#I am hitting it like a gong

[dragonnova]

[rotisseries]

I JUST FINISHED REREADING LEGENDBORN AND STARTED BLOODMARKED LAST NIGHT AND COME ON HERE AND YOU'RE ALSO READING IT 😨😨 WE SYNCED

CLOWN TO CLOWN COMMUNICATION. OUR UNBREAKABLE BOND

[lorelune]

the only way i achieve psychic peace is muting everything everywhere all the time

[my5hiningstars]

5sos youngblood album + 10, 16, 28, 30 for the music ask~

thank u nonnie, i put the album ranking under a cut since it's kinda long ^^;

10) a song that brings back bad memories

Gang of Youths - The Deepest Sighs, the Frankest Shadows

16) a song that's better acoustic

5 Seconds of Summer - Best Years

28) a song you want to see live

5 Seconds of Summer - Jet Black Heart

30) a song you recommend

Billie Eilish - WILDFLOWER (Amazon Music's Songline performance)

send me some numbers or an album to rank ✨

Youngblood (Deluxe):

Talk Fast

Ghost of You

More

Youngblood

If Walls Could Talk

Babylon

Valentine

Moving Along

Meet You There

Empty Wallets

Want You Back

Lie to Me

Better Man

Monster Among Men

Why Won't You Love Me

Woke Up in Japan

[certifiedlovergirlsstuff]

Hiii! Could you imagine one where the reader finds out she's pregnant during one of Spencer's missions and when he comes home she has a crisis and ends up feeling ill and Spencer doesn't know how to help and the reader doesn't know how to tell him she's pregnant. (Both are already married)

i took this opportunity to set my pregnant!reader series into the future cause i already planned for them to have another child. request is tweaked justttt a little.

“my dear sweet penny, can you hit me with a bus? i want this misery to end.” you’ve been hit with the worst stomach bug or flu or just something that’s been lasting since spencer went on his case, five days ago.

your mom took your daughter for the day when you realized you weren’t getting out of bed anytime soon and you called in your reinforcement of one penelope garcia. the case ended yesterday but the team had to stay an extra day due to weather in their state, so penelope has been keeping you company for the past two days. it was nice to have an adult conversation instead of bluey and the same princess movies.

“okay, if you’re pleading for death that means it’s time to head over to a hospital. i don’t want spencer to hypothetically bite my head off if something happens to you.” her bright blonde hair was your shining sun in your darkened bedroom. and her jewelry were loud gongs with each step she took. “i hate to sound like a bitch but can you like, be the opposite of yourself today?” moaning and groaning as you tried pushing off the tossed sheets.

“yeah, you need a doctor. cause and i quote ‘penny if i even say to change yourself i’ve been abducted and that’s an alien.’ hopefully they can give you good drugs.”

at the hospital they took some blood, made you pee and just did a bunch of other check ups when it was shown you were sick with anything. so after an hour or so your doctor renters the sterile room with his clipboard and a poker face. “well, you’re not sick, but you are pregnant. we’ll get an ultrasound in here to check on the fetus.” talk talk talk and then he left again, leaving you and penelope open mouthed shocked.

“holy shit,” breathing out as your hand rubbed over your still small belly. “i told spencer i couldn’t keep my hands to myself.” telling that to the ceiling.

“oh, i’ll have another godchild! i’m so happy to live vicariously through you.” penelope stood at your side and smiled down at you. you turned your head towards her, “you know when they’re older, you’ll be our go-to babysitter then. so just be prepared for that.”

with the ultrasound done they confirmed you were almost done with your first trimester and that left you a bit shocked. you were three months pregnant but didn’t know, now you understand how some of those other ladies feel. but you were excited for another, but then you were done, seriously.

you tried calling spencer after leaving but his phone when to voicemail, but you didn’t think anything of it. probably feel asleep or out doing something with his team. so when you arrived to your mom’s place you were a bit surprised to see your husband holding your daughter and swinging her around.

“you’re back!” penny the first to speak and move further into the home. spencer and anna both turned their heads and smiled at the bright lady. “auntie penny!” your annabeth squealed with an arm out.

she happily took her from spencer’s hold and moved her away so you could talk with spencer. his puppy eyes and downturn mouth made your heart soar, oh how he’s gonna get you into so much trouble.

“you feeling better? your mom said it’s been a week.” pulling you into his hold, cheek pressed into his chest as his palms rubbed over your shoulder blades and spine. you sighed, “yeah, penny took me to the doctor. turns out i wasn’t sick… i was- i am pregnant.”

spencer’s hands stopped and leaned back, “what?” his brows raised into his curling locks. “how far along?” “three months…” biting into your bottom lip as you watched him go through his mental calendar. you both knew your period was irregular, that’s why you didn’t think anything of it.

“so it must’ve been sometime after annie’s fourth birthday,” spencer came to the conclusion. leaned in to peck your forehead, “are you okay with another?” always making sure you were okay with the decision.

you smiled up at him with a twinkle in your eyes, “absolutely.”

[endzithefangirl]

"I'm gong to put 'being a WAG' on my CV" part 2

Authors note: The part 2 of this to celebrate Maxie winning the Brazil GP! Sorry it took so long, your girl is a STEM student, life got busy. Also now you know the inspo for the TechCEO!Reader.....

Summary: You come with Max to the Brazil GP to see many things: a win, an engineer.... and to have a long chat about Alexa....

Warnings: English isn't my first language, no use of Y/N, female reader, famous reader, swearing, also slight jabs at Max's dad and a few others...

Word count: 2.9k

It was the first race you had come to watch in a while. You desperately wanted to attend the one in Austin, but you got stuck in New York for work. But here you are, in Brazil, being driven to the paddock at 6:30 am for a delayed qualifying session that was probably going to be in the rain. You were worried about many things: the fans, your looks, the fact that Max's dad was going to be there, and the possibility that Max's ex-girlfriend might also be there, although Max reassured you that they were on friendly enough terms where it wouldn't be a problem.

Also, Max winning. He hasn't won since, like, April. He's been doing better recently, but he still hasn't won. And Norris was getting closer and closer to that number one spot. It was an incredibly chaotic morning. In that pre-qualifying session, Max was doing everything to avoid a repeat of the weekend before. On top of that, he was trying to end a months-long winless streak.

Great.

"Well, at least I brushed my hair today..." you mumble, looking at yourself in the phone camera. You still didn't know how to dress like a WAG. You were wearing jeans, the Red Bull jacket Max got you a while ago, some boots for the rain, and your hair down and brushed, which for you is a big thing. You also put on concealer. Miracle.

You were incredibly sexy to Max, though. Unfortunately, you both knew his father and the fashion police on social media might disagree. He didn’t mind, though. He actually preferred you didn’t wear a high-fashion, tight dress. It would have just been a distraction, not to mention, he wouldn’t see you in anything but a hoodie and a pair of sweatpants in the flat anyway.

"Did you know," you say, trying to make conversation to distract from the anxiety, "that your engineer Michael and I went to college together?"

"Really?" he asks, genuinely surprised. If he was honest, he had no idea what the engineers were like outside of their job. The rain was coming down harder, hitting like stones against the windshield.

"Yeah. So, if he got into MIT, he must be good."

Max chuckles, nodding as he looks at the road in front of him for a bit. His engineer was good, but then again, Red Bull didn’t hire anyone but the best and the brightest from the top of the class. He needed people who could handle the race and perform well under pressure. Suddenly, Max turns to you.

"Remind me again, who graduated top of the class at MIT?"

"Allen Chen..." you say, confused.

He laughs loudly before turning back to the road, his eyes fixed ahead once more. He was impressed that you didn’t even have to think for a second before listing them. That was very much like you.

"God, you’re a nerd..." he mutters affectionately with a smile.

"Says you," you laugh. "It's really raining, huh?"

Seeing your reaction to his little joke made him feel all warm inside. Knowing your sense of humor, you had absolutely no idea what you were doing to him. It was also making Max forget about the race, but at this point, he knew it was a rain delay anyway. "Yeah. Feels like we're in a carwash."

"Well, as a big enjoyer of the laws of physics, the best advice I can give you is to go slow on the turns but speed up when going uphill... There is an uphill, right?"

Max actually paused and turned back to you with a grin. It’s funny how you can switch him from hot to cold so swiftly. He still wasn’t convinced you weren’t doing it on purpose. But he couldn’t help but be amused and also impressed. "There are two hill sections, yeah. You sure you never thought of becoming a race engineer instead of becoming a nerdy billionaire?"

"I was gonna be one, but I had to drop out of college, you know, to run the company."

"You had to?" he said with an amused smirk. Max was well aware of the fact that you could buy out the entire campus if you wanted to. But he’d be lying if he said your workaholic tendencies didn’t slightly concern him.

"I tried, but it was really hard. And also, I had to move to New York—"

"Babe, you can run your business in every country imaginable and you’re telling me attending one university was too much?" Max knew he was being a smartass about it. This was more than just the workaholic in you, though. You were also a very stubborn creature, to say the least.

"Okay, I just went to college to get the visa, there, I said it. You happy?"

He chuckles, the car coming to a halt as you arrive at the paddock. The rain is hitting the sides of the car loudly. Max turns to you with a playful smirk. "See, was that so hard? But I’m happy if you’re happy, babe."

You walk out, people with umbrellas waiting for you. There were people taking your pictures as you walk into the Red Bull garage. You introduce yourself to everyone new, and a few of the engineers want pictures with you.

"Hey, we went to MIT together," you say to Michael.

"You remember?" he says, shocked.

"Of course I do," you say before Max pulls you to walk back to the driver’s area.

Max had been watching you talk to the engineer and the others with a faint smile on his face. You had been able to charm all of them within 30 seconds. It wasn’t particularly surprising, but he was still amused. He didn’t think many people realized just how captivating you were.

When you’re done talking to Michael, Max takes you to the Red Bull garage.

"That was easy. How did you make friends with my mechanics so fast?" he asks with a small chuckle.

"You might be a legend to regular people, but I'm a legend to nerds."

"Do I want to know how that happened?" he asks, amused. He knew you had always been incredibly smart and talented, but he had no idea you actually had a bit of a nerd fandom attached to you.

"I’m running a billion-dollar tech company," you say, shrugging.

He looks at you for a moment, his eyes wide. He always somehow keeps forgetting that you’re a goddamn genius. Because whenever he looks at you, he can only think how goddamn beautiful you are.

And yet you say stuff like that as if it’s normal.

You kiss his cheek. "I'll leave you to go ride fast. I'm gonna see if Michael will let me sit with them during quali." Max smirks as you say it before you kiss his cheek. He’d always found your ability to go from incredibly sexy to super nerdy to be insanely attractive. It was one of the things that made him fall in love with you in the first place.

"Sure thing, nerd. Have fun." Max jokes before giving you a kiss on the forehead.

You stayed with the engineers during quali, both because it was super interesting and also to avoid Max's dad in the front of the garage.

And then the rain fucked it all up.

All up.

Max was out of Q2.

He was 17th.

You all saw him and his dad raging in the front of the garage.

The whole quali was a mess, with so many crashes, slips, and generally poor driving in the heavy rain and fog.

As Max got out of the car, soaked and drenched from the rain, he slams the door shut in sheer anger. This whole quali was a shitshow from start to finish. So many poor decisions, so much poor driving. He wasn’t even the worst offender. And he was still only P17. In the garage, he could still hear his dad going on a rage, but he just couldn’t. Max was too annoyed and frustrated to listen.

"Well, that was shit," you say, turning around to Max from where you were sitting.

He didn’t even notice you were nearby until he heard your voice. He turned around to look at you, his hair and shirt completely soaked from rain and sweat. But he couldn’t help but smile at your comment.

“That’s putting it lightly…”

"They definitely fucked you all up with that delayed yellow flag," you say, taking off the headphones and walking over to him slowly. "Save my seat for the race, guys."

He’s about to open his mouth to answer when he finally notices the headphones around your neck and realizes you had actually been in the garage the whole time. Despite how bad the day had been so far, he’s still very impressed that you’re here in the garage and not in some skybox with champagne in your glass. As you come closer, Max can’t help but wrap his arms around your waist and pull you close, not caring how soaked he is.

You hug him back. "It's fine. At least you didn't crash like some of them. Take a breather and then you'll do great at the race later." You take a Snickers out of your pocket. "Calm down now. You're not yourself when you're hungry. Here, eat a Snickers."

He raises an eyebrow as he sees you take out a Snickers from your pocket. It wasn’t the most normal thing to have in a pocket, but somehow it wasn’t surprising at all. It was definitely very you. He also couldn’t help but think that you were probably the type of person to carry emergency snacks around in case anyone was hungry.

“How many of those do you have on you?”

"A few. They're for you if you want them. You know I'm a Mars person," you say, showing him the inner pocket of the Red Bull jacket he got you.

He smirked slightly. The fact that you were so casually admitting to carrying around a little bag of Snickers for him was hilarious. But knowing how much you care and how much you want to make sure he’s doing okay, it wasn’t actually that surprising at the same time.

“Of course you are… Can I have another one?”

He unwraps the second one and pops it into his mouth, chewing on it slowly as he looks at you. Max takes a seat in the chair behind him, his legs spread wide as he leans back, exhausted.

“…come here…” he says, pulling you to sit on his lap. You blink as you realize what he wanted.

He looks at you with a pleading look in his eyes. He usually wouldn’t ask for something like this because he knows you weren’t the type for public displays of affection in the slightest. But for some reason, he was feeling particularly needy, and he knew you would most likely not refuse if he looked at you this way.

He’s surprised at how easy it was to convince you, but it probably has to do with how terrible this weekend has been and how miserable he looks. Or maybe you’re just extra nice today. Who knows…

As you sit on his lap, the other engineers laugh.

"That's right. I know how to code and I get laid," you say, making them all laugh. "You should go have lunch and then be ready for the race."

He hums in agreement. He knew you were right, but he was still very reluctant to let go of you now that he’d finally gotten you to sit with him. He’s well aware that the others are probably still watching you.

“One kiss, please?”

You roll your eyes and give him a quick kiss. You ruffle his helmet hair as you stand up. "Go."

“See you after the race?”

You nod and wink. Max’s heart skips a beat as you wink at him, and he gives you a small smirk in response. There was something insanely attractive about your confidence and how well you handled yourself in this environment.

Before the race, you came to the front of the garage to wish Max good luck. You saw him talking to his dad in Dutch. "Hey, just wanted to say good luck," you say from the door.

His dad noticed you first as you came in from behind Max. Both Max and his dad turn to look at you, Max’s features immediately softening as he sees you. He had to hold himself back from just immediately coming up and giving you a hug… his dad was standing literally next to him… He takes a deep breath, his voice still sounding a bit tense and nervous as he looks at you with a forced smile. “Thanks, babe… Thanks for coming…”

"I'll be with the engineers. Just be calm; it's gonna be a good race regardless."

Jos, Max's dad, nods at you politely. You smile at them both and then leave.

Max watches you leave, his smile turning much more genuine right after. He really did get lucky, being able to be with such an amazing person. Even his dad seemed to acknowledge it with a respectful nod in your direction.

Max looks at his dad, taking a breath as he can somehow feel a lecture coming.

".....Ik denk dat als je het uit moet maken met de dochter van een drievoudig wereldkampioen... Je hebt haar in ieder geval vervangen door iemand die heel rijk is...." his dad said.

Max looks at Jos, his face already turning into a frown as he starts his little speech. He already had his suspicions as to where this is going, but he knew he won’t be able to stop him anyway, so he just listens.

"...... Ze is een beetje raar. Maar... Niet de slechtste die je hebt uitgekozen..... Denk je dat zij mij kan helpen met het installeren van het volledige camera-AI-systeem op mijn nieuwe plek?"

The question takes him off guard a bit. He didn’t expect his dad to actually say something like that at all. He looks at him for a moment, his expression conflicted. On one hand, he didn’t like the idea that his dad wants to ask you something like this. On the other hand, he’s well aware that you would excel at something like that… “I wouldn’t be surprised…”

Max won the race. After a red flag and on-and-off rain, Max was the winner of the Brazil GP after a 10-race no-win streak. You run to the barrier with Christian, the Red Bull team principal, cheering with the team as Max comes into the garage. Max parks the car in the garage, exhausted by the long and hard race, but elated by the victory. He gets out of the car, helmet in hand, as he walks up to the rest of the Red Bull team, adrenaline still running through his veins. He looks around at everyone, giving them all some high-fives and handshakes as he walks through the garage. But he’s most excited to see you, standing by the side, cheering together with Christian.

