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skythesnake · 4 months

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Fury of Nations - Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of my current wip. Title is likely going to change, but it's what I have for now. Enjoy the first chapter :)

Chapter 1

I looked up from the book in front of me as the door to the train cabin opened. The Tashikan woman who'd been assisting me on my journey thus far bustled in and glanced around the room, tipping her head to me, a Tsaballan gesture of greeting.

"Hi! I just wanted to let you know that we'll be arriving at the war camps in about an hour si… or uh, miss?" The poor woman tripped on her words as her eyes found my changed hair color and, most notably, the fact that I now had breasts. Alanaeans have the unique trait of being able to switch their sex at any time they choose. Being genderfluid, my sex tended to switch on its own in accordance with my current gender identity. When I boarded the train in Northern Fijarin, I was male. It seemed that while I'd been reading, my sex had changed to female without me noticing. This, among many reasons, was why the other nations didn't tend to like Alanaeans very much. I nodded in response.

"Um, yes, well…"

"Thank you ma'am, I appreciate the heads up." I said, thinning my lips at her in thanks. She looked worried for a moment, as if she'd done something wrong. Seven Rivers, of course! I'd done all this research but immediately forgot it when I tried to implement it. I changed my expression to a smile, an expression that felt entirely odd on my face and she returned my smile. She walked out of the cabin and I set to work tidying up the papers and books that had been strewn across the cabin for the past two weeks. Once that was done and my things were stacked against the wall in neat piles, I sat on the small bed under the window and looked out. Everything looked so odd. I was used to the high, snowy, mountain peaks of Alanae that broke up the sky and obstructed your view of the outside world. But here in Southern Tsabal, there was nothing but fields and the occasional orchard. The highest point were some hills in the distance, but otherwise you could practically see for miles. Once the orchards petered out, and the fields were replaced by yellowing grass and green but stumpy bushes, I knew we were nearly there. I let my mind wander and it wasn't long before a feminine Tsaballan voice came over the intercom.

"Hello passengers, we are now arriving at the war camp, anyone wanting to get off, please take all your bags with you to the station. There, someone will be able to give you directions to the camp. We hope you've enjoyed your stay with us and thank you for your contribution." The message repeated a few times as I picked up my luggage and put the rest on a cart the Tashikan assistant had dropped off a little earlier. When the train fully stopped, I rolled the cart out onto the station and unloaded. I hadn't yet put the last box on the ground when a Dalenatan man came up to me. He was the one who had helped me on the train in Northern Fijarin and even though I didn't know his name, I quite liked him. He picked up other cultures quickly, a rare trait for anyone on Elat.

"Do you need any help, miss?" He asked, gesturing to my bags.

"Ah, yes please." He nodded and walked away. A few moments later, he came back with a floating slab of stone that we simply called a Platform. They were a Vishali invention, the mechanics of which I hadn't been able to figure out. After he helped me load my things onto the Platform, he pointed towards the end of the train station.

"There is a road. No turns off the road and you will reach the war camps." I thanked the man as he walked away to find someone else to help.

Setting off down the road with around 15 others, I marveled at the world around me. Of course I had seen the land from the train and the sky from home, but I'd never seen the stark contrast of the blue sky meeting the horizon. The only time I'd been outside Alanae, I was small and distracted from the cloud covered sky by the people around me. Here, I had less distractions so I couldn't help but stare in awe at the cloudless sky. The sun was just starting to set to the north, so the reds, yellows, and oranges of sunset were just beginning to tinge the blue hue of the sky. I could see the occasional bright star dotting the sky in the south.

After about twenty minutes of walking, we reached the war camp. The wall surrounding it was lower than I was expecting and I couldn’t help but examine it and the people inside as I passed through the main gate. I almost didn’t hear the Tsaballan calling out to me as I surveyed the people smiling and laughing around me. Despite the obvious culture shift, the expressions of glee and happiness that meant entirely different things back home, I couldn’t help but think that these people didn’t seem so different from my own.

“Hey! You can’t be here, this is for soldiers only, not some tourist attraction.” I turned to see a very irritated Tsaballan namale standing behind me, hands on their hips. I glanced around me, realizing I was the only one who had been stopped. It took me a moment to speak.

“But I am a soldier. I have come to fight in the war.” Their eyes narrowed at me

“You’re Alanaean?” As if it weren’t obvious by the purple hue of my skin? I suppressed a sigh and nodded. They retreated into a door in the wall and came back out with a flat sheet of plastic, a Tsaballan invention called a Tablet.

“Name?” They asked with barely concealed anger. Why was this person so angry with me? Had I already done something wrong?

“Kishan. K-I-S-H-A-N” They stopped tapping on their Tablet and looked up at me, unsure. Barely a month outside Alanae and I had already learned what that expression meant. I pronounced one of the letters wrong. Silently cursing my accent, I repeated the spelling with as little accent as I could and this time, they nodded to themself and typed in my name.

“Huh. Well, welcome then, soldier.” They glared at me and then sighed

“You’ll have been given directions to the main tent where you can then get information, but I can give it to you now because I pulled you up in the file. You’re in Squadron Thirteen.” They gave me directions to a cluster of cabins on the other end of the war camp and then turned on their heels with a huff and left.

I wandered over to my squadron suppressing a shudder at the unholy number. Oh, stop it Kishan. That’s just superstition. Only the Kinanans are crazy enough to believe in things like unholy numbers. When I arrived, the sun had set a little more and there were already two others sitting by a fire pit. The first one I noticed was trying to get a fire going, but she paused when she saw me walking towards them. A huge smile lit her face and she stood up, walking over to me and sticking her fist out. This gesture surprised me as the woman was Tashikan and bumping fists with someone as a gesture of greeting was a distinctly Alanaean thing to do. I returned her greeting and she introduced herself.

“Hi! I'm Ta'eel, she/her, and I'm from Tashik if ya couldn’t tell!" Her voice was bright and had a heavy Tashikan accent to it despite how fast she talked. I tried not to react outwardly, but something about her felt... utterly wrong. She looked friendly enough, and she seemed genuinely excited, but… maybe it was still the squadron number that had me on edge.

"I am Kishan. I am genderfluid, but I am a girl right now. If you pay attention, you will see that my hair color changes with my sex, so you always know what my sex is. Since it can change, it nearly always aligns with my gender." I responded. We sat down and I turned my attention to the other person sitting down as Ta’eel returned to lighting a fire. He didn’t say anything, though he must have heard me, he just sat there sharpening a sword.

“Oh, that’s Talyn. He ain’t much for conversation, although that might be because he’s Fijari.” I tilted my head in acknowledgement absentmindedly as I turned from Talyn and surveyed the semicircle of cabins surrounding us and the circle of stones that now had a fire cheerfully crackling inside.

“I don’t think the cabins are assigned, so feel free to take any of the ones with doors open.”

“Thank you. I am going to set up my things so the Tsaballans can have their Platform back. I will come back once that is done.” She nodded at me and I headed over to a cabin at the end of the circle and across from the two cabins Talyn and Ta’eel had claimed. Inside were two rooms. One with a simple bed and dresser, and the main room furnished only with a desk and a bookshelf. There was plenty of space for more furniture and I was already planning to get a bigger desk and potentially some more shelves sometime soon. For now, I set my things on the floor in the middle of the main room and walked the Platform back to the main gate where a different Tsaballan namale took it. Returning to the others, I saw no one else had joined us, but Talyn had moved on to sharpening a pretty set of daggers, the sword presumably put away. I had promised myself I would try not to judge others based on race, but seriously, this man was doing the most stereotypical thing he could do for a Fijari. A few moments of uncomfortable silence, then,

“So did ya get to do any sightseeing before ya came to the war camp?” Ta’eel asked me.

“No, I boarded a train in Fijre’an, Fijarin and only got off at the station here. I did see sights from the train windows, but I did not get off the train for fear it would leave me behind.” Ta’eel nodded in understanding, honestly, how many kinds of nods did these people have and how did they seemingly easily distinguish between them?

“We gotta get you out, if not to the other cities, then at least to some of Tsashen. They have some really pretty sights here.”

“That would be nice, if they can spare us for a day.” Another several moments of silence.

“I apologize, I am not much for conversation. I am still learning Tsaballan, it may take me a while.” Ta’eel shrugged, a southern gesture, and said

“That’s alright, I speak Alanaean.” I started at that. None but the most stupid traders came into the Alanaean mountains and few of us left, which was why we were considered so mysterious, so speaking Alanaean outside of Alanae was really just a party trick. A time consuming one at that.

“You do?” I asked, switching to my home language.

“I do! It’s one of my talents.” Again, I noticed her seemingly near mastery of the language despite the heavy accent. Strange woman.

“Hey! Fijari or Tsaballan only. I’d like to be able to understand you freaks.” Talyn said suddenly. His voice was rough and low, almost more of a growl than a real voice. I raised an eyebrow at him and Ta’eel smiled at him

“If you’d prefer that, then we can do that. Ain’t no point in it though if you ain’t gonna talk back to us.” He let out an angry sound and stood up, taking his things with him and stomping into his cabin, muttering something about stupid Tashikans.

“It is rare to see a Fijari walking away rather than starting a fight. From what I have heard at least.” I said, pondering the door he had slammed.

“It’s because he knows he can’t beat me in a fight. He tried earlier and I won. We also both got in a bit of trouble for it.” I whipped my head around to stare at the woman in disbelief. I knew she wasn’t lying, I could always tell when someone lied to me, but how in Oblivion did the not quite 5 foot Tashikan beat the 6 foot Fijari in a fight? She smiled winningly at me.

“Surprised? So was he. Actually, everyone was. It’s always quite hilarious when I beat someone in a fight. We Tashikan’s aren’t known for our battle prowess like the Fijari are.” I didn’t know what to say. Fijari were fierce warriors, known to start and win fights frequently. It was said that sometimes they got carried away and actually killed people sometimes. Tashikan’s weren’t pacifists like the Dalenatans were, but they were known for the delicious food they made, not their fighting skills. We stared at each other for a moment more before she pointed to the book I had brought out with me.

“What’s that about?” She asked and I held it up for her to read the title by the firelight.

“Studying the ocean around the Matanal Islands? What for?” I realized my error as she read the title and cursed my idiocy.

“Ah, the Islands have piqued my interest recently. I have a hobby of researching things. I want to travel around and I would like to know some things before I go there.” That was laced with some truth, which was the best way to lie.

“Smart! I love traveling too. You’d be surprised at what hidden gems you can find just wandering around a town though. Don’t just go to places mentioned in books you read.” A good piece of advice. I wondered if I could get the locals of Tsashen to show me around at some point. Whenever traders came into my hometown in Alanae, I had always wanted to show them all the best parts of my home. And of course, we made sure to give anyone who came to Alanae a map of the best routes out of the mountains for their journey home. The mountains were treacherous and killed more than half of the foreigners that traversed them. They had even nearly killed me several times and I had gone adventuring in them with my father hundreds of times. Ta’eel pulled out a book of her own and a pencil, which she began to draw in the book with. A while later, while the sun was just leaving the last traces of color in the sky, Ta’eel looked up and jumped a little as I turned around to see what looked like a Vishali namale standing behind me. They gave a strange smile, obviously not used to the gesture, and walked around me to the seat Talyn had been sitting in.

‘Hello. I’m Shinael, S-H-I-N-A-E-L, They/Them. I’m Vishali and still learning Tsaballan as well as learning to be more comfortable with speaking aloud. Please be patient with me.’ They signed. Vishali Hand Signs was the language I’d learned alongside Tsaballan, and despite the slightly complicated nature of it, I had picked up on it rather quickly. I was less surprised to see Ta’eel signing her introduction, and introducing Talyn who hadn’t come back out of the cabin. I then introduced myself in sign.

‘I am called K-I-S-H-A-N. I am Alanaean and a gender-shifter. My sex changes with my gender and my hair color changes too. Where are your things?’ I asked, gesturing around them.

‘I have already claimed a cabin and put them away. I didn't mean to startle you T-A-’-E-E-L, but I didn’t know if it was alright for me to sit. I know little of Tashikan and Alanaean cultures.’

‘All is well Shinael. You move very quietly, are you working as a spy?’ Ta’eel responded. The conversation went on like this until I dipped out to read my book some more. The fire was warm and it was just enough light to read by. I got about seven more pages in when I heard someone else come up behind me and turned around. This person introduced himself as Dilan, a Tsaballan man who had been late to join the war, but wanted to contribute in any way he could. Shinael excused themself to go to bed after introductions had ben made - it turned out Dilan didn’t know Vishali sign, though he promised to learn, so Ta’eel and I translated for him - and I followed shortly after. It had been a good day, all said, and I was curious for what tomorrow would bring.

Previous Chapter: None

Chapter One: You're Here!

Next Chapter: 2

#writing #original writing #creative writing #queer writers

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havethetimeofyourstyles · 3 years

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in which harry is the right person at the wrong time.

a/n: hi lovelies! here is my christmas fic for @goldenbluesuit ‘s xmas challenge! i chose the song ‘baby, it’s cold outside’ and it’s my FAVORITE xmas song, so i’ve included bits and pieces of the song throughout the story! hope you all like it, and happy holidays! pls rb and send feedback bc they’re very helpful :)

WORD COUNT: 9.6k of ex lovers to lovers, teacher!harry x lawstudent!yn filled with slight angst, missing someone dearly, and fluff

WARNINGS: mentions of alcohol consumption

COME INTO MY INBOX AND LETS TALK ABOUT ‘BABY, IT’S COLD OUTSIDE’ i’d love to know your thoughts!

pls rb to share! <3

17 December 2020

A chilly and snowy night was upon you as you took a shot of hard liquor. The face of disgust appeared on your face as the liquid slowly went down your throat after you hammered the shot of tequila.

Normally, you wouldn’t pregame when you were going to your friend, Addie’s, house where you would drink some more, but you needed to shake off your nerves that you felt at the moment. You took a deep breath after taking your second shot and you had physically felt yourself starting to relax.

Rolling your head to stretch your neck out, you decided it was time to leave since it was nearing seven in the evening. You called yourself an Uber because of the alcohol in your system and you were planning to sleep over Addie’s place since she said she would bring you back in the morning before you had to go to work.

You waited for your Uber by the front door while you looked in the mirror, putting your black beanie onto your head. You were bundled up in a black university sweater, a camel color coat over, along with tan lounge pants and a pair of black boots. Once you got a notification that your Uber driver, Jason, was in front of your house, you grabbed your overnight bag and headed out the door.

You placed the hood of your sweater over your beanie so you got more warmth since it was quite cold. You were never one for the cold weather, which is unfortunate since you lived in London. You cherished the days where it was sunny and warm; the sun bright and warm as you laid on the grass in complete content.

You missed those days. You missed the days where you didn’t worry about a singular thing.

Looking out the window, on your way to your destination, you watched the snow slightly fall, hitting and building up on the ground while the pedestrians walked through the streets, bundled up in thick layers of clothing. Some people were with others, walking hand in hand or hugging each other through the cold. Even though it was freezing cold outside, there were smiles on their faces because the hold of one another was enough. They could get through the worst snowfall, but if they were in each other’s arms, it wouldn't matter; they could get through anything.

The cold had reminded you that you were missing a pair of strong arms that should’ve been around you through this season, but you were completely frozen—left out in the cold to warm yourself up.

You sighed and the car stopped in front of Addie’s place. You thanked your driver, wishing him a ‘Happy Holidays’ before you got out and buzzed your best friend’s apartment onto the buzzer system; hearing one back, you entered the complex while brushing your shoes onto the floor mat, so you wouldn’t slip while going up the stairs.

You were grateful the building was warm, and you’re sure Addie would crank up the heat for you since you would always complain how ‘bloody cold’ it is all the time.

Once you opened the door, you were met with your entire friend group who were all lounging around in the living area. They all faced the door once you walked in, seeing who the last friend to arrive. Greetings were sent towards you, Addie and Nic got up from their spots on the couch that they’re going to lose because behind them, Elijah and Niall were getting up from their spots on the floor to steal it.

“Hey! There you are! We were all waiting for you,” Addie said, giving you a hug.

Nic went in for a hug before she pulled back and looked at you suspiciously. You looked at her confusingly, wondering why she was looking at you the way she was before she said, “Did you party before you came here?” You furrowed your brows until you remembered that she probably smelt the alcohol that you took before you left.

“Oh, uh, just took a couple of shots before I came here.” The two girls understood quite well, thankfully.

“No worries! Come join,” Addie welcomed you in. The two went back to the living area, only to see that their spots were taken, so they grabbed the two boys’ arms, yanking them out of their seats. You chuckled as you walked to Addie’s room to put all of your belongings.

Once you did that, you exited her room the same time the bathroom door opened across her room. The person in front of you was the reason why you were so anxious before you left; why you needed to relax for a bit and mentally prepare yourself before going to Addie’s place.

The person in front of you was Harry Styles.

The person who had your heart.

The person you were deeply in love with still.

The person who was your ex boyfriend.

“Hi,” he said surprisingly, smiling a bit.

“Hi, Harry,” you replied, inching towards him as he met you halfway. He wrapped his arms around your shoulders as you did the same around his waist, resting your cheek onto his chest. The hug was warm and comforting, like it always was, and you looked forward to these kinds of hugs every time you saw him. But your heart ached every single time.

Pulling away, you gave him a small smile before you two walked out of the hallway and to where your friends were. There was laughter between the two girls and guys as Niall was telling them a joke. Nic was the one who saw you and Harry first, and her laughter died down. She looked at you concerningly, giving you those eyes as if they were asking if you were okay, and you nodded your head to reassure her. You and Harry join the group; you sat on the loveseat on one side of the rectangle wooden table, while Harry sat on the floor on the other side.

You tried joining in on the conversation and laughter, but you couldn’t help but take sneaky glances back to Harry, only to find him getting glances at you as well.

It was hard to focus on anything your friends were saying when Harry was in the same room, but you realized it was also difficult when he wasn’t in the same room because then you were wondering where he was.

It wasn’t easy being friends with Harry after the breakup, good friends, especially; and it pained you to actually act normal around him when all you wanted to do was scream, cry, and have him comfort you. But you did your very best to maintain a cool, calm, and collected mood whenever you’re around him, although inside, your heart was racing and everything you said seemed incoherent.

You tried your best to avoid him after you two split, and he did as well, but being part of the same friend group just didn’t go well with your wishes. You two had to suck it up and be normal around each other.

Being with Harry was possibly the best eight months of your life. To some, it’s not the longest amount of time, but he was one of a kind; you couldn’t find anyone out there like him--not like you were looking anyways. It genuinely felt like you’ve been together for years, and when you two were celebrating your six month anniversary, your friends had questioned you saying ‘It’s only been six months?!’

Your relationship with Harry was all things blissful. It was pure happiness and love, and you wouldn’t want it with anyone else. You two rarely got into fights, and if you did, it was most likely a petty and annoyed argument that would have you two back in each other’s arms only twenty minutes after. He was your fresh breath of air that made you laugh and orgasm…multiple times.

It was all smiles and laughs until it wasn’t.

You two had gotten together the second semester of senior year. Meeting at the library because you couldn’t reach a book, it didn’t take long for you both to get together. You had known him for two weeks until he asked you out on a date where he kissed you for the first time. The dates and kisses continued on for six months until you mutually decided to call it quits.

It wasn’t an easy decision, but considering that Harry was going to a different school that was in a different country for his master’s degree in education for the fall semester, and you were also in the midst of your career; interning at a law firm didn’t quite clear up your schedule, only making you busier by the hour. There was barely any time for the two of you to spend time with each other with how busy and hectic your lives were, so there would most likely be no calls coming in or distant texts that were sent out to make it seem like the void had disappeared.

Like two mature adults, you and Harry called it quits after the summer. He moved away to get his master’s and you kept yourself busy at the law firm. It wasn’t easy--still isn’t easy, but it was for the best. The both of you needed to focus on your careers and yourself before you two were ready enough to get back together. That’s if Harry wanted to get back together anyways.

Of course you wanted to get back together with him, but you didn’t know where he stood on that, or if he was even seeing someone. Throughout the two years that he was away, you only saw him during summer and winter breaks, so he could possibly be seeing someone whenever he goes back to school. But now that he had moved back again, your mind was spiraling because now you got to see him more.

Finally, you broke out of your trance, once again thinking about Harry, you saw him looking at you. The both of you completely tuned out to the conversation and laughter coming from your friends. You held your wine glass up, Harry doing the same while smirking before you both sipped your drinks, hoping the sweet wine would relax your bodies.

Nic was picking out a small paper out of the Santa hat Addie was holding. She took a quick peek at it before, smirking to herself before Addie moved over to you for your turn. As you chose your Secret Santa, you hoped it was a good one. It’s not like you didn’t love your friends, some of them were picky, and by some, you mean Nic.

You looked at the piece of paper, smiling before shoving it into your pocket. Addie moved onto Harry who was the last one to choose, and you watched him as he looked at the paper like it was a poker hand. He raised his brows, smirking before he looked up and started to fold the paper. Your eyes looked down at his polished hands, noticing that he still wears the same rings as he did when you first met him. Your favorites were his initial, thinking how incredibly sexy and alluring they looked on him as he walked around confidently. You’ve stolen them multiple times as well, even if they were too big on you, but the thought of walking around with Harry’s name on you just seemed so enticing.

Niall’s laughter brought you out of your sensual thoughts about Harry’s hands and you realized you were caught staring, and Harry knew exactly what you were looking at with the amount of times he’s caught you staring and fantasizing about his hands. Plus, you openly told him that you had a thing for his hands.

A smug smile was seen from Harry, so you took your attention away from him and towards your friends.

“So, what do we say? $50 limit?” Nic suggested, and Elijah rolled his eyes.

“Why are you trying to make me broke? You know I have a huge family, like, 15 cousins!” Elijah debates.

Nic gasped dramatically. “I’m offended you don’t consider us family, Eli!” Elijah playfully rolls his eyes again, turning his head to the side as he smiled into his shoulder, blushing a bit.

You chuckled at their playful banter. You’re a bit surprised they hadn’t gotten together yet because ever since you met them, you could practically feel the tension between them. They were just too stubborn to admit that they liked each other.

“Okay, how about we make it maximum $30?” Harry pitched in. Your eyes had immediately averted to him, and it was like he captured you just by the sound of his voice. “We have exactly six days to get our gifts,” he added. Your friend group has always been one for procrastinating. Everyone is so busy these days that it gets harder to plan hangouts where the entire group could go, but you were all family, so if the gatherings were at three in the morning, everyone would be there.

The group agreed, telling him that was a solid number. You caught Harry’s eye and he softly smiled at you. Giving him one back, you suddenly felt nervous as he smiled, so you chugged the rest of your wine and walked to the kitchen to open a new bottle to bring to the living area.

The bottle made a loud pop sound, which earned an in sync ‘Woo!’ from the group as it was a tradition you all created whenever a new bottle of wine was being opened. Smiling to yourself, you poured yourself a glass before downing it. As you were doing so, Harry walked into the kitchen with his own glass in his hand.

“Hogging all the wine, aren’t you, Y/N?” He teased to clear the awkward and anxious tension between you two, and luckily, you stifled out a giggle.

“You know me and my wine.” You refilled his empty glass while taking a sip of yours. Once you fill it halfway, he clinked your glasses together before taking a sip. His lips meeting the sweet but bitter taste of red wine that you so wished was your lips. The way he curled his lips into his mouth and licking his lips, tasting the flavor had you daydreaming such sultry things about his lips.

You cleared your throat, breaking yourself out of your gaze. “How are you, H? How’s work?”

Harry’s cheeks warmed up at the simple nickname. “I’m doing good, yeah. Work is good. The school is great.” This was Harry’s first semester teaching, and he absolutely loved it. He loved being in the classroom setting, interacting and making sure his students understood the material. He wanted to teach elementary kids, but that would require knowing various subjects when he wanted to focus more on ninth grade English.

“I’m happy for you,” you confessed. You were happy for him, but you wanted to be happy with him. “I know you’re a great teacher, and your students must love you.” You bumped him with your hip gently.

“They’re great. A couple of them have this weird crush on me for some reason.”

“I mean how could they not.” You realized you said that out loud, and you’re fully blaming the alcohol and the few glasses of wine that you already had, leaving you with a rosy cheek tint glow. Harry didn’t say anything but smug as he continued to sip on his drink. You slipped past him to join your friends, and Harry followed. Addie gave you a knowing look, hoping to communicate with just her eyes as she saw you and Harry walk out of the kitchen together, and you simply nodded, gesturing that you were okay.

The rest of the night went by quite fun as the boys helped Addie hang up the rest of her decorations while scoffing and rolling her eyes because they weren’t cooperating. You and Nic were sitting on the floor watching and laughed, pouring yourselves more glasses of wine. Your heart skipped a few beats as you watched Harry the entire time, laughing and smiling, and sometimes looking over at you just to get a simple glance at your face to suffice his heart from the heartache of not being able to hold or kiss you.

You’ve always liked shopping alone. Shopping with Nic and Addie could be stressful, no matter how much you loved them. You would only go to the shoppes with them if you weren’t looking for anything to buy, but since you were Christmas shopping and the stores were getting busier counting down to Christmas day, you had passed on their invitation to shop with them. There was nobody bugging or nagging you, causing you to get distracted; just you, a basketful of snacks, and Christmas music playing through your headphones.

You couldn’t wait to give your Secret Santa gift because you’ve put a lot of thought into it ever since you found out who your receiver was. You’ve been doing Secret Santa with your friends since the third year of college. At first, your friends group was only you, Nic, Addie, and Niall—you’ve known Niall since you were sixteen, and you met the girls your first year of uni—until Nic met Elijah during the second semester of junior year, who was quickly accepted, and then you met Harry.

You’ve all become a close knit of friends, and each and every single one of you have met other people, but there was nothing like this group. With bonding and connecting so well, all you needed was each other, and you couldn’t be more grateful.

As you were looking at the collection of whiskey, you felt a body brush passed you, slightly bumping into you as they tried getting through the narrow aisle. You jolted forward a tad bit, making you take a step forward to let the person behind you pass through.

“So sorry,” the familiar voice said. The music playing through your headphones was not even halfway up since you still wanted to be aware of your surroundings, but you could recognize that voice anywhere.

Turning around to look at the person behind you, sure enough, it was the one and only.

“Harry?” You called out, taking out your headphones. He turned around, and once he saw you, he immediately smiled.

“H-Hi. I didn’t expect to see you,” he nervously blurted out a false statement. He knew that this was your go to store and you would always drag him there because they always had your favorite snacks in stock.

You chuckled. “Yeah, I didn’t expect to see you here either.” Unlike his statement, yours was true. When you were with him, he would always ask you why you couldn’t stop at any of the other shops because this one was on the other side of where you lived. But you simply told him that it was because you would feel like you would be cheating on this store with the others because this was your go-to place, and the employees here were just lovely.

“Shopping for yourself?” Harry asked.

You looked down at your basket. “Oh, no. For my Secret Santa. What about you? What are you doing here?”

“I, uh, I was on this side of town and,” he turned around to face the wine section before grabbing a bottle of Pinot Noir. “Just needed to get this,” he said as he held it up.

“Night in?”

“Hmm, yeah,” he nodded.

“With…someone, or?” You tried your best to not show your anxiousness when you asked him if he was having a night in with someone that’s not you.

Harry’s eyes widened and he shook his head. “No, no. Not with anyone…” Your shoulders relaxed and a small smile appeared on your face. You slightly nodded your head, containing your relief. “You look great!” He complimented. You were wearing your work attire; a black pencil skirt with a white silk, semi turtleneck long sleeve, and a black coat thrown over. You were also in nude heels, which weren’t the best to shop in, but you had forgotten to bring a change of shoes.

You blushed. “Thank you. I came here straight from work.” Harry’s brows raised. You were always one for a sense of style, so he wasn’t surprised that you would look this good going to work.

“Really? How is work going, by the way?”

“Good, actually. I’m still interning at the law firm, so I’m pretty busy. But overall it’s great! A lot of research, mock cases, and sometimes the interns get to sit and watch in the courtroom. It’s pretty thrilling,” you said excitedly. Harry smiled, missing how you would explain things so eagerly. “This is my last year interning, so hopefully I could work at the law firm I’m already interning at, and become a permanent lawyer there.”

“I’m sure they’d love to have you there. You’re great, really. They’d be stupid to let you go…” he trailed off. There was a double meaning to his words, and you were wondering if Harry thought he was dumb enough to let you go. Not wanting to dwell on his words any longer, you murmured a soft ‘Thanks’ to him and smiled. Harry nodded, mentally beating himself up over his words and how he was really the stupid one to let you go.

“I, uh, should go, or my sister will be suspicious,” you chuckled. “I hope you have a great night, Harry.” You grabbed a bottle of whiskey before walking passed him. You weren’t even done shopping, but you couldn’t be in the same room as him without thinking of the memories that had always lingered, making you nostalgic and sad because you don’t know if you would be able to make more memories with him.

Harry was left alone in the aisle as he watched you walk over to the register to pay for your items. Just when you were done, you looked up, giving him a soft smile and waving at him before you turned around and walked out of the store. Harry’s heart fluttered, but at the same time, it was pounding through his chest. He mentally cursed himself for being so nervous around you, making an awkward tension fill the air. He couldn’t tell you what you were really doing at your store--no, he couldn’t.

