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ballad-of-birdy-lamb · 1 month

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The request was made by @fleorsee

Won't you stay with me, my darling?

Treech x Fem! Tribute! Reader (romantic hurt comfort) Summary: Treech is reaped alongside fem! Reader, but she's far too sorrowful to pay attention to much else other than becoming a tribute. Contains: mention of death, murder, hurt/comfort (reader being comforted), hints at su1cide (about unnamed Seven victor), hints at panic attacks (towards unnamed victor). Word count: 5.4k ⋆𐙚₊˚⊹ ᡣ𐭩

The reaping for the tenth Hunger Games had been another shitshow, as had every year since the first.

All the boys lined up on their side, the girls the other. Treech had been called and he went to the podium reluctantly, no matter if his face showed that or not. But you had brought the District some attention. Your name had been called at the reaping and almost immediately other girls within nearby lines ran to hold you close and sob.

It wasn’t until their tears flowed that yours did too. Seconds after you felt their hands grasping at your clothes, grabbing at anything that could keep you close, your eyes had watered too and your wails didn’t sound too different to your friends’.

The entwined bodies were pulled from each other rather harshly, finally showing your figure to the Capital citizens, the crowd, and Treech who you truly were. You were brought next to him and shown off for District Seven’s tenth Hunger Games tributes.

And now as you stood at the train station, two peacekeepers standing besides you both, it was awkward. The silence was sickening, the skin around your tearful eyes having grown sensitive from you constantly wiping them.

Treech didn’t worry about that though, he was too worried about what could happen to both you and him while in the Capital and the arena. The idea of his death wasn’t something he wished to get to so soon. The same could be said for you. He knew so little about you but he had enough empathy to understand that you felt the same, more physically too.

Treech looked over at you, the tears having partially dried into a shine around your cheeks. You occupied yourself with picking at your fingers or feeling at the cloth of your clothes. He couldn't help gazing at you, looking at the fabric of your clothes, seeing the intricate details on the cloth. It made him think of the browns and vague blues of his attire, having felt slightly underwhelming next to you. It was true to an extent, his lifeless reaction to his name call probably made him seem underwhelming too.

A rust-colored cattle car pulls into the station. Treech looks at it with uncertainty. Not many animals were ever brought to the district, so it was either for animal meat or for you both. He had heard the Capital brought the tributes in cattle cars, so it was likely for you both. Which was quickly proven correct.

The door is thrown open by a nearby peacekeeper. You crooned your head to look into the car, seeing the slightly dirty hay sitting on the wood flooring. Treech's lips drew into a line while his nose scrunching from the smell. It smelled disgusting, even as far as you both were from the train.

Treech looked over at you, wondering how you felt about the situation and the train car entirely. His questions were quickly answered as your hand went to your face and pinched your nostrils closed, your expression forming into one of displeasure. Treech’s mind went to your clothes and the possibility they would get dirty and ruined from the disgustingness from the car.

The peacekeepers beside you pushed you both forward towards the cattle car. Their demand was met with reluctance from both you and Treech but you went along anyway. He climbed onto the train, his nose wrinkling at the smell of the train car. Either way, he turns back to you to help you up. His hand took yours gently, hoping you wouldn't see him as a possible threat, now or in the arena.

You gratefully took his hand but didn’t vocally thank him, simply giving him a look. A brighter look than you would have given anyone else. You swiped your shoe over the hay, moving the beige colored grass out of your way once you sat on the wood floor. Treech does something similar but sits across the cattle car, not trying to get near you.

The peacekeepers closed the doors harshly, causing both you and Treech to jump a bit. He sighed and leaned against the metal walling. Hoping to calm his heart, his fingers tracing the details on his palm, his fingertips lightly brushing between creases and over the sores from work brought a mindless feeling to him. He had done something similar when he was in school, his mind having naturally wandered off to other places as he traced the delicate intricacies of his palm then the veins on his hand.

Your legs were close to your chest, curling your body to comfort yourself. Treech didn’t try comforting you, he simply didn’t know what to do. He’s comforted people before but not in situations like this. When he was young, he would comfort his friends when they got hurt but this was a different kind of hurt. This was worse than Treech thought he could ever comfort you through. So he didn’t try. But he’d have to talk to you at some point.

“You’re in my math class, right?” Treech asked, hoping to break the ice. Your eyes trail to him as you try stifling your sniffles, which was a failure. “I might have gotten you mixed up but you look very familiar.”

You stare at him, sniffling before nodding. “I could say the same for you,” You mutter and turn your head down to your hands. “Ms. Ecordium, yes?” He nods with a slight smile.

“Yep,” he mumbles awkwardly and looks down at his hands. You nod, wait several seconds before going back to looking out the crack in the wall. The sunlight shines from your forehead to your bottom lip, covering your skin in the soft golden glow.

The silence was brought back with the familiar awkwardness from the train station. Treech glanced at you again, seeing the movements of shadows over your cheek, showing the train slowly picking up speed.

He sighs, setting his hat near him as he laid down. Treech’s thoughts were plagued with what could be in the arena, how he would hold up with the other tributes who were possibly stronger than him. But he eventually closed his eyes, the last thing he sees is you sitting in the corner, looking out the crack in the wall.

♡♡♡

It was roughly 6:30 at night when Wovey and Bobbin, the District Eight tributes, had been brought to the same train car. Bobbin didn’t try speaking to you or Treech’s sleeping body, Wovey did though. It was only a small “hello” and a wave that had been made in your direction, which you had done back out of politeness.

The sun had finally set and Wovey and Bobbin curled up in their pile of hay, which had been gathered by the both of them. You offered to help but Bobbin said they could do it on their own, leaving you to grovel in your moonlight. Now, they slept, Wovey’s blonde hair that had been pulled from the bun to keep her comfortable, the hairband around her wrist. Her head rested on Bobbin’s arm while they slept.

The night had grown quiet, the only sound filling the night sky was the screeching train rails and the soft snoring coming from the Eight tributes and Treech. The train car rocked lazily though it moved hastily across the countryside. Your tears had dried hours prior when you couldn’t produce any more tears, leaving just soreness from constantly wiping the diluted water from your cheeks.

The idea of you never getting back home and seeing your friends again plagued your mind. You couldn’t think of anything but their cries as they held you close, pleading that you wouldn’t leave. And there was a possibility you would never go home, your fate being held in another tribute's palms, their blood covered hands.

Treech gradually opened his eyes, the darkened car only lit by the small cracks of moonlight shining down on the countryside. He sat up begrudgingly, his body rocking back and forth just as the train car did.

He lazily reached into his pocket, his arm slightly sore from sleeping on it. He pulled out the silver pocket watch, reading 11:52 PM, and sighed. It had been a long while that he had slept, it’s unlikely that he would sleep for the rest of the night. Treech ran his fingers gently through his hair, trying to fix himself just a little. His eyes eventually adjusted to the darkness.

Treech stared at you as you sat in your corner, curled up in a ball, trying to comfort yourself the best you could.

“(Y/n)? Are you crying again?” Treech asked then paused, pressing his lips into a line, realizing how mean he might have sounded. But thankfully you didn’t consider crying more at his question. Instead, you nodded.

“Yeah,” you answer and look away, back through the crack in the wooden wall, watching the moon again. The silver shined onto your skin, showing the layer of tears left untouched by your hand.

Treech’s mind immediately thought you were embarrassed, why else would you look away so quickly? He pursed his lips, looking around at the hay that surrounded his body, his hat on the gold grass. “You don’t have to be embarrassed about that,” he stated simply, rubbing his eyes.

You look back at him again and shake your head. The back of your palm wiped the newfound tears. “No, I’m not embarrassed,” you assure and sigh, which was interrupted by a hiccup. “I just keep crying.”

Treech’s eyes trail to Wovey and Bobbin who sleep soundly in their pile of hay, their bodies still but full of life. He looks back at you again and nods. “I get that,” he mutters awkwardly, not knowing what else to say.

Your tears sparkled on your skin from the silver moon grazing over the sky. Treech’s dark eyes looked down at yours as you sobbed. And it dawned on him, he didn’t think too much about going back to District Seven. He hadn’t shed a tear while waiting for or on the train. Maybe it was just how quickly he had accepted his demise or how his friends and family didn’t react either. It didn’t matter now.

“Do you… um,” Treech hesitates, looking down at his hands. “Hold you? I meant, do you want me to hold you?”

You stare at him silently, thinking about his offer. But it didn’t take too much time to finally have an answer.

It only took a matter of seconds for you to crawl into his arms, laying your head on his chest, your arms wrapped tightly around him. The softness of your clothes and the tightness of your hold reminded Treech too much of home. It almost comforted him too. Knowing your arms were open to him just as much as his to you was enough.

“I don’t want to die!” You sobbed and curled into yourself more, which Treech didn’t think was possible. His arms tightened around you, pulling you to his shoulder, which you accepted quickly. The tip of your nose poked over the muscle between his shoulder and neck.

Treech awkwardly sat with you, keeping you in his arms, caged around your trembling body. He no longer had to think of comforting things to say.

“You won’t die,” Treech assures and hesitantly pets your head, his breath delicately touching your cheek. It helped you slightly, but it brought in the idea of his death. As little as you knew him, it still meant a lot for him to stay alive.

You didn’t say anything for a long while, just keeping close to Treech and making sure to calm your breathing, which was only interrupted by sniffles and hiccups.

“You’ll go home to your family,” Treech muttered, the joint of his pointer finger gently rubbing your cheek. “And they’ll have a nice dinner for you, and they’ll celebrate that you're home.”

Now, Treech didn’t know if that was true at all. He didn’t know what your family life was like. For all he knew, he was saying what he wanted when he possibly got home. He wanted a celebration for his victory, though it’s rarely ever a victory.

There was only one victor from Seven he knew of, and it wasn’t pretty. A seventeen-year-old girl came back to the District a victor but only stayed for four months before she died. She had several of those… fear filled moment when she smelt something she couldn’t stand anymore. And it didn’t take her too long to no longer take it.

No one knew about the other Districts, if they had something similar with their victors. It was mostly a prayer that neither of you would succumb to something similar that girl did. Only a little bit of hope would help you both.

“You’ll live long. You’ll get a nice job and a house, maybe a pet or two,” Treech continued, the hand that wasn’t petting your face held onto your shoulder that raised with every hiccup. “And you’ll be happy.”

You kept your eyes closed as you drifted your head to his chest again, listening to the quiet beat of his heart, caged behind the soft fabric of his shirt and coat. The muscles in your legs eventually loosened, causing your knees to move away from your chest.

“You want that too?” You ask, looking up at his jaw since you would have to pull away to look him in the eye, which you didn’t wish for. “You want to go home to a victory dinner.”

Treech nodded without a second thought. “Better than starving in the arena,” he says with a slight smile. You hum in agreement. A good meal would always be better than this, for you and him.

“I want you to go home with me,” you state suddenly, changing the direction of the conversation. Your fingers go to one of his dark coat buttons, tracing the small details pressed into the silver.

Treech paused for a second. He knew it wasn’t possible, there was only one victor. But he’d be willing to give it up to you. “Yeah, I want that too…,” he trailed off, continuing to rub your cheek and cheek bone with his fingers. “I want you to go to sleep soon. It’s not good if you run into the arena tired.”

You nodded tiredly, allowing yourself some peace, just enough to sleep. Your breathing slowed and your grasp on his shirt loosened, and finally, you were out. Treech waited a minute more to continue rubbing your cheek before he decided it was good enough for him to sleep too.

Treech reached up to his hat and set it in the beige hay under the both of you and gently laid you next to him. Your sleeping body was still in his arms, your back against his chest. His dirtied fingers drawing up to your cheek bone then down to your chin one more time before his brown eyes were closed. Within a couple seconds, he followed in pursuit of sleep.

♡♡♡

The train eventually came to a stop, making a loud screech on the rusting rails. You slowly opened your eyes, blinking several times to get the sleepiness to go away. Treech’s arms were still wrapped tightly around you, finding comfort in your figure. The soreness of sleeping on the wood floor has affected you too, causing a groan to leave your lips once you sit up. Wovey and Bobbin hadn’t stirred from their slumber, their bodies only shifting slightly as the sudden lack of movement from the train.

You trail your eyes to the metal rods holding up the corners of the cattle car but are temporarily blinded by the light of the opened doors. You stiffened at the white light that shined in, turning away to cover your eyes.

“Come on, move out!” A man’s rough voice yelled at the four tributes inside. Bobbin and Wovey woke up almost immediately from the suddenness, a bit of fear in their sleep filled eyes.

“Treech, wake up!” You shake your district partner with haste. Which drew him to life with the help of the light. He groaned with sleepy irritation and looked up at you.

“Hm?” He whined and glanced around the train car, eventually falling on the armed peacekeepers. At the sight, Treech sat up quickly. It was almost like instinct, standing from the hay like he had been caught with something bad. Which of course wasn’t true, but he wasn’t going to act like it didn’t scare up.

“Come on,” you whispered to him, pushing him in the direction of the open doors. He obliged.

Treech quickly jumped down from the cattle car and onto the station platform. He turned back and reached up for your arms, hoping to help you down. You got onto your knees and leaned down until your arms were around his shoulders. Taking several steps back, he lowered you until your shoes made a soft tap to the platform flooring.

Turning your attention back to the other tributes, you and Treech silently followed them toward the chosen truck -or rather prison- for the tributes, staying close to each other as you went along.

The detailing of the train station drew your attention, the details of the clock over the ticket master’s office was beautiful. The best District train station wouldn’t even compare to the Capital’s worst. And that was a fact.

“Step up!” The peacekeeper hollered at you, drawing you away from the thought of the train station. You followed Treech into the truck, holding his hand as you climbed into the dark metal that would bring you to your tombs.

The calls of the peacekeepers grew loud and quick as Bobbin tried climbing over a nearby dumpster onto the roof of, what seemed to be, a shed. And the opportunity was taken by a Capital citizen in red.

The blonde boy ran into the truck, going all the way to the back to hide amongst the tributes. It must have worked since the peacekeepers pushed Bobbin back in to sit with Wovey and slammed the metal doors shut.

The truck started with a low rumble, the children inside swaying slightly from the suddenness as it slowly leaves the train station.

The van was eerily quiet, nearly all the tributes staring at -who you now known as- Coriolanus. Their eyes drilled holes into him as he turned to them. You couldn't help but stare too, wondering why he was in the van in the first place. It was obvious he shouldn't have been with you all, he was too well dressed.

Treech stared at him with a disgusted look, looking him up and down. The vibrancy of his red outfit gave him away. No one in Seven, hell, any of the districts, wore a red that vibrant. Not many could afford such a vibrant dye. The closest anyone of the tributes had to a vibrant dye was Lucy Gray, but even the ruffles of her skirt were too faded to have been made lavishly.

“What’s the matter, pretty boy? You're in the wrong cage?” Reaper remarked and gazed at the boy. The blonde boy looked around anxiously at the tributes and then shook his head.

Your attention was turned back to Reaper, who seemed to stand over the other tributes like a statue, larger than life with his attitude toward the random boy who intruded on their cage.

“No, this cage is delightful,” Coriolanus said back, looking around at the tributes who gazed at him.