Max immediately makes his way towards you and Christian. He gives the team principal a high-five, but his main focus is on you, of course. He looks at you with a tired but joyful smile as he finally comes up to you.

“Hey there…”

"Whoooo! That was one hell of a race!

He wraps his arms around your waist, hugging you tightly, not even caring that he got you all drenched with rain and sweat. “That it was…” He gives you a quick kiss before going to do the post-match interview and then into the cooldown room.

As he stood on the podium, you cheered loudly from the bottom.

"Hey there champ," you say, coming through the door of the trailer a bit later. "We were thinking of dinner? And by we I mean your dad and I.... He has an Alexa?" you say, confused.

Max looks up from his phone, his face brightening almost instantly as he saw you in the doorway. His eyebrows raise in surprise at the mention of his father. Though he supposed it wasn’t really a surprise, the two of them were supposed to go out to dinner together after all.

“An Alexa?” Max asks, a look of bewilderment on his face.

"He asked me if I could set him up an AI house helper, and I was like, 'an Alexa?'"

Max nods and shakes his head, amused, a little chuckle leaving his lips at the thought of his father coming up to you with those kinds of requests.

“You’re gonna have to be careful, he’ll be asking you to install a whole AI security system in his house next…”

"....he does know my corporation is a partial owner of Ring cameras, right?"

“Maybe we should keep that little fun fact secret from him for now…”

You hug him tightly, more intimately as he stands up. He hugs you back, his arms sneaking around your waist to hold you tight against his body.

“Could you do me a favor?”

"What do you need? An Alexa?"

[kafkaesque22girlfriend]

The Damned P.1

Toji Zenin x fem! reader

Synopsis: forced to get in with the Zenin clan by your parents as a servant, Toji Zenin seemed to damn you more than himself….

Being a servant in the Zenin household was not for the weak-willed or the weak-minded, it took strong foundations of a strong mind to survive within these endless, lavishly adorned walls of the Zenin Compound. One of the three big clans in Jujutsu Society, blossoming the pure, clean bloodline of the strongest sorcerers in the modern and past Jujutsu eras.

Your parents pushed you into being here, young but not ditsy, focused yet polite. The Zenin really didn't care, they just wanted the free labour, but you did get a roof over your head when the Zenin took you in as a servant. Little did you know that your parents literally sent you off to serve strangers and live with them for God knows how long. Your cursed technique was strong and your parents wanted the Zenin to know that and get in with the family, even if you started as a lowly servant. To infiltrate? To gather information? To be married off? To destroy from the inside…? You didn’t know, nor did you care at this point.

The clan leader, Naobito Zenin, sent you off on your way as if he didn't give a single thought, as if he was washing away the dirt on his hands. You were young and inexperienced and you didn't deserve the reward of the bigger duties so you were sent Toji Zenin's way, the black sheep, the damned one in the Zenin clan. You would be the personal servant of Toji Zenin.

Which leads you here now, standing by the foot of his bed, ready to wake him up like you usually do. Late. It was nearing 11 am and the clan needed to be in the training quarters in about half an hour. You glanced at Toji, seeing the drool escape from his mouth, his hair roughed up, and the sheets that barely covered his naked chest. These were the only times you felt Toji not be intimidating. You opened up the curtains and the windows, letting the fresh air ventilate the room. He grunted when the light hit his eyes at the most perfectly uncomfortable angle.

“Get the hell out.” He groaned angrily as he covered his eyes with his bulky forearm.

“Rise and shine, Master Toji.” You say with a faint warmness, anything to keep this civilised and polite knowing he could lash out quickly. The light seeps through the room and bathes it in the sunlight. He looked peaceful lying there, it's shame you had to wake him. He never looked so peaceful while he was awake, and, sadly, we all know the reason why. Toii grumbled and groaned, lifting his arm from his eyes.

“Can't even fuckin' sleep in this damn house.” He opened his eyes and was met by the sight of the sun hitting against your silhouette. He then looked at your face and rolled his eyes, a sour expression filled his face once more. “And do me a favour, and don't call me 'master' if you don't want your teeth punched in.” Toji fucking hated that, fucking hated it all.

You immediately frown. “It's not like I want to call you that, you are my superior. I work for you, I have to refer to you as that.” You explain to Toji as if he didn't already know it clear as day. “Would you like me to bring in a gong and wake you up like that?” You say, a small smile tugging at your lips at the insane hypothetical.

“I don't give a damn if you have to call me that, just drop it.” He growled against his pillow, glaring at you in the process. Toji then sat up from the bed, resting his head on his right hand as he looked at you blankly. He couldn't help but believe that there was some charm to you in how you were so polite. Your expression had an innocence to it that he had never come across in the cesspit that was the Zenin compound. “If you dare bring a gong in here, I'll break it and then your ribs.”

You knew that he was very much capable of doing that, so you didn't push further. But your mouth ran faster than your brain.

“Well then Toji, if you break my ribs...who will be making you breakfast every morning? Speaking of which, if you want food, I'm making some. So get up.” You say a little more firmly this time, you've never been this challenging towards your superiors, part of you wants to take it back, what if the clan deject you for being disrespectful? You frown slightly and leave the room to head back to the kitchen and finish preparing his breakfast.

The first thing he did when you left the room was let out a groan of frustration. It was always like this, you were being too much of a pushover to him. Always too kind. That was what irritated him the most. Maybe he was projecting. He needed to stop thinking that. Toji got dressed into his montsuki and went into the bathroom to brush his teeth and freshen himself up, he hated how every day started the same.

-

Soon, you heard his footsteps walking towards the kitchen, a few seconds later his hulking figure appeared at the doorway, leaning against the frame as he crossed his arms.

“I can make my own breakfast.” He declared in a low and husky voice.

“No, you can't.” You say politely but your words carry some weight to them that resounded throughout the whole room.

Each clan member had a specific section of the compound to themselves, so you had an entire kitchen to yourself to prepare food for Toji. He couldn't make his breakfast even if he tried, servants were solely assigned that duty.

You glance up at him leaning against the doorway, you finish plating up his Teishoku and serve them, you place it on the kitchen island in front of you. “Coffee sir-? I mean Toji..” You say softly, fumbling over your words but correcting yourself.

Your words irked him like nothing else, you were so nice to him. He loathed it. What made you so kind in the face of someone like him? “Quit this 'sir' bullshit.” He was trying to play it cool, his eyebrows slightly raised as he spoke. Internally he was confused by your ongoing kindness, you were like this from day one. He didn't like the fact that he had to work around your kindness.

“I apologize. Bad habit.” You let out a nervous chuckle, trying to ignore the burning green gaze zeroing in on you. Your expression was trying to hide the fact that you were uncomfortable with his presence. Toji was a little more than impressed by how you were handling him like this still. After all, most people would be scared shitless already.

As you hand him his coffee, Toji notices the band-aids on your fingers. The skin looked red and brittle and it made him raise an eyebrow. “What happened to them? And don't say 'nothing' or 'it's nothing.” Toii muttered under his breath, trying to distance himself but still be curious at the same time.

“Oh, I burned myself by accident, the stove was too hot.” You respond a little curtly, turning your back and starting cleaning up and clearing away. It was clear you didn't want to talk about it, the real reason was rather daunting as Naoya Zenin threatened to break your fingers because you didn't do a task correctly.

Toji watched with intent simmering eyes as you turned your back to him. The first thing was that your reasoning behind it was obvious bullshit. You were lying through your teeth but quite frankly he didn't car enough to pry even further. "You're really clumsy, aren't you?”

Your shoulders relax as you sigh out, thankful he wasn't reading into it. “I am...I am. ..quite clumsy.” You breathe out.

You both know damn well you were the opposite but for now, it'll do. You turn around and take his empty tray once he finishes eating, giving him an agreeable smile. “Your training starts soon.”

Toji raised his eyebrow as an unamused look was engrained on his face. Why was his rudeness not affecting you in any way? Maybe you weren't listening to a thing he said, which made him even more annoyed. So he decided to try another approach. He just...didn't like how you...talked to him. “Can you stop being so polite to me? I never understand why servants are like this to their masters. Just do your job and stop acting like this.” He grunted.

You turn around and glared at him, annoyed that he didn't realize that you’re just doing your job. Anything less than perfection and obedience would be punished. But then again...who the hell were you to argue with a Zenin? “If that's...what you prefer.” You shrug your shoulders. You thought maybe he would appreciate some form of kindness considering the way his family actively despised him.

“Good...because there's no reason to be nice to me when I'm anything but.” He warned me you lowly. Toji was expecting you to break and lash out at him. Yet your reaction and expression left him feeling a little off-put. Why? Why weren't you saying anything? Why aren't you letting him walk all over you? He didn't like those thoughts.

Reluctantly, you nod your head, lips thinning into a straight line, and you try to stay as neutral as possible. If this is what he wanted, who the hell were you to argue? After finishing cleaning the kitchen, you make a move to leave the room. As you made your way to leave, Toji couldn't help but notice that your back was as straight as an arrow. Your body looked so proper and elegant, unlike others. Just your simple back in that tight-fitting kimono was enough to make him stare a few moments longer than necessary. That's when he called out to you and spoke with a neutral expression: “Do you always have to be so proper and respectful?”

Yet his voice was...softer.

You stop in your tracks. “I'm just doing my job.” You reply quietly, trying to get him to grasp that you're just doing what you're supposed to do. You walk away and leave him wordless from the kitchen, letting your words linger in his brain a lot longer than he should have.

-

pt 2 coming soon, get ready for angst and sexy times in the near future.

[literally-izzy]

Just Friends?

summary: you’re in love with your best friend who doesn’t feel the same way. right?

Modern AU!Anakin Skywalker and Fem!reader

A/n: ah! this is my first time writing a fic and i might’ve gotten carried away… there’s also original names. not all of the names are star wars related. please feel free to reblog! it would mean a lot!

cw: smut; unprotected piv, pet names, car accident..

Love. It’s a funny thing. I’ll never understand it. I only know that when it hits you, it hits you hard. Here I am, 25 and still pining over a man who doesn’t want me. You would think that after ten years I would forget about him and move on. It’s hard when he’s your best friend. Anakin Skywalker. I met him my sophomore year, his freshman year. Our moms worked together and became best friends. It was only inevitable that we would too. Every weekend was a movie night at the Skywalker house. Filled with love and laughter. The only times I hated it was when an unwanted visitor came. But I denied the real reason I disliked her.

I told myself it was just because she was too quiet. Not outgoing. Definitely not because she was dating him…. I hated the way he held her in his arms. I eventually began to realize it was because I wished it was me. Any moment I had alone with him was bliss. She didn’t go to our school. They met at summer camp the year before we became friends. So, school, especially choir was a safe place to be with him. He made me laugh like no other. And never changed the way he acted around me when his friends were around.

Now here I am, teaching a class of annoying seventh graders how to sing. Anakin is still in med school. I always admired him for it. He never thought he was smart enough for it. It took my encouragement. We still keep tradition and every Friday night; I go over to his apartment for movie night. When he graduated, he and his girlfriend, Padme, split up. So, for the past 6 years, I’ve never really had to worry about anyone else. He only had a few short relationships throughout the past six years since he graduated. Occasionally his sister joins us for movie night, that’s when we have to watch cheesy hallmark movies. Not that I hate all of them, but I dislike most of them.

I looked down at my desk and saw a text on my phone.

“Just you and me for movie night. Up for Fast and Furious?”

I smiled at the text. My students were currently working on their assignment, so I replied,

“That’s a stupid question, Anakin”. I put my phone down and I sat my chair.

He texted back almost immediately, “so I take that as a yes, y/n?”

I rolled my eyes. “It’s a yes. I’d love to talk more but I have a class to teach. Love ya”

“I’ll say a prayer for those students lol. Love ya.”

I smiled at the last sentence. We’ve been inseparable for ten years. Of course, we love each other. Mine just goes deeper than his. I’ve thought multiple times about telling him. But I just couldn’t. He’s always with someone new when I finally muster up the courage to tell him. And its not like I’ve stayed single. I’m actually with someone right now. He’s amazing in every way. He’s just not Anakin. I looked down at my phone again and realized I had a text from him.

“Hey babe, I’m gong out of town to see my parents for the weekend. I know you’re going to Anakin’s apartment for movie night, so I figured i’d tell you now”.

I feel like such a bitch. At least he’s not jealous of Anakin. My last relationship ended because I refused to stop seeing him.

I texted back, “okay, have fun!” I know I should’ve said more, but I really didn’t care. I saw another text from him but before I could answer it, the bell rang.

“Okay class, that’s homework if you didn’t finish it. Have a great weekend!” All the kids quickly piled out of my classroom. Once I was alone, I read the text from Trey.

“Okay. I will. Be safe on your drive up there.”

“I will.” I replied. I got my things together and walked out to my car. Once I got in, I connected my phone and started blasting love songs. I’m a hopeless romantic. I started driving.

He lives in the main part of Coruscant. Which is about 45 minutes away from where I live. I spent the drive belting love songs, consciously daydreaming about the life I could have with Anakin.

Once I pull into his driveway, he’s already outside waiting for me.

“Jeez, y/n, took you long enough” he smirks.

“Fuck off, Anakin” I laugh and flip him off. I walk closer to him and give him a hug. It only lasted a couple of seconds, but it felt like hours. His muscular arms wrap around me tightly and contract as we breathe in sync. He smelled like the woods behind his house, where we used to explore. His curly dirty blonde hair that shaped his face brushed against my cheek as he finally pulled away. He stood aside, gesturing for me to enter his apartment.

“Wow, you cleaned!” I teased him as I took off my shoes and sat on his black leather couch.

“Yeah, but not for you. It is my bachelor pad after all” he smirked as he sat down beside me.

“Of course,” I said with an eye roll. I tried not to sound annoyed, but I know I did. Part of my annoyance isn’t even because I want him to myself. Some of it is because he’s not as careful as he should be. He just whores around because his good looks and charm let him. One day, he’s gonna end up being a baby daddy to at least three women. And I know i’d still be around to help him. Always being his best friend. Never the love of his life.

“Pizza should be here soon” Anakin interrupted my thoughts.

“Okay great” I give him a warm smile as he sits down beside me. He pulls out his phone and starts to text someone. I know I should give him his privacy, but I’m a nosey bitch. I discreetly shift my head and side my eyes towards his phone. He’s texting a girl named Aayla. From what I could see, they’ve obviously been hooking up.

“Who’s that?” I asked, letting my jealousy get the better of me. He looks up and smirks.

“Just a girl I’ve been seeing occasionally. Why? You jealous?” He teased. I knew he was teasing but I couldn’t stop my face from turning bright red. Every normal word went out the window. I couldn’t speak. Finally, I shook myself out of it and responded nonchalantly.

“Hell no. I don’t need whatever diseases you’ve contracted from your escapades” I teased. He laughed and playfully rolled his eyes. He put his phone face down on his lap and shifted his body to face me. His black ‘KISS’ tee shirt tightened around his body, outlining his stunning six-pack.

“So, how’s everything with Trey?” His face was calm. His lips pressed into a peaceful smile.

“Everything’s great. We just came up on 4 months together.” I couldn’t think of anything interesting to tell him. As bad as it sounds, my relationship with Trey is vanilla. Nothing daring or exciting.

“Can I ask you something?” He raised his eyebrows slightly.

“Of course,” I smiled.

He paused, thinking of what to say next. “So, I’ve only seen him a few times, but he looks awfully boring. Is he any good in bed?”

My jaw dropped. I started laughing a little. “I guess so. He’s only the second guy I’ve been with. I don’t have much to compare him to”.

“Wait, really?” He looked astonished.

I immediately started blushing. I felt embarrassed. “Um, yeah…”

“How come you never told me?” He looked genuinely hurt that I didn’t tell him I’ve only slept with two men.

“I don’t know. We’ve never really gone into detail about our sex lives”

“Yeah, but I mean, I told you when I lost my virginity at least. You didn’t even tell me that.” He sounded so hurt. And I could see where this was coming from. Besides this one topic, I tell him everything. He looked down at my hands that were fidgeting in my lap. All of a sudden, he grabs them. His big strong hands gripping my smaller ones, with a look of compassion on his face. “y/n, please don’t feel like you have to keep things from me. I’m your best friend. I would never judge you”.

How was I not supposed to melt. I nodded and swallowed, keeping my hands in his. “I lost my virginity when I was nineteen. In college. I was with Maul. I was embarrassed to say anything because you lost yours before me and I felt, different, I guess. After we split, I was scared to do it with anyone else. I’ve only recently slept with Trey.”

