#sunsets are beautiful please cherish them

[kakushino]

First... or Fourth?

Uzui Tengen x AFAB! Reader

You're returning from a years-long undercover mission, which forced you to leave your new husband at the time, Tengen. However, there is a surprise waiting for you...

Tags: angst, betrayal, mild gore, self-worth issues, body worship, emotional smut, dom-leaning bottom reader Word count: 7,9k

Masterlist | Part 2

Just a few more miles, just a few more…

You were on your way back from an undercover mission - one that had been given as a punishment for your actions ‘against’ your Clan. It took years to complete, and you will never be the same again. But, you were looking forward to seeing the one person who could heal your soul. 

Uzui Tengen.

Your husband.

One you had to leave nearly immediately after marrying. 

He had been waiting for you for years all alone, or at least you hoped he had been waiting for you. You promised each other to always come back, alive and intact. 

Your mind wandered. Would he be the same height, or taller? Did he keep his hair short? Did he still wear the gold arm braces? Did he still live in the mansion he bought for the two of you? Was he alive? Was he waiting for you? Did he- 

No. You pushed the feelings of doubt aside. Tengen would be waiting for you in your estate. He would give you that smile you loved so much, welcome you home. You would both cry in happiness. Oh, how you ached to be in his arms again. You two would cuddle for a whole day and a half, content to bask in each other. 

But first, you needed to get presentable. The old inn that used to be in a nearby town got replaced with a newer one. At this time, any would do, as long as you could bathe, eat, sleep, and buy new clothes, not necessarily in that order. 

The old set of clothes you put aside before your mission was too big on your much thinner frame. You stared at yourself in a mirror in the lobby on your way to shop. Maybe a haircut was in order too, but you could handle that yourself with a trusty kunai.

You tried not to dwell on your experiences from the past few years lest you not sleep that night. A makeover would do well for you.

The town wasn’t big, and finding the seamstress took no time at all. One look at your figure had the old woman bringing out three pre-made kimono sets. “I’m sorry dear. I don’t think there are any others that would fit you,” she told you. 

You sighed quietly. That was fine. You could always order some later. For now, one would do. Of the three, only one seemed to be presentable for your flashy husband. “The yellow one please.” Though the pattern was very simple - vertical stripes - the color was very vibrant and eye-catching. The seamstress gave you a bright red obi, perhaps understanding your desire for more color.

Walking out of the shop, you felt like a new person. It was near sunset, time passed quickly while you were gossiping with the old woman. She’d given you the much desired haircut as well, dry and choppy hair strands falling like autumn leaves.

You would see your love tomorrow. Your heart swelled with affection. Butterflies took up space in your stomach. 

You couldn’t wait.

Something was wrong. Something was so, so wrong. There, in front of you. Your husband - was he? - with three women - very busty women - smiling at them with your smile, the special one, the one you cherished so much. 

What’s going on?

“Tengen?” you breathed out with a barely-there high pitched whine. His eyes - beautiful, loving, staring at those women - snapped in your direction. Of course he heard. He’d always had the best hearing of all people you knew- used to know.

He looked like he was seeing a ghost, a phantom of the past. Your heart was clogging up your throat, threatening to be thrown up. You keened in pain. Tengen with three beautiful busty women… Has he not waited? Does he not love me anymore?

“[Name]?” you imagined he said it out loud, but he might have only mouthed it. You were too far apart. You with your plain kimono, hair much shorter, standing alone on a dusty road and him with his flamboyance and his three women. 

You wanted to run, you wanted to scream, you wanted to fight, you wanted to scratch him, scar him, you wanted to cause a scene, dig a grave and lay in it. A war went on inside you - your brain and your heart in a battle to the death, a last stand. Was this how it felt to have your heart ripped out? To have your mind unravel? Every day you thought of Tengen - Tengen, Tengen, Tengen - of the moments spent together under blooming sakuras, of the whispered promises to break away and start over, to ditch the miserable life of a shinobi-

In a flash, he stood scarcely a foot from you. The Uzui Tengen of your memories used to be slightly shorter, his hair was longer now, and he appeared even stronger than before, flashier than ever, if possible. He glowed with the happiness of a good life, a happy life. (Happy wife, happy life, he used to say. How true was it now?) The expression he wore was one of disbelief, his huge hands outstretched as if to touch you, slap your wrist, tear out your heart, crush your trachea, break you-

“Lord Tengen, who is this?” 

The moment was broken. You flinched and took a quick step back, skimming the figures of the three women. Kunoichi, without a doubt.  

A horrible feeling crawled up your spine, one you tried to push back because he wouldn’t… would he? You promised each other to break away from the system, to deny everything you were taught and live a good life together. 

Has he gone back to shinobi life? Gone back on the promises? Taken more wives? Taken other wives?

Your husband ignored the inquiry, and instead whispered, “I thought you died,” in a horrified whisper, his eyes wide with disbelief, too shiny to be normal, as if he were holding back tears. “I thought you were dead.” A strangled sound left his throat and he grabbed your wrists, pulling you into a rough embrace. Heart now falling back to its rightful place in relief, you hugged your man back. 

His perfume had changed but the natural musk underneath stayed the same, and you clung to that faint comfort, the familiarity. You clung to his sturdy frame, how he still towered over you, how safe you felt in his arms for the precious moment. You felt warm for the first time in years. Tears gathered at your lashes, and fell, and soaked through his clothing, the clothing that smelled like him and home. 

“Lord Tengen?” 

The moment broke again, and this time you refused to ignore the elephant on the road behind Tengen. Or rather, the three elephants. You took one, two, three stumbling steps back.

“Who are these women, Tengen?” you asked, voice thick and trembling. The wild emotional ride you were on was taking its toll on you. Your eyes flitted between him and the three.

Tengen’s smile was a bit wobbly, something you had never seen in your life. Was he that surprised to see you? Or did he know you wouldn’t like hearing what he would tell you?  Who are these women and why are they with my husband?

“[Name]-” his voice broke, he cleared his throat. “[Name], these are my wives - Suma, Hinatsuru, and Makio.”

And with just one word - wives wives WIVES -  he shattered your heart. You vaguely heard him introduce you with just your name. 

“Forever? You promise?”

“I promise. Just me and you against the world, precious.”

It was while you were walking with all four of them to spend the night that your mind started truly racing.

Your mother used to say nothing hurts more than being hurt by the person you never thought would hurt you. You used to scoff and disregard her wisdom. You were re-evaluating your stance on that.

Fight or flight response warred inside you as you were led to your estate, the estate Tengen bought to share with you as his wife, not with- 

Why was he acting as if nothing about this situation was wrong? As if he hadn’t made the careful foundation of your sanity crumble quicker than a house of cards in the breeze?

You stopped right inside the property. You needed to gain control over yourself. You shoved your feelings into your stomach, acid filling your mouth. Your belly ached, from hunger and from stress. You felt as if you were reaching the edge of the void - the void being insanity. One step and you would plunge, spiral downward with no sight of the end.

“Tengen?” you murmured, “Can I talk to you alone, please?” You refused to look anywhere but him, refused to look for what changed and what remained of your- his- their estate.

Throughout the walk to their home, he kept looking at you - for you; tilting his head - listening to your heartbeat. Now he looked torn, glancing at the opened entrance. In the end, he nodded, closed the door and you both stood there, staring at each other.

In the back of your mind, you realized the reason behind his actions, you compartmentalized and understood, but you wanted to hear it, you wanted to know- “Why?”

The question hung in the air like a demented ornament to a festival lantern, except it was set on fire- everything was on fire-

“Precious-” Your heart throbbed in your chest at the nickname. “- please, you were gone.” His voice broke into a low whine and it ached to hear him in such distress. Suddenly, it was as if everything started spilling out. “I never thought it would take that long- I waited and waited and fucking waited and I got no word, no letter, no nothing- I thought- I thought-” 

His breath came out in pants as he stepped closer, his arms reaching for you, gripping your shoulders. 

“I thought you didn’t-” A high pitched keen left him, unable to say it for the second time that day, the very thought making his heart ache. It brought tears to your eyes as you choked down a sob. “Please-” 

Tengen fell to his knees in front of you and the sight of his desperation destroyed what little defences you had. By instinct, you hugged him to your chest, his height allowing him to rest his head against your breast, listening to your heart beat steadily. You started crying, your sobs intertwining with his panting. “Shhh, I’m here, I'm right here, baby…” It wasn’t long before his own choked sobs joined the symphony of grief and emotional release. “I’m here, I’m fine, we’re fine, we’re alive and- and-”

“I thought I lost you, precious. Each day was torture, you were my missing piece, you are my missing piece. Thank you - thank you for returning- for coming back to me,” he choked out thickly. “Oh lord, what have I done? You fought for your life every day and I- I fucking married Suma, Hina and Makio. Fuck-” 

You were weak to his words, to his warmth and his scent. You were weak to the way he hugged you, the way he gasped for breath and the way his tears made your yukata wet.

“You deserve better - a better husband. You deserve someone who would wait for you, not me- I- I don’t deserve you anymore; but fucking hell will I try again. Please, let me try again. I will spend the rest of my life on my knees in front of you if you just give me just this one chance-” Tengen nearly wailed into your chest, his voice trembling, devastated, as if a dam broke down and the flood of his emotions couldn’t be stopped, decimating barriers and safety measures against such a catastrophe. More tears soaked your yukata, his hands grasping at your clothes desperately, a drowning person clawing for air.

And you weren’t immune.

You cried right along with him, rocking you both back and forth underneath the slowly setting sun, the warm golden hue washing over you in a stark contrast to the turmoil between, around and inside of you two. 

As you reeled from the onslaught of pent-up emotions, you felt his chest heaving quicker and quicker, rapidly getting into the unhealthy pace, so familiar to you by now - he was hyperventilating. 

“Tengen, baby, look at me-” you rasped out, trying to get him to let go of his impossibly tight grip on you. You heard the sound of fabric tearing. “Baby, c’mon, look. at. me.” 

He wasn’t easing his strength. Fuck. 

You tugged at his ponytail, gently, then rougher, then as harsh as you dared, his headband slipping askew from it. “Tengen! Let go!”

He gasped for air, staring at you as if you were a saint or an angel stepped down from Heaven and a death god about to pull him to Hell all at once. His face was flushed, lashes dewy, cheeks puffy from crying. It was the most terrified, the most pathetic you've ever seen him.

But was he really pathetic? You were his wife, who left on a mission, who kept away for years and years, who hadn’t written a letter to him once, who wasn't with him when his last brother died, who just returned and wrecked his new life like a typhoon.

"Tengen, breathe."

Perhaps it was you who did not deserve to come back, to disrupt his new relationships and drive a wedge into a scabbed-over wound, making it bleed all over again. 

More of your tears fell as you attempted to smile, though it came out more like a grimace most likely. "Breathe slowly, mkay? I'm here. You can hear my heartbeat, can’t you? Match my breathing. Can you do that for me?"

His breathing gradually deepened and his eyes lost the hazy look.

"I'm Uzui [Name], your wife, we're at the house you bought with your money when we were fourteen. It's Friday, sundown. Are you with me, Tengen?" you asked softly.

Tengen blinked a few times, looking up at you. “[Name]...” Your hand was still clutching his hair tightly, the slight pain grounding him further. He wanted to say Please baby, take me back, hug me, kiss me, fuck me- “You can let go now,” he said instead. The yearning he felt for you was quickly buried underneath a thick blanket of shinobi training, analyzing the situation.

“Sorry.” As if burned, you quickly released him. 

You stared at each other for a long moment in silence, perhaps realizing the complexity of the situation you were in. You wanted to be back with him, and he wanted to be back with you, but you both perceived his new wives as a sort of betrayal, whether by infidelity or values you stood by.

For the first time, Tengen looked at you, really looked.

There were dark eye bags underneath your puffy eyes, betraying your lack of sleep, deep set stress lines marred your pretty face. There was a new scar at the corner of your lips, so small it almost went unnoticed. Your hair was much shorter than it used to be, but the disheveled state was caused by the wind, not necessarily by neglect. Though, he could pick up some not quite right strands, cut by an amateur hand. Would you let him fix it? Would you even let him get close with something sharp? Would you trust him? What had happened to you?

You were thinner, the colorful yukata hiding your figure only little to his observant eyes. He stared, analyzed and wondered - what else is that plain cotton yukata hiding?

What really went down in that God-forsaken mission?

You giggled nervously, as Tengen took his time to unwrap your clothes like a present. He had a joyful grin on his face, just as nervous yet better at hiding it. 

“Hey, hey, it’s not fair that only I am naked, you know?” Using a grappling move he himself taught you, you quickly reversed your positions, him laying down on the futon and you straddling his hips. He gave you a wide-eyed look, face flushed at your display of skill. His hands cradled your hips, his fingerless gloves scratching your skin slightly.

You gave him a quick peck on his lips and then focused on unraveling his top. As flashy as always, it was a complicated thing, making you grow frustrated quickly. With a growl, you reached into his thigh holster and took out a kunai, slashing his shirt open. 

“Hey! That’s my favorite!” he protested with a pout, not really mad. You were already kissing your way down his exposed chest, playfully biting at his nipple. His breath hitched.

“It was your favorite. I’m your new favorite now,” you grinned in triumph as he rolled his eyes, giving you a gentle slap on your ass. The material of his gloves gave you a slightly burning feeling as he caressed the quickly reddening spot.

You sat up in his lap and took his left hand in yours, quickly stripping him of his glove. His right hand was bare before you knew it, but something drew your attention. 

Tengen had a beauty mark near the pulse point. Guided by instinct or fate, your lips pressed against it, his heartbeat quickening beneath them. You made eye contact. His magenta eyes could have hearts in them; such a lovestruck look was novel on him. It warmed you from the inside that he let you so close to his vulnerable point - his wrist so breakable; his hand would have been useless if you just twisted with the right amount of pressure; if you decided to bite him and make him bleed out.

It was getting too serious for you, too deep. The entire moment was already making you feel too vulnerable, it being your first time. To break the moment, one of your hands went to his side to tickle him. Tengen noticed, and was quicker.

Both of you dissolved into a gasping laughing pair of teenagers, for once feeling your age.

The yukata he gave you was silk. Your calloused hands hadn’t felt such a material for a long time - years, in fact. The fabric had a pattern of a turtle-shell in golden hues of autumn intertwined with faded green and red details. You recognized it faintly, but couldn’t place where you saw it. 

Slipping it on felt like Heaven, like laying down into fluffy clouds if you could reach them - and you were so tired, you wanted to lay down in them. Yet you couldn’t, it was just the morning and your stomach grumbled in hunger, reminding you the last time you ate was yesterday morning.

The three new- other wives had left early in the morning. You heard their teary good-byes to Tengen from your room’s opened window, the mission they were being sent on apparently dangerous. Promises to write letters were exchanged, the women well-versed in what Tengen expected of them for such a task.

Return to me alive, in one piece. If your life is at risk, abandon the mission and come back home.

Was your disappearance the reason he cared for each as such?

You pondered on things past, present and future as you crept into the kitchen. Thankfully, every room remained as it used to be. The room you slept in was actually supposed to be your own lounge room, where Tengen would not enter, where you could keep your privacy and spend time alone. He had his own, or at least used to have one. With three other occupants, it was hard to guess if he kept it or gave it away to one of them.

There was a breakfast ready for you already, a lone spread for one at the head of the table. You stared at it and tried to imagine how it would look with all of them. Did Tengen sit at the head or did he sit in between his wives? Did they all sit differently each time? 

Could you handle being the fourth wife?

You didn’t know. The idea seemed unfathomable yesterday. 

You hid in your room the whole day after eating. The sun was setting slowly, creating a warm hue in your little burrow.

The dream you had had during the night brought a bone-deep ache for what was - what used to be. You felt exhausted from all the thinking; you were almost certain you could accept the new-wives situation, but it entirely depended on their attitude and personalities as well as Tengen’s approach to this whole scenario.

A knock interrupted the sound of silence you slowly came to enjoy that day. “[Name]?” came Tengen’s muffled voice. “Are you there?”

For a moment, you were tempted to remain silent, though you knew he knew you were in there. He could hear your hitched breath when he knocked, your heart beating, your clothes rustling.

In the end, you resisted and said, “Come in.” 

He opened the sliding door slowly, revealing his hunched over frame. It was surprising to see the normally confident man in such disposition, even despite the chaos of the past twenty four hours.

Tengen stood at the threshold of your space, not really looking at you, instead staring at your collarbone, which stood out sharper than it used to. “May I-?” He still asked for permission to enter. Your heart swelled with affection, nearly cracking in half from the overwhelming strength of your feelings.

“You may come in, yes,” you told him, sitting up on the futon you laid on before he came. “What brings you here?”

He took a hesitant step forward, then another and another until he knelt at your side a respectful distance away from you. “I want to- no, I need to know, what has happened to you?”

You freeze, breath stuttering at his question. Your hands clutched at the blanket covering your legs.

Tengen knew he hit a sensitive spot and he didn’t want to press you further but this was a matter of utmost importance to him - he had to know what happened to you so he could help you, fix the ache and make it right. It was for both - for you and for him.

“Show me, precious, please,” he whispered hoarsely. “Show me what’s hiding under your shield, under that yukata, please…” His voice broke as he bowed his head humbly.

Your head buzzed with thoughts, mental barriers rising and crumbling at the speed of light, incessant battle between hope and desolation. In the end, all you could do was empty your head, shove your emotions down to your stomach and show him all of yourself - let him be the judge and executioner of your future.

You slowly got up to your knees and loosened your obi with the resignation of a soldier walking to frontlines.

