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yoongi-sugaglider · 3 years

Text

Jungkook x reader

fairy/soulmate au

Warnings: fluff, mentions of war, mentions of bodily injury, ummm...fluff? lol

Word count: Exactly 10k on the dot!!!

A/n note: So this was supposed to be my secret santa/ winter project for December 2020 but some life stuff came up aka my dad had some very severe health issues that kinda broke my brain for a while. He’s doing better now though and I finally was able to just sit and give this story the love it deserved. To @birbdae I am so sorry this is late but thank you so much for being patient with me~ Happy belated birthday and I love you bunches~

“Mother, tell me the story again?” The young girl whispered as she clung to the Queen’s multitude of skirts.

“Hush now my love.” The elegant lady gathered her child into her arms, eyes struggling to see her tiny face in the dusky twilight that surrounded them.

“Please Mother, I’m scared…”

The woman sighed, allowing her silvery hair to fall into her eyes as she pressed her forehead to her child’s and allowed the icy chill that surrounded them to comfort her into speaking.

“Once upon a time, there lived a young maiden so fair that kingdoms bowed down at the very mention of her name.”

“Queen Merialiies, the most powerful of the frost fae.” The little princess sighed, settling into her mother’s arms and allowing the familiar words to comfort her.

“Aye, that she was. And the kindest. A great war ravaged her country. So devastating was it that half the world lost their lives and the balance of life and death were in chaos.”

The Queen clutched her child closer, shivering as her eyes trained intensely on the entrance of the isolated cavern. “When the war was over the maiden emerged from hiding, seeking out her people and gathering them from their hiding places. She knew that if they were to revive the world they would have to come together, for their strength lay in their bond with each other.”

“Because our joined power is always greater than if we are alone.”

The Queen chuckled, nuzzling into her daughter’s hair and placing the most gentle of kisses to her forehead. “Am I telling this story or you my love?”

The child smiled up at her, giggling as she patted her mother’s cheek. “I’m sorry Mother, please, would you keep going?”

“Alright, where was I?”

“You were about to come to the best part!”

Smiling the Queen nodded, though her grip on her child tightened. “The maiden persevered, gaining strength from her people as they guided the world towards rebirth. But something was wrong. The poor dear, though surrounded by those that loved and adored her felt alone. Something was missing in her life. A love that she could have all to herself. She began searching, hoping to find one who could see through her strength to the innocent and lonely woman within.”

“And she did Mother! She found her own truest love.”

“Shh, quietly my lovely.” Her panicked gaze wandered the dark, listening intently to the wayward sounds that filtered in through the stone and ice.

“You’re right. She found her love. A twin flame to melt away the loneliness in her heart. The one who carried not only a burning love for her, but also the twin pair to her wings.”

The youngling sighed, burying her face in her mother’s chest as her tiny fingers wrapped in the delicate silk of her bodice. “Twin souls. They were happy right? Finding each other?”

“Of course my love. Finding your twin soul is a cause for celebration. And they did. They celebrated for weeks after. Two kingdoms joined together to celebrate the greatest love story in the history of the fae. There was no war, only peace and prosperity.”

The sounds from outside gained in volume. Explosions and cries for help echoed through the cavern as the two held each other close.

“Mother…”

“I know baby. I’m here. It will be okay…”

***

“My Lady where are you?”

The young woman flinched, tucking herself farther into the frost covered tree as she watched her jailer...lady in waiting, search for her in the gardens down below.

She’d been avoiding the poor harried woman for hours, hoping to not be dragged back to the small cabin they called home and be forced to sit down and study her histories again. The tutor they’d found liked to drone on and on, more busy with facts and numbers than the great stories of heroes and villains that the young woman preferred to daydream about. He’d taken on the job willingly, a poor clumsy scholar that tended more towards the clumsy side despite the brilliance of his mind.

“My lady! Sir Namjoon awaits you! Please stop hiding and come so that he can teach you like we hired him to!”

The woman snorted, knowing she’d be able to hide as long as she needed if it meant she didn’t have to hover protectively over her inkwell while the man droned on. Luck was not on her side this day though. Where normally her fingers would have done their work, gripping tightly to the course bark that wrapped her beloved tree in silvery protection, today they faltered in the cold.

She barely had a moment to react, a silent oh! of surprise slipping from her lips as she took her tumble. The ground rushed up to meet her, its snow covered embrace announcing her hiding spot with a resounding crash.

A gasp echoed through the clearing, swallowed by the sound of rushed footsteps crunching their way through the freshly lain snow. The fallen woman groaned, eyes filled with the sight of the uncaring forest staring down at her as she lay resigned to her fate.

“My Lady you mustn't lay on your back like…” The maid stuttered to a halt, delicate fingers coming up to cover her lips as her eyes filled with misty tears. “Oh...oh your ladyship I...I’m so s…”

“Hush now Solaris. It’s been 14 years.” The woman sat up abruptly, dusting the snow from her dress and rising to brush it off of her back. “I’ve had enough of these woods. Come now, Sir Clumsy britches is waiting for me.”

Solaris couldn’t help the tittering giggle that slipped from her lips. She bowed her head, giving the young woman a small curtsy as they began making their way back towards the village.

“Might I ask why you’re always climbing that tree my lady?” She couldn’t help her curiosity. It seemed her charge was always running off, attempting to find some adventure or another in any attempt to escape her duties.

“Honestly? I’m not sure. I just…” The young woman sighed, fingers brushing at her skirts as she ducked beneath a wayward tree branch and stepped out into the clearing that housed their small cottage. “I’ve always felt like I was searching for something. Even as a child. I suppose I thought if I could see more of the land, see more of the world from up high I’d be able to figure out what that something is.”

“And have you found it my lady?”

The melancholic woman shook her head, pausing at the door to the cottage and glancing once around the clearing. It was a modest little place they called home, situated just inside the wall of trees that surrounded the capital city of their kingdom. They managed to live quietly here, benefiting from the security of the centuries old trees and forest while still being close enough to the large city to fulfill all of their living needs. It was home, though not the one she’d grown up in. That was a fairytale now only to think about in the quiet nights when she tossed and turned with nightmares of the past.

“No...I haven’t found my twin flame. Not...not yet anyway.”

***

“Your Highness! There’s news from the capital!” A hurried Solaris burst through the front door, eyes wide and panicked as she struggled to catch her breath from the obvious nonstop run from the market to their home.

“Goodness Solaris. Take a moment, calm yourself.” The young woman rose from her chair, absolutely grateful for the interruption from Sir Namjoon’s usual rantings as she guided her breathless maid to the chair she’d been occupying.

“Sir Namjoon, would you kindly draw Lady Solaris a cup of water? I’m sure she’d be grateful.”

The usually calm man grew flustered at the request, rushing towards the tiny kitchen area and rifling through the items for the requested object. Surprisingly nothing fell or broke though as the man returned with a tall cup of cold water and handed it to the maid with trembling hands and the tiniest of a dimple filled smile.

“Y...your...your water my Lady.” He muttered, scurrying back to his large stack of books as if terrified to have Solaris’s attention on him for too long.

After allowing the woman to take a few sips to calm herself her mistress took the cup, placing it off to the side and handing over a handkerchief to allow the woman to wipe at her sweat covered brow.

“Now, what’s got you so flustered that you had to burst in here in the most unladylike of manners?” She smiled in amusement as the woman inhaled sharply, almost as if preparing for the most magnanimous of speeches.

“Your highness! The king! He’s come to the capital and he’s calling all the maidens of the kingdom to attend him! It’s required that all, no matter their status, must see him at once!”

“That conquering tyrant.” Where normally she would be calm the woman suddenly burned bright red with a strange fury. “First he takes our country and now he wants all of the maidens to attend to him?” She turned from her hand maid, fury twisting her features as she stomped over to the window to glare out at the surrounding forest.

“No my Lady, you’re mistaken.” Solaris stuttered, sitting up in her chair as she finally allowed her thoughts to settle. “It’s for the First Prince. They’re wanting a marriage of good faith to allow the two kingdoms to integrate peacefully.”

“P..peacefully??” She sputtered as she turned from the window. Throwing her hands in the air she couldn’t help but to rant. “Those hot heads should have thought of that BEFORE they burned our crops and raided our villages! We’d have easily come to a compromise of some sort had they come bearing that same mentality before taking up arms against us!”

“Madame, they…”

“Yes yes I know.” She waved off Namjoon’s words dismissively. “My father didn’t want to send me there. Didn’t want his precious daughter to ‘descend into that den of thieves’” She tossed up air quotes, sarcasm dripping from every word she spoke. “Really, you men and your misplaced pride. It’s ridiculous how foolish you can be when you think with your sword instead of your minds.”

“With our...m..Madam!” The look of shock on the poor scholar’s face would have been priceless any other day. But for some reason the stately lady of the house just wasn’t feeling the need to tease the scholar.

“So how are they doing this?” She made her way to her favorite chair as she spoke, dropping into it with a huff and staring out of the small cottage’s window. The drifting snowflakes outside caught her attention and she watched them dance their way to the ground as she listened to Solaris explain the situation.

“They’ll be sending soldiers to each house bearing invitations for each eligible female.”

“They’ll be tallying each one up too. Make sure they can count each household while they’re at it.” She grumped as she folded her arms on the window ledge and plopped her chin on her forearms.

“More than likely, yes. And adding to that they’ll send the same soldiers out the day of the ball to come and collect the women.” Namjoon chimed in. “They’ll claim it’s a safety precaution but more so it’s to ensure none of them run off.”

“Why would they do that?” Solaris blinked innocently, her dazed expression and glazed eyes giving away how little she understood of the situation. “A ball! Just imagine all of the beautiful dresses we would see. And all of the handsome young men!” Her giggle echoed through the silent cabin. It quickly died off when she realized neither of her companions were sharing in her excitement.

“Honestly, I forget sometimes you weren’t old enough to remember the war and how horrible things were for our kind.” Standing from her window seat she brushed at the gossamer fabric of her dress as if attempting to rid herself of some imagined dust. “When is this ball they have planned?”

“In three days. They’ll begin sending out soldiers in the morning.” Solaris replied, hanging her head sadly.

“I see. Sir Namjoon, we’ll resume my studies once I’ve returned.” She turned away from the teo, making her way to her room and beginning to pack a small selection of her belongings.

“Wh...Miss...what are you doing?” Solaris demanded as she sidestepped the whirlwind of a woman who was now packing small packages of dried meats and medicines from the storage area of the kitchen.

“I can’t be there. If they find me, find out who I am? I just...I have to go.”

She finished packing, mind a cold void as her determination was already set. After informing the two where she was going she set off, hoping to escape whatever fate was trying to force her way.

***

The woods were lovely, dark, and deep.

She found herself sighing at the sounds that greeted her as she stepped from the tree line to survey her surroundings.

Before her and stretching far off into the horizon was a massive frozen lake, it's surface dappled by the hoof and paw prints of the many animals that dwelled in the safety of the forest beyond and refused to sleep the winter months away. A rare smile graced her lips, one almost as secretive as the hidden cave she turned and began to make her way towards.

Her steps became lighter as she crunched through the snow, the weight of the sudden announcement lifting from her shoulders as she stepped beneath the glistening blue stalactites. The interior was dimly lit from the light that gently filtered through from the ice that protected the entrance from prying eyes.

The only sound that echoed in the place were her unhurried footsteps and a gentle dripping that whispered to her from somewhere further back in the darkness. She'd visited here many times before, a quiet reprieve she'd found several summers ago when she'd come to the lake to escape the insufferable heat of the season.

The locals didn't visit it,claiming it to be haunted by a human's soul that'd taken up residency in the place a millennia ago, back before the wingless race had died off. It suited her perfectly well as it gave her the solitude she needed to allow her poor broken wings a chance to be free.

And she did just that as she dumped her pack beside the cold ashes of the firepit she'd made during her last visit. Unsnapping the corset that since her waist she allowed it to drop beside her pack and stretched out what remained of her wings.

The nerves had died off long ago, the burnt ends though still stung with the phantom pain, a dark reminder of the night her entire childhood was ripped away from her. She sighed, glancing over her shoulders and imagining the wings as they used to be, a swirl of silver color patterned with flames and snowflakes that gave her the glorious joy of flying through the freezing winter air.

Fluttering them once and then twice she stretched them, letting the cold cave air cool them after being compressed within her body heat for so long. It was a shame really, but she didn’t allow herself to dwell on it for too long, she had a camp to make and some relaxing to do.

***

Jungkook had had just about enough of his aides. They hovered at all hours of the day, incessant in their rambling about court protocol and how important it was to not start any fights with the locals. He was well aware.

He’d never even wanted the war that had ravaged the Winter Kingdom. Had begged his father and the generals to try peace over everything else. But in the end the words of a child had gone unheard by the war blinded adults.

So here he sat, shivering violently from the cold as those blasted tittering fools for his aides dashed around his chamber. He could have called on his flaming core to warm him, but after the first day of doing so only to find himself collapsed in the hall from using far too much energy, he’d just decided it was better to suffer the cold than to appear weak in front of his unfortunate enemies.

“Sire! We must leave now. You mustn’t be late for Lord Hoseok’s dance lessons!” The tiny mouse of a man squeaked, trying so very hard to appear contained and in charge despite the dark circles of worry beneath his eyes.

“Jimin, you know that even if I’m early Lord Hoseok will still grind me into the dust for not learning that infernal winter waltz faster.” The Prince frowned, taking in Jimin’s fear-streaked face.

“That may be Your Highness. But should you dally any longer you’ll be late for sword training with Sir Yoongi as well as etiquette lessons with Lord Seokjin. We have to stick to your schedule or they’ll all be displeased and tell your Father!” Jimin squeaked again, petite hands fluttering up to cover the trembling of his lips.

“My father is too busy planning out his next conquest to even pay half a mind to what��s going on with me or my ’schedule’. Never mind…” He sighed, getting up from the window seat he’d been staring out of and making his way out of his room.

“Have Taehyung meet me at dinner. I’ve got something to discuss with him.”

***

The day continued on, lesson after grueling lesson eating away at what little patience the prince had left.

He collapsed into his chair at dinner, too exhausted mentally and physically to pay any mind to the meal scattered out before him.

“Sire, Lord Taehyung has arrived.”

Jungkook glanced up, a tired smile being all he could come up with for his friend.

“You look like a dog dug you up in the yard and used you as a chew toy then reburied you and shit on the pile of dirt.” The young man commented as he took his place beside the monarch in training.

“You know I could have your head for that.” Jungkook grumped as he tossed a pea from his plate in the young Lord’s direction.

“Ah, you could. But they’d have to catch me first.” His statement was emphasized by the pea he’d caught between two fingers.

He was nothing if not quick. He’d worked long ago as an assassin but now sat as Jungkook’s right hand man as well as his best friend.

Jungkook smiled, probably the first pleasant expression he’d worn in quite some time.

“So my great and glorious super Prince, future king of all that is boiling and frozen, to what do I owe this most prestigious of honors of being called upon and humble myself in your magnanimous presence?”

Jungkook just about choked on his water, laughing and coughing at the ridiculousness that was Taehyung’s words.

“By the flame you’ve been hanging out with Lord Seokjin again haven’t you?” He snorted, dabbing a napkin at his nose to clear out the water that’d streamed out while he was laughing.

“I mean, the man has great taste in puns. As a Master of many things it behooves me to learn the delicate art of insulting royalty at every turn without actually offending them.” Taehyung shrugged, spearing a chunk of glazed carrot and waving it through the air as he spoke.

“Well, I called you here for a favor actually.” The prince leaned forward, eyes taking in the unaffected assassin who’d busied himself munching on the food that Jungkook was decidedly ignoring.

“Is that so? Whelped a brat that needs hiding?”

Jungkook sputtered, cheeks a bright crimson as his eyes darted around the empty dining room.

“Taehyung!!”

“That’s a no. Only virgin cheeks brush that brightly at a subject like that.”

“I’ll have you know!!!”

“Hush now, poppa’s thinking.” Taehyung smirked at the flustered royal. “If it’s not that..hmm…” He tapped his chin, pretending to think long and hard while Jungkook tried to gather his bearings.

“You’ve insulted a young maiden and her father’s come a calling wanting reparations and you need the family off’d?”

“For the love of...Taehyung please!?” Jungkook collapsed forward, head buried in his arms as he screamed silently into the table cloth. “You’re never allowed near Seokjin again I swear.”

Taehyung snorted, eyes dancing with glee at having gotten under his friend’s skin.

“So, you’re tired of the court and want to escape is it? Get away from the ball daddy King face arranged so you don’t have to marry some country bumpkin ice queen?”

“I!! Wait. No you’re right. That’s exactly it.” Jungkook’s head jerked up, his face a picture of surprise and awe at how astute the man before him was. “How did you know?”

“We’ve been friends for going on 12 years now my little dongsaeng. How could I not know that you’ve been pushed to your limit and need to escape?” Taehyung smiled, reaching across the table and patting Jungkook’s elbow.

“Don’t worry. Hyung will get you out of this castle. I’ll meet you on your balcony at midnight. Pack light and wear that disguise you’re hiding in that secret compartment at the back of your closet.” Taehyung rose, grabbing one last chicken leg as he began to make his way out of the room.

“How did you…” Before he could finish his sentence though the assassin was already gone, having disappeared into the shadowy hall with one last flirtatious wink thrown over his shoulder.

***

The escape from the castle was simple thanks to Taehyung. A cloak and some heavy clothing were enough to disguise the wings that marked the young Prince as the royal that he was.

The two friends departed with reassurances from Taehyung that he’d lead the guards on a few wild goose chases just long enough for the ball to have come and gone. Jungkook counted his lucky stars in thanks for the effectiveness he’d come to rely on in his friend for so many years.

He took flight, the snowflake and flame veins that marked his wings becoming a blur as he darted through the snow covered canopy of the woods that marked the southern boundary of the Winter kingdom’s capital city.

It didn’t matter where he ended up, he just flew, darting here and there through the trees with a freedom and joy he hadn’t enjoyed in flame only knows how long. He allowed his mind to wander, thoughts a chaotic jumble of hopes and dreams he only allowed himself to think of when he was alone in his rooms at night.

Something gave him pause as he flew. He’d been going for quite some time, but a strange light had flashed at him out of the corner of his eye. A blue glittering affair that’d appeared between the trees despite the woods being pitch dark and most of his vision having been obscured by the blur of fluttering snowflakes.

He pulled up quick, wings only barely straining to keep him from slamming into the trunk of a massive tree that’d been in his way. He twisted in the air, eyes seeking the glow and spotting it as the reflection of a strange light glittering off of the surface of a massive frozen lake.

He moved towards it, allowing his curiosity to guide him on. Stopping short at the edge of the lake he hovered, shielding him from view of the woman dancing on the glowing ice.

It was the strangest thing he’d seen, the way the light shone on her twirling frame as she danced through the snow. It was almost as if the entirety of existence had paused for this one moment. Icicles on the tree branches around him chimed their tune, a melody gifted to his ears from the whispering wind to lend a soft winter’s melody to the racing of his aching heart. He couldn’t take his eyes off her, the whirling ice Princess giggling in the snow.

His wings fluttered, prisms of warm light glancing off her form and highlighting the broken and burned stubs of her wings. He knew the look of those wounds and it hurt to think that at some point the war that had torn their nations apart could have taken the joy of flight from such a beautiful fairy. Without thinking he allowed himself to be lifted through the air, his body reacting first to the pull of the sight of her and second to the musicality of her voice as she sang to the winter’s breeze.

The effort of drifting against the freezing weather proved to be too much for the flame that flickered in his core though. His wings faltered, frost having formed along their tips and weighing them down. The ice of the frozen lake rushed towards him and he couldn’t help the cry of fear that broke free of his chest as he crashed through the thick ice. The last he saw of the enchanting maiden was her panicked gaze, eyes wide at the intrusion and lips parted in a frantic yell as his head sunk beneath the surface.

***

A warmth brushed against his skin and he shivered, subconsciously shimmying his body closer to it. His eyelids felt weighed down by the cold, unable to open as he groaned in protest of the aching cold that stiffened his joints and limbs.

“Hush now, the fire will warm you. Just rest and let the heat do its job.”

The soft melody of the femanine voice eased his mind and he buried himself deeper beneath the heavy furs that surrounded his body.

The woman meanwhile continued to stoke the fire, having long since dried herself after diving in to save the hulking form of the foolish fire fairy that’d allowed himself to be pulled into the lake.

She turned her head, shyly eyeing his form as he breathed softly beneath the furs. She couldn’t help but allow herself to admire his soft sleeping face. Watched as his long eyelashes brushed his cheeks and admired the chiseled shape of his jaw.

She was sure that if he were awake his smile would be soft but wide, imagining teeth nibbling at his lower lip as he chuckled at some joke while doe like eyes glittered with his mirth.

Shaking her head she slapped her cheeks. What was wrong with her!? No matter how handsome he might seem this man was an enemy to her people! She scoffed at her own foolishness, though the sound was caught short as she began to question herself.

If he was an enemy why had she risked her life to save him? She’d known instantly from the way the frost had clung to his wings from the brief glimpse she’d caught of him before he’d been pulled beneath the surface of the waves exactly what he was. And yet when she’d seen those soft...brown...panicked eyes sink within the icy grip of the lake something had screamed from within her to save him. It had been pure instinct at the time.

And now as she sat by the fire, admiring the flames as they danced across their wooden fuel she allowed herself to turn her attention back to the strange ache that twisted at her shoulder blades. It’d crept up her spine as she’d been dancing earlier. As the moon’s rays had shone upon her and just before she’d spotted the crashing flame fairy.

She stretched her arms above her head, willing the dull pain to go away. And though her muscles relaxed and her mind stilled the ache remained, just at the base of her wings and tingling up nerves that she’d assumed long dead and gone. It had to have been the heat of the fire.

And so, after tossing a few more logs upon the flame and checking that her rescue was well and truly asleep and tucked in she walked back out into the cold. Her hopes were that the freezing snow would numb the nerves that seemed to want to awaken. As much as she missed flying through blizzards and dancing through the air with the winter cardinals she didn’t much mind having lost them. It was preferred honestly, as those things she missed always reminded her of the one who’d taught her those joys and she just couldn’t bear the thought of being reminded of her beloved and dearly departed mother.

After an hour or so of allowing herself to wander the secluded forest she made her way back to her cave, wings sufficiently numbed and mind at ease. Though the peaceful mindset was instantly chased away when she came back to see the young man she’d rescued moaning and tossing beneath the furs.

Dashing over she dropped to her knees, fingers frantic as she chased his forehead and placed her icy palm against his burning cheeks. Hissing she jerked her hand back. It was known the flame lords ran much hotter than those of her kind, but this amount of heat was worrying. Rising quickly she raced to her pack, pulling out herbs and medicines, sorting through them and selecting a few she knew to be safe for him.

Back to the fire she went, grabbing her tea kettle and filling it with snow from the entrance to melt above the flames. As the kettle began to boil she tossed in the herbs, eyes anxiously darting back and forth to the trembling form that groaned feverishly for his father .

“Hush now dear, I’ll help I promise.” She mumbled, more to comfort herself as she waited for the medicine to brew.

Once it was ready she ladled it into a cup, blowing desperately on it to cool it as she knelt once more by his side. Pushing away a portion of the skins she lifted his head into her lap, brushing at the black hairs that clung to his forehead from the sweat as she cooed softly to him.

“Here now dear one, open your eyes, I need you to take this.”

He was much too weak to reply to her, muttering in his feverish sleep about poisons and dungeons.

“It’s not poison. It’s holy basil and chamomile. Now drink. It’ll take the fever away.” Her whispered words seemed to calm him. Bringing the cup to his lips she smiled softly as he drank eagerly from the medicine. Eventually he turned his head away, breathing heavily and moaning to himself. The deep husk of his voice twisted her insides, causing a blush to rush to her cheeks as the silken strands of his hair brushed down over his eyes.

She hadn’t noticed that the sides of his head were shaved, something those in the military and the aristocrats of the fire nation tended to do when important events came up.

He must have been intending on going to that fool prince’s ball. She hummed to herself, finding it hard to allow the bitterness that would normally form at the sight of him to rise up within her. He just seemed far too innocent while he slept in her lap.

Shaking away the butterflies that tried to rise in her stomach she laid him back down on the makeshift pillow she’d made of a rolled up deerskin and tucked the pile of heavier skins back around him. It would take a dose or two more of the medicine to break the fever but she was determined now. He just had to live or the emotions that rose within her would never let her live her own life in peace again.

*** It was unfathomable how two days of caring for someone in such a state could raise such an attachment in her. She’d wiped his brow so many times she’d become familiar with every scar and divot on his face, making up stories for each as to how he could have gotten them.

On the third day he finally awoke, still groggy from the medicated tea but coherent enough to begin eating the gruel she’d made for him.

“Eat slowly now. There’s no point in rushing if you’re just going to throw it all up later.” She whispered to him, knowing that if she spoke any louder the echoes of the cave would only give him a headache.

“Why are you caring for me like this?” he asked, glancing up at her through his eyelashes as he spooned another bite into his mouth.

“I...well.” She paused for a moment, fingers picking at the frayed wood of the stick she’d been using to stoke the fire.

“My mother always taught me that kindness is more important than any grudge we could hold.” Looking up she gave him a soft smile, though a bit of her pain showed through at the mention of the dearly departed Queen.

“She must have been a great lady.” Placing the bowl and spoon at his side he leaned back against the roughened cave walls, finally allowing his gaze to take in the woman that had saved his life.

She was just as beautiful as his glimpsed image of her had led him to believe, though his heart sank one more when he spotted the burnt nubs that were her wings. He thought for a moment to question her on it, but common sense stopped him halfway to opening his mouth. There was no way that wasn’t a touchy subject, so he left well enough alone.

Instead he allowed his gaze to wander the cave, taking in the rough hewn walls and the way she’d seemed to have made the place her own. Herbs hung from the walls on pegs, bundles of various types each used to treat various injuries and ailments. Though by the way they were hung he suspected they’d been put there more as decoration than anything else. The fire lit the area up nicely, allowing him to see much further into the cave than he’d expected.

Looking closely he noticed that a lot of the formations he thought to be ice drippings were actually some type of crystal. Though he didn’t recognize them he realized pretty quickly that they were absorbing the light from the fire and projecting that light almost like a torch.

“So...is this your home or…”

“Oh goodness no. I reside in town, I’m just here to get away.” She shook her head, giving off a soft giggle that had his heart soaring.

“I can understand that sentiment. Things were rapidly becoming stifling out there. One could hardly blame a lovely young fae such as yourself for wanting to get away.” He chuckled, his grin widening as she blushed at his compliment.

“Is...is that why you were out in the storm? To get away?”

He nodded as he tucked his hands beneath the fur skins. “Duty to your people can only push you so far before it starts to take over who you are. I wasn’t about to let my father dictate who I was going to become any longer. He’s made enough rash decisions to ruin an entire kingdom, I won’t have myself become a part of that any longer.”

The young man’s words rolled over in her mind, bouncing off the image before her along with the events that had brought her to this very cave.

It wasn’t too hard to put together that he was the young prince and a moment of anger had her clutching the stick in her hand and very seriously considering killing him right then and there.

His father was the reason her parents were dead and her kingdom had burned after all. There was no one here to witness it if she did. And yet a small voice in the recesses of her mind held her back and stayed her hand.

She thought over his words once more, realizing he’d wanted the war no more than she had. What his father had chosen and done should not have been laid on his shoulder.

Placing the stick beside her she began speaking to him. Asking him questions about his childhood and giving her own answers when he asked in turn. They spent the night like this, conversing on any subject that came to mind while avoiding their own identities as much as possible.

The sun outside began to rise and still they spoke, bonding over shared misfortunes and shared goals and dreams when it came to their respective kingdoms.

Unbeknownst to them their mutual feelings for each other began to grow. When she led him out into the light on unsteady feet and he slipped but a little, only for her to catch him, an exchange of touches, barely brief though it may have been, ignited a flame within them both.

He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close and breathing in the frozen scent of her, a crisp smell like the first cold snap of winter.

“You are...ethereal...did you know that?” He whispered, his lips a hair’s breadth away from her own.

She hummed, mind a haze as her eyelashes fluttered close.”You smell of ash and coal...like roasting over an open fire on a warm summer’s day.”

“Oh?” He chuckled, the sound sending a thrill of excitement through her. “And is that so bad little snowflake?”

“No...I don’t think it is…”

***

The day finally came when the young Prince found himself strong enough to walk on his own. His fever had long since gone and the color was finally beginning to come back to his cheeks.

“You know...we could always just stay here.”

She glanced up at his words, pausing in stirring the stew she’d been cooking over the fire. “What do you mean?”

“Neither of us wants to go back. And well...I rather prefer things out here compared to the hustle and bustle of my normal life.” He picked at a loose bit of string on his clothes, refusing to meet her gaze as he let her mull over his proposal.

“I...hmm.” Sitting back on her heels she stared into the fire. It was tempting, the idea of leaving the stress of her life behind. Having to pretend she wasn’t who her people needed her to be.

“They’ve been too long without a leader.” She whispered.

“I’m sorry?”

Their gazes met, each burning with their own inner fire.

“My people. I may be broken, but they need me. Just as yours need you. One day we’ll have to lead and running away isn’t going to make any of what happened okay.”

Simple words though they may have been they struck a cord in him. More so than anything the multitude of scholars and aids and so called guides could have done. He nodded, determination filling him.

“I may not be able to change much, but one day I will lead, and things will have to change. My father is getting old, as are his war mongering generals…” His words stuttered to a stop, a blush coloring his features as he realized his misstep. “I uh...I mean…”

She couldn’t help but to chuckle. “Don’t worry little Prince. I am well aware of who you are.”

“But..how..”

“Your words may seem subtle or simple but your demeanor can’t be hidden.” She rose, abandoning the spoon she’d been using in the pot.

“And now, I am Y/n the last of the winter fairy monarchs, Princess of Winter and future Queen of my people. It’s an honor to meet you Sire.” With that she bowed, a hint of a smirk tugging at her lips.

“Wait you’re what?? Who?? But how, we were told you and your family…”

“Burned?” Straightening she turned slightly, her wings on display. “My father died fighting yours. And my mother died protecting me. No I did not come out of that battle unscarred.”

“But...why…”

“Why am I telling you?” She tilted her head at him as she returned to stirring the meal.

“I saved your life and nursed you back to health, your people call this a life debt, no?”

He nodded, suddenly realizing just how much he owed her.

“Well, consider this calling in that life debt. A pact between friends you could say. Keep my identity a secret, and on the day you ascend the crown you will find yourself an ally in me.” She smiled, passing him a bowl of the stew.

“That…that’s putting a lot in a man you’ve barely known a fortnight.” He accepted the bowl graciously, barely suppressing a moan at the flavors that danced across his tongue.

“That may be. But life debts are held over everything in your culture. I can trust that above anything else you could give me.”

