checkers94

[checkers94]

Joseph, @milomanheim, questions himself in this memorable scene from the film Journey To Bethlehem. Check it out and then get your tickets to see the movie this weekend!

[checkers94]

gif by @mcbride

Daryl: This is such a bad idea.

Y/N: Then why are you coming along?

Daryl: Someone needs ta save yer ass when this inevitably all goes wrong.

Y/N: I didn’t know you cared.

Daryl: …

Daryl: Yer literally my wife.

Y/N: That means you love me. No one said you have to like me.

[checkers94]

hi, i was wondering if you could perhaps write modern!sihtric fanfic with fake dating trope? to be more clear, maybe there's an upcoming family event in reader's life, like someone's wedding idk, and her parents are nagging her about being single so she asks her best friend (and our boyyy) to act as her boyfriend for the night, just so the parents can't complain and try to find her some unwanted company? just lots of fluff and family comedy! if you don't feel like writing this it's totally okay!! take care <33

Warnings: flufffff

Pairing: Modern!Sihtric x you (f)

Summary: see request!

Word count: 5.4k

Note: I had so much fun with this, thank you! also; you didn't tell me if reader and our boi actually like each other so, to make everything more awkward, of course they have feelings for each other.

Taglist: @clairacassidy @finanmoghra @uunotheangel @hb8301 @bathedinheat @neonhairspray @anaeve @bubblyabs @travelingmypassion @sylas-the-grim @heimtathurs @bubbles-for-all-of-us @valeskafics @andakth

'Perks of dating me.'

******************

'You want me to do what?' Sihtric laughed as he laid down on his bed.

'It's not fucking funny!' you hissed and punched his shoulder, 'please, Sihtric, I beg you. Please pretend for the night. One night.'

'You want me to pretend to be your boyfriend? At a wedding party? Of your aunt?'

'I never said boyfriend.'

'Date then, whatever,' Sihtric rolled his eyes before he laughed again, 'are you serious?'

'Yes! My parents keep nagging me that I have to bring someone.'

'Look, I'd love to help you, but I'm not sure about this. I'm not exactly the type a mother wants to see her daughter with, am I?'

'What do you mean?' you frowned. You thought Sihtric was incredibly handsome, you saw no problem.

'Look at me, sweetheart,' Sihtric said, 'I'm covered with scars, I have tattoos on my fingers and one in my neck that goes up to the side of my head, I carry a knife with me at all times and I am known to get into fists fights at the McDonald's parking lot at 3 in the morning because they are out of nuggets and I had one too many to drink. And I got you into violent videogames,' he grinned and nodded to the paused tv screen.

You had to give it to him, he had a point. You thought he was handsome, but then you did have a thing for "bad boys" so to speak. Your mother would be upset, your father would probably get unwell and your grandma might actually pass away if they'd see you with Sihtric. But Sihtric was your only hope for the night.

'Please,' you begged again, 'Sihtric, if you don't go with me my parents will find me a date.'

'What?'

'They heard that some guy named Finan, who lives across from them, has a thing for me. They desperately want me to date him, or anyone really. So I said I already am seeing someone, which was obviously a lie. If I can't get you to come with me, they'll ask him! But I don't want to date him!'

'Okay, I'll go,' Sihtric groaned and rubbed his eyes. He was not going to see another man by your side.

'Really?'

'Yes,' he sighed, 'but we need to come up with a story. It's weird to just bring a random date to a wedding, is it not?'

'I agree, okay, so… what's our story?'

'Gods,' Sihtric snorted, 'I have no idea.'

'Look, the most important thing is,' you said, 'we have to be convincing as a couple.'

But that was the least of your problems. You actually liked Sihtric more than just a friend. And unbeknownst to you, he liked you a lot too. Way more than friends. But as you were both too afraid to ruin the friendship you had, you never told each other. 

You had met Sihtric by accident through your mutual friend Uhtred, who you were supposed to grab a drink with a quite some months ago. Uhtred had accidentally double booked and had asked Sihtric to meet up at the same day, same spot, same time, which he didn't realise. So Uhtred was surprised, but also amused, to see both of his friends suddenly show up. And Uhtred didn't say it, but he saw there was instant chemistry between the two of you, as it took only 30 minutes before you both bickered like an old married couple about which power ranger was the strongest.

And as you lived on your own, your parents never knew about Sihtric, because why would they? He was just a friend.

******************

'Okay,' you sighed nervously as you sat next to Sihtric in his car, 'remember we have to be convincing.'

'Yeah, yeah,' Sihtric smiled, unable to keep his eyes off you while he waited for a traffic light.

He thought he had died and gone to Valhalla when he saw you walk up to his car when he came to pick you up. He loved your usual style, but as this was a wedding, you had to dress up. And he thought you looked like a Disney princess with your sleeveless black corset top accompanied by a long, blush coloured velvet skirt while wearing black, high heels underneath. 

If he wasn't such a wuss, he would have proposed to you right at the spot. 

And you were equally as stunned when you saw Sihtric, who was for once not dressed in his regular black cargo jeans and a flannel. Today he was wearing a black, made to size, tuxedo which matched his dark hair. The white blouse underneath his jacket wasn't completely buttoned up, showing a part of his clavicles and his Mjölnir pendant, which you thought looked very sexy. The sides of his head were freshly shaved, exposing the tattoo that ran up to the side of head, he was wearing his regular amount of rings and to your surprise, instead of fancy shoes, he wore his regular black leather boots, which made him instantly look rougher than a usual wedding date. You were head over heels, but it's not like you were going to tell him that. Actually, you hadn't even grasped the fact that you had to pretend to like him.

You had agreed on a backstory, so you knew he had to pretend to be your date, but in your panic to not have a random date as your plus one, you completely forgot that you had to really act as a couple. And you became instantly nervous once you realised it.

'You look pretty,' Sihtric said, making you even more nervous as he pulled up to the wedding venue.

'Thank you,' you blushed heavily, and you thanked the gods for Sihtric wearing sunglasses so he couldn't tell when he smiled at you.

'You look handsome,' you said with a dry mouth as he stopped the car.

'You think?' he lowered his sunglasses to wink at you. 

You tried to open the door of his car as fast as you could, feeling your cheeks heat up again, but you forgot that Sihtric's car had this stupid child lock that he can't seem to fix, so you just desperately tried to unlock the door, with no success, looking like a fly stuck in a window.

'Hold on,' Sihtric sighed as he took off his sunglasses, 'you know that door doesn't work like that, you have to pull the-,' he clicked his tongue and leaned over, unlocking the door for you. And to make everything worse, he smelled nice too. Fuck.

*******************

Before you reached the door to the venue you had already tripped over your skirt, twice. It was a slim fitted and long skirt, and it kept getting stuck under your heel as you walked up the stairs. Luckily, Sihtric was already playing the part of being a good date and he had caught you both times as he had hooked your arm in his to walk up to the party.

'Shit,' you sighed, 'I'm going to rip it if it gets stuck once more.' You felt embarrassed but were thankful that Sihtric had caught you twice.

'Wait,' Sihtric said. He kneeled down and lifted his right trouser leg up slightly, pulling out a dagger, which was in a holster around his ankle, covered by his leather ankle boot. And before you could protest he cut a perfectly straight split in the side of your skirt, which went up to just above your knee. Without saying another word, he placed the dagger back in his holster, rolled the trouser leg down and zipped up his black boot again.

'What the fuck,' you muttered as he stood back up, holding his arm out to you again with a grin.

'Better?' he asked as you continued your walk up the stairs, without tripping this time.

'Actually, yeah,' you giggled, 'thank you,' you smiled at him.

'Perks of dating me,' Sihtric winked and licked his lips before he grinned again.

'Remember,' you said nervously as you stepped through the door, 'we have to be convincing.'

'Do we have a limit?' he asked in a serious manner, 'do you have a limit? Like you don't want me to do certain things like, you know, things couples do?' he shrugged lightly.

'Huh? No, no,' you felt stressed about the whole party, 'I trust you, just- just be convincing.'

'Don't worry about me, I'll be convincing,' Sihtric said and gave you a cheeky smile as he walked you up to the happy newlyweds. And he heard you cough lightly when his hand slid down to your lower back.

He was going to enjoy tonight, finally behaving the way he always wanted to with you, but never could out of fear of ruining your friendship.

'Hey! Look who it is!' your uncle cheered, nudging your aunt when he saw you walk in.

'Hi,' you said shyly, 'yes, it's me,' you smiled and gave the happy couple a hug to congratulate them.

'And who is this then?' your aunt asked, looking Sihtric up and down.

'This is Sihtric,' you smiled as you blushed, 'my friend. I mean boyfriend, my date,' you blurted out. Your uncle gave you a confused look as he shook hands with Sihtric.

'Jack of all traits, sir,' Sihtric smiled, 'congratulations.'

'Thank you, son,' your uncle smiled at him, impressed by his firm handshake. You watched Sihtric congratulate your aunt with a polite kiss to her cheek, to which she even blushed, and as your uncle made a remark about Sihtric's pendant and engaged into a conversation, your aunt nudged your arm.

'Honey, if I wasn't married,' she whispered and nodded to Sihtric, 'I'd climb that man and ride him like a bull.'

'Auntie!' you gasped, to which Sihtric and your uncle looked up. You coughed quickly and waved that everything's fine as you tried to fight the thought that your aunt, who was 67 by the way and just married her second husband, would lure Sihtric into her bed. You thought you were going to throw up in your mouth for a moment.

Your aunt laughed at your flustered face and told you to go to the dining room, as dinner would soon be served, but she didn't let you walk before she said you should have Sihtric as dessert later. You sighed with big eyes and walked as fast as you could, making Sihtric almost run after you as he tried to escape your uncle's endless conversation about religion.

'Babe!' Sihtric called after you and he chuckled, 'wait up.'

You stopped walking. Not because he asked you to, but because you felt your knees weaken when he called you babe, and if you had put another foot forward you would've lost your balance on those ridiculous high heels. You hadn't thought this plan through. You really hadn't.

'Hey,' he said as he stood next to you, 'you okay? You look a little… startled?'

'Yeah, it's just… my aunt. She's very cheeky for her age,' you smiled painfully, 'let's just go find a seat. I'm starving.'

'Gods, me too,' Sihtric said and he grabbed your hand, being the good date/boyfriend he is, or whatever he was supposed to be tonight, he didn't care, 'I wonder what's for dessert,' he said, after which he immediately had to catch you again as you somehow twisted your ankle.

******************

You were nervously fidgeting with your skirt while Sihtric looked completely calm, sitting back in his chair with his arm around your shoulder, sipping some wine they just served. He seemed to be completely oblivious to the table across from you, which had all your teenage nieces, and they were giggling and blushing as they stared at your date. And you couldn't blame them, you felt exactly the same, but you couldn't show it.

'Hey,' Sihtric startled you when he spoke softly in your ear, 'you gotta loosen up, baby. You'll make everyone think you don't want to be with me if you keep this face up,' he chuckled lightly as his nose nuzzled your ear briefly. You felt dizzy enough already, and alcohol made you sick, how could you possibly loosen up?

'Sorry,' you said after you took a deep breath, 'I just… I didn't think this through. This was a bad idea, wasn't it?'

'You feel it's a bad idea?' he asked, concerned.

'Don't you?'

'No,' Sihtric smiled, 'I'm having fun. Your family's really something. I just watch that guy,' he said, pointing at your younger nephew, 'stuff his mouth with thirteen breadsticks. Thirteen!' 

You snorted and shook your head, suddenly feeling relaxed as you remembered that Sihtric always made you feel safe and comfortable, which is one of the things you loved about him.

'I guess you're right,' you smiled, 'we should have fun, right?'

'Exactly,' Sihtric smirked, 'there's free food and free alcohol, and I have you by my side, what more could I want?'

'Well, well,' a familiar harsh voice sounded behind you, and Sihtric watched your eyes grow wide, 'my daughter with a boyfriend? I thought I'd never see the day!'

You turned around and looked up to see your mother towering over you, with your father behind her and your grandma in the middle. Your mother smiled politely at Sihtric but her eyes told you she was going to keep an eye on him all night. And when Sihtric turned his head, to shove his seat back and stand up, you thought your mother was going to faint upon the sight of the tattoo on his head, and she grabbed your grandma's arm.

'Hi,' Sihtric smiled, you were surprised he kept his cool so well, 'my name is Sihtric.'

'Sihtric?' your mother feigned a smile as she shook his hand, 'and what is your job?'

'My job?' Sihtric asked, a little confused by the random question, 'I'm a stripper, lady,' he grinned.

'Sihtric!' you said as you jumped up.

'What?' your mother's face turned pale as she clutched onto your grandma, who was partly deaf, praise the lords.

'A stripper?' your dad frowned.

'No, he is not!' you hissed.

'Oh, no,' Sihtric pretended to be shocked, 'I mean, I strip cars, you know, before they get demolished. My job is to strip the car of anything that can be recycled,' he grinned, knowing exactly what he had done; riling your parents up and possibly sending your grandma to her grave early if she had heard it.

'Oh, goodness,' your mother sighed, and she went to sit across from you at the table. You watched your grandmother stare with disgust at Sihtric's necklace and she made a cross gesture before your father walked her over to her seat.

'He looks like a rat,' your grandma muttered.

This was going to be a long dinner.

****************

'You just had to do that?' you whispered when dinner was finally served.

'What do you speak of?' Sihtric frowned with a smirk. And gods, he looked handsome.

'You are evil,' you said, failing to hide your smile.

'And you loved to see your mother panic,' he grinned and pressed a kiss to your cheek. Which made you blush and you heard the entire table of younger nieces sigh as they had witnessed the quick peck.

'Oh,' Sihtric chuckled as he looked over at the table with youngsters, 'I see you may have competition tonight,' he joked.

'They have been staring at you the whole time already, but I guess you were too busy watching little Edward stick breadsticks in his mouth.'

'And an interesting event it was,' Sihtric said, 'but, if you saw me staring at that kid, that means you have been staring at me too,' he spoke softly as he leaned in. 

Your mother watched with horror as Sihtric leaned his face against yours for a moment as he spoke, and she shuddered at the thought of what kind of vile words may come out of the mouth of that savage looking man. And when she saw how his hand reached up to your neck, and his fingertips trailed over your bare shoulders, she violently kicked your leg under the table.

'Oww!' you yelled, looking shocked and angry at your mother. Sihtric frowned at the sudden moment and saw you rubbed your leg, and he quickly undersood what had happened. He figured your mother had seen him touch you, and she was not a fan. So naturally, he would make everything worse.

'Are you okay honey bun?' Sihtric asked, louder than he had to, causing half of the room to turn their faces to you and the table with youngsters squealed at the nickname he called you.

'Yes,' you blushed, 'thank you, s-sweetheart.' 

You knew you had to step up your game if you wanted to be as convincing as Sihtric was. 

'I just got a cramp in my leg,' you lied, giving your mother a mean stare.

'A cramp?' Sihtric said, still speaking a little too loud, 'again?' he clicked his tongue, 'you had leg cramp in bed last night too, right, baby?' he glanced quickly at your mother before he continued, 'and this morning as well.'

You felt your face heat up and your mouth went dry, so you quickly reached for the glass of water and gulped it down in one go, and you almost spat it out when you noticed it before Sihtric grabbed the glass.