Just as he was about to speak, the doorbell rang. We knew it was the pizza, so he went up to get it. Once he got it, he walked into the kitchen. It only took a couple of minutes before he came back in with two plates of pizza. He set the plates down, walked back into the kitchen, and came back with two bottles of ‘Mikes hard lemonade’. He then sat beside me, turning on ‘Fast and Furious’.

We had gotten through the first three movies before I started to get sleepy. I tried to stay awake for another movie, but I couldn’t. We had talked about various things. Work, school, family, etc.

“I’m sorry, but I better leave. I’m starting to fall asleep.” I yawned tiredly.

His eyes widened. Then he started to look sad. “Wait, why don’t you just stay the weekend? I know you keep clothes in your car, and you said Trey would be at his parents’ house all weekend.”

I smiled. But then I started overthinking. What if I annoy him too much? We’ve never spent a whole weekend together without breaks. Or what if he wants to bring a girl over? I’d just get in the way. “Are you sure? What if you want to put your bachelor pad to use?” I slightly teased. Only slightly because part of me was serious.

He smirked, “Do you really think girls are over here every weekend?”

“From the way you talk about them, yes.”

He started laughing. “No, y/n. I’m really not that big of a man whore.”

I looked down at my hands, “Oh. Well, what about that Aayla girl?”

“Not important. We aren’t exclusive. She’s just something fun. There’s no relationship there. If there was, I would’ve told you, y/n.” He said seriously.

“Okay. I’ll stay. I don’t have pajamas in my car though.”

He smiled, knowing he had won. “I have a shirt and sweats you can wear.”

“Okay. Do you have a pillow for the couch?” I asked with a soft smile on my face.

“Yes. But not for you. You can have my bed. And that’s non-negotiable.”

I rolled my eyes as I stood up. I was too tired to fight. He motioned for me to follow him into his room. I’d only been in there once, and that was when he moved into the apartment. As we walked in, I was hit with the refreshing smell of his light cologne. His bed was in the corner, facing the door when you walk in. Across from his queen-sized bed was a tall, dark wood dresser. He walked over to the dresser and pulled out a gray shirt and black sweatpants.

“Here, they might be a bit big, but you’ll just be sleeping in them.”

“Thank you” I smiled. He set the clothes on his bed before walking closer to me. Once he was close enough, he wrapped his strong arms around me. I hugged him back, breathing in his scent. His head rested on my dirty blonde curls.

“Goodnight, y/n”, he breathed out before pulling away. I sighed and smiled.

“Night, Ani”. With that, he smiled and walked out, shutting his door. I began to remove my clothes and replaced them with his. I was immediately engulfed in his natural woodsy scent. I then crawled into his bed. It was very soft, like laying on a cloud. His black sheets smelled like him. I laid there and started thinking about the future I could have if I just grow a pair and tell him. Eventually, I closed my eyes and drifted off, wishing he was laying beside me.

While I was sleeping, I felt something on my hair. I decided to ignore it. But I can't help but hope it was him. But I won't bring It up.

♡

I woke up to the sound of sizzling. I sat up and admired the way the sun shined on my body through the window above the bed. I tossed my legs over the side of the bed and walked out to the kitchen. I was hit with the smell of bacon, my favorite. I walked further in to see Anakin humming and cooking. He was so focused on breakfast; he didn’t even notice I was awake. So, I started to sing the words of the song he was humming. He quickly turned around with a huge grin on his face. His robe was open, exposing his bare chest. His body was God-like.

“You have such a beautiful voice, y/n/n” he complimented me. Sure, he knew I could sing, but this felt different. I blushed a little before responding.

“Thank you, Ani”. I smiled.

“Did you sleep well?” He asked with his eyebrows slightly raised.

“Yes, I did. Your bed is very comfy” I smiled.

He let out a small chuckle. “I know. So, I deserve a big thank you for letting you sleep in it for this weekend”

I rolled my eyes. “Thank you for letting me sleep in your incredibly comfy bed.”

“You’re welcome.” He turned back around to get our plates ready. Once he was done, he took them to the table and sat down waiting for me. We sat there and ate the eggs and bacon he had made. Then I remembered something.

“Last night, what were you going to say before the pizza got delivered?”

He looked down. He was thinking. “Well, I guess I was just surprised, I guess. It’s hard to believe you’ve only slept with two men.” I looked into his eyes and knitted my eyebrows.

“What do you mean by that?”

“Oh, c’mon y/n/n. Just because we’re best friends, doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate how beautiful you are.” I choked on my water. I coughed for a few minutes before responding.

“Oh. Really?”

He smiled and laughed lightly. “Yes. Really.” I could’ve died right there. Why couldn’t he be mine?

Once we finished eating, I walked into his living room and sat on the couch. I got on my phone to check any missed calls or notifications I might’ve had. All I had was a text from Trey.

“Good morning, beautiful. Missed waking up next to you this morning” I didn’t. I wished it was Anakin.

“Why is he so cheesy?” I heard Anakin ask from beside me. I can’t blame him for being nosey, considering I did the same thing last night.

“I don’t know. It’s not my favorite if I’m being honest” I said with a slight grimace. He laughed before focusing back on his phone. I looked back down at the text and decided to respond.

“Good morning! Don’t miss me too much. Enjoy your time with your parents”. I rolled my eyes as I pressed send. I started scrolling on instagram. I stopped when I saw an engagement post an old friend from High school made. An instant feeling of jealousy and heartbreak came over me. I heard Anakin sigh as he started to speak.

“Oh yeah, I saw that.” He spoke as if it made no difference. It probably doesn’t to him. But to me, I feel behind. I thought I still had time to start all of that. Is 25 too old? He started to speak again when I didn’t say anything. “Hey, what’s wrong?” His voice was soft, like velvet

“Am I wasting my life?” I looked up with tears begging to be released from my eyes.

“What the fuck are you talking about?” He knitted his eyebrows together.

“I though I still had time before starting a family. I thought 25 was still young. But now, Casey is getting married.” I sniffled. The tears finally leaving my eyes. Without saying anything, Anakin pulled me into a hug. Once again, his woodsy smell engulfed my senses and I felt calm. My face was pressed against his bare chest, since he still hadn’t changed. He gently rubbed my back with his hand. After a few minutes, I pulled away to save myself from falling for him even more, if that was possible. He began to speak.

“I don’t think there’s a time limit. You start it when you’re ready.” He smiled softly.

“When did you get so smart?” I teased. He scoffed and playfully put his hand to his chest.

“I am deeply offended y/n.” I pushed him and we started laughing. He paused. “Hey, I have an idea”

“What?”

“Let’s go see my parents. It’ll give us something to do.” He shrugged. I smiled. I hadn’t seen them in a while.

“I love that idea. I just have to get my clothes out of my car and change” I stood up and did just that. I walked back in with my book bag and went into his room and changed. I walked out with my slightly ripped jeans and my favorite ‘Nirvana’ tee-shirt. Anakin smiled and walked into the room to change while I waited. He walked back out in black jeans and a plain gray shirt. Even in the plainest clothes he was ethereal. I grabbed my phone and his as we walked out the door.

•

On the drive to his parents’ house, we blasted our favorite songs. We belted our hearts out, laughed at the stupid shit he said. My heart fluttered every time he looked at me. The way he says my name. After 20 minutes, we pulled into his parents' driveway. We got out and he rang the doorbell. Their house was white and older. There was a wooded area in their backyard where Anakin, his sister Ashoka, and I would explore and mess around.

When I moved closer to my job, I was sad to be so far away. But when Anakin moved to Coruscant to go to college and Coruscant Medical School, I was elated. We were now only 45 minutes apart instead of an hour. I hadn’t been home in 6 months. My parents haven’t even met Trey. Which is intentional.

After a few seconds, his mom Shmi, opened the door and a huge grin appeared on her face. She then gasped.

“Oh! y/n!! It’s so good to see you!” She pulled me into a tight comforting hug. Anakin rolled his eyes.

“Nice to see you too mom” he teased. I pulled away and smiled. She walked forward and pulled Anakin into a hug as well. Just then, his Step dad, Cliegg, came out and gave me a side hug before hugging Anakin. Shmi finally spoke up.

“Well, come on in! I just made some chili if you’re hungry”. I walked into their house and was hit with the smell of her infamous chili. My mouth immediately started watering. I proceeded to the kitchen and didn’t waste and time on grabbing a bowl. Anakin soon entered behind me and did the same.

Once our bowls were filled, we went into the dining room and sat at the table. His parents joined us, and we began to make some small talk. Shmi smiled and began to speak.

“So, are either of you seeing anyone?” Before I could say anything, Anakin spoke up.

“Well, y/n has a boyfriend. But I’m not seeing anyone right now.” I smiled awkwardly, knowing Shmi would tell my mother. Shmi’s face looked almost sad, as if she wanted me to be single or him to not be.

“Oh, that’s wonderful! What’s his name?” She asked brightly. I looked up from the table and smiled.

“His name is Trey” I said quietly.

“Is that short for anything?” Cliegg spoke up.

“His name is Daniel Jones the third. Because he’s the third, he goes by Trey.”

“Oh, I didn’t know that.” Anakin said almost offended.

“Well, you never asked” I replied. The rest of lunch went well. After a few more hours, we decided to head back home. We hugged his parents goodbye and got back into Anakin’s truck. Once we started driving, Anakin cleared his throat and started to speak.

“Are you mad at me?” He said as if he would start crying if I said yes.

“What? No. Why would I be mad at you?” I asked genuinely.

“I don’t know. You’ve just been distant recently, I guess.” He shrugged, keeping his beautiful blue eyes on the road.

“I’m not trying to be. You’re my best friend, I would never try to distance myself from you.” I sighed. He was right. But I’m only trying to save myself from utter heartbreak.

“Okay. I believe you.” And with that, we stayed silent the rest of the ride home. The only time we spoke was when we stopped at a drive-thru to get food. We ate in the car. Still staying silent. Once we pulled into his driveway, I got out and went straight to his room to change.

In had just finished changing, when Anakin walked in. He just stood there. He didn’t say anything. I spoke up.

“Is everything go-” I was cut short by Anakin when he pressed his lips onto mine. I didn’t even have time to react before he pulled away. His eyes widened.

“I- I’m sorry.” With that, he walked out of his room and shut the door. I wanted to follow him, but I could tell he needed to be alone. I sat on the end of the bed and ran my hands through my hair. I looked down and spoke quietly.

“What the fuck just happened?” I crawled onto the bed and laid down. Did he mean to? Was he fucking with me? Did he want me as much as I want him? No. He couldn’t. It’s been too long for him not to have said anything. I curled into a ball and fell asleep thinking about what just happened.

The next morning, I woke up ready to talk to Anakin. I changed into leggings and a plain blue shirt. When I walked out, I didn’t see him anywhere. I checked every room until I saw a note on his fridge.

“I went for a drive. I don’t know when I’ll be back. I’m so sorry. I’ll see you next weekend, I hope. - Anakin. I wasn’t angry at him for leaving, surprisingly. I understood. I walked back into his room, grabbed my stuff and left. As I drove back to my apartment, I couldn’t help but start to cry. I cried because I was hurt, confused, frustrated, in love.

When I pulled into the driveway, I sat in my car and cried some more. Eventually, I got out and walked into my apartment complex. I got in the elevator and kept my eyes on the floor so no one could see me cry. When the elevator rang, I walked out and ran down the hallway to get to my door.

I walked in and ran into my room. I crawled into my bed and cried. He kissed me and he regrets it. I was stupid to think that maybe we could be something. I fell asleep with tears still running down my cheeks.

After what was probably a few hours, I heard loud knocking on my door. I got up and opened it. Trey.

“Hey gorgeous” he smiled.

“Hi.” I said quietly. I stood to the side allowing him to come in. I couldn’t stop sniffling, so he turned around with a concerned look.

“What’s wrong, beautiful?” He said softly.

“I just don’t feel good” I lied. I couldn’t tell him that my best friend kissed me, said sorry, then left and I wished he wasn’t sorry. Trey walked over to the couch and sat down. He gestured for me to sit beside him. I did. Once I sat down, he pulled me close to him. I wont lie, Trey is very comforting. He is so sweet and honestly very good looking, but he’s not him. As much as I try to enjoy being with Trey I can't.

I sat there for what felt like another hour, before I got a call. I sat up and answered.

“Hello?” I didn’t recognize the number.

“Hi, this is Coruscant Hospital. Is this y/n y/l/n?” My heart dropped.

“Yes, it is”

“We have Anakin Skywalker here. You were number one on his emergency contact list. He’s in our trauma room right now. He got into a pretty bad accident. I would suggest that you come down and call any other family members”.

I froze. I couldn’t speak. I felt tears running down my cheeks, but I couldn’t make any sound. Finally, I said okay and hung up. I told trey what happened, and I left. I drove as fast as I could without getting pulled over. I sobbed thinking the worst. I called his mom and told her. She immediately tried to calm me down and told me she was on her way.

I pulled into the parking lot and ran in. I told the receptionist his name. She looked him up and told me he was taken into emergency surgery. I sat in the waiting room. His mom eventually came, and I told her. She held me as I cried. We sat in the waiting room for 4 hours. Eventually a doctor came out.

“Are you the family of Anakin Skywalker?”. We both nodded. “He’s out of surgery. He’s in a coma right now. He shouldn’t be asleep for long, but don’t expect him to be awake tonight.”

We nodded. A nurse came and led us to his room. As soon as I saw him, I immediately broke into tears. I pulled a chair up to the side of his bed. I sat down and grabbed his hand. He had a black eye, and his arms were covered in cuts and bruises. He had stitches visible on his chest, before they went under his gown. Shmi grabbed his other hand and gave it a kiss. We sat in silence before she finally spoke.

“He’s so lucky to have you, y/n.” She said softly with a light smile.

“What do you mean?” I asked with utter confusion.

“You bring out the best in him. He trusts you more than anyone. You’d drop anything the moment he asks you to. And you care about him so much. You’ve shed more tears tonight than I think I have in the last 4 years.” She explained.

“Of course, I care about him. He’s my best friend.” She just hummed in response. After an hour or so, another nurse came in.

“Unfortunately, only one of you can stay with him. It’s hospital policy.” I immediately went to stand up when Shmi spoke.

“y/n, stay. You need to. I’ll be back in the morning.” I she said sternly. I didn’t even try to argue with her. She left and I curled up in the chair and slept the best I could.

The next morning, his mom walked in and woke me up. She had brought me some coffee and a breakfast sandwich. We turned on the television and occasionally had a conversation. I barely let go of his hand.

Shmi left to get some lunch. I stayed. I held his hand with my left hand and used my right to caress his face. I whispered softly.

“Please wake up. I need you. I-I love you. Please Ani.” I begged. I couldn’t help but shed a few tears. All I wanted was to hear his voice.

After a bit, Shmi returned, and we talked some more. Once it got late, she left and went back home. I sat there and cried some more. I needed my best friend. I needed my Ani. All of a sudden, I heard a knock on the door.

“Come in” I said calmly. Trey walked in with some food,

“I got you something to eat. Figured I could sit with you for a bit and then take you home.” He spoke.

I sighed. “Thank you for the food, but I’m staying here. I refuse to leave him.”

“Can I ask you something?” He said softly.

“Sure” I said staring at Anakin’s beautiful face.

“If that was me, would you stay all night, not eat and hold my hand?” He spoke softly, but I could tell he was sad and angry. How could I blame him? But I was tired of lying.

“No.” And I said that with full honesty. “He’s my best friend. We’ve been inseparable for ten years. Why would that change now?” I spoke quietly. Not once taking my eyes off of Anakin.

“You love him. Don’t you?” He questioned. I didn’t know what to say.

“Of course. He’s my best frie-”. He cut me off.

“Cut the shit, y/n. You love him. More than a friend. And I won’t stand in the way.” He said solemnly. He walked out and I didn’t say anything. I just kept my red teary eyes on the love of my life. Whether he felt the same or not, it’s true. I kissed his hand. And for the first time in years, I prayed.

I prayed to God that he wakes up. That I get my best friend back. I turned off the television and the lights. I sat there with only the beeping of the machines. I leaned forward, laid my head on the side of his bed and cried.

After a bit, his nurse came to check his vitals. I watched as she did her job. I could tell she was very meticulous, and I was thankful for that. After she left, I felt the urge to cry again. So, I pulled out my phone and called the only other person who comforts me. My mom. The phone rang for a couple of seconds before she answered.

“Hello?” She said calmly.

“Hey mom” I said, my voice cracking.

