#Continues to give him grace and offer his forgiveness over and over again
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You get it you get it they are siblings in every way that matters


Senticousins textposts 💚🐈⬛💜🦚
+ Shadow Strike bonus under the cut:
#Because really. WHAT matters here?#Magic? They’ve both spent their entire lives trying to burn the blueprints drawn by their parents. Blood? Even less relevant.#What matters is CHOICE and LOVE and don’t get me started on these two and CHOICE and LOVE#Felix was created out of jealousy over Adrien specifically. Which means the deck was stacked against them even before they were born#Let me repeat this: he was born to hate his cousin. His intro episode led us to believe he was at least somewhat resentful of his cousin#BUT HE ISN’T. He loves Adrien so much even though he was BORN TO HATE HIM. Even though they were ordered apart#EVERYTHING HE DID HE DID FOR HIM#And Adrien who has no idea of the very real challenges Felix faces and who faces very real challenges himself#Continues to give him grace and offer his forgiveness over and over again#They LOVE each other. They CHOOSE each other they KEEP ON CHOSING EACH OTHER#DESPITE EVERYTHING THE WORLD HAS DONE TO THEM. DESPITE EVERYTHING THEY INADVERTENTLY DID TO EACH OTHER#Mostly from Felix’s side but come on. Gabriel’s influence means Adrien had a part to play in their estrangement too#If he wasn’t the first to pull away (which I firmly believe he was without even noticing)#SO YES. SIBLINGS. THAT’S WHAT THEY ARE THAT’S WHAT THEY KEEP CHOOSING TO BE#Thank you for coming to my DUUSU Talk#miraculous ladybug#adrien agreste#felix graham de vanily#senticousins
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Iron Giant 4

Warings: none
Word count: 1.7k
Woooo finally did more for this fic and also got some inspiration from the ask which was about Optimus reacting to Baking from ages back so enjoy.
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A small smile graces their lips as they try not to give away the fact they know he's watching them, they can see the blue optic following them, through the window. Each time they look over they can see him trying to make it look as if he wasn't watching and in truth it was delightful watching such a large being who was too shy to ask what they were doing.
"Hello Optimus" they call out, eyes flicking over to him as a smirk forms on their lips when he looks almost like a deer caught in headlights. His optics brighten at the sound of his designation spoken so familiarly from them that it nearly makes his spark sing. creases forming at the corners of his lips. "Hello" he rumbles kindly in return, angling himself so that he could watch now that he had been caught red handed.
"If I may, what are you doing?." The curiosity is evident in his voice as the circles of his optics continue to trace their movement through the kitchen. A faint memory file flickering across his HUD, faces long lost to millennia past. It almost reminded him of an Energon chemist, making sweets and flavour rations. It's like a hollow ache, but watching makes it not hurt nearly as much.
A soft chuckle leaves them as they begin measuring out ingredients for baking. "You know you're more than welcome to watch" they call back "I'm just making kiddos favourites, easier to keep baked goods than it is constantly shopping for sweets, plus cheaper too" they remark.
Optimus watches with avid curiosity, soaking in every small detail as the carrier sets skillfully to their task. In some aspects it was alien but in others it was nostalgic to watch something being crafted. "Fascinating," he rumbles quietly. "Is this how you Preserve fuel?, I haven't seen anything crafted as such before, so forgive me." He goes quiet for a moment just watching. “Your youngling likes these?” He inquires, which earns him another smile from the human.
“Yea kiddo happens to love homemade cookies as long as i don't put raisins into them, but don't get me started on homemade pickled veggies, can't get enough of them” they laugh while making sure that the vinegar, water and salt were to the right ratio.
"Might I inquire about the functions of the elements?." Optics brighten eagerly. “Well you see these are Organic and if left to long out in the air and heat they will start to wither and wilt, sometimes they will go bad and get mouldy, so when you mix the right stuff together you can preserve them to last long.” they explain while cutting up the different vegetables and adding them into the large jar.
He remains still and silent, enjoying just watching them work. optics drink in each subtle movement and instruction they explain, processing and learning all he could, he may not be able to ever do something like this himself but it was therapeutic to just watch.
They move again this time back to the Oven as they pull another tray out. placing it on the bench before throwing another one filled with biscuits to cook. "I'd offer you one but don't know if you can eat them" they call out to him. Optimus rumbles a weary chuckle, sagging slightly into the dirt as he stretches. He looks over his shoulder for a moment to watch the little one playing.
"Regrettably my fuel lines wouldn't process the compounds" he murmurs lightly, amusement in his tone." There are few things on your planet that I can consume, Diesel is one I tend to resort to." A contented sigh leaves him. Diesel wasn't as filling as Energon but it kept him functioning and meant he didn't have to remember that horrid device.
They shoot him another look. "Do you have any sort of snacks you miss from your home?" They inquire as they move to lean against the open window brushing the flour off their clothing. Optimus's optics crinkle thoughtfully at the query, "Simple energon treats were often very hard to come by, even more rare for high class rations," he rumbles.
"Mostly high class Mechs were the ones who would have access to them." He trails gently, "but Crystallised sweets fashioned from refined energon centres are one that I enjoyed when I could afford them."
They give an almost sad look to the big blue and Red mechas hearing that. His optics flicker back to them with a smile. So they take the opportunity to wipe a small bit of batter across his nasal ridge before laughter bursts from them, seeing the surprised look on his faceplate. " Sorry, sorry I couldn't help myself" they wheezed through laughter.
Optimus pauses in mild surprise, optics blinking rapidly at the unexpected touch. It takes but a moment for his systems to process and identify the substance smeared across his faceplate, and a low chuckle rumbles from him bemused amusement as his optics focus in on them.
"Ah, so the youngling isn't the only one who seeks trouble," he chuckles lightly while trying to wipe the batter off, he raises a digit to sample the sweet residue left behind, analysing slowly as his optics begin to break down the different compounds in it.
Their eyes crinkle as they smile more, giving a small come hither motion with their finger as they lean against the window waiting for him to lean down. A sly smile on their lips as if mischief was on the prowl.
He lowered his helm and chassis to give better access to his faceplate. Trusting they were about to steer even more of it across his nasal ridge. They lean out the window, wiping the rest off before pressing a soft kiss to the side of his faceplate. It's quick but it makes Optimus' spark flutter in delight.
"Would you mind taking some of these out to kiddo me?" They voice is overly sweet and Optimus in that moment doesn't care that they are trying to sweeten him up to do their bidding.
For a moment, he can hardly speak, optics blinking rapidly. But slowly, he regains composure, "you'll fry this rusting mech's circuits if you keep that up," he rumbles warmly, unable to restrain the hint of tender playfulness creeping into his own tone.
"Though I find myself willing too." He inclines his helm hopefully. "A small exchange is a fair toll, for transporting treats, would you not agree?" He was feeling rather bold this time.
They roll their eyes playful, sauntering up to the window again, lending it again with the tray of a few cookies beside them. "very well, I accept the extra charge" they hum before leaning out the window slightly and pressing a kiss to his lips.
Optimus' plating warms significantly as the carrier leans close once more, softly pressing tantalising contact to his lip. A low, pleased rumble resonates through his massive frame, as he savours the fleeting exchange, optics flutter, only opening once once they pull away, ending it far too quickly for his liking. But contentment glows off him as servo raises accepting the tray of cookies intended for the little one.
"Thank you," he murmurs, audial fins flicking slightly as he moves back slowly so he can stand. The little one looks up in excitement as they see him walking towards them with the tray. “Cookies!!!” They shout out in excitement and they pull themself out of the sand pit and make their way to meet Optimus halfway. As Optimus feels another chuckle leave him as he walks towards them.
A loud crack across the sky makes his frame freeze beside the large tree, gears and fan belts whining as his helm snaps towards the sky. The sound was one he knew all too well, it had terrorised him and the Autobots far too long. The ominous sound of a Jet engine ripping across the sky.
His battle protocols surge instantly online, optics scanning the horizon, his other Servo drops the tray of sweets as he scoops the little one up, holding them flush against his chassis. sheer panic fills him, why were they here, how had they found him. And guttural fear fills him when he realises just where he was and the sweet youngling he held protectively.
Optics dart desperately to the fragile human now staring up in confusion at him before their eyes dart to the sky over the loud Whistle and clap in the sky. His optics land of the source, a Blue and black seeker with smoke billowing from his frame comes into view. but before he can even plan an attack or defence he watches as the seeker seems to almost fall out of the sky in the distance.
"What was that?" The older human ask running to the doorway of the house when they hear the crash in the distance. Optimus's optics remain grimly trained on the treeline for a long moment after the flash of blue disappears.
A metallic grinding issue from his tightly-set denta His free servo curls protectively around the little one as their carrier calls out, "Decepticon," he rumbles low, meeting concerned faces with optics that bear weight of worry.
"Crashed maybe half click out, seemed damaged. But I won't take chances, gather essentials quickly. If you hear fighting you run" he pleads, his optics bright as he looks at their face as if begging that they go if something happens. He would be dismantled before letting any harm come to either of them. "Hurry now," he urges gently, lowering the child down into their parents arms.
"It's one like you isn't, like the Soldier's warned?" They ask Optimus while hiking their child up their hip, worry etched into their own face. "Par what's going on, loud bang!" Their child says while watching the sky.
Optimus nods solemnly, grief and regret settling into his frame. "Yes," he rumbles low, “I ensure no danger comes to you, but if there are more its not safe for you. You will take your little one and not turn back." They nod before darting back into the house.
Rising carefully. "I'll scout crash, when i come back be ready to jump in" Without further word, he struts, cogs and palting slowly shifts back down into the damaged Peterbilt, smoke comes from him for a moment before he rolls down the grass only to disappear into the tree line.
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#transformers#transformers x human#transformers x reader#transformers optimus#optimus#optimus prime#optimus prime skybound#skybound optimus#transformers skybound#skybound
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Tommy Shelby- Expecting
Keeping mine and Tommys relationship a secret wasn't something I wanted to do. I wanted us to be official, but Tommy had other ideas. Instead we would sneak into each others bed at night. All hell broke loose though when I found out I was with child. At first Tommy didn't believe me that it was his, then he told me that he didn't want to settle down and have a family. Offered to find a good doctor to do an abortion. I refused and now I'm known at the Watery Lane Whore. Anger however bubbles inside of me when Tommy announces his relationship with Grace and that they were expecting.
I walk through the door of the Garrison and the first thing I see is her smiling and laughing with Tommy and his family. I roll my eyes and turn around wanting to leave when John calls me over
"YN! Come join us, we're celebrating"
"No thank you John" I glance over to Tommy who's got his arm around Grace "not in the mood"
"Hey wait" John runs over to me "how's the baby?" he asks with genuine concern
"Fine"
"Fuck YN whatever you and Tommy are fighting about now just put it to bed for one fucking nought to celebrate"
"Only if you knew what we are fighting about. Look I'm gonna go. Enjoy" as I leave I hear John say
"If I ever find the fucker who did this to her..." little does he know his own brother is the fucker that he won't do shit to. As I walk the streets to get home I'm called a number of names because I'm pregnant out of marriage, but would anyone dare say the same thing to Grace? No because she's with Tommy. The bitch that tried to get Tommy killed is now having his baby and engaged. It's like he's been brainwashed. Ignoring the comments I get home, deciding to go to bed early.
Over the next few weeks I stay as far away from the Shelby's, that is until I hear a knock on my front door. Groaning I get off the sofa, putting my book down on the coffee table and walk to the front door. I open it up not expecting to see Tommy stood there looking disheveled, but here he is
"Can I come in?" he asks sheepishly which is very unusual for Tommy. I cross my arms and frown looking at him
"I don't know. Why are you here"
"She lied. The whole time Grace was lying to me" still frowning YN doesn't say anything but continues so look at Tommy "YN please let me explain" In YNs mind she goes back at to about what she should do. Let Tommy in and talk, or close the door on him and never speak to him again.
Ending 1- YN and Tommy end up together
Wanting her child to know their father, YN sighs letting Tommy into her house. He walks in and takes off his shoes knowing YN hates mud being brought into the house. Not uttering a word, YN walks into the kitchen to make herself a cup of tea. Tommy walks in behind her also not saying anything
“So. Gonna explain?” YN finally says crossing her arms and turning to look at Tommy
“YN I fucked up”
“Tell me about it” YN mutters
“Grace wasn’t pregnant. Never was. She was helping the copper, get close to me the kill me”
“And why should I believe you?”
“You have no reason to. I get that. But I’m sorry. I really liked.. like you YN and I let that bitch cloud my judgment. When you told me you were pregnant I freaked out. I spoke to Grace about it and she told me shit about you. Said you weren’t actually pregnant with my child, said she saw you with another man. That’s why I didn’t believe you. I was hurt”
“You you don’t think I was? I could have dealt with you not wanting a family, I could have even dealt with you just not wanting to be with me. Yes it would have hurt, but not as much as finding out you were happy to settle with Grace”
“Your right. I’m a fucking dick for that and I’m sorry” this catches YN off by surprise. Tommy never apologises. Yet here he is apologising to her “YN I promise you I will do everything I’m my power to make it up to you” thinking about it YN decides to give him a chance.
Over the next few years YN forgives Tommy, they end up getting married and having more children together.
Ending 2- YN leaves Tommy alone and moves away
“I’m sorry Tommy. I can’t. You hurt me more than I ever thought could be possible. I could have dealt with you not wanting a family, I could have even dealt with you just not wanting to be with me. Yes it would have hurt, but not as much as finding out you were happy to settle down with Grace”
“YN she was never pregnant please let me explain”
“No Tommy. I’m moving away tomorrow. I will tell our child that their father was a good man, but couldn’t look after us. When they’re 18 they can choose whether they come to see you. Until then, this is goodbye” YN closes the door in front of Tommy and heads up to her bedroom for the final time here in Watery Lane.
#peaky blinders#peaky blinders imagine#peaky blinders reader#peaky blinders x reader#tommy shelby x y/n#tommy shelby x you#tommy shelby x oc#tommy shelby imagine#tommy shelby#tommy shelby x reader
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Temporary whispers of the heart ⊹₊⟡⋆ | Sosuke Aizen X Reader
Chapter 3 | Smooth Operator
˖ ✦ ‧₊˚ ⋅
A soft blanket was tenderly tucked around you by a pair of large yet gentle hands, the movement momentarily waking you from your slumber. You sluggishly managed to peel open an eye, realising the perpetrator had beautiful, glimmering bronze eyes that shone with each look they graced you with. The slight creases of his lips lifted the bottoms of his eyelids, a half-lidded and reverent smile greeting you.
“Good morning, Miss Shihoin. Rested well?”
You grinned back in return, rushes of warmth tainting your cheeks as you felt your once gentle chest rise rapidly from the increased palpitations of your heart. The man removed his dark spectacles, using his ivory haōri to wipe them, all while his eyes continued to fixate on you.
“I apologise, I’ve once again foolishly fallen asleep at your abode out of the blue… I haven’t been resting well, please do forgive me.” You sheepishly pardoned, mentally cursing yourself for repeatedly bothering the Captain with your careless sleep schedule. You could not help but lower your guard around the gentleman… You felt at peace in his vicinity, so much that it caused you to slip in and out of consciousness through the amount of comfort his presence gave.
Aizen lifted a hand, profusely yet politely denying your apology. “Do not fret. I can understand your fatigue, times have been quite rough...” His caring tone accompanied by his smooth voice touched your racing heart, causing it to settle and calm itself as it was once again comforted by him. Your eyes fluttered shut once more, allowing your body to be completely engulfed in the soft futon that lay underneath you.
“The fact that my presence alone is enough to comfort you to the point of rest is far more important to me than any apology you could ever give me.”
˖ ✦ ‧₊˚ ⋅
A splitting headache accompanied you as you arose from your slumber, groggily rubbing your forehead as you checked the time. 10.23 AM. Thank goodness it was a Saturday.
You shot up, stumbling as you stood to snatch a trash bag from the kitchen and dump all the empty bottles and cans into it. The clattering awoke Rangiku, loud groans following as she rolled over to the side whilst rubbing her eyes. As Matsumoto had yawned and sat up, she noticed you had already tidied up the place without her.
“Give yourself a break, Y/N...”
You shot Rangiku a dissatisfied look before swinging the trash bag around your shoulder, stepping out of the apartment to place it into the bins outside. “I’m fine, Ran.”
You both freshened up before setting up the memorial shrine, placed next to Unohana’s in your apartment. Sliding open the cabinet adjacent to the small oak table it was set at, you took out some dry persimmons and offered them alongside various fruits, such as mandarins and apples. Rangiku set out the incense, gently placing a few sticks in a little ceramic vase next to the picture frame of Gin.
Matsumoto wafted the incense towards you two, your hands offering to do the same. You both kneeled down in front of the makeshift shrine, calmly closing your eyes as you two left gentle prayers for the deceased. Matsumoto’s soft sobs began to escape her lips, her sniffles and hics often breaking the solemn silence accompanying you two. Ichimaru was not only her lover but a dear friend of yours, so every year you would celebrate the anniversary of his death to honour his liege.
Warm tears fell from your own eyes once more, your prayers often being interrupted by flashes of the past with him and Rangiku. The past always seemed to come back to haunt you, creeping up on you whenever you least expected it.
Ding~
Your serene moment was once more suspended by the abrupt noise of the doorbell ringing, snapping you from your haze. You hushed Rangiku to sit back down as she attempted to rise alongside you, indicating that she should continue sitting with Gin whilst you dealt with whoever was at the door. After touching up your appearance to look more presentable by tucking a few strands of hair back and wiping your tears, you gently creaked the maple wood door open.
Your heart sunk, the only feeling that coursed through your veins in that moment being pure rage and embarrassment, having to see him again after yesterday's ordeal.
“What are you doing here.” Hazel irises penetrated your own, a complacent yet irked look staining his face. “Shunsui ordered for me to come here and take my dinner invite from you since you took them home last night.” Aizen's cold and unwelcoming voice greeted you as he loomed over you, his head perking up at the smell of incense wafting throughout his nose. “ You were invited? I severely doubt that.” You scoffed, glaring at him indifferently. “Check the invites and we’ll both see.” You grumble, leaving the door slightly ajar as you made your way back to the couch in the living room to find your bag. Rangiku glanced back up at you to query what was taking so long, but you continued to quiet her and indicate to her nonverbally that it was okay and that she should continue with her prayer. Seeing the cause of Gin’s death on his anniversary was causing you yourself to spiral, you couldn't bear to see her reaction if she saw that murderer on your doorstep.
You fished around the leather bag, until you felt the invites in your palm once again. You brought them out to vision, lifting the laminated sheets up from their place. Shihoin Y/N, Kyouraku Shunsui, Matsumoto Rangiku, Aizen Sosuke- Your eyes must have deceived you. You re-read the last name on the last invitation several times, convinced you may have accidentally become illiterate. You exhaled loudly, muttering incoherently underneath your breath as you took the invite back to the doorway where Aizen was seemingly admiring the intricate woodwork done on your door. His eyes roamed back to yours, the backs of his sepia locks glowing in the noon sun.
You knew Shunsui could have just asked Hisagi or another one or his guards, yet the illogical man was probably trying to get you two to be on a more friendly base with each other by… making him visit your home? And at the worst time possible, to say the least.
“Leave.” You ordered after handing the invite to him, stabbing the enigma with your harsh leer, highlighting his presence was unwelcome to you. “Is the incense because of Ichimaru’s passing day?”
You paused while shutting the door, your scowl intensifying as he dared to utter your friend's name out of his hexing lips. “It is none of your business. Leave.” Aizen sighed, pursing his lips as he glanced behind you to see a familiar strawberry blonde advancing towards you, stopping in her tracks as she perceived him. You turned sharply after hearing the tufts of her feet on the carpet, pupils narrowing as you saw her expression. Rangiku and Aizen were caught in an indestructible haze, their eyes battling wars with each other. Yet, you could not understand what either of them were thinking due to the complacent nature of their looks.
Aizen shuffled around his coat pockets, before bringing out a packet of dry persimmons into his palm. “Shunsui asked me to pass these onto you.” A look of shock tainted your face as Aizen slightly hung his head while Matsumoto silently received the packet, bowing and muttering a brief word of thanks. “...Did you buy these because Shunsui asked you to come here and give offerings to his memorial?” You gaped at your companions' bewildering question, eyebrows furrowed with stupefaction as you mentally questioned what she was reaching at. “...Yes.”
“However, I am aware that a place for me here would be… utmost unwelcome.” Aizen responded, eyes scanning the doorframe and the humble nature of your compact home. “Yeah, it would. Please leave.” You butted into Aizen’s statement, ensuring that he felt utmost unwelcome with the way your glare stabbed daggers into him.
“You may come in.”
Your jaw sunk alongside your heart, so far into the ground it may have reached the core of the earth after you heard Rangiku’s invitation. You slightly tilted the door closed, giving a sarcastically polite smile to him before you turned to berate your friend.
“Matsumoto?! What on earth?!”
“If I want to move on, then I should come to terms with the past… This would be a good first step to realising reality and to stop dwelling on what is no longer. And besides, the man came all the way here to give his offerings… How could I turn away a guest.”
“But-”
“You always go on about honouring your duty. This is my duty. To forgive, and forget.”