'No!' Sihtric quickly grabbed the glass out of your hands, 'that is not water, love, it's white wine!'

'I figured,' you said with a bitter face and coughed, 'I thought it was water.' 

'No,' Sihtric chuckled lightly and quickly poured you some water, 'here, drink this.'

You drank the water just as fast as you had downed that glass of wine, but you still felt thirsty, because Sihtric was looking and behaving way hotter than you could handle.

'I need some air,' you said, pulling your corset uncomfortably, and you got up.

'Babe,' Sihtric said, genuinely concerned and he ran after you, much to your mother's disgrace.

'He looks like a nice young man,' your father nudged your mother with a smile as he watched Sihtric run after you, 'do you remember when you'd get a leg cramp in bed when we-,' suddenly your dad froze and dropped his breadstick when he realised what obscenity Sihtric had meant.

*****************

'Hey,' Sihtric called after you. You heard him but you really needed air, so you ran as fast and clumsily as you could to the terrace, where you quickly leaned over the small, brick wall, and just as Sihtric reached you, you threw up.

'Gods,' Sihtric said, quickly grabbing your hair to hold it out of your face, 'honey,' he sighed and stroked your back, 'it's okay.' Sihtric knew for a fact you didn't like alcohol, not because you didn't like it, but because it simply made you sick. A few sips was okay, but a whole glass was a big nope, and he hoped he had pulled the glass from your lips in time, but unfortunately.

'Are you okay?' he asked once you finally faced him and sat down. He was quick to hand you the handerchief he had in his tuxedo pocket, and he gave you the water bottle he had already snatched off a table when he ran after you. You wiped your lips rinsed your mouth a few times before you drank the remaining water.

'Thank you,' you smiled before you buried your face in your hands. You felt like crying.

'Hey,' Sihtric whispered, noticing you were visibly upset, and he wrapped you in his strong arms, 'what's wrong, baby?'

You had no idea why he kept his act up even when no one was around, but you didn't care, you needed it right now.

'This whole thing, this plan, this party, my parents,' you sniffled, 'it's just so embarrassing!'

'Why?' he asked as he pushed a strand of hair behind your ear and he cupped your cheeks, 'tell me, sweetheart.'

'My mom… she always complains about everything. My job, my clothes, my hair, my fucking shoes, my house, the men I've dated, obviously now she's trying to make your life a living hell tonight. Nothing is ever good enough for her. I'm so tired of it and it's so embarrassing. I'm a grown woman! Yet she still feels the need to interfere with my life.'

Sihtric watched you intensely as you ranted, and he felt himself fall even more in love with you with every word you spoke.

'I knew bringing you was a bad idea in the end, but I had no one else,' you said, 'and I'm so sorry to bring you into this bullshi-'

Before you could continue your rant, which seemingly had no ending, Sihtric covered your mouth with his hand.

'Baby,' he whispered, 'listen to yourself. You knew bringing me would stir up some shit,' he smiled, 'and you're right, it happened. But I'm here now, and I'm not going anywhere. So why not just make the most of it?'

'You mean like… make it even worse?'

'Exactly,' he grinned, 'I don't care. Your mother already made up her mind about me without getting to know me,' he shrugged, 'so I will be delighted to live up to her horrible idea about me.'

*********************

'Okay, ready?' Sihtric asked as he held your hand.

'Yeah,' you smiled as you looked back into the dinner room. You were still a little nervous about the new plan, but knowing Sihtric had your back meant the world to you.

'Okay,' he smiled and he led you back to your seat.

Your father shifted uncomfortably as he saw your hair was a little messy and Sihtric's handkerchief was missing from his tuxedo pocket, and he feared Sihtric had given you leg cramp again.

'You look pale,' you grandma rudely remarked. She meant well, but as she was old, she had no filter anymore.

'Thanks, grandma,' you smiled weakly, knowing she had a reason for her harshness.

'I think she looks beautiful,' Sihtric said with a smile, making the table of youngsters sigh.

You smiled back at him as he grabbed your hand under the table, squeezing it lightly.

'No, she looks rough,' your mother just had to give you another kick while you were already down. And that was all you needed to get fully onboard with Sihtric's plan.

'Yeah,' you looked at Sihtric before you looked at your plate, 'Sihtric likes it rough,' you sighed as you picked up your fork and casually started to eat.

'Sweet Jesus,' your mother cried out softly while your father dropped his knife and excused himself. In the corner of your eyes you saw Sihtric had a grin on his face and he leaned in to you.

'How did you know I like that?' he whispered, to which you almost downed another glass of white wine.

*****************

'So,' one of your older nieces turned to you, 'when are you getting married?

'Me?' you frowned.

'Soon,' Sihtric helped you out, wrapping his arm around your shoulder, 'ain't that right, baby girl?' he said as he emptied his fifth mini bowl of salted peanuts. He really was going to eat all he could, just because it was free, and your mother looked at him as if he was a pig.

'Oh, are you engaged already?' she asked, to which your mother snapped her head to you.

'Oh, no,' you smiled, 'he hasn't asked me yet,' you rolled your eyes, 'you know how men are.'

'Oh, I know,' your niece laughed, 'how long have you been together?'

'Six months,' you said.

'Eight months,' Sihtric said at the same time, and you both froze for a second. One of you had messed up the background story, but you both couldn't remember who exactly.

'I... think you had too much to drink, honey,' you smiled at Sihtric.

'Sorry, bunny,' Sihtric sighed, grabbing his glass and gesturing to the waiter he wanted a refill, 'you're right. We've been a couple for six months,' he glared at your mother for a second, 'but you forget that we were friends with benefits for two months already.'

You watched your mother choke on her water as she muttered a prayer, and you grandma innocently asked what was being said.

You smacked your lips, 'you're right,' you grinned and leaned into him, 'I always forget you count those months too.'

'I do,' he smiled and thanked the waiter as he got another glass of wine, 'so I guess I should propose soon, huh?' he took a sip of his wine as he looked your mother in the eyes.

'A girl can dream,' you smiled and kissed his cheek.

'How did you meet?' your mother suddenly asked.

'We met through a friend,' you spoke the truth and looked up at Sihtric, 'and we've been basically inseparable ever since.' Which was also not a lie. If you didn't see each other for a day, you'd text constantly, until you'd see each other again.

'Not a word has been lied,' Sihtric smiled at you, lovingly this time.

'Was it love at first sight?' your recently married aunt asked as she sat down next to your mom.

You suddenly felt shy, because for you, it had been love at first sight. You just couldn't tell him, even if you were "pretending" now.

'It was for me,' Sihtric suddenly said and chuckled lightly, not in a mocking manner, or in a way to shock your mother. He was sincere and genuine this time. 'First time I laid eyes on her,' Sihtric sighed, 'I was completely smitten,' he spoke softly but confident, and the men at the table who heard him chuckled and murmured it happened to them too when they met their spouse, to which Sihtric raised his glass, and the men did too. 'We already argued after half an hour about which power ranger was the strongest,' he continued, making everyone who heard it smile, even your mother's face seemed to soften, 'honestly, I don't even know how we came up with that.'

'It was because you had longer hair when we met,' you reminded him, 'and you wore a white shirt and white sweatpants, and Uhtred said you looked like that white power ranger from the '90s because your muscles really showed through that shirt.'

Sihtric laughed, 'oh, yeah, that's right,' he shook his head, 'in my defence,' he said and looked round the table, 'the white power ranger was the strongest.'

'No,' you interrupted and covered his mouth with your hand, 'the red one was the strongest.'

Sihtric took your hand and laced his fingers with yours, 'Sweetie, you only say that because you thought the guy was hot.'

'Maybe,' you shrugged, 'but you'd be the hottest ranger if you were one.'

'And I'd happily protect you for the rest of my life if I was one,' Sihtric smiled and bit down on his lip. You both got lost in each other's eyes for a moment that you didn't even hear all the ladies, even your mom, sighing lovingly at his words.

'I'd marry him,' one of your younger nieces called over from their table, to which you all laughed.

'Yeah,' you chuckled before you looked back at Sihtric, 'I would too,' you said and blushed.

Sihtric didn't reply, he just looked at you as if you were the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. Which you were to him, you just didn't know.

'So, yeah,' Sihtric said and cleared his throat, 'love at first sight it was,' he looked over at the men who cheered and raised their glass to him again, which he did too.

'And you?' your grandma suddenly asked, 'was it love at first sight for you?'

'It was,' you admitted with flustered cheeks, trying to hide your smile, 'I remember going home that night, being overjoyed I managed to get his number, after arguing for hours about power rangers,' you chuckled and so did the rest, 'and I was so nervous to text him.'

'Really?' Sihtric asked, 'why?'

'Because you're so out of my league, babe,' you didn't lie this time either, you finally told him your true feelings, 'look at you,' you smiled and squeezed his biceps through his jacket, 'you're so handsome, and I'm just… me,' you shrugged, 'I wouldn't understand why you'd be interested in me when you could literally have anyone you wanted.'

'And I have who I wanted,' Sihtric said, truthfully, squeezing your hand as he looked deep into your eyes, 'I have you, baby,' he smiled softly, 'and it's you who I wanted, ever since I first saw you.'

You both stared into each other's eyes while everyone around your table, and the table with the youngsters, held their breath, as if they expected a proposal right there and then, but everyone got rudely brought back to the party when someone shouted they were to held a toast, as the dinner was over and the dance floor was about to open.

******************

Sihtric was amused at your drunk uncles, who were convinced they could do that one dance from that popular k-pop group. Sihtric would later tell you that it was the best worst out of sync choreography he had ever seen, and he had loved every second of it.

'You want to dance?' he asked you, after the tragic dance attempt of your uncles unfortunately ended.

'I'm not much of a dancer,' you chuckled, 'maybe if a slower song comes on I could save myself, but not this,' you shook your head, 'I will look like my uncles.'

Sihtric snorted at the thought, and it was as if the Devil was the DJ, because as soon as you had spoken the up beat song faded out into a slow, sappy love song.

'You said it,' Sihtric smiled as he got up.

'Gods,' you sighed. Sihtric took your hand and pulled you up, walking you up to the dancefloor,

'I really can't dance, Sihtric,' you said, 'I'm serious.'

'I don't care, lady,' Sihtric smiled, bringing his hands to your waist to pull you closer. You placed your hands on his chest and looked up at him with a shy smile.

'Gods, you're beautiful,' he whispered shyly as he looked down at you, and he guided your body along with his effortlessly, making you both feel as if you were the only two people in the room.

'So are you,' you giggled, 'did…did you mean what you said earlier?'

'I've said a lot tonight,' Sihtric chuckled, 'you have to be more specific, baby girl.'

'What you said about love at first sight?' you didn't dare to look up at him now.

'Hm,' he hummed quietly with a smile and leaned his jaw gently against your temple, 'I did, baby,' he spoke softly, 'every damn word. You've been in my head ever since I saw you, and I couldn't get you out.'

'Why did you never tell me?' you looked up at him.

'Would you have told me if you felt the same?'

'But I feel the same, Sihtric,' you smiled shyly again.

'And did you tell me?' he asked playfully.

'No,' you smiled, guilty.

'And why didn't you?'

'I …' you sighed, 'I was afraid to ruin our friendship if the feeling wasn't mutual.'

'There is your answer,' Sihtric said and he gently cupped your cheek with one hand, sliding his other hand onto your lower back, 'but I guess since we're finally being honest, I can admit that I desperately want to kiss you right now.'

And when he captured your lips into a tender, slow kiss, it was as if the world around you didn't exist anymore. There was only bliss.

'You want to go home?' you blurted out when Sihtric broke the kiss as the music had changed into something upbeat again.

'With you?'

'Yes,' you smiled.

'Nothing I want more,' he smiled back, and pulled you with him off the dancefloor.

'Wait, Sihtric,' you snorted as you almost tripped again, 'my feet are so tired from these goddamn heels, let me take them off before we get to the stairs again.'

'Come here,' Sihtric clicked his tongue with a smile and wasted no time in picking you up in his arms.

'No,' you giggled, 'you don't have to- just let me take off my shoes!'

'No, lady,' Sihtric grinned, 'I like the way you look in them.'

'What is that supposed to mean?' you frowned and wrapped your arms around his neck as he walked out of the venue.

'Meaning that I hope,' Sihtric said as he carefully watched his step in the dark going down those stairs, 'maybe I'll be lucky tonight and see you in nothing but those heels,' he winked.

'Gods,' you rolled your eyes but couldn't help yourself and you smiled at him, 'I think I'm in love with you, honey.'

Sihtric looked down into your eyes and smiled as well, 'I think I'm in love with you too, bunny.'

[checkers94]

Dead talking

Fem!reader

Warnings: mentions of a dead character(s), mentions of Kaz’s trauma, mentions of reader being small, mentions of life in the streets (if you squint), not beta read, English is not my first language (sorry).

Word count: 500+

A knock was heard from the door and he replied almost in autopilot.

“What business?”

The girl came in with a wary look, taking her time to observe the room before her eyes landed on him. She looked small, fragile, her hands shaking as she took a few steps towards him.

“I’m here for the job?” She questioned more than stated, “I’ve heard you needed someone who could provide you with unreachable information.”

“And what do you have to offer, miss…?” He trailed off, waiting for her to give him a name.

“I’m what one would call a witch,” she said, looking away for a second before meeting his eyes fiercely, as if daring him to question her.

“Grisha? What kind?” He ignored the fact that she hadn’t answered his implied question.

“Not exactly that…” she searched for the right words under his hard gaze, “just a witch.”

“How so? What kind of witch are you, then?” He looked skeptical, not trusting the woman -the girl- at all.

“I read cards, bones. Sometimes act as a medium. I- I can communicate with spirits, sir,” she wasn’t boasting, and her body language told him she was speaking the truth -or what she believed was the truth.

“Which means you know more about everyone than what they tell you, am I right?” He raised an eyebrow as she nodded shakily.

“Show me, then.”

She carefully approached his desk, sitting herself on the chair in front of it and extending a hand towards him.

Kaz stared at her hand for a couple of seconds. He took it into his own, swallowing a shudder at the contact of her skin against the leather of his gloves.

Her eyes rolled to the back of her head and she took a deep breath in. When she spoke, it sounded like multiple voices where exiting her throat.

“Rietveld, Kaz Rietveld. We know him. We know his brother. Jordie? Yes, Jordie,” he swallowed at the mention of his brother’s name, but willed himself to keep holding onto her hand even if the waters were rising to his waist.

“What happened?” The question sounded like it was hers, with her voice more prominent among the others.

“The Queen’s Plague,” that was his brother’s voice, unmistakable even after all these years.

He didn’t want to hear more, the waters up to his throat, almost drowning him. Kaz let go of her hand.

“That’s enough,” and he berated himself for sounding so shaken up.

When she looked at him again, her gaze was soft and her smile was sad. His own hardened at that and he coughed a couple of times to calm the tide around him.

“Your abilities will be helpful in the future,” he decided. After all, who didn’t want someone who was able to discover information only the dead had access to?

She smiled more openly now, but it fell from her face as soon as it appeared.

“Will I have a place to stay, then?” She asked, voice full of hope.

Dirtyhands had taken notice of her ripped and old clothes when she entered his office, her state proving the lack of a single good meal in her body.