“Oh, baby. I heard what happened to Anakin. Shmi told me you haven’t left his side in almost two days.”

“How could I mom? He’s my person, my safe haven. I need him. I love him.” I said hesitantly.

“We all know that. We’re positive he does too. We were just wondering how long it would take before you noticed.” She said with a laugh in her voice. She was always good at seeing the positive in everything.

“Damn. We’re dense. I just called you to calm myself down but I’m getting tired so I’m going to try and sleep.” I said in a calm tone.

“Okay, sweetie. Call me if you need me. Bye.” And she hung up. I set my phone down and leaned forward again so I could keep holding his hand.

I laid my head on his arm and drifted off to sleep.

I heard talking. I thought it was just nurses until I heard his voice.

“No, don’t wake her. My mom said she barely slept. I want her to get as much sleep as possible.” It was Anakin. I shot my head up. When I did his beautiful ocean blue eyes were on y/e/c ones. I brought my hand up to cover my mouth as I burst into tears. He smiled and brought his hand up to cup my cheek.

“Never mind.” He let out a soft chuckle.

The nurses all walked out and shut the door leaving us alone. I removed my hand and spoke.

“You’re awake!” I exclaimed.

“Am I?” He teased. “y/n, I’m so sorry about what happe-” I cut him off.

“I love you. So much actually.” I blurted out.

“Wait, really?” He knitted his eyebrows

I nodded. “I love you. More than just a friend. I’ve loved you since the day we met. I’ve loved you through every friend, girl, or fight we’ve ever had. I understand if you don’t feel the same way. I just needed to tell you.”

His face calmed and he smiled. His hand grabbed my shirt and pulled me forward. When we were close enough, he pressed his lips on to mine. We kissed passionately for what felt like hours. When we pulled away, he spoke.

“I never thought I’d hear you say that. I only got girlfriends to distract myself from the fact that I loved you. I thought I finally had a chance until you got with Trey. I’ve tried so hard to contain myself, but I couldn’t. I didn’t want you to leave Friday because I couldn’t handle having to wait another week before I saw you again. And at night I came in and kissed your forehead against my better judgement. y/n, I love you more than any word could express.”

I started crying again. He pulled me close to him. I laid on my side with my head to his chest. And I stayed like that for the next three days until he was discharged.

•

I helped him walk out to my car. Once we got in and I started driving, he put his hand on my thigh. I smiled as I drove us back to his apartment. Once I pulled into his driveway, I got out and helped him get out. We walked into his apartment, and the moment his door was shut, his lips were on mine.

Anakin moved his lips from mine down to my jaw and neck. I let out small moans of pleasure. He moved his hands down and grabbed the hem of my shirt. I raised my arms so he could remove it. Once my shirt was off, we walked into his room. When we got into his room, he began to remove everything except for his boxers. I removed everything but my bra and thong.

“Should we be doing this? You just had surgery 5 days ago” I reminded him.

“Baby, I need exercise to strengthen my heart again. That shard of glass really fucked it up. And what better way to get it working than to do this?” He smirked while he explained. I chose to just nod.

He walked closer to me and caressed every inch of me. He brought his hands around my back and unclipped my bra. I let it slide down my arms as he admired my bare chest.

“You’re so fucking beautiful baby” he grabbed my breasts and began to place kisses on my neck. He pushed me onto his bed and got on top of me. He brought his hands down and removed underwear in one go. I smirked and took my hand and placed it over his boxers, rubbing the impressive bulge. He let out a whimper, which drove me crazy. I pulled down his boxers and widened my eyes. He was huge.

Anakin took his fingers and began to rub my clit. I moaned and threw my head into the pillow. He leaned forward and placed my breast into his mouth.

“That feels so good Ani” I moaned. He began to move his fingers faster around my clit, causing me to squirm. It didn’t take long until he removed his mouth from my nipple and moved his body down.

He spread my legs open, and I felt him sucking on my clit. The feeling was phenomenal. He then started lapping at my pussy like he would die without it. He then took his middle finger and ring finger and began fingering me.

“Oh my god, Anakin. I’m gonna-” I couldn’t even finish my sentence. He let out a dark chuckle before he moved his body up.

I felt the tip of his dick at my entrance. He looked at me and smirked.

“Are you ready baby?” I looked at him and nodded. “Use your words, pretty girl.”

“Fuck, yes I’m ready.” With that, I felt him push his length in me slowly. I threw my head back and moaned loudly. Once I adjusted to his length, he began to thrust into me at a decent pace. He leaned his head down and kissed me deeply while bringing a hand down to rub my clit.

“Ani, go faster” I begged. He began to go faster and felt the knot in my stomach begin to unravel. I let out louder moans until they became incoherent babbles.

“Fuck baby, you feel so good around my cock.” Anakin let out the most glorious whimper I’d ever heard. That was enough to send me into orbit.

“I’m so close” I told him, and he began to thrust faster.

“Fuck baby, me too.” He whined. He kept thrusting faster until I felt my orgasm coming.

“Ani, I’m gonna come.” I moaned. He looked into my eyes and smiled.

“Come with me baby” and with those words I felt my orgasm take over my body as his thrusts began to slow down as he came in me.

“Fuck, y/n” He panted as he pulled out. He bent down and pushed his cum back into my leaking hole, eliciting a moan from my lips.

He got off of me and laid beside me. He then pulled me close to him, so my head was on his chest.

“You have no idea, how long I’ve wanted to do that for.” He confessed and I smiled as I began to trace circles on his chest with my finger.

“Me too” I replied. He leaned his head down and kissed the top of my head.

“I love you, y/n. So much.” He said softly as his hand ran up and down my back.

“I love you too Anakin.” I replied. We laid there, talking. At one point he brought the blanket over us. After a bit, we started to get tired, and it didn’t take long before I fell asleep in his arms. Where I belonged.

[skepticalcatfrog]

In case anyone's curious, TODAY'S (very related) thought is the fact that Benedikt's one of these is Out of the Woods. How am I expected to go on with my day as normal.

The thought that's making me insane today is that Marshall is officially associated by Chloe Gong with the song Jump Then Fall. I'm sobbing on the floor actually.

[wahbegan]

"Hear me out". About fucking Longlegs. Incredible. Can you even imagine having sex with Longlegs? He hitting it from the back singing BANG A GONG, GET IT ON, BANG A GONG, GET IT ON, BANG A GONG, GET IT ON again and again off-key. He's getting close to orgasm and he just starts fucking screaming. Just high-pitched animal screaming. GIVE ME YOUR DAUGHTER!!!!! GIVE ME YOUR DAUGHTER!!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!! His whole body be vibrating while he goes ooOOOoOOOoOooOooOOoo and then he collapses and goes HAAAIL SATAN and starts laughing and purring like a kitten and shit. If the preceding paragraph turned you on in any way, i am begging you to seek help from a licensed professional.

[dragon-kazansky]

Heart of the Dreaming

Morpheus x Female Reader

Soulmate AU

You are the daughter of Rodrick Burgess. You find out about the "demon" in the basement and decide you want to see it. Things take an unexpected turn when your soulmate connection is made with the man you find down there. You are the one he has been waiting for, and you're being taken away from. Not for long. Dream will protect his soulmate.

{Masterlist}

{Previous Chapter} - {Next Chapter}

Chapter Five - What we are

☆☆☆

You hated it. It felt so wrong. Hell was not quite what you expected it to be, but that seemed worse to you. What you hated most is that your apparent soulmate has brought you here. If so much as cared even a little bit, why would he bring you to Hell?

Perhaps you're seeing the man he is.

"So, this is Hell." Matthew caws.

"It had many names. Avernus, Tartarus, Hades, the infernal region you call Hell." Dream lists off.

"Can we get this over with, please? I don't want to be here any longer than we need to be." You glare softly at him. You want Dream to know you hate this.

He doesn't even look at you. He walls off without a word, and you scoff lightly. He doesn't even have the decency to speak to you. Matthew hurries after him with his little legs. You follow behind, slowly.

The path eventually leads you to a gate. All around the gate are people groaning. They're a part of the wall, unable to go anywhere. You really don't like it.

"We're not going in with them?" Matthew asks, looking st the damned who just passed through the gate.

"A king may not enter another monarch's realm uninvited," Dream says. "There are rules, protocols, that must be followed."

"You're... a king?" You ask, eyeing him. You know very little about this man.

"Yes."

Off to the side of the gate is a gong. You watch Dream approach, and one of the figures in the wall reaches out to hand him the mallet. Dream takes it and hits the gong. The souls all groan due to the noise.

You turn to the gate when you hear someone approaching.

"There's one at the door. At the gate of damnation." A heavy voice speaks from the other side.

A demon appears, and you find yourself taking a step back. Dream glances back at you. You pretend for a moment that's he's doing it out of concern.

"Is it thief, thug, or whore? There's one at the door. And there's room for one more. Till the end of creation."

"Greetings, Squatterbloat." Morpheus speaks. "I seek an audience with your sovereign."

"And who might you be?" The demon asks.

"I am the King of Dreams. Ruler of the Nightmare Realms."

"Mm. Yes, my clown. So, where's your crown?"

Morpheus scoffs softly. "Guard your tongue demon. The ruler of Hell will not be kind to one who insults an honoured guest. And I am a guest in this realm as I am monarch of my own."

"So, where's your ruby?"

"Shall I use it to haunt your dreams? And your waking hours, too?" Morpheus asks. "Or will you open the gates of Hell and let us through?"

The demon opens the gates.

"Now, take us to the palace."

You swallow nervously. Dream turns back around to you and stares at you. You're starting to hate that stare. He turns back around and walks forward. Matthew glances up at you, but you ignore him slowly follow Dream.

Squatterbloat starts leading the way. Morpheus follows the demon. You follow behind them both quietly. Matthew hops along by your feet. You can feel him looking up at you every so often, but you ignore him. You know he has questions.

"Where are we?" You ask after a while. You find yourselves in the middle of a foggy woodland. You can't see very far in front of you.

"The landscape is subject to the whims of the Morningstar."

"Morningstar...? As in...?"

"Yes." Morpheus glances at you.

Lucifer. Of course you knew. You never really believed in such things, but you supposed as you got older, the idea of Lucifer and Hell did seem likely. Especially after your father died. Was he down here somewhere? Probably.

"Are you afraid?" Morpheus asks.

"No."

He doesn't believe you. You can tell just by the way he looks at you. However, he offers no sort of comfort and reassurance. He simply turns around and avoids looking at you anymore. He doesn't speak again for a little while. Not until Squatterbloat is leading you up a strange twisted tower.

"Does this seem like the way to you?" You ask, looking up at him.

"A demon has a hundred motives for anything he does. All of them malevolent. Demon," he adresses Sqautterbloat, "this is not the way."

The demon chuckles.

Morpheus moves to follow him but is stopped by a voice. "Kai'ckul."

You both turn to the prison cell beside you. You stare in awe at the woman inside. You don't know who she is, but she certainly knows the man you're with.

"Dream Lord? It is you." She looks so happy to see him.

"I greet you, Nada." He speaks to her, appearing as he did to her all those years ago.

"How I have prayed for this day. I knew you would come." She tears up.

You glimpse at the demon. He did this on purpose. You frown slightly. What ws this? Who was this? Why did Dream look so... pained?

"It pains me to see you like this."

"Then, free me, Lord." Nada says. "Only your forgiveness can free me. Do you not still love me?" She cries.

"It had been 10,000 years, Nada. Yes. I still love you. But I have not forgiven you." Dream tells her.

Morpheus continues walking. You slowly follow him, looking at the woman as you pass by.

"Kai'ckul, I will not give up hope." Nada calls out. "I will never give up."

"Who was that?" You ask.

"Someone."

You sigh softly. He was so vague, and it was annoying. You hated not having answers. He brought you down to Hell and couldn't even be bothered, bringing you up to speed. If this is how he was going to be, you would rather not bother hanging about with him. Soulmate or not.

The silence grows heavy as you both walk. You feel like he won't talk to you anymore, but his voice surprises you when you hear it next.

"Her name is Nada. We were lovers."

You stare at the back of his head as he walks in front of you. You were curious about this new information. He's had lovers before? Of course he has.

"Why is she here?"

"I put her here."

You stop walking and stare at him in shock. He realises you've stopped following him and turns to you slowly. His eyes pierce you.

"You put her here?"

He remains silent.

"How can you do that? What did she do?" You ask.

Morpheus knows you're not going to drop this subject. Of course you won't. He came to your rescue and immediately brought you along to come fetch his tools. You're full of questions.

"She said no to me."

You scoff. "She said no, and you had imprisoned in Hell for eternity?"

He once again remains silent.

"Is that what you do? You fall in love with people, and if they say no, you cast them aside? How can you do that? Don't you care about people, Dream Lord? Is this what I have to look forward to?"

His expression seems to change, but only slightly. He wasn't expecting you to ask that of all things.

"No."

"No? So I can go after all this?"

He goes silent. He knows you mean to refuse him and leave his side, but how can he possibly let you go now that he's found you? He can't.

"We must go." He turns back around and walks away. You can only follow him. He's your only way out of this horrible place.

Yet, you find it hard to hide how you're feeling. He can tell you're upset.

Squatterbloat leads you up a hill and then stops. He turns and walks away, leaving you and Morpheus alone. Just beyond is the castle of Lucifer Morningstar.

The road to the castle is long and narrow.

The castle is huge. The gates open. Blood pools out from the opening. You step back as it comes close to your feet. Dream seems unfazed by this morbid display. He walks onward, taking the lead. Morpheus leads you through the dark cavernous halls.

"So... we're going to see Lucifer?" You all softly.

"Only Lucifer can find me the demon who has my helm."

"You do realise how terrifying all of this I'd for me, right? None of this normal. I'm so... lost and afraid."

Dream says nothing, and you fear he never will. He's not exactly a warm and loving person. Why did the universe see it fit to stick you with him? What made you so special that you were bonded to the man kf dreams?

You follow him into an open room. A fire is lit on the centre, and Lucifer themself stands overlooking their kingdom. You feel nerves setting in. Morpheus comes to a stop and clasps his hands together. You stay behind Dream a little, almost hiding.

Lucifer turns around.

"Hello." Lucifer walks closer, never once looking away from Dream. Once in front of Morpheus, Lucifer stops. "Hello, Dream."

"Greetings to you, Lucifer Morningstar."

"You look well, Dream. Are you well?" Lucifer asks. "And your family, Destiny, Death, Despair, and the others?"

Morpheus scoffs in amusement. "I presume the Ruler of Hell knows this is no social call."

"Have you come to join forces then? To ally your realm to ours? To acknowledge the sovereignty of Hell?"

"You know my feelings on that, Lightbringer."

You look up at Morpheus.

"Feelings change. Especially when one has been caught and imprisoned by mortals." Lucifer says.

You swallow nervously. That was all because of your family. Your father. Despite everything, you wished none of it had happened. Dream never should have been captured.

"We expected better of you, sweet Morpheus."

"I have come because my Helm of State was stolen from me." He states. "I believe one of your demons has it. I should like it back. Now."

"Dream, if only it were that easy. But there are rules, you see." Protocols which must be followed."

You feel uneasy, and you think Morpheus can sense it.

"Which demon has your helm?" Lucifer asks. "Name it, and we will bring it here."

"I confess I do not know the name." Morpheus tells Lucifer.

Lucifer stands on the balcony overlooking their kingdom. "Then we will have to summon all of them."

Lucifer takes Morpheus to the balcony and summons all the demons of Hell. You inhale sharply through your nose, trying not to be too obvious about how afraid you were. The most shocking part of it all was Dream placing his hand on yours. You look up at him, but he does not look at you.

"There, now, Dream, you may inquire. Which Demon has your helmet? Shall we interview them one at a time, or..."

"That won't be necessary," he tells Lucifer. Morpheus steps away from the balcony and lets go of your hand. You had been somewhat comforting his touch, but now the fear settles in your bones once more now that he has let go.

"It surprises us how easily you would give up, Dream. We know how you relied on your tools. But tools are the subtlest of traps."

Morpheus stops.

"We become reliant upon them, and in their absence, we are vulnerable, weak defenseless."

"Not entirely." Morpheus reaches into his pocket and pulls out his pouch of sand. "I have recovered my sand. It brought me to Hell, and now it brings that which is mine in Hell to me."

You watch him curiously. He kneels down and begins to pour the sand onto the polished ground. It swirls around until a figure appears. A demon holding his helmet.

Morpheus stands and faces the demon. "Tell me your name, demon."

"Do I have to tell him?" The demon asks.