The yukata he gave you was silk. For the first time in a long time, sliding a cloth off your body didn’t send fire down your nerves from the pain. Inch by inch, familiar and unfamiliar parts of you were revealed to his intense stare.

You knew what he saw. Hideous scars and disfigured flesh. And compared to his new wives? You were nothing. It was a harsh reminder of the chasm of worth between you and the three.

The yukata slipped all the way down and you had the urge to cover yourself again.

“Oh, precious…”

Tengen’s voice sounded muffled to you as you focused on a wall decoration behind his form, your mind blocking out its stressor. There was a kakejiku, a hanging scroll, with a blood-red cherry tree and black flower petals. It sparked a memory deep in your mind, but you couldn’t figure out what it was. There were exactly eight roots but only one branch, and the inversion of the usual colors was so strange.

“-ious? Precious, please answer me-” 

You snapped out of it and exhaled, the sound closer to a death rattle than a breath. “What-?”

He was much closer than before, looking you in the eyes rather than staring at your body. His hands were outstretched as if he wanted to hold you but he wasn’t touching you. 

Your focus snapped back like a badly tied rope under pressure. Body. Scars. Mission. Tengen.

Tengen, Tengen, Tengen.

“Precious, please, tell me-”

The half-feral look in his eyes broke you, cracked you open. “I was stretched too thin… I didn’t know what-” You stopped yourself before you started spilling everything. Despite it being over, you couldn’t disclose what exactly happened, it was too ingrained inside of you - a kunoichi from birth. “I was losing my sight of the end… I wished for it to end, I wished to go home, to you.” 

“You’re home, I’m here. Please, let me in, precious. Please.”

“... I was losing my mind,” the admission was hushed. Even the nature outside seemed to quieten down for you. “I thought of ending it.”

‘-of ending myself’ went unspoken, but Tengen heard it, loud and clear. His heart thundered in his chest, drowning out all else than your breathing, your heartbeat.

“Can I touch you?”

You turned to him, staring at his hands as if they were knives. 

“Can I touch just your hands then?” The tremor of his voice betrayed the way he felt. He offered his own to you, palms up and relaxed, as if giving an offering to something divine, way more than you yourself were. “Please.”

Hesitantly, and oh so slowly, you reached out to him. You hovered your hands above his for a moment, watching to see if he would grab you. When he didn’t, you made contact. His body seemed to run much hotter than before, warming your cold skin. There were more calluses - different ones than before.

The feeling of his warm palms against yours sent shivers down your spine. You looked him in the eyes, both of you nearly holding your breath as the moment lingered.

His hands - so huge compared to yours - slid up your arms oh so slowly. His left hand encountered a jagged piece of flesh first. He froze. Taking a deep breath, Tengen shuffled to your right side. On the back of your shoulder reaching halfway down your arm was a burn scar, ugly and twisted, you knew. Phantom pain throbbed in the skin.

He leaned down. A feather light kiss was placed upon the start of the scar, then another an inch above it, his hot breath and soft lips making it feel better. There was nothing else you could focus on other than his gentle kisses being laid all over the rough flesh.

Every touch of his lips against your skin felt like absolution, like validation, like worship. But that couldn't be right - you deserved no absolution, no worship. You deserved to rot, you should have never come here, to him. You should have realized he'd have a life already, a new wife or three and- and-

His searing hot palms trailed over your shoulder blades, gentle, almost not there. You glanced over your shoulder; he’d closed his eyes, perhaps respecting your privacy despite touching you so intimately, reaching deep into the hurt of your body and soul, soothing you.

His touch brushed down your back, large palms encompassing the entirety of it as he went down, over your panties to-

His breath hitched. Your heart seemed to stop. His thumbs reached the first scar of your thighs, the first of many many many carved into your thighs and calves, each one deliberate, each as ugly as the previous, meant to hurt and humiliate. These were not battle scars. Only one thing could cause this.

You could still hear the cracks, loud like thunder and burning furrows into your skin, tearing the flesh asunder.

And then there was a kiss.

Your thighs quivered and gave out, arms colliding harshly with the ground, a shock of pain that made you cry out, tears finally spilling down your cheeks. 

"[Name]!"

You fell over onto your forearms, cradling your head in your hands as you started to sob. The tatami dug into your skin, distracting you from the emotional turmoil. “I’m fine, I’m fine, I’m fine, I’m fine- This. Is. Nothing.” You panted and shivered but started to calm down bit by bit. 

Two warm hands were touching your hips lightly, a reassuring skin contact, not moving, just there.

“I’m fine now,” you breathed out shakily.

The hands trembled and the next kiss on your thigh was wet. His hot breath washed over your skin. You were suddenly too sensitive. 

His lips made contact with each scar, again and again he kissed away the memories and the pain. 

Wet droplets fell onto your calves, one by one, soothing over your heated skin. The sensation made your tears come faster, staining the tatami floors as you shook all over.

You could not believe how he made you feel so loved, cherished, with such a simple gesture as kissing your scars. Tengen, your husband, your one and only, the reason you came out of that mission alive and with your limbs intact.

“Pl-please-” You didn’t know what you were begging for but he gave it to you either way. His lips were more trailing over the skin than kissing by then, his tongue darting out to lick at the tears he left on your calves.

His palms moved up your body gently once he’d kissed the bone-deep ache away, rough palms so soft over your bottom, spine, shoulder blades - the burn scar - and only then did you notice he knelt at your side. You were still hunched over, blind to everything but your sense of touch and hearing his voice.

Tengen whispered, “Precious… Get up- for me? Please.”

Your limbs were shaky like a newborn foal as you pushed yourself up into a sitting position. Eyes teary, only a Tengen-shaped blob was clear to you. “‘m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize.” You heard more than saw him kneel in front of you, his fingers gentle as he wiped away your tears. “Never apologize.” 

His own face was slightly puffy from crying, and wasn’t that an unflashy sight? The great shinobi Tengen, kneeling over your nearly naked form, jaw clenched, crying nearly as much as you, a wild look in his eyes, feral with grief.

You saw that look in his eyes once before, when his brothers…

His hands trembled when he cradled your cheeks, his breath shaky when he kissed your forehead. “You’re so brave, so strong… I’m glad you’re back, that you’re here, with me. I now realize this, before you came back… my world was in black and white. When I saw you on the street yesterday, it was as if you were the only thing in color. You brought color back into my life,” he admitted in a choked whisper. “I love you. I’ve never stopped loving you.”

Rain started to pelt the roof outside the room, distant thunder echoing faintly.

“I’ll always love you, scars and all. This is my promise, now and forever, precious, til death do us part.”

Your thoughts tangled in messy knots, your brain telling you one thing and Tengen telling you the other. You had no chance to even begin searching for the start or the end of the whole disarray that was your mindscape.

A long exhale from the man in front of you drew your attention. His gentle palms continued their journey down your body, caressing down your neck, chest, torso… 

Tengen stopped- stopped moving his hands, stopped breathing. Smooth flesh caught his notice, way too smooth. Wild eyes looked down. Bright red and shiny, half torn, half precise cut scar spanning the length of your stomach. His fingertips traced it softly, yet it still sent shockwaves of pain down your nerves. 

You flinched-

He made a sound of distress. 

- your mind bringing forth the memory before you could focus on anything else.

You realized what you had to do in that second. It couldn’t stay inside.

“Fuck, fuck, fuck-” Your hand fumbled with the only kunai you kept poison-free and pointed it to the sluggishly bleeding wound, panting heavily. “It’s okay, it’s okay, [Name]. Your hands are the steadiest of the family. You skinned fugu fish for Tengen regularly. This is nothing.”

This is nothing.

The tip of the knife was buried deep underneath the skin.

This is nothing.

The kunai pressed into your belly and you made a quick and precise cut, widening the stab wound.

This is Nothing.

You dropped the kunai and the fingers of your dominant hand delved inside the opening.

This Is Nothing.

Tears fell down your cheeks at the nauseating and painful feeling, trying to focus on the feeling on your fingertips instead.

This Is NOTHING.

You found the shrapnel. It embedded itself into your finger as you pulled it out. 

THIS IS NOTHING.

You vomited.

“-ame]? [Name]! You’re with me, with Uzui Tengen. You’re in my- our estate. It’s night time, Saturday. [Name], can you hear me? Please, answer me, precious. I can’t- can’t-”

The mission madness receded, the fog in your mind clearing up. You were panting heavily, sweating as if you had a fever. “Ten- gen-”

“I’m here, I’m right here, precious. What did I do wrong? What did I do? Say the word and I’ll fix it- please-”

“S-stop-” you tried to focus on something other than his frantic energy. 

His hands, so warm, holding your waist lightly. His thumbs, so gentle, caressing the skin in circles. His scent, so home, calming you down.

Tengen’s presence tethered you back to Earth.

“Don’t talk,” you choked out. You had to focus. 

What could you see? Tengen, tatami mats, silk yukata, futon, the hanging scroll.

What could you hear? Your heavy breathing, rain, Tengen’s soft breaths, your pounding heart.

What could you feel? The cold air, the tatami mats, Tengen’s warmth.

“Okay, okay,” you breathed out softly. The tight downward spiral winding in your chest released slowly. In through your nose, out through your mouth. In, and out.

“You don’t have to tell me anything- I’m so so sorry. What can I-? Is there anything I can-?”

You took his hands in yours and squeezed tightly twice. Are you okay? He squeezed back once. Yes.

“Breathe… I’m fine now.” His breathing cadence was very close to hyperventilating. Guilt crept up your spine. You’d brought the Great Shinobi Tengen, your husband, to his knees twice in just as many days. You should suffer for such a crime for Ten Thousand Years.

“You’re not fine, precious. You’re far from- But you’re here with me, I will make it be fine. Give me a chance-” 

The air was practically saturated with emotion, tension and everything between Hell and Heaven imaginable. You clutched each other’s hands with desperation. You kept eye contact - an uncontrollable typhoon holding its breath in anticipation, before it unleashed its full power.

He kissed you with the hunger of a starving dog. It was clear he was fighting with himself, alternating erratically between devouring you and feather-light kisses so tender it made your toes curl. He bit you and soothed the bite, he caressed you and lapped at you. It was dizzying.

You were just as thirsty for him though, positively parched for his kisses, his affection, his taste and his love. You savored every second of it, as if you would die should you separate but for a millisecond.

“I burn for you,” he breathed against your lips, diving in once more.

You remembered the times when he ate you out for his pleasure, how he nearly got off of it more than you did. But today, this time, you wouldn’t be able to handle such vulnerability, your emotions too raw from… whatever that was a few minutes ago - validation? Worship?

At the same time you needed him, needed the closeness sex brought to you both. And the same need drove you to break the kiss and push him onto his back as you straddled his hips. He let you, surrendering to you completely despite your feeble strength compared to his. You made quick work of his obi and pulled his yukata open.

An amused huff left you when you saw he had no underwear. “You wanted this, didn’t you?”

Tengen blushed in embarrassment. “Maybe…” he muttered.

You smirked a little, “Impossible man.”

“Your impossible man, always yours.” He gave you a soft look, a smile gracing his handsome features. His arms remained relaxed, not reaching to pull down your underwear at all, content to be the perfect pillow princess.

That was fine, you wanted to set the pace anyway. 

With a quick movement, your panties were off. You ground against his quickly-hardening member, your slick quickly covering him. His hands clenched into fists at his sides and he took a deep breath through his nose, eyes lidded. 

Before he could stop you, you were lining him up to your entrance, going right for his cock like an overly eager virgin. The stretch burned like nothing else. You had to take your time, bullying more and more with quick shallow thrusts onto him. You kept going despite the pain for if you stopped, you wouldn’t be able to continue.

“You’re doing amazing, precious,” he ground out, doing his best not to slam you down onto his length. It’s been too long for you, and really, he should have prepared you, but you were so impatient you couldn’t last a second longer without him inside. 

When you bottomed out, you sighed in relief, staying seated and cockwarming your husband for the first time in years. You hadn’t even noticed you started to weep quietly until Tengen’s thumbs wiped your tears away.

Something drew your attention though.

There was a small beauty mark near the heel of his right palm, right by his pulse point. Eyes focused on only that mark, your hand grasped his wrist gently and pulled it closer to your lips. You kissed the beauty mark, a feather-light brush of your lips, his heartbeat jumping at the action.

His eyes held yours prisoner when you looked up. The soft look he was giving you nearly made you tear up again, feeling too vulnerable. Instead of that, you rolled your hips. 

The reaction was immediate, his head fell back, mouth open in a perfect ‘o’ at the spasm of your muscles. The movement stirred your guts uncomfortably, telling you you weren’t adjusted to him filling you up again yet.

“Fuuuhck-” he groaned. His hands gripped your hips in a tight hold, almost bruising. Tengen seemed to have realized what he was doing a moment later and let up, just holding you gently. “Ngh- you’re making me crazy, love.”

His cock kept twitching inside of you, and it had to be hard to hold back on fucking up into you. Well, you guessed this would be his punishment for all the crying you did today. You already knew you’d have a headache tomorrow.

“Can I-” his hesitant words drew your attention to him again, “can I touch you, please?” Tengen was biting his lip, his eyes practically filled with desperation.

You paused - and nodded.

One of his hands trailed down to your clit, circling it with his thumb gently. By this point, your slick reached it, so the caresses were smooth and pleasurable. He stared at where the two of you connected intently as if he was trying to memorize the sight.

Each little brush of his finger, you relaxed around his length more and more and one slow touch in particular made your hips jerk from the sudden pleasure. Your breath hitched in your throat and you closed your eyes. 

“You were made for me,” Tengen murmured, not stopping his work. He had an urge, a need to worship you, to make you feel good, make you feel so good that you would never think of leaving him. You would never leave, you would stay right where you are, forever content to warm his cock inside your plush pussy, letting him be the sole reason for your life. He wanted that, craved it even - making you stay and be his wife again. But- “I don't deserve this, don't deserve you.” 

When your eyes finally opened again, they were filled with unshed tears. “I love you, I never stopped loving you,” you choked out. Saying those words felt like absolution. Previously unnoticed heavy weight fell off your shoulders and you reached for both of his hands - stopping his slow motions on your clit - with your own, intertwining them in an intimate hold.

“Then make me yours again, please, please take me. I need it, I need you,” he told you in a hushed whisper, a flush taking over his face as he studied your figure above him.

You reveled in his attention, savored it, starting a slow pace, using your connected hands for support. “Mhm~” The drag of his thick cock against your sensitive walls felt amazing. You’d nearly forgotten how good it felt to have him inside of you, how good it felt to be linked together like this - two pieces of puzzle completing the whole picture.

“There- chase your pleasure-” he whimpered as you rolled your hips every time you bottomed out, desperate for more friction. “Use me, my body, my cock, whatever you need, precious." 

You tried to find the right angle, the one that made you scream back when you were younger. “I’ve missed you so much-” your breath hitched in your throat when his tip hit just right inside of you and you closed your eyes. You let out a breathy Fuck when you repeated the action, your pussy spasming around him. Every sensation seemed heightened. You couldn’t get enough.

Now that you’ve hit your stride, your pace went from slow and sensual to quick and sloppy. Tengen offered all the support with his steady hands as you needed. The whole act was so familiar, yet new in so many ways. His breathing pattern was different while he was balls-deep in you; yours was too - your body was long ways from your top form when you were a teenager, but he seemed to be stronger than ever.

He appeared to be as lost in the pleasure as you were starting to be. “You look so beautiful- ngh- bouncing on my cock-!” he ground out between clenched teeth. “You’re so tight.”

His hips bucked up on accident, making you cry out. A coil was winding inside of you; you were balancing on the precipice of your first orgasm in what seemed like forever, sensitive to every small shift of your connected bodies. The anticipation of what was coming kept you going despite the burn in your thighs. 

Tengen’s hands clenched yours tighter. You peeked at him with half-lidded eyes, still chasing your release urgently. 

His mouth hung open, nearly drooling, chest heaving with soft pants; eyes clenched shut, brows furrowed, his entire expression as if he were in pain instead of rearranging your guts - as if he were the one who was getting his insides rearranged. A bright blush on his face was just a highlight of the whole picture.

The sight just hurled you closer to the edge with the speed of sound. Your pussy clung to his cock impossibly tight.

“Fuck- You’re close, I can feel it-” he said in a strained voice, almost wheezing. His eyes opened, tears falling from the intensity of his pleasure.

The thickly-wound knot snapped.

Your mouth fell open, agape. A loud stuttered moan echoed in the room, much more high-pitched than you thought yourself capable of. Tengen whimpered underneath you as you clutched his hands with a death-grip.

“There you go. You’re so beautiful…”

Your ears rang, his voice a muffled background noise. Your hips jerked involuntarily with another shock of pleasure, squeezing around him again. “Fu- precious - hah - you milk my cock just as good as I remember…”

You slowly came down from your high, drained. Your thighs trembled despite sitting your whole weight on his lap. Sweat ran down your back, your ribs and your hair stuck to your face yet you could care less when you looked your love in the eyes with a new clarity in your mind. 

He always made you feel amazing - in bed and out of it. You would give this new form of marriage a chance. Once the three wives returned from their mission, you would give them a chance. All this, just for Tengen.

“Can I…?” The question was hesitant, and your heart swelled with affection for this man, for your husband. He was so gentle with you, as if you would break like glass if handled improperly.

“Use me for your pleasure, Tengen,” you smiled warmly.

“Oh lord-” His eyes nearly rolled back into his skull when you gave him permission so sweetly.

He grabbed you by your waist, lifting you a little, pace sloppy and so wet each thrust came with a loud squelch as he fucked up into you roughly.