“You will,” Kaz assured her, “as long as you pledge your loyalty to the Dregs and run by me all the information you reunite by the end of each day.”

“Of course, Mr. Brekker.”

“Kaz.”

“Kaz,” she repeated with a gentle smile.

[checkers94]

Inej: So, what is Y/N to you? Kaz: The reason I wake up every morning. Inej: ...That’s adorable. Y/N earlier that morning, barging into Kaz′s room, smacking pans together: WAKE UP WAKE UP WAKE UP WAKE UP WAKE UP!!!

[checkers94]

three taps (kaz brekker x reader)

summary: kaz taps three times. it’s his way to say i love you, i care.

or

the three times it took jesper to realize that three taps were something more than a meaningless habit.

warnings: violence, blood, implied se*ual as*ault (not detailed at all and very brief)

a/n: did i write this in less than a day? yes. did the inspiration come to me at six am? also yes. what about your other 50 wip, anna? did you write anything for them? nope.

hope you enjoyed reading this one as much as i enjoyed writing it <3

i. tap, tap, tap

Jesper had seen him do it more times than he could count. It was Kaz’s thing. Three taps, index finger hitting a wooden table, thumb brushing against a map or cane harshly meeting the floor. Most times they were fast taps, like a subconscious action, coming and going before anyone could give it any mind. Other times, however, they were slower, more emphasized, as if trying to make a point. Jesper was used to the taps, as he imagined (Y/N) and Inej also were. The sound came prior to every heist, prior to pronouncing the words of luck (no mourners, no funerals).

It was Kaz’s habit, something he probably did without even realizing, and Jesper couldn’t help but find it oddly comforting, a routine that somehow eased his nerves. (The world could be going to war, Ketterdam could be crashing down in flames, and Kaz would still tap three times. There was a sense of safety in that.)

It wasn’t until Jesper had a closer look that he realized the action was perhaps not as meaningless as he believed.

ii. cane meets ground three times: come back to me, i’m here

(Y/N) had known Kaz the longest out of all of them. Jesper hadn’t known the Slat without her, he hadn’t known Kaz without her. She’d always been there, a person in which the Dregs often found solace and always obtained an ear to listen without judgment. (Y/N) was a walking contradiction, soft around the edges yet powerful enough to bring the toughest people to their knees. She was everything Kaz wasn’t, maybe that was the reason they complimented each other as well as they did.

Keep reading

[checkers94]

jj taking care of his drunk best friend while he's in love with her? maybe a drunken love confession if you feel like it? thanks!

cute drunk

PAIRING: jj maybank x fem!reader

SUMMARY: jj takes care of you when you're drunk

WARNINGS: fluff, mentions of alcohol use, reader is drunk (obviously), jj helps reader change (in a non-sexual way), language

A/N: (not my gif!)

JJ MASTERLIST

"j, seriously. y-you can put me down. i...can walk just fine," you argue rather drunkenly.

jj doesn't have the chance to take you all that seriously, though, because you're staring at his ass. of course, this is only because he has you slung over his shoulder, his hands securing themselves around your legs to keep you in place.

"princess, when you tried to walk earlier, you tripped on air. air," he repeats, "you can argue all you want. i'm not putting you down."

he reaches your front door, keys already in hand. he'd stolen them from you earlier on in the night when he started to notice that you were knocking back the alcohol like there was no tomorrow. and clearly, he was right to do so.

he walks into your home, climbing the stairs as he moves to bring you to your bathroom. he flicks on the light switch and sets you on your counter before exiting without a word. when he returns, he's holding the entire contents of your skincare regimen and some makeup wipes.

"w-what are you doing?" you giggle, the grin on your face so wide that it makes jj's heart flutter.

"i'm taking off your makeup and doing your skincare routine for you. you'll rip me to shreds if you wake up with a pimple tomorrow," he replies, hand clad with a makeup-removing wipe as he carefully scrubbed the makeup off your skin. the proximity of his face to yours sent a wave of mixed feelings over him. on one hand, he loved being this close to you. he couldn't believe how beautiful you were. it was unheard of. but on the other hand, it pierced his heart. being this close to you without being able to kiss you...well, for lack of better terms, it fucking sucked.

and look, jj knew how much he would mess things up if he went there. he was about ninety-nine point nine percent sure that his feelings were not reciprocated. so why even bother going there if it meant losing the one person in the world who has loved him and supported him through everything?

"stay still. i have to wash your face now, and i really don't feel like poking one of your eyes out," he orders. you give him a nonchalant nod in return, and all he can do is smile, shaking his head as he moves to lather up your face wash in his hands. his hands touch your face again, the tips of his fingers working gently to wash your face and get rid of any makeup the wipe didn't take off.

you remain perfectly still, enjoying the feeling of jj's hands massaging your face as he washes it. you're far past drunk, but you aren't too drunk to feel the intimacy of this innocent act. you also aren't too drunk to notice how cute jj looks when he's focused on something, especially when he's focused on you.

his hands work fast, so fast that you fail to notice that he's now moved on to grabbing the numerous serums you claim all pertain to different things.

"wait," you say, watching jj's movements come to a halt. "don't forget to p—"

"—pat. not rub. i know," he interjects, giving you a knowing grin.

you nod with another large grin plastered on your full lips, eyes so bright that it sends jj into a frenzy. "how'd you remember?"

"i pay attention, pretty girl. i pay attention to every single thing about you."

he says it so casually because he knows that when you wake up in the morning, you'll have absolutely no recollection of it. might as well take advantage of it while he can.

jj takes notice of the fact that your face is growing warm as he presses the final serum into your skin. part of him wants to believe it's because his words affected you, but he shrugs it off, telling himself that the warmth is present due to the copious amounts of alcohol you consumed.

he moves onto your moisturizer, locking all of his hard work in and providing you with a little extra glow to your skin.

"all done," he says, his hands finding your waist to carefully remove you from the counter. "i'll go get you some clothes, alright? don't move."

when jj returns with one of his muscle tees that you'd stolen a few months prior and a pair of your pyjama shorts, he places it in your hands and moves to close the door and give you some privacy.

"j?" you call softly, eyes halfway from closing. "help me?"

"you sure? you're — you're drunk, and i don't wanna overstep—"

"—shut up already. you see me in a bikini every day. it's the same thing." you see the hesitation on jj's face, and you motion him to come over to you with your hand as you stare at the shirt hanging from your fingers. "seriously, i don't know where the sleeves are."

jj laughs as he walks toward you, "that's because there are no sleeves, you dork." he unzips your sweater, gaze avoiding your bra-clad chest as he discards it on the floor and slips his shirt over your head. it's long enough on you to reach your mid-thighs, so when jj offers you the shorts, you shove them away.

"i'm basically wearing a dress, j. don't worry. you can't look at my ass. it's covered," you wink before turning around and heading to your bed.

jj shakes his head with a chuckle as he follows you, tucking you in as you look up at him.

"will you stay with me tonight?" you question, eyes locked on his.

he smiles, his dimple peeking through. "of course i will, princess."

jj climbs into bed beside you, and you turn onto your side so you can face him. your gaze meets his, and you drink in the colour of his eyes. your eyes then roam over the rest of his facial features.

"you're so pretty," you say, your index finger gently stroking down the bridge of his nose.

"you think i'm pretty?"

"mhm. the prettiest. i could look at you all day," you reply, your finger now tracing the outline of his jaw.

he smiles in response, his fingers gently circling your wrist as you cupped his cheek. "so why'd you drink so much tonight?" he asks as he basks in your warmth. his eyes close as he lets it flow through his body, making him feel safe and beyond content.

"it's a secret," you shrug casually, thumb stroking his cheekbone subconsciously.

"i'm your best friend. you can tell me anything, no judgement."

you sigh, "i drank because the boy i love doesn't love me back."

"want me to knock some sense into him? you know i've got hands of steel," he smirks.

"i don't think that's a good idea," you chuckle to yourself more than him.

"fine. but for what it's worth...he'd be crazy not to be in love with you. any guy would," he tells you, his blue orbs never leaving yours.

"you are. crazy, that is."

his brows furrow in response. he must have misheard what you just said because there was no possible way you meant what he thought you meant.

"it's you. i love you."

"you're drunk," he says, not letting his heart drown in the love he was dying to feel.

"yes...very drunk. very, very drunk. record-setting drunk. but that doesn't mean that i'm not in love with you. drunken words are sober thoughts, dumbass. the only reason i'm telling you this is because i won't remember what an ass i made of myself tomorrow when i wake up."

jj grinned, watching your eyes close as you tried to quell the dizziness. he grabbed your hand, bringing your arm to rest over his torso as his own hand cupped your face.

"i'll tell you i love you when you can remember it," he whispers.

"okay. goodnight, j," you hum, scooting closer to him so your arm can wrap around him tighter.

"goodnight, girl of my dreams."

~

jj tag list (join here!): @maybankslover @skydisneylover @kittyqrt

[checkers94]

Not an investment - Kaz Brekker x Reader

Summary: You try to forget Kaz with a man from the Crow Club. Kaz isn’t pleased at all. He finds a way to get rid of the guy, but you caught him. Kaz finally touches you for the first time.

Warnings: Angst. Fluff. Jealous Kaz.

A/N: I first wrote a draft of this when the first season of Shadow & Bone launched, i finally finished it, and wanted to share! I am so obsessed with Kaz! I might meet Freddy Carter on May, can’t wait but I am so scared at the same time!

———

You and the Crows had just accomplished another successful mission, earning each of you considerable money. The Crows had decided to throw a party to celebrate. Even Kaz had agreed to come. When Jesper asked him to join them, Kaz nodded, and Jesper cheered loudly, earning Kaz a grin.

Kaz Brekker had spent the last hour sitting with his arm on the bar, sipping a drink, and keeping an eye on the improvised dance floor. When the party began, Nina was already dancing, earning curious glances from both women and men. Jesper joined her after getting a few drinks. He tried to convince Inej to go dancing with him and Nina.

”You don’t want to go with them?“ You asked Inej, frowning.

”I do, but don’t tell them. Let them try to convince me.”

You nodded and asked the bartender for a strong drink. ”Make it two,” Inej said.

You watched her before glancing at the bartender.

”Tough night?” Inej asked.

You nodded again.

Inej didn’t bother to pry much; she knew each of you had your past. She knew how it felt to live with it, to live with the memories still there, haunting at night and even during the day... She knew better than to ask you about it.

The bartender arrived with both of your drinks. You thanked him and looked at Kaz, who was sitting at the other end of the bar, staring at people dancing and drinking in the Crow Club.

A man approached you. You didn’t see him coming; you were too caught up in stealing glances at Dirtyhands. The man took the seat next to you, and with a charming smile, he said:

“I didn’t take the infamous Ghost of Ketterdam for a drinker.”

You turned toward him, with a serious and almost warning look.

After all, you were the Ghost. If someone had a job to do, you were here. Looking for someone who disappeared? Easy. Stealing? As if you were a beginner. Taking revenge? Already done. Killing? Done. The Ghost was a shadow in Ketterdam. The kind of story that makes kids stay up all night. Rumors were you had no law, no faith and no humanity left. Oh, how wrong were they. If only they knew...

“What if I am?” You replied to the man.

”Even better.”

You grinned at him and decided to play the game.

“What about I offer you a drink?” He questioned, glancing at your body.

“I already have one, but go on.”

The man asked for another round of drinks, and the bartender complied.

”I didn’t think the Ghost was a beautiful woman like you.” He started, his eyes looking at his next prey.

Before, you would have punched that man hard in the face, but tonight, you didn’t care. You just wanted to have fun, and maybe it could involve him.

“Oh yeah? “

”Yes. Do you know how much people would pay to have you in their bed?”

You laughed and crossed eyes with Kaz. He was staring at you curiously. You thought it was a coincidence, but Kaz had been watching the whole time.

“I know.”

”Quite modest, I see.”

“I can be and do many things, you know?” You flirted, your head already spinning.

A little flirt was harmless, right? It wasn’t like it would change something. You stole another glance at Kaz, still sipping his drink in deadly silence. You knew there had always been something unspoken between the two of you, which you both probably wanted, but that was just impossible. Something that couldn’t be. So why not have fun with this silly man, you thought?

”I can only imagine.“ The man replied, his right hand stroking yours on the counter and his other hand on your knee.

”Let’s dance first.“

The man took your hand and complied, bringing you to the dance floor. The man danced with you, sometimes brushing your body. You didn’t care. Alcohol gave you confidence and relief. You danced closer to the man. And even closer. You both moved simultaneously, feeling the loud music and the alcohol in your veins. You could already feel the man’s arousal. But you didn’t care. You were trying to forget. Forget him and his stupid blue eyes. His silly cane. His silly waistcoats. Him. You just wanted to forget.

What you didn’t know was that Kaz Brekker couldn’t look away. His eyes were glued to your form and this man. This Dreg. Oh, Kaz hated the man at this moment. His hand tightened around his cane.

The man touched you even more intimately, placing his hand on your thigh. Kaz was watching it all; his hand clenched in a fist. He couldn’t bear it anymore. He knew you had a few drinks and hated the idea of the man taking advantage of you. Or worse... Maybe you let him...

Dirtyhands whispered something to the bartender, and then a servant rushed anxiously towards you.

The servant asked for ‘Jake’ something and then told him that someone was waiting outside for him.

He nodded.

“Sweetheart, I need to take care of something, and then I am coming back for you. We’ll finish what we started.”He said, a smirk forming on his lips.

You consented, not understanding what was happening.

The man walked toward the backdoor leading to the streets. You took a deep breath and went back towards your seat. You finished your drink quickly and began to think.

‘What was I doing? Seriously? This man? I am the Ghost, for Saint’s sake, I deserve better.’

Feeling shameful, you wanted some fresh air to think clearly. Or maybe you just needed to flee. You rushed toward the door of the Crow Club and opened it.

There was ‘Jake’, his face bloody and bruised, held by the arms of two men taller than him.

What was going on?

That’s when you saw Kaz punching Jake in the face. The man spit blood, and Dirtyhands held his head in his gloved hand.

”If you dare touch her again, you are dead.”

Kaz was going to hit Jake with his cane, but your screaming interrupted him.

”What’s going on?“

Kaz nodded, and his men let Jake go. He didn’t think twice. Without looking at you once, the man flew in as he had arrived.

The men stared at Dirtyhands, waiting for his approval to leave. Kaz gestured, and they left.

”What’s going on? I won’t ask it again.“

“This stupid... man touched you.” He declared calmly, removing the blood from his sleeve.

”Yes, and?”

“He didn’t ask.”

”Because I let him. Do you genuinely think he would have touched me if I hadn’t allowed it? You know what I do and who I am.” You murmured.

Kaz’s blue eyes were avoiding your gaze, looking at the street and holding tightly onto his cane. He frowned.

”Why?“He questioned.

“Why? You dare ask why? You know damn well, Brekker.“

”Enlighten me with what I am supposed to know ‘damn well’.

He clenched his teeth, and you approached him dangerously. You plunged your eyes into his, almost begging him not to let you speak.

”I needed a distraction.”

“A distraction?” He questioned, wonder in his eyes.

“But we succeeded in the mission. We won thousands of kruge, Y/N.”

”I know.”