Because what would you say if he told you that he’s been going to your store ever since you two broke up and whenever he’s in town just because it reminded him of you. The four walls somewhat mended his broken heart as he felt comfort inside of the shop because some of his best memories of you are in this very store. And since he couldn’t step into your apartment to immediately feel at home, your favorite store would have to do…for now.

Right when you entered Addie’s home, you were met with the loud music of the holiday season, along with Addie, Nic, and Elijah singing the lyrics to one another as they jumped and danced with a glass of their preferred alcohol in their hand.

They hadn’t heard the door open since the music was quite loud, so you took the opportunity to take a quick video of them as you smiled at your lovely friends, who felt so careless at the moment. Once the song ended, you put your phone away, and Eli was the one who spotted you first.

“Ah, there she is!” He walked over to you, giving you a big hug. You giggled as he slightly picked you up from the ground and twirling you. You were sure that he was already buzzed, and you were wondering how many glasses he’s had already, or if he pregamed by himself to calm himself down for talking to Nic, just like you had done to prepare you for a night with Harry, which you hadn’t done tonight.

There was a part of you that wanted to take a shot or two to ease your nerves, but you realized that you needed to stop doing that because as far as you know, you and Harry are most likely going to be friends for a long time. So, drinking almost every week did not sound fun to you.

Nic poured you a glass of wine, clinking your glasses together as you took your first sip of alcohol that night. You helped Addie set up the food onto the table along with some Christmas designed plates and utensils. Just as you were counting the utensils, you heard a loud Santa laugh coming from Niall, making everyone turn their heads towards the door. Niall walked in, carrying a bag-full of presents and Harry followed with a three foil wrapped aluminum trays in his hands as he chuckled at Niall’s way of making himself known. Your face immediately heated up at the sight of your ex-boyfriend because he looked good.

Although you loved every version of Harry, there was something about Harry Styles in the snowy winter that made your knees weak. He was bundled up in a sweater with a coat tossed over, and he wore boots. His hair was slightly messy from the wind as he shook off the snow that had fallen onto his locks. His nose was always red too, and when he would press a kiss to your cheek, you would feel the icy cold tip of his nose, contrasting to your warm cheeks. And it’s a tragedy that you’ve never spent a winter season with him when you were together, only two Christmases after the breakup.

Winter Harry was your favorite, and all you wanted to do was snuggle up with him.

Niall and Harry made their rounds to greet everyone, and Harry would always make sure you were the last one he greeted, just so he could hold and hug you a little longer.

“Merry Christmas Eve, Eve,” you said once he got to you. He smiled and chuckled, wrapping his arms around your shoulders. You laid your head against his chest, taking in his scent and natural warmth, even though he just came from the cold. “What’d you bring?” You asked once you pulled away.

“I brought the cheesy garlic bread, brussel sprouts, and crab cakes,” he smiled.

You gasped. “Your specialty. My mouth is already watering.”’ You clapped your hands in excitement.

Harry giggled, leaning against the kitchen countertop. “Sure is, and it’s some of your favorite dishes of mine too,” he remembered. You blushed, heart fluttering as he didn’t forget your favorite foods.

Harry was always a chef of his own; he loved cooking. Learning from Anne, he made it his mission to make his own homemade food after he moved out, and she would always tell him that you could always show your love through food. From there, he learned more about cooking and seemed to love everything about it. Whenever the group has gatherings for special occasions and everyone agrees for a potluck, Harry always made sure to talk to everyone and see what they wanted him to cook.

When you two were together, he did the majority of the cooking. There would be times when you wanted to help, but he would simply tell you that you needed to let him do it and relax. That was something you loved about him—he was always a giver and didn’t expect to receive anything back, in more than one way.

You and Harry were definitely ones for staying in, and he would always whip up the best food that was filled with so much love and flavor.

“Once you two are done loving over there, we’d like some help over here!” Niall called out from the dining area. Your eyes widened as Harry’s cheeks turned pink. Harry held his arm out, gesturing you to go first, and you walked out of the kitchen as he followed behind you.

The group’s attention and eyes were on you and Harry, and your brows furrowed as you mouthed a ‘What?’ at them, and they instantly went back to setting up the food as if nothing happened. You turned around to look at Harry confusingly and he shrugged his shoulders, just as confused.

The music was playing, the decorations were lit up, and the food was settling into everyone’s stomach, followed by drinks as a warm feeling laid over everyone. It was overall a great time with them as it always was, and since Christmas was coming up in just two days, the merry feeling was always everyone’s moods.

As everyone was laughing and having a great time, Addie had gotten a knock from her neighbor, asking if everyone could keep the volume down. Everyone was holding in their laugh because you all hadn’t realized how loud you’ve gotten.

“I’m pretty sure they knew it was going to be a long night when it was just the three of them dancing and screaming,” you pointed out to Addie, Nic, and Elijah, and they all laughed, agreeing.

“Wait, what?” Niall asked confusingly.

“Right when I walked in, they were screaming at the top of their lungs. Wait, I have a video.” You pulled your phone out of the front pocket of your sweater and showed Niall the twenty second video.

He cackled. “Hey, thanks for waiting for us,” he teased, giving your phone back to you.

You leaned back onto Harry’s leg, since you were sitting on the floor and he was sitting on the chair behind you, and you looked up at him to show him the video. He leaned forward, placing his forearms on his thighs as you shifted closer to him so you were sitting in between his legs. Harry’s lips curled into his mouth, and he was grateful that you weren’t facing him because he was flustered. You pressed play, and he watched as he chuckled, watching his friends have a good time.

“Wait, I also wanted to show you this video,” you mentioned once the video was over. You scrolled through your pictures, and Harry was watching you go through your camera roll. He saw pictures of buildings, food, you and the girls, and some of them were just of you. Before he could really think about your own pictures, you found the video of your family dog and showed Harry.

As you and Harry were watching the video, your four other friends were eyeing you two and whispering things to each other suspiciously. Nic took a few pictures of the moment because the sight was just so cute, but everyone was wondering when you two were getting back together.

And you were wondering the same.

For a few minutes, you and Harry were in your own little world as you two talked about your family; never making the effort to change the position you were in--you had just turned your body so you could see him better. You’ve missed times like these where everything else, outside of the bubble you two created, didn’t seem to matter. The way his eyes gleamed when he talked to you had lulled you in, making you depart from every thought you were trying to create while the only thought that dawdled was Harry.

“Alright, let’s pass out our Secret Santa gifts before we’re all too drunk,” Niall suggested, popping yours and Harry’s bubble. You moved out of between Harry’s legs to sit beside him where you were before. You looked up at him, softly smiling and he gave you one back. His eyes looked like they wanted to say something, and you so badly wanted to crawl into his mind to know what he was thinking.

Everyone agreed, getting up to grab their gifts. Addie also grabbed the Santa hat that you had to wear if it was your turn to pass out your gift. The Santa hat had been through four Christamases with the group, and it was the little things that made you happy.

Addie decides to go first since she was the host. She put the Santa hat on before she started. “First one! My Secret Santa is…Elijah!” She walked over to him, giving him her gift as he smiled, thanking her. He opened her gift and gasped as it was a new headset for his PlayStation since he was always talking about how one side was completely dead. Addie placed the hat onto his head as he grabbed his gift.

“So, this one is for…” he smiled before walking over to the other end of the couch. “Nic.” Her eyes widened, taking the gift from his hands, and he took a seat next to her on the floor. She ripped open the wrapping paper before she paused, looking back at him. It was a large rectangle frame of pictures of her and Eli with a note in the middle saying ‘4 years as best friends, countless laughs, and one question unasked. Will you go on a date with me?’ Nic squealed, wrapping her arms around his shoulders. It was like he was proposing to her because she screamed out a loud yes. “Life is too damn short. I can’t wait to go another day without calling you my girl, so I wanted to take my chances,” he told her. You smiled at them, realizing it’s been too long, and you were so happy for them.

It was Nic’s turn, which she completely forgot about because she was so overjoyed, and she walked up to Harry to give him her gift. He thanked her before opening it, receiving a set of nail polish, a few face masks, a vanilla candle, and a gift card to one of his favorite restaurants.

Harry was up, and he was a bit nervous for this one. You knew that it could either be you, Niall, or Addie since you were the three left without gifts. He stood in front of the fireplace as everyone looked at him. You thought he looked absolutely adorable in that Santa hat, which you think every single year. He slowly walked over to Niall, making him beam, but turned around and walked over to you, earning a ‘Hey!’ from Niall.

“Merry Christmas Eve, Eve,” Harry greeted you, handing you your gift. You smiled brightly, grabbing the box. It was a quite heavy box with brown wrapping paper with reindeers on it and a large red bow. “I wrapped it myself,” he smirked, playfully flipping his shirt hair, and you giggled.

You ripped the paper and opened the box, eyes softening. In the box, there was a graphic tee, your —and his—favorite fresh perfume by Jo Malone, five pens with your first and last name engraved in the middle, a Cravings cookbook from Chrissy Teigen and a yellow and white vertical striped apron with the words ‘Summer Lovin’ with a sun embroidered at the top. Your eyes watered at the words at the special but emotional meaning behind it.

Two months before you and Harry broke up, you knew it was the end. You both agreed that you would spend two months together before you had to part ways with one another. It was the most special and fun summer you ever had, but emotionally, it was the worst. Knowing that you weren’t going to be together anymore by the end of it was behind the facade of the endless laughter and love. You really didn’t want it to be over, but you understood and needed to grow separately and blossom with your careers.

The words behind the embroidered apron was from one summer night. You and Harry had a bonfire at the beach, and you were cuddled up with him as he held a blanket around the both of you. You had tequila disguised like water as you held your bottle up to the best summer loving. You wished the circumstances were different, but if it’s meant to be, then he’ll come back to you.

“You’ve always wanted to learn how to cook and I’ve seen that you’re starting to on your Instagram stories, so I thought these were the perfect things to get you so you could be a proper chef now,” he said with a soft smile.

Harry truly paid attention to the small details of your life. Together or not, he intently listened and observed without anyone knowing. He nailed it down to the small details; from the perfume, the pens, and the apron. The sentiment behind it was what made the gift so special, and the person who gifted it to you completed and made it so much better.

As your vision had gone glassy, you sat on your knees, reaching up at Harry for a hug. He bent down to your eye level, sitting on his knees as well as he wrapped his arms around your shoulders. You held him tightly, sniffling into his shoulder as a rush of overwhelming emotions hit you. Your heart fluttered and pounded at the same time—a feeling that was familiar to your body when it came to Harry.

“Thank you so much. This is the most thoughtful gift ever,” you said into his shoulder. This gift was number two on the list of gifts you’ve received from him, following Harry himself as your number one, of course.

Harry pulled his head back slightly to press a kiss to the side of your head. The gesture had made your heart swoon and you smiled against his shoulder. Everyone was watching you two interact, and they all thought this was finally the moment where you two would get back together again. They’ve all seen you two suffer enough being without each other, along with the heavy tension that there was. All they wanted was for you both to be happy.

You pulled away from him, looking up at his green eyes as they stared into you. He offered you a small smile that took your breath away before he wrapped one arm around your shoulder, bringing you into his side as he wasn’t quite done holding you.

After a few minutes, your friends had let you have your moment before Niall complained how he didn’t have a gift yet. You and Harry chuckled, letting go of one another, and he placed the Santa hat onto your head before you slowly started walking over to Niall. When you handed him his gift, he cheered happily before opening it. You had given him several customized guitar pics with his initials printed onto them, a leather notebook since he liked to write songs, and Proper 12 Irish Whiskey, which was fitting because he’s Irish and he likes Connor McGregor. He thanked you with a big hug, picking you up off the ground with one arm as he held the alcohol bottle in the other.

Addie was the last one who hadn’t received a gift, and Niall was her Secret Santa. He gave her a bunch of makeup with your help, and a tupperware set, which she had been asking for since everyone always took her containers because she liked hosting so many parties.

The rest of the night had gone on for a few more hours before everyone was pretty tired, deciding to call it a night. Everyone helped clean up, making sure to help Addie with the dishes and putting or throwing stuff away. Although you were cleaning, you loved your entire group. This was your family--the closest people to you. The ones who know everything about you and would laugh at you when you fall before falling with you. You were entirely grateful for everyone in this room, and you couldn’t have asked for a better group to spend more holidays and days with.

After the cleaning was done, Niall and Eli started to head out, not before Eli was satisfied with the amount of goodbyes he gave Nic with how long the hug was. Niall had to physically pull him off, telling him the Uber was outside.

You were washing your hands before Harry walked over next to you, handing you a towel to dry off your hands. “Thank you,” you muttered, shyly smiling.

“Uh, I wanted to ask if you wanted to come over?” He proposed. Your brows raised at his question. You and the girls had planned on having a sleepover after, but the prospect of going home with Harry had sounded much better (no offense to your friends).

“I was planning to sleepover here…” you decided to innocently tease, even though you knew you were going to say yes.

“I already asked them, and they said I could take you. I could drop you back off here if you want. So, the answer is up to you,” he smirked. A blush appeared onto your cheeks, admiring the fact that he asked your friends for permission if he could take you home.

“There’s bound to be talk tomorrow,” you teased, lightly nudging him.

“I’ll take my chances,” he smiled, a hopeful look presented on his face.

You breathed out a chuckle, looking at him for a moment before you nodded. “Yeah. Let’s go.” Harry’s eyes widened as the corners of his lips turned up. You grabbed your phone and your coat before walking over to Addie and Nic who were both cuddled up on the couch, saying goodbye to them. They sent you a playful wink, and you rolled your eyes as nerves startled to settle in your stomach.

You followed Harry out of the door, the cold air brisking past you as you walked to his car. He opened the passenger and you thanked him before getting in. Harry started the car and the song that was playing was ‘Baby, It’s Cold Outside.’ It was a song you loved ever since you were a little girl, and you remembered the times you and your mom would always sing it in the car. You smiled at the memory, humming as you hoped it would be a way to distract you from the anxious feeling that you have.

You started humming to the tune as quietly as you possibly could, but Harry heard it as he started to hum it as well. You looked at him through your peripheral vision, noticing that he started to tap his fingers against the steering wheel.

You were about to start singing until you noticed that he pulled into his driveway, so you contained yourself and closed your coat, getting out of the car as you followed him into his home. You’ve only been inside his home three times--those three times being when he would suggest everyone hang out there. It was a lovely place and whenever you were sitting on his couch, you had wished you shared the space with him.

Harry lit up the fireplace, placing the metal shield in front of it before turning back towards you and smiling. “Make yourself comfortable. I’m just going to get us some hot chocolate, if that’s alright?” He asked, wanting to know your preferred drink.

“Sound good.” You hung your coat onto the coat rack before walking over to his turquoise velvet couch and taking a seat, getting comfortable to an extent, not knowing how comfortable you should get.

Not long after, Harry came back with a wooden tray, and he placed it on the coffee table in front of you. There were two mugs filled with milk, two hot chocolate kits, and spoons.

“I made these for my students, and I just so happened to have two extra kits, so this will be fun,” he smiled, and you gave him one back appreciatively. You thought that it was cute and sweet of him to give something to his students for the holiday season. Normally, teachers don’t give them anything, but Harry wasn’t just any other teacher.

A somewhat comfortable silence fell over you two as you both made your own hot chocolate, and you listened to the fireplace roar. Once you two were done, you clicked your glasses together before taking a sip. The warm and comforting drink made you smile and was overall delicious.

Harry didn’t know what to say or how to say what he really wanted to say. It felt like he had non stop thoughts running through his head, but when he opened his mouth to start, there was a delay. An overwhelming feeling took over him and he wanted to yell at himself for not saying how he really felt.

“Y/N-”

“Harry.”

Just like before, your minds had been in sync, causing you both to speak at the same time. A light laugh came out of both of your mouths.

“You go first,” you told him.

Harry took a deep breath. “How’re you doing?” He asked. Out of everything he could have said, that was the only question that came out of his mouth, but he figured it’s a good start to getting somewhere.

“Truthfully?” He nodded. “I’m doing okay. I’ve managed to distract myself from worrying about the future with work, and so far, it’s been helping.”

“What are you worried about?” Harry wondered curiously. He could feel his heart pounding through his chest, and if he’s being honest, it’s been that way the first time he saw you…ever.

“Worried if I’m gonna be where I want to be career wise, and…” you trailed off.

“And what?” He encouraged you to continue. His stare was so intimidating and deep that the words flew off your tongue, making them unforgettable. “Ba--Y/N?” He called out for you, noticing how he almost slipped up and called you ‘baby,’ and you so wished he hadn’t stopped himself.

You finally mustered up the courage to speak your thoughts. “I’m afraid that I’m gonna be alone,” you said honestly.

Harry’s brows furrowed, shaking his head instantly. “You’re not alone, no. You have your family, all of us--your friends, me-”

“You?” Your brows raised.

“Yeah-”

“Harry, you’re the reason why I’m so worried…” you confessed. You were starting to get frustrated--not at Harry, but at yourself because you had planned to have this conversation a different day. You tried to calm yourself down, and Harry could practically see that you were getting angry at yourself. You had a certain stressful and frustrated look that he would notice when you started to beat yourself up over things. And throughout the months of being with you, especially when you were in the midst of law school, he learned how to calm you down.

Harry placed his hand on your knee; the touch being unexpected to you, but it had brought you immediate comfort. He pulled you into his side and you rested your head on his shoulder, looping your arm under his, the one that’s on your leg, and hugged his arm. Harry’s other hand touched your arm, caressing and soothing you. His actions had felt very natural and familiar to him. He would comfort you like this when you were feeling stressed. Normally, he wanted to cuddle you tightly, but this was your preferred way to calm down because in a way, he was still holding you, and you were still in control and didn’t feel like you were suffocating if he had held you tightly.

You stayed like that for a few moments, and you had calmed down a bit already, but you just wanted to be close to him and cherish the moment.

After a few minutes, you pulled away and turned towards him, smiling softly. Your heart warmed at the fact that he remembered exactly what to do when you started to feel anxious, and you may have fallen in love with him even more…after all these years.

“Now, wanna tell me why you’re so worried?” He asked softly, not wanting his tone to be pressuring, and you’re grateful for it.

“I’m worried I’m going to have to live a life without you. It terrifies me to think about you going out and meeting someone, and I would have to watch you get married to someone else that’s not me. That you would be sharing this home with someone that’s not me.” Your eyes start to water, and you had mentally told yourself that you wouldn’t cry, but you didn’t believe yourself in the slightest. “Watching you love someone else is going to be the most difficult thing I would have to do.”

Your tears had fully fallen down your face, which is unfortunate because you both had such a good day with your friends and it was nearly Christmas. Quickly wiping your tears away, you got up from the couch, and headed towards the door. Harry was confused until he saw you grab your coat, putting it on. In a flash, Harry got up from the couch, walking towards you.

“W-What are you doing?” He asked.

“I really can’t stay…” you told him sadly. You had no idea how you were getting home or back to Addie’s since it’s snowing, so you don’t know if there were any Ubers out, especially at this time. “This evening has been…so very nice, Harry.”

“You don’t have to leave. Baby, it’s cold outside, c’mon,” he pleaded with worried eyes. Your heart melted at his words and the name that he used to call you, making you pause in your movement.

“Please,” he pleaded softly, taking a small step forward, and your breath hitched in your throat as you looked up at him. There was a dead silence between you two that was tension filled, and you had no clue what was going to happen next until he opened his mouth.

“Mind if I move in closer?” He whispered. The sound would barely be audible if anyone else was there, so he said those words specifically for you to hear.

You shook your head, and he took another step forward. Your bodies were a centimeter away from being pressed up against one another, and your heart was beating so fast, making your hands shake and tremble. He looked down at you so intently that you were under his spell, and you were conflicted as you wish you knew how to break the spell as his green eyes looked deep into you, luring you in even more.

You took a deep breath. “Kiss me already,” you breathed out. Harry’s heart nearly stopped at your words, but he slightly smirked as he blushed, brushing your hair behind your ears before taking your face into your hands and leaning down to place a deep and passionate kiss onto your lips.

This feeling, this touch, this man was what you’ve been waiting for these past two years. Throughout those years, you felt like giving up; accepting the fact that he wasn’t going to love you again. But he had proved you wrong in the simple brush of his lips and tongue that were in sync with yours, making the spark between you grow bigger and bigger. The spark that had never lost its power, but was on pause.

You grabbed a fistful of his shirt, pulling him closer as the other hand was wrapped around his back. Harry had you pushed up against his front door, and you had the urge to lift your leg up to wrap it around him, but you resisted.

Harry wanted more, too. His hands trailed down from your face to your back, closing the nonexistent proximity between you, and guided you back to the couch. You were walking backwards, completely trusting him that he wouldn’t let you fall as his lips never left yours.

You giggled once the back of your legs hit the couch, falling onto the soft material as Harry hovered over you, laying in between your legs. He looked at you for a moment, studying every freckle, the crimson color on your cheeks, the curve when you smile, your glimmering eyes, and your cute nose. He knew that it was exactly how he remembered. After a couple of years being separated, a beautiful face like yours was hard to forget.

“You’re quite crazy to think I’d want to live the rest of my life with someone else when you’re right in front of me,” he suddenly said. Your eyes widened at his confession. “Never wanna be without you ever again. Thought you didn’t want to be with me when I came back, so I just didn’t bother. But you have no idea how much I missed you. I missed you so much.”

He placed soft kisses all around your face as he spoke, leaving you feeling so tender and soft as he was so gentle with you. For someone who’s on her way to becoming a lawyer and always having to have an answer for everything, you were speechless. The words that you’ve been waiting for for so long were music to your ears. It rolled off his tongue so smoothly, slick like honey, and you connected your lips with his again, swirling your tongue against his as you devoured his words. Hands finding their way to his hair, you gripped on his locks and pulled just the way he liked it, earning a groan from him, and you smirked against his mouth.

You pulled back, leaving him breathless. Swollen lips, blushed cheeks, and smiles plastered on his face, you said the words you’ve been itching to say. “I love you,” you blurted out. The words had rolled off your tongue so effortlessly, making shivers run down Harry’s spine as his eyes watered up. “I was listening to Elijah earlier, and he’s right. Life’s too fucking short to not have what you want.”

He took one of your hands into his, bringing it up to his lips before placing a kiss onto the back of your hand. Your other hand was playing with the curls that laid delicately on his hands, scratching it lightly.

“Missed hearing you say those words.” He smiled, tears making their way down his face. “I love you too. So, so much that you have no idea how I feel when you walk into the room and I see your beautiful face. I love you. I love you. I love you, baby.” His affirmations had caused you to softly sob—the two of you a crying mess from the obvious but unspoken love that was finally being released again. “It’s always been you. You’ve always been my girl, did you know that?” You tilted your head a bit. “Never gonna go a day without reminding you that you are, because you’ve never not been my girl. Had to love and admire you from afar, but just wanted to hold you and kiss you.”

“You can kiss and hold me all you want now, my love,” you reassured him, and he dug his face into your neck, placing a soft kiss against your skin.

You smiled so brightly as your heart felt so happy and overflowed with love, and he matched your grin, feeling the same way.

The two of you kissed each other for a bit more, whispering sweet words, and laughed and talked about anything and everything—truly catching up with one another.

“Oh.” He got off of you, making you slightly pout from the weight of laying on you that you already missed. “I actually got you another gift.”

“Harry…you already got me enough.” It was true. Along with the thoughtful gift, he was your true Christmas miracle.

“I know. But this one, I wanted to give to you in private, and this is the perfect moment, so let me do this?” He looked at you with sweet and pleading eyes with a small smile on his face. Who could ever say no to that adorable face? Certainly not you.

You nodded, and he shot up, heading towards the stairs. “Give me thirty seconds,” he said before rushing up the stairs.

You heard him shuffling up there, and the sound of a drawer opening and closing. Thirty seconds later, he was walking downstairs, holding a white box wrapped in a red bow. He sat back down next to you, looking into your eyes as he spoke.

“This is what I wanted to give you when we were alone. It didn’t matter the outcome of how things turned out between us tonight, I just wanted to give you this because I think you’ll appreciate it. It reminded me of you when I saw it, and I knew I had to get it.” He handed you the box with slightly shaky hands.

You untied the bow, taking the top off. A gasp came from your mouth as you picked up the chain. It was a little gold sun pendant, symbolizing your summer together. You studied the charm for a moment, delicately touching it as you teared up at the meaning behind it. It matched quite well with your embroidered apron, and the two together would be quite the match.

“Thank you, Harry. This is so sweet of you.” You leaned forward, giving him a hasty kiss to his lips, smiling against them. “Help me put it on?�� He nodded eagerly. You handed him the necklace before turning around, lifting your hair. You felt the cool metal chain hit your skin along with Harry’s lingering touches across your shoulders, causing your skin to pebble. He placed a quick kiss to your neck before pulling away. You turned around to meet his eyes as you smiled.

“Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful.” He kissed your forehead. “I’m so happy. Merry Christmas Eve, Eve, baby.”

“Merry Christmas Eve, Eve, my love.”

You cuddled into his side as the silence took over. The only thing was heard was the pounding of your love-filled hearts along with the cracking of the fire. Sure, it was cold outside, but right here in Harry’s arms, you were warmer than ever.

please come into my inbox and talk about your thoughts and feelings on this! also feedback is appreciated, thank you for reading! <3

#GBSxmaschallenge #harry styles angst #harry styles fluff #boyfriend!harry #harry styles smut #harry styles fanfiction #harry styles fanfic #harry styles one shot #harry styles writing #harry styles imagine #harry styles dirty one shot #harry styles x you #harry styles x reader #harry styles x y/n #harry styles x yn #harry styles au #harry #harry styles

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genshin-impacted · 3 years

Text

lost & found // Diluc x Reader (2/3)

Word Count: ~5.0k

Notes: GN!Reader, Seelie!Reader, Diluc/Reader, includes more Mondstadt people interaction such as Klee, Albedo, and Kaeya, see why I had to split it into 3 parts now

Summary: Despite being a seelie, you and Diluc are inseparable. You aren't sure what you are or why you are here, but you know for certain you want to be wherever Diluc is through every adventure and misadventure. (And throughout it all, you get closer and closer to him.)

Alternatively: The two of you lose and find each other over and over again.

[Part 1] [Part 3]

You are satisfied with your life as a seelie, being Diluc’s partner in vigilante justice as the Darknight Hero (though when he goes out as the Darknight Hero, you’re usually hiding underneath his coat, all cozied up) and being able to spend your days by his side. Most days you are content without the answers to the questions of your origins or why you are different because Diluc accepts you for what you are regardless, as his radar for trouble and as his trusted companion.

It is only on the days where Diluc does not speak to you, burdened by the emotions of his past, withdrawing into himself at the familiarity of solitude, that you wish you are not what you are. There is very little you can offer in terms of comfort when compared to the warm arms and reassuring kisses of another person, but you make do with what you have.

You nuzzle into the crook of his neck in a semblance of a hug, and, though it takes a few tries to have Diluc understand what you were doing, your light touches to his forehead are the kisses you bestow upon him whenever his spirits are low.

“...Thank you,” he says to you when you lightly brush onto his temple, smiling when you twirl in the air, happy to have him receive your affections with full translation. He chuckles. “Would you like me to do the same for you?”

The squeaks of surprised embarrassment that follows make him laugh, and you imagine if you could speak, you wouldn’t be able to say anything of coherence with how equally flustered and pleased you feel. You don’t want to conflate any of his gestures, but you think that Diluc’s ability to tease you is a testament to how close you have gotten, even though his remarks make you feel giddy.

(If anyone else were in the vicinity they would think to themselves how rare that they see Master Diluc laughing so easily, though this is a thought that would not have crossed your mind considering this is a Diluc you have always seen. He is more youthful, less burdened, when he is near you. Is it because you are a seelie or is it because he is not bound by expectations when you have only known him for who he is?)

His ability to understand you and his unwavering trust in you despite your inability to do many things is something that you cherish. As such, you find ways to help Diluc wherever you can: temporarily swallowing small items to bring to him, being a literal light in the dark, and caring for his well-being wherever you can. The next time Kaeya drops by the tavern, stating something about treasure hoarders, a big expedition, and something about Dragonspine, he drops off a young girl about eight years old who introduces herself as Klee, and you find yourself in a new position as a babysitter.

And you are happy to glow, squeak, and fly in different shapes to make Klee laugh. You would be lying to yourself if her laughter didn’t make you happy, but it’s in addition to the fact that Diluc can finally rely on you. The grateful glances he keeps giving you over the shoulder when he caters to the tavern guests is invigorating. And if the tavern weren’t so well-lit, Klee would be able to see how you glow brighter in response to your emotions.

As perfect as Diluc may be (no, you are not biased), you find that you are surprisingly better at handling Klee. It’s not as though Diluc is completely helpless-- he responds to Klee’s questions just fine, speaking to her more as though she were an adult than a kid. You think Klee likes it for how she eagerly nods despite not understanding what Diluc is saying. It's just, for once, you may have an advantage because you are a seelie, and Klee absolutely adores you simply for existing. It’s a lot easier to entertain and play with her as a glowing ball of light than as a tavern-keeper, but you consider this a win anyways because you can finally help Diluc in a way that matters, considering the look of relief he shoots you when you’re able to distract her.

Your role as a babysitter goes well… until it doesn’t.

"It was nice playing with you, little seelie!" Klee chimes cheerfully. You coo at her, right up till the point she says, "Let's play another time, okay?"

