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genshinluvr · 8 months

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Happily Ever After?

Pairings: Various Princes!Genshin Men x Royal!Isekai'd!Reader (Royal AU-ish)

Summary: There was a small kingdom on Teyvat where a king and queen kept their child locked in a tower for over two decades— the public and other kingdoms do not know what this royal Highness looks like, nor do they know much of this person. However, twenty-seven princes set off to free their royal Highness from their high-rise prison. Maybe you will finally get your happily ever after by finally getting your freedom.

Note: I was supposed to finish this fic last night and had it posted a while ago, but I didn't do that 🥹 I do plan on taking a break once a month instead of constantly posting like how I usually do. There's no specific "date" for these breaks, but it will be a once-a-month type of thing. Other than that, I'm not sure how I feel about this fic, but I hope you guys somewhat like it ;v; This fic is a little bit shorter than I expected it would be, but it's better than nothing— it's not a mini-fic. Yes, all Genshin men are princes no matter who they are and what age they are. Anyway, I don't post anywhere else but on Tumblr (Genshinluvr) and on AO3 (Aaliah_exo).

Warnings: None that I know of

Word Count: 5.6k

Once upon a time, there was a kingdom ruled by a king and queen. The king and queen have a child, locked in a tower, never allowed to see the light of day. No one knew what the young royal looked like, nor did they know much of the child’s existence. Nor did they know why the king and queen kept them locked up. It could be for their protection, or the king and queen despise their child. While the kingdom was reminded of the existence of the king and queen’s child annually, the thought of the young royal was a fleeting thought. A little over two decades later, the tower where the child of the king and queen soon has many curious explorers try to climb up the structure to see the face of the mysterious royal. The same face no one is familiar with, the same face no one in the public eye has ever seen, and the same face twenty-seven men are curious to see.

PRESENT DAY— Location: Unknown.

Twenty-seven men, also princes, crowd around the lone tower in a remote area of a small kingdom. The tower is far from the kingdom, far from civilization. It makes the men wonder how in the world the child of the king and queen is able to survive while kept far from humanity. The gray-bricked tower is fifty meters tall with purplish-pink barrel roof tiles. There is a singular window at the very top of the tower, accompanied by a balcony with a flower pot hanging from the ceiling.

Prince Childe props his hands on his hips, staring at the balcony intently. “Well, gentlemen. Today is the day where we rescue the child of the king and queen of this small kingdom,” says Prince Childe, turning to look at the other men with determination.

“Are you sure this is a good idea?” Prince Gorou nervously asks, watching Prince Diluc pull a rope from a leather rucksack.

The rope is long enough for the twenty-seven men to use as leverage to get to the window of the tower. Prince Diluc ties the rope and begins swinging the rope, scanning the towering building.

Prince Venti plops beside the leather rucksack, resting his head on the bag as he crosses his right leg over the other with wheat sticking from his lips. “Yer sure the rope is sturdy for the twenty-seven of us?” Prince Venti asks, chewing on the end of the wheat.

Prince Zhongli rolls his eyes, crossing his arms over his chest as he stands beside Prince Diluc, helping the redhead secure the knot. “Twenty-six. You’re not coming with us,” Prince Zhongli states.

Prince Venti sits up, gazing at the brown-haired Prince incredulously. Prince Zhongli turns away and continues to assist Prince Diluc. Prince Venti stutters, getting off the ground and stomping toward Prince Zhongli.

Prince Xiao glares at Venti and lightly pushes Prince Venti away from Prince Zhongli. “You stay down here and make sure no one comes. That’s the only thing you’re useful for,” Prince Xiao states, rolling his eyes.

Not wanting to start any more problems, Prince Venti grumbles and walks back to the leather rucksack and plops down beside it. While the twenty-seven princes (yes, they are all princes. There are no kings, emperors, dukes, lords, sirs, etc.) collectively agree to save the king and queen’s unknown child, they cannot stand each other’s presence. Especially Prince Zhongli and Prince Venti— the two princes are from rival kingdoms.

Many people may wonder why the princes are working together to climb the tower when most can’t stand each other. They all share the same agenda, and that is to rescue the poor young royal from the tower the king and queen have locked their kid up for most of their life. It makes the twenty-seven men wonder how you, the mysterious royal, survive without human contact for so long. Every man is aware of your existence, and they’re all curious about who you are and why your parents decide to keep you away from the public eye. It’s not easy to keep someone of a high profile away from the limelight for over two decades.

Prince Ayato props his hands on his hips, staring at the rope with scrutiny. “Are you certain this rope is sturdy? It won’t rip if every one of us is climbing up the tower using this rope, will it?” asks Prince Ayato.

“We’ll be fine, Prince Ayato! Chillax, my bro! I know it seems scary, but as someone who has done this plenty of times, we’ll be okay!” Prince Itto says, roughly patting the refined Prince of Inazuma on the shoulders.

Prince Ayato sighs, rolling his eyes before giving the tall prince a small smile. While Prince Itto and Prince Ayato aren’t as close, the two would meet up from time to time to have a beetle fight. It’s a small game the two would have with each other— mostly initiated by Prince Itto, the carefree prince who gets into a lot of trouble but is always off the hook due to being a prince.

“How are we going to get this rope to hook around that balcony? With our weight combined, I don’t think the railing of the balcony stands a chance,” Prince Kaveh sighs, tapping his foot on the ground.

Prince Wriothesley laughs and steps forward. “Gentlemen, I got this! Leave this to me, Prince Wriothesley of Fontaine,” says Prince Wriothesley, grabbing the rope from Prince Diluc’s hands and beginning spinning the rope, aiming for the balcony.

While the princes are outside trying to get the rope to latch onto the balcony, the door to the bedroom in the tower swings open. Enters a young royal, yawning and rubbing their eyes. There’s nothing else to do in the tower except to read and sleep. You look at the clock on the wall and roll your eyes. It’s only two in the afternoon, and you’re already forced to retreat to your bedroom by one of the servants your parents assigned.

“I’m rotting away in my high-rise prison,” you mumble, plopping on your bed and hugging your pillow before flipping over on your back.

You have been locked away in your tower for as long as you can remember. You rarely step out of the tower. You never walk around the castle your parents reside in. Heck, you never stepped foot in that damn castle! Most importantly, you have never communicated with anyone outside of your prison aside from your parents. Your parents— the king and queen— tried to reassure you they love you and that they’re doing this for your safety, but you don’t believe them.

You toss your pillow to the foot of your bed and close your eyes. “One day, my prince will rescue me from my tower,” you whisper, dozing off.

Meanwhile, outside the tower, the men cheer loudly when the rope latches onto the railing of the balcony. Prince Wriothesley tugs on the rope, testing its durability. Prince Cyno and Prince Albedo collectively pull at the rope, nodding with approval.