”Is it not enough for you? What do you need more? What do you need more than what thousands of Kruge can offer you?”

You repressed your tears. You were the Ghost after all, you couldn’t cry even if you wanted to.

“Thousands of Kruge can’t buy me you.” You whispered, hoping he wouldn’t hear.

“Me?”

“Your name is Kaz Brekker, no? Or should I say Dirtyhands?“

A small smile escaped his lips, quickly replaced by sadness. He was staring at his gloved hands. What was he supposed to do? Tell you he felt the same, and offer you what exactly? He couldn’t even touch you.

“I was trying to forget you with this man, to forget the times you looked at me like I was an investment, when I came back from a mission hurt badly and you just said ‘good job’.

“What do I have that you might want?” He asked, his voice almost trembling.

Memories of Jordie flooded his mind. The times when they were happy, or at least tried to because they were together.

You didn’t reply, just watched him, the man you love.

“I can’t offer you anything, Y/N.” Kaz declared, approaching you with the most sincere look you’ve ever seen him with.

”I can’t offer you a crown, a throne, or even a palace. I can’t provide you the most precious jewels in the world. I can’t make you my queen, Y/N.”

”How romantic.” You finally spoke, crossing your arms.

”At least I have the decency not to lie to you.” He replied.

”I think I would have preferred you to lie.” You declared, trying to repress your tears again.

”What did you want me to say? That I would make you a Queen even though we live in Ketterdam, and would cover you with the most expensive jewels when we loot every day to survive? You would have wanted me to tell you that I cannot live without you, although touching you is unbearable to me? You would have liked me to tell you that I love you, right Y/N?

Eyes misted with tears, Y/N dared to meet his gaze. When Kaz saw that Y/N’s eyes were shining, he realized the magnitude of his words. He had always thought that by being cruel, he could push people away, keep them away, to avoid doing harm and, above all, be hurt. Things had gone wrong the last time he had loved someone, so how could he really trust his heart anymore?

Jordie.

His name echoed in his head when he looked at Y/N. He wanted to apologize, hug her, and kiss her lips, but he couldn’t.

He tried to take a step towards her to try to comfort her, but when his hand approached her bare arm, he resigned himself to it. He was shaking. Touching someone seemed impossible so how could he ask Y/N to stay? What could he offer her? A life of hidden gazes, impossible caresses, abstinence... Y/N deserved better. She could have had better. Nikolai Lantsov had always wanted her. All she had to do was say yes, and she would become the first Grisha Queen. Kaz had to admit Y/N would make an exquisite Queen. She was fair, and she only hurt when necessary. Y/N deserved a better life than a life in danger in Ketterdam. And if Pekka Rollins learned that Dirtyhands cared about her, he would seek to get rid of her by any means possible.

Y/N gazed at Kaz one last time before turning to the door. She was about to grab the handle when she felt pressure on her arm. Kaz was touching her.

“Don’t leave, Y/N.” You rolled your eyes.

“Is it a command, Boss? You asked, annoyed.

“It’s not.”

You observed Kaz’s face. For someone who didn’t know him, Kaz was emotionless. But at that moment, you knew he was vulnerable. His features were different. He seemed fragile. The bastard of the barrel seemed weak! You laughed in your head.

“Stay, please.” He begged you, the silence in his head unbearable.

You made a small move to get out of his grip. His hand fell against his body. And suddenly, he grabbed your hand. You stared at your hand in his gloved ones. Seeing your reluctance, he pulled his hand away and took off his gloves. Trying to calm his trembling, he reached for your delicate hand. His fingers brushed your skin, knuckles, and wrist, sending shivers down your whole body. Kaz was trying to memorize your hand, the veins in your wrists, your knuckles, to make it familiar, so that he wouldn’t be scared anymore.

“Can I?” He asked you.

You nodded, astonished to see Kaz Brekker asking for permission. He wasn’t one to ask. He always took and took. Never saying please. Never asking for permission. And here he was. All vulnerable in front of you.

He took your hand in his with hesitation and still trembling. Dirtyhands was trying his best to hide his fear in front of you. He was the bastard of the barrel. Everybody feared him, and yet he could not take your bare hand in his. He felt pathetic. He stared at your intertwined fingers for some time.

“What more can I offer you than what you already have?”

Your attention, your time, your love, your skin (maybe not), everything, you wanted to scream but you couldn’t. He was Kaz Krekker after all.

“I can’t make you happy, Y/N. You should go with Nikolai, he’ll know what to do. I can’t even kiss you, Y/N. I can’t, it’s pure torture. I can’t.”

One tear was slowly running across your cheek.

“I don’t want wealth or power. I don’t care about Saints.”

“Then what do you want?”

“Your love.“ You spitted.

Your hands were still intertwined, and that’s when Kaz noticed that while you were talking, he forgot about your hand in his, and for once, it had not disturbed him. It was brief, but he had felt your skin against his, the feeling of coldness and an almost delicate hand. He was staring at your hands with intensity, not knowing where his began and yours finished. The contact with your skin burned him, it was like caressing fire, feeling the unbearable heat against his fingers, against his palm, and yet he didn’t want to remove his hand from your painful skin.

“Kaz, look at me.”

You knew he was fighting his own demons, and it was not easy to hold your hand, and much less for a few minutes.

“Focus on my voice.”

He complied, and you dared take his hand and bring it to your face.

“I am here for you. Since the beginning, I have been here. Since the first day we looked at each other in this street, I knew everything would be different.”

While talking, you held his index finger in your tiny fingers compared to his. It was reaching dangerously for your cheek.

“Do you remember, Brekker, the first day we met?”

Kaz was trying his best to focus on your eyes, lips, on everything other than his fear to feel. It was finally this fear of hurting that made every touch burn. And you knew, you understood.

“I was pulling a dagger from my bleeding shoulder, sitting alone on the street, when you came. And do you remember what you said to me?”

You finally put his index finger delicately on your cheek. Step by step. You knew it would take time. Months and years, probably. But you were never a quitter after all.

Kaz chuckled, remembering this particular day when he thought that the Ghost everybody was scared of was just a little girl. Today, he knew he was wrong.

“You first said to me “Work for me, Ghost, and you’ll never have to pull out any dagger of your shoulders.”

Dirtyhands grinned, and with his index finger on your cheek, he explored your skin, still burning him. You removed your hand and laughed.

“You know, the day I met you, I knew you wanted me to work for you because I was taking all your contracts.”

He laughed again, and a second finger was caressing your cheek.

“I couldn’t let you take all the money.” Kaz replied, with this smirk you loved.”And you said ‘yes’ if I recall.”

“That I did. Though I did pull out many other daggers from my shoulder.” You spoke softly.

Another laugh, and he put a third finger on your face, stroking and trying to control his trembling. Still, he never dared remove his gaze from you.

“I know. I was planning a meeting with you for weeks, trying to find something to make you work for me. But you had no weakness, no secret that I knew of. I didn’t know what you were looking for.”

The tips of his three fingers were still on your skin, learning every wrinkle you would have, every scar, everything, even if it burned.

“That’s what made me so good, back then I had nothing to look for and nothing to lose.”

“And now?”

“Now, I have a goal, something to fight for, that’s what makes me fearsome.” You muttered and smiled at your words because you meant them.

Kaz smirked. He knew there were two kinds of people to fear: those who had nothing left to lose, and the ones who had everything to lose.

With sudden confidence, Kaz reached with one finger for your lips, trying to touch, and caress them. His trembling finger found your lip, he felt it, his deep blue eyes on yours. You were watching him with pride.

Maybe too greedy, Kaz wanted to feel your face with his hand, he tried to place all his fingers against your skin, but the burning was too powerful. Suddenly, he removed his hand, shivering.

“I-I am sorry.”He said, his armor falling back in place.

He saw Jordie’s face again. And he felt the skin of other corpses on his. It was warm. Too warm. It was burning him up. He was screaming, and nobody came.

“Kaz. Kaz! Look at me.”

He heard your voice calling in this ocean of corpses.

You didn’t touch him, but called his name.

“Kaz. You are with me. You are not there. Not anymore. Breathe. You are safe.”

He finally saw your eyes and where he was. In the middle of the street with you. He got up, dusted off his coat, and stared at you.

“Sorry, Y/N.”

He put back on his gloves and resumed leaning on his cane.

He was not only Kaz Brekker at this moment, but also Dirtyhands, and the bastard of the barrel. You smiled and glanced at his form as it left the room.

“The answer is this.”

The Bastard of the barrel turned to you and looked at your face, eyes full of silent interrogation.

“This is what I want, Kaz Brekker, and this is what you can offer me.”

You swore you could see a smirk escaping his lips. And this was the moment you knew you were not just an investment for Kaz Brekker.

———

If you loved this story, don’t forget to like, reblog and comment! I’d love to write more Kaz x reader with the OC “The Ghost” if there is enough interest, I’ll write more for Kaz!

[checkers94]

The part I appreciate the most in the Lockwood and Co show is how it handles depression and suicidal thoughts in teenagers. As a theme, it’s not often (ever) done well. Lockwood and Co is the only story I can think of that depicts it in a nuanced, realistic, non-romanticized way

but first, before I get into it: [if you’re in crisis or need someone to talk to and don’t want to/can’t use your national hotline, highly recommend Samaritans, genuinely saved my life] okay, let’s go

Lockwood is the most obvious, with his general disregard for his own life and admitted suicidal ideation. Lucy struggles with her self-worth and the intensity of the emotions she’s subjected to. George worries that he doesn’t belong, that there’s something useless or wrong about him. The show depicts these thoughts and feelings in a way that isn’t overblown or dramatized, it’s all but casual. Which is how it happens. Depression or suicidal thoughts don’t crash into you all at once, they creep into your life without you noticing

But more importantly (and again, something I’ve never seen anywhere else), the show also offers counterpoints to those thoughts and feelings. It shows that there is a way out, even though you may feel trapped and hopeless. This is crucial for the show’s target demographic. Bad media depictions of depression or suicide get internalized, contribute to the stigma, and make it harder for people to ask for help. This show doesn’t do that. This show tells its audience that, yes, things are scary and painful and it fucking sucks, but it’s not hopeless. And it says it so well

In the second episode, when Lucy wants to quit, she admits something that I’m almost certain she’s never told anyone

“sometimes I just think I’d be better off dead”

And when I watched this the first time, I expected Lockwood to react the way I’ve seen people react in my own life; with silence or panic or downright dismissal. But he didn’t. He stays calm and he says something that is so so important to hear when you’re struggling under the weight of feelings like this

“I understand that”

Keep reading

[checkers94]

“That’s the dream? Surf Trip?”

“That’s the dream”

[checkers94]

In the Air

A/N: Set after season 5, so spoilers for that. Reader is Uhtred’s younger sister, taken with him by the Vikings when she was a baby. Enjoy!

Title: In the Air

Summary: After Osferth’s death, Bebbanburg doesn’t much feel like home. Uhtred’s there to help you grieve.

Words: 3366

In the grand scheme of things, everything had fallen neatly into place.

Bebbanburg had been restored to its natural splendour with Uhtred as its lord and protector. King Constantin had returned to Scotland and the sounds of the previous week’s battle were growing more distant by the day. A general peace had blanketed England with Edward’s return to Wessex and some semblance of order between the Danes and the Saxons.

The air was calm for now, and breathing was easier than it had been in a long while.

And yet, there was still something. Something that felt just that bit wrong. Because despite it all…all the celebratory drinking into the early morning, and the feeling of somewhat-safety within four walls people could proudly call home, and the laughter resounding throughout Bebbanburg as the men sang intoxicated versions of explicit songs they were insistent they’d made up on the spot…the losses hung heavy.

Uhtred had often lain awake at times years ago, visualising what it might be like to invite Ragnar to Bebbanburg, to see where he’d been born and raised for a time. Then, he had wanted to see Beocca back in the library, where the priest had used to usher him in for morning lessons after he had arrived late with breakfast stuffed in his mouth. He’d wished to show Gisela the view from the barricades, where he’d once watched the ships come in as the sun rose above the horizon. And he’d longed to sit with Aethelflaed in a room somewhere, safe, where they could talk, away from prying eyes, about anything they wished to talk about. Because he believed they had both deserved such a trivial thing.

Part of him had held all these thoughts in one tight embrace as he fell to the floor once Bebbanburg was securely in his grasp. The grievances they caused had spilled from him in tears, mixing with the blood and the rainwater on the ground. Relief and happiness and pure joy had blurred into one, but a mountainous anguish had tainted it. Because though he had won back his homeland, many of the people he had yearned to share such a long-awaited joy with were gone.

It had been just two weeks since Bebbanburg’s reclamation, and those grievances were smoothing out. Slowly, but surely nonetheless. His home was not as he remembered, but he had expected as much. Not only had the land itself changed in the decades he’d been away, but the recent fire, no matter how much the rain had helped quench it, still scarred the settlement. He and his men had been steadily working to return it to its rightful glory, rebuilding what they could—in between the drinking and songs, of course—and for the most part, Uhtred found himself content. He had his family within his walls, safe and relatively happy, and though there was much to be done, he was grateful for the here and now.

The only relief, selfish as it was, that helped slake the ache in his heart, was the fact that he was not alone in it. Perhaps his ache differed to others who had lost people, but there were enough similarities to feel as though he was not going through it by himself. He knew the majority felt it, too. The bond that had inadvertently, yet gratefully tied itself around each being in Bebbanburg. But his thoughts loitered on you more than they did anything else, too long for personal comfort.

You were an independent person. You had not lived the easiest life, following Uhtred through battles and paths of disloyalty, catching yourself in the centre of the animosity between him and Ragnar, all the while attempting to find you own way throughout it all. You’d been too young when Bebbanburg had first been taken, a baby Uhtred had held onto during his ordeal with the Vikings you both would come to know as family. He hadn’t yet been given much of an opportunity to sit and talk with you like you often had in your life before, to gauge your feelings on being home, to understand if there was anything he could do to help. Though you’d lost all he had lost, you still clung onto one that he knew he could only feel less.

Osferth.

The two of you had never shown any obvious affection that couldn’t be passed off as something between two friends, but those within your close circle had seen every lingering glance, every secret kiss on the cheek, every moment in which you’d excuse yourselves in the evening to sit in a corner to talk. None had commented on it, but they hadn’t needed to. They had all, including you and Osferth, accepted that you were each other’s love, and it had never required verbal confirmation. Uhtred had often wondered why you hadn’t been more open with it, wondering if it was perhaps the monk part or the Viking-Saxon part, but he had settled some time ago on it being something else. Something no one could touch or disturb except you and Osferth. If it wasn’t public, nobody could use it against you, as love so often was. It was yours and yours alone. Or…had been.

You had withdrawn into yourself since his death, though you tried to be present. They had all noticed it…Finan, Sihtric, Stiorra…though they missed him too, they were more careful to bring him up when you were around. They’d seen you react to passing mentions of him, the glaze in your eyes and the dampening of your mood…yes. They’d known. And they still knew.

Uhtred followed the sound of loud voices into the hall of his home. Shouting wasn’t uncommon in such a place, but after the life he’d lived, he’d learnt to be careful. As he’d expected, the voices and those they belonged to were rather…harmless. Perhaps more some than others, if he had you to go by. You were stood in front of a lounging Finan, your arms raised hopelessly as you yelled at him. Finan’s eyes were wide, but that didn’t stop him from popping grapes into his mouth as he assumedly maintained the notion that he was seriously listening.