He huffed, running his fingers through his hair and scratching the back of his head. She’d noticed it was something he did when he was thinking hard on something and had come to find it endearing.

“I mean, I’d have kept your secret even without the pact but...if you insist on calling that as your favor I supposed I truly have no choice.”

The giggle that spilled forth from her made his heart clench and he couldn’t help but grin at her in return, his cheek dimpling and his nose crinkling like a snow bunny.

“It’s settled then.” She announced, standing and taking his now empty food bowl to be washed out.

“Oh? What’s settled?” He stood as well, pulling the empty stew pot from the fire to cool.

“I’ll be taking you back to town come morning and...oh…” She stumbled, her legs suddenly buckling beneath her.

If it hadn’t been for the flame fairy’s quick reflexes she’d have surely injured herself. But his strong arms wrapped around her,pulling her close and checking her over to make sure she was okay.

“By the flame, you’re going to get yourself hurt doing all that!” He frowned, fingertips running along the ridges of her shoulder blades as he watched her blink blurrily up at him.

“What’s wrong?” He asked his frown deepening as she leaned into his touch, lashes brushing her cheeks as her eyes fluttered shut.

“Y/n?” Panic surged through him as he lifted her limp form into his arms.

Where normally her skin was as cold as a winter’s stream it now burned almost as hot as he was and that set him on edge more so than anything ever had in his life. His heart raced as he trudged through the cave and out into the cold morning snow of the forest.

He thanked his flame for the sense of direction Taehyung had instilled in him so many times over the years as his body instinctively turned in the direction of the winter city they’d come from. His wings gave an experimental flutter, barely lifting him off the ground and for the first time since his fall he actually cursed at himself for his midwinter plunge into the icy lake. Walking was his only option.

He continued on through the forest, moving here and there through the trees in as direct a path as he could manage, all the while whispering soft sweet words of comfort to her when she would toss about in her feverish state.

The only time she paused and relaxed was when the sun would shine through the tree, though Jungkook paid no mind to this, only grateful that she allowed him the reprieve to march on with little struggle.

“N...Namjoon.” She whispered, and for a moment his heart sank. Who was this Namjoon she spoke of? Some lover she never mentioned in all the time they’d spent together.

“Scholar...physician…”

A spark of understanding coursed through him and his steps quickened with a renewed vigor as he came to the edge of the city. A few curt words and ignored glances and he’d arrived at the physician’s clinic, panting from the exertion and praying to every deity he could name that the one she’d spoken of was home.

“Sir! Good Physician! I have need of your aid!” Jungkook announced, using his elbow to force the large wooden door open.

The sound of crashing and halfhearted curses came from some dark corner of the clinic and a tall winter fairy emerged, glasses barely hanging off the tip of his nose as he squinted across the room at the Prince.

“What can I do for you today?” He asked, voice gruff from sleep as he moved closer to Jungkook.

“W...y/n?? Wait, how did she?”

“You know her then? We were out by the lake when she suddenly took ill. I don’t know..what or how but she’d burning up!”

“Bring her to the table!” The physician rushed off, motioning to a large wooden table towards the center of the room.

Jungkook complied, ever so delicately placing her down and stepping back to allow the man to work.

As he began examining her he threw a slew of endless questions at the shaken prince who himself was near to collapsing from exhaustion.

“I...I don’t know. She was eating just fine, talking and laughing and it seemed like she was okay. But suddenly...she just collapsed. I just…” His fingers nervously tapped a rhythm on his thighs as his eyes darted around the clinic, searching or hoping for something to look at to ground his mind in the moment.

“Mmm..I’m sure it’s just a cold, or some sort of illness. Though...she’s never been sick a day in her life..” The bespectacled man mumbled to himself as he pressed his fingers against her wrist, checking her pulse and sighing to himself as he stepped away.

“There are a few things I can try just to ease the fever and whatever pain she may be feeling but this is going to take some time…”

“I...I’ll stay with her! I can’t just leave her like this!”

“Your highness...You really should be getting back to the palace.”

“How…” Jungkook’s jaw dropped, eyes bugging out as he stared in fear at the man before him.

“You carry yourself too well to just be some fire nation soldier off the street. And besides, I was there during your coronation. You held yourself well considering the obvious hangover you were sporting.”

A brilliant blush rose on the Prince’s cheeks as he attempted to sputter out a response. The physician chuckled, patting him amiably on the shoulder.

“Worry not, I’ll do everything I can to ease her pain. I’ll send word to the palace once I know anything. Be off M’lord, you’ve duties to attend to.”

Jungkook couldn’t help the lingering longing look he gave her, a sigh escaping his lips as he resigned himself to the waiting game.

Namjoon frowned as the prince finally left. It’d taken a considerable amount of bribing and fussing to get him to finally walk away but the fact that the young man lingered so long worried him.

“What did you get yourself into this time…”

***

Panic filled the small room of the physician’s clinic.

He’d spent the last few hours trying every remedy and potion he could find and still her condition deteriorated.

A scream of frustration built in his chest, only barely suppressed by the need to care for her. He sat at his desk, pouring over tomes of old and tossing each aggressively across the room when they proved to be of no use to him.

“Fate’s sake!” He growled, standing from his desk and shoving the chair out behind them.

She’d begun whimpering in her feverish state, every now and again whispering desperate pleas for help and wrenching the knife deeper in his chest. He felt useless, dropping to his knees on the floor beside her and clutching at her hand.

“Tell me, please? How can I help you? What is it that you need?” He whimpered, tears filling his eyes. “How do I save you?”

“M...mommy….tell me a story…”

The words didn’t register at first. Another sentence to him in a long line of whispered desperation.

But a brief flash of recognition hit. “Merialiies…”

He bolted upright, eyes wide and wild with inspiration.

“There’s no way!”

Racing back to his desk he shoved the books and papers out of his way, searching for the small book of tales he’d picked up at the shops a few weeks back.

A shout of triumph burst forth as he held it aloft, eyes glistening with hope as he flipped the pages to one particular story.

“The Heart’s Twin Flames.” He turned to y/n, watching her shift on the table as if trying desperately to escape some pain in her back. “There’s just no way…”

Making his way back he ever so gently turned her to her side, eyes widening at the inflamed skin spreading out across her back from the base of her wings.

“Could it be?” Dropping everything he lifted her into his arms, cringing at the sounds of pain coming from his precious cargo.

“Just hold on, I’ll take you to him. If I’m right...you may just get your wings back.”

He hurried from the clinic, not even paying mind that he’d left the front door open to swing in the wind.

“Move! Please get out of my way. This is an emergency!” He shouted, shoving his way through the crowd of villagers lining the walkways as he raced towards the castle.

The front gates loomed before him, almost imposing if it weren’t for the sheer amount of panic flowing through him.

“Halt! State your business.” A soldier stepped before him, massive sword held at his throat .

Namjoon showed no fear, spine straight and shoulders squared as he stood his ground against the intimidating soldier.

“I’ve come at the request of his Highness Prince Jungkook of the Fire Fae kingdom. It is of the utmost importance that I speak with him immediately.”

The soldier continued to glare as a second stepped forward and the show of force began to deflate him.

“You don’t understand! I need to see him! It’s his twin flame! He found her and now without him she will die!”

“A likely story! Today is the day of his ball and you expect me to believe that suddenly a woman is his twin flame and without him she will die?” The guards chuckled together, heads thrown back with laughter as they continued to mock him.

“Sir, please! I couldn’t make this up if I wanted to! She’s dying. There must be something we can do?!”

The guard shook his head, a steely gaze pinning the poor man in place. It was obvious he wasn’t moved by their story.

“No matter the reason these gates were ordered to remain closed. Should you have proper documents the case would be different but there is nothing I can do for you. Find her a doctor, or some sort of specialist. But find them somewhere else.”

“Have you no heart man!? We’ve seen the doctor, hell I AM the doctor! There’s nothing more to do for her but get the Prince’s help! Please you must understand?? Surely you’ve heard the legends, are they not told to your children? They are fated to be! The proof is right here!” Namjoon was practically purple in the face by this point, spittle flying as he screamed in the face of the guard who’s grip was forever tightening on his spear.

Unbeknownst to the arguing pair and barely conscious woman the fae in question had heard everything.

“Sir?” One of the many aids that had been walking with the future ruler gave him a questioning stare, wondering what their next action would be.

“There’s no harm in finding out Jimin. I’m more than suited to handle things should there be any threat.” Prince Jungkook smiled, a rare sight on the man as he handed over the documents they’d been going over as they walked from the main castle to the stables.

“Alright. I’ll take these back to the stable master in your stead. Don’t do anything stupid while I’m gone.”

The prince grinned, bumping his aid in the shoulder with his elbow. “Now when have I ever done anything stupid?”

“Need I remind you of the state you were in last night?”

“Can’t hear you! Walking away now!” Prince Jungkook tossed over his shoulder as he made his way to the woven metal grating that served as the castle’s front gate.

For a moment he hung back in the shadows, eyeing the tall bespectacled man who seemed to have an almost vice like death grip on the tiny quivering bundle of rags in his arms.

The snow that had been falling began to ease up, revealing a small crowd that had gathered behind them all. As the guard and nameless man argued the townsfolk began to chime in, screaming curses at him and bickering with every word he spoke.

The Prince’s temper only flared when the first stone was thrown, something seemingly so small that it would have been noticeable if it weren’t for the fact that it’d hit the bundle’s back, causing a small squeak of pain to echo through the gateway. He knew that squeak.

“What’s going on here?” He puffed his chest out, spine straight and eyes fierce as he allowed the flames of rage to flow through him. Striding forward with all of the ego and confidence that his position afforded he stepped between the man and the crowd. The mere sight of him had those gathered scurrying away, hollered apologies tossed over snow covered shoulders as they dashed off to whatever tasks they’d been attending to before allowing their chicken like rubbernecking to get the better of their attention.

“Y..your Highness. I just...” The man stuttered, shifting the tiny bundle of cloth in his arms as he struggled to push through his own confusion and panic at seeing the regal object of his desperation appearing before him.

“Guard, can you explain to me why it is that you’ve allowed a mob of people to gather at the entrance to my future home?”

“He was...he just wanted…”

“Sire please! It’s y/n, she needs your help!”

“Y/n?” This peaked his interest. “Is she alright? Is...what happened? I only just saw her a few hours ago!”

“Sire, she fell terribly ill and what was left of her wings has begun flaking off. If we don’t act quickly there’s...there’s just no hope of saving her.”

Prince Jungkook glanced around, indecision causing him to hesitate for a moment as he watched his guards scanning the surrounding area.

“Alright, bring her inside, we’ll take her to my physi…”

“Sire please, she doesn’t have time for that!” Namjoon couldn’t help the tone of his voice as he shouted at the intimidating man. “You have to help her now, she’s dying the longer we talk about this!”

He dropped to his knees, unwrapping the blanket from the woman’s trembling form and carefully laying her body on the glistening snow.

Jungkook’s feet crunched through the snow, eyes squinted as he shielded them from the glare of the sun reflecting sharply off the glow surrounding the dying woman’s form. A strange itch began in the center of his shoulder blades, that spot he could never reach where his wings joined with the muscles of his back.

Shrugging off his cloak he knelt beside her, heart racing as the strange feeling in his wings slowly spread to the rest of him. The sun burst through the clouds, shining brightly and warming his exposed skin as his fingers brushed her cheek.

“My liege, all you have to do is allow the sun to shine through your wings and onto her. That alone is enough.” Namjoon whispered as he stepped back from them and allowed them their space.

Jungkook couldn’t help but to hesitate. There were so many things that could go wrong should he allow himself to listen to this strange man. If it were a track of some sort his kingdom would suffer if anything happened to him. But as he watched her pained face scrunch once more and as the sound of her pitiful whimper reached his ears his resolve steeled.

Leaning forward he spread his wings, allowing the light of the sun to cast a prism of reflected light over her body. The air filled with a magic the kingdom hadn’t seen in a very long time. Golden dust motes filled the air, sparkling like fireflies out in the mid-day glow. It attracted those that’d hurried away, gathering them in the square and on the streets.

The soldiers shouted, weapons raised in alarm as they watched their fearless leader begin to rise into the air alongside the small wingless form that he cradled so closely to his chest. But just as suddenly as their alarm and rage and fear rose it began to vanish, replaced instead with a calm joy that thrilled through their veins quicker than an adrenaline fueled march into the battlefield.

The people began to cheer as the two bodies were engulfed in light that shone so bright it began to rival the sun. And all along the young man couldn’t take his eyes off her form.

The woman that’d given him shelter in that freezing midnight cave. Her once frail body began to fill with life, color returning to her cheeks and her weak fingers gaining strength as they clung to his royal clothes. Her eyes fluttered open, a gasp escaping her lips as where once there was only burned stumps, now beautiful crystalline wings sprouted forth from her body, fluttering on the breeze before quickly gaining the strength to allow her to hover on her own.

And his own wings lost their brilliant red glow, cooling and shimmering as he beat them gently to keep him aloft.

The glow surrounding them faded and a hush fell over the crowd at the sight. A tiny waif of a girl engulfed in the strong arms of the royal flame.

“My love.”

“My twin flame.”

“I never got to thank you for saving my life.” His words caused her to blush as she looked at him through her eyelashes.

“I think you just did…”

Their hushed voices whispered words of comfort as their bodies slowly returned to earth. They’d only had eyes for each other, but as their feet returned to the earth that’d born them they turned to the people, each smiling with a joy that the once warring people felt throughout the lands. Warriors dropped their weapons, embracing the people they’d fought with for so very long.

Jungkook turned to the winter maiden, long,calloused fingers engulfing her own as he leaned forward to touch his forehead to hers.

“My love, how could I not have recognized you for what you were?”

“My sweet future king. Fate has a strange way of finding lovers and putting them together when the world needs their love the most.” She smiled, warm tears filling her eyes as her heart filled with a warmth only he could provide.

As one they turned to their people, joined hands raising into the air as Jungkook announced.

“I have found my Twin Flame. May peace rain on our kingdoms with the union of our joined blood! May you all find the joy my heart has been seeking. For from this moment on there will be no war, there will be no fighting. WE ARE ONE!!”

The people cheered, warriors embraced farmers, aristocrats feasted among peasants. Fire embraced ice. And as their lips met in a dewy kiss filled with all of the passion of new love, peace did reign. For they were now one.

#castle bangtan #bts fanfic #jungkook fanfic #bts fluff #jungkook fluff #soulmate au #bts soulmate au #jungkook soulmate au #bts fairy au #bts far au #jungkook fairy au #jungkook fae au #bts angst #bts imagine #bts reactions #bts fic #my writing

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bonny-kookoo · 4 years

Text

Lavender Love (JJK x Reader) 💐💜🔞

🦋 Pairing: Florist!Jeon Jungkook x Mute!Reader

🦋 Genre: Florist!AU, Fluff, Strangers to Lovers AU, smut

• Selective mutism : a severe anxiety disorder where a person is unable to speak in certain social situations, such as with classmates at school or to relatives they do not see very often. It usually starts during childhood and, if left untreated, can persist into adulthood.

🦋 Warnings: mentions of past trauma (no mentions of what exactly), anxiety attack, it’s not romanticized in this so it’s no ‘hero in shining armor knows what to do’ kinda thing, mentions of vomiting and overall just a very uncomfortable situation, Jungkook is actually kinda lost, mutual pining, awkward reader, very very VERY soft smut, like Jesus Christ it’s so sweet, mentions of therapy, hopeless romantic kook, he researched so much just so he can help :(, protective Kook!

🦋 Summary: words only hurt people around you, so when you meet this kind florist while picking up your friends order, you swear to yourself to never speak a word to him. He however, seems to have different plans.

(Again, I want to point out that anxiety attacks are a real thing, and hardly ever ‘just pass’. If you’re uncomfortable with these things, please skip this fic as it is a major part of the story. Everyone experiences these things differently, things depicted in this are personal experiences. If you think you have problems like this, please seek professional help. You’re not broken, you maybe just need a little hand to guide you back on track. Stay safe everyone 💕)

This is a oneshot! If you have any asks, Ideas, or drabble requests for this universe, throw them my way!

You don't remember the last word you spoke to a stranger.

It's probably hidden somewhere, and you'd find it if you really searched for it, however, you didn't really crave to be remembered about what happened afterwards. It didn't matter these days anyways.

You don't remember your school days.

Again, these memories are there, you know it. Yet you've turned them around like a picture hanging on a wall, neatly framing an incident that scarred you to the point of seemingly no return. It didn't matter these days anyways.

You pull your facemask a bit as you waited at the red light, folded paper in your hand, which was hidden in the front pocket of your sweater. People around you didn't really look at you, not caring, and you favored it greatly. You felt your fingers get clammy however, the closer you got to the corner store. Hopefully Miss Jung was there; she knew your mother, and didn't really mention your habit of silence much. Hopefully.

But the closer you got, the more you felt your skin grow cold.

That was not miss Jung.

You desperately wanted to text Yoongi, telling him that you couldn't pick up his order, but he was sick, he needed someone to do it, and you knew you could do it- you had to start somewhere. Your therapist had praised you last month so greatly, telling you how good you were getting at conversing, even if it was just through text or post it notes- it was more than you did a few years ago. But your feet slowed down, hands beginning to shake. You stood against the wall near the entrance, evening out your breathing as you tried to ground yourself again.

You could do this.

Entering the store, familiar bell ringing, you felt a bit more calm as the scent of the various flowers filled your nose. You'd often stayed under the counter when Miss Jung had been working when you were young, her presence calming to you as she didn't care about your 'issues' as others had called it. She always let you make flower crowns and tiny rings, showing you what every one of them meant, uncaring that you never answered her. She always said your smile was enough.

"Hello! How can I help you?" He asked in a friendly manner. His voice was melodic, probably nice to listen to whenever he talked away, making you slightly jealous. Your own was weak, fragile from lack of use. He smiled at you as you hesitantly walked forwards, unfolding the note Yoongi had written and placing it down in front of him, making him pick it up, reading it. "Oh? Lazy gramps can't pick them up himself?" He chuckled, and you wanted to disagree, yet you stopped the thought while it formed. "Ah, I'll get them for you, but are you sure you can carry them all yourself? There's multiple boxes, and eh-" He began, grinning before picking at his skin on his jaw. "-not to be mean but you're kinda short." He said, and your eyes widened. You shook your head, and he leaned his to the side. "No? No what?" He asked, and you began to grow uncomfortable. Your gaze shifted towards the note, pointing towards it, then at yourself, before you nodded. "I eh.." He trailed off, before he smiled encouragingly. "Ah, you're shy? Don't be, I don't bite!" He playfully said, and you could feel the tears prick at the backs of your eyes.

It was unfair really. You wished you could be more open, tell him all you wanted to say, be just as confident as he was being- yet here you were, confusing the guy to no ends just because you couldn't open your mouth. It was pathetic, really, and before you knew you felt the tears gather. You were growing frustrated, hands growing clammy as you tightened them into fists, breathing becoming uneven as you desperately tried to calm yourself. "Ah- you're okay? I'm sorry, I didn't mean to-" He tried, hand on your shoulder not helping one bit. He was now confused, maybe even scared, and it was your fault. Why were you being so difficult? Why couldn't you just tell him like every other normal person could? Oh yeah, because you weren't. You were absolutely fucked up, useless for society, not even able to work a proper job-

"Y/N?" The voice sounded dull, as if someone held their hands over your ears, the rushing of your own blood drowning out everything else as your hands and feet became rigid, frozen in place by the overflow of oxygen. "Jungkook dear, please give her space- Y/N sweetheart, can you hear me?" You knew she was talking, but her voice wasn't reaching you at all as the tears fell, sobs wrenching your gut to the point of feeling sick. "Oh sweetheart, come on, quick-" She hurried, unnoticed by you helping your locked body outside through the backdoor with Jungkooks help, who had a worried look on his face as he watched the scene unfold. "Jungkook dear, can you get me a bucket real quick?" He nodded, dashing off to clumsily get a small water bucket, cursing as he knocks down several others, glad that there wasn't another costumer. He got back just in time for Miss Jung to manage to hold the purple plastic container underneath your face as your body shook, bringing back up whatever you'd eaten in its absolute frenzy. "Shh, its okay.." She hummed, before addressing the boy again. "Can you cut some lavender please? A branch should be enough." She asked, as he nodded again, eyes barely leaving your figure. Was that his fault? What did he do wrong? "Jungkook." Miss Jung said to knock him back to reality, as he nodded, walking towards the several flowers as he took out the gardening scissors from his apron, cutting two small branches instead of one for good measure.

When he walked back outside the backdoor, you'd already laid on your side, Miss Jung carefully running her hand over your back as you seemed to still have issues breathing properly, sobs still present as you choked on air. He wordlessly gave his boss what she'd asked for, as he watched her rub the flowers between her hands, the scent filling your nose slowly. It helped after a moment, slowly calming your senses back down, exchanging your now returning sense of hearing and vision with a raging headache. "I'm so sorry I-" He began, but miss Jung sent him a look, shaking her head. She'd just managed to bring you back, she didn't need to throw you back into the circle again.

"Jungkook, can you go help the costumers please?" She asked as she heard the bell, and he hesitantly nodded, before returning.

Well, this ended well.

The next day, Yoongi had you by his side as he stepped inside the flower shop. "Hel- Ah! You!" Jungkook exclaimed, making you shrink in on yourself, readying yourself for whatever he had to say. Yoongi however, voice raspy from his cold, cut him off.

"Yah you idiot, can you ever just do what you're told?" He exclaimed, as Jungkook scratched the back of his neck, fluffy hair falling a bit to the side from the movement. "You got my shit?" He asked, and you gently pulled at his sleeve, a sign that he should at least stop cursing. "Sorry." He mumbled down to you as Jungkook watched the silent exchange with interest. Yoongi coughed, snapping the younger boy back to his senses as he walked to the back, coming back with two boxes. "Thanks." Yoongi simply answered, holding both boxes even though he could see the question in your eyes. You both got ready to leave, as Jungkook stopped you.

"Wait!" He said, rummaging around underneath the counter before he pulled out a tiny envelope, wrapped with a purple ribbon, holding it out to you. "As uhm.. a sorry. For yesterday. I didn't know." He offered, and you took it, nodding. So now he knew. Great. He simply waved, as Yoongi bumped you with his elbow, signaling you to go.

In the car, the older boy suddenly sniffed. "Did he pack the wrong flowers or why does it smell so much like lavender?" He asked, and you shrugged, before remembering the gift. Opening the ribbon, you found a small sheer bag, dried seeds of lavender inside, as well as a note.

'Miss Jung said, writing is easier. So if I didn't screw up yesterday, text me? :) '

"That fucker!" Yoongi laughed before coughing again, making you smile a bit. What exactly was that supposed to mean?

It meant exactly what he said. He genuinely started to reach out to you after you'd texted him your number, sending you random pictures of bouquets he did during the day, of scenery he encountered on his way to or off work, memes, or simply asking you how your day was. He slowly found out more and more about you, never really asking why you didn't speak- because the more he began to unravel your personality, the less he cared about that. He found out that you liked sports, you played in a soccer team, and worked as an online tech support from home. He thought of it as absolutely the coolest thing ever, even asking to see a game of yours if you'd let him.

Which had led to this moment.

Jungkook was sitting down, several girls side-eyeing him as they wondered why he was there. His dark attire and several piercings, as well as the ink painting his arm that he'd exposed due to the heat as he'd rolled up the sleeves of his sweater completely covering up the fact that he actually worked with delicate things such as tiny flowers, able to make the best flower crowns of all time. He denied their request to sit with them, texting you instead that he was there, and where he sat. He watched as you read his message before looking up, finding him as he grinned, waving. You meekly waved back, shy smile on your lips as he heard the whispers from his side. He gave them a look to shut them up, before leaning forward, eager to see you in action.

He was mesmerized as he saw you run, every step you took seemingly perfectly timed and placed. You were the shortest one out of your team, but that did not put you at a disadvantage at all it seemed; you ducked under another player trying to push you almost expertly, making him jump up and push his fist into the air in victory as you scored.

When you were done with your game, he'd already walked down the stairs, meeting you as you smiled at his figure, a bit taken aback by his choice of clothing. He always made sure to cover up his tattoos in the flowershop, Miss Jung not too fond of him scaring away costumers who had a more traditional view on things. He held up his hand before lowering it a bit for you to properly hit it in a high five, internally beaming at the fact that you'd slowly grown more comfortable with him. He carried your bag for you, shaking away his stray strands of hair that had fallen into his face from the slight wind. "Ah, here." He remembered, giving you your facemask back, remembering that you always liked to wear it so people thought you were maybe sick and just didn't talk because of that. But after months with him; you didn't need it anymore. So you simply took it from him, putting it into your pocket. His eyes widened a bit but he smiled afterwards, actually growing a bit shy.

And he almost tripped over his own feet as he felt your tiny hand grab his to hold.

"Oh Y/N! Jungkook is already changing. He said you're both going on a date?" Miss Jung winked at you, making you look down shyly, fingers pulling at the hem of your skirt a bit as you nodded. He'd asked you out a few days ago, immediately replying that you could also just stay at his or your place, and that you didn't have to go out. You'd thanked him for it, and you both decided to simply get a shit ton of junk food to take home to his place, planning on watching a short movie and maybe playing some video games after. "I'm happy. He's a good guy, but don't tell him I said that, his ego is too inflated already, that poor boy!" She hummed, as Jungkook whined from behind her.

"Yah, my ego isn't inflated at all, what are you saying?!" He said while pouting, making you chuckle a but under your breath. He smiled, walking up to you as he waved at miss Jung. "Thanks for closing the shop, we'll be on our way then!" He exclaimed, and she just nodded, smile genuine on her lips.

"So!" He said, stretching his arms above his head before he took your hand, walking across the street with you as he led you both to a fast food place close by. "I thought about The Cat Returns tonight?" He asked, and you nodded, happy with his choice. Against the stigma floating around him judged by his attire and collections of tattoos and piercings, Jungkook was actually a huge fan of Studio Ghibli and everything romantic. He was a bit cheesy, but you'd grown to appreciate it- maybe even love it. The more you both conversed and spend time together, the closer you felt yourself getting with him- without forcing yourself to. It just came natural with him, the hand holding not making you feel weird or as if people were staring, his jacket around your shoulders never feeling heavy. Being close to him was comforting, hearing his voice was soothing, being with him was.. like your personal stack of lavender, always ready to calm your nerves.

So when you were walking to his place, apartment still a bit foreign to you since you'd only visited him a handful of times, you didn't feel any pressure. You simply took off your shoes, immediately greeting his two pet rabbits in his living room, crouching down to pet them. "I feel like you only love me for my pets." He explained playfully scandalized, making you grin as you continued to run your hand over the soft fur.

"Alright!" He'd exclaimed as everything was set on the table, his arms on the back of his couch. "Will you stay with them or actually sit down with me? I'm getting lonely." He whined, and you rolled your eyes before you skipped to the couch, stumbling a bit as he chuckled, catching you as you almost fell onto his lap. "Easy there tiger, and here I thought you wanted to take things slow." He laughed, voice low as he turned on the movie, very aware of the blush coating your cheeks.

It started to cover his own soon as well however, as you slowly but surely started to cuddle up to him.

A kiss was what started it. One, then two, and the third deepened the feeling of want. You thought you'd feel pressured, hesitant, shy, or maybe even scared- but you didn't. This was Jungkook. And Jungkook was your safe place.

"Wait.." He hesitantly said, eyes almost shut in a way as if he was hurt, holding your shoulders as he looked at you. "I- I'm sorry, I don't know what came over myself there.." He chuckled, shifting a bit as he suddenly pulled on his sweater to hide his growing erection. He'd never been ashamed of it in the past, but now, it seemed out of place. It felt as if it made him look like he couldn't wait, as if he was impatient, or taking advantage of the situation. You simply took the receipt of the food, turning it around as you clicked the ballpoint pen on his table, writing.

'It's okay. I want to.'

His eyes widened as he got more serious. "You don't have to. I can totally wait." He said, a gentle smile on his lips as he watched you write another line.

'There's no one I'd rather go this far with.'

His heart began to beat heavier, if that made sense. It felt as if every beat was suddenly more meaningful, louder, more present than ever, as he watched you write.

'I'm yours.'

You gently laid the pen down, now looking at him as he smiled, kissing your lips again deeply as the thunderstorm outside raged on, lightning brightening the room for a second as he couldn't seem to stop kissing you. "Thank you." He hummed, before diving in again. "Thank you." He said again, before made you sit on his lap, straddling him as he chuckled in bliss. "I promise I'll take good care of you." He vowed as you'd closed your eyes, simply giving yourself to him as his hands held you safely. "Now, and forever." He whispered, before he stood up, strong arms underneath your bottom as he carried you out of the living room, into his dark bedroom that only occasionally lit up from the lightning outside. The rain hit the window harshly, yet he didn't seem to hear it at all as he let you fall on the mattress back first, chuckling as he almost fell on top of you, making you giggle.

The sound prominent in his ears as he swore he could've cried.

"You sound so beautiful." He hummed against your neck, his words never wiping the smile off of your face as he moved you to lay down properly, clothes slowly loosing purpose as every item slowly met the floor with a soft thud. He praised every curve, every flaw you saw in yourself as he closed his eyes in pure bliss, no need for visual confirmation to know that you were perfect to him. For the first time in forever you felt free, completely safe and guarded as he moved above you, silent gasps and sighs the only thing present as he stood up for a moment, having to search for a condom before he met you on the bed again, giggling like school kids caught doing mischief as he struggled to open the package, making you laugh at him.

He decided he loved that sound.

If someone was to ask him what he thought your voice sounded like, his first reply would genuinely be that he did not care. It wasn't mandatory in what you both had, he'd learned that over the months and months he'd spent with you. Words surely made communication a bit simpler, but he didn't need them to show you his love and adoration for you. It proved his worth way better than words ever could.

Wrapping the safety over his length he kissed you again, seemingly hooked on the simple gesture as he held himself with one hand, the other one guiding him into you, slowly, as to not make it hurt.

He'd never hurt you.

He didn't rush, there was no need to. This wasn't about reaching a goal, a high, or any end of some sorts. He simply relished in being close to you, in the huge amount of trust you gave him willingly, naturally. He felt honored, as cheesy as it sounded, he felt as if there was no bigger achievement in his life than knowing that you gave yourself into his arms simply because you cherished him just as much as he did you. He held you tightly against him as he slowly moved, pace slow and almost lazy as you slightly squirmed and reached around his shoulders, holding him close as well, both of you existing, nothing more.

Maybe it was the fact that it was you, maybe it was the high of his own happiness in knowing that he held your heart, but he soon felt himself grow sensitive, hand reaching between your bodies to roll your pear between his inked fingers, making you mewl underneath him.

He decided he loved that sound as well.

