changes ingredients on some poisons.

As soon as Hubert enters the door he is tripped then given a knee in the back while his dear half sibling repeatedly smashes his face into the floor.

“I told ::slam:: you not ::slam:: to work ::slam:: with them. ::slam slam:: Fucking idiot! ::slam slam slam::

Hubert’s nose is quite crooked and he can’t breathe correctly through it now. “I toad her, but she woodit lissen.”

Bob continues his rant. “Now we have a kid that suddenly appears from being gone last year. “ He definitely does airquotes on the word “suddenly”. “She’s one of them, I know it. Dump her. Dump the Agarthans. And wash your hair sometimes, ew.” Bob disappears through the floor, listening to Hubert call him a few names that weren’t in the book. Bob needs to write those down.

----------------------

It was time for the Battle of the Eagle and Lion and no Deerz allowed. Byleth has been working them pretty hard, advancing Bob as quickly as she can in magic certifications. He’s got reason down better than anyone in the group, so he’s been teaching them more advanced spellcasting. Byleth doesn’t say much but she catches on fast. If you can get Annette to shut up and concentrate, she does an amazing job. Mercedes doesn’t have her heart in it but manages to get a few reason spells down, Fire for sure, and Thunder is getting better. Felix is great with Thunder. Sylvain would be great with fire, but he screws around too much.

The horn signals for the battle to begin. Bob immediately heads for the back lines of the Black Eagles, materializing behind Linhardt, stabbing him with a blade covered with a powerful sleeping concoction. Lin would probably thank him. Bob heads over to behind Marianne in the Golden Deer. He whispers “good night, sweetie” in her ear before he holds a cloth covered with the same powerful sleeping potion. Lying her carefully on the ground he hides out in the nearby bushes to find out where Lysithia has gone off to.

He watches Ferdinand and Sylvain get into it. Handsome redheads on horses stab at each other repeatedly with pointed sticks. Finally, Sylvain gets the upper hand, but not by much. Ferdinand is out and heads to the boundary lines. Sylvain heads back to Mercedes for a bit of patching up. Annette is working on whittling down Ignatz, blowing his arrows off course as she attacks with wind spells. The professor is taking out Raphael and Claude. Bob decides to throw a mire at Hilda. She screams about her hair and how gross the magic muck feels all over her and gives up. Felix is giving Leonie a workout. Sylvain is back and taking on Lorenz. Lorenz throws a decent Fire spell at Sylvain, causing the redhead’s horse to rear up, he still is able to stay on the steed and then counter Lorenz with a decent lance jab that knocks the grapeheaded guy off his horse.

The battle continues on. It is between the lions and eagles, the deer are out. Its very helpful at this point that the eagles have no healer except for Dorothea. Her magic is going to be defensive not attacking for the most part. Edelgard marches down the field heading for Dimitri and Dedue, followed by Hubert and Caspar. Bob lost track of Petra and Felix, not sure who won that match. Bob grabs a large wooden sword lying on the ground and materializes behind Hubert. Swinging the flat edge of the blade at full force at the back of Hubert’s head, Bob provides Hubert with the headache of the month.

“Blockhead.” Bob smirks as he watches the dark mage fall and Bob disappears into the ground just under the swing of Edelgard’s axe. Bob shows up in a copse of trees not far away watching the rest of the blue lions completely wipe out the black eagles.

---------------------

Bob is in Abyss, in the laboratory of the most creative and beautiful sorceress he has ever met.

“Darling, would you be so kind to join me for lunch today? I would be ever so honored and grateful if you would grace my humble presence with your enlightening company.” Bob croons.

“Ever the charming one, pumpkin. However I must decline as I have serious potions to concoct today and they simply cannot mix themselves.” Constance smiles ever so sweetly, batting her eyelashes.

“Ahh. I so adore your everworking and brilliant mind, however you do need nourishment for your delectable body. If I may, I will retrieve lunch from above and bring it back to provide you with the energy needed to complete your serious tasks. “ Bob dashingly offers, his hands on his hips, his hair waving in the breeze, a sparkle shows on his teeth with a ding.

“I suppose I must acquiesce to obtaining sustenance. Having your handsome face as accompaniment is also a great pleasure. Please do go, with haste and fetch our midday feast.” Coco wiggles her fingers, encouraging him to hurry.