The other tributes grimace at his lacklustre answer, constantly giving Coriolanus dirty looks. You stare at him too, wondering how he could have gotten in without getting caught. The red was too bright to not have gotten caught. The closest color that was as vibrant as the mentor’s coat was Reaper’s blue dress shirt, which was far behind in dye.

His words seemed to annoy Reaper as the boy was quick to grab Coriolanus, pushing him against the wall violently. Reaper held tightly onto his blue collar, pulling Coriolanus closer but holding him with an iron fist.

"I will kill you right now." Reaper threatened harshly, giving Coriolanus an angered look. The blonde didn’t try pushing him away, not trying to get his ass kicked before he could possibly find safety, or at least get the opportunity to run.

The other tributes leaned closer to try and witness the murder, hoping it was a little gruesome for them to get some satisfaction for their later deaths. At least it would be a death they would root for.

"There's no point in killing him," Lucy Gray pitched suddenly, drawing the attention of both Reaper and Coriolanus, looking up at the boys. "They'd kill you then your family."

"You care about him?" Reaper asked and looked over at her, a slight scowl on his face at the idea that he couldn’t kill Coriolanus. Lucy Gray stared at her mentor before nodding.

"He's my mentor, I'd prefer keeping him alive," Lucy Gray answered, smiling slightly at her own remark. A ginger haired girl glanced at Coriolanus then at Lucy Gray, looking her over, and bending down to the tributes level.

“Why do you get a mentor? You’re more special than the rest of us?” Coral asked in a condescending tone, giving Lucy Gray a dirty look.

“You all get one,” Coriolanus piped up, gazing at Coral, who stared back but gave him an annoyed look.

“Why aren’t they here?” Coral remarked and raised her brow.

“Just aren’t as kind,” Coriolanus answered and grunted from being pushed back against the wall by Reaper, firmer this time.

You watched silently, leaning forward to watch the event, wondering if Reaper would kill the Capital Boy. You lean forward, your lower stomach meets the upper parts of your thigh from leaning so far. Treech suddenly places his palm against your chest, lightly pushing you back against the truck wall. You didn’t try going against it but were slightly disappointed at his action. You wanted to watch as much as any other tribute.

Suddenly, the truck came to a stop, causing everyone inside to pause and look around. Wovey stood up from the bench and looked out the tinted window near the roof. She didn’t get much info for what was out there though.

A loud beeping sound followed as the doors opened widely as it suddenly tipped back. Your eyes widen as you hold onto your seat, which wasn’t helpful as you felt Bobbin fall onto your side, making you lose your grip. Treech was able to grab your arm as you and the rest of the tributes fell.

The terrain below the truck was an unforgiving rocky hill, almost as if the rocks sharpest points were towards the now falling district children. The sounds of rolling pebbles and cries from the tributes intermingled with the shrill calls of others, which you couldn’t put a figure to as you rolled down the hill. The sharp bits of rock poked into your back and ribs, causing you to writhe in a way to get away from the points, which didn’t do much but cause other areas to be jabbed.

Your body was tense as you quickly slowed as hastily as you started, groans leaving your lips. The area had changed from the rocky hill to soft green grass, which eased the growing newly found bruises. You stayed still for several seconds, simply listening to the pained moans of the other tributes and the calls of what you now knew as Capital citizens.

You turned your head to look over at the crowd behind the bars surrounding you, many of which were well dressed men, women, and children. It almost gave them away as Capital, their vibrantly dyed outfits. The blues, greens, and reds are too bright to say ‘district’. And they wouldn’t be excited to see their fellow man in cages if they were truly District.

But it didn’t matter now. You eventually sat up dusting your clothes of the sand that covered the stones and looked around, your mind trailing to Treech.

"Treech? Are you alright?" You groaned and looked around, hoping to find the boy nearby. Your call was answered with a whine of pain just behind a rock. You stood from the grass and quickly walked over to the sound of the familiar voice.

"I'm fine," Treech replied while slowly sitting up. He winced as he leaned over and grabbed his hat. You bent down and helped him to his feet, staring as he looked around the cage surrounded by people with kids and cameras.

“We’re in a zoo,” you mumble and look at the large camera that a man held, pointing it at the tributes. You hesitated to look away. Cameras were never truly fond memories, no one could afford them in the Districts and you could only ever see them used with the reaping's. The kids of past reaping's must have felt the same about the cameras.

“Yeah, I got that,” Treech remarked and sighed.

You nodded and sigh too, tightening your grasp on his hand. Treech pulled you closer, just close enough to whisper something in your ear. “Just make sure to-,” as Treech was about to finish his sentence, your name was called.

“(Y/n)!” A boy in a similar red to Coriolanus called your name, motioning for you to come closer.

You look from the boy calling to you to Treech, expecting him to finish his sentence, which he didn’t do. “I can talk to you again when you finish talking to him,” he simply states and pushes you in the boy's direction.

♡♡♡

The day had moved slowly, now the stars hung over the sky, the silver glow of the stars and nearby streetlamps contrasted greatly with the gold of the sun’s rays. The masses of people had gone home, now only being guarded by peacekeepers, who were reluctantly keeping their eyes open in case a tribute tried escaping.

Treech had gone off to juggle acorns for the camera, which had been rewarded with some bread. It wasn’t much but it was better than just the dust on his fingers. The bread had been split between you both while conversing about what your mentor had told you.

“His name is Pup Harrington,” you smiled and tore the brown bread between your fingers, popping smaller pieces into your mouth. Treech smiled slightly and did something similar. He raised his brow.

“Your mentor?” Treech asked, which you answered with a nod.

“Yeah,” you said through a mouthful of bread bits. “He just wanted to introduce that he was my mentor, and we needed a plan for the Games. I didn’t say too much so he did most of the talking anyway. Must’ve taken English seriously.”

Treech smiled and finished the little bit of bread he had left, licking his fingertips of the leftover crumbs off with hesitance. Moreso felt desperate, which was true but didn’t want that viewed from the Capital eye.

Once you both finish your small meal, you lie down in the grass, looking up at the stars that stared down at you. The other tributes had gone to bed or were keeping themselves occupied with miniscule tasks, like dusting off their clothes. Treech’s hands lay folded on his stomach, his hat sat near his head. You laid in a similar way, your hand close to his side, his coat to be specific.

"I wanted to thank you for being so nice to me," you mutter, finally breaking the silence. The grass was soft under your body, the yellowing dandelions around you making your natural bed seem fancier.

"You don't have to thank me," Treech assured you, watching mindlessly as you moved to hold his hands. You pulled his intertwined fingers from each other and took them into yours, squeezing gently. He kept his hand limp.

"And you didn't need to take care of me," you state with a small smile. Your mind raced with ideas, something similar to a gift. A gift you could give him, though you didn’t have much you could give him. "I can repay you in a specific way... if you'd want me to."

Treech smiled and let out a little breath, meant to be a small chuckle. Though, you could see the blush rise in his cheeks. "How would you repay me? You don't have much I could want," he remarked, giving you a specific look, one of wonder. It was obvious he wanted an answer quickly.

You hesitated at his question; you were partially expecting him to give you the idea for your gift. But he had nothing to offer and neither did you, materially, at least. You had nothing to offer but yourself.

"A kiss," you suggest hesitantly, as though the idea of kissing him wasn't something that made you nervous. You couldn’t deny that he was attractive, you would have told him sooner if your nerves didn’t get the best of you. Or if you weren’t sobbing since the reaping.

Treech paused for several seconds, the blush brightening on his face (which you didn’t know was possible), even with the dirt smudged on his cheeks. He looked away, trying to gain the confidence he had before your offer, which he doubted he could get back.

Your face grew warm too, realizing how it must have felt to have that told to you. Your hands wipe your cheeks slowly, followed with a sigh. “You don’t have to if you don’t want to. I was just suggesting,” you mutter and look back up at the stars. The silver spots stared down at you and Treech, just as eagerly waiting for his answer as you.

Treech pressed his lips into a line and tried breathing slowly, conjuring up some confidence to at least get to kiss your soft lips. He took in a final breath, nodding his head. “I’ll take it,” he said, finally making eye contact with you, though his blush brightened.

You raised your brow and nodded. “Just know I’m not too experienced with kissing, I don’t usually go around practicing kissing with others,” you muse and gradually place your hand on his cheek.

Treech stared at you and nodded slowly, a smile gradually crossing his face. He stayed silent for several moments before realizing you spoke. “Neither am I,” he mumbled, looking from your lips to your eyes. “I don’t mind.”

You smiled back at him, trying to gain the courage to kiss him. Your lack of experience made you nervous but knowing Treech was just as experienced helped slightly. You swallowed thickly as you leaned closer and hesitantly pressed your lips to his.

Treech eagerly held your hand, tightening his grasp as he tried leaning closer, though you thought it was impossible. Your chests pressed together as you kissed him softly, not growing in intensity since you both didn’t know how. But you didn’t pull away and neither did Treech.

Your hands were placed on his upper back and neck, keeping him closer as he gradually got closer. Treech breathed heavily through his nose, though the intensity wasn’t much, it was still so much for him. It was likely used for comfort, just as much as it was for you. The softness of his lips brought a softer feeling in your chest.

Eventually, you pulled away from each other, your soft breath was felt on his lips, which were only an inch or two away from yours. It was obviously a disappointment for Treech since he hastily grew fond of the affection and instinctively leaned closer to get another from you. It was only met with gentle rejection from your end, putting your hand on his shoulder to interject with his idea.

You both laid in silence, but a nice one. Treech lazily brought his head to your chest, laying down onto you. Now the roles were reversed. He laid in your arms for comfort, mainly just because he needed to wait to no longer be lightheaded. The silver stars looked down at you now with Treech in your arms, who held your hand gently. It was doubtful that the redness of his cheeks would ever leave, especially now after the kiss.

⋆𐙚₊˚⊹ ᡣ𐭩

I'm so sorry it took so long to get back to you, I have been really busy, but I finally got to completing this!!!

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scribomaniac · 3 months

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forward, always: chapter 2

Sakura’s prediction was right; Izuna made for a terrible patient.

He wasn’t the worst, thankfully. That honor went to the one and only Hatake Kakashi. The number of times she’d had to track that man down after he’d absconded from the hospital just to make sure he hadn’t undone all her hard work had been countless.

At least Izuna stayed in one place.

Izuna had been on bed rest for a full month now, and awake for three of them. While his injuries still caused him to rest for several hours throughout the day, when he was awake he made sure that everyone knew it.

“I’m sorry Izuna,” Sakura told him for the twentieth time that morning as she spoon fed him the blandest of broths. “But your body isn’t ready for anything more than this.”

And it wouldn’t be for some time, but she didn’t want to tell him that just yet.

“I don’t think you’re very sorry at all,” Izuna sniffed. As soon as he was able to keep conscious for more than an hour at a time, Madara had ordered servants to bring an abundance of pillows to use to prop Izuna up into a sitting position. Madara had argued that it’d help with Izuna’s pride, allowing for him to feel less like an invalid, and Sakura had agreed because the position didn’t pull at his healing wound and would make feeding and bathing him easier.

“Regardless,” Sakura said as she held a spoon full of soup near his mouth.

With a petulant sneer on his face, Izuna opened his mouth and accepted his fate.

“Are you sure she’s not Senju, sent here to poison me with disgusting broth?” Izuna threw an arm over his eyes and slumped back further into his cushions.

Madara laughed. It was deep and soft and made Sakura’s stomach turn warm. As elusive as it was, Sakura found herself loving Madara’s laugh. It seemed to come out the most when in the presence of his little brother.

“I’m sure,” he assured Izuna with a small smile on his face.

“Well” Izuna sighed, letting his arm drop and coming out of hiding. “You’ll be an Uchiha soon enough.” He looked between his brother and Sakura. “How was the announcement received, anyway?”

“It was accepted by the elders,” Madara told him. “Our first meeting with the chief priest will be in a fortnight.”

Izuna hummed. “A clan head wedding and an alliance with the Senju. You sure have thrown a lot at them recently.” His dark eyes narrowed and his lips pursed. “Are you sure that this venture, or whatever you’re calling it, with Hashirama is a good idea?”

The day after Hashirama’s visit, Madara had summoned his council of elders to inform them of their plans for a truce and joint creation of a village. Sakura had expected more push back from the war torn elders, from the men who’d fought against the Senju for the entirety of their lives, but a surprising majority of them supported the idea. Hashirama’s prowess cast a long shadow, and it seemed that even now, before he creates and takes on the title of Hokage, the man was revered as the God of Shinobi. Many within the clan preferred to be on Hashirama’s side, rather than against it, even if that meant swallowing generations worth of strife and pride.

Of course, there were still a good number of Uchiha who didn’t believe that the Senju would keep their word, none louder than Izuna, but with the popular opinion working against them, and no one daring to outright challenge Madara’s leadership, they could do little more than grumble their grievances.

Madara looked at Sakura first before responding, “I think it is worth a try.”

Izuna sighed. “If you say so.” His eyes drooped to a close and his breathing evened out, and soon he was asleep.

Fussing with his blanket and making sure to cover Izuna’s shoulders to ward off any chill, Sakura then gathered up the half empty bowl of broth and nodded for Madara to follow her out of the room.

Once they were a safe enough distance to speak freely and at a normal volume, Madara took the dishes from Sakura’s hands and set them off to the side. “It makes my heart sore to see Izuna in such good spirits.”

Sakura hummed, “He’s always a bit more energetic when you visit. He’s recovering faster than I had anticipated, too. We should be able to start his physical therapy in less than a month.” There was bound to be a set back or two, but Izuna was well out of the woods at this point and they could cross that bridge when they came to it.

“There’s more to it, too,” Madara said before placing a brief kiss on her forehead. The action was becoming one of his favorites. “I think he’s excited for the future, just as I am.”

Wrapping her arms around Madara’s waist to keep him close, she smiled widely up at him. “The truce with the Senjus is truly remarkable, Madara. Everyone should be excited for it.”

Madara chuckled and shook his head. He brought his own arms around her shoulders a bit hesitantly, still unused to Sakura’s easy affections. “That’s part of it, I’m sure, but I think what he’s most excited for is our wedding. He’s always wanted a sister, you know.”

That drew a loud laugh from Sakura’s lips. “No way,” she shook her head. “He’s been ready to be rid of me ever since waking up.” Before that, even, considering their very first interaction included Izuna trying to strangle her. “He just tolerates me because of his love for you.”

“Trust me, Sakura,” Madara said with a smirk, “Izuna likes you. You’ll understand when you see him with the elders. He tolerates no one for my sake.”

Giving his waist a squeeze, Sakura relented, “If you say so.” Pulling back slightly, she asked, “Are you still meeting with Hashirama later today?”

Madara nodded. “We’re still mapping out the boundaries for the village. There’s a clan with a massive forest that we’d like to invite to join us. We plan to go out and start negotiations with them today.”

That must be the Nara clan, Sakura figured. The Nara forest with its sacred deer were an important addition for the future of Konoha. Not only would that clan bring their intelligence and specialized jutsus, but the forest would serve as a nearly impregnable defense along the eastern boundary of the village.

Madara and Hashirama would be successful in their negotiations, Sakura knew, but she was nervous all the same. The textbooks never went into detail about how long it took for the village’s two founders to convince other clans to believe in their dream, or what arrangements were made to ensure cohesion. The textbooks merely said it happened, leaving Sakura feeling like a half baked prophet.