Where are you going? You squeak, flying in front of Klee as she packs up her things. You nervously look at Diluc, hoping he can see you with how you flash your light like a siren, but his back is turned.

Klee only giggles. "Do you want to come with me too? Let's go!" She says, bounding out the door with terrifying timing when everyone's too distracted to stop her. You watch with growing horror as she runs with arms outstretched into the streets of Mondstadt, and you only have a split second to decide to follow after her before losing her completely. (In retrospect, perhaps it would have been better to tell Diluc, considering how little you could do as a seelie, but you forget that at times, especially in moments like these.)

You follow Klee, glancing around nervously for any roaming hilichurl or abyss mage. Miraculously, the two of you don't run into any enemies, though you did urge her to go around the path when you spot a few of them walking toward you. This is out of my pay grade, you think warily, and if you had a heart still, it would be beating rapidly with the self-contained panic every time you narrowly miss a confrontation with an unsavory crowd.

When Klee leads you into Dragonspine, which you now know to be a snowy terrain whose chill is cold enough to make you shiver, you want to cry. Where are you going? You want to ask, Why are we here? You watch as Klee picks a random direction to go in, and you can only follow her, twirling around sources of heat at every opportunity so that she knows where she can stay warm.

Having Diluc here would be nice, you think, as you float next to the orange seelie that radiates warmth much like a campfire. The fires Diluc would light easily if he were here, the warmth he would exude for how hot pyro users run... You think warily that you're going to make him worry again, having disappeared with Klee, but for some reason, you feel reassured that he'll find you again eventually.

It is many minutes traveling in Dragonspine when Klee puts a finger to her lip and asks you, "Do you think you can find my big brother?"

Here you are, following Klee this entire time, only to find out you are both lost. Next time, you think to yourself, as Klee describes her big brother Albedo and you quietly listen, no matter how Diluc looks at you, you don't think you can ever accept being a babysitter ever again.

(When you're attacked by hilichurls, you think of distracting them as Klee runs to safety, but then she throws literal explosives at them to defeat them soundly and you think that at least there is one less thing to worry about.)

You let your instinct take the lead this time, as something within you pulls in a certain direction. Asides from the basic investigative skills (footsteps here, disturbed bush there), it is a miracle that you lead Klee to the encampment that Albedo had set up for his experiments in Dragonspine. It's not as though the path was particularly hard to traverse, but it did take some backtracking and maneuvering around Fatui camps (will Diluc end up fighting them looking for you, you wonder). You breathe a sigh of relief when you see Klee leap up to hug the blond, doe-eyed alchemist whose eyes widen at her arrival.

“Kl-Klee? How did you get here?” Albedo stammers, looking over her before landing on you. You simply twirl in the air in greeting, and the alchemist can only blink. (You never realize this, but this is one of the very rare moments Albedo is ever flustered-- courtesy of Klee.)

Klee goes on a long monologue about you as well as the adventure to get here, Albedo nodding in understanding ever so often, when you hear the crunch of snow behind you. Your mood lifts along with your body as you recognize the familiar tuft of red hair against the whitest of snow.

“There you are,” Diluc says, setting down his broadsword. He sounds out-of-breath, most likely weary from the fact the two of you disappeared and from the climb to get to Dragonspine. You glow immediately from his evident relief, and you race to him, nuzzling into his neck in an affectionate hug to which he immediately responds by brushing the back of his gloved hand onto you.

How did you find me again? You ask, easily sitting on the hand Diluc offers you.

“Kaeya told me that Albedo was in Dragonspine,” he explains. “Knowing Klee, this was the first place I thought to go to, and I know you wouldn’t let yourself split off from her.”

You nod sagely, though that line of thought would have made sense to anyone who generally knew Mondstadt geography. You look up at Diluc in confusion when he pets you.

“I would have found you anyway,” he says softly, “even if you weren’t together.” You feel yourself grow warm. “I’ll always find a way to find you.”

(Even in this snow? You wonder, even in this frigid wonderland? Through the driest of deserts and coldest of oceans? And you can imagine that if you had asked him this, he would have said ‘yes,’ though that was just what you hoped.)

You coo softly, flying up to gently press your face to his cheek in a gentle kiss, and the smile that Diluc gives you, you think, should be warm enough to melt even the snow on Dragonspine.

When the wind grows harsh in the changing of times, you find flowers of blue and white hidden amongst the fields of grass. And when Stormterror abandons his domain, you lead Diluc to a red, crystalline teardrop that neither of you can touch without protection. You thank the stars Diluc is not a man to shy away from danger, especially when it pertains to the safety of Mondstadt, because he follows you wherever you lead him-- finding teardrop after teardrop scattered across lands festered with monsters.

(“It’s a well-kept secret, despite the way he acts,” Diluc says, leaning on his propped-up arm by the fireplace. He huffs in laughter when you trill-- my lips are sealed!-- and the two of you would watch the embers slowly die out. )

It has become more and more evident as time goes on that you are more than you appear. Your small size and dedication to following Diluc are already indicative of your unique nature as a seelie. What makes you particularly distinct is your penchant to find things or people that many would consider strange. Even before you found these objects, being able to find the elusive Venti would be indicative enough. You don't know what was so strange of him besides his eternally youthful appearance and talent of disappearing into the wind (you thought that was just what people could do, okay?) until Diluc tells you of his godly origins one late night in the winery.

Your proclivity for the unique is something that does not go unnoticed by Albedo.

“I would greatly appreciate being able to tag along on your next journey. I’m very interested in seeing what you, as a seelie, can do,” Albedo tells you. When you meekly titter in Diluc’s direction, Albedo raises his hands reassuringly. “Ah. Don’t be nervous. It’s quite alright if you don’t lead us to anything. It’s all part of the process. Klee has told me much of what you can do, and I’m simply interested in learning more about you, as special as you are.”

Diluc looks to you, waiting for your response as you float in the air, pondering. You cock your head to the side, and he only shrugs, answering the nonverbal question you shoot at him.

“You’re the guide. It’s up to you,” he says, and that is all you need to look back at Albedo (who has been observing everything thus far with keen eyes) and bob yourself up and down in agreement.

“We can meet at Windrise in one week’s time,” Diluc says to Albedo.

Albedo nods, taking one last look at you before pushing himself off the tavern stool, ending the conversation until next week-- that is if Kaeya were not there.

“You aren’t planning to go on an adventure without me, are you?” He says, and Diluc can only sigh.

The week passes quickly and the four of you (Diluc reluctantly allowing Kaeya to accompany the three of you) meet up at the Statue of the Seven near Windrise. You prove yourself once again when you lead Diluc, Kaeya, and Albedo on an off-trail route to Daudapa Gorge. They all follow you, climbing up the cliffside, until you lead them to an unusual hilichurl of blue hair and a talisman on its mask. To keep with the consistency of your battle-filled wanderlust, the unusual hilichurl starts throwing items-- some of which you can recognize from your previous(?) life and some of which you’ve never even seen before. The barrage of things is incessant until fire, ice, and bursting flowers make him escape into his suitcase, leaving behind strange four-pointed stars that glimmer for a moment before disappearing, much to Albedo’s disappointment.

The silence that follows after the oddest encounter you have ever led Diluc to is deafening. You can’t even bear to turn your body to face Diluc who you know is looking at you with a (fondly) exasperated expression. “Trying to outdo yourself every week, aren’t you?” He asks, and if you could, you know that you would be blushing.

Kaeya makes it a point to make your embarrassment worse, as he often likes doing. (You know Kaeya shows his affection through teasing remarks, but oh, what you wouldn’t do to be able to retort back to him once without Diluc having to come to your rescue.) “Your mini seelie finds a lot of strange things, don’t they?” He says, giving you a cat-nipped smile when you bristle and squeak. “Maybe the seelie thinks you’re strange Diluc. Maybe that’s why it follows you around--”

“Shut up, Kaeya.”

“That’ll cost you, you know.”

You watch the two bicker back and forth in a manner that is now very familiar to you, not noticing the alchemist observing you in the background.

“I’d like to test something if that’s alright with you.” Albedo suddenly says to you. “Nothing painful,” he reassures you, even though you hadn’t said a word. “I’ll simply be asking you to do your best to find Master Diluc to test a theory of mine.”

Why Diluc? You wonder.

“Why me?” Diluc repeats your thoughts. “I didn’t realize we would still be under observation after this one journey.” You think Diluc sounds testy-- in a manner that is unlike whenever Kaeya drops by his tavern and more like when fire abyss mages show up on your path. You are alarmed, unsure why you feel the tension rise despite Albedo’s unbothered demeanor.

And while Diluc would never thank Kaeya for his quick wit and way with words, you definitely would, especially when he jumps into the conversation with an easy lilt to his voice to de-escalate the situation (for once). “A-ha, worried that your time with your precious companion is being encroached upon, Master Diluc?” He teases, “Or perhaps you’re afraid you’ll be separated from your precious seelie?”

“Kaeya--”

“Your relationship with your seelie is unique, just as your seelie and its abilities are unique,” Albedo interjects before Diluc could pull out his greatsword. “I’d like to qualitatively and quantitatively define them, if possible.” He pauses, addressing you directly. “I thought this would prove fruitful for you as well if you were ever wondering what your... purpose is, as one might say.”

How rare it is to have an opportunity like this just fall into your metaphorical hands, you think. You are interested in knowing more about yourself. It wouldn’t change much about how you want to stay with Diluc, but there is a sense of peace knowing what you can and cannot do. In Albedo, you see a man of science through-and-through (even though he evidently defies the laws of transmutation you learned from a certain anime). He sees things for what they are, always addressing you when he wants to talk to you, and recognizing that you can speak for yourself. In some ways, he is no different from Diluc, who has never demanded you to be more than what you are as his companion.

If you decide to do something, Diluc respects your decision-- which is why he only watches you quietly as you croon in agreement. You glance over at Diluc to wait for his consent as well, and he can only sigh. (You don’t know it, but he cannot say ‘no’ to you.)

“I have one condition.” When Albedo nods, Diluc continues, “We do nothing to put them in danger. Is that clear?”

“Crystal,” Albedo says immediately, and you almost miss what he says next, as distracted as you are by how Diluc comes closer to you almost protectively. “I’ll converse with you to let you know what you’ll be doing, but there should be no harm done to anyone during this experiment. How does the day after tomorrow sound?”

Diluc heads to Dragonspine without you, for what feels to be the first time in forever. Now that you think about it, has Diluc ever been separated from you the same way you have been separated from him? Even though you’re the seelie, he’s always the one finding you-- have you ever needed to find him?

You want to be able to find Diluc as flawlessly as Diluc can do for you. You want to know, and you especially want Diluc to know that you will always be able to return to him no matter what. Succeeding in this self-given trial of yours will provide definitive proof whether or not you can. With that thought in mind as you float up the slopes of Dragonspine, you think there’s a lot more at stake after all.

You titter nervously when you find Albedo in his camp, and when he spots you, he waves you over as he prepares for the journey with you. “I told your companion to get a headstart,” he says to you. “I won’t know where he’s gone either, so it’s a double-blind experiment. Feel free to use any way you see fit to find him and I’ll follow you.”

You nod dutifully, and when he does nothing else but follow your movement with his eyes, you realize that those were the only instructions you were given. Find Diluc, you think to yourself. Should you start to conjure an image of him in your mind to guide you? That was easy enough to do: half-lidded red eyes that soften when he sees you, red hair you’ve dazed off in more than once, black coat he’s used to shield you from the weather despite your immunity to it, and black boots that are worn to the heel when he follows you.

You are only a few steps away from the camp when you feel a growing panic, for no matter how much you think of Diluc, you don’t feel anything telling you where to go.

When you guide Diluc, even if it’s an impromptu journey, you feel a pull to go somewhere. You’ve once thought it to be your whims but after finding so many other things on purpose and having that same familiar pull, you know that it isn’t just your curiosity guiding you. You conjure up his image, you think of how much you want to find him, and still-- nothing.

How are you going to find him now?

You follow those footsteps, with not much else to go on, and you hope with all your might that perhaps these are the only signs you need to find him. When you reach a snowstorm, your heart falls, only to see that the heat source midst of the snowstorm has been activated. In a place with newly fallen snow and no fireplace, you see a tree with the snow shaken off from its lower branches, and that's when you realize that these are clues that Diluc has left for you.

You look frantically around, following the most likely path he would have taken out, and are met with crossroads. You're tempted to choose a random road and stick with it, but your random choices and the instincts you have been using this entire time are not the same. If you could, you would grunt in frustration, but it comes out as a high-pitched squeal instead (that Albedo takes note of just in case). How were you supposed to-- and then you see footsteps clear as day around the bend of rocks and realize it's Diluc’s.

Does he know, you wonder, that you do not know how to find him? Or did he leave these signs regardless just to make sure you do?

Diluc wants you to find him-- and you find it hard to explain why that means so much to you.

You follow the footsteps, the snow, the branches, and the flames with growing anticipation to see that bright tuft of hair amidst the whitest snow you've ever seen. You're led into an icy opening where heat sources have been activated, and it's hard to contain your excitement when you notice that all of them are activated. You're so close to him; you can feel it.

You rush to the center, hoping to see Diluc-- only to see a gaping chasm where the ice broke, and your heart freezes over.

"Ruin guards," Albedo murmurs, taking note the same time you do that there are various irreparable ruin guards within the hole. If Albedo says anything, if anyone else shows up afterward, you do not notice. The only thing in your mind was the worst-case scenario: Diluc might be hurt, and you didn't know how to find him.

You jet off into the chasm, flying from corner to corner to find him. Every time you see a gleam of red, you desperately hope it is him, but it's just shards of scarlet quartz Diluc must have broken to keep himself warm. Follow it, you think, follow the trail-- quickly!

The path leads to a waterfall where enemies are littered on the ground, including an ice lawachurl right in the river's path. Diluc, you think, following the line of arrows up the snowy hill. You fly up and up and up and as the footsteps fade and you grow colder, you think chillingly that if you were cold, then--

What would you do if he got hurt? What would you do if you could never find him ever again?

No! You think, no, no! Your barely contained composure breaks again with the rising panic. You zip forward, searching for the nearest heat source and praying (to Barbatos, perhaps, or any other god out there that Diluc has yet to tell you-- that he promised to tell you about) that Diluc is there. In the face of your great love for Diluc and the helplessness that comes with it, you have never felt so lost.

Overlooking a tree, you spot an orange seelie-- a heat seelie!-- and speed to it where it slowly looks in your direction. Can you please, you begin desperately, help me find someone? He must have come here before. Red hair, black clothes, big sword? You spot another looking your way and you ask it the same thing. You attract another and you repeat yourself again.

Please, you tell them, I need to find him.

Slowly but steadily, they all look in one direction, and you are off at once. (You forget to say thank-you; you're normally better than that, but you hope the seelies can forgive you just this once.) You fly as fast as you can, begging whoever is listening that the seelies did not mistake someone else for Diluc. And when you see Diluc at the campsite, you finally can breathe again.

Unharmed, his head in a towel to dry off his wet hair, Diluc is fine. You can barely believe what you’re seeing as you numbly float to him, checking him from head to toe for any injuries you can perceive. You don't feel as though you're doing that well of a job though, considering the only thing running through your head that he was safe and what would you have done if he wasn't--

Before you reach him Diluc turns his head to you like clockwork, as if he always knows when you are here. (There are those red eyes again, you think, and wonder if his affection for you will ever run out.)

“Ah, there you are,” he says, almost as frantically as you felt finding him. “I was about to go look for you since you weren't with Albedo." He gives you a smile when you slowly approach him. "I was worried," he says, "I--" He freezes in the middle of his sentence, eyes widening before slowly softening with every passing moment watching you. “Hey,” he says tenderly, raising his hands to cup you close to him. “It’s okay. I’m fine; I’m here.”

If Diluc ever doubted how much you cared for him, he does not have to look any further than the tears that drop down your translucent body, disappearing before they fall off of you. You don’t understand how you can cry, considering what you are (and the lack of tear ducts), but you do anyways, ears drooping as all your worries, concerns, and relief manifest into tears.

I’m so glad you’re okay! Your trills and squeaks are nothing more than hiccups in-between tears. I’m sorry I couldn’t find you earlier!

And Diluc does his best to wipe away the droplets that come from where your eyes would be as he continues to soothe you through them. “You found me,” he says, voice warm like the hands he holds you in. You don't have the strength in you to tell him otherwise when he repeats it to you again and makes you believe it. “You found me.”

You spend the next half-hour or so with Sucrose who calms you down a great amount. Her genuine eagerness for alchemy combined with her shy, nervous demeanor is something that endears her to you quickly, especially when she is trying her best to make you feel better by rambling about her latest experiments.

With the worry for Diluc gone, you feel reaffirmed in your relationship with him. You are sad and will be for a while, that you do not have the talent to find Diluc whenever you can, but you are reassured by your determination to do so despite it.

Getting lost and being found again-- it seems as though that’s the cycle the two of you have started together.

“I apologize for causing you distress.” You perk up from your position above the alchemy table when Albedo walks back to you after a brief conversation with Diluc over the bubbling mechanisms on the table.

“Dragonspine is still an unpredictable terrain and I had not taken into consideration that there would be problems using this area as our testing ground,” Albedo says with a twinge of regret. You can understand him well enough to know that he truly did not intend for the day to be so emotional, so you squeak in response and fly in a loop. He looks relieved when you do, and you think for a brief moment that perhaps he isn’t so hard to read after all.

“Though the procedure was… unexpected, I hope you learned more about yourself as I have.” He waits as you eagerly nod in agreement, and you see him briefly hesitate. “...There’s a type of loneliness in being different. I’m sure you know this very well,” he says quietly as you float. “If you wish to learn more about what you are, feel free to visit any time. I will be happy to help.” The smile he gives you is partly fond as it is lonely, and you can only fly up to gently bump your head against his in response. “Until next time then,” he says with a tone of finality. “Perhaps when your companion isn’t so protective over you.” (Which is unlikely, Albedo thinks, but not impossible.)

Until next time, you say, watching as Albedo walks away into the snowy terrain. You spot Diluc, hands crossed as always as he leans against the darkened bark in a manner that is so reminiscent of the first time you found him. You feel oddly nostalgic as he watches you intently. Then, you do a somersault, and, going full circle, he smiles at you.

“Let’s go home,” he says to you, and you follow him, just as you did in the very beginning when you found him.

(If there is anything that the two of you could conclude at the end of this, it is the confirmed knowledge that the two of you would go till the ends of Teyvat to find each other again.)

[temp taglist]

@thetwinkims @loveyoutothestars @ninqat @winterptilopsis @nya-vivi @just-noelle

#diluc ragnvindr #diluc/reader #genshin impact diluc #genshin impact x reader #diluc x reader #genshin impact #genshin diluc #diluc #kaeya #albedo #klee #sucrose #kaeya alberich #mini seelie #this was supposed to be a one shot lol

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depressedhatakekakashi · 2 years

Text

Walk In the Snow

Pairing: Yamato X Reader

Words: 852

For: @whatshernameis who deserves some soft Yamato hours. Also @kankuroplease who's art piece here gave me the idea for Yamato's book choice

The first snowfall of the year. When the trees would be dusted with a light layer of snow, and the ground would be white as far as the eye could see. Only the smallest hints of green grass or beige pave way visible under the layers of snow that covered the ground.

When all of Konoha looked like a winter wonderland. Bright and beautiful. Calling for everyone in the village to throw on their warmest jacket and take a walk.

To enjoy this rare moment of beauty before it vanished all too soon.

“Come on,” Yamato stumbled off of his nice little bed, dropping his book on the ground as he was herded out of a comfortable reading spot towards the front door. “Let’s go for a walk.”

His eyes darted towards the window, taking in the sight of snowfall just outside their little home. “Outside?” he frowned, glancing towards the fallen book with a mournful look. “But, I was reading.”

“You can read when we get back,” you chuckled, refusing to release your hold on his arm even when he attempts to bend down and pick up the book that had been so rudely discarded when you had grabbed him. “I promise. You can read all you want when we get back, but we need to go outside now.”

Before the snow stopped falling. When it was still fresh on the ground and the first footprints on the ground would be there’s, side by side on familiar streets. A momentary mark on the world that would be covered by the end of the day.

“But-” he sighed when you continue to walk, leading him towards the door. “It’s cold outside. Wouldn’t it be nicer to stay in? Enjoy the warmth?”

“We have all night to enjoy the warmth,” releasing your hold on his arm, you snatched your jacket off of its hook and tugged it on. “A whole night ahead of us to curl up in your little reading nook and feel the warmth on our skin. We can even have hot chocolate and roasted chestnuts.”

As expected, his ears perked up at the mention of chestnuts.

“We could just-”

“After a walk,” doing up the last button on your jacket, you turn to face him. “Come on, Yamato. It’ll be fun.”

“Being cold doesn’t really sound all that fun to me,” He grumbled under his breath, grabbing his jacket with a reluctant huff and pulling it over his shoulders. “I was enjoying my book too. Frodo and Sam just met Gollum.”

“Ah!” clapping your hands together, you give him a playful smile. “That’s the perfect place to take a break, though. When we get back you’ll be ready to read about all of the…well, you’ll find out.” He never liked it when you gave away important plots of the story, and to him everything was important.

“Are we going to walk long?” with his jacket done up, he grabbed the long green scarf off of the hook and wrapped it around his neck. “Or is this just going to be a quick walk around the block?”

“Well, I can’t promise it will be the second one,” there was too much to see. Too many memories to make at such a precious, rare moment of beauty in their little village. “But it won’t be too long, that I’ll promise. Maybe a quick walk to the market.”

The best views were always there. Where they could see the Hokage residence in all of its snowy glory, and watch the way clumps of snow fell off of signs and roofs onto the ground.

“Well,” finishing up with his scarf, he took a step closer to you. A happy expression in those big, goofy eyes of his. “If it’s for you I guess I can handle it.”

Always a sap. Even when he tried his best to act like a good soldier, deep down inside he was just one giant gooey sap.

Your sap.

“I thought you might come around,” slipping your shoes on, you shoved the door open and stepped out into the snow. The first snowflake falls against your nose and melts immediately. Leaving no evidence of its existence. “It’ll be fun.”

“So long as you promise not to throw any snowballs at me.” stepping up to your side, peered down the street. Only outside for five seconds, and he was already trying to kill your fun. Some days it was hard to remember why you loved the man so much when he couldn’t even let you enjoy something as small as the first snowfall of the year.

“I make no promises,” it wouldn’t be any fun to let him in on what you had planned, even if it didn’t include shoving a hand full of snow in his face just to see the cute angry expression he would give you. “Now come on. I want to make a snow shinobi.”

Grabbing his hand, you pulled him away from the door and down the street. The first footprints on the pavement were made as you rushed forward with Yamato stumbling behind you.

Tags: @apricitobio @yanjing @iamonlybutaneel @lemony-snickers @kissmekakashi @kakashiswilloffire

#Yamato X Reader #Yamato X GNReader #12 Days of Shipmas #Me trying to remember all my reader insert loving mutuals is always a fun experience lol

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winterlovesong1 · 2 years

Note

Rolling in the Deep and Nace?

Since there weren’t specific lyrics given, I went ahead and chose my own from the song - thank you for the ask though anon ❤️

The scars of your love remind me of us They keep me thinking that we almost had it all The scars of your love, they leave me breathless

- Rolling in the Deep by Adele

the memory of you isn’t so easy to hold

(based on this prompt game)

She used to love the holiday season, the white lights that trickled along the roof lines of several of the neighborhood homes, the strong scent of cedar and pine that seemed to perfume the air more intensely in the winter air, and the sound of an airy jingle that seemed to echo no matter if there was music playing or not.

And then there were the traditions she grew into, inherited into her life through her extended family, like getting used to scattering gifts over multiple days, the schedule of who was to light which candle on which day, and hoping that maybe this would be the year she would finally get that recipe for those delicious latkes.

She used to love the holidays.

Before.

Now, as she walks up onto her darkened porch, the iron lantern that was fixed against the brick burnt out for months now the reason for her dim scene, her front door absent of any décor indicating the change in season, she instead, rather than focus on the lack of decorations, clings to her coat for warm in one hand while her fingers fumble for her keys in the other. Cursing at how cold it is, how even with her appropriate attire, she still feels frigid down to her bones, further condemning how her gloves make everything more difficult and if she could just open this godforsaken…

She drops her keys in her flurry of frustration and proceeds to kick them off the wooden porch step into the snowy grass knowing very well her actions will have consequences minutes later.

But she didn’t care - screw the consequences.

And then, soon enough, realizing she’ll have to dig her keys out of the snow piled on the lawn, she closes her eyes, trying to regain her composure. Removing her gloves for purposes of retrieving her infernal item, she sets them in her purse that she then places on the ground before marching down the steps to the lawn.

Venturing out into the open cold, the wind catches her as she steps off the porch before she spots the indentation in the snow where her keys fell, the last bit of early evening light aiding in her search. Scooping them up in her hand, disregarding the numbness her fingers now feel because let’s face it, she already was before she dove her hand into the frozen material, she snatched her keys in one swift motion, proceeding to just as quickly clomp back up the steps, pick up her purse by its worn handles, and open the door before slamming it shut behind her.

He would envelope her in his arms, aid her in taking off her coat, remarking on how this winter was definitely the worst as he pulled it off her shoulders and assuring her he already covered the pipes and double checked their heater was working so it could endure the season as he hung it up on the coat rack in the entryway.

She’d smile and say thanks, babe before asking how his day was and if he got any more calls from any of the guys in the field. And he in turn would ask her how her day was at the agency was before she answered with a bright successful.

But instead, it’s just quiet, the silence greeting her with its usual sterile presence as she stood only a space in front of the door.

And maybe it’s too loud, the quiet. Or maybe it was just another day without someone to take her coat. Or maybe she just missed him too much today.

Sliding her back down the wooden surface behind her, her keys fall once again while her purse scatters its contents across the hardwood flooring as her limbs go weak, emptying out an array of contents, while her emotions arrange themselves in a similar manner before realigning themselves just right for her tears to draw themselves effortlessly down her cheeks. Her body convulses as the perfect amount of despair wrenches its way into her heart, the only way she’s able to steady herself by wrapping her arms around her now bended knees, though she still finds she sways a bit back and forth.

And none of it was fair, her cruel thought she repeated during one these episodes, none of it was and none of it ever will be.

Because he was supposed to be here, he was supposed to be greeting her at the door, the warmth of his voice better than any winter coat could have ever been, he was supposed to be gleaming over at her as he remarked on his day and she commented on hers, and smirking over at her as she more often than not confirmed nothing but victories at work.

He was supposed to be here.

But he wasn’t.

#heavy angst and depictions of grief #tw: grief #nace angst fanfic #nace established dating fic #nace #writing: winter's #winter’s follower milestone celebration #multi fandom crazy fan girl

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dranza · 4 years

Text

Race you

Draco x Reader

Getting a little closer to Draco. Its a slow burn!

Word count: 1804

Warnings: I dont think so, please let me know if you notice any.

“Hey y/n. Y/N?” A deep whisper calls at me from the desk behind.

I had come to the library in my study break to get away from all the noise and actually be able to concentrate on my charms essay. I had a whole week to do this but low and behold I was having to rush it in my final break before its due. Trust me to try and cram 3 pieces of homework into an hour and a half. I had already been distracted when I saw Draco walk into the library a little while ago. As he slowly walked through each aisle, browsing the books, a soft knot in his brows as he read through a few pages. He had me stuck in a daze. I was glad when he passed to sit behind me, out of sight, making me finally able to focus on trying to get this bloody essay finished.

“Y/L/N!” his whisper was more direct now, one sharp order for me to turn to him.

“What?” I shoot back at him, I can get rather irritable when I'm studying, but as my eyes catch him all my frustration leaves me.

Draco sits with three books open in front of him, one hand twirling a quill between his fingers and his head resting in the palm of the other. His grey eyes look up at me and he pouts. “What were the three water-related constellations Professor Sinistra pointed out in the last lesson?”

“Errr…” I give him a sorry look, I haven't even started to think of the astronomy homework yet.

“I’ve got Pisces and Eridanus but I can’t, for the life of me, remember the third.” He flips through the book closest to him in frustration.

“One minute…” I pull out the notes I had borrowed from Hermione and scan through to the constellation names. “Only Hermione is actually able to read her rushed scribbles. Errr, Cetuh? Cetus? ”

Draco sits up with this information and grabs at one of his books. “I swear I read through that. C-E-T-U-S?”

I nod in response.

With his fingers gripped tightly around the quill he hurriedly copies out a sentence from the book and dramatically bounces his hand off the parchment as he adds his final full stop. “Perfect. That's me done then.” He sets his quill into the ink and leans back in his chair. His long arms stretching up over his head for a few seconds and then releasing them with a loud sigh. “How much have you got left?”

“I just need to proofread my charms paper. Then I’ve got arithmancy and then astronomy, so not much!” I reply sarcastically and then throw my hands to my face letting out a frustrated, but quiet, squeal.

“I can help... if you want.”

I slowly let down my hands, eyeing the white haired boy, shocked that he would be willing to waste his break to help me. “Really?”

Draco chews at the inside of his mouth, “I mean, only if you want, it's just that I’ve already done it so.” A smirk begins to form on his lips. “Of course not suggesting that you wouldn’t be able to get it all done in the next 45 minutes. Look at you, you've clearly got it all organised and planned out.” With a nod of his chin he signals towards the messy piles of notes, parchment and books I have on my desk.