Your back arched as you came undone underneath him, clenching center helping his own release to happen shortly after. He gasped out, catching his breath as he rested his forehead against yours, suddenly laughing as if he was drunk. And he kind of was; drunk on the realization that this had indeed happened, that he actually was here, holding you, having you all for himself. He slipped out of you after a moment, pulling the condom off of himself as he tied it and threw it into the bin close to his bed, before slipping underneath his blankets, holding you close, sighing in gentle comfort as no words were spoken. Until you moved a bit, lips close to his ear, as you whispered.

"I love you."

And he decided, he loved that sound most of them all.

#bts imagine #bts fanfic #bts fic #bts smut #jungkook imagine #bts #bts jungkook #jeon jungkook #jungkook #bts reactions

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hockeylvr59 · 3 years

Text

What Ifs, Part 3 || Jeff Skinner

Requested: [ ] yes [x] no

Authors Note: I’ve been trying to write this part for at least six months so it feels good to finally get it finished. Hope you’re ready for some fluffy Christmas content in April, and a boatload of sexual tension and some idiocy. Set Fri/Sat Dec. 13th/14th. See next post & 010 tag for Jeff’s apartment inspiration and the Christmas tree inspiration.

For a quick recap: You met Jeff at a spillway in northern PA and met up with him at a beach in Erie a few days later. After that daily conversation ensued and he visited you to go to a college football game before you surprised him at a Pens/Sabres game he didn’t think you were coming to. He kissed you postgame and murmured that he would very much like to fuck you after you teased him as he headed to the team bus.