Instead of focusing on things outside of her control, Sakura asked,“Will you be home for dinner?”

Wincing, Madara gave her an apologetic look. “I’m not expecting to be, no. Hashirama is readying overnight provisions for us.”

So she really should have been asking if he’d be home for breakfast. Sakura shrugged, knowing it couldn’t be helped. At least she had her own itinerary planned for once, which would help keep her busy.

“Alright, I’ll see you in the morning then.” Something resembling relief passed across his face at her words. “I’ve got a busy day planned for myself, actually. I was planning on going to the market and then perhaps to the Apothecary. It’s time I start learning the lay of the place.”

Since coming to Madara’s aid, Sakura had mostly been sequestered away in the main house. Now though, with Izuna in a more stable position and the news of their engagement spread, Sakura felt the need to make her presence known and get to know the people she was marrying into. If she was to become their matriarch—and wasn’t that just a shock and a half for a civilian born girl—she needed to know them and be known by them.

“I understand,” Madara nodded slowly. Whatever relief Sakura had found in his facial expression had been replaced with apprehension. “I’ll have Saburo escort you.” Madara stepped out of Sakura’s hold to walk out onto the engawa. Raising his arm, he waited for only the briefest of moments before one of his hawks landed on his extended arm, ready to receive a new message from its master.

“Thank you,” Sakura said before Madara could get a message out, “but that's unnecessary, I won’t need an escort.”

A deep frown of displeasure cut its way across Madara’s mouth. “I think it’s best if you do. I insist.” He reached out with his free hand and grabbed her forearm, giving it a gentle squeeze. His tone was firm though, it was the voice he used when he commanded attendants and spoke with his elders. It left no room for argument.

Sakura hadn’t heard that tone directed at her since those first early weeks attending the lord’s wife.

Stepping closer to him, Sakura felt her own frown marring her face. “I don’t understand,” she admitted. Speaking quietly, she continued, “Surely there’s no danger within your clan’s territory, and I’m fully capable of taking care of myself. You know this.”

Madara might not yet know the extent of her fighting prowess, but he had seen the distance she’d thrown that assassin. That had to count for something, surely.

A pit of dread formed at the bottom of Sakura’s stomach. Did Madara think her weak? Would he, like all of Team Seven before him, only see the petite medic that needed to be coddled and protected at all costs? Sakura had trained for so long, fought so hard, for so many years, only to be forever cast aside as useless by those she wanted to protect. Always the one left behind.

Madara let loose a long sigh before leaning forward to press his forehead against hers. Closing his eyes he told her, just as quietly, “Even within these walls I cannot guarantee your safety, and as my betrothed you now have a target on your back.” Pulling back enough to look her in the eyes, Madara squeezed her arm again as he said, “I would feel more at ease if I knew someone was with you, watching your back.”

The pit unfurled, releasing Sakura’s from its claws of insecurity and doubt. Madara wasn’t trying to push her off to the side, he just wanted to give her support. Understanding now Madara’s motivations, Sakura felt a soft smile curl across her lips. Placing a hand on his cheek, she reached up and gently pressed her lips to his. A warmth spread throughout her chest as she felt him kiss her back. They hadn’t shared many kisses since Sakura’s accidental proposal to Madara a month ago, but when they did it never failed to make Sakura’s heart flutter wildly. Pulling back, she nodded once, “Okay.”

Not long after the messenger hawk left did Madara follow. Sakura wished him luck and told him to be safe and then she was alone. Knowing this Saburo man was on his way, Sakura did a final check on Izuna–still sleeping–informed the staff that she’d be stepping out for a while, and changed into a new yukata; one that didn’t have dribbles of broth staining it.

An attendant informed Sakura of Saburo’s arrival, and she went to meet him in the genkan. “Oh,” Sakura stopped, surprised by the familiar face. “It’s you.”

Before her stood the ninja Madara sent to find her when Izuna was first injured, the one who had pushed himself far beyond his limits to get her to Izuna before he died. His loyalty and determination had impressed Sakura back then, even if she was more focused on other things at the time. No wonder he was the one Madara chose to be her escort.

“Hello again, Sakura-sama,” he greeted with a small smile. “I apologize for not properly introducing myself to you during our last meeting.” He gave her a much smaller bow than during their first interaction as he said, “I am Uchiha Saburo and I am at your service.”

Sakura waved off his formalities with an awkward smile. “Thank you, Saburo-san, but please, call me Sakura.”

Small smile still in place, Saburo kindly told her, “You’re to marry the clan head, Sakura-sama. Calling you by anything else would be impertinent.”

She shouldn’t have expected anything less, given the time they were living in, but Sakura still found herself disappointed by his response, though she didn’t know exactly why.

They made their way to the market first, where Sakura was able to look through carts filled with pottery, books, plants, and foods. The Uchiha market was nowhere near as large as the one she’d grown up with in Konoha, and wasn’t even the size of some markets she’d passed on her travels, but it did the job well enough. The carts were mostly run by women who happily chatted and called out to their clansmen, enticing them to buy this or that.

Saburo soon turned into quite the tour guide, informing Sakura on who to buy the freshest fish from, who was willing to bargain and who wasn’t, and who had a knack for being able to sell you just the thing you weren’t looking for.

There was a chill in the marketplace though, and no matter how hard she tried, Sakura just couldn’t shake the feeling of frost spreading up along her spine. It grew with every narrowed gaze she met. And every conversation that halted as soon as she walked up made the chill bite a bit harder into her back.

After making a few small purchases, Sakura and Saburo made their way to their next destination.

The Uchiha Apothecary was nothing to write home about. Hashirama hadn’t been kidding when he said the Uchiha were not healers. The Apothecary was a small structure, barely larger than the apartment Naruto had grown up in. Honestly, calling it a shack would be more apt. Most of the space was taken up by jugs filled with liquids of many colors, overgrown plants, crates filled with dried roots or finely crushed powders, and jars filled with herbs and spices. Behind the large counter was a doorway that must’ve led into another room. Sakura could only assume it was where medicines were made and the occasional surgery took place.

Since no one had yet come to greet her, Sakura took her time inspecting the many wares littered about. It seemed that most of the medicines available were anti-inflammatory in nature, and she wondered if that was due to the strain the Sharingan placed on the optic nerves. Perhaps Madara would one day allow her to look at his eyes. She’d only ever examined Kakashi’s eye, and that had been an implant. A pure version of the Sharingan might prove to be a little more difficult, but Sakura was sure that she’d be able to do a better job helping any irritation or degradation than turmeric or hangekobokuto.

She wondered if Madara trusted her enough yet to help him with something so intimate and integral to himself. If he didn’t, Sakura knew in her gut, he would come to do so soon. It was only a matter of time.

A man appeared from the back room. His eyes narrowed as he fully took Sakura in, his mouth convulsing strangely. “Ah, you must be Haruno-sama. Welcome.”

Saburo took a step closer to Sakura, his arms crossing over his chest.

“How may I help you?” The clerk asked, his mouth settling into a thin, frail looking smile.

“Actually, I was hoping it could be the other way around,” Sakura began to explain as she stepped closer to the clerk and the counter he was standing behind. “Before coming to the Uchiha clan, I traveled as a healer. It’s my profession, you see. I was hoping I could be of some use to you here.” Again, the man’s mouth began to twitch in a very peculiar fashion. Sakura dismissed it for now. “Perhaps I could help with the creation of teas and tonics? Or perhaps some salves? I was also thinking–”

“That is very kind of you, Haruno-sama,” the clerk finally interrupted, ”But I do not believe your services would be of much use here.”

Sakura didn’t miss the emphasis on her surname. She had figured that some clan members would have certain feelings about an all but nameless outsider marrying into the clan. It was almost unheard of in this time period. But she had thought, perhaps naively, that some clan members would have appreciated the skills she was bringing to the table, not to mention the fact that she had saved the life of their current heir.

Wanting to give the clerk the benefit of the doubt, Sakura tried a more direct line of questioning. “Not of use or not wanted?”

“What does it matter? When the end result is the same. Now, unless you’d like to purchase anything, I should be getting back to work.”

It was more shocking than Sakura cared to admit, having a fellow healer deny her services based on nothing but petty spite. She really had been spoiled by a post-Tsunade Konoha, where people had been taught to recognize help as help, regardless of how it was presented.

“Sakura-sama’s healing prowess is the reason Izuna-sama is still alive. ” Saburo cut in, his voice hard as steel as he tried to defend Sakura. “She is betrothed to our clan head and will soon become the Uchiha matriarch. You will do well to remember that.”

The clerk narrowed his eyes, but he simply replied, “As you say.”

“Let me see your surgery room,” Sakura said. “If you will not allow me to work directly, then at least let me do this.” It wouldn’t be much, but if Sakura could survey their supplies and levels of sanitation, she could give her input and help make small but necessary changes that would then help future injured clansmen.

“That really is unnecessary, Haruno-sama.” The clerk shook his head, as one did with an unruly child. “We Uchiha are strong. We rarely ever have need for such procedures.”

The door behind them opened with a bang, and a young boy no older than ten was dragged in by two other boys. “Help!”

Blood gushed down the smallest boy's leg.

Not waiting for permission–or even thinking to ask for it–Sakura sprung into action. “Bring him back here,” she ordered.

The two boys, to their credit, didn’t hesitate and did as they were told. Sakura led them into the back room and was horrified to find the state of the surgery room. The floor was covered with soil from plants they were repotting. There was no surgical table in sight nor any instruments that Sakura could easily see. A couple of men were eating their lunch in the corner of the room, eyes wide with fear at the bloody mess that was brought in.

“Saburo, find some fabric and start tearing it into rags for me. Place him here,” she pointed to the space on the floor that she had covered with a thread-bare sheet. It wasn’t anywhere near Sakura’s standards, but it would have to do. “Sir,” she addressed the clerk, “I’ll need you to boil some water and bring it here. Hurry now.” She turned her attention to the boy before her, noticing how pale his face was. Using a chakra scalpel to cut away his pant leg, she asked, “What happened?”

“Training accident,” one of the boys told her.

“I’m sorry Izanagi,” the other boy said, his voice thick with grief and guilt. His eyes were glossy and now that his friend–Izanagi–was in the hands of healers, his mouth pulled back into a terrible grimace. “I’m so, so sorry.”

“With kunai or chakra?” Sakura asked the one boy who wasn’t turning into a watery mess. She cut through his pant leg and surveyed the damage. There was a lot of blood covering Izanagi’s pale skin, making it hard for Sakura to see the wound clearly.

Bringing her the boiled water, the clerk saw the wound and hissed. “I’m afraid the leg will have to be amputated.” He turned to one of his fellow apothecaries and said, “Bring me the opium and a bit.” He looked back down at the leg and sighed, “This won’t be pretty.”

Sakura ignored the men behind her, instead keeping her gaze on Izanagi’s friend as she waited for his response to her question.

“Kunai,” he told her. “Will he really lose his leg?”

“He will be fine.” Saburo brought her the torn fabric, which she immediately dipped into the boiling water. “Saburo, make sure those men stay out of my way.”

“Yes, Sakura-sama.”

The apothecaries argued and moaned their displeasure, but Sakura blocked them and their nonsense out of her head. She used the now sterile rags to wash away most of the blood and saw that the kunai had nicked Izanagi’s femoral artery. He was lucky the cut was so small, any deeper and he would’ve already bled out. As it was, Sakura had to work fast.

Pushing her chakra into his veins, Sakura encouraged the cells of the artery to sew itself back together. Once that was done, she split her focus on replicating his red blood cells to replace what he’d lost, and checking for any signs of blood poisoning or tetanus. There was a small build up of bacteria around the wound that took time to burn away, but once she felt certain the blood and veins were clear, she sealed up the skin and pulled her hands away.

Looking at the boy who hadn’t stopped apologizing since bringing Izanagi into the Apothecary, Sakura asked him, “What’s your name?”

Tracks of tears tore their way through the dirt on his face. Snot leaked from his nose and hiccups escaped from his throat. Unable to take his eyes off of his friend, he told her, “Uchiha Taro.”

“Well Taro, I’m very happy to tell you that Izanagi is going to make a full recovery.”

That finally got the young boy to tear his eyes away and focus on Sakura. “Really?” He sniffed. “He’s not going to die–or–or lose his leg?”

“No,” Sakura gave him a soft smile and reached out to wipe the tears from his face with her sleeve. “He’s going to be just fine. I promise.”

After writing out a list of post-care instructions for Taro to take home with Izanagi, Sakura told them not to hesitate to come fetch her from the main house if his condition worsened or if anything else were to happen. Saburo helped place the now sleeping Izanagi on the tallest boy’s back and then he and Sakura took their leave.

“That was very kind of you,” Saburo said when they were halfway home. “To save that boy even after how the clerk treated you.”

Sakura shrugged. “I meant what I said back there. I want to be of use to the clan. One rude person isn’t going to deter me from achieving that goal.”

Saburo’s answering hum sounded almost like a chuckle. “What a wonder you are, Sakura-sama.”

Brows furrowing, Sakura asked, “What do you mean?”

Smiling wider than she had seen him do before, Saburo shook his head. “It’s nothing. We’re just lucky to have you, is all.”

---------

Sakura sighed as she pushed aside the medical scroll she was currently reading. Madara had gifted it to her earlier that day. He said he’d found it while out on his latest mission with Hashirama to what would eventually become Kusa. It had been the first of Madara’s gifts that Sakura had received in person, and she hadn’t been able to control the lovesick grin that had taken control of her lips.

The scroll was small and didn’t contain information that Sakura didn’t already know, but that wasn’t the point. Madara and Hashirama had been out on a mission, busy with their goal of creating peace treaties and alliances and convincing established clans to join the village, but even with all that on his plate, he still found time to think of her. It had made Sakura deliriously happy.

It was a novel sensation, being a priority. With Naruto, that had always been Sasuke. With Kakashi, his ghosts. Sasuke, his vengeance. Even her beloved teacher, Tsunade, prioritized the village and hospital over her. It was all understandable, of course. She didn’t begrudge any of them for it or think herself deserving of being placed first in their minds or hearts, but it was a very nice thing to experience all the same.

Sometimes Sakura found herself wondering if she should be concerned about how easy it was to be with Madara. First by becoming his friend while working together, then becoming something more as betrotheds, and bit by bit, undeniable and as gentle as a river’s current, an unrivaled fondness was growing in her chest for the man that she had no doubt would one day soon bloom into love. Occasionally she would still have a nightmare or two of the war, of the Madara from her time with the resurrection cracks on his face and the darkness in his eyes. But even when she awoke covered in sweat and a scream caught in her throat, she could separate that Madara from her Madara. Perhaps Sakura should be more concerned with how her brain was compartmentalizing everything she had lived through, but instead she chose not to look too closely at it.

Looking around her room, she sighed again and focused her mind on what was truly bothering her; the Uchiha clan. It had been almost a week since she had healed Izanagi’s leg and still the majority of clansmen were as standoffish and frosty to her as ever. There were exceptions, of course, the attendants in the house were as friendly as they could be, and Saburo had become quite relaxed around her–and Izanagi and his friends had come to give her proper thanks just yesterday, but overall the clan was still very much anti-Sakura.