You stood defeated at the new Rangiku that shone next to you, hanging your head low as she silently opened the door further to welcome Aizen inside. Sosuke quietly removed his leather loafers, placing them beside the doorway before advancing towards the strong scent of incense alongside you two. You kneeled on the floor once more in front of the shrine, turning to help Matsumoto with the packet of persimmons as she sat beside you, clearly struggling to rip it open. You yourself found it hard to tear open, the stubborn plastic refusing to comply with your sorrowful, grieving hands.
A smooth, slender hand gently took the packet out of your grip, tearing the plastic open with one swift move before placing it back into your palm. Aizen’s features were deficit of any emotion, and to you it seemed he was simply helping to follow his orders. A man who once reigned free… caged up so easily. It was almost amusing that he was restrained like this after just slightly losing the will in his heart to change the world.
You placed the dry persimmons in their designated bowl, setting up another stick of incense before returning to your reverent pose. A dense silence fell upon the living room, your pupils drifting to occasionally take a peek at Aizen. The man was kneeling down, yet not with his eyes shut like the rest of you. His eyes were fixated tensely on the frame of Gin, the thoughts running through his head perfectly concealed by his indifferent poise.
You gave a final bow to Gin’s picture, wafting the incense one last time towards you before rising to set up something to eat. After hearing Rangiku’s growling stomach repeatedly interrupting the silence, you could tell she was hardly restraining herself from stuffing all the persimmons and fruits in her mouth. The only reason they hadn’t perished by now is because she wouldn’t dare to take them away from her soulmate…
In the kitchen, you scanned the mahogany cabinet above the sink, searching for some tea to quench your thirst. Your fingers grazed the several packets of brew as you sorted through them, pondering what would attain to both your tastes and the enigma’s. You abruptly halted after discerning the type of tea that was currently at your fingertips.
Hibiscus tea.
You suspired at the fact that you still recognised that specific flavour, your mind still conditioned to associating it with a certain individual. You gently slid the packet out, shutting the cabinet door and taking a few teabags out in your palm.
As you stood by the boiling kettle, trapped in your thoughts, you perceived another figure in the corner of your eye progressing towards you.
“Hibiscus tea?” Aizen slightly tilted his head as he recognised the brand of brew lying in the three porcelain cups you had set adjacent to the kettle on the counter. You gave a melancholic nod, avidly avoiding contact with his gruelling eyes on this agonising day.
A pensive look greeted yours as you finally glanced upwards, humiliation buzzing throughout you once more as seeing him reminded you of yesterday's events.
“By any chance did you recall that it was of my taste?”
You adamantly refused to lock eyes with the man once more as you sharply turned to lift the silver kettle up from the counter, tipping it slightly to gently pour the scalding water into one of the cups.
“No. It was simply a random choice I made based on what I felt like having today.” You murmured as you set the kettle down, turning to once more re-open the cabinet and bring out the jar of sugar cubes you had set next to the teabags.
Aizen took a step towards you, the heat from his chest slightly radiating towards your back as his arm reached above you and into the cabinet. You sharply whipped your head around, a raised eyebrow greeting the man as you queried his sudden proximity. Your eyes trailed the direction of his hand, observing as he sifted through the array of tea packets to gently peel a different one out.
Two fingers then proceeded to remove the hibiscus tea bag out of one of the empty cups, replacing it with the other tea bag Aizen had selected before reaching up once more behind you to place the original tea bag back into the cabinet.
Jasmine tea.
“...Why?” Your eyes widened as you questioned, perplexed at his unexpected movements.
“...It is bothersome that you undermine my knowledge, Miss Shihoin.”
His index and thumb reached to clasp the tongs that rested in the glass jar of sugar cubes, placing several cubes into the cup of jasmine tea. Your eyebrows furrowed once more as he took the kettle and poured the hot liquid into the cup, sliding it towards you after he was done.
You reluctantly took the cup, the saccharine scent pleasing your nostrils and causing your mouth to water. It was true that your affinity for jasmine tea hadn’t changed, though, it troubled you that the enigma somehow remembered it and attempted to… use it to prove his authority? his knowledge?
“Knowing what tea I fancy does not change the fact you don’t know anything about me. I hope you are aware of that.” You declared diffidently, lost in a pensive haze as you pondered the reasoning behind his actions.
“Did I not just ask you to not undermine my knowledge?”
Rangiku stumbled into the kitchen after hearing your bickering, her hands still trailing the buddhist rosemary from the shrine as she investigated the ordeal.
“What's wrong?”
Pangs of guilt stabbed at your chest as you realised you had disturbed her once more from her prayer, your mind rushing to blame the being standing alongside you. Your sworn enemy… offering you a cup of your favourite tea… sweetened exactly to your tastes. It was almost laughable, a cruel joke the universe was trying to play on you.
“Nothing, Ran. I’ve prepared the tea.”
You nudge Aizen aside, taking the kettle and pouring the last bit of water into the final cup for Rangiku, sliding the jar of sugar alongside the cup resting on a wooden coaster. She took it in her hands, bringing it silently to the living room as you followed closely behind her.
The three of you awkwardly sat opposite each other on the compact coffee table, the only sounds surrounding you being the gentle slurping of your teas and bites of biscuits and amenities you had set out. Had it not been for Rangiku, you would have contemplated slipping some sort of sedative into Aizen’s tea and succumbing him to your own little Muken that you’d make yourself just to trap the thing and get him away from you.
“So… We’re all invited to this dinner thing, right?”
Matsumoto’s oddly jovial voice shattered the thick silence, causing you both to turn your heads towards her and nod in sync.
“Where is it being held again? I haven’t properly read it.” You inquired the blonde, tapping your nails against the ceramic as you looked elsewhere, trying to recall what was written on the invite.
Rangiku rotates around, taking the pile of invitations off the couch and sliding one into her hand. The laminated sheet wobbled as she steadied it in her grip, clearing her throat as she began to read out its contents.
“6PM, Sunday night… Urahara… Shōten?”
Your eyebrows creased, a slight giggle escaping your lips. “Urahara's dingy shop? What on earth were they thinking…” You shook your head in disapproval before taking another biscuit and lightly dipping it into your tea.
“I presume he may have actually tidied the basement underneath his abode for once.” A nonchalant voice commented, slightly chuckling at your jab at Urahara before lifting the porcelain cup to his lips once more.
You observed Aizen’s meticulous motions, each movement seemingly serving a specific purpose as he brought the hibiscus brew up to his nostrils, savouring its scent. You didn’t expect an actual display of emotion from the reserved individual… especially not one of humour towards you.
The three of you proceeded to engage in slight small talk, occasionally bringing up collegiate topics such as work and your other comrades.
˖ ✦ ‧₊˚ ⋅
Three rough knocks on the door interrupted your awkward conversations, the sounds of two mature men outside reverberating throughout the house as you got up to open the door.
“What is taking him so long here- Y/N!”
A toothy grin greeted you as you creaked open the door, the blinding smile belonging to none other than your friend Shuuhei Hisagi. You shook his hand as you beamed back at him, appreciating the familiar presence. You could practically feel the warmth radiating off of the energetic and jubilated man as you pat his shoulder.
“Shuuhei! So nice seeing you again man. Please, do come inside!” You cheerfully chirped, inviting the sleek, raven haired man inside your home.
“Oh gosh, I’d love to but I have to babysit Aizen… Sorry Shishi!”
You frowned at him declining your invite, sighing as you realised you couldn’t tear him from his duty. The smell of incense wafted throughout Hisagi’s nostrils, alongside the vast mixture of tea scents. The cogs in his head turned as he recalled what day it was.
“...Gin?”
You nodded sincerely, tilting the door a bit more to allow a weary Rangiku to greet Shuuhei at the door alongside you.
“Oh, I’m so sorry for disturbing you two… I give my sincerest condolences.” Hisagi apologised as he gave a slight bow, causing you to avidly reject his apology as unnecessary.
The scent of hibiscus brew alongside a gentle vanilla merged as it appeared beside you, the slender man arriving to greet his caretakers at the door.
“I shall see you tomorrow, then.” Aizen stated, giving one last glance towards you before he faced away to step out of the door.
“And… My condolences for Ichimaru.”
The three men made their way down the stairs leading up to your apartment, heading towards the familiar Mercedes you had seen before. You waved to Hisagi once more before they stepped into the vehicle, swiftly speeding off after restraining Aizen’s wrists once more. A part of you refused to accept the obvious fib of condolences the murderer gave yet, a minuscule part of you somehow managed to believe that they were sincere.
You refused to let the latter take reign, slamming the door to halt your oozing thoughts and focus on something else. Rangiku took note of your attitude, understanding that when you began cleaning in silence, you wanted to be left alone. Matsumoto aided you in clearing the burnt incense sticks and setting away the dishes, the running tap being the only sounds exchanged between the two of you.
“Are you feeling better, Ran?”
She turned to face you, her familiar grin plastered once more on her face.
“Honestly… Yeah. I feel like seeing him again has made me come to terms with it and that it’s no longer the past anymore.”
You were appalled that her mood had not exacerbated but in fact done the opposite, expecting that his presence would evoke painful memories in her once more as it did to you. “That's… good.” You lied through your teeth, feelings of hatred for him still coursing fervently throughout your veins. You glanced towards her hands, perceiving them fumble with the silver ring necklace from her beloved. Once more, you reached to embrace her, squeezing her tight in your arms.
“I’m happy for you, Ran. No matter what.”
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
#bleach aizen#bleach tybw#aizen#sosuke aizen#aizen x reader#aizen sosuke x reader#rangiku matsumoto#rangiku bleach#enemies to lovers#office romance#hisagi shuuhei#gin ichimaru#bleach#tybw spoilers#bleach tybw spoilers#eventual smut#eventual romance
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A Champion's Love: Chapter 36
Chapter 36: Mockery
Word Count: 4471
CW: Blood, injury, violence
Want all the chapters? -> Masterlist
~~~ <> ~~~
Gentle waves crash on the beach as the sun sets in the distance. The tide is low, allowing crabs and sea slugs to move between shallow pools of water in the nearby rock. Sidon runs his hands across the ground, grains of sand flowing between his fingers. It had been three months since his arrival at the Zora settlement. He longed to return home.
“I thought I might find you here.”
The prince shoots up, turning his head to seek out the voice that spoke. Behind him stands Yona, who offers a gentle smile as she walks to stand beside him. “You did always love the beach when we were young,” she muses, watching the water wash away her footprints, “it’s not a surprise to me that you still seek out its comforts.”
“I do not see the beach often, actually,” Sidon responds, eyes trained on the horizon, “the domain is nestled within the mountains, and I do not make it a habit to leave the safety of its waters.”
“Until recently, yes?” Yona asks with a quiet laugh, “I’ve heard quite a few stories about your travels with that Hylian knight. Is there any truth to them?”
He can’t help but smile at the mention of you. “Yes, they’re quite true,” he replies, a grin gracing his features as he speaks, “I had spent a significant portion of the last year traveling alongside the Hylian Champion. She’s a marvel, truly. A talented fighter but with the kindest of hearts and purest of intentions. It’s no wonder they claim she was chosen by Hylia herself. Anyone would consider themself lucky to be her companion.”
Yona giggles, and Sidon turns to give her a curious look.
“Forgive me,” she smiles, placing her hand to her lips, “I do not mean to laugh. But it’s a pleasant sight.”
“What is?” the prince replies.
“You’re in love,” Yona swoons, sitting beside him in the sand, “what is it like?”
“To be in love?” he chuckles, cheeks warm.
She nods eagerly.
Sidon sighs happily, turning his gaze back to the sunset, “it is unlike anything I have ever felt before. It is the greatest joy to hold another so near and dear to your heart. There isn’t a moment that goes by where I am not thinking of her. As much as I am enjoying this visit I must admit that I am counting down the days until I have her in my arms again. She’s become my everything. Her voice is the sweetest honey, her laughter can soothe my wounds, and her eyes are pools that I can get lost within…”
The prince trails off, blush dusting his face.
“Wow,” Yona gasps, “I can only wish to capture another’s heart like this someday… however, is your father aware?”
Sidon quirks his head to the side, “my father? Yes, he knows, in fact, he’s encouraged me to pursue and court her.”
“I see,” she murmurs, “but, the council? Do you have their approval?”
The prince goes silent.
“I cannot imagine that my father’s council would approve if I chose to have a dalliance with someone who was not of Zora blood. Let alone choosing to marry them,” Yona continues, a small frown on her lips, “so I would think that your council must be thinking the same.”
Sidon chooses his words carefully, “they are… not entirely pleased with the circumstances. While I’m sure they would prefer I choose a Zora to be my future wife, I have made it adamantly clear to them that she is who I’ve chosen. I believe with time I will be able to change their minds.”
“You seem confident,” she replies with a sad smile, “and I’m glad for that. But remember that we Zora are a proud people and that we hold our traditions close to our hearts. Approval from the council over this matter may take decades to achieve.”
“And I am willing to wait,” the prince retorts, a steeled look in his eyes, “for her I will wait. Always.”
Yona nods, looking out into the distance. She wears an expression that the prince cannot read. “I understand. Speaking of waiting, that is why I came to find you. Your councilman, Muzu, was looking to speak with you about the upcoming lunar festival. I think he became anxious when you suddenly disappeared after supper.”
“Ah, I see. Thank you for letting me know,” he says.
After exchanging goodbyes the prince soars into the water, swimming downwards into the cove rapidly. Once at the underwater palace, he’s greeted by eager staff, but he politely excuses himself to continue walking past them. When he finds that the throne room is empty, however, he’s greatly confused.
The prince wanders through the palace hall, trying to make sure he doesn’t get lost within the unfamiliar architecture. Eventually, he finds his way to the hall of private chambers, one of which he’s being housed in as a guest. If his memory serves him right, the king’s chambers would be one of these rooms as well.
As Sidon walks past one of the doors, he’s stopped in his tracks by the conversation he hears within.
“... what will we do to solve this problem?” says the first voice- King Sola.
“Problem, sir? Please elaborate, Your Majesty,” replies a second, more familiar one- Muzu.
“That boy! Need I remind you, but the purpose of this diplomatic exchange was far more important than simply hosting feasts and festivals,” Sola retorts, palpable frustration in his voice.
“A-ah, I see, is this about-”
“Yes! Is that damnable knight so important to Sidon that he’s chosen to shirk his duties as prince? Or has King Dorephan forgotten about the arrangement we made?”
“The arrangement,” Muzu repeated, “but that was with our dear Princess Mipha, it had nothing to do with-”
He’s interrupted by the king, “if you’ve forgotten the terms, I shall take pleasure in reminding you. Dorephan and I agreed that the heir to his throne would be engaged to a suitor of my choosing, to bond our kingdoms in matrimony and strengthen the alliance. When Mipha passed on that responsibility was handed down to-”
“Prince Sidon,” Muzu concludes.
The prince’s heart pounds in his chest as he eavesdrops. He’s pressed himself against the wall, eyes wide as he listens to the exchange.
He hears a deep sigh of annoyance from Sola, “is Sidon even aware?”
There’s a tense pause before Muzu answers, “no, I do not believe so. B-but you must understand, this will be a difficult change, that Hylian knight is quite beloved- not just to Sidon but to the domain as well. She aided us in a time of great need, she is a savior to our people. I believe the majority of our citizens may even be expecting for Sidon to ascend the throne with the Champion at his side.”
The king scoffs, “how sad is it that your people have been reduced to this, Muzu. Before the Calamity, your domain was a mighty force to be reckoned with. Now you need lowly Hylians to rescue you, then let those same Hylians taint the royal bloodline.”
Sidon seethes, needing to remind himself to remain quiet.
“King Sola, please, this is unnecessary,” Muzu attempts to argue.
“If you do not tell him then I will,” Sola threatens, “and I will not be so kind about it. I do not know when Dorephan will choose to pass on his throne, but I expect that when that day comes the prince will be ready to accept his responsibilities.”
There’s the sound of footsteps on stone, and the prince panics momentarily. As quickly and quietly as possible he vacates the hallway, turning around the corner and making it appear as if he were never there in the first place. As he marches down the winding halls he crosses his arms, mind swirling as he processes this new information.
“An arranged marriage,” he whispers to himself, “how could they never have told me? How will I tell _____? There must be a way around this, I’m sure of it.”
His name is called out and he quickly turns, putting on a false smile. He’ll have to ensure that no one becomes aware that he overheard such an important conversation. The prince swears to himself, however, that he will find a solution.
He will not lose you.
…
“So, you can actually read these?”
The air in the Faron Jungle was humid, causing your clothing to stick to your body. You use the back of your palm to wipe the sweat from your forehead. ‘Should’ve worn a thinner tunic,’ you think to yourself, shielding your eyes from the bright sunlight. In front of you is Tauro, who sits before one of the crumbling ruins. In his hands, he holds his journal, where he meticulously attempts to translate the tome.
“Only somewhat,” he answers, “I’ve still not perfectly translated their alphabet to our modern-day Hyrulean one. But I can usually gather enough context to get a vague idea of what the old writing says. For example, I’m fairly certain this one is discussing a trial of some kind. And there’s carved illustrations of figures.”
You hum in acknowledgment before turning to look at Calip. The other Hylian was sat beneath the shade of a tree, sketching a thorough illustration of the ruins in his own journal.
Your trio had spent the last two months journeying around Hyrule in search of the remaining Sheikah shrines. Your travels had been successful, with all one-hundred-and-twenty of the shrines being tagged for deconstruction. It had led you to a variety of amazing sites: the confusing beauty of the labyrinths, a cave in the Hebra mountain range with a large leviathan skeleton, the farthest reaches of the Gerudo Desert, and even a tropical island in the Necluda sea.
As you’d promised the two researchers, the three of you had made your way to the Faron region so that they may explore the Zonai ruins as they wished. You’d traveled on foot today, leaving your horses at a stable to spare them from the heat of the jungle. From your canteen you take a swig of water, needing to remind yourself to stay hydrated.
“Tauro how do you work in this weather?” you huff, “it’s unbearably hot.”
“Why do you think I dress the way I do,” he chuckles, peering over his shoulder to look back at you, “besides, being born in Lurelin let me become accustomed to warm weather.”
You fan yourself with your free hand as you speak, “so, a trial, is that what these ruins were for?”
“I believe so, though it’s these illustrations that have me the most curious,” he explains, “they’re different from other carvings I’ve seen. It’s as though these figures are wearing ceremonial garb. I wonder if it’s for some kind of traditional ceremony or rite.”
“Hmm… I wonder what the Zonai were like,” you mumble, “I’m sure Zelda must know something about it, or maybe it’s in the old archives in the castle.”
“I would think so. It’s said that the earlier rulers in Hyrule’s royal lineage had alliances with the Zonai,” Tauro responds, returning to writing in his notes, “then again, they also say that the Zonai were god-like figures who descended from the heavens, so perhaps take those old tales with a grain of salt.”
The two men continue their investigation of the ruins for hours. It was enough time for you to wander north, skirting alongside a long and winding river. The sun slowly moves across the sky, and you return to the two men as it sets; the humid air finally beginning to cool down. You start a small campfire, striking your sword against the flint and watching as the flames burst forth. From your travel pack you produce three apples, placing them near the flame to roast.
“Hey, champ,” Tauro calls out to you, finally standing and walking away from the rock he’d been translating, “I never asked. What are you going to do now that we’ve found all the shrines?”
You shrug your shoulders, looking up at the sky as you think. “Well, I’ll be returning to the princess of course. Maybe go to Lookout Landing to see how construction is faring. Or I could even see if Robbie and Purah need further assistance with dismantling the old Sheikah tech.”
“Don’t forget, you’ll be waiting around for that prince too,” he chuckles teasingly.
As you’d gotten to know one another better over the course of your travels, Tauro was more than happy to playfully tease you about your relationship with the Zora prince. His comments were never harmful, but they also never failed to make you blush and stubbornly roll your eyes.
“One day you will have a crush on someone, Tauro,” you threaten, “and I will never leave you alone about it.”
“Crushes,” Calip scoffs, sitting beside the campfire, “what a childish premise.”
“I don’t believe for a second that you’ve never had feelings for another, doc,” you retort, “I think that there’s a someone for everyone.”
“And you think your ‘someone’ is that prince?” he grumbles, taking one of the roasted apples for himself.
You cross your arms, narrowing your eyes at the researcher. “What’s that supposed to mean?” you reply, “what exactly are you trying to imply?”
Calip shrinks beneath your gaze, clearly regretting the words he’d spoken as he stammers a reply, “w-well, what I meant was- come on now, you must admit it’s a little ridiculous to think that a prince of a royal bloodline would choose to marry a common knight- let alone one of a different race.”
You have no response. You simply turn on your heel and walk away from the camp. As you get farther you can hear Tauro chastizing the other researcher, but it doesn’t help. You were already full of anxiety when it came to how the other Zora viewed your relationship, the last thing you needed was another Hylian mocking you as well.
Before you realize it you’ve returned to the river. The water trickles gently, the sound calming your racing thoughts. You let out a breath you didn’t know you were holding as you sit down. You pull off your gloves and stick your hand beneath the surface, letting the cool water flow over your skin.
Skin, not scales.
“Stop thinking about that,” you mutter to yourself, “can’t believe Kilton told me about that stupid lie.”
Your wallowing is interrupted by another voice. Tauro had come to find you.
“I’m sorry about that- about what Calip said,” he apologizes, “neither of us should have pried.”