"That is Choronzon. A Duke of Hell." Lucifer speaks for him.

"Choronzon... The Helm is mine. You must return it to me."

"No. It's mine now. I traded it from a mortal for a paltry thing. It was a fair trade. I've broken no laws. And if the Dream King wants his helm back, he will have to fight me for it... or trade it." Choronzon looks at you.

You feel a chill run down your spine.

Lucifer smiles. "Ah, the woman."

"No." Morpheus says. "She is not up for trade."

You look up at him. He was protecting you. At least he wasn't offering you up. That would have for worse.

"Then a fight it is." Choronzon states, looking at the Dream Lord.

"Very well. I challenge you, Choronzon."

The demon chuckles. "You know the rules, Dream Lord."

"If I win, you will return my helmet."

"And if you lose," Choronzon looks at you again, "I get both the helmet and the girl."

Morpheus' eyes narrow. "That's not part of the deal."

"It is now," Lucifer confirms.

You look at Morpheus with fear. Lucifer is suddenly behind you and grabs your wrist. You gasp softly at the cold touch of their hand. Lucifer is looking at your scar.

"Interesting. A soulmate bond."

Dream keeps his head held high as he watches Lucfier. He doesn't like the way Lucifer is just touching you in front of him.

"Your soulmate, I presume." Lucifer smiles. "I wasn't aware the Endless had such things."

"She is not part of this deal." Morpheus states.

"It's all or nothing, Dream Lord," Choronzon remarks.

Morpheus stares at the demon with a steel gaze. He can not afford to lose. Not this game. "I accept the terms."

You feel fear in your veins. Morpheus has just added you to the deal. Were you really so easy to trade? He was heartless. You were certain of it.

"And whom will you choose to represent you in battle?" Lucifer asks him.

"I shall represent myself."

"Choronzon, whom will you choose to represent you?"

"Hmm... I choose you, sire."

Morpheus realises what he is up against and knows he can not afford to lose. He does not dare meet your eyes as Lucifer comes up behind him, dressed in attire fitting for this battle.

"Apologies, Dream, but the laws of Hell demand that I become his champion."

"I have accepted the terms."

Morpheus changed his clothes for battle. He looked good. Very good. However, that was the least of your worries right now. Your whole existence was in his hands.

"Let the challenge begin."

You feel your heart racing in your chest and hope that with all you have, Morpheus can beat Lucifer. You have to believe that this bond meant something more to him. After all, why would he bother rescuing you from your family home if he did not care a little?

There had to be more to your purpose to him. Though, you can't help thinking about Nada. We're you destined to join her here in Hell?

What kind of man was Dream. You're not sure you could figure him out.

☆☆☆

@deniixlovezelda - @missdreamofendless - @kpopgirlbtssvt - @meganlpie - @thoughtsfromlayla - @ladyjbrekker

@mwaaaaaugh - @bluespecs14 - @intothesoul - @lady-violet - @navs-bhat - @krahk - @oldsoulmagic

@rubyrose2014 - @lorkai - @roxytheimmortal - @star-maker-rain-dancer - @intothesoul - @gemini-mama - @whotperlinda

@dreamingblueberries - @the-shadow-of-aurora - @novavida - @blackgirlmagicforever

@permanentlyexhaustedpigeon88 - @hopshusushi -

[neteyamslovrr]

Hey there! I’ve been reading some of your five and I was wondering-

Could you maybe write a fic about Neteyam falling in love with a Metkayina girl- thinking she’s beautiful but doesn’t know how to say it to her so he asks Tsireya and y/n overhears and misunderstands, thinking he’s in love with Tsireya instead of her :)

I love your writing by the way- so much 💙

Misunderstood

summary: neteyam asks for advice from tsireya to confess to you, however, you misunderstand thinking he loves tsireya

2k words, fem!metkayinareader

──── ⑅*❀*⑅ ────

Three months. It truly didn’t feel like you had known Neteyam for three short months. It felt like you had known him for eternity. Like souls reconnecting in the ever-continuing circle of life. You felt at peace being with him, his presence was grounding, his words were hymns and his beauty was breathtaking.

The first time you felt this connection towards him was in the first couple weeks of knowing Neteyam. You were both swimming in the crystal water, watching the passing aquatic life. His eyes were wide full of amazement, it was endearing to see someone so enthralled in something you knew as normal.

It was when you looked away for a moment to go and interact with a school of small glowing fish that called your name. You let them swim around you some of the fish even swimming towards your face to give what most resembled a kiss on the cheek. Letting out small giggles you told the fish to move onto their next step on their ever long journey of the sea, and you spotted him.

You spotted him gazing into you, his eyes soft and his mouth in a small smile as he just observed you. Your cheeks immediately heated up, so you immediately broke eye contact with Neteyam to swim to the surface of the water, to regain a little composure. That was the day your eye was forever set on Neteyam Sully.

Unbeknownst to your own mind, it was also the day where Neteyam’s eyes were set on you, both figuratively and literally. He was itching to tell you how he felt. His body, his mind, his heart ached when you weren’t in his presence. Even a glimpse of you was enough for him to feel content, he needed you and he craved you.

He thought it was best to ask the girl who knew you the most for advice. Tsireya. Your best friend since childhood, inseparable, always attached by the hip. Who else would he ask in a time like this. If he was gong to confess to you, he was going to do it right.

That’s how he ended up here. Sitting across from Tsireya sitting on a rocky ledge a short walk from the village, blindly blurting his feelings towards you in an affectionate word storm to a amused Tsireya.

“My you do really like Y/N.” She laughed at his face. Sort of similar to a ‘nuh duh’ expression mixed into a ‘I’m on my knees please help me’. It was incredibly amusing for her to watch, especially since she knew about how much you fancied him. “You should just tell her! I promise it will not go sour.” She put a friendly hand on his shoulder patting it in a comforting way.

“But that’s the problem, I have no idea what to say. There’s no possible way that I could ever be cohesive enough to truly tell Y/N how I feel.” Tsireya clapped her hands together, an idea hitting her.

“Close your eyes, and pretend I am Y/N. Try and think of every word carefully and imagine saying it to her.” Neteyam nodded sucking in a deep breath, closing his eyes.

You were on a stroll down the beach, something you made habit since you were young. The evening sky always made you aw. It was a lovely sight to see.

Your focus on the setting sky was drawn away abruptly when you saw two figures sitting on a ledge together. Two familiar figures, Tsireya and Neteyam.

You tried to push down the slight feeling of jealousy crawling up your throat. It was Tsireya, you have nothing to be jealous of.

Walking towards them close enough to hear their conversation. You wish you didn’t investigate, you wish that you weren’t so curious, you should’ve stayed out of it.

“You’re the most beautiful person I’ve ever come across… you make my heart flutter when your around and ache when you’re not in front of me. Your hair, your eyes, your smile they’re all just so beautiful. I can’t go another minute without you by my side.”

His voice rung through your head, like a sickening thought that you try to shake away. The pain in your heart spread throughout your body debilitating you or your mind at least. Lips quivering, hands shaking you couldn’t believe this.

Did you mean nothing to him? Was every glance, every word, every touch not worth a thing to him? Gutted, stabbed in the heart as the blade was pushed deeper and deeper into you. You had to escape, you had to leave. You could never look at him again, never talk, never speak to him. Ever.

Heavy breaths and teary eyes. A permanent frown and small sobs. That was all you were right now. You felt hopeless, useless. No. you felt used, lied to.

How could he be so fake, was he always plotting to use your heart like a toy or was he blind to his actions. Blind to the way you looked at him. Blind to the way you touched him. Blind to the way you loved him. The way you fucking loved him.

Livid. Angry. Outraged.

Upset. Depressed. Hurt.

The cycle continued that entire night. How could you sleep? Your mind was cruel to not let go of the way his confession sounded. Sobs wracked through your ribs. Tears stained your face. You wanted nothing more than to escape the thought of him. But how could you do that? You loved him.

Waking up the next day was torturous, the sun pierced your eyes as your head throbbed in pain. You had to avoid him at all costs. You would never talk to him again. You didn’t care if you were his friend, he was your love and quite frankly you didn’t want to look him in his deceitful eyes. Ever. Again.

Your absence took an immediate toll on Neteyam. He noticed your absence like you’d notice a fish in a desert. He wondered what you were busy doing all day long. Not even spotting you once throughout the day.

He wasn’t too worried though, he knew Tsireya, and the rest of his siblings were meant to have another swimming lesson today, and you always tagged along. Neteyam tried to knock the worried feelings out of his chest, you must just be busy.

However, you were anything but busy. You laid in your hammock all day, barely moving a muscle. Depression? Maybe that’s what it was, but it wasn’t. It was heartbreak. Heartbreak so painful it was as if your heart was a fresh wound, bleeding out, begging for assistance.

You knew you were meant to go to a lesson with Tsireya today. But she could handle it, I mean she had been handling Neteyam’s feelings all by herself so why shouldn’t she be able to teach the stupid lanky boy to swim. Just more reason for him to talk to her.

Even thinking about the two together made you tear up. How pathetic you felt, moping in a hammock over a stupid forest boy. You felt stupid. No. You knew you were stupid. Thinking that Neteyam could ever like you with a beauty like Tsireya by your side constantly. You were idiotic to think that anyone would look your way.

The moment the lesson started without you Neteyam’s heart pounded. Where were you? His mind raced with concern, worry lacing his features as he frowned barely able to compute the instructions Tsireya and Ao’nung were giving him.

“Guys, where’s Y/N?” Neteyam asked his eyes scanning the shore constantly to check if you were just late.

“I saw her in her hammock today while walking back home. I don’t think she’s really moved since.” Ao’nung shrugged watching Neteyam’s concern growing stronger.

Was something troubling you? Were you sick? Why didn’t you confide in him?

“Did you speak to her?” His voice sharp and laced with fear. He needed to see you, he needed to check on you.

“I tried … asked her if she was alright and she grumbled at me and told me to fuck off. She’s in a really pleasant mood today.” Ao’nung joked at the end but before anyone could even chuckle at his joke, Neteyam was sprinting towards where you resided.

Neteyam was worried, he was so incredibly worried. What plagued you so much that you couldn’t even bare to get up all day.

You swung side to side, your headache and hunger forming together to create a nauseous feeling that you couldn’t even be bothered to remedy. That’s when your nauseous feeling became overwhelming and only because you saw a panicking Neteyam stride towards you at an alarmingly fast pace.

If you weren’t motivated to move before, now you were. You hopped off your hammock making eye contact with Neteyam. You wished you could of walked just slightly fast but the fatigue of moping around doing nothing really hit you.

“Y/N! Wait!” He shouted just a couple strides away from you but you didn’t want to face him, you couldn’t even get out a word because you were scared your voice would turn into a angry fit of sobs.

You walked so fast that if you sped up more it would be considered a jog. “Stop walking away from me!” He shouted catching up to you. Wrapping his nimble fingers around your wrist. You stopped dead in your tracks refusing to look at the man holding you.

“Go away. I don’t want to see you.”

The venom in your tone may have smashed Neteyam’s heart just then. Millions of splinters of his heart cascading across the floor.

“What’s wrong Y/N? What’s upset you so much?” A scoff erupted from your throat, a scoff making Neteyam wince at the way your face hardened into an unforgiving stare.

“I’m not sure Neteyam.”

 He hated how you said his name with such anger, he didn’t want to make you angry.

“For some crazy reason I have this monologue stuck in the depths of my mind… it goes something along the lines of. ‘You’re the most beautiful person I’ve ever come across.’ ‘You make my heart flutter when your around and ache when you’re not in front of me.’ Does it sound familiar to you Neteyam? Because I’m sure Tsireya would recognise it.”

His mind suddenly pieced together. You thought those words were meant for Tsireya. You thought he confessed to your best friend. You thought that he didn’t love you.

“No Y/N please listen.”

“I don’t want to talk to you. The sight of you makes me want to cry.”

“But Y/N please you have to understand.” He held onto your hands desperately. Eyes filling with water as he looked down at your quivering lips. He’d really fucked this one up.

“Understand what Neteyam. Understand that you never liked me?”

“No, I never liked you.”

You couldn’t hold back the tears that ran down your face. You didn’t exact want confirmation that he didn’t like you. The feeling of betrayal seemed to rack in your chest quickly, and stronger than ever.

“Y/N… I love you. I love you so much. I see you.” His hands moved from your hands to wipe the tears off your swollen face. The guilt of making you cry bubbled in his ribs making his eyes start to run as well.

“But you said-”

“Tsireya was giving me advice on how to confess to you. I wanted it to be perfect, I wanted to kiss you as eclipse started and wake up the next morning knowing you were mine and I was yours. But it doesn’t seem to be going in that direction.” Neteyam listened to the small sniffles you let out as your face contorted into a soft smile.

“I see you.” Three simple words. Simple words that conveyed the monsoon of emotions you had faced in the past couple days.

Three simple words that let Neteyam have the courage to kiss you. To kiss you so softly that every ounce of love he had for you poured into you.

While it wasn’t the perfect confession Neteyam was planning, he still got what he wanted, what he needed.

And all he needed was you.

──── ⑅*❀*⑅ ────

authors note: i LOVED this request and got carried away. tried to make it a wee bit angsty

[the-midnight-blooms]

love will tear us apart | jwy

pairing: romeo!jung wooyoung x juliet!reader AU: 1920s au (inspired by Chloe Gong’s These Violent Delights) word count: 5.1k ATEEZ as angst tropes series: Hongjoong | Seonghwa | Yunho | Yeosang | San | Mingi | Wooyoung | Jongho

masterlist

Trope: Lovers to Enemies

The white roses you gifted me, once laid at my feet. You begged I walk on them for every step I took on earth was a punishment against my holy beauty. They are now drowned within the red sea called hatred. I loved you once, your name plastered to me like skin on bone; your every touch thriving through my blood. Every fibre of my being pulsed to you, bowed to you, moved to the beating of your heart. They laughed at me, mocked me even, for being so infatuated with you- and I screamed and swore that you descended from above. That you were deserving of every part of me and now I am as much to you as meagre copper pennies to a rich man. A fool I was for falling for you, a fool I am for being in love with you.

The stars pulled over the surface of the night, blanketing over the scape of the city- the defined curvature of hanok roofs ascending towards the sky as if its goal was to pierce the clouds. The hood of her dark robe billowed in the wind, as she stealthily, she tiptoed across the skyline of houses and buildings of Seoul-rolling aimlessly through the night, haunting the city as she walked by. The night's breath hitched as she perched upon a rooftop, legs dangling over the precipice, staring into the soul of her target. Her fingers drummed against the sheath strapped to her waist, a bejewelled dagger obscured in plain sight. The mansion was large, golden-bricked walls stretching out at least a mile encasing an equally gigantic garden-the scent of freshly mawn grass lingering in the air. The lights in the home had penetrated from the small glass windows, the house itself silent. A few servants sauntered across the large hallways blowing out a few candles, a majority of the masters of the home absent. But the main man of the night, she needed was sprawled across his burgundy leather chair in his bedroom- a book resting on his laps but paying little attention to the literature.

“Do you still want to prove your loyalty to the clan?” Her father's words drifted out to her from the other end of the room. It was as if a steadfast cherry tree blew harshly into her face, at once attacked by the rushing of its petals hitting hardly against her, her soul magnetised by its beauty despite the coarseness of its intentions. As if she could reach her hands out to grab it anyway, so desperate to hold this delicate plant as it would break the thousand curses the universe bestowed upon her.

She would do just about anything to prove her loyalty again, it had already taken her father so long to forgive her for her sedition the first time around. Drawing out her dagger, her the tip of her finger danced along the rim of the knife- it had been so long since she had played the role of the Grim Reaper. Playing with one's life in her hands provoked a sense of glory within that had been dormant for so long. Her target's eyes drew out of the window, she was confident that she was well blended within the night, she challenged his suspecting stare; a smirk pulling at her lips when he shook as his head and turned away- as if to convince himself he was going mad.

But how madly in love had she once been for him? A man who she glorified. Held up on a pedestal. A man whom she loved like breathing. So innate and easy.

Jung Wooyoung. If only she could feel her heart beat to his name again. If only she did not want to kill him for every memory of him that infiltrated her head. The memory of his name falling from her lips coming back to her like the moon did every time the sun dipped beneath the horizon.

On a night where their stars aligned so perfectly, esteemed patrons meandered into the large Keun home. The ballroom was bustling with activity, filled with guests in every nook and cranny. Waiters flooded into the room with tall glasses of champagne and appetisers, the fancy dresses, a cacophony of sounds emptied into the heavy atmosphere.