They were all, of course, polite when she bought things from the market or when she accompanied Madara and the use of small talk was required, but almost everyone treated her with a level of detachment that made Sakura wonder if they’d ever properly accept her. The idea of acceptance irked something deep within her. Not since she was twelve years old and chasing after Sasuke did she care about things like acceptance and fitting in. Or, well, she did a little, but not to that extent. She was an exemplary medic and an amazing kunoichi, dammit! She wasn’t about to let some snobby clan make her feel inferior just because she didn’t share some of their DNA.

Giving herself a firm nod, Sakura decided it was time to fall back on her old strategy. She had been too excited, too naive, and too optimistic after agreeing to marry Madara. Based on his warm welcome into his life, she had made the incorrect assumption that the rest of the clan would follow suit. She needed a new approach to win over the Uchiha, and why fix something that wasn’t broken. Instead of returning to the Apothecary, or trying to engage anyone from the market in conversation, Sakura would let them come to her.

As a traveling medic, she had needed to look like someone not trying to look for work, and with the clan now, she needed to look like someone not trying to gain their approval.

There was a knock at the door, followed by someone calling, “Sakura-sama.” The door opened a moment later, revealing Uchiha Miyoko, Sakura’s new handmaid. Madara had insisted upon hiring her, stating that it was expected for a person of her position. It felt silly, but the girl was only a few years younger than Sakura herself and was kind enough, if a bit shy. Miyoko actually reminded her of Hinata a bit back when they were younger.

“Sakura-sama,” Miyoko bowed in greeting. Just like with Saburo, Miyoko refused to drop the title. “Izuna-sama is awake and asking for you. I’ve told the cook to begin warming up his dinner. Should I have him start on yours as well?”

“Thank you, Miyoko. I’ll join Izuna in a moment. As for dinner,” Sakura trailed off, wondering. Madara hadn’t been sure when he’d return this evening as he and Madara had business that would take up the majority of the day. She’d prefer to wait and eat with him, but there was a chance that he would eat with Hashirama if they worked late enough. “If it’s not too much trouble, have the cook wait an hour before starting my dinner.”

Miyoko nodded, “Of course, miss. Is there anything else you need from me?”

“No, Miyoko, thank you. I should be able to fend for myself the rest of the night.”

Sakura grabbed a handful of new books she’d picked up the other day in the market and headed towards Izuna’s room. She found him propped up against his pillows, a scowl on his face as he glared up at the ceiling, his hands folded over his belly.

“Should we continue with The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter ? Or would you prefer we try something else? Miyoko told me good things about The Woman of the Snow when she saw it.”

Izuna’s scowl deepened, “Who’s Miyoko?”

Sakura placed the books beside Izuna for him to browse while she gathered the necessary medical supplies. ��My handmaid, you’ve seen her. She’s been here for nearly two weeks now.”

Izuna merely grunted.

Turning back towards her patient, Sakura waved her hand towards him, silently telling Izuna to disrobe. “How’s the pain today? Same as this morning?”

As Sakura inspected his wound, she asked several more questions. Izuna answered them easily enough, even if boredom leached into his tone. Eventually someone brought Izuna’s broth, which he glared at as if it had insulted his ancestors. They started reading The Woman in the Snow , which, based on the relaxed state of his mouth, Izuna was enjoying much more than the story of Kaguya-hime.

Sakura’s dinner came, causing Izuna to beg her for a bite. He reached out with hands like a toddler and laughed good naturedly when Sakura slapped them away.

“So cruel to your brother,” he teased, grabbing the fabric over his heart as if he’d been pierced there. “I’ll die of a broken heart.”

Rolling her eyes, Sakura tried–and failed–not to smile at his antics. “Well we can’t have that now can we? How about this–you tell me your favorite meal, and I’ll make sure it’s the first thing you eat when you’re able.”

Appeased, Izuna agreed and they chose another story for Sakura to read aloud. They were halfway through the book, both their dishes having long been cleared away, when Madara returned.

“Brother!” Izuna smiled, brighter than anything Sakura had seen before. His eyes were half-lidded and his words slurred a bit with the early signs of exhaustion. Still, he gained a second wind with the presence of his favorite person. “You’ve returned from the viper’s nest.”

Madara chuckled and came to sit on Izuna’s other side. Brushing back his brother’s bangs, Madara said, “I hope you weren’t too much trouble for Sakura today.”

“I was a delight, thank you very much. Isn’t that right?” He turned his dark eyes to Sakura.

“He was,” Sakura agreed. Then, because she couldn’t see a reason not to, she teased, “It was a lovely change of pace.”

Izuna scoffed but didn’t argue.

“Did you eat dinner yet?” Sakura asked Madara, her eyes quickly evaluating him for any noticeable scratches or scrapes. Besides looking a little sweaty and dirty, he looked perfectly fine. “I can make something for you.” The cook had left for the evening, but Sakura knew there’d be enough ingredients in the kitchen leftover for a simple soup.

Madara shook his head. “I already ate, but thank you.”

“What all was decided on today, then?” Izuna asked as he struggled to keep his eyes open. “Go on and tell us.”

Sitting up straighter, almost preening with excitement, Madara told them, “I do have some exciting news, actually. We finally decided on a name.” A small, almost shy smile snuck onto his lips. “Konohagakure.”

“Village Hidden in the Leaves,” Izuna hummed as he tested the name on his lips. “I like it.”

Madara continued on with his tales of the day, expressing his relief over the fact that the Nara clan had officially accepted their offer to join the village, and that several other clans planned to join as well, some moving from as far as the islands of modern day Mist. They were mostly busy building the village’s infrastructure. With Hashirama’s Wood Release, it sped the process up tremendously, but he was only one man and they needed to house many people. Tobirama had been a pebble in his shoe all day, arguing about this and that, such as where to place each clan or how many houses would be needed for the civilians that were bound to seek refuge. Almost nothing could be agreed upon between the two men.

Izuna’s eyes fluttered closed at some point during Madara’s story, his grunts of acknowledgement and snide remarks about the Senju trailing off into soft snores. Watching the steady rise and fall of Izuna’s chest, Sakura decided to call it a night for the younger Uchiha and began to remove some of his pillow so he’d lay flat on his futon. Madara followed her out on silent feet.

“Would you join me for a walk?” Madara asked, his eyes warm and wholly focused on her. He held out a hand to her in offering.

Tucking a lock of hair behind her ear, Sakura easily accepted his hand. “I’d love to.”

---------

It was a few days later when Miyoko found Sakura alone in the kitchen as she crushed roots and herbs down to almost nothing. Izuna was resting in his room and Madara was off with Hashirama once again, leaving Sakura with an abundance of time on her hands. With that time, she had created a little Apothecary of her own. So far she had filled nearly fifty jars with different types of medicinal powders, made several blends of healing teas, and started converting an empty storehouse into a greenhouse so she could grow her own plants.

Madara had gifted her with a new set of knives, each one sharper than the other, after his last overnight adventure. Sakura wasn’t sure if he was doing this out of a sense of guilt for having to leave her so often, or if he just took pleasure in seeing the goofy grin that never failed to appear on her face whenever he surprised her. Regardless, Sakura had been sure to show him her appreciation with an assault of kisses.

The knives laid off to the side, stored in a leather knife roll, just next to an opened journal. Another project idea Sakura had the other night was to record as much of her medical knowledge as she could. While she couldn’t document all of her knowledge–not yet, anyway–she figured it could one day be of help to someone, somewhere. If not, then at least it gave her something to do.

Miyoko cleared her throat gently to catch Sakura’s attention. Looking up at her handmaid, she asked, “Yes, Miyoko? What is it?”

“I’m sorry to bother you, Sakura-sama. It’s only–I was hoping you could look at my uncle’s back, if it isn’t too much trouble,” the young girl said, her cheeks pink as she avoided Sakura’s gaze. “He’s a farmer, you see, and his livelihood depends on his ability to work. Only recently,” she trailed off, “recently he’s been struggling.”

“Of course,” Sakura replied easily. “Would he be alright with me examining him? I wouldn’t want to create more strain on his body with my presence.” She thought of how stiff the apothecary always became, whenever he saw her in the market. If Miyoko’s uncle had a similar response to her, then she’d be doing more harm than good.

Looking more than a little confused, the girl shook her head. “Oh no, miss! I’m sure he’d be grateful for someone of your caliber looking after him. Only,” she bit her lip, “I don’t have much to pay you with. I’ve got a few coins put away, and I’m sure that over time I could–”

“The price is negotiable.” Sakura replied automatically. Shaking her head, she amended, “Besides, there’s no need, Miyoko.” She bit her lip, wanting to say that by marrying Madara, her healing gifts were at the disposal of the clan, but she wasn’t sure if a statement like that would be well received. Instead, she went with, “Consider it repayment for helping me all these past few weeks while I’ve stayed here.”

“Oh no, Sakura-sama, I insist.” Miyoko shook her head quite aggressively. “Taking care of you is my job and Madara-sama pays me well to do so. It wouldn’t be right to treat that as a tradable favor.”

Sakura sighed softly. Uchiha’s and their pride. “Perhaps an invitation to dinner, then? Along with your uncle if he’s feeling up to it.”

“Dinner, Sakura-san?”

“Dinner,” Sakura nodded. “Most nights I eat with Madara or Izuna, or both. Or neither.” She shrugged, trying not to think about the seeds of loneliness that had buried themselves deep within her bones and that ached more now when she had people to laugh and enjoy time with than when she had no one at her side. The sensation had left Sakura more confused than anything else, and she did her best to push those feelings away.

Trying to appeal to Miyoko’s humor, she added, “It’d be a nice change of pace to eat with someone who didn’t scowl the entire meal.”

Miyoko let out a laugh, though it was a quiet thing that didn’t last long. “Well I’m not sure my uncle will make for better company, but we’d be happy to host you. Would tonight work?”

Sakura nodded, “Tonight’s just fine. We can leave after I’ve helped Izuna and changed his bandages.”

Izuna had been drowsier than usual today. There was no sign of infection or other maladies, making Sakura suspect he’d been over exerting himself when she wasn’t looking and causing his body to require more rest to make up for it. She’d talk to him about it tomorrow when he was hopefully more coherent.

After a few more hours of work, and calling on Saburo to meet her for a quick escort through the market and to Miyoko’s home, the two women made it safely to their destination well before sunset with their arms full of groceries.

“Uncle!” Miyoko called out. After shuffling off her shoes, she made her way to the kitchen with her groceries. “I’ve brought someone to look at your back!”

Sakura followed along quietly, observing the household discreetly. It was the first time she’d been allowed into another Uchiha’s house. It was much different than Madara’s mansion, though that was to be expected when comparing the dwellings of the clan head versus a common farmer. The layout wasn’t very much different than other homes she’d been invited to while traveling, though this one was decorated with copious amounts of Uchiha fans and looked worn and tried in a way that implied many generations of Miyoko’s family had lived here before her uncle.

The small kitchen was attached to the dining room, and Miyoko puttered around, pulling up pots and pans to start on their dinner. She took a teapot down from where it was hanging on a hook and filled it with water for their tea.

“Uncle?” Miyoko called again once the water was over the fire. She walked further into the back of the home, past the small bathing room and into the bedroom where her uncle laid on his futon with a frown on his face.

“Mah, Miyoko,” the older man grumbled, “I told you not to bother. My back will be as good as new with a few more days of rest.” He eyed Sakura as she walked in behind his niece. “What’s this? A witch?”

“Uncle!” Miyoko chastised as she began to close his windows for privacy. “Show some respect. This is Sakura-sama, renowned medic and Madara-sama’s betrothed.”

“ You’re the one that surly cousin of ours has decided to spend his life with?” He snorted. “What did you do in your past life to deserve that?” Then, he eyed her from head to toe and said, “It’ll sure be interesting to see how dominant the Uchiha genes are against yours. Can you imagine, Miyoko? An Uchiha with pink hair? Hah!”

Miyoko winced and threw Sakura an apologetic grimace. “Uncle, Sakura-sama has been kind enough to examine you. The least you could do is hold your tongue.”

Miyoko’s uncle waved a hand at her lazily. “Oh, Miyoko, I only tease. You know that. Besides, if Sakura-sama here is serious about marrying into our family, she should know what she’s getting into.”

Doing her best to keep her hands from balling into fists and giving the old man a good whack on the head, Sakura plastered a professional smile onto her face. “Why don’t you tell me what’s been bothering you.”

Miyoko excused herself to start making dinner as Sakura listened to her patient tell her of occasional back pain that could vary between a mild irritant and debilitating pain that sometimes caused one of his legs to stop working. After a quick push of chakra into his body, Sakura determined his problem to be a herniated disk.

Helping him pull down his yukata to his waist and roll over onto his stomach, Sakura placed her hand on the base of his spine and began the process of pushing the affected disk back into place and healing the exterior casing that had cracked.

“So, Sakura-sama,” he began as silence had settled in the room, “is that hair color of yours hereditary, or a mutation?”

Tutting, Sakura asked, “Worried I might pollute your clan’s genes?”

“Mah,” he shrugged, “we need new genes every now and then to survive. We know that. Consider me curious.” He paused, but Sakura waited, something telling her he had more to say. “Your coloring is very beautiful, Sakura-sama. Pink isn’t a color I’m used to seeing. Now red, that’s a color I see all the time, almost as much as black.”

He chuckled a humorless laugh, and Sakura felt it rattle through her head. He was being much nicer to her now. She wondered if it was because he was on his stomach, not looking at her, or because of her chakra stealing his pain away. Maybe it was a secret third thing.

Feeling a little less antagonized, Sakura felt some tension leave her shoulders as she told him, “It’s genetic, from my father’s side, though his was paler than mine.” She was about to tell him she was finished with his back, but then paused. “I’m sorry, I never caught your name. Miyoko only referred to you as uncle.”

“I’ll be your uncle soon enough, I don’t mind if you start calling me that now. If you really need to know, though, it’s Masaru.”

Sakura smiled. He was showing her kindness, in his own way, and she’d accept what she could get. Pulling her hands back, she nodded and said, “Well, you’re as good as new Masaru-ojisan.”

Pushing himself to lean up on one arm, Masaru stuck out his tongue as he moved this way and that, testing Sakura’s words. Nodding his approval, he sat up properly and readjusted his yukata. “So,” he clapped his hands together, “what’s for dinner?”

---------

“Where to today, Sakura-sama?” Saburo asked. In his hands was a small bag filled with sunflower seeds that he was practically inhaling. “Back to the market?”

Sakura shook her head. “No, today we’re heading out towards the fields to forage for some plants that I’ll need to make antidotes.”

Saburo stopped in his tracks, his hand paused on his journey towards his mouth with the seeds still pinched between his fingers. “The fields?” He asked, a line forming between his brows. “Outside of the compound, you mean?”

“Yes,” Sakura answered with a raised brow.

“Have you asked Madara-sama for his permission?”

A vein in Saura’s forehead twitched with irritation and she had to take a deep breath before responding. “Madara is my betrothed, not my master. I don’t need his permission.”

“That’s not what I meant, Sakura-sama,” Saburo shook his head vigorously, his eyes growing wide. “I just meant that it might not be safe and Madara-sama might not like you going outside the walls alone.”

“I’m not alone. I have you.”