“... it’s fine,” you mumble, pulling your hands from the water, but your tone grows bitter as you continue to speak, “probably just being sensitive about it. Because it’s a funny joke, right? A Hylian and a Zora, a knight and a prince? It’s hilarious, even. One giant joke and everyone gets to laugh about it except for me.”
When you look back at Tauro your stern gaze softens. There’s a look of guilt on his face.
“Sorry-” you sigh, pinching your nose as you stand, “you’ve done nothing wrong. You don’t deserve my vitriol. I’m just… frustrated. I feel like people are speaking about me constantly. I’m tired of the judgment. Is it such a crime to just want to live? Have I committed some kind of sin by falling in love?”
There’s no wisdom he can give you in response, no words he can use to soothe your soul. The tall Hylian pulls you into a gentle hug, and you do your best to ignore the tears that sting your eyes. You feel your throat begin to close up and you don’t dare speak. You’ve grown tired of crying.
“Want to go back to camp?” Tauro offers, taking a step back.
“Yeah,” you whisper, “back to camp.”
…
“Alright men! On the count of three! One- two- three- pull!”
You watch as a group of construction workers, consisting of Hylians and Gorons, work together to lift a large piece of wood into place. It would become a part of the wall which would surround Lookout Landing, turning it into a fortress. The men heaved, working in tandem as they pulled the ropes that would lift the segment vertically.
“Steady- steady- alright, it’s in place! Hold it while we hammer the stakes.”
One of the Hylians holding the ropes is Link, who you easily recognize. The blond glances over his shoulder and spots you, giving you a small smile. You wave, not wanting to distract him from the task at hand.
You wander through the landing, maneuvering through groups of people before heading up a set of stairs. You enter a building, though it was still under construction as part of the roof was missing. It would eventually become a laboratory for Purah and Robbie to conduct research inside of.
“Ah, there you are! I was about to look for you!”
At the table sits Zelda, who looks up at you with a grin as she sets some papers aside. You’d recently been reinstated as her knight, having been deemed healed of all ailments. Thus you’d joined her side once more as she would travel between Hateno and Hyrule Field to oversee the many projects in the works.
“Princess,” you greet her, “did you need something?”
“Yes, actually, I wanted your opinion,” she responds, patting the seat beside her.
You take a seat, setting the Master Sword aside. On the table, you spotted a mix of notes left behind by Purah, the majority of which seemed to be calculations for the aging rune she was still attempting to formulate. As you adjust your gloves, Zelda speaks once more.
“With the construction of Lookout Landing being close to complete, there was something of importance I was discussing with Hudson,” she explains, “over the past few months, there’s been a handful of incidents with monsters. Nothing drastic, but the occasional Moblin or Lizalfos would wander close by. There was almost always someone skilled enough with a sword to dispose of the threat, but it gave me pause. Should a larger threat return, someday, I fear that we would be ill-equipped to handle it.”
“A larger threat, like, a mob of monsters?” you ask, tapping your chin.
“Yes, in fact, there’s been reports of monster camps appearing to the south of us,” she continues, “and we no longer have a centralized army, as I’m sure you’re aware. There hasn’t been one since the Calamity. I think that there is no better time than the present to work towards training a new generation for our protection.”
You nod as you listen, “it’s a good plan. Who would be training them?”
The princess doesn’t respond, she simply looks at you.
“Oh!” you gasp, face flush with embarrassment, “you want me to train them?”
“Is there a better option?” Zelda replies, lifting a cup of tea to her lips.
“Suppose not,” you say with a shrug, “it would just take some planning, some petitioning, some-”
You’re interrupted by shouting outside. Both you and the princess exchange worried glances as you jump up, grab your sword, and run out the door. To your horror, you realize that, just as Zelda had mentioned, a camp of monsters approaches the landing. Multiple Bokoblins of varying colors, intimidating silver Moblins, and a black Hinox that looms above them all- his footsteps shaking the ground.
“... what was that you were saying about a larger threat?” you say dryly.
You instruct Zelda to stay within the fortress as you sprint down the stairs. There’s a commotion as people run around frantically. You attempt to raise your voice to draw their attention but to no avail.
“Hey- hey- HEY!!” you scream, nearly tearing up your vocal cords, but it works to finally make people stop in their tracks.
“There’s no use in idle panic, we need to get to work and we need to be fast,” you speak, your voice commanding their respect, “we need anything that can be used as a weapon brought here now- swords, spears, mops, farming hoes, even soup ladles. We’ll use pot lids as shields if we have to. If you cannot fight, retreat into the emergency shelter. Anyone who is able-bodied and willing, stay here with me.”
As best as you can, you control the flow of movement. The shelter is opened and people move in and out of it, carrying weapons up to the surface. You coordinate with the Rito who were present, handing them the weak bows available and instructing them to attack from the air. The handful of Goron can use their bodies to attack, downhill and hitting with force. You hand out swords and spears to the Hylian men willing to battle, directing them to the four walls of the fortress to protect from all sides.
Your eyes meet a pair of blue ones as you turn around.
“Link-” you say, slightly startled by how silently the man could move, “I shouldn’t be surprised to see you here. You want to fight?”
He nods, blond hair bouncing.
You glance over your shoulder, the monsters getting closer and closer by the second.
“Have you ever fought before?” you ask when you turn back to him.
He squints his eyes, shrugging his shoulders as he signs to you: play - fight - spar - with - friends.
“It’s good enough,” you reply, handing him a sword that he grasps in his right hand, “don’t do anything stupid, protect your head and your chest. If you get injured, you’ll fall back to the shelter. The sword is an extension of your arm, so don’t go blindly swinging it. Head to the south wall, I’m putting you on the front lines.”
Link gives you a salute before jogging to the wall.
Unfortunately, there was no armor to be shared, meaning everyone would have to fight in their tunics and plain clothes. It was the best you could muster. You jog to the southern wall, standing in front of all the men as you unsheathe the Master Sword. The metal reflects the sun and you lift a hand, a silent message telling everyone to pause.
“Wait,” you order them, “we need to wait for the best moment to-”
You’re interrupted by a Bokoblin keeling over in pain. One of the Rito in the air above you had shot without warning, managing to strike the monster right in its eye. Suddenly all the monsters erupt, running towards your makeshift army with thundering roars.
“Shit,” you hiss, “never mind- attack!”
Your faux soldiers charge forward and you spring ahead of the group, pouncing as you swing your sword. You easily slice through the weaker Bokoblins, maneuvering around their haphazard attacks. A silver Moblin attempts to catch you off guard by swinging its club, and you dodge out of the way at the last second.
The cacophonous sounds of battle erupt around you- metal striking wood, war cries, and shouts of pain. Your brow is furrowed as you watch men have to retreat back to the shelter, already sustaining wounds. They’re picked off one by one as the monsters whittle down your defenses.
Working in tandem with your archers in the sky, you’re also able to clear at the monsters at the same time. The field is littered with parts left behind by the slain monsters, a mix of horns and guts and wooden weapons. You pick up shields and toss them to your remaining soldiers to use as defense.
You grunt as you parry another swing from the Moblin, jutting out your leg to trip him before landing the killing blow across his neck. An unfamiliar shout draws your attention, and your eyes widen when you realize a lone Hylian is attempting to fight the Hinox.
“Link!” you shout, dashing to join his side.
For all of his inexperience, he seems to be defending himself quite well, with nimble footing allowing him to dodge the monster's attacks. He takes the sword you’d give him, slicing it across the ankle of the Hinox. The monster cries out, stomping its feet and getting dangerously close to crushing the blond.
‘Shit, shit, shit,’ you curse inwardly, drawing back your arm and flinging it forward.
A beam of light shoots forth from the sword and strikes the Hinox in the eye, causing it to fall back in pain. A few more powerful slices from the Master Sword put the beast out of its misery and you huff, catching your breath as the body collapses into a puff of smoke.
When you look back at your fellow Hylian you groan seeing the red staining his tunic.
“You idiot,” you chastise him, though there’s no real anger in your voice, “I told you to retreat if you were injured. How bad is the wound?”
He silently lifts his shirt and you examine the various small cuts across his abdomen, likely from the swords of the wear Bokoblins. “They’re not awful,” you sigh, “we’ll need to clean and bandage them. Otherwise, you did a good job.”
You look around and survey the battle’s conclusion. You feel lucky to have no casualties on your end, but there are quite a few men with wounds that need tending to. Both you and Link assist a man who’d gotten sliced across the leg, allowing him to lean his weight on you as you return to the fortress.
Already people have emerged from the shelter with medical supplies, working on patching up your little army. You receive small comments of appreciation, praising you for how efficiently you’d planned the offense. The princess comes running up to you, hands clasped and a smile on her face.
“_____, you were brilliant! Wasn’t I right to say you’d be the most well-equipped person to train our new army,” she grins, before turning her attention to the blond beside you, “and you, Link, you fought valiantly as well!”
The two smile at one another, and you easily notice the blush on each of their faces. You grin mischievously as you put your hand between Link’s shoulders, gently pushing him forward.
“Yes, I think Link shows signs of being a natural swordsman,” you reply, “but he did sustain some injuries. Zelda, why don’t you help patch him up while I check in with everyone else?”
“W-what-” she sputters, her cheeks growing red, and beside her Link signs with his hands, frantically insisting that he was fine.
But you walk away from the pair faster than they can argue with you, chuckling to yourself. You couldn’t help but try to play matchmaker, seeing the way they would look at one another. They were hopeless.
Besides, it was a fun way to keep yourself entertained until Sidon returned.
~~~ <> ~~~
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#botw#breath of the wild#totk#tears of the kingdom#loz#fanfic#x reader#reader insert#female reader#prince sidon#prince sidon x reader#sidon x reader
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Falls On Me
Day 5- Tiefling Party: Early Evening
Rating: Teen/Mature
Previous Chapters: Chapter One , Chapter Two , Chapter Three , Chapter Four , Chapter Five , Chapter Six , Chapter Seven ½ , Chapter Seven 2/2 , Chapter Eight , Chapter Nine ,
Characters: Gale Dekarios and F!Tav: Copper
Tags/Warning: Gale POV, Gale x Female Tav. Alternative version of the Weave Scene. Approx: 3400 words
Gale tries to distract himself from his near-death experience and Mystra's continual dismissal. But expected emotions come up when Gale and Copper connect through the Weave.
---
The long day was soon winding down and the stars were coming out to play alongside everybody in camp. The joy of victory was contagious and even the most sour individual was cracking a smile at the defeat of the goblin army.
Gale of course felt happiness and even relief at the annihilation of the goblin hoard and after spending the good part of the day recovering at the Druid’s Grove he even felt energized. But there was a small part of him that couldn’t shake the gloom of death and thoughts of Mystra.
His Goddess didn’t care that Gale almost died.
There were no magical interventions to heal him. No heavenly reprieve from his suffering. Just plain old-fashioned dumb luck and quick reactions from his teammates that prevented him from exploding. But Gale should have expected that, of course. Mystra never goes back on her word and if she is done with Gale, then she is done with him.
The man just hoped since her rejection was silent and not forthright that maybe somewhere in the goddess’s heart she would forgive him in the end.
“Urgh, let’s not get stuck on that line of thinking,” Gale grumbles to himself. “Let’s think happy thoughts! First, I am not dead. Second, I have an excellent bottle of wine waiting for me at my tent. Third….”
Well, he couldn’t think of a third but Copper comes into view and everything else is forgotten or at least put aside for the moment.
“Good evening, Gale.” Copper says with a smile. She’s dressed in her casual clothes and she looks far from the battleharden monk she was earlier in the day. “I was hoping you could join me at the celebrations tonight?”
Gale smiles, happy that Copper sought out his company but then an idea springs in his head and he must follow it.
“I was hoping you’d spare me a moment.” Gale greets back, noting a slight eagerness in the woman’s demeanor. Did she start drinking already or was she truly happy to be in his company?… “There’s something rather magical I wish to show you tonight.”
“Are you sure that’s wise?” Copper asks, lifting an auburn eyebrow at him and crossing her arms in disapproval. “You could’ve died this morning from being low on magic.”
Gale coughs, wanting to avoid that topic again. “It’s perfectly safe, I assure you.” He places his hand over his heart as in oath. “No complicated, magic-consuming spells are needed.”
I just want to show you something few people have had the pleasure to experience.” Gale smiles and offers Copper a hand, wanting to lead her away before the party gets too rambunctious. “Let’s quickly head to more intimate surroundings so we don’t get disturbed by this revelry.”
“Pleasurable experience? Intimate surroundings?” Copper questions, her hand hesitating to reach for his as a slight blush forms on her cheeks, and Gale quickly realizes his offer could be mistaken for another pleasurable activity.
“Nooo, no!” Not that kind of….umm… pleasurable offer.” Gale hastily corrects. “I mean to teach you a magical lesson in the Weave. I’ve been promising you for days now and I want to show you my appreciation for all the Ki lessons you’ve graced me with.” Gale gratefully bows. “I truly don’t deserve your time or kindness.”
“Gale, that’s not true.” Copper gently argues, motioning for him to raise his head. But he knows the truth. He isn’t deserving of all the support Copper and now Karlach is giving him.
Gale swears he was mere seconds away from being kicked from the group if the two warriors didn’t defend him so vehemently against the others. Luckily, Wyll quickly joined in his defense and Astarion was outnumbered so the vampire didn’t put up much of a fight when Shadowheart and Lae’zel proved disinterested in continuing the argument as long as Gale could control his orb and left if it proved too unstable.
Startled out of his thoughts by the feeling of strong warm fingers wrapping around his long fingers. Copper looks at him expectantly and Gale realizes the monk is silently taking up his offer for a magical lesson. His stomach starts to flutter with excitement. “Excellent. Let’s mosey on over to a more quiet location.”
He needs to distract himself from his depressing thoughts and what better than a beautiful companion and a magical lesson?
---
“Copper is an excellent student in the Weave.” Even through her protests that she doesn’t have a drop of magical talent, Gale thinks as she mimics his words and actions to produce a burst of light. The happy look on the monk’s face was causing a surge of pride to swell in Gale’s chest.
It’s been a while since he channeled the Weave in this way. Recently, Gale only dared to do it for battle. Yet being by another person’s side and channeling the Weave so imitately didn’t bring the same feeling of dread to the pit of his stomach.
“If Mystra feels me connecting to the Weave in this way then so be it.” Gale hesitantly believes. All he was doing was teaching a fellow traveling companion a minor trick or two. It wasn’t like Gale was seeking the goddess’s attention.
He just wants to return the favor to Copper for all the help she was giving him.
“Excellent. Now repeat after me,” Gale steps closer and instructs Copper in clear and concise prose. “Ah-Thran Mystra-Ryl Kantrach-Ao.”
A wary look appears on Copper’s face as her eyes quickly flicker to Gale’s mouth as he speaks the incantation. The hesitation quickly turns to determination, and Gale smiles at the sight before thinking ahead so he can blaze the trail to make it easier for Copper to magically follow. The concept of harmony bursts through his mind. The scent of rosewater, a sense that everything is fine in his world, and a sweet taste on the tongue.
Copper’s eyes grow large and then Gale feels her whole body relax and he smirks, she must have felt the change in the air, as he leads her down this magical exploration. With only the smallest inaccuracy, Copper repeats the incantation.
“Very good.” Gale praises, looking fondly at the woman. “Now I want you to picture in your mind the concept of harmony. As true as you can.”
Without a second thought, Copper closes her eyes in prayer.
Magically connected to the monk, Gale is greeted with a sense of nothingness.
This well of nullity lasted for several seconds and just as Gale was starting to feel concerned for Copper’s mental well-being, small sensations began to flutter at his chest and spark with life. The feeling radiates from his core outwards towards his limbs.
Each small spark, crackles and comforts his sore muscles like he is made of a warm, gentle fire. However, the sensation doesn’t stop at his body's boundaries. The warm comforting feeling expands outwards connecting him to each blade of grass, the earth beneath his feet, and all the little life that surrounds him.
Without realizing he is holding his breath, Gale lets out a gasp and greedily sucks in some air deep into his lungs and within that second he becomes one with the universe.
Gale’s body feels larger, stronger, and calmer than it could alone.
He is one with his surroundings and he is unable to figure out if this was the Weave or Copper’s doing…but the thought gets wiped away as quickly as it came and he settles into the pleasant feeling.
He smiles over to his companion just as she slowly opens her grey eyes and smiles back. Their souls are connected and he was not expecting this kind of reaction when he offered a small magic lesson.
The longer Gale stares, the more he realizes, how deep and reflective Copper’s eyes are. It’s addicting staring into those eyes and feeling this connected to somebody. This warm, safe, and whole.
“I was missing this my whole life.” Gale briefly thinks as a pull to kiss, to meld into the person next to him floods his body.
But before he can act on that impulse to kiss Copper, Gale senses her. Mystra, the Lady of Mysteries, Gale’s goddess herself, came to investigate the pleasant hum that was vibrating through her Weave.
The wind gets knocked out of him, sensing Mystra nearby and in that second of distraction, Gale is mentally surprised by a pleasant image of Copper kissing him. Tender at first that soon turns passionate.
Gale turns away from the magical presence of the Goddess of Magic and tries to focus his eyes on the person before him. Copper is looking at him with a hooded expression reflecting the desire that they felt as she leans in for something they both were drawn to do.
Embarrassment boils and runs over, followed by hesitation, and exhilaration. But no, Gale can’t do this now. Can't kiss Copper now. Not with Mystra so close…not with her watching.
However, Copper doesn’t recognize the sensation of the goddess’s presence as Gale does. So the monk doesn't know the turmoil with Mystra is happening and her eager face soon drops to disappointment at Gale’s hesitation to kiss her.
The magic quickly evaporates like a droplet of water hitting a hot stone and Mystra disappears just as quickly now that the Weave has come undone.
Copper looks shy and rejected, standing in front of Gale. It feels like she might sprint away any second now. But Gale isn't ready to address the goddess in the room and the folly that brought him here so he quickly turns to another subject matter, embarrassment coloring his voice and actions.
“Well… that was an exhilarating picture!” He claps his hands and rubs them together as he shifts from heel to toe. “I wasn't expecting it but it was very welcomed nonetheless.”
Copper gives him a questioning look and the wizard feels her withdraw from him. “Really?” Copper says hesitantly. “I feel like I completely misread this situation.”
“Noo, no you did not!” Gale quickly corrects. “You were- we both were- umm, feeling the same in that moment. It's just a very complicated situation on my part.”
Copper frowns and her eyes lose her usual sparkle for the man. “You have somebody else?” she whispers, connecting the dots right away.
“Yes.” The word comes out without Gale’s permission. Hurt floods Copper's grey eyes and before Gale can explain further she quickly turns to run away back to the party, away from him and the hurt he caused.
“Wait, please!” Gale shouts in frustration, grabbing Copper's hand and pulling her back to him. “Don't go. I couldn't stand you being sad on my account.”
“I’ve been acting a fool with a man who's already taken. I do not wish to keep up this charade.” Copper hisses out, refusing to look at Gale out of embarrassment.
“It's no charade,” Gale murmurs, rubbing his thumb over Copper's warm skin, already missing his connection with her. He feels her tense up but he can't find it inside himself to let go. “It's just my…Goddess.”
“You told me you were an ex-Chosen of Mystra before.” Copper says heatedly. “I didn't pry into why. But I don't understand how your goddess affects what we have. Why does it make you hesitant to…be with me?”
Copper has proven to be strong and dependable yet in this second she seems tired and barely keeping her pieces together through iron will alone.
Gale feels faint, like all his blood disappeared from his body. Still holding Copper’s hand, refusing to let her run. Gale sits down and hides his face with his free hand.
“Tell her the truth, you coward! She deserves to know the truth after everything you put her through. She barely knows you and doesn’t deserve this treatment. And once you do explain the whole sordid affair you better prepare to let her go. It's the best for her and you. Save each other the heartache.”
Gale mentally berates himself. Going through hundreds of explanations in his head on what to say to the monk but each one lands on him being a worthless ignoramus, a disgrace of a wizard.
“Gale?” Copper gently questions, bringing the man out of his reprimanding thoughts. She doesn't say anything else, letting her original words stand for themselves. But at least he’s not feeling her actively trying to pull away from him.
Gale drops her hand and claps his together, steeling himself for the next few minutes.
“As you know, I am what one might call a wizard prodigy. Such was my skill that it earned me the attention of the mother of magic herself.” He sighs and continues “Starting at a young age, Mystra revealed herself to me and she became my teacher. In time, she became my muse, and later my lover.”
Gale senses Copper becoming very still next to his side. “You had your goddess as a lover?”
“Oh yes,” Gale says, feeling a flicker of burned-out pride at his words. “We enjoyed each other’s company- body, mind, and soul. But even so, I desired more… You see, no matter how powerful a wizard we mortals can become, we never scratch more than the surface of the Weave. Mystra keeps us in check.”
Copper lets out a huff at that statement and Gale feels encouraged to go on.
“There are boundaries she doesn’t let us cross. Yet each time I was with her, I stood on the precipice, gazing into the wonders that lay beyond. Wanting more than what I currently possessed and knowing she could give it to me. If only…”
“She should have known better to show you such a thing.” Copper mutters, appearing agitated. “Enlightenment is something that is earned through years of work to understand our minds. Cause we mortals truly only have barriers in our minds. We must slowly learn to overcome them. If we are shown the truth beyond our understanding at that moment, then those benevolent barriers become cages.”