“The rope is sturdy. It doesn’t seem like it will snap under intense pressure,” says Prince Albedo, dusting his hands.

Prince Cyno shields his eyes from the sun, looking at the other men. “Alright, gentlemen. Shall we rescue their royal highness from their tower?” asks Prince Cyno, the corners of his lips quirking up.

The men grab the rope, and Prince Diluc starts climbing up the rope, mentally praying to the Archons the rope wouldn’t snap under immense weight. After all, over twenty people are climbing up the rope— just as long as the rope doesn’t break, sending everyone tumbling to the ground.

Prince Aether wipes the beads of sweat forming at the base of his hairline. “You guys are certain this rope isn’t going to snap?” asks Prince Aether, looking at the other men worriedly.

“Relax, Prince Aether! This is the sturdiest rope to exist in Teyvat. Do you really think the rope is going to snap that easily?” Prince Thoma asks, nudging Prince Aether lightly with his elbow.

Prince Scaramouche rolls his eyes and climbs up the rope, making sure to listen for the sounds of tearing and snapping. So far, there aren’t any noises from the rope— thankfully. Prince Scaramouche wants to get this over with and find out who this mysterious royal highness is. The same royal highness the king and queen of whatever kingdom is hiding from the public eye.

“Does anyone find it strange how the king and queen were able to keep the identity of the young royal highness hidden for so long? How was their identity not leaked?” Prince Kazuha asks, tightening his grip on the rope as he climbs up the tower.

Prince Heizou shrugs. “It is strange. It’s impossible to keep your child out of the limelight as a public figure, especially if your child is part of the royal family. I understand if the young Highness is still young. However, it’s been a little over two decades, and no one has caught a glimpse of what the royal Highness looks like,” Prince Heizou mutters, stroking his chin.

The men proceed to climb up the tower, eyeing the rope around the balcony’s railing. The railing is somehow managing to hold up over twenty people climbing the tower. It’s both a relief and a worry how the fence has yet to break under a lot of weight. After what felt like two hours, Prince Diluc reached the balcony and climbed over it, sighing in relief. The balcony is surprisingly bigger than he expected.

“Where do you think this leads to? Their royal Highness’s bedroom?” Prince Kaeya asks, dusting his clothes.

Prince Diluc crosses his arms over his chest, glaring at Prince Kaeya. “Even if it does, do not put your hands on them,” Prince Diluc instructs sternly.

Prince Scaramouche rolls his eyes. “Relax, Prince Diluc. None of us are interested in touching the mysterious royal Highness,” he says.

Prince Al Haitham grabs the door handle of the balcony entrance and slowly turns the knob. To his and everyone’s surprise, the door is unlocked. Prince Al Haitham cracks the door open and slowly enters the tower, the men tip-toeing behind him. The men collectively freeze when they realize they’re in your bedroom. The bedroom is furnished with elegant, luxury furniture. But despite the luxurious furniture around the room, the room looks barren.

“Is that who I think it is?” Prince Tighnari whispers, gesturing toward the bed.

Prince Al Haitham takes a step closer to the bed and peeks at your face. Prince Al Haitham nods and turns to the others. “I believe this is their royal Highness the king and queen have been hiding for two decades,” Prince Al Haitham whispers.

The Princes walk around your spacious bedroom, looking around curiously. Bookshelves lined up against the wall, and a fireplace nestled between the two tall bookshelves. In the corner are a small vanity and an easel. The room is filled with many activities for you to keep yourself occupied while locked in a tower for two decades.

“What should we do? Wake them up?” Prince Pantalone asks, standing at the foot of your bed, staring down at your unconscious body.

Prince Dottore shakes his head. “I don’t think it’s best for us to wake them up from their slumber. It’ll freak them out and call for security,” Prince Dottore mutters, walking over to the door and pressing his ears against the wooden door.

The masked Prince grabs the doorhandle and twists it, only for it to become stuck. Prince Dottore furrows his eyebrows and looks at the doorknob. There’s no lock from the inside, and yet the door isn’t budging. Did they lock you in the room by any chance? Prince Dottore jiggles the doorknob to double-check, and he’s correct. The door is certainly locked from the outside, and even if you want to escape, there’s no way for you to leave the room aside through the balcony.

Prince Capitano chuckles bitterly, shaking his head. “I don’t think their royal Highness will be calling for security,” Prince Capitano comments, looking at the pictures hanging on the wall.

“I think we should give Their Royal Highness a kiss on the lips!” Prince Venti says, throwing his legs over the railing of the balcony and strutting into the room.

The men look at each other before looking over at the short Prince, who scans around the bedroom of the tower, whistling lowly. Prince Zhongli growls lowly and pinches the bridge of his nose, trying to remain calm and not explode.

Prince Baizhu smiles at Prince Venti, tapping his fingers on his hips. “Prince Venti, what are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be watching and making sure there aren’t people approaching the tower?” Prince Baizhu asks.

“I knew we shouldn’t have invited him along with us. This dunce never listens when given orders,” Prince Dainsleif rolls his eyes.

Prince Venti gives the men a shit-eating grin, plops on the chair beside your bed, and stares at your sleeping face with awe. Prince Venti could stay outside and keep watch, but he doesn’t want to. Prince Pierro rubs the bridge of his nose, letting out a long, sharp exhale. The older man looks at Prince Venti, clenching his jaws.

“I am trying my best not to strangle you right now, Prince Venti,” Prince Pierro hisses.

Prince Neuvillette hums, closing his eyes. “Aren’t we all?” Prince Neuvillette chuckles bitterly, shaking his head.

Prince Venti smirks and sticks his tongue out at the other men in the room before peeking over at you. Your chest is rising and falling at a steady pace, letting him know you’re in deep sleep. While the men aren’t sure how long you have been asleep, they need to wake you up soon to rescue you from the tower. Prince Childe stands at the foot of your bed, hands propping on his hips as he stares at your face.

“They’re kind of cute! I can see why their parents locked them away in the tower for most of their life!” says the ginger-haired prince of Snezhnaya.

The men are surprised you have yet to wake up due to the amount of talking going on in your room. At first, they were whispering, but since some of them weren’t whispering, you didn’t bat an eye when each person spoke.

Prince Itto scoffs. “Kind of? They’re very cute! I don’t know what you mean by ‘kind of,’” says Prince Itto, gesturing air quotes with both his index and middle fingers.

“How do we wake them up without freaking them out?” Prince Aether asks, scratching his head as he peeks from Prince Venti’s head.