“I- won’t- last-” his thrusts stuttered very quickly in his frantic race to finish fast. Poor Tengen must have been about to cum when you had your release, yet he held back to not overwhelm you. “Fuck!”

“Don’t hold back, give it to me. Cum, Tengen.”

“Oh god- Yes. Yes-” The sound he emitted was an unholy guttural moan, his whole body shook, tears gathering at his lash line. He pressed harshly against your cervix, spurts of cum painting your inner walls white and filling you to the brim.

You caught your breath slowly. “There is no god up here…” 

Tengen grinned lazily at you and panted out, “... other than- Me. You- hah - you remembered.” 

He kept rutting into you with very slow thrusts, shallow yet so deep, as if he wanted to force more of his cum inside. His cock kept twitching and his thighs shook, the muscles of his abdomen jumping and rolling underneath his skin.

His semen leaked out around him mixed with your juices. Only when pleasure turned into pain of overstimulation did he stop. “You make me dizzy. You’ve always made me so dizzy…” He pulled you down to him, your head against his chest and his arms encircling you in a blanket of safety and warmth.

You melted in his embrace, breathing in his scent combined with yours. The smell of sex was heady, and would have sent you both into another quick rut before your mission. Neither of you moved though, you kept his cock and cum warm and he kept your body warm, a perfect harmony of two lovers.

“We should clean up soon,” Tengen whispered, making no move to get up.

“I don’t want to go anywhere. I just want to stay here, in your arms…” Your words had a double meaning. Your husband was your soul’s mate, and as such, he picked up on both, understanding your meaning in between. 

“Then stay, don't go.” Instead of moving you, he reached for the blanket and threw it over both of you. “I’m so lucky I have you back… The luckiest… I feel like I could fly. You bring Heaven down to me, precious,” he murmured, stroking your back gently. 

The simple gesture brought back so many memories, though foggy as they may be. You decided that it wasn’t such a bad thing. You could look back once in a while, but you needed to go forward and rebuild what was broken. And you had the best helper for that - after all, who was stronger than the Great Shinobi Tengen.

“I love you, Uzui Tengen.”

The idea of a first wife coming home to three more has been living rent-free in my mind for months. I'm making it your problem.

There might be part 2 but only after my brain recuperates from this entire work.

Part 2

#desi writing #uzui tengen x reader #uzui tengen #tengen x reader #demon slayer #kimetsu no yaiba #smut #angst #KNY fic #demon slayer fic #kakushino

[jhuzen]

i’m not sure if you’re taking requests right now so feel free to ignore/delete this if not ! i wanted to request a piece on a jealous al haitham where reader starts fawning over how pretty kaveh is when they meet for the first time! this is mostly cuz that was my own reaction after seeing kaveh HAHA m!reader too please! thank you :]

reticent jealousy [m.reader]

i have emerged from my tomb of university things. and i sincerely thank you anon for giving me such a fun request! this is so fun to write considering that i’ve been ignoring haitham in anticipation for kaveh’s ass LMAO. it’s also a little longer than what i intended since i wanted to oil my gears in writing again, i hope you don’t mind hehe.

𖦹 alhaitham being jealous of mister nuisance roommate, reader forgets the concept of personal space

Ever the charming man you are, you never failed to entice the people you’ve surrounded yourself with. With your charismatic wit and sincerity, coupled with that good looks you’ve somehow acquired from your beloved parents, it was not rocket science to figure out why people were drawn to you like moths to an attractive flame. You constantly piqued the interests of each and every person in the vicinity. It was natural to be attracted to you, you were beyond mesmerizing.

So much that you even managed to capture Alhaitham’s interest. Meeting him at the Akademiya was nothing short of interesting. Your family sent you to study in Haravatat — coincidentally being under the same Darshan as the now infamous scribe. Though it was not your interest, you complied out of respect to your parents, staying in between being average and excelling with barely a half of your efforts.

Alhaitham, at first, thought you were an idiot — only to realize how much bigger of an idiot you are when he came to see just how well off you truly are in your studies with you coming in clean that your far better grades than most students was just a product of your thirty percent effort.

Despite your open expression of fondness to certain things (which, admittedly, had given you a disposition of an exuberant airhead), Alhaitham respected you as a colleague and had even given you some of his approval when you would open up to him about your true passion.

Much like how people appreciated the handsome masterpiece that is you, you yourself beheld the beauty of the world. You loved anything that was pleasing in the eyes, and your hands worked to capture them in your paintings. If one took a good look at your works, one could see the inherent romanticism that you displayed. Everything and everyone was beautiful in your eyes, and among the cold and tired and researchers under your Darshan, you were the shining beacon of sincerity.

Really, it wasn’t so hard to fall for you. And Alhaitham went in ahead and tripped, and fell right into your strong arms.

Though his pride served as a hindrance in professing his affections that were left cooped up inside him for the entirety of your years spent as scholars in Akademiya, your observant eyes and empathic attitude finally gave mercy and aided his pining for you and did the asking for him instead.

Thus the beginning of the sneaked through kisses on your visitations in the scribe’s office, the nights he has spent with you in your home to avoid a certain roommate of his, the dates that were spent by the edge of cliffs, with his head on your lap as he read while you painted the romantic hues of the sunsets in Sumeru — all of which you cherished and Alhaitham even more.

You have always proudly proclaimed that Alhaitham was your greatest muse, and it was rarely a stretch considering that there was an office in your quaint little home that was filled with to the brim of masterpieces you created with your beloved as your sole subject. The sketches that were hastily pinned on a foam board, the paintings of him that gave the man a far more lively depiction of himself than the real one, and the pièce de résistance of your living portfolio was the your lover’s torso, sculpted to perfection.

(You swore you’d put his head in it, but he grew to realize that it would take awhile on the times he’d catch you locked up in your room, in a daze while tracing your fingers on the grooves of his sculpted abs.)

And while Alhaitham valued subjective opinions so little, when it comes to you, your words are his scriptures, his guides that he could never let go of. He waited with bated breath every time he silently sought your approval on how he looks, on how he presents himself as it was an investment to your love — the man that appreciates beauty out of everyone else — he sees it as a way to reciprocate your care. He puts in great effort for you just to return the sincerity that you bring him.

Either way, there was absolutely nothing that could break you apart. And whether people were in the know of your status in your relations with each other, everyone in Sumeru City was aware that wherever you are, the now Acting Grand Sage is always close by and the same applies vice versa.

And today just happened to be one of the times that you were free from your commissions that you’ve received from overseas and Alhaitham was surprisingly free despite his much busier schedule as the Acting Grand Sage.

There was an undeniable bliss in the atmosphere as you strolled around with your beloved and in the silence that you and Alhaitham held, there was comfort and respite. No words were truly needed the moment his hand slipped into yours, barely concealed by his coat that asymmetrically hung onto his form from the public eye.

“Ah!” you suddenly blurted, breaking the silence between you and your lover and catching Alhaitham’s attention, “Look at those fine ceramics! Judging from the design, they’re imported from Liyue, hang on, dearest.”

Alhaitham’s lips turned down into a subtle frown when your hand left his grasp, unable to feel the familiar light callouses that you’ve obtained from working your hands to the bone in your line of work. He looked up from his book to see you gravitating towards a certain stall, eyes narrowing at the way the girl behind the goods seemed far more entranced to your visage than keeping watch of her wares.

He gets it though, he understands more than anyone else. He was meant to be the untouchable Alhaitham — the man that cannot be swayed by just a pretty face. But you yourself broke past his walls without even knowing it, he was already convinced he has to be with the pretty boy of Haravatat. You were the unstoppable force to his immovable object and the only solution when you met ended up with his lips on yours and him underneath you, completely under your mercy.

Still, it doesn’t shake off the fact that you are objectively a handsome man, someone inherently charming with the sharp wits to boot. Alhaitham was sure that even if you can’t provide, someone will be infatuated enough to provide for you (however this in itself is not him admitting that he is near that stage… definitely not). People will throw themselves at your feet, and women and men have approached you with a hidden motive countless times during your dates with him.

Though it was consoling to see you reject them with grace (though he preferred a brutal slap to the face), there was a thought that kept intruding within him when he saw the reality upon dating one of the most sought out men in Sumeru.

You were a man that appreciated and sought beauty. And in truth, he wasn’t just your muse although he was your frequent one. There was always something unsettling the moment your eyes lay on a person who you find appealing, and his scowl couldn’t help but be evident when even without having to be naturally seductive, the way your flustering touches reach other people to convince them to be your muse.

Alhaitham had a green-eyed monster that he unknowingly nursed — its jealous head rearing out on certain moments, breathing down on his neck whenever you left him, your beloved muse.

And it seems as though the fates have woven a test for him. A test that certainly does not appeal to his fancy.

“Oi! Alhaitham, you jerk! Did you steal my keys again?! You locked me out of our— ahem, my apartment again!”

The Acting Grand Sage’s eyes immediately narrowed when he heard that familiar voice. One that he often used as an excuse to come and stay the night with you (really, he never needed an excuse, but his ego refused to absolutely be fragile even to you at moments). He pondered his options, and the choice him just turning away was the most inviting one, yet he knew that would only prompt his roommate to whine louder and attract more attention.

He turned towards Kaveh, his blank expression masking the little exasperation that’s bubbling up inside him, “I’ve never seen your keys.” It was a lie, as it sat snugly in his pockets for a good day now. “Why do you always come to accuse me of such things?”

Kaveh was quick to scoff at Alhaitham’s question, rolling his eyes and crossing his arms before prattling on, “Oh don’t give me that hooey! I know it’s you! Instead of coming home from my projects and just relaxing, I have to go see if Cyno’s still awake to crash into his place!”

“Maybe if you pay your rent, you can stop losing your keys more,” a silent dig had Kaveh faltering with a huff.

“So it is you!” The blonde only shifted his footing before leaning in to jab his finger into Alhaitham’s chest, “And maybe I’ll pay my rent if you start losing those hideous decorations. I’ve only liked one thing and it was that painting that you suddenly brought home.”

“What I do with my money is none of your business,” Alhaitham cooly brushed Kaveh’s accusations off — of course it was deliberate every time he purchased a vase or a rug that had a clashing color palette, or anything remotely sacrilegious in an artist’s (more so yours) eye. But he wouldn’t deny that one painting. It was something he brought home from you, something you even encouraged for him to take as a gift from you on a random day.

Kaveh pinched the bridge of his nose as he heaved a begrudged sigh, “Whatever. Just lend me my keys and—”

“Oh! Aren’t you just the most darling man I’ve ever seen!”

Alhaitham’s heart stopped and instantly dropped down to his stomach when that angelic voice of yours suddenly rang in his ears.

Apart from his crudely decorated purchases, one reason why he never once wanted you to visit him in his apartment often is mostly for the fear of you having to meet his roommate. All for numerous reasons — something that Alhaitham foresaw that he wouldn’t be in favor of in the slightest bit. You know he has a roommate, and knew that Kaveh was the reason why Alhaitham looks relatively exasperated on certain days. For so long, you’ve wanted to meet this man, and yet Alhaitham blatantly refuses because he’s afraid that Kaveh’s ineptness would rub off on you or that you might start taking clients out of the goodness of your heart and not as a proper job.

“What?”

“What.”

Kaveh scoffed, “Oh, just great. Here’s another one of your admirers. Give me the damn key and I’ll leave before I start hurling my precious lunch in the middle of the street.”

And yet both men stiffened up when you passed by Alhaitham, your gaze can be completely mistaken for something lovestruck as you gravitated towards Kaveh. The blonde froze as your pretty face got closer to his, your eyes scrutinizing his features, and even then, the poor architect could only avert his eyes from yours, flustered, before meeting Alhaitham’s darkening gaze, only furthering his confusion.

You finally leaned back, “Ah— Apologies for invading your personal space—! I just! I just find you absolutely breathtaking!” Your sincerity was quick to reach Kaveh, and his face erupted into a blooming shade of bright red. “Oh! What a cute boy you are! And your proportions are undoubtedly stunning!”

“W-Wha—?”

Alhaitham watched in silent mortification when one of your gentle hands trailed towards Kaveh’s arm, sliding down to grasp his hand and bringing his arm up, “Give me a little spin, won’t you please?” You asked with a smile of plea.

Utterly confused and still dumbfounded and embarrassed, Kaveh couldn’t find himself to refuse your polite request (he’d love to call it coercion, but you were so nice) and spun around, his hand still within your warm grasp. He could feel his heart stutter when he heard your pleased hum of approval.

“A good eye for fashion too!” Your hand finally left his and stepped back, “Oh! You are perfect!”

Alhaitham’s eyes narrowed. His arms quickly crossed to his chest — a defense mechanism as the familiar dread slowly sunk in him, spreading to every single crevice of his body. His muscles tensed with every sing of praise that left your lips, with every touch you left on Kaveh’s form, and the way his nuisance of a roommate certainly relished in the sudden attention you’re giving him.

Worst part of it all is that Kaveh wasn’t even remotely aware that you were dating Alhaitham in the first place; that this admiration of yours was just you fawning over your new chosen muse. But he doesn’t know that — so your fondness can be quickly mistaken for blatant lovestruck adoration.

“‘Haitham! Doesn’t he look amazing?” You finally turned to your lover, whose eyes grew soft quick the moment your attention was on his.

Kaveh wrinkled his nose, “…Huh? ‘Haitham’? You know this man?” He asked, his embarrassed look finally reverting into that familiar expression of annoyance as he looked at Alhaitham.

“Of course! You know him as well?” You tilted your head a little to the side with a small smile.

The blonde was strained as he nodded, “He’s… an acquaintance.”

“My roommate,” Alhaitham finally clarified with a displeased grunt. It’s one way to rip the anticipation off, and in an instant, your eyes were elated as you turned to his roommate’s direction.

“So you’re the illustrious ‘nuisance roommate’ Kaveh…” you chuckled a little as you lent your hand to the architect, “It’s nice to finally meet ‘Haitham’s roommate.”

Kaveh took your hand and shook it cautiously, eyes narrowing a little. If you’re in the company of Alhaitham, surely you have some form unbearable personality as well… especially with that disarming sincerity that you exuded, “And you’re the…?”

“The boyfriend,” you stated, clear as a day with a small smile on your face and Kaveh’s grip tightened on your hand.

“The what?!”

“It’s not so shocking,” Alhaitham finally interrupted your conversation with his roommate, his arms uncrossing as he took a step closer to you. “And no, I didn’t pay him.” He already interjected before Kaveh could accuse you the same way he did to the traveler and their floating companion on their first meet.

“I certainly would’ve given a receipt if he did.”

Kaveh’s hand fell from your grip as his life crumbled before his eyes. His roommate that he classifies as the most unbearable person in the whole universe… is suddenly taken? By you? A handsome guy that he has never met in his whole life for some reason? He has to take a reality check, and his vision blurred. No way his loser of a roommate is getting laid before him.

Absolute sacrilege.

Meanwhile, Alhaitham had half a mind to take you and just leave Kaveh while he processed the sudden drop of information. But there was a sick sense of satisfaction that coursed through the Acting Grand Sage’s veins when Kaveh had an existential crisis just because he was absolutely clueless to all the hints that pointed to him having a lover. It was entertaining, to say the least, and once again, Alhaitham had the upper hand.

However that satisfaction soon melted into raw jealousy when your hands clasped Kaveh’s bringing them up as you finally worked your charms.

“So then, Mister nuisance roommate, I hope you don’t mind if I ask a moment of your time.”

Kaveh blinked out of his stupor, suddenly becoming flustered when your hands enveloped his, “N-No— I don’t mind… what do you need?”

And like a man about to profess his love to someone, your eyes glimmered as you popped the question;

“Will you be my muse for this month’s project?”

Alhaitham’s hands itched to grab a hold of you and tear you away from his roommate as his eyes glowered and dug into Kaveh’s form with absolute malice and jealousy. Why did you even have to find his mess of a roommate remotely attractive? What even is so ‘beautiful’ about Kaveh that you just had to touch him? Do you even have to be that close to ask him to be your muse? And why do you keep showering him with praises?

Poor Kaveh had little chance to refuse you as you looked at him so expectantly. Letting out a reluctant yes, you absolutely glowed before showering him some more praises, and ecstatically telling him that you will be over Alhaitham’s apartment to discuss further details with him.

And while Alhaitham simmered in his jealousy, he failed to notice Kaveh finally leaving and you coming back to him.

It’s like his vision cleared when he finally felt your arm snake around his waist, pulling him closer to be your side, “Your roommate is rather adorable, dear,” you said, sneaking a kiss to his temple.

Alhaitham scoffed, “I’d rather you not say that while expressing any form of affection to me.” His tone was cold, but even you can feel how utterly upset your dearest love is.

You only laughed before pinching the lean fat on his waist, prompting the stoic man to jolt, “I find your jealousy far more adorable, however.”

“So you were being deliberate earlier?”

“Oh, absolutely not. I just do it so none of the muses I ask can refuse, though my compliments are of utmost sincerity,” you said before flashing Alhaitham that cheeky grin that he found himself admiring for the nth time now. “It’s a good psychological tactic, y’know?”

“At the expense of your lover’s feelings. How crude,” Alhaitham huffed. “You’re going to have to make up for the poor treatment you’ve given to me.”

The sultry grin on your face was enough for Alhaitham to know that he won’t be coming home tonight.

Ah. Kaveh’s keys are still in his pocket.

Oh well.