“Yes, you are right on that.” Gale turns to her in shock, not expecting this woman to understand him so easily. “I learned there were things beyond my understanding. I sought to be free of my cage. I tried to convince Mystra. I pouted, I pleaded, and I swore my ambition was only to serve her better. But she only smiled and wanted me to be content- locked in my limitations.”
Gale’s hands begin to shake and his orb responds to his agitation, like it knew he was going to speak of it next.
“I…I thought if I showed her I was better than all the other magicians, all of her other Chosen, then she would unlock my cage and allow me beyond her veil. I sought after a piece of Weave lost to her during the Spellpague. I thought if I returned this lost part of herself to Mystra she would finely deem me worthy to be her full-time companion in all the ways that truly counted, in both mind, body, and soul.”
Copper chuckles drily and shakes her head. “I guess you ruled out flowers and chocolates to woo your woman.”
“You know me. My gestures can never be grand enough.” Gale jokes, his heart feeling a little better from the lighthearted teasing. “I was certain this deed of raw power draped in romance would convince Mystra to take me by the hand and welcome me into her hitherto forbidden domains. But I was mistaken…”
“Let me guess, this is where the orb comes in?” Copper asks.
“You are correct.” Gale sighs and reaches forward for Copper’s hand. She jerks back slightly from the sudden touch but allows the man to grasp her hand. “Here, place your hand over my heart. You’ve done it before but now know the truth.”
Copper’s strong fingers rest, in the cradle of his collarbone and chest, over his damaged heart. The warmth from her skin spreads instantly but Gale doesn’t dwell on the sensation as he lets his guard down, letting their tadpoles mentally connect.
The memory is agonizing and Copper is right alongside him for the ride. Images of dark hallways. A book, bound, then suddenly opens. Inside there are no pages, only a swirling mass of blackest Weave that pounces. Tearing into his flesh, to settle hungrily in his chest. Slurping up all his magical energy, discontented with the feast that lay before it.
“Gale!” Copper says worry in her voice as she grits her teeth at the memory of the magical attack.
“As you can see, I recovered the lost piece of Weave, sealed within a Netherse tome.” Anger grows in Gale's voice. “But once I opened that cover, I was cursed with this blight and Mystra dismissed me as her Chosen. She turned her back towards me. Unhappy with my mild rebellion to win her love.”
“She refused to help you? After everything you did for her?”
“Mystra is a goddess and oftentimes fickle. Even when I loved her with all my heart,” Gale says discouragedly. “I disobeyed her and was punished for it.”
“Gale that is not fair!” Copper says out loud what the man hides in his heart.
“You serve a god! Don’t you expect to be punished for disobeying him?” Gale argues back, still faithful to Mystra’s image.
“I serve a good god!” Copper asserts, her eyes blazing with pride. “A nice god that understands our human struggles. Ilmater would alleviate any suffering, and never punish his followers for choosing to love, no matter how foolhardy the journey. Has Mystra fallen so far to forget what it’s like to be human?”
“You know Mystra was a human once?” Gale says with curiosity.
“You aren’t the only wizard I’ve made acquaintance with, Gale.” Copper reprimands with a small huff. “Your human folly shouldn’t condemn you to suffering when Mystra could easily take that blighted piece of Weave away from you. You shouldn’t suffer from loving and trying to please her. No harm was done except onto you.”
“I wish Mystra saw it that way.” Gale sighs dejectedly. “But I wronged her. Now I am condemned to take care of this orb until it kills me. And I forbid taking you or anybody else down that path with me.”
“Is that why you hesitated to kiss me before.” Copper says frankly, her earlier embarrassment about the topic gone.
“Yes, in part,” Gale answers without mentioning that Mystra was present for that almost kiss and he doesn’t yet know how to sort out his complicated feelings for his goddess. “I feel drawn to you but I am not worthwhile for you to pursue. Especially now with this blasted thing in my chest. I feel any sort of “excitement” might trigger an explosion.”
“Gale…” Copper pleads, taking a step closer to him but stopping short of touching him. “I just want to enjoy your company in any way you can give me. I’m not asking for much. I just want to continue walking by your side until this journey is done.”
“If we are only walking you might get bored,” Gale says as a mischievous glint appears in his eyes as he takes her waiting hand. Caressing the skin. “I might have to fill the hours with my scholarly expertise. A lecture perhaps or a debate on the merits of the Weave over Ki?”
“The horror.” Copper jokes, shaking her head as a playful smile emerges.
“But in all honesty. I’m glad to know you enjoy my company so much.” Gale brings her hand up to his lips for a quick peck. “But I’ll loathe to waste your time tonight. There’s a party to be had. Go, indulge in the frivolities-they’re good for the heart. And mine would be all the lighter, to see you enjoying yourself.”
“What about you?” Copper asks, confusion on her face as Gale turns the conversation around. “Aren’t you joining me?”
“I’m awfully tired.” Gale lies. “I think I’m going to head to bed. But not before I take you to enjoy the food table.” He grips Copper by the shoulders and playful steers her back to camp. “I don’t know where Wither’s conjured up all that food and wine but it would be a shame to let it go to waste.”
Disappointment flashes in her eyes but she quickly hides it as Gale leads her along.
---
The next chapter will be the last for Part One!
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The Queen and Her Levi: Chapter 2- Say Yes.
King!Levi Ackerman x fem!reader
Description:
"All my life I have never known what it was like to love someone, if anything, really. Until I met you, and everything changed, you brat."
"Reader" has a name, if you don't like it, then change it to your own, the world is your oyster.
Will contain VERY mature and triggering content. Viewer discretion is advised and minors please DNI.
Posted on Tumblr April 2024, also on Wattpad. If you would like to message me please feel free! I would appreciate and encourage any feedback. Hope you enjoy.
read Chapter 1 here and prologue here
[word count: 2k]
Chapter 2: Say Yes.
Erwin was wrong. He didn't know Levi at all. This was the first time since they've met that he was absolutely shocked at his actions. Same went for Hange, her eyes widened and her mouth hung open in shock. It wasn't just them though, the moment he said what he said, about marrying this small village girl who had no royal blood and not considered highborn, to become his wife, and his queen, everyone gasped, nobody had any words.
"Levi!" Hange shouted. "What are you talking about?"
He just looked at her with his common, stoic glare, not saying a word, silently looking at her to shut up and not question what he chose to say in front of anyone. She wasn't intimidated though, she trusted his judgment.
The one who was most shocked was the girl herself, Asuna, who almost collapsed on her feet while the man next to her kept her up right. The man, Harrison, held Asuna tight as she attempted to process what the King just said. She didn't react, she just stood there staring at the ground in complete shock, then looked back up at the King who had just asked for her hand in marriage. Harrison also looked up at Levi, with furious rage and anger, he was going to take her away, he was going to make her his, and it teared him up inside, knowing there was nothing he could do.
Dan Reiss, was almost as shocked as his daughter. His mouth clinging open as he stood in front of the King with disbelief. He took a second to figure out if this was real or if it was another one of his drunk imaginations getting the best of him, but it wasn't, this was real, this was really happening.
"I'm sorry, come again, Your Grace?" Dan asked, breaking the silence.
"You heard me," Levi answered almost immediately. "Do I have to repeat myself? I hate doing that."
"Answer him!" Asuna screamed at Levi in absolute shock. She looked like she was about to break down, with the unknown man still holding her as if she was dying. He felt a tad bit of jealously when he saw Harrison holding her like that, he didn't understand why, he didn't know her, after all.
Asuna put her hand over her mouth, trying to understand and attempted not to cry. Levi was a king, he was the most powerful man that humanity as we knew it had known. Countless rich and highborn girls were offered to Levi to be his wife, and all of them, he rejected. Angering the higher ups and his advisors, he continued to feast on girls who he didn't feel he needed to ever commit to, even though half of them managed to fall in love with him, despite his sadistic and lustful tendencies. And for the record, most of the girls he fucked were nothing but maids or the rich girls he met during business gatherings.
For years, it was like this, he refused his advisors at every turn when they prompted him to marry, for years, he constantly refused. Until now, asking a small village girl who was far from rich at this point, who thought she was a nobody and continued to live her simple life caring for her childhood home, is now being asked to be King Levi's wife.
"Dan Reiss, like I said, I will forgive your crimes. I will pardon all of the money you owe me that you don't have. I will not hold any grudges against you any longer, if you agree to let me have Asuna as my wife." Levi confronts. "I am not giving you an option to think it over, it is a yes or no question, you're smart enough, to know the outcome of both."
Yep, this is really happening. Dan closes his eyes and looks down. He didn't have much time to think about it. Though, he realized that it was either his life ending or his daughter becoming the Queen of the Walls. If he chose no, then he would be dead and he would not have any idea what would happen to his daughter or her future. He expected the worst, he feels like even if he was killed by Levi at this very second, Levi would take her anyway. He gives it a lot of thought for about a minute which to Asuna felt like hours. He would rather stay alive and pardoned for his crimes rather than not know what would happen to his only daughter. He had decided.
He turns to his daughter, who has gotten free from the grasp of Harrison and walks towards her dad and waits for his answer, small tears beginning to fall from her beautiful green eyes. He looks at her with sadness, as well as relief.
He knew Levi was many things, but a liar, he was not. If he was going to take Asuna's hand in marriage, he would do it, she would be his wife, his Queen, he would protect her and keep her safe from harm to the best of his ability. When she becomes Queen, she will almost have just as the same amount of power as him, as well as the same rights as him. He couldn't help but feel, deep down, this seemed like revenge. He felt as if Levi didn't care about his daughter any less than he cared about any of the other girls he led into his bedroom, this was punishment for his crimes. He couldn't shake the feeling that this was the only reason he was truly asking for Asuna. Though, despite all of this, it was an acceptable offer, but, knowing this, he may never see his daughter again, or barely, at all.
Levi breaks the silence once more and speaks up.
"Say yes."
This was a shock to everyone, he didn't know her. He didn't feel like he cared for her at all or ever will care for her like a husband is supposed to. She would have a new life, a new start, instead of being the caretaker of this large piece of land he owned, she would be the Queen. And after one short answer he would give to Levi, the Queen is what she would become.
"Honey..." Dan breaks his silence. "I'm sorry."
Asuna gasped loudly, tears running down her face as she screamed that perhaps the village next heard her. She felt betrayed, unwanted, but at the same time, she knew deep down that it was either this or her father's execution. She runs up to her father and grabs him by his shoulders. Levi just stands there without moving, continuing to look at this confrontation happening in front of him. He doesn't say a word, and he wasn't going to change his mind. He wanted her all for himself.
She holds him by his shoulders looking right into his eyes in denial not saying a word. She felt the same way he felt, she knew the outcome if he were to deny Levi's offer. He was either the death of her father or it wasn't. After a couple seconds of processing what was going to happen to her. She looks down and cries silently.
"Okay." she says in defeat.
And with that, everything changed. She knew she was about to leave her home and go with King Levi. This felt like a fever dream, she couldn't tell what her future was going to become nor what was in store for her. This world she lived in was huge. The walls she lived within were so unknown that she couldn't tell how large of a world she actually survived in. Wall Sina, Wall Rose, Wall Maria, soon, she would become the Queen of it all, and everyone who lived within them. She began to question everything about what she was going to become. As the Queen, would she just be merely a figurehead who is only known as Levi's wife? Or would she be able to truly make a difference to the kingdom? All of these thoughts continued to roam around her brain as she continued to process her fate. Before she knew it, everyone of Levi's men and guards had realized that they might finally have someone they can call Queen.
"NO!" the man who Levi didn't know the same of yet screamed as loud as he could. Asuna and Dan turned around and prompted him to stop, but he didn't. "You... can't...!" he begins to get emotional.
"Harrison, don't." Dan responds to him. "It is already done."
"You're name is Harrison, huh?" Levi intrudes on the feud. "Harrison, did you just say I can't?"
"Levi, let's not make this a harder situation than it already is." Erwin and Hange stop him.
Harrison, the man in question, finally realizes he actually couldn't do anything at all. All amount of protest would mean nothing. His boss was right, it was already done. Asuna was taken from his grasp at the blink of one permanent offer. He looks down, not looking at anything but the ground below him. Nodding and sighing in defeat. Though, if this man wasn't the King, Harrison would be grabbing and punching him until he was wheezing and coughing up blood on the ground. Even though in reality, Harrison wouldn't stand a chance against Levi.
Harrison absolutely hated what was happening, he never admitted it out loud or told anybody, but he loved her. Growing up together on Dan's estate, and him practicing his last name with Asuna's. He was waiting until they were official to ask her to marry him and run off with together to live their life, but now, all of those dreams were thrown out the window in a matter of a second. Asuna wasn't ever going to be his, she belonged to Levi now, the deed was done, it was over, and he had to cough it up.
Dan turns around and looks back at the King. "Yes, Your Grace, you can have my daughter's hand in marriage." he finally answers officially.
Levi looks up and sighs while smirking a bit, almost as if he was happy at Dan's answer. He tightly hugs his daughter as she cries on his shoulder, and as they turned around, they saw every one of Levi's acquaintances look at each other and nod, them too slowly realizing that this was really happening as well. With that, they all get down on their knees and kneel, laying their arms at their knees as they bow to their new Queen.
Asuna is stunned. All her father had to do was say yes, and now suddenly she is treated like a royal. It took one word, and that word was yes. Yet, she herself had no words. Softly wiping her tears away and accepting her new reality. She actually disliked what they were doing, she was no queen, she was just a simple farm girl who had no true line of royal blood, that she knew of, anyway.
She let go of her father and watched as everyone around her kneeled before her. Dan and Harrison both stepped back behind her with expressionless faces, but secretly, Dan was happy and relieved. Not because he was going to live to see another day, but that his sweet daughter was going to be the most powerful woman within the walls.
There was no point to this, she thought. There was no reason for them to be bowing to her, she didn't do anything, she didn't prove anything to them. Finally coming to her senses, she looked up, stood tall, and glared at her future husband.
Levi walked toward her, not losing eye contact with her pretty eyes that he was captivated by from the moment he saw her. He takes her right hand in his, softly smiling at her as he kisses her palm then puts it down.
"It's truly nice to meet you, Asuna."
She doesn't respond back with a friendly greeting. Instead, she softly speaks. "Why me?" He looks at her and softly responds back, in a way that nobody around them could hear what he was saying to her.
"Not sure, actually. But we can't change the past now, can we?"
[Chap. 3 coming to Tumblr soon! I am also creating a master list that will most likely be up by chapter 5. Thank you:)]
- Kat
#levixreader#levi#attack on titan#snk levi#levi heichou#levi aot#levi art#levi ackerman#levismut#attackontitan#kinglevi#leviackerman x reader#snk#gameofthronesinspired
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Happy Campers

Fandom: 911 Lone Star
Characters: Carlos Reyes, T.K. Strand, Paul Strickland, Judd Ryder, Mateo Chavez
Rating: T
Summary: When the boys of the 126 decide to spend a weekend camping in the wilderness they're sure they are well prepared for any challenges they might face. Three firefighters, a paramedic, and a cop. What could possibly go wrong?
For the @badthingshappenbingo prompt: Poison/Venom
Read on AO3
“Hey! Mateo! D’you put the blue cooler in here?” Judd yelled, eyeing the back of the SUV.
“Yeah, that’s what you said to do,” Mateo said, popping his head up from the bag of fishing gear he was arranging.
“Yeah, I know what I said, but you gotta put a towel down or something first in case it leaks,” Judd said, pulling it back out again and reaching for a spare beach towel. “See? Keeps it from ruining the floor mats.”
“I thought the point of floor mats was to keep the floor clean,” Mateo said. “What’s the point of covering up the covering?”
“Dude’s got a point,” Paul said, bringing his duffle and fishing rod over. “Where does it end?”
“Look, all I’m sayin’ is, Grace very graciously offered up her car for the weekend so we could all drive together and we need to be respectful,” Judd said, carefully placing Pauls’ duffle alongside the cooler.
“So she doesn’t murder you?” Mateo asked.
Judd nodded. “Exactly.”
“Seems like a good choice then,” Carlos said, handing Judd one of the tent kits so he could continue his game of car packing Jenga.
This camping trip had been an offhand idea at the bar one night and steadily gained steam as they all managed to find time off to get them an extended weekend out in the wilderness. They had prepped and planed for weeks and they were all excited to hike and fish and sleep out under the stars.
“Whoa, whoa whoa,” Judd said, holding out a hand as T.K. started to climb in. “You ain’t bringing coffee in this car.”
T.K. looked down at the travel mug in his hand. “It’s herbal tea.”
“Water only. No snacks,” Judd warned them all.
“No snacks?!” Mateo cried “What’s the point of even going if we can’t have road snacks?”
“Listen, unless you’re going to pay for the detailing, nobody is eatin’ or drinkin’ anything other than clear liquids in this car,” Judd said firmly.
“Judd, let the man have his tea,” Grace said as she came out the front door, work bag in hand. “Lord knows he’s gonna need some sustenance for this weekend.”
“I keep telling you we’re gonna be fine,” Judd insisted.
“Mhmm,” Grace said. “So, no ladies this trip?”
“We asked,” Mateo said with a shrug. “They all said ‘hell no.’ I think has to do with the bugs and the dirt.”
“Yeah judging by the character of your ladies, I’m gonna guess it was less about that and more about them not wanting to be around you fools in the wilderness,” Grace said knowingly. “Carlos, you’re going to keep these boys in check the next couple of days, right?”
“Yes ma’am,” Carlos said. “I’ll make sure they get home safe.”
“We don’t need a babysitter,” Paul said closing the trunk of the SUV. “We know exactly what we’re doing.”
“Uh huh,” Grace said skeptically. “Forgive me if don’t think a bunch of city boys can handle themselves in the wilderness.”
“Hey,” T.K. said, “I spent six summers at camp.”
“And some of us ain’t city boys,” Judd said.
“Oh, baby, I know you think you are Bear Grylls, but you grew up in a suburban neighborhood with a white picket fence just like the rest of us. Just cuz you’ve lived in Texas your whole life doesn’t make you a country boy,” Grace said, patting his chest and giving him a peck on the lips. “Ya’ll be safe now, I’m serious.”
“We’ll be just fine,” Paul assured her. “It’s a state park, there will be plenty of other people around. Safe as can be.”
“It better be,” Grace said as she gave them a wave and hopped into Judd’s truck to head to work.
“All right, let’s load up,” Judd ordered. “If we’re gonna make camp before nightfall we need to get a move on.”
“Shotgun!” Mateo yelled, barreling through them all to get to the front seat.
Even with the extra space of the SUV they were a little cramped. Carlos had volunteered for the middle seat and T.K. and Paul were squished in on either side of him, their knees all knocking around as they tried to find a comfortable position.
Carlos ended up pressing his thigh firmly against T.K.’s in an effort to give Paul a little more personal space, but from the look on his boyfriend’s face, he didn’t seem to mind.
“Should we be offended that your wife thinks we’re not going to survive?” Paul asked as they pulled out of the driveway.
“Nah,” Judd said. “She just underestimates our wilderness skills.”
Personally Carlos was also dubious about their collective wilderness skills. He and Judd had both spent time on family ranches growing up, but the rest of the group were full blown city boys. None of them were truly outdoorsmen in any sense of the word. But the park was well known and they weren’t planning to camp in a particularly remote area. They had a first aid kit and nearly thirty years of first responder training if you added them all together. Nevertheless, Carlos couldn’t help but feel like they might end up calling it quits early.
Despite his trepidation he was looking forward to the weekend. He and T.K. hadn’t seen much of each other lately, work had been crazy for both of them, and his dad had sprained an ankle, so he’d been spending extra time helping out at his parents’ house. It would be nice to have some time together, even if their friends were around too.
“Anybody want jerky?” Mateo pulled a bag out of his backpack, wiggling it back and forth.
Judd glared at him. “What did I say about snacks in the car?”
“Jerky’s not a snack, it’s sustenance,” Mateo told him calmly, offering the bag to the backseat.
Paul eyed it warily. “I’m good.”
“T.K.?”
“Not sure it goes with my tea,” T.K. told him, holding up his mug.
Mateo looked expectantly at Carlos who dutifully reached in and took a piece. He took a bite and immediately regretted it. The thing tasted like dog food, and he had an immediate urges to spit it out, but he forced himself to chew instead. “What do you think?” Mateo asked. “Made it myself. Learned how on TikTok.”
Carlos swallowed. “It’s uh, an interesting flavor.”
Mateo smiled and took a big bite of his own piece. “It’s my proprietary spice blend.”
“Well it smells like ass, so close it back up,” Judd told him as he pulled onto the highway.
“Our friends are fun, aren’t they?” T.K. asked with a smile.
“Pretty sure they were your friends first,” Carlos teased, stealing a sip of T.K.’s tea to try and rid his mouth of the jerky flavor.
“And now we’re family, so you’re stuck with us,” Paul told him with a grin.
Lots of teasing, a few arguments about music choices, and one bathroom stop later they arrived at Bastrop State Park. Judd insisted on parking as far away from everyone else as possible to try and spare Grace any dings or scratches, which resulted in an extra long hike to their campsite with all their gear.
“Nuh uh,” Paul said as Carlos began setting up the tent he’d brought himself and T.K. “You put that tent on the far side of this clearing. We don’t want to hear any shenanigans ya’ll get up to tonight.”