It was very obvious that you had been seconds away from starting a physical fight when Uhtred interrupted.

“What is the matter?” he asked above the clamour of noise. Your hand stopped mid-exasperation and Finan ceased chewing.

“Finan stole my room,” you insisted breathlessly, the furious expression on your face set in stone.

Finan clearly disagreed. He shook his head and pointed a finger earnestly at you. “Ah, I think you mean: Finan won his room.” He turned to Uhtred then, who was watching on closely in case he had to step in. The growing anger on your face told him that may be more plausible than not. Finan shrugged. “It was a bet, Lord. It’s got the best view.”

“You can have the one beside mine, Y/N,” Uhtred said. “It was once to be yours, after all.”

“And hear you and whichever woman you bring home to hump?” You scoffed and Uhtred rose a brow. “No, thank you. I’ll take the one beside Stiorra.”

Sihtric spoke up then, his silently grinning face swiftly making room for an irking smile as he interrupted your brief acceptance on the bedroom situation. “Actually, I think we—Finan? Yeah. That’s my room.”

“Sihtric, you flaming ball of—”

And there was Uhtred’s cue. He caught your fist before it connect with Sihtric’s laughing face, tugging it back to hold against your chest. You didn’t struggle, instead fixing the man with a deathly stare that, if anything, only had him laughing harder. Finan was no better off, snorting into his fist while attempting to keep from choking on the grape in his mouth. No doubt you wished he would stop attempting.

“Calm,” Uhtred said. “He is teasing. You can have the one beside Stiorra. It is biggest.”

“Right, and do I get the closest stable for my horse too?” It would be untrue to say Finan had received no warning. It would also be untrue to say he had not deserved it. Needless to say, when you wrenched yourself from Uhtred’s hold, grabbed the bowl of grapes, and began to launch the fruit at his face, Uhtred felt no need to thwart it.

“Ow!” Finan yelped most undignifiedly—as if he had ever been dignified to begin with—and brought his hands up to shield his face. “You little shit!”

Since the reclamation of Bebbanburg, Uhtred had certainly noticed your sensitivity to certain situations, and this seemed to be one of them. On any other day, in any other part of England, after any other loss, you would have engaged in Finan’s friendly repartee, enjoying infuriating him just as much as he did you. But the Irishman had chosen the wrong time to open that opportunity back up, and as he continued to be pelted with grapes, he seemed to realise that.

When you had emptied the bowl, a satisfied glint appearing in your eyes as Finan rubbed at the sore spots, Uhtred stepped forward.

“Go to the tavern and drink,” he ordered, directing his attention at both Finan and Sihtric. When they didn’t move, he jerked his head at the door. “Now. Come on, out. You too. Sihtric.”

“Lord,” Finan grumbled as he got to his feet, “I think you’re supposed to discourage the drinking.”

“You can help the maids in the kitchen if you would prefer—”

“First round’s on me, Sihtric.”

They disappeared quickly, and your shoulders sagged in relief. You looked exhausted, and Uhtred was reminded once again of his desire to speak to you alone. He reached forward and squeezed your shoulder, waiting for you to turn your weary eyes on him before he nodded in the direction of the back door leading out of the settlement.

“Come,” he said.

“Where are we going?”

“I want to show you something.” The sea air hit him as you exited the hall. He nodded to the guards stationed on the ramparts and led the way around the back of the walls, cautious with his footing against the unsteady rocks and the harsh breeze.

“Careful,” he called back, extending an arm for you to latch onto as he reached a part he could tell was unpredictable land. In the decades away from home, much had changed to the landscape, and he knew that he would need to reinforce the ground at some point. As a child, he had easily been able to travel along this route to reach this particular destination, not at all anxious about the ground’s ability to keep him safe. Now, it was a mess of loose rocks and corroded hillside, and he made sure to grip you tight in case you happened to put your foot on an unforgiving stone.

“It was heated back there,” he spoke loud over the waves, keeping his gaze below in case he put his foot on an unforgiving stone and pulled you down with him.

“Finan gets away with too much,” was your response, and Uhtred chuckled. You were far from wrong.

There was a spot on the cliff edge where Uhtred had once used to spend hours of his time, watching the ships in the horizon and the gulls up ahead as the sea crashed against the rocks below. He would shut his eyes and breathe in the salty air until his lips were chapped and his palms were dry, and then he would go in for lunch, or for a lesson with Beocca. Often, in the years before now, Uhtred had thought of it foremostly whenever memories of home surfaced in his mind. It had been the one true way for him to feel peace unlike any other. He had never shared it with anyone, but in this new life, this new opportunity that he had won back, he wished to share it with you more than anyone.

In the distance, the sun was readying to set, its sleepy orange glow dousing the blue of daylight. The ocean shone with its reflection as it called for the moon. Uhtred bent to check the ground beneath the wet tufts of grass before lowering himself down. You stayed standing, gazing out across the sea with an innocent wonder in your eyes that your brother adored. Eventually, you sat beside him, stretching your legs out in front of you.

“It is beautiful,” you breathed out.

Uhtred was vigilant but direct with his words. “Osferth would have said the sky was painted by the Lord himself.”

As he had expected, your wonder dwindled quickly. You blinked, your face falling and your body instinctively tensing. You did not turn to look at him. Your mood had plummeted.

A frown marred Uhtred’s features and he leaned forward slightly in an attempt to look you in the eye. “Oh, sister. I wish you did not hurt so much.” Your forehead creased and your jaw clenched, but Uhtred did not let it sway him. “Let me help,” he said. “You shy away from every mention of him.”

It was then that you flicked your eyes towards his. “Because every mention of him reminds me,” you stated tersely, your fists clenched by your sides. “He died in my arms, Uhtred. Everything before that is now damaged.” You turned back to the ocean and shook your head. “I cannot think of him without thinking of how it ended, so I do not think of him at all. And yes,” you said as you rubbed your eyes with a fist, “it hurts both ways.”

Uhtred could think of nothing to say for the moment, so he extended an arm and gently rested his hand between your shoulder blades. You didn’t respond to the pressure except to lean slightly into it, effectively giving him enough reassurance to know that his touch was what you wanted.

It was alleviating to hear you finally free your thoughts. Now that you had, he had an opportunity to help you through your heartache. You had done so enough for him, after his countless losses, many of which had been yours too, and he knew that he was not the easiest person to help ease through grief. You had been more than patient with him, and he was more than ready to turn it around.

“You remember when Gisela died?” he asked quietly, his voice travelling towards you with the breeze. You did not respond, but Uhtred had expected as such. He continued. “I locked myself within my mind. People were afraid to bring up her name. I’m sure you remember; you were the first to do so…something about her brooch, I think.” He caught what might have been a sliver of a smile pulling at the corners of your lips. “Once I moved past the initial frustration every time, I realised it felt…relieving. To hear someone speak of her in the light I wished to remember her in always. I began to welcome these passing mentions, to let them overwhelm my last painful memories of her. Not to eradicate them completely…no, they still need to be felt. But to let them subdue them.” He turned purposefully towards you. “That is what you must do, Y/N.”

You shook your head. “I can’t.”

“Not alone, no. Let me help. Let us all help. Even Finan, the bastard…you know how he adores you. Start slow.” There was a moment of hesitation in which he reconsidered his next words, but decided they had to be said at some point. Right here, right now, on this collapsing cliffside that Uhtred had once dubbed the most peaceful place on Earth, he knew it was the right time. “Can you tell me something about Osferth?” he asked.

“No.” Your response was not harsh, instead riddled with rising emotion, your breathing hitching before and after you uttered the defining word.

“Look past your last moment with him,” Uhtred gently instructed.

“I cannot do that, Uhtred. It’s there.”

“Alright.” Uhtred moved his grasp from your back to your hand, pulling it up and towards the left side of your chest. He pushed it into you enough for you to tip only slightly backwards with the force, emphasising his words. “Then think of it,” he said instead. “Think of it hard. Allow yourself to remember it, and then look behind it. At everything you had together. Every look, every touch. Remember the good. Remember him.”

With each movement of your brother’s lips, your expression morphed into something one could only describe as anguished. Your eyes glazed over so suddenly, and your free-falling tears quickly followed. Your lips trembled, your cheeks grew red, and the hand enclosed in Uhtred’s grabbed at his in desperation. When your entire body deflated and you fell against him, in need of his comfort more than anything, you burst into sobs.

“I miss him, Uhtred,” you spoke around your tears. Uhtred wrapped his arms so tight around you, shutting his eyes against your heaving body. “I miss what we created and—and our plans for the future. We—we wanted to settle once we returned to Bebbanburg. He said he wanted a family with me, and I—and I wanted the same. All our years together…our time spent loving each other…they have all gone.”

Uhtred cradled the back of your head. “No, sister,” he said, “never gone. They are here still. They are yours forever to keep safe until you see him again.” He opened his eyes, unsurprised to find his vision bleared with his own tears, and stared out across the ocean. “Don’t hide from the memories of him. Let them in and let them soften the blow. Soon…it will not get better, but it will get easier.”

You let yourself settle against your brother’s chest, and Uhtred welcomed it. He neither moved to pull away, nor rush you into doing so yourself. He stayed in the position you had caught him in, not a muscle moving except to stroke the back of your head and subconsciously sway barely-obviously from side to side, a motion he used to soothe himself as much as you. His eyes were ahead, watching each wave, his ears listening to each crash against the rocks below, his lips slowly drying from the salty air. He had not felt such peace like this, his arms wrapped around his precious sister, in time too long to count.

You sniffed and moved your head slightly against him, resting your cheek against his chest so you too could look out across the sea. Tears still clung to your lashes, and you blinked them away. “I feel him sometimes,” you muttered, “when I’m alone. It’s like he is watching over my shoulder.”

Uhtred smiled. “I feel the same with Gisela. So does Stiorra. Perhaps you can talk to her too.”

You waited a moment before nodding once, and Uhtred’s smile widened. You were one step further.

“You know…” You shifted again, taking in a deep, shaky breath. “I have never felt a love like I did with Osferth. He was like another part of me, something I was unaware existed until we met. That is why it agonises me to feel his loss. He has taken that part with him to his Heaven.”

“I believe it better to have been in love and feel such loss, than to never have been in love at all,” Uhtred said. The breeze lifted, blowing past you both in a way that seemed to nudge you even further towards each other. He dipped his head and kissed your crown, resting his lips there for a moment as he glanced up at the sky, searching for someone. “Each day, you will grow stronger. We will all be by your side, every step of the way. I promise you.”

You pushed yourself away then, just enough to raise a hand and place it on his cheek. You smiled and leant forward to kiss the other side. “I love you, brother.”

“And I you,” Uhtred said, knowing he spoke for more than simply himself.

The breeze seemed to agree.

[checkers94]

Sihtric X Reader

Summary You are Aethelflaed's friend tasked to stand watch while she meets with Lord Uhtred when you see a few familiar faces

Words 1.5k

You were Aethelflaed's blade and closest friend, sworn to protect both her life and her secrets. And yet as you stood in the freezing air, standing watch while she rendezvoued with her lover Uhtred you regretting ever bending the knee to her.

"M'lady? Is that you?" A Wessex guard, one you recognised to be Edward's stumbled over from the ale house across the path.

"Ah fuck" You muttered under your breath as you turned away.

"M'lady?" Please fuck off "Lady Y/N"

"Hello Olsac" You had crossed paths with him many times as you joined Aethelflaed when she visited her brother and despite keeping to yourself, several men attempted often to meet your acquaintence, this cocky blonde being one of them.

"What are you doing here Y/N? I thought you would be with Lady Aethelflaed in Mercia"

"I'm meeting someone here"

Keep it short and simple. Maybe he'll fuck off.

"Do you bring news of battle"

You bounced on the balls of your feet, trying to contain your sighs.

"No"

You were both silent for a short moment as he kicked the ground with his boot.

Please for the love of God, Aethelflaed hurry up.

"So-"

"Are your men not missing you at your table Olsac?"

He was a little thrown off at your interruption but he covered it with a smile.

"I-yes. I should go back"

You hummed. Bored of his conversation and irritated by the chill of the air.

"Would you care to join me-"

"No. I must wait out here"

He wasn't relenting, lingering by your side.

"I shall wait with you then. Keep you company M'lady"

Jesus Christ

"To the ale house" I pointed across the way, walking over as he trailed behind. If you were to last here another couple of hours with this company, you wouldn't do it stone cold sober.

"Ah yes of course" Olsac stumbled behind you gleefully.

The ale house was packed and loud with cheers of drunken men, stomping feet and clanging tankards on tables.

"This way M'lady" He pointed you toward the ale barrels at the bottom of the long tables. You shuffled your way through the hord of men and slammed a coin on the bar, a cold jug of ale replacing it in your hand.

Several hugs later and Olsacs jokes had yet to make you laugh as you spent the last hour cursing Lord Uhtred silently for keeping your Queen so long. You thought you'd finally tuned out the King's guard's miserable attempt at retelling the battle of Beamfleot; a fight you participated in , when you felt his hand under the table. You thought perhaps the brush of his finger on your thigh was a misplacement of himself when a smirk crossed his lips.

"You are so beautiful Y/N" He slurred.

In an instant you unsheathed your blade and stabbed your knife into the wood of the table between you. The twang of metal caused him to flinch as you stood, anger burning up your neck.

"Don't be like that M'lady" He held up his hands with a snear as if a child caught with their hands in a honey pot.

You practically growled as you forced your blade from the table. You would gave gone to jab it into him throat when a familiar voice sounded from behind you.

"Everything alright here?"

Sihtric Kjartanson was at your back, his face tilted toward yours as he stared over at the drunken man before meeting your eyes.

You knew him well, had shared many a campfire with him on the road to battle and tended each others wounds. He lit a spark in you, one you had tried many a time to snuff out and yet everytime you looked his way your stomach would flip and you'd picture his smile as he laughed at you teaching Aethelstan to hold a blade while running from the Mercians or remembered the feeling of his hands on yours as he wrapped your burnt hand or cut hip from battle.

"We're all good here Dane, Y/N was just getting a bit too caught up in her under garnments"

You went to lunge across the table as the man laughed when Sihtric looped his arm around your waist, holding you back.

"He's not worth it" Sihtrics voice was a whisper in your ear, setting you alight.

"I'm okay. I'm okay" You assured him of your clarity, with you hand on top of his on your hip.

"Come one" Sihtric nodded over to where Finan and Osferth drank on the other side of the room, his face gentle as he settled you. You faked compliancy and just as you turned to walk past him, you reached across the table and grabbed a fistful of the guards hair, bringing his forehead down onto the table as he yelped. The room erupted in a row. The splashing of ale on your table pissed of your neighbours and as the man opposite you fell back from his chair he flayed onto another, causing a ripple of drunken fights.

"Time to go" You laughed as you watched the guard get enveloped by brawling Saxons and Danes. You grabbed Sihtric’s wrist and ushered him over to the door noticing Finan and Osferth stood upon a table cheering on groups of men scrapping before them.

The cold night was a familiar shock as you stumbled out the door laughing with Sihtric behind you.