There are many ways the twenty-seven princes can wake you up from your slumber. Either the normal way and that is to gently shake you from your sleep, or they can not wake you up. By that, one of the men can scoop you up in their arms and climb out the window with you! But the men aren’t sure how much of a heavy or light sleeper you are, so that can be a bit challenging.

Prince Venti claps his hands, startling the others. “We can do it in a way every fairy tale book does it! Like Snow White, for example!” Venti exclaims, crossing his arms over his chest with a smug look.

Prince Neuvillette raises his eyebrows at Prince Venti, gazing at him skeptically. “Care to elaborate on that, Prince Venti?” asks the Fontainian prince.

Prince Heizou raises his hand. “I believe he is referring to the famous kiss of life. While it happened in Snow White, it also happened in the fairy tale Sleeping Beauty,” Prince Heizou interjects.

Kiss of life, huh? While it sounds romantic, it doesn’t seem to be the appropriate thing to do, given that you weren’t poisoned or cursed with eternal sleep until your true love kisses you, bringing you back to life. Plus, it’s not a good idea to kiss someone you met less than thirty minutes ago— especially when they’re sleeping.

Prince Zhongli glares at Prince Venti and Prince Heizou, crossing his arms over his chest. “Kissing someone without their consent and while unconscious is very distasteful. If you dare to touch them in such a way, I will bring hell on Teyvat,” Prince Zhongli thunders.

Everyone in the room flinches when Prince Zhongli raises his voice at the two princes. The sound of blanket ruffling and a soft exhale causes every man to freeze in the room. Prince Al Haitham turns to see you moving around on your bed, groaning softly and rubbing your eyes. Prince Ayato sighs, running his hands through his hair. Bouncing with excitement, Prince Itto, Prince Childe, and Prince Venti lean over you.

Prince Ayato rolls his eyes. “Don’t lean over them like that. You’ll freak them out,” Prince Ayato hisses quietly.

Unable to fall back asleep, you open your eyes to see three unfamiliar faces staring down at you. Your eyes widen, and you punch the closest person to you. Prince Venti yelps and backs away, clutching his nose, while Prince Itto and Prince Childe back away. You sit up and look at the unwanted guests with fear.

“Who are you people, and why are you in my room!?” You screech, holding your pillow in front of you, using it as a shield.

Prince Gorou shakes his head rapidly, waving his hands in front of him. “Please don’t scream! We’re here to rescue you!” Prince Gorou explains, peeking at the door to make sure no one hears what’s going on.

Your bottom lip quivers as you plop over to the side, hugging your pillow tightly. If this is how you die, then you accept your fate with open arms. You don’t want to die. You really don’t want to die, but if it means you’ll finally be free from your high-rise prison, then you accept your fate.

Prince Kazuha clears his throat. “Your Highness, are you alright?” Prince Kazuha asks softly, debating if he should approach you or not, fearing he would scare you even more.

You bury your face into your pillow. “If you’re here to kill me, just do it! I accept my fate and am willing to let you all kill me like a pig in a slaughterhouse,” you say dramatically.

Your room plunges into a tense silence. You peek from your pillow to look at the intruders, waiting for their response. The men are shocked and a little offended that you assumed they would harm you. Prince Kaveh clears his throat to grab your attention and steps forward cautiously, not wanting to scare you. You sniffle and sit up, hugging your knees to your chest while gazing at the men warily. Prince Kaveh smiles at you, tucking his blond hair behind his ear.

Prince Kaveh kneels on one knee, placing his right hand over his heart. “Your Highness, we’re not here to kill you. We’re here to rescue you from your tower,” Prince Kaveh explains.

“Rescue me from my tower? How are you guys going to do that without getting caught?” You ask.

The men look away, rubbing the back of their necks. You blink at them and look over at your bedroom door. You slowly get off your bed and walk toward the door to test out the door handle. The doorknob doesn’t budge, letting you know they did not enter your room through the door like a normal person.

“How did you—”

“We entered through your balcony,” Prince Xiao interrupts, pointing at the balcony door that’s wide open.

Prince Kaeya chuckles, adjusting the eyepatch. “Perhaps this is a reminder for everyone to lock your doors and windows,” says Prince Kaeya.

You shake your head and walk to the vanity, plopping on the stool and running your hands through your hair. You want to escape the tour with these strange men, but how are you going to do that without causing a scene? You can either leave with these men and never look back or remain at the tower, never see the light of day other than through the balcony window. Who are these men anyway?

Your parents made sure you don’t fall behind on your education— they hired the top university professors in the world to teach you many subjects, but they never mention other important figures. Well, those who are alive, of course. You take a deep breath and stand up, facing the twenty-something men. Wait, how many people are there? You start counting heads quietly, pointing at each man as you do.

Twenty-seven men stare at you while you count how many people there are in your room. After counting, you nod and clasp your hands together. “Alright, I don’t think we’ve introduced ourselves to one another. Judging by your attire, you all are important people,” you say.

Prince Diluc raises his eyebrows at you. “Do your parents not tell you who each of us are? Or about our regions and kingdoms?” asks Prince Diluc.

You squint at Prince Diluc, stroking your chin while shaking your head. Why would your parents tell you who these men are? Kingdoms and regions, huh? So not only are they important people, but they come from the kingdoms that rule the seven nations. Your parents could care less about informing you about the current reigning monarchs of each region because they assumed you wouldn’t meet anyone from the seven regions.

The men start introducing themselves and saying what regions and kingdoms they’re from while you try to remember the names of each face. After ten minutes, every man has introduced themselves to you, and now it’s your turn. You’re not sure what to say— do you even introduce yourself as a member of the royal family, or do you present yourself as who you are? I mean, you are part of the royal family, but you’re never seen with them, nor are you seen out in public because you’re not allowed to step foot out of the high-rise prison.

“Nice to meet you all. My name’s [YN],” you introduce yourself.

Prince Thoma gazes at you with wide eyes before looking at the others. “Your Highness, you’re not going to introduce yourself as—”

You shake your head. What’s the point of introducing yourself as the child of the king and queen? The men look at each other, not saying a word. It’s not like you don’t want to introduce yourself as the child of the king and queen. The public and other kingdoms have never seen your face, and if you were to introduce yourself as whatever title within the monarchy, people would assume you’re pretending to be something you’re not.

You clear your throat. “Are we all going to stay here, or are we going to leave? I’m worried the servants are going to pop in to check on me only to see me with twenty-seven uninvited royal guests,” you say, crossing your arms over your chest.

The men nod and usher you toward the balcony. You peek over the balcony and see an uncomfortable drop. You turn to look at the others, propping your hands on your hips. There’s no way in hell you’re going to climb down this easily. You’re willing to leave, but if it has anything to do with heights, you’re not going to be on board with it. Maybe that’s why your parents put you in a high-rise prison instead of a dungeon.