“Yes,” Saburo said slowly, “and that’s fine for when we’re in the village, but–”

“I’m going with or without you,” Sakura cut him off, already continuing on her path. “You can either come with me and keep me company or run back to Madara to get his permission.” Sakura knew her capabilities and wasn’t in the mood to try and prove herself to Saburo. It was one thing for Madara to request she have him around to watch her back, it was something else entirely to have a baby sitter. She wasn’t some delicate flower that needed to be sheltered and hidden away. She’d lived alone for almost two years before coming to live with the Uchiha and she’d survived just fine, thank you very much.

The sound of Saburo’s footsteps hurrying behind her reached her ears and soon enough he was walking astride her once again. His bag of seeds had been hidden away, his posture and gaze had turned sharper. Sakura almost wanted to tell him to relax, that he’d be safe with her, but she doubted he’d appreciate it at the moment.

“We need to be quick,” he told her, the furrow of his brows deepening. “Even with the truce between Senju and Uchiha, there’s no telling who we may run into. Anyone with a grudge against the Uchiha may decide to take their revenge out on us.”

Barely suppressing a sigh, Sakura agreed. “It shouldn’t take me more than an hour to find what I need.”

“And you’re sure the market won’t have these plants? Or the Apothecary?”

“I’m sure.” She’d already checked.

Saburo groaned, but seemed to accept his fate and continued on at Sakura’s side in silence.

Miyoko had been the one to tell her about this field when she’d caught Sakura grumbling under her breath about the lack of supplies against poisons. The best item she could find within the whole compound was charcoal, and that could only do so much. If they found themselves up against a poison expert like Sasori, they’d be devastated. Miyoko had suggested Sakura take a look at the plants in this field to see if it had what she needed. If it didn’t, then she’d have to wait months for the finalizations of Konoha to try and buy ingredients from other clans–if they were even willing to sell them–and patience was never one of Sakura’s strengths.

Once they arrived, Sakura slid the bamboo basket off her back and waded through the tall grasses in search of her treasures. Saburo stalked off, telling her he’d monitor the perimeter, and Sakura had hummed in acknowledgment. This field would be a modest start when it came to antidotes. There was plenty of jewel weed and dock plant littered about which were always helpful with rashes, and she could cut some bark off of some trees to make tea with, but soon she’d need to do more.

Fire Country was home to a great many dangerous creatures, all that could be used to create terrible weapons. She’d need to milk certain snakes and spiders and collect slime from several frogs and toads to feel properly prepared. In a pinch, Sakura could always extract the poison from a victim’s bloodstream and use a sample to reverse engineer an antidote, but that process was timely and chakra draining. Having pre-made antidotes was a much more sustainable method.

She’d filled her basket halfway when she felt it; eyes on the back of her head. Spinning around with her hands already raised and curled into fists, Sakura found herself staring across the field at Senju Tobirama.

Swearing up a storm in her head, Sakura tried to keep her voice level as she asked, “Where’s Saburo?”

Tilting his head to the side, Tobirama’s red eyes narrowed. “If you mean your guard, he’s fine. I’ve stuck him in a genjutsu and will release him when I’m finished here.”

Knowing she’d already be dead if that was what he wanted–she was good, but she wasn’t Nidaime good–she asked, “What do you want?”

“I wanted to meet you, to see if you were all they said you were.” He took a step closer, his eyes pinning her in place. “My brother speaks very highly of you, you know. The miracle worker who saved Uchiha Izuna from death’s door and the woman who thawed Uchiha Madara’s frozen heart. You seem too good to be true.”

It took every ounce of Sakura’s control not to take a step back for every step forward Tobirama took towards her. She knew that if she fled he’d only catch her, and she wasn’t sure what would happen then. Still, she wouldn’t stand there helpless either. Shifting her weight onto the balls of her feet, Sakura readied herself to dodge. Drawing chakra into her hands, she also prepared to reap devastation across this bit of land in an attempt to survive.

“I’ve heard many interesting things about you, Haruno Sakura. It would appear you’re second to none in your field and yet you come from no known clan.” He stopped only a few feet away from her. “You’re a good person, you help whoever you can, whenever you can for little or no money. So I find myself asking, why is this bright and wonderful woman, with no political affiliations, marrying into such a horrible clan?”

“Excuse me?” Trepidation gave way to anger at his question, leading Sakura to speak without thinking. “What business is it of yours?”

Senju Tobirama was a man Sakura had grown up admiring. Second Hokage of Konoha, he was credited with the creation of hundreds of jutsus, Konoha’s ANBU, the ninja academy, and even the chuunin exams. He set the example that other hidden villages followed when it came to running themselves. He was a giant among shinobi, and yet here he was, asking Sakura why she was marrying Madara. It didn’t make any sense.

His eyes flashed–with what, Sakura didn’t know–and he looked her over from top to bottom. “Has Madara told you yet, about the Curse of Hatred that plagues the Uchiha clan?”

A shiver ran straight down Sakura’s spine. She’d heard that phrase only once before, during the war against the Madara in the future. She hadn’t fully understood it at the time, and now she was ready to dismiss it immediately. Curses didn’t exist.

“To activate their kekkei genkai they must experience extremely painful traumas,” Tobirama explained, taking her silence as a no. “The power of the Sharingan eventually consumes them, leading them to do anything within their power to show off their superiority. If you marry into this clan, it will surely claim you as a victim as well. You should save yourself while you still can.”

Sakura scoffed, causing Tobirama to blink in surprise. “Save myself from what? Superstitions?” Feeling emboldened by her anger and more confident that Tobirama wouldn’t kill her, Sakura placed her hands on her hips and raised a single brow. “All that just sounds like the most anti-Uchiha propaganda I’ve ever heard. Don’t you think this is just a symptom of your own prejudice?”

“It’s true,” Tobirama persisted, his jaw tightening. “All Uchiha are bound by the same fate. I’ve never met a single clansman who could prove otherwise.”

Sakura thought about all the Uchihas she’d met in her lifetime. All Sharingan users she knew had activated it through trauma, yes, and Sasuke and Itachi both fell victim to paths of vengeance, but if Sakura had to guess, that had more to do with the actual trauma they’d lived through than any supposed curse. Madara and Izuna were just as sane as anyone else she’d ever met. Masaru was cranky with age, but sweet in his own way, and Miyoko could barely raise her voice at her uncle, much less assert her superiority over another person.

“Well,” Sakura said dryly, “I imagine it’s hard to get to know a person when you’re only ever meeting them on the battlefield.” Pausing to wet her lips, Sakura considered her words for only a moment before adding, “I’ve heard of you too, Senju Tobirama. You’re a genius, there’s no denying that. In fact, I doubt there’s a mind alive in the world right now that could compare to yours.”

Tobirama’s jaw slackened just enough to lose the tight tendon of tension that was pulsating against the skin. His brows furrowed with what Sakura could only imagine was confusion.

“But you have a lot to learn when it comes to human nature and empathy.” Sakura continued, unable to stop the sharing of her thoughts. “I think that if you were to try and put yourself in Madara’s shoes, to think as he does for just a short amount of time, you’d realize that the two of you have much more in common than you’d ever thought possible.”

“I sincerely doubt that,” Tobirama said immediately and without any hesitation. “I know all I need to know about Uchiha Madara and his clan. There is nothing more for me to learn.”

It was no wonder that the Uchiha felt ostracized by Konoha, if this was how their leadership spoke about them.

Sakura could see that there was no arguing with him. He was too stubborn and set in his ways to think any differently. For now, at least. Perhaps as the two men continued working together towards the common goal of Konoha, and with the addition of Izuna this time around, opinions could be changed.

Tobirama left not long after that, and Saburo arrived almost right after with wide, panicked eyes and a heaving chest. He’d demanded that they return to the Uchiha compound, and Sakura agreed, not wanting to press her luck. Saburo stayed by her side until Madara returned home, at which time he fell into a deep bow to his patriarch and begged forgiveness.

Madara’s eyes bled red as Saburo told him how he was trapped in a genjutsu and didn’t realize anything was amiss until Tobirama had already left. Madara dismissed him with a wave of his hand and Saburo didn’t waste any time fleeing the house.

“I’ll kill him” Madara hissed, the tomoes in his eyes spinning rapidly. “He’s tested my patience one too many times.” Swiftly, he prowled the halls, grabbing weapons and armor as he went.

Sakura trailed behind, grabbing at his sleeve in an attempt to slow him down. “Madara, please, just wait. It’s okay–”

“Nothing about this is ok!” He growled, turning to bare his teeth at her. “And what were you thinking? Leaving the compound like that without my permission?”

“ Permission? ” Sakura squawked. He was treating her like some prisoner! And over what? A conversation? “Madara, you need to calm down. I’m fine–”

“ You could have died! ” He roared. Then, quick as lightning, she was pulled against Madara’s chest. His arms held her as close as possible without crushing her. Tremors rippled through his body, bleeding into her own, as his body tried to wrestle with his blinding rage and unadulterated fear.

Hiding his face into the crook of her neck, his voice was barely more than a broken whisper as he said again, “You could have died . And there was nothing I could have done to stop it. I’ve lost so many loved ones already, Sakura,” he admitted with a shaky breath. “I don’t know if I can stand to lose another one.”

Raising her hands to embrace him back, Sakura hugged him tight. Tears pooled behind her eyes at his confession. She hadn’t meant to scare him. She hadn’t meant for any of this to happen. And what made it worse was that she didn’t know what to say. She didn’t know how to comfort him now that they were here. She couldn’t promise him nothing would ever happen to her. That would ring empty and false. What could she apologize for? Not for leaving, her pride wouldn’t allow for that.

All she could do was hold onto him as tightly as he was holding onto her and whisper, “I’m here. I’m still here,” into his ear.

He nodded against her neck. They were pressed so close she could hear the thickness of his swallow. Sakura rubbed a hand up and down his back, her fingers following along the ridges of his spine, hoping Madara found the motion soothing. They stayed like that until his shaking subsided, and then stayed like that for a while longer.

If there was a curse on the Uchiha clan, it wasn’t one of hate, but of love. Life in the warring states period wasn’t easy for anyone. Madara’s fear of losing his loved ones was one founded in reality. Sakura would have to be more mindful of that in the future. She wouldn’t budge on her autonomy or independence, but she could do a better job keeping Madara apprised of her movements, especially now that she knew she’d caught the attention of Senju Tobirama.

“Come,” Sakura eventually said, pulling away so she could clasp his hand in hers. She pulled him towards Izuna’s room, hoping that having two of his precious people within arms reach of each other might help calm his nerves. “Let me see to Izuna, and then we can spend the remainder of the day with each other.”

She intertwined their fingers for extra measure and was glad to see a small smile appear on his face as his eyes returned to black.

Giving her hand a squeeze, Madara leaned in to kiss Sakura’s forehead. “I would like that very much.”

#madasaku #madara uchiha #sakura haruno #naruto #fanfic #romantic fanfic #uchiha madara #haruno sakura

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hilaritas-helianthus · 2 months

Note

For the fanfic request: CanLiet(Hws Canada x Hws Lithuania)please, something for Valentine's day it I not mistaken soon is gonna be Valentine's day

Have a great and wonderful day 💖✨️

Its my first time posting a fanfic like this, so I hope you like it!

⚠️Warning: Really sooming, soft and romantic.

CANLIET, love between nations. 🇨🇦🇱🇹

Another day of the annual meeting. A sigh escaped from Matthew's lips as he adjusted his tie knot in front of the mirror, something that at these levels was pointless since he knew no one would notice in the end... maybe today France would compliment him for looking good. He was absorbed in his thoughts as he made his way to the large hall where the world meeting of countries would take place.

In the other corner a distant country called Lithuania, Tolys was also heading towards the same destination. Their steps coincided in rhythm with Matthew's, although they were going in opposite directions, foreshadowing an unexpected encounter.

When Matthew and Tolys reached the door of the hall, both seemed immersed in their own affairs. However, suddenly and without realizing it, they placed their hands on the door handle at the same time, experiencing a shock of surprise that made them stare into each other's eyes for a couple of seconds.

An electric current ran through Matthew's body as he felt the contact of Tolys's hand, causing him to smile timidly but radiantly. However, his joy was overshadowed by sudden embarrassment as he realized the situation.

- Oh, sorry, excuse me. It wasn't my intention... I mean... we're here so close and... you caught me off guard - Matthew stammered, desperately trying to find the right words.

Tolys, for his part, was momentarily stunned by the unexpected encounter.

- Don't worry Matthew, it was an unusual encounter - he replied with a smile, trying to alleviate the tension.

Before they could exchange more words, they were interrupted by Kumanjiro, who impatiently urged them to enter the hall.

- The meeting is about to begin! It's not the time for you to be flirting, Canada! - exclaimed Kumanjiro loudly.

Matthew blushed violently at Kumanjiro's comment and looked at him with embarrassment.

- Who are you? - the bear asked, looking at Tolys, trying to change the subject and divert attention.

Tolys and Matthew looked at each other again with a mixture of surprise and amusement in their eyes. Immediately after, Matthew, after thinking for a moment, realized what had happened and was astonished to notice that Tylos had called him Matthew.

- Wait... Do you know who I am? - I blurted out, my eyes widening as I looked at him, trying to understand how he knew my name”.

I looked at him confused, not believing that he really knew who I was and could notice my presence in addition to Francis, Alfred, and occasionally Arthur.

However, before they could exchange any more words, the doors of the hall swung open wide, and the voice of Ludwig resonated in the air, calling on all the countries to take their seats to begin the belated meeting.

They took their respective places.

——

During the meeting, they tried to focus on the important topics and ignore the monotonous discussions that always took place at meetings, but their thoughts kept returning to that fleeting but significant encounter at the door.

After the meeting, Tolys looked for Matthew among the crowd and finally found him, sitting silently among the crowd talking energetically without noticing his presence. He found a tired and somewhat sad look in his violet eyes. Without thinking twice, he approached him with determination and offered him a smile.

- Hello again, Matt. It seems we crossed paths today in a very unusual way - said Tolys, trying to cheer him up and filled with excitement.

Matthew, upon seeing him appear among so many people, looked at him fixedly for a moment before nodding and smiling, still with embarrassment.

- A-Yes, it seems that life has mysterious ways of bringing people together.

Tolys interrupted him energetically before he could say anything else.

- You know... I would love to get to know you better, Matthew - Tolys responded, with enthusiasm.

Matthew felt immense joy upon hearing those words and what followed from the last part of the meeting was Tolys energetically introducing Matthew to the other countries that were his friends.

Finally, at the time of returning to their hotels, they exchanged phone numbers, promising to stay in touch.

———

As the days went by, Matthew and Tolys became inseparable. They spent hours talking on the phone, seeing each other to watch movies or for Matthew to tell him more about Canadian culture.

They discovered that they had many interests in common, and every time they met, it seemed like time stood still, there never seemed to be enough time to explore all the pending conversations. Despite doubts and obstacles, their connection only grew stronger with time, sharing laughs, stories from their past, and anecdotes about their families.

Over time, Matthew's shyness and trembling voice began to disappear, he no longer woke up afraid that Tolys or Kuma would forget about him. He became more confident in himself while Tylos tried to make him known among the Baltic countries by holding meetings in their hotels where they stayed.