“Hey!” I giggle, “It's an organised mess ok.”

“That's exactly what I'm saying.” he stacks the books on his table into a neat pile and drags his chair to seat himself opposite me. Taking the parchment from my hand he slides a pot of ink towards me. “Here, I’ll finish reading this for you and you get started on the Arithmancy Worksheet.”

I smile at him as I accept the ink and flip open my Arithmancy book, scanning over the contents table.

Without taking his eyes away from the piece he is reading, Draco mumbles a quiet “46.”

I drag my finger to number 46 and there it is, the exact topic I need. “I knew that.” I whisper with a cheeky grin.

He lets out a deep, breathy chuckle, tilting his head to the side, “Ofcourse.”

I speed through the question sheet, looking up at the handsome boy in front of me now and again as he tries his best to be discreetly correcting some mistakes on the sheet he is reading.

I sit my parchment to dry and move onto the Astronomy worksheet. This is also something I should be able to speed through. Although the names can tend to escape me, constellations have always been so interesting to me, also I have Hermione’s notes so I can’t really go wrong.

Draco places the finished paper onto the desk and rests his elbows on top of it. “You know, for someone who stays up all night and leaves their work till the last minute, you sure as hell have managed to write a brilliant essay.” Sliding his chin over his fingers until he finds a comfortable spot to rest it, he smiles at me.

I lift a single brow at him. “Oh please… I saw you crossing out and adding stuff to it.”

“I didn’t say you were a good speller. Bloody hell, you were adding and taking away the wrong letters left, right and centre.”

I let out a hearty laugh and exaggerate on his point. “Yeah, I rarely manage to spell anything but my name right.”

“But what you’re actually saying is quite an interesting perspective. Contrary to what I’d heard, I believe you're not just a pretty face are you?”

I try and fail to stop the blood rushing to my face. “Thankyou Dray.”

“Dray?” he tilts his head, frowning but amused. “What, two syllables just too much work for you?”

I click my fingers and point at him jokingly. “Yes… also I think it suits you, it’s cute.” I shrug.

Draco shakes his head taking in a sharp breath, now it was his turn to try and hide a blush. Leaning over me, he reaches a book from his desk. From it he pulls out the book mark (a pressed stem of eucalyptus) and begins to read.

We sit in an easy silence while I finish the last few questions.

The both of us look up as Madam Pince walks up to our desks signaling to the clock. “Do you two not have a class to get to?”

“Shit.” I mutter under my breath as we begin clearing our things. We only had 5 minutes to get to the highest tower on the other side of the castle for astronomy class.

After promptly sliding all his stuff into his bag, Draco waits patiently for me to messily stuff my bag with the scraps of parchment, books and quills I had spread all over the desk. I look up at him as I finish and he holds his arm out, gesturing towards the door. “After you.”

We exit the library and I notice just how long Dracos legs are, his strides are probably double mine. “Ok, I know we're in a rush but my tiny, little legs cannot keep up with you.”

He looks back at me with a cool smirk and begins taking longer strides. “Not my problem y/l/n.”

“Hey!” I jog a few steps to catch up to him and playfully elbow his side.

He stops abruptly, looks me dead in the eyes and then caught in a laugh he shouts “RACE YOU!” He speeds away, catching his bag as it slips from his arm and throwing it over his shoulder.

“WHAT? NO!” It takes me a second to get over my initial shock and I race after him.

I keep my eyes fixed on his snowy hair and as we weave through the other students and I start catching up to him.

We run through the courtyard, me just a few steps behind him. “Come on slow coach!” he calls out to me as he spins to see how far behind I am. “Oh shut up Malfoy!” I retort, laughing as I skip over the legs of some 1st year girl laying on the grass.

As we turn into a hallway Harry and Ron are walking towards us. “What are…?” Harry begins to question but Draco cuts him off.

“Excuse me gents.” he blurts out as he shoots between the two Gryfindors.

“Eee. Sorry boys, see you in potions!” I follow his lead, leaving both of them confused.

We get to the end of the hallway and Draco turns to the left. “Uh-OH! You sure that's the way Dray?” I shout in his direction as I turn right.

He u-turns in the middle of the corridor and sprints after me. “You just got so lucky!”

“You've been in this school for how many years now?” I tease him, approaching the Astronomy Tower stairs.

“You cheeky git.” he cackles as I turn around to stick my tongue out.

Our breathless laughter echoes through the circled staircase, wrapping me in a blanket of joy. This is a moment that’ll get stored, not in my mind, but deep in my heart. I try my best to run through the pain forming in my thighs but Draco soon catches up to me. We get to the top of the stairs and I let my back fall into the wall. “Oh my goodness, I’m never running again in my life.”

Draco places one hand on the wall to steady himself and the other on his face, squeezing at his cheeks. “AAA HA HA!” he shouts, his voice husky from the rush “Stop laughing, my face hurts.” In that moment, he is a vision to behold. His broad chest rising and falling heavily as he catches his breath. His robe hanging off his shoulders, pulling back his shirt and the gaps between the buttons revealing flashes of his bare skin. The afternoon sun, golden over his face.

I snap back into reality as Hermione calls our names sternly from the classroom door.

“Coming.” I answer her and turn back to Draco who gives her a nod. “All that and we’re still late!”

“Still, not bad for your tiny, little legs.” he smiles down at me and shifts a strand of hair from my face.

“Pretty bad for your long legs though.” I let out a silly giggle. “I can’t believe I actually won.”

He frowns. “Pfft, you got lucky and it’s a draw.”

“Nope, I win!” I wink. He tries to protest but I press my finger to his lips, “Shhh.” as I step backwards into the classroom.

Hope you liked this, I loved writing it.

If you want more here is the masterlist!

#mine #draco malfoy #draco x reader #library love #slow burn #Harry potter #Tom felton #hes so handsome #i love him #secretly a soft boy #draco fanfic #draco imagine #the malfoys

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whumpingcrow · 3 years

Text

Ink Poisoning - Chapter 4

Snow Globe Effect

CW: bbu and everything in relation to that, brainwashing/training mention, drugs/alcohol (explicit) implied noncon/dubcon, creepy/intimate whumper, nightmares, PTSD mention, drunk driving mention, nsfw themes, unconscious whumpee mention, tattoo whump, food mention, party mention (let me know if I missed anything!)

Nicko got home late into the evening, when the streetlights were turning everything a ghostly burnt orange and the snow had slowly built up into soft looking little piles all around the yard and on top of cars and fence posts. The street, a few yards out from the house, was covered in a dirtier looking snow, but a car hadn’t driven past in hours so it was looking sort of brand new, now. The tree that stood in solitude at the edge of the grass looked dark and huge and frightening, and occasionally a heavy breeze would grab onto some of the branches and pull them to the side, and it looked like maybe it might yank the tree out of the ground, roots and all. Or at the very least break a branch off.

Giovanni had been sitting at the window keeping an eye on it, thinking foolishly that maybe as long as he was paying close attention, and sitting very still, the tree wouldn’t fall and crush the house or a car. If he turned away, he knew the tree would probably stay upright. It was old and strong and had probably weathered worse storms than this, it wasn’t going anywhere. But still, he was too anxious to really test that theory. So he kept watching, kept telling himself as long as you’re good and you sit still and you’re quiet and you wait and don’t move a god damn muscle the tree won’t fall. And Nicko will come home.

So he did just that. For hours and hours, from the time in the early evening, when Salem had asked if he wanted to sleep in Nicko’s room, and he had been let in with the door shut promptly behind him, until now. He didn’t try to sleep, never even got into the beanbag Nicko gave him, he was too nervous about Nicko coming home and being angry with him to rest. So instead he shuffled over to the window and sat in front of it on his knees, watching, waiting, making sure the tree didn’t fall. He was planning his apology as he did this, hoping that if he begged just right and his 'sorry's were good enough, Nicko might not punish him. But even as he did, part of him knew it was useless; Gio had done something bad and he had to be punished. No amount of apologies or pleading was going to undo what he’d done, and so it wouldn’t change the outcome. It never had before. So really, his apology was more of a hopeful half-idea than a script by the time he gave up.

And then Nicko got home.

Well, Nicko, with Rory on his arm. Gio was frozen everywhere but his hands, his fingers fiddling anxiously with the soft sweater Salem had given him, as he watched them stumble out of the car. Their breath was coming out in clouds as they laughed and spoke to each other. As they walked up the drive, Rory held tight on Nicko's waist and he kept his arm draped over her shoulders. But then, as they got closer to the house, Rory glanced up and saw Gio staring at them and she stopped both her and Nicko in their snowy tracks. After a second of staring at him, a second where Gio felt caught and exposed, she smiled brightly and pulled a hand away from Nicko to wave at him. She said something to Nicko, and he looked over too. Gio almost collapsed right onto the floor when Nicko smiled at him and waved, as well. He was only able to reply with a shaking palm pressed to the icy glass. When he pulled away, there was a hand-shaped outline of fog on the window.

They made their way up to the door then, and Gio realized in a panic that he didn’t know what to do. Did they want him to come meet them at the door? Or wait in the room? He should have ran outside as soon as he saw Nicko’s car turning into the driveway, why was he such an idiot?! Before he could decide where to go, the door was opening and he had only gotten as far as standing by the window. As they made their way into the room, Gio tried to begin his apology like he had planned.

“Nicko, I-”

“Were you waiting at the window for us all night?” Rory interrupted, approaching him with hands outstretched. “You’re such a precious little thing, come here.” She pulled him into a hug, swaying him where they stood. "Just like a little puppy dog. Good boy."

“B-but...I…I’m sorry-”

“C’mere, Gio,” Nicko said, voice gentle and...nice? “Got you a present.”

When Rory let go of him, Giovanni shuffled across the floor to Nicko, looking up at him with those huge, fearful eyes, and Nicko smiled at him. He always thought Gio looked cute like that, when he was just a little afraid. And right then he was especially fond of it, the few shots of tequila he’d had an hour or so ago made him see everything in a warm, soft hue, and if Rory weren’t right there watching he would have his hands on him already. Instead, he busied himself by taking a tiny bag out of his pocket and showing it to Gio.

“You ever done acid?” He asked. Giovanni shook his head side to side, gaze focused hard on the bag, on the tiny squares of paper in it. His eyes followed Nicko’s steady hands as he took one of them out, held it in between his index and his thumb. “Open your mouth.”

The instruction was familiar, and Giovanni felt his blood leave his face when he heard it. He obeyed reflexively, jaw going slack and mouth opening wide as he tried to take even breaths. This was his punishment, he realized, and then he felt sick because he hadn’t even been able to get a proper apology out. He wanted to close his eyes, hide the tiny puddles of tears forming in them and ease some of the fear that came with Nicko being so close, but that wasn’t a luxury he deserved. Gio was afraid, and he deserved to be afraid and Nicko should be well aware of how frightened he was by him. Fear meant loyalty, respect, even, and so Giovanni kept his eyes and mouth open, looking up at Nicko through tears.

Nicko wanted to kick Rory out of the room when Gio did that. He couldn’t help but think that both of them knew what was implied, when Gio was looking up at him with his tongue resting on his bottom lip and eyes fluttering just a little in fear. And on one hand, Nicko felt guilty because he knew that this was trained into Gio, that this wasn’t something he controlled, it was beaten into him until it became as natural as his heartbeat. However, his drunken mind couldn’t help but wonder what other things came naturally to him, what he would do if Nicko just said the words. He wondered if he’d be good at it.

Giovanni didn’t even flinch when Nicko reached out and placed the piece of paper on the tip of his tongue, but Nicko caught his cheeks flush pink when he dragged the tip of his finger over Gio’s tongue. “Ok. Close.” Gio didn’t obey quite so quickly this time, confusion draping over his face as he looked down at Nicko’s hand as it returned to his side. Then he blinked a few times to clear his head, pulling his tongue into his mouth and pressing his lips together. “Don’t swallow that yet, ‘kay? Let it sit for a while.”

Rory’s phone rang right then, and Giovanni jumped a little bit, turning to look at her. She giggled at him, at how he was scared of such a normal sound, before she answered.

Gio rolled the piece of paper on his tongue, slid it over the back of his teeth, looking at the floor. He couldn’t understand why he hadn’t been punished yet, why Nicko was looking at him with such a fond look behind his eyes, or why he was touching him with hands that couldn’t possibly harm him. At the thought, he turned back to Nicko and pressed the piece of paper under his tongue to speak. “Nicko, I’m re-really sorry-”

Then Rory was jumping off the bed, skipping over to Nicko with a smile on her face. “Gwen says rager tonight, let’s go?” She grabbed onto his shoulder with both of her hands as she asked him.

Nicko looked at her, then back at Gio with a small grin. “Think I’m gonna stay here and keep an eye on Gio. You can go, though.”

Rory groaned at him, tugging the sleeve of his dark jacket desperately. “It’s far, Nicky. I don’t wanna-”

“You can take my car, princess,” he said this while still gazing at Giovanni, drunken smile fixated on him. It took everything in Gio not to collapse to the ground at how weak it made him in the knees. “Keys are on the counter.”

Rory squealed joyfully, then planted a kiss on Nicko’s cheek as a thanks. She then began zipping around the room to collect the things she had begun setting down while Nicko was giving Gio the little paper. Her boots scuffed against the floor as she approached Gio, and he was surprised when she kissed him, too, on the cheekbone right under his eye.

“Have fun, boys,” she said over her shoulder as she left, “stay out of trouble.”

When the door was shut and the two of them were alone, Gio dropped his eyes downward, looking at his borrowed socks. His mind was racing, thinking of how it felt when Nicko’s hands were on him, and then how his skin tasted when he trailed his finger over Gio’s tongue, then he reminded himself not to swallow the foreign thing in his mouth that was bothering him to keep there, then he was thinking about how he needed to get this apology out, and right now would be the perfect time to start because it was silent but he also didn’t want to be the one to break that silence, didn’t know if he trusted his voice, his words, at that moment.

“How are you feeling, Gio?” Nicko asked him, stepping toward him as he spoke. Gio could see his boots in his line of vision now. He couldn’t convince himself to look up.

“Huh?” He breathed.

“You weren’t feeling well, earlier, ‘member? You passed out. Fell right out of the chair.” Nicko lifted one of his hands, bringing it up to Gio’s head and stroking his hair softly. “You didn’t hit your head, did you?”

Gio cringed, hard, nodding his head. “I didn’t me-mean to, Nicko. I’m-”

“Of course you didn’t mean to. No one means to pass out.”

Giovanni felt like he was choking on this apology, he couldn’t breathe right around it and no one would let him just get it out. Every time he started, it was shoved right back into his throat. He wanted to cry and scream and hit something. Instead, he looked up at Nicko and huffed.

“You can swallow that now,” Nicko said. He bit his lip, watching Gio’s throat as he forced the tab down. Then his eyes trailed down further, to the huge fleece sweater he was wearing, one he hadn’t seen in his own closet. In fact, he wasn’t wearing any of Nicko's clothes, and he frowned at him. “Where’d you get all these clothes?”

Gio winced at his suddenly harsh tone and angry frown, looking down at the clothes in question. “Uh...Salem let me borrow the-them.”

“Why?”

Nicko sounded seriously upset when he asked this, his voice indicating that Gio definitely wasn’t supposed to have taken Salem’s clothes. They were so soft and too warm and much too good for Giovanni, why would he ever accept these? Do you think you’re better than Nicko’s clothes? They not up to your standards? He flinched at the thought, knew the voice was not his own but one of the many trainers he’d gone through at the facility. Sometimes it frightened Gio so bad when he heard them so clearly in his head, when he was alone he cried over it. Gio forced himself to swallow around the lump of apologies forming in his throat along with the fear he’d been trying not to break down about the entire day. Or week. Or his entire life, really. Nicko took another step toward him and Gio looked up at him, biting back a sob with everything he had.

“I-I got...I got food on the...the ones you gave me. I’m s-sorry I didn’t-”

“I like you better in my clothes.”

And then Nicko was touching him again, his fingers grabbing gently at the collar of his shirt and tugging at it until Gio stumbled toward him. He took off the sweater quickly, throwing it to the ground. Giovanni allowed him to do it, but it wasn’t without a great deal of sadness. He would miss how it felt against his wounded skin, how it warmed his cheeks when he slipped the sleeves over his hands and covered his face. But he belonged to Nicko, and Nicko liked him better in his clothes, it made him happy. And so, Gio was happy.

Nicko stepped away from him and turned on his T.V., flicking through with his remote until soft music began playing. Giovanni stared at the lump of the sweater sadly for only a second, then turned to look at Nicko, who was now sitting on the bed with a small container, almost like the one Salem had used on his legs earlier.

Wordlessly, he pointed to the floor in between his legs, and Gio all but ran over to him and lowered himself onto his knees in front of him, looking at the thing in his hands with a wary frown.

“This is gonna make your tattoos heal nice and pretty. Give me your arm.” Nicko grabbed his wrist the same way he always did, with his fingers wrapped all the way around it, nice and snug. Gio thought it was because he didn’t want him to pull away when he was tattooing, as if Gio would ever dream of misbehaving in that way.

His heart sank when he remembered that he had done just that, that’s why he was in trouble in the first place, because he pulled away before he fell off the chair. He closed his eyes, turning his head away from Nicko in shame. But Nicko’s other hand was so gentle when he touched him again, rubbing white lotion into Gio’s skin, over his healing tattoos. Giovanni looked up in wonder, amazed that he’d been bad throughout the entire day and Nicko was still touching him so nicely.

The soft music continued to play as Nicko massaged the lotion onto his arm, and Gio was enthralled, watching his hand move over his skin, slow and soft and tender. Then he started on his other arm, this time he wasn’t grabbing his wrist quite so tight, and Giovanni leaned against his leg as he watched him. The longer he watched, the better he felt. Nicko was so perfect to him, treated him so well, and the music was so beautiful and everything was glowing and it took Gio’s breath away a little. With a pleased sigh he half didn’t even realize he let out, he rested his head on Nicko’s thigh, smiling at the warmth he could feel through his jeans.

Nicko giggled, slowing down just a little to draw the ritual out longer. “Feeling good, Gio?”

Giovanni laughed breathlessly, looking up at Nicko without lifting his head. “Yeah. I’m so happy, Nicko.”

This went on for a little longer, Gio kept himself close against Nicko’s leg as he worked his hands over all of his tattoos, over his shoulder and his collarbones and throat and a few places on his face. When he was done with that, he pushed Giovanni away from him gently and stood up. Gio’s eyes were hooded and lazy as they followed Nicko’s movements, and he took his bottom lip into his mouth to chew on it nervously.

“Get on the bed, gonna do your back.”

Gio pulled himself to his feet, swaying in a way that made Nicko amused. Then he crawled timidly onto the bed, sitting on his knees for a second and looking at the blanket under him in awe. He ran his fingertips over it, then his entire palm.

“Soft, huh?” Nicko prompted. Gio flinched, pulling his hand away like he’d been caught doing something heinous. “It’s ok, Gio. It’s even softer when you lay down. On your stomach.”

So Gio did, slid from his knees onto his chest and then his stomach, in a way that made Nicko have to step away for a moment. He reminded himself that he was drunk, and Gio was high, and Rory would be pissed if anything happened between them. When he turned back to the bed, Gio was grabbing fistfuls of the blanket, pressing his face into the sheets like it was the softest thing he’d ever felt.

Nicko climbed on top of him, straddling over his waist with the lotion in hand. At the sudden pressure added to the bed, Gio tried to push himself up onto his hands to turn and look at Nicko.

“No, lay down, Giovanni.” Nicko scolded, pressing him back onto the mattress with his palm in between his shoulder blades. Nicko could feel Gio take a shaking breath under his hand, and he held him firmly in place for a moment and smiled down at him. “You’re cute like that.”

Gio melted into the mattress at the words, going completely limp underneath Nicko. That’s when he pulled his hand away and began massaging lotion into his skin. This one was slightly more painful than the others, tender from being so fresh, and it took everything out of Gio to keep any evidence of the pain down to a small wince. Nicko went even slower on this one than the others, moving his fingertips over Gio’s bruised and scabbed over tattoo in long, purposeful strokes. Up his back, toward his shoulder, then back over to run down his spine, then over his ribs. Gio closed his eyes, trying to mute the pain as much as he could. When he did, he could feel one of Nicko’s hands leave his skin and replace itself into the mattress next to his arm, the hand that stayed behind stopped rubbing into his tattoo and instead grabbed at his hip gently. Then something else fell against his back, really low, right above the waistband of his pants. Nicko’s hair draped onto his skin as well, making him twitch just a little. The touch was feather soft and fleeting, and then another one pressed into him again, a little higher. Gio heard a sound that he usually only heard around Rory, when she kissed people playfully. Was Nicko kissing him?

“Ni...Nicko…?” He breathed. He wanted to open his eyes and turn to look at him, but it felt so nice he didn’t want it to stop, so he stayed perfectly still.

“Shh, darling.” Nicko’s voice was gruff and sort of not-Nicko when he said it, and Giovanni felt a familiar tug of anxiety in his lungs. But this was what he wanted, right? He liked Nicko, he always sort of hoped that Nicko would want to use him like this, didn’t he? So then, now that it was happening, why was he so afraid? He knew it would hurt, maybe that was it. Not that he didn’t deserve for it to hurt. But he couldn’t stop thinking about the last time, and the time before that, and all the other times where it felt like a fire inside of him and he wanted to suffocate instead of feeling it any longer and he felt nothing but white hot hatred for the person hurting him. He didn’t want to hate Nicko, he didn’t want to be hurt like that anymore.

“Nicko p-p-please!” He suddenly whined, voice watery and desperate. After the words left his mouth he gasped at himself, at how stupid it was that he was begging Nicko to stop when he was already in a world of trouble. Nicko leaned in closer, until his chest pressed against Gio’s back and his lips were against his ear.

“Please what, Gio?” He asked, grabbing his hip a little tighter and pulling Gio closer to him. “Hm? Please what?”

Gio pressed his face into the mattress, shaking his head, resolving himself to silence. Satisfied, Nicko righted himself for a moment, then he was pulling at Gio’s pants, and Gio couldn’t breathe through thick blankets and his own panic.

-----------------------------------------

It was early morning when Salem woke up to get ready for work, taking a shower when it was still dark out. He found his groggy mind thinking of nothing but dreading the snowy drive to the music shop, forgetting, in the moment, that Giovanni was something he should be thinking about. That is, until he turned the shower off and heard Nicko shouting something, followed by a tiny, broken voice. He tried to listen as closely as he could, but he could only hear the muffled voices. It was then, when he recognized the voice, he remembered Gio, and he began to throw his clothes on as quick as he could. Nicko’s voice got louder, and Salem struggled to pull his pants on since he hadn’t dried off fully. “Shit!” He muttered, skipping the button and zipper of his jeans so he could throw his shirt on. The front door slammed. “Shit!”

When Salem made it out to the living room, Giovanni was on his knees in the middle of the floor, hands covering his face and shoulders shaking with silent sobs. Salem would have been sad about the fact that he hadn’t kept his clothes on, was now wearing black basketball shorts and a huge black shirt with holes and tears all over it, but he didn’t have time for that.

“Are you ok?” Salem asked softly, but the way Gio jumped to his feet and turned toward him made it seem like he had shouted as loud as Nicko was moments ago.

“Oh, Salem,” Gio whined, as if he was relieved. He began playing with the bottom of the tee shirt, gasping softly in place of the sobs he was fighting down. “I...I was...Salem…”

He seemed to break down further with every word, dropping his head down and pressing his hands over his mouth tightly to stop any sounds from accidentally slipping out. “Hey, Gio,” Salem soothed him, stepping forward slowly and grabbing his shoulder with the tips of his fingers only, at first. “It’s alright, buddy. You’re ok.” Slowly, he pulled Gio closer until he collapsed entirely against his chest tiredly. Salem was quick to wrap his arms tight around him, holding him close as he trembled. Still, he somehow hadn’t let a single noise out. “You can cry, Giovanni. It’s ok, you can cry.”

Now, Gio froze completely, rigid in Salem’s arms. Salem waited for him to pull away, didn’t want to let go of him just yet. But then, he heard the tiniest, most heartbreaking whimper, then Gio gasped and melted back against Salem in a heap of even more heartbreaking sobs. Salem held him the entire time, allowing him to get his tears all over his work shirt, rubbing his shoulder to comfort him.

After a minute, Gio stopped abruptly and pulled away from Salem, wiping his face furiously and looking at Salem’s shirt with wide, horrified eyes. Before he could apologize, Salem shook his head. “It’s ok, I have more. What happened?”

“I...I was bad,” he explained. “I was scared of Nicko and he got angry.”

“Why were you scared of him?”

Gio shrugged, wiping his nose off with a sniff. “He gave me...uh...acid? And I thought he was someone else.”

Salem didn’t know what to say to that. Nicko was giving his boxy drugs? What was the point of getting him high and freaked out? He searched Gio’s face, saw how huge his pupils were, how he looked run ragged and frightened just standing there. Then he sighed softly. “Where did Nicko go just now?”

“To get Rory. Then work, he said.” He looked down at the floor, his fingers trembling. “He said I couldn’t come.”

“That’s ok, you can come with me.” Salem didn’t expect himself to say that, but it made sense. He couldn’t leave him here alone and tripping on acid, and there wasn’t anywhere else for him to go. “You’ll like the music store, I think. It’s pretty quiet, you can look at all the instruments.” Salem smiled at him to really sell his point.

“But...Won’t Nicko be angry if he comes back and I’m not here?”

Salem shook his head, but he was lying. Nicko would probably want to beat the shit out of him, but that didn’t matter. Salem wanted Gio to be safe and ok, and taking him to work was the only way to really ensure he was. “I’ll let him know. Don’t worry about it.”

Giovanni looked fretful as he thought it over, eyes darting around the room the entire time. Then, he nodded. “Ok…”

Salem smiled at him. “Great! Let me finish getting ready. Can you go get some shoes on?”

Gio followed him down the hallway until he got to Nicko’s room, where he ducked in to find shoes. He looked at the pile of clothes Nicko had taken off of him earlier, and then at the ripped up shirt he was in now. With a huff, he picked up the sweater and pulled it on over the shirt, remembering how cold he was in clothes like this the last time he went out. He would take it off and give it back to Salem before he saw Nicko, he decided, so he wouldn’t be in trouble. Then he went back out to wait in the living room for Salem.

Once he was ready, too, he walked into the living room and saw Gio standing next to the couch, wearing big huge boots that didn’t fit him, untied like he didn’t know how to tie them, and Salem’s sweater. He smiled brightly at him, walking up slowly. “Need help?” He asked softly, pointing at his shoes. Gio grinned and nodded, watching Salem kneel down to do the laces up. He made sure they were nice and tight, looking back up at Gio every now and then. “I’m gonna make some coffee before we go. You want any?”

“Uh…” Gio looked at Salem as he stood upright, and he looked like he wanted to say something but didn’t quite know how. Finally, he wrapped his arms around himself and blinked a few times. “Can I have…” He stopped short, shaking his head to himself. Salem stood patiently, watching him fight himself over whatever it was he was too afraid to admit he wanted in his head. Then, Gio looked up at him and his shoulders dropped a fraction as he relaxed. Salem felt a little pride in that, that Gio could relax in front of him. He tried again, “Can I have a hot chocolate? Please?”

Salem giggled, nodding approvingly at him. “Of course. Come on, I’ll show you how to make it so you can have it whenever you want.”

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criticizing-blogger · 3 years

Text

Fudge

Pairing: Dean x reader

Warning: cursing, gore

Word count: 3423

In a small, snowy town of Minnesota, a black Chevy impala drives into a motel parking lot and settles into an empty spot up front. Two men, brothers, stepped out. The driver was a shorter man with a crew cut style; his hair a straight, dark blond, matching his smooth forehead to his strong cheekbones and chiseled jawline. His eyes were hues of a forest, an earthy green that revives grass from the harsh winter. His stature is short, a brown shirt covered with a black and red flannel and that covered by a brown, leather jacket as his pants were blue going over his brown boots.

The passenger was tall, taller than his brother. His hair was shaggy brown and long, shoulder length to be exact but brought wonders to his features. The man’s eyes were the softest of brown, infused with a deep green as if he held a forest inside them. He wore a blue and white flannel with a grey, denim jacket. Pants were a light blue and like the other man, they, too, covered his dark brown boots.

The two looked at each other before walking into the motel. The bell on the entrance door jingled signaling the employees that customers were walking in. A plump, ederly woman who stood behind the check-in counter smiled and greeted them. “Welcome. Bed for one?”

“N-no...we’re not….we’re not together.” The taller man of the two stuttered.

“It’s okay sweetie. No need to be ashamed. We don’t judge here.” .

“Yeah, no need to be ashamed, honey.” The short man spoke as he spanked the taller man, grinning in amusement.

He gave his brother a look of annoyance. She gave them 2 sets of keys and he grabbed one before walking off.

“He's something, isn't he?” He winked and walked away with his key.

The brothers walk out of the building and towards their shared room. Walking in, the walls are a dark, plain green with brown wood trims and the flooring white carpet. By the door to the room was a mahogany desk with a small, black desk lamp on top, a painting of a forest hung above. A dresser, the same color as the desk, stood against the wall with a small green dining table and matching chairs beside it. Across the table on the other side of the room were two separate beds with an end table in between and a large lamp on top. On the far side of the room across the entryway stood a door to the small bathroom.