“Is there a problem, Your Highness?” Prince Dainsleif asks, peering over the balcony before looking at you with worry.

You nod hesitantly. “Yes, but I don’t think we have time to worry about my worries right now,” you say, reaching for the rope, only for Prince Albedo to snatch it from your hands.

Prince Albedo sighs and shakes his head. “Your Highness, if you’re not comfortable with climbing out the balcony and down the rope, we can have someone carry you down,” Prince Albedo suggests.

Not wanting to waste time, Prince Al Haitham scoops you in his arms and throws you over his shoulders before grabbing the rope and climbing over the railing of the balcony. You squeeze your eyes shut and wrap your arms around his torso tightly as Prince Al Haitham descends with you over his shoulders. The others follow after Prince Al Haitham climbs down the tower. Prince Tighnari closes the balcony door before making his way down the rope.

“Okay, so you have successfully rescued me from my tower…” You trail off, continuing to cling onto Prince Al Haitham’s waist. “What’s going to happen after this? Do I live as a regular citizen now? Do I live in someone else’s kingdom? Are you guys going to take me to my parents' kingdom?” You ask.

Once everyone made it down the tower, Prince Wriothesley yanks the rope from the railing before wrapping the rope and storing it in the leather rucksack. You wiggle your feet in the grass and pause, only to realize you don’t have shoes on, nor do you have shoes on your person. You sigh, pinching the bridge of your nose.

“Is there something wrong, Your Highness?” Prince Wriothesley asks, approaching you.

You press your lips into a thin line. You don’t want to be a burden if you tell them you don’t have shoes on— how could you forget to wear shoes? Then again, you rarely leave the tower, so shoes weren’t a necessity for you.

“Did you forget something, Your Highness?” A suave voice asks.

You turn to see a shorter male leaning against the tower. You blink at the man and turn to the other princes behind you. There are twenty-seven of them, but who in the world is this man? Prince Cyno and Prince Baizhu trade looks before looking at the approaching man. The man pulls your shoes out of thin air before dropping down on one knee, helping you put your shoes on. The princes around you mutter to themselves while watching the man before you put your shoes on your feet before standing up. The man bows gracefully, tips his hat forward, and winks at you with a smirk.

“If it weren’t for me, you would be parading around the nation barefooted,” says the mysterious man.

Prince Cyno sighs, crossing his arms over his chest. “Prince Lyney, I did not expect to see you here,” says Prince Cyno.

Another prince? How many princes are there in Teyvat? Prince Lyney smiles at Prince Cyno and waves at him with a wide smile. At least you don’t have to worry about walking around barefooted. It’s still early in the afternoon, and your fate after leaving the castle remains a mystery. If your parents know you managed to escape the tower, who knows what they will do aside from having a search party for you. You love your parents, you really do! But you don’t see them as often as you see the servants at the tower.

“Where are we going to take their Highness,” asks Prince Scaramouche, crossing his arms over his chest.

The men fall silent and look at each other. You prop your hands on your hips and sigh. These men did not think this through. While it’s nice to be rescued, you don’t want to be seen outside of the tower if there isn’t a plan after the rescue portion of the plan. Even if the majority of the public has no idea what you look like, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Pantalone strokes his chin. “We’re going to take you to another nation. Far away from where your kingdom and tower reside—”

You cut him off. “And have you all decided on what nation I’m going to be smuggled into?” you ask.

“That we do not,” Dottore says, shaking his head.

You visibly deflate, sighing in defeat. You’re okay with being smuggled into any nation! However, these men not knowing what nation they wanted to smuggle you into is sort of a problem.

Prince Tighnari smiles at you sympathetically and pats your head. “Do you have a preference?” asks Prince Tighnari.

You shake your head. “Not really, no,” you reply. You look around, making sure there’s no one listening in on your conversation. “Let’s get moving before one of the servants catches us out here.”

Prince Capitano, the masked (helmeted?) prince of an unknown nation, leads the way away from the tower. You look over your shoulders at your high-rise prison one last time before turning back around. You hope if your parents have a search party over your disappearance, they will never find you.

Even if your parents know what you look like, the entire nation and the entirety of Teyvat have no idea what you look like. So, that makes you wonder how your parents are going to have a search party for you if the entirety of Teyvat (aside from a selected few) has no idea what you look like. To be honest, just thinking about it makes you a tad bit nervous about what’s going to happen in the future.

“Something on your mind, Your Highness?” asks Prince Capitano.

You shake your head and rub your temples. “No, no, not really. Although I am starting to get a headache,” you sigh.

You’re not lying when you say you’re starting to get a headache. The back of your head is throbbing, and it makes you want to drop everything and take a nap. Prince Baizhu steps up and points at the large tree in the distance.

“Get underneath the shade of the tree, and I’ll conduct a health check-up before we continue our journey,” Prince Baizhu instructs.

Prince Pierro scoops you up in his arms and carries you to the shade. It’s warm outside, but not uncomfortably warm. It's just warm enough for you to not overheat or break out in sweats. Prince Pierro sits you down at the base of the tree and has you lean against the tree trunk. You tilt your head back and look at your surroundings. There are so many trees around you that it shocks you— not because of the number of trees, but because your parents kept you in a locked tower with a few servants for most of your life, surrounded by nothing but vegetation.

Prince Baizhu does a small check-up on you, handing you a bottle of water from the rucksack Prince Diluc was carrying. The green-haired prince starts massaging your temples while you close your eyes with contentment.

Prince Al Haitham looks around, making sure no one is following your group. “If you don’t mind me asking, how do the servants treat you at your tower?” asks the gray-haired prince.

You crack your eyes open and look at Prince Al Haitham. “They treat me okay. I’m not allowed to leave my room unless I need to use the bathroom. They bring food to my room along with medication if I’m sick,” you reply.

The men stare at you in disbelief. From what you told them, it doesn’t sound like a comfortable lifestyle for you. Yes, they didn’t mistreat you, but you weren’t allowed to leave your room unless it was necessary. Heck, you weren’t allowed to leave your bedroom to get food. The servants bring food to your room and leave, locking the door behind them.

Prince Pierro sighs, shaking his head. “Sounds like they’re treating you like a prisoner,” Prince Pierro mutters.

“Do you know why your parents keep you locked up in the tower by any chance?” Prince Gorou asks, sitting beside you.

You shake your head. “Aside from wanting to protect me, not really. Whenever I ask them, they would brush it off or change the conversation.”

Now that you think about it, you never knew the actual reason why they kept you locked up in the tower. Your parents wanted to keep you away from the limelight, and to protect you could be an excuse for something else.

“Well, whatever their reason is, it’s not good enough. The best thing we can do is—” Prince Tighnari freezes, his ears twitching.