Carlos felt his face flame but tried to laugh it off. “Paul, we’re out in the wilderness and we just spent an hour dragging all this gear in here. I don’t think anybody is going to be up for anything tonight except going to sleep.”
Paul paused putting up his own tent and put his hands on his hips. “I’ve only known T.K. for about five minutes longer than you’ve known him, but the dude is definitely always ‘up’ for you.”
Carlos had thought his face was red already but now it felt like the surface of the sun. “I—“
“Hey babe.” T.K. appeared, his hand immediately going Carlos’ shoulder. “Did we bring sunscreen?”
“Yeah it’s in my backpack,” Carlos told him.
“Oh, great,” T.K. said, leaning in and capturing his lips in something that was far more than a polite peck and definitely not quite appropriate for the company they were in. T.K.’s smirk was at a ten when he pulled back. “Thanks.”
“Yeah,” Carlos said, his head a little fuzzy as T.K. went in search of the backpack. His eyes found Paul, who sent him an I-told-you-so look. Carlos swallowed and reached for the tent poles. “I’ll just…”
“Mmhmm,” Paul smiled and pointed. “All the way over there.”
The got the tents up and the campsite settled as darkness began to fall. Mateo had started a fire; it turned out the two years of boy scouts he’d participated in during middle school were handy for something after all.
Dinner was courtesy of Grace, packets of meat and cheese and vegetables wrapped in tin foil and cooked in the fire. Paul and Judd were busy wrangling some sticks to roast marshmallows and T.K. was cuddled into Carlos’ side, a blanket wrapped around them both to ward off the chill of the night air.
“I am not singin’ Kumbaya with you,” Judd said as Mateo mentioned it for the third or fourth time, clearly trying to get a rise out of him.
“Just one round,” Mateo said. “It’ll be a bonding activity.”
“I’m about as bonded to you as i want to be,” Judd told him. “Now take this stick and start on some marshmallows.”
Before long s’mores were in production and they were swapping tales of their most ridiculous calls, each more wild than the last.
“Bees?” Paul asked incredulously as Carlos finished up a story he would never have believed if he hadn’t seen it himself.
“Bees,” Carlos confirmed. “It was terrible.”
“I once had a teenager who tried to deep fry his hand,” T.K. told them.
“His hand?” Mateo asked in horror. “I mean I did some stupid stuff back in the day, but nothing that stupid.”
“It was very stupid,” T.K. said. “Kind of put me off corn dogs permanently.”
“Yeah I can see that,” Judd said, pulling another gooey marshmallow off his stick.
“I had to save an alligator from a four story walk up,” Paul told them.
That got everyone’s attention. “An alligator? In Chicago?” Mateo asked incredulously.
“Illegal pets are big business,” Carlos said knowledgeably. “Is that what happened?”
“Yep,” Paul said. “Building was on fire and the dude refused to leave unless we took the ‘gator with us. Called her ‘Cookie.’”
Judd shook his head as they all laughed. “Some people are just plumb crazy. Ain’t a thing you can do about it.” He checked his watch and got to his feet. “All right boys, time to turn in,” he said. “Fish are gonna be up early. And I would like to take this time to remind everyone that these tents are thin and nobody should do anything that’s going to cause anyone to feel uncomfortable in the morning.”
Carlos was completely mortified, but T.K. grinned. “They make headphones for a reason Judd,” he said cheekily.
“Mhmm,” Judd rolled his eyes and zipped himself into his tent, Mateo and Paul following suit.
“What do you tell them about our sex life?” Carlos asked, infusing his tone with some heat.
“Nothing,” T.K. said as he zipped up their tent. “Well, nothing explicit. What they make up in their own minds is totally on them.”
“Right, the fact that you’re King of Innuendo has nothing to do with it,” Carlos said with a roll of his eyes as he stripped off his pants.
He was busy unzipping his sleeping bag when T.K. tackled him, lips tasting like campfire smoke and marshmallow. It was sweet and warm and Carlos let himself get lost in it. It had been so long since they’d had time together where one of them wasn’t completely exhausted or trying to catch up on things around the condo. He hadn’t even realized how much he missed his boyfriend until this moment.
When T.K.’s hands began to wander Carlos reluctantly broke it off. “Babe we can’t,” he said, trying to keep his voice low.
“Why not?” T.K. asked, a pout on his face. “It’s been so long, we’re finally alone…” He smirked as his fingers found a very particular spot and Carlos’ breath caught. “And you clearly want to.”
“Everyone will hear,” Carlos managed. “You can’t be quiet.”
“I can’t,” T.K. grinned wickedly. “But you can.”
It turned out Paul had been right. T.K. was always up for Carlos.
XXX
Despite his late night Carlos was the first one up in the morning. The sun hadn’t even risen yet as he crept out of the tent and got the fire started for coffee. It seemed like kind of a waste since they’d have to put it out again before they left, but he knew his night owl of a boyfriend wasn’t going anywhere without it. And he didn’t think anyone else would mind either.
Judd appeared after a few minutes, giving Carlos an appreciative nod as he poured him a cup. He could hear Mateo and Paul stirring as he filled a mug with creamer and just a little bit of sweetener and let himself back into his own tent.
T.K. was still completely sacked out, an arm thrown over his face, mouth open, ever a chaotic sleeper.
“Hey,” Carlos said softly, giving him a little nudge as he carefully sat down next to him, somehow managing not to spill coffee from either cup. “Time to wake up.”
T.K. let out a groan. “S’too early.”
“Yeah, this is when the fish are out. Come on, everybody else is already getting ready.”
T.K. managed to open an eye and looked up at him. “Let’s just stay here. We’ll be all alone, we can finish what we started last night.”
Carlos shook his head, an amused smile on his lips. “We could. And I would love to. But Judd is really looking forward to showing us all how to fish. It would hurt his feelings.”
“What about my feelings?”
“Your feelings will still be there when we’re actually alone,” Carlos told him. “Come on. Coffee. You’ll feel better.”
It took a lot of cajoling, some promises of things for later, and more coffee, but eventually Carlos got a rumpled, grumpy T.K. up and dressed and ready to head off for a morning of fishing.
Judd turned out to be a good teacher and they managed to catch a half a dozen fish, Paul being the most successful with three decent sized bass. Carlos, Mateo, and Judd caught one apiece and, predictably, T.K. caught nothing but a cat nap against Carlos’ shoulder.
They grilled their catch for lunch and spent the afternoon in an intense game of corn hole that had to be abandoned for cards when T.K. began to spout accusations of cheating and needed to be physically removed for a half hour to cool off like a toddler.
He was still grumbling about it hours later when they tucked into their tent for the night. “I still say Mateo was cheating.”
Carlos sighed. “T.K. let it go.”
“But—“
“I don’t know how you think someone can cheat at corn hole anyway.”
“His feet weren’t behind the line!”
“It’s a game T.K. Just a friendly game among friends.”
T.K. mumbled something unintelligible from where he’d grumpily wrapped himself up in his sleeping bag.
“What was that?” Carlos asked.
“Nothing,” T.K. said and Carlos had to bite back a laugh. T.K. was generally such a cheery person that it was funny to see him worked up and in a mood.
Carlos turned down the lantern and shuffled around until he was lying down on his side next to his boyfriend. “Hey,” he said quietly.
T.K. exhaled through his nose and then turned his head to look at him. “Hey.”
“This trip was a good idea,” he said.
T.K.’s face softened. “You’re having fun?”
Carlos nodded. “We needed this.” He reached over and ran his fingers through T.K.’s hair. “I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed you too,” T.K. said, leaning forward, seeking his lips.
It was slow and soft, and they let it linger to the point that Carlos was pretty sure T.K. was half asleep when he finally pulled back. “Feel better about corn hole now?” he whispered.
“Mhmm,” T.K. said, eyes closed, burrowing as close into Carlos’ chest as the sleeping bags would allow.
Carlos let his own eyes drift shut, feeling T.K. breathe against him. “Good.”
XXX
Their second day wake up wasn’t nearly as early as the first. The sun was peeking out through the trees by the time they made coffee and munched on granola bars and trail mix. Their plan was to hike before the heat of the day and make it back by noon to go kayaking.
Carlos squeezed T.K.’s hand as they began to walk the trail, elated as always by the smile he got in return. Before T.K. he hadn’t known love was stitched together by little moments like this. Holding hands, walking side by side with their friends like it was the most normal thing in the world, this type of moment had become sacred to him.
The trail was quiet at this hour of the morning and they laughed and joked as they wound their way through the trees. What had started as good natured ribbing about Paul’s dating life had snowballed into talking about Mateo’s lack thereof. Much advice was being shouted back and forth, some of it good, most of it bad.
They rounded a turn, the sun bursting forth, setting the area around them on fire with gold. Carlos let go of T.K.’s hand for a second. “I’m just going to take a picture,” he said, pulling his phone from his pocket.
T.K. nodded and kept walking, yelling something about pick up lines and how they definitely worked if you used them right.
Carlos rolled his eyes, mostly at himself, because he’d love to tell them T.K. was wrong, but his boyfriend had definitely used a few on him, and clearly they’d been effective.
He snapped a couple photos, playing with the angle a little. “Gettin’ a good shot for Instagram?” Judd asked, startling him.
He hadn’t realized Judd hadn’t moved on with the rest of the group and he startled, his phone slipping out of his hand and landing in the brush next to the trail. “Whoa, sorry about that,” Judd apologized. “Didn’t mean to scare you.”
“It’s okay,” Carlos said. “I was just lost in my own head I guess.”
He bent to pick up his phone, hoping he hadn’t accidentally shattered the screen or the camera. His fingers closed around it and then there was a sharp pain in his wrist. He jerked his hand back, letting out a surprised shout.
“You all right?” Judd asked.
That was when they both heard the tell tale rattle and saw something slither off through the bushes. Carlos looked at Judd in wide eyed surprise. “Was that—“
Judd immediately swung into action. “Here let’s sit you down, all right?” he said, gently taking Carlos’ elbow and guiding him onto a large rock before turning and bellowing down the trail after the rest of the group. “T.K.!”
Carlos looked down at the two bloody puncture marks on the back of his wrist and felt his heart begin to race inside his chest. This couldn’t be happening. This was not happening.
There was crashing nearby and T.K., Paul, and Mateo all appeared in a rush. “What happened?” T.K. asked, slightly out of breath.
“Carlos got bit by a rattler,” Judd said, his voice much calmer than seemed appropriate for the situation.
“What?” Paul asked in shock.
“I dropped my phone,” Carlos said, still stunned. “I bent over to pick it up, it was so stupid, I never even checked—“
“It’s not your fault,” Judd told him. “Coulda happened to anybody.”
T.K. dropped to his knees and examined the wound. “It might have been a dry bite,” he said, looking up into Carlos’ eyes. “What are you feeling?”
“Um, my heart is racing,” Carlos said. “My chest is kind of tight.”
“Okay, that could just be the adrenaline,” T.K. told him. “We’re going to clean and bandage the wound and then we’re going to get you out of here.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Carlos said, feeling shaky, but trying hold onto his boyfriend’s calm. A dry bite would mean no venom in his system, which would mean no reason for concern. This might not be anything more than a scare.
“Mateo, I have bandages in my backpack. Paul get me a new water bottle.” T.K. doled out orders, speaking very fast, belying his concern. “Judd, keep an eye on him, okay?”
The team found what he needed in seconds and T.K. began to clean the wound, drawing a circle around it with a pen to mark the area of redness so they could see if it spread.
The tingling started slowly, Carlos barely noticed it at first with the way his heart and mind were already racing. “You all right there Carlos?” Judd asked.
“Um,” Carlos swallowed hard. “My arm is kind of tingling and my mouth is dry.”
Judd and T.K. exchanged looks. “Mateo, get the radio and call dispatch. Ask them to meet us in the parking lot with an ambulance,” T.K. said.
“On it.” Mateo was up in a flash, pulling the radio from his pack. “Dispatch this is off duty Firefighter Mateo Chavez of the Austin 126, do you read me?”
“Babe, I want you to tell me the second anything changes, okay?” T.K. told Carlos.
“T.K.” Carlos couldn’t keep the shake out of his voice, panic running through him like a river. This was bad. Really bad. You started learning about rattlers in Texas as soon as you could talk; how to recognize them, how to avoid them, what to do if someone got bit. Right now all of that knowledge seemed to have fled Carlos’ mind, replaced by pure panic and he thought he might be sick.
“Hey.” T.K. paused his ministrations to cup Carlos’ face firmly in his hands. “You’re okay. I’ve got you. I’m not going to let anything happen to you, all right? Do you trust me?”
Carlos managed a nod. “Good. I need to immobilize your arm, so I’m going to bandage it against your chest. That should help slow the spread of the venom. Judd,” he looked up and Judd immediately moved to action, helping pull the bandages up and around Carlos’ shoulder.
They made quick work of strapping the arm into place. By the time they were done Carlos’ heart was pounding in his ears and his entire body had begun to feel shaky, his chest getting tighter with each passing minute.
“How you doing babe?” T.K. asked as he finished securing the bandages in place.
“I’m uh, I’m a little tired,” Carlos told him, his eyelids feeling heavy
“That’s normal,” T.K. told him. “But I need you to try and stay awake, all right?”
“Ambulance is on its way,” Mateo said, rejoining the group.
“Yeah we still gotta get him off this trail though,” Paul said.
“I can walk,” Carlos said, although his knees felt like they were turning into liquid.
“No, no,” T.K. said quickly. “You need to stay as still as possible.”
“Paul and I’ll carry him out,” Judd said immediately. “It’s only half a mile or so, we got this.”
T.K. hesitated, his mind clearly still running through scenarios and options. “If we wait for a rescue team it’s going to cost us extra time,” Mateo pointed out. “If you want him outta here fast, we should go now.”
T.K. nodded. “Okay, yeah, let’s do it.”
“Don’t try to help,” Paul said as Carlos shifted around. “You let us do all the work, all right?”
They made it down the trail in twenty minutes, Judd and Paul moving astonishingly fast even while carrying Carlos’ substantial frame. They could hear the sirens before they reached the parking lot, and paramedics met them at the base of the trail with a gurney.
They immediately put Carlos on oxygen and fluids, T.K. watching their every move like a hawk, tense, and clearly wishing he could be the one doing it. In five minutes flat they were ready to pull out. “We’re gonna meet ya’ll at the hospital, all right?” Judd said.
Carlos shook his head from where it was pillowed against the gurney. “You all should stay,” he said, his voice muffled by the oxygen mask.
“Are you crazy?” Paul asked incredulously. “We’ll break down camp and be there in an hour.”
“You just relax and let them take care of you,” Judd directed. “T.K, get in touch when you can.”
“Yeah, we’ll see you soon,” T.K. told him as he pulled the ambulance doors shut.
The heart rate monitor was beeping fast, Carlos’ heart working overtime as the poison slowly spread. His entire body was tingling, mouth numb and dry like he’d spent too long at the dentist, everything hot and feverish. Funny how the thing that was bothering him least was the bite itself; it seemed inconsequential compared to everything else that was happening.
“We’re almost there,” T.K. told him. “They’ll get you started on anti-venin, probably some antibiotics, something for the pain if you want it. It’ll be fast, probably another hour or so and you’re going to feel a lot better.”
Carlos sucked in a painful breath and tried to speak through the oxygen mask. “I hate…that voice.”
“Which voice?”
“Your…,” he swallowed thickly, “patient voice. It’s…detached. I hate…when you use it on me.”
T.K. smiled and gently carded his fingers through Carlos’ hair. “Don’t get hurt and I won’t have to.”
“You’ll call my parents?” he managed.
T.K. nodded. “As soon as you’re stable.”
For as anxiety inducing and worrisome as the situation was, their arrival at the hospital was fairly calm. Certainly everyone moved quickly, Carlos wasn’t sure he’d ever been admitted for treatment so fast, but it was all with relatively little fanfare. An exam, some blood work, a lot of questions, and several intense looking bags of IV fluid, and that was it.
Carlos did freak out a little bit when they unwrapped his arm and found the redness and swelling had moved far beyond the pen line T.K. had drawn. The heart monitor spiked and he got extremely dizzy as panic joined the venom in his bloodstream, creating a heady cocktail that made him nauseous.
His good hand found its way into T.K.’s and stayed there, squeezing more tightly than was probably comfortable, but T.K. didn’t complain once. He just leaned closer to explain what the doctors were talking about in that calm, quiet, paramedic boyfriend voice, occasionally speaking up to ask the medical staff about dosages and timing.
It took a couple hours, but the medication began to do its work and Carlos’ symptoms slowly eased. The nurses checked in pretty frequently and eventually Carlos let go of T.K.’s hand long enough for him to go outside and call their parents.
“What did they say?” Carlos asked as soon as he came back.
“My dad said he hopes you feel better soon and to call if we need anything. Your parents are worried. I told them that you’re fine and they don’t need to drive all the way out here, but I’m not sure your mom is going to listen,” T.K. said.
“Yeah probably not,” Carlos sighed and sank back against his pillows, his good hand coming up to rub his eyes.
“Do you need anything?” T.K. asked. “I can go down to the hospital gift shop, pick up a book or something.”
“No, no I’m okay. I just want you here with me,” Carlos said.
T.K. smiled and pressed a kiss to his knuckles. “You got it.”
Carlos studied him for a moment and T.K. raised his eyebrows. “What?”
“I don’t know how you can be so calm,” Carlos said. “When you’re hurt I am an absolute basket case.”
“I went in the bathroom and cried after I called your parents,” T.K. said bluntly.
Carlos felt an immediate squeeze of concern, now searching his face even more thoroughly for puffy or reddened eyes. “You did?”
T.K. released his hand, giving it a gentle pat before leaning back in his chair. “And this is why I don’t tell you these things. Because now you’re all worried about me instead of yourself.”
“I don’t want you to be upset.”
“I know. But when you get bitten by a rattlesnake miles away from civilization, I’m not sure what other feeling I’m supposed to have.”
“I’m so—“
T.K. cut him off. “No. Do not apologize. You don’t apologize for things outside of your control.”
Carlos mulled that over for a minute, things still not sitting quite right. “Can I say thank you then?”
T.K. rolled his eyes. “Yes, you can say thank you.”
Carlos lifted his good hand a crooked a finger so that T.K. leaned toward him, their lips meeting in a soft kiss. “Then thank you.”
There was a knock on the door and Judd, Paul, and Mateo poked their heads in. “Hey, do we get thank you kisses too?” Paul asked cheekily.
Carlos laughed. “You guys carried me half a mile. I will thank you in whatever way you want.”
“Cookies,” Mateo said immediately. “Those ones you brought to the 126 a couple weeks ago.”
“Okay, maybe we let the man recover before demanding baked goods from him. You up for some visitors?” Judd asked.
T.K. looked at Carlos, as if he were judging whether or not Carlos could handle it. “Yes, come on in,” Carlos said, ignoring his concern.
“Looking pretty good there, buddy,” Paul said as they gathered at the foot of his bed. “Feeling any better?”
“Yes,” Carlos said. “Much. Thank you guys again for all your help out there. I’m so sorry this is how our trip ended.”
“Aw, don’t worry about it,” Judd said, then he chuckled. “Just nice to see someone other than T.K. in a bed like that.”
It made them all laugh and T.K. took the ribbing good naturedly. “Seriously though you had us a little worried there. Glad you’re doing okay,” Paul said.
“I wasn’t worried,” Mateo said.
Paul rolled his eyes. “You cried back at the campsite probie.”
“I did not cry!” Mateo exclaimed. “It’s my allergies. They’re bad yo.”
“Well there’s certainly no need for tears,” Carlos told them confidently. “The doctors said it’s something like what, five people a year die from rattlesnake bites?” He looked at T.K. who nodded an affirmative. “And I do not feel the need to defy the odds and be one of them.”
The guys stuck around for a bit, chatting and keeping them company. Carlos started to flag, but tried not to show it. He’d already ruined the end of their trip, he didn’t need to kick them out so he could take a nap.
“We’d better be gettin’ back,” Judd finally said, clearly reading the room and the drooping of Carlos’ eyelids. “Although if you don’t hear from me again, it’s cuz Grace has buried me in the backyard for not gettin’ you home safe.”
“You did get me home safe,” Carlos said sincerely. “Tell Grace to give me a call. I’ll vouch for you.”
“You take it easy,” Paul said, giving his leg a pat through the blankets. “T.K., keep us posted.”
“Will do,” T.K. told him.
“Aw, come on, one group hug before we go,” Mateo said, holding out his arms and advancing on Carlos.
There was a lot of grumbling, and it was kind of awkward with all of the IV lines Carlos was hooked up to, but they managed something close to a group hug in the end and then Judd, Paul, and Mateo headed out.
“You should try and get some rest,” T.K. said, fussing with Carlos’ blankets and checking his IV’s yet again.
“They’re still in there T.K., I promise,” Carlos told him, his words slow and slippery as they came out of his mouth. He was fading fast, two nights of sleeping on the ground probably not helping much.
“Sorry,” T.K. said, sitting back down in his chair. “I feel like I should be doing something. I’m not used to being on this side of things.”
“I don’t need you to do anything,” Carlos told him, trying to force his eyelids to stay open, “except maybe hold my hand.”
T.K. smiled softly and reached out, intertwining his fingers with Carlos’. “That I can do.”
“How long do you think until my mom shows up?” Carlos mumbled, losing the battle as his eyes drifted shut.