The bathroom, on the other hand, consists of a small, white sink on a grained counter top, the sink cabinet matching the dresser. A white toilet sat on the black and white tile floor, towels neatly folded on a silver rack above. And next to the toilet was an off colored white bathtub with a few unknowable light brown stains on the sides; white tiles stuck to the walls and a silver showerhead attached above. The bathroom walls are beige.

Dean slams the door shut and drops his bag onto the bed closest to the entry. He rummages through the bag grabbing out a black and white suit and a gun. Sam does the same before walking into the bathroom to change as his brother changes in the main room.

“Witnesses first?” Sam shouts.

“You can question witnesses,” Dean spoke, fully decked out in his suit as Sam was when he walked out of the bathroom. “I’ll check out the crime scene.”

Both men tuck their guns into the back of their pants and the fake FBI badges in their front suit jacket pockets. The same routine they do in almost every case. With their feet covered by white socks with black dress shoes, guns and badges ready, they headed out the door and to the first crime scene.

The small parking lot of the only hardware store in town, had attracted plenty of locals who stood behind yellow tape and two police officers at each end keeping them in line. Police cars and ambulances swarmed the outside, officers questioning witnesses all the while the EMTs checked for injuries. Despite the lot being small, Sam and Dean were able to maneuver around everyone. They found the sheriff talking to the owner of the store.

“Excuse us, sheriff.” Dean spoke causing the man to look up from his phone.

“Can I help you gentlemen?” he asked, putting his device away.

They pulled out their badges from their front pockets flipping them open. “I’m Agent Page and my partner here is Agent Young. Can we ask what happened here?”

The sheriff squints his eyes at the fake I.D.s and sighs. “According to crazy Doreen-” pointing a finger at an elderly lady with an annoyed officer watching her- “there were small men walking out of the store wearing bloody clothes and holding tools stolen from inside.”

“Mind if I check it out?” Dean asked. The sheriff gestured towards the store.

Sam stayed to talk to the man while Dean went inside to check out the scene. The first thing he noticed was splatters of blood over the walls and counter where the checkout counter is. He carefully leaned over the counter so as to not get blood on his suit or mess up evidence, his eyes roamed over the area to see a man dead, multiple stab wounds to the chest. He leaned back away from the counter to look over it. Smack dead in the middle of the blood splatter was a tiny handprint; as small as a child almost. Dean took out his cell and shot a picture and sent it to Sam.

Turning away he looked down at the floor for any further evidence. The blood hadn’t gone too far as most of it laid where the man is. Less clean up he supposed even though he knew it wasn’t the time to make jokes but does it anyways. Dean kept walking throughout the store. Nothing could be spotted on the floor. Even the shelves didn’t show signs of anything supernatural. They just looked ransacked.

But something shiny caught the man’s attention from the corner of his eye. A bell. A small, gold bell. He walks towards then bends down to pick the object up. As it sat between his thumb and index finger, he slowly inspected the object. What the hell, he thought. Unfortunately he couldn't think further as his ears picked up the sound of footsteps coming up from behind. Dean quickly stood and turned only to let out a sigh of relief. It was just his brother.

“What did you find?” Sam asked, noticing Dean a little tense.

Dean opened his palm and showed him the bell. Sam’s eyebrows furrowed in confusion. He picked it up to inspect it. As it is just a bell, nothing more. He pockets it and starts to tell Dean what the elderly lady had said. “According to Doreen, when she was walking past the store, she saw little men walking out with sets of tools covered in blood, the same for their clothes. Apparently they were wearing red and green striped pointed hats that contained bells on top, the shirt and pants matched and the shoes were pointed upwards on the end of them, also with bells on top.”

Dean looked at him like he didn’t believe any of the words that just came out of his mouth. And he doesn’t believe Sam. “So dwarves? You’re saying dwarves. Like Santa’s little elves.”

“I-uh, I mean, I guess,” he shrugs as he rubs the back of his neck realizing the elderly woman might actually be crazy just as the sheriff said.

Dean rolled his eyes. “Does any other witness say anything actually useful?”

Sam shook his head.

“So no one else saw elves? Not even Rudolph?” Dean sarcastically spoke, making it Sam’s turn to roll his eyes. “Come on, let's go.”

Dean sat in his car parked in front of a small house with the window rolled down talking, no, flirting to a woman while Sam sat inside a house talking to the family of the dead employee from the hardware store. The woman, Dean learned whose name is (y/n), was trying her hardest not to laugh at his failed attempt of flirting with her. Which, he was epically failing and miserably.

“Okay dude. Look, you’re cute and all but you are literally the walking cliche of James Dean. I’m not interested.” she spoke before walking off just as Sam was coming out of the house having heard everything and chuckling.

“That was awesome.” he states getting into the impala.

“Oh shut up,” spoke Dean, annoyed, as he started the car and drove off. “What did they say?”

“According to the mother, nobody told her and her husband that their son is dead. The sheriff said that the guy, whose name was Greg, died sometime around six this morning. And despite it being several hours later, they never got a call.”

“Anything useful?”

“She said that Greg had been seeing little men for about three days and shrugged it off as drinking too much. It seriously sounds like elves.”

“Yeah, no. There is no such thing as elves.” Dean spoke, obviously still not believing Sam.

“Do you remember the case with the girl that was in a coma and her dad was reading her fairy tales?” Sam asked.

“Yeah, so?”

“What if this is something similar except the whole disney sugar coating? Like how the mice were turning into servants and how Cinderella was being abused by her stepmother except this time it's elves.” Sam explains.

“Unless they’re dwarves from Lord of the Rings, I’m not buying it.”

. . . .

Seven in the morning rolled around when a bedside alarm goes off. A hand reaches out and slams the top of it shutting it off. Yawning, (y/n) pulls back the covers and swings her legs over the side of the bed and stretches. She gets up and walks out of the bedroom and into the bathroom to do her business. When finished, she walked back into her room changing into some black leggings with a red sweater and white socks. After changing she walked downstairs putting on her black boots lined with white fur and a dark red double lapel jacket. She grabbed her purse and keys and headed out the door.

The weather outside was freezing causing her to slightly shiver. The ground is covered with pure white snow. Her boots leave small prints in the snow from the front door to her vehicle. She quickly gets into her car and lets it run for a few minutes before turning the heat on and leaving. She was used to the cold weather as she has lived in Minnesota for most of her life so the snow didn’t bother her.

The first place she headed for was the small cafe in town where she had breakfast almost every morning. The owner, Mrs. Smith has lived here for all her life and the cafe was passed down generation to generation. (Y/n) has known her since she moved here with her parents when she was younger. Mrs. Smith used to babysit her when her parents had to work. They were close and still are to this very day. The cafe has changed interior multiple times over the years as to keep up with modern times. But the outside has never changed.

By the time (y/n) has arrived and walked into the building, her usual breakfast consists of fried egg, bacon and cheese on a toasted bagel, a bowl of maple and brown sugar oatmeal with sliced bananas and black coffee, in her spot she claims as hers in the far corner of the building in the booth. It was her favorite spot as she could watch customers for inspiration for her writings.

While she ate and watched people come and go, two men in black suits came in, taking a seat a couple booths away from her. One of them, the same one she talked to, well, technically watched him fail at flirting with her yesterday, caught her eye. He puts on a charming smile fixing his jacket while he says something to the other guy, who seemed amused to see him fail again, and made his way over to the woman.

He sits across from her. “Morning.”

“Morning, Agent.” she smiles, leaning back into her seat, waiting to watch him fail for the second time.

“I think there’s something wrong with my eyes. I just can’t seem to take them off of you.”

She couldn’t help but snort while she took a sip of her hot coffee.

“Boy, that coffee looks hot. Just like,” Dean started before sheepishly saying, “hi.”

That caused her to raise her eyebrows. “Okay, now that was kind of adorable.”

Dean perked up. “So, did it work?”

She stood up, her breakfast finished. “Nope.” And with that, she walked out of the cafe with an amusing grin on her face. Dean’s mouth was open with shock. He’s never been rejected by a woman in years. Especially twice. He lets out a groan before closing his mouth and sitting at the same table Sam currently sat at. Sam was grinning letting out chuckles at his older brother’s failure.

“Oh shut up.” Dean told him as he grabbed a menu covering his red face of embarrassment while he looked for food. “So, what did you find from research last night?”

Sam who already knew what he wanted to eat pulled out his laptop from his computer bag and placed it in front of him. “According to Wikipedia, in Germanic mythology, a dwarf is a human-shaped, usually bearde, entity that dwells in mountains and in the earth and is variously associated with wisdom, smithing, mining, and crafting. But in this case, it's around Christmas time so instead of it being dwarves, we could be dealing with elves.”

Dean deadpanned and looked at the man across from him. “Please for the love of Chuck, you’re joking.”

Sam shook his head.

“I thought elves were supposed to be nice. Not all murdery.”

Sam shrugs. “I think at this point from all the shit we thought wasn’t possible, this goes along with it.”

“But why would elves start killing people and taking hammers and shovels and whatever else?” Dean spoke confused as hell.

The only thing Sam could come up with is, well, he couldn’t come up with anything as they never went through something even remotely close to this. They didn’t have much to go on since they only talked to very few people and saw one crime scene. He already knew this odd case was gonna take more than a few days unlike most of the ones they have been on.

“Sam sighed. “I don’t know. We need to look at the other scenes and see what happened there. Like the one lumber yard.”

Before Dean could say anything, a waitress came up and asked them if they were ready to eat. Dean ordered a large, meaty breakfast, something likely to give you a heart attack if you ate enough of it while Sam got something small and healthy so he could keep his physique up. She wrote it all down, eyes widening when Dean spoke what he wanted and giving Sam a flirty smile as she took the meus from his hand, letting their fingers touch before letting them know she’ll be back with coffee and walks away with an extra sway of her hips. Dean watched her backside as she walked away till he couldn’t no more. He looked at his brother eyebrows raising up and down and smirking at him. “She’s hot.”

He just ignored Dean’s behavior as he was used to it.

“Dude! You should go for her.” Dean states.

“No thanks.”

“Oh come on, you need to get laid. That’s probably why you’re so tense all the time.”

Sam looked at his brother with annoyance and rolled his eyes. “Last I checked, saving lives is more important than getting some.”

“If you won’t have her, I will,” Dean grins. “What happened at the lumber yard?”

Sam pulled up the local newspaper, called Morning News written on top in huge black letters, on his laptop. Everything that had happened over the last several days here covered a good part of the first page. On the left column showed rebuilding the bridge that connects the two surrounding towns as it was falling apart and unsafe to drive on. It didn’t give an estimate of how much it would cost to demolish it, which Sam knew was gonna be expensive, but to build another was gonna be much, much more.

On the right column was a ten-year-old boy being awarded for selling the most chocolate in time for the holidays. He won a two hundred and fifty dollar gift card and got to leave school to go to any restaurant for lunch. He remembers middle school used to do that but he was never able to because of his father, John Winchester. He would’ve liked to do normal activities growing up, and still does, but with the line of work they do, he can only do so many normal things every other human gets to do. Otherwise, nothing of importance.

And on the bottom of the page showed the weather for the next seven, cold and snowy. No sun or warmth which of course is normal with it being winter. Before Sam could get off topic in his thoughts, he read the column of the murders until it told him to turn to page nine. The whole entire page, he notices, was covered about the murders of two men but three crime scenes. Sam didn’t bother reading the few paragraphs of the scene at the hardware store. Next, it showed what may have happened at the lumber yard which apparently happened first before the hardware store as the man who chopped wood there was found with an axe in the back of his head.

“So it says here a man, Finn Huckle, was found at three am two days hunched over the tree stump. His legs hacked and an axe stuck in the back of his head as his body laid over the tree stump he was using to shop wood. It looked like a regular murder accoring to the police until they saw Finn holding a pointy hat in his hand. It looked like he tried fighting back because he had skin under his nails. But when the lab tested it, the skin didn’t belong to anybody. Like whoever, or whatever, did this, doesn’t exist. However, at the last scene, at a children's park, in the sand box was a large, gaping hole with what they know is snow, surrounding the area.”

Dean took everything his brother said in. This was definitely something they haven’t dealt with, even heard of. But Sam says he thinks its elves seem to be making more sense, oddly to him, the more they learn what's happening in town. But why elves? Weren’t they supposed to be nice and make presents for good boys and girls? This case seems to be getting odder and odder.

“Say it is elves, did they lose their mojo or something? Maybe they ran out of alcohol. I’d be all grumpy if I ran out of alcohol and had to deal with shit ton of kids.” Dean spoke gruffly.

Sam suddenly perked up, an idea as to why, if it is elves, acting dangerous. “What if they were hit with some potion making them angry?”

Dean furrowed his eyebrows as he thought. Okay, maybe it is Santa’s little helpers, or logically, it's not. This is definitely something new. Before they can confirm what they think, they would need to see the hole at the park. His thoughts were interrupted with the pretty waitress bringing their food. She gave Sam his first, again, giving him a flirty smile then gave the other man his food, looking at him. Dean winked at her as he gave her his world famous smile he uses on all the ladies causing her to scoff and roll her eyes before walking off. Sam laughed at Dean’s flabbergasted look on his face. “Rejected by two women in one day. Got to be a new record.”

Dean rolled his eyes and flipped Sam off before digging into his food, annoyed.

___________________________________________________

DEAN X READER TAGS:

@akshi8278

#oneshot #dean winchester #supernatural #dean #imagine #supernatural one shot #dean x reader #supernatural imagine #dean winchester x reader #supernatural fluff

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honestlywrites · 4 years

Text

Grass Fields | (Sith!Obi-Wan Kenobi x Reader)

Chapter One of Golden Hour

Summary: You recall your life with Obi-Wan, Ben, and how growing up with the Jedi made him the man that he is.

Masterlist

Your first memory of him was when you were a small child. Running through the tall green grasses and laughing with no worries. Stewjon was a small planet with little to offer but the rich agriculture that grew, providing the beautiful fields that live in your memories. You and Ben would sit deep in the woods across from each other as the two of you explored your newfound powers that could make objects move. With the help of the Force, you would collect pinecones off of the high branches that loomed above, shielding the golden rays of the sun. Birds would sing brilliantly and you would run after them, following the sound of the small creatures that created beautiful songs. All day, the two of you would play until the sun would begin to set over the mountains that sat on the horizon. Yes, nothing did ever happen on Stewjon.

In the evening, your mother would call you for supper and you would hug Ben as tightly as possible, exclaiming how much you would miss him. Ever the gentleman, the young boy would kiss your cheek and bid you goodbye, leaving you with the memory of his cerulean eyes.

One day, they would match the color of his first lightsaber.

After supper, you would stay by your window, waiting for Ben to come back and talk to you about the many fishes that his family caught in the streams by his house. He would tell you about the creatures feasting on the small nuts in the trees and could weave beautiful stories with his incredible diction. Your conversations would last until the candle lights would burn out and your mother would grow tired of your chatter, forcing Ben to leave his place by your window. While you always knew you would see him the next day, you would never realize how much you took your time together for granted. It was not long before the Jedi came.

On a cloudy day, one so unusual for such a bright and sunny planet, a Jedi starship came down from the heavens and landed in the middle of the grassy field, crushing the plant life underneath. You and Ben watched from the edge of the forest, eager to see such a foreign entity enter the planet. Out came two Jedi, soon to be known as Master Yoda and Master Qui-Gon. These two men would speak to your parents in hushed whispers before turning to greet the two of you.

“Obi-Wan, step forward,” Qui-Gon speaks softly, crouching down to meet Ben face to face. You frowned at the usage of his real name, the use of formalities sitting uncomfortably in your mind.

“Have something to say, do you, youngling?” Master Yoda asks and you look up, a deep frown settled into your forehead.

“His name is Ben!” you shout, and run up to your friend, pulling him away from the two foreign men. How right you were for not trusting the Jedi to correctly teach him. They built him up, forcing the two of you apart only to leave him to the dark side.

Your mother reprimands you, smiling politely at the two men.

“I apologize, the two of them are very close,” she mutters and moves to stand by you, fondly smoothing down your messy head of hair.

“Strong in the force they are,” Master Yoda muses and turns to his compatriot. “Come with us, they must.”

“I agree with my master, these two younglings are far too powerful to not be taken to Coruscant where we can teach them how to use their abilities for good,” Qui-Gon smiles down at the two of you and before you know it, the cabin you grew up in grows smaller as you travel up into the depths of space for the first time. You would never see those lush grasses again, caressing you and reminding you of the simplicity of childhood.

On the ship ride to Coruscant, you would not leave Ben’s side Your eyes were shut and you were frozen in your place, too afraid to look outside into the darkness. Your hand held his so tightly, the pressure of the bag on your back comforting you as the only tie to your home. It holds only a few items, no toys or trinkets inside. There was no trace of your childhood and no trace of your family.

Coruscant was large in the eyes of a small child. It still is, now that you are grown, but the whole city appeared like a maze even as you landed in the docking bay of the Jedi temple. There, you were whisked away to dormitories. When they forced you to separate from Ben, you did not let him go without a fight and he would not leave you alone with the others. The temple guards had to pull you from him, screaming. Maybe this should have been the first sign. When you entered your room for the first time, you would not come out. No persuasion from any Jedi could get you to leave before they gave in and got Ben to convince you. You were a child ripped from your home, of course you would not trust them. When your best friend appeared in front of your door, dressed in the clothing of the Jedi, it convinced you to change and join him at the mess hall with all the other younglings. The two of you sat alone, secluded and scared of making new friends. Your first day of training would help with this.

Over the many years when you trained as a youngling, your attachment to Obi-Wan began to lessen. You found other friends and were growing into a strong woman who would take on the world, not as a child, but as a Jedi. This did not stop the two of you from eating dinner together every night. Your love for him never waivered either.

In the cool city nights with the sounds of ships filling the air, the two of you would walk the temple, telling each other stories of the day. Discussing the history of the Jedi as protectors and the vast cultures that the galaxy held. Every night, he would walk you to your room and bid you goodnight with a simple kiss on your cheek. It was your secret, hidden from the others. You would find ways to show your affections and while you knew little of romance, the bond between you was obvious. Hiding in the empty halls and talking to each other, fantasizing about what color lightsaber you wished for, these were the practices of two younglings who fell in love with each other long before they understood what love was.

As years passed, the time soon came to put together your lightsaber and finally become a padawan learner. You were beckoned to the docking bay and found Master Qui-Gon waiting for you and Obi-Wan. Luckily, it was just the two of you. Boarding the ship was easy enough but once you were strapped in and taking off into the void of space, your childhood fears began to eat away at your stability. The shaking of the ship and the clanging of the metal filled your senses, your hand reaching out to take Obi-Wan’s out of sheer panic. He chuckles softly at the action but does not stop you, even squeezing your hand to provide comfort whenever the ship would jolt. In the cockpit, Qui-Gon notices your shared affections but does nothing to stop it. The moment was private and while he should break them apart to prepare them for the heartbreak of becoming a true Jedi, he too was questioning his practices as a Jedi Knight.

Landing on Ilum was a welcomed feeling as you pulled on a thick woollen coat and stepped down onto the far reaches of this snowy planet. Stepping into the caverns, you stare in awe at the glory of the sacred place, watching as Master Yoda allows the sun inside to melt the ice. Once the ice melted and the natural timer of the planet’s rotation started, you took off into the caves alongside Obi-Wan. Together, the two of you searched through the icy depths, looking for any sign of the specialized crystals. As the time is eaten up, the two of you find yourself at a crossroads.

“We have to split up,” Obi-Wan states, turning to you with worried eyes.

“Okay,” you mutter, looking into the dark depths. “Be safe.”

“You too,” he sighs and turns to look at the tunnel running alongside yours. “Come find me afterwards.”

The two of you take off down your own respective corridors, finding nothing but endless tunnels of ice and crystal. You wander the cave, admiring the beauty of the light that refracts off the different surfaces. As you find yourself going deeper and deeper into the cavern, the light quickly fades and darkness consumes you. Fear engulfs you in a blanket, trapping you inside your mind. The deep pounding of your heart is the only sound that fills your ears, leaving you to your own thoughts. You are isolated from anything and anyone, longing for Obi-Wan’s presence so that he may comfort you. What if you are trapped in the cave for another rotation and are lost forever in the snowy depths? You may die in these caves without telling your friend how much you love him. Screaming Obi-Wan’s name, your voice echoes throughout the tunnels, unable to be heard so deep in the heart of the planet. Your chest rises and falls quickly and you begin to lose sense of direction. The panic consumes your mind for a moment before you reach deep inside to pull from the practices of your training.

Sitting on the ground, you quiet your mind and regulate your breathing, allowing yourself to remain calm. The ice is cool underneath your touch, grounding you in the moment and allowing your senses a moment to breathe and relax. Memories of your childhood fill your mind, taking you away from the cold planet to the warm environment of Stewjaw. It is then when a wall of ice falls beside you and you see Obi-Wan doing the same thing. In the path between the two of you sits two crystals, one yellow and one blue. You stand, staring down at the two sources of light, trying to decipher which one belongs to him and which one belongs to you. When you look up at your close friend, you stare deep into his blue eyes, finding the power hiding behind the ocean.

“Yours is blue,” you mutter, reaching down to take the blue crystal and hand it to him.

“How do you know?” he asks, holding the shard in between two of his fingers.

“Your eyes, they’re the same color,” you reach down to pick up yours, frowning at the unusual color. “Only Jedi Temple Guards have this color lightsaber. Does that mean I have to become one of them?”

Obi-Wan pockets his crystal, reaching down to take your hand in his.

“I don’t think so,” he muses and the two of you begin walking back to the entrance. “Besides, you feel too much to become a Jedi Temple Guard.”

And he was right, you did feel too much. The two of you made your lightsabers together on the ship, finding joy in the creation of an item that is so personal and would serve to protect you for the rest of your years. When you arrived back at the temple, an unwanted surprise was waiting for the two of you. Obi-Wan was quickly assigned to reckless Master Qui-Gon which was odd to you, seeing Obi-Wan go off with a master that was so different from him in all regards. Obi-Wan, while in love with you, followed the Jedi Code precisely, never straying from the rules. If anything, your personality was more suited for Qui-Gon, much more brash and loud. Yet, you were assigned to master Cin Drallig due to your unique lightsaber color. It was then when you were separated from your close friend indefinitely.

“I will train you in the ways of security and negotiation. It will best suit you and your lightsaber to follow this path,” Master Drallig sets off into the temple with you closely behind.

“And what of Obi-Wan?” you ask, looking back at your friend who stares back at you.

“Don’t worry about him, you are a padawan now. You need to act like one,” he states sternly, souring your mood. While Master Drallig appeared as emotionless as the guards he commanded, you quickly learn about the countless battle strategies and ways of negotiation under him. He teaches you how to choose your words and to duel swiftly, always analyzing your opponent. After years under his teachings, it was easy to form a small attachment to him, but nothing would be as powerful and strong as your love for Obi-Wan.

Throughout your time as a Padawan, you see Obi-Wan less and less. Isolation grows and you find more comfort in the walls of your small room, allowing you to grow as an individual. You focus on your studies, honing your skills and reeling in your reckless nature. One day you will take over the title of Battlemaster and Chief of Security in the absence of your master, it is your duty as a Jedi Sentinel.

After a year of not seeing your close friend, a sharp tug into an empty corner of a corridor has you reaching for your lightsaber. When you are met with the soft eyes of Obi-Wan, your arms instantly wrap around his neck to pull him close to you.

“Obi-Wan! I thought you were on Mandalore protecting the Duchess Satine!” you exclaim, pulling back to look over him, checking mindlessly for injuries or signs of wear.

“The threat was terminated so we got to return home earlier,” he states and you sigh, breathing in the simple smell of clean cotton and wood. It was the smell of him, the smell of home. Staring deep into his eyes, only then do you realize how close he is to you. The two of you breathe the same air and you can feel the soft puff of his exhale against your reddened cheeks. Your eyes break from his only to look down at his lips, it does not stop him from wrapping his arms around your waist and pulling your lips to his. His lips were soft and his entire being engulfed yours, his body against yours warming your entire being. After several moments, you pull away only to catch your breath. He stares down at you with a smile tugging at the edges of his lips.

“I’ve wanted to do that for so long,” he mumbles and you let out a small huff, touching your forehead to his.

“You should have done it earlier, Ben,” his old nickname rolls off your tongue and you smile, pressing a small peck to his lips once more.

“I know,” he breathes in deeply before pressing his lips to yours once again. You welcomed his presence with open arms, allowing your mind to be open to his. Your soul intertwines with his bright blue one, creating a bright green connection through the force. It was beautiful and pure, untainted by the light and dark side. The two of you simply existed together, in love.

Your first kiss was warm and secretive, hidden away in an alcove as a memory only shared between the two of you. This would be your first and last kiss with Obi-Wan before you lose him.

It was a normal day. The sun was shining down on Coruscant, lighting up the many metallic buildings in the city-planet that you called home. You wake up to the soft whirring of the ships gliding through the skies, unaware of the peril that Obi-Wan is in. Staring out the window longer than usual, you reminisce about his last visit. You miss his presence and ability to talk like children, your mind wondering how different your life would have been if you had been a simple civilian. If you had no idea of the force then maybe you would still be on Stewjon, farming up plots of land and worrying about the next harvest that would feed your family. If you had a family. With Ben.

The loud reverberations of the speeders that ride past your window break you out of your fantasies, reminding you that your life as a Jedi still remains and that your love for Obi-Wan is forbidden. After dressing for the day, you leave your chamber to meet with your master at the dining hall. You would never make it to the end of the corridor.

Your knees buckle under you as a scream of anguish fills your mind, the vision of Obi-Wan crying above his master playing like a hologram in your mind. Rage fills your lover, consuming him with hatred and sadness. You want to reach out to him, to hold him and tell him that everything will be alright. The event transpiring makes no sense to you, yet all your thoughts are consumed by your lover and his loss of Qui-Gon. Years ago you may not have expected it, but the bond between a master and a padawan is one that holds a special place in the hearts of all Jedi Knights. You feel for him, understanding the situation. Yet, through your fantastical ministrations, you fail to see the bright yellow eyes that shine under the hood of Obi-Wan’s robe.

When he stands, he utilizes the force to call his weapon to him, and you stare up at your lover, waiting to see what he does next. The lightsaber is activated and the blue light illuminates the room but as he holds it in his hand, you hear the screams he unleashes, focusing his emotions into the weapon. You watch the beautiful blue kyber crystal break apart into an untamed red, tainting the light. The crimson glow highlights his yellow eyes that stare directly at you before you faint onto the rug below.

Obi-Wan was gone and your chest had never felt so hollow.

Tag List: @batsdothings

#obi wan kenobi #sith!obi wan #ben kenobi #obi wan x reader #obi wan kenobi x reader #Anakin Skywalker #star wars #star wars fanfiction #star wars is the way #the phantom menace #The Clone Wars #attack of the clones #Revenge of the Sith

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punkandsnacks · 4 years

Text

Between Wolves & Doves, Chapter Four; Acquaintances.

Author: @punk-in-docs & @adamsnackdriver

Also on AO3-

Trigger Warnings: Nothing much to trigger in this chapter - just as the title suggests, a swooning moment or two perhaps-

Synopsis: Vampire!Kylo x OC love story. Inspired by BBC’s Dracula. Also inspired by Austen’s Pride & Prejudice.

He’s been stalking this earth long since civilizations can possibly fathom. Before records even began. He sneers at the fact that this pitiful young world has only just begun to see his reign of it.

He’s dined with moguls, emperors, princes. He’s consorted with bloodthirsty ruthless Queens in their courts, and whispered into the ears of powerful King’s, whose names still echo through millennia.

In his myriad of centuries gifted to his immortal self he’s been many many things. He’s been a lowly pauper. A crusading knight. An assassin. A sell sword. A soldier. A wanderer. A simpering suitor and a voracious unyielding lover. Aimlessly lost in time- besieging this earth. Ripping it apart and drinking what’s left.

He was made in the hinterland between snow and dirt and pine trees. Crusted with ash and blood and gouged from battle. Born anew. Sired from the hell-mouth of war. He was made in 789 AD.

He’ll come undone, one bitter winter night, in England, in 1816.

~ ~ 🥀 ~ ~

The sky remained hard. Resolutely letting snow sift from the thick great heavens, like icing sugar drifting down. The ground also continued to be frosty hard and scattered with patches of hidden silvery ice.

No sooner than the sun had risen over the tumbling flat frosty vista of Hampshire hills and frost crusted meadows, than Iris is up, and going about her daily chores all in the life of a gently bred - yet unwed- daughter, of fairly considerable means.

She takes food parcels to the poor. Calls on sick relatives or companions for tea. Pays calls. Fetched supplies for cook from the butchers or the grocers, or the fishmongers in town.

When one of the maids is ill, or is suffering a passing heartbreak until the next suitor comes along, Iris is the one to step into the void and fulfil their tasks. She collects the eggs from the chickens at the farm, or makes the ailing girl a hot milk posset or a cup of hot chocolate to cheer them.