Prince Ayato looks at Prince Tighnari worriedly. “What’s wrong?”

“I hear sirens from a distance,” Tighnari whispers.

Your eyes widen, and you push yourself off the ground. “Oh no,” you whisper.

“The siren is coming from the tower,” Prince Zhongli mutters.

You and the twenty-eight princes are in the middle of nowhere in the forest. As Prince Zhongli said, the only thing that could have sirens is the tower. Prince Zhongli grabs ahold of your wrist and carries you bridal style before running with the other princes in tow.

“What’s going to happen if we get caught? I can’t go back there! I refuse to go back to the tower,” you say, gripping the sleeves of Prince Zhongli’s coat tightly.

“We won’t get caught, Your Highness! We’ll make sure you don’t return to the tower,” says Prince Neuvillette.

You and the princes can’t possibly be caught, right? The only people (aside from you and the twenty-eight princes) are the servants. There aren’t guards around the tower unless it’s a monthly security check at the tower ordered by your parents. You can’t go back to the tower, you can’t! You refuse to go back there! The possibility of you returning to the tower is fifty-fifty, and if you were to be forced to return to your high-rise prison, chances are, the security is going to be tight, and you will be under constant surveillance. So much for a happily ever after.

Note: Before anyone makes a comment on certain characters being too old to be a prince (Pierro, Capitano, Zhongli, Venti, etc.)... mind you, Prince Charles exists, and that man did not become a king until his mother died. That man finally got the title of King in his 70s. Plus, I decided to make every man a prince because changing up titles is a little bit hard to keep up— especially when it involves almost 30 men. Anyway, to all my new and returning readers, keep in mind that I ONLY post on my Tumblr (Genshinluvr) and my AO3 (Aaliah_exo)! Nowhere else except Tumblr and AO3!

Taglist for my isekai'd!Reader one-shot series and my overall taglist for my Genshin fics: @chirikoheina, @yoru-trash, @kaoyamamegami, @deartoru, @luminarymoonlight, @toobytub, @ins4nebish, @bokuto-kinnie, @exhaustedcommunist, @jadedist, @mompt2, @chalksdreams, @thelost-in-time, @ventisweetheart, @hispasian-otaku, @juuuuuj101010, @samarill, @testsubject0012, @irisxiel, @kazuhaprnt, @lunarapple, @emilymikado, @mabie, @vinnie-w, @n8mareee, @heyimkay, @eliciana, @blesstosuisen, @goldeneclipsedragon, @jjvr4yxc, @sovermike-21-blog, @vox34, @skyyyyackerman, @undecidingfate, @nightlysunn, @faeryminnyx, @simpcreator, @lucifarts-boxers, @thelovebuggs, @urlocalheizousimp, @sunlightstarr, @asoulsreverie, @inapileofbooke

Read more of my works on my Masterlist / Masterlist 2 | Maybe support me by tipping me on Ko-Fi or by reblogging my fanfics! ^^ I will also be posting exclusive fanfics on Ko-Fi as well very soon! I might post all of my stories on there too, but who knows. You can also tip me on Tumblr if you'd like as a way to show support! ^^

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blackcherryvelvet0909 · 6 months

Text

Tomato Basil (Lilia x GN!Reader)

Note: Reader is an adult for obvious reasons

“This looks like a good spot!” Lilia stopped a short several feet from the shoreline, just where you could feel the sea spray whisp across your skin. It was quite refreshing. The sunset backdrop was equally perfect, the stars just starting to peek out over the horizon. With a flourish, Lilia laid out the large, soft blanket he’d been carrying. He tilted his head up to eye you as he asked, “Which side would you like?”

“Any is fine,” you replied with a smile. “I’m not picky.”

“Then let’s sit facing the sunset,” Lilia suggested. “Watching the sun sink below the sea’s edge is always a pretty sight.”

That was, indeed, a nice idea. You sat on the right side of the blanket and Lilia sat on the left. You placed the wicker picnic basket you’d been holding in front of you both and opened the top. Inside were wheat crackers, various types of cheese, multiple sliced veggies, small fruits, two little plates, and a few utensils. Beside the basket now sat a mini cooler, which had been another object Lilia toted out to the beach. Within were two thermoses, one filled with tomato juice and the other filled with [drink of choice]; there was also a small box of popsicles. You and Lilia had quite the spread before you.

“I hate that Silver couldn’t come with us,” you lamented as you helped Lilia unload the plates and utensils from the basket. “Malleus and Sebek, too. They seemed so excited.”

“I know, it is a shame. Malleus was looking forward to doing some mundane activities.” Lilia glanced over and gave you a reassuring smile. “But worry not! We have another week of our school trip - plenty of time to picnic again.” He let out a soft chuckle. “Maybe this will teach Malleus not to eat so much ice cream in one sitting.”

Ah, yes, the thing that prevented Malleus from coming: A stomachache. One of the worst he’d ever experienced, apparently. The last time you saw him, the prince was curled up in his king sized bed, blankets wrapped around him so thoroughly only his horns peeked above the surface. His dead silence was only interrupted by a painful grunt every now and again. According to Lilia, that was the calmest Malleus had ever been about such an ailment. Truly, the prince had grown much since his tantrum-having childhood. Lilia commented to you on your way down to the beach that he was quite relieved about that.

As for Sebek and Silver, the two were also back at the hotel. Sebek was adamant on remaining at Malleus’s side - to be at his beck and call throughout the entire ordeal. Silver, on the other hand, was sound asleep in Lilia’s bed. He’d attempted to stay up along with Sebek; unfortunately for Silver, his narcolepsy won out. It was cute how Lilia tucked him into bed, brushed his hair behind his ear and pressed a gentle kiss to his forehead, before you both set out. Silver looked so peaceful then…hopefully Sebek would spare him a lecture when he woke.

“But let’s not fret about that now,” Lilia said, knocking you out of your thoughts. “I’m starved! Let’s dig into our snacks, shall we?”

Lilia didn’t seem too worried about the boys. He was the one that raised them (in Sebek’s case, at least in part) - if he thought they would be alright by themselves, you shouldn’t worry either. So, with a smile and a nod, you, too, began to sort through the food. You put your thermos next to you before filling your plate. Of course, you were not surprised when Lilia placed a near whole tomato on his plate. “You really do like tomatoes, huh?” you mused.

“They are quite refreshing,” Lilia concurred. “I could eat an entire bag if I were particularly famished.” He let out a small laugh. “You should have seen the look on Kalim’s face the first time he saw me bite into one, like you would an apple. He was flabbergasted! I don’t think he’s ever seen anyone do that - nor Cater, for that matter.”

“It isn’t a very common thing to do. I would have been just as surprised if I saw you do that.”