#originally meant to be a musician reader because i’m absolutely crushing it in the new event’s games #my pride as a rhythm gamer isn’t for naught #btw next up is a kazuha angst #and then a dottore ask from morax anon #and then one long ask from primo anon #will i ever publish the part 2 of that sagau thing i did? yes #genshin impact x male reader #alhaitham x male reader #alhaitham x reader #jhuzen’s stupid one shots

[kazenomegaminowanpisu]

Hi! How are you? I just stumbled on your blog. Your art and stories are amazing. I was wondering if I could put in a request for a SFW story please? I’m a huge one piece fan. I really love Ace and Law. I was wondering if you could do a female reader who is their mentor’s daughter (Whitebeard’s daughter for Ace and Corazon’s daughter for Law). They start a relationship with them. They just have a cute little moment watching the sea together (or something like that), talking about how much how they fell in love, what they want for their future together (a happy one of course) and how they’ll have to tell their parent eventually but their parent is behind, watching from a far happy. It’s a lot I know you can ignore it, do one of the characters. It’s all okay no matter what. But thank you and have a good day! 🧡

This is a brilliant idea.. but I'm gonna write down what I have understand base on your request (I'm sorry for the very very lateness)

Op boys having a relationship with their mentors daughters

Warning:SFW, Fluff

Feat:Law, Ace

You and Ace sat side by side at the edge of the Moby Dick, your legs dangling over the open sea. As the sun began its descent, casting a golden hue over the horizon, Ace couldn't help but be captivated by the enchanting sight.

"Isn't it beautiful?" Ace whispered, his eyes flickering with a mix of awe and adoration. "The sea... it's like a reflection of our love.

You smiled warmly and leaned against Ace, feeling the strength of his presence comforting you. "Yes, it is. Our love, like the sea, is vast and ever-changing, but always filled with wonder and discovery."

Ace intertwined his fingers with you, their touch embracing a shared future. "I want to create a future as bright as the sunsets we see, filled with laughter, adventures, and endless support."

You nodded, your heart swelling with affection. "I want that too, Ace. A future where we cherish each other, grow together, and face whatever comes our way with resilience and love."

As the two of you savored the serenity of the moment, glancing over your shoulders and caught a glimpse of Whitebeard watching from afar. His weathered face softened, a proud smile etched across his lips. He saw the happiness that radiated from his daughter and her newfound love, grateful that Ace had found someone who truly understood and cherished her.

Law

You and law found solace on the deck of the submarine, the gentle waves lapping against its sides. Both of you sat together, shoulders brushing lightly as you gazed out into the vastness of the ocean. The evening sun painted the sky with hues of orange and purple, casting a serene ambiance over their moment.

"This view reminds me of the tranquility I feel when I'm with you," Law murmured softly, his voice carrying an undercurrent of tenderness.

You turned to him and smile soft and affectionate. "I feel the same way, Law. Your presence brings a calmness to my soul, like the gentle lullaby of the ocean."

Law's fingers delicately traced patterns on your hand. "I envision a future where we can learn from each other, trust each other, and build a foundation of unwavering love and support."

The reader's heartbeat quickened, Your love for Law swelling in your chest. "I dream of that future as well, Law. A future where we create a sanctuary together, where our hearts find solace and our dreams intertwine."

In that poignant moment, both of you glanced towards Corazons Grave, quietly looking at your father's grave. Both of you know that Corazon were very happy for the two of you.

#One piece canons #one piece x reader #one piece x s/o #one piece x y/n #Portgas D. Ace x reader #Law x reader #kazenomegaminowanpisu #one piece #hannaemeraldwhitedragon #one piece canons #writing #anime

[luffyvace]

Rengoku x reader headcanons

I LOVE RENGOKUUU

yippie

ummm idk what to make reader so i’m just gonna default to gn 😭😋

enjoy 🤪

okkk so..!

he’s the best boyfriend ever without question

his mama raised him right so he’s a gentleman

he thinks the traditional flowers and sweets is decent but he likes to put a unique spin on it!

oh your worried for your family because demons lurk nearyour hometown?

well never fear! he planted wisteria trees around it!!

oh you like sweets?

DO YOU LIKE SWEET POTATOES?

he’s sharing w you 100% (for those who don’t know his canon fav food is sweet potatoes)

he’d take you on dates spontaneously

after you reminded him that couples date

he knows but kinda forgot since he was never focused much on romance before you

if your not a hashira he wants you as his sugoku

but his training..😭😭

he would be heavily motivational

but he won’t really ease up on you because you have to be strong if you want to survive powerful demons

he does this because he cares, please understand 😭

his love languages are quality time and gift giving

he always brings you back gifts because he knows you worry

or he’ll send them through his kisagi crow to you to arrive before he does

he does this to let you know he’s alive

it’s a real scary relief

but he’s really thoughtful with his gifts so it makes you smile in the end

whenever your together he’ll value and cherish that time forever

sometimes you’ll catch him staring at you with the kindest eyes and most loving smile ever

just watching you as you train or go about your daily life

it warms your heart so much

speak of warm-

MANS GIVES OFF NATURAL BODY HEAT

so..!

perfect cuddler!

you’ll crisp in summer tho :)

have fun! :D

if you develop your own breathing style he’ll be very interested in it and proud of you for creating your own!!

praise is a never ending thing with this man!!

if your a hashira he’d love to spar without holding back to push you both to your limits

you’d spend time at each other’s hashira houses a lot

relaxing in your kimonos as you soak in the warm sunlight

or watch a beautiful sunrise/sunset together

he’d love to go shopping with you on your free time!!

hashira’s can get paid as much as they want but he’d still insist on buying everything for you like the gentleman he is

he such a doting and sweet lover!

rengoku goes straight for personality when it comes to his partner

anyone, really

hes not one to judge :)

therefore your beautiful personality reflects onto your face like sunlight, making it shimmer and glow in through his eyes

rengoku would be a pretty good cook

i feel he observed his mother as she did and picked up on a lot of things

he also keeps his place clean, he doesn’t buy anything he knows he won’t use so it’s mostly sentimental stuff that means something to him

pictures of his family

gifts from friends

everything you’ve ever gave him

he doesn’t mean it in a creepy way

its endearing in his eyes 😅

writes love letters to you if you ever have to be away from him for a long time

the rest of the hashira’s and kagaya think you guys are adorable <33

rengoku wouldn’t mind at all if you like pda

he’d initiate it himself occasionally

neither of you get obnoxious with it

unless you do

mitsuri wouldn’t mind

but the rest?

“😅😃”

is their reaction

you think it’s funny tho

they still love you two dw

but you love each other more

♥︎♥︎♥︎

you can prob tell but this is demon slayer reader btw lol

im sooo happy with how these turned out this gotta be my best work yet it’s adorable 💗

#anime #anime and manga #rengoku kyōjurō #rengoku kyojuro #kny rengoku #rengoku x reader #demon slayer rengoku #kny kyojuro #demon slayer #kny x reader #kny x you #kny #kny headcanons #kny x gender neutral reader #demon slayer x reader #demon slayer x you #demon slayer x gender neutral reader #fluff #relationship headcanons #anime headcanons #kny anime #kny x y/n #kny x male reader

[chwlb]

Jily. (Im not Ready for October)

James grew his hair out for Lily, and she’d always put little French braids in it before bed so he’d have curly hair in the morning (he went around telling people that he took a potion his father made that magically made his hair curly (remus didn’t let that rumor last long before dunking James’s head into water and let everyone watch as his hair dried curl-less))

When James and Lily got married Sirius asked to be a flower girl at their wedding as a joke and to his surprise Lily was the one who said yes (not James because he wanted Sirius to be best man) so then remus got elected best man and they let Sirius walk down the Isle with Fabian’s daughter Alleen.

——

When the preacher said “speak now or forever hold your peace” remus activity stared down everyone of their friends knowing damn well they’d try that shit as a joke, just for Lily to say “Well… Remus is pretty fit” and obviously that causes a uproar (jokingly) and Remus laughing alongside the rest of them just for James to pop up with “I know right, Almost went for him in 4th year” which left everyone bursting in laughter but him. Which led him to say “kiss your god damn wife potter”

And James bantering back

“Oh please moony, I will. All. Night. Long.”

*insert kissy kiss*

When Wiloa was little they would sneak away with their uncles to OOTP meetings and Lily would always find them, so they’d have to pull them off and lecture them about how they can’t hide away here because they could get hurt. But after a while, gave in and let them stay. Soon enough James found them and he’d always sneak them off and back home because he understood what it was like to be curious at a young age and how dangerous curiosity could be. But basically Wiloa was Jily’s practice child.

Lily would always show James muggle things. When they moved in together he stood flicking the ceiling fan on and off for about 30 minutes (while Lily recorded him like he was a cat) James had 100% become accustomed to muggle life, and at some points entirely forgot he was a wizard. (He got really excited when he remembered he was magic and could turn into a fucking deer)

James tried helping Lily become an Animagus but she couldn’t keep the leaf in her mouth past two days so she eventually just spit it out and told James “look I give up, as long as you don’t turn into a fucking elk while we’re fucking I’m good” and james’s only response was “I’m a DEAR darling get it right” in a posh mid-Atlantic accent.

When James proposed Lily made a joke about him preposing before she KNEW he was proposing so it went something like this

*at a lake during a very pretty sunset*

“Lillian, I really need to ask you something” James asked with a cherishing smile

“James, darling you can ask me anything as long as you don’t propose” She joked

She then turned around to see the look of utter shock and hurt in his eyes. And realized. He was going to propose.

“No, no, no. I didn’t say anything, what were you asking? I’ll turn back around!”

She then turned back around with a static giggle bouncing through her bones. He knew she loved him.

“Lillian,” he said while grabbing her arm and turning her around gently “My darling, you’ve made me the happiest man on earth. And I know it’s the most cliche thing to say, but my words have never heard more truth than this. I can’t bare the thought of life without the light of your eyes shining in mine. I can’t stand mornings after without your sweet touch curled next to mine. And I’ll never see another gorgeous evening like this again if your gracing beauty isn’t touching it. So Please, Lillian Jane Evans, Will you marry me? And be my wife, and I’ll be yours”

The first thing she could do was fall into his arms, and his warm gentle kiss. Tears flowed down her eyes and he placed the ring on her finger.

“Shit!” James Said unexpectedly “I forgot to get down on one fucking knee”

Lily giggle at her new found fiancé, he could be a stupid man, but he was HER stupid man.

“So, you’ll be my wife” Lily said excitedly

“What?!” James burst out laughing

“Well you said ‘be my wife, and I’ll be yours’ so I assume you’ll be my wife, correct?”

And with those words, James knew he chose the right woman.

#fandom ships #jegulus #jily fluff #jily fanart #jily headcanon #jily fic #jily fanfiction #jilymicrofics #jily #jily week 2023 #jilypad #order of the phoenix #fabian prewett #gideon prewett #wolfstar #remus loves sirius #remus x sirius #ts remus #remus lupin #james potter #lily evans #long story short #pandalily #harry potter #lily potter #sirius orion black #maraduers #maraders era #regulus black #james loves lily

[therealhazelcallahan]

!!THE HAZEL FIC RAAAHHH!! (Please be nice guys this is my first fic I’m it’s not that good 😭)

Hazel Callahan, a bright and passionate high school student, was eagerly anticipating Valentine's Day. This year, she had something truly special to look forward to—celebrating the day with her girlfriend, (Y/N). As the day approached, Hazel couldn't contain her excitement, and her mind was filled with plans to make the day unforgettable for both of them.

On Valentine's Day morning, Hazel woke up to the soft glow of sunlight filtering through her window. She sprang out of bed with a smile, ready to begin the day's festivities. With a flourish, she arranged a small bouquet of (Y/N)'s favorite flowers, wrapped it in delicate pink paper, and placed it on her desk. Hazel couldn't wait to surprise (Y/N) with the thoughtful gift later in the day.

At school, the hallways were adorned with heart-shaped decorations, and the air buzzed with excitement and romantic anticipation. During lunch break, Hazel nervously glanced at the clock, counting the minutes until she could meet (Y/N). When the bell finally rang, signaling the end of classes, Hazel rushed to the school courtyard where she had arranged to meet her girlfriend.

As she approached their meeting spot, she spotted (Y/N) standing there, a radiant smile spreading across her face as she saw Hazel approaching. They embraced, their hearts beating in sync as they exchanged affectionate glances.

"Happy Valentine's Day, Hazel," (Y/N) greeted her with a hug, "You look amazing."

"Happy Valentine's Day, (Y/N)!" Hazel replied with a grin, "I got something for you." She presented the bouquet of flowers to (Y/N). "I hope you like them."

(Y/N)'s eyes lit up with delight as she accepted the flowers. "They're beautiful, Hazel. Thank you so much."

The joy in (Y/N)'s eyes was all the confirmation Hazel needed, and they shared a tender moment before setting off on their Valentine's Day adventure.

Their first stop was at a cozy café, where they shared a decadent dessert and laughed over lattes.

"This is so sweet, Hazel," (Y/N) commented, "I love spending time with you like this. It's perfect."

Hazel smiled and reached for (Y/N)'s hand. "It's even better with you by my side."

They exchanged small, heart-shaped gifts, each one a testament to their love and unique connection. With every shared smile and stolen glance, Hazel felt an overwhelming sense of happiness and contentment, knowing that she was exactly where she was meant to be—by (Y/N)'s side.

After their delightful café date, Hazel suggested a walk through the nearby park, where they could enjoy the beauty of nature and the serenity it offered. As they strolled hand in hand, (Y/N) pointed to a patch of wildflowers and suggested they gather a few to make personalized flower crowns for each other. "Hazel, look at these flowers!" (Y/N) exclaimed, "Let's make flower crowns for each other. It'll be so much fun!" Hazel beamed at the idea, and they spent a carefree moment crafting the crowns, giggling and stealing kisses in between.

The day continued with a visit to the local art gallery, a place both of them cherished for its ability to evoke emotions and inspire creativity. "This painting, Hazel," (Y/N) said, "It reminds me of us. Two souls entwined in love, just like this." Hazel placed a gentle hand on (Y/N)'s shoulder, feeling a surge of warmth in her heart. "It's beautiful, just like our love."

To conclude the evening, Hazel surprised (Y/N) with a private picnic in a scenic spot overlooking the city. The sunset painted the sky in hues of pink and gold, casting a warm glow over the world.

"This spot is amazing, Hazel," (Y/N) said with awe, "I'm so lucky to have you in my life."

Hazel smiled, her eyes reflecting the affection she felt. "I feel the same way, (Y/N). Every moment with you is a treasure."

As the day drew to a close, (Y/N) nestled into Hazel's embrace, and they watched the stars twinkle in the night sky.

"Thank you for this wonderful day, Hazel," (Y/N) whispered, "You've made it magical."

With a contented sigh, Hazel realized that the magic of Valentine's Day lay not only in the grand gestures, but in the cherished moments of togetherness and love. As they said their goodbyes, Hazel knew that the memories they had created on this special day would be etched in their hearts forever.

For Hazel Callahan, Valentine's Day was a celebration of the love she shared with (Y/N), and it marked the beginning of a lifetime of beautiful adventures filled with joy, romance, and the promise of a love story that was uniquely theirs.

#sapphic #lesbian #ruby cruz #hazel callahan #bottoms movie #bottoms 2023 #queer #wlw #fanfic

[blackjackkent]

Wandered into the Lower City Graveyard, where this... interesting woman is making the rounds.

"Death's blessings upon you. I am Mortarch Scyre, devotee of Kelemvor. I pray you find comfort among the dead, as I do. To rid ourselves of the coils of flesh is a beautiful thing."

Hector, whose girlfriend is currently a ticking time bomb for shuffling off this mortal coil, isn't really particularly comforted by this at all.

"Breathe it in - the damp. The decay. The smell is sweeter than roses - for death is a gift worth cherishing. How might I be of assistance?"

"...I'm good, thanks."

"Fear not death, and He shall welcome you."

OK, ma'am, thank you for that.

The Mortarch is intermittently chatting with this grieving couple who are trying to get a casket for a proper burial for their seven-year-old daughter who was murdered (I assume by Orin) which is pretty upsetting. The coffin carpenter out in the yard, who we talked to earlier, has told them they'd have to wait a month because of the backlog (from all the other murders, I guess).

Needless to say, Hector is going to stick his nose into this and help, because if he can reduce their grief even a little bit, he's obviously going to do so.

"The city is chock-a-block with bodies thanks to these murders. I can barely keep up with all the orders."

Hector gets exactly one dialogue option here, and that option is "I'm not leaving without a coffin," which is really ominous out of context.

"Then you'll be a long time standing," the carpenter says coolly. Then he shrugs. "Now, you want to bump someone else to the back of the queue? Fine - but it'll cost you."

We have a couple dialogue options here as a monk and cleric. There's also an intimidation check option which is pretty intense:

Hector isn't in intimidation mode here, but he does think that the grieving parents of a seven-year-old feel like a special (terrible) case, and should be treated with appropriate deference.

[MONK][PERSUASION] "Please," he says earnestly, "only the simplest coffin is needed to ease the parents' suffering."

The coffinmaker hesitates, his eyes flicking down. "Spose I've still got the smaller coffin designs from when..." he mutters, then trails off, clears his throat. "Bloody hells. Fine," he says irritably, not meeting Hector's eyes. "Tell them they can pick it up at sunset. Now get out of my sight."

It doesn't really feel like much of a victory, since everyone involved in the situation is clearly miserable, but at least it's the best possible outcome. Hector trots back to give the good news.

"Your daughter's coffin will be ready soon. I took care of it."

"You did? You hear that, honey?"

"Lily was our world. Knowing that she'll be able to be put to rest properly makes things... easier. Thank you."

<3 Hector is very glad he could help, even a little bit.