The distant melody of sombre ballroom tunes echoed within her household as her father entertained corrupt politicians and business men. She had managed to excuse herself from the dinner party that the Keun family held once a year to flaunt their wealth that manifested from the massacre of innocent civilians and moral decay. Though she disagreed with her father’s despotism over the city, at the end of the day she was powerless and succumbed to being his personal mercenary and political tool. Retreating to her balcony, a breath of relief fulfilled her as the cool wind of the night waltzed upon on the surface of her skin. With eyes glazing across the scape of the village, she noticed a figure sat upon the rooftops gazing in her direction.

Wooyoung had been truanting the hanok roofs on that one night, fuelled by nothing but sheer boredom when he stumbled across the territory that he was prohibited against ever entering. Despite this, there was something about the air in Keun territory that tugged at him, perhaps it was the adrenaline junkie within him instilling a sense of euphoria when his life was in danger. It will kill you one day, his mother always nagged but he couldn’t care less. There was nothing or no one to live for. That was until her met her. An angel, as so to speak. Looking out into the city- face etched with a pondering look crossed with exhaustion. Her hair pulled back by a glimmering silver clip, loose strands of hair falling over her shoulders. There was something about her that sparked an interest, an interest transcending further than her beauty. Her stature was familiar to him, as if he had seen that same figure blending into the stars-slipping in and out of the same nightclubs and brothels where astute men who led the country revelled in. Where his father had told him to raise his blade against the men threatening the Jung aristocracy, this enigmatic shadow had gotten there first. He had tried his hardest to follow this mercenary and uncover their identity- but whoever they were, they were clearly sharper leaving no trail of footsteps behind for him to follow. One night, he saw a slight shape to their physique and it was smaller than a man's at that. He found himself staring at a potential suspect, but a resident of the Keun home-an assassin? In fact, she could very well be Mr Keun's daughter. Wooyoung had heard that both families had birthed the heirs to their thrones at the same time and she looked as old as him.

Their eyes met across the night. He waved and she waved back- waving to nothing more than a shadow in a void carved from the depths of her insanity. Or so she thought. For this madman was so allured by her, he needed to see in all her glory. As if he was too a beacon of a dying star, his body drifted towards her- scaling from rooftop to rooftop, then over the garden wall. Her hand drew towards her mouth, she wasn’t hallucinating at all. Who was this man?

Climbing up the walls, his hands finally gripped onto her balcony railing, stumbling backwards. A contented smile settled on his face, so mesmerised by her beauty. Words struggled to leave her lips, he chased as her a child did to a butterfly. She sunk in his appearance, following the curved structure of his nose, fox-like eyes that bored into her own. He was beautiful, there was no denying that.

"Who are you? What are you doing here?"

“I thought maybe I had died and reached heaven.” Dipping her head, she scoffed. He made his way half way across the village, just to flirt? What was he doing on the rooftops to begin with? Scouting for other assassins targeting her family? Or was he one of them? Cautiously, her hands slowly drew towards the knife strapped to her thigh. “Didn’t know Mr Keun gave birth to a beautiful daughter.”

“Goodness, are you one of my father’s men? Shouldn’t you be patrolling the streets not the rooftops?” She interrogated. There was nothing dangerous about the sky itself, everybody knew the roofs were too unstable and slippery to be walking on. However, this man seemed to defy gravity-the same way she did- when he moved along them. His unfamiliarity struck her hard, she knew her father’s men inside out, wearing the guise of an obedient daughter by day and assailant by night. He grimaced, folding his arms across his chest as he leaned against the balcony.

“Far from it my dear, I’m your biggest enemy.” With furrowed eyebrows she stared back at him. Biggest enemy? “I’m Jung Wooyoung.” He clarified. The name itself was a taboo in her own home.

"What are doing here?" the softness in her tone had been substituted with a coldness that gave him a slight discomfort. Still, his eyes wandered over to her silver clip that glinted in the night.

"I was looking for the Grim Reaper. I seemed to have found him, or her-rather."

"That's rather a rude thing to say a lady, no?" Perking her head up, Wooyoung smirked-the distance between them gradually closing.

"Depends on perspective."

"So, what's your perspective Jung?" She challenged. Her father's instructions hauled her. 'You are not, and I mean not, allowed to use your knife under any circumstances unless you are covered by a mask. No man should know you are my greatest weapon.'

"That there's a knife strapped to your right thigh." Sneakily his hand hovered above her sheath. His warm breath tickling her face. When did this he get close to her? Did she not hide it well? Her heart pounded as he moved closer to her ear. "Did you not think I'd notice, my precious?" Feeling the weight of his hand dawn upon her thigh, presumably to grab the knife; she grabbed for it before he could blink-pushing his body against the metal balcony. Knife fixed tightly against his throat.

"Why are you here, Jung?" Her words careful and instructive. She had disobeyed her father's orders but it was better than Jung having the upper hand.

"You can't kill me," he snickered. Her knife waltzed over his Adam's apple in a threatening manner. "Ok maybe you can. I really only ever wanted to know who was stealing my jobs. Didn't think it was a gorgeous woman." Of course it had to be that the first beautiful man she met had to be a Jung. The antagonists of her father's story. The Jung's and the Keun's had been old aged rivals for as long as time existed. Rivers of blood drowned the streets in the midst of their rage and envy. From birth both families brought up willing to bequeath god's greatest curse on each other. She had not even as so much seen a face of a Jung, but she recalled her grandma's folk memory of Jung men inhabiting such intoxicating beauty that made one want to abandon all their morals and venerate them under the emblem of desire. She understood it all now, and for years to come to she'd understand it a lot better than that moment they stood beneath the stars gazing into each other before she took back her rationality from the hands of ardour- and shooed him with the flick of her wrist.

“Leave before you get killed. If as so much as a word about me leaves your mouth, I won't hesitate to kill you." To tell the truth, Wooyoung was right to some extent. She couldn't kill him- if she did her family would be the first of people the Jung's would point to and chaos would ensue. The only problem that lied now was he knew who she really was.

"Until next time, my angel."

"There will be no next time." Rolling her eyes, her arms crossed over chest and huffed. As he climbed over her balcony iron grip on the railing as a descended down. Leaning over, she watched him as he climbed back up, cheekily placing a peck on her cheek.

"I prefer you with your hair down." His hand reached around her hair, pulling at the expensive silver clip. Hastily, he climbed down the building again, covertly jumping down; disappearing into the night.

Damn you, Jung.

Later that week, she sauntered down the cobbled roads- woven basket in hand filled with the seasonal fruits that her mother had sent her to collect from Monday’s market. The vendors being close family friends always provided the freshest fruit and a suitable price at that, despite the Keun’s family renown wealthy background. Nevertheless the farmer’s had the protection of the Keun clan, a vow that had never gone unbroken in the two decades since it had been established. A soft hum filled the air as a recognition of a melody she had acquainted her ears to drilled in her head. A figure walked synchronously with her- neck craning only for a scowl to be complacent on her face.

“What are you doing here, Wooyoung? If anyone catches you with me, you’ll be as good as dead.”

“So then I’ll see you tonight, same time, same place as before my precious.” Her steps had faltered, sending her family’s enemy a menacing glare.

“Listen, stay on your turf and we’ll stay on ours. Like it always has been. What do you want, Jung?" Wooyoung’s hand slipped into the inside of his jacket pocket. In his hands held her expensive silver hair clip she had spent the whole week mourning the loss of-a devilish smirk playing on his lips.

“Give it back!” She hissed, reaching out for it, but Wooyoung drew his arm back extending it further away from her.

“Now now, my angel. You can have it back tonight.” He softly whispered in her ear, placing a yet another devious sweet kiss below her ear lobe. The connecting of his lips against her skin was so soft, she could just melt into his touch, goodness it felt like a sin to be so allured by his charms. That night, Wooyoung came in again- perched on her balcony patiently awaiting for her to open the doors. He handed back her silver clip as promised. His hands drifted to her hair, tugging at the white ribbon that held it together, falling over her shoulders in loose waves. Sliding his fingers over her soft locks he tucked a strand behind her ear. The nerve of that man, where did he summon the courage from?

“I told you I liked your hair down.”

“I’m supposed to listen to your every wish now? Leave Wooyoung, and don't come back." She snapped, Wooyoung chuckled, as if unfazed by her indifference to his intimate actions.

“I will once I get my thank you kiss.” Rolling her eyes, she gently pushed the man. Walking past him to place her jewellery box in her wardrobe.

“Can I have my ribbon back?” she questioned, shutting the door to her wardrobe, but remaining in front of it as to keep some distance between them.

“I think I’ll keep it. Then that way I can come back to you every night.”

“So you’ll steal something every time you’re here?”

“Yes, as long as I can to see your pretty face over and over again.”

“Wooyoung.” Her tone firm, meeting with him was already too risky. Falling in love was practically begging for a death sentence.

“Please. Just a chance. One.” He begged, almost getting on his knees. Her mind wrought with conflict, the opposing forces gnawing at her brain. One side was utmost obedience to the Keun name and her father. The other was the desire to love and be loved. To know what it felt like to hold someone, for a life as an assailant deprived her of that. She just wanted to know what real love felt like, was that so sinful of her?

And she had felt it all in the following years her and Wooyoung spent under the cover of the night. Soon, past midnight when she was so sure that her family was asleep- she snuck out of her own home and ventured into the streets of their city into his restricted abode - exploring the large hallways of the desolate Jung estate. One night, a slow classical tune meandered into his room, his arm so carefully ensnared around her waist. Head on his chest, they swayed side to side the stars gleaming down at them blinking in their wake. It was then when he proposed the idea of marriage; her blood ran cold, dreading the day he would ask her.

“We can propose it as a form of alliance to our parents, a truce.” He suggested, prying. Insisting like he was asking for opium. For their love was like a drug he could not get enough of.

“So many years our family have been wrought in this conflict, centuries even. Do you even think they’ll agree?”

“Aren’t you tired of this age old rivalry? I am, I am so sick of it. I don’t want to be running this city, I just want to grow old with you.” Their heads leant together, she breathed in his scent, not knowing it was going to be the last time she was ever going to ever feel this emotion again.

Unbeknownst to them both, and despite their esteemed positions within their clans, the tension between the Keun’s and Jung’s seemed to have strained significantly within the past few months. Their targets stopped being fraudulent associates to important members of the opposing gang, to which both lovers felt limbs staggering when they picked up their weapons. A member of the Keun clan was murdered, thus a life was taken from the Jung clan. An eye for an eye, hand for hand, soul for soul. Bloodthirsty corporals of the Keun’s had once again inundated the streets, their insatiable appetite for violence sewing fear into the citizens of Seoul. Conditions were worsening and once the couple had realised, their meetings had significantly minimised- both heirs had become bound to their empty manors.

“Curse you, and your whole family.” A screech erupted through the walls of the Keun home, her attention snapping away from her cousin-Ki- who was sat in the parlour discussing the details of her engagement. The older woman had finally settled down, after years of defying against marriage, claiming to have her heart set on one man. In the end he never proposed to her. Pressure from Ki's family subdued to accept a proposal from a young, wealthy business owner.

Out of curiosity, she neared the window onlooking the vast garden to find a familiar figure on his knees. Blood dripping viciously from his face, his agonising grunts were muted by the thick walls. Her father’s soldiers continued to attack him-fist connecting with his face with such a brutal force. A breath hitched in her throat as soon as the soldier moved out of the way, the man’s face clear as day through the glass. She launched out of the room, sprinting out to her garden towards the scene. In a flash, before the man could raise his hands again- she flung her body at Wooyoung, encasing him in her arms.

“Miss Keun-,” the guard's voice was interrupted by her father’s voice screaming her name over the lawn, the abrasive dissonance jarring in her ears as she felt his presence eventually looming over her.

“Get away from him.” He instructed through gritted teeth. Stubbornly, she shook her head no as tears streamed down her cheeks, wiping her sleeve across her lover’s face blood staining her silk dress.

“What are you doing here, Wooyoung?” She choked out. A guttural cough escaped his throat, blood spluttering out like a broken engine, lungs screaming for air feeling the burn of a thousand hot knives piercing his skin. Resting his head against her collarbone, he wheezed out of exhaustion her palm gently rubbing up and down his back.

Her father jerked her away from him, the warmth of Wooyoung's body dissipating from her as her skin fulfilled with goosebumps. Stumbling towards her house, she looked back searching for Wooyoung who had collapsed to the ground in the absence of her hold.

“Bring him to my office.” Mr Keun roared. Two soldiers obliged, immediately lifting Wooyoung up to drag him into his enemy’s estate. The door to the office, flung open the heat, which would have once soothed her skin, burned her alive. Her cousin, hot on her heels, entered the study with them encasing her from her father's wrath. Nothing could stop the hatred Mr Keun held for his daughter, the same girl who he raised betrayed their age old conflict. This was not supposed to happen. None of it. Not their relationship being exposed like this. Not Wooyoung being beaten bloody at the hands of her father and certainly not what was going to happen next.

The wooden door blew open again, her lover being thrown into the room. A gasp escaped her lips, she treaded forward as if to reach out to his loving embrace again but the simultaneous tug from her cousin and Wooyoung’s hard stare repelled her away.

“First of all, I’d like to apologise Wooyoung. I know you didn’t kill Mr Seo." Good Lord Mr Seo is dead? Her father's right-hand man? Perhaps in light of her relationship with Wooyoung she had become completely blind to the politics. "My men will pay, and I will compensate for any damages.” Her father’s perception of the word 'compensate' was particularly vague and held varied meaning. Compensate by paying the hospital bill? Compensate by taking a life? Compensate by having Wooyoung choose a member of a Keun clan to beat to death?

“I’ll take no compensation now, Keun, but I will one day. You’re in my debt.” Wooyoung declared, holding his head high. Her father nodded in agreement, drawing away from his desk-stalking towards his daughter. Raising his hands, he struck a blow against her flesh; the sting vibrated under the bubbling of her blood. A yelp escaped from her, eyes meeting Wooyoung’s who had barely flinched at the sight. Mr Keun bunched up her hair, wrenching at it violently.

“Secondly, what affiliation do you have with my daughter?” A silence held within the room. The pain of her father’s abuse engraved on her skin, acuminating at her but she could not help but to think what Wooyoung was going to say. Her eyes held desperation. Free from this torment, please. Give me the life you know I've always wanted.

“Your daughter threw herself at me like every other whore in this city. And who am I to disagree a beautiful face, after all I did not know who she was.” She could not help the tears that slid down her cheeks. A whore. After all those years of loving him, laying her heart at his feet, venerating him- she was just a whore. It was her fault. She should have known that at the end of the day, he was a Jung and she was a Keun. It would never work, their relationship was doomed to fail from the start.

“I would say a little more than a whore don’t you think? It seems you were quite close.”

“What use would I be to her, if my body was too damaged to keep her warm at night?” Profusely, she shook her head as her father stared down at her in disbelief.

"Wooyoung," she sobbed, "Tell them the truth." Oh how disappointed was her father in her now? Had she not been taught to obscure her emotions? Yet here she was, sobbing her heart out-begging for her lover to take back all that he had said. To renunciate their titles together, and live their peaceful life together in a cottage far by the sea and a big family like they had always wanted.

"Remember that you owe me now." Wooyoung turned, reaching for the door handle, exiting the room. Escaping from her father's hold, she rushed after him.

“Fuck you, Jung Wooyoung!" Tears rushed to the forefront of Wooyoung’s eyes, she grabbed his shirt collar-his body oscillating back and forth as she threw all the swears she knew pounding her fists against his unwavering stature. Sinking to the floor, her body wracked with sobs. He brushed her aside, ambling down the hallway with a blurred vision. "Come back, tell them how much you love me." She whispered in her palms.

“Take her to her room.” Mr Keun ordered to her Ki, who bowed to his command urging her cousin to get up from the floor. Few of the servants who had stopped to watch the scene unfold, hastily scurried back to their duties over their master's threatening gaze.

Confined to the four walls of her bedroom, her body sunk between the cotton pillows clouded by the softness welcoming her skin. A weariness tugged at her, Ki stroking her hair.

"How could he do that to me? He said, he loved me." Ki cooed at her cousin, slipping into the covers-holding the younger girl's body as close as she could.