Warnings: sexual tension || Word Count: 5,472

~~~~~~

Light snowflakes were falling, landing on your car’s windshield and then quickly melting. Christmas music played softly over the radio, while you followed your phone’s navigation through the streets of Buffalo, New York. There was just something about Christmastime that caused little bubbles of joy and excitement to course through your entire body. Those bubbles grew two sizes larger when you thought about the week ahead.

It had been a month and a half since you’d seen Jeff in the bowels of PPG Paints Arena, had felt his arms wrapped around you, felt the press of his lips against yours. Since then, you hadn’t been able to get those brief moments out of your head. Though you talked with Jeff basically every day, and your conversations had become more intimate, you hadn’t talked about the fact that he’d kissed you and you certainly hadn’t talked about his declaration that he would indeed like to fuck you. Finally though, after a month and a half, you were less than 12 hours away from seeing him face-to-face once more.

Pulling into his apartment’s parking garage, you gathered the trash you’d accumulated during the six-hour drive before climbing out of the car, stretching out your body. You’d finished your last final this morning and per Jeff’s request had immediately packed up before hitting the road. You’d be asleep when he got in from tonight’s road game, but when you woke he’d be there and that was more than enough motivation to not delay your trip until tomorrow.

Throwing your trash into your purse to take inside, you gathered the rest of your bags and locked your car. Stepping into the apartment complex’s lobby, you stopped at the doorman/security officer’s desk. Two minutes later, you had a key in hand along with a note and were directed to press the button for the fifteenth floor in the elevator. Stepping off the elevator, you searched for the right apartment, stopping in front of it with a sigh. Setting your bag down, you fumbled with the key for a moment but as soon as the door swung open you couldn’t help but smile. Though it was clearly a bachelor’s apartment, the atmosphere was immediately calming, something you very much needed after a long day.

Setting your bags down, you slipped your shoes off and made your way into the kitchen where you leaned yourself against the counter to read Jeff’s note. His scratchy script urged you to make yourself at home, rambled about how excited he was to see you, insisted that you use the money he’d left on the counter to order dinner, and left channel information for the television so that you could watch the game. Just above the scrawled Jeff, his final sentence brought a warm flush to your cheeks.

The guest bedroom is all yours if you want...but I’d love nothing more than to come home to you in my bed.

You’d shared a bed before, but that was prior to the not so innocent encounter you’d had in Pittsburgh. Still, something pushed you to carry your things down the hall, past what you assumed was the guest room and into what was clearly the master suite. Leaving them on the bed to deal with later, you returned to the main living space of the apartment, taking a few minutes just to wander around. Jeff had pictures of his family on shelves by the tv which was hung on the wall above a gas fireplace. Looking out the window, you could see the arena just a few blocks away and couldn’t help but laugh knowing Jeff hated long commutes. Turning back to the apartment’s interior, you noted that his large sofa looked warm and comfortable, and he certainly had a chef’s kitchen even if he was no chef. As promised, there were a pair of twenty-dollar bills tucked under a fruit bowl on the island and you decided maybe it was time for dinner since it was nearly seven o’clock.

After searching for local restaurants you decided that game food sounded good and so you placed an order for chicken strips, mozzarella sticks, pretzel sticks, and deep-fried cheesecake for dessert. Since Jeff had threatened you not to even think about paying for the food yourself you complied and noted that you were paying with cash. With food on its way, you moved to try and figure out Jeff’s tv, settling it onto the channel for the game, pregame programming already playing.

It wasn’t long before Jeff’s face came across the screen and immediately your heart fluttered. It was silly because you watched Jeff’s games all the time (at least when they didn’t conflict with the Penguins), but for some reason watching it while sitting in Jeff’s apartment felt different. Just before puck drop, you got the alert that your food was downstairs so after slipping on some shoes, you grabbed the cash and key and made your way down to get it.

With dinner spread out across the coffee table, you got yourself a glass of water and settled in on Jeff’s couch. About midway through the first period, he snuck the puck through the goalie’s legs and into the back of the net causing you to let out a cheer. Just before the end of the second, he buried another puck past the goalie to give the Sabres a two-goal lead. Watching Jeff play so well made a content smile settle onto your face as you cleaned up your leftovers and trash before snuggling under the blanket that was tossed over the back of the couch. With your eyes occasionally fluttering shut, you missed what preceded the tussle Jeff was currently in with a player on the opposing team. Immediately anxiety filled your body, but soon you watched as Jeff was led to the penalty box appearing no worse for wear as he continued to chatter away.

By the time the game ended, you had already started to fall asleep on the couch, so you decided it was time to head to bed, tidying up before locking the front door and retreating to Jeff’s bedroom. There you changed into pajamas before setting your suitcase on a chair in the corner. Brushing your teeth and washing your face was all you needed to do in the bathroom and after plugging your phone in, you flipped off the lights and tugged the covers back climbing into bed. Soon, with your body sinking into the comfortable mattress, you were out like a light.

___

“Shh, it’s just me…go back to sleep.” You heard whispered as you stirred. You had no idea what time it was, but as the bed shifted beside you, part of you realized that Jeff had arrived home. Unconsciously, you shifted toward him and a warm set of arms draped around your waist as you settled your head against his shoulder and dozed right back off.

When you actually awoke, the room was filled with the faintest morning light. It was only then that you processed the fact that your entire body was tangled with Jeff’s, pressed tightly against him. Your head was still on his shoulder, your bodies touching from your chests to your hips, and your legs were entwined with his. Your mind raced to figure out how to best extract yourself when you felt Jeff’s chest vibrate under you.

“Morning.” He murmured, his voice groggy. Lifting your head, you glanced up to see that his eyes were still filled with sleep and he had a sleepy smile on his face as he gazed right back down at you.

“Morning…” You whispered back, shifting the hand that had been curled against Jeff’s chest to run through your hair.

“Sorry if I woke you coming in last night…” Jeff said, yawning softly.

“I don’t think you did…” You whispered. “I don’t actually remember you climbing into bed.”

“Then it was just your body that noticed.” Jeff teased. “Because you shifted to cuddle me immediately.” A warmth crept over your cheeks but Jeff’s smile only grew, still lazy and soft due to the early morning hour. “Was kinda nice,” Jeff explained with a small shrug. “Told you I wasn’t going to complain if you chose my bed.” He continued, his lips dropping to press gently against your forehead.

After stretching slightly, you finally dropped your arm back to Jeff’s torso, your fingers grazing against his abdomen. A low groan slipped from his lips and he moved his hand to lace his fingers with yours.

“As much as I wanna stay here…” He mumbled. “Want you to keep touching me.” He added under his breath. “We should probably get up before I have an even bigger problem.” This time when your eyes met his, they were a shade darker than just a minute ago and your saliva caught in your throat at what he was implying.

“Mmmm...yeah…” You agreed, working to extract your body from his. “I um...I’m gonna use the guest bathroom real quick...do you have stuff for breakfast in your fridge?” Jeff’s expression was unreadable as he watched you climb from bed, making your way towards the hallway door.

“I’m sure we can find something.”

___

By the time Jeff made his way out into the kitchen, you had managed to find a package of pancake mix and some bacon and eggs in his fridge and were hard at work making breakfast. Without saying a word, Jeff moved to start some coffee before taking over the skillet with the eggs from your hands.

“Let me help.” He chided. With the two of you working side by side, it didn’t take long to have breakfast made and once it had been served onto plates, Jeff paused, pulling you into his arms. “I haven’t had a proper hug yet.” He explained, almost whiny about it. Settling your arms around his waist, you returned his hug, enjoying the feeling of his arms around you. “So glad you’re here.” Jeff declared, kissing your head once more before pulling away.

Settled at his kitchen island you ate breakfast in comfortable silence. When you were finished, Jeff took your dishes and loaded them into the dishwasher. As he did so your eyes raked over his body, dressed only in sweats and a t-shirt. He was so attractive that you had to force yourself to look away before he caught you staring.

“So what’s the plan for today?” You murmured, not sure what exactly he had in mind since you’d let him plan pretty much everything. “Or I guess I should ask about today and the rest of this week?” You added, realizing that beyond the fact that he had one home and one away game, you had no idea what his schedule was like.

Jeff turned to lean against the counter across from you as he responded, his smile bright and eyes twinkling.

“I thought maybe today you could help me decorate?” He suggested. “We have the day off so I’m all yours. Then tomorrow we just have practice so I was thinking you could play tourist for a bit and then we could go out for dinner, maybe introduce you to Jack or some of the other guys.” After laying out his thoughts for weekend plans, Jeff paused for a moment to let you respond, and when you simply nodded he continued. “Monday we play at home, I already have your game ticket. Tuesday is a quick up and back to Toronto, we’re literally flying up in the morning and back after the game. I think a few of the guy’s girls are going if you have your passport on you and would be interested, but no pressure there if you want to stay here and veg for a day.” Warmth flooded through you at Jeff’s acknowledgement that this trip could be a lot and that if you needed some quiet time during it that was more than okay. At the same time though you couldn’t help but feel slightly overwhelmed at fact that he wanted you to meet his teammates and their significant others.

Jeff pulled his lower lip between his teeth and his fingers rubbed at his neck before he spoke once more. “And then uh...Wednesday we have our team Christmas stuff, an official organization family skate in the morning and then Jack is hosting just the team and dates to his place for the evening…”

“Oh uh…” You breathed, having no idea that all of that was going on while you’d be here. Sensing that your brain was spinning away from you, Jeff rounded the island.

“But uh...we can talk about that later. I don’t have to go if you don’t want to. Let’s just see how things play out okay?” He offered and when his fingers laced with yours you found yourself nodding. “Good…” Jeff breathed. “I just want you to enjoy being here.” His concern, the way his eyes spilled over you, it all made you want to shiver in the best way.

“So...decorating?” You mused, bringing your mind back to focus on the day ahead instead of dwelling on everything else and the weight all of it held.

“Yep...go get dressed.” Jeff prodded, lifting you off of the stool with ease and placing you on your feet. His show of strength sent a spark through you and you nodded, retreating back to the bedroom to dig through your bag for clothes. Fifteen minutes later, you had pulled on a pair of jeans, a snuggly sweater, warm socks, and had done a really light coat of makeup before sliding into your tennis shoes and grabbing your coat.

“Ready?” Jeff inquired from his spot on the couch in the living room.

“Yep.” You replied, taking in Jeff’s similar outfit and the way it clung to his form. Sliding your phone into your pocket and grabbing your wallet, you followed him down to the garage, sliding into the passenger seat of his SUV with just a little help. Once he had pulled the car out onto the downtown Buffalo streets, his hand fell to rest over yours and you looked over at him, biting your lip at how natural the warmth of his palm felt.

With Christmas music playing over his car’s speakers, the drive was quiet and almost a bit stifling. Then Jeff murmured once more that he was really glad you were here and the way he glanced over at you told you that he meant that with everything in him.

“I’m glad I’m here too.” You replied, heart fluttering a bit no matter how much you tried to control it. Jeff drove out of the city and into the surrounding suburbs before pulling into the parking lot of a Walmart. When he parked, you climbed out, dropping down onto the pavement before meeting him at the rear of the vehicle.

“And here I thought you were taking me somewhere more exciting than a Walmart.” You joked softly, bumping your shoulder into his arm. Jeff’s cheeks turned a little pink as he walked beside you into the store.

“I figured we’d get the ornaments and garland and everything first and then head to the tree farm to pick the tree.” He explained rubbing the back of his neck. “I don’t really have any decorations here.” He mumbled under his breath causing you to look up at him curiously. “I’m fairly close to home, usually traveling, and haven’t really had a reason to decorate before.” He shrugged. You nodded, letting him grab a cart as you followed him into the store. In the back of your mind you couldn’t help but focus on his words though. Neither of the first two points had changed all that much so was the driving factor the third...and if so was that reason you? Though you wondered, you didn’t ask, instead just pushing it to the back of your mind once more.

Being that it was already mid-December, the Christmas section of the store was fairly well decimated and you watched Jeff’s eyes go wide as if he didn’t expect that. Giggling to yourself, you moved over to the rack of tree lights which was mostly empty but still had a few boxes of both white and colored left.

“What color lights do you prefer?” You asked him softly knowing that was as good a place as any to start. Jeff looked at you like he honestly had no idea so you grabbed the remaining few boxes of white lights, tossing them into the cart he was pushing.

“I didn’t expect everything to be gone.” He whispered softly as he pushed the cart down the empty aisles. There was one container of white glass ornaments tucked onto the back of a shelf but otherwise there really wasn’t much of anything.

“Jeff it’s mid-December.” You murmured back leaning against the cart. Sensing his distress you rested your hand over his. “Is there a Michael’s nearby?” You asked, pulling out your phone to check when he didn’t seem to know the answer. Finding one about fifteen minutes down the road, you grabbed the container of white balls since they’d go with anything, a box of ornament hooks, and you then urged Jeff to head to check out with your meager findings.

Back at the car, you plugged the address into his GPS and squeezed his hand assuring him that Michael’s would have plenty of decorations left for him to choose from. It didn’t take long to drive to the craft store and when you led Jeff inside this time you couldn’t help but laugh at the expression on his face at seeing aisles upon aisles of Christmas and other decorations. Starting in the aisle full of ornaments, you asked him what he liked and what kind of aesthetic he wanted for his tree.

For a moment he just looked back and forth like this was too many options before finally pointing to some wooden carved ornaments and how those looked kind of cool. Finally getting somewhere, you smiled and pulled a few of each design off the hooks setting them into the cart. After suggesting various colors of ornaments which received faces with varying degrees of dislike, you finally picked up a container of dark green balls and a pondering face crossed Jeff’s face.

“Forest green with the white balls from Walmart and the wood?” You reminded him trying to get him to picture how it would all look together.

“Do you think it would look good?” He asked and when you nodded he offered his hand out for the container to put it into the cart. Spotting a similar container that was just a little smaller with silver balls, you grabbed those as well putting them into the cart and shrugging at his questioning glance.

“You need at least a little bit of sparkle. So just a little metallic.” You insisted. Deciding that should be sufficient ornament wise, you moved down the aisles to find something that would serve as a nice garland and fit with the aesthetic Jeff seemed to like. A few aisles over you found strings of wooden balls and you showed Jeff before adding them to the cart. Then you disappeared into the depths of the store before coming back with wide-width forest green velvet ribbon which would give the decorations just a little bit more depth.

Jeff just watched you maneuver through the store before asking if you had everything you needed. For a moment you nodded but as you made your way to the check out, you spotted pine cones and added a container of those as well knowing that would be the perfect finishing touch.

“Oh…we need a tree topper too.” You said, stopping out of nowhere right in front of the cart before tugging him off in the direction of the toppers before picking out a simple but pretty silver star to go on top.

“Now are we done?” Jeff asked, though his expression was one of amusement not annoyance. Pausing for a moment to look over what was in the cart, you then nodded finally letting him go check out with all of your goodies. It was going to be a pretty tree, well once you actually picked out a tree.

As Jeff unloaded the cart, you noticed that he had picked up a few small wreaths. One was just plain and you weren’t sure what he had in mind for that but the other was simple but pretty and perfect for a door and the command hook he unloaded alongside of it suggested that he’d thought the same thing. There was also a tree stand which was probably going to be helpful, and a white faux fur tree skirt.

It didn’t take long for Jeff to pay for all of the decorations before grabbing the bags and guiding you back out into the cold weather to the car. Shivering slightly from the wind, you tugged your coat tighter around you as you climbed into the passenger seat again, reaching for the seatbelt.

Within just a few minutes of Jeff starting the car though, you were warm from head to toe and you realised he’d turned the seat warmer on for you. While you were still in a fairly commercial neighborhood, Jeff pulled into a Starbucks drive-thru and ordered warm beverages for the next part of your day. From there he drove even further away from the city and you watched the northern New York countryside pass by your window unsure of whether the warmth you were feeling was solely emanating from the seat and beverage or from the way Jeff made you feel.

As you drove farther into the countryside, a light snow covered the ground and trees making everything look that little bit prettier. Seeing the tree farm up ahead you couldn’t help but bounce a little in your seat because this was something you’d never done before. Your family has always had an artificial tree so you’ve never picked out a real one before.

Following Jeff because he clearly knew what he was doing in this regard, you moved through the rows of trees behind him, eyes wide at just how many there were.

“Have you seen any you’ve liked?” Jeff asked, popping up behind you somehow after a few minutes.” Jumping a little you smacked his arm gently for scaring you.

“I don’t know what I’m supposed to be looking for…” You murmured. “It’s your tree.” You reminded, shrugging your shoulders after sticking your hands back in your pockets because it was cold. Jeff’s chuckle filled your ears and he reached to pull one of your hands out of your pocket, tucking it into his own as he led you down the row of trees pointing out a couple that he liked. Reading his body language, you urged him that the one he really liked but wouldn’t say so was the one and after that he handed you the keys, kissing your temple and telling you to go warm up while he got the tree paid for, cut down, and loaded up.

From the car you watched as, with the help of the lot’s employee, Jeff loaded the tree up onto the top of the SUV and got it tied down. Soon after that you were off to head back into the city Jeff asking what you wanted for lunch since it was already that time of day.

“I can just make something when we get back.” You assured him, not minding cooking for the two of you. Jeff murmured back that he didn’t invite you here to cook for him all week and you sighed softly replying that you didn’t come up expecting to not do anything all week either and that you could handle a few meals. A moment later he nodded, deciding that this wasn’t something worth going back and forth over and he turned his attention back to the road as the city loomed in front of you once more.

Having reached the garage of his building once more, you moved to grab as many shopping bags as you could so that you could get them inside and ready to decorate the tree which you weren’t quite sure how Jeff was going to get inside and up to the fifteen floor as you had a feeling it was too tall for the elevator.

You realized Jeff had come to this same conclusion moments after you did when he cursed under his breath.

“Let me get all the breakable decorations upstairs and then I can come help you with the tree?” You suggested. Jeff seemed to agree but when you came back down, he was carrying the tree with the help of the building’s doorman, brushing off your help and just asking you to go wait on his floor to open the stairway door.

Shaking your head to yourself, you took the elevator back up not envying the poor doorman helping Jeff to carry a tree up fifteen flights of stairs. At the top, you waited for them, holding the door up when they approached and then moving to hold the apartment door open as well before moving out of the way as they leaned the tree against a wall. While Jeff talked to him, you retreated into the kitchen to try and figure out what to make for lunch, deciding to make up a quick stir fry because that wouldn’t take long after defrosting some chicken in the microwave.

You were grabbing some things from his freezer and searching for another pan when Jeff appeared behind you making you jump again.

“You gotta stop that.” You chastised, looking over your shoulder at him. “And I hope you are going to do something nice for your poor doorman.” You added teasing, nodding when Jeff assured you that he was getting him game tickets and a signed jersey. When he asked if he could help you shook your head telling him that he should go figure out where he wanted to put the tree and get it set up so that you could start decorating after lunch.

“Alright, just holler if you need something.” He agreed before moving back around the island to the living room leaving you to navigate his kitchen to make up a quick lunch. By the time you had all your ingredients ready, the chicken was defrosted and you put it into the pan with just a little bit of water to start cooking, adding in the vegetables shortly after that. When everything was looking good and ready, you added in the stirfry sauce and added the rice to the small pot of water you had brought to a boil.

Within 20 minutes you were serving lunch onto plates and calling Jeff to come eat, laughing at how he was struggling with the tree. Moving to lend him an extra set of hands quickly, you managed to help him get the tree into the base and secured so that it would stand on its own. Repeating that food is ready, you smile at how flushed his cheeks are before moving back into the kitchen teasing that now you understand why he’s never decorated before.

Getting ice from the icemaker you didn’t hear him say that he never had anyone worth decorating for, though those words would have brought tears to your eyes if you had.

___

After lunch you let Jeff finish up the dishes while you worked on pulling all the decorations out of their bags. With everything laid out, you turned some Christmas music on from your phone to set the mood again.

When Jeff came in he turned on his gas fireplace and taking a strand of lights you’d already plugged in and checked from you, he started to wrap the lights amongst the branches working his way from the bottom of the tree up. It was almost seamless, the rhythm you settled into with you checking the lights and unwinding them before Jeff took them to continue wrapping around the tree until it was fully lit once plugged in.

“It already looks pretty.” You grinned signaling to him that he’d done good work with the lights.

Jeff just smiled that bright smile back and you reached to open one of the containers of ornaments while also grabbing the box of hooks. Again, the two of you took turns putting hooks on the ornaments and handing them to each other, making sure that each color and type was dispersed evenly around the tree. As you hung one of the wooden ornaments toward the middle of the tree you felt Jeff press up behind you, hanging a silver ball above your head. The heat of his body made you shiver and as he pulled away his hand slid along your waist as he steadied himself. You didn’t say anything for a moment before asking him to hand you one of the green balls.

Jeff pressed against you from behind twice more while tucking pinecones up into the branches of the tree and he slid against you while passing to grab the ribbon to drape around it. Each time he did so, a jolt sparked through your body, but that little voice in the back of your mind insisted that he didn’t mean it like that. Focusing on draping the wood garland so that it was spaced opposite the ribbon, you didn’t see Jeff’s eyes rake over your body or the way they softened as you hummed along to the Christmas carols. When everything was finally on the tree you reached to hand him the star to top it off insisting that he do it since it’s his tree.

For a moment Jeff hesitated before he reached to set the star on top before stepping back to admire the tree with you for a moment before you shifted it back toward the wall and got it plugged in, adding water into the base now that it wasn’t going to be moved anymore. The final step was adding the skirt around the base which Jeff insisted you do since you were already down there with the water. Once that was done, you smiled at how pretty it looks and hugged him from the side declaring that it looked worthy of a magazine.

Cleaning up the packaging, you watched as Jeff moved to hang the one wreath on his door while the other was placed under the fruit bowl in the center of his island with pinecones and a small green and white ornament tucked into it.

“Good work Mr. Skinner.” You grinned, washing your hands from the pine so that any pollen didn’t irritate your eyes. “Your apartment is ready for Christmas now.” His dimple was showing and his eyes flashed with something you didn’t understand as you peeked over at him suggesting that they watch a Christmas movie since they were done decorating.

Jeff agreed and you settled onto the couch handing him the remote as he pulled your feet into his lap before draping the throw blanket over your legs. After checking for your approval, he settled on Elf and you couldn’t help but smile as he quoted along to the movie.

Pausing after one movie to order dinner in and eat, you settled back in, bellies full, this time putting on the first Santa Clause. Instead of sitting like you had before, this time you sat next to him, leaning into the same space. When his thumb dropped down to brush against your inner thigh part way through the movie you felt a buzz form low in your core that didn’t stem from the bottle of wine you’d shared with dinner.

Jeff seemed to have no idea of what he was doing nor any idea the effect it was having on you. Yawning slightly, you murmured that you were going to go use his bathroom to shower if that was okay. You weren’t really paying attention to the movie anyway and you needed a moment to breathe. You’d thought that things with Jeff were different than they had been before Pittsburgh, but he hadn’t made a move or anything so maybe you were wrong. Either way there was no way you were going to stay sane with the pressure of his thumb against that part of your body.

Tonight, when Jeff slid into bed beside you, you were going to keep some distance. As much as your body wanted to be close to his, it was for the best because there was no way you were going to make it through a week here with him if you didn’t, even if he was your best friend.

#jeff skinner imagine #Jeff Skinner #buffalo sabres #buffalo sabres imagine #nhl imagine #nhl imagines #hockey imagines #hockey imagine #bsabres #010

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connordavidscamera · 3 years

Text

Living, Learning, and Filming Ch. 4 | Connor Brashier

A/n: This chapter probably has the most changes because I hated it the first time around, so yeah.

Summary: No one thought a night out would end up like this.

Warnings: mentions of drinking, there’s a creepy guy who just doesn’t want to leave the reader alone (so keep that in mind), also mentions of being roofied (very minimal, but it is there) kinda angsty

Word count: 2.2k

***

Week 4

I didn’t want to come out tonight, let me just be clear. I wanted to stay in and work on the project because Connor and I filmed a lot these past few days. But my friend, Jamie, from down the hall wasn’t having it, which is why she forced me out of the dorm and to this “Halloween” party that I never would have gone to otherwise. I don’t like parties very much. I especially don’t like frat parties, which is where I’m at now. It’s crowded and nearly three-fourths of the people here are drunk off their asses. The rest aren’t quite there yet, but I give them about thirty minutes before they’re just as drunk as everyone else.

The second we walk in, drinks are thrust into our hands; Jamie drinks hers without a second thought, I set mine down when no one’s looking. “I’m gonna see if I can find Rachel! I’ll be back!” Jamie says over the music and I nod, even though I know no one here and staying by myself in a place I'm not familiar with is not a good idea.

“Okay,” I say, but she’s already on her way to the back of the house. There’s so much going on around me and I hate it. It’s overwhelming actually, and there’s not a single place here that I can be alone - even the corners of the rooms are occupied. Mostly by couples unapologetically swallowing each other’s faces.

“You look lost,” a guy says, suddenly appearing at my side.

“Oh, um. No, I’m fine.”

“You here alone?”

“Actually, my friend just went out back. She’ll be back in a minute.”

“Well how about I keep you company until then?”

“No, really, I’m okay,” I put my hand up subtly to keep distance between us.

“You gotta loosen up, babe. Come on, let’s get you a drink,” his arm snakes around my waist and my skin crawls.

“Thank you,” I say, squirming away from his heated, overbearing touch, “But I’m good. I don’t think I’m staying long.”

“Why not? We could hang out,” he says, wrapping his arm around my shoulders now and I hate it even more. He’s so close and he reeks of alcohol - in fact, he smells like he tipped over a liquor store. “I haven’t seen you at one of these before. I’m a bad host, not knowing everyone that comes.”

“I don’t really come to these things.”

“Why not? Don’t like parties?”

“You could say that,” I mumble, once again trying to create distance between us.

“Well, you’ve never been to one of mine. There’s nothing like them.”

“I’m sure.” I nod and glance around the room, trying to find literally anyone that I could possibly know that might be my excuse to leave this awkward and uncomfortable conversation.

The guy - I still haven’t caught his name, but at this point, I don’t think he’s going to give it to me - places a cup in my hands.

“What is it?”

“Rum and coke. Try it. You’ll like it.”

Something tells me that I shouldn’t drink it. And I know I should listen to that feeling, but I don’t because he’s staring at me and I can’t afford to be rude right now. So I take a sip. And one sip turns into another and another until I’ve finished the cup and he’s pouring me another one.

---

There was something in it. I know there was, because I may not drink a lot, but I do know that I shouldn’t be this tipsy after only a drink and a half, even if he put two shots in each one. I know my limits, and what I drank wasn’t it. Luckily though, he didn’t put enough of whatever he put in my drink to do much - I’m just really, very dizzy.

I’m locked in one of the bathrooms in this suddenly giant house despite the abundance of people here. I can still feel his hands on me and I’m disgusted. Blinking slowly, I press the call button on the only number I can think of right now.

“Hello?”

I close my eyes and rub my forehead. The fluorescent lights are doing me no favors.

“Y/n? Is everything okay?”

I take in a shuddery breath and grasp the sink to keep me steady. “Connor.”

“I’m here, honey. What’s wrong?” His voice is soft, but there’s something else behind it that I can’t quite place.

“Can you come get me? Something,” I stop for a second to try and gather my thoughts and he says my name, it’s soft, a plea. “Something happened, and I - I need you.” I say, my voice cracking.

“Send me your location. I’m on my way. Do you need me to stay on the phone with you?” I hear shuffling on his side of the line as I shakily type the address out for him.

“Y/n, baby, talk to me. Do you want me to stay on the phone with you? No, never mind. I’m staying.” I hear a door slamming shut and the engine turning over. “Okay, I got your location. I’ll be there in five minutes, okay? Can you hold on for me.”

“Yeah,” I croak, trying so hard to focus just on his voice and nothing else. Not the loud music that’s making its way through the entire place, not my still crawling skin, or the growing bruises on my hips from where he held me so tight when I tried to back away from him for the umpteenth time.

Connor curses on his side, “Fuck. I’m going to catch every red light, aren’t I? Y/n/n, you okay?”

“Mmm… very dizzy,” I whisper.

“Focus on me, honey. Listen to my voice. You’re okay. I’m on my way. Okay? I’m two minutes away. I’ll run the next couple lights if I have to get to you faster. I’ve got you. Where are you right now?”

I hold the side of my head and lean against the door, “Um, one of the… upstairs bathrooms.”

“Okay, can you make your way outside? Or do you need me to come inside to get you? I’m a minute away.”

I nod even though he can’t see me. “I can go,” I unlock the door and the music is much louder, and I wish I just told him to come in and get me because the thrumming bass does nothing for my already compromised equilibrium. I stumble a little down the stairs, running into a few people as I pass.

I’m just making it out the door when he catches me. “There you are. Where are you going?”

I flinch. “Just gotta get home,” I manage to say without my voice wavering too much.

He’s still holding my wrist, paying no attention to the definitely evident pain and fear in my eyes. “Yeah? Why’s that?”

God, is that the only fucking question he knows?

“Hey, hands off!” a voice says from behind me and I think if he wasn’t so close, I would have collapsed.

“Who are you?” the guy asks, letting go of my wrist.

“That’s none of your concern.”

“Seeing as it’s my party, yeah, it kind of is.”

Connor hums, softly taking me by the hips. “Come on, love. Let’s get you home.” He wraps his arm around my shoulders loosely and I almost break at the contact. “Jesus,” he says, steadying me by both my waist and one arm going to my buckling knees.

I’m barely able to pull myself back up, even with much help from Connor, but we make it back to his car with little trouble. Mostly because he’s doing most of the work, carrying at least three-fourths of my weight. He doesn’t ask if I want to go back to my dorm, which I’m grateful for because I definitely don’t want to be alone right now. He simply brings me back to his apartment and ushers me gingerly inside, keeping a safe distance, but not letting go of my shaking hand. We don’t talk; I’m not ready to. He doesn’t pry.

After giving me what seems like gallons and gallons of water to drink - I might definitely be exaggerating. I’m pretty sure it was just a glass, but it felt like a lot. It took me like ten minutes to drink - he leads me back to his room.

“You can sleep in here. I’ll sleep on the couch,” he says after handing me some of his clothes to sleep in - his white shirt that says “sugar” all the way down the front. I’ve seen him wear it a few times and I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t fallen in love with it the first time I saw him in it. But looking back on it now, in a slightly less sober view, it might have been the boy inside it. But that’s a bridge we’ll cross at another time.

“Con?”

“Hmm?” he’s looking at me like I could break at any second, and to be fair, he’s probably not wrong.

“Stay in here.”

“You sure?” he asks tentatively.

I nod and push at my bottom lip with my tongue. “I don’t want to be alone.”

“Okay,” he says simply. “Is it - is it okay for me to hug you?” he asks tentatively. “I don’t want to make you uncomfortable.”

“No, it’s okay. You can hug me,” I agree.

So he does.

I take in his scent - I’ve only known this boy for four weeks, but I already know his scent better than I know my own; he smells like home. He’s my security; that’s why I can’t stop myself from embracing the hug, holding onto his torso so tight he probably can’t breathe, but he doesn’t complain, doesn’t pull away. “I’m here, y/n. I’m right here. You’re safe. Nothing can happen to you now. I won’t let it. I promise.”

I nod, “Thank you.”

“Shh… don’t thank me.” his lips press into my hairline and he sighs. “I’m gonna go make you some tea. Change, get comfortable, pick whichever side of the bed you want. I’ll be back in a minute.”

---

Picking a side wasn’t really all that necessary when the minute he came to lay in bed with me I curled into his side and he gladly let me stay there while he rubbed my back in soothing circles.

“Y/n?”

“Yeah?” I answer, focusing my attention on his steady heartbeat.

“Can we talk about what happened?”

I clear my throat and run my fingers over the silver palm tree that adorns his neck. “He put something in my drink… and he was just really handsy, especially when I tried pulling away…” I feel Connor stiffen beneath me. “He uh tried to-”

“Stop,” he pulls me closer and sighs audibly. “Jesus, I’m so sorry.”

“Not your fault,” I mumble into his shirt.

He finds my hand and plays with my fingers before lacing our hands and pressing a soft kiss to my knuckles. “I’m still sorry.”

We’re quiet for a while, so long in fact, that I think he’s fallen asleep. “Connor?”

“Hmm?” he hums in response.

“Last week, you said you wanted to kiss me but that the timing wasn’t right.”

I feel his chest rise and fall as he takes in a breath, “I remember.”

I sit up just a little, enough to see his face, but I quickly avert my gaze back to the necklace that I don’t think I’ve ever seen him without. “When would be the right time?”

He shifts and we’re both on our sides, staring closely at one another. “I don’t know.”

“Could now be?”

He doesn’t answer immediately. “I don’t know. I mean, with what just happened and… you’re not completely sober. I don’t want you to regret -”

“I want you to kiss me,” I interrupt him.

“Y/n,” he shakes his head.

“Please. I know you don’t owe me anything else tonight or for the rest of your life, I just… I need to know what you taste like.” Well that’s embarrassing. “I mean, I don’t mean it like that. I - fuck. What I mean to say is-”

I don’t have time to retract what I’ve said because his fingers are on my jaw and he’s hovering over me, lips only centimeters from mine. “I know what you mean. You sure you want me to?”

“Yes,” I whimper, my hand reaching for the tufts of hair on the back of his neck. “Please.”

It doesn’t take much after that. His lips press mine once, softly, quickly - so quickly, I almost think I’ve imagined it. But then he does it again, longer this time. I can finally get my body to catch up with my brain and I pull him in, on top of me, and crash our lips together. He hums and kisses me a little harder, his tongue rubbing against my bottom lip. I gladly let him roam. It’s euphoric and I never want to stop kissing him. I want to stay here, beneath him, kissing him for as long as he’ll have me. Because this is enough, being connected like this, intimately, but not to the point of no return. Or at least that’s what my brain thinks. My hands, however, have a mind of their own as they go to rid him of his soft t-shirt.

***

I hope you enjoyed! Please like, reblog, and leave feedback!!

Permanent tag: @soyalimoncada-blog @magcon7280 @homeofpoetry @fallinallincurls @goldenflickerx @myyohmyuohmyy @harry-hollands @enchantingbrowneyedgirl @baroness-alison @lostinmendess @linanilssonfurberg @luvluvxx @mariamuses @shawnieeboyy @divinginfearlessly @mendesficsxbombay @shawnsthighs @zaahidahhh @adelaidestreets @shawnandconnor @shawnsblue @turtoix @honestlyimstilllivinginthe90s @gangofhoes @verlaneswiftie13

#connor brashier #connor brashier x reader #connor brashier x y/n #connor brashier imagines #connor brashier imagine #connor brashier fanfiction #connor brashier blurb #living learning and filming

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timotey · 4 years

Text

Ficlet: Flashback

Dark Blue Kiss. PeteKao. Post finale.

This memory, it came out of nowhere, overwhelming and terrible, a thing he thought long settled and forgotten, dealt with, rearing its ugly head.

🧡.💙.🤎

They celebrate the end of their internship - with booze this time, not just with water. Well, everyone but Pete who, very unwisely, promised to drive them all home. Before, he would’ve still drunk at least a beer or two but these days, he’s much more responsible. Darn it.

Kao’s entirely too amused by Pete’s grumbling but out of solidarity he drinks very little too. By the end of the evening, he’s just a little tipsy whereas June, Sandee and Thada seem sloshed to high heaven.

When they stumble out of the bar, boisterous and giggling, Pete and Kao do their best to lead and prop up the others at the same time but it’s like herding cats: every one of their friends seems to want to go in a different direction. Still, it’s all in good fun. The perfect ending to an enjoyable evening.

But then...

It happens from one moment to the next, really. June is yelling something, staggering and flailing, and then he throws his arms around Kao from behind and mumbles drunkenly, “I really like you, Kao!” in response to Kao’s quick reaction that stopped him from face planting just a second ago and…

The world seems to freeze for Kao.

The smell of beer on June’s breath... His arms around Kao, holding on tight, restraining him...

“I really like you, Kao!”

All of a sudden, Kao’s somewhere else, in a dimly lit room with Non holding on tight, refusing to let go, touching Kao, touching him when Kao doesn’t want to be touched, not by him and not like that, stop, squeezing his hands, his arms, let go, Non, let go, pulling at Kao, dragging him back towards the rumpled bed, and Kao is surprised and then annoyed and then panicking, panicking so hard, let go, let go, let go…

“Let go,” Kao begs.

His words are barely a whisper, though, because he can’t draw in breath, his lungs seem frozen, his whole body seems frozen, and there’s white noise in his ears because his heart is hammering so hard against his rib cage that it hurts, and his eyes are open wide, staring unblinking yet not seeing his friends or the cheerfully lit up bar, all they see is Non’s dimly lit bedroom and he can’t… he can’t…

Please!

There’s a commotion and voices reach him as if from very far away.

“Kao?”

“Kao? You okay?”

“Fuck. June, let go!”

“What?”

“Let him go, June, now!”

The arms around him disappear, the pressure is gone and Kao’s lungs expand in a gasp that leaves him reeling. He feels dizzy and his heart is still galloping to make up for the lack of oxygen and everything around him is just a dark blur, he can’t really make out any details. And then his knees buckle…

Strong hands grip his shoulders and guide him down, stop him from hitting the pavement hard. His legs fold beneath him and he sinks to his knees with a soft thud. He feels so weak that his skin tingles and so he leans forward, against the person holding him up, he rests his forehead against that person’s shoulder and just breathes.

A familiar scent. So familiar and soothing. Home.

Pete.

A hand on the back of his head, gently stroking. A comforting voice, whispering to him, asking if he’s alright, assuring him that he is alright, that everything is okay, shh…

“Beer,” Kao mumbles into Pete’s chest, not moving away, not opening his eyes, letting Pete carry his weight.

The hand on his head stills. “What?” A gentle prompt.

“It’s what… it’s what Non smelled like… that night,” Kao croaks out. “He smelled like beer and he wouldn’t let go.”

A hush settles over their little group. There are people laughing inside the bar and cars whoosh by not far away but here, everything is quiet. Kao knows that his friends are probably looking at each other, looking at him and not knowing what to do or what to say but right now, all he can do is breathe because he feels a little faint and nauseated and clammy.

Awful. It’s awful. He feels awful. This memory, it came out of nowhere, overwhelming and terrible, a thing he thought long settled and forgotten, dealt with, rearing its ugly head. He swallows hard and then again because his throat burns with bile. And his eyes sting.

After a moment, Pete moves away a little and takes Kao’s face in his hands, gently lifting it so that he can look Kao in the eyes. Kao opens them, blinking slowly, and his vision clears. Pete’s face is just inches away and he looks so worried and drawn.

“You with me, love?” Pete asks Kao softly, stroking his cheekbones with his thumbs.

Kao wonders just how dazed he must look if Pete asked him such a question and in this tone of voice. He nods slightly. “Yeah.” Then he adds, “Sorry.”

But Pete shakes his head. “There’s nothing to be sorry about.”

“How about we take a cab, Pete?” Sandee offers. For someone who was barely able to walk straight just a moment before, she sounds entirely too sober all of a sudden. Sober and somber. “You take care of him, okay?”

“Yeah,” Thada joins in. “Don’t worry about us, we’ll get by just fine.”

Pete looks up at them and nods gratefully.

“I’m sorry,” June adds, his voice full of contrition. “I didn’t mean to--”

“It’s not your fault, don’t worry about it,” Pete cuts him off.

Kao’s glad that Pete’s there, that he’s saying these things because he wants to say exactly that to their friends too, that it’s not their fault. But he can’t seem to move. He feels like… he feels like he might shatter if he moves the wrong way.

He doesn’t understand what’s happening and it scares him. He was just fine a moment ago, so what…? Why…? His chest still aches and his heart still keeps hammering, skipping beats now and then.

Their friends say their goodbyes reluctantly and leave Pete and Kao kneeling on the warm pavement of the bar’s half-empty parking lot, giving them their privacy. Silence settles over them and Pete lets Kao lean against him again, Kao’s head against Pete’s shoulder, and he rests one hand on the back of Kao’s neck, running his thumb through the short hair on Kao’s nape.

Pete’s patience seems infinite in this moment.

Slowly, Kao’s breathing settles and his heart slows down. He’s been kneeling there with his hands in his lap but now, he reaches out to hold onto Pete’s shirt, fisting his hands loosely into the fabric.

Then he takes a deep, shuddering breath and whispers, voice muffled by Pete’s chest a little, “When Non grabbed me, I was simply annoyed at first.” He’s not sure where he’s headed with this, why he is saying this right now when he kept quiet about what happened that night for so long, but he feels that Pete deserves an explanation.

Pete’s thumb stops for a second but then it starts moving again, running through the fine hair on Kao’s nape. It’s soothing. And it gives Kao the courage to go on.

“But then he wouldn’t let go,” Kao continues, swallowing hard. “He ‘s taller than me, sure, but I’m older and probably stronger. But he was-he was drunk and he just wouldn’t stop… touching me. And I panicked. I’ve never had anyone touch me like that before, no one but you, and I-I panicked. I realize that it wasn’t rational but I couldn’t think in that moment. All I could think of was to get away.”

Pete’s holding him gently with one hand resting on the back of Kao’s neck, the other running up and down his upper arm. It’s really soothing. “You did,” Pete says softly, whispering into Kao’s ear. “You got away. You did.”

Kao nods. But the panic, it seems nestled around his heart now. It’s been months and he hasn’t thought about that incident for a long time. He refused to let himself think about it, if he’s honest with himself. About that night and what followed. About Non’s false accusations and all the stress and all the fear that went with them. About the hurt, how deeply it ran.

“Maybe,” Pete starts carefully after another long pause, “maybe you should talk about it with someone.”

Kao straightens up to look his lover in the eyes. Pete lets his hands slide down Kao’s arms and leaves them resting on his wrists, fingers closing around them lightly, not restraining just keeping in touch.

“You mean a shrink?” Kao asks.

Pete nods cautiously. “That… flashback or whatever it was you just had, it looked kinda scary,” he admits. “It scared me. This time, we were here - I was here. But if it happened again and you were alone... “ He lets his voice trail off.

Kao stares at him. He doesn’t want to talk to a shrink because there’s nothing wrong with him - that’s his first knee-jerk reaction. But… if there were nothing wrong with him, they wouldn’t be kneeling together in a bar’s parking lot in the middle of the night now, would they?

And if he were truly honest with himself, this thing scared him as much as it scared Pete. And it must’ve scared Pete a lot if he suggested Kao talked to someone because Pete’s not usually all that open to things like that. His suggestion, presented so carefully, is telling.

Kao takes a deep breath to steady himself and then lets it out slowly, letting go of Pete’s shirt at the same time and taking Pete’s hands in his instead. “Alright,” he agrees quietly, the corners of his mouth tilting up a little. “Maybe it might not be such a bad idea.”

Pete relaxes a little, returning Kao’s smile. “Thank you.”

Kao nods.

“Let’s go home?” Pete asks and lifts Kao’s hands to his lips to kiss them.

Kao’s smile widens slightly and he nods again. “Yeah, let’s.”

#dark blue kiss #petekao #my petekao fics #my fics #mé

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novantinuum · 4 years

Text

Contact (Ch. 2/4)

Fandom: Steven Universe

Rating: T (No TW this chapter)

Words: 3.0K~

Summary: The first (and with any luck, only) time it happens, he’s almost 16.

Chapter Summary: Help arrives. Amethyst struggles to cope amidst the chaos.

So this fic is Steven and Amethyst centric, set during the 2 year time skip. It’s also kinda in conversation with An Indirect Kiss, and explores the idea of what could happen to a hybrid with a cracked gem. This chapter has no specific trigger warnings. It will be exactly 4 parts.

AO3 link and a link to the first chapter can be found in the reblogs! Support there or here (via reblogs) is very much appreciated! <3

____

Chapter 2: The Worry

A frantic phone call and a few minutes later, one of the decommissioned Roaming Eyes that’s been stationed on Earth carefully lowers through the gaps in the forest canopy. Amethyst lets out a sigh as it lands in the clearing with a solid thunk, her fiercely protective grip on Steven’s hand relaxing a little. Stars, she’s never been so relieved to see one of these clunkers in her whole life.

Those passing minutes are what really worry her, though. Transport will be quick now, but there’s still too many awful what-ifs hanging over her like an anvil to her gem. Like, what if they’ve already wasted too much of Steven’s precious time? What if he’s gonna be permanently damaged ‘coz of all this, since he’s a hybrid, so extraordinarily different from the rest of them? Or, what if there’s not enough water left in the fountain to heal him in the first place? Last she saw, its finite supply was pretty lacking. It’s why they’ve transitioned to healing the corrupted Gems at the Temple as of late, utilizing the Diamonds’ bottled essence rather than the scrap leftovers of the fountain water they anointed in person last year.

But Steven never bottled any of his. And now, with the source of his healing magic totally busted, there’s nothing they can do but visit the fountain and hope beyond all hopes there’s some of Rose’s tears still there.

Oh, if only they were closer to a warp. If they were, then Amethyst could’ve hefted him into her arms like she always used to when he was smaller, carried him there, then bam- they could be on location in an instant. No transport ship needed. Unfortunately though, the two of them hiked a good half hour before big ol’ nasty caught wind of their trail. Like it or not, the warp pad is simply too far away. And she’s not about to risk worsening his crack by jostling him as she runs on such a long trip.

So yeah, this particular Roaming Eye may be old, janky tech, but it’ll have to do.

The teen stiffens in her hold again, eyes growing bleary. “A… A-Amethyst?? I think I’m—“

The violent muscle contractions cut off his words as quickly as the slash of a whip. Knowing the drill by now she lightens her hold, allowing him just enough space to seize without hurting himself. She grimaces. It doesn’t even sound like he can catch a full breath as his body jerks and spasms against his control. The helpless, labored wheezing pouring out from him is almost physically painful to listen to, her own form glitching in sympathy for a split instant.

“Shhh,” she whispers, delicately dancing around the innate fear of the situation. “Don’t talk. Save your energy, remember? I-I... we’ve got ya’. Y’see there? They just landed!"

Blessedly, his seizures reach their end by the time the engines of the craft fully shut off. His whimpers slowly lessen, his eyelids fluttering shut in all his exhaustion.

Her fingers comb through his thick dark curls. “We’ll fix ya’ right up, buddy…”

She’s mopping the sweat off his forehead as the door slides ajar, and Pearl dashes out of the ship with Greg practically sticking to her heels. Amethyst braces herself for the inevitable chastising.

“What on Earth were you thinking,” the Pearl in her subconscious squawks, “letting him get hurt like this?!”

But the reprimanding she instinctively expects never comes.

Instead, the ivory Gem sprints to her side alongside the boy’s father, and— dropping to her knees— envelops her in what’s perhaps the tightest hug she’s ever received from her.

“Amethyst!” she cries, lithe fingers gripping at her long lavender hair. “Oh, thank goodness you’re okay! What happened?”

Clasped tight in her embrace, she allows herself a moment to catch her breath as the world ticks onwards around her. It’s but a small kindness. Admittedly, she’s still too shell-shocked about all of this to give a swift response, too distracted by the overwhelming reality of Greg’s anguished expression as he takes in the sight of his son lying prone before him, his paleness stark against the soft blue of his t-shirt.

“Steven!”

It’s hard to watch. Humans get so weirdly sensitive on the topic of injury— but then, she figures that’s because humans are so squishy and fragile, and always fixated on how short their lifespans are and how easily they can be cut short. Even if Steven’s special, even if in the end his crack will be fixed and he’ll likely be fine, (of course he’ll be fine, he has to be fine!), she supposes it’s only natural for Greg to worry. When the man collapses to his knees in front of him, he grabs Steven’s hand and babbles reassurances into his ear, words spoken too light for either Gem to pick up. Steven’s eyelids subtly twitch upon this appeal to his humanity.

Her glance flicks towards the Roaming Eye as Pearl waits for her to say something, anything.

“I…” she begins with marked hesitation. “I’ll explain everything once we’re on the ship. Gotta help Steven first, yeah?”

She nods, pulling away to stand. “Y-yes, of course. You’re right.”

Kneeling beside her, Greg’s voice quivers, ever so slightly. “You’re gonna be fine, buddy,” he whispers to the boy, his hand squeeze only barely reciprocated. “You’re gonna be just fine.”

Pearl interrupts his frantic reassurances with a nudge to his shoulder.

“We need to carry him,” she says, voice strained. It’s clear she’s only barely choking back her panic. “One mustn’t waste any time when it comes to cracked gems, after all!” Without skipping a beat, she leads the human’s quivering hands to the teen’s ankles. “Here, you can lift him by the legs like so, Amethyst, his torso, and then I’ll be at front supporting his neck and shoulders—“

Steven gives a soft whine, breath fast and shallow.

Amethyst swallows, drinking in the nuances of the scene. Steven’s jaw is clenched. Clearly, he’s holding back on expressing how much pain he’s in, bottling it up for their sake. Meanwhile, Greg— anxious single father that he is— is about one second away from breaking down entirely. She‘s almost scared what his reaction will be if Steven experiences another one of his seizing fits in his presence. And Pearl? Much as she loves her, uptight and fraying at the ends is most definitely not the sort of leader they need right now. Truth be told she’s not confident she is either, but hey, hard times call for unexpected solutions.

Gently, she stands to her feet and guides her away from Steven’s body. “Hey, Greg-o and I got this, P. No worries. Just have the ship ready for us.”

“I— are you sure?”

“Yeah, we can carry him no problem, right Greg?”

She turns to match eyes with him, every fragment of her being silently pleading for his agreement.

“Uh, I— sure,” he says, although he doesn’t sound so confident. “I think so. Let me just...” He huffs as he pushes himself off his knees, and shifts closer to his son’s head. “I’ll hold him up front, okay? I’m taller, an’ I’ve carried him before, an’—“

Amethyst’s tone softens. “Hey.” Straining to hold herself together for his sake, amidst all her doubts and fears, she moves to pat his forearm. Attempts to ground him. “Hey, you’re good. We can do this.”

She closes her eyes and inhales deeply to calm down her own unsteady form. No panic. Don’t let them see your panic. You’ve gotta be the mature one here. It’s gonna work out, Steven will be fine. You’ll all be fine.

Breathe. Just breathe.

“Pearl, start the ship for us,” she says once she’s balanced herself. Not a question, not a request, no hesitation in her tone. Not a confused, defective Quartz soldier waiting for orders, nor a naïve Gem clinging on the heels of the first living souls she ever saw, nor a loyal teammate constantly deferring to another’s judgement out of insecurity, out of the flawed belief that no one would ever take an overcooked runt like her seriously. No, no. Not today. Instead, as she rises above the shadowed, fettered memories of her past, Amethyst takes hold of the reigns of leadership as easily as grasping her whip.

Pearl offers a weak smile as she nods in confirmation, and starts to scuttle back towards the Roaming Eye’s door. “Yes, of course!”

Good, she thinks. One issue taken care of. Now, as for Steven and Greg...

The two shift in tandem around the cracked boy as they prepare to lift him. In his current state, it’s imperative that they’re careful. She clasps her hands around his ankles, feeling a twisting close to her gem as she watches him instinctively flinch at her touch.

“Shh-shh, it’s okay,” Greg whispers. “We gotcha.”

“Dad,” he croaks, the first words he’s had the strength to speak in a good while. “Duhh- D-Dad, I... Ahm- I’m suh... sss-so sorry—“

Her hard-light form nearly spikes cold with fear as he continues to mindlessly babble. Shards, now his words are becoming slurred! He’s deteriorating. They gotta make this quick.

“Steven, we’re gonna pick you up on three, capiche?” She locks eyes with his father, her friend, seeking confirmation. “Ready?”

“One,” Greg mutters, solidifying his hold under his armpits.

“Two...”

“Three!” they say at once, hefting the teen’s full weight up off the forest floor with a grunt.

He produces a sharp gasp in response. The sound makes her cringe. She knows they can’t avoid jostling him altogether if they want to transport him to the fountain, but... geeze, she really hopes they’re not hurting him any more than he already is. And she hopes he doesn’t seize up on them again while he’s off the ground. That could turn out disastrously.

Working together, they carry him across the grassy clearing and up the shallow incline of the ship’s ramp. Slow and steady, as careful as they can be... Greg’s breathing hard by the time they reach the entrance, but his grip holds strong. Meanwhile, Pearl sits at the cockpit, punching in coordinates for Rose’s fountain. Besides her, the ship is empty.

“No Garnet?” Amethyst asks as she leads them inside, finally seeing fit to bring up the obvious question.