It seemed like every other week their maids, Meg and Julia, seemed to go getting their hearts broken. Some farm hand. Or the boy from the butchers shop. The milliners son, or the strong handsome one who works in the drapers shop. As ever; Iris steps into the fray when - another - devastating crisis comes their way. She helps cook in the kitchen with supper. Or she helps out with idle cleaning around the house. Or see’s to the chores on the farm.

This morning is no different. Meg took to her bed with an ailing heart of the most acute kind. For the boy she fancies had become engaged to another girl. Iris brings her a cup of chocolate after breakfast and lends her a handkerchief and a shoulder so she can have a good long cry about it.

So household tasks fall onto her today. Fetching in what cook needed from market for supper. Even though she’d have liked to have spent a morning reading her book, or helping Julia get on top of the household washing. She’s wanted to take down the parlour curtains and give them a good scrub, for weeks now.

Or today she had ideally wanted to lend Flora and Posy a hand in drying some flowers, and french lavender and roses. For perfumes and bathing oils. They had to use their home grown stock from the gardens carefully. It was a long winter. And the convenience of summer blooms are far off yet. Dried flowers cost a pretty penny up the market.

Her duties are endless. She’s got calls to pay. Off to the butchers to buy sweet meats and game for the jugged hare cook is making tonight. She needs to buy beeswax candles and salt, and some more soaps.

And Posy and Flora are allowed to purchase two new ribbons each. They’ll walk into the village with her. No doubt nattering all the way there about what colours they want. And all the way back that they should’ve chosen different ones.

Iris steps outside in her wintry best and her cracked leather boots. Two pairs of wool stockings this time. Her navy blue wool pelisse over a thick white cotton dress. For good measure, she puts a bonnet on to keep her ears warm, and wraps a gold embroidered shawl around her shoulders.

Posy and Flora are trussed up as if they’re off to go personally meet the Prince Regent. Flora is in her gold pelisse with her pink dress under. And Posy had her powder blue coat over her mint green dress. They’re both wearing bonnets that they made up themselves. Their hats staggering under the weight of ribbons and cloth and trims and flounces.

Iris’s was far simpler - No fuss. No trims. A gold straw bonnet with grey ribbon tied under her chin.

Iris has to chide Posy, when they step out of doors, for forgetting to wear her gloves. She insists she hasn’t a decent pair and slips back into the house to go up to Iris’s room to conveniently borrow her grey rabbit fur lined gloves. Making her elder sister roll her eyes. The plot was clear.

They had a heavy basket each to carry. Some old granary loaves, soused herring, and some jars of Jam from their kitchens to go to the poor. They’re not even at the end of the drive and Flora is whinging about the weight of her basket. Iris heaves a sigh and grabs it off her.

She trudges behind them. Both arms carrying heavy baskets.

Her and Posy link arms, giggling, walking along merrily, animated and discussing last nights ball. Or, more accurately; making sport of the people who’d attended.

“Did you see that awful Lavender gown Jane Penwell had on?”

“I thought it suited her very ill indeed.”

“And did you hear about Lawrence Fisher? Apparently he’s now to be courting Lucy Miller.”

“I cannot stand her. Last night she was so boastful about the lace trim on her dress. She’s vile. And I haven’t had any new lace on my dress for over a year! Not since last summer. I’m sure she does it deliberately, just to vex me.”

“You are far prettier than Lucy Miller. She has ten million freckles and no conversation at all. She’s a pale ugly little thing.” Posy’s insisting fiercely to her younger sister.

Iris is amused by the sheer frailty of their worries.

“And besides, Mama said she had a letter from Mrs Thornby today, and apparently Lord Ren and Iris were the talk of the ball all night, last eve.” Flora says cheekily.

Turning over her shoulder to scrutinise her sister with a smug grin that flashes her straight little row of teeth.

Iris rolled her eyes. Strongly suspecting that as of now, her and Lord Ren would be gossiped about in front parlours for weeks. This was a sleepy country village with little amusement and not much variety to sustain it.

Mama’s and girls of the Ton would fall on the new shred of tittle-tattle like wolves.

“He left the ball last night without talking to any other girl, mama said.” Posy explains.

“The poor man probably didn’t have time enough to get through all the desperate Hampshire girls, eagerly throwing themselves at him to make an acquaintance.” Iris thinks aloud.

They walk up Westwell’s frosted drive and out onto the snowy lanes that cut through quaint countryside and woods.

The golden sun is in its early rising, striping ribbons of thick satin gold through the trees. The ruddy browns and ash greys and ochre coppery rusts of the Turner-esque English countryside. Of fields and hedgerows and treetops. The grass is no longer green. It’s a musty white. And that same cloying powder clings onto the dead taupe leaves and branches of every tree. The air is bitter to breathe in.

Iris takes a deep lungful of it, and its like a chest full of sharp pins. Needling at her lips and her neck. She should’ve thought to employ a wool scarf. As it is she can only tuck her shawl tighter around her shoulders. Tucking the heavy baskets into to dig deeper into her elbows. The frost numbs her feet, and sneaks up her skirts and snatched cruelly at her legs.

She clenched her numb fingers, scrunching and unscrunching them up in her much too thin gloves.

Posy and Flora continue their giggling and swapping tidbits of gossip about Lord Ren.

“You know he didn’t even dance with anyone!”

“A great sin, I’m sure. Punishable by death.” Iris thinks to herself under her breath.

“He probably didn’t have time-“ Posy remarks.

“Or he doesn’t know how.” Flora supposed.

“A man that lofty, of course he can dance. Maybe he prefers not too.”

“Maybe he has a false leg, or, or a war wound!”

Iris rather wishes her ears were purely ornamental by this point.

Give me a pair of vestigial ears anytime you wish. She idly prays. Turning her eyes skywards.

“Maybe he’s shy-“ Flora squeaks. Posy clasps her hand over her mouth and laughs so loudly it startles the chaffinches out the trees.

“I don’t think he can afford to blend into the wallpaper with a stature like that.” Flora grins.

“His shoulders were twice the width of me.” Posy says dreamily.

“Did he have soft lips Iris? For you must’ve felt them through your gloves... Were they heavenly?” Flora demands to know. Both sisters walking in step alongside her now.

She side eyes them. “That is not a proper thing to discuss. And well you know it Flora Jane Ashton.” Iris insists. Concealing her secrets to herself.

She wasn’t telling her sisters how her whole body burst into shivers popping and skipping up her spine. How his touch made her skin feel like it was dancing of its own accord. Free from her body. She shivered yet she was blushing hot.

His lips were the softest, sweetest things that had ever come into contact with her body.

Her whole arm felt dizzy afterwards. It wasn’t possible. But that’s how it felt. Hours after she was still rubbing the patch where his lips had lain on her satin gloves.

When she got home after the ball, she peeled her glove off and looked at her hand.

It still looked ordinary. Her skin wasn’t red or marked - but it felt like it should be. It felt as if something utterly astounding had happened to her.

The memory of his eyes gazing their arrow-striking glare into her own haunted her head all night long. Swam behind her closed eyelids in her sleep. Those opulent piercing eyes.

“We won’t tell a soul.” Posy promises

“Oh, look. Here is the Barton’s cottage. Flora pass me the ointment for Mr Barton.” Iris demands.

Seeing the little boxy cottage coming into view. Roof thick with iced thatch. Walls butter yellow. With fat pink sickly rose vines creeping up the walls. Iris sees the chimney is smoking. They must be home keeping warm on this frigid morning. Acrid woodsmoke from the house drifts across the woods.

They deliver the ointment into Mrs Barton’s hand. Along with some jam, a loaf, and pickled goods to see them through the wintry cold week. They were a frail elderly couple after all. And Iris likes helping people. She always had. Her mother always insisted she’d been cursed with an unshakable vein of kindness.

Which often meant as a child she was forever taking in birds wounded falling out their nests in the gardens. Leaving carrots out for the wild rabbits. Seeds for the birds. Feed for the little monk-jack deers. She shared all her dolls as a girl. Forever saw to caring for the people and creatures which surround her. She visits the infirm with medicine. Reads to the lonely old matrons who’d lost all the grandchildren of their own.

Now she’s grown that inclination hasn’t left her. She likes making sure none of the infirm elderly, or the more impoverished friends of her acquaintance suffer through the bitter cold climes. They never have to struggle alone. Iris is a balm to the hurting. She gives what she can. And is a friend to everyone kind enough to recognise it.

Before long, the trio of ladies dispense their generosity upon those who need it. Giving what sustenance and leftovers they can spare. It’s not much really- when all is said and done. But it’s helping in any little way possible. And that’s what matters.

They come eventually into Pembleton high street. The every busy and jagged row of higgledy Tudor houses. Separated by a lane of sticky brown mud where horses hooves and carts churn up the dirt. Carts and stalls line the streets. Modest shopfronts sell their wares. The air is full up of woodsmoke and the scent of roasting nuts from the brazier on the stand nearby.

Iris loses Posy and Flora very quickly to the haberdashers, where the ribbons hang from great silken trails in racks from the ceiling. Every colour Imaginable.

She sees them fussing over Belgian lace and leaves them be. She steps into the butchers for Cooks desired hare and sweet meats. She buys the candles, salt and the paper wrapped little cakes of soaps from Mr Milton’s shop next door.

She crosses the street to the grocers. Fills her basket with green leeks, onions, potatoes and carrots. She tucks everything in her basket, around the poor lamented hare with its fur still on, and covers it with a patterned linen cloth.

She has a shilling spare- she wanders over to Mr. Greeley. The proud proprietor of the roasted nuts stall. She buys a bag of warm, buttery sweet chestnuts.

Hides them from Posy and Flora. This was her one little indulgence for today. She sneaks one of the hot things onto her tongue and savours it.

She strides back up the line of shop windows. Looking and listening to the clack and bustle of the street behind her. Clopping hooves, rattling carts, ponies and traps clunking along the high street. Friends and acquaintances stopped to gossip and chat in the street. Young and old. Of every walk of life.

She looks in the drapers window. The reflection off the glass, showed her a watery image of a gaggle of matronly mamas stood behind her across the street, loudly gossiping in her direction. Pointing and gesturing toward her.

She rolls her eyes in huffing annoyance.

She wasn’t enjoying being the inconstant centre of attention. Open to such censure and fascination in odes to the Hearst’s ball last night.

Also in odes to the mysterious new stranger to these shores, too. The dark, dashing, and taciturn Lord Ren.

Every wet-behind-the-ears girl in all of Hampshire was busy envisioning their swirled initials joined with his in their embroidery. A big handsome stranger from far off lands. It was the precursor to the stuff of romance from drippy novels. A harbinger of a great love story.

Maybe not hers. Lord Ren may have kissed her hand and called her handsome. But so have countless other rich suitors, and then two months later them and their pretty blonde heiress of ten thousand pounds, are lavishly married and installed in a house in Brunswick square. She’s sure he’ll eventually find some far more moneyed girl to march into matrimony.

It won’t be her- not her turn to pick out her wedding clothes. It never is.

She lets the whispers and doubts about her, flourish from unimportant mouths.

She never cared for the savagery of society. She won’t start being missish about it all, now. It won’t serve her any purpose-

She can only hope the next scandal or engagement or elopement, or any other source of fascination to the bored inhabitants of this county, comes flooding in quick to snatch away all unhealthy - and rather undue - interest in her.

She waits outside the haberdashers for her pair of silly sisters. They eventually come out. Comparing their new ribbons with each other’s. Flora has a pink, Posy has some frothy white lace.

Posy hands Iris a teal silk ribbon. “For your hair. It would become you so well. And it will go with your eyes.” She insists.

Iris smiles. Wrapping the long length of satin around her grey glove. It was very pretty.

“Pray how did you afford this?” Iris narrows her eyes in smiling suspicion at the pair of them.

“I saved up my allowance.” Posy insists plainly. Iris continues her look. She tilts her chin down a notch. Let’s her eyes harden to steel. Arched her muddy shaped brows.

“...And the haberdasher’s son is so very obliging.” Flora beams. The younger Ashton’s giggle together knowingly.

Iris sighs again. Strongly suspecting she could safely boast that she had two of the silliest siblings in the entire country. Hell, in the entire British Empire.

“Let’s take our leave shall we...” Iris says. Slowly heading away. Down the street in the opposite direction they came. It took them home down on the woodland path.

She picks up her pristine white skirts and steps over the mud. Baskets heavy with her goods now thunking against her hip as they walk. One filled with meat. The other with candles and potatoes and other luxuries for supper.

Posy and Flora trail behind her. Discussing how best to use their ribbons. On bonnets or around the waistline of their favourite dresses. Iris drowns them out and listens to the crunch of her feet on the frost. The silver wisp of her breath as its whisked away up into the reach of the sky. She likes how sun glimmers off frost like sparkles and diamonds and gems. Like something fine and rich.

They just come across a curve in the lane. Leading through an open meadow full of frosted grass and withered wildflowers. When a thundering sound gallops into being, hitting the hard ground in succession from beyond the bend.

Iris looks up, attention captured swiftly by the beast of a large rider atop a colossal shimmering black horse, moving quick towards where they are walking along the quiet little lane. The peace shattered by the horses hooves pounding the earth.

A great hulking beast of a man sits astride it. Who indeed almost matches the brutally-enormous muscled intensity of the creature he rides.

Lord Ren.

Iris startled and went to move aside. But he sees them and is already slowing the horse. She draws a deep breath and watches as he tugs the reins to reel in his galloping mount. Reducing to a canter, a trot and then to a slow stop. Hooves churning up frost and spitting wet and crushed muddy grass, under its enormous stomping treads.

The sun in fiercely shining behind him. So Iris can only make out the silhouette at first. There’s no mistaking that singular body for another man. The primal size and bulk of him is unmistakable.

But then he shifts forwards on his horse as it stops. Lumbering towards them all. And that winter sun shines amber over his shoulder and she’s met with the full face of the handsome man she became acquainted with yesterday. His breath and that of his horses turn to silver smoke in the cold air

He passes the strops of its black reins into one gloved leather hand. His attire not much changed since yesterday. Still all black. The shining calf riding boots. The breeches that sit entirely too snug to the sturdy trunks of his legs and hips. The tailored black wool coat. White shirt tied with an elaborately knotted wine coloured cravat. Diamond pin studded central into the tie of the cloth.

His hair is free and rumpled by the wind. Desirable and untamed. Wild. He wears no top hat on his head like most gentlemen of civility did, when out riding.

Something about that lack of full dress she admires. Maybe he likes to feel the wind tangle his hair. The suns kiss his pale skin. The wind stinging at his cheeks. Likes galloping across the terrain at full speed on his mammoth sized beast of a horse.

“Good morning ladies.” He nods to them all. Still seated on his horse.

“Miss Ashton.” He smiles directly down at Iris as his horse shifts and stomps and nibbles the dewy wet grass below.

She ducks her head and curtseys. “Good morning. Your Lordship.” She says politely. Dwarfed by his horses shadow.

He holds her gaze for a second and smiles. Eyes more opulent charcoal in their shade than ever, this morning. He even had a kiss of pink colour in his cheeks. He looks healthy. Less alabaster pale. She strongly suspects its because of the icy wind stinging his cheeks as he rode.

He unlatched his right boot from the stirrup and smoothly swings himself off the horse. Grips the pommel at the front of the black saddle and swings himself down. Feet land to earth with a crunching thud. Frost and grass crushed underfoot.

His long wool riding coat flaps at his knees. Billowing open at his chest to show just his white shirt beneath it. Such thin layers. He must’ve been freezing.

“If I may be so bold, Miss Ashton, allow me to see you along to your intended destination?” He asks kindly. One big hand patting the solid flank of his horses shoulder when it huffs at his dismounting.

Iris’s cheeks go flaming red. She’s sure of it. Throat dry she manages to answer.

“Oh. Forgive my impertinence Lord Ren. But I don’t wish to take you out of your way. Only we are heading in the opposite direction to your path.”

“With your permission. I should like to walk with you. I’ve done a sufficient amount of riding for this morning.” He tells her.

Iris smiles. Flattered that he’d rearrange his ride, just to see her safely home. Just to walk with her for a moment or two.

Posy digs a sharp elbow into Flora’s ribs. Which jolts the youngest into speaking. “Iris. We were just going up the lane here to call on Charlotte Morris.”

Iris gazes pointedly at Flora with a piercing state that could’ve rivalled a dressmakers needle. “How remiss of you not to bring it up until now...” Iris glares a little.

“Should you mind?” Posy asks. Fluttering her lashes.

“Of course not.” Iris says flatly. “Mind the hour home and do for heavens sake be sensible.”

“We are the very vision of sensibility.” Flora beams.

Iris quirks a wry brow at the both of them. Teeth grit.

The two most transparent pests on the planet. Their plot was clear as day- One of sneaking away and leaving their elder sister unchaperoned and alone with him.

They turn away giggling and make for the little lane opposite. Gabbling and whispering all the way. Loud giggles follow them like fluttering birdsong.

When she turns back to Lord Ren he looks slightly amused. She blushes.

“I feel I ought offer an apology, your lordship. They are- most puerile and trying at times.” Iris offers as she shifts to step nearer to where he is.

He smiles gently. “They are young girls who fancy themselves cunning, I wager. No apology is necessary for that.” He declares affably. Patting his horses neck.

He brings the big horse around. Holding the gathered reins in his left hand. He leads his gigantic horse around with a click of his tongue and some soft words in urging Bavarian. The big creature follows his lead. She moves and alters the heavy baskets on her arms.

He sees this. Kylo frowns at the heavy weights at both her elbows. She shouldn’t be tasked with fetching and carrying like a damned pack horse. He extends a hand. “Allow me, Miss Ashton.”

“Oh, no it’s- I couldn’t.” By the time her protestations die on her lips. He has one basket in one hand, the other, he tied the handle to a saddle bag strap on his horse. Lays it rest against the saddle.

She’s mortified that a Lord offers to carry her basket for her.

“That’s truly a magnificent horse. I’ve never seen the like before.” She says. The steeds eyes glitter as if it knows it’s being discussed. “What’s his name?” She asks rummaging in her basket he holds. Hand slipped under the cloth.

“Erland.” Kylo says. The horses ears twitch.

“Erland. A majestic name. For a majestic beast.” She smiles at him.

She steps up to the horse and strokes her gloved hand down the flat bone between his eyes, leading down to his snout. Scents of hay and oats and animal sweat pour musky off his coat.

“He’s a lovely animal.” She says. Stroking his solid flank.

“Percheron. He’s a French draft horse. His breed originated in the Huisne valley in western France.” Lord Ren tells her.

“Bred for use as war horses, and pulling stagecoaches. This one has a fair mount of Arabian blood in him too. Makes him far too proud and headstrong.” He announces. Erland flicks his swishing tail at his owner. Snorting at him.

“I bought him with me from Bavaria. He’s the best riding horse I’ve had for a while. Stubborn temperament.” He offers. He watches her stroke his head. Touch the soft spot behind his ears.

“You like animals, Miss Ashton.” He states.

Most girls, as far as he’s aware, deigned horses as smelly, ugly creatures, whose only purpose was beneath them. Or to pull their carriages. She seemed to like this big equine creature very much.

“I do. Especially ones who are as beautiful as him.”

“Careful. Or else that flattery will shoot right to his ego.” He warns lightly.

She smiles.

Erland’s hairy velveteen muzzle cheekily nudges at her shoulder for more affection. He clearly likes her touch. Kylo tugs on his reins and frowns at him.

“Benehmen Sie sich.” Kylo rumbles in a firm Bavarian command at his horse. Calling him back. Telling him to be good. Rubbing his stocky shoulder. The round strong bones of him and the hot silk of his coat underneath his gloved palm.

She smiles. Lets the carrot she fetched from her basket, sit in the flat cradle of her gloved palm. She offers it to Erland, who snuffles it up and crunches on it. Breaking the frail vegetables skin with his big teeth. Munching it all down. Nuzzles her for more when he’s done.

He snorts when Kylo speaks up. “Anymore and you’ll get fat. You great beast.” He assures his horse in that soft foreign dialect. Shoving his snout into Miss Ashton’s hand for yet more treats. Erland’s head was so big and his power so strong, he could’ve very realistically knocked her over with one push.

She steps back and takes her place alongside a Lord Ren so they can continue in their walk. He’s a busy man. She doesn’t wish to hold him up. They fall into step easy. Her on Kylo’s left, Erland in his big lumbering enormity on Kylo’s right. His master has his right hand holding his stallions reins. The other easily carries her basket for her.

“Did you enjoy your introduction into Hampshire society, Your lordship?” Iris can’t help but ask him with mirth creeping into her voice and on her smile.

He turns his head to look at her. “The sheer amount of handsome and accomplished young ladies hereabouts is staggering.” He comments with dry humour. “I wonder if this isn’t the most accomplished county in all of England.” He states.

Iris finds herself smiling. Every desperate mother worth her salt last night would be crowing her daughters praise to high heaven. Enough to induce the possibility that her very accomplished, pretty and upstanding daughter might have a chance at landing him.

“Mothers can be so very domineering when the subject of marriage arises.” Iris promises. Looking down to step over a particularly frosty puddle.

Kylo looks across at her. Watches her profile. Along the curve of her nose and the swell of her smiling lips. It occurred to him then, that she didn’t know of her beauty. She was not aware of its potency. He could sense it; this was a girl who overlooked her own worth and highly underestimated her attractiveness.

With her pebble-ash eyes shining in the marigold sun like that, sparkling as if made of moonstone gems, and her rosy smile so unguarded and free. She didn’t see her beauty then. Not the way he could. Didn’t see it lay in the kiss of pink in her cheeks or the merriment of her face. On the geniality of her laugh and smiles.

“I know I shouldn’t comment on such things. But I do feel so dearly for every new suitor who comes to this village. Every Mama and every daughter must veritably drown poor men with their female offspring.”

Kylo raises one brow. “Rest assured. I’m not a man so inclined to favour polite safe conversation.” He promises her. He doesn’t tiptoe around propriety.

“And I will admit I lost count of the young ladies I was introduced too last eve. My ears were quite ringing with names and sickly smiles by the end of the evening.” He confesses.

She smiles wide again. Looks across. “I do sometimes wish that the people here could look beyond the scope of their own ignorance. To look beyond the defining goal of matrimony.” She confesses.

“Why should a woman’s worth be tied onto who she weds? Can she not be her own person and find a man to suit that.” She avows. Letting her stalwart brain run away with her rather passionate mouth.

“That’s very forward thinking of you.” Kylo says to her with a kind smile. Her face falls. She’s inspired insult with that comment.

She’s flushing with embarrassment.

“Mother would faint if she heard me confess that to you. Do forgive me, for the impertinence of my tongue.” She begs. Face wrinkling into a worried frown.

“You have a mind. Miss Ashton.” Kylo says. “It’s entitled to make itself known.”

“I’m a gently bred, unmarried, woman. And the eldest daughter, Lord Ren. My mind should be silent at all times. And possessed only, night and day, by thoughts and longing for matrimony.” She says. Quoting one of her mother’s rants.

“Well. You have my word. I’m most blessedly glad it’s not.” He says. Turning to look deep into her eyes.

She seems curiously confused. “You are?”

“Indeed.” He answers plainly.

“It means you are the one woman in this entire county with whom I can conduct a refreshing conversation. One that doesn’t revolve around reminding me again and again, that I’m a rich man who desperately needs a wife.” He offers.

“I’m glad to hear it.” Iris says laughing. “Not often I happen find someone on the same page as myself.”

“English men may find your so called ‘impertinence’ intolerable, Miss Ashton. For they were raised to know no better. But I am not a English man. Where I came from, it is applauded that a woman might speak her mind and have judgements and executions of her own.” He supplies.

“Our way of life here must seem so strange and strict to an outsider.” She dares. The defining pinnacle of English country society was its savage nature, after all.

“I don’t see much of the society in Bavaria.” He explains. “I see to the welfare of tenants on my land. I go hunting every season to pass the time. I’m afraid I rarely indulge in attending parties and balls.” He tells.

“A castle must be an incredible home.” She guesses.

“Even so- it can be very limiting being confined to it in the cold dark winters. Very little company. Little to entertain. I found myself wanting a change of scene. I had looked for some land opportunity’s to enclose in over here. When Hellford became available. It seemed a good opportunity to travel. Sink my teeth into a new venture.” He smarts. Eyes darkly roaming over her face with that handsome smile.

She nods. “I quite understand.” Erland clops alongside them in the misty morning sunshine. Snorting breaths silver and wispy still in the biting air.

“What are the winters like in Bavaria?” She enquires.

He smiles. “Beautiful. But bitter.” He explains. “The snow can be deep. As tall as me some days when it falls.” She smiles at his description.

“The castle stands out of a tall pine forest. A lake and a river to the east. One of the biggest woods in the country. Full of wolves, boars, and deer. It’s quite a wilderness in its own right.”

“Goodness- wolves. Isn’t that terribly dangerous?” She frets.

Not as much as me. He thinks. Matter of fact, when he steps foot in that forest, he is the most bloodthirsty dangerous animal in it.

“The beasts respect the boundary of my castle. I respect the forest is theirs. It’s a symbiotic relationship.” He tells her.

“Surrounded by wolves. You must feel very at home here too, then.” She jokes.

He laughs. “There’s something familiar I grant. Though the wolves back home don’t don lace caps and thrust all their daughters at me.”

She laughs at his remark. And suddenly, she goes spinning off course. Her worn boots slipping on a sneaky patch of frost and ice. No grip to their soles in this devilish cold. A yelp leaves her mouth as she skids. Blood flashing flushing hot and terrible suddenly. The shock of slipping stabbing at her stomach.

He acts quick. He lets go of Erland’s reins and steps that big form forwards and snatched one arm out to grab her. Slips back around her waist, cups the back of her hip, and yanks her tight to him to stop her falling.

She gasps and trembles as her vision spins, to be quickly halted by a sheer wall of cold, dark clad muscle. She barely registers where she is now.

Because she’s pressed right up into Lord Ren’s redoubtably firm chest. Her palms crushed flat on his lapels. His arm seizing her back and cupping her onto him to stop her slipping. She can feel under her coat how her breasts are crushed flat to him. Can feel his breathing heaving up and down, much like her own.

A shaky gasp leaves her mouth as she looks up, peering past the peak of her bonnet with flaming cheeks. Realising that they are slanted very close together. His face is right there, and he’s gazing down at her.

She’s in his arms. Buried into his chest. And it feels incredible. Such musculature and sheer masculine mass under her palms. Her head swims. He’s dizzying. Hypnotising.

Eyes as dark as burnt-ember molasses flecked with gold, and his lips look so invitingly pink ripe and soft- she curses at herself for that treacherous thought and her blush rises more. His wool coat and cologne nearly smacks her in the nose as she almost collided into his pectorals.

Kylo can hear her fluttering heartbeat. Like a racing preys pulse beating wild. Frail and fast, like a baby birds. A huge drift of her fragrance absolutely drowns him, pulls him under. Clary sage, French lavender and peppermint. Sweet and calming. Addictive. He wants to lean down and taste the salt of it off her neck...

It seems an eternity passes before he speaks.

“Are you hurt?” He asks. Making sure she didn’t turn one of her ankles. Or damage the bone

“T-Thankyou. I’m, I’m well.” She gasps. “I’m so sorry- I” She explains moving her hands down off his chest. He nearly swept her up off her feet. Now only her tiptoes brush the icy ground. The only part of her barely rooted to earth. Lost in those eyes.

Domineering, commanding, brutal, eyes. Eyes that had seen this world ten times over. But never gazed upon anything comparable to her-

Erland brings them both back down to earth. Snorting and fussing. Swishing his tail and nudging his nose at his masters shoulder.

Sense swims back through the fog of attraction and the heady bloom of lust. Kylo unleashes her back and her hip from his hold.

Quite liking the feel of her he accidentally - and literally - caught underneath her coat. The plump of her thighs and the shapely flesh of her hip and her bottom. There’s doubtless a figure to rival Venus herself, under this shapeless coat and thin dress. She slowly drags her hands off his chest and steps back. Avoiding the ice beneath her toes. Her gloves rasp on his fine wool coat.

“You fell. Miss Ashton. No need to be sorry for such a thing.” He tells her.

“You’ve a steady hand, Lord Ren.” She compliments. Thanking him further. He still held her basket in the arm that had not reached out to catch her. He looked as if he barely had to flex out an arm to catch her. Just twisted his body. His reflexes were sharp and cunning. As strong as he was.

He reached out and retook Erland’s reins.

They continue walking carefully along the little lane. For Westwell is just beyond the tree line now. It saddens her that she’ll be home soon.

Back to her daily chores. Back to scrubbing curtains, and helping cook roll pastry and mediating the silly shouting screeching arguments that Posy and Flora have over who gets to take turns to wear their favourite bonnet

She reflects how restoring it is to talk to someone so fully - without having to watch or guard her tongue. It’s even more enlightening to talk to someone such as him. Someone who, like her, feels like an outsider. Never fully fits in. And harbouring no desire too.

She feels her heart sink, morbid mournful and grey settling in her ribs, when they come to the meagre gateway along the short drive to Westwell. The twin stone pillars signifying the gateway were old and crusted with frosted moss.

Kylo calls Erland to halt. She pats the wonderful beasts strong shoulder in goodbye. He rubs the great velvet plain of black his forehead at her. Kylo untied her basket and handed it to her.

“I’d have no hesitation in seeing you to the door directly. But I fear your mother might see fault with our being left unchaperoned.” He disclosed. Giving her back the groaning full wicker basket with a clever grin.