"Tell me everything." Ki encouraged, listening closely and drinking in every word her cousin proclaimed from how they met, their nightly adventures sneaking out of their homes, to Wooyoung asking for her hand in marriage. "He did it to save his own skin, my love. Think about it-he established the debt your father has to him. Had he said he wanted to marry you, Uncle would have murdered him in cold blood right there and then. That would have been all the more reason for a war to break out between our families. He had the upper hand, he played the game and won." Then all she had been to Jung Wooyoung was a pawn to leverage an upper hand against her father. To elevate his position, to make himself more powerful. To ultimately be victorious in this age-old conflict.

Over the years it had taken her time to estrange herself from him, but it proved too difficult since the day he alienated himself from their love, taking the remnants of her soul with him. Regardless, she looked out for the rumours about him, clasping onto every little detail as if she was a beggar seeking morsel. Trespassing the skylines, watching him, yearning for him until all of the adoration transgressed into the same hatred that was embedded within both families.

“What I am about to ask of you, you may place all the heavens and hells curses on me.” Mr Keun declared one evening, as he called his daughter back to his office. He stopped, taking the time to survey his daughter’s features. To see if there was any reminiscence of rebellion or betrayal that still laid within her. “I want you to kill Jung Wooyoung.” The nights breath hitched in its from, the stars still as the words suspended in the thick, tense air. It was almost as if, Keun had penetrated his hand through her body, wrapped his hand around her heart, squeezing the thing as tight as he could for she felt a foreign sense of pain looming within her.

“Won’t that start a war? That could endanger us, we’d be the first people they would point at. Did you pay off your debt?” She rambled, Keun held out his hand-as if it would silence her internal conflict.

“You don’t worry about that. Put your blade through his heart, don’t make it quick. Let him suffer, it’ll make it all the more enjoyable.” He spoke sadistically, the wicked grin on his face terrifying her.

So here she sat, opposite his bedroom, swinging closer to his balcony. Slipping through the doors, her figure remained by the curtains eyeing as Wooyoung blew out at his candles-abandoning his book by the chair. Crawling into his bed, as soon as his head hit the pillow she carefully made her appearance into the room.

"You've never been able to sneak up on me, Miss Keun. What makes you think you can do it now?" He sat up in his bed, a slight look of annoyance resting across his features.

"Maybe it’s the fact that you're completely unarmed and practically asking for it. You could have at least gone to bed with a knife, would’ve made it a little fun.”

“I think it’s fun enough that the woman that I love has come to kill me.” Before Wooyoung knew it, the knife was at his throat against again. The same way it had been when he first met her, though the look in her eyes a million times more crazed than it had been to begin with.

“You don’t get to say that you love me, Jung. After all I was only just your whore.” She spat through gritted teeth. “How would you like to die? Heart or throat?” They said death was predetermined, mapped out for you the second you were born. Here she was, defying the rules of mortality by giving him a choice. As if he had given her a choice when he killed her in her own home, many months ago.

“To die by your hands would be a blessing.” She scoffed, removing her knife from his throat, straddling him so he could not move. Not that he would be able to escape her even if he ran- she was always faster than him.

She remembered the time where she had stolen his beloved dagger, dashing through these very hallways, Wooyoung panting up the steps she raced on hypnotised by her graceful movements. She ran so fast it was almost as if her feet barely touched the floor. An angel floating in the clouds of heaven. How and when did she become anything less to him?

“You didn’t love me, Wooyoung. I was nothing but a pawn to you.” She breathed out, tears rushing to the brim of her eyes. I hate him. I hate him. I hate him. He hurt me. “None of it was real, and so if your intention was to hurt me- you won.” The tear rolling down Wooyoung’s cheek charged a sense of resentment. How dare he cry when she was the one in pain?

“I did what I had to do. I may have been your lover, but before that I am the heir to the Jung clan.” For the last time, his hand drew towards her cheek- pressing his lips on her forehead. He smiled, those dimpled cheeks prodding at her morality.

He was denied his next breath when she mercilessly thrusted her dagger into his abdomen. Valves ripping as the blood bursted from its banks, gushing out of his wound like a waterfall. Her gloved hand slapped over his mouth, his muffled screams striking a chord.

“And before being your lover, I am the heir to the Keun clan.” Wooyoung eyes began to droop, her body trembling as his face paled. Kissing away his tears, their heads leaned together in the finality of his receding breaths. “I love you Wooyoung, but not so much that I won’t make you suffer for the pain you gave me.”

Slumping down onto the bed next to him, she cradled Wooyoung’s convulsing body in her arms, his cries echoing into her chest- tears soaking her cloak. His final breath hitched, into the night his last look was her face. Then his last thought was that when his soul awakened, he wanted nothing more than to see her face again- whether it be to plunge a knife through her own heart or live their life by the sea feeling the rushing of the waves lapping against the sand. Their children rushing around chasing each other as they watched. Hand in hand, arm in arm. After all, it was his love that teared them apart.

•••

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DO NOT REPOST, TRANSLATE, REPURPOSE, OR PLAGISRISE ANY OF THE WORK HERE

‘keun’ meaning root

A/N: FIRST POST-FINALS UPDATE!!!! I can finally finish the angst series now 😍 I was supposed to release Mingi’s first but never let them know your next move I guess? I don’t know how to feel about this one, might be a bit crap and may update in the future. Anyways, hope you guys have been well <33

let me know if you’d like to be added to the tag list for any future fics I post!

[3gremlins]

feel like im having a DA2 experience again where I really liked it and was in my little "this is good" cocoon where i played it many times only to emerge from underground and find everyone else hated it (i mean ive found the other da2 cicadas since but at the time it got really slammed). i've been really enjoying DA:TV so far ( lol tho obvs have notes) here's an early thoughts review, may be a bit spoilery, def rambley, trying to stay vague on stuff still (i think i'm about half way maybe? im trying to not look things up and doing it blind on my first run through. it's hard to tell b/c i went hard on all the side quests and am now way over level for the msq)

the combat system is a little jarring at first and i still miss at least being able to switch to and play as party members if your character dies (instead of the god of war style of full wipe), but i've gotten used to it (it's more annoying for boss fights, regular combat it's very zippy and fun). the targeting at least on controller is kind of annoying sometimes- i'll think i'm pointing at one enemy only to have rook turn and fire at nothing or companions to hit an add instead of a boss. I wish we at least had more control over how it queued who it was hitting. some of the arenas are obnoxious design wise - there's bosses that teleport to you and they give you like a tiny little box to dodge around, not the most fun. i do like that you can punch way above of your weight class sometimes which reminds me of DAO a little bit (like how you'd just wander into a fight or hit a gong and be like oh no, those enemies have skulls over their heads, oh well YOLO). sometimes it doesn't work out but when it does it's very satisfying. It's nice to be able to conquer something mechanically even underleveled (smol fromsoft vibes) Having always been a big fan of the strange composition parties (i.e not just war/rogue/mage), i like that this is now even more viable (and not just me being cheeky "we're having a leather party!" of all squishy rogues). but like the main thing about bioware games is the companions/interpersonal shit and i'm enjoying the heck out of that .i only do main quests to get more side quests from companions (or more side quests in general so we can troll around for more banter). i like petting griffons (and cats and dogs) and playing games with manfred*. I wish the gift system was more interesting like DAO or DA2- i was so excited to see it again and then it was a little disappointing to have them barely react when you get them stuff.

my current fave party are rook and the poison boys (emmerich and lucanis) since they're a rogue too and we just stack necrosis, bleeds and other elemental effects on things till they disintegrate. i like the lighthouse, it feels much cozier than skyhold. I love that you can just wander up to companions having convos and awkwardly eavesdrop. I do miss the little interactions/quests you could get with cole esp*** i think the animations are a little lack lustery? Idk there's something with the face model morphs that sometimes feels weird but the voice acting is strong enough that I don't notice too much. i do miss some of the more bioware-y cheeky things like item descriptions or weird notes near random silly environmental tableaus (there's a little but i just want to read all the notes! there's some in the grey warden areas where i was just like WAIT I HAVE QUESTIONS but there was no plaque about them T.T). where are the stacks of cheese (i do appreciate the fereldens love cheese jokes tho and harding getting so excited when someone says something nice about ferelden) i was esp bummed that there were no random things to read in the black emporium and it's all codex entries instead (that's my favorite tiny bit in DA2 where there's junk you can click on and xenon says weird shit to you). i also wish more had been done with accents of npcs- like i wish all the antivans had similar accents or your crow rook had an antivan accent, stuff like that (having a lot of "ferelden" generic british accents everywhere is disappointing. takes you out of the immersion a lot) My biggest gripe is probably the pacing - I wish it had more horror/mystery pacing like dao and da2 had- the reason we're all scarred by the brood mother is b/c the build up to that was so so creepy (also the necromancer bit w/hawke's mum in DA2). They gave us time to be unnerved or afraid and I do feel the evanuris reveals have been a little rushed so you can't really feel that worried about them (some of the side quests get close to this but still not quite there**). I wish they'd let them breathe a bit more instead of rushing from one giant world changing event to the next. Some of the reveals have been not so great- like lore that the fandom has poured over for 15ish years explained in one line?? i wish there'd been more build up of rook as a character too, maybe even a time skip from a prologue to finding solas kind of thing. the first trailer made it seem like that's what was going to happen but then it in media res'd us in a strange way. the first 10 hours of the game are probably the weakest imho, it took it a bit to get rolling and feel more natural. I appreciate that the first major decision doesn't really let you scum save for it (bit of a jump scare for me lol).

I also don't really need this much varric anymore, i kinda wish we had a different narrator if we have to have one. He feels really awkward to just have there and not doing anything(and not just kill off or have something happen to him? he got stabbed by the dagger and harding only touched it is what i'm saying). at least let him get better pjs and slippers or something Idk it does feel like bits of previous iterations they were working on are still there and they don't completely serve the plot well. And ofc there's the decisions not meaningfully carrying over thing- which is a huge bummer. But in reality they've never been good at that- the characters from previous games we see in new games don't really carry through their plots/arcs that much (it's more like cameos or they're a new person now) and the world states are usually effectively the same just with aesthetic faction swaps. I was sort of hoping we'd get some solavellan SOMETHING but it doesn't look like we will get much at all past the stuff in minrathous. i feel like if they were going to only include the one choice it really should have had more impact on the story. (i am also still a clown and want to talk to solas constantly still even tho he has no reason to talk to my rook at all, i do not care, i love a sad woof. i wish we could just casually visit him in the fade. i wish we could switch to lavellan and visit him in the fade, idk something. need more gareth david-lloyd pls) the interpersonal character decisions have been the only ones that mattered much and then only within the constrains of their own games- the bigger world changing stuff is usually the illusion of choice. It would have been nice if they let us have one protagonist carry through but i can also see why they liked changing it up and felt stuck in that format. tl;dr: i'm really like it for what it is but it's def got flaws. Parts of it feel super polished while other bits do not- i think knowing how game dev works that they had to make decisions on what was going to get prioritized and some of it works while others not so much. I wish the pacing was better for sure but i love the characters/companions which is generally what bioware is best at. sad it won't get meaningful dlc, i don't really care about mass effect 5 tbqh. So far I like it better than inquisition for the most part- it feels like a bigger/more polished DA2 in a lot of ways if that makes any sense (with similar budget/pacing issues, but the environments are more fun). as i mentioned in my other post, i really appreciated the trans/non binary inclusion into the story/cc tho. like that can't be discounted, even if the rest of the game has issues. (all the holes in the narrative make me want to do fan art and fan fiction tho so idk, maybe that's an okay thing. maybe dragon age is best at inspiring us to sandbox around in it)

*side note, i am surprised at how much i like emmerich like holy shit what a lovely soft nerd of a man! going to have to play through a few times and romance him and also bellara for sure (romancing lucanis this time round) i find myself shipping my companions with each other more than i normally do too. I just want them to be happy! I wish they'd let us have polyamory, like i could see little polycules in this squad so easily. i need to give bellara hugs and lucanis head pats. taash deserves head pats too, but my rook will need a ladder.

**i am going to cry if they do with the griffons what i think they're doing with the griffons. like straight up, feeling like it was a cursed wish to have them now T.T *** do we think the caretaker is cole? the character design makes me wonder (like the hat/silhouette is very cole like but maybe not. maybe i just want it to be cole lol) there's def characters i want to see show up that aren't going to and then bioware is like "what about this fan favorite??" and i'm like "eh".

[destinygoldenstar]

Ninjago Dragons Rising Season 2 - Is It Good Or Nah?

So, I'm late to the party, aren't I?

Well I've had so much work that I think I'm having an existential crisis. So I had to wait till I had a free day to watch this season because I wanted to watch it with my GF.

We got to Episode 6, and then what did my boss do?

Slap me in the face with long work hours several days of the week.

I feel like I'm in a spiral of work after work after work with no purpose to life besides failure cause I can't trust myself to be capable at anything-

ANYWAY. We finished it now.

You know what the insane part about the season is? That it got the show trending on Tumblr.

That's an INSANE level of hype right there.

So I seriously had to ask myself "What the actual f**k happened in the show that caused THIS much hype?!"

So... here are my thoughts on the season.

SPOILER WARNING

Okay, so this may be a factor of my judgement, but due to my schedule, I was forced to watch only 6 Episodes one day, and then the last 4 Episodes today. Keep that in mind.

When it came to the first half of the season, was it good?

Yes. Obviously.

Was it living up to the insane level of hype?

Uh... not really for me??

Now, don't take that as a negative. This season is still REALLY good.

After the first season took awhile to get started as it needed to set up its characters and this new world, it makes sense for this season to throw the punches immediately.

The season gets started with its main plot right away with Ras immediately putting his plan into action, and by Episode 2, it's very clear the threat level he opposes and it's believable that we should be intimidated by what he wants.

Even though in Episode 2's fight, while AMAZINGLY choreographed, I was just screaming at the screen "HIT THE PERSON HOLDING THE GONG."

Like seriously, more than one of the characters in this fight can use projectiles with their powers AND they have a blaster in the Bounty, and the show never says that Ras has some sort of armor defense preventing him from getting blasted. He's literally standing out in the open. And the gong is clearly what's giving Cinder power. So HIT THE PERSON WITH THE GONG.

GOSH.

Anyway, that's not important. What's important is that this season's fight choreo is genuinely AMAZING. I am obsessed with the way the camera moves with the characters in these fights you have no idea. I was genuinely blown away by the last episode's fight in particular. But more on the ending later.

What also shocked me was how BRUTAL some of the stuff that happens here is, which caught me off guard.

I mean, Episode 2 has Euphrasia getting ambushed and crashed off the Cloud Kingdom with clear injuries, and Wyldfyre getting her leg SHATTERED. Like, WHAT?! HOW OFTEN DOES THAT HAPPEN?!! (Even though the latter's healing was unrealistic. Like, it would realistically take months for an injury like that to heal. Not a critique, just saying.)

Ras body slams Jordanna at one point. He puts Arin in a CHOKEHOLD. And also beats him up so brutally... like OMG this guy does not mess around.

The Fear Cave Trial also REALLY got me tripping. Not only was it such a visually appealing moment, but it also, as the same suggests, showed several character psyches that were insane.

Except Kai for some reason. That's gonna drive me NUTS until I get an answer. WHAT DID HE SEE-?!

Then we get to the dragon mentors, and...

Yeah the season kinda loses me in the middle.

Don't get me wrong, I love the character bits here as much as anyone. But with how dyer they made the threat of Ras before, Ras and his forces take a backseat in the middle portion of the season and we're mostly just sitting at these training grounds talking. And for four episodes of it? It's a little grating, even if it is important.

The middle is mostly where most of my issues with the season stand. And here's where I get all my negatives out of the way:

Like I said, because this season is so long, there's an awkward pause in the conflict on the dragons plotline to learn this Rising Dragon Technique. Which I wouldn't mind if it wasn't FOUR EPISODES of it.

With the exception of the attack at the Land of Lost Things ONCE, Ras's army doesn't go after the ninja at all. I can kinda get the dragons group since they didn't have Bonzle, but he has to know that they ARE a threat, right? They're obviously trying to figure out how to stop you.

And even with the group that has Bonzle, what they NEED, the forces that go after that group is the Administration and the one off magician man villain, the former really didn't need to be in this season even if it was for a compelling Jay cameo, and the latter has overstayed his welcome at this point and I just rolled my eyes when he showed up on screen.

I'm all for Cole being a badass as much as the next guy, but WHY this magician man, who at this point, is so disconnected with the main antagonistic forces that he serves no purpose?

Why not, I don't know, use this screen time instead to explain what in the world happened with Cole when he left?

Seriously, the first season had this huge cliffhanger with Cole's character and him going after Wu's ghost. I wonder what's gonna happen to him and what he's gonna find out-

Oh. He's just back.