She shakes her head in fervent stress. “She’s still away on her mission on the Niessea Belt worlds. I tried contacting her, but—“

Steven gives a painful, keening cry, his entire body shooting rigid in their hold. Her eyes snap open wide.

Shoot, shoot, shoot, shoot, shoot, not now, not now—

“Greg- Greg, hold him!” she shouts, slipping into hysterics as he begins to seize again, limbs jerking and breath coming in quick shallow gasps. She can feel the muscles of his legs spasm in staccato bursts under her hands. “Hold him, don’t drop him, you—“

Pearl jumps up from her seat upon hearing all the commotion. “What’s wrong with him??”

“I’m trying, I’m—!”

“Set him down, set him down! Quickly! We gotta get him back on the floor where it’s safe, I can’t let him get hurt again, I can’t—“

“Sh-shta...” Steven slurs, face contorting as he rides this episode out. “Puh... please, I—“

“I’m starting the ship!” the ivory Gem says, punching the last few buttons needed to close the door and launch them on their way.

The Roaming Eye shakes ever so gently as it lifts up out of the dense forest. Amethyst stumbles, legs slightly wobbling as she coordinates with Greg to deposit Steven safely on the cool metallic floor, his head resting in his father’s lap. His spasms are more intermittent now. Hopefully this means this latest round of seizing has reached its end.

For now, she can’t help but fret, swallowing with a heavy gulp as she watches Greg comb back his sweat slicked curls. Until they can fix that crack in his gem, he’s gonna get worse and worse. She knows this from experience. Simply put, being cracked long-term is a nightmare. You can’t think straight, you can’t speak straight, you lose all control of your physical form... She’d willingly poof a thousand times if it meant she could avoid janking up her gem like that again.

Which is why it absolutely shatters her to have to watch Steven suffer through this too.

She watches silently as the boy lets his eyes slide shut for now, held safe in his father’s embrace. His rest isn’t exactly restful— as evident from how his brow and nose keep scrunching inwards as he seethes from the sensation of it all— but anything is better than nothing in this state.

“So you- you said he’s cracked?” Greg asks, looking up at her with dampened eyes. His hands are shaking now. The man is clearly a hair’s breadth away from breaking down in tears. It’s genuinely a credit to his strength as a father that he’s holding it together at all.

Gently, Amethyst lifts the hem of his shirt to reveal his gemstone. The deep gouge marring the diamond at his navel says everything her words cannot. The others’ reactions are immediate, their eyes blowing wide with fear. Even Pearl, even someone who knows the power of Rose’s healing magic firsthand. Horror clutching with a vice-like grip upon her gem, she notes that the crack has expanded since she last looked.

“We were just tracking down that corrupted Gem that tripped our detectors this morning,” she explains. “But it ambushed us! I... geeze, I thought we could like, poof it no problem, but...”

“It got the jump on him instead,” Pearl says in a blunt, grim manner. She balls up her hand at her chin, expression haunted by the very thought. “Stars, I can’t even imagine how badly this hurts! It must have taken quite the hit to crack a diamond like this.”

His father rubs at the boy’s shoulder, wincing at the sight of his baseline quivering, his jaw clenched like a knife to the grindstone and his eyes twisted shut. “Is there anything we can do right now to lessen the pain for him?”

Hmm. She curls her lip, musing on this. Good ol’ Pierogi probably has human pain killers stashed away somewhere in that pearl of hers. But there’s no guarantee that such a remedy would do a single thing to help, given the nature of his injury. It’s the Gem half of him that’s hurt, not the squishy organic half. So whatever they do it’s gotta be a Gem remedy, and the only Gem remedy she can think of for an injured Gem is...

“Well,” Pearl begins cautiously, her gaze drifting between the three of them, “when Gems became cracked during the rebellion, we used to poof them until Rose could return to use her healing magic, so they wouldn’t have to deal with the trauma of glitching out so badly. But of course, Steven’s different! He’s half human. We can’t expect it’ll work in the same way!”

Although...

“Can we poof him?” she shrugs, playing devil’s advocate for a moment.

The whites of Greg’s eyes expand as he gawks at her. “W-what are you suggesting, exactly?”

“I mean, he can fuse, right?”

“Well, yes—“

“An’ same as poofing,” she cuts back in, holding up a finger for emphasis, “fusion is a sorta... shifting of our hard light forms. His organic half goes somewhere during all that, yeah? If he poofed, maybe it’d be the same.”

The man’s sunburnt face drains just about as pale as Pearl’s as he clutches onto his son all the tighter. “Uh, I don’t think now’s the right time to test a hypothesis like that. Or ever.”

“Greg’s right,” Pearl says. “There’s simply too much we can’t say with certainty about his hybrid nature.” Tears building in her eyes, she brushes her slender fingers against his cheek. “But he’s a fighter, our Steven. He’ll carry through.”

Below her, Steven lets out a soft whimper. Realization hits her with the force of a quartz’s strike that she genuinely has no way of knowing for sure how much or how little he’s aware of his surroundings right now. Her face flushes dark with shame. Held taut at her sides, she clenches her fists tight, mentally pulling away from the conversation in which clearly her stupid half-baked ideas are unwelcome and instead fixating on the quickened thrum of the hard light running in channels through every square inch of her form. A pang of anger swells up within her, all putrid and stale. What on Earth was she thinking?? He’s in agony, he’s broken, and yet she has the gall to suggest such a moronic, risky idea anyways? When his very survival hangs in the balance? Geeze. What the hell.

She’s disgusting.

She hastily stalks away from the trio to catch some fresh air, slouching against one of the windows and pressing her cheek to the glass. A small sliver of her can’t help but admire the view through the Roaming Eye’s wide windows. The ship running on autopilot, they’ve long since lifted through the clouds and into the stratosphere. It’s all white and grey swirls as far as the eye can see. The reds and pinks of sunset edging at the visible horizon greet them with warmth.

With everything else plaguing her it’s a hollow appreciation, though. No matter what thoughts she tries to distract herself with, the memory of that ill-fated fight sinks its claws into her mind more and more by the minute. Every tangible stimulus— the sights, the smells, the sounds, the pains— it all plays on repeat. It’s insufferable, obsessive. Like some self-despairing sapphire she traces each and every decision that led her here, bolds and underlines every mistake.

And no matter how many times she tries with desperation to make up for it, tries to save him, no matter how many loops through recent past she takes, it all brings her to one single, overwhelming conclusion:

All of this... all of this needless suffering...

It should’ve been her.

#su #steven universe #amethyst #pearl #su fanfiction #greg universe #my writing stuff

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hobgayblin · 4 years

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Ship: Demacia’s Downfall (Rayden/Sylas)

Words: 1931

Summary: Sylas learns Rayden’s full name and they have a little talk abt last names and things

[high kicks] I wrote this at like 1am and was exhausted so it’s kinda bad but I’m too lazy to change it so yeehaw. gay people

“Rayden Vrontí Van Daal”

The name rang out through the camp with the inflection of a mother scolding her child, but twice as loud. Sylas’ brow furrowed as he looked up from his book and towards the open flap of his tent. It was normal for people to be yelling at Rayden, but the accompanying names were new to him. Were it not for the quickness and intensity it was said with, Sylas would have thought it was several people being yelled at. Before he could make a move towards the entrance loud footsteps and hurried shuffling could be heard just outside. Sylas watched as a shadow darted across the front of his tent before the criminal in question frantically scurried inside. His mouth opened but all the words he was going to say flew right out of his head as Rayden’s hands gripped onto his arm and travelled along his shoulders to his back in a similarly rough manner. He craned his head to the side to try and look at the man that was now crouched down behind him, hands latched onto both of his shoulders.

“What are you--”

“SHH-shshshhhh” One of Rayden’s hands sprung up to cover Sylas’ mouth, and the smaller man stood up just a bit so his face was pressed up against his. Though his cheek was squished against Sylas', his eyes were trained on the tent’s entrance.

Several long moments of silence hung in the air as the two stayed completely still. Sylas considered trying to ask again, but as soon as the thought crossed his mind Rayden released him and hid behind him just as fast as he’d grabbed him. Once again his neck craned to the side to look at the curled up man, but he quickly returned his gaze to the front of the tent. Another shadow passed by and stopped just before the entrance. The person casting the shadow poked their head into the tent and scanned around suspiciously before focusing on Sylas and giving a small wave; their hair seemed to be quite puffed out and a bit staticy, as it was sticking to the sides of the tent a bit. Sylas just gave a smile and waved back to the other mage before they disappeared back outside and continued on their way. Once he was sure they were gone he turned himself around so he could see the little ball of lightning magic behind him.

“How,” Sylas started, putting a hand on Rayden’s shoulder and bringing him out of his ball position, “did you manage to break the rules of a place that doesn’t even have any rules.”

“I simply attract trouble, like a mean little magnet. That’s just how it is.” Rayden straightened himself out into a normal sitting position as Sylas pushed him out of his ball.

“And what sort of trouble have you attracted this time?” Sylas closed his book and set it aside, knowing full well he wouldn’t be getting back to it anytime soon. “They sounded quite cross.”

“Welllll…” The last letter was drawn out for quite a bit before Rayden stopped and took a deep breath. “They were doin’ their hair and I thought it would be fun to mess it up-- just a little bit though-- but I didn’t mess it up just a little bit I messed it up a lot, and they got really mad and they’ve been chasing me around for awhile and, and, uhhh…”

Sylas nodded as Rayden trailed off from his fast-paced explanation and just sat there with a confused look on his face. The confusion quickly subsided and he looked back up at Sylas with a wide grin on his face. He was always so cute when he had a mischievous smile on his face, which was… most of the time. It was impossible to tell if he was planning something else or he simply forgot what he was talking about, but either way Sylas couldn’t help but smile back at him as Rayden continued to look up at him.

“What was it they yelled at you? Rayden…”

“Vrontí Van Daal? Yeah that’s the rest of my name!”

“Ohh a middle and last name? I didn’t know you were so fancy” Sylas’s voice was a bit mocking, but a good natured kind. “Am I in the presence of royalty?”

“Royalty?” Rayden laughed at the suggestion and slapped Sylas on the shoulder playfully. “The only royal I am is a royal pain in the ass, buddy!” Another peal of laughter came from the man at his own stupid joke.

“No? Thank the gods I was afraid I’d have to kill you for a second.” Sylas gave a light chuckle himself, mostly due to Rayden’s delight.

“You couldn’t if you tried, pretty boy.” Rayden’s tone became serious for a second as he pointed an accusatory finger at the man. It didn’t stay serious for even a minute before his tone lightened back up.

“I just wanted a cooler name. So I gave myself a cooler name!”

“You… just gave it to yourself?” A confused look spread across Sylas’ face as Rayden just smiled and nodded furiously.

“Yeah! Why not. I was changing my name anyway might as well go all the way, ya’know?”

“Hm…” To just give yourself a completely new name seemed… Well, it made sense for Rayden, but it still seemed so strange. “Is there a meaning to the name?”

“Meaning?” Rayden tilted his head to the side, matching Sylas’ confused look with one of his own. “It doesn't need a meaning, I just thought it sounded cool.”

“Just because it sounded…” Sylas’ brow furrowed even more as he continued to stare down at the man. “Last names should carry meaning with them. They signify higher society... a purpose.” The names of the Demacian nobles immediately came to mind. Crownguard… Lightshield… Names he detested, but they carried weight with them. To just give yourself something like that seemed almost like cheating.

“Why?” Rayden’s tone flattened to a more annoyed one. “Is it not enough to simply make you stand out? To differentiate you from others of the same name? To just sound cool?”

“I… I suppose.” The shift in tones wasn’t expected. This wasn’t something he wanted to push too far, on the off chance Rayden would get actually mad about it. “There’s other ways to differentiate, but--”

“Yeah, like adding where you’re from?” The annoyance stayed steady in his voice as he continued the topic himself. “How many Sylases do you think there are in Dregbourne? You think you’re the only one?”

“I-- Well probably not, but--”

“So, why don’t you spice it up a little!” Rayden’s hands flew up into the air as he yelled, causing Sylas to flinch just a bit. “You’re already well known, why not give yourself a cool last name huh?”

“Yes, I’m already known. As Sylas of Dregbourne. As in the most notable Sylas of Dregbourne.” Annoyance started to seed its way into his voice now as well. It was a bit silly to get annoyed about, perhaps, but he didn’t quite like the insinuation his name was too boring.

“Is that how you want to be remembered?” The smaller man’s arms crossed and he sneered up at Sylas. “You want people to know you as some criminal from the slums? You’re so much cooler than that! You could be uh… Sylas MageSomethin… Sylas… Uhh….” He trailed off for a minute, the gears in his head very clearly turning, desperately trying to think of something.

“Oh! Oh!! Sylas Kingslayer. That’s one you earned!”

That… That one wasn’t an awful suggestion. Sylas’ face softened back up as the annoyance faded. He still didn’t want to just give himself a last name like that, but Rayden did have a point. It was… kind of sweet he cared about his image somewhat. Not that image mattered much, especially not for someone who was already known as one of Demacia’s most wanted criminals.

“I appreciate the suggestion, but I’m fine with my name as it is right now.” His tone softened along with his expression, softened so much it was only a bit above a whisper.

“Alright, Alright, I’ll drop it.” Rayden pouted a bit as he stared up into Sylas’ eyes. “I just want… I don’t know… You deserve for people to know you as more than just a man named Sylas from the slums of Dregbourne.”

A smile crept back across Sylas’ face at the sentiment. It was such a strange thing to get hung up on, but it was sweet to know he cared.

“I can assure you, people aren’t just thinking of me as a Sylas of Dregbourne. They’re thinking of me as the Sylas of Dregbourne, escaped convict, rebel mage, and slayer of their king.” A hand came up and hesitantly hovered to the side of Rayden’s face for a moment before gently settling on his cheek. Rayden absentmindedly nuzzled the hand as he continued looking up into Sylas’ eyes. The smile on Sylas’ face widened. Usually Rayden would have bitten him for touching his face so tenderly, but he’s either decided to accept it, or he just hasn’t noticed yet.

“Perhaps one day I will take a last name.” The gentle smile on his face turned into more of a smirk at this point. “Sylas Van Daal has quite a nice ring to it.”

“Y-Yea-- Hey now wait a minute.” Rayden snapped out of his stupor and used the back of his hand to push Sylas’ hand away from his face. “First you’re out here stealing magic, now you’re tryin’ to steal names too? Huh? Punk?”

With the words Rayden reached up and grabbed Sylas by the collar, pulling him down so they were eye level. Sylas stifled a laugh as he was brought down and being given quite the stink eye. He wasn’t sure if he’d actually misunderstood him, or if he was intentionally ignoring what he implied, but either way it was cute.

“Nooo, no. I would never steal anything from you, little duckling. I--”

“HEY! Hey! What the fuck!” A light red tinted Rayden’s face at the use of the nickname. Sylas’ smile widened once again as he got exactly the reaction he wanted. “Don’t say that! I’ll fucking maul you, mage boy!”

“Oh, I’m so sorry,” The sarcasm in his voice was laid on especially thick, just to make sure Rayden got it. “Would you prefer a different name? Little lightning bug? Perhaps simply darling? Or maybe loverboy--”

“OH MY GOD! SHUT UP! SHUT UP!!” Rayden threw his arms into the air again, releasing Sylas’ collar in the process.

As Sylas straightened himself out Rayden’s hands started moving around, wildly gesturing, as he babbled all sorts of barely coherent protests to the pet names. It would have been nice if he’d just accepted the affection, but it was hard to deny that watching him overreact so much was so incredibly entertaining. After a few minutes of his flailing and slinging swears around Rayden took a deep breath and stood still. At first he looked straight ahead, seemingly at nothing, but then Sylas watched his eyes come up and meet his own. As soon as their eyes locked Rayden let out a loud, frustrated scream and turned around, stomping out of the tent with a huff. Once he was gone, Sylas turned and laughed into his hand, with a few snorts coming out periodically as well. Rayden was certainly a strange one, but if nothing else he always knew how to make a scene.

#its time for gay people #rayden is a dumb little bitch and i love him very much #⛓️#rayden #demacia's downfall #writing

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shield-sheafson · 3 years

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Chapters: 3/? Fandom: Teen Titans (Comics), Teen Titans - All Media Types Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Raven/Tara Markov, past Tara Markov/Slade Wilson, Background Dick Grayson/Koriand'r Characters: Tara Markov, Raven (DCU), Donna Troy, Koriand'r (DCU), Slade Wilson Additional Tags: Fluff and Angst, Romance, Past Underage, Past Abuse, Flirting, Weddings, sexually charged lipstick application, Slade doesn’t show up in the present timeline he’s just in the flashbacks, Flashbacks Summary:

Even normal things feel like they’ve been ruined: it’s been years, but sometimes Tara feels like she’s still with Slade. As everybody prepares for Dick and Kory’s wedding, all kinds of miserable feelings begin bubbling up inside of her even as she tries to have fun. To add to the stress, Raven has been acting awfully cute lately…

—

“So what’s the dress situation here?” Tara asks casually. “Donna had bridesmaid dresses picked out by this time. Are you slacking?” To be perfectly fair, Tara had never worn the ruffly monstrosity Donna had given her. She’d been too busy wandering the streets as an amnesiac.

“Tamaranians usually do not have bridesmaids,” Kory says. She’s carefully weaving together circlets of dried flowers. She has a pile of completed ones in the middle of the dining room table. “Everybody participates, not just a few people. I can not pick out matching dresses for the entire Justice League.”

“Just let Gar take care of it.”

“Do you want Gar dressing you?” Kory asks, quirking an eyebrow.

“…Good call. You seem pretty calm about all this. Donna is going crazy.”

“Donna will relax in time. She seems to think I want an Earth wedding. With the DJ.”

“What do you want?”

“On Tamaran, we sing, we dance, and we burn things. That is all I want; it would be nice to have G'larbac feathers and a torba bowl, but I do not need them to be happy. Oh, and Dick is not allowed to speak.”

“…Nice.”

Kory puts down her flowers. “It is not as if I am not participating in the human traditions myself! He is not allowed to look at me and everybody will throw grain. We will do the bouquet and the garter. I respect humans!”

“It’s– I wasn’t saying you didn’t!” Tara isn’t ready to fight. “…Wait, who said you didn’t?”

“I know that it is selfish to want to bring Tamaran to Earth,” Kory says, looking down at the table. “I try to be respectful of human behavior, even when it makes me a little uncomfortable. I do not kiss on the lips to do greeting and I laugh at the sarcasm. But my wedding is special. Earth is my home now, but Tamaran is where I was born. I went to weddings when I was a little girl, and I played at them with my friends. I want to at least have a little of that here.” She keeps her chin high and proud, but there’s a hurt look in her eyes.

Tara isn’t sure what to say. She’s never been any good at comforting people; if anything, she usually makes things worse. Does Kory even need comfort right now? She just nods her head awkwardly.

“That’s fair,” she says. “I don’t think it’s selfish to miss where you grew up. I mean, it’s not like this is someone else’s wedding, so it’s nobody’s business how you do it, right?”

“But the guests will all be human. Dick’s father will be there.”

“He’s rich, he doesn’t care.”

“What does that have to do with…?”

“Shh. He’s rich.”

“I met him, he seemed to think…”

Tara leans forward and puts a finger on Kory’s lips. “Shh. Wealthy.”

Kory seems to accept.

—

“Fast or slow?” Gar asks, resting his chin on his hands and leaning over the table.

“Both,” Donna says.

“Song decade?”

“Well, Kory wants Tamaranian folk music, and Dick wants pop from the ‘70s, so multiple.”

“How many dances are we going to have? Parents’ dances, bridal party dances, anniversary dances?”

“This is complicated enough without all that stuff,” Vic says.

“Aww, embarrassed?” Tara asks. “Scared of the boogie man?”

“That’s lame,” Gar says. “Even I think that’s lame.”

“Kory’s parents can’t make the voyage,” Donna says. “And Dick’s father is single, so the parents’ dance might be awkward. I’m thinking we can arrange it so that Dick and Kory dance first. I’ll hire a choreographer. Then the brides’ and grooms’ parties can go, and then maybe the couple that’s been together the longest, so I’ll check the guest list and–”

Tara coughs. “That’s stupid,” she says, thinking back to her earlier conversation. “Maybe everyone can just dance.”

“She’s one of my best friends, and I want it to be perfect,” Donna says. “She and Dick have helped me so much all these years, so I want to help them back.”

“Still sounds like too much,” Vic says.

“Come on, it sounds fun!” Gar says. He punches Vic in the shoulder with a clanging noise. “We can teach you if you don’t know how.”

“I know how to dance,” Vic says, but his expression says more. He presses his lips tightly together.

“Okay,” Gar says, standing up. “Prove yourself.”

Tara snorts.

“You too,” Donna says, joining Gar. “If we make Vic do it, we all have to.”

Suddenly, it doesn’t seem as funny. While the idea of Vic being a bad dancer is amazing and wonderful, Tara isn’t able to dance either. She’s been coasting. This is karma.

“I’ll pair off with Vic, so it’s you and Gar,” Donna says, switching on the radio on the counter. It’s Lionel Richie.

“Is this okay?” Gar asks quietly as he takes her hand. “I’m not being weird, right?”

Tara rolls her eyes. “We’re not sixteen anymore. I think you’ve got your teen horniness under control.”

“Right.”

Off to the side, Donna and Vic are swaying awkwardly. He looks terrified.

“Okay, do you remember how to do a box step?” Gar asks, nervously resting his hand on Tara’s back.

“Yeah,” she says, even though she’s not sure what a box step is. She carefully mirrors his feet.

“You don’t remember,” Gar says. “Okay, put your right foot back.”

Which foot is the right foot? Tara makes a wild guess. Gar shakes his head sadly.

“Hey, Raven!” Donna calls. Tara looks over Gar’s shoulder and sees Raven shuffling sleepily into the kitchenette with messy hair and her blanket dragging behind her.

Raven looks up groggily. “What are you doing?” she asks.

“Dancing,” Gar says. “Vic’s low self-esteem is getting in the way of his social skills. Tara, you aren’t supposed–”

“Hey!” Vic interjects. “My self-esteem is fine!”

“Join the party!” Donna says. “I think we need to switch up anyway.”

Raven squints at her, takes the kettle off the stove, and pours some hot water into a mug.

“I’m going with Gar next,” Vic says, letting go of Donna and stepping off to the side. “Tara’s gonna be unpartnered.”

“But I’m right–” Donna begins.

“Unpartnered,” Vic repeats, looking meaningfully at Raven. Raven presses her lips together and looks away.

“This is stupid,” she says. “I’m not playing.” Tara feels a twinge of sympathy. She’s not entirely sure what’s going on, but Raven is embarrassed and Vic’s making it worse.

“Donna knows how to lead, right?” Tara asks. “Because I only know how to… The thing that isn’t leading.”

“I’d better know,” Donna says. “If I don’t know how to lead, then Kory’s going to be in trouble, because we’ve been practicing for weeks.”

Weird. Kory always struck Tara as the type who would lead in a dance. Maybe it’s just because she’s tall.

“Wait,” Raven says. “I’ll try.”

“Man, talk about wishy-washy,” Tara says, but Raven, with unprecedented confidence, steps up to her and grabs her hand.

“You’re wishy-washy,” Raven mumbles, resting her hand on Tara’s back (electricity shoots up her spine).

The music changes– something poppy and banal. Raven swallows and moves carefully, and Tara, somehow impressed by her determination, follows as well as she can.

It feels very different from dancing with Gar– when she was younger, Gar excited a kind of nervousness in her that he doesn’t now (even though it wasn’t really a good feeling, it was a tangible one). Being close to Raven is a whole new experience. From the slender fingers that clutch Tara’s hand to the light sway of Raven’s dark hair to the smell of bitter black tea that lingers over her, Tara is oddly entranced.

Step in one direction, reverse, reverse again. It should be so boring. Tara can feel her heart pounding against the inside of her chest, either faster or slower than it should be. She’s sure her hand is sweating.

“We’re going to turn in a circle now,” Raven says stiffly.

“Taking charge, I see. Yay,” Tara says, bracing herself to either step on Raven’s foot or be stepped on.

“You’re doing a good job!” Donna says. Vic shoots her a look just as Tara loses focus and stomps Raven’s slipper, throwing her off balance. They let go of each other, falling backwards a little.

Raven takes a deep breath and turns around. “Sorry!” she says, scurrying away before anybody else can interrupt.

After a few seconds of silence, Gar offers his opinion. “That was kinda weird.”

“Freaky,” Tara says, still catching her breath.

—

“Fashion, fashion,” Gar chants. He has one arm around Raven’s shoulder and one arm around Tara’s.

“It looks like you have a broken leg and we’re carrying you off the battlefield,” Raven says.

“He will have a broken leg if he doesn’t let go,” Tara says.

Gar lets go. “Can I still dress you up?”

“I’m not sure I could forgive you for doing something like that,” Raven says. “You can dress Tara.”

“Hey!”

The consignment store is a small brick building in a strip mall alongside a drugstore and a Vietnamese restaurant. It’s got a worn exterior and a variety of outdated clothes displayed in its streaky front window.

“Chic!” Announces the light-up sign by the glass door. A bell rings as they open it and the sleepy clerk looks up from her counter.

“Welco– oh!” Her droopy eyes widen when she sees Gar. “You’re one of the Titans, right?”

“Guilty as charged,” Gar says. “Any heroes’ discounts available?”

“No,” Raven says before the clerk can answer. “Let’s look at the books.”

“But you don’t even–”

Raven gently steers him away. Tara follows. She gives the clerk a little wave.

Gar stands around inattentively while Raven looks at something thick with a dusty cover.

“Wanna play the romance novel game?” Tara asks. “You look at the ones on display and you count how many man-nipples you can spot.”

“Cowboy,” Gar says, pointing. “Upper-left corner. Two nipples.”

“Kilt guy, bottom middle. One nipple– maybe one and a half.”

“What are you doing?” Raven asks.

“Nothing wrong,” Tara says. “Let’s go to the hats.”

They’re probably going to get lice, honestly. If they just let anybody try on all these cloches, then chances are somebody covered in bugs has tried them on at some point.

“Hey, Gar,” she says.

“Mm?” He looks up from below the brim of a rhinestone-encrusted cowboy hat.

“Do you get lice, or do you get fleas?”

Just as Raven opens her mouth to deliver a scolding, Gar says, “Both.”

“Let’s go somewhere else,” Raven says, gingerly lifting the hat from Gar’s head.

Tara and Gar feel their way through the menswear section (they pet the faux-fur lining of a large and intimidating coat). Gar’s eyes widen in excitement and he pulls out a shabby pink jacket with patches on the elbows. He ducks down and begins covertly putting it on.

“There are dressing rooms,” Raven says.

“I look like a professor,” Gar says, standing. His wrists poke out for a few inches and its bottom is well above his hips.

“Professor of being a bastard,” Tara says.

“It doesn’t fit,” Raven says. “Also, Tara, stop being awful.” Tara shrugs.

“I think it fits.” Gar stretches his arms, pushing his wrists out further. “I’m gonna buy it.”

“I can’t control you,” Raven says.

“You know, that’s a really healthy way to approach your relationships with others,” Gar says thoughtfully as he takes the jacket off. “Time to dress up Tara!” He slaps a hand on her shoulder.

“I never agreed to this! Ask Kory, she knows!” Tara looks pleadingly at Raven, who just blinks at her like a cat.

They make their death march to the women’s section, Gar in high spirits, Tara in poor spirits, and Raven in some sort of spirits. Tara drags behind, carefully examining every pointless thing she spots.

“Let’s get the Teen Bible,” she says. “I really want that plush dragon. Hey, we should…”

A silly, stupid thing. There’s a pair of high-heeled slippers in the discount shoe bin. The puffy feathers on the upper are clumped and ragged, and the color on the insole is worn down.

Tara stops dragging and walks a little faster.

—

A pair of pink mules with puffy faux feathers on the upper. Tara bought them for ten bucks at the costume store (she’d also kind of wanted a Reagan mask, but she had no excuse). She had an awkward, mincing walk when she tried them on. There was no strap around the back, so they were always on the verge of falling off.

They were another part of her grown-up costume. She practiced walking in them in circles around her room for two hours, and hid them carefully when Gar knocked on her door looking for his rubber lizard. She was determined to come off as mature that night.

“What do you think?” she’d asked, pointing to them proudly.

“You look cheap,” Slade said bluntly.

Her stomach plummeted.

“It suits you,” he said.

She laughed.

—

Gar is in the dressing room. He found a blouse, immediately labeled it as “bisexual” and scampered off. Tara is staring at a pair of overalls, twisting the buttons of the left strap again and again. She wants it to come loose, even though Raven will probably make her take responsibility and buy the whole thing.

“What are you doing?” Raven asks from behind her. Tara jumps.

“I’m ruining these overalls,” Tara says, turning to face her. “I’ve almost got the thread worn down, see?”

“No,” Raven says, taking them from her. “You suddenly got quiet and you’re making that face.”

“What face?”

“I know you, Tara.”

—

“I know you better than anyone. Don’t lie to me.” He cradled her face gently as he said it, but all she could think of was how close his hands were to her neck.

—

“No, you don’t,” Tara says, reaching to take the overalls back. “Stop acting like you can read my mind.”

Raven steps back, clutching them to her chest. “You’re upset,” she says.

“I’m not.” Tara’s voice cracks a little. “And even if I am, aren’t I allowed to be?”

Raven opens her mouth as if to say something, but she closes it again. She looks down at the overalls. The button is hanging down awkwardly. “You’re allowed to be upset,” she says. “But I hate it.”

Tara stretches her face into a sarcastic grin. “All better!” she says.

Raven hands back the overalls without making eye contact.

“Come in and have a look!” Gar calls.

#dc #teen titans #raeterra #me writing #tara markov #raven dc

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deliciousdetectivestranger · 4 years

Text

Some Rudy snippets

Aru Shah and the Tree of Wishes 2020

Rudy’s obnoxious jacket stood in stark contrast to Aiden’s usual somber getup of a dark long-sleeved shirt and darker pants. The cousins were engaged in an argument. “The whole point is to be subtle,” said Aiden. “It’s an undercover mission.” “I was born to stand out,” said Rudy. “Well, you’re going to die that way too, apparently.” Rudy shrugged. “Haters gonna hate.”

Rudy swallowed hard, clutching the outer edge of the chariot. “Can we take the stairs?” Beside him, Mini beamed, which made Rudy recoil a bit. “What is it?” he asked. “I like that you get scared.” “That makes you happy?” asked Rudy, inching farther away.

“So what’s this Mr. V like?” Rudy asked Brynne in a whisper. “Gotta adjust my attitude, you know? Am I going for charming? Rich? Rich and charming? Kinda weird? But, like, intellectually weird? Or—” “Silent?” suggested Aiden. Rudy paused, then tapped his own chin. “Yeahhh. Silent and brooding, like you! Okay, so give me some tips. Do you hate everyone, or is it more like an inward, self-loathing thing?” Aiden glowered. “I don’t hate anyone, but you’re proving to be the exception.” “Okay, so not an inward, self-loathing thing….”

“Are you saying the Sleeper left behind Horcruxes?” Aru demanded. “Yeah, I didn’t sign up for a Horcrux hunt,” said Rudy, looking around for the exit. Mini held out Dee Dee, blocking his way.

“We’re going to die here, aren’t we?” asked Rudy, collapsing against Aiden. “I can’t die like this! There’s things I haven’t seen! Music I haven’t listened to! I still don’t know what a microwave does!”

“That’s not fair!” Mini said. She stepped forward, holding up Dee Dee like a scepter. Behind her, Rudy’s eyebrows shot up. “You can’t just execute us because Rudy is a naga—” “Prince,” whispered Rudy. Then he looked at them innocently. “What? It’s the truth.” “He’s never done anything to you,” Mini said to Garuda. “It’s true.” Rudy nodded. “He can barely defend himself,” continued Mini. “Very true,” said Brynne. Rudy opened his mouth to protest. Aiden reached over and closed it.

The Pandavas regrouped, quickly catching their breath. Aru glanced over at Rudy to see that he was kneeling on the ground, rummaging around in his messenger bag. “Rudy, what are you doing?” demanded Aiden. “Go hide!” “No,” he said. The wooden eagle lay before him on the grass. He pulled out glowing stones with a glimmering mesh overlay—something that looked like the heart of the moon, and a chunk of quartz that wriggled as if it were alive. “Garuda thinks it’s broken, but I can fix it.” “Are you sure you know what you’re doing?” asked Aiden. “Of course not!” said Rudy cheerfully. “Then why—?” “Because I’m the only chance you’ve got.”

Rudy had sat next to him, on the far side, despite Aiden pointing to the many empty chairs. “Nah, I’m good,” Rudy had declared, scooting closer. Now Rudy was snoring, his enchanted sleeping jewel in his lap and his cheek on Aiden’s shoulder. Aiden was careful not to disturb him as he adjusted Shadowfax.

“Where is everyone?” asked Aru. “The celestials are super into their time away from ordinary people,” said Rudy, grumbling. “It’s like they think they’re so much better than us just because they have a planet. Like, so what? I could make a planet out of all the jewels we have, but you don’t see me running off into space.” Aiden patted his back. “There, there, rich prince. I’m sorry there’s other rich people in the world.” Rudy sniffed. “It’s really hard.”

“I can’t die now! I haven’t seen enough of the world! I don’t know what Florida is!”

The five of them walked toward the entrance, dragging Rudy behind them as he swiveled his neck around and frowned. “What’s that?” he asked, looking at one of the soda machines outside the store. “A vending machine,” said Aiden. “What does it…‘vend’?” asked Rudy. “Soda,” said Aiden tightly. “What’s soda?” “A drink.” “Can I try one?” asked Rudy. Aru had a brief but vivid image of Rudy after he’d downed a can full of sugar syrup, running in circles around the parking lot. Maybe everybody else had the exact same vision, because as one they responded with a resounding “NO.” Brynne looked at Aiden. “Can I knock him unconscious?”

Rudy clapped and started chanting, “Heist! Heist! Heist!”

“Nice,” said Rudy appreciatively. “Could you make me a blue blazer? I want something with tassels—” “Nope,” said Nikita. “Why not?” Aru asked. “’Cause she’s a life-ruiner,” said Rudy darkly. “She ruins people’s lives.” “Because I think red is more your color,” said Nikita flatly. Rudy perked up, then started preening again. “Oh. Well, obviously.” Aiden snorted back a laugh.

“WAHHHHH!” A huge piercing wail rose from Aiden and Rudy’s section. Nikita held her plant closer and glared at the boys. “I said quiet! You’re scaring this one!” A squat green potato-plant baby with one orange spike on the top of its head sat between Rudy and Aiden, howling. Rudy picked it up and bounced it in his hands. “It’s your fault!” he said to Aiden. “It liked chewing on the jewel, and you took it away!” “Because it could choke!” said Aiden, tossing one of Rudy’s shiny gems over his shoulder. “They’re plants!” “And that jewel could cut its roots!” said Aiden, snatching back the baby and awkwardly patting its spiky head. “Shh…” “You’re so controlling!” said Rudy, reaching for the plant baby. Aiden gripped it harder, giving Rudy his shoulder. “You’re reckless!” “Uh, boys?” tried Aru as the ground began to tremble. “Well you’re boring!” said Rudy. “At least I’m fun—” “Fun? Fatal? What’s the difference to you?” demanded Aiden.

Rudy stood frozen, still stunned. He flailed a hand at Aiden. “You can sing?” asked Rudy, awed. “Sometimes,” said Aiden cagily. “Wait, with my music and your voice—” Aiden winced. “Please don’t—” “We—” “No.” “Should start—” “Rudy. No.” “A BAND.”

“Weird,” Rudy said, poking the asphalt on the street. “You don’t use crushed stars in your pavement?” “Rudy, please get back on the sidewalk,” said Mini. “I’m exploring!” “You’ll be roadkill,” said Brynne. “It has a sort of decrepit charm to it,” said Rudy. “I’ll buy two streets. Who do I pay? Hello?”

“You’re my lead singer,” said Rudy proudly. “Nothing is happening to you.” “I’m also your cousin!” “Second priority, honestly,” said Rudy, but he smiled like he’d just won a prize.

Aru Shah and the City of Gold 2021

They found themselves standing outside a decrepit, musty tunnel. “Ugh, what is this place?” Aru asked, staring around her. “It looks abandoned.” “I think this used to be part of a train station in the Naga realm,” said Mini. “I remember Rudy mentioning something like this. “Oh yeah…” Aiden grimaced. “He once wanted to bring me here so we could take ‘edgy’ pictures for his album cover, Rudy Rocks: The Genesis of Rock.” “He’s in a band?” asked Kara. “I mean, he thinks so,” said Aiden.

Brynne aimed a cloud of steam at the being just as Mini threw off the invisibility sheet. Aru cast her lightning-bolt net. There was a sizzling crack and a howl of pain before a familiar voice shouted, “Again with the demented rope? Really, Shah?” The Potatoes raced forward, and when the fog from Brynne’s attack cleared, Aru spied a garish tie-dyed denim jacket, blinding-white sneakers, and a familiar smirk. Pinned beneath Aru’s net, Prince Rudra of Naga-Loka managed a weak wave. “Sup, fellow Potatoes?” said Rudy.

Rudy, what are you doing here?” asked Aiden. He bent down to hoist the naga off the ground, but Rudy batted away his hand and leaped up, dusting the shoulders of his jacket and pretending like nothing had happened. “That’s a nice way to greet your closest living relative,” said Rudy. “You’re not my only cousin, Rudy,” pointed out Aiden. “I’m the only one who matters.” Aiden groaned and pinched the bridge of his nose, which he did a lot whenever he was with Rudy.

“I meant the unconscious chick,” said Rudy. “That’s your first question about her?” demanded Aiden. “She’s not a chick,” said Aru. “A chick is a flightless baby bird, and Kara’s got a sunlight trident….” “And she’s smart and has a ridiculous vocabulary,” said Mini. “And exceptional fighting skills,” added Brynne grudgingly. Rudy frowned. “I wasn’t calling her a bird. I was calling her a chick, like, ‘Cute or Handsome being of Indeterminate origin who might Consider Killing you.’ You know. A chick.” The Potatoes stared at him. “So, what’s this chick’s name?” asked Rudy. “You keep using that word…” said Aru. “I do not think it means what you think it means.”

“See that?” Rudy talked, puffing out his chest a bit. “I’m officially on guard duty, which proves that my family thinks I deserved an upgrade in responsibility. I mean, even I lost count of how many times I saved your lives on the last quest. My parents are calling me by my full title now: Prince Rudra of Naga-Loka, Heir of the Jewel-Strewn Seas. And I even have facial hair.” Rudy angled his face up and Aru saw a single sad hair beneath his nose. “Last time I saw you, your mom called you ‘Baby Snekky-Snake’ and carried you into a fountain,” said Mini with a little edge to her voice. Aru snickered. “Also, that is a hair,” said Aiden. “That’s because I had to shave the rest! It was getting unruly!” Rudy scowled. “And my mom was using my DJ name then….” “DJ Baby Snekky-Snake?” asked Aiden. “The music industry is crowded—I need to distinguish myself,” grumbled Rudy.

“C’mon. I’ll take you back to the palace, and you guys can shower.” Rudy paused, sniffing the air and frowning. “On second thought, you have to shower. You smell like rancid potatoes. And you look—” One glare from Aiden and Rudy coughed loudly. “Tired,” he continued.

Rudy went to the elevator and blocked Mini and Aru from entering. “I…I was hoping I could come and help out?” said Rudy, looking straight at Mini. “Seriously. Tell me what to do!” “You can start by getting out of my way,” said Mini, bored. “I mean, yeah, sure, but what else?” said Rudy, staying put. “I’m a prince….” Mini raised an eyebrow, as if saying So? “And my parents are good friends with Lord Kubera! If something goes wrong, I can totally help smooth it out! And I know you’re down one person because of the unconscious girl, so I can fight in her place. Or I could just watch over her and make sure she’s safe while you guys fight?” “Fine. You can come with us,” said Mini, flipping her hair and pushing past Rudy. “But while you may be a prince, I’m a demigod. So let’s just remember who’s the boss.”

“Looks like we’re in the right place,” said Brynne. “Wrong,” murmured Rudy, whipping on a pair of shades. He flipped up the collar of his jacket. “There’s nothing right about this climate for my skin. I could shrivel up here. Look! My scales are dulling already!” “You’ll be fine. I’m pretty sure Dee Dee offers both UVA and UVB protection,” said Mini with a fond glance at her Death Danda. “Now what do we do?” asked Brynne. “I bet the second we remove the shield, the eye will go straight for the House of the Sun, and we don’t know what will happen.” “My mustache…” groaned Rudy. He patted the single lonely hair on his upper lip. “It’s wilting.” “Here, lemme see?” asked Aiden. Rudy turned to him. “Oh good, you can help me, though I don’t know how, considering there’s nothing on your face except—” Quick as a flash, Aiden grabbed Rudy’s mustache hair and yanked it out. “OW!” said Rudy, clapping his hand over his mouth. “What did you do?” “I put it out of its misery,” said Aiden. “And maybe now I can say the same thing for us.” Rudy glared at him. “You’re a monster!”

Rudy fell backward onto one of the clouds and flapped his arms as if trying to make a snow angel. “Very nice quality,” he said. “At least twelve-hundred-cloud count. I wonder where they got this. I heard only Airavata can make clouds this soft, but he’s very particular about who gets his product.” “Maybe it’s a knockoff,” said Rudy haughtily. “It’s not,” said an unfamiliar voice. Rudy scrambled so fast to get out of the cloud that he fell on the floor.

“I understand that,” said Rudy solemnly. “At least, I did, before someone ripped off my mustache out of jealousy.” “It was a hair,” Aiden said with a sigh. “There would’ve been more!” said Rudy. “Eventually.” Brynne swatted both of them.

“My father will hear about this!” shouted Rudy.

“We need the gods’ favor!” said Aru loudly. “DEAR GODS, I PROMISE I’LL DONATE ALL OF—I MEAN, MOST…WELL, DEFINITELY SOME OF MY TREASURE!” hollered Rudy. “What a sacrifice!” snarked Brynne.

“I don’t want to fall to my death!” moaned Rudy. “Probably impossible, since this is the fall that won’t end,” said Mini serenely. “You’re much more likely to die of dehydration or starvation. Or you might get hypothermia and freeze to death.” “WHAT?!” screamed Rudy.

A loud trumpeting caught their attention, and Aru turned to see Rudy standing in front of Airavata. The naga was draped in clouds, and it kind of looked like Airavata had knitted him into a giant meringue. Airavata made a happy rumbling sound, then patted the top of Rudy’s head with his trunk. “Look upon me and despair, mortals!” he said. “I’m ready to fight in my new cloud armor.” Mini giggled. Brynne glared at him. “You look like a deranged cake topper.” Rudy ignored her, and swept a bow in Kara’s direction. “Hi, I don’t know if you know this, but I’m a prince—” Kara frowned, looking confused. “Kara, Rudy, Rudy, Kara,” said Brynne tersely. “Kara, ignore Rudy.” Rudy scowled.

Urvashi opened her arms to Aiden, her nephew, and he embraced her. Rudy, who looked starstruck by the sight of Urvashi, followed him. “Uh, I’m related to Aiden…. Can I have a hug, too?”

Rudy raised his hand. “Um, can I leave now?” “NO!” said everyone at the same time. “I still don’t know what a microwave does,” said Rudy mournfully. “And now I’m going to die not knowing….” “Well, there’s always reincarnation,” said Mini brightly. Rudy whimpered.

“Uh, what’s going on with you guys?” asked Aiden. “Is it puberty?” whispered Rudy nervously. Aiden swatted him.

“Okay, what about my glow-up?” demanded Rudy, holding out a pocketknife. “HELLO?”

“I need some kind of sound blast,” Aru shouted to Rudy over the din. “Something that will knock the enemy back!” “I got’chu, Aru,” said Rudy. He rummaged through his backpack, then hauled out five bright-orange crystals and hurled them into the sea. Noise like the buzzing of a thousand insects filled the air. The Sleeper’s soldiers ducked, flailed, covered their heads, and ran from the sound, leaving one section of the ocean empty and calm. “Good work, Rudy!” said Aru. He grinned. “I’ll stay on noise control!” Rudy shouted. In a blink, he morphed into his naga form and slithered into the water.

“I’ve known this chick for exactly twelve hours,” announced Rudy, gesturing at Kara, “but I will happily destroy something on her behalf.” Kara scowled. “Chick?” “Don’t worry, it doesn’t mean what you think it does,” muttered Aru.

“Ooh,” said Rudy, holding up his phone to show the Potatoes his screen. “Hashtag-IStandWithThePandavas is trending number one on Chatter!” “What’s Chatter?” asked Aru. “It’s like Twitter for the Otherworld,” said Aiden. “What’s Twitter?” asked Rudy. “A cesspit,” said Brynne darkly.

Except maybe Rudy. He seemed delighted with all the new attention. He walked backward, blowing kisses to the crowd through the glass walls of the hallway. People threw flowers on top of the tunnel. “THANK YOU! THANK YOU! FOLLOW ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA! MY INSTAGRAM HANDLE IS—” Mini sighed, grabbing Rudy’s arm and hauling him forward.

“It’s super fun to have an army. Very imposing. Plus, a great driver of tourism if you’re thinking about opening up an island resort or some such.” “Ooh!” said Rudy, perking up. “Yeah…That’s not exactly a priority at the moment?” said Aru. Rudy deflated.

“Like a Horcrux…” Rudy whispered under his breath. “Why do we always end up with Horcruxes?” “No one’s asking you to wear it,” said Aiden. “Oh, thank gods,” said Rudy, letting out a breath. “That chain would clash with all my outfits.”

Rudy decided to return to his parents’ palace. First he gave the Potatoes multiple, though somewhat unwanted, assurances that he’d find a way to see them every week. “I’m literally a hero,” said Rudy. “And I’m a prince. Who’s going to say no to me now?” He winked. Aru noticed that this time he wasn’t looking at her…but at Mini. Who didn’t seem to notice. Or, if she did, she acted like it didn’t matter.

Last week was Aru’s turn, so she’d made them watch Snakes on a Plane. By the end of it, Rudy was furious. “This is the most disrespectful and inaccurate thing I’ve ever seen,” he’d hissed. “We would never go on a commercial flight!” “Yeah, that’s definitely the biggest inaccuracy of the whole film,” said Aiden.

Rudy’s “posse” of naga friends—who kept getting distracted by products of human ingenuity, like staplers—

They all watched as larger pieces of the Boo egg fell away. “Awww,” said Rudy. “This looks just like my baby photos in the family album.” Everyone went silent. Rudy looked confused. “You guys weren’t hatched in two hundred days?” “No?” said Mini. “Humans are weird.”

It was somehow the best and worst game of Hot Potato between the Potatoes. It ended with Aiden and Rudy fighting over who got to hold the chick longer. “You already had your turn!” said Rudy, trying to wrench Baby Boo out of Aiden’s hands. “Gimme!” “You tried to feed him a diamond!” said Aiden. “I was just showing it to him! Everyone loves shiny things!” “It’s irresponsible,” said Aiden, bouncing Baby Boo in his hands. “Why are you the worst?” grumbled Rudy. “He’s going to like me more anyway when he grows up.”

Mini whispered to Rudy: “Say ‘And you have my bow.’” “But I don’t have a bow?” whispered Rudy. “Just say it. You know how Aru feels about Lord of the Rings.” “Can I have a bow after this?” asked Rudy. “No one else has one. I want my own weapon—” “YES, Rudy, we will get you a bow,” said Aiden. “Now just say the line.” “And you have my bow,” said Rudy smugly.

#roshani chokshi #pandava quartet #aru shah and the tree of wishes #aru shah and the city of gold #aiden acharya #aru shah #brynne rao #kara shah #Mini aka Yamini Kapoor-Mercado-Lopez #nikita jagan #Rudy aka Prince Rudra of Naga-Loka #sheela jagan

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thewhumpstuff · 4 years

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You and I, Me and You [6]

@badthingshappenbingo [Original characters and content for category - Flashbacks] [Warning: NSFW implications] [Teaser and Master List] [Archives of our Own] (You and I, Me and you: Chapter 7)

[<– Previous] ~ [Next –>]

Dark pillow talk.

The freedom of her upper limbs came at the price. A few more crimson scratches against the raw, twine-irritated skin. The torment of rolling around on her knees as her back contorted awkwardly to accomplish the task within the given limitations. But success felt heavenly. Her arms snapped away from one another when the twine finally came undone. With a manic urgency, she plucked off the blindfold. The cloth wrapped around her eyes had never curtailed her breathing, but getting rid of it left her panting with relief.

The only source of illumination was soft and painfully consistent, it crawled in from under the metal door to shatter against the broken glass and to lick at her feet. That felt like a gift for now. For some time, her freed arms and restored vision tasted like a small victory. For some time, she remained still and poised, clinging to the piece of glass with a fervent hope. Then, the seconds and minutes began chafing at her resolve. Slowly but surely. The fluidity of time was not assessable. Staring at a piece of wall was not conducive to keeping track of the hours.

There was not so much as a scuffle outside. She felt forgotten. First, she dropped the glass, then she got fidgety. Two ritualistic, alternating motions. She craned her neck to flatten her cheek against the wall, right side… then left, her vision oscillating between the corner… and the dark despair of the room. And the painstaking transfer of her weight, from her knees to her haunches. This went on long enough to leave her neck and shoulder muscles begging for mercy and her leg muscles twitching with the strain.

As her resolve slowly melted, fear eagerly took its place. The exchanges with Jared had left her mind steeping in the past. It felt like a deliberate concoction. And now he had left her alone to brew. She could not fight the thoughts as they gathered and strategically battered against the flimsy walls of her brain. She followed the string of memories, brought to the surface by a slightly broken voice echoing in the room… It was her own, it sounded angelic somehow. She closed her eyes in surrender. “♩“…Am I out of my head Am I out of my mind...”♩ ~~~ ♩"…If you only knew the bad things I like…"♩ She grinned up at him as she sang along with the song he played. It was the one from the party, before they were interrupted. It sure felt appropriate. They’d consummated their relationship already, on multiple occasions, but the air today, felt differently charged. She used her elbows to slide backwards onto his bed, till her head found his pillow. He crawled over her on his elbows and knees, watching her protectively. She loved that he was concerned, but she felt the pressing need to prove that she was stronger than he thought.

His lips found the scar he had left on her neck, his tongue flicked across it, tenderly. “Bite me.” ♫…Don't think that I can explain it… ♫ He obliged, sucking her skin into his mouth, he teased it with his teeth. “Harder.” ♫…What can I say, it's complicated…♫ Curiosity and hesitance danced in his mind as his jaw tightened. A soft gasp morphed into a softer mewl. He let go. The scar had a perfect row of teeth-marks above and below it. He stared at it, it left him disconcerted. He looked at her. She looked incandescent, excited… ecstatic and bold. All the good things. As he tentatively nipped at her arm, sedulous about the force. She suddenly let out a cry of mock anguish. He snapped away from her. “Did I hur-” Her snicker, interrupted him. Something about her soft cackle sent a chill down his spine. “Of course, you did! But I liked it.” The cuffs dug into her as she stretched her arms instinctively, she felt like pulling him into an embrace. Aki made do with her legs instead, wrapping them around his hips to draw him back to her. “Fuck, Shira.” He chastised through grit teeth. It only made her laugh some more. “What? I like scaring people a little.” She beamed up at him with faux innocence. He shook his head and half-smiled, nervously stifling his unease, as he lowered himself against her again.

♫…Nothing's that bad If it feels good So you come back Like I knew you would… ♫ She nuzzled into his neck, leaving a small bite-mark of her own. She could feel his eyelashes against her shoulders, he did not even wince. Something about that left her feeling challenged. She picked another spot and bit a little harder. He closed his eyes and tensed but did not flinch. He let her finish, he even let her scan her handiwork as he propped himself on his elbows, his face looming over hers. The disquietude found words. “You like… hurting people too?” She tensed. His question sounded impassive, but she felt judged, nonetheless. “Sorry.” “No… It is ok. I’m fine.” That was not a very convincing reassurance. She gnawed at her lower lip. Feeling a certain surge of insecurities, she sought to assuage them by hoping this was a shared trait.

Her voice carried with it a note of dread, and of anticipation. “Too? Do you?” “No, not really… I mean… Do you like scaring and hurting too?” “I…” Her face was like a play. Emotions battling desires, battling her morals.

He placed his fingers on her lips and wore a brighter smile. Jared had no intentions of creating turmoil within her, not today… not after everything. They needed each other. “Shh…” She kissed his fingers, her tongue now flicking across the scar she had left. “Am I a bad person?” Depends, he thought. But ardently shook his head. He reached over to his bedside drawer. With a press of a button the collar and the cuffs clicked open. He whisked them off the bed. They found amusement in the way the fell, symbolic of their own inhibitions. They laughed. The moment her wrists were free, her hands worked on the buttons of his shirt. His hands made quick work of her little black dress with the classic ripping sound. Her motion, inspired by his urgency, left buttons scattered around them as she held the collar and tugged it apart. Fabric rustled, bared passion and bared bodies followed. - Later that night, the empty cups of tea sat huddled on the bedside drawer. The silence between them embraced a very different song. ♫…Love of mine, someday you will die… ♫ It crooned the spooning couple; she sang along in a low octave. He joined in. They could feel the vibrations through the contact between his chest and her back. ♩…“But I'll be close behind and I'll follow you into the dark”… ♩ “Will you?” Her fingers were entwined with his, she gave a little squeeze to emphasize her question, which followed the song. Will you, follow me into the dark?. “I’ll be there before you, so you’ll be the one following!” He chided, pulling her closer. They breathed in sync and inhaled deeply. Satisfied sighs mingled. She elbowed him gently, with a small click of her tongue. “Always the hero.”

Jared wasn’t the insecure sort, but revelations today had left him perturbed and he knew she would eventually have to go away. So, today he too, wanted to ask. “Will you?” She pulled her hair to the side as she twisted to look at him. She didn't think of darkness as death. She saw it something to explore and something to challenge. And something that Jared had already encountered and won against. “I kinda am, already… Aren’t I? But my darkness, my turn!” He much rather wished that she could follow him into the light. Not that he had luck finding light. He did find it in her, and now she was insistently trying to test it. Test her own light, till that darkness won out. She was still basking in her chance at glory. There was nothing that could keep her mind away from that future for too long. He wanted nothing more than to bury it. Jared’s fingers idle shapes on her back, doodling his way out of the instinct to ask her to not take up the offer, again. She turned to face him completely, his hand lay across her, with a heavy laziness.

Akira’s curious eyes pinned him with an odd question. “How the hell do you have such a high tolerance, by the way?” She had always secretly admired his endurance; it’d seem they weren’t exaggerating when there was talk of it among the BioHackers. It was thrown around as an analogy: ‘It is very difficult to endure this procedure… Unless you’re Jared or something.’ ♫…Catholic school as vicious as Roman rule I got my knuckles bruised by a lady in black… ♫ He was amused by the lyrics that underpinned her question. “Practice.” There was some pride in his monosyllabic response, but it was wrapped in resigned discomfort.

He believed it to be among the biggest distinguishing factors between them… Their cumulative experiences. “Like… in The System and stuff?’’ Her macabre fascination with suffering, even his, left him a little speechless. He could tell from the falter in her whisper, that she was terrified of broaching the territories he avoided with a vehemence. And yet she did it anyway. He swallowed and stayed patient. “Yes.” ♫…And I held my tongue as she told me, Son, fear is the heart of love…♫ “Was that it?” She was sheepish in her ask and knew it wasn’t and he wasn’t ready to elaborate. It did lead him to a realization. His compromise with pain and darkness, started young and it happened circumstantially. Then things spiralled and he was forced to befriend suffering as it became a blanket for his cause. It was a relationship that bore the test of time and in some way, became his one sole companion. Life happened and he survived. Until now. That was the other pressing distinction between them. She… sought this darkness. One way or another. She was jumping into an inferno, having never played with the flicker of a candle flame. That would mean she’d have no coping mechanisms in place to deal with the monster in front of her. There was no leashing that suffering once it found her, and it inevitably would if she kept looking for it. It would wrest all the control and snatch away the ground she stood on. That is what he believed anyway. Should he then provide the flickering flame and the hearth? Is that what she wanted, is that what drew her to him? Could he teach her what she needed to learn if she were so set on this path?

“Never mind…” Akira whispered when her question was met with a pressing silence. She turned away again and closed her eyes. “What?” He asked absently, his thoughts had consumed him so entirely, he forgot the question they were borne out of. He recalled the conversation quickly enough, without needing another prompt. “You know there is more… Shira” He sounded stilted.

♫…Soles of your shoes are Are all worn down… ♫ She half-sung and half-hummed along with the song as it tapered to its end. She stretched and curled her toes, twisting to fit in the mould he made… Stolen covers, shared skin. She let her better judgement win and did not push the issue, unless he felt like divulging more himself. He did not. ♫…The time for sleep is now…♫ “But it’s all in the past now. You should get some rest, ‘Jared didn’t let me sleep’ won’t be an acceptable excuse to slip at training.”