There were many memorable moments, like the time when Matthew and Tolys walked together through the charming streets of a European city, illuminated by the lights of the night. They stopped at a small café, where they shared deep conversations and contagious laughter until the early hours of the morning.

There were times when they stayed silent and stared at each other, feeling that there was something important they needed to say, but they didn't dare. Still, they continued prolonging that conversation that had much to say since there was something between them.

———

But after sharing numerous outings together, the month passed quickly and Tolys had to return to Lithuania to attend to his political affairs and Matthew to Canada to see to his work matters. At the airport, the atmosphere was charged with emotion and silence as they bid farewell.

- I'm going to miss you a lot, Tolys - said Matthew with a choked voice, struggling to hold back the tears as he watched Tolys walk away towards his boarding gate.

Tolys looked at Matthew with tenderness, his heart heavy with the inevitable separation.

- I'll miss you too, Matthew. But we must return to our responsibilities. I promise I'll visit you in Canada as soon as I can - replied Tolys, trying to maintain composure and sound positive.

However, as they walked away in opposite directions towards their respective planes, a wave of regret and desperation invaded Matthew's heart, who was also heading to his plane.

Then he didn’t hesitate any more, he stopped abruptly and dropped his suitcase, determined to stop Tolys before it was too late.

- Tolys, wait! - shouted Matthew, running at full speed towards the boarding gate for Lithuania, dodging the crowd with determination.

Tolys, who had also dropped his suitcase abruptly and decided to reach Matthew as well, stopped upon hearing his name and immediately turned around, surprised, finding himself met with Matthew's desperate gaze as he approached him.

- Matt!, what are you doing here? - asked Tolys, confused by his friend's sudden appearance.

- I'm sorry, Tolys. I can't let you go without telling you this - said Matthew, breathing heavily from the race as now Tolys took his hand and looked him in the eyes intensely.

- What are you talking about, Matthew? - asked Tolys, intrigued by the urgency in his friend's voice.

With his heart in his throat and the words welling up from the depths of his being, Matthew knelt before Tolys and confessed everything he had been holding inside him.

- Tolys, from the moment I saw you, I knew you were someone special. I was very surprised that you were one of the people who noticed me despite being invisible to others…. I've been in love with you ever since, but I never had the courage to tell you. I love you, Tolys. I love you with all my being and I can't bear the thought of losing you without you knowing the truth - said Matthew, his eyes filled with tears and his face as red as Antonio's tomatoes as he looked at Tolys with hope and fear.

Tolys was breathless at Matthew's confession, his heart pounding fiercely in his chest as he processed the words he had just heard, it seemed that only in his dreams had such a perfect scene been possible.

- Matthew, I love you too. I never thought I would fall in love like this, but here I am, completely surrendered to you. You are my light in the darkness, my reason to smile. I love you more than I can express in words maybe that's why I always remained silent without knowing how to tell you - replied Tolys, his eyes shining with tears of happiness and excitement.

And so, amidst the bustle of the airport and with the eyes of the world on them, Matthew and Tolys found themselves in an embrace that transcended time and space, united by the love they had found in each other.

Their hearts beat in unison as their hands did when they met for the first time, as they promised each other a future full of love and happiness.

——

After a prolonged kiss, their hearts were beating in unison and they could hear each other's breathing, their mouths were full and their lips wet after the emotion of moving in someone else's skin, after a small kiss full of feeling closed the moment, Matthew and Tolys slowly separated, with their hands still intertwined and eyes lost in each other. It was then that Tolys , with a shy laugh, noticed something special in the air, in the people, and the overly cheesy decoration of that day.

- Matthew, have you noticed the date today? - asked Tolys, with a gleam of astonishment in his eyes.

Matthew furrowed his brow slightly, confused by the question, but then his face lit up with understanding as he checked his watch.

- Its… oh! It's February 14th! - exclaimed Matt, his voice full of wonder and joy as he realized the significance of that date.

Tolys nodded with a radiant smile and releasing a joint laugh, feeling a comforting warmth flood his chest as they immersed themselves in the magic of the moment.

- Yes, it's Valentine's Day. What a wonderful coincidence that our encounter happened on this very special day - said Tolys, with a glimmer of excitement in his eyes as he looked at Matthew.

Matthew nodded with a smile, feeling a wave of love and gratitude towards Tolys and towards the destiny that had brought them together.

“I love you”

…

This is for: @madam-of-lithuania who made the request. Thanks you for requesting!🙌❤️‍🩹

I hope having more requests.

Romantic-little spicy final part added and edited from my dear friends Dani and Tana! (Las amo hermosas)

FT: Happy Valentines Day! I love you all~!

#hws hetalia #hetalia #aph #canliet #lietcan #matthew hetalia #hetalia matthew #matthew williams #hetalia canada #canada hetalia #sunflower answering #tolys laurinaitis #lithuania #hetalia lithuania #romantic fanfic #happy valentine's day #i hope you enjoy #canadá

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ask-missparker · 2 months

Text

You walked in and my heart went boom! / AU series

Pairing: Charming!Nikolai x Snow!Amelia

Summary: The looks turned into letters from one another became secret meetings away from the walls of the hills. Until one night, they were crumbled among them.

Note: They go by Nicholas & Amara sometimes

Setting: Enchanted Forest

Extra characters/mentioned: Captain Hook!Jeremy, Mr. Smee, King Midas, Princess Jemma and etc.

———

——

‘I have never been one to try and grab the spotlight, but all of it happened on a hot night. Tried to focus on the mission to steal the jewelry and I stumbled into you. Your eyes dazzled as you were captured by the loom and my heart secretly went boom. Tryin' to catch our eyes at the sight outside of the ballroom, despite the band top volumes. Sometimes I wonder how many nights I can spend without seeing you, but when I remind myself, even without you I am not doomed.’ - Love, Nicholas M.

Amara Snow—Amelia, would smile to herself at rereading the letters he sent her and the ones she return by morning light. Her heart belonged not to her fiancé, but yet another. The Dark Prince’s charming and awfully wildly dashing hearted brother. He was a little insane and jumped first into danger based on her letters and stories she’d hear from him in the late hours of the night and yet, that was comforting to her.

Tons of letters stacked and or hidden pieces in the desk of her vanity. She’s write in her letters back, ‘Helpless! Look into your eyes (Oh, look at those eyes). And the sky's the limit. Down for the count, and we’re drownin' in 'em. You can sometimes see past the falsely shows and sneak your way into the halls, even if your mind wondering how I’m even it. Every week gets better with every note that you write me, rushing into my room and my heart will go boom. Sometimes my mind will just rewind and remember those nights for the rest my days, hoping to see you again like it’s a play.’

Charming Nicholas—Nikolai smile opening up the letters as short much they seem, he knew she meant every word. His life was never easy and cheerful, always trying to find a sense of peace and belonging. He found it in the woodsy hills of the kingdom, living in caves and then old vacant homes for a reasonable price of shelter. Yes, his brother wanted him gone out of pure jealousy and villainous pride, having posters to reward whoever could find him firsthand. He never thought he would find some company nor comfort out here until he stumbled into her by accident, the same princess he stole from, making him believe there was still good in the world.

Resulted in him slowly but surely start to open his heart and small home to others he seemed, such as Cinderella one night and The Huntress who speared his life. Helping out people in need like he used to before running away from the castle and trying to be of service. Yes, it seemed like it was a small gesture to many but yet it spoke to who understood what he meant.

He stood on the ground near the old house he called home, reading one of his love’s letters. He chuckled and snorted as thoughts filled his head, when suddenly an impulse decision came to mind. To see her again. It’s felt like a lot to do, bring flowers, sneak into the castle walls of King Midas, and arrange an agreeable plan to have them escape into the night together. He just needed to see her again, tell her a few short words in person.

And he smirked knowing exactly who to call.

Hook.

He was a young man based on honor and loyalty but couldn’t resist a good challenge, no matter how small.

As well as the thought of golden treasure hidden behind locked doors in the castle of Midas.

———

With that he found his one handed friend leaning against a barrel of beer at the marketplace. He seemed like he just finished buying some fruit and ready to head back to his ship.

“Hook!”

Jeremy, also known as Hook, turned around to sound of the accent being the one to belong to his friend. He raised a eyebrow smiling softly, “Yes, Nicholas? What is it that you want?”

“Why do you assume I want something?” Nikolai reply with a matching smile.

“The way your captain’s hat is tiled and your suit is fitted for a dueling requirement for today. You know I’m open to hearing what it is.”

“That’s why your my friend. I want to do something tonight but I need your help.”

“I’m listening.”

“I need safe passage on your ship to do so.”

He snorted, “Nicholas, Nicholas, Nicholas! Why it is that we need my ship for this and not steal a carriage?”

“We need to go to the half side of the forest near the bay of the Kingdom.” He added half smirking.

“And what for? Don’t tell me it’s for another girl now?”

Nikolai was silent and smirked sheepishly with a wink. Jeremy snorted loudly and nodded, “Of course it is. What’s this lovely lady have to offer?”

He explained glancing around as he did, “She doesn’t know I’ll be coming. And we not being to any home but Midas’s castle.”

That seemed to catch Jeremy’s attention as the brightest grin filled his face. He always wanted to sneak into Midas’s castle to steal from treasure from the bottom of the home and never found a reasonable time to do so, until now. The blonde nodded leading him onto his ship as they chatted, deciding where they would get in and then get out.

Better yet, getting some drinks and food once the trip was over. In Nikolai’s eyes, his friend wasn’t just a pirate but a knight with a heart of gold.

—————

At the castle, Amelia was wondering around in her brown dress as her fingers played with a tiara talking with Jemma who talked about her latest story riding the horses in the stables and going on a picnic with her love afterwards.

Jemma asked, “How was the last time for you with Fitz? He seemed stuffy..he told me that at the party he was more focused on bringing in new guests than dancing.”

“Ah yes. He was mainly having a headache wanting to head home instead as I tried to help him nurse the pain. I talked with other royals as he went to use the restroom.” She explained, “But he seemed more like he wanted to dance with you.”

“We did dance that night but his father hasn’t noticed anything yet.”

“I hope he does…”

“How about you? You seem to glow lately, what it is that is making you a bit lighter?”

“Let’s just say I met someone who makes me smile. I hope you meet him one day.”

Jemma grinned, “Ohh how darling! Is he a knight? A prince? A baker?”

The girl blushed in return, “No, yes, and no..he is a artist that’s much I will tell you.”

Both ladies giggled, walking past their chambers into the maid grounds to visit the staff of the castle and get something to eat. What they didn’t know is that King Shaw’s guardsmen were listening in on them every now and then to report back to their royal office, as one of them casually walked in on one of princess’s rooms to accidentally glance at a letter that seemed to be semi-finished…

———

A couple of hours past, Jeremy and Nikolai were on the ship having a round of views as they sailed the seas. Hook’s crew were friendly to the ex-prince turned bandit, ordering him rum and all types of snacks they brought of board, as their captain discussed his plans to enter the vault of riches underneath the castle without being seen or shot at, needing half of his crew to distract the guards meanwhile the other follow them to collect the treasure of diamonds and gold. Having at least two of his crewmen follow Nikolai up the stairs and across the front tower head for he can see his lovely lady and possibly get any insight needed on the royals.

Hook’s crew followed suit with the plan, some knowing that their captain tend to have a mind of his own possibly stealing more than jewelry on the way out of the home. Once they arrived at the castle, Jeremy step foot inside with his crews behind him knocking out any guardsmen around, he had to use his swords to wack a few leaving a scar on a face or two. He shrugged.

Running down the halls and across the stairwell to the bottom of the castle, Hook and his men sensed it far and well, a room filled with riches of many. It was locked but Jeremy used his sword to slice the first handle and cracking open the combination to the second look with his hook, swinging some guards on his way in.

As he stepped into the room, he placed his sword back in the handle glancing over a fallen knight and rolled his eyes. He scoffed, “If you were my men, I would’ve never made you down so easily. But I would say, your men did put up an impressive swing, for royals..I guess.”

Mr. Smee, his former right hand, called him off as one of crewmen, LightFoot, found the set of riches they were looking for. To say Jeremy’s jaw dropped was an understatement.

He had seen plenty of times riches, potions, jewels and items of many. But the moment he kneeled down to run his fingers across it, he knew this was all very breathtaking. King Midas was known in tales for turning anything and everything into golden suns, stealing and sometimes sharing his own foundation with others as rare as it may seem, he did.

“My gods…” He muttered, never wanting to leave the place in order to bring it all home but he knew he had to be fair. He can’t take it all in one sitting and thinking possibly striking a little deal with the king sooner or later, but not tonight.

Jeremy stood up opening his sack as he piled in as much as he can could, ordering his men to do the same. As Hook was scanning the room, even finding a sword on the wall to take, he noticed a small pile of golden coins and yellow diamonds likes the ones he past earlier on his way in. However rounding the inner layers of diamonds stood a oceanic blue one, more than one, that called his name. Picking it up, Jeremy noticed two out of six large diamonds were engraved in rings.

He smirked, “He will love this..”