"I often wonder if you are more Dane than Saxon the way you start fights like that" Sihtric laughed. His face was glowing in the amber of the fire torches by the door, turning your stomach as he brushed his his fallen curls back from his forehead.

"You've got to be kidding me?"

You scoffed through a laugh.

"What?" Sihtric looked your way, a smile still on his lips.

"God you're just so-"

"What?" He rook a step toward you, his hands resting on his swords hilts, eyebrows raised.

"You- your whole" You waved your arms in from of him, the ale you guzzled loosening your lips. "Just the way you hold yourself"

"How I hold myself?"

"Mmhumm" You took a step back, turning away with your hands on your hips. Your mind battling against your drunken words.

"You just walk around like you know you're the most attractive man in this land"

"I do do I?" He followed you as you walked down the street, toward yours and Aethelflaed's horses.

"Of course you do"

"And you like me for it?"

"I-" You caught your tounge. "No"

"No?"

He walked up to you as you stopped infront of him. He made the final step and looped his fingers in your belt, pulling you toward him.

"No."

You knew neither of you believed your words.

"Please don't stab me for this" He spoke as his hand caught your face, his lips placing upon your own. You melted against him as he stepped backward, your hands gathering in his hair as he did. Your back met your horse and you pulled away as it neighed.

You laughed "I really should be getting back to Aethelflaed" He kissed down your throat. "I suspect we'll be leaving soon"

"You do?" His lips captured yours once more. He couldn't care less.

"I do"

You spoke through smiling kisses.

"My Lord will keep her company while she waits"

"You would keep a Queen waiting"

He pulled away from you, his thumb rubbing across your cheek.

"I'd do anything for you Y/N"

"Since when?"

"Since the day I hung upside down across from you in that tree when Hesten kidnapped Stiorra and The Queen and I knew I'd die happen there with your face being the last I saw"

You kissed him once more, pulling back to rest your forehead on his.

"We're idiots"

He agreed with a hum as he kissed you once more but you were interrupted with a cough behind you.

Turning, you and Sihtric were met with Lord Uhtred and Lady Aethelflaed smiling at you both, their hands held the same as you and the Dane in your shadow.

"I'll see you again soon" Sihtric kissed the back of your neck as you parted, greeting Uhtred as you joined Aethelflaed's side.

"Good night Lady Y/N" Uhtred spoke as you and The Queen mounted your horse. Sihtric untied your reins and led you to the border as Uhtred did the same for Aethelflaed.

Just before you could say goodbye, Sihtric motioned for you to lean down, kissing you one last time. You sat up straight and went to say farewell when his hand pushed a string into yours, you opened your palm as his Mjölnir necklace sat in the centre.

"Ill see you soon"

Your hand cupped his cheek as you gathered your reins.

"Don't miss me too much Dane"

"An impossible task Saxon"

You laughed as you led your horse onward, smiling to yourself as you attempted to ignore your Queen's smirk pointed your way as she rode beside you.

...

AN

Enjoy your crumbs my rats

Lmk if you want to be tagged in my other imagines, aus, headcanons

@a-beaverhausen

[checkers94]

Finan: For self defense reasons, I'm going to pretend to be a burglar and you guys have to act wisely. Osferth , Y/N, & Sihtric: Okay. Finan: If you don't want to die, give me all your money. Osferth : Bold of you to assume I have money. Y/N: Bold of you to assume I don't want to die. Sihtric: Bold of you to assume I can die.

[checkers94]

the aftermath

summary | as the poe cup has come around, xavier finally finds the chance to tell you your feelings, but he expressed them at the wrong time

pairing | xavier thorpe x fem!reader

warning | fluff, angst, xavier is hopelessly in love and an idiot, miscommunications, yoko being the bestest friend, it's mentioned reader is a vampire

word count | 1.6k

You couldn’t feel like celebrating, the team gathered in yours and Yoko’s room, well except for Wednesday. 

Numbly sitting on your bed, you watched as Enid, Yoko and a few other girls from Ophelia came to celebrate, dancing around with the cup. 

“Aren’t you happy Y/n?” Enid turned to you. You finally came out of your head looking up at her. “You okay, you don’t look so good.”

Looking up at them, you sighed, “Xavier kissed me today.”

There was a moment of silence before all the girls cheered around, squealing. Yoko pulled you from the bed, hugging you tightly.

There was a moment of silence before all the girls cheered around, squealing. Yoko pulled you from the bed, hugging you tightly.

“See, I told you it was bound to happen.” They smiled, “He likes you back.”

“Wait,” Divina interrupted, though not around the winning team, she came in support for Yoko, “when did it happen? You never went away from the group.”

“During the Poe Cup.”

“You all stay here, and watch over the boat!” You yelled to Yoko, Enid and Wednesday before running off into the forest. 

Ajax and Xavier had a head start of you but you were determined to make it ahead and finally win the cup this year. 

Looking back, you saw Bianca slowly coming in the background, whipping your head back around, bumping into someone.

“Woah watch where you’re going.” You felt them wrap their hands around your bicep to stabilize you before helping you stand up straight. 

“Xavier.” You sighed. As much as you wished for something to happen, you couldn’t let anything get in your way of getting that flag. 

“In such a rush?” There was a playful glimmer in his eyes, “I think we have it this year.”

“In your dreams.” You clipped back. 

“Oh, I do dream of you.” Your eyes soften slightly at the statement, before you remember where you are.

“Let me go!” You tried to wrestle out of his grip. Xavier was adamant of having you in his arms, and didn’t seem like he wasn’t going to let go anytime soon. 

“Leaving me so soon.” He smirked, “One more thing.”

You couldn’t even think after what happened. One second you could see the flag in your field of vision and the next, you felt being pushed against a tree, with Xavier’s lips on yours. 

His hands slowly trailed down your arms, wrapping them around your waist, your hands subconsciously placed on his chest. You couldn’t even register what was happening, dreaming of this moment. 

Kissing him back, your hands were wrapped around his neck, pulling him down closer to you. 

Feelings his hands dance around your torso, you heard the sound of footsteps coming closer and closer. 

“I got it!” Your eyes widened at the sound of Ajax’s voice, pulling away from Xavier, seeing Ajax behind him with the flag in his hand. 

Putting two and two together, you looked at Ajax then looking back at Xavier who had that cocky smirk on his face. 

“Good luck.” He whispered in your ear before running off. 

You felt embarrassed, angry, all whirlwinds of emotions. Swallowing it down, you ran to grab the flag before sprinting back to the boat. 

“What took you so long!” Enid practically screamed, pulling you back into your spot. Having the clear vision of you guys holding the Poe Cup, you couldn’t think of what had just happened, rowing even faster. 

The four of you started to row back, passing the AmontiLlado boat, seeing them starting to sink. You felt proud at the moment seeing Xavier’s face of defeat but turning back. 

You ran behind Enid and Wednesday ran towards the finish, you all cheering for your victory. 

“He kissed while I went to get the flag, and he-uh kissed me to distract me while Ajax was able to get their flag.” You confessed. 

“Oh honey.” Yoko cooed, wrapping their arms around you, leaning your head onto their shoulder. 

You didn’t want to cry, it was supposed to be a happy moment but nonetheless, you felt your eyes starting to water. Letting the tears cascade, you sobbed out loud. 

“I really liked him.” You cried, the rest of the girls all sat around you, consoling you. “And he used me!”

“He’s not worth it.” Enid said softly. 

On the other side of campus, Ajax sat at the edge of Xavier’s bed, watching him pace back and forth in his room. 

“Dude, you're giving me a headache.” Ajax said, “Can you say something.”

“God, I’m so stupid.” Xavier muttered for the hundredth time at night, pulling at the roots of his hair. 

“Anything but that.” Ajax sighed, he didn’t know how long he heard him muttering under his breath, “Just talk to her.”

“I can’t.” Xavier looked up at his friend, “You didn’t see her face, she looked heartbroken, it was like I betrayed her.” It wasn’t one of his best moments, but Xavier couldn’t hold it in anymore and kissing you while grabbing the flag wasn’t the time. 

He planned it all, after you or him won, he wanted to tell you how he felt, kiss you then. 

“Explain to her then.” Ajax offered, “You can’t avoid her forever.”

But you did. 

The following Monday, you walked through Nevermore with Yoko, ignoring Xavier like the plague, which was a pain because of the numerous classes you had with him. 

Walking into Mrs. Thornhill’s class, you started to make your way towards the back to sit with Yoko, but frowning when you saw Enid there. She sent you a sheepish smile before looking over your shoulder. Furrowing your eyebrows, you looked over your shoulder to see the station where Xavier was sitting, with an empty seat next to him. 

Turning around you looked back at Enid and Yoko, sighing and rolling your eyes behind your sunglasses. 

Setting your stuff down the table, you took the seat next to him. 

“Hey.” He whispered, turning towards you, “You’re wearing your sunglasses, you never do.”

It made you feel a little happy that he noticed things about you, but shaking it off. 

The sun never bothered your eyes that much, never really needing to wear sunglasses, but after spending most of the weekend crying, your eyes were red and puffy. 

“Alright class.” Mrs. Thornhill called, you thanked whoever saved you at that moment. 

Xavier was dying to talk to you, get your attention, anything. Looking out of the corner of your eye, you saw him scribbling on the back side of his paper, his eyebrows furrowed. 

Looking up at Thornhill, you saw something being slid by your books, you looked down, seeing the self portrait of yourself. It was from the Poe cup, the cat makeup on your face, and the ears that Enid made you wear. 

Your eyes soften slightly, seeing how beautiful the picture was. Collecting yourself, you pushed it back to Xavier, gathering your stuff before walking out of class. 

“Y/n, wait up!” Xavier called for you in the crowded hallway. You turned back, seeing how everyone had been looking at the two of you. You wanted to talk, but you didn’t need half the population of Nevermore listening in. 

“C’mon.” It was the first thing you had said to him in three days. Walking ahead of him, Xavier was on your heels, letting you take him anywhere. Arriving in front of the Poe statue, you look around the corridor before snapping twice. 

As the statue started to move back, you both walked down the stairs in the Nightshades library. 

Both of you stood in the middle of the room, both of you waiting for the other to talk. 

“I just want-” Xavier started. 

“Did you mean it?” You interrupted him. Your voice held no emotion, your body was stiff waiting for his answer. 

“What?” He asked. 

“Did you actually want to kiss me or was it to distract me?” You explained further. 

“No, of course not.” Xavier shook your head. 

You couldn’t help but start to ramble, “Because if it was, that was truly cruel, everyone knows how I feel about you and if you used my feelings to try to win, I don’t think I can be around you anymore and-”

Before you could finish, Xavier grabbed the side of your face, his hands on your cheek while his thumbs cradled your jaw, kissing you. You breath sucked in, your eyes wide, not even registering what was happening.

Your hands pushed against his chest, pulling him away from you. 

“You can’t do that.” Your voice faltered. “You can’t play with my feelings like that!”

Xavier’s hands were still on your face, moving away from your cheeks, pulling your sunglasses off your face. 

He saw the tears in your eyes, using the pad of his thumb, to wipe away the tears that started to cascade down your cheek. 

“I love you.” He said softly, his thumb caressing your cheek. “And I’m an idiot.”

“You are.” You laughed quietly. 

“Ajax told me I finally needed to tell you, and I had this whole plan, kissing you after the race, when we won.”

“When I win.” You corrected him. 

“Right.” He smiled, before continuing. “And what happened during the forest, I just couldn’t hold it in anymore, I was an idiot for leaving you like that, I should have explained myself afterwards.”

“You really love me.” Your hands were wrapped around his wrists.

“Of course I do.” He smiled. “And I’ll spend the rest of my life telling you.”

“Yoko’s gonna freak when I tell them.” You chuckled. 

“Really.” He started to smile, “I just told you I love you and all you’re thinking about is Yoko’s reaction.”

“Of course.” You smiled. “So are you gonna kiss me again?”

“For the rest of my life.”

fin.

[checkers94]

ARTISTS IN LOVE ; xavier thorpe

pairing: xavier thorpe x reader

reader: fem!, she/her, mention of reader having telekinesis, reader is an artist.

wc: 1.4k

warnings: none (if i missed something let me know)

a/n: okay guys I swear I’m not dead. Sorry if I haven’t been writing anything, but I wasn’t feeling like doing it.

But this week I watched Wednesday and I obviously fell in love with Xavier, so here’s something. I wrote it in like 3 hours yesterday at 2 am, I’ve never been this inspired and I don’t how it turned out. Hope you all will enjoy!

“I really appreciate that you express yourself and your feelings with drawing, but I do not think that the most appropriate time and place is during class.” Principal Weems explained carefully to you, smiling as always.

A few teachers caught you drawing during their lesson, instead of listening to the topic of the day, and let’s just say that they weren’t really happy about it, so they complained to the principal. The firsts times Weems didn’t say anything, on the other hand nobody ever complained about you, so she thought it was something that  would pass in a week or so, but after too many complains, and your grades dangerously lowering, she had to step in and resolve this situation.

Keep reading

[checkers94]

Since you’re taking requests I’ve got a fun idea for you :)

Xavier Thorpe and the reader running around in the rain! Just laughing and stomping in puddles :)

rainy days — xavier thorpe x reader

word count - 764 join taglist warnings - use of the word ‘pretty’ and ‘her’ once.

a/n - i love this idea (and xavier) so much, thanks for the request <3.

Xavier was sitting hunched in front of a large canvas in his shed, listening to the rain pelt the roof as he worked on his next big project, a portrait of you. He’s had it in the shed for months as he worked on it, getting it to perfection before deciding the best time to show it to you. Xavier was waiting until it was near the holiday season and he was hoping to give it to you then.

His soft brushstrokes are interrupted by a banging on the door and a shout from who he could only assume was you to let you in. He rushes to cover the canvas — carefully as to keep it untouched by the cloth he throws over it — as he shouts for you to come in. There are butterflies in his stomach thinking of the many times you’ve sat in a comfortable silence with him as he painted, sometimes you’d ask him to draw something simple to bring to life to entertain you for a few moments before slipping back into silence.

Normally, Xavier hated other people being in the shed when he was working on something. Sure he’d sketch stuff in classes when he wasn’t paying attention or the same when he was in his dorm room, but something about having that space, his own space, was much more personal to him. The only person beside you and Xavier that were in the beat up old shed after he fixed it up, was Ajax. It was really only a few minutes while he came along one time when Xavier forgot something.

But the way he felt about you swayed his decision on letting you come into the shed, not that he minded. The first time you saw the inside you were in awe of the paintings and sketches littering the walls and the paint pallets and pieces of paper covering the tables. He showed you around the small room slowly, admiring the way your face lights up as you take in his artwork. Xavier wasn’t shy about his work — in fact he knew he was quite talented — but he always enjoyed the compliments when they came from you instead of from others.

“Come on, Xavier!” you ordered him excitedly while you took his hand in yours and led him to the door.

“What’s going on?” he laughs, running his hand through his hair, letting you lead him into the rain. He watched you laugh and spin in the cleared area taking in the rain.

“Oh have you not played in the rain before, pretty boy?” you joked, coming close to him, wrapping your hand around his wrist and gently pulling him farther into the rain, keeping him closer to you than before. You admire him, watching the rain wet his hair. You bring your hand to his hair silently asking permission to move his hair out of his face. He gives a slight nod, leaning closer to your touch, a ghost of a smile on his face while you brush the dampened strands of hair behind his ear.