~~~

♩…But it's n-nothing to cry about…♩” With the memories, her songs followed too. Holding notes while holding herself up was hard, but it was worth the effort as the trill hung poignantly in the room. The words only drew the tears that clung to her lashes, she ensured they didn’t fall and streak the grime her cheeks had collected off the walls.

There was a constant tug of impatience as he paced and waited for it to be long enough. A part of Jared was eager to get back. He couldn’t put a finger on why. What was he expecting to really resolve now? Time needed to soften her, so he could get on with business. This wasn’t something he’d struggled with before; this was the easiest part of interrogations he’d conducted in the past. But then, she wasn’t just any captive. Maybe it was time he came to terms with that. Objectivity would be harder to use as an anchor. But perhaps, that was his edge.

So, he fell prey to his impatience. Shuffling back to her holding cell. He heard her voice and it made him stop in his track. It was not just any song either… It had a firm spot in their playlist. His hand teetered over the latch as he waited. ♩“….'Cause we'll hold each other s-soon”…♩ It was sung slower than the original, giving it a beautifully eerie tone. Something rattled behind her. She fell silent and snatched the piece of glass off the floor. The door creaked open, he blocked most of the the light that pooled in, the bit that leaked past acted like an ambient spotlight on Akira. He remained by the threshold. “You know that song is special, by all means do finish…” She held the piece tightly enough to peel the scab and freshen the cut. Her breath hitched as she quickly blinked away the tears. No, I can’t show weakness. The lyric was too perfect, it longed to grace the moment. Who was she to stop them… “♩…I-in the blackest of rooms... ♩” [Category 2] [I’ve used ‘Bad things’ and ‘I’ll follow you into the dark’ as anchors for the post, I do not own the songs.]

#captive #interrogation #songs-and-flashbacks #implied-nsfw #badthingshappenbingo #context-focused #backstory #you and I me and you

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burlybanner · 5 years

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Drip (ScienceBrosWeek, 2019)

Second verse, same as the first.

Summary: Peering deep into the rabbit hole carries serious penalties.

Disclaimer: Again, this is different from my usual style and I’m not sure where this story is going. So I’m not sure when I’ll continue. But keep me honest; it’ll happen eventually.

Unbeta’d, same ol’ song.

Part 1 here. **

The ride down should’ve frightened Bruce more than it did. Maybe he was dissociating because it reminded him of too many things. Down, down they went. When he looked up, the opening from the ceiling shrank as they descended into the dark, the lips of the opening closing as slowly as they sank. But Bruce was more curious than anything; Clint had pressed one of the three buttons near his hip, but continued to flip through his magazine as if he could care less about his passengers. How could he see in the growing dark? Maybe he didn’t care; maybe that was part of his job, to appear unassuming.

He heard a sudden clank with the hydraulic elevator hum, and eerie pops and pings ramped his anxiety. Seconds passed before he noticed strings of industrial fairy lights waking up, welcoming them as they plunged into the deep. His anxiety flickered with the bulbs, ebbing and flowing as they pulsed on the dank dolostone like lightning bugs. He’d always liked lightning bugs. He hadn’t seen any in years; he wondered if they still existed.

“Hey. You with me?”

Tony’s voice, although a whisper, still echoed against the slick walls. Drips of karst water fell off the sides and disappeared into the ether. Somewhere in the distance he heard a drip-drip-kerplunk, another forgotten echo in a forbidden cavern.

“Always,” Bruce spat out, but Tony fumbled for his fingers anyway. It was just enough to shock him, something he loved and hated.

The platform screeched. Bruce wasn’t sure why he’d thought they’d be in some techo marvel of an elevator, like ones in the movies. He also didn’t think they’d be in some ridiculously slow mine elevator, either.

“Okay,” Clint finally said. The elevator rattled, bouncing to a stop. “First floor, ladies.”

“Really?”

“I call ‘em as I see ‘em.” Tony rolled his eyes as Clint turned a key and pressed another elevator button. The button glowed, maybe reading his thumbprint - hell, what did he know - and the gate squawked open. “This is where you get off.” Clint chuckled.

“I swear, Barton--”

“Sorry. But hey, it’s boring today. A guy’s gotta have fun wherever he can find it.”

“Never mind.” Tony didn’t seem too put out but he grabbed Bruce’s hand tighter and dragged him from the lift before it slowly ascended to heaven, with Clint safely tucked inside. Bruce blinked. He hadn’t seen the small bridge until now. A small walking bridge, joining the lift platform to another section of the cave.

“We’re gettin’ there.”

“Mm.” One foot. Two feet. Three--

“Hey. Can you do one more elevator?”

“Sure.”

He accidentally peered over the sides of the bridge before they were done walking; it was a long way down. A very long way. And Bruce wasn’t sure why Tony’s hand was so tight. He’d never grabbed his hand so tightly before. Wait, no. He had. But--

Blinking, Bruce felt his heart rate slow down. The lights were brighter, calming now. “Hm. We’re in a normal elevator.”

“He lives,” Tony crowed. “Astute as always, Dr. Banner.”

“Fuck off,” Bruce said, but not unkindly. The new elevator was similar to the ones at Stark International, from what he could ascertain. Smooth ride. Very, very fast. He was used to these, and found them quite pleasurable. Soothing, even.

“How long was I--”

“A few minutes. Barely enough.”

Bruce’s gaze followed Tony’s arm. “And yet you’re still holding my hand.”

“Am I?” Tony smirked, untangling his fingers from Bruce’s. A bead of sweat formed near Bruce’s temple and dribbled down his neck, joining the other stains from earlier.

“It’s been awhile.”

“Yeah. But to my credit, you haven’t dissociated like that in...?”

“Years.”

“But not months.”

“No. It’s better now.”

“Which is why I was holding your hand, to ground you.”

“Is that the only reason?”

Tony smiled but didn’t answer before the doors whooshed open. Bruce’s lips parted. People hustled in front of him holding stacks of paper. Phones rang. An admin yelled “please hold, I’ll transfer you” and someone else barked “coming through” while carrying a box of donuts and a jar of coffee. Florescent hums and its ugly glare over a white, gray, black decor. A typical day at the office and typical office workers. Except everyone wore black uniforms. Jumpsuits, really. Which would be less creepy if they didn’t mimic paramilitary organizations.

“Tony, what...Is this--”

Tony left the elevator and crooked a finger towards Bruce. He waited until Bruce joined him before announcing, “Welcome to SHIELD,” and bowing before him like it was some great honor. He could’ve just as well announced “Welcome to Sherwood Forest,” because the result would’ve been the same.

“SH...what?”

“C’mere. I’ll show you around. But stick close to me, yeah?” Tony purposely kept his steps slow as he weaved through the throngs, as if he’d done the very same thing countless times. Bruce’s eyes narrowed. Tony’d known about this place, been here. For a long time.

“Wait. Wait.” Bruce planted his feet, refusing to take another step. The office waltz around him took cues from Bruce’s stance and became quieter, less frenetic. Faces turned his direction and not all were welcoming. “What the hell is this, Tony? I can’t go with you.” He gestured wildly at the underground...lair? Villain’s castle? “Why the fuck am I here?”

Instantly Tony was beside him. Slinging an arm around his shoulders. Grounding him. “Sorry,” he murmured in Bruce’s ear. “Thought you’d break later.” Tony kept talking quietly but Tony’s body steered them from the crowds and towards another corner with less razzle-dazzle. Far less nonsense.

Tony nodded to a door, off to the side; the name Tony Stark was on the door.

Tony Stark, Assistant Director of SHIELD.

What?

“Shh,” Tony hushed, because he must’ve said it out loud. “C’mon, I’ll buy you a coffee. Tell you all about it inside.”

And Bruce went in because Tony told him to, and he’d always trusted him to this point. Tony wouldn’t steer him wrong. Couldn’t.

Tony’s arm was still around his shoulder but he somehow kicked open his door, leading Bruce into an office space barely half the size of what he had at SI yet still, somehow, intimidating. There was a small conference table surrounded by high end lounge chairs, abstract art on three walls with a heavy curtain covering the fourth, and a desk surrounded by two-shelf bookcases, straight from an episode of Mad Men.

“Sit,” Tony said, nodding to an overstuffed barrel chair beside one of the bookcases.

Bruce did. He let out a happy groan as his backside plunged into bliss.

Satisfied, Tony turned to a high-end coffee maker. The room was also big enough for a decent mini bar, of course; Tony opted to rest his coffee maker on the mini bar counter, maybe as a joke. His two favorite things in the world, together.

Two seconds later Bruce heard a hiss with a steady drip-drip-drip. He watched as a dark liquid titrated into a demitasse.

Tony slid a saucer beneath the cup. “You still like cioccolotta calda, right?”

Bruce shrugged. “I did when we went to Italy, that one time. You, me, and Rhodey.”

“Well. This will remind you of our trip. Guaranteed.”

Bruce snorted while adapting to everything. The chair hugged him like it was made for his dad bod, and he let himself feel it. Let it pull him out of the red zone, and into the black. When he felt near zero he spied the plush sheepskin rug, several inches deep, surrounded his chair.

“Go on. I know you want to.”

Bruce toed off his shoes and let his socked feet comb through the rug’s fluffy furry goodness. He sighed softly. “Like it was--”

“--made for you?” Tony finished. He handed him the Italian hot chocolate. “Yeah. Kinda the point.”

“Tony--”

“Shit. Wait, don’t drink it yet.”

Bruce sighed again and let his feet flex across the sheepskin. He almost tasted his cocoa despite Tony, but Tony jiggled his hand.

“Sheesh. So goddamn impatient. What did I say?” He dropped a dollop of whipped cream - fresh whipped, it seemed - into Bruce’s cocoa. “Now you can drink it.”

Bruce did, and involuntarily moaned as the flavors danced on his tongue.

“Yeah? See?” He grinned. “And they said it couldn’t be done.”

“Mm.” Bruce’s tongue darted to the corners of his lips, lapping up every stray drop of chocolate. He finished the cup, quietly placed the cup and saucer on the small bookshelf, folded his hands over his paunch, and let his head drape over the back of the chair.

Sighing deeply, Bruce closed his eyes. “Will you level with me now? You’re buttering me up for whatever it is. I get it. And I’m as calm as I’ll ever get today, so you might as well spit it out.”

He didn’t get an answer right away, but he didn’t expect to.

“Stop playing games with me.”

“I’m not, I’m...” Tony huffed, and Bruce opened one eye, watching him pace the length of his office. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner. That’s all.”

Bruce grunted. “So start with the small things. Like why you have a curtain on a wall with no windows.”

“Who said I don’t have windows?”

“Tony. We’re underground. At least a hundred meters, I imagine, if an operation like this is going on and no one’s noticed. But you have a curtain. Why the hell do you have a curtain, when there’s nothing to goddamn see?”

Tony laughed, probably the most genuine laugh he’d heard from him all day. A full out, head back laugh, and Bruce tiredly lifted his head. “Oh, Brucie,” Tony said. He chuckled a few times. “If that’s all you wanted to know, well. That’s easy.”

He toggled something under his desk - another fucking switch, Bruce thought sharply. He rolled his head over the back of the chair as the curtains slowly parted, not caring in the least for Tony’s “big reveal.”

“I’ve got one of the best views in the world.”

“Sure you do,” Bruce grunted. He rubbed his eyes and slowly sat back up. “What could you possibly have that other rich bas...”

He stopped. Rubbed his eyes. Looked again. Then tripped to his feet and went to the very edge of the window. Tall waterfalls, lush grasses and dense jungle flora and fauna filled his view. The waterfall spilled into a subterranean lake, and from the lake’s current, Bruce guessed a river was in there somewhere, too.

Eden. No, better than Eden.

“I...it’s beautiful.” Words failed him.

“Yeah, I think so.” Tony shuffled his feet. “I’ve got the best view in the house. I think there might be a few birds to the west of the falls,” he said, nodding to the window. “Dunno how they even got in, but whatever. Mi casa, and all that.”

Bruce gripped the glass, unable to drink it in fast enough. “How?”

“You’ve heard of Sơn Đoòng cave?”

“Of course.”

“Well Dad found out, and wanted to recreate it. Make it ‘better’ or whatever. Not because he was an environmentalist, though. He wanted to prove he could it. And in America, no less.”