“But of course my flower, my jewel. I shall return poste haste.” Bob says, holding his palm open for her to gently place her hand within it so that he may delicately kiss the back of her hand, and then lick it for good measure.

He then disappears through the floor, only a minute later to walk through the wall behind her.

“Every moment away tears at my heart, my sweet lady. I am overjoyed to have returned and bask in your beauty once again. Please join me.” The handsome dark mage waves a hand at the beautifully set table complete with two darling candelabras with Ashen Wolves colored candles, napkins and tablecloth.

They sit on the same side of the table. Bob smiles and he feeds her bite after bite until she is satisfied. Next time he may even offer to chew if for her if she so desires. He takes a napkin and lightly dabs at the corner of her mouth.

“There my precious one.” Bob coos in her ear. “Have you been sated? Is there anything else that I may obtain for you? I would pull the stars from the sky if you would only ask for them.”

Constance smiles, a bit of green something stuck on her teeth, “Nah, I’m good. “

Bob helps her from her chair and walks her back to the laboratory table. “Ahh. Then, although it pains me to do so< I shall leave you to your work.” He says before snapping his fingers, clearing the table.

Bob dips her, giving her a face sucking kiss until her skin on her cheeks is almost purple, as he stands her back up she is completely gasping for breath, trying to cool herself with her fan. She has a severe case of the vapors. He then rises into the air, disappearing through the ceiling.

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Remire Village. Nice place if you like living in Hell!!!! Whole place is aflame. Dimitri is acting like Frankenstein’s monster getting creeped out by the flames everywhere giving him flashbacks of Duscur. Felix is getting flashbacks of feral Dimitri. Sylvain is getting flashbacks of the girls he had dated here, they’re all monsters now and after him. Ingrid is having flashbacks of when she was camping and her marshmallows AND her hotdog fell into the campfire. Bob is busy covering the eyes of Annette and Ashe to keep them from as much of the horror as possible, the smell around him of burnt cinnamon is concerning. Somehow they save the villagers, Thomas’ skin is removed from Solon, a pasty white older than dirt uglier than sin guy. Professor B beats up the old guy pretty quick and pastyboy heads for the hills.

The Death Knight is there. Bob pulls the cinnamon rolls over and whispers in their ears.

“Hey kids, would you like to see your dear Uncle Bob get rid of the McKreepface guy on the horse? I’ll let you laugh at him while he burns, okay?”

Ashe and Annette nod their heads very quickly has Bob hands them each a bowl of popcorn and a box of milkduds for the show.

“Huzza-huzza-HOOM! You’re about to meet your DOOOOOOM!” Bob cackles as the magic of Dark Spikes T whips from his fingers and chomps on the body of the Death Knight like Godzilla eating buildings in Tokyo. The only thing left of the dude is a Dark Seal that Bob wraps in a pink bow and hands to Professor Byleth.

“Don’t you want this, Bob?” the Professor asks.

“Nope, mother got me one for my birth day. Figured you could use a spare.” The dark mage quips.

The Flame Emperor shows up. “Deathknight, you’re having too much fuuuuuuuuuck! What did you do to my pet?”

“Chomp chomp bitch.” Bob says making hand gestures like his fingers are teeth chomping towards her face.

Jeralt is angry. “So you’re the one that did this to my favorite village?”

“No, no, you got it all wrong.” The Flame Emperor backpedals. “Yeah, Solon works with me, but man I didn’t know he was going to pull this shit.”

“Come to the dark side!” Flameface pleads. “I will give you cookies…”

“We got Mercedes, your cookies suck compared to ours. Oh, and you suck too.” Says Byleth.

“Look, Solon and his buddies, they are powerful. Together, me, you, The Sword of the Creator. We can take them down.” Flame face

Bob pulls his right hand into his sleeve to make it look like it’s been cut off. “I’ll never rule the universe with you!”

Dedue runs up saying his Princeliness is missing. Bob grabs his two cinnamon rolls protectively.

“Don’t let Mr. CrazySpaghettihead scare you. Lets go get some icecream.” Bob says leading them to the monastery.

#fe3h #fire embelm three houses #Blue Lions #Crack #my stories #Black Eagles #FE16 hubert von vestra #byleth eisner

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