“What’s life without a little surprise - a little oddness?” Lilia laid a few red cherries next to his tomato slices. “I find both most entertaining.”

As you began to eat your own food, you examined Lilia’s own spread. You saw almost nothing but red: Red apple slices, red tomato slices, red cherries, little red grapes. Your brows furrowed as you observed this pattern. Lilia noticed and teased you with, “Now, what has you ogling my plate so?” He tittered as he continued with, “Do you think I eat too much for my age?~”

“No, not at all!” you earnestly denied. “It’s just that, well…you seem to eat red foods more than other colored foods.”

“Do I?” Though Lilia feigned innocence, you had a feeling he already knew that. “Well, red is my favorite color. While every shade catches my eye, deeper hues - like crimson and rouge - hold a bit more favoritism.” He shrugged, “I suppose it’s just a subconscious habit of mine, being drawn to foods and other things that are red.”

Yeah, you guessed that made sense. It wasn’t your intention to, your eyes focused in on his fangs as he bit into a cracker, stacked with cheese and tomatoes. They disappeared from view as he closed his mouth to chew; the fae hummed in delight as the many flavors melted on his tongue. A silly little idea came into your mind - you tried your best to stifle your giggle. As Lilia swallowed his bite, the corner of his mouth tugged upwards along with his eyebrow. “Goodness, laughing now? What’s so funny, hm?”

“It’s nothing, really,” you assured as you tried to calm down the laughter bubbling in your throat.

“No no, now you’ve tickled my curiosity.” Lilia scooted a little closer, crimson eyes narrowed and lips quirked into a smirk. “Come on, let’s hear it.”

For a split second, you wondered if it’d be rude to voice your little imagining aloud. Would he be offended by such a thing? No, likely not. This was Lilia Vanrouge you were talking to. If there was anyone who could take a joke, spin a wild thread, it was him. “I was just thinking how you resembled a vampire.”

“Oh really?” Lilia seemed quite interested in your comparison. He set his half-eaten cracker down on his plate and placed it on the blanket. His full attention was now on you. “Go on.”

“Well, I mean, like you said, you like red a lot. To the point you even eat certain foods,” you gestured to his thermos of tomato juice, “drink certain drinks, that are red. You don’t like sunlight because it tires you out - though I’m not sure why that is.”

“The Valley of Thorns is a particularly shaded continent,” Lilia interjected. “Most of its terrain is covered by thick trees with large canopies. The brightest of days are fairly tame compared to those in other countries. Despite spending most of my life in the military, my eyes have always been a little sensitive to bright light. That, and the only place that is really hot in temperature there are the few volcanoes spotted throughout the land. Other than those ghastly places, it's typically a cool place.”

That made sense. You wondered if Silver, Sebek, and Malleus also had some type of heat intolerance. You’d have to ask that later. “I can see why you’d hate the heat then - and the sun.”

“Well, I don’t hate it. A little warmth and sunlight are nice - just not too much, not too bright.”

“Mm-mm,” you nodded. “Still, that is similar to how a vampire is. You also can summon little bats at will, you can hang upside down-”

“Anyone can hang upside down, [y/n],” Lilia chuckled. “Whether by magic or physical capability, it’s an action anyone can partake in.”

“You want to hear the rest of my answer or not?” you scoffed, though a laugh hid beneath your mild scolding.

Lilia held up his hand in a mock defense. “Goodness, such a temper! Feisty thing, aren’t you?” He let out a little laugh of his own. “Alright, alright, my lips are sealed until you finish.”

You almost expected him to tease you further and begin to speak just as you did. When you silently opened your mouth to test that theory, you were proven wrong. Lilia sat there and uttered not a word; he simply looked at you with a smile, blinking every few seconds. Deciding he was through with his jabs (for now), you continued. “You’re hundreds of years old, despite looking like you’re no older than most of our classmates. You have pale skin, red slitted eyes, and,” you pointed to his mouth, “you have fangs.”

“I most certainly do.” Lilia opened his mouth for a brief moment to showcase the sharp canines. “Almost all fae get a pair. They come in such good handy when biting into things.”

“If I didn’t know better, that would sound ominous,” you joked.

Lilia’s eyes narrowed again - those crimson orbs nearly glowed in the dim light. You hadn’t even noticed the sun had nearly disappeared behind the horizon. “Do you though?” he asked.

You were clearly puzzled, brows furrowed and smile disappearing as you tried to gather what he meant. “Do I what?”

He leaned a little closer to you, to where you could just barely feel his breath ghost over your skin - your lips. “Know better?~”

Lilia’s gaze held yours - you were absolutely mesmerized. Though you never really bothered to look, you now couldn’t help but notice how handsome Lilia was. His looks were rather boyish and youthful, yes, but there was a maturity within his features. The way his voice took a small octave downturn as he spoke those two words…there were no sun rays to blame for the heat that spread to your cheeks.

“Father!”

In quick succession, you and Lilia leaned away from each other and turned your heads in the direction of the voice. There was Silver, dressed in an open tropical shirt (Lilia had gifted it to him the weekend before), chestnut brown shorts, and black sandals. His hair was a little messy, a little out of breath as he approached you two. “I’m sorry for being late! I accidentally fell asleep - again. I shouldn’t have-”

“Silver, it’s alright!” Lilia beckoned Silver to come down - the boy followed without hesitation. As Lilia straightened his son’s hair for the second time that day, he reassured him with a chuckle. “You’ve had a long day; I’d expect a boy of your age to fall asleep after such an adventure. That, and we’re on vacation,” he patted Silver on the head and gave him a cheery smile, “it’s okay to be tardy on vacation.”

“Yeah, it’s okay, Silver.” You gave the man a smile of your own. “You’re not too late, either. We’ve only been here for about…” You looked back at the sea, the sun now fully gone, the moon having taken its place in the sky. “Uh…maybe fifteen minutes?”

“Twenty,” Lilia corrected. He patted the space adjacent to him on the blanket, next to the small cooler. “Come, sit! I brought your favorite popsicles~” Lilia brought the box out of the cooler and shook it to entice Silver further.

Silver finally seemed at ease. He sighed and, with a soft smile of his own, sat down on the blanket. “If I’m really not intruding…”

“Intruding on what?” Lilia glanced in your direction. “[Y/n] and I were just having a fun little conversation about how I resembled a vampire!” He turned his attention back to Silver. “What do you think? Should I start sleeping in a coffin to really send the comparison home?~”

“I don’t think that’d be very comfortable, Father.”