#bjk plays baldur's gate 3 #hector carlisle #man this city is really Going Through It huh

[galacticseonghwa]

Rest easy my love

you became a star last night, i miss you so bad right now. but time will heal. I'm sending nothing but my love and condolences to his family, friends and members. please watch over us binnie, continue to shine for us and give us the light we need. 1095 days wasn't enough time with you, I'm so so so sorry i didn't cherish our moments together as much as i should of, however on august 14 2022 when i met you, it was one of the best days of my life. i will continue to count the days as i stay by your side until i am no longer gracing this earth. i will take this time to cherish our moments together more, this isn't a goodbye, it's a see you later. now rest easy my beautiful boy, i love you til the end of time🌙🕊️🤍

sunrise: 26/01/1998

sunset: 19/04/2023

please check on those around you, if you see any sort of sign that they're struggling please don't be afraid to lend them a hand or be a shoulder to cry on.

MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS

#moonbin #astro #rest easy now beautiful #you matter #mental health #galacticseonghwa #i can't deal right now #i miss him so bad

[woovia]

To my ginger boy 🧡

you are everything to me.

you’re the sun to my moon, the stars to my sky, the missing piece, the only one that has the key to my heart, the one that i love the most and i’ll always love.

you’re my happiness, my home, my love, my life, my heart and my soul.

you are love itself and even more, you’re everything that matters.

i find you in every love song, in every poem, in every sunset and every dawn, in every star and every flower, in every thing good and beautiful.

Oh Freddie… my sweet ginger boy… how much i love you, how much i cherish, adore and care about you…

if only you could see yourself the way i see you, if only you could feel how much you mean to me.

There’s not a single thing that i don’t absolutely love about you or your looks.

You’ve got the cutest nose, those faint freckles that decorate your nose and cheekbones like stars in the night sky or sunflowers in a field.

the softest cheeks, those lips of yours… so soft and delicate, only for me to taste over and over again… your perfect sharp jawline that give your face that bit of an attitude…

but you’re eyes… god, you’re eyes are just something else.

it’s like i can see the universe itself in them, all the good things of this damn world are collected in those beautiful hazelnut eyes of yours… i could stare at them for hours and hours, losing myself in them only to find you at the end… you’re just perfect.

I love everything about you, but your character, your personality is the best thing.

You're loving, caring, impulsive, extremely funny, happy and you always try to put others first.

You're the type of person who would tease me every second when we're in public but who, in private, wants to cuddle and be the little spoon.

You would tell me about your plans for the shop and how you would like to raise your daughter surrounded by games and fun.

You would bring me to look at the stars only to have me list them, not understanding anything but wanting to listen to my voice and look at the stars reflected in my eyes.

You would bring me breakfast in bed even if it was all burnt because you have no idea how to use a stove without magic.

You would read me the fairy tales that your mother told you as a child when you were afraid of the dark.

You would come back from your Quidditch practice with one hand behind your back, a small flower bouquet just for me hidden there.

You would listen to me talk about muggle stuff just to see me smile while talking about the things that i love making you love them, as well.

Oh, my Freddie... how much i love you. i love you so much that it hurts… and i’m not saying that in a bad way, if anything it’s the most precious thing ever…

your mere existence is enough for me to be happy.

I spent so many years locked away by my own… bottling up my feelings and emotions and just let them be… and then you came into my life… you brought light, hope, love…

it’s scary… every day i woke up and i’m so scared to realize that it was only just a dream…

you make me so weak, Freddie… i’ve never felt like this before and I never will with anyone else.

The words “i love you” aren’t enough to describe how much you mean to me… no words in any language will ever be enough…

please, let me love you every day… let me prove to you how you save my life everyday…

I love you… I love you so much…

I’ll always find you in every corner of this universe, in any other dimension and universe and reality.

my heart and soul belong to you, now and for ever. You have my heart for this lifetime and for the next ones.

Nobody will ever be as important as you are to me. You’re pure love, Fred. You’re mine and mine only.

My love, my sweet ginger boy, my Freddie...

For ever yours, Sil.

#harry potter #hp fandom #fred weasley #weasley twins #fred weasley ff #love quotes #love letters #fictional characters #weasley

[an-abyss-of-stars]

He saw her at daybreak - Part 7

Summary: The babe is growing steadily, and with merely three moons left in her pregnancy Rhaena begins to feel the calling of a dragon…

Warnings: None for this chapter!

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3.1 | Part 3.2 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Ao3

Tag list: @minim236 , @bohemian-nights , @neocil , @nettysnest , @avidreader73 , @jordanjanellejoyy , @azaleapotterblack , @yourlittlehoe , @partypoison00 , (feel free to tell me if you want to be on the taglist or not)

P.S: AGGHHHH BLEH BLEH I'M BACKK!!

PLEASE, if you haven't been following my spotty updates on Tumblr, I basically wrote this entire chapter about month or more ago…and it totaled out to about 30k words in length…and the I reread it and hated it! LMfAO, so, I've been going through it slowly trying to make it tolerable, and in that process I've realized that I don't mind this first half too much! I think it's pretty good, so I decided I'd cut the chapter in half and let y'all read this bit! For those of you still care about this weird smutty fic!

This half isn't smutty i'm afraid to say, but the next half will have the other 20k words in it…so that'll have the sex scene it! Either way, long time coming! Hopefully you all enjoy it!!!

-

☾

The rest of that evening had been calm and peaceful, mainly due to Rhaena stealing her husband away, to enjoy the serene nature of the grassy fields that faced Dragon mound. 

Aemond had Maester Varion push his last two hearings over to the following day, giving him the free time to lay with her and Vhagar in the grassy fields as the sun slowly began to set on the horizon. Rhaena had always thought this spot, here on the peak, was one of the most perfect spots to witness a sunset here on Dragonstone. The saturated orange glow of the setting sun bathed the grass and anything on it in such an ethereal way, everything glowed like pure gold. 

Truly the Golden Hour.  

With a soft tranquil breeze that ruffled and flowed over against them. Rhaena had leaned herself back against the solid massive heat that was Vhagar's side, while Aemond had comfortably rested his head on her lap. His body laid out on the cool grass, casual and relaxed, as he crossed his arms. 

For once, truly, Rhaena's mind was at ease, sitting here in their shared comfortable silence. With her fingers absentmindedly running through his hair, Aemond had closed his eyes, either just as peacefully soaking in their solitude or just as likely he might have found himself comfortable enough for a light nap. 

Not unlike his bonded dragon, Vhagar, the legendary she-beast could be heard purring soundly, a massaging rumbly feeling that vibrated against Rhaena's back.  

Just off in the distance, Rhaena could see the great King of the dragons, Vermithor, nestled closely with his beautiful mate, the iridescent Silverwing. Seeing them together like this often brought back old memories of Rhaena's childhood, when she'd run these fields with her siblings and their own dragons. Back when they could sit with Caraxes and Syrax, and kepa would tell them all wild and exciting tales from his youth, the many exiles he'd experienced for annoying and angering his grandmother or aptly, his elder brother. Of his battle in the Stepstones, a personal favourite for all of the kids then. Sometimes he'd tell them about muña Rhaenyra in her youth, tales that made her blush and swat him affectionately. 

But most cherished of all, to Rhaena at least, were when he told them all of how he'd courted the girls' other mother, their birth mother, muña Laena. 

It always sounded so fantastical and romantic, Rhaena had always loved to hear of it, even when her muña was still alive. But after her death, she supposed it meant all the more to know that her kepa hadn't forgotten her. That even though he'd found love again, he'd never let go of his previous love…he never let her name or her memory fade into oblivion. 

And she loved him dearly for that. 

It was also never lost on her, the incredibly soft, fond expression Rhaenyra had whenever he spoke of Laena. A clear expression of someone who also once loved her mother.

Though, of course, by now Rhaenyra had been more of a mother to Rhaena than her birth mother, Laena, had ever gotten to be. This coming year, it would be eleven years since Laena died…eleven years since Rhaenyra had respectfully taken her spot in Rhaena and Baela's lives. 

And just as well…this coming year…Rhaena would have a babe of her own. 

Frightful business indeed…but exciting nonetheless. 

Rhaena's little train of thought had swiftly eroded away as a new surge of energy started to spark within her. It started like a low hum…sizzling…sparking in the pit of her stomach, a faint tingle ringing throughout her body like full-bodied butterflies. 

It was a feeling that sought attention…beckoning her over…and as her eyes searched around for the source. 

Rhaena found herself gazing directly over at the glorious iridescent beauty, pink and white, light and regal…the Queenly she-dragon, Silverwing. 

It wouldn't have caught her as off guard as it did…except, the dragon in question was gazing right back at her. 

From across the vast field, their eyes met with fire-like intensity, something Rhaena had never felt before. 

Surely this wasn't…

Not now…

After all these years…

The calling .

No. 

It couldn't be. 

Quickly she broke the line of sight, and tried to distract herself with conversation. 

"Aemond," Rhaena breathed, still slightly startled, still in disbelief over what she assumed might be happening…but Silverwing would not move to her. If this was…what she thought it was…she'd have to make that move herself. 

And for now…she wasn't sure she wanted to. 

She wasn't sure she could…even if she did. 

Eighteen years…her entire life she'd never wanted anything more. And now she was too scared to take it…claim it. 

Maybe it wasn't fear . 

Maybe she found herself existing in a false sense of acceptance. 

Rhaena Targaryen…the only Targaryen in her current living family to not have a dragon. 

This was a fact. 

And it had been for years. 

Was she really meant to change that now? 

"Hmm," upon her lap, Aemond hummed faintly, whether he had in fact been resting or not, she couldn't be sure, but she had his attention now.

So she figured she'd use it, redirect her thoughts into something else, "the babe…do think we'll have a boy or girl? Or perhaps twins…they are quite common in our family…"

Her sentence trailed off into silence…try as she might, she could not focus. 

That electrifying feeling ached and demanded attention. 

Thankfully, she supposed, Aemond hadn't noticed the subtle change in her demeanor. Instead letting her casual question marinade as he turned his head towards her belly and pressed a soft kiss against her. His hand reaching up to caress the curve, "since they're coming from you, I wouldn't care what you birth." 

"I could birth a deformed dragon creature," Rhaena had meant it as a slight jest, but the moment the words left her mouth, she realized there was a true possibility that she could. House Targaryen prided itself on pure Valyrian blood matches…and seeing how both of their fathers' were brothers and indeed incredibly pureblooded. 

A true dragon-like babe was a real possibility. 

Not a likely one…but a possibility nonetheless. 

"I'd love them just the same," had been Aemond's calm response as he pulled himself up, sitting in front of her as he eyed her closely, "why do you ask?" 

"Oh! No particular reason, just curiosity," she smiled sweetly, pulling her legs up and crossing them, "I just know, most men would prefer sons…is all." 

Real authentic, nice work…

It wasn't at all, but it seemed to pass well enough. At the very least, the more she distracted herself with this pleasant conversation…the more time she'd be able to give herself to truly comprehend what was happening within her. 

Softly, her mated dragon pulled her from her thoughts, she was drowning in them but thankfully he provided sanctuary. As he caressed her cheek, his indigo eye held her gaze quite intensely, it seemed as if he was trying to read between the lines. To view something upon her face that she hadn’t purposely realized she’d given in to, an expression, a twitch, a look…something to reveal more than what she had said. 

And part of worried he might have seen what he was looking for…that he would be able to see right through her. 

Her thoughts of callings and Silverwing …

Although, why she felt the need to keep these odd feelings to herself…she couldn't say. 

But she didn't wish to attempt describing this discomfort when she wasn't entirely sure about it herself. 

It had nothing to do with the symptoms she felt due to the babe and even then she’d barely been able to explain herself.

"You should be happy to know that I am not like most men," his voice was so low and smooth, silk-like in its delivery, while his gaze was so intense yet charming. His lips had begun to quirk upwards, something playful mixing in with his usual cunning smirk. As his hand slid from her cheek and down to her chin, his thumb affectionately stroked down over her lower lip to the shallow dimple on her chin. Such a simple gesture had managed to fluster her if only slightly, his tone had simpered down to a suggestive rasp, as he queried,  "now, which were you hoping for, byka ābrazȳrys?" little wife?

Oh, how she loved when his voice did that. 

Such a simple question, and yet, now he had her swallowing thickly and biting her lip.

"I couldn't possibly…" Rhaena spluttered, her voice all airy yet bereft, her eyes darting upwards towards the sky for just a moment, to calm her heated chest and mind. All the while his patience was unyielding…calm and planted like a purposeful current in a rushing river. When her eyes finally returned to him, she decided she might as well divulge a truth she’d once known, "hmm, well…a few moons ago. When I first heard that I was with child, rather instantly I imagined us having an adorable little boy. And it seems, ever since, I’ve only ever been dreaming of him in more vivid detail."

There a mixture of sweet fondness filtered through Aemond’s heated gaze, silently urging her on, clearly he was patiently waiting to hear more of her innocent dreams for their little growing family. 

And so Rhaena thought she would indulge him with the details, letting her own hand reach for his cheek, as a naturally sweet smile grew on her own lips, "well, in my dreams, he always looks like a cute little version of you. And he has your eyes, deep and dark, that perfect indigo shade that so simply draws one in. He has your sharp cheekbones, but with really chubby cheeks. He also has your jaw, and maybe your eyebrows. Really floppy pale blonde curls, and maybe his skin is just a shade lighter than my own. But what I remember most, every time, is his adorable little laugh, it tugs at my heart even though I know I’ve only created it in my mind myself. But he smiles so much…all of the time. He’s such a happy little babe…and his smiles are so much like your own mischievous ones. He’s the most perfect little thing in my mind." 

Rhaena had fallen into a slight daze, practically gushing over every little detail she’d imagined for their child. For even as she was only describing a dream…a fictionalized created image to her husband, one she’d seen a dozen times by now. It still felt oddly cementing to admit it all out loud, as if she was speaking this child into existence…truly cementing the idea that this little boy might be theirs…that he might be real. That her current little gremlin which she carried within her at this very moment, was possibly in fact the very same babe from her dreams. 

Aemond for his part looked as if he had enjoyed her description, his face held an incredibly fond expression as he seemed to be putting her words to an image in his own mind. Especially grinning deviously once she’d gotten to the end of it all, “ mischievous smiles, are they," his free hand slipping around her waist, pulling her close to him, practically up onto his own lap, "wouldn’t you think it’s a dangerous thing to want our son to be the spitting image of me."

Her body instantly warmed, engulfed in the heat of his response with the added feel of being held in his larger more muscular arms. Rhaena might have planned on laughing, giggling brightly really, but his movements were faster. The nimble speed in which he tipped her chin up for his own easy access to her lips, just as fiercely as ever, he devoured her with a deeply passionate yet possessive kiss. She’d sighed instantly, melting against him wholly, as his heated tongue slipped through her parted lips. Delving into the molten heat of her own mouth and she did the same to his, her tongue roving over and syncing into a fire-like dance they’d played a million times over. And even so, her body always reacted the same, sparking live-electric currents through her blood. Like an itch only he could ever scratch for her, with just a kiss he held so much power over her.   

Their rising tension seemed to connect with Aemond’s bonded mount, as Rhaena could hear Vhagar ruffling and rumbling behind her. Not that it stopped her husband, he only tugged her closer. Pressing her against him as much as he possibly could, desperate to feel the heat of their bodies entwined and bound together. 

If he wasn’t careful, they’d end up writhing against one another in this field… once again .

For they’d done it several times before.

It was an active pull of force, to work against the current of energy her body was willing with his own, to deny the primal urge to feel his large member thrusted deep within her again so soon. But by the time Rhaena had found the resolve to want to pull herself back just enough to breathe, it felt as if she was pulling herself out of a heated trance. Her lips still desired to cling to his, latched on with near animalistic intent as her teeth still grazed at his lower lip, a possessive hold she barely wished to relinquish. And only caused him to groan quite provocatively, something deeply seeded from within him. 

It took quite a lot of self control, to trail a heated path of kisses down along his jaw before she panted the words, "you cannot want me again so soon, three times in one day? I thought we were pacing ourselves?”

The incredible low and husky chuckle he’d given her had made her entire body flutter just at the sound alone, nevermind the dark wanting look in his eye, “you haven’t much cared for pacing ourselves during this last moon…if ever,” 

This sort of talk was exactly why she was with child so soon after their wedding.

But as much as she wanted him at this very moment, her body urged rest and…more importantly, her little gremlin urged for more nourishment. 

In just a moment, my little baby , she thought, glancing down at her swollen baby. 

Deciding she still wished to finish their previous conversation, before their ever undercurrent of lust and love overruled them. Rhaena wrapped her arms more securely around his neck, leaning further onto him as she brushed her nose against him, leaning her forehead against his, feeling the innate sturdy warmth he always provided for her. Softly she gazed up into his eyes, practically puring when his indigo and sapphire eye gazed back into her own pale violet eyes, “you do realize that you still haven't answered my question, ñuha gevie zaldrīzes . What have you pictured for our child? What does my valzȳrys dream of, " my pretty dragon, husband . 

There was a beat of sweet silence, as Aemond caressed her back, warm soft streaks drawing down her back as his nose nuzzled hers. As if he only craved to kiss her again, to drown in the senses of tasting her and holding her…forgetting the world around them. 

Eventually his lips curved into a smile, one of those boyish grins that still made Rhaena's heart thump no matter how many times she saw it, "I already told you, I don't have a preference,”

“Well humour me then, my love,” she whined lighty, shifting herself around on his lap so that she’d be able to rest her cheek on his shoulder, “if you were to have a preference, what would it be? When you were most adamant about a fucking a child into me, did you not consider imagining what said child would come to be or even look like?” 