“You look so good like this.” he smiles.

“What? I don’t look good any other time?” you feign offense pouting, the smirk on your face lets him know you’re only joking.

“Shut it. Y’know I always think you look pretty.” He watches her smile get wider, causing him to do the same.

“C’mon we’ve got rain to mess around in.” Xavier runs around you and bolts into the trees, holding his laughter in as he listens to you calling out his name before he dashes out from behind a tree and stomping his foot into the puddle in front of you, splashing it up the front of your pants.

Xavier throws his head back while he laughs and pulls you into his chest by your belt loops. He brings his frigid hand to your cheek and rubs his thumb across your cheekbone.

“I really want to kiss you right now.” Xavier confessed, focusing his gaze on your lips.

“Do it. Kiss me, Xavier.”

He wastes no time in pressing his lips onto yours. He bites your lip lightly, not hard enough to draw blood, smiling into the kiss as he gains access to your mouth. The two of you spend what feels like hours kissing in the rain before coming apart for air, when in reality it was only a few minutes.

“C’mon, we need to get inside before one of us gets sick.” Xavier takes your hand, kissing it sweetly, and leads you towards the gates of Nevermore.

taglist (bolded means I cannot tag you) — @alexxavicry @hockeyboysarehot @bluesongbird @sunflowerlamb @hopefulwitchcandy @marigoldsworth @hopexargent @liltimmyst @prettysummerbaby @prttydlly @madisontaxarn @fictionalho @pronsletss @ssprayberrythings

© kolsmikaelson 2022. do not copy, translate or repost my work!

[checkers94]

Prologue (TQOH) II A.T

Pairing: Aemond Targaryen X Targaryen OC Summary: Her warmth and love caress his soul making him hum with bliss. Having her presence near makes all of the dark thoughts perish, as she was the flowers that grew in the darkest part of him. She is the keeper of his soul. Holder of his heart. Without her, he is nothing. Word Count: 6285 Note: This is to be a series of Aemond Targaryen, the title of it: The Queen of His Heart. This is my first time writing a fanfic, so I hope you look forward to it and please be patient on the upcoming chapters. Also, don’t be afraid to share this! 

The folktales of Maegor II Targaryen _____________________

Baelon Targaryen and his sister-wife, Princess Alyssa Targaryen birth three sons: Viserys Targaryen, Daemon Targaryen, and Maegor II Targaryen. Each of the three held up their own reputation. Visery the patience King of the Iron Throne, Daemon the Rogue Prince, and Maegor the true King who never was.  

Whole of  Westeros believe that Maegor Targaryen could’ve been the perfect heir regardless if he was the third born. He had proven more suited to be King than his own brother, Viserys Targaryen.

Maegor educated himself by furthering his education of learning the history of Westeros and of Old Valyria. And at the age of seven the boy spoke fluent High Valyrian, that every pronunciation he spoke so eloquently. He was a scholar and great warrior who knew the path of the sword so well that he even went as far by training blind folded, to intensify his training.

Maegor constituted to be a true King to the eyes of the Iron Throne, as they observed how much he dedicated his life of doing his duty making him to be a very admirable prince.

At the age of ten Maegor was the second Targaryen to claim Vhagar,  one of the oldest and biggest dragons in the world who foresaw the wars during the time of Aegon the Conquerer. The dragon hadn’t been mounted since his last dragon rider, Visenya Targaryen, and so the old dragon spent her years alone until Maegor appeared. Everyone was at awe when they found out that a child had such valorous heart in him, and knew that his name would be told by many.

When King Jaehaerys I passed his crown to Visery Targaryen, he made sure that his Hand was to be Maegor as he knew that he would be great help towards his brother reign, and he was right.

During the time where there was conflict between the House Stark of Winterfell and House Targaryen, Maegor thought it to be wise to betroth himself with one of the daughter to strengthen their alliance, and that everything to be mended.

Four years later, Maegor was married to Kalea Stark, the second daughter of Benjen Stark and Lysa Locke.

As it told by girls when they are of age, it’s a woman duty to produce a heir and obey her husband regardless of his choices, however, Maegor was not like any man and that was a surprise to her.

During their marriage, he never once forced himself on her nor was he adamant that she was to get pregnant. Instead, he was patience and understanding which made Kalea fall in love with him in the end.

Viserys was hoping for his brother to have a child when his Aemma gave birth to their first child, Rhaenyra Targaryen. Though there was Daemon, Visery gave up hope on his brother as he knew how disloyal the rogue prince was with his wife, as he would constantly hear from spies the amount of times the prince has gone to the Street of Silk.

Rhaenyra was without cousins and so she became quite close with Alicent Hightower, who soon became Queen of the Iron Throne as the tragic death of Aemma giving birth to her son. When Alicent was crowned Queen, the downfall of their friendship fell and Rhaenyra was once again alone. When Kalea moved to Kings Landing, Rhaenyra and her clicked instantly.

Kalea had a white aura around her wherever she went, making it easy for the princess to be open with her personal life, especially the secret affair she was having with her personal guard, Ser Harwin Strong. Kalea was not one to judge and never once looked down upon the princess, which had made Rhaenyra feel grateful. Since then their friendship grew and grew to the point where the two consider their relationship to be more like sisters.

Over the years, Rhaenyra would observ the love her uncle Maegor showed to Kalea and she always hoped to find love similar to theirs, as they presented such a rare dynamic at this time of era. They marry because of politics, not out of love. Usually political marriage is the unfortunate part of being a royal as they accept the ugly truth that their duty will always be above their happiness. However, there are those that are luckier than others when throughout their marriage they come to realize that they were meant for each other.

Maegor the Mighty and Kalea the pure, such opposites that attracted the other.

When Rhaenyra was fifteen years old, Kalea Stark announced her pregnancy. Rhaenyra was delighted to hear that she was finally getting a cousin – although she had three siblings, Rhaenyra didn’t have much time spending with her siblings in a loving way. She saw them as her replacements and Alicent let that be known since the day she got pregnant with Aegon. Thus, Rhaenyra thought there was no reason to have such relationship except to be cordial for the sake of her father.

Queen Alicent may not show it, but the inside she was jealous of the relationship between Rhaenyra and Kalea especially during the time of Kalea pregnancy. Alicent would see Rhaenyra by her side constantly and she only wished that she done that with her. Alicent of course tried to have a relationship with Maegor’s wife, but whenever the two converse there was never a topic the two related with, unless if it was about Kalea’s pregnancy.

Alicent would smile when she saw the Stark spark when she talks of her child, that she will notice how she will caress her belly when she mentions the idea of having a family with Maegor. The Queen truly was happy for the Stark as she knew that’s all she ever wanted.

Unfortunately, what neither knew was how short was she to have that experience.

The Birth of Eudora Targaryen _____________________

At 112 AC, Eudora Targaryen, first of her name was born.

Not only was she first to her name, but as well as the first child in history being born under the Red Moon which only happens every once in a thousand years according to ancient astrology. It was said that the Red Moon was the Gods gift of rebirth and rejuvenation.

When she was born, everyone expected for the princess to have the traditional pure Targaryen hair, but instead her hair was black as a ravens wing. The servants and her parents were shocked at first, and even more so when the small babe opened her eyes revealing the color of a dragons fire, turning them to be at awe.

Kalea Stark questioned hardly if the child before her was truly the one that she pushed out, and she began to panic inside as she began to have intrusive thoughts. Her daughters hair was as black as hers resembling a Stark, but her eyes is what cause her to stagger. No one in her family had such eyes, and none of Maegors either as they all possessed violet.

The young Stark was afraid that the family will think of her as a whore who slept with another making her daughter a bastard. She knew that if she even tried to defend herself by counter arguing that she was never with anyone else beside her husband, her words would be ignored.

Maegor Targaryen at first felt dishonored, but when Eudora move her right side off her mothers chest is when he saw a streak of silver hair peaking out his daughter’s hair. His eyes trailed down the small babe as he came across the birth mark that laid behind her ear which was identical to his and what is presumed, Aegon the Conquerer.

The unique birthmark outline the Targaryen Sigil. It said that a Targaryen child who holds the birthmark of the sigil was to be honored as they were chosen by the Gods to do their work in secret.

Maegor was fortunate enough to have his on his calf, making it unknown. He didn’t want anyone knowing he carried the mark, as that will rise further reason why he was meant to be King. Maegor had a heart of gold, and he didn’t want to steal the crown away from Viserys knowing how much his eldest brother wanted it.

Maegor was beyond relieve as his eyes began to glisten. Kalea was confuse towards his reaction until he pointed the mark out having the Princess let out a shaky laugh. She moved up the cotton fabric where no one can see, and Maegor placed a gentle kiss on her temple mumbling his gratitude towards his dear wife of birthing their daughter.

News traveled throughout the whole entire Kingdom announcing the Princess birth. Everyone, including King Viserys and Queen Alicent were happy to hear that they had another addition to the family.

When they met Eudora, they adored her at first sight. Visery held his niece in his arms as he admired her features, and as like everyone else he was shock to see the vibrancy of her eyes that was a unique element to her features, but as well as the blackness and that one streak of silver that peaked out.

In a way, Eudora reminded Viserys of his mother, Alyssa Targaryen. Her beauty was like no other making her unique. Her having heterochomia eyes made her stand out out of all of the Targaryen women, making her known to be beautiful. Now that crown is place on his niece.

Alicent congratulated Kalea of her birth, complimenting how she was a sight to look at which Kalea responded with a tight smile.

Though Maegor thought it was not a problem, Kalea did not like how long the Queen was holding her daughter. To say it was more like a motherly instinct that made her whisper to the maid to snatch her daughter from the Queen.

When Rhaenyra visited her sister and met her new cousin, she was instantly in love with the child. Kalea was elated to see the bond that was form between the two princesses, and knew if anything was to happen to her she entrusted Rhaenyra to her daughter making her come to the conclusion to make Rhaenyra Eudora’s God Mother. When Kalea and Maegor given her that honor, Rhaenyra was in tears and hugged the two newly parents.

The next two years, Kalea and Maegor watched their daughter grow to this adorable little babe who snatch the attention of everyone in the kingdom. Eudora became known as the Targaryen with exotic beauty, and with that name crown on her Maegor became very protective of his daughter making his lady-wife laugh. Its an amusing sight to see the big buff man taking orders from the small toddler, and there is not a doubt that Eudora had her father wrapped around her finger.

Kalea wished to have another, however, a sickness grew inside of her making everyone in the kingdom grow very concern when they saw how pale and timid she became.

Maegor would come back to their chambers tired and defeated. He flew all over Westeros to find somewhat of a cure for his beloved, but when Maestors gave him another dead end it was hard for the Targaryen to accept that he was going to lose his wife, and his daughter was going to lose a mother.

A moon later, Princess Kalea passed away in her sleep in the arms of her husband. Everyone saw a shift on the now widow making him twice intimidating to be around. Visery understood his brother lost and allowed him to temporarily leave his post as Hand in order to heal, making Otto Hightower step into the position for the meantime.

During the remainder of his time healing, Maegor spend his time with his daughter by taking her to Driftmark where Rhaenys Velaryon and Corlys Velaryon resided with their children. The duration of their time spent in Driftmark became permanent as Maegor never went back to Kinglanding. The Velaryon family were happy to have him and his daughter as she brought nothing but light and happiness.

Throughout the remainder of their residency, Maegor became one of the head commanders which gave an upper hand for House Velaryon of Driftmark since they also got themselves Vhagar.

The people of Driftmark grew quite fond of the young child, and similar to her father when he was a boy, she grown to be an intelligent Targaryen for a child her age.

Eudora would spend her time with her aunt Rhaenys and her daughter Leanora, and the two Velaryon ladies love her presence and her would listen to her endless fascination of Old Valyria. Rhaenys saw Maegor in her and knew that the child will have the  brain off her father, and the beauty of her mother.

Rhaenyra would go to Driftmark to visit her goddaughter with her son Jacaerys so he can spend quality time with his cousin, and sometimes Laenor will tag along. But at times she will leave him back at Kinglanding so she can spend quality time with Eudora.

Before Kalea’s death Rhaenyra promised her sister that she will take care and love her daughter as she was already her own child. Kalea knew Eudora was in good hands as she knew Rhaenyra will never abandon her, and for that she happily accepted deaths hand to carry her where the Gods awaited.

Rhaenyra became Eudora second mother. When Eudora was five years old, she called Rhaenyra ‘mother’ catching Maegor and Rhaenyra off guard. Rhaenyra look up at her uncle trying to defend how Eudora was only child who is confuse, but Maegor being the understanding man that he is reassured his niece that it was alright. “I would rather my daughter see you as a mother figure than another, so don’t fret my niece I am not mad.” With that, Rhaenyra made it known that Eudora was her child.

Rhaenyra once took Eudora to Kingslanding as King Viserys asked for her presence. The King missed his beloved niece and wished to feel her light again. When Rhaenyra came with Eudora in tow, every subject that worked in the Kingdom were happy to hear the arrival of the young princess. Alicent children: Aegon, Helaena, and Aemond were baffled at the sudden change of mood as they watched the servants decorating the castle. It was only their half-sister that was coming back and she is nothing any special. Alicent saw her children confusion, and so she went up to them telling them the reason.

Before Eudora’s arrival, Alicent made sure to remind her children again to be kind to their cousin, and to respect as she also the daughter of Maegor the Mighty. They heard stories of their uncle, precisely Aemond and Aegon. The two brothers had always wanted to meet their uncle and watch his way with the sword, fortunately for them they did but it only lasted for a day till he had to leave too Driftmark.

At the Red Keep, the royal family and their subjects watched Syrax landing where they knew was the dragon pit. As they watched the carriage come close to their viewpoint, out came Rhaenyra holding hands with Eudora.

Everyone gasped at the five year old princess, and were shock to see how much she grew. Visery was the first one to move forth and pick up his niece with the remaining strength he had. The young laughter were like music to his ears as he twirled her around in his arms. Alicent held a bittersweet smile on her face as she watched the happiness on her husband, and she looked down at her children who held somber look as they watch their father give his love to someone who was not his own blood.

Visery took his niece hand and introduced her to his children. Helaena was the only one that greeted the girl, while her brothers stood there quietly. Eudora felt intimidated by the two brothers, but nonetheless she gave them a small smile and in return she received nothing making her hide behind Rhaenyra who petted her hair.

Alicent watched how close Eudora was with Rhaenyra that she along with Viserys were surprise to hear the child call her mother. When Alicent went up to the young princess to greet her, she snuck in a breath when she saw those fiery eyes again. Till this day she can’t help but admire those eyes as they were so unique. When Alicent introduce herself, Eudora smiled at the Queen and complimented her hair making Alicent let out a genuine smile.

For the next three moons, Eudora stayed in Kingslanding and during her time there she got close with Heleana, Jacaerys and Lucerys. Eventually, she grew to have a relationship with Aegon and Aemond. It only took two weeks and she charmed them with her good nature. Both brothers grew attached to the young princess as she was the only one that understood them. For a young girl her age, she was mature and spoke so eloquently that they believe she was a fifteen year old trapped in a five year old body, when in truth Eudora Targaryen was just an old soul.