The conversation and atmosphere turned fun and lively, paired with the cozy warm of a fire Silver started a little further into your picnic. It was a truly wonderful time! Though you couldn’t keep your mind from wandering back to that moment between you and Lilia just before Silver appeared. How close he’d been, the way you could see those fangs of his peek out from under his upper lip. How a part of you wished he would have given your bottom lip a nibble…would his lips taste like tomato, perhaps paired with the basil from the crackers? Did he notice the blush that crept up on your cheeks?

You suddenly had the urge to bury your head in the sand.

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alex51324 · 4 months

Text

Secret Family Recipes

I shared my cookie recipes last week, so here are the secret recipes without which my family's Christmas celebrations would not be complete:

Grandma's House Punch

Put a block of sherbet into the punch bowl. (Lime is the Most Christmas Flavor, but you can use any kind except Rainbow.)

Pour ginger ale over it.

You can serve it in anything, but it tastes better if you ladle it into the little cups with handles that match the punch bowl.

Chex Mix

Okay, this one's a little more complicated! There are two parts and also you have to use the oven. But it's worth it for old-fashioned homemade Chex Mix, like Grandma used to make.

To make the sauce, melt a stick of butter and add:

2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

A teaspoon and a half of seasoned salt

A teaspoon of garlic powder

Half a teaspoon of onion powder

You can use margarine if you're making it for vegans, but it isn't as good. If you don't have onion powder, use a little extra of the seasoned salt and garlic powder.

Shake up the following in a big bowl with a lid:

3-4 cups each of rice, corn, and wheat Chex. (Store brand is fine, except Wheat Chex only comes in the name brand.)

At least a cup of mixed nuts. I usually put in a cup of Deluxe Mixed Nuts (the kind without peanuts) and then a big handful each of walnuts, almonds, and pecans from the bags I buy to bake with. (If you're making it for someone allergic to nuts, you can skip them, or substitute Goldfish crackers.)

About a cup of pretzel sticks. (Mini pretzels are also OK, but I always use sticks.)

Shake it up dry first, to get everything distributed, then pour in the sauce and shake some more so that everything gets coated.

Pour the mix into your big glass baking dish, and put it in the oven for an hour at 250. Stir it every 15 minutes. (Don't skip the stirring, but you can get away with every 20 minutes.) While this is happening, your house will smell delicious.

You can start eating it while it's still warm, but let it cool before you put it away in the big bowl with the lid.

#christmas #recipes #food #super complicated fancy cooking

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catierambles · 11 months

Text

Feral Instincts Ch.12

Pairing: The Rogue’s Gallery (Geralt, Syverson, Mike, August Walker, Walter Marshall) x Stephanie Daniels (OFC)

WC 2108

Warnings: Mentions of injury, abuse, and violence Minors DNI 18+ ONLY

@mclsquared , @brattymum96 , @ouroboros113 , @peaches1958 , @summersong69 , @eldarwen333 , @omgkatinka , @identity2212 , @lucypaulette , @teamfan7asy , @ms-betsy-fangirl ,@pagina16ps , @enchantedbytomandhenry , @foxyjwls007 , @nofoolywang , @margauxmargaux07 , @mrsevans90 , @ilikemilkchocolateh @peyton-warren , @lizzystuffsthings , @raccoon-eyed-rebel , @km-ffluv , @cavilllover , @deandoesthingstome , @write-r-die , @livisss , @miss-rebel-without-applause , @kebabgirl67 , @squeezyvalkyrie , @luminescentlily , @ellethespaceunicorn

Mike was sitting on the couch, eating from a bag of frosted mini-wheats when there was a knock on the door. Dusting his hands off, he got up and went to it, opening it and seeing Sy on the doorstep. He had spoken to him last night after Geralt had gotten settled in the bedroom with Stephanie, letting him know the gist of what happened and that the white wolf was safe now.

"Hey." Mike said and Sy grunted at him, walking into the apartment as Mike moved aside.

"Where is he?" Sy asked.

"He and Steph are still asleep in the bedroom." Mike said.

"He say what happened?"

"Just that a hunt had gone wrong."

"Wounds musta taken a bit to go south, the check cleared this morning. He was able to turn it in before shit hit the fan." Sy said.

"Did he say who they were sending him after?"

"Just a feral few hours north of here that left some bodies. He was workin' with Staties on it." Sy said.

"You don't think it was Lewis, do you?" Mike asked.

"Honestly hadn't considered that. I told the Council about Lewis and what he had done to Steph, as well as the shit he pulled after, so they know about him and how dangerous he is." Sy said, "But if it was him, Geralt probably would have told us, unless he didn't know until he got up there."

"I didn't check. His bike out front?"

"Parked at an angle, but not in danger of gettin' hit."

"It was bad, Sy. I don't know if it was the lighting, but I could swear I saw bone." Mike said and Sy gave a sigh, running a hand over his shorn hair. "Steph did something, though. Last night. I felt her, and Geralt. I felt their wolves."

"She may have pulled at his wolf to help him heal." Sy guessed, but then shrugged. "Bedroom this way?" He pointed and Mike nodded. "Imma check on'em." He headed down the short hall, stopping at the closed door and easing it open. He immediately saw them on the bed, Geralt laying on his back, his side plastered with gauze that was tinged red in places. Stephanie was against his side, her legs tangled with his as she held his arm, cheek pressed to his shoulder. Going to her side of the bed, Sy brushed her hair away from her face gently and she woke with a deep inhale through her nose, her eyes opening and it took a second before they focused on him, a sleepy smile coming over her face.

"Hey, you." She said and the corner of his lips perked up.

"Hey, doll." Sy said, pitching his voice low, "How's he doin'?"

"Fever's gone." She said, looking at him, "Color's better. I'd say he's out of the woods." Propping herself up, she pressed her lips to the corner of his mouth and he made a small noise as he woke up, his hand coming up to weave into her hair as he pulled her into a kiss.

"Missed you." He said, his eyes still closed.

"I missed you too." She said, "Sy's here."

"Hey, man." Sy said and Geralt moved his head at him a little as Stephanie relaxed again on the bed.

"Hey."

"How's it feel?" Sy asked and Geralt shrugged.

"Better." He said and Stephanie slid off the bed, but not before tapping the tip of Geralt's nose with a fingertip, getting a cracked open side eye in response. She went around to the other side of the bed and he lifted his arm so she could carefully peel off the gauze. The wounds were gone, the skin pink and shiny where they had been, but that would eventually fade into scars adding to the ones he already had.

"There you go." She said, wiping away the remnants of the antibiotic ointment with a clean section of the gauze before bending and pressing her lips to his ribs. His hand went to her hair when he felt the touch of her lips, fingers moving through the strands.

"Missed you." He said again.

"Missed you too." She said and his eyes opened as he finally heaved himself up into a sitting position, swinging his legs over to sit on the edge of the bed.