She shivers when their hands brush. If she had any doubts in her attraction, that betraying little Judas of a tingle that thrashed her body, made her realise otherwise.

She likes him-

“Astute observation, your lordship. I Thankyou for your discretion.” She blushes. Hooking the baskets back on her arms. Adjusting the shawl where it had slipped down from her shoulders.

She looks down into her basket, and smiles. “A token of gratitude.” She explains before handing over the still warmed bag of chestnuts across to him.

He cradled them in his leather gloved hand. Appreciative of the gift. He rarely ate food. There wasn’t much need for it and it wasn’t the manna that’s sustained him. He had little joy in any human sustenance - apart from humans themselves.

When he did eat food, it was red meat that was still rare, juicy, and dripping blood. And he only drank sharp deep red wine.

He reaches over and took her hand. Once again dropping Erland’s reins. He took her dainty hand and brought it up and bows to kiss her palm.

He’s tired of satin and calfskin under his lips. He rather wanted to grasp a taste of her skin. Soon.

“Always a pleasure, Miss Ashton. I hope the experience of your company repeats itself shortly.” He compliments.

She smiles, apples of her cheeks creasing dimples with her widened smile. She nods politely and curtseys. “Your Lordship.” She curtseys gently. Bonnet tipping forwards. Criminally covering that beautiful face of hers.

She turns and he watches her walk up the pale lane to home. Sun striping through the trees onto her bleached linen white skirts. Bleached by sunshine. And softly scented of fresh cotton and French lavender.

Miss Ashton is made up of good intentions and possesses a giving heart as pure as gold. Pure. That’s his little dove all over-

He looks down in his hand and weighs the small bag of nuts she’d gifted him. He lifts it to his nose and inhales their scent. Buttery, sweet, burnt and acrid.

He tips his eyes back up to watch her. Thought creases up his brow. He’ll never know how it is to have such a virtue as a kind heart.

She was made up of honour and purity and softness. Doves feathers, lavender and rose petals. And he is made of cruelty. Of war and broken glass and shards of steel. He was made between ash and snow and a landscape soaking swimming festering in blood.

There’s no kindness in him. No mercy. Barely any love in him either.

He cares little for humans. After he was turned. That’s just how he became. They became meaningless specs of nothing to him. She has no idea what he is- who he is- he’s sent entire scores and countries of men shrieking to their deaths and writhing in agony into hell, cursing his name on their lips.

And here she was handing him this little harmless gift, like he wasn’t one of the most fearsome beasts put on this earth.

She’s not far away when she turns back - just as he’s about to mount Erland to ride back to Hellford Park once more. He tucks her meaningful present into his coat pocket.

“Erland... Is that a Bavarian name?” She turns and asks curiously. A kind frown on the lintels of her eyebrows. She tilts her head curiously. Her grey eyes glitter innocently off the sun like honey poured onto slate.

She’s so innocent. And it strikes him so deeply right then. How much he admires that.

He hoists himself into the saddle using the pommel. Feet slipping in the stirrups. Hips resting back onto the cantle behind him.

“It is a Norse name.” He calls to her. Erland is whinnying excitedly. Stomping his hooves to get out to the open fields and get his blood pumping. Kylo can feel the excitement shivering through his stocky legs.

“What does it mean?” She seeks.

“In old Nordic tongue, I believe it means ‘Outsider.’” He tells her.

She smiles. “Well. I trust you both know you have atleast one friend in this Hampshire county.” She smiles.

“Good day, Lord Ren.” She beams brightly. She turns away and she’s already missing the gaze of those melting cocoa eyes appraising her warmly.

Her skin still thrashes from the memory of his touch. All over her skin is alive with the memory of that strength of his. His chest under her hands she’s never felt the like- he was as cold and solid as marble. Some Greek god manifested out of carved stone and come to life.

He turns Erland back onto the snowy road. Clicks his tongue and urges him to run with a sharp dig of his shoe into his side. He feels the ice and the wind sting his skin for all the ride home.

He thinks about her parting gift and her touch against his body for the rest of the day - truly he does. It’s moved him.

He hasn’t been moved so much by another being in all of his years.

~ ~ 🥀 ~ ~

#kylo ren #kylo ren oc #vampire!kylo #vampire au #very wolves and doves #Iris vibes 🕊#Lord Ren vibes 🐺#Draegan vibes 🥀#vampirelovestory #vampire #demon #ao3 fanfic #lovestory #angst #slowest of slow burn #slow burn

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crystalgirl259 · 3 years

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Wolves Of Secrets Chapter 1

Chapter 1: Lone Wolf

Dark was the night as the full moon shined over the great city of Ninjago. The cold, misty wind whistled through the city as the citizens went about their own business, either going home to be with their families for the rest of the evening or to their evening jobs. The city of Ninjago was built on the sunny side of a gentle mountain and was truly a beautiful place. Its grace was only matched by the backdrop of lush, green forests which have helped shape the ancient city to what it was today.

The city had a very clear Japan, Tokyo feeling too it.

The city's skyline was growing with stylish skyscrapers and they each represented the many different aspects of the sizeable city. Businesses were booming in Ninjago and it had attracted a lot of attention. A few new cultures had left their mark not just on education, but also upon the city's identity. What historically was a city of predictability has grown into a new culture of variety and it's this that united the nearly 6 million people to this day.

It's this multicultural identity that had truly left its mark.

Hundreds of gastropubs, bakeries, and clubs offer a plethora of culinary choices. Those who felt hungry for something else could enjoy art galleries, musical activities, photography, or one of the many other recreational activities. Just outside the main city area, right on the edge of the dark forest, stood a large, lone house. In this house was a very special family. From the outside, this house looked cosy. It had been built many, many years ago with white bricks and had spruce wooden decorations.

Small, half-rounded windows added to the overall style of the house and had been added to the house in a fairly asymmetrical pattern.

The house was equipped with a large kitchen, two bathrooms, and three bedrooms. It also had a large living room, four bedrooms, a roomy dining room, a garage, and a large basement. The roof was high and slanted to one side and was covered with black ceramic tiles with a small chimney. Many smaller windows let in plenty of light to the rooms below the roof. The house itself was surrounded by quite a modest garden, with mostly grass, a few colourful flower patches, and a small shed at the other end of the garden.

Inside the house, a young teenage boy sat on the couch, eating popcorn and watching a movie.

This was Lloyd Garmadon. He had long, blonde tousled hair, and brown arched eyebrows with bright emerald green eyes that many people would state could sometimes glow in the dark. He wore a dark green jacket with a white t-shirt and black pants and black and dark green sneakers. As the clock was about to strike midnight, Lloyd was about to turn the boring movie off when suddenly with was a rustling sound outside. Fearing the worst, he quickly switched off the TV, grabbed his coat, and ran outside.

As soon as he stepped out into the cold night, however, instead of the rustling he had heard mere seconds before, all he could hear was an owl hooting nearby and the wind howling through the trees.

He was about to go back inside when all of a sudden he heard a loud crash from the other side of the house. He quickly ran towards the sound and was shocked by what he saw. He saw a full-grown, grey timber wolf sniffing around some turned over trash cans, snacking at the rancid chicken meat. He looked to the steel doors to the basement and was horrified to see another wolf attempting to jump out. As soon as the grey wolf sensed him, it slowing turned around to face the teen with a low growl, baring its sharp teeth.

Lloyd, however, was completely unfazed by this and he simply stood up straight.

"Get back inside!" He roared, startling the wolf for a second before it crouched down and started snarling louder. Instead of running away, however, Lloyd simply lowered onto his knees and bared his blunt teeth at the wolf. His emerald green eyes suddenly turned to a stunning gold that shined in the dark. The teen and the wolf snarled at each other as Lloyd slowly crawled forward, making the wolf back up. The grey wolf suddenly yelped as it fell back into the dark cellar.

Lloyd's eyes returned to their normal color as he stood up and looked into the dark pit.

Suddenly one of the wolves jumped up and bit into his thick coat's sleeve, ripping it off as the wolf fell back down. Not missing a beat, Lloyd quickly closed and locked the cellar doors, looking at the full moon as the wolves muffled howls sounding into the night...

****************

The next morning, as the rain came pouring down, Lloyd quickly got dressed and ran down to the cellar. He loudly slid the iron door open and stepped inside where he saw his mother Misako and his uncle Wu slowly getting to their feet as the finished getting dressed. His mother had ash grey hair braid into a ponytail with a snowy white streak and pale green eyes. She wore a pale khaki utility jacket with dark brown pants and a short, dark green scarf.

Wu was an elderly man with a long white beard.

He was wearing white robes and a conical straw hat. They both yawned and stretched as Lloyd glared daggers at them.

"I think that chicken was off." Misako gagged as she clutched her stomach.

"I can't believe you two." Lloyd glared Breaking out and raiding the bins."

"Oh, Lloyd!" She cried as she rushed forward and examined his arm. "I am so sorry! I didn't break the skin, did I?! Does it need stitches?!" She panicked, but he pulled his arm away from him.

"You always say how I have to stay hidden from humans and never give in to our wolves." He growled as they walked back upstairs to the kitchen. "Yet the moment you get a chance, you're out of the cellar and away!"

"You don't understand how powerful the pull of the full moon is," Wu explained. "When you're old enough to take wolf form-"

"I won't be a hypocrite, who says stay hidden and then breaks out at the first whiff of food!" He replied and turned to his mother with a slightly disgusted look. "And that chicken..."

"Actually, your mother's not the only one who's been eating things she shouldn't, is she?" Wu frowned as he opened the trash can to reveal the leftover popcorn.

"Yes, and you were still dressed when you came outside, young man." Smiled Misako when her son froze. "Didn't we agree in bed at 10 on school nights?"

"I'm going to miss the bus." He quickly said and ran for the front door. When he made to grab his coat, however, he let out a long sighed when he saw the missing sleeve...

****************

Lloyd blushed furiously as he kept his eyes on the school floor as the other students stared and laughed at his soaked clothes. He let out a small growl as he shivered; his mother owed him a new coat.

"Hey, Lloyd!" A voice called out and he looked up to see his friends Zane Jullien, Jay Walker, Kai Smith, Nya Smith, and Cole Brookstone stood by their lockers, waiting for him.

Jay reddish-brown curly hair with brown eyebrows and light freckles with dark blue eyes. He wore a blue jacket with a white stripe over a white t-shirt and blue pants with an orange wooly scarf.

Zane had platinum blonde, almost white, hair that stood up straight in something like a crew cut and bright icy blue eyes. He wore white pants and shoes with a long-sleeved, cyan blue shirt under a navy blue knitted vest.

Kai had tall, thick spiky brown hair, shaped like fire and bright amber eyes that shined like burning embers. He had a focused expression on his face, with a scar visible on his right eyebrow and bandage above his left. He wore a red half-zipped-up jacket over a white shirt with some kind of Japanese symbol on the back of the jacket and brown pants.

Nya was Kai's younger sister who had long black hair kept in a ponytail, pale pink lipstick, small dimples on her cheeks with dark brown eyes, and she had a beauty mark on her right cheek. She was wearing a leather jacket over a white shirt with blue stripes and dark blue torn jeans.

Cole had a very muscular body, being the strongest kid in the whole school, with long, shaggy black hair and bushy eyebrows with very dark green eyes that reminded Lloyd of cold emerald stones. He wore a black leather jacket and pants with a dark brown tank top and black heavy-duty boots.

Lloyd smiled as he walked over to them. They were the only people who could possibly understand the struggles he faced every day as a teenage werewolf; because so were they. Well... sort of anyway. Only he and Nya had yet to transform on a full moon, but they knew it could happen any month now and they were both nervous and excited.

"What happened to you?" Jay asked when they saw he was dripping water into the hallways.

"My coat got eaten by werewolves." He deadpanned.

"Don't you start too." Kai groaned.

"We've already had this from... Oh, Pixel!" Nya suddenly smiled as the said girl walked over to them. Pixel had pale, almost white, skin with wide lips and bright green eyes. Her hair was styled like Nya's and was a very light platinum blonde. She had a purple dress with red details and an opening in her left arm that showed a part of her chest, and red heels. Lloyd simply smiled and rolled his eyes. Pixel Borg was the only one in their friend group that wasn't a werewolf.

She was a very good friend to them, mostly to Zane, since childhood and it hurt them they couldn't share their secret with her.

"Did you hear last night in the forest?" She asked with a big smile on her face, but they all shrugged. "Howling." She replied and they froze as she pulled out her cell phone. "Here, look what I found on Carper's Lane this morning." She explained as she showed them a picture of a paw print in the mud. "I'm going to compare it to paw-print photos of different dogs."

"What, every type of dog?" Cole scoffed.

"This is proof." She insisted. "Proof that there's something weird over there in the forest."

"Pix, if your father found out that you snuck off into the forest in the middle of the night again he wouldn't be too pleased," Zane warned.

"If I can prove there is some kind of undiscovered creature in the forest then that alone would guarantee my scholarship into Horizon Academy."

"You know your father could pull some strings and get you in there no problem." Jay pointed out.

"I know, but I want to earn my spot and my father understands and respects that." She explained.

"Hey, Pixel!" One of the cheerleaders, Maggie, suddenly called out. "I saw something weird in the forest, you!"

"Haven't you got hair-curlers to play with or something?" Nya snapped before she and her friends quickly walked away.

"I really need to start my research, I'll catch up with you all later." Pixel smiled before she made a beeline for the library; as soon as she was out of sight, Nya suddenly grabbed the boys and shoved them into a nearby janitor's closet.

"Alright, who was it?" She glared.

"Wasn't me!" Jay exclaimed fearfully and the rest quickly denied it as well. Lloyd eyed each of them carefully. It could only have been Cole, Kai, or Zane; they were the only ones who spent the full moon on Zane's father's property deep in the forest. Since she couldn't transform yet Nya stayed in their apartment in the city and Jay spent it on her parents' junkyard on the other side of the city. The only problem was that Dr. Jullien's home was far from where Pixel said she found the paw prints.

He also knew the guys wouldn't go near the city, full moon or not.

"Maybe it wasn't one of us," Lloyd suggested. "My mom managed to get out the cellar last night and when I got them back in they started howling, and that paw print could have come from a normal dog."

"I suppose." She sighed when the bell suddenly rang; the group sighed as they made their way to their first classes. Lloyd quickly ran to his locker to get some of his textbooks when he suddenly caught the scent of something odd. It was a new scent, meaning whoever it belonged to was here very recently. He was about to follow the scent when he walked right into one of his teachers, Miss Koko. She had bright orange hair with amber eyes.

She wore orange lipstick and a pale brown suit.

"Lloyd, what are you doing? It's time for class." She ordered and Lloyd quickly scurried to his first class, making a mental note to investigate the scent later...

****************

As soon as Lloyd ran into the classroom he immediately took his seat next to Jay. This was one of the few classes he and all his friends had together. As soon as he took his seat a teacher he hadn't seen before walked in with a big smile on his face.

She had greying brown hair tied in a bun and a dark blue dress.

"Welcome aboard students! My name is Ms. Laudita and I'm your new Social Studies teacher," She smiled as a student stepped into the room. "Everyone! This is Morro Ren, he's new here so I hope you'll all make sure he feels welcome." She explained and Lloyd was suddenly hit with the same smell from before. He looked up and saw the new kid eyeing them all cautiously. Lloyd quickly looked to the others and saw they had realized the same thing as him.

Morro Ren possessed long jet black hair with a dark green streak dyed in it and dark brown eyes.

He was wearing a pale green shirt with torn brown pants and black boots. As he moved to take a seat at the back of the class, he and Lloyd glared each other down without a word. The class continued as normal until the bell rang and Morro all but ran out, Lloyd and the others following close behind. As soon as Morro stepped into an empty stairwell Kai and Cole blocked his path.

"What are you doing here?" Nya growled.

"What?" The new kid asked, confusion clear on his face. "I'm looking for-

"No, here! On our territory!" Jay exclaimed.

"Do you not know the rules?" Zane asked.

"You can't stay here." Kai huffed.

"If my mom and uncle get a sniff of you-"

"I don't even know you!" Morro snapped as he took deep breaths.

"Exactly!" Lloyd exclaimed in frustration.

"I don't care whose territory this is; I'm not sticking around anyway, and why would I in this dump?" He sarcastically asked. "No smelly brats tell me whether to stay or go." He stated before shoving passed Kai and Cole and running down the stairs...

****************

Later that day everyone was sat at their usual table in the cafeteria, enjoying their lunches. When Pixel and Dareth had joined them, Zane had explained what had happened with Morro when Pixel asked why they were all in a sour mood; leaving out some key details of course.

"We're not smelly!" Cole hissed angrily as he devoured a large slice of cake.

"Well, except for Jay." Kai shrugged absently, getting a hurt cry from the said boy and a kick from Nya.

"You did kind of start it." Pointed out Pixel.

"No, we didn't." Nya defended.

"Someone must know something about him or his family." Suggested Zane. "Seen moving vans, something." He added as a member of Kai's soccer team, Chad, walked over to their table.

"Hey, Kai, are you going to ask the new kid to try out?" He asked though it sounded more like an order.

"I don't think he's the right sort for the team." He replied, keeping his eyes on his food.

"Fine, I'll ask." Chad huffed and walked over to Morro's empty table.

"Wait." Cole gasped but it was too late.

"Relax guys, he won't bite." Pixel frowned at their behavior and the group shared nervous looks. They turned back to Chad and Morro when the new kid suddenly got up and right into a startled Chad's face.

"I don't like soccer and I don't want to hang around with you and your weirdo friend! You got that?!" He roared, sending a pointed look at Kai and everyone sat at the table.

"Obviously, they don't teach manners where he's from." Nya glared as Chad speed walked over to them on shaking legs.

"Next time, you need to approach the weird kid." He hissed to Kai as the cheerleaders suddenly pushed passed them and over to Morro's table, completely looking over the way he had just spoken to Chad. Before the new kid could escape, a blonde cheerleader named Harumi Jade took a seat next to him and practically curled around his arm, much to his disgust. Harumi had long white hair with long bangs fashioned in a bun with chopsticks.

She wore a green jacket with matching pants, a white shirt with red lotus flowers, and full lips painted red.

"Hey cutie, since you've only just got here the principle thought it would be a good idea for someone to show you around, and we know everything about this school; all the best clubs and people to hang out with." She explained as she flashed him a big smile.

"Those weird kids, who're they?" He asked as he pointed over to Lloyd's table, where they were still watching him.

"Oh, that's just Lloyd Garmaddon, Pixel Borg, Zane Jullien, Jay Walker, Kai Smith, Nya Smith, and Cole Brookstone." One of the cheerleaders happily said, only to cower away at Harumi's glare.

"Their families have lived here for centuries." She quickly dismissed. "Never leave the area, don't like strangers or questions."

"They're all cuckoo!" Another cheerleader added.

"What are we talking about them for? Let's talk about you." Harumi smiled as she leaned closer, only to gasp when Morro suddenly stood up, grabbed his bag, and stormed off, leaving a furious Harumi and a dumbfounded Lloyd behind...

****************

After an awkward lunch, with Harumi and Chad and their groups giving them the stink eye, Lloyd and the others finally had had enough and went to their lockers to get their stuff for their next class.

"Are you guys joining us on Miss Jinro's forest stakeout?" Zane asked hopefully.

"It's open to anyone but is part of the ninth grade syllabus so all freshmen have to go," Pixel added with a smile. The others just rolled their eyes and chuckled, only to stop when Cole suddenly froze right in front of them. They looked over the taller teen's shoulder and were irritated to see Morro looking through his own locker from something.

That wouldn't have been a problem if it wasn't for the fact that his locker was right next to theirs.

Before they could do anything, however, Chad and his gang pushed them and 'accidentally' knocked into Morro, causing him to drop his bag and pieces of vegetables to come flying out. To say he was still sore about what Morro did in the cafeteria was an understatement.

"I thought I smelled something funny," Chad smirked as his gang laughed. "Is that your snack, freak?"

"Piss off," Morro growled. Unfortunately, this only made Chad angrier as he marched over to the new kid and violently shoved him into the lockers.

"Got a problem?!" He challenged, failing to see the veins on Morro's hands darkening as he bared his teeth. Before anyone could even blink, Morro suddenly jumped up, almost as high as the lockers, and pounced on the bully, sending them both to the ground. Feeling their stomachs dropping, Lloyd and his friends didn't miss a beat as they ran to stop the fight before any serious damage was done.

Kai and Cole managed to rip a snarling Morro off Chad while Pixel and Jay checked on the jock to make sure he was uninjured.

Quickly, Nya and Lloyd pushed the new kid into an empty art classroom just as Miss. Koko burst through the crowd of onlookers.

"What on Earth is going on here?" She glared as Zane, Cole, and Kai leaned against the door to the classroom, and Jay and Pixel helped Chad to his feet. Meanwhile, in the classroom, Nya and Lloyd mirrored their friends leaning against the door as Morro curled up on the ground, gasping for breath.

"What are you doing?" He cried out between breaths. "Get out!"

"Just breathe." Lloyd tried to reassure but Morro started growling as he backed further away.

"You have to get out!" He screamed as the veins in his face and neck started turning dark and his brown eyes turning a stunning yellow. Realizing it was too late now, Morro slowly looked up at them with a defeated look in his eyes. "I'm so sorry." He whimpered before he erupted into growls. Nya and Lloyd could only watch as his body shrunk and rearranged itself.

His clothes fell off his body as his skin was replaced with thick dark brown fur.

His face stretched out into a muzzle as his blunt human teeth sharpened. Once it was over, Morro slowly stood back up, but instead of a human, a full-grown timber wolf looked back at them. He snarled at the two teenagers before he suddenly started running around the room and on the tables, knocking several art supplies onto the floor.

"Morro!" Nya shouted and the wolf jumped down and snarled at them again.

Slowly, both teens knelt down to the floor with their heads down; when they did raise their heads they revealed their own bright yellow eyes, causing the wolf to freeze. He stared at them for a few moments before relaxing and lying down on the floor. Unfortunately, things weren't going so well outside the classroom for the others.

"He's crazy!" Chad cried as he finished telling his side of the story to Koko.

"You started it!" Pixel exclaimed.

"And where is Morro?" She asked but everyone just shrugged and looked around, still leaning against the door. "I'll catch up with him later; you two, follow me." She sighed as she led Pixel, Chad, and his group away. The friends waited until the crowd of students finally disappeared before they quickly ran into the classroom; only to find a human Morro putting his shirt on as Nya and Lloyd picked up all the items he had knocked over.

"I knew there was something about you guys." Morro smiled like a child on Christmas Day. "It's true, isn't it? You're all like me!"

"We're not like you!" Cole quickly said, a look of rage on his face, causing Morro's smile to drop.

"Yeah, we don't show off and pick fights and invades other packs' territory." Kai hissed.

"You're a danger to us all and the sooner you leave, the better," Nya added when all of a sudden the door to the classroom opened and one of the teachers walked in, only to freeze when he saw the state of the classroom.

"What happened here?" The teacher asked in shock. Morro simply huffed in annoyance as he pushed passed the stunned teacher and stormed down the hall and out of sight. They just let him go. Lloyd wanted to chase after him but he knew the others were right; Morro didn't belong here...

****************

After school, the gang went to their favorite hangout, the Yin & Yang Bistro, to gather their thoughts. They would have gone to Wu's tea shop, Steep Wisdom, but they didn't want Lloyd's uncle to listen in on their conversation. Alas, instead of a quiet place for them to discuss what they had witnessed as they had hoped, the gang had to watch as Miss Jinro's forest stakeout class met at the cafe to prepare.

"Apologies, students." She sighed as the class started to get impatient. "We're waiting for the last few stragglers to show and then we go."

"Ya've got five more minutes unless yer buying somethin'" The cafe owner, Mr. Burke, grumbled from the counter.

"I still think we should tell someone, you know," Jay whispered.

"Yeah, let's tell Mom and Uncle Wu that a strange werewolf just showed up at our school and trashed a classroom after trying to attack a student." Lloyd laughed bitterly.

"To be fair who hasn't wanted to kick Chad's ass." Kai snicked, only to yelp when his sister kicked him under the table.

"This isn't a joke Kai." She hissed as Pixel and Zane walked over to them.

"Are you coming to the forest walk too?" Zane kindly asked.

"Pass," Cole said as the rest scrambled for excuses. Just when they thought their day couldn't get any worse, however, Harumi and her army of cheerleaders suddenly walked in and scanned the room.

"Hey, Burke, has Morro been here?" She asked sweetly.

"Who?"

"He's this tall and dreamy and he beat the crap out of Chad."

"Ah, the Dobsons' new foster kid." Burke laughed and the gang paled.

"M-Morro's in foster care?" Zane asked.

"Yeah, must have been a bad boy ta get moved all tha way up here for a fresh start."

"He's an orphan?" Cole gasped as a look of shame on his face, hard with the others.

"Most foster children have parents somewhere." Pixel stated. "He was probably moved up by Social Services so he to get away from them." She added and Lloyd's stomach dropped in horror. Morro was probably all alone in the world, stuck in a strange place, with no-one to turn to; trying to make it in the world all alone and he and when he does meet another one of his own kind they reject him. Before anyone could say another word, Lloyd, Cole, Jay, and Kai ran out of the bistro, leaving everyone in a stunned and confused silence...

****************

The four teenage boys spent the better part of half an hour tracking the new kid all over the entire city until they followed his scent to the forest at the edge of the city. The giant forest was tremendous, gloomy, and lush. Its canopy was ruled by willow, oak, walnut, and cottonwood, who let through enough dancing beams of sunshine for a hodgepodge of sprouts to rule the insect riddled soils below. Many people were too scared to enter.

Only nature lovers, hikers, and the occasional dog walker ever went in the forest.

Coiling branches clung to many a tree, and a potpourri of flowers, which desperately tried to avoid the shadows, spruced up the otherwise homogeneous scenery. A mixture of beastly sounds, most belonged to foraging animals, added life to the forest, and were out of sync with the sound of the wind blowing gently through the forest. Many normal humans had gotten lost in the dense green world, but Lloyd and the others knew this place like the back of their hands.

They decided to split up, hoping to cover more ground.

Jay and Lloyd went to search closer to the road while Cole and Kai went deeper into the forest. As they walked along the empty road, Lloyd suddenly grabbed his friend's arm and pointed further up the road where they saw Morro Ren walking along the edge of the road, his head down. They knew must have smelled or heard them, so he was simply ignoring them.

"Morro!" Lloyd shouted as they ran to catch up to him.

"Don't worry, I'm out of here." He growled, still looking at his feet as he picked up the pace.

"Please don't! We're sorry, don't go, we can help you." Jay pleaded.

"Help?" He scoffed. "I've had help; counseling and other stupid shit."

"You need to learn to control your wolf self before someone gets hurt... probably you," Lloyd explained, only for them both to jump when Morro suddenly turned around and glared daggers at them

"You're just like the rest of them!" He snarled.

"We know about the Dobsons," Jay replied in a trembling voice. "We know you're alone."

"So?"

"We're like you, you saw that." Lloyd tried to reassure, only for the new kid to shove them away.

"You might like me, you think the same as them!" He snapped. "You're just trying to make me better; but, you know what? What I am, what I turn into, that is way better!" He roared with a big grin on his face. "It's better than anything I've ever known and I'm not letting anyone take that away from me!"

"We're not gonna let you do this," Lloyd warned.

"Go ahead, stop me!" He jeered with a cruel laugh. "Use your wolfy powers and see how long it takes for someone to find out what you are; because no one at school knows your little secret, do they?" He asked and they looked away, their thoughts drifting to Pixel for a brief second. "I thought not; I've got nothing to lose here, unlike you." He smirked before taking off into the forest at full speed.

"Hey!" Jay cried as they chased after him.

"Stop!" Lloyd called as he disappeared into the trees. If they hadn't been werewolves Lloyd and Jay might have lost him, if not for their incredible sense of smell, or Morro's cheap cologne. They quickly tracked him down and before the smug kid could even blink he was tackled by them both. They all cried out and grunted as they rolled down the hill and crashed into the dirt trail. After they managed to untangle themselves, Lloyd was shocked to see Pixel and Zane standing in the middle of the trail with Miss Jinro's forest stakeout class.

Seconds later Kai and Cole came running over the hill and into the awkward tension.

"Sorry, we're late, everyone." Kai weakly chuckled. "Seen any squirrels yet?"

"No, you lot have scared off every animal for miles." Miss Jinro glared before turning to the group of students. "I'm sorry, everyone, we'll have to come back another day." She sighed as they walked away, leaving the gang, Pixel, and Morro alone. As soon as the teacher and class were gone, Pixel glared and advanced towards the group of boys.

"Well done, guys! This was something important to me and Zane." She snapped.

"There's something important we have to do." Cole tried to explain.

"Like what?"

"Morro is more important than any club." Lloyd glared. "The thing is... Morro and I... are related?" He quickly lied, shocking everyone. "Distant cousins; he's the black sheep of the family, and I didn't want him here, so I treated him badly, which is why he lashed out and trashed the classroom."

"We don't have to be best friends, but Morro's here now," Zane added.

"OK." Jay smiled.

"Sure." Pixel sighed.

"Welcome to Ninjago." Cole smiled as he gave the new kid a firm handshake.

"You really don't like soccer?" Kai suddenly asked. Everyone stared at him for a few seconds before they all burst out laughing, Morro included...