Rhaena was wearing him down, or at least she hoped she was. Not that he needed much. She had her thumb softly caressing his neck as she held him there, pressing her plush lips against the scarred line he had on the other side of his neck. The one he had once earned during the tourney that was set right before their wedding, his final single combat match with Lord Cregan Stark. She still remembered how furious she’d been with him that day, how careless she’d thought him to be to remove his helmet during a match like that. Even now seeing the completely healed mark still evoked a strained emotion in her, one that always simmered into some sort of pride mixed with love, that her idiotic dragon had managed to win and live. 

“Fine, for you, my little dragon," he sighed, drawn out dramatically as if he wasn't anything but excited to speak about their futures, about the child that would soon join their lives, "I suppose I've pictured a little baby girl. Daughters are far more precious, are they not?" 

Her chest had burned almost instantly, primed to burst, for Rhaena hadn’t even dared to imagine her dragon carrying a little baby girl around the castle. But just the thought of it alone…he was indeed right, it would be a most precious sight. The idea of her stoic dark dragon Prince playing little games, sitting for little tea dates or escorting around the castle a tiny little Princess.

Rhaena couldn’t stop smiling over the thought, maybe she was equally hopeful for a daughter after all.  

"Either way I wouldn’t mind, but if the babe is born a girl…then I'd hope she'd have the good fortune to take after you. I’ve envisioned a sweet little version of you," he'd kissed the edge of her jaw as he spoke, but Rhaena hadn't missed a word. Her heart, hammering at the idea of it all…that he could want for such a thing just as much as she did. 

As she pulled herself up to properly gaze at him, his lips began to traverse the length of Rhaena's neck. His hand glided along the curving dip of her waist, and just as the flames of pleasure began to seep in once again…she found her eyes landing on Silverwing in the distance. 

Once again. 

Seemed she couldn’t escape it. That sparking feeling from deep within her, the one she'd spent the last half hour trying to suppress…it had awakened once again. 

Even as she tried to focus in on her husband's affection…on the roaring sound in the distance, where from the corner of her eye, Rhaena could see a pure black dragon soaring out from the direction of the Dragon Mount volcano, most likely Cannibal. 

But all would be for nought…her body longed to brave the scene. 

She couldn't allow it now. 

If she was wrong…she'd be putting more than just herself at risk. She'd be risking her babe as well. So instead she shook the thought from her mind, refocused on the dragon she had before her. Guiding his face back up to hers, brushing her lips over his, teasing the ferocity that laid beneath the surface. 

Just as her stomach audibly growled, Rhaena grinned sweetly against his lips, with a soft contented sigh, "I am quite hungry now…"

"Then let's feed you," he stole one quick kiss, before he pulled her to her feet, walking her back to the castle. 

☾

The next day, Rhaena had felt Silverwing's calling become even more potent…increasing throughout every hour of the day. It felt like a stiffening burn, charring and scorching, the more she tried to ignore it…the more it singed her from the inside. 

As afternoon rolled around, Rhaena found herself perching her back against a cool wall of a corridor in the southern wing of the castle. Her chest felt as if it was constricting her…squeezing her lungs shut each time she tried to breathe deeply. It was in these moments, when the feeling was most intense…she could hear a roar in the distance, one she hadn't known all that well but was familiar enough with to distinguish it from the other dragons. 

It was Silverwing. 

She was calling to her…this was real…this was happening. 

"My Princess, are you well?" Ser Garin questioned, clear concern etched on his face, he stepped forward to her but made sure not to touch her, "shall I alert Wardeness Aelaera, you may wish to retire for the day?" 

A considerate offer, but no, Rhaena did not wish to retire…although she also did not wish to sit through petitions now either. 

Soon enough the burning in her chest would subside, and in that moment of clarity, Rhaena simply shook her head and pulled herself off of the wall. Breathing deeply, collecting herself before she glanced up towards her knight, "I thank you, Ser Garin. But I am fine, I needn't retire…but just as well, I do not feel fit enough to endure through the rest of my duties today. Do inform Wardeness Aelaera she may sit through the farmers' disagreements on my behalf. Anything more, which requires my personal attention, may be moved to the morrow." 

Ser Garin nodded swiftly, and left to relay the message. 

Now left only with Ser Drako, Ser Miklaz and Ser Moredo, Rhaena turned towards them. 

She had a few possible options now that she'd cleared the rest of her day. She could interrupt her husband once again, a very enticing option if only for the possibility that his presence might actually distract her. Or she could go for a calming stroll, summon her Ladies in waiting…or…do the frightening thing. 

Do the one thing she'd wanted all her life… claim a dragon . 

If that was what this was…if that was what Silverwing was truly calling her for. 

She could just go to her…do the deed…but of course it was not that simple. 

Rhaena supposed, she could simply ask Aemond…find out whether this feeling…was truly what a calling felt like. Or whether it was simply another symptom of her pregnancy…the latter of which he most likely wouldn't be able to say definitively.

Although if it was a pregnancy symptom, surely Maester Varion would have informed her of such during her check in with him earlier this morn. Not that she'd bothered to specifically bring up the recent way her body reacted around Silverwing, but if such a thing was ever present in Targaryen women when they were with child. 

Surely he would have mentioned it. 

Then again, she also wondered if it was an average occurrence for a Targaryen woman to claim a dragon when she was child as well. 

The likelihood of either seemed slim to none, but she couldn't be sure. 

Either way, Maester Varion had instead extensively checked over her physical progress. Laid up in bed in only a two-piece ensemble of undergarments so that she could expose her belly, allowing gel-like ointments to be poured and rubbed over it. There he examined the steady growing size of her belly, listened in for the babe's heartbeat and even confirmed that it was more than likely that she was simply growing one babe and not several.

No such luck with twins on their first attempt, but Rhaena found herself feeling slightly relieved when she'd heard it was not to be. One babe would already be a big new experience, two would have been just slightly frightening…just slightly. 

At the very least, when she'd glanced over at her dragon Prince, he didn't seem phased by the news either. 

He only cared that his wife and child were healthy and well.

And after their Maester checked off everything necessary for his examination, he assured both Aemond and Rhaena that she was currently in perfect health as was the babe. He even went as far as to inform them both that Rhaena's salt craving was nothing to be worried about, that women were known to crave all sorts of various things due to their babes…some a lot stranger than salt. 

A fact, Rhaena was sure she already knew, but it did do well to be reassured by a Maester as well. For she knew her husband was more than likely just trying to calm her nerves the other day when he simply offered to give her whatever she wished for. 

During her check in, her Maester had advised that so long as she made sure to stay more hydrated during her days, and kept the rest of her diet leaning more towards leafy greens and hardy vegetables as opposed to harder to digest heavy meats. She would be able to ensure the babe continued to grow healthy and well nourished. With a set of prescribed added vitamins and minerals, as well as mentioning the tonics she would have to start consuming once the next moon arrived. 

All in all, it was assessed that Rhaena was indeed six moons along and that babe would arrive precisely in three moons, during the twelfth moon of the year. 

Some time close to the Ice Winter festival or possibly even Qēlos Bantis … Star Night . A Yule-like holiday reserved for glittering parties, hymns and spiritual worship, gift giving and all. But most of all during the coldest moon of the year, it's reserved as a time for family, peace and love, blessings and good tidings. 

How very wonderous it would be to give birth to a babe then, not that Rhaena much liked the cold, but it would surely make the time of year even more beautiful. 

With sigh, Rhaena reorientated her thoughts. 

She wasn't meant to be thinking of her babe now, even as her hand subconsciously already reached to rub soothing circles along her swollen belly as she thought. She needed to think of her situation. Of the fact that husband, her love, Aemond…he was a fiercely protective man. Especially now that she was carrying his child, if she went to him with her thoughts on attempting to claim a dragon…surely he wouldn't want her risking her life for such a thing.

It'd be her own life as well as their babe's life at risk all on the possibility that this may be a calling . 

No . 

The danger was beyond herself…she'd need to be certain. 

This could not be a simple guess or a hunch, she needed to be truly certain. 

What she needed was…an outside opinion. 

Someone she trusted and loved, who'd know just as well what it felt like to claim a dragon. 

Now all of her siblings were of no use in this case, as all of them had been given the fortune of having their dragon eggs hatch in their cradle with them as babes. 

Her muña, Rhaenyra, had been blessed with just the same fate. 

No, her choices were limited. In fact she had only one true viable option in mind…she'd write to her kepa. 

The only other member of her family who had to claim a dragon, the only other man in her life that trusted and loved her so fiercely that he'd do just about anything for. Her father may be her very opposite in many things, but this was one thing he'd be most qualified in aiding her with, and she knew he'd be glad to.

Or at least she hoped he would be . 

If she could receive a response from him soon enough, then she'd be able to make an intelligent decision. 

Taking a deep sobering breath, Rhaena began to plot out her next set of moves. Starting with her with guards, she needed some space from them. She could do with some peace and seclusion for the next few hours. 

"Ser Drako, I think I shall return to my chambers. I wish to send a raven. Nothing of note, just a letter to my father, the King," Rhaena spoke slowly, crisp and clear, she left no room for discussion before she turned, taking paced steps down the hall, "and Ser Moredo, do summon my Ladies to my chambers. After I'm finished with my task, I'd like to visit the bathhouse. The private hold's bathhouse." 

"Of course, Princess," Ser Drako had grinned as he bowed, she could hear the joviality in his tone. 

While Ser Moredo simply affirmed, "as you command, your grace." 

Certainly a far more stoic young man than her two favoured knights. 

Once Rhaena had returned to her rooms, she sped over to her seat by her vanity table, finally within the privacy of her bed chambers. With the remainder of her guards waiting outside in the hall, Ser Moredo only left to summon her Ladies a few minutes prior.

It was in that time, between her Ladies arriving to greet her here at her chambers, that Rhaena aimed to complete her letter to her father and have Ser Drako send it. 

It was most definitely feasible, and Rhaena only assured herself of that as she shifted on her rosy toned cushioned chair, hoping to find at least one angle comfortable enough to perch herself. 

It seemed her babe insisted on shifting uncomfortably within her today. 

But she'd remained focused, already envisioning the words she'd put down on the page once she was ready. Pulling a clean sheet of parchment from her drawer, she began dipping her quill into some fresh ink: 

To his Highness, King Daemon Targaryen, 

Kepa, 

I write to you with news, at least I believe it to be so. Over the past day or two, I have begun to feel something. Something seems to be drawing me towards Silverwing, I can feel her calling to me. Like stoked flames rising in my chest that burn all throughout me. It feels all-consuming, but I cannot seem to bring myself to her. 

What if I am wrong? 

And she does not in fact wish to bond with me? 

Could I not be putting myself and my unborn child in unnecessary danger by risking such an encounter that may not be what I think it to be? 

I sound a coward, I know I do. You've taught me better than this surely, as a true Targaryen, I should go to her. Take my chances, and should I perish, it would be a true dragon rider's death. 

Even saying so evokes dark memories of my muña. 

I'm not frightened of dying per se, not entirely. I'm more frightened of being wrong. And so I suppose, I'm writing to you in hopes that you might tell me that I am right. That is this is without a doubt the feeling I've been waiting for. And that if it is, I will not stall on it any longer. I will face my fate and I will go to Silverwing. 

Until then, I shall wait…I am a patient one, that you know. 

In all, I hope you are well, my dear kepa. I do miss you all, muña Rhaenyra as well, I know you both have suffered at the loss of little Visenya. We all have.

My heart also calls for all of my brothers and Baela of course. It's ridiculous I'm sure, but I hope my little brothers Aeggie and Vis have not forgotten me. I receive letters from Joff with their little questions from time to time, and it is most heart warming. 

I have, as you've requested, been careful not to overly exert or stress myself. As you and my husband clearly are of the same mind, if it was up to him, I'd have no duties to attend to at all. I'd simply be sentenced to bed rest for my safety for all days until the babe was born.

In all, I hope my missive finds you well, kepa. 

With all my love,

Your beloved daughter, 

Princess Rhaena Targaryen, Princess of Dragonstone  

When she was done, she waited a few minutes for the ink to dry. Skimming over her words once more before she rolled the parchment, sealed it closed with a red and black swirled wax, pressing down Dragonstone's own Targaryen three-headed dragon seal stamp. 

She hadn't mentioned why she hadn't spoken to Aemond about all of this in her letter, but she hoped her father would have the sense not to mention it either.  

Feeling she'd said all she possibly could, covered all of her bases. Rhaena slowly pulled herself up from her seat and waddled back through her rooms. Stepping back through her chambers, opening the door, and finally, handing her letter off to Ser Drako for it to be sent.

As he left, Rhaena's Ladiesmaids entered to prepare her for the bathhouse. 

Perfect timing. 

Preparing for the bathhouse meant removing her ornate pink blush-toned jeweled gown, as well as undoing her elegantly done fishtail plait that had trailed down her back. Slipping off her jewels, her earrings, bangles, rings and bracelets, as well as her prized sapphire necklace. 

The last of which Rhaena supposed she could take with her, but at the risk of her sapphire, possibly, to her horror, slipping into the waters of the bathhouse. Sinking away from her, lost to her forever. 

No, she could not risk such a thing. 

Even though…knowing her husband, he'd never let her shed a tear over the lost item, he'd instead, most likely in secret, find a way to either retrieve it or replace it. 

Though that wasn't an outcome she wished to invoke, as Rhaena was just as much attached to the item as she was with the memory of how she'd received it. To have spent her life receiving gifts and jewels from so many suitors and expectant eligible Lords. All meaningless frivolous glittering gifts, all meant to show the wealth they and their house was capable of. 

Gifted like a trap meant to lure in a Princess …but not a dragon . 

And to think this one simple yet elegant necklace had been the one gift that meant the world to her now. 

Given to her by a man she never thought she'd have such intense feelings for…yet. 

How the Gods worked in the most mysterious of ways. 

Rhaena would always cherish the memory. How during the moon of their engagement, Aemond had made no fuss or spectacle on the day when he gave the necklace to her. He'd spent three whole days away from the castle, only to return and sneak into her chambers late at night. She'd been awake, reading as per usual. But the look in his eye told her that he had something for her, he hadn't said what, he only asked that she close her eyes and lift her hair to give him access to her bare neck.

She could still remember how she'd felt as the cool smooth steel graced her skin for the first time, how her mind could only focus on the warmth of Aemond's fingers. The way they'd grazed against her collarbone and slid along her shoulders, making her shiver with arousal, gooseflesh prevalent and prickling. All while still simultaneously offering her an odd yet all consuming sense of comfort with just his touch alone. 

To think so soon in their newly made romantic relationship, he'd managed to have such a power…such a thing that came to easily. 

Allowing her to naturally ease back against him, his sturdy heated chest, like a gravitational pull, she could do little else but meld against him. 

By the time he'd bade Rhaena to open her eyes, she found that she could barely speak. In her mind, she had ideas of what sort of necklace this may be. What jewels may have been used, what cut of the gem, design of the steel or gold or silver. 

But she'd been wrong.

The choice to use Valyrian steel should have crossed her mind, at the time she was preparing to marry a man who was most proud of his pure Valyrian blood. It was not uncommon for Targaryen men to court their Ladies with jewelry made of Valyrian steel, just as her kepa had done with her own muña, just as he'd done with current muña, Rhaenyra. 

It was an apparent trend for most Targaryens, going all the way back to even some of their earliest ancestors. 

And yet, it hadn't crossed Rhaena's mind that she might have such an opportunity. An opportunity that was now simply her reality. To be gifted a piece of her dragon, part of the very Sapphire he wore in his left eye, used to complete this necklace. Made to be an offering that would allow her to carry a part of him wherever she went…whether he could be with her physically or not. 

It was her one precious item…her only jewel which she treated like no other. She’d never risk damaging it or losing it. 

So she removed it, everything really, including her undergarments was stripped from her. With her silver curls undone, let loose, flowing down her back and slipping over her shoulders. Once she was ready, she simply donned a thick silky robe and soft cozy slippers. 

Soaks in the bathhouse were meant to be calming affairs. So Rhaena dismissed her maids afterwards as she waited for her Ladies-in-waiting to enter the Dragon's Nest. It wasn't customary for anyone unauthorized to enter this area of the castle, it was always securely guarded as the one safe haven for any members of the royal family. 

Rhaena even giving permission for her Ladies to enter beyond this point was a blessing in itself. 

As it was, Dragonstone held two bathhouses. One that was welcome to all courtiers and noble visitors alike, located in the northern wing of the castle. It was on the main level of the castle. Warmed by the volcano's heat well beneath the building’s structure, but as it was built on the main floor, the water’s temperature remained more of a Lukewarm temperature than a true quality Targaryen heated spring bath. 

Which, Rhaena supposed, made perfect sense. 

For that bathhouse was not meant for the royal family…it wasn’t meant to appease true dragons. 

No, there was another bathhouse. On the main floor, down in the southern wing of the castle, one corridor led to the securely blocked off and guarded Dragon's Nest. Passing through that corridor, which led to several rooms, chambers and solars that were reserved for the royal family alone. There, there was a hidden door at the end of the corridor, smoothed in with the slick granite walls, missed by all who did not already know of its existence...for behind that door there were special specific steps. Steps that led down a level to the private Targaryen bathhouse, known as The Springs Of Caraxes . A true hot spring, one that allowed the heat of the volcanic magma from the Dragon Mount, deep below the castle, used directly to warm the waters of the bathhouse. 

It was a far lovelier room as far as Rhaena was concerned. 

It was a bit of a walk, through a hidden corridor or two, but once inside it was the brightest, most beautiful of places. The size of a large grand hall, the halls were once again made of smooth white marble. With pillars and archways that held smoothly carved statues of the Fourteen Flames in their most grand humanoid forms. The ceiling arched and curved with a cascaded glass ceiling that allowed in glowing sweet daylight. This ceiling did not face the grounds' of Dragonstone though, it seemed to be crafted upon the cliff's edge. 