The ring was grand yet elegant and perfectly fine for a gift, a promise ring one might say. Mr. Smee noticed his Captain face and nodded liking the thought of him being pleased with himself especially after finding a satisfying reward such as a ring.

~~~~~~~~~

To say Nikolai was grateful for his company tonight to the castle was unbelievable thing but he was. He was lucky enough to be accompanied by theses men in moments like this. As he made his way through the whole deeply him halls, he swung his sword in his hand and use his shadows to guide him through the staircase. He had thwe two men walk his six from the narrow ends.

In his pocket, he held a small handful of daisies as he made his own way between the columns in the deep deadly silence. He bit the bottom of his lip, entering the tower head of the castle ready to make a left turn to find his lady when two knight stopped them, he was able to take them down as a 3rd ordered him to follow him to a decorative room filled with trinkets, tables, a warm fire and the king.

He expected for it to be Midas but it was Shaw. He was confused asking where was Midas’s chambers as Shaw said he was out on leave for the next couple of nights with his son and will return in the morning, he was requested to watch over the castle while he was gone. Nikolai asked what exactly he wanted with him, lying about just here to see a friend.

“Enough. I know everything.” King Shaw said holding up a letter in his handwriting with a small doodle in the corner, “You’re clever to not use your own name, I had to do some digging to find a match. You poisoned her heart and now her marriage, because your pathetic behavior towards one another. I’ll have you know love is disease and like all diseases, it can be released from the body in one of two ways.”

Nikolai was silent wanting to hold his tongue but spoke up, “Sir. Love is not a disease or any kind, people don’t want to accept that it’s—”

“Foolish boy, it is. Only two ways to stop it, a cure or death. Do you know where your beloved is right now? She is right now that hall wishfully unpacking away her things for official stay, for a new life with her husband.”

“She will never know I’m here…”

“Oh yes she will because you’re gonna walk down that hall and crush her stupid little heart.”

“You hate your daughter that much?”

“She’s not my daughter. Never was, if she were, she’ll know when to listen and stay shut!”

“….”

“You’re gonna sneak in and tell her that you received her letters. Tell her why your here. Because you don’t love her, never did. Never will.”

“…it was break her heart in two…what if I don’t? You’ll kill me?”

“Oh no. Then I’ll turn you over to your brother for that precious reward for your capture. It’s will save both of you the trouble, if you just tell her the truth. It will cure all of this.”

“And if you kill me?…that will only make her love me more and run away from her wedding day, leaving you with no choice but to go after her head as she tries to bring me back to life..but if you have her killed by accident, Midas would break your deal for those riches..”

“Ah, you are smart. No wonder you are so badly wanted for your crimes against the prince. Now go.”

——————

The room was pretty quiet. Dark, as the only shining down was the ones coming from the moon and light setting stars stirring in the night. The Princess Snow was holding up her favorite brown skirt from her bags smiling to herself. She looked over her shoulder hearing the door crack open, expecting it to be one of knights or Jemma coming to feed her mind with her latest book of discoveries. But to her surprise, it was Nicholas—Nikolai who stepped in shutting the door behind him with a soft smile on his face walking over to her.

She blinked in disbelief letting out a breathless sigh, “Nicholas…”

“Amara..” He replies with a nod still smiling softly, “.. I uh, I got your letters and I came to see you. Surprise.”

“It is a surprise. H-how did you get in?”

“I have my tricks.”

She walked over pulling herself closer, gently placing a hand on his cheek as he placed both hands on her hips in a almost tight manner not wanting to let go soon but he must.

“You came! Y-you came to see me.” She said about to lean in to press a kiss to his cheek but he stopped her.

“Wait, Snow.” He said as one hand slipped to hold her wrist, “Us. It can’t happen. I can’t be with you.”

“W-what? No..it can happen. All our talks and sneaking off to see one another shows that we can work..I know it will be tough and might cost—”

“I won’t be the one to cost you, your happiness. I am a prince and your just some farm girl, it can never work out.”

“Yes it can. You came all this way to see me, it was for a reason..I love you and now that I know you love me to—”

His face fell to a neutral yet serious face, no emotion written as he cut her off again with no smile, “I don’t.”

“Wha..” She replies with tears pooling a small shower within her eyes.

“I don’t love you. I come from a family of lies, I was only playing cards here. I will never be in your heart , Amelia, that’s too cruel of fate.”

“B-but..no. Nikolai please..”

“Go live your life. With me, because I’m not in it.”

“Y-yes yo-you are…we were gonna..we were gonna..”

“Gonna what? Live happily ever after like in the fantasy your heart made up? I’m sorry, love. It won’t be true. Fill your heart with love for someone else, someone who can love you the way I never have…and never will.”

Before she can say anything else to his face, he removed her hand from his cheek and the other from her waist walking out of the room stone cold. She was left there holding herself whimpering as light sobs came into the air of the room, sitting down on her bed unable to breathe nor believe what she heard. As Nikolai walked out shutting the door behind him, he can hear the crying noise along with her voice as he fought his body to rush in and comfort her, and just gave a nod to King Shaw…

~~~~~~

He kept his face netural on, gripping his sword tightly as his eyes water and a sense of anger filled his shoulders wanting to release it somehow. He wasn’t one to feel this way unless it was personal and this, it felt personal.

He walked out of the castle walls, allowing the tears to finally fall as he took one last glance at the castle, tower head where he left a crying Amelia. He wanted his numb himself of this pain and needed to do it quick.

The crewmen follows him out and onto the harbor where Captain Hook stood there grinning at the jewelry in hand about to ask how did it go with his lady but paused seeing the booking look of regret and pain on his face.

He knew that look all too well himself as he placed hand on his shoulder and said, “My friend, it will be alright. You need a drink.”

“No, i don’t need a drink. I need food, and a lot of it..and a tree to stab with my sword..” Nicholas replied with a light glare looking down at his grip.

“We can go down swinging later, drinks and food now. You need it, we all do.”

“Okay..yeah, I..I do think I need to take a breather for a moment.”

Jeremy smiled hearing that, clasped his shoulder letting his friend rest his head there knowing the pain of heartbreak himself. I wished he got an answer to what might’ve led him to feel this way too but knowing his past and the crossroads that they both faced, he can already pictured he was forced into a room of decision making. He knew that drinks and food of any kind would satisfy their stomachs tonight, later they can duel it out in the woods to release whatever bowling emotions within.

Nikolai followed him, entering the town’s deep well kept bar passing the men and women inside to themselves a booth, a couple of Hook’s crew members stepped in to have a round themselves. That night beers, chicken legs and singing was done in that bar at full volume. It numbed the rubbing sadness against his chest, he lied to her face saying that he didn’t love her, but the truth is…

…he did. He doesn’t know when or how but he will find a way to get her back, even if he has to wait for it. But for now, he sat and drank his feelings away like the honorary pirate that he is. Jeremy brought the first couple of rounds talking about his nicely designed ring he took from that treasure room he will give to Cole when the timing is right as Nikolai chuckled softly. He knew what they were doing.

Meanwhile Amara Snow—Amelia stood in front of her full body mirror whipping away tears that kept coming. She wanted to stop the thoughts that came across her mind but the words were so recent in his mind like cutting a freshly squeezed orange. She sipping the glass of water in her nightstand as it felt like a small headache was coming on. Yes the words were said but there was an uncertainty laced over his body language even though his face coney something completely different.

There was this bit in the bottom of her stomach, a swirling dizziness and foggy touch to it all just didn’t even bother to get her a warning. It hurts, the harshest of his tongue and the face he gave her was serious, numbness filled with a slight hint of glassy eyes, as if he wanted to tell her something else to this speech. She thought it was his brother then she into the hallways to find Shaw speaking softly with his guards, she sighed as it clicked. He said something that changed his mind..

And she basically seemed like she lost him. But a strong part of her wants to rush out and find him, reason with the man she claimed to love. But she had a wedding to attend. Her own little wedding with no say to even what type of dress she could wear, but she doesn’t know if she sneak off into the woods or worse, find a way to suck it up and go ahead with the plan.

Either way, she will probably enter up sniffling a tear.

——

So here it is! I had this conversation in my head for a while and had to make the fic sooner or later. What do you guys think?

Yes, in my head Jeremy & Nikolai have a small bromance and it’s called ‘CaptainCharming’!

Remember to like, share and comment with your thoughts

Tags: @missstrawbs2001 @purpleprincessonfyre @meiramel @gcthvile @rickb-chaos @gaminggirlsstuff @wizzzardofoz @thechoooooosenone @luna-d-marsh @rooster-84 @thecavalrywife @cherrysft and etc

#hamilton lyrics #fanfic #danielle campbell #fanfic series #romantic fanfic #ouat au #thomas doherty #lincoln campbell #captain charming #ask missparker #once upon a time #season 1 fic #ouat s1 #captain hook #snow white #prince charming #king midas

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lanaxoxoxoxoxox · 9 months

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sweet names

─── ･｡ﾟ☆: .☽ . :☆ﾟ. ───

what i'd think each of the sorry boys would call you for nickname(s) ♡

(platonic and romantic)

warnings: none, just cutesy fluff

─── ･｡ﾟ☆: .☽ . :☆ﾟ. ───

charlie (romantic): babe, honey

tommy (romantic): love

wilbur: (romantic) darling, sweetheart

ranboo: (romantic) love, darling

philza (platonic): kiddo, hon

─── ･｡ﾟ☆: .☽ . :☆ﾟ. ───

real short n' sweet fic

i hope u enjoyed!! please support me by liking, reblogging, replying or following my blog! requests are currently closed as of now. thank you!!

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gmariam19 · 1 year

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Curious about fanfic and endings so I'm trying out my first poll - thanks! :)

#fanfiction #fanfic #romantic fanfiction #romantic fanfic #writing #one shots #finnpoe #stormpilot #poe dameron #finn #star wars

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colourstreakgryffin · 9 months

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Bartender! Iguro Obanai

A new bartender? You internally asked yourself as you elegantly walked up to all-so-familiar bar-counter and sat down on the nearby clean cushioned barstool, flipping a leg over the other whilst your heel tapped against the base of your tall stilettos, waiting for this unrecognisable employee to serve you

Single and lonely is something you have become use to. So to try satisfy your infernal boredom, you begun spending weekend nights at the nearby bar to try have a better time as recovery from finishing your stale teaching job. You’ve never found drinking all that enjoyable, but ever since you decided to be more adventurous, you became a frequent customer of the bar and ordering as many drinks as you wish, not caring about the alcohol in them

Your eyes locked curiously on the new bartender, back faced to you. You were beyond use to Dale, a older sweet soul who stirred up random conversations with you after he served each new customer, alongside you. You saw him like a second father in no time and you wouldn’t deny that you miss him, the second you realise he didn’t work at the street bar anymore. When he finally turned around, your body felt like it was boiling like a kettle

The new bartender, replacing your old dear friend, was actually quite attractive so you were definitely not complaining as much as you suspected; turquoise and yellow heterochromia, black straight-edged hair tied up in a small low ponytail, a strange white bandage mask over his mouth and a real snowy white serpent wrapped around his collarbones, almost near his neck. You sat quietly, jolting up in surprise when the bartender’s beautiful mismatched eyes scanned over you, it felt different as opposed to catching Dale’s attention

Your sexy sleek favourite colour party dress caught his attention, a glittery silky dress that hugged your curves and left a small window over your breasts. The only thing keeping warm or covered was a clean white denim jacket whilst the strap of your fluffy pink handbag snuggled inbetween the crack of your perky breasts. The bartender smirked from underneath the mask at the sight before him, picking out a nearby champagne glass off the long stash, and flipping it over his palmer so it slides into his hand like a snake slithering into it’s burrow

“What would you like, Ma’am?” He asked smoothly, his voice as enticing as your dress and matched his looks very well. You giggled gently, shuffling forward so your arm would lay on the solid wood counter and your twinkling eyes gazed at his uniform, simple but gorgeous. “A Cosmopolitan, please” You chirp in response without a mere thought, your cheek resting on your fist as your eyes returned to experience him get to work

He was definitely a lot faster than Dale. In a blink, he had the needed four bottles in front of him, pouring millilitres of both lemon vodka and cranberry juice into a opened cocktail mixer, with the bottle of lime juice and bottle of triple sec right besides him. He lidded both bottles being used to put down, picking up the last two in one smooth sweep to repeat the process with those bottles, bottling all four and pushing them to the side to give himself more room

Closing the strangely-shaped container itself, he begun shaking it himself manually to better mix the liquids. None of this was surprising to you, it became a routine to see how bartenders created drinks with how much time you spend at the bar. You were beyond familiar with the process of making a Cosmopolitan but Dale was more careful, slower. Obanai was faster and almost made it into a glamorous show

Obanai couldn’t help but smirk, underneath those bandages whilst his pretty eyes gazed up and down your sat frame, as he slid the mixer across the smooth wood, crouching down to pluck out a whole lime slice and a clump of citrus orange skin from a mini-fridge hidden from behind the counter. Standing back up, his snake reached out and grabbed the top of the mixer to pop off the lid with it’s fangs

Your eyes sparkled in admiration, quietly watching Obanai catch the container when the reptile dropped it, the same serpent reached over to hold the lime slice and orange skin inbetween the fangs. It carefully stabbed the lime onto the rim of the champagne glass and dropped the skin in whilst Obanai poured the scarlet red concoction until it filled up the glass at the exact same time

“Your name?” You asked, your glittery eyeshadow-decorated eyelids fluttered with a cheeky smile growing on your face. “Iguro Obanai. Snake is Kaburamaru” Obanai answered calmly, precisely pushing the filled glass towards you with his free hand gesturing in the direction of Kaburamaru, propped up casually as he always did. The bartender may have only met you a few minutes ago but he already found himself loving your overall image; polite, sexy, interesting

A elegant, appealing wine red beverage sat in front of you, touched up by the thin lime slice and the strip of citrus orange laid on the round of the glass. It was your favourite drink to order from this bar as it was rather sweet and dulled the burn of strong liquor like Triple Sec much better than all the other options you’ve tried

“Anything else?” Obanai asked again, crossing his arms and leaning up against the clean counter as he watched you raise the glass up to your lipstick-painted lips. Kaburamaru, the snake wrapped around his shoulders slithered forward to better watch your actions, his eyes were as red as roses and his tongue flicked in sync of Obanai’s blinking

“N-no, thank you” You manage to muscle out after a few seconds of hesitation, taking another deep sip as to try hide your vigorously blushing. Obanai grinned pleased, pushing himself back up with a single arm whilst one of his eyes closed in a sly wink. Your lips quivered once the cool glass touch your soft warm skin as you felt intense warmth rush around your bloodstream at his subtle flirting

Obanai still had a cocky smirk, leaning forward with that devious glare too as you were certain his eyes were glowing over the shining golden lights blaring from above. “Would you enlighten me for a bit?” He asked smoothly, seemingly materialising a tall bottle of Mojito Rum from literally nowhere in which he placed on the counter. Your cheeks growing nearly as red as your half-finished cocktail that you left sitting before you

You knew you had a hefty bill to pay when you saw the glint of eagerness in his eyes but you couldn’t stop yourself from enjoying the excitement and potential fun behind the idea. You could pay the tab later, you wanted to see what he had planned first. “Tell me” You bit your tongue to try avoid gasping all inappropriately like some sexual fiend as his overall presence made you shiver, you’re like the prey being glared down by the predator and the predator was Obanai

“How well can you hold your liquor~”

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cuddleyhoney · 8 months

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the snuggle spa

summary : john wick x reader spa day (nsfw kind of)

It had been a relentless week for you and John, with no shortage of dangerous encounters and high-stress situations. As you entered the cozy sanctuary of your home, you shared a knowing glance that conveyed your mutual need for a break. Then, a brilliant idea crossed your mind, allowing the two of you to unwind and bond in a way you hadn't before an at-home spa day.

Setting the stage for relaxation, you gathered a basket of aromatic oils, fluffy towels, scented candles, and skin care products. John watched with intrigue as you set up a makeshift spa in your shared bathroom, transforming it into a tranquil oasis.

"You've really thought of everything," he remarked, impressed by your attention to detail.

With a warm smile, you gestured for him to join you. "Well, you deserve a break, John. And what better way to relax than with a spa day?"

He nodded appreciatively, and soon enough, you had him emerge into a rose and lavender-filled bubble bath with adorable little duckies scattered around! You skip away for a moment to get some headbands and facial exfoliant. As you walk back over to your lover he greets you with a cheery smile and an inquisitive look as to what you are to do next.

You later undressed and emerged into the warm bath, Then applying the adorable headband onto John's he lets out a small giggle. You grab both of John's hands and massage them slowly while looking at him deeply with compassion. Thinking to yourself how did you get placed with such amazing fortune to have him in your life.

He looks at you, your pure beauty with strands of your hair damp from the warm mist that floats through the air. He loved it, he loved the view. He makes the small remark proclaiming "In the chaos of the world, you are my calm and my peace, my sanctuary."

After about 45 minutes in the bath, you both were finished with the water activities. In which those activities left you in lust and warmth for the rest of the night. Whilst drying off you say "Wait I have another surprise!" John smirked and watched your little feet pitter-patter away on the tile floor. You retrieved a ceramic bowl from the kitchen, filled it with the assortment of chilled berries from the refrigerator, and then returned to the bathroom.