Bruce scowled, tearing away from the idyllic picture. “Stop lying to me. Hang Sơn Đoòng wasn’t discovered before the 90s.”

“Fine, then.” Tony nodded to the scene. “Explain that, Mr. Scientist.”

But Bruce couldn’t. Instead he pretended he wasn’t dreaming, hoped he wasn’t, even though it felt like it. He wanted, very badly, to take a nap somewhere in there. To get completely lost in it. “I can’t help thinking,” he murmured. He splayed his hands over the window, as if purifying his soul. If he could translate the beauty, bottle it, and drink it. He would be absolved. Completely, utterly absolved.

“I can’t help that, despite how beautiful this is, there’s a snake somewhere.” Bruce’s heart crumbled in ways he hoped wouldn’t. God, he could be so, so cynical but he was usually right. It’s what kept him alive so long. “Is this the reason you brought me here? I wish it was, I want it to be. I hope it is. But...it isn’t, is it?”

Tony slowly shook his head and smiled sadly. He dropped his gaze and fixed himself a drink. “Need you for more than the great views, buddy. I’d hoped I wouldn’t have to add you to the roster. But we need you.”

Bruce swallowed and let himself view Eden, unspoiled, one last time before biting the apple of truth. “It never runs smooth, does it?”

“Nope.” Tony poured a shot of whiskey and gulped it down. “Never does.”

#sciencebrosweek2019 #part two #drip #of the story that has no direction and is surprising me #seriously I don't know what to call it yet #don't know where it's going #bruce banner/tony stark #stanner #science bros #sciencebrosweek #@sciencebrosweek

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terrasilvershade · 6 years

Text

Here’s the fic

Sorry bout the formatting, not entirely used to Tumblr’s stuff yet.

I hope y’all like it, sorry it's a bit short.

I’m not good at titles.

Tony sat up abruptly in his bed, feeling the cold sweat run down his back as his chest heaved. He desperately tried to remember how to breathe, going in and out deeply, and slowly pulled himself out of the panic attack. His hands tightly gripped the sheets and he was glad for the feeling of the smooth silk as it helped ground him when his brain was on overdrive. Usually, Steve was here to help calm him down, to rub his back and tell him it was ok, but Steve was out on a mission, leaving Tony to silently suffer on his own. He never told Steve about these times, the protective super soldier always told him that Tony was more important than any mission but he still couldn’t bring himself to ‘bother’ his partner. Even when tears were streaming down his face and his body was shaking like a leaf. Feeling the panic slowly bubble out of his system, Tony ran a hand through his matted hair and sighed, resting his head on his knees and trying to ignore the nauseous feeling in his stomach. He wasn’t sure his legs would be able to carry him to the toilet if his last meal, which was probably longer ago than it should've been, decided to resurface. He closed his tired eyes and took some deep breaths, ignoring how much his hands were still shaking, and blocked the memories of his most recent nightmare with happy thoughts of Steve and their son Peter. After a few minutes in his ‘happy place’, Tony regained enough strength to stand up and begin walking to the kitchen to get some coffee, accepting that he wasn't going to get any more sleep that night. As he turned down the hallway he saw that the kitchen light was on. Nobody else was in the compound but he and Peter; Steve was out on the mission with Nat and Clint, Rhodey was busy overseas with PR bs, and Thor was up in Asgard doing who knows what, so there was only one possibility. Peter was sitting at the kitchen counter with a half-eaten bowl of mint chocolate chip ice cream in front of him. He didn't seem to notice Tony come in, just continued staring into his ice cream with bloodshot eyes and hugged his arms close to his chest. It wasn't until Tony tapped him on the shoulder that the 7-year-old realized he wasn't alone. Unfortunately, he wasn't really focusing on his surroundings and kinda went into ninja fighting mode as soon as Tony’s hand touched him. He leaped over the counter with incredible speed and landed on the wall, ready to shoot webs at his attacker if he needed to. He was tense for a few moments and then he looked into his father's eyes and sheepishly climbed back onto the floor, trying to ignore the mess of ice cream and broken bowl on the floor. “Sorry Dad, I uh, I thought-” Tony didn't let him finish before wrapping his son in his arms, holding him tight until the boy began to cry again. He grabbed Tony’s shirt and buried his face in it, sobbing so hard that his entire body shook with every breath. Tony just held him. He had hoped Peter would be spared from the nightmares but unfortunately, it was impossible given their line of work. They never told him all the details but he was a smart boy, he knew what it meant for them to walk out that door. That’s why Captain America and Iron Man no longer went on missions together: if something went wrong they didn't want Peter to be alone. Both Tony and Steve had lost their parents and neither of them wanted Peter to experience that. They stayed like that, kneeling on the kitchen floor in each others embrace, for what seemed like hours until Peter pulled away and rubbed his eyes on the sleeve of his dinosaur pajamas. “Wh-when is Papa coming home?” He asked with a quivering voice. “Soon buddy, very soon.” Tony kissed him on the forehead, gently running his hands through Peter’s hair. He whimpered in response and then pressed his face back into Tony’s shoulder. “Do you want to talk about what happened?” “It was so scary,” Peter mumbled through his tears. He was trying to control his breathing as Tony had done earlier but his voice was still coming out in short squeaky bursts. “Papa was ambushed. He started fighting all the bad guys but then-then he-and-” Another torrent of tears came and he clung to Tony like a lifeline. “I was there but I couldn’t help him and then he got shot and he screamed and there was so much blood and he stopped moving and-and-” “Shh. Petey its ok.” Tony whispered soothingly. “Your Papa is just fine. He’s Captain America remember? Nothing can beat Captain America.” Peter whined and buried his face deeper in Tony’s shoulder. The little boy still hasn't stopped shaking. Poor thing. At this rate, he’d be crying all night long. Just then, Tony had an idea. “JARVIS?” “Yes, sir?” “Call Steve and put it on speaker.” Tony may have felt guilty calling Steve to calm him down but this was for Peter, and who better to say that Captain America was alive and well then the man himself? Peter was silent and still while the phone rang. He counted one ring, two rings, three rings. By five rings Peter’s heart sank. Maybe his Papa was too busy or maybe his dream was real and he actually was in- “Hello? Tony?” Before Tony could say anything, Peter climbed over his shoulder, which he was a bit too big to do so, and sat right next to the projected video call, almost touching it. “Papa?” Peter didn't take his eyes off Steve for even a millisecond. After looking at Peter’s bloodshot eyes, puffy face, and overall weary appearance, Steve pieced together what had happened and spoke in his signature soothing tone, “I’m ok buddy, see?” He gestured to himself, showing off his dirty but blood-free uniform and that he still had all four limbs. “Those guys were no match for Captain America.” He struck a pose and that got a laugh out of Peter, who seemed to be more at ease. “Did the mission go ok Cap?” “Nobody got injured if that’s what you’re asking. Some old buildings got damaged and Ross is making a big deal out of it, otherwise, we’d be home already.” Tony grumbled under his breath at the mention of the infamous Secretary of State who, for some reason, had made it his mission to paint the Avengers in the worst light possible. He was glad Steve was dealing with him; Ross hated Tony the most and tended to push his buttons whenever they crossed paths and that usually ended with someone getting punched. “Good luck with that.” “If this keeps up much longer, I’m not the one who’ll be needing luck. An angry Natasha’s worse than the Hulk.” Peter laughed and Tony cracked a smile; hell hath no fury like a pissed off Russian. “Is Auntie Nat gonna punch somebody?” “I don’t know anyone who can stop her from doing what she wants, but I don’t think she’s at that point yet. Yet.” There was a murmur offscreen from Nat herself and Steve added, “She says she’s got thirty more minutes of patience, so we’ll be done by then one way or another.” Tony was already counting down the seconds until he had his Steve back in his arms again. Now that he knew that Steve wasn't in danger and he’d be home soon, Peter was infinitely calmer and his body slowly began to remember just how late it was. He gave one big yawn and then crawled back into Tony’s arms. “You ready to go back to bed bud?” Peter nodded sleepily. “You’ll come to say hi when you get back, right Papa?” “Of course Peter. Goodnight and I hope you have sweet dreams.” Steve smiled sweetly as Tony picked up their tired son. “Night-night Papa,” Peter mumbled as he desperately tried to keep his eyes open. Tony ended the call before heading back upstairs to Peter’s bedroom. He was pretty much asleep by the time that Tony had put him into bed. He tucked his boy in and kissed him goodnight but before he left a tiny voice asked, “Dad? Can you hand me my Captain America plushie?” Smiling, he went to the shelf and grabbed the toy in question, an old Captain America plush doll that Peter had gotten for his third birthday. He handed Peter the doll and he hugged it tightly before laying back down under the covers. No more nightmares tonight.

#stony fanfiction #stony superfamily fanfic #writing

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foreverfangirl2011 · 6 years

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Demons of the Past Final Chapters

Hey Lovelies,

So here they are, the final chapters of Demons of the Past. Happy reading and I’ll ttyl.

Chapter 5: He’s Back

The Next Morning

I woke up to the warm sun shining in on us. I opened my eyes and saw my Bailey, sleeping soundly. I watched his chest slowly rise and fall, god it must’ve been the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen. How did I get so lucky? I thought as I leaned down and gently kissed his chest. Not yet ready to get up I lay my head on his chest and snuggled into him. Just as I was drifting back off I felt him shift and put his arm around me.

“Hey you…” he says sleepily rubbing his eyes and running his fingers through his hair.

“Hey babe… still tired from last night?”

“Can you blame me? You drive me crazy, its like as soon as I start I can’t stop.”

“Is that so Mr. Dolan? I do that to you? Little old me?” I say now sitting up and straddling his lap.

“Don’t start now babe, your not strong enough yet. I can feel your legs shaking.” He was right of course, my legs were threatening to give out. We really went at it last night.

“I know, but you make me crazy too…” I reply leaning down and connecting your lips to his. He kisses back as he sits up and pulls me into his lap.

“So shower and then breakfast?” He asks breaking the kiss and resting his forehead on mine.

“Sounds perfect.”

He stands up and extends a hand to me.

“Carry me…” I pout.

“Wow I must be really good.” He says chuckling and picking me up bridal style.

“Yes you are Bailey…” I reply placing a gentle kiss on his chest. After our shower we get dressed and I start making breakfast. Bailey sets the table and then sits and waits for me. Just as I flip the last pancake I get a notification on my phone. Its from my period app reminding me to drink water. But it makes a realization suddenly dawn on me.

“Oh my god Gray did we use protection last night?” I ask setting the breakfast on the table.

“We- we must’ve, we did didn’t we?”

“I don’t remember, I mean we were definitely not drunk.”

“Yeah we had like one drink with dinner. We were talking to your mom on the phone and then we kinda had like a mini fight and then…”

“Oh god we didn’t, how could we be that careless?”

“I don’t know we just got carried away I guess…” he says running his fingers up my arm.

“Babe… this is not good.”

“Yeah but these are!” He says gesturing to the pancakes.

“Glad you like them, but I’m serious!”

“I know, listen it was just one time right. Lets not freak just yet ok? Lets just wait a while and see what happens.”

“Ok, I guess theres nothing else to do right now anyway.”

“Exactly, now lets enjoy our breakfast and then maybe go hang at the beach for a while?”

“Yeah that sounds good.”

After that day we kind of forgot about the whole issue for a while. We hung out at the beach all day and handled wedding stuff the next day. Then it was back to work as usual. We even forgot about the warning from Naidene. Bailey was picking me and dropping me off but I actually loved it. I loved getting to spend that extra time with him. A few weeks had gone by and one day I woke up one day not feeling too well. As soon as I opened my eyes I felt nauseous. I ran into the bathroom and threw up. Bailey ran in after me and held my hair back. When I was finished we both just looked at each other. In our hearts we knew what it was, but we had to be sure. We didn’t want to trust a home test so we went to a clinic. They took the test and left us alone in the room while they got the results. I just couldn’t take it anymore and I broke down into tears, my head in my hands I felt like I couldn’t breathe.

“Baby its ok, everything is going to be ok.”

“I’m so sorry Bailey, its like the worst timing. I mean with the wedding and everything-“

“Shh, its ok. I know the timing is not the greatest, but hey we both wanted this someday right?”

“I mean yeah of course.”

“So its a little sooner than we thought, but I know we can handle it. You and me together, we can do anything. I can feel it whenever I’m with you. You make me feel like I can fly, like theres nothing I can’t do. We have each other, we can do this!”

“How do you always know exactly what I need to hear? You know what your right. Its gonna be ok, we can do this. You and me, for now, forever-“

“And for always.” He says interlocking his fingers with mine and resting his forehead on mine. Just then the doctor walks back in.

“Congratulations, your six weeks pregnant!” She says handing us the results.

Once we found out about the pregnancy things changed. We had to be extra careful, we suddenly had a lot more to lose. Everything was going fine until 2 weeks before the wedding. I was at work getting ready to leave. I shut down my computer and headed to my locker to pick up my things. My heart almost stopped when I opened it. Placed on the top shelf was the ring Harrison had given to me. The one I had given back when we broke up. The ring sat on top of a small yellow envelope and there was a small piece of paper rolled up inside it. Shakily I reach for the ring and pull the paper out of it. Its a torn piece of lined paper. Written on the inside in Harrison’s handwriting is two words: I’m Back… I gasped and my knees almost gave out. Still holding the note and the ring I reached for the envelope. I opened it and fell back onto the bench behind me. Inside were pictures of me! At the cafe across the street, being dropped off and picked up by Bailey and even some standing in the kitchen in our apartment! I throw the ring in the envelope and shove it into my bag. Just then my phone rings making me jump. I look at the caller id and let out a sigh of relief as I see its just Bailey.

“Hey babe, I’m like five minutes away sorry I’m a little late traffics a bitch you know.”

“Oh ok…” I respond nervously, suddenly very anxious. I look around and realize no one is around.”

“You ok Y/N? You sound a little weird.”

“No, no I’m not ok Bailey. Somethings happened, you have to get here quickly and tell Ethan to meet us at the apartment and tell him not to leave Alicia alone!” I answer frantically running around the office looking for anyone.

“What happened? Are you alone right now?”

“Yes, I- I can’t find anyone around here! Oh my god! Oh my god where is everyone?”

“Ok just hang on, I’ll be right there. Y/N what the hell happened?”

“Its him, he’s back. He got out somehow. He left the ring he gave me in my locker and an envelope with pictures of me. Even some in our apartment! Babe please hurry, I’m really freaking out right now.

“Just stay on the line with me, everything is going to be ok.”

“Ok, babe how far are you- AAH!”

Bailey’s POV

“Y/N! Y/N!” I scream but the line cuts out before I hear an answer. Frantic I call Ethan.

“Hey bro whats-“

“Ethan no time to explain I need you right now!”

“Where?”

“Y/N’s work and bring Alicia, do not leave her alone!”

“Why whats going on?”

“Bro I told you theres no time!”

“Gray!”

“Its Harrison, somehow he got out and he’s been stalking her! I was just talking to her and she told me. Then I heard a scream and the line went dead.” I explain quickly.

“We’re on our way.” He says hanging up. 2 minutes later I pull up to her office. I dash out of the car and try the front doors but they’re locked. Son of a bitch! I think running to the back door.

Y/N’s POV

I turn around and I’m faced with Harrison. He stands across the room and starts walking towards me.

“St- stay the hell away from me!” I stammer grabbing a letter opener from a nearby desk.

“Put that down Y/N we wouldn’t want anyone to get hurt would we.”

“What the hell are you doing here? What do you want?” I say, his smug attitude turning my fear into anger.

“You. All I want is you.”

“Well you can’t have me.”

“On the contrary, because you see if I can’t have you HE can’t have you.”

“Harrison please don’t do this. Don’t do something you’ll regret.”

“SHUT UP! YOU WERE MINE AND HE TOOK YOU- HE JUST TOOK YOU FROM ME. I LOVED YOU.” He screams punching one of the tables.

“He didn’t take me Harrison! You lost me! You lost me long before he came into the picture! How can you still not understand that?!”

“I thought if I got better we could be together again. But then I saw that announcement-“

“Harrison its good that your trying to get better, but I can’t be with you again. I- I love Grayson.”

“NOOO!” He yells throwing a chair.

His outburst startles me and I drop my purse. As it falls to the ground a bottle of prenatal vitamins rolls out and lands at his feet. He bends down and picks them up.

“Are- are you…pregnant?” He asks in a low voice without looking at me.

“Ye-yes.” I stammer.

Suddenly his eyes go dark and his knuckles white. I don’t know what he’s thinking, but I take the opportunity to try and run. I take off towards the back exit in the employee locker room.

“COME BACK HERE!” I hear him scream from behind me. But I don’t stop, I just keep moving. I throw a mailing cart in his way and he stumbles. But he catches up to me in the locker room. He backs me into a locker. One hand around me neck, the other positioning a gun at me temple.

“HE DOESN’T GET TO HAVE EVERYTHING! YOU, A BABY, A LIFE TOGETHER! ITS NOT FAIR! WHAT DO I GET TO SIT ON MY ASS IN REHAB ALONE! I MAKE ONE STUPID MISTAKE AND MY WHOLE LIFE IS OVER!”

“It was more than just one mistake Harrison! You and I both know that!” I scream back with all my might.

“SHUT UP! DID I SAY YOU COULD TALK!” He says grip tightening on my neck. Tears are streaming down my cheeks and I’m racking my brain for a way out. Suddenly I realize I still have the letter opener in my hand and I try to lift it, to stab him with it anywhere. He looks down and sees what I’m trying to do, he lets go of my neck and yanks the letter opener out my hand. Then he grabs my hair and pushes me down to the ground,

“Didn’t daddy ever tell you never bring a knife to a gun fight.”

Bailey’s POV

I run to the back door and its locked too. Harrison you bastard, what am I gonna do now? I think just as I hear my name being called.

“Grayson! Gray where are you?” Ethan calls.

“Back here! Back door!” I call back running to meet him and Alicia.

“Ok what’s the situation?”

“I don’t know the bastard locked both entrances. I don’t know how we’re gonna get in there. E I don’t know what he’s doing, god forbid-“

“Stop, don’t even go there bro. We’re just gonna have to break the door down. Babe go to the car and call 911.”

“But I want to help!”

“That is helping, please you know what he’s capable of. I need to keep you safe.” He pleads, gently grazing the side of her face.

“Ok, but be careful please… I don’t want to lose you.” She replies taking his hand in hers.

“I promise I will.” He says kissing her quickly before letting her go.

“Ok Gray, on the count of 3.” He says clearing his throat and turning back to me.

“Ok. 1… 2…”

Y/N’s POV

Harrison stands over me pointing a gun at my heart. I stare into his dark eyes unsure of what to do. Is this the end? I place a hand over my stomach and a sudden rush of motherly instinct pours over me. I’m not gonna give up that easily, I have to fight for my baby. I stand up and tackle him, trying to get the gun away from him.

“Please Sonny, you don’t have to do this.” Suddenly he froze. Sonny my personal nickname for him. I used to call him that because he loved Sonny and Cher. He always listened to them while he sculpted. We even went as them for halloween one year when we were dating. He always said he was my Sonny and I was his Cher… No one ever called him that accept me. As soon as that name came out of my mouth he stopped moving. He looked me in the eyes and it was incredibly intense. It was like I could feel the pain in them. I almost felt sorry for him. Suddenly he pushed me away from him.

“I’m so sorry Cher…” he said almost under his breath, before I could say anything he put the gun to his own temple and pulled the trigger.

“NO!!!!” I screamed, his blood splattering onto my face and clothes. I ran over to him just as the back door flew open.

Bailey’s POV

“Ok, 1…2…-“ suddenly a gun shot rang out. “Y/N!!!!” I screamed before we slammed into the door. Y/N was kneeling on the floor next to him screaming.

“HARRISON! HARRISON!” She screamed shaking him and trying to check for a pulse.

“Babe what happened!” I exclaim rushing to her side.

“Bailey he shot himself! I didn’t do it, he was gonna shoot me, he was gonna-“ she burst into tears and held in her in my arms desperately trying to calm her down.

“Shh, its ok. Its ok it wasn’t your fault.” Just then Alicia and Ethan come running over.

“The police and ambulance are on their way, are you ok Y/N?” Alicia says. She buries her head in my chest balling and holding me tight.

“She’s ok, he shot himself.”

“Ok, don’t worry Y/N everything going to be ok. We should still have a doctor check on her and the baby.”

“Yeah thats a good idea.” I respond. Suddenly we hear sirens. I start to try and get up but Ethan stops me.

“No you stay here with her, we’ll go and show them the way.

The police come in first followed by paramedics and soon a coroner and crime scene cleaners arrived. The paramedics take us to the hospital and an officer follows to take our statements while one stays behind to talk to Ethan and Alicia. The case was pretty open and shut as the officer put it. Everything Y/N did was out of self defence, plus the whole thing was caught on surveillance cameras around the office. No charges would be filed and the death would be classified as a suicide. After taking our statements and explaining all of this to us the officer left. Aside from some bruises on her neck and arms and a sprained ankle from being pushed down Y/N was completely ok. What we were really worried about was the baby. After they checked her out they ran some tests on the baby. We waited in that examination room for what felt like hours. She lay on the bed in a hospital gown, her clothes taken away for evidence. She reached out to me and I lay next to her, holding her in my arms as we both cried and cried and cried.

“I’m so sorry Bailey, this is all my fault.”

“Why? You didn’t make any of this happen, don’t even think that way.”

“I can’t explain it, at lunch I just had this nagging feeling that I should leave early. But for whatever reason I told myself I was being narcotic and ignored it. I should’ve just gone home-“

“It wouldn’t have mattered, he would’ve just followed you there.”

“I know that he did some terrible things… but I don’t know… he was still-“

“Someone you cared about? Its ok, I understand.”

“He was my first serious relationship, we knew each other for so long. I think some part of me thought that if he got better that we could somehow still be friends…” she says tears streaming down her cheeks.

“I know, thats one of the things I love about you. You have an extremely forgiving heart and you always try to find the best in everyone. Even after everything he put you through you refused to give up on him. Shh baby, its over now. Everything is going to be alright.”

“Hey everything alright?” Ethan asks entering the room with Alicia, they had gone to our apartment and picked up a set of clothes for Y/N before coming.

“She’s ok, they’re just running tests on the baby.”

“You are one of the strongest, bravest people I know.” Ethan says leaning down and gently hugging Y/N.

“Thanks E.”

“Yeah bro and I can’t thank you guys enough for being there tonight.” I say getting up and hugging them both.

“I’ll always be there for you Gray, no matter what.” Ethan says as we hug.

“Me too, for both of you.” Alicia says taking Y/N’s hand and giving her a quick peck on the cheek.

“Love you Ali.” Y/N says holding her hand tightly.

“Um so I have the results, may we have a moment.” The doctor says entering the room.

“Oh its ok their family.” I say.

“Alright, well its good news. You are a very lucky young lady. The babies are alright.”

“Oh that is such a- wait a minute did you just say babies?” I ask.

“As in plural?” Y/N adds.

“Oh yes, you didn’t know your having twins?”

“Oh my god twins! Bailey we’re having twins!” Y/N says reaching out for me. I engulf her in a hug speechless for what to say, we just hold each other tears streaming down both our cheeks.

“Congrats you guys!” Ethan and Alicia say together. We all hug and the doctor hands us our ultrasound before letting us know we’re good to go. When we left the hospital I knew it was the end of one chapter, but the beginning of the next.

Chapter 6: Finally Free

After that night everything changed. It changed my whole view on life. It really made me look at my life differently and appreciate every second of it. I was alive by chance, I had come so close to losing my life and my baby. I had to hold on to it tightly from now on. Live it to the fullest. For Harrison. He may have made mistakes, but he was still someone who I cared about. He was a big part of my life. It had changed Grayson too obviously. He never took a single second for granted, never missed a chance to tell me how much he loved me. And vice versa. We weren’t sure if it was appropriate for us to attend the funeral, but even after everything he’d put me through I felt like I needed to be there. I need to say goodbye and finally close that chapter of my life. I didn’t ask Bailey to go with me. This was something I needed to do and I knew in his heart Bailey just couldn’t face him. And I couldn’t force him to be there, no matter how much I wanted him to. The night before the funeral I couldn’t sleep at all. Harrison’s face was the only thing on my mind. Memories of our relationship played through my mind like a movie. I remembered all the good times; the day we met, our first date, our first kiss, the first time we said I love you, our first time… and how we reunited under the mistletoe. I thought of the hours upon hours we used to spend in his sculpting studio. Listening to Sonny and Cher, laughing… tears began rushing down my cheeks, I didn’t want to wake Bailey so I crept out onto out balcony and sunk into the big reclining chair that was out there. Suddenly all the bad memories didn’t matter. Everything that had happened, the way he treated me towards the end… I was so angry at him, I didn’t think I could ever forgive him. But now that he was gone thats all I wanted to do. I wanted to tell him it was ok. That I forgave him. But I couldn’t. I could never tell him anything again. He was gone. For a split second I wondered if I was still in love with him. But I looked down at my engagement ring and then my belly and I just knew. Bailey was the one. Harrison was a huge part of my life, but that part was over before he was gone. He was my first love and nothing could ever change that. But I realized now that the love I had with Harrison was nothing compared to what Bailey and I had. What we had was what I thought love was supposed to be. Not what it was. Love isn’t constantly forgiving him even though he never changes. Love isn’t one side fighting for the other. Its two sides dancing in perfect sync. Its two people working together to make something wonderful. It was what I had with Bailey. What we were making together. I think that the little part of me that loved Harrison was hurting so much right now that it almost made me forget that. I slowly stood up from the chair and walked towards the door. I opened it a crack and looked inside towards Bailey’s sleeping silhouette. Watching his heart beat, his chest slowly rise and fall I couldn’t help but smile. I was so god damn lucky, I fell in love twice. Most people couldn’t even find it once, but here I was, with the love of my life. I stood up and walked to the railing. Taking in the perfect starry night, silently thanking God for everything he gave and praying that Harrison was safe with him. Suddenly I heard something behind me. I turned around to see a sleep Bailey leaning agains the door frame.

“Oh babe, I’m so sorry did I wake you?” I ask suddenly shivering from the cool air.”

Without saying a word Bailey sighs, picks up the blanket from the chair and drapes it over my shoulders. I can tell something is bothering him but before I can ask him he walks back inside.

“Gray wait!” I say tossing the blanket back on the chair and following him inside. I reach for his shoulder and stop him before he gets back into bed. “Hey, if somethings bothering you you can tell me Bailey.” He sighs and turns to face me.

“He was your first love Y/N, I can’t compete with that…” he says plopping down onto the bed, head in his hands.

“Grayson look at me,” I say sitting next to him and bringing his gaze up to meet mine. “What Harrison and I had is what I thought love was. It was like adolescent love, we were just kids when we got to together we had no idea what real love was. I’ll admit we had a lot of fun in the beginning, but when things started getting serious it was always me fighting for him. I was the one who was always forgiving him even though he kept doing the same thing over and over again. Thats not real love. What you and I have thats real love. Being there for each other, taking care of each other and working hard to create something wonderful thats what you and I have. You’ve given me everything I could ever dreamed of,” I say placing is hand on my tummy “and I can never thank you for that. I just think that the little part of me that loved Harrison is hurting right now… but I’m so sorry if I made you feel like you weren’t good enough. The truth is I think I’m just feeling guilty about never forgiving him, you know never getting to say it to his face, because now I’ll never get the chance…”

“You don’t have anything to feel guilty about love, as long as you’ve forgiven him in your heart all you can do is pray that he knows that… and I think he does.” He replies squeezing my hand.

“Do you have any idea how much I love you?” I asks running my fingers through his hair. He leans forward and places a soft kiss to my lips.

“Love you more…” He says resting his forehead on mine. “You know what, I think I’d like to come with you tomorrow.”

“Are you sure? Baby its really ok, you don’t have to.”

“No, I want to. I just want to pay my respects, besides I don’t want you to do this alone.”

“Thank you Bailey, you have no idea how much this means to me.

The next morning the two of us flew back Jersey for the service. My whole family was there and we all paid our respects. As I placed a single yellow rose on the casket I said my final goodbye. Bailey by my side the entire time. I was finally free, it was finally over.

Chapter 7: Happily Ever After

We decided out of respect to move the wedding to September, the day we first met; which Bailey adorably remembered! We also decided to get married in Australia, our home away from home. As the big day got nearer our excitement grew and grew. Finally it was September 4th. The night before the wedding. We stayed in separate hotel rooms that night.

“Ok babe, so I’ll see you tomorrow…” I say as I leave he and Ethan’s room.

“Yep, tomorrow…” He replies kissing my forehead and then getting on his knees and kissing my huge belly. I sigh and run my fingers through his hair. “Hey you ok? Getting cold feet?” He asks standing up.

“Not a chance, I just cant believe how lucky I am.” I say placing one hand on his cheek and the other on my belly.

“I love you so god damn much.” He says connecting our lips in a rough kiss. I cup his cheeks and pull him a close as I can.

“Alright you love birds, break it up! you’ll see each other in the morning!” Jess says walking up to us.

“Bye…” I whisper breaking the kiss.

“Sleep well princess…” he says kissing my nose and letting me go. I start to walk away holding his hand as long as I can until Jess finally pulls us apart.

Wedding Day

The next morning everyone buzzed around getting ready. Our suite was hair and makeup central for the bridesmaids. My dress (which had taken me months to find) was steamed and waiting for me. It was perfect, a very modest sweetheart neckline and diamond detailing right above the bump. It flowed beautifully and I felt beautiful in it. I wore my hair up and finished the look with a long veil and a bouquet of purple roses. Jess was just about to put my veil on for me when mom walked in.

“Oh baby you look so beautiful!” She exclaims upon seeing me.

“Thanks mom! I’m so nervous!”

“Don’t worry honey, as soon as you see him that’ll all fade away.”

“She’s right Y/N, as soon as I saw Kyle standing at the end of the isle all my nerves just disappeared.”

“I just hope I don’t throw up.” I saw rubbing my belly.

“Trust me you’ll be fine sweetie.” Mom says rubbing my shoulder. “I have something for you.” She says pulling a box from behind her back. She hands me the box and I open and gasp. Inside is our grandmothers rose diamond encrusted brooch.

“Mom are you sure?”

“Yes, I want you to wear it today. I wore it on my wedding and Jessica on hers, its your turn now.”

“Thank you, I love you mom.” I exclaim turning and hugging her and Jess. I fasten the brooch in my hair and Jess secures my veil. I look myself over in the mirror one last time just as Ethan pokes his head in the room.

“Ok we’re gonna head to the church- oh wow, Y/N you look amazing!” He says catching sight of me.

“Thanks E, so how is he?”

“Shot full of nerves, but he’ll be ok. Me too, I guess just thinking about how this’ll be us in a few months Ally.” He says walking up to her and kissing her on the cheek.

“I still cant believe he popped the question.” She replies.