For it only ever faced the sky.

Along the edges of the crisp blue bath water, along the borders, were small steaming water fountains that helped to steam the air. Rhaena had also, of course, decorated the borders with more potted plants. Pale blue Hydrangeas and pale violet Wisterias mixed in with pink Roses and Dragon Spittles, a thorny green plant Rhaena found, looked quite eye-catching in floral arrangements. 

Yes, this bathhouse was where she felt the most at peace. 

Eventually her Ladies would be given passage to her chambers, and once they had, with Rhaena's two remaining guards in tow. She guided her Ladies to the hidden bathhouse. 

It was a bright sunny day, so the bathhouse was illuminated beautifully. The afternoon sun reflected so brightly against the water and the white marbled room. 

The guards would remain outside the doors of the bathhouse, while Rhaena and her Ladies would unsheathe themselves from their robes and enter the steaming water of the bath bare. 

Of course, Rhaena's own tolerance for the water's temperature was higher than the others. Lady Kyra couldn't take the heat in particular, so she usually sat in one of the cushioned chairs along the side with a book in hand. 

Lady Ellyn's tolerance was much better; she'd always stay in the water the longest alongside Rhaena, while Lady Lelia and Lady Victaria would periodically remove themselves from the steaming hot water. 

Rhaena had taken to floating on her back, looking up and out at the sunny blue sky. Bright and exfoliating. Lady Ellyn stayed seated on the steps that entered the water, letting her legs soak while she laid back. As Lady Lelia had chosen to lay out on a pale pink chaise lounge, opting to let her skin take in some sun, as she claimed she felt 'too pale'.  

A sentiment Rhaena and the rest of the girls found to be a bit comical, as women from her region were meant to be celebrated for having pale skin. 

"Princess, I've been meaning to ask. But how have you been, pregnancy wise…each passing day is a day closer to your due date," Lelia Lannister asked, her voice floated in, echoing in slightly with the crisp acoustics of the room, "I know I was quite frightened when my late husband had placed a child within me. Though I suppose I never did get this far along, to know any true symptoms beyond nausea." 

It was true, Lady Lelia had lost her child early on…early enough that she'd never been too distraught over the loss. Not as distraught as her late husband had been. 

"I'm fine, I suppose," Rhaena sighed, her discomforts with her pregnancy came and went like the wind sometimes…and sometimes they stuck to her like glue and bogged her down for hours if not days. But that wasn't a feeling she felt she could convey all too easily with just words. 

"Truthfully you're handling it quite gracefully," Victaria smiled, slipping back into the water as she'd been sitting on the edge, "I've seen some of my brother's salt wives, and I recall some of them being incredibly irritable." 

"Oh I've been irritable," Rhaena laughed, "you've only missed the worst of it. I broke down crying to Aemond over salt just yesterday. Apparently the babe only craves the oddest of flavours." 

"Really!" Kyra giggled, "what is it with babes in the womb always making their mother's consume the oddest of foods. My cousin, who lives in the North, she once wrote to me upset that her babe only craved sweet cream and mint leaves. She'd lamented having eaten a whole tin of only mint leaves!" 

At that, all of the girls giggled.

And Rhaena's chest felt lighter…warmer.

"I suppose I can relate, this morn, I'm sure I poured a bowl's worth of salt into my porridge and then drizzled it all with honey," Rhaena sighed with a smile, "I have no idea what sort of creature I'm feeding, but surely this is no regular babe." 

Lelia turned herself over so she could look at Rhaena when she spoke, "Princess, if anything is certain, you shall give birth to a most beautiful child." 

"Such flattery shall get you nowhere," Rhaena grinned, but her cheeks had warmed at the compliment nonetheless. 

Lelie was unfazed, only shrugging, "come now, everyone knows house Targaryen only births beauties. You're already one of the most beautiful women of all the realm, and you've gone and married quite possibly the most handsome member of your family. There is no doubt you shall birth a lovely babe." 

"Absolutely, a babe that only loves for salty foods!" Victaria giggled, and Rhaena joined her, splashing a wave of water over her. It was so close to Kyra that she shrieked.

In the aftermath, Rhaena only sighed a soft smile, relishing in the comfort of having such kind ladies in her company. 

"But Princess, you shall tell us if things become too much, yes," Lady Ellyn who'd remained quiet thus far had spoken so elegantly, stoically nearly, "the pressure of pregnancy is not one any woman should be bogged down with. Especially not as you enter your later moons. And I could understand the fear a Targaryen woman may feel as she enters motherhood…" 

At a glance, Rhaena caught her smokey grey eyes, and nodded softly, "I'm not sure anyone but another Targaryen woman may truly understand this fear…but nonetheless, I thank you. All of you. You four are my trusted confidants." 

She didn't wait for their responses, instead Rhaena dipped herself below the water's surface and swam to the further edge of the pool. 

In the silence of the water, one thing was certain…soon enough she'd have to face the things that frightened her. 

For one could only run so long. 

☾

It was getting worse, at night Rhaena would only dream of Silverwing. As if she could see her great-grandmother in her youth, gloriously riding atop the beautiful glistening dragon. A true Targaryen Queen of old riding a mount that was most fitting for a Queen. 

Surely, Rhaena thought, she herself was no such Queen . 

Formidable and ethereal. 

Did Silverwing truly wish to be claimed once again? 

By Rhaena Targaryen no less? 

It was a thought that plagued her, rounding its way through her mind, her body, her soul. 

If it was to be…it'd be all she ever wanted. She'd finally feel right…true…worthy of her name. Worthy to be the namesake she was, to be named after the great Queen Rhaena …rather than to live her life of eighteen years with no dragon. 

Surely her ancestors must have been disappointed…even if her parents and family claimed not to be. 

Even if her husband claimed not to be. 

Aemond would always say it didn't matter to him, that he was happy to be her dragon, that she'd claimed rightfully so. 

A sweet sentiment she'd believed in most days…but ever since this burning feeling from Silverwing…Rhaena was beginning to doubt things. 

He'd chosen her above all others, and of course, deep within herself she knew that he'd chosen her because he found something kindred within her. Because they could relate to another, had things in common with one another…found one another deeply attractive, like a magnetic pull that neither could deny.  

All that she knew.

But she also supposed that her pure Valyrian blood held more weight than whether she claimed a dragon or not. Either way, the fact remained that whatever hole existed within her…however the realm would view a Targaryen Princess…things would be exponentially different if she were to claim Silverwing. 

"Skoriot emagon ao geptot naejot," where have you left to , Aemond's low voice pulled her from her winding thoughts about Silverwing. Bringing her back to the clear present, where she stood behind her seated husband in their chambers. 

That morning had been a rather average one, Rhaena had awoken alone as Aemond had woken himself earlier to train. Upon his return they'd bathed cozily together, in the heated water Rhaena had allowed herself to melt against her dragon . She'd let his strong arms secure her fears and wandering insecurities. 

But even still…she hadn't been able to broach the topic of dragon claiming . 

Afterwards, they'd helped to dress one another, an activity she'd missed from their earlier days of wedding to one another. It always made their mornings feel more comfortable, when they could spend their time together before they had to step away from one another to take care of their duties. 

It also gave Rhaena the time to braid her husband's hair, something she really loved doing. 

She had him seated at her vanity table now, as she brushed his still slightly damp pale hair. Combing her fingers through the silky feel of his hair, scratching his scalp lightly with her nails the way she knew he liked it. She then messaged in small amounts of her own hair milk and oils. He never did oppose to her using her own products on him, creams and oils or otherwise, even when they were sweetly or floraly scented. 

It was both heartwarming and slightly amusing to think of her husband storming around the castle, intimidating nobles, servants and subjects alike…all while partially carrying her scents around with him. 

"Iksan vaoreznuni, ñuha jorrāelagon. Ñuha bartos…nyke've sepār issare tubis ēdrurys," I'm sorry, my love. My mind...I've just been day dreaming, Rhaena hummed softly, it wasn't a complete lie…as far she was concerned at least. She had been lost in thought…thinking of her odd dreams and the weird feelings her body had been giving her. 

Aemond only hummed as a response, leaning his head back just a bit so she could begin braiding, "hmm, ēdrurys hen skoros, ñuha gevie dārilaros," hmm, dreaming of what, my beautiful Princess.

Rhaena couldn't help the bright smile that formed on her lips as his voice rasped handsomely at the word beautiful . 

She wondered if she should have been used to his casual compliments by now…they'd been together for several moons now. Surely the honeymoon phase had come and gone by now…although Rhaena could concede to herself that no amount of time could pass where she wouldn't feel so affected by him.  

So she sighed, a peaceful dreamy sound, soft and demure, "the usual by now, I suppose. Of dragons and babes. The Harvest Festival too, preparations may be all but complete for the feast itself, but then there is the ceremony and the sacrifices…" 

Rhaena had nimbly and neatly braided his hair down in one single plait, tying off the end with one of her thinner black hair ribbons. 

Once he felt she was finished, Aemond leaned himself back so he could look up at her truly, "you're thinking the sacrifices will be a problem," 

It was a loaded question. 

His voice had simmered into a most sympathetic tone for it just as well, because he wasn't really asking her about the sacrifices themselves. He was hinting at the true center of the issue…her aversion to situations that dealt with large quantities of blood. 

During their time here, he'd been most considerate if not entirely conscious of his decision to perform any and all approved executions without her present. It'd been a decision they'd never had ever really discussed or cemented as an agreed upon move to go forward with. But either way, Rhaena was most thankful for it. Ever since Criston Cole and his plot to steal away Aemond and possibly even slay her in the process…she'd never really been able to put that night behind her. 

Maybe the aftermath and consequences of it all…but the actual events that occurred that night. They still haunted her at times…some nights still. 

And now, as they approached their first celebration here that would require a blood sacrifice for the Gods…it would seem Rhaena would be forced to face her fear once again. 

"Only slightly," she leaned herself over him, pressing a warm kiss to the crown of his head, draping her arms over and around his shoulders as she nuzzled her chin atop his head, "but I shall overcome it. Even though, for the ten years that I lived here exclusively with my family. Every year, every solstice, there were four festivals that required blood sacrifices to the Gods. And a handful of others that encouraged them. It's never stopped me from liking the ceremonies, I always have, I'd just turn my head away or close my eyes for the sacrifices. If I should feel uncomfortable tonight during that portion, I'll…simply do the same." 

Aemond's hands held hers, his thumbs caressing the palms of her hands. He wouldn't ask her, he'd simply guided her arm, and her body to step around from behind him. Allowing him to smoothly swoop her up onto his lap, wrapping his arms around her waist as he pressed slow heated kisses along her jaw and throat. Rhaena found herself sighing contentedly, relishing the feel of him, his body burned hot and hard against her but he felt so soothing nonetheless. With his chin nuzzling along her neck and against her shoulder as he breathed deeply, seemingly settling himself. Tempering whatever wishes or thoughts he might have had in the moment. 

In the reflection of the mirror on Rhaena’s vanity, she met Aemond's eye, watching as his jaw rolled while his lips twisted. He was mulling over the various things he wanted to say to her, figuring out how to word his thoughts, as if he was sifting through a million emotions he'd never be able to verbalize to her. 

Not that she ever needed him to. 

"Ñuha dārilaros…ñuha vok byka ābrazȳrys," my Princess...my perfect little wife , his voice was all low and somewhat husky, like a near sultry growl that worked its way from the back of his throat, "I don't want you to feel any discomfort, not if I can do something to help it. I can have the High Priestess perform the ceremony another way…" 

"I love you, so much, oh, how you know I do," Rhaena wasted no time attempting to turn herself just enough to grasp his chin and kiss him sweetly, smiling against his lips as she did, "but…there is no need to ask the temple for such a thing. The Gods only respond to blood anyhow, and by rights of our ways, I must be present for it. Whether I gaze upon the slaying exactly or not has never been specified in any text, but physically I must bear witness with my presence. It is the way of things." 

He loosed a far more weighted hum accompanied with a heavy sigh as his arms tightened their hold around her. 

She could tell that wouldn't be enough for him, he'd want to offer her something…anything. 

So, Rhaena did her best to think of something, thinking back to the many ceremonies she'd attended as well as the many texts she'd read on the topic. She couldn't see a clear way to avoid anything.

"The other day…" Aemond had started, the way his breath warmed the exposed skin on her shoulder made her shiver just slightly, "I found in most texts, the ruling sovereign may perform the sacrificial act instead of the High Priestess. I carry Blood Moon now, either or, it would be most fitting if I do carry out the deed by my hand, my blade. Besides, I'll be quicker than the High Priestess. I'll be fast, it'll be painless for them, and that way you won't have to witness it for long."

It was true, Rhaena's own father had always taken the task honorably during most ceremonies that required such large sacrifices. 

So, she supposed the fact that her husband may want to handle this task himself as well…it made sense to her. 

And in this case he intended on doing the duty quickly…for her sake. 

For a moment, Rhaena gazed out the window beside the vanity, her eyes trailing along the lovely cliff side view, the crashing deep blue sea several leagues down below them. The sky was clear this morning, with only a few scattering clouds floating across the pale blue sky as the sun beamed down bright rays through the open windows of their chambers. 

And there flying off in the sky…off in the distance…there she was. 

Silverwing.

Flying, circling loops around her mate Vermithor. 

Picturesque as always. 

The might of house Targaryen. 

So many things…so much clouded around her mind. Here she was in her husband's embrace, as he worked to please her as much as possible by making her life easier. And even now…she couldn't even imagine bringing up the one true thought that plagued her. 

This might be her chance, her only chance, and here she was letting it pass her by. There was no telling what happened to one's body if they ignored the calling of a dragon. This flame that coursed its way through her, all fury and wanting, if she left it unquenched…would it engulf anyway?

Would it kill her if she didn't act on it?

Would it kill her to share these thoughts with her own bonded mate, the man she'd grown to trust with every part of herself. She'd given him access to every inch of her body, her heart and her soul. Her mind was usually so open to him, her thoughts and emotions on clear display for him and only him. 

And yet…with this one thing…she still felt the need to keep this hidden. 

At least for a little while longer. 

"It's true, my father used to be the one who'd make the sacrifices. I trust you'd do them quickly, swiftly," her voice was so close to straining, such a lump had formed in her throat but she managed to fight past it, leveling her sound out as she pulled her lips into a soft smile. She hoped desperately that Aemond wouldn't see through her now, she wouldn't be able to cope if he did. Rhaena was in no mood to shed tears now, so early in the morning over a matter that seemed to overwhelm her entire being. 

So instead she quickly aimed to shake off the discomfort, feeling his hands caress her belly, she placed her own warmly over his. Nuzzling her cheek against his, "after the feast and ceremony are done with. Next we shall have to redecorate the nursery, we only have a few more moons before our little gremlin arrives," 

Rhaena could feel his smile, his warm chuckle reverberating against her back, "sepār hāre tolī hūrus, byka mēre," just three more moons, little one.  

There, Rhaena felt her heart burn sweetly, a truly happy smile graced her lips, especially as she knew that sentence wasn't for her. 

It was for their babe. 

Bit by bit…she'd have to remember to think of her babe when things felt too overwhelming.  

She’d have to learn to embody what it meant to be a mother.

☾

-

P.S: So overall, I think what was really obstructing me with this fic was the arbitrary "40 chapters" total I gave this fic, so if you've noticed, I've taken that off and I'm just going to let this fic go on for as long as it needs to. That way I won't feel too bad if I split things up or meld things together, and I won't be fighting myself to stay on target with the number of chapters I'm writing/creating.

Anyways, this just means the initial plan I had for when baby Vaella will arrive has been pushed back one chapter so far, so instead of her arriving around ch.10 it'll probably now be ch.11. Nothing too major. (This effects Ao3 only really...)

And now I've just got to go through/edit the 2nd half of this chapter! Honestly, I like what I've written, and the plot and everything is fine. It's just the sex scene that's bothering me!! Like I don't know what it is about it, but I hate something about it…the things they do is all fine, like the sex itself is what I wanted to happen…it's just the way I've described it or something…I can't really explain it. But something about it just lacks feeling or true eroticism…it just reads like I'm describing things that are happening…but I don't think it sounds genuine…if any of that makes sense.

#aemond targaryen #rhaena targaryen #aemond x rhaena #rhaena x aemond #hotd fanfic #hotd fic #rhaemond #hotd #he saw her at daybreak #hshad

[avirael]

FFxivWrite 2023

Day 06 - Ring

With a sad sigh A'viloh looked at the ring in his palm as he stood in front of the goldsmiths‘ guild. It was a delicate little thing but also incredibly pretty. A fine woven silver band with flourishes that seemed to form a lily and in the middle of it a bright peridot. He shook his head and decided that he couldn’t do this.

***

Before he had left for Ul'dah Kikipu had stopped him one last time and asked him for a favour. Carefully she had pulled a necklace from beneath her shirt and took a small silver ring of the chain.

"Take this.", she had said as she pressed it into A'viloh’s hand. "Sell it for me when you’re in Ul'dah. I meant to do so for a while now but couldn’t bring myself to do it, but if you go in my place… Well, the money will help us a lot to keep this place out of these greedy bastards hands."

She sighed as A'viloh turned the ring between his fingers. "It’s so beautiful! The stone is so bright, what is it? And where did you get it?"

"A peridot." Kikipu explained. "My fiancé gave it to me a long time ago and told me he chose it because it looks just like my eyes."

The Miqo'te looked and the stone once more and then at Kikipu’s face. "Yes, it’s really close."

Kikipu laughed and said. "But not quite, right? I guess he just couldn’t afford an emerald. Really it looks more like your eyes than mine!"