"Geralt, Mike made a good point." Sy said, "Based on where you were sent, was it after Lewis?"

"No." He said, shaking his head, "Someone else. I've got feelers out with the other trackers, but no one's seen him."

"I don't like it." Stephanie said, "Don't get me wrong, I'm glad he's leaving me alone, but he was pretty fucking persistent before. Why give up all of a sudden?"

"I don't like it either, don't feel right." Sy said and Geralt just grunted in agreement.

"Whatever. Bad vibes aside, if he's staying away, he can continue to stay away." Stephanie said and went to Geralt, holding his face between her palms. His hands slid around her hips as he looked up at her, his eyes soft. "You, my good dude, need a shower." He snorted, his lips curling into a small smile. "So do I, come to think of it."

"Save water?" He asked and she grinned at him, pulling away as he stood from the bed.

"I'll be out in the living room." Sy said with a snort.

"Nuh uh, Mister." She said, and hooked her fingers in the neck of his t-shirt, pulling him into the attached bathroom with Geralt close behind, Sy's laughter following after them.

Much later, they were sitting in the living room as Stephanie made them food, Sy talking to Walter on the phone to update him on the situation. There was a heavy knock on the front door and she stepped away from the stove, going over and looking through the peephole, a small smile coming to her face at the familiar visitor. Throwing back the deadbolts, she opened the door and was immediately pulled into a kiss that made her toes curl, his mustache rasping over her upper lip.

"Walter told me Sy and Geralt were here." August said when he pulled away and she nodded, moving aside to let him in. The others called out their greetings and she went back to the stove, flipping the pancake before it got too done on one side. "Walt said you got injured, Geralt. You okay?"

"Steph took care of me." He said simply, sipping from his mug of coffee. There was another knock on the door, a more timid one this time and they looked at it.

"It's not Walter." Sy said.

"Mike, watch the food, please." Stephanie said and he jumped up from the couch.

"You got it." He said and they swapped places at the stove. Going to the door, she looked through the peephole again, seeing one of her neighbors, a young man with curly brown hair down to his collar. He looked nervous and her head tilted to the side slightly before she opened the door.

"Uh, hi." He said, giving her an anxious smile.

"Hey, what's up?" She asked and he rubbed at the back of his neck in a nervous gesture.

"This is embarrassing." He said and she gave him a questioning look. "Fuck it. Can I join your pack?" Her brows jumped in surprise, "I felt you pull at someone's wolf last night, and I had no idea you were even a wolf, much less an Alpha."

"It's fairly recent." She said and his eyes widened slightly.

"Oh." He said, "I'm Hunter, by the way, probably should have led with that."

"Hunter, why don't you come in and we'll talk, okay?" She asked and he nodded, stepping into the apartment as she stepped aside. He stopped as the guys all looked at him.

"I didn't know--I thought you were the only Alpha." Hunter said.

"They're--it's complicated." Stephanie said, "I live here with my Beta, Mike--"

"Hi, there!" Mike called from the kitchen.

"He and the others took care of me when I got infected."

"Oh." Hunter said again.

"Easy, son." Sy said, having gotten off the phone with Walter. "We ain't gonna hurt ya."

"Now, how about we start from the beginning." Stephanie said, "Geralt, make room for him, please." He got up from his seat, gesturing slightly and Hunter thanked him as he sat down, twisting his fingers together nervously. "Hunter, look at me." He did immediately and Stephanie went to him, holding his face in her hands. "You're safe here, no one is going to hurt you."

"Thank you." He sighed, closing his eyes. "The pack I'm in now, the Alpha…he's a bully. He picks on the Betas and mistreats the Omegas."

"How?" Geralt asked, folding his arms over his chest.

"He pushes us around, we have to give him all our wages so he controls all the money. I've seen him lay hands on Omegas, hurt them." Hunter said and they weren't sure who gave the low growl, but one was definitely let out.

"Have you told the Council?" August asked and Hunter nodded.

"I made an anonymous complaint, but when they sent someone to investigate, everyone was too scared to say anything." He said and August sniffed. "He knew it was me, I don't know how, and he ripped my wolf out of me."

"But I--"

"Doll, you pullin' at our wolves is a gentle thing." Sy said, "You do it with care, but it can be done with violence and it hurts. A lot."

"I felt you." Hunter said, looking up at her again. "When you pulled at someone's wolf last night. I felt it. I could tell it was you because of how it felt, it felt like…warmth, and love, and…and…"

"Pack." Geralt said and he nodded. "I was injured, she pulled at my wolf to heal me."

"Kinda wonderin' how far out it was felt." Sy said.

"I live right next door." Hunter said, looking at him, "I think we share a wall."

"So not that far." Sy said.

"I want--I can't--" He said and she held his face again, making him look up at her with pleading eyes. "Please."

"Easiest thing to do would be to take over his." August said, "If this Alpha is that much of a bastard, he doesn't deserve his own pack. This building his territory?"

"And the one next door." Hunter said, "He owns them."

"Geralt?" Stephanie asked.

"I'll talk to my contact on the Council." He said, "Let them know what's going on so they don't think we're poaching."

"Sy?"

"It's your show, doll. He came to you." Sy said and she nodded.

"Hunter, it's going to be okay, okay?" She said and he nodded. "I'll take care of you."

"Thank you." He said, moving his face into her hands.

"Geralt, can you come with me please when I confront him?" She asked, "I want backup and you're the most intimidating looking in the room."

"Yes." Geralt said and her hands dropped as she stretched her neck. "If it gets dirty, I'll step in."

"Good thing I took kickboxing and Brazilian Jujitsu a few years back." She said.

"Really?" Sy asked and she nodded.

"You try being the smallest in your family of mostly guys, see how short of a time it takes before you get picked on. One good head lock and the teasing stopped." She said and he snorted. "Sy, August, stay with Hunter. Mike, don't let the food burn and make extras for our guest."

"You don't have to--" He started but she gave him a look, "Thank you." He said, giving her an appreciative smile.

"First apartment left of the entrance, right? It's where I go to hand in my rent checks." She said and he nodded. "Okay, let's get this over with." She and Geralt left, heading down the stairs and passing a few units before she stopped at a door just past the entrance to the building. Raising a hand, she knocked on it and backed away a bit before the door opened. He was a large man, with more of a strength build than that of a competition body builder, long hair tied back and a bushy beard on his face. He gave them both looks, his shoulders tightening somewhat as his eyes settled on Geralt just behind her shoulder. Wrong person to focus on. "Hi." The kick to the chest she gave him sent him careening back into the apartment and she walked in after him, Geralt smiling slightly as he followed, closing the door behind him.

#august walker #henry cavill #walter marshall #captain syverson #hellraiser mike #geralt of rivia #feral instincts

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