“I’m so happy for you guys, but honestly I’m kinda nervous too. Ethan would you tell him I love him.”

“He knows, but yeah I’ll tell him. See you guys out there.” He says before leaving. As he leaves my dad enters the room.

“Ok baby, you all set- Oh Y/N, your so beautiful!”

“Thanks dad, yeah I’m all set. Lets do this.” He takes my arm and leads me out. My mom and the bridesmaids all behind me. My knees shake the whole ride to the church. But as soon as we arrive all the anxiety melts away. The bridesmaids head inside and I head to the garden, where Bailey waits for me. I walk out see him standing back facing me at the end of the path. I take a deep breath and slowly walk towards him. I reach a shaky hand out and tap him on the shoulder. He inhales deeply and slowly turns around.

“Hey you…” I say.

“Oh my god babe… you look stunning!” He says hugging me, on the verge of tears.

“Thanks, you look amazing too!” I reply holding him tight.

“I love you so much…” he says breaking the hug and looking at me again.

“Love you more… so you ready for this?”

“Yeah, so ready…” he says grazing the side of my face and then placing a hadn’t on my belly.”

“Oh looks like their ready too!” I say feeling the babies kick.

“Wow, I can really feel both of them!” He exclaims.

“Come here you!” I say pulling him in for a sweet kiss.

“Hey lovebirds! We’re ready when you are!” Jess calls from the church. We break apart from each other and he takes my hand, leading me inside. When we get inside he goes into the church with his parents and my mum and dad take my arms. The bridesmaids and groomsmen enter before me. First Jess and Kyle, then Ethan and Alicia, then Cameron and her boyfriend. Finally my niece Genevieve, the flower girl walked in tossing rose petals and then it was my turn. The doors open and we stepped inside. My mom on my right and dad on my left. I looked ahead at my Bailey, tears in his eyes. I had never felt so loved in my life. We reached the altar and I gave my mom a kiss first.

“I love you baby…” she whispered letting go of me and taking her seat. Then I turned to my dad. Suddenly tears fill my eyes. He leans forward and kisses my cheek.

“I love baby girl…” he whispers.

“I love you too dad…” I whisper back. He smiles and takes my hand placing it in Grayson’s.

“You take care of my daughter son.” He says.

“I promise.” Gray replies. My dad smiles at him and lets me go before taking his seat.

“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to join this man and this woman in holy matrimony. The bride and groom will now recite their vows to each other. We’ll start with the groom.”

“6 years ago today I met this incredible girl before me. She was smart and witty and beautiful, inside and out. Y/N I still can’t believe you said yes, that your standing front of me right now and this is happening. I guess what I’m trying to say is falling in love with you has been the greatest adventure of my life. And I can’t wait to start this new adventure with you.” He says placing a hand on my belly. “ I place my hand over his as he wipes a tear from my face.

“And now the bride.” The pastor says turning to me.

“Bailey, my sweet Bailey. There are so many things I wish I could say right now, millions of reasons why I love you. But what it comes down to is this, you were there for me when I really needed you. You were always there for me. And I don’t know if I can ever repay you for that. You make me feel like I can fly, even when my feet are on the ground. And I can’t wait to start this new life with you, not just as husband and wife but also as parents. I love you to the moon and back, and I always will.”

“That was lovely my dear, may we have the rings?”

Baileys little cousin Shane then walks up to us with the rings.

“Thanks little man, you did great!” Gray whispers as we take the rings from him and quickly hugging him.

“Do you Grayson Bailey Dolan take Y/F/N to be your lawfully wedded wife as long you both shall live?” The pastor says to Gray.

“I do.”

“Then place the ring on her finger and say with this ring I thee wed.”

“With this ring I thee wed.” He says placing the ring on my finger.

“And do you Y/F/N take Grayson Bailey Dolan to be your lawfully wedded husband as long as you both shall live?”

“I do.”

“Then place the ring on his finger and say with this ring I thee wed.

“With this ring I thee wed.” I say slipping the ring onto his finger.

“Now that they have formalized the existence of the bond between them with words spoken and with the giving and receiving of rings, it is my pleasure to pronounce Grayson and Y/N husband and wife. You may now kiss your bride!”

With those words, Grayson leans forward and connects our lips in a passionate kiss. I cup his cheeks and pull him close, smiling into the kiss. Finally, we break apart and our family and friends all cheer and throw rose petals at us as we leave the church. A few months later, at the beginning of January I gave birth to our beautiful identical twins girls. Elena Rose and Elizabeth Grace, who we would call Lena and Liza. We were so incredibly happy. We had each other, we had our girls and everything was perfect. It was the beginning of our happily ever after.

#dolan twins #dolan twins imagines #grayson dolan imagine #grayson bailey dolan #bailey #Demons Of The Past

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haven-raven012591 · 6 years

Text

Balor

Chapter 4

Warning: Some smut

As soon as everything was worked out in the human world they'd start their lives here. His human form loved her as well it was nice that if she was needed it would be as a couple. He dried off and put on clothes. All he really wanted to ware was his boxers and sleep pants. She had loved running her hands over his chest and he wondered if she would again. When he saw her on the bed curled loosely around a sleeping Hanna his heart skipped a beat. There was a knock on the door and he got it. “The soup and broth the mistress asked for.” Demon said. “Take it back.” Bálor said. “Oh no bring it in and set it down.” (Y/N) said. She moved slowly as the demon sat it down. “Yes mistress anything else?” Demon asked. She looked at Bálor and shook her head. “Thank you.” (Y/N) said. “Mistress?” Demon asked confused. “Thank you.” (Y/N) said. The demon bowed and left. She went to the bed and kissed Hanna. “Wake up baby girl your soups here.” (Y/N) said softly. She woke up and nodded.

(Y/N) sat her at the table and then went to Bálor. “The broth is for you now eat.” (Y/N) said. “I require more than that and I am not sick as you can see I am recovered fully.” Bálor said. She looked him over and nodded. “I see.” (Y/N) said. He sat her down and then sat down himself. “You eat it.” Bálor said. She did and Hanna giggled. Bálor smiled at her and then looked at (Y/N) who looked green. She ran to the bathroom and got sick. He waited and when she came out he caught her. “Easy grá lay back down now.” Bálor said. He helped her to the bed and she slid between the sheets she sighed. “Seems as though food isn't my friend.” (Y/N) said. “I'll have something brought in like fruit and other things light for you later.” Bálor said. Hanna slid from the table and climbed on to the bed.

“Mommy are you ok?” Hanna asked. “I'll be ok my little princess as long as you cuddle with me.” (Y/N) said. Hanna coughed and (Y/N) sat up groaning a little. Bálor took Hanna sat her on the floor. “Let me make mommy a little more comfortable pixy.” Bálor said. “She's fae now?” (Y/N) asked. Bálor felt her forehead and got a cool cloth washing her face. “You’re so warm.” Bálor said. “I'll be ok.” (Y/N) said. “Mommy.” Hanna said. “Shh baby girl.” (Y/N) said. He caressed her cheek and felt her heart slowing. “(Y/N).” Bálor said. “Damn angel.” (Y/N) whispered. He put Hanna on the bed and left. Hanna laid on her chest and (Y/N) closed her eyes. “You said she was mine and still you send your angel to kill her.” Bálor yelled. Gabriel appeared and smirked. “Is she dying?” Gabriel asked. “You did this you can undo it.” Bálor said. “I can but I won't.” Gabriel said.

Bálor grabbed him and slammed him against the wall. “I have waited for her for centuries and she was promised me now you will undo what you've done or I'll unleash hell on Earth.” Bálor growled. His eyes were jet black and his bat like wings spread out behind him as his claws came out. “Intimidation come on Bálor you can do better than that.” Gabriel laughed. “I will rip you into tiny pieces if you do not undo this.” Bálor roared. “Poor Bálor he finally gets the woman he's waited for and then she gets snatched away again.” Gabriel said. Bálor started pounding him into the wall breathing harder with each hit. Gabriel ducked and grabbed Bálor’s wings trying to rip them off. Bálor grabbed the man’s dirty blond hair and pulled his wings in slammed the man into the wall growling. “This is my domain you fool, you don’t have the upper hand here.” Bálor said leaning in.

Gabriel growled and kicked him off landing on his feet. “You and I will do this dance forever brother.” Gabriel smirked Bálor’s eyes narrowed and smirked as he tackled him. “Then I shall relish kicking your ass forever.” Bálor said as he grabbed Gabriel’s head and stared into the angels ice blue eyes. Bálor bashed Gabriel’s head into the floor repeatedly. (Y/N) sat up and shook her head feeling woozy but better. She ran to find him telling Hanna to hide and to only come out when she heard her or Bálor's voice. “Bálor.” (Y/N) breathed seeing him and the half dead angel in his claws. He turned and she stepped back then went to him as his head dropped. Gabriel laughed and Bálor ripped his throat out.

“Hey, let him go baby I'm ok.” (Y/N) said touching his hand. Gabriel gargled a laugh and she slapped him hard. “Leave before I let him finish you.” (Y/N) said. He stumbled away and she took Bálor's hand. “You see (Y/N) this is what I am.” Bálor breathed. “I know that.” (Y/N) said. “Is this what you want our daughter to see?” Bálor asked. “Hanna is very special Bálor.” (Y/N) said. “I know that.” Bálor snapped. “Come on love let's go back.” (Y/N) said. He cupped her cheek and she looked up at him. “You're both too good, to pure for me to taint with evil.” Bálor said. “I am not leaving you Bálor you've been there when no other has when I needed you there you were to hold me and plot revenge on those that dared to hurt me.” (Y/N) said. He was still in his full demon form and as much as it freaked her out she was oddly ok with it.

He kissed her and she wrapped her arms around his neck. He picked her up and pinned her to the wall. Her hands went into his hair and pulled on the tendrils when he did something she liked. Her legs wrapped around his waist and he pulled back. “You're kissing the devil.” Bálor said. “And want to do so much more, when will you understand Bálor I was born to love you.” (Y/N) said. He took her face in his hands and she put hers over them closing her eyes. “Is that so?” Bálor asked smirking. “Yes.” (Y/N) said. He carried her back to his room kissing her along the way. She'd never felt like this with a man, a man had never touched her like this, here she was about to give the most precious gift she had to a demon. “Stop I've got to get Hanna out of hiding.” (Y/N) said.

He reverted back to his normal form and she smiled. “Hanna.” (Y/N) called. “Pixy come out its safe.” Bálor called. They heard a noise and then a thump and ran to his closet. He opened the door and there she was in one of his shirts that was a dress and she looked upset. “What's wrong pixy?” Bálor asked. “I ripped it a little I'm so sorry Daddy.” Hanna said. He picked her up and looked at the shirt. (Y/N) looked at it and poked her nose. “Easy fix baby girl.” (Y/N) said. “You sew?” Bálor asked. “Yes.” (Y/N) said. He got a maid to get her a sewing kit and he watched. “Sire will you need me tonight?” Maid asked. (Y/N) poked her finger. “Oww shit.” (Y/N) said. “Mommy?” Hanna asked. “I'm ok baby girl just poked myself is all I don't know how many times I've done that.” (Y/N) joked. “Will you teach me?” Hanna asked. “When you’re older I will, see easy fix.” (Y/N) said holding up the shirt.

Bálor looked at the maid. “No.” Bálor said. She went out and (Y/N) looked at him with knowing eyes. “How about a tour.” Bálor said. “How about no.” (Y/N) said. “(Y/N).” Bálor said. “I kinda wanna go home.” (Y/N) said. “There's no reason for this (Y/N).” Bálor said. “The reason just left.” (Y/N) said. He looked at her as she folded the shirt up. She got up and went to his closet pulling out a drawer and putting it in. Bálor winked at Hanna and she giggled softly. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her neck. “Don't try and sweet talk your way out of this I'm not stupid.” (Y/N) said. “No, you're smart, kind, soft, strong, compassionate, brave, unselfish, forgiving, loving, warm, and the most beautiful woman I've seen in centuries.” Bálor said softly. She felt his hand slid down her stomach and into her jeans. “Don't.” (Y/N) breathed.

He nuzzled her neck and nibbled her ear. “Bálor.” (Y/N) sighed. “Shh just close your eyes.” Bálor whispered. She did and gripped the chest of drawers. He stroked her and growled low in her ear. “You're also wet.” Bálor said softly. “Yes but baby stop Hanna will see.” (Y/N) said. “She thinks we're talking.” Bálor said. “Please Bálor stop for now you said you couldn't take me before our wedding, this will just frustrate us both.” (Y/N) said. “When she's asleep I'm going to make you scream for me.” Bálor said. He went into the bathroom and (Y/N) shook herself hard. “Mommy.” Hanna said. “Coming baby girl.” (Y/N) said. She shut the doors and went to her sitting beside her. “You wanna stay don't you?” (Y/N) asked. “Please its safe here no one can find us.” Hanna said. (Y/N) pulled her into her lap and held her close. “We can't stay here forever baby girl you start school soon.” (Y/N) said.

“By then no one will ever hurt you again pixy.” Bálor said. Hanna stood up and put out her arms. He picked her up and held her close. “No one will ever hurt my little girl again.” Bálor said. (Y/N) smiled and wrapped her arms around her stomach. “Let's go out.” Bálor said. “Don't you have things that need doing?” (Y/N) asked. “Mommy don't you want daddy to stay with us?” Hanna asked. “You little sprite of course I do nothing would make me happier.” (Y/N) said. He tossed her up and she giggled. She giggled like (Y/N) and he loved it. “I do have things that need doing so you and your mommy go shopping and buy pretty dresses for tonight and I'll meet you at your house.” Bálor said. “Do you feel up to it?” Hanna asked. (Y/N) smiled and nodded. “I feel fine baby girl.” (Y/N) said. “Hanna you go get me the pretty bottle in the bathroom.” Bálor said.

She ran off and (Y/N) run her hands over his chest. “You will have a shadow so don't get scared I'm not taking any chances.” Bálor said. “Not the sluty maid.” (Y/N) pouted. He laughed and kissed her tenderly. “Are you jealous?” Bálor asked. “I don't know what I am or what I have the right to be, all I know is when she asked you that question with me sitting on your bed I wanted to rip her apart.” (Y/N) said. He brought her closer. “The only woman that will have me from now on is you.” Bálor said. “Does Fergal know I mean is he aware of all this?” (Y/N) asked. “Yes, some anyway.” Bálor said. “Does he love me?” (Y/N) asked. Bálor grinned and kissed her softly. “He is very smitten with you.” Bálor said. “And you Bálor my demon king do you love me?” (Y/N) asked. “Yes.” Bálor said.

She'd said her demon king, if Hanna had been in another room or at school he'd have taken her then and there relentlessly. “Bálor you’re getting hard again.” (Y/N) said. “If I could I'd ravage you now until you couldn't move.” Bálor growled in her ear. He was panting as she slid her hand down his abs and started stroking him. He gripped her hips hard and she let out a little cry. “Have I hurt you?” Bálor groaned. “No baby it just startled me.” (Y/N) said. Hanna hadn't come back and as much as he was enjoying her it was odd. “Hanna?” Bálor called. She ran out and he pulled away. “What took you so long pixy?” Bálor asked. “It was high I couldn't reach it so I had to climb.” Hanna said. He kissed her forehead and she handed him the bottle. “Here (Y/N).” Bálor said. She took the bottle and lifted the glass stopper. She breathed in a heavenly scent.

It was like what it smells like after a rain storm and roses then cherry blossoms, it kept changing and she looked at him. “Bálor.” (Y/N) said. When it changed again it smelt like him. “For you to...to smell like your favorite things.” Bálor said. She put the bottle down and took Hanna putting her on the bed. “Thank you.” (Y/N) said kissing him tenderly. He held her and she knew he'd always use her to get out of work. She and Hanna left and went shopping. “This one is pretty.” (Y/N) said. “Mommy.” Hanna said her eyes were as big. (Y/N) looked back and saw Gabriel in his human form. “Don't worry princess he can't hurt us your daddy has made sure of it.” (Y/N) whispered. Hanna beamed with pride and went back to looking at dresses. “Mommy wow look at this one.” Hanna said. (Y/N) stopped and ran her hands over the silk inlays. “Should I try it on?” (Y/N) asked. “You have to mommy.” Hanna said.

She took it down and took it back to the dressing room. Hanna went with her and tried one on. “Oh mommy you have to get it.” Hanna said. (Y/N) looked at herself in the mirror and turned. The dress was tight without being too tight. The red fabric and silk reminded her of things she'd only dreamed of wanting. Hanna screamed and (Y/N) turned grabbing her hand. Bálor appeared and grabbed the guy. “Not today.” Bálor growled and they vanished. “Shh baby girl.” (Y/N) said. She held Hanna close and stroked her hair. They bought the dresses and they went to the beauty shop. She got her hair done and Hanna sat on her lap the whole time. After that she and Hanna went home and (Y/N) put her down for a nap. Hanna was the best thing to happen to (Y/N). “Thinking of me again.” Bálor whispered in her ear. She turned and looked at him. “He scared her, he's an angel and he scared her.” (Y/N) said. “She knew he was bad our little pixy is special like her mother.” Bálor said. She rubbed her arms and he brought her close to his chest. “I'm not that special.” (Y/N) said. He lifted her chin and she blushed.

“You're a virgin and you know that the creature you're going to sleep with is the devil.” Bálor said. She hit his chest and shook her head. “Stop that, to me you're not a creature you're the man I love.” (Y/N) said. “But I am not a man.” Bálor said. She took his hand and laced her fingers with his. “You are my everything besides our daughter I will not let that God forsaken angel ruin my family.” (Y/N) said. “He could kill you!” Bálor growled. “I know that, but won’t you protect me.” (Y/N) said. “Yes.” Bálor said. “Then there’s no need to worry about it.” (Y/N) said. Bálor walked off and she knew something was bothering him. “What’s wrong, it seems like you want to tell me something but don’t know how to?” (Y/N) said softly. “I could tell you horror stories about things in your human history that can be laid on my shoulders.” Bálor said. “Like what?” (Y/N) asked.

He smirked and laughed. “The black death.” Bálor said. “You're kidding right, that had no supernatural cause what so ever.” (Y/N) said. “You sure?” Bálor asked. “Yes.” (Y/N) said. “The first little rat I breed myself.” Bálor said. “Why?” (Y/N) asked. She went to him and he touched his chest. “I could so destroyed his pets.” Bálor said. “Bálor.” (Y/N) said. He saw the look in her eyes and looked away. She went to him and looked into his eyes. “I wanted you then, I needed you then and I had to wait to get you.” Bálor said. “You were being an impatient child Bálor that’s what it was, you caused all those deaths because you were pissed that you couldn’t have one human when you wanted her.” (Y/N) scolded.

He looked at her and his eyes went from blue to black in a second. “I was thrown from my home and cast into the pit for daring to speak my mind with the only promise of happiness ever returning being you, and you think I was acting like a pouting child.” Bálor growled. She pulled away and rubbed her arms nodding. “I do because you were, you unleashed hell on those people and killed so many just because you didn’t get your way then.” (Y/N) said. He looked at her and she was standing there her eyes locked on his and her arms by her sides just waiting for him to say something. “I needed some comfort so I took my anger out on those people, I knew you’d never understand.” Bálor said harshly. Ouch that one hurt like he really hit home on that one.

She didn’t understand why he did what he did. But she understood how it felt to be alone, without any hope of happiness. “Taking out your anger on others, on innocent people your right I don’t understand that but I do understand being angry and alone, the only difference is when I felt those things you were there.” (Y/N) said softly. Bálor looked at her and she licked her lips. “(Y/N), I had no idea when I would if ever get to be with you.” Bálor said. She nodded and looked away. “I know how it feels to be so sad and so mad because you thought you’d done everything right, lived the right way only to be alone.” (Y/N) said.

Bálor took her hand and she looked at him. “I know (Y/N), I know all about you and your ex, I know that he was also punished for hurting you.” Bálor said on a sick smirk. It really made him look like the devil when he looked at her like that. She dropped his hand and moved to the window in the hall. “Bálor what did you do to him?” (Y/N) asked. “I made sure it hurt like you were hurting (Y/N), I made sure that every time he’d think of you he’d get hurt.” Bálor said. “How?” (Y/N) asked. “I cast a spell on him, rather I had someone do it love, and she is good at doing things like that.” Bálor said. She looked out the window at the ravens that seemed to follow her and had all her life like she was part of them. Like if she had wings they would be like theirs fluffy and black and she wondered if she would ever get a set like Bálor had.

(Y/N) looked at him and he smiled as he went to her. “I made her curse him (Y/N), and I made it unbreakable for all time, he will hurt as you did forever.” Bálor said. She smiled and looked up at him. “Good.” (Y/N) said. He took her hand and kissed her palm. “I swear there's something so pure about you then there's this darkness that's alluring and sexy.” Bálor said. “Shall we finish what we started?” (Y/N) asked. “I wish we could my love but if you start that I'll be inside you.” Bálor said. She took him to her room and pushed him in the bed and straddled his hips. “(Y/N).” Bálor growled. She cupped his cheek and kissed him hard. He grabbed her and rolled them over yanking her jeans and panties off.

She giggled and sighed as he kissed her thighs. “Bálor.” (Y/N) moaned as he licked her slowly. She grabbed his hair and arched off the bed. “That's it (Y/N) relax I'm about to give you more pleasure than you've ever gotten.” Bálor said. “You gonna make me cum baby?” (Y/N) asked. He crawled over her and she kissed him long and slow. “Wait until I get you in my bed (Y/N) and can finally make you fully mine.” Bálor said. “Why do we have to wait?” (Y/N) asked. He laughed and kissed her deeply. “I want to I think you deserve that.” Bálor said. “Bálor I want you like I've never wanted anyone else.” (Y/N) said. He kissed her forehead. “And I you (Y/N) but to take you as mine then to take you is going to be glorious my love.” Bálor said. His hand stroked her softly. “Bálor.” (Y/N) moaned. “Such an intoxicating sound and scent.” Bálor praised. “More.” (Y/N) moaned.

He felt her hand rub his jeans as she looked at him. She moved her hips and he smirked. “You like that (Y/N) my hand stroking you as you did me.” Bálor said. “Yes baby don't stop.” (Y/N) moaned. He moved and kissed her inner thighs making her eyes roll. She looked at him as he wrapped his lips around her clit sucking softly. She grabbed his hair rolling her hips moaning. “Bálor don’t stop I wanna cum for you baby.” (Y/N) moaned. He growled against her clit and she gasped. Her back arched and she grabbed his hair harder. “Bálor!” (Y/N) moaned. He smiled and she moaned more as he thrust his tongue into her. “Bálor!” (Y/N) moaned louder. She came and he kept going making her whimper in pleasure. Her eyes rolled as he licked her clean as she came again. “(Y/N) you ok?” Bálor asked. “I can't move.” (Y/N) said. He laughed and crawled over her. “You taste amazing.” Bálor said. “I do?” (Y/N) asked softly. He kissed her and she could taste herself.

“I'm sleepy all of a sudden.” (Y/N) said. “Then sleep.” Bálor said. She put her panties on and curled up with him. “I have to go soon.” Bálor said. “I know just wait until I fall asleep please.” (Y/N) said. He picked her up and slid her under the covers then got Hanna. “Daddy you smell funny are you ok?” Hanna mumbled. “Shh pixy I'm fine.” Bálor said. She curled into (Y/N)'s chest and he stroked her hair. “Thank you my love.” (Y/N) said. He kissed her softly. “See you soon my loves.” Bálor said. He left and they slept peacefully. Hanna sat up panting hard crying. (Y/N) pulled her close and kissed her forehead. “Shh baby girl.” (Y/N) whispered. “I want daddy.” Hanna sobbed. (Y/N) rubbed her back and kissed her forehead. Bálor appeared at the end of the bed and (Y/N) smiled. “Think about him baby girl remember how good it feels to have him hold you and how safe he makes you feel.” (Y/N) soothed. Hanna buried her head in (Y/N)'s chest. “I can't mommy.” Hanna sobbed harder gripping her shirt. “Shh baby its ok it was just a dream.” (Y/N) soothed. “He's gone.” Hanna sobbed harder.

(Y/N) looked at him and he sat on the bed behind Hanna. “Pixy.” Bálor said softly. “Daddy.” Hanna said. She looked up and he kissed her forehead. “Your fevers back.” Bálor sighed. “I saw him hurting mommy and when you got here he had guys hold you he made you watch.” Hanna said. Bálor stroked her hair. (Y/N) kissed her forehead and held her tighter. “Shh baby please stop crying.” (Y/N) said. Bálor picked her up and (Y/N) slid to the edge of the bed pulling on her jeans. “I don't want to live here.” Hanna sobbed. “You and your mommy are very safe here this place is protected.” Bálor said. “It is?” Hanna asked. “I had someone very powerful to protect you and your mommy.” Bálor said. “I love you.” Hanna said. “I love you too Hanna.” Bálor said. He held her as (Y/N) got her some medicine.

(Y/N) kissed her forehead and nose. “I love you so much.” (Y/N) said. Hanna smiled at her. “I love you too.” Hanna said. (Y/N) got the door and froze. “You can't take her she's sick.” (Y/N) said. “Someone called and said you two were out shopping.” Kara said. “She felt fine.” (Y/N) said. “We have to take her you know the drill.” Kara said. “She's mine Kara you can look at her and tell.” (Y/N) said. “I know ok I do we all do but what we don't know is how.” Kara said. “I'm not giving her to you.” (Y/N) said. “(Y/N).” Bálor said. “You've got a stranger with her.” Kara said. “Mommy.” Hanna said and ran to her. (Y/N) picked her up and held her close. “You're mommy has a stranger with you?” Kara asked. “No he's my daddy.” Hanna said. “Love.” Bálor said coming out. “You found her biological father.” Kara said. “I found them.” Bálor said. (Y/N) leaned on him and he held her close. “The woman that had her?” Kara asked. “I don't know.” (Y/N) said. “Gone.” Bálor said. “As in?” Kara asked. “She died.” Hanna said.

Hanna laid her head in (Y/N)'s neck. “Shh pixy.” Bálor said. “I'm tried mommy.” Hanna said. “I know sweet girl.” (Y/N) soothed. Bálor took her and sat on the couch. “We have to take her.” Kara said. “I know but you can't Kara please she's my world.” (Y/N) said. “I hate this but since you found her you know you're fired right?” Kara asked. “Yeah I know that's why I gave them my resignation.” (Y/N) said. She went to the couch and Bálor saw the tears in her eyes. “Baby girl come with me, Kara this is Fergal, Fergal this is Kara she's a social worker I used to work with.” (Y/N) said. She took Hanna to her room and sat on the bed. “Kara is going to take you to stay with some people for a little while ok.” (Y/N) said helping her dress and pack a bag. “Why mommy don't you want me?” Hanna asked. “You're my world Hanna and I want you with me always but for now I can't take care of you but when I get you back I'm not ever letting you go again.” (Y/N) said.

“Will I be safe from that man?” Hanna asked. “Oh yes baby girl your daddy will be there no matter what.” (Y/N) said. Hanna held onto (Y/N) as she took her out. Bálor got up and pushed them into a room. “You're going to give them our daughter.” Bálor said. “To get her back I have to please Bálor don't make this worse.” (Y/N) said. He held them both and gave Hanna a necklace. “If you need me or want to see me just hold this and think about me.” Bálor said. “I will daddy and don't be mad at mommy she's really sad.” Hanna said. (Y/N) kissed her cheek and they walked out. “I love you Hanna.” (Y/N) said. “I love you too mommy.” Hanna said. Bálor held her close and kissed her forehead. “I love you Hanna my little pixy.” Bálor said. “I love you too Daddy take care of mommy.” Hanna said. “I will Hanna I promise.” Bálor said.

“I will be making daily checks on her and the family she's going to stay with has little girl too.” Kara said. (Y/N) held her close and kissed her softly. “I'm not far I swear if you need me you just close your eyes and I'll be there.” (Y/N) said. “I know mommy.” Hanna said. “My brave girl, so much like your dad.” (Y/N) said. Hanna smiled and looked at Bálor. “I say like your mom.” Bálor said. Kara took Hanna from (Y/N) and Bálor took her into his arms. Kara left and (Y/N) went to the door watching them leave. Bálor held her to his chest and she fought against his hold. “And people call me a demon.” Bálor said. She looked at him and he cupped her cheek. “I was teasing mostly.” Bálor said. “I want to be alone.” (Y/N) said. “I don't think that's the best thing for you.” Bálor said. “Listen I'm not in the mood to eat or be around you regardless of the crack you made about me letting them take our daughter.” (Y/N) said. “That wasn't meant the way you're taking it.” Bálor said.

“Leave, go protect her.” (Y/N) said. “She wanted me here.” Bálor said. “She's a five year old Bálor now get out.” (Y/N) said. He vanished and she slammed the door locking it. She sat in Hanna's room and watched the shadows on the wall. “You know I can tell when you're here right?” (Y/N) asked. He sat in front of her and she sighed. “I know.” Bálor said. “Then why are you here?” (Y/N) asked. “I was told to leave and protect mommy by a very stubborn five year old.” Bálor said. She laughed and sighed. “What do you want I have nothing here now.” (Y/N) said. He pulled her close and kissed her softly. “You have me.” Bálor said. “A demon king that I disappointed by just handing over his daughter.” (Y/N) said. He moved back and she got up. “I want you to go and just stay with her no matter what.” (Y/N) said. “And if that angel finds a way to hurt you?” Bálor asked. “You lied to her, you told her she was safe here.” (Y/N) said. “She is and so are you.” Bálor said.

“As long as you love me, right?” (Y/N) asked. He just looked at her and saw the pain that the lie he would’ve told her would just cause more pain. “Bálor just leave please I just want you to leave and take your protection with it.” (Y/N) said. He grabbed her arm and she looked at him. “You are mine and I...” Bálor trailed off and vanished. She laid on her bed and cried herself to sleep. Bálor tapped the throne with his nails fuming over what had happened. Hanna put her hand over the pendent and thought about him. He went to her stroking her hair. “Daddy you said the man couldn't find me, that he couldn't get me.” Hanna said. “Shh pixy he can't.” Bálor said. “He's close daddy I know he is.” Hanna said. “Shh pixy I'm here you go to sleep I'm not leaving you.” Bálor said. “What about mommy?” Hanna asked. “She's safe Hanna you're mommy has always been safe I've protected her all her life.” Bálor said. “Like me?” Hanna asked. He stroked her hair and kissed her forehead. “Just like you pixy.” Bálor said. He laid down and held her on his chest. She was still so small but so beautiful already just like (Y/N) was.

@soulofaravenheartofawolf @wrestlingxbalorxrollins @crayzeebizkit@wwesensualfanfics @loveroflive78 @devitts-girl @briqueenofthenorth@adriennegabriella @iwritewwe @empress-with-the-crown @2sweetqueen@scuzmunkie @meremaidqueen @dolphinpink310 @balorbj @alexnine

#Balor #The Demon King

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