At that A'viloh had to laugh too but then he picked up on something she had said. He wasn’t sure if it was okay to ask but given the fact that Kikipu wanted to sell this ring it seemed like an important detail to A'viloh.

"You said your fiancé gave it to you. Where did he go?"

"Shortly after our engagement he fell very sick and died soon after.", she explained with a sad look on her face.

A'viloh already motioned to give it back to her. "Then you can’t sell this!", he exclaimed. He felt a little jealous about this memento and upset about the fact she wanted to give it away. He had nothing at all that reminded him of Laqa. Everything they had they either had to leave behind or got taken from them. If he had something like this he was sure he would cherish it forever.

But Kikipu shook her head and pushed his hand back. "Like I said, it was a long time ago. Also, I think he would be happy to know that his present ensures I can keep our home. This place and the people here are more important than a piece of jewellery."

He understood what she said and it made sense but it still didn’t feel right to him. "Are you really sure about this?"

"I am.", she nodded vehemently. "Please go to Serendipity at the Goldsmiths‘ Guild and show it to hear. She‘s a good person and an expert on jewellery, she will give you an appropriate amount of gil for it."

He had agreed reluctantly and then she had shooed him away, warning him that he wouldn’t make it before sunset if he kept on dawdling.

***

When he returned to the Silver Bazaar a few weeks later the stars had just started to appear in the sky. He had spent the afternoon with some tasks in the area and decided to return home for the night before heading to Horizon the next morning.

Kikipu and the other people had been happy to see him return safely and eager to hear about his visit to the city. They all gathered on cushions on the floor in the middle of the bazaar and A'viloh spent hours telling them about all the things he had seen and learned until one after another excused themselves and went to bed. In the end only Kikipu remained.

"About the thing you send me to do.", A'viloh started, pulled a pouch of coins from his bag and gave it to her. "This should be enough to keep this place safe for a while I hope."

She took the pouch with a deep sigh and looked inside. Then she said visibly surprised: "This is a lot more than I expected! You can’t tell me Serendipity gave you this much Gil for that old thing."

"Ah, about that…", A'viloh answered and pulled the little peridot ring from his pocket. "Don’t be mad but I couldn’t bring myself to sell it."

She looked at him with wide eyes. "What? But… How?" she stuttered and looked at him in disbelief. "Where did you get all that money from??"

He smiled and put the ring in her hand.

"I worked for it. I made deliveries, I hunted monsters, I even played the weavers‘ guild mascot for a day. Whatever job I could find, so you could keep this."

Baffled she looked at him and then started to blink. A'viloh could see the tears forming in her eyes as she threw her arms around his neck and hugged him tight.

"Oh A'vi, thank you so much! This means so much to me! Oh, my sweet boy, I am so proud of you!"

At that A'viloh teared up a little too. To see Kikipu so happy made him very happy too. But to hear her say that she was proud of him? No one had every said that to him.

"Thank you.", he whispered and embraced her tightly.

#ffxivwrite2023 #ffxivwrite #ffxiv #ff14 #final fantasy xiv #final fantasy 14 #ffxiv writing #ARR #A'viloh Tia #at first I wanted to write something about ifrit #you know because of the ring of fire in the ifrit fight #but that would have been yet another anxious story #I wanted to write something wholesome instead today... #let's see what the next prompt brings haha!

[thedivinevera]

The noon

Part 3; the moon

(the series is discontinued unless the author decides)

Xanthus x reader, Xanthus Claiborne x reader, vampire x reader

Angst with no comfort, established relationship

Tw: death and violence, bad grammar, wrong spelling incoming

The night you both met you said to him that the moon is beautiful, Xanthus agrees despite the fact that he already sees it countless times but the last thing he knew it's the sunset that you find more endearing

Blood, everything is blood an ambush has happened which caught off xanthus and the rest, they manage to kill the other hunters but there are more. You on the other side is helpless you are a weak human, and not even a trained one how can you beat them. So you just did what you had to do stay with Xanthus as much as possible so he knew that you are safe

After an hour they manage to comeback in the safe house without major injuries.

“Xanthus? Are you alright?” “love? Yes I'm ok, come here” you walked to Xanthus and sit yourself on his lap, you let yourself fall to his chest “are you alright love? No injuries, wounds” you didn't say anything other than nodding, yes to him “the moon is beautiful right?” you asked him “yes, it is” he answer with his sweet voice lingering with softness and comfort “its as beautiful as the sunset” he agree “i love you so much” “i love you to the moon and back and to the moon once again and back” he laugh for a moment and kissed you cheeks, his eyes is looking at you sweetly, he has his pupil dilated and cheeks blushing, he's looking at you with heart in his eyes and all of his cards reveal to yours truly, you can see damn well enough how head over heals he is to you “you are my world and everything” you smile at him and kisses him on the nose, you stay at there for a moment, a moment where the moon is the witness of yours and his shared devotion and eternal, for a moment you don't want to leave, you want to stay...

“are you hungry?” you asked “no I'm not, you?” “kinda, i will get some food” “be careful” he said still reading the book on his hand. You walked down to the stairs and for some reason you can feel something strange, something different “so, you are his soulmate hah” you got caught off to the voice in the side of the room, red eyes looking at you “who are you?!! xanthus?!!” you shout and taking the knife in the counter handling it properly and ready to attack the Stranger, but a vampire is a vampire, it only need a second for your life to end and for the moment before your eyes close you can see Xanthus eyes looking at you, pained,hurt, lost and confuse. The vampire is gave Xanthus a good fight but when a monster lose his Beloved it would turn tame into feral

Blood is in the carpet, every minutes is count and every second feels too fast, Xanthus heart start to feel empty and your life is like a fast candle melting all its way leaving a dead corpse without heat or light to give to their beloved, please stay with me love, i promise i would figure this out he pray to his heart “Xanthus?, Please—” “love,please don't waste your energy, i would try to get the medical kit for a moment yeah? But i need to make sure you would stop bleeding” “Xanthus—lets face it” you cough a crimson blood leaving your white clothes red with smell of iron “no no no love, please i beg you don't leave me” every second that has past, his emotion and the shine in his eyes are taken “My request, do it yeah?” “ NO, NO, NO— DEAR i though we would have a life after this, please never sleep stay awake” but at the end of the day the angel of death need to take its prescious borrowed life, leaving Xanthus without the shine nor the love he Cherish. Dontis and the other see Xanthus cover in blood and his eyes is dark and scary “they're gone, i want them back” oh the sunset looks so beautiful isn't

#xanthus x reader #zsakuva #xanthus x fem reader #vampire x reader #vampire x human #❦𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐀❦ #VERA'SWORK

[femaletwstsupremacy]

Hello could I request genderbent Leona kingscholar dating hcs with a male reader

Through the looking glass...what do you see?

The beautiful relationship between man and a beastwoman..

A/N: I have another leona request just waiting in the corner but I'll get to that.

LEONA KINGSCHOLAR...THE DORM LEADER OF SAVANACLAW

You are one lucky fucker.

Being able to snag the heart of a beastwoman. One with royal lineage no less.

But enough of that, in a relationship Leona would undoubtedly be the dominant one.

Even more so now since women in the Sunset Savanna are naturally more dominant than the males.

You thought you were gonna be the macho dominant one cause you're a guy? Well not today! Have a dominant woman that would put you in your place and cherish you at the same time <3

Having a relationship with her takes time, especially with how closed off she is.

Take it slow, show small affection, see how she reacts to it and go on from there.

Slowly but surely her walls would go down and when they do you got a new can of worms.

Which is a very cuddly lion who wants all your attention.

She is more open to showing her love in contrast to her male counterpart.

But that doesn't mean you won't get teased, she specifically likes flustering you by shoving your face in her boobs.

And she is quite busty...

But if she isn't in the mood to tease she would just lay with you anywhere, cherishing the moment you have together.

Away from the world, no responsibilities, just basking in each others presence.

I will make it known that this woman would spoil you. Showing off her riches with no shame, this isn't meant to humiliate you of course.

But to taunt any other rivals, showing them that she is clearly better.

You're her beloved herbivore, you deserve the best.

Maybe when you're really tired she will serve you breakfast in bed, spoon feeding you like a baby.

She will definitely tease you about it later tho.

When her relationship feels threatened she just starts to pick a fight with the perpetrator.

Any insult will be crushed by her fist.

Leona would also make sure to support any hobbies you have, even if they're strange.

When she isn't too tired she might just do it with you, but she mostly just watches you.

After several years of being in a relationship Leona starts thinking about marriage...

But brushes it off, not wanting to settle down just yet.

But soon, she might just walk down that aisle for you.

but overall a teasing lover but won't hesitate to show her love and support <3

made by @genderbenttwstsupremacy please do not steal, copy, or use my work.

#twisted wonderland #disney twisted wonderland #twst wonderland #twst x reader #disney twst #genderbent #genderswap #twisted wonderland x reader #leona kingscholar #twst leona #female twst #female leona #fem leona #leona x reader #leona x male reader #dating hcs #kinda short 🧍‍♂️

[s1lentlamb]

far used to looking up at his lover's face as though they were the last two on earth, as though he cupped the entire universe between his palms and took from it a long drink, he is pleased how easily they fit together no matter their circumstance, how solid and grounding his body beneath him; appreciative hands moving to entwine with satoru's own, as greedy as they are, to pin them firmly back down at his side to remind him who had control today, a wry smile played about his lips.  ‘ you look good like this. ’ 

 akin to a greedy god , on top of him , taking his pleasure with a crooked smirk upon swollen lips . a miracle gojo stopped kissing him , really , and let him take control . A RARE OCCASION , something to be celebrated ; not that gojo minded , it's just usually he was too eager and barely let suguru get on top . he blinks a little dazed , hisses quietly in pleasure as the man sinks back on him . geto suguru was never made to be a mere , gojo can't find any kind of creature that might do his beauty justice . no celestial angels , no wild animals of deep haunted forests , not even the prettiest flower . . . he could call him the ocean some days . in his head , and sunset , other days . hands pinned on the sheets , when geto gets close to his face he can't help the way his gaze flicks downward . it's a habit , turned instinct . ❛ i always look good . ❜ but did it matter if it wasn't his one and only staring at him ? he tries to jut his hips upward , inside , roll them with smoothness that experience gave him ; HE HAS GETO TO THANK HIM FOR THAT . he tries to reach for geto's lips , a chaste kiss . ❛ will you be merciful ? ❜ lips tug in a smirk of his own , mirrors suguru's knowing smile before he lets his head fall back on the pillow . sunlight caught in the silvery locks , on the tip of pale lashes . he closes his eyes only for a while before he continues watching him , not daring to miss a second of this sultry show . slower than what gojo usually goes for , letting him cherish each second . he forgets they don't have to worry , forgets time isn't running out ; six eyes follow after suguru because he's terrified the man will disappear if he stops gazing into his soul one moment . bony fingers squeeze geto's , tilting his head as their lips brush against each other , whispering something quiet , a secret . ❛ you're beautiful . . . ❜

       ──   unprompted.

#jusoshi #GOJO ; int. #ok romantic king calm down . #usfw #lemon

[dansnaturepictures]

27/06/2022-Great Crested Grebes and more at Lakeside and home 

I enjoyed getting some brilliant views of the Great Crested Grebe pair and three chicks at Lakeside on my lunch time walk, I cherished seeing their humbug stripes again I cannot get enough of seeing them and it was great to see bits of preening from the chicks too with their legs raised at certain points. Some precious moments with these beautiful birds. I took the final five pictures in this photoset of the chicks and adults. An intimate look at a Greylag Goose, a young Robin and a Swift flying overhead at Lakeside and a young Goldfinch in the garden were other bird highlights today. 

Despite the very heavy shower before I headed out for my lunch time walk and bits of rain on the walk, although there was nice sunshine too, it was a great walk of butterflies too with a pleasing amount of Ringlets around especially going along the northern path, and I saw a few of the deliciously marked Marbled Whites well too in the grassy areas. The Marbled White butterfly one that really takes me back to my early butterfly days watching these at Lakeside 

It was a nice lunch time walk of flowers with dock starting to dominate the green out the front alongside white clover which looked nice. I also liked seeing a clump of viper’s-bugloss which I took the fourth picture in this photoset of by the garden area by the visitor centre more than I’d ever seen together before of this flower I do like, a great combination of thistle, yarrow, poppies and cornflower on the flower bed around the estate I took the second picture in this photoset showing this, knapweed, lovely forget-me-not, self-heal, lots of bindweed, wild carrot, oxeye daisy, bird vetch, pineappleweed, ragwort, roses, some nice valerian a key flower for me lately and other nice flowers in the garden area at Lakeside. It was nice to see some rowan berries starting to come with the buddleia on the bushes around home coming into flower more and more. 

It was a good day for landscape and sky scenes with the sunshine and showers, I enjoyed taking the first picture in this photoset of the green of the trees at Lakeside visible from my room lit up by a bit of sun looking great against dark clouds this morning a type of shot I’d wanted to try again for a while. I took the third and fifth pictures in this photoset of views at Lakeside today, and I had a lovely moment when I saw some mist lifting off Kornwestheim lake as I saw and photographed last June which stuck in my mind so this was nice to see again I took and tweeted a photo of this on Dans_Pictures tonight. There were pretty cloud formations throughout the day. There were brilliant sky scenes towards sunset. 

Wildlife Sightings Summary: One of my favourite birds the Great Crested Grebe, one of my favourite butterflies the Marbled White, Mallard, Moorhen, Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Black-headed Gull, Swift, Robin, Blackbird well at Lakeside too, Goldfinch, House Sparrow, Starling, Carrion Crow, Ringlet and I heard Jackdaw and Chiffchaff.

#photography #nature #england #uk #world #happy #earth #lovely #lakeside #lakeside country park #hampshire #birdwatching #butterflies #flowers #summer #viper's-bugloss #ringlet #carrion crow #starling #house sparrow #canada goose #grebes #great crested grebe #photos #monday #sky #misty #sun #showers #lakes

[thebleedingeffect]

Thinking about Nocturne and growing up in a castle where all the guards we're predominantly intimidating and scary to outsiders simply because Ganondorf demanded actual competent guards. He heard how Hyrules guards used to be, the rumors thrown across dinner tables and behind closed doors, he refuses to have such a pathetic army guarding the strongest kingdom known to man.

Which is how Nocturne grows up with darknuts practically everywhere but especially as personal guards. They're notoriously known for being silent and scarily loyal as guards, barely moving while on post and attacking with a terrifying viciousness when spurred into action. Nocturne knows this, he's sneaked behind Zelda into far to many training grounds just to watch the beautiful sword work that's now being trained to hyrules soldiers. But also like,,, Nocturne is the prince, one of the only princes Hyrule has ever seen, and he's just enamored with the darknut guards.

So much so that he might've... left his gerudo guards oversight, somehow escaped more than half the castle, and attached himself to the soldiers trainer. Somehow even *more* terrifying than most but at the sight of the prince being loose in the castle with not a guard in sight? Ganondorf is notoriously known to be paranoid and despite being widely respected- every well-versed soldier knows that Ganondorf doesn't even trust his own halls with the prince and princess. So, the sight of the prince looking up in wonder and making grabby hands at the oversized sword attached to their hip is... concerning. Darknuts don't typically talk, only commonly talking to fellow darknuts and the king himself or clipped instructions to training soldiers. If he hasn't been noticed as missing they would be sorely surprised, if they focused hard enough they could probably hear the furious clicks of gerudo heels on the polished floor.

But, the prince isn't leaving and now has a small hand on the sharp blade of the sword-

"Young sir, please do not touch that, you could get gravely hurt with such a weapon." The silence is broken and the princes face lights in wonder at rhe gravely voice that escapes.

"It's so cool looking! It looks like one of Ganon's swords, well kinda, is it heavy? Can I hold it? Please?" The princes golden hair clashes heavily with the black metal that reflects the sunset light through the stained windows and the curious sky blue eyes. A boy colored with all the colors of the bright, untouched summer sky, but named under the pristine white of the full moon. They let themselves smile to themselves at the odd contradiction as they lean down, armor clicking together as they lift the prince, Nocturne, prince Nocturne.

So frighteningly small compared to their stature made up of unflinching metal colored with the hues of a thundering sky.

"I'm sorry young sir, you cannot hold it, I can not allow you to be hurt under my care." A small huff leaves the young boy as he brings his hands to fiddle with the helmets latches and traces the thin golden details. The boy says nothing else, seemingly entertained at playing with the many latches and giggling from being at such a tall height. On cue a handful of gerudo guards appear from the shadows, a slight note of worry drawn over their expression that calms at the sight of the prince smiling down at them. The prince is an effortless weight, but one that's far heavier than the sword on their waist as the prince happily leans into the seemingly superior gerudo guard, a nod of respect and recognition as a whisper of thanks is passed in the open air.

Bright crimson hair spills over his own golden locks and the image of the sunset is so blinding that they're relived that the helmet hides their closed eyes. But they open them just in time to see the little prince, the young sir, happily waving as he's easily carried back to the castles upper chambers. The boy made of sunshine and light named under the soft glow of the moon, there's a reason he's so beloved and cherished within the walls of hyrule.

#OUGH..... BABY NOCTURNE........ #the gerudo kinda fill the same role that the shekiah used to as the royal families personal and most loyal guards #what happened to the shekiah? well... :) #yeah Ganondorf is very very protective and zelda and nocturne have guards around 24/7 #and seeing as he and them are the ONLY royal family. well. they're very loyal and take their oversight very seriously #hyrules curse #edit: SO FUVKIG SAD nocturne isnt a thing in hc anymore but.... not deleting this