“I give it about another two hours.”
“She’s going to be worse than the rattlesnake bite.”
“I’ll head her off. Don’t worry.”
“M’kay.”
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Saving Grace
Minseo sits quietly inside the church, marveling at the beauty of the cathedral’s walls. She’s been here a few times in childhood, and yet she acts as if it’s the first time. The stained glass art filters through sunlight that gently illuminated her surroundings and particularly liked the way it hazed over her like a halo. She didn’t appear to have any thoughts, and it disrupts her when a priest joins in.
“Back from work, Minseo?” The voice calls out, and a man dressed in robes comes along. “My— I haven’t seen you inside church since Jinwoo’s Christening.”
“Father..! Yeah— it’s been a while...” she bows promptly, waiting for him to sit by her side and continues to just look straight to the altar. “I’m going for a vacation, actually—”
The priest sits at a comfortable distance, as if he had known Minseo for ages. “Let me guess… you’re here to find a peace of mind?”
“I’m guessing papa came here for the same thing.”
“It was your mother, actually…”
-
Her head averts to the priest, gaze strengthens as he was also just appears to be mindlessly staring at the altar. The church provided some kind safety net for them, as if she knew she wasn’t allowed to escalate any situation.
“Before you and your sister were born, your mother came here a lot to pray. She would always say that it gave her time to think. Just about everything.” He mentions, reminiscing what once was. “What’s troubling you?”
“I…” She hesitates. She was sure there was a problem, but in a way where she thought it shouldn’t have been an issue in any other person. Minseo leans back to her seat and could only sigh, thinking what a priest could do to fix her problems. “I’m just— feeling torn. As if I’m broken in to pieces and be given to others with different perceptions. I’m not saying I want to be liked by everyone. I’m saying what if they find out I’m not who they think they are? A weak, and fragile person? Suppose I’m looking for guidance now.”
He chuckles at the thought, much to her dismay. “My dear, God only knows who is right and who isn’t for you. I know for a fact as someone as kind as you would figure things out, because of his guidance.” He points at the cross, Minseo attempts to be respectful of the thought.
“Tell you what,” he offers, holding out a hand. “Let’s say the Lord’s Prayer and I’ll leave you be. You know that one, don’t you?”
“With due respect, father, you know I’m not the most religious person. It would feel wrong.” The priest insists, inviting the hand to her direction again. So she did like any other obeyed request in holy ground. “I’m not sure if the angels would even hear…”
“Why don’t we begin?” He nods, so she reaches out too, closing her eyes. “Our Father….”
Who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven…
In a sudden moment, Minseo recalls what had happened earlier that morning. She could hear plea in her head, and was beginning to lose focus. A man was screaming in her head with apologies.
Give us this day, our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses; as we forgive those who trespass against us…
“I’m loyal to you, Miss Choi, I swear…!! one more chance!! I made a mistake, I’m sorry!” Minseo remembers the feeling of pity, and anguish at once. The feeling of betrayal was fuming from her chest, and yet her face wouldn’t tell a thing. She watches as a guard points a gun on his head, and before she could see murder in her eyes, she looks down.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil…
The church bell rings that jolts her out of trance. A gunshot was the last prominent thing she heard before the feeling of guilt washes over. Even if the blood wasn’t directly on her hands, she admits the defeat and exhaustion of constantly eliminating those who destroy her loyalty.
“Amen.”
Hands gently clasp hers, as if the priest gave her extra blessings. A gentle smile couldn’t help but pass by, in amusement and disbelief.
“I’ll make sure to visit the children at the orphanage again.”
He chuckles, “of course, child. they miss you and always wonder if you’re doing well.” He stands and she mirrors, bowing again as Minseo was on her own once more. The solitude made her feel watched.
“Why do you do this?” She asks, looking straight to the cross. “You’ve given me too many chances, did you think I was a cat?” Her head tilts a little, getting annoyed in her own actions. “Is it because I do the charity stuff? Because my family help you build this cathedral? Was that our saving grace or something?” Minseo waits for someone to answer, to no avail. It was just faint buzzing and the outside world doing the mundane everyday.
Her figure stands and promptly heads over to where the candles have been lit from previous visitors. She takes out her wallet and places a ₩50,000 bill in the donation box. She didn’t light a candle, only walking away from what she had hoped God hearing her thoughts.
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“… and through us He spreads the beautiful fragrance of His knowledge to every corner of the earth.”
Today’s reading of the Scriptures from the New Testament is the 2nd chapter of the letter of 2nd Corinthians:
I finally determined that I would not come to you again for yet another agonizing visit. If my visits create such pain and sorrow for you, who can cheer me up except for those I’ve caused such grief? This is exactly what I was writing to you about earlier so that when we are face-to-face I will not have to wallow in sadness in the presence of friends who should bring me the utmost joy. For I felt sure that my delight would also become your delight. My last letter to you was covered with tears, composed with great difficulty, and frankly, a broken heart. It wasn’t my intention to depress you or cause you pain; rather, I had hoped you would see it for what it was—a demonstration of the overwhelming love I have for all of you.
But if anyone has caused harm, he has not so much harmed me as he has—and I don’t think I’m exaggerating here—harmed all of you. In my view, the majority of you have punished him well enough. So instead of continuing to ostracize him, I encourage you to offer him the grace of forgiveness and the comfort of your acceptance. Otherwise, if he finds no welcome back to the community, I’m afraid he will be overwhelmed with extreme sorrow and lose all hope. So I urge you to demonstrate your love for him once again. I wrote these things to you with a clear purpose in mind: to test whether you are willing to live and abide by all my counsel. If you forgive anyone, I forgive that one as well. Have no doubt, anything that I have forgiven—when I do forgive—is done ultimately for you in the presence of the Anointed One. It’s my duty to make sure that Satan does not win even a small victory over us, for we don’t want to be naïve and then fall prey to his schemes.
When I arrived at Troas, bringing the good news of the Anointed, the Lord opened a door there for me. Yet my spirit was restless because I could not find my brother Titus. Eventually I told them good-bye and set out for Macedonia.
Yet I am so thankful to God, who always marches us to victory under the banner of the Anointed One; and through us He spreads the beautiful fragrance of His knowledge to every corner of the earth. In a turbulent world where people are either dying or being rescued, we are the sweet smell of the Anointed to God our Father. To those who are dying, they smell the stench of death in us. And to those being rescued, we are the unmistakable scent of life. Who is worthy of this calling? For we are nothing like the others who sell the word of God like a commodity. Do not be mistaken; our words come from God with the utmost sincerity, always spoken through the Anointed in the presence of God.
The Letter of 2nd Corinthians, Chapter 2 (The Voice)
A note from The Voice translation:
Interpersonal relationships are often filled with disagreements and tensions. It’s common to hear someone long for the “good old days” of the New Testament when things were simpler and people were holier. But Paul’s ministry proves the first-century churches were no different. They were just as full of fights, tensions, and power plays as modern churches are. We should seek to be loving but also firm when the situation demands it. We should be quick to offer forgiveness to and seek reconciliation with those who turn back from their divisive actions. That’s what Paul did.
Today’s paired chapter of the Testaments is the 19th chapter of the book of Jeremiah:
Eternal One (to Jeremiah): Go again to a potter, but this time buy a clay jar from him. Then invite some community leaders and some of the head priests to walk with you. Take them out of the city through the potsherd gate into the valley of Ben-hinnom, where the city dumps its trash. Once you’re there, cry out for all to hear the words I will give you. Start out saying, “Hear the word of the Eternal, O kings of Judah and citizens of Jerusalem! This is what the Eternal, Commander of heavenly armies and God of Israel, has to say.”
Eternal One: Tell the leaders, I am certainly bringing on this city a dreadful disaster that will echo in the ears of those who hear about it. Why is this happening? Because the people have abandoned Me and defiled this place where you now stand by making sacrifices to foreign gods. They have burned offerings to other gods—idols never before worshiped by My people, their ancestors, or all the kings of Judah. The blood of innocent people has been spilled in this valley—human sacrifices in the shadow of Jerusalem. They have built high places and altars to Baal where they have sacrificed their own children as burnt offerings to this dark and pagan god. How could this be My people? I never taught them to do such unspeakable evil. It never even crossed My mind. So beware: The days are soon coming when this place will not be known as Topheth or even the valley of Ben-hinnom. Soon it will be called the valley of Slaughter. I will spoil the plans of Judah and Jerusalem to defend this city against Babylon. I will cause their people to be killed by enemies in battle and by those who hunt them down to take their lives. No one will bury them; I will feed their dead bodies to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the land. I will destroy this city, making their homeland a wasteland, a place of scorn. Those who pass by and see this desolation will shake their heads in horror. As the enemy lays siege to the city and closes in around them, food will run out and those inside the city walls will become desperate. Then they will turn on each other, eating one another and even their own children to stay alive.
At this point, Jeremiah, smash the clay jar in front of your companions, and say to those leaders, “This is what the Eternal, Commander of heavenly armies, has to say: ‘Take a good look at this shattered jar! Is there any hope of these fragments being pieced together again? So, too, will you be without hope of repair when I smash this nation and this city. Topheth will be used as a burial site until there is no room. Then I will make Jerusalem and all its citizens as unclean as Topheth itself. As for the houses of Jerusalem and the palaces of the kings of Judah, they will be defiled like the wasteland of Topheth because people have done shameful things on their rooftops—burning sacrifices to the starry hosts and pouring drink offerings to other gods in My city!’”
Jeremiah returned to the city from Topheth where the Eternal sent him to deliver this disturbing message. He stood in the court of the Eternal’s temple and proclaimed the same sermon to all its citizens who came there to worship.
Jeremiah: This is what the Eternal, Commander of heavenly armies and God of Israel, has to say: “Watch as I bring every disaster I have promised onto Jerusalem and all the towns and villages of Judah, because they are a stiff-necked, stubborn people who refuse to listen to what I say.”
The Book of Jeremiah, Chapter 19 (The Voice)
A note from The Voice translation:
Jeremiah now performs yet another symbolic act. The prophet’s words and sermons are sometimes forgettable; but people cannot forget what they see, hear, smell, and taste. The message registers loud and clear. Standing with community and religious leaders amid the broken pottery shards (that’s what “potsherd” means), God has a strong word for these people. The time of being shaped and re-formed on the potter’s wheel has passed. Like the clay jar Jeremiah is holding, the people’s hearts are hardened. A more drastic measure will now be taken. It is no coincidence that God leads them to stand in this valley of refuse—this place sometimes called Topheth. It is where the horrors of human sacrifice occurred. It is where God’s vengeance would be remembered.
A link to my personal reading of the Scriptures for Tuesday, September 19 of 2023 with a paired chapter from each Testament of the Bible along with Today’s Proverbs and Psalms
A post by John Parsons about being written into the Lamb’s Book of Life:
According to tradition, on Rosh Hashanah the destiny of the righteous, the tzaddikim, are written in the Book of Life (סֵפֶר הַחַיִּים), and the destiny of the wicked, the resha’im, are written in the Book of Death (סֶפֶר הַמָּוֵת). However, most people will not be inscribed in either book, but have ten days -- from Rosh Hashanah until Yom Kippur -- to turn to God before “sealing” their fate. On Yom Kippur, then, everyone’s name will be sealed in one or the other of the two books. The ten days are therefore called Aseret Yemei Teshuvah (עֲשֶׂרֶת יְמֵי תְּשׁוּבָה) - the “Ten Days of Repentance” - so called because it is thought that repentance at this time affects the divine decree for the coming year...
As Messianic believers, we affirm that Judgment Day has come and eternal justice was served through the sacrificial offering of Yeshua for our sins (2 Cor. 5:21). Yeshua is the complete fulfillment of the Akedah of Isaac. Our names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, or Sefer HaChayim (Rev. 13:8). We do not believe that we are made acceptable in God’s sight by means of “our own works of righteousness” (Titus 3:5-6), though of course that does not excuse us from being without good works (as “fruit” of the Holy Spirit in our lives). Indeed, professing Christians will stand before the Throne of Judgment to account for their lives (2 Cor. 5:10). “Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is” (1 Cor. 3:13). We should walk in “fear and trembling” (Phil. 2:12). Life is an examination, a test, and every moment is irrepeatable. Every “careless” word we utter will be echoed on before heaven (see Matt. 12:36-37). Our future day of judgment is being decided today...
[ Hebrew for Christians ]
========
https://hebrew4christians.com/Blessings/Blessing_Cards/psalm76-7-jjp.mp3
https://hebrew4christians.com/Blessings/Blessing_Cards/psalm76-7-lesson.pdf

9.18.23 • Facebook
from yesterday’s email by Israel 365:
The concept of a second chance is at the heart of Judaism. Jews begin to repent at the beginning of the month of Elul, the month preceding Rosh Hashanah. And the ten days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are an intensified period of teshuva (repentance, or return). We spend this time reflecting on our lives and our past deeds, resolving to commit ourselves to becoming better people and getting closer to God.
Today’s message (Days of Praise) from the Institute for Creation Research
September 19, 2023
To Die Is Gain
“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21)
Although the glorious resurrection bodies that have been promised all believers must await the return of Christ, even the spirit-existence after death is better than this present life for the believer. Paul himself expressed “a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better” (Philippians 1:23)—“to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8).
Thus, it is “gain” when a Christian dies! Since Christ, in His resurrection body, is in heaven at the right hand of the Father, the spirits of “sleeping” Christians are also there. The intermediate state is somewhat analogous to the dreaming state, in which the consciousness travels to various places and experiences while the body is asleep. In fact, death is called “sleep” for the Christian (1 Thessalonians 4:13).
However, in some amazing way, these conscious spirits of believers are still distinct and recognizable. Moses and Elijah (Matthew 17:3), as well as Samuel (1 Samuel 28:12-19), were identifiable in their spirit-form, even by people here on Earth.
One of the greatest blessings of dying and going to be with the Lord will be the joy of returning with Him “at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints” (1 Thessalonians 3:13). “Them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him....And the dead in Christ shall rise first” (1 Thessalonians 4:14, 16), just before the “rapture” and glorification of the saints who are still living. As wonderful as it might be to live until Christ returns, it will be even better to be with Him!
The death of a Christian, therefore, may be a time of loss and grief for those left behind, but it is a time of joy and blessing for the one who dies, including a happy reunion with those who have gone before. HMM
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when aiyla mentions the shriek he nods. the death angels had been so strong and so quick. “they’re a lot louder than i thought they'd be.” he examines the way her nimble fingers work and subconsciously he softens at her touch and the comfort she brings him unknowingly. “i thought I'd get used to the noise by now.”
his heart feels the weight of her words, the constant struggle of losing those connections; shared spaces. he wants to press for more; who was she before the outbreak; where she’d been- or what she’d been doing? was she scared or always level-headed? did she have family? there’s so much history to be learned of strangers before it’s gone for good and he wants to know it all. “maybe we can find a way to see them again or look for them, someday when it’s safer or if we figure out a way to survive those things.” he replies, trying to give some sort of comfort though it feels a bit in vain; maybe invalidating. he pauses, thinking about the constant state of loss in the current moment. “thanks for letting me tag along with you so far.” he changes course and watches her tear the swab open.
when she asks him the same his heart races, his eyes dilate and the color washes almost completely out of his face. He tries to swallow but it sticks in his throat; his fingers tingle and the sun gets too bright.
there’s something reassuring about aiyla’s smile though. a peace to her cadence that allows him to sneak out of the shell he’s accustomed to hiding inside. it’s reassuring how she can find humor in the bleakest of times and he finds relief in it. hope even. “it is nice to talk to another person again… i was starting to get tired of hearing my own voice in my head all day and night.” cas tries to play into the grace of it, offering a faint smile but his tone is strained and it’s clear he’s still clinging to the recesses of his mind. realistically he knows he can’t keep her in the dark. if he breaks down or loses his calm in a less forgiving space it could mean her death.
“i,” he clears his throat and tries to tell her what keeps plaguing him, but it’s a lot harder than he expected, it’s more emotional than he anticipated and it takes him a few prolonged seconds to swallow down anger and grief before he can try again. he looks away, over to where his shirt is still being battered by the loud currents. maybe it’ll be easier to talk to the rocks than another human. “i was with my brother at the start, we were checking out a corner store that hadn’t been ransacked yet.” he kept his eyes locked on the boulders. “i tripped- knocked over a display and they came in droves- like ants to honey. my ears wouldn’t stop ringing for a week.” he presses his face into his hands and breathes out. "you’re the first person I've met... or even talked to since him." he gets up abruptly, sinking back into the too cold water to wade over and gather his clothes from the river, but returns back when he’s got the soaking wet denim and nearly threadbare shirt in hand.
“it was my fault.” he continued, wringing the clothes out to redress. “i made the noise that brought them after us and there was just too many; there was too many and we weren’t quiet enough. there was this delivery truck and we both crawled beneath it and he told me to get beside him and I said no, I said no and the next thing I knew one of those things latched onto his ankle and pulled him out.” his skin went pale again and his eyes danced between the present and the past, trapped in an endless loop that wouldn’t erase itself. “Sometimes I can still hear it happening; I felt like days before I came out from beneath the truck and there was nothing left, nobody around; just the blood that had mixed with the oil beneath the truck.” he exhales. “I’m sorry, I know that’s a lot, but when I fell back there in the mud; I don’t know, it felt just like being under that truck again.”

it's good to understand his reasoning behind doing what he did, but in the end, it isn't as if she can necessarily blame him. a shoulder rises into a shrug as she carefully takes his outstretched arm within one of her hands and leans forward to examine the array of scrapes and cuts that pepper his flesh. "i don't blame you, so no need to apologize. startled me a bit when you did that, though... less you and more when that thing shrieked?" she blew out a breath, head giving a gentle shake. it was a vivid remind of what had happened in those initial hours and days following the arrival of those creatures ( the people she'd lost and terror she'd felt ). since then, it had been a process of adapting to this new life of relative silence.
"um ⸻" head ducking to pop open the medical crate, aiyla busies herself by shuffling through its contents ( hoping to avoid the question at first ). "had people are first but some went their separate ways in hopes of reaching family in other towns or states. others didn't come back and i've... been alone for a bit." the last two had left what felt like weeks ago and just... never came back. she'd not seen a trace of them anywhere since in the trips she'd taken out of her little hidey-hole, so aiyla could only imagine the worst. "what about you?" hues peek at him beneath her lashes curiously before ducking once more to focus on ripping open an alcohol swab to dab at his arm.
the question about her well being makes her chuckle softly. "no, no. i'm fine. probably better than i have been in a bit, honestly. can't remember the last time i had a proper conversation with someone." glancing up, she flashes him a brief smile.
#justsurv1vor#c; aiyla#c; castiel ( the abandoned son)#/sorry this got a lot long :0#/im also so sorry this took a really long time I’m so sorry :’0
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Spell
Pairing: Aemond Targaryen and unnamed OFC from a minor house
Summary: OFC’s father has betrayed the Crown. Or has he?
Warning: Smutty smut. Someone gets slapped. Iif this triggers you please do not read and look after yourself.

The condemned man kneeled before the council. “I swear, Your Grace, I have never been disloyal. My words and deeds have always honored your house and your reign.”
Aegon II Targaryen, ruler of Westeros, leaned forward.
He doesn’t even know what’s going on, he’s so fucking drunk.
Behind the King, his brother Aemond stood, hands behind his back as usual, next to his mother the Dowager Queen Alicent.
Aemond’s there to grab him if he starts falling. Fuck them all. Fuck the Targaryens.
Ser Otto Hightower, Hand (and grandfather) of the King, leaned over to whisper something in the king’s ear.
“Yes, thank you Ser Otto. You have been found guilty of treason and shall be executed-”
“No!”
Every eye in the room turned toward her, the eldest daughter of the accused, and she stepped forward, in front of her father.
“There has been a mistake. My father is loyal to the throne, he would never do what he is accused-”
Prince Aemond closed the distance between himself and the young woman in what seemed but a moment. “Yet he has been proven guilty! He is a vile traitor!”
To the horror of all those present, the woman’s hand flew, striking Prince Aemond’s cheek and dislodging the strap that held his eyepatch in place. His long silver hair swung to the side as the leather patch landed a few feet away.
No one moved. No one spoke. No one breathed.
Except for one corner of the prince’s mouth rising almost imperceptibly.
The doors opened, breaking the silence and two Kingsguards rushed in, kneeling before the throne. One of them raised a hand, offering a piece of paper, which Ser Otto took.
“They were caught fleeing north, and interrogated,” the kneeling man said.
“They confessed,” Ser Otto asked, scanning the paper.
“Yes, Ser Otto, we brought them back here with full confessions.”
The Hand of the King walked towards the accused, placing a hand on the shoulder of Prince Aemond, who was still staring down at the young woman who had just hit him. Ser Otto picked up the eyepatch, handed it to the prince, whose now uncovered sapphire eye was the focus of everyone facing him.
Especially her.
“Rise, Your Lordship,” Ser Otto said, giving the paper to the prince.
The young woman finally broke eye contact with the prince to help her father stand, and looked at Ser Otto, who actually smiled at her. Or she might have imagined it.
“It seems a great misunderstanding has taken place. The true culprits of the plot against His Grace the King have been caught and their plan to frame His Lordship here has been revealed.” He nodded at the now formerly-accused Lord and said, “you are free to go.”