That to me is a huge disappointment. What was the point of him leaving the Lost Family in the first place if this journey was basically nothing? He doesn't even talk about it! COME ON NOW.

Also I think Zane should get slay pass on the Administration guy that called him equipment. What do y'all think?

I don't like Egot. Or whatever his name was. He's very condescending and cryptic and talks down to his only hope of the world being saved. But I think I'm supposed to dislike him for it, and there's gonna be more of his characterization revealed later, so don't take this one as a critique. The female one is great though.

The sorceress lady was... a choice in the narrative. My one critique for the ending was the potion shenanigans. Not because they were bad, but because they just felt so out of place among everything else. Like, "Oh, this finale is too dark and intense! We need to occasionally cut to wacky shenanigans with this sorceress's magic to prevent kids from feeling too much dread!"

I don't know, for me, I would've placed this stuff with the Administration instead, and instead have the group fight Jordanna, lose, and have her get away and flow that to Arin getting to her. Especially since the Administration posed such little threat to them and they even say such.

(I also have a theory that this sorceress is Wyldfyre's birth mom. I have no evidence to back this up besides "They both have red hair and similar facial structure")

With Cloud Kingdom getting taken over and Euphrasia captured, I thought she would have more of a role to play in this since this is, you know, her HOME and she's their guardian.

But nope. She does next to nothing up until the very end and plays prisoner and waits for the ninja to save her.

For gosh sake girl, you're the master of wind. FLY.

And finally, my last critique, Cinder.

Yeah I'm sorry, I'm not buying this character so far. Not that I don't think he'll have anything to do in the second part, but for how threatening he was in Episode 2, that threat level kinda vanishes in the middle and only comes back at the end. He does next to nothing and we learn nothing about him other than "He likes power". Jordanna is probably more unlikeable, but at least she has conflict going on with Ras and her magic, and she still serves more of a role in the plan besides being a foot soldier.

And... yep. That's all my critiques for this season. Which all seem pretty minor.

You know what this season is real good at? Characters.

As though that wasn't obvious already.

I did NOT expect Bonzle to play any major role at all, I thought she was just gonna be the dry and cynical side character. But no. She has a history. She has a life. She has emotions. All of which REALLY shine through at the end when you hear her voice have more range in it. The VA killed it. I ended up feeling so bad for her.

Especially considering what happens to her.

They're also not even hiding it anymore with Geo x Cole. They're just NOT. I love them and I hope we see more of their relationship in the future.

I genuinely don't understand the critique of "Geo is so selfish referring to him as Cole's family when it's obvious Cole has other people in his life."

Well no shit, you ever heard of a character flaw?

But it's also a completely understandable flaw. You guys aren't forgetting the part where Geo was abandoned for being a mixed race, right? Of course he's gonna cling to someone as compassionate and encouraging as Cole.

The Jay cameo was nice. I expect him to play no role in this season, but it's really compelling what they showed and I was satisfied with it.

Lloyd's conflict was handled very well in my opinion.

What's it called when it's PTSD, but it's about future events rather than past events? Foresight Traumatic Stress Disorder? FTSD? Yeah let's go with that.

For a kids show that glosses over trauma, (That's not a Ninjago problem, that's a kids show problem), it was really refreshing for them to not do that for once. It's actually explored and talked about and Lloyd is given advice on how to cope with it, and he freezes up in panic attacks when these visions happen and-THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR NOT IGNORING HOW HARD SOMETHING LIKE THIS IS.

Seriously, as someone who is going through stuff like this, minus the magic element, it spoke to me a lot. It really shows that this show grew up with me, and I both love and hate that.

I do think this sort of arc is going to hit hard for adults much more than kids.

Are kids constantly terrified of the future and getting paralyzed with these fears and finding it difficult to cope with the traumas that is time and human life?

No?

Kai is also a standout in this, especially towards the end. This is by far the best Kai has been in a long time in terms of quality. I love how one of his most significant flaws gets addressed here, that being his overreliance on himself and his own abilities over the others, who he feels responsible to protect.

And the way he grasps with that and learns to let loose like he did as a child back in the old days through what he loves the most, that being his family. And the flashbacks with him and his sister. And the whole sequence of him learning Rising Dragon - AUGH ITS SO GOOD.

How poetic is it that the character most devoted to family since childhood is only cocky and angry because of his own desire to be the one with power to keep them safe, gets power by letting that go, being a kid again, and joining the same roots as his own family?

AND THEN HE GIVES UP HIS LIFE FOR THEM-

And finally, Arin.

Oh you poor sweet, sweet child.

First of all, yes, I am completely subscribed to the theory that the show is building up Arin turning on the ninja and becoming a villain. It's all there. It all fits. The amount of times they say how sweet he is as though that's gonna get lost. The dragons, the creators of the world, the gods basically, telling him he's not good enough. Ras confronting him. Sora's stunt even after she's been the most encouraging of him, like the BETRAYAL there. It's all there. And I will be posting my theory scenario on this don't you worry.

BUT, I don't think that's the route they're gonna go. Kids show and all of that. They wouldn't do that to one of their main characters. Unless you're Star Wars. At most I think Arin will be tempted by Ras's master's power in an episode and even do it, but then with the power of love and friendship, it'll get fixed.

So instead I'd rather say that Arin, by far, has the BEST power crisis arc of the entire show so far.

I LOVE that he doesn't get powers. That's something the original show would've done. I LOVE that he doesn't figure anything out in the end and his inner doubts get proven correct. That's something the original show would not have the guts to do.

I liked Arin in the first season, but he didn't interest me too much. Mostly because Sora had the lion share of focus in the first season. Here though? He might just take the crown for THE most relatable character. And I both love and hate it so much.

Like, seeing everyone else succeed in mastery while you can't even figure out your own thing. You get told you have a natural talent and a lot of potential and that you're good at a lot of things, only for that to be put to the test in the real world and you end up letting everyone down. Even when your loved ones encourage you that you are good enough and you're special in your own way, you can't get those voices out of your head and you mess up again and again and again to try and meet the world's expectations. Then those in charge tell you you're not good enough and wasted potential. Then you try everything out in the real world anyway and you FAIL, and those that doubt you and your own insecurities get proven correct as you're left a broken mess of a young child who doesn't know what the hell they're doing-

I'M IN THIS SHOW AND I DON'T LIKE IT.

I probably love Sora more as a character, but I will admit I grasp towards Arin more right now. Sora's a great trans allegory in a world that hates trans people. But I'm not trans so I relate to it a bit less. Arin's a great autistic allegory in a world that doesn't know how to help autistic people. And I am autistic so I relate to it more. That's just a me situation.

I am so invested in where Arin's story goes from here. Evil or not.

So yeah, the season was good, but didn't completely live up to the insane hype, which, to be fair, is a high bar.

UNTIL THE LAST FOUR EPISODES.

And then all of a sudden, I AM SHOCKED AND SHAKEN TO MY CORE.

These last four episodes are an absolute emotional roller coaster that left me shaking and screaming the whole time.

I actually SCREAMED at multiple occasions.

I actually screamed so many times watching this that I am now HOARSE.

THAT'S how hard it hit me.

The story goes from 0 to 100 the moment the Blood Moon shows up. Which was what the whole season was building up to. And it did NOT disappoint.

The race to try and protect Bonzle. The intense visions and paralysis Lloyd suffers from. Ras and the army coming back to the plot to be absolute powerhouses. The last episode of DREAD the entire time to desperately try to stop this ritual.

HUMAN SACRIFICES?! AM I WATCHING A KIDS SHOW RIGHT NOW?!?!

I was begging for Arin to succeed at getting Bonzle to safety, even though I knew he stood no chance against Ras. "Come on Arin! You got this!! YOU GOT THIS, SWEETIE!!"

And then Ras just goes to TOWN on the poor boy and taunts his utter failure, which HURTS SO BAD MAN.

The entire fight with the army, Cinder, and Ras. The destruction of the mechs which knocks them unconscious for a bit. Kai figuring out Rising Dragon again when his family gets put in danger. The way Nya avenges her brother afterwards.

When Bonzle was getting morphed back into spell form, BEGGING, I was begging too.

But they still do it!

And KAI?!?!

I couldn't even process what happened other than me screaming. From the moment Ras alluded to sacrificing Kai against his consent, I was screaming "NO. DON'T DO IT."

AND THEN THEY SACRIFICE HIM.

LIKE HOLY GOSH THIS FINALE DID NOT MESS AROUND.

I predicted a while back, in the first season actually, that Kai was gonna get sacrificed at some point. Who's laughing now? I DID NOT WANT TO BE RIGHT.

Like, usually in Ninjago the character would be willing to sacrifice themselves for the others. But here? This is without Kai's consent at all. Ras might as well have killed him right here.

It definitely felt that way with the way the others react and BEG for his safety. The way Nya avenges him.

And Kai giving up his shot at escape for the sake of his family? BRO. WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

It hurts even more when you realize that when the Merge happened, Lloyd was ALONE thinking only he survived. He only gained hope again because of his reunion with Kai. His beloved surrogate brother!

AND NOW HE'S GONE.

NYA AND LLOYD LOST THEIR BROTHER.

WYLDFYRE LOST HER SURROGATE FATHER.

THEY THINK HE'S BASICALLY DEAD.

BRO. THAT'S SOUL CRUSHING.

And then Sora?! Why you gotta betray Arin like that?!

The most encouraging friend towards Arin, the person who held onto hope and praises for him the most, betrays that hope and doesn't trust him enough to get the winning blow himself. Then LIES about it.

GIRL. WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!

That's going to be SO compelling once that gets outed. Like, morally, that was messed up and she was definitely in the wrong, BUT it led to the best possible outcome for them at the moment. They WON because she did NOT believe in Arin's abilities. Which only proves that the doubts about Arin's said abilities are correct.

And I have a gut feeling she's gonna learn Spinjitsu on top of that. And once that happens... double ouch.

Again, Evil Arin Theory.

I really hate to say it, but this reminds way too much of Arcane. If you know what I'm talking about.

I am totally imagining a situation similar to that in my head, that being a rescue mission for Kai, they decide to leave Arin out of it because of the lack of faith in him, he tags along anyway and he ruins their plan and Kai stays trapped there, Lloyd and Sora lash out on him for it, and before they can apologize they get thrusted back by something and Ras and Ras's master find Arin and take him in-

Again, I'll make a post about that.

The finale was by far the best part of this season. It has been a long time since Ninjago has made me HOARSE from being too invested.

That has not happened to me since Sons of Garmadon.

Because, yeah, I actually have NO IDEA where any of this is headed. How are they gonna save Kai and Bonzle? Why did some of Lloyd's visions not come true? What in the world is going on with Ras? Will the Administration help with that? Will the source dragons help with that?

What I probably do know is that Part 2 of this season is going to turn this into the best Ninjago Product since Tournament of Elements. Maybe even top it depending on my rewatches if my problems are still problems.

So... yeah. Good or Nah? Good. Obviously.

The hype is a little overblown to me, but it still deserves the hype.

[featheredclover]

Carmine Veils

Chapter Three

Read from the beginning

Also on Wattpad

Chapter Two< > Chapter Four

The clock struck one, and it’s bell gonged its hourly tune. Khushi woke up startled.

She looked at the the door separating her from bodyguards’s chamber. She was waiting for the royal physician to bring her some news about his progress.

She swallowed painfully as she recalled the events which lead to his injury. It was her stubborn self which had caused him to be hit by the poisoned arrow meant for her. Her eyes smarted with tears. She stood up, pacing restlessly outside, where he lay fighting for his life.

The creak of the door broke into her repentance as the physician stepped out.

“ He is all well, just needs to rest for one more day and he will be alright. He is a quite a warrior, a lesser man would have succumbed by now” he replied with a genial smile and bowed as he left.

She let out the breath she was holding. Straightening her relieved posture, before she could stop herself, she barged into his chamber.

His good arm was resting over his eyes, while the other was bandaged up.

He looked up at the interference.

Khushi had to steel herself to not break down crying.

But her woe begone face was enough for Arnav to know.

He attempted to sit up, succeeding only partially.

The sight of his bare torso sent shivers down her spine. It was glistening with sweat beads in the moonlight.

She shook her head to stop herself from ogling at him.

His wince dragged her attention back to him.

She rushed towards him, grabbed his arm and entwined in both of hers. Pressing it against her lips, she began to speak,

“ Arnav, I am so sorry. I can’t imagine how you must have felt saving this stupid girl from killing herself. I should have listened to you! I am beg you to forgive me. I can’t believe you got hit by that…that arrow…

I swear you don’t even have to speak to me, just know that I take responsibility for this and I will never do anything you tell me not to do. In fact, I won’t move an inch ! Yes, if you order me to remain in my bed all day I will remain in the same pose for the rest of the day I promise!”

She stopped then because she felt Arnav shivering. Concerned she peered into his face, and to her surprised relief found him shaking with silent laughter.

His eyes met hers then. He gave up and succumbed into a flurry of laughter.

“Khushi”, he pressed his thumb against her lip “ I accept your apology. And yes I’ll make sure you don’t go running into a forest again, even if it means chaining you to your bed” he said with a grin lighting up his face.

Khushi stared at him as if struck.

Arnav raised a perfect brow.

“ You called me Khushi “

It was Arnav’s turn to be flustered.

“ I am sorry Rajkumari…I am drugged by your physician that’s why I am not in my sens-“

Resting a finger on his lips, she whispered

“ I like it.I don’t want you to call me anything else. “

——————

Clambering to her feet, Khushi poised her sword as she faced Lavanya again, who infuriatingly stood with a smirk lining her perfect face.

“ Focus Khushi! “ Manorama instructed “ I don’t know what’s gotten into you but if you continue to miss out defending such swings you’ll find yourself splattered on the battle field without a head to your name!”

Khushi sighed as anxiety filled her being. She couldn’t help glancing at Arnav. She thought they had made progress that he could finally be with her the way she knew he was with others. It hurt her to see him back to his formal, ever polite self after that heartfelt moment they shared that night.

She still flushed recalling the feel of his lips under her skin. The next day he had been asleep most of the time and she had fluttered around him making sure to not let him feel an ounce of discomfort. But the day he got back to duty, seemed like the end of the bond they had shared.

The afternoon went by with Khushi performing half heartedly in Manorama’s lessons.

Her despair only swelled when she saw Lavanya using a feather to mark his bandaged arm with her beautiful ink. She had no where to run today, so she sat through the torture as the sun began to set.

—————

A knock resounded in Arnav’s chamber. Khushi stood with her fists clenched, determination clouding her eyes.

As soon as Arnav let her in, she spoke “ Do you hate me?”

“ What? Rajkumari…has there been a lapse in my duty? “ a frown creased his forehead.

“ STOP IT! There is no need to call me Rajkumari and you know it! And yet you persist. You draw this line between us-“

“ That is my place in this court and you are the rajkumari. This is our hierarchy. And you expect me not to follow it?”

Khushi stared at Arnav. He looked strangely agitated, his teeth biting into his lower lip and his eyes refusing to hold hers for more than a second.

She breathed in deeply.

“ And yet that hierarchy doesn’t apply with Lavanya and Payal? They are both minister’s daughters. And yet, Lavanya gets to make you laugh, paint on you with her ink, touch you ? Admit it Arnav you just don’t like me. You can tell me. I’ll ask my father to let you guard Lavanya…maybe..maybe marry her soon. And I’ll get a new guard. You shouldn’t have to put up with-“

She looked up to see Arnav had crossed the distance between them, and held her hand in his.

Before she could register the battle in his eyes,her eyes fell shut, as she felt his lips slam onto hers.

Arnav slid his hand across her waist and pulled her with a hard tug towards him. The soft movement of his lips,the feel of his hand against her waist, the slight tremble rising within both of them was too much for her. Her arms slid up his shoulders, the nails biting into his skin. She thrust herself forward, not caring that there wasn’t an inch of space between them. Arnav groaned, as he grasped her jaw and pushed her against the wall.

Pulling away, Khushi found his beautiful eyes arresting her in a spell. He held her arms above her head, while peppering short kisses across her jaw, down her neck.

She hissed in shock as she felt his teeth bite into the skin at the nape of her neck. She moaned helplessly, biting her lips as she felt overwhelmed.

He didn’t give her time to think as he took her lips between his again. Minutes or hours passed, she wasn’t sure. She pulled away, her eyes still shut, as she tried to catch her breath. She felt Arnav resting his forehead against hers.

She fluttered her eyes open to see him. She smiled softly, and her heart sprang up again as he shyly grinned back.

Next chapter>>

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