****************

Later that evening, as the sun was starting to set, casting it's beautiful orange and shadows among the forest, instead of going home with Zane and Pixel, Lloyd and the others stayed in the forest to have a talk with Morro. There were things they needed to sort out.

"So... where you from?" Kai asked.

"My parents used to live in Stiix; they... they died when I was two," Morro mumbled, his eyes fixed at the rustling branches of the trees.

"And nobody knows what you are?" Cole asked in shock and awe when he shook his head.

"So, what did you do for the full moon last night?" Jay asked.

"I couldn't stay in my bedroom, could I?" He scoffed. "I climbed out of my window and made for the forests."

"So it was your paw-print that Pixel found!" Lloyd gasped; none of them would have been nieve enough walk so close to the city in wolf form.

"Was it your first full moon change?" Asked Cole sympathetically, knowing how scared he was for his first full moon transformation.

"Second." He replied. "The first got me kicked out of my last foster home."

"What happened?" Jay asked.

"Don't know." He shrugged. "I went to bed and woke up in a ditch naked; turns out I trashed my bedroom, so they kicked me out." He mumbled before clearing his throat and straightening up. "Anyway, what about you? I mean, full moons must be epic out here."

"Yeah, they're pretty cool." Cole shrugged.

"Well, I and Nya haven't started transforming yet." Lloyd sighed.

"So, I know more about this stuff than you do?" He laughed.

"Yeah, you're the expert." Kai laughed. "That's why you lost it with Chad in front of half the school."

"I didn't know that could happen." Morro glared. "I only thought werewolves went hairy at the full moon."

"We feel the urge to change when we feel threatened or angry too," Jay explained. "Learn to control it, and you can transform whenever you want."

"How do you know all this stuff?"

"Our parents tell us." Kai shrugged and Morro's eyes grew to the size of saucers.

"You have parents like us?" He cried.

"Well, sort of." Lloyd winced and turned the others, who all gave their nods of approval. "I live with my Mom and uncle who are like us, Kai lives his sister and his parents are werewolves too but they're usually out of town on business, Cole lives with his dad but Lou's human, Zane lives with his dad who's one of us and Jay lives with his parents, but they're both humans."

"I'm adopted but they know what I am and they don't care." Jay quickly added when he saw Morro's confused look.

"We were all born this way, you're normal." Lloyd smiled. "Everything you thought made you a freak: sight, hearing, speed, sense of smell, they're all completely normal for a werewolf; if you stay you'd have a pack, at last, people to teach you."

"So, say I did stick around, only for a bit, no promises." He quickly said when he saw the hopeful looks on their faces. "No rules, no lectures, you can keep your group hugs and your big, furry family, I'll do things my way."

"A lone wolf, huh?" Kai smirked. "I think you and I are gonna get on great."

"Next time you lose control over your wolf self, what happens then?" Cole asked.

"Well, that'll be an interesting day, won't it?" Morro smirked as he got up and walked away. Lloyd and the others shared a nervous look, worrying about what the new day would bring...

#ninjago #ninjago fanfiction #ninjago kai #ninjago nya #ninjago lloyd #ninjago zane #ninjago cole #ninjago morro #sensei wu #werewolves

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writing-the-end · 4 years

Text

WS Chapter 54: Call to Arms

Previous Chapter

Masterpost

It’s finally here! Months of waiting on the minesona event, and we finally get to see more characters join the fight! Don’t see your minesona here? Don’t fear! With so many cool minsonas, i had to make more chapters to meet them all. If your character isn’t here, they’ll be in the next chapter!

I hope I characterized your sonas well enough!

Ecto belongs to @cooler-cactus-block

Red belongs to @theguardiansofredland

Storm belongs to @stormjay0

Kai belongs to @the-cheshirefox

Abyss belongs to @abyssvoidsstuffs

“If the numbers you report are true, we aren’t going to be enough.” Xisuma’s voice echoes through Red’s mind. “Even with the best engineers, we can’t hold back this many enemies.”

“We’ll need to search our world, then. People willing to defend what they love. To stand with us.” Avon’s suggestions are what sent the wanderers scattering. What led Red to where she is now. Flying over sharp mountain peaks in search of life. More than just a village, more than just a witch hut. Someone that will be willing to stand by the wanderers, no matter how weird them or their hermit friends are. And there’s one person that Red has met previous to her travels with Ecto and Avon.

He looks at the map, old and still a bit soggy. It was strange visiting the ocean monument to grab what the visitor had given him so long ago. The illness has only taken more lives, and Red couldn’t face staying any longer than grabbing this map. He rubs a finger along the red X on the colorful parchment, before sighing and looking up. Into the tall spires surrounding him. How is he supposed to find one person among all this to climb?

Lucky for Red, he doesn’t have to climb, when the person he’s looking for can fly. A shadow passes over him, blocking out the sun with a feathered darkness. Ominous black wings spread open as the stranger lands, flight feathers cresting outward like spears against the empty air. A dark grey cloak sweeps back, an iron sword glinting in the midday sun. Red steps back, realizing he probably should’ve brought something to protect himself. Or at least an invisibility potion to hide with. All he can do is hold onto the statue, hold onto Fred like it’s his only shield.

But when emerald eyes turn and meet with Red’s, the menacing and mysterious stature eases into fluffy wings and warm smiles. “Red!”

Red squeaks, purple scarred arms bringing him into a tight hug. But he welcomes the warmth, smiling to see a friendly face. “Hey, Storm. Has that poisonous potato stopped bothering you yet?”

“Gah, I don’t know how you beat me. What are you doing out here?” Storm lets go of Red, sheathing her sword and tucking grey and purple hair behind an ear.

The kipling looks around, searching for signs of trouble. Charred ground, abandoned nether portals, any sign that a hellspawn could be nearby. “I’m actually looking for you. Has… has anything odd happened to you lately? Strange things?”

Storm’s confident attitude falters a bit. “No...why?” She leans closer to Red. “You look like you’ve been through some things. Here, I have some food.”

Red takes the treat with a nod. “Things have gotten weird, Storm. I’ve seen a lot these past few months. Made new friends, and unfortunately some enemies as well.”

“You have enemies?” Storm chuckles. She wasn’t sure Red could have such a thing. “I’ve been lots of places, maybe I know your new friends. Who are they?”

“Ah...do you know Ecto? Tall, short brown hair and a passion for prickly plants?” Storm shakes her head. “Well that’s one. The other is Avon, she’s got big wings-”

“I’ve heard stories of someone called that. They weren’t exactly the kindest of tales, but I of all people should know to take people’s words with a grain of salt.” Storm runs her fingers over the purple marks that mar her arms. From what she’s heard, Avon is a protector, been through a tough childhood much like Storm. That automatically earns respect from her.

Red hears the sound of a pig in the distance, making him nearly leap out of his skin. He bites his lip, turning back to Storm. “Do you think we could take this to your base?”

_____________________________________________________________

The dark shadows of the deep forest engulf Ecto, and every noise of the trees around her sends the desert dweller jumping and reaching for her sword. It was just a stick. She leans back, running a hand through her hair and breathing free of the paranoia. “I can’t wait to get back to the others.”

Ecto pulls out a piece of cactus, crunching into the sweet and spiny skin and looking around the dark wood. Old oak, weathered and aged to a color beyond normal forests. White pillars exploding out into red or brown mushrooms, tall stalks of grass brushing in the wind.

Wait. Ecto looks up, watching her own hair stand still between her brows. That’s not wind. A flash of green disappears silently through the thick trunks, fluttering sideways and leaving the grass to sway back to their places. Ecto shoves her snack into her mouth, and takes off after the mysterious figure walking away.

Ecto was informed by a nearby village that a quiet figure was often seen lurking among the trees. Not just the pale faces of illagers that haunt the woodland mansion deeper within, armed with crossbows and axes and willing to cull at a second’s notice. Someone strange and different, like the wanderers are. Someone unique.

Someone they need to aid them. Ecto stumbles over a root, and vaults across a fallen log. “Hey! Wait!”

Ecto isn’t making up distance chasing after them like this. A spot of sunlight catches her attention, a gap in the thick canopy over her. And before Ecto can think of the ramifications of her idea, she clambers up the oak tree and into the leaves above. She spots movement below and ahead of her, and takes off sprinting. This time on the roof of the forest, over the thick shrubbery and tangled wood. Gaining on the stranger.

Her highway brings her just above the figure, short brown hair bobbing over pointed ears. An elf. “Can you...can you like stop for a second? I just want to-”

Ecto feels the leaves and branches beneath her disappear, her last footstep immediately pushing off. Giving her enough air time to grab the tall pole and balance her weight atop it. A small home in the clearing is just beneath Ecto, tucked in the canopy like a bat in a cave. The front door slams closed, blinds shuttering. Ecto keeps a firm hold of the pole with one hand, even wrapping her scarf around her waist to the dark wood and pressing her foot against the tall fencepost, dangling her other limbs off it. She growls, noticing the defensive nature of the person she was following. “This can’t be the right person. I’m out of here.”

She slips down the flagpole, feet planting into the dark grass. Ecto takes a step forward, yanked back as she remembers the knot of her orange scarf. A string of curses escape her lips. And under her muttering curses, she hears the creaking sound of a door opening. “What are you looking for?”

“My friends and I need help. We need people who can aid us in a battle.” Ecto frees herself from the knot, smoothing out her outfit.

“An adventure?” The girl rushes out of her home, putting herself between Ecto and the forest. She pulls out her axe, the enchanted diamond twirling in her hand. “You actually found the right person. I’m Kai, and I can help you…”

Ecto takes Kai’s outstretched hand, shaking it with excitement. Thank the stars, she finally found someone. Days of walking, suddenly alone, without her friends or anywhere she’s as comfortable with as the desert. “Great! My friends and I need brave souls who want to protect their home. You see, there’s an army within the nether about to invade the overworld and they totally want to destroy everything. It’s a big army and we need brave people who want to protect their homes like my friends and I do.”

Kai blinks, quite alarmed by the speed of information sent towards her. But her mind is quick to untangle all the words. “I was expecting at least a name in there.”

Ecto feels the need to hit herself on the head. She forgot about that… or does it even matter to her? “I’m Ecto. So you’re really going to join us?”

The elf before Ecto rests the axe on her shoulder, a fire in her eyes. Determination blazing bright in the setting sunlight. “You can bet I’m going to protect my home, protect this forest.”

“Speaking of…” Ecto looks around, spinning in a slow circle. Looking around at the dark oaks that loom in the twilight. “How do we get out of here?”

Kai laughs, nodding her head in the eastern direction. “Follow me.”

______________________________________________________________

Avon looks up, watching a snowflake fall in a lazy dance from the clouds above her. It’s hard to believe this is the same stuff that destroyed Ecto’s home. It looks so peaceful here in this snowy taiga, the quiet and calm a dampened version of the peace she finds in the void. Jessie pokes her head out from beneath Avon’s cloak, chirping and gazing at the snow with awe in her purple eyes. She’s getting big fast, now as large as a fox and just as energetic.

A puff of purple flame from the dragonets mouth is a welcome heat to Avon, even though it singes at her hair. Jessie chirps into the dark forest air, followed by a growl. Her wings flap against Avon’s back, lifting her cloak and brushing it against her wings.

Chirping answers back, but rather than a growl, a squeak responds. In the shadows of the night, Avon notices the snow begins to run. No, not snow. A fox. It pauses, looking back at Avon. Staring her and Jessie down. Avon steps forward, and the fox only moves when she’s close enough to keep on it’s tail. It’s leading her somewhere.

Avon’s so focused on following the canine, it’s soft feet plodding across the pure white snow and the warm shuffling of it’s ivory fur that she ignores the racketing sound of bones. The icey creak of joints grinding together and frozen clothes torn apart like icicles. Not until an arrow is sprung free from it’s bow, striking Avon in the shoulder. She stumbles to the side, wings opening to shelter the baby dragon from the attack.

A stray knocks another arrow. Bones frozen together, grey tunic draped like snow across pine branches and brought to life in the angry cold. Avon pulls the arrow free from her shoulder, noticing the tipped head of the projectile. And she can feel it, like ice creeping into her own bones. Slowing her down, making movement feel like she’s fighting through meters of snowdrift. But it doesn’t stop her from drawing her trident.

It doesn’t stop her from fighting the horde of monsters that appear in the shadows of the night. Zombies and strays, preying desperately for a life at the anguish and loss of their own. Avon pushes Jessie’s head into the protective warmth of her cloak, hiding the dragonet from harm and flattening her wings over the baby. And then she fights. She strikes down the zombies lurching forward, then throws her weapon to stop the barrage of arrows. It returns to her hand and she whips it around and knocks over another monster. Stabbing it clean through for extra measure that it stays dead this time.

The whiz of a flame tipped arrow brushes past her hair, narrowly avoiding taking some of her ear with it. But the tip of the quarrel buries itself into the exposed bones of the skeleton, knocking it over and fracturing the fragile bones that hold it together. Avon pulls her trident free, and twists to face the shot the arrow came from. She reels back, the blue metal glinting as another flame appears.

Dark grey eyes shine with curiosity, head tilting to the side and brown hair brushing against pale skin. Living skin. “You aren’t a stray.”

“Neither are you.” Avon notes, but refused to put down her weapon. Just because the person before her isn’t undead doesn’t mean they won’t attack.

But the girl puts away her enchanted bow, a smile easily appearing on her face. “Then there’s no reason for us to be at each other’s throats.” She steps forward, ducking around Avon’s pronged weapon and opening a hand for her. Behind the stranger in blue jeans and a black hoodie, the chitter of a fox eases the quiet snowy forest. “I’m Abyss and this is Snow, you look like you could use some heating up.”

Avon cautiously accepts the invitation, the wind biting at her nose and nipping at her wings. She’s not ever ready for the cold. And Jessie is just as happy to enter the warm stone and spruce home that Abyss welcomes the dragons in. “So what brings a stranger like you to my forest?”

“I...my friends and I need help.” Avon whispers, watching as Jessie slips free from her cloak. The dragonet chases Snow’s tail, before earning herself a warning snarl from the white fox. The black scaled dragon settles with curling up beside Snow, content with watching the flames of the fireplace. “If you value your home, this land, you need to be ready for a fight.”

“I’m not much of a fighter,” Abyss tips a mug around, watching the tea within it slosh and drip, “What endangers my home?”

“An army from the nether. They destroyed my home and others already, and they have weapons of destruction resting on the overworld’s doorstep. They want to invade and tip the balance of our world.” Abyss stands at Avon’s words, wandering across her book-lined walls.

“The nether? That isn’t good news.” Abyss pulls out a book, eyes skimming over the ancient text held within the leather bindings. Fire and brimstone is what Abyss knows of the hell dimension. Burning away everything in it’s path. Especially snow and trees- everything she loves. She thought that all the dimensions were in good terms, or at least that’s what her studies have always shown. But times change, and it sounds like the balance threatens to tip.

Avon watches as Abyss walks to an enchantment table, where a diamond sword rests besides an open book, floating beside it. Imbuing the weapon with magic. She snaps the book closed, and unsheathes the sword. Snow rises, plodding over to her owner and letting Jessie return to Avon. Abyss needs to say nothing further- she’s in.

#wandering stars #ecto #avon #red #storm #kai #abyss #minecraft #mineblr #minesona #mcsona #minecraft persona #writing

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multi-fandom-inserts · 4 years

Text

“See You in a Minute” Part 2

Natasha Romanoff x Fem!Reader

Here is Part 2, this will become a three part otherwise it’ll be far too long!

If you haven’t read Part 1, read it here!

SPOILERS ARE INCLUDED, NON OVERLY MASSIVE. ENJOY.

__________________________________________________________

For the first time in years the Avengers Facility was alive with the people that had once called it home – plus a few extras. Fairy lights hung from the large windows as the stone tiled patio from the back of the facility to the large lake was decorated with glowing candles and beautiful flowers. Everyone stood at the edge of the lake in silence as they watch the reef of black and red flowers float across the surface.

No one wanted to speak, instead they all stood collectively – well, everyone except you – instead you had your black heels digging into the soft grass as you rocked gently on the home-made swim Nat had helped you build for Morgan a few years ago – back in the days you prayed Tony would visit the facility again.

You watched in a zombie-like-state at the water rippling in reaction to the reef and small lanterns placed on the surface, slowly distributing the calmness.

“Does she have any other family?” Tony's voice cut through the silence, his usually strong and authoritative voice came out no more than a saddened whisper. You could feel everyone’s eyes slowly drifting to look up from the ground at their feet and over to you, their gaze burrowing into your skin like hot needles.

“No, just Y/N,” Clint's voice signed heavily, “They were all each other had.”

Hearing Clint's reply causes your breath to hitch as you swallowed down a sob, it still surprised you when new tears swelled in your eyes, you'd thought that after these last few days of crying non-stop your body would of ran out of tears. You twisted and played with the necklace that was fastened around your throat, pulling it tightly making the metal chain dig into the back of your neck sharply. It was a small locket, no larger that an inch or so, black with Gothic carvings, at the centre of the locket sat a petite ruby jewel – it was a gift from Natasha on your honeymoon.

One by one, people left the patio and headed inside from the incoming cold of the night; Tony and Pepper were the first to disappear with Morgan, shortly followed by Rocket, then Scott, Bruce trailed along with his shoulders hunched forwards, one by one they all disappear until there were only two of you left in the dim light.

Steve approached you carefully as not to alarm you, he knew better than to sneak up on you by now – not that it was possible ninety percent of the time – but the knife scar on Steve's right shoulder mirrors what happens when you do. Oddly the memory of that evening brings a slight smile to your lips.

“Hey Snowy,” he mulls, touching your shoulder affectionately.

You couldn't help but let out a small chuckle at the nickname, “My real name will work just fine, Steve.” you smile.

“Well it made you laugh, so mission accomplished.” he replies with a wide smile as he sat down on the soft grass beside you. Snowy was the nickname Nat had given you, Leo or Leopard was your superhero name based on your feline ability to climb, hide and fight – plus no one saw you unless you wanted them too, much like a Snow Leopard – the moment she said it, it stuck with everyone on the team.

The pair of you sat in silence, Steve's hand laced in yours as the pair of you watched the reef disappear more and more into the lake every minute. The light still illuminated the faint surroundings, Steve was one of the only members of the Avengers to stay at the facility, it wasn't rare for the three of us – Nat, Steve and yourself – to have film nights, cook dinner for each other or just to keep each other sane.

Now it was just the two of you and even lonelier than ever.

“There's got to be a way to bring her back.” you whisper in the silence. Steve looked up at you, his eyes soft with sadness as he took in your face, “For us to bring them all back, everyone who turned to dust in the snap.”

“Y/N, I don't think we –” Steve started but you cut him off.

“Don't think we can what, Steve?!” you snapped harshly, standing up quickly to tower over him, anger made your vision red as new tears formed in your eyes, “What?! Because she didn't die in the snap we can't bring her back?!” you yell, knees shaking as your heart rate picked up.

Steve stood up quickly to grab you before you fell into a ball of tears and anger, and as the super solider cradled you tightly to his check, gently rubbing the small of your back, all that filled the air was your sobs and pleas.

The star-spangled man knew this routine too well, he kept you close as you cried before scooping you up in his arms like a small child and carried you inside the facility, ignoring the looks from the other team members as he took you into your bedroom, over the past few weeks since Nat's death this had become a routine when you broke down.

He gently placed you in your bed, Nat's sweater remaining on her side of the bed, he tucked you in and place the jumper in your arms before he turned the bedside lamp off and exited the bedroom, closing the door behind him.

XXX

The moment of truth was upon us, as Tony used a model gauntlet of his Iron Man suit to place the gems carefully in the correct places, Bruce stood by watching gingerly as Rocket jumped up and down like a hyperactive teenager, you smirked at his eagerness and ruffled the fur between his ears as you approached the chamber to watch the last stone be placed. The stones glowed in unison as they accepted their new home, a sign of relief flooded everyone as we smiled at each other. Rocket had other plans and whooped loudly, scaring the shit out of Tony which made you laugh out loud.

Tony glared at the animal before ordering FRIDAY to release the gauntlet, the three geniuses worked a little more on the glove, making sure it was stable and the stone were set securely. “It's all ready,” Rocket confirmed before looking back at the rest of us, “Question is; who's going to snap their fingers?”

“I'll do it,” Thor said proudly striding towards the glove.

Steve stepped between him and the stones, Clint kept me behind him like a protective older brother.

“We haven't decided who's going to wear it.” Steve said, pushing Thor back gently.

“So we should wait?” Thor snapped, half drunk.

Scott stood closer to the God, “We should at least have a discussion.” he said.

Thor chuckled darkly, “And what? Wait and talk before bringing everybody back?”

Your heart clenched as you watched Thor's face clench in sadness, his breath quivered as he looked at the team, “Please... just... let me do something good.” he speaks, his voice breaking in sadness.

Tony tried to explain that the glove was so powerful compared to Thor's condition right now but the God of Thunder didn't seem to understand. The bickering continued for a few minutes before Bruce took a step forward and for the first time in years, he's expression was dark and serious.

“It's got to be me,” he stated, taking a step forwards towards the glove, “You saw what those stones did to Thanos, they almost killed him. Non of you will survive.” he says picking up the gauntlet.

“How do we know you will?” I pipe up.

Non of you will survive, the words of the God echo through your mind eerily.

As Bruce holds the gauntlet, ready to place on his hand you step forward wanting to see.

“Now remember, everyone Thanos snapped away five years ago, bring them back to today, don't change anything in the last five years.” Tony said clearly.

Bruce nodded, the gauntlet took in his measurements and expanded to the right size, Tony grabbed me and pulled me between him and Clint as we all ensured our suits were active and ready. Tony brought up a large shield in front of us as I pulled out my knives, Clint ensured his bow was loaded and everyone else was ready.

As the glove slipped onto Bruce's hand, it became alive with energy, beams of light shot out as well as trailed up his arm, the large green man groaned in pain as the light and power travelled up his arm, destroying the shirt he wore as his veins bulged with the new power.

If it wasn't for the coldness, you never would of noticed Tony clamping a metal band around your wrist, but you assumed it was nothing of importance as he said nothing throughout.

“Bruce... talk to me, are you okay?” you say loudly over the electrical vibrations and his own moans of pain.

“Banner!” Tony yelled.

“Get it off him.” Thor said angrily.

Steve held his hand up to the God telling him to wait, “Bruce, come on what's happening.”

Bruce nodded, “I'm okay.” he breathes as the rainbow of electricity spread up his arm and to his neck, burning small areas of his skin. His screams fill the room as he brings himself back to his feet, you watch in agony as he raises the glove high, his screams and yells getting more and more pain filled but then he brings his fingers together and...

SNAP.

For a few moments you are blinded by the hot-white light that flashes before you, your deafened by the high pitch screech that assaulted your senses but just as quick as it came, it was gone. You watched in horror as Bruce faints, the gauntlet loosens and falls along with him, as the others attended to Bruce, you kicked the stones away but stood over them in awe.

“Did it work?” Scott said over the shouts.

I shrugged as the doors from the testing floor opened.

Suddenly the sound of a phone vibrating fills the air, silencing us all, then the sound of birds tweeting and flapping. Unable to keep your feet still, you walk out of the testing area to look out of the large windows, the once lifeless tree that stood outside was alive with birds and insects. Clint stood next to you, his phone in his hand as he stared at the screen, you peered over to see a name you thought had been long forgotten but one you and Clint had prayed you'd see again... Laura.

Clint was unable to stop the tears before they started flowing. You touched his arm as he pulled you tightly into an embrace, tears brimmed your eyes as you pushed the phone closer to his ear, begging him to answer it.

Then suddenly... the whole building exploded beneath your feet.

XXX

Dust. Blood. Sparks. Darkness.

It took several minutes for your vision to settle, the warmth of blood covered your forehead as the cold of the night air brushed your skin. The echoing voices of your team-mates ghosted through the air but you couldn't call back, not until you were certain it was them.

Suddenly, a pair of large hands gripped you under your shoulders and pulled you free of the rubble, you instantly go into flight or fight mode, swinging your hands towards them as their echoed voices continue to speak but suddenly it all cleared and you recognised the voice as Steve.

“Are you okay?!” he half yelled at you, grabbing your face to access the damage before patting down your suited up body to check for any injuries. “Y/N? Tell me you're okay.”

You rubbed your eyes like an infant before giving him an 'OK' nod. That's when you noticed the rubble around you, the entire building had be turned inside out, the place you'd once called home turned to a pile of concrete, ash and fire. Steve took you back to the other's he had found – Tony and Thor, thankfully we had all linked up comms and could confirm that Clint was alive with Scott and Rocket. Nebula remained unaccounted for.

That's when you noticed him, sat in the dark in the middle of the rubble, his weapon plunged into the dirt as he shattered rocks with his bare hands – Thanos.

“Where are the stones?” Steve asks.

“Somewhere buried beneath all this.” you replied.

Thor raised his arms taking in the full power of the thunder, bring his weapons from the dirt and suiting himself up. Steve took the lead as him and Thor descended into the pit where Thanos sat proudly, you stayed high to keep an eye out as Tony crept along the peak, keeping close.

“You could not live with your own failure.” the monster spoke, “I thought by eliminating half of life, the other half would thrive.”

As he spoke, the memories of that day flow your memory, Bucky disappearing into ash in your arms, Wanda clinging onto your shirt as she morns Vision. You imagined the horror Tony endured watching as Pete slipping through his fingers, the heart break Clint endured not knowing what the hell happened to his family. All the devastation this creature created because he thought it was for the greater good.

Anger flooded your body, your swords to your side as your holsters hang heavy with your guns and your electrified staff on your back.

“You have just proved that if those know what happened, are unable to accept what could me.” Thanos spoke, pulling on his helmet, “But that's okay, because you won't be alive to tell them.”

Steve took the first hit, luckily his shield taking the full force of Thanos weapon, Tony grabbed you by the arm as he flew down, sending you flying into Thanos, your sword impaling his armour before you were thrown off into the gravel, you scampered to your feet as he threw the weapon back at you, missing you by centimetres before he threw his double ended sword towards you, it spiralled like a fan towards you, it missed – mainly – catching your upper arm opening a fresh wound as the giant sprinted towards you.

Tony opened the back of his suit as Thor charged him with lightening, sending beams to knock Thanos to the ground giving you time to escape but not enough time for Tony has he's slung like a rag-doll to the ground knocking him unconscious.

“Tony!!” you scream through comms as the same fate came to Steve as he's thrown backwards, Thor attempts to hold off the monster but isn't met with any luck, you manage to climb onto of Thanos, wrapping your remaining sword around his throat, managing to cut the skin at his throat before a large hand reaches over, clasps your throat and throws you over him with ease.

You can hear bones fracturing and cracking on impact, your skull throbbed as your side ached, new blood leaked from cuts and gouges you hadn't noticed before, the pain of the air knocked from your lungs halts your reaction time as you watch Thanos attempt to plunge Stormbreaker into Thor's chest. The whoosing sound above your head brings you to stand as you watch Mjölnir knock Thanos from his position ontop of Thor and whiz back into the hand of... Steve Rodgers.

“I knew it!” screamed Thor and yourself as Steve wields Mjölnir with ease.

Smashing the hammer into Thanos jaw, you sprint over to Thor as we watch in awe, Steve summon the power of lightening and smash it through the ground, the vibrations and power break the ground with ease and lifts Thanos from his feet, flinging him backwards.

Suddenly Thanos leaps up from the ground, gripping Steve by the throat as he smashes him back into the ground, as you lunge towards them, sword ready you manage to hold him off until Steve is up on his feet again but Thanos is far stronger than you as he hits you with the blunt side of his weapon, sending you once again, flying into the gravel.

Mjölnir is discarded somewhere in the rubble as Thanos swings his sword towards Steve, he frantically searches for his shield, holding it up in front of himself just in the nick of time as the sword breaks through the vibranium. A moment of silence cuts through the battlefield but Thanos doesn't stop there, he repeatedly batters Steve's shield until no more than a third remains,

“In all my years, it has never been personal.” Thanos spoke in the silence, “But this,” he said taking a step towards us, “This, I am going to enjoy, very very much.”

You manage to pull yourself to your feet as the skies opened, blue lighted portals appear behind Thanos and through them emerge his army; creatures crawling from the ships, the skyward animals you fought in New York appear in the skies, their crackling howls fill the suddenly silent air as you stumble towards Steve.

His strong arm clamps around you as he makes sure you're okay, his face his busted, bruised and covered in dirt, the same as you, a large gash travels from your forehead through your right eyebrow and to your cheek, your bones scrape together as the adrenaline pumps through you.

“I don't think we can take them all, Steve.” you say, your voice no more than a whisper as you hold the hand of the arm wrapped round your waist.

Steve doesn't respond as we watch the scene of Thanos army unravel in front of us.

Then, your ear piece crackles, Steve hears it too as we press the ear pieces in further and then the voice appears.

“Miss me, Doll?”

Your heart stops as the magical whirling noise echoes behind you.

“On your left,” another voice speaks.

We turn, almost not wanting to see what was happening behind us.

Orange rings appear out of nowhere.

And out of the circle steps Bucky.

Then Sam flies through.

One by one,

They all appear.

#avengers reader insert #natasha romanoff x reader #natasha romanoff x fem!reader #reader insert #avengers fanfiction #avengers insert #avengers imagine #natasha romanoff imagine

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