Although Eudora was having a wonderful time in Kingslanding with her cousins and nephews, she was starting to miss her father and at times she will run crying to Rhaenyra’s chambers telling her she wished to go to her father. Eudora didn’t know the right words to form her worry, but she had a feeling her father was in grave danger. When she shared her thoughts to Rhaenyra, she  reassured her that her father was alright and that nothing can defeat Mighty Maegor.

On the contrary, Rhaenyra should’ve listened to the little girls worry as she should’ve known the father-daughter bond the two had was stronger than her bond with Eudora.

Raven flew to Kingslanding delivering the unfortunate news in regards of Maegor Targaryen who died with poison blade to the heart. It was written that after the battle that happened in Stepstones, one of the Craghas Drahar last Triarchy soldier was left still breathing and was healing throughout the years to fulfill his vengeance.

The nameless soldier disguised himself as a guard who found Maegor’s chambers catching him at vulnerable state, which was in his sleep. Maegor wasn’t fast enough to react as he felt sharpness of the knife plunge to his heart. The last thought the Targaryen had was his daughter, and passed away with devastation.

The nameless solider flee the permitter, not before snatching the ruby necklace that was gifted by his late-mother.

Viserys and Daemon emotions was mixed with fury and heartbreak when they heard of their little brother passing away. Daemon kneel in front his King brother, with his Dark Sister digging on the concrete floor. Daemon vowed that he will fly all over Westeros to find the man responsible, and he would make sure to bring his head alongside the sword to gift so it can be placed on the Iron Throne to signify a victory of vengeance.

Viserys placed his hand on his only brother shoulder, and wish him a safe journey as he alongside his niece will be waiting for him.

Before Daemon was to leave he visited his niece who was in Rhaenyra chambers. He walked in the two princesses holding each other, and watched the endless tears that traveled down Eudora cheeks.

Eudora was now without parents and alone; that broke Daemons heart as he understand what his niece was feeling as he too felt alone when his parents passed away. Daemon crouched down at the girl whose face was stuffed against Rhaenyra stomach, and turned her around where she faced him. When she looked up at him, Daemon let out a small chuckle as he immediately saw his brother in her. “I will avenge your father my sweet niece, and I will bring his ruby necklace to you so you can wear it in remembrance of him.”

“Don’t die uncle, promise me you will come back to me,” said the princess. Daemon, with glistening eyes nodded his head. Eudora then wrapped her small arms around him, holding him tightly which he quickly follow. Although Daemon was rarely presence in his niece life, he made sure that she knew he existed. He will visit her whenever he could, and when he did he will take her on mini-adventures on Caraxes. He was the fun uncle, according to Eudora.

It took Daemon a moon to find the Triarchy soldier, and when he did he made sure that the man went through a long painful death. As he promised, Daemon brought his head and his sword gifting it to his King brother, who hummed with approval. The family watched Daemon placing the sword on the iron throne where it now stands with the rest of the collection.  

Daemon found Eudora in her chambers, and handed her father’s necklace. Without words, the two embrace in each others arms. Eudora thought that because of his bravery and ambition on avenging his brothers death, it would be fair to give a piece of the ruby to him. Eudora who went to a jeweler by the help of Aegon, wore half of the ruby that was wrapped around her neck and in her hand she was holding the other half in a soft silk pouch.

She found Daemon in the garden sitting against the blossom tree twirling around his dagger. When Daemon felt his niece presence, he looked up at her with a small smile. She sat down by her uncle and handed him the necklace. At first, Daemon was confuse as to why she was giving him her fathers necklace until she gave out her reasoning. “My father was your brother, and you knew him longer than I have, had many memories than I have. My father had told me many stories of you two, and how you looked up to him. Thus, I thought it to be fair that the both of us have a piece of him.”

Daemon who finally allow a tear to slip, smiled at his niece heartfelt wish. Daemon wrapped his arm around the (now) six year old, pulling her to his side and giving her a kiss on her temple. “You, my beloved niece, are a rarity and for that I promise under your father grave to protect you as if you were my own.”

Daemon Targaryen isn’t a man of his word, but for his niece he will make sure to keep his promise until his last breath. Eudoria was the light of Maegor life, the core of becoming a better father – a better man. Daemon knew Maegor would go extend ends for his daughter to be happy and if that was to step down his position as Hand he would go that far, which he did. Daemon at first didn’t understand that, and Maegor explain to him that somehow his daughter has this power where she brings out clarity into him. “If you spend as much time as I spend with my little Eudora, you would know what I mean by that brother. Maybe when you have your own children you’ll see it.” But it never did.

Since then, Eudora has resided in Kingslanding and was under Rhaenyra care who grown very protective over her goddaughter. Eudora over time grown to be more beautiful and elegant than ever before.

Jacaerys and Lucerys became like brothers to her, Heleana like a sister. As for Aegon and Aemond, it was complicated.

Aegon grown to love his cousin in a more intimate way. As she slowly flourish, Aegon perspective change and he couldn’t help but develop a crush. Whenever he was to lure servants to his chambers, he will blindfold them and try to picture her by moaning out her name. As for Aemond, his feelings for his dear cousin was all over the place.

Aemond grew an attachment towards the princess, as she was the one person he would go to whenever his brother and nephews make fun of him for not having a dragon. Eudoria who had good way with words will always remind him that he was not alone, that she too doesn’t have a dragon and she isn’t insecure of not having one.

“I believe that the universe has something under their sleeve, and for good reasoning. I believe that our Dragons will be the most fear and respected Dragons in all of Westeros. So don’t worry dear cousin for that your dragon may be a lot closer than you think, you just don’t see it yet.”

Oh how true and wise were her words.

Daemon was in Viserys chambers when the two conversation was cut short when a guard deliver a parchment letter. Written in High Valerian was a message from one of the dragon-keeper that announced four dragons had been found dead outside the mountain. They didn’t go further to detail, but ended with that one of royal family must come to see the strange occurrence as this may lead the extinction of dragons.

Both brothers grew alarmed, but kept it to themselves. Daemon was the one to go and figure out the mess, and promised to report back as soon as he sees it with his own eyes.

Daemon flew to original seat of House Targaryen, once he landed he was met with one the dragon keepers who appeared to him with fear in their eyes. Without a word, Daemon followed the keeper who was walking fast paced.  "Never in my years have I come across such death Prince Daemon, and that says a lot base off the stories told about Cannibal. As we awaited for your arrival, we found three extra dragons further away from the mountain, but what we foresaw with our eyes was disquieting.“ The Dragon Keeper stopped from walking, facing around to meet the curious eyes of the Rogue Prince. "The dragons were found frozen to death, and with a small delicate they perished into… dust.”

“What do you mean frozen?” the prince intrigued.  

When he didn’t received an answer, but a gesture instead to continue to follow him and the two hike their way up to Dragonmont. Once there, the Keeper with his head bowed with fear, gesture with his hand for Daemon to look before himself. What Daemon saw in front of him was beyond disbelief. There before him was a dragon that had scales dark as night, and eyes pale as snow. When it breath, you don’t feel the warm smoke but instead the coldness of it. The dragon was twice the size as Vhagar making it now be known as the biggest dragon in history.

“H-How?–”

“We don’t how or where the dragon came from, all we know that it arrived here not so long ago base off how fresh of the death we witness. We found a trail of blood leading up to here, at first we didn’t see the giant since we were walking during the stars alight; the beast camouflage well with the night until we heard its rumble noise.” he said. “When we came back during daylight, we saw its true form. It felt our presence like it did that night, its body began to curl what seem to be something very special – we don’t know what its protecting as we tried to near closer to it by speaking to it. But the giant did not listen, instead it open its mouth and we didn’t see fire transpiring, but instead the opposite–”

“Ice,” Daemon whispered. “How could this be, never has there have been a dragon with such ability.”

“That is what we’re trying to figure out my prince,” the keeper stressfully sigh.

“Do you think if I fly Caraxes above the dragon, he will attack?” Daemon questioned. He was curious what the creature was protecting.

“I believe not my prince, the beast only will attack if you’re close to it. Many dragons haven’t flown around these areas, but when they do they are at very far proximity as if they can feel the beast strong aura.”

Daemon didn’t say anything as he went to go fetch his dragon. Once he did, he sat upon Caraxes and declare him to fly. When they were settle flying around the blue skies, Daemon made sure they were at a good distance from the creature where he was in a good angle of sight. The rogue prince was in awe of the the giant beast, he was actually hoping for it to show it wings so he can see the long lengths of it.

But above all, Daemon was curious to what it was protecting. The giant growl was heard above making Daemon sees its snowy eyes glaring at him. The beast curl its right wing and Daemon saw a glimpse of white when it lifted its wing a bit, making Daemon draw a bit closer.

Caraxes who grew fear of the dragon, began to go the other direction but with snipe tone from Daemon the dragon obeyed his rider. When Daemon saw the creature move his head again, what he saw before him made him blink his eyes as if making sure what he was looking was right, but his eyes never deceive him.

Laying down asleep was no other his niece, Eudora.

When Daemon landed his dragon, he went up to the dragon and ignored the keeper scream to not go close to the creature. The panic yelling made the beast look over to their direction and saw how close Daemon was getting to him making it open its breath where Daemon sees the smoke of ice developing and ready to emit. But before the beast had the chance, he yelled out his niece name.

Eudora who was waking up from her slumber, sat up in a state of confusion when she heard her uncle calling out to her. At first she thought she was dreaming, but when she heard him much clearer she stood up from where she laid and dragged her hands against the scales of the dragon who felt the girls touch. Daemon watched the creature looking down at what he guess was his niece, and when he finally got to see her it was like a ton of bricks were lifted off his shoulders.

For the first time in his life, Daemon has not felt such relief when he saw that his niece was in no way harmed. He watched her speak to the giant with soothing tone making it retreat. To say Daemon was impress is indeed right, but at the same time amuse to see how small she is next to the Dragon. It was satirical sight because it made her look so fragile.

“Eudora” he smiled.

“Uncle, what are you doing here?” The six year old questioned.

“What am I doing here? What are you doing here? How in the hell did you even get here and w-with that thing!” He yelled out pointing at the Dragon who kept a hard stare at the rogue prince.

“That thing is my Dragon,” she clarified. “And he has name.” Eudora went up to her bewilderment uncle, taking his hand where she pulled him close to her creature. “Uncle, meet Jyrot.” Eudora place her uncles hand against warmness of her Dragon who saw that he was no threat which gave Daemon the permission to pet him.

“How did you find him,” he muttered.

“I didn’t, he found me” she smiled. Daemon who stopped petting the dragon looked down at his niece who was looking up at Jyrot with pride. “I couldn’t sleep so I went outside to get fresh air. I headed to the water, and far ahead I saw him peaking from the sea. It was like he was waiting for me.”

When it came to claiming a dragon, some are given an egg and from there the dragon and the rider begin to connect. Claiming a dragon who once had a rider could sometimes be difficult. A dragon chooses whether the rider is fitted for them base off if their connection align with each other. The rider must speak to the dragon in their old native tongue for the dragon to understand, and the dragon will then understand. But hearing that an unclaimed Dragon waiting for a rider is a story untold.

Daemon began to question his niece further from where he stand. Her answer couldn’t be wrapped in his mind, so he continue further to investigate. “Now be truthful Eudora, a dragon just doesn’t sit and wait for someone to claim it.”

“But I am being hones uncle, why will I tell you a lie? What will it benefit me?” That is true, what will she gain from lying. With Daemon getting her right side, did he notice when the wind cause her hair to fly back he saw  a mark that laid on her neck.

“What is that?” he lowly whispered. Daemon made his way to his niece and push her hair aside. Eudora questioned her Uncle, but he kept quiet and placed his hands on either side of her so stopped moving. “The Targaryen Sigil” he mumbled in shock. “You mark the sigil, the exact same that Aegon the Conquerer had on the back of his neck.”

“Okay, and so did my father?” Daemon looked down at his niece with astonishment. The six year old was meant for greatness, the Gods had gifted his family someone who capabilities so complex that Daemon doesn’t have the patience what type of fate she has on her fingers.

“Your father… I didn’t know” He was confused, and began to questioned in his mind how come he didn’t know his brother held the same birthmark as their descendant. Then it began to click in his mind of the reason why Maegor though it was best to keep secret, and it was because he didn’t want to steal his eldest brother crown – it was not right of to do that knowing what that’ll lead to: war.

Maegor didn’t want that for his daughter either, she didn’t want Rhaenyra the heir to the Iron Throne to find Eudora, her goddaughter an enemy who could steal the throne from her. Daemon understood his little brother, but unfortunately he is not Maegor.

As Daemon took his niece back to the castle where there awaits his worrying niece, Rhaenyra, Daemon thought too report Visery of the Dragon that has been claimed and Eudora birthmark.  

News traveled fast throughout the kingdom of Eudora foundation of claiming a Dragon, everyone wondered if it was to be true if the dragon was bigger than Vhagar.  Aemond was extremely elated for his cousin, as well as excited to see it.

He as well as his two siblings and nephews waited for their cousin/aunt at Red Keep where they could see Dragon, as they already figured that Jyrot won’t be staying inside dragonpit seeing how it was too small for the giant.

The blue sky darken, making everyone to halt as they watched to see a silhouette of dragon figure hidden behind the clouds. When the dragon went through the clouds, gasps could be heard from the children who watch the dragons fly above them; they couldn’t even see Eudora, but when the dragon drew closer did they finally see her small figure waving to them.

The children jumped where they stood as they wave back at her, and watched her fly to where she landed which was at the outskirt of dragonpit.

The children alongside The King and Queen and the Hand followed. When they met up with Eudora, all of them were transfixed at the giant creature that was pitch black and held snowy white eyes, no pupils. It made the creature intimidating and scary looking.

They watched the giant bring its wing in front as he patiently waits for her move from her saddle to his wing where she secure herself as she held the edge. They watch how Jyrot descended his wing close to the ground and made sure she got off safely.  

Aemond was the first one to go up to her and the dragon, the rest of the kids stayed behind to afraid to even draw themself close. When Eudora saw her dear cousin, she grabbed his shaky hand and placed it atop on Jyrot’s scales. Aemond felt the cold smoke coming from Jyrot nasal, and smiled in amazement. “Now we shall await for yours my sweet cousin, its close I can feel it” She said. “When you finally claim yourself a dragon, we will fly together and let the wind kiss our scales.” Aemond was indeed looking forward to that with his dear Eudora, and it made him more motivated and ambitious to go extend ends to finally claim one.

“She is the crown, but is not a queen. She who is born under the blood of mother is born as celestial. Accept, you are granted. Deny, meet the consequences.” Viserys ignored his mad daughter as he went up to his son and niece. Now that he has a clear look at her, he sees a strong spirit. A Targaryen who is to offer nothing but greatness to their house and name.

Ideas and a ruling decisions begins to circulate into his mind as he petted his niece hair who was telling Aemond and him of her Dragon.

Alicent watched from where she stood by her father, who held uneasy look to him. Alicent felt Otto hand grasping her arm, pulling her to him as he whispers: “You must make sure you are called mother, daughter. As she is now the key element to everything, with her on our side we will become indomitable.”

“Yes Father.”

____________________________