As you walked back happily over to your significant other you stretched your arms out and showed him the colorful mixture of berries you arranged just for the two of you. After sharing a few snacks with John you then grabbed the exfoliant and poured a little into your hand thus leading to you rubbing the product onto your cheeks and the t-zone of your face, John looks at you with an immature look smirking as his mind leads him to other places when you massage to exfoliant onto your face. You squished your hands onto his face and exfoliated his delicate yet coarse skin.

Leaning over you placed a gentle kiss on John's cheek. "I hope you're feeling more relaxed now." He opened his eyes and turned to meet your gaze, a genuine smile gracing his lips. "Thanks to you, I am."

Minutes pass, and the two of you cleanse your faces with a damp towel, rinsing away the products to reveal refreshed skin. To lock in the revitalizing effect, you both apply a luxurious Dior cream moisturizer.

As the time passed, you snuggled together on the couch, wrapped in soft blankets. The dimmed lights and the crackling of the fireplace added to the cozy atmosphere. It was a day of respite, a stolen moment of tranquility in your turbulent lives, and it was made all the more special by the person you shared it with—John Wick, the legendary assassin who had become so much more in your eyes.

As you exchanged lazy, contented smiles, you knew that this at-home spa day had not only relaxed your bodies but also strengthened the bond between you. In the quietude of the evening, you found solace in each other's presence, thankful for the tranquillity you'd discovered together.

#john wick #john wick x reader #keanu reeves #john wick au #john wick x y/n #john wick headcanons #fanfic #john wick imagine #cute #john wick fanfic #spa hehe #headcannons #romantic fanfic

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gghalcyon · 10 months

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Fierce Hearts (König x Female OC)

CHAPTER 1/8: The Unexpected Visitor (2.9K words)

Story Chapters List | Read on AO3

As the last rays of sunlight entered the salon, Serene finished her day, tidying the shelves as a sense of satisfaction filled her. It had been a good shift, and she was looking forward to slipping off her shoes after a long day and savoring a glass of rose wine--a well-deserved reward for all her hard work. Reaching for her keys in anticipation, she prepared to close up shop when an unexpected noise shattered the tranquility: the creak of the salon door.

Serene's heart skipped a beat as her gaze fell on the figure that filled the doorway. Tall and statuesque, he exuded authority with his black leather jacket hanging over a fitted gray shirt and dark jeans. His strong face was shadowed by stubble and etched with lines that reflected a lifetime of experience. He was handsome, and Serene couldn't help but think of him as a military man returning home from duty.

A light smile graced the man's lips, and his blue eyes met hers with curiosity, drawing her into his presence and making her feel delicate against his imposing stature - he had to be at least six feet tall! Her voice softened with genuine warmth as she greeted him, "What can I do for you?" He stepped closer to the counter and looked down at her small frame.

"Hi, I hope I'm not too late. Is it still possible to get a haircut?" he asked with an accent that held a melodic cadence, hinting at his foreign origins. His Western European intonation was close to a German accent, piquing Serene's interest as she returned his smile.

The contours of his muscular frame spoke of physical vigor and resilience, warming her heart with the thought of him as a brave soldier. Hiding her flustered excitement, she replied, "Of course! I can squeeze you in. Take a seat at station two, and I'll be right with you."

Serene locked the front door so no one else could interrupt their encounter, her steps exuding confidence as she weaved between the stations to get closer to him. As soon as she reached his chair, König accepted her outstretched hand, their eyes locking in a silent electric connection.

"My name is Serene," she said breathlessly.

"Good to meet you, Serene," he replied shyly before continuing. "I just moved here and seriously need a haircut." His infectious smile warmed her heart and cheeks with an embarrassed flush.

She couldn't help but be drawn to his magnetic allure — his strong jawline, piercing eyes, and stubbled beard accentuated his rugged handsomeness. She nodded and looked at his unruly locks, fighting to maintain her professional composure. "No problem," she smiled back at him.

König leaned back in the chair, his gaze meeting Serene in the mirror. "I'm open to your suggestions," he said warmly, catching her eye and giving her an inviting smile.

Serene tilted her head slightly, her hand almost reaching out to brush against his, though she stopped short of making contact. "May I?" she asked softly, the air between them heavy with anticipation.

He nodded, granting her consent, and their eyes locked for a moment as her fingers grazed his dark-blond locks. She assessed their length and texture thoughtfully before offering up a suggestion. "Well," she began, her voice fire and honey all at once, "I think a shorter style would accentuate your strong jawline. We can keep it clean and polished." A taunting smirk tugged at the corners of her mouth as she added a suggestion, "A medium-length taper fade is my first thought. It'll give you a sophisticated look that complements your features and is easy to maintain over time."

König smiled appreciatively at her suggestion, his eyes twinkling in admiration. "You had me at 'accentuate your strong jawline,'" he grinned, his gaze dropping momentarily to take in the graceful line of her neck. When his eyes met hers again, something was simmering between them, though neither moved to act upon it. Instead, he continued with a playful quip: "Easy maintenance sounds good too. I trust your judgment."

The mischievous glimmer returned to Serene's eyes as she removed her hands from his hair and backed away slowly. Her voice seemed softer than before when she spoke again. "Music to my ears!" she teased lightly, a flirtatious smile gracing her lips. She took one last lingering look at him before gesturing towards the door with an inviting motion of her arm. "First, let's get your hair washed. Follow me."

König couldn't deny the electricity that surged through him as Serene's hands ran through his hair. He shouldn't have felt such pleasure from a simple gesture, but when she pulled away, he felt an odd sense of loss mixed with thrilling anticipation for what was to come. Though he tried not to openly admire her beauty as they walked to the shampooing area, it was impossible - especially since her back was turned to him. Her medium-length wavy brunette hair hung in a high ponytail, accentuating the breathtaking features of her face. The golden salon lighting illuminated her mocha skin's natural glow. It contrasted beautifully with her emerald green v-neck long-sleeve t-shirt. Tight black jeans hugged her curves perfectly, and maroon ankle boots added gorgeous pops of color to her ensemble. Despite her petite frame, she had an aura of power and poise that captivated König, leaving him entranced.

König couldn't help feeling magnetically drawn toward her confident demeanor and grace. She was beautiful yet forbidden, and he felt guilty for wanting something he knew he couldn't have. He craved taking in every detail of her appearance, even though deep down, he knew he shouldn't.

"You just need to get laid, idiot." An internal voice said in the back of his head. That may be true, but he pushed it aside; why was he so mesmerized by this woman and this mundane haircut?

He was a special ops operative, unyielding and focused on the battlefield — but this wasn't the battlefield; this was civilian life outside war, espionage, and sniper kills when mandatory leave after grueling missions meant living like an ordinary person for weeks or months at a time. König could feel every ounce of tension between them as they stood mere inches apart - alluring yet taboo - their gazes locked in silent admiration as her delicate hands guided him towards the shampooing area, where she encouraged him to recline in the plush chair.

As the warm water poured over König's head and Serene began to shampoo and massage his scalp in gentle, circular motions, König thought about his conversation with his team that day.

His colleagues noticed his stoic demeanor outside the "fun" they had during deployment and tried to get him to open up. Zero grinned as he invited König to join them in hitting the town. "You seem so tightly wound and serious, man—especially for someone on fucking leave!" He said.

Oni also agreed, giving König a pat on the back. "You gotta join us at the bar to celebrate. We're a fucking team. This town is ready! Hurrah!"

Stiletto shook her head at them with a mischievous smile before focusing on König. "Joining us is non-optional," she declared, "But before you chase the ladies, can I make a suggestion? This might be more for you, König, and you too, Zero."

Zero grumbled irritably and crossed his arms over his chest as he said, "I got to hear this."

König, amused and curious, nodded. "Go for it, Stiletto."

Stiletto stepped closer to Zero and poked him playfully on the chest with a grin. "Get a haircut before you go to the bar tonight. Clean yourself up—you two look like homeless criminals," she ribbed him, her light-brown eyes twinkling with mischief.

Zero bristled defensively at the joke as his wild, unkempt hair fell before his eyes. "It's not my fault König, and I got hair that grows so damn fast! We don't care what we look like, like some folks here," he said as he looked pointedly at Fender, who watched the scene impassively; his black hair was cut close to a standard military crop.

The team laughed heartily at the banter that broke any lingering tension. Even though Stiletto's remark was lighthearted, it made König pause and reflect on his appearance when returning to civilian life during a mandatory leave. He usually avoided human contact as much as possible, often opting for solo camping and hunting trips in the mountains, training in self-defense, or honing his sniper skills.

At that moment, something stirred within König as he listened to Stiletto's advice – thoughts of haircuts and the need for human connection settling into his mind. He began to understand why his friends sought external validation and temporary relief from their duties - part of him yearned for it too. As they dispersed in different directions, he decided he'd take Stiletto's advice and plan to join his team at night out to celebrate the start of their time off.

So there he was at a salon getting a proper haircut, savoring the experience as Serene's touch against his skin sent a pleasant shiver down his spine.

He leaned into her hands, savoring every moment as she applied her mint-infused shampoo in gentle, circular motions. The tingling freshness spread across his scalp, awakening his senses and leaving behind a cool, invigorating feeling.

König surrendered to the blissful sensation as he closed his eyes. Breathing in Serene's calming scent, he was amazed by her gentle touch that contrasted the harshness of his missions. He couldn't remember the last time he felt such a connection, and before he could stop it, a contented sound escaped his lips.

He opened his eyes to meet Serene's smiling face, which only made him blush deeper with embarrassment.

"I'm glad you're enjoying it. Many of my clients love the tea tree and eucalyptus shampoos," she whispered softly, her tone warm and comforting. "Let yourself relax." Her words were filled with reassurance as she continued her ministrations. König relaxed, trusting Serene's expertise and finding comfort in her presence.

The final rinse brought the session to a close, leaving König feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. His hair felt lighter and cleaner with a delightful minty fragrance. His eyes met Serene's in gratitude before they returned to his station.

"Now," she said, "Let's get that haircut."

As König settled into the chair at the station, he couldn't help but feel apprehension and excitement flooding his veins as she began her work. Her hands were gentle as they worked through combing his hair. He watched in awe as she snipped away expertly, marveling at her beauty and dedication to her craft.

As they chatted amiably, König was utterly captivated by Serene's wit and charm. Her laughter was music to his ears, and every time she glanced over at him, he felt like time had stopped just for them.

"So, König, you mentioned you're new to the area," Serene said, her voice soft and alluring. "What brings you to the city, and how'd you hear about the salon?"

"I needed a change," König replied sheepishly, unable to tear his gaze away from her reflection in the mirror. "And I heard great things about this city and this place too."

Serene smiled, continuing her rhythmic motions with the scissors that made a gentle snipping sound throughout the room. With each precise cut, König felt a sense of transformation take hold. "Well, welcome! You've come to the right city and salon!" She winked at him. "I hope you and yours find it to be everything you're looking for."

"Yours?" he asked curiously with an arched eyebrow.

"Oh, I mean you and your loved ones. I hope they like it here too. It's a good place for families," Serene stammered, her cheeks flushing slightly at her assumption. König paused at this comment, his smile now not reaching his eyes which seemed almost sad and lonely.

König spoke softly, "It's just me... no family."

"Oh, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have assumed," Serene replied apologetically.

König reassured her with a gentle smile and shook his head. "No need to apologize."

A beat of silence hung between them until König found the courage to break it. "So, how long has this place been here?" he asked in his Austrian accent, adding charm to his words.

Serene smiled, and her eyes twinkled with pride as she said, "This salon has been here for about 20 years. It was my father's; he taught me everything I know about hair."

König nodded and admired how she effortlessly maneuvered her scissors through his locks. "That's impressive," he murmured, admiring her skill. "You must have inherited his talent."

A soft laugh escaped Serene's lips, and she said with nostalgia, "I like to think so. When my father passed away, I took over and expanded the salon to cater to both men and women."

König listened intently as she spoke about her dad and her dedication to carrying on his legacy. There was a quiet strength that emanated from her that captivated him.

"Aside from me," Serene continued as she delicately trimmed his hair, "there are three other stylists here; two barbers, including myself, one braider, and one colorist. We try to offer a wide range of services to suit everyone's needs."

König watched in awe as Serene moved around him gracefully, her skilled hands expertly trimming and shaping his hair. Her passionate eyes sparkled with determination as she spoke to him about her craft and business. Although König's answers were vague due to the nature of his work, Serene didn't pry further, sensing that he wasn't too comfortable sharing yet. He appreciated that she made it easy for him to let her in without needing to divulge too much information in their first meeting.

Their conversation was laden with playful banter until they fell into a comfortable silence. At one point, Serene paused and asked, "Would you mind if I put on some music? I've got a playlist that's a mix of hip-hop and R&B unless you have a preference."

König smiled in appreciation. "That sounds good to me," he replied eagerly. "I trust your taste in music."

"So much trust in my hands? Wow, you're making me blush." She teased.

"Well, you are the one holding the sharp weapon… so…" He pointed out her sheers on the countertop. Serene laughed heartily as her hand grabbed her phone from the nearby countertop and began playing her carefully curated tunes. To König's delight, many of the songs were familiar, and he couldn't help but tap his foot to the rhythm as Serene continued her work.

The upbeat melodies enveloped them both, interweaving with the sound of scissors and clippers. König watched in awe as Serene worked her magic. Her passion poured into her craft, and he couldn't help but admire the sparkle in her eyes. Occasionally, their eyes would meet in the mirror, followed by playful smiles and knowing glances.

Finally, Serene put the finishing touches to König's hair. She delicately brushed off the stray strands that clung to his neck, her fingers lightly grazing his skin, sending a tingling sensation through his veins as her body drew close to him.

With a final brush sweep, Serene stepped back and observed her handiwork – a soft smile curving on her lips. "There," she said with satisfaction, "You're looking sharp, König."

König examined his reflection in the mirror, amazed by how well Serene had delivered. He looked far less weathered and rugged, perhaps even passable as a civilian now. Maybe she'd accept a date, he thought to himself.

As she removed the black cape from around him, their fingertips brushed ever so slightly. His heart raced, and he glanced away from her with reluctance; something had stirred within him that he could no longer ignore.

"Thank you, Serene," König said, his voice brimming with gratitude. "You did an amazing job; I look human again!" he joked lightly, holding her gaze for a beat longer than necessary.

Serene laughed softly. "A good haircut can do that." She smiled playfully before spinning around to the reception table where the payment system was set up. When König reached into his pocket to pay for his cut, she noticed the generous tip he left; far too generous for the price of his service and tax combined. Quickly she attempted to return his change—a few bills and coins—but König refused them with a simple wave of his warm hands.

"This is enough for another haircut," she said hesitantly.

"Well worth it," he replied with a smile as he grabbed his jacket off the nearby coat hanger and slid it on.

The tension hung thick between Serene and König, a sense of possibility palpable in the air. After König paid for his haircut, Serene handed him a receipt with her business card attached.

König smiled, his confidence growing as her words stirred something deep within him. "I'll take you up on that offer," he replied with a newfound enthusiasm that made Serene's cheeks flush and her eyes sparkle with anticipation. A mysterious smile graced her lips when she responded, "I'll be looking forward to it, König."

König left the salon feeling energized and invigorated while an unknown excitement coursed through Serene as she watched him depart. She could feel a strange connection between them that she couldn't explain, leaving her eager to see him again.

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