“Thank you, Ser Otto, I am as always, loyal-”
“What?”
Aemond looked up from the paper to see the young woman take a step toward his grandsire.
“That’s it? That’s all you’ve got to say?”
“Child, go with your father in peace.”
She let out a harsh breath and took another step. Aemond stepped to Ser Otto’s side, just in case.
“You accused him, assaulted him, convicted him, sentenced him to die and now you just pretend it meant nothing? Just, ‘you may go’?
From the throne came a laugh. “She’s right, I mean, he was almost, you know,” Aegon ran his hand across his throat.
“You,” the young woman continued, pointing at Aemond, “you called him a vile traitor, and now you hold in your hand proof of his innocence.”
“Daughter, please, let us go home.”
“Mark my words, Prince Aemond,” she said, ignoring her father’s plea, “I will see you kneel, begging for forgiveness.”
The prince’s hair moved again, gently, and the dowager queen wrapped her coat tighter around her. When Ser Otto opened his mouth to speak, his breath could be seen in white puffs.
“Daughter.”
This time she turned to her father, lowering her hand, and with one last withering look at Aemond, she took his arm and let him escort her out of the council room.
After the doors closed, the King stood, “I need a drink,” he said, to no one in particular, before heading out the side door.
As everyone left, Aemond stood, his eyepatch in his hand, and stared at the closed doors. He had been angry at some Lord’s betrayal of his brother, amused when she’d slapped him, frankly a little embarrassed when the Lord had been proven innocent, and he would have a serious talk with his grandfather about declaring someone guilty without absolute proof.
What he now felt was something he had not felt in a long time.
He remembered what it was.
Terror.
* * * * *
“Is she a witch?” the dowager queen asked her father. “What was that?”
“What was what?” Ser Otto asked condescendingly, “you mean the sudden breeze caused perhaps by a door opening elsewhere?”
Alicent shook her head. “You know exactly what I mean. That was no ‘sudden breeze’ and you know it. I will leave you to ignore the obvious.” She stalked out of the room, leaving Otto to smile at her.
“So do you, daughter, so do you.”
* * * * *
“Are you all right, brother?”
Aemond didn’t realize how long he’d been sitting by the fire until his sister startled him. He smiled at her, one of the few bright stars in his life, and held out a hand. “Of course, Hel. Why would you ask?”
Helaena took his hand, rubbing it between hers, “there is no need to fear, sweet brother,” she mused, “there is no shame if you bend the knee.”
He went very still, “tell me,” he said gently, “tell me more, Hel.”
She smiled at him, still rubbing his hand, “you know you must, you know it is your destiny, but not quite as you imagine.” She reached up to brush her fingers over his cheek. “She did not hurt you, not really?”
“Of course not,” he replied, “but tell me, what do you see of my destiny?”
“Well,” she began, “you fear what you do not know, but it shall protect you, and become your strongest ward.” She looked up, somewhere above his head and he knew there was nothing there, it was her waking dream fading away. “I am so tired, sweet brother, I shall leave you be.”
She did not wait for him to respond before she left, and he watched wistfully after her. He hoped she was happy, whatever happy meant to someone like her, someone who only lived in this world half the time.
He thought back to earlier that day. He had been incredibly bored by the proceedings until the treason case had been presented. The evidence was compelling enough but Aemond knew it was hardly conclusive. Still, he had defended his family as he always did and gotten slapped for it. He couldn’t help but smile. The slap had been hardly more than a caress on skin that had lost all feeling long ago. Her fingers had caught the edge of his eyepatch and dislodged it, but other than that, whatever damage she had meant to do was negligible.
He could see a kindred spirit in her, her defense of her father even before he was proved innocent. He knew many children who would rather curry favor with the throne than speak for their own parent, but she had not only stood by him, she had physically stood in front of her kneeling father.
And then . . . he had felt a chill when she had pointed a finger at him. A gentle breeze had stirred his hair and then clamped down inside his belly, spreading like ice until he was cold from head to toe. He would never speak of it, never admit it to anyone, but he had been tempted to kneel. He had felt his legs begin to move, felt his knees begin to bend, and had jerked his legs straight inside his boots. When her hand had gone down, so had the urge to kneel.
“My prince.”
Aemond turned, and the guard bowed his head. “Ser Otto requests your presence.”
* * * * *
“There is something else I wish to discuss.”
Aemond had begun to stand after discussing the consequences of falsely accusing allies with his grandfather, but sat down again.
“I’ve been examining their finances, their forces.” Otto began, pushing various papers forward for Aemond to look at. “I wonder if we might bring them closer, it would of course, not be an apology as the throne does not apologize, but to highlight their place within our allies. The light of King’s Landing gently shining on them.”
He had an idea of where this was heading, and part of him, the part of him that had caught the fire in her eyes before he caught the chill from her words, leapt inside him.
Ser Otto leaned forward, a small smile on his face. “She did say she would see you kneeling before her.”
* * * * *
@arryn-nyx @greenowlfactif @hydrationqueensworld @megzdoodle@melsunshine @queenofshinigamis @throughgoeshamilton @travelingmypassion
@hb8301 @kaemond-zafiro
Next chapter soon.
#aemond targaryen#aemond fanfiction#aemond targaryen fanfic#aemond targaryen au#hotd fanfic#hotd fanfiction#hotd smut
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she's insignificant
chapter 5: he should have stayed on that moon
the umbrella academy x (fem) reader
disclaimer: i do not own the plot/storyline of the netflix tv series and i do not own the umbrella academy characters.
warnings: mentions of blood
masterlist
"there you are!" allison ran up behind luther in the hallway. "i've been looking everywhere for you"
"what are you still doing here? i thought you were gone" he turned to look at her in surprise.
"no, i was gonna go and then pogo showed me this-" she tried to explain what she had found but luther cut her off with a shake of his head.
"well, listen.. i was wrong about dad's death"
"what?"
"yeah, i was wrong about y/n, you know, to accuse my own sister of that- it's just-"
"no, no, i get it-"
"seeing all of you and being back here. i-i should be the one who's trying to bring us all back together not tear us apart-"
"would you shut up?"
"what?"
"you were right. about dad. come on, i gotta show you something"
————————————————–
"i can't" eight didn't like crying, especially not in front of her father. he was always cruel, no matter how much the children pleaded and sobbed. she crumpled to the floor, exhausted. she hated training alone, she wanted to train with her siblings outside in the snow, it looked like more fun than this was.
"you are weak, number eight! we will continue until you can get it right" reginald glared down at her. "again!"
she pushed herself up, wobbling. she weakly pushed herself again, trying to make something, anything happen. she squeezed her eyes shut, hands forming fists as she thought hard about what her father wanted. she didn't even know what she was expected to do. to no surprise, nothing happened. reginald sighed heavily, disappointed. he pulled a watch from his pocket before staring down at her as she fell to her knees again.
"you are dismissed, dinner will be in 20 minutes" and she was left alone. reginald disappeared into his office once again. she lay on the floor for a moment, heaving for breath. they had been training for hours, pushing her past her limits. grace and pogo lead her siblings, minus vanya, in through the doors. not wanting them to see her like that she gripped the table behind her, pulling herself up and leaning against it.
"y/n?" ben frowned, stepping over. the others look at her in shock. she shook him off, grumbling about how she was 'fine'. he watched her stumble up the stairs, cringing in pain. her siblings all shared a saddened look.
when they did rush down for dinner, y/n slumped into her chair, dark bags under her eyes. she barely touched her food, pushing it around her plate.
"number eight!" the next thing she knew five was holding her head up and her father was yelling at her. he degraded her, insulted her but she didn't hear a thing. five slowly let go of her, watching her carefully before turning away, back to his meal.
she sat up straighter and actually started to eat the food on her plate, after all, she must train on a full stomach.
————————————————–
y/n and five walked up the stairs of the mansion, feet dragging heavily. as they stepped up they were met with luther and allison.
"five? y/n? what the hell happened to you?" both stayed silent. y/n stared at her feet in a sort of daze. everything was still kind of confusing.
"are you okay?" luther reached out to five, "can we help?" the said boy took him by surprise, hand snapping up and grabbing his fist.
"there's nothing you can do" he spat before his expression saddened, "there's nothing any of you can do.."
y/n looked up, watching as he went. she frowned.
"you alright?" she stared at luther for a moment, grimacing as she remembered what they had last talked about. she kept her mouth shut, brushing past him to her room.
"y/n, wait-"
"just fuck off, luther" she snapped before he could say anything. he should have stayed on that moon.
————————————————–
"number eight" the remaining five siblings with powers stood in a line. it had been a couple weeks since ben's death now. reginald stood in front of them. they had all been told today's training would be different. "step forwards" she did as she was told, standing in front of the others. "you will be using your powers on your siblings today"
her head snapped up at that as did the others. she had never used her powers on them before and they knew what she could do to others. he sent the others all around the house. she was told to find them, sensing where they were with a blindfold on, almost like hide and seek without any of the fun. it was when she had found them all for the seventh time that she sensed something else.
"there are five people in line" she stated, "vanya?"
"wrong" she heard her father scold. "there are only four"
"there's a fifth, i can sense it" she frowned, pulling her blindfold off to see only her four siblings. they all looked confused. "klaus.. is there a ghost? it.. it feels like ben"
"no" he answered far too quickly. ben turned on him from beside him,
"what? klaus! i am here! tell her i'm here!"
"no, he's not"
"klaus! what the hell?! you're so selfish! i am here!" but of course, she never knew that..
————————————————–
"come on, luther, i have to show you" allison tried to pull him away but he continued to stare at where y/n had told him to 'fuck off'. he felt.. guilty.
"but.. what about y/n?" he looked at her. he hated that he upset her, he hated that he had accused her without any actual evidence. she was only a child, just like diego said.
"she's angry, let her cool off. you should apologise but not right now, give her some time" allison offered a soft smile, "that's all she needs, some time. now, come on, this is important"
"i just.. i feel guilty" luther frowned as they walked towards their father's room filled with cameras. "i shouldn't have assumed-"
"she'll understand" allison reassured with a smile.
————————————————–
y/n sat in her corner of the library, reading alone. she was calm, it was her safe place, nobody could bother her here. no training, no arguments, just peace.
"eight.." she looked up from her book at her brother's voice. five.
"what's wrong?" she shuffled over, eyebrows furrowing at the look on his face. he was worried, something five wasn't usually.. or at least he never showed it.
"i.. i want to time travel" he begun softly, taking a seat beside her. she frowned, why was he telling her? "i want to try but dad refused to teach me"
she froze, "you're going to try anyway" she realised. he nodded, now looking up at her.
"i know you think i hate you but i don't" he slowly begun, thinking of the words he was trying to say. "i'm telling you because i think you're the most trustworthy.. and i.." he paused, unsure of how to say what he wanted to. "i think you're the strongest, eight, no matter what our siblings may say"
"five.." she grimaced, "i know we don't talk much but i'll support you if anything happens"
"i do want to talk to you more" he sighed, ashamed for having obeyed his father's stupid rules. "but-"
"no, no. it's not your fault" y/n shook her head. "it's hard to go against him, i understand"
"you're too kind.. you shouldn't forgive people so easily, they'll take advantage of you" five frowned and she laughed.
"i thought i was the strongest, huh?" she nudged his shoulder with her own, finally getting a small smile.
————————————————–
"let me do that" y/n pulled a chair beside five, gently pulling the needle and thread out of his hand. he frowned but let her anyways. "you're antsy" she pointed out, eyeing his bouncing knee. "going somewhere in a rush?"
"i need to go back" he stared out the door, ready to rush out. "i need to find whoever this eye belongs to so that i can stop the apocalypse"
"i know" y/n nodded, eyebrows furrowing in concentration as she finished stitching him up. she gently used a cloth to wipe the blood off his arm before placing a bandaid over it. five stood, pulling his shirt on and buttoning it up.
"can i come?" she watched him stuff dolores into the duffle bag and swing it onto his back.
"no" he barely spared her a glance as he moved towards the window. he climbed out.
"what? why not? come on, five" she leaned out the window, watching him begin to climb down the fire escape.
"i need to do this, y/n, it's important" he looked up at her now. "just wait for me here, i'll come back, okay?"
albeit hurt she nodded, she needed to be understanding. she frowned, moving away from the window, hoping to find something else to do. instead as she walked out of the room she noticed luther.
she quickly moved towards her room, hoping he wouldn't see her. she couldn't deal with anymore fighting right now. to her misfortune he did notice her, following her to her room. she swiftly locked the door as she ducked inside.
"hey.. y/n?" luther stood outside her locked door, hand giving a single knock.
"what do you want?" she hissed back, refusing to open it for him. she didn't need anymore of his accusations.
"i'm.. i'm sorry for accusing you" luther sighed. he had to get this over with, she deserved an apology. "it was wrong and i shouldn't have jumped to conclusions like that"
he heard her cautious footsteps as she made her way to the door. there was pause before she slowly peeked out.
"you mean it..?" she frowned, eyeing his carefully. he nodded.
"i'm sorry. i know you've probably been lonely here, i know what it's like-"
"just shut up" she breathed out a laugh, pulling the door open fully, looking relieved. "no more fighting, please? i just want my family back.." the last part was quiet, vulnerable. luther nodded, smiling back.
"no more fighting" there was a comfortable silence that fell over the two of them before luther spoke again.
"by the way, do you know where five is?"
"yeah, why?" she tilted her head at him, confused.
"we're having a family meeting.. it's about mom. i'm going to get him"
"okay, but i can't guarantee he'll find this as important as you do"
tag list: @rxses-and-reverie @lostgreekgod @on-yourmark-99 @bicyhot1 @navs-bhat @midnightmystic
#tua#the umbrella academy x sibling reader#the umbrella academy#the umbrella academy x reader#tua x sibling reader#tua x reader#five hargreeves#klaus hargreeves#diego hargreeves#allison hargreeves#luther hargreeves#vanya hargreeves#ben hargreeves#five hargreeves x reader#klaus hargreeves x reader#diego hargreeves x reader#allison hargreeves x reader#luther hargreeves x reader#vanya hargreeves x reader#ben hargreeves x reader
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forgive - hyunjin x f reader
angst, fluff, smut, royal au, 4.1k

to die just as one graduates to motherhood is the tragic fate of countless women of your time. though there is no shame in falling victim to eve’s curse, one does feels a deserving sense of pride in their ability to look the devil in the eye and turn one’s cheek. to crawl through the forest of death and drag oneself towards the light. many are denied the privilege of survival. living is a sign from the heavens that perhaps there is a reason for such trials. that strife is a lesson in one’s journey, a meaning to life.
but to die before bearing your husband a son is a fate you would readily accept in place of the dark nothing you nearly surrendered to. the thought drifts into your mind the moment your greatest trial and grandest reward shifts in your arms, your daughter’s wails slowly rising in pitch and frequency as you smile loftily at her bundled form in your lap. she sings a song most would call unbearable. the screech so shrill, it pierces through even the most impenetrable guard. but never through you. you could continue to find peace in the deafening sound had it not been for your husband. your dear, sweet husband.
your king.
your king, whose presence thus far escaped you. that is until he asked, just a decibel louder than the wailing infant, “could you please settle her, sweet?”
“oh,” you glance at his rigid form, across your living quarters, to find his pretty scowl trained on his heir, only softening when his eyes meet the familiar orbs of his queen. “my apologies, hyunjin. is she distracting you?”
“no,” he breathes, allowing his head to fall back on the loveseat, his sculpted cheek puffs. “it’s just annoying.”
“it?” your eyes quickly return to him, only to be met by the back of his morning paper. “i do hope you are referring to the sound itself and not to your child, my love?”
“does it matter?” he sighs, realising moments too late that the room has stilled. “my dear, i did not mean to offend.’
“of course not, your highness,” ah, ‘your highness’. you call on the title in the times you wish to hurt him most. “she is but a child, of course you meant her no offense. i ask for your mercy, sire.”
“i sense hostility in you.”
“shall I call on a nurse for you, your grace?” he wonders for a second what the reason could be before you readily come to his aid. “it is most unlike you to use sense of any kind.”
“that was out of turn-”
“me? my king, you believe it is i who is out of turn?” hyunjin knows there is no answer to such a question. because yes would present grounds for annulment and no would mean he is wrong. and kings cannot be found in the wrong. “not the new father who refers to his daughter as ‘it’? of course it is not he who is speaking out of turn, not when he is a king.
“when he is a man.”
“ah, ‘men are the source of all the world’s ailments’, must we hear excerpts from your manifesto again, my love? it is only noon,” he assumes you hear only humour in his tone and decides to take it a step further. “is it in your plans to fill the house of hwang with women just to spite me?”
“oh,” you breathe, smiling softly as he watches, “is it a son you desire, hyunjin? is that what you want?” his eyes squint as he watches his love rise to place his only heir in the cot before you glide over to him, sweetness vanishing from your eyes as you succumb to your wrath. “you want a son, king hyunjin? then give me one.”
“leave us.” the servants standing by flee the room, quick to abandon a maid who halts as hyunjin blocks her path. “take the child.”
she takes a hurried step towards your child before she is stopped once more. “take my child and i will take your hand.” the poor girl is quick to abandon her king’s direct order before fleeing the scene, closing the door as she departs.
a biting silence takes the place of the bodies that once filled the chamber, thickening every corner of the room. minutes pass before hyunjin realises you have no further interest in him. “if it were not for the fact my heart beats for you, my beloved, i too would take my leave.”
“your heart? is that what beats in your chest, hyunjin? a heart?” he scoffs, unbothered by the deflection masked by your jab. “kings are meant to rule, not jest. do not humour me.”
“was your tea cup mistaken for a bedpan?”
“i almost died, jinnie!” he withers as you tremble, your eyes misting as you try to find someone resembling your beloved in the man sat across from you. “i almost lost my life bearing you the heir you prayed for, only for you to treat her with the same regard one does a child born in illegitimacy.” he wishes to deny it, and you see it too. but your eyes are alight and hyunjin swears he sees his end in them. “she is your child, hyunjin. and should she be your only, she will wear your crown with pride and rule as well as any boy ever could.”
“i know that.” your scoff stung like a strike to the cheek and winds him like a blow to the gut. “i do. y/n, i swear it to you.”
“then perhaps you should act like it.” he finally sees what fuels your rage and rests behind your eyes: disappointment. “you cannot love me and not my kin, jin. i won’t allow it.”
“my love,” he reaches for you but you repel, moving instead to the babbling baby. “you mistake my desire for a son as a lack of joy for my daughter.” pulling your hands from the sides of the cot, he dwarfs them with his own. “i love her with everything i have in me. i swear.”
“had my father received me as you did our child, i would not believe that to be the case.”
“forgive me, my love.” you’re quick to cast your gaze elsewhere, ignoring his puppy eyed plea. “i will pray the heavens take mercy on me, but i need you to first. please believe me when i say i love her. i do. she is half of the greatest woman to ever walk this kingdom, i worship her.”
“then why? why the cold shoulder? why treat her this way?” he suddenly finds himself unable to answer, opting instead to rock the baby, basking in her glow. with a soft sigh, you raise a hand to his cheek, offering him reprieve as he burrows into your palm. “what troubles you?”
“nothing, my love.” your disbelieving gaze sends his shoulders south, his whole frame sagging. “it’s just my dealings with the courts.” of course. the courts. “i spent every night bowed in ceaseless prayer. i prayed for your health, for your life, for our child. i prayed until bruises formed on my knees, my love. and still i prayed. but as i prayed for my family, they prayed only for my successor, for a boy.” though you find it impossible, he manages to lower himself further. folding himself into you, almost in two, hiding his long face from view. “once I caught wind of their talks with the lord, i condemned it. i condemned any prayer against my wishes but the court can do as they please in their solitude and i know we do not rule on fear but after her birth, for the first time in my life? i wished we did.” it was inexplicable, the difficulty you had beholding an enraged hyunjin, the skin curving around his knuckles and jaw as they tightened with every word he uttered, your heart tightening in kind. “i wanted to make heads roll, to end them for the disregard they paid my child, my family, my wife.” it starts to make sense now, his grinding teeth and red rimmed eyes. his late and sleepless nights. the nights hypnos granted him even a slither of reprieve were spent clinging to you, a cold sweat soaking the sheets, puzzling you beyond belief. it all makes sense. “the courts have filled me with doubt. they warned of foreign enemies who would hear of our heir, of our girl. that they would see her as a sign we are weak, that we are lesser.”
“but how can they speak in such a way? we are ahead of such things.”
“my love, you must see past the likes of lord kim and baron han. the rest of the men in my court are old, and stuck in old ways. our nation has not seen a queen on the throne since the likes of my widowed great, great grandmother.” his hands cup your face, bleary eyes blinking back the tears his heavy words summoned. “i love you, y/n. and i love her. all i want is for you both to be safe. but i live in constant fear that i cannot keep you safe with enemies outside our walls and evidently within.”
“hyunjin, my love,” he settles at the soft spoken call of his name, the loving address soothing his forlorn heart. “i will burn the court to the ground before they bring harm to my kin. or to you.” it is not unlike you to let your anger consume you. in fact, it is but a facet of what made him fall in love with you. what continues to bother him is the fact he was not the first to make such a bold promise. “my love?”
“fret not, my queen,” his nimble hands gather his daughter from her cot, his lips pulling in a soft grin as the child gargles, reaching up for him. “it is just, with my brains and your ferocity, i believe this hwang might be the greatest queen- no, ruler levanter has ever seen.”
“forgive me, my love,” the apology fills the space to his left, from where your temple rests on his shoulder, fingers toying with his undershirt. “but you do not suggest that this girl will be inheriting her brains from her father-”
“watch your mouth.”
“watch it for me.”
“careful,” he warns, dropping his lips to yours for a brief peck before withdrawing but an inch, “i might just give you that son you asked for.”
“careful, or i might just let you.” your rebuttal has him fanning your lips with a breathless chortle, urging you to rise to the tips of your toes and connect your lips to his once more. when you withdraw, he follows, resting his forehead on yours, smiling softly as your eyes meet. your voice is barely a whisper as you enquire, “what do we do now, my love?”
“now, i will handle the courts,” huffing, hyunjin places a kiss to the crown of his daughter’s head, smiling as he does. “i am afraid you will just have to handle everything else.” the regret in his words do not match the smirk on his lips, though he confesses, “i do not envy you, my love.” placing the baby in the cot once more, he pulls you into his chest, resting his cheek at the uppermost point on your head. “but i will keep you both safe. i put my life on it-”
“sire,” you warn, leaning up to kiss his neck. “your life is no longer yours to wager.”
“is that so?” hyunjin only grins at your assured affirmation. “my queen, is there anything that is mine in this kingdom?”
“me.” even after all these years, hyunjin is undone by you. from your matter of fact utterance, a breathless admission of submission to your glowy eyed gaze, eyes shining with pure adoration. “i belong to you.”
“you do?” he sighs when you nod, the small bounce of your head forcing his own head up and down. his eyes and hands slowly trail down your arms stilling at your fingers. slipping his digits between yours, he raises them to his pouted lips, slowly pressing each one with a kiss so soft and so sweet, you nearly jump as he speaks. “and these? do these belong to me?”
“yes, sire.”
“good,” he breathes, joy flashing behind his eyes. “and what about this?” he whispers against your lips, his plump lips tangling with your own. only after playing with your tongue, sucking on the muscle and swallowing your whines does he ask, “is this smart mouth of yours mine?”
“all yours.”
he nods in agreement, fingers gliding down the side of your neck, dusting over your chemise to cup you over your stay. only to find you bare. “were you that hastened to join me for tea?”
“no,” you laugh, hitting his chest as he pulls you closer, enjoying feeling your near bare chest on his. “i breastfeed.” you love your king. for as slow as he is, he is twice as loving. you watch realisation dawn on him not once but twice, a slight pout stealing his lips, exaggerated by their natural downturn. “what is it?”
“i just,” he stops, laughing to himself. “i just realised these-” he cups your tender breasts, thumb barely dusting the sore nubs. “-they’re no longer mine.”
“hyunjin!” his laughter picks up before it stills, the sleeping princess nearly awoken by the delight of her parents. “no, they’re on loan.”
“that’s fine.” he sighs, ducking his head to kiss the center of your chest. “i’ll wait.”
“i’m proud of you.”
“thank you,” your pride does not last long, as he lowers his hands to cup your ass and pull you flush against him. through your chemise and slip, you feel him. all of him. he deftly slips his tongue between your gasping lips, filling your mouth in ways that force your panties to dampen, the fabric soaking with every roll of his hardening cock to your aching slit. “but this is mine,” he reminds you, leaving no room for misunderstanding. “do you understand?”
“y-yes.”
“yes, who?”
“yes, your grace.”
“good. now, go get a nurse for the princess.” the king proclaims, emphasising his point with a firm slap to your ass as you almost sprint out of the room. as you return with the nanny, you feel your heart swell to almost double its size. you find hyunjin by your daughter’s basket, a soft lullaby floating in the air as he gathers her in his long, folded arms. you watch him pass her to the nanny, his fingers passing over her puffed up knuckle, in awe of her inherent daintiness. “sleep well, my dove.”
you fear he might have forgotten you as the two leave and he stares in quiet longing. you finally approach him as his sniffles begin. “hyunjin?”
“i have missed her.” he whines, wet eyes cast skyward, guilt staining his face. “i have been a terrible father-”
“no.” your scold has his gaze falling, his shining eyes searching your frowning face. “not terrible. never terrible. just a little distant.” you soften as he nods, understanding pouring into him as you craddle his face in your palms. “you know now.”
“yeah,” he agrees, leaning to press a wet kiss to your lips. “please forgive me, my love.”
“there’s nothing to forgive.” you hum against his pouting lips, moulding your mouth with his as you try and tear him from this spell of despair. “come sit,” you whisper, guiding him towards his original seat.
when he lowers into it and feels you lower in kind, though to the ground, he frowns deeply. “i-” he stalls as you palm him through his slack breeches, fingers gripping him through the fabric. he grinds up into your closing fist, eyes squeezing shut as you momentarily silence him. the peace is short lived as he moans, realising what you’ve done to him. “i wanted to pleasure you.”
“and you will,” you quickly assure him, smirking when his frown deepens. “once i pleasure you.”
“fine.” he concedes, crossing his arms as you unfasten his breeches. you glare at him through your lashes until he huffs, stiffly raising his hips to allow you room to lower his garments down his thighs. “is there anything else i can do for you, mrs hwang?”
“that is all.” you chortle, fanning the reddened, leaking head of his cock. the sound forces a smile on his face until your tongue glides against his glistening slit. he almost chokes when you gaze up at him suddenly, eyes full of too much love for one king to fathom. “you just relax, okay?”
he can barely make himself nod as he fills your sight with his lovesick smile. “i don’t deserve you.”
“i know.” you rise to your knees to swallow his retraction, enjoying the lurid way he melts under the touch of your lips and palm. you offer languid strokes up and down his length, thumbing at his slit as he practically dribbles down himself. “jinnie, you’re making a mess.”
“‘m sorry.” the whine isn’t worrisome, but rather his second admission of guilt. with a gentle shake of your head, you raise your unsoiled hand to his lips, smearing your mingled saliva across his chin.
“i like you messy,” you admit, watching his eyes glaze over at your confession. “you’re always so proper now. you were never like that.” you squeeze him tighter at his base as you speak, dragging up the length of his cock, forcing a mewl from his throat as he releases his bitten, spit slicked lip. “remember when you were still a prince, and i just a lady?” he nods dumbly, head rolled to the side as drool pools on the corner of his mouth. “you used to fuck me in the greenhouse as it rained on a starry night. and behind the guards’ stables. even in the old maid’s quarters-”
“tha-that’s because we couldn’t anywhere else.”
“true,” you tut, wiping his chin as he fucks up into your closed fist. “yet now the kingdom is yours, you only ever fuck me in the castle.”
“but i always fuck you well.” when you just smile his hips falter, brows knitting as you massage his tensed thigh. “say it.”
“say what?”
“that i always fuck you well.”
“you do fuck me well,” you knowingly half agree, pumping him in your tight fist before he grabs your wrist. only a few seconds pass but the small fire ignited by your defiance burns for an eternity. the warm embers blazed to a full village fire when you squeeze at his base, moving to restart your ministrations. hyunjin only scoffs, clicking his tongue with a soft shake of his head. “a king’s ego should not be so dependent on his queen-”
before you can finish, his fingers cling to the base of your neck, squeezing in a way that traps the words in your throat. he feels you swallow, his dark eyes watching how you struggle to breathe. it’s dizzying. the way he eyes you, flitting between your expanding chest and gasping mouth. he presses the back of his hand to your chin, tilting your lips toward his mouth as he leans in. “it seems my ego rests on the mocking words of my smart mouthed wife,” he whispers into your open mouth, sucking softly on your bottom lip. “so, my queen, mightn’t you humour me? tell me that which i desire to hear.”
“you-” he senses an unfitting retort on your tongue and tightens his grip, marvelling at the delicious way your eyes roll back. he only loosens when theu water, gleaming in pitiful surrender. “you always fuck me well.”
“like i will now.”
“li-like you will now.”
“good,” he grins, proud of your slow but gratifying progress. helping you stand, hyunjin gathers the hem of your chemise in his fists, hiking it up to your waist before placing the fabric in your waiting hands. he feels for your undergarments, fingers gliding along the soft skin of your belly, purposely missing the waistband of your panties. he watches your breathing change with every long second he teases you, missing your sex in obvious ways. when you whine he only tuts, watching a frown kiss your features. “it’s not nice to be kept waiting, is it?”
“no,” you mumble, jutting out a full blown pout. “please touch me, hyunjin.” you too can sense your lover’s utterances before they are ever fully realised. like now, when he smirks, knuckles dusting over your throbbing heat. “properly.”
your emphasis has him chortling, the sound delighting you in ways you cannot explain. how long had it been since you had him like this? warm and open, delighted by the trivialities of foreplay. excited by your pending coitus. it brings a sudden joy to your heart, and, to your husband at least, an inexplicable grin to your bitten lips.
“what tickles you, my love?”
“i just missed you.” you confess, not too dissimilar to his earlier realisation. “i want you happy always.”
“oh,” he breathes, finally pinching your panties and sliding them down past your ankles. “one can feel nothing but joy when you are near.”
“is that so?” you hum as he pulls you to his lap, his thumb dipping into your soaking cunt before slow dragging it along your swollen clit.
“it is so,” he affirms, offering soft pecks to the taut skin of your neck. “it’s why i married you.”
“really- oh,” words stick in your throat as he dips a lone finger in you, his thumb still circling as he presses against your walls. your lips find his in your daze, somehow still embarrassed by the awe with which he regards you. your hips roll against his cramped hand, chasing the beginnings of a tightening coil in the base of your belly. “you’re still infatuated with me?”
“always.” he removes himself without leaving your lips, swallowing your taunt as he guides you onto his awaiting cock. time stills for a moment as you adjust, brain whirring as you both realise the time that has passed since you had him like this. your throbbing walls clamped around his pulsing cock. the subtle tremor of his thighs as you sink onto him, buttocks resting in his waiting palms. he offers a gentle squeeze, one of comfort and question. “can you move?” you nod against his skin, damp forehead pressed to his as he guides your motions with gentle tilts of his wrists. his tongue slips into your mouth, readily lapping at your own as you wrap your arms around his neck. his hands rise to your hips in time, guiding you with a firmer grip, enjoying the slow rock of your hips on his aching cock. he feels you squeeze around him as he sucks on your tongue, his thighs shaking with a looming orgasm. he pulls you in closer, lifting you inches in the air before leaving your slippery lips. before you can even think to protest, hyunjin snaps up into you at a steady pace, enjoying the mewls he conjures from you.
“jinnie, i’m- i-”
“it’s okay,” he groans, on his own verge of release. “it’s okay, my love. let go.”
and you do. moments later you let go, loudly soiling his lap and favourite loveseat as he fucks into your soaking cunt. seconds later he follows you, head thrown back as he releases in you, fearful of nothing but the stained upholstery as he thanks the lord above that you are his wife.
“you owe me a new chair.” he says suddenly, still panting as you pepper soft kiss along his shoulder blade. “and new breeches.”
“it is you who is to blame, sire.” he watches with a raised brow as you rest on his knees. “you always fuck me so well, how could i help myself?”
“ah, right.” he folds when you laugh, the sound forcing his hands upward, along with the corners of his lips. “forgive me, my love.”
“i love you.” you whisper instead, settling against his chest as you both ignore the compromising position you’re in. “so much.”
“and i you,” he swears. “always.”
#don’t ask me what this is#switch!hyunjin#sub!hyunjin#dom!hyunjin#no one tell chan about this fic i still love him#hyunjin smut#hyunjin fluff#hyunjin angst#stray kids#stray kids smut#stray kids fluff#stray kids angst#hyunjin#ncitygirls#stray kids au#skz au#skz smut#skz fluff#skz angst#skz hyunjin
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if he'd married a less willful woman, tommy might have tried to intercept her at the door, to share his reasonings but instead he watches her leave, the slamming door sending a brief violent scented wind through the room. this is the eye of the storm, and if he were another man he might have stayed in it. savoured it. maybe attempted to prepare himself for the unknown of the text that will soon be wielded against him as a bludgeon or a rapier, which ? he can't be certain, and once again, he regrets not reading those letters in the preceding months as he eases through the door, allowing rowena a significant headway as he walks in the direction of his office.
the letters are enclosed in plain envelopes, wax sealed without emblem to show if they had been tampered with, and all bearing a faint layer of dust from being left in the drawer so long. there are four of them, each simply bearing a name in emilie's neat script at the center. one addressed to tommy, which has long since been opened, and three that remain sealed, addressed to rowena, arthur, and hailie respectively.
rowena,
already a break from tradition in its loss of the preface ' dearest, ' a long standing tradition in every letter that emilie has written her for the past decade on the occasion she's had cause to write one.
if you are reading this letter, is the result of one of three things. in the best scenario, i am here with you, as you read this. i give context to what you read, i answer your questions, and you hardly need this letter at all. your troubles are over, and you know that i love you. i will always love you, and if i am extraordinarily lucky, you forgive me for what i was willing to do as an act of desperation.
assuming that you are continuing to read, that means there are only two possibilities beyond the above. in neither of them do i retain the right to call you dearest because i was prepared to take the one you love above all others, and with so little regret that i find the lack of it nauseating more nauseating than the crime i commit against you. for that, i am sorry. i am sorry to you, and to charlie, and to all who love tommy, but this apology is not for them. it is for you. you who deserve my apology above all others. there are only two possibilities as you read this, either tommy is dead, or he is alive.
i left him notes and clues in the divorce papers, assuming arthur didn't burn them immediately after finding them, i did have hopes for his survival as much as that may surprise you. this underhanded dealing has always left a bitter taste in my mouth and i believe if a man must die it should be upright and facing his death prepared if not peacefully in his sleep. luca will afford tommy no peace and no grace, so i hope he considers or considered it my final peace offering as i finally make the exit from his life that he requested years before this all began. i do not want tommy to die, but if it is what keeps you alive and unharmed by mosley then i swear on the lives of my children i will have no regret.
the deal is complicated, and i am sure you have asked yourself by now if i knew i was leaving why i would not take my children with me and the answer is simple. the price of a child, was the life of a shelby. as much as it pains me to leave you and the kids behind, that is the price that is too high to bear. i have caused you enough pain, and your suffering has been prolonged enough. for all the anger and resentment that has built between tommy and i over the years, this is not how i wanted things to end. know that i tried. know that i negotiated over every detail and inch of this deal, and this was the best i could manage.
i hope that tommy is the one who hands you this letter. i hope that you have some clever brilliant solution that saves him. you don't need to save me. not from luca, and not from myself. i made this choice with my eyes open, and without force. you have said before you would burn the world for me, you showed it as well. know that this is my box of matches, and i am trying to protect you from the blaze. i'm sorry if you are caught in it regardless. i could not save you, ghost, but i tried.
forever yours, emilie
by the time rowena finishes the letter, tommy is lingering in the doorway. allowing her the space she might need as he watches quietly. keeping the letter from her was a poor choice, he is aware of that, but it was an attempt at what he convinced himself to be altruism. ❛ rowena... ❜ he says her name in the same soft tone that he uses when he's attempting to summon her to bed when she appears to have finished the first of the letters. ❛ ...i was trying to protect you. ❜
SELF — PRESERVATION HAS ALWAYS BEEN HIS STRONG SUIT. It has been hers , too. Rowena couldn't have survived , let alone thrived , as long as she has without it. But where they differ is whether or someone else's can ever come first. And Em's would always come first for her. Mutually. That was why she went without too much fear of risk. If Luca did anything to harm her , some form of contract would be made null and void. Maybe she should have forced the issue. Maybe she would have if it wasn't only her life she had to consider.
Tommy gives her his full attention , that hint of caution audible to her ears. Good. He should be worried , even if he was honest. Only one other time has she felt this angry with him , this betrayed , but it is not a memory she wishes to revisit. Mosley and that night are not worth her time or lingering pain. The only things that will hurt her are her husband's actual transgressions , not imagined ones. No matter how easy it was to believe in the moment.
❝ I know it does , ❞ is all she says before turning on her heel. The door slams a second time.
She knows this house as intimately as she does Tommy. She knew it before it was hers too. But there is something scathing to the admission , to voicing knowledge of a supposed secret she never acknowledged before. Fitting , perhaps. They try to be as honest as possible with one another but omission seems to keep getting in the way.
It may be a small comfort , too , knowing that she knows but chose to ask him before simply tearing the room apart in search of the letters. There is a small comfort for Rowena in the fact he chose not to lie this time , however close he may have been to doing so anyway. That feeling persists when she opens the false bottom with ease and finds the letters unopened. It leaves her strangely hopeful that things are not as broken as they could be.
There will be no easy forgiveness , of course , and she may never fully forgive him for any of this. But Rowena knows she will still love him. She opens her letter. Arthur's to follow. Tommy may have afforded them a modicum of privacy , but she holds no such qualms for her brother — in — law and his infamous fury. Her cheek remembers the sting of his palm.
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Christ, the Perfect Sacrifice

1 For the Law having a shadow of the good things coming—not the very image of the matters, every year, by the same sacrifices that they offer continually, is never able to make perfect those coming near, 2 since, would they not have ceased to be offered, because of those serving having no more conscience of sins, having been purified once? 3 But in those [sacrifices] is a remembrance of sins every year, 4 for it is impossible for blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
5 For this reason, coming into the world, He says, “Sacrifice and offering You did not will, and a body You prepared for Me;
6 in burnt-offerings, and concerning sin-offerings, You did not delight.
7 Then I said, Behold, I come (in a volume of the scroll it has been written concerning Me), to do, O God, Your will”;
8 saying above, “Sacrifice, and offering, and burnt-offerings, and concerning sin-offering You did not will, nor delight in” (which are offered according to the Law), 9 then He said, “Behold, I come to do, O God, Your will”; He takes away the first that He may establish the second; 10 in which will, we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all,
11 and every priest, indeed, has daily stood serving, and offering the same sacrifices many times, that are never able to take away sins. 12 But He, having offered one sacrifice for sin—to the end, sat down at the right hand of God— 13 as to the rest, expecting until He may place His enemies [as] His footstool, 14 for by one offering He has perfected to the end those being sanctified; 15 and the Holy Spirit also testifies to us, for after that He has said before,
16 “This [is] the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the LORD, giving My laws on their hearts, and I will write them on their minds,”
17 and, “I will remember their sins and their lawlessness no more”;
18 and where [there is] forgiveness of these, there is no longer offering for sin.
19 Having, therefore, brothers, boldness for the entrance into the holy places, by the blood of Jesus, 20 which [is] the way He initiated for us—new and living, through the veil, that is, His flesh— 21 and a Great Priest over the house of God, 22 may we draw near with a true heart, in full assurance of faith, having the hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and having the body bathed with pure water; 23 may we hold fast the unwavering profession of the hope (for He who promised [is] faithful), 24 and may we consider to provoke one another to love and to good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as [is] a custom of some, but exhorting, and so much the more as you see the Day coming near.
26 For [if] we are sinning willingly after receiving the full knowledge of the truth—there remains no more sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain fearful looking for of judgment, and fiery zeal, about to devour the opposers; 28 anyone having set aside a law of Moses dies without mercies on the basis of two or three witnesses. 29 Of how much worse punishment will he be counted worthy who trampled on the Son of God, and counted the blood of the covenant a common thing, by which he was sanctified, and having insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we have known Him who is saying, “Vengeance [is] Mine, I will repay, says the LORD”; and again, “The LORD will judge His people.” 31 [It is] fearful to fall into [the] hands of [the] living God.
32 But call to your remembrance the former days, in which, having been enlightened, you endured much conflict of sufferings; 33 this indeed, being made spectacles with both insults and afflictions, now this, having become partners of those so living, 34 for you also sympathized with my bonds, and the robbery of your goods you received with joy, knowing that you have in yourselves a better substance in the heavens, and an enduring one. 35 You may not cast away, then, your boldness, which has great repayment of reward, 36 for you have need of patience, that having done the will of God, you may receive the promise.
37 “For yet [in] a very, very little [while], He who is coming will come, and will not linger,”
38 but, “The righteous will live by faith; and if he may draw back, My soul has no pleasure in him.”
39 But we are not of those drawing back to destruction, but of those believing to a preserving of soul. — Hebrews 10 | Literal Standard Version (LSV) Literal Standard Version Bible Copyright © 2020 by Covenant Press. Cross References: Exodus 24:8; Exodus 29:36; Leviticus 16:4; Leviticus 19:18; Numbers 15:30; Deuteronomy 17:2; 1 Samuel 2:25; 1 Samuel 15:22; Ezra 6:2; Psalm 26:1; Psalm 40:6-8; Psalm 110:1; Jeremiah 31:31; Ezekiel 33:13; Habakkuk 2:3-4; Zechariah 9:11; Matthew 10:15; Mark 3:35; Mark 12:33; John 1:15; John 2:17; John 6:51; Acts 13:11; Romans 5:2; Romans 8:3; Romans 12:12; Ephesians 5:26; Titus 3:8; Hebrews 1:13; Hebrews 8:12; Hebrews 9:8; Hebrews 9:12-13; Hebrews 11:1; Hebrews 11:16; Hebrews 12:4; 1 Timothy 3:15; 2 John 1:8
#Christ#living by faith#perfect sacrifice#perseverance#Hebrews 10#The Epistle of Hebrews#New Testament#LSV#Literal Standard Version Bible#